Growing up in the 50’s

As the song say “Those were the days my friend” it was a time of innocence, public transit was the primary mode of transportation and life was simple then.

We had moved from Verdun to NDG in 1950 and Rosalyn and I attended Herbert Symonds Public school one of my best friends was Alan Hill, there were four boys Billy, Chicky, Alan and Richard Billy was a weight lifter/bodybuilder who owned a gym on Amherst St in the east end of Montreal Chicky got his nickname because he was born at the same time as Mr. Hill opened the Indian Room chicken coop on St. Catherine Street.

Alan and I would take the 108 down to Atwater and grab the 15 to Amherst when we were 10 years old and lift weights at Billy’s gym. Afterward we walked along St. Catherine to the Indian Room, a spectacular art deco styled restaurant where Mr. Hill would be seated at a private table on the third tier level overlooking the restaurant. We would seat ourselves at a table next to him and the staff would cater to us. After which we would head down to the basement where the food prep area was and play.

Imagine two ten year old boys walking St. Catherine after dark then hopping the bus to head home around 10 P.M., sure couldn’t do that today.