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Horan Avenue Memories

I am part of the first wave of Baby Boomers. I was born in September after the war, just 9 months after my parents married. No hesitation on their part to start a family.

There was a postwar housing shortage for the returning servicemen and their growing families. I spent my first few month living at my grandparents home at 16 Willow Court in Stamford, CT. However that would change thanks to veterans housing.

Because of the housing crisis, the government provided standardized rental homes. They had a kitchen, living room, two bedrooms, and a room size utility closet. We had central heat, no radiators. I remember plenty of winter ice on those two front windows of the bedroom I shared with my sisters. The building rested on blocks, there was no cellar. We took baths in the kitchen sink because there was only a shower, no tub.

Living the dream at 50 Horan Avenue, Stamford, CT
Living the dream at 50 Horan Avenue, Stamford, CT
Enjoying the sun with Dad - May 1947
Enjoying the sun in the first May of my life
50 Horan Avenue,, Stamford, CT
With Mom, not sure of date

I made the right choice for my birth situation, which assumes we get to choose it. Great parents, siblings and family. The only downside was growing up with the bomb, and the fear of polio (at least till 1955).

In addition I would like to share these photos of my Godparents when they visited. Note how formal everyone dressed in the 1940s, especially my Aunt Marjorie.

Being held by my Dad and Godfather
Being held by my Uncle Ed and Dad. I looked drugged.
Riding High in 1947
This is my all time favorite baby picture with my Aunt Marjorie. Check out those shoes.

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5 thoughts on “Postwar Veteran’s Housing – 1947”

  1. Yes the Pockl and Carlucci families were our neighbors. It was a homogeneous population of WWII veterans with their young families, There were so many kids of our own age. My best friend was Fergus Connors Junior who lived just a few houses away. Sadly his name is now on the Vietnam Wall.

  2. Noticing the differences between your life and mine at that age. Was your mom wearing slacks???? Those shoes I think it was your aunt wearing those… OMG. My mom would never wear either slacks or shoes like that but I can’t remember much else and all the pics are gone. Anyway your mom was quite attractive and your dad quite handsome. So what happened??????????

    1. Mom was and is quite the quite the independent woman. Never shy nor demur, She was an only child that married into a large boisterous (Polish) family. She never had a problem securing her place in the hierarchy. My Aunt Marjorie was a beauty both internally and externally. She was best friends with my Mom until her death. I don’t know what happened to me, this is topic for our next music jam.

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