STORIES MY DAD TOLD ME

My dad was born in his family's residence on Paradrome Street on Mount Adams. I assume that every one of his brothers and sisters were born in one house or another on 'the Hill'.

My dad's brother Stanley was a printer by trade. When he drank, he fancied himself a 'song and dance man'. He loved to do the 'soft shoe' while singing an old standard. I witnessed his act many times. He was, at times, a heavy drinker. He was 'Irish' personified.

Mount Adams became a chic residential area with redevelopment in the 1980's and then a nightlife destination for the young with numerous dining and drinking establishments springing up . One such place was called The Blind Lemon. It was a narrow brownstone two-story apartment turned into a night club. One night Stanley was drinking there and evidently trying to sing and dance with the paid entertainers. When he became intolerable to the manager, he asked Stanley to leave. With the urging of the bouncers, Stan was shown to the street. What he screamed on the way out was the significant part. He said, "You can't throw me out of here! I was born in this place!" You know, he was born there. They still threw him out.