Southern Porches and Warm Friendships in the 1950s

The above "Southern Porches" is 

one of my paintings from 2015.

When I think back to my hometown of Sikeston, Missouri, I remember homes with grand porches and some porches that were humble in style.  What they had in common was the gracious hospitality extended from those porches.  In the 1950's, people moved at a much slower pace.  They took the time to stop and visit with their neighbors and to have a glass of brewed tea over ice.  The homeowner would never think of giving a guest a plastic cup of ice tea.  Back then, they served drinks of hand-squeezed lemonade or brewed ice tea on attractive trays, brought from the kitchen to the porch.

Children were expected to play outside in the 1950s.  Their games relied on imagination, with few props, and they exerted a lot of energy.  If the weather was bad, or it was raining, many children played on their front porches.  Girls played jacks or dressed their dolls.  Boys only played on the porch when it was necessary.

Most people in their 70s now, well remember their mothers saying, "you kids go outside and play."  When the weather was clear, most kids rode bikes from early in the day until it started getting dark.  They knew to go home when the sun began to go down, or some had a designated time to be inside the house at the end of the day.

Some of the games I remember playing were Hide and Seek - where one or more kids hide, and one person stays on base.  The child waiting behind (the hunter), would cover their eyes and count to an agreed number, before going on the hunt for the others.  Those hiding tried to run back to base before the hunter could find them.  If they made it back without being tagged, they were safe from becoming the hunter.

My brothers and their friends used to play Kick the Can.  It only required a used can that one of the Mom's provided from the kitchen.  The game was usually played in the driveway or street and could involve any number of kids. It was like neighborhood soccer before American's knew anything about soccer.

Children also played Hop Scotch.  It involved a driveway or sidewalk and the use of chalk.  Players started off using two feet, then one foot, and alternated between the two until they reached the end.  One needed both balance and rhythm to be good at this game.  Girls were better at it than boys, and usually sang songs or chatted while playing.

Then, my favorite was Red Rover. It was a group activity. You needed at least six kids to play it, and eight or ten worked even better. Each side lined up facing the other, clasping hands with their teammates. One team would send a runner to the other team to crash in between two of the other team’s players, where their hands met. The runner tried to break the hands apart, while the defending team sought to stop the attack and catch the runner. If the runner broke through, they grabbed a player from the other team and took them back to join their team. If the runner didn’t break through, then the runner was captured by the team that stopped them.  At times, this could go on for an hour.

I don't understand why, when one turns sixty-five or seventy, their minds drift back to their childhood.  Surely, we felt safe and loved back then, and more importantly, we had few responsibilities or worries.  It could be an escape from the trials, tribulations, and health issues of one's current situation.  Today, I remember the good times I had on my front porch with neighborhood girls.  Have a wonderful week, and think happy thoughts.

Memories of Sikeston, Missouri

                                         

Most of us who grew up in a small town have fond memories of our hometown.  For me, it was Sikeston, Missouri. We could walk anywhere, anytime and by yourself, if we wanted.  We knew the neighbors on both sides of our house and usually many more neighbors.  If my parents were not home for some reason and I needed an adult, I just went to a friendly neighbor.  We knew all the neighbor kids that went to school with us too.

I have posted pictures to bring back memories of the place.  From the library to the Bank of Sikeston with its painted mural (I believe it is a Thomas Hart Benton mural) on the back wall, to Kirby's Sandwich Shop.  Everyone knew you, and we were kind to one another.

  

Those of us born in the mid-1940s experienced a freedom of movement that children today could hardly imagine.  We could get on our bikes and ride all over town as long as we were home by the time our Mom told us to be home.  I was blessed with good loving parents, but I am sure there was some child abuse back then too.  We just never heard of it.  Not one of my friends talked badly about their parents.  Their siblings were another story.  That has not changed over the years.  It was not perfect, of course.  The relations between Blacks and Whites were not acceptable. Many Whites had a feeling of superiority over Blacks, and I was uncomfortable with that back then, and still am today.  As a child and teenager, you just seem to go with the flow.  Today, I defend my opinion, when different than the majority, in as non-offensive manner as possible. 

   

Who could forget the Jaycee Bootheel Rodeo?  I looked forward to purchasing my western clothes for the rodeo, the Rodeo Parade, and learning who the movie or TV star would be that year.  I wish I had saved some of the programs to remind me of all the stars that appeared at the Rodeo while I lived at home.

    

     

Another great memory is of the Gay 90's Village and all those moving and loud musical instruments.  I begged my Dad to take me there all the time.  We would go out to the Village about once a week.  Sadly, it is gone now, but I am grateful to Mr. Eakins for restoring all those beautiful instruments so they can continue to bring joy to old and young alike.  My husband Tom and I visited Eureka Springs, Arkansas in 2006.  In the lobby of one of their historical hotels stands one of the larger models roped off to the public.  In the front left corner is a sign stating, "purchased from Paul Eakins of Sikeston, Missouri."  Just think, I played the instrument in the Gay 90's Village weekly.  Today, it is by special invitation only.  I think a bit of each of us remains the child from our hometown.  Our hearts skip a bit when we connect to those formative years.