Most of today, and I do not know why, I have been fondly thinking back to where I grew up. We live in the Los Angeles area – many people think of this area as a hustling, bustling world. I will state that the little town in which I grew up could not be any further on the other end of the spectrum than Los Angeles. Los Angeles has 3.93 million people – Youngstown has 1896 (both numbers from 2014). By the way, the Youngstown population has no period nor ending such as million. It really has one thousand eight hundred ninety-six people. Let’s lower that number even more since I grew up outside of the village in an even more rural area.
To give an even more distinct image of my home area, it took three towns to create our school. Putting all those students together made a graduating class of 311 students. My niece, who graduated recently, had a class size in the 180s. In Burbank, where I work, one high school has 2500 people. The schools are spread throughout the city. My school went K-12 all in one area. All the schools within a single piece of land. Here parents drive kids to school. There kids wait out by the road for the school bus. On a side note, there is nothing like Western New York in February when you have wet hair. Everything about my home area is small, and that is okay.
Our town has an intersection with 3 stop signs. I believe it had a stoplight at one point for a short time, but it is gone. My town is the type of town that people sing about – they sing about leaving. It is the town that you see in movies like Footloose or All the Right Moves. It could be the town in John Mellencamp’s song. The town that teenagers cannot wait to leave. I am proud of Youngstown. I miss my town.
I have met many people who try to forget their home area. They do everything in their power to erase their past. I will not judge for I do not know what they went through growing up. I even know people who could not wait until they had the chance to leave our area. I thought for sure that I would remain in Western New York for my entire life. However, my roads took me out and off to different paths.
So what is so great about growing up in a small town? I am attempting to keep my rosy colored glasses off as I explain. I also understand that this is my experience. Others who grew up in rural areas did not walk away with the same feelings or stories. But meander into the past is where I go tonight.
I mentioned how few people lived in our area. This could be both a blessing and a curse. I loved the fact that you knew almost everyone. You had people who you could depend on for support, help, and just friendship. The curse was that you knew almost everyone. My friend said that he hated this. Not so much the fact that he knew everyone, but that everyone knew his mom. He often would curse that he could sh*t crooked without his mom knowing about it before he got home.
I loved the fact that there were opportunities to work as a teen. We had a couple of restaurants in my late teens and early twenties both were pizza parlors. At one point or another I worked in both. I started at RR/DD and ended at Brennan’s Irish Pub. Both places offered young people a great introduction into the work world. Many other friends worked in the next town. They had more places. It also helped to be kin of the owner of the local bar. I hired for a summer under the family plan for cleaning and stocking at 6 am. Each of those jobs prepared me to be part of the real world.
I think the thing I miss most is the speed or lack of it. As a child in this area, the days passed slowly. Summer days were spent outside. In my first decade, we lived in a neighborhood of about 40 homes. The children would gather together in the morning and only head home when my father would whistle for dinner. Once we moved half a mile closer to home, things became even simpler. 5 homes two families. The kids worked in the morning and then played the day away. The Blizzard of ’77 was just two weeks of play for us.
I think the best example of the slow life was this gentleman who lived on the main road going in and out of town. From spring until late fall, he would sit in a lawn chair near the road each day. He waved at every passing car whether heading into town or out. He knew not the person in the car, but he waved none the less. One could not help but wave back. When the temperatures finally dropped too low, he would disappear. I would wait eagerly to see him reappear the next spring. When the days would get warm and he was not there, I would get worried and sad for him – then there he was, waving away. On my first visit back to town, though I knew too much time had passed, I drove to town, looking, hoping. No chair. I miss him.
I think the best selling point for the town is how much people cared. I already said that people knew each other, but they really cared for each other. This is something I do not see all that much out her in L.A. Here we know a couple of our neighbors and we watch out for each other. There it didn’t matter how much you knew somebody, you helped out. My dad taught us this when he was a volunteer fireman. There were no paid professionals. People volunteered to take care of each other. They volunteered to run the field day. I can remember helping our neighbor with hay because they needed it. My arms were poked full of holes, but the haying got down. I believe this is the main thing I miss – the people.
I think I have watched too many news stories in the recent days where people did nothing but harm one another. Los Angeles has many people who are nice and helpful. However, even a small percentage in of bad people in Los Angeles can mean more than 1 million. I have a feeling that is the reason I have been thinking of my home town. I just want people to care about each other.
