SCHWINN BICYCLE

I was born in early 1935 in South Boston so my initial impressions of Southie may be different than yours. I remember taking the electric trolley at the intersection of West Fifth St. and Dorchester St. where I lived to either Andrew Station or the other way to Pleasure Bay. Often the ice truck came to deliver ice to families that could not afford the new appliance known as a refrigerator. The yells of the rag man from his horse drawn carriage “rags, rags bring me your rags” and the mobile scissor and knife sharpener are all familiar to me. The flags that hung in the window with blue stars indicating a son in the service or sadly changed to gold when he died in combat, are my visions. My street was devoid of cars since no one could afford one. Both sides of my street had beautiful elms that provided shade for those awful high heat and humidity days. Most of my impressions are quite favorable but not 100 percent. One incident in particular has bothered even until today. Let me explain.

After the WW II my father moved us from West Fifth St. to the “Lace Curtain” area of City Point. We were close to the L St. bath house and the “M” St. Beach and I took advantage of both. He bought me a used bicycle and that opened a new horizon for me. Columbia Point, Kelley’s Landing and Castle Island were now easy destinations. On my 13^th birthday he upgraded my bike to a brand new Schwinn Roadster. It had all the bells and whistles. Fenders front and back, a chain guard, a battery operated horn, a generator to light your way at night, a kick stand etc. I couldn’t have been more proud.

I had it for about 6 months when one day I went to get it for a ride…. it was gone. Someone was playing a joke on me and moved it to the other side of my house. I looked there and it was gone. I searched the neighborhood looking in everyone’s back yard…it was gone. I called the police station hoping someone had abandoned it and they picked it up…it was gone.  Eventually I had to face reality. IT WAS GONE. I only hope who ever took it enjoyed it as much as I did.