Our family lived in Portage, MI from 1976 through 1980. It was a good time for us although we did not like the winter cold and snow. We
had never been back and it was interesting to see the old neighborhood. We ate dinner with some old friends who lived down the street
from us. Thier daughter was one of Mary Lynn's best friends. The old neighborhood looked the same except for the trees which had
matured into huge ones. Our old house had a small addition added onto it. We almost got that house back we had sold it on a land
contract (Thank you Jimmy Carter) and after 5 years when the ti me for the bubble to be paid, the people said they didn't have to pay it.
We had to get a lawyer and extended it for an additional 3 months. Very little of what was in the business district remained. The old
shopping center was gone and huge new ones were further South in areas that were woods when we lived there.
had never been back and it was interesting to see the old neighborhood. We ate dinner with some old friends who lived down the street
from us. Thier daughter was one of Mary Lynn's best friends. The old neighborhood looked the same except for the trees which had
matured into huge ones. Our old house had a small addition added onto it. We almost got that house back we had sold it on a land
contract (Thank you Jimmy Carter) and after 5 years when the ti me for the bubble to be paid, the people said they didn't have to pay it.
We had to get a lawyer and extended it for an additional 3 months. Very little of what was in the business district remained. The old
shopping center was gone and huge new ones were further South in areas that were woods when we lived there.
Portage, MI
Millham Road and Westnedge
Mary Lynn got a $5 check for Christmas here and had a lot of fun
cashing it.
cashing it.
Haverhill Elementary which was about 3 blocks from our house. Mary Lynn went there grades 2, 3, 4. 5, and first part of 6th.
Haverhill Elementary
Shortcut home
Julie, the baby sitter's house.
Paula's House
Terry and Doug Swartz's house.
Our House. We didn't even have that tree.
Sneed's house.
Our house again. It looked much smaller now. After the 1977 "Storm of the
Century", we had snow beside piled up beside the driveway about 8 feet.
Century", we had snow beside piled up beside the driveway about 8 feet.
Kaylor's house next door to ours. Florence still lives there. We
left her a note to call us, but never made contact.
left her a note to call us, but never made contact.
Our house showing an addition on the back
Snow was pilled up here and the kids made
forts and "King of the Mountain."
forts and "King of the Mountain."
Paula's house again.
Our house again. They had changed the sidding and put in the fencing
along the pourch as well as doing a good job on the landscaping.
along the pourch as well as doing a good job on the landscaping.
This used to be High Wheeler Ice Cream parlor.
Terry Swartz and her 6 grandsons.
Kris Swart and her family. She was Mary Lynn's best friend.
Meijer's Thrifty Acres. We used to call to cal it Meijers Fifty Acres. We played the best practical joke of all time here. During a snow storm, we
moved Nancy's car about 6 rows over and waited for her to come out with her 300 pound buggy and laughed as she pushed it up and down the
rows. She was mad for days and the joke was on us.
moved Nancy's car about 6 rows over and waited for her to come out with her 300 pound buggy and laughed as she pushed it up and down the
rows. She was mad for days and the joke was on us.
This is the bank where Joe worked.
Evelyn Van Dine's House
The Richards's and the Swartz's at dinner.