I know a number of people who could not wait to leave the area. As soon as the time came, out they went. Many of them came back. I wanted to stay and yet I left. I may have physically moved away, but small town has always remained in my heart. In my times around the world, I have been drawn to small towns and villages. Even now, though the sign on the freeway says Los Angeles, the area where we live is similar to a small town.
I wish everybody could have a chance to visit Youngstown. New York not Ohio. See Fort Niagara. Experience hometown hospitality. Maybe, just maybe you will end up missing the small town as much as me.
Amen Bob
Thank you
I too worked at Brennan’s and had similar experience, I miss home but no I did not want to stay…I do enjoy my visits though, as my parents and siblings still reside in Youngstown…Family name “Gibbs”
I find visiting fun especially around the holidays. You get your fill of snow and leave. 🙂
😀
I also grew up around youngstown but my father grew up there on second street. My grandparents owned a Grocery store in the village. My aunt and cousin used to work at Brennans Irish pub for years. I love living in a small village
I always said I was going to leave but I never will. I just lost my mother this past Christmas and now I can’t leave.I don’t Know if I could handle a place like LA. Youngstown and still the same beautiful village thank you for your story it really hit close to home
I am curious who in your family worked at Brennan’s. I am wondering if we worked together.
I remember Mr. Presutti once predicted that 90% of my AP English class would stay within 20 miles of where we grew up. I vowed not to be one of them. I am proud to be a Western New Yorker who grew up in Lewiston and went to school with Bob. I lived on the main road between Lewiston and Youngstown, had a Youngstown mailing address but our house was in he town of Lewiston. We could hear the noon fire whistle every day from the Lewiston VFD. I now live 450 miles away in an area that reminds me of home. My mom and sister still live there, I don’t visit nearly enough. I miss my small town too. Thanks Bob for the meander down memory lane!
I still have fond memories of every teacher. I believe it was Mr. Presutti who made us do a time line and mark down when we thought we would pass. I am glad to say, I was wrong.
Hi, Bob. This is great and since I am from Youngstown also, I know what it all means!
Thank you for letting people know what a great place we grew up in. One thing not touched on was having our local dr that knew everyone and who would make those old-fashioned house calls or open his office on a Sunday like he did for mem
I didn’t know about the doctor. Thank you for adding that. Our family doctor was a friend of ours. Much like you said, there were no closed hours.
Our Dr. (can’t remember his name) lived and worked out of a house on William Street close to the Episcopal Rectory. I also remember the town Dentist (Dr. Parker) lived and worked out of his house on River Road.
Brennan’s didn’t even exist when I was growing up but Jimmy’s Pizza sure did :).
Thanks for the nice walk down memory lane.
Doctor Casio
We lived next door
Also, Dr. Andres on Williams St. for a while.
Childhood was fun, wasn’t it? I remember games of tag football in your back yard, hide-and-go seek where “free” was the front porch of my house, our house meant swimming and your house meant a bunch of kids crammed into the family room on the weekend to eat potato chips and watch “Planet of the Apes” along with your parents and Nana because you guys had the best TV reception!
Whenever I hear Marco Polo, I think of you and your family. Funny. No matter how many kids were in the family room, I can’t remember it being crammed. It was just fun. Miss those days.
I grew up on the river just inside the village limits. Like so many others, I left for opportunities elsewhere, but I return to Youngstown and spend a week or so there every year. It was an idyllic place to spend your childhood, and from all appearances it still is. Your post captures that feeling, and I thank you.
I always dreamed of being able to live in that area. Close to the village and a great view.
Thank you for sharing this wondeful story and memories of our small town. I was one of those that couldn’t wait to leave, but now as I raise two teenage girls in a completely different atmosphere, I am sad that they will never experience this wonderful town. Thanks for sharing…
I often wonder what our daughter is missing by not being raised in a small town.
Fabulous town, I too miss it so much, clean livin’!!
I miss the stars at night.
Wow, brings back memories of going to the fort to play soccer or to launch the boat. I am from Ransomville possibly and even smaller town and I remember Seeing the man waving to everyone as we drove through town.
I remember sledding on the hills at the Fort.
