The Back Lane
The back lane between middle block Machar Avenue and Algoma Street was a safe place to play any day of the year (1960's) except when the huge German shepherd dog was out in the yard. The dog was tied up, but when you are a tyke it only takes one lunge as you pass by to make a lasting impression. I don't recall anyone ever being bitten yet the reputation of the dog became known to every kid in the area. When we wanted to get to the south end of the lane, we would make our way stealthily; glued against the walls of buildings that we thought somehow hid our presence. Little did we know that our actions were actually urging the dog to bark and jump around on the end of its tether. It was after all a watch dog and we acted suspiciously. What else was it supposed to do? We, the kids could easily have used either street so it must have been the thrill of outsmarting the dog. Of course we never did.
There were several businesses that backed onto that lane. Some were on Machar Avenue and some on Algoma Street. To my recollection, there was an auto body shop and family homes backing from Machar Avenue and a hair dresser, a ski maker, and the most memorable, for me, a German family gift store backing from Algoma. Now the reason I remember this gift store so well is because I went in there to purchase a birthday gift for a girlfriend and came out with a six inch tall monkey carrying cymbals. It was a windup toy. I honestly don't think it went over very well but, at the time, I thought it was unique. Near to the gift shop was a large building that housed a wood shop where an elderly Finnish man made cross country skis.
The auto body shop was owned by some Finnish brothers. Often when I walked down the lane, I was fascinated to watch them paint the automobiles. I recall they had paper taped to the windows of the cars and they themselves were dressed in coveralls and wore masks. I would go on my tippy toes and gaze through the small square windows. Sometimes they would open the garage door to let fresh air in and paint fumes out. I would wave and continue on my way. In the same building there was some sort of electrical shop which I never saw the interior of. The building is now gone and it is a parking lot.
Many of the homes had fences with gates that protected the family gardens. It seemed every house had a clothesline running from the house to a tree or post and worked on a pulley system. To this day I can see the white sheets flapping in the summer breeze.
I don't know what it was but, on hot summer days, that sandy lane with its pot holes and stones was quite a draw.