A Few More Memories from Coleridge Avenue

After talking with Peter O'Donnell, he reminded me of the Cubitts who lived just a couple of doors down from the O'Donnells. The Cubitts were devout Salvation Army people but as they aged, it was not possible for them to make the trip to attend church services at the Salvlation Army on Cedarvale and Danforth Avenues. So, every Sunday morning, the Salvation Army band would come to play in from of the Cubitts house. I really looked forward to hearing the band because it was so unique.

Next door to to the Cubitts lived Mr. and Mrs. Mulholland and Mrs. Mulholland's elderly and very ill mother, Mrs. Turner. Every Spring, I would collect Lilly of the Valley flowers and take them to Mrs. Turner just to brighten up her room and so that she could enjoy the amazing fragrance of Lilly of the Valley. To this day, it is one of my favourite flowers and I have them planted in my garden.

When I think of how politically incorrect we were back in the day, it makes my hair curl. Next door to Barrie Wilkinson, a family moved and we all called their little son, Johnnie the Greek. I'm not even sure if the family was Greek but that was his nickname and it stuck.

Who could forget Mrs. Brown and her brother, Mr. Pritchard, who lived at 93 Coleridge Avenue, right next door to the Archibalds. Mrs. Brown and Mr. Pritchard were ancient to us and crabby as old get out. They owned a vicious Chow dog and every time we tried to walk down the side walkway of the Archibald's house, the Chow would try to attack us! We were absolutely terrified of both the dog and the owners. Of course, we did things to deliberately annoy them simply because we could.

And there was the time when there was a party at the McDonald's house and one of the Fitzpatrick boys was stabbed. Thankfully, there were no serious injuries. All of that took place after I left Coleridge.

All in all, Coleridge was your basic post war community. There were so many kids because we were all baby boomers which made it great for growing up together. It just amazing to have so many of our old friends reuniting again too. The list just keeps growing and hopefully, we won't see an end to it any time soon.