I am blessed to live in YNY on the beautiful River in the nice cool summers, and return to Richmond Va for the “city” fix. I grew up “on top of the hill”… Never thought after I left I would ever return to the area….but it has been so nice getting together with old school friends, and actually making new friends with some of my classmates….we ran in different circles back then. Life is good and I am blessed.
It is funny how you can make friends with people after moving away.
I now live in Richmond!!! Left Pekin in ’75 but WNY will always be home.
I moved to Toungstown as an adult and had two children there. We lived on William street. Our house backed up to Falkner park. I was sad the day I moved, but I am happy to be back in the “small” town of Redondo Beach, CA.. The 7 years I spent in Youngstown are some of the best ever. I have great friends that still live there and I love coming to visit…
The nice thing I have learned is that Youngstown never leaves you.
Thank you Bob, I grew up in that rural area you talked about, in between Youngstown and Ransomville. My first job was at Comerford’s as a bus girl, that was when Brennan’s was Phil’s…Both my parents grew up in Youngstown,my family still live there and most would know the name. I used to love going to St. John’s Lutheran Church and seeing all my Aunts and Uncles and cousins. I went to the Redbrick school until third grade. I lived way out of town but we stilled managed to ride our bikes to the fort to swim….I love hearing and seeing stories about home. I am lucky though, I get to come home…yes I call Youngstown home, every summer.
I think the fact that you could ride your bikes anywhere and it was safe is my best memory.
I grew up not very far from there..Pekin. But we loved going there on Labor Day for Field Day and the parade…watching the boat races…Fort Niagara(I love history so it was cool to have in right in our back yard)…my family Dr. was there….Dr. Cacio…I left home in 1975 and have lived in Richmond,VA since 1978..but when people asked where I am from I still say up-state New York..in a little town just outside Niagara Falls…I can see Toronto on a clear day. And right now…here in Richmond..we are having a blizzard!!!! Ahhh…..love it!!!
I remember Perkin. I believe our Drum Corp used to march in parades there. It is funny, we use Niagara Falls to tell people – not Buffalo. We are glad to not be back East this weekend. Hopefully everyone stays safe.
What a nice piece! I grew up in Lewiston-and was among the kids who were bused all over the Lew-Port district while the first Lew-Port school was being built; that meant kindergarten thru 2 in the Red Brick in Lewiston, then on the bus to a re-purposed warehouse at Ft. Niagara for grades 3 and 4, then another bus from Lewiston to Youngstown Red Brick for grade 5, then back to the Lewiston School for grade 6, then-at last- to the new Lew-Port for grades 7 thru 12! Class of ’59-guess I’m a bit older than you! But you are so right about small-town life-it’s wonderful.
I believe my class was the first one to go K-12 on campus. We opened the, what was, primary.
I sure miss Youngstown, and Jim & I are working to move back home. I miss the atmosphere that you describe so well.
If you move back, we can see each other the next time we go East.
We live in your (Robin’s) house! 3075
I miss Youngstown so much. Every fall I miss the smell of the cold crisp air. I know that sounds crazy. I live in Louisiana now. You just don’t get that smell here.I haven’t seen the snow in years. I think I am homesick. Time to visit.I was one of those people that couldn’t wait to leave.I would love to move back.
The smells of fall are only in my mind now that I live in Southern California.
Thank you Bob for the article, and well written bringing back many memories from childhood.
The gentleman you speak of on the main road was Uncle John (Sikoski), and blessed if you had the chance to know him like I did as a child growing up even though not direct family. Aunt Rennie (his wife) and that household was a shepherd to many of us as children, and the family I aspire to be every day in my own life and home. Even more fitting is the picture of the Ontario House, and family ties to the Wojcik’s who owned the place until recently. I worked cleaning the bar in the mornings, and loved to sit in the kitchen as the sisters (Aunt Eugenia, Aunt Rennie, others) made homemade soup every morning…. still have the potato soup receipt!
I was so happy last month to find this Ontario House on Facebook, and brought me to tears when I saw Aunt Rennie celebrating her 90th birthday on this video https://www.facebook.com/110029455690328/videos/975984129094852/?theater …. priceless, she hasn’t changed (Thank God), and miss her dearly.
I will always cherish growing up in a small town, and being able to walk down the street every day into Uncle John & Aunt Rennie’s house without knocking, and always felt unconditional love and acceptance. It is the people of Youngstown and their character that make the place so special.
