"Historic Mae Avenue"
Historic Mae Avenue - "Stories"
The people of Mae Avenue are important. Although many are now gone, we remember them well. We remember what they did and what they said. We remember just how they affected our lives. Here is a collection of stories, anecdotes, and memories of those that lived in these homes.
"The Neighborhood Kids" -by Nickolas Avdonin
Nick Avdonin The friends that I had in those days were quite numerous. A great number of them were older than I was, however. They lived close to me in the neighborhood and they would always come to my house to visit me. A family that lived two houses away from us was the Ericson family. The parents had four children at that time: three girls and one boy. Nonnie, Kristin, and Jon were all several years older than I in order of descending ages. Susan was two years younger than I being the same age as my sister, Sandra. I spent the most time with Nonnie and John. Nonnie was a tall and big, heavy girl with long brown hair. John was likewise not skinny with short brown hair. I cannot give long descriptions about the activities that we engaged. in. The only clear thing that stands out in my mind was one day when I was in Jon's backyard. He was teaching me how to play the game of tether ball. Michael Attama was a good friend of my father. He was a very bright and clever young man who frequented this house quite often. My father and he would sometimes collaborate on a project of some kind together. Mike knew a lot about electronics and mechanics and he would put his knowledge to work. Every Christmas time or Halloween, he would decorate his house with elaborate lightings and decorations. Sometimes I would go over there to watch him work. I recall one time when he built a miniature golf course in his backyard and I would be invited to play on it. At times, Mike would accompany our family on picnics and small trips. He was a good man to have around and our family enjoyed his company. A couple of times, my father was angry at Mike for something or other, but that wouldn't last long. The two of them would soon be together working on some new project. A few other friends that I had at this time were Sharon Birdsell, Steve and Michael Ledrich, and Arthur Tardeville. Sharon lived next door to me. Sometimes she and I would play together in one of our backyards. But the relationship did not last too long for I believe that I got into an argument with her about something or other. I was mad at her and therefore stopped playing with her. Also, there might have been some kind of conflict between her parents and mine. I still saw her around from time to time in the future, but the argument was never resolved. I was less friendly with Steve and Mike Ledrich however. They were just around. I did invite them to my birthday parties. I had one of these parties almost every year and I wanted to make it a big thing by inviting all my friends. Steve was about three years older than I was and Mike was a year younger than Steve. Steve was tall and skinny with a lot of freckles on his face. Mike was somewhat shorter but he wasn't too skinny. He wore glasses. Their primary interest when it came to playing was war games, of which I didn't take too much of an interest in. Arthur Tardeville was a good friend of theirs and I knew him somewhat. My primary interest concerning him was to go into his backyard and play "river" or "lake". It was a game that he thought up which would involve the digging of a wide hole in the ground to be filled with water. Then we would sail boats on it and the like. In "river" the theme would be the same only we would let the water go slowly down a flower bed or something, thus building a river. Sometimes we would damn it up. Arthur was also a frequent patron of my birthday parties and even on one occasion, I attended one of his parties. |
"M&F Riverview Market: A Remembrance" -by Victor Avdonin
Victor Avdonin Where, as can be expected, most of my childhood memories spring from my home located at the 145 address on upper Mae, as I recall, the local grocery store, M&F Riverview Market is what really defined the neighborhood, and was the place that no one who lived on Mae could ever forget. Owned by Mario & Frances DeVasio, M&F market was known to all as "Frances' Store." Frances was the epitome of a classic first generation wiry Italian storekeeper with a hummingbird metabolism. Standing about five feet tall and weighing no more than 100 lbs, she embodies all that was M&F Riverview. Ever present, I can still hear her mantra "Buy something!" As she beseeched a thousand times and which, of course, I an equal number, would ignore until finished with my Superman comic book. Her husband Mario, the store butcher was, how should I say -, "Notta too brite" - or at least, so he seemed to us smart-ass kids. But Mario did understand how to cut meat, and for all I know, he may have been the real brains behind the operation. Technically, Frances' store was on Ramona Street just at the base of Mae. However, I can think of no place other than home that I went to more often. For example, at age four (circa 1960) - I can remember walking the two blocks down to Frances' with my Grandmother to get a loaf of bread; at five - riding in the car with Papa to buy a pack of Pall Malls, and some Burgie or a bottle of Piasano (or both); or at six - stopping after school to buy a Coca-Cola and a Snickers bar. Back then, it was not unusual for me to make the short trek four or five times a day, often just to kill time. And every day, from before 7:00 AM to after 7:00 PM, Frances would be there behind the counter continually imploring us to "Please buy something." Mario died sometime in the early 70's and not long after, Frances closed the store and retired. The store never reopened and the property has since been converted into apartments. Mario and Frances must have done well - financially, accumulating substantial income property in town, and a large family with grand and great-grand children to support, and be supported by them. Frances was her 90's when last I saw her, still very much engaged and active with her family and friends. If I am not mistaken, she lived to be over 100, and may even still be alive. I suppose there was nothing peculiar or special about our neighborhood market. M&F Riverview was fairly typical for most Mom and Pop operations of its day. Of course we now have 7- Elevens, and Quickie Marts, - all consistent and alike, but really no place for a kid to hang out, or to become family friendly with its proprietors. Although for the most part, the corner stores are gone, they live in our memories and in our culture. Truly, Mae Ave (and indeed the whole neighborhood of Pittsburg Heights) would not have been same without Frances' store. |