Although it was taken many years later, it shows the neighborhood pretty much the way it existed when I lived there in the mid- to late-70s.. The image is from Microsoft's Terra Server and is labeled the "Naval Air Station" since the base had been turned over to the Navy at the time imagery was produced.In the 80s, the base was turned over to the Navy. Over the course of time, Willis-Cartwright Elementary school was razed. Much of the housing in both off-base housing areas was sold and moved out so that the property could be commercially developed.
The image below shows my neighborhood as it appeared after all of the houses and most of the streets had been removed. The photo is taken from Google Earth's satellite imagery. I guess "progress" makes its own way in the world and nothing is exempt from the laws of change.
Fortunately, no one can take away the memories I have of that neighborhood and my childhood years spent there. And when my memory itself starts to get fuzzy, I do have photos that can help out in a pinch.
12 comments:
I was at Theodore Willis until we got bused out to Carver. Did you know a Paul and Mike on Fairchild maybe??
I lived there in that neighborhood :) we lived at 204 Tinker drive.. there is now a fitness center sitting on our part of the neighborhood :( I was at Theodore Willis from 1971 until 1974, then went on to Monnig Middle school.. I have been trying to remember my 3rd grade teachers name.. I think it was Mrs. Goin.. Can't remember 4th grade teachers name either, She read us the "Little House" books in class.. 5th grade was Mr. Darden, his first year at Theodore Willis..
hmm, I thought Straley was in our neighborhood, but didn't see Tinker on your map, We lived right near the "housing office"
Wow! This really tests my memory. I attended 2nd at Burton Hill (1970 or 71) but moved on base and went to T.W. for 3rd and 4th (1971-72).
Cannot remember teacher (She was African American and very nice).
From the School playground, I can remember seeing F111 crash at General Dynamics.
Stephanie - The housing office was located in the neighborhood near the school. Straley was located in the other neighborhood closer to White Settlement.
funky blue rooster - offhand, I don't recall a Paul or Mike on Fairchild.
My brothers were Paul and Mike Mastrianni. We lived on Weaver from 1966 to 1970.
Hi, Rose ...
Weaver Avenue is no longer. When that portion of base housing was cleared out, the property was redeveloped for several a strip mall and big box retailers, like Lowes.
Looking at your blog, you may be aware of that already. :)
The african american teacher was Ms. Carter. It is nice to see some of my old neighbors posting here. I knew a Stephanie- a brunette? funky blue rooster I also got bussed to the East Side Projects - another liberal social engineering disaster...that meant nothing.
i went to t. willis in the 70's from first to fifth. also lived in base housing. we lived on straley, yount, general ramey( i think that was the street name- the school was right out back the door). my second grade year they were going to start busing, but parents through a huge fit.
I went to Theodore Willis Elementary 1963-1964. Both 3rd & 4th grade. Mrs Goin was my 3rd grade teacher and Ms. Golden was my 4th grade teacher. I have proud, fond memories there. We lived in the off-base housing on Gerlich Ave. I have often wondered whatever happened to the area as I have not looked into it until today. Yes, we were there when JFK was assassinated. From T.Willis all of us kids went out to the playground with small American Flags to wave as AF1 took off from the AFB runway near the school. About an hour later the president was dead. My mother and youngest brother walked from our home to the main road where the motorcade past and was able to wave to the President and Jackie as they were on their way to the AF1 to fly to Dallas.
I lived on dayless, they are duplexes. Shared ours with the Christianson family. We actually we're the cartwrights. No relation. Then we lived on Fairchild across the street from the school. Anyone out there?
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