McAlister Avenue had much to offer

I was born in 1926 on May Street on Waukegan's south side. This was a time when any family could, in a few steps, get anything needed right in one's neighborhood.

On McAlister Avenue, Coop Trading Co. had everything in foods. Coop was dairy, meats, groceries, deli, bakery, sausages, credit union and more.

From sleds in winter to wagons pulled by horses and later a fleet of trucks made home deliveries. When not in school, Fred Hellstrom and I got to Coop early to ride with his father to deliver dairy goods to Great Lakes Naval Station. Next he reloaded the truck and supplied several stores around Waukegan.

Fred's father tended the boiler room, and it was a cozy place to warm up when it was cold. Mr. Hellstrom also tended the horse barns and at times, Fred and I helped clean stalls and put out fresh hay. Horse manure was freely taken for gardens by anyone who wished to do so.

Fred and I spent hours around Coop -- two happy boys. From the time we met at age 5 in kindergarten, Fred and I were close until Fred slipped away. After 75 years as friends, I will always miss Freddie.

McAlister Avenue, paved with brick then, had much to offer. At the South Side Pharmacy in back, Porett delivered your News-Sun route bundles so in bad weather we had access to the warm basement to stuff the papers. Karjala & Pelander hardware had what a homeowner needed. Urko "Kayo" Karjala repaired watches and carried fishing gear. Karjala's sold candy and a double-dip ice cream cone was a nickel.

We had Harju and Galinas shoe repair. Kroger and Jenstrom's were other stores.

Swedish Glee Club was first on May, then moved to Belvidere Street in a new facility.

Upstairs on the corner of May and McAlister, Dr. Lahti, a dentist, and Dr. Toomajon had their offices.

Stone Lakes gas station on Helmholtz and McAlister and May Street Garage serviced cars. I still remember the tall gas pump of the garage. The top was glass and an inner gauge showed the amount pumped.

Other things of note were three Finnish saunas. Jyre boarding house, owned by two fine Finnish ladies, provided good wholesome food for a lot of unmarried men and a sack lunch to take to work.

I attended Jackson School. It's gone now, though it was built from the same plans as Glen Flora School. One teacher I can never forget. We had an assignment to color a chart. I could never get it right so I had to stay after everyone went home. Dumb kid, can't even color. When I wanted to enlist in the Navy after graduation from high school, I was rejected because I am color blind. So much for a dumb kid.

John Brencheck