Daniel,
Thank you for your post. The Sikoski’s are my cousins. This was a Mr. Brown?? My grandmother was the sister of Eugenia and Rene’s mom. We all grew up together. I lived next door to Ed and Eugenia. Thank for the great comments. My cousins are great people.
Bob
You just reminded me that I spent over a week with Rene when I was 5. Fun times.
Awesome article!! I grew up in Youngstown!! Best childhood ever. My family still lives in the area. my mom sold her home and now lives in Lewiston but I manage to come up for the summer with my family for a few weeks. My kids love spending Summer’s at the fort!!
Our daughter always loves visiting Youngstown and the fort.
I am curious to find out what blog system you’re utilizing?
I’m having some minor security issues with my latest website and I would
like to find something more safe. Do you have any recommendations?
I am using wordpress on a bluehost server. So far no problems.
Great article Bob,
Unlike most of comments from readers, my wife and I did exactly the opposite. We are ‘newbies’ to the Ytown experience. Apparently you have to be here something like 20 years before you are even considered a local. We come from big city, big markets and instead were looking to focus on the ‘quality of life’ that can only be found in small town and rural living. Not to retire, as we are very active, but to be motivated to smell the flowers and take in a breath of fresh air that thankfully Youngstown, NY has in abundance.
It’s more than that though, with the backdrop of the mighty Niagara, the canyon walls of the Niagara Gorge, the majesty of the Falls, it is still an hour and a half drive, or with a good wind a four hour sail to places like Toronto, and other charming and some other metropolitan areas that are laced into the shoreline of Lake Ontario. Logistically, it is perfect here in the lower Niagara River region.
Its also 45 minutes to an affordable airport that will get you anywhere in the world. 20 minutes to an airport that will commute you to domestic destinations through discount carriers, It is the same distance to culture and world class restaurants, casinos, shopping and with the cycles of currency exchange a place to get a deal depending on what side of the border you choose to shop. Speaking of convenience, Youngstown is also a place you can kayak if you so choose to go see a play at the Shaw as the shores of Niagara-on-the-Lake has everything within walking distance.
And let’s face it, there are not many places that after a day at work, or trip to the big cities of the area which are home to over 10 million people all within an hour and a half of downtown Youngstown, where else can you descend from the edge of the Niagara Escarpment and behold what appears to be an entrance to a North American Shangri-La; complete with its own micro-climate. At that moment the weight of the world lifts off you while you look at the expanse of a place that is ‘Paradise on the Niagara’. It makes big city dweller’s knees weak.
Not sure if you are aware, but we came upon you blog through http://www.facebook.com/youngstownny. As of the writing of this reply to you, your article has reached over 7900 people. Not bad for Villages like Youngstown and Lewiston, NY when combined only have 4000 people currently residing. We think you have hit a very positive nerve indeed as other long for that quality of life you were blessed to grow up with.
We look forward to more insight from you.
Welcome to the life of the small town. It is interesting to hear the thoughts of a “newbie”. I think you nailed a good point. You get to get out and have all of the city style, but get to come home to piece and quiet.
Thank you for the update on numbers. People may move from WNY, but it stays in their heart forever. I think people like being reminded of the experience.
Grew up above the hill in Lewiston but spent plenty of time in Youngstown. We now live in Arizona but I miss many things from back there. Great article, brought back some good memories!
Thanks , Bob. I enjoyed reading your article . I grew up in Niagara on the Lake , but took and taught junior sailing at YYC as a kid , so Youngstown has always held a special place in my heart . I eventually moved away and like so many other Candians , went to Toronto to work and make a life for myself . Many years later , i reconnected with some of my Youngstown sailing friends and eventually rejoined YYC . My wife and i have now purchased a home on the river on the edge of Youngstown and look forward to spending many happy years there.
Guy,
I am glad that you enjoyed it. During this past summer, we took our daughter to the lake and watched the junior sailors. For me, it was a great place to grow up.
good blog
Thank you
Wow because this is very excellent job! Congrats and keep it up.|
Thank you. I am glad you enjoyed it.
Loved this article! I remember that older gentleman waving to everyone. What a special memory!
My siblings still live in historic homes in this beautiful town. I love to visit whenever I can.
I am glad that you enjoyed it and that it brought back memories. We love to go back whenever we get the chance.