History of One's Own ...

Today, Historian Bob Murphy gifted me with a photo of my cottage on Haven Ave. from 1960 which was before the L-shaped porch had been enclosed. Thanks, Bob; I appreciate you filling in that photographic hole in my cottage history! The boy in the photo, as yet unidentified, is standing on Ames Ave. facing Burt Park with Haven Ave. running to his left and right. As you can tell, Haven was not used as much as Ames Ave. was in those days. (Notice the  grass growing in the middle of Haven to the boy's left.)

Editor's Note: The following statement in blue type was originally the closing line of the above photo caption: This is also back in the days when Haven still connected with Janes Ave. and Thompson Ave. which heads up the hill to the boy's right. This statement above is incorrect when placed within the context of 1960. Haven was sold off, east of Lot 173, a minimum of 15 to 20 years before 1960 and quite possibly considerably longer. Actions such as these were recorded on the new deeds involved but not necessarily recorded elsewhere in Institute records, according to a conversation with the SLI Registrar in 2016. Jack Small Provides additional information in the following email to the Editor dated 3 May 2018. Many thanks to Jack for helping correct the incorrect dating:

Something isn't quite right about the statement accompanying the Bob Murphy picture from 1960.  It may be that your street went thru to Janes & then up to Thompson, but it was not like that at least from around 1945 to 1970.  When I was growing up, the home on the SouthWest corner of Janes & Genesee was owned by Walter Ward, who was in charge of shutting the cottage water off and on each year.  He owned the lot on the other side of Janes where there now is a home.  But in the 40-s etc, it housed a great playhouse that Walter built for his grandaughter.  It was always well kept up and very attractive.  I was in it several times as a young child, and was always intrigued by the miniature furniture.  At some point perhaps late 50's it was moved across Janes to behind his home (where the huge garage now stands.)  I was able to take my 2 older children to see it.  A few years after Walter passed away, his house was sold.  I believe the playhouse was moved down to the home at the corner of Chapman and Perry Ave.  It is in need of a "fix up."  The large house and garage/barn on Janes, above  your place, was owned for many years by Charles & Edith Durkee.  Charles was a carpenter, sort of an older Brad Hennig.  After he died, Edith lived on for years there.  She kept the place up well.  I am somewhat hazy about this, but she did have a cottage that she rented in the summer that was below her house.  Not sure if it was your place or another directly east of yours.  It was accessible from your street, not from Janes.  Edith also had a small apartment above the garage that she rented.  She always kept her property up, including gardens, well into her 80's.