How long have
you lived in your neighborhood and why did you choose to live there?
My husband and I bought this house about 30 years ago. We lived in a new house in a new subdivision on the south side of town for awhile, but it just didn’t appeal to us. One day, we were driving around all over the city looking at houses and we found this house for sale. It was built sometime between 1915 and 1920. We walked through it once and made an offer. We loved the fact that Bowerman Elementary was right down the street and we could watch our kids walk to school. I’ve enjoyed seeing this neighborhood grow up, and its small-town feel. When we moved here, we were the youngest on the block and now I’m the “grandmother” on the street. Also, now that I’m 68 and a widow, it’s nice to know that I’m part of a neighborhood and that I’m not alone.
What do you do for a living?
I am retired now, but for over 30 years, I was a wallpaper installer and I loved it. Now I operate a small home-based business a few hours a day where I process tubes of cane to make finished reeds for oboes and English horns. I’ve also volunteered for Springfield Public Schools’ PTA Clothing Bank, which is located at Study Alternative School, for about three years. I grew up very, very poor, but my clothing was always cleaned and starched – there just weren’t a lot of them. We see kids come in who really don’t have much of anything, and we love to help them out. We can help any SPS student who qualifies for free/reduced lunch with their clothing needs. Kids can come three times a year and get three bottoms (pants, skirts or shorts), five tops, a jacket, a coat and brand-new socks and underwear. We also have extras, such as donated hats, gloves, scarves, even pajamas. We treat all the kids and their families as if they’re shopping at Macy’s! The clothing bank is open 2:30-5 p.m. on Thursdays and some Saturday mornings. Visit the Facebook page at ThePTAClothingBank for more information.
What’s something you’d like to change about your neighborhood?
I really wish there were more regulations on maintenance of rental properties and landlords. There are some very nice families in my neighborhood that rent their homes. Some of the landlords really need to take better care of their properties for the families who live in them.”
Please tell us about your family.
I have three grown kids – a daughter and two sons – and three grandsons.