It seems like every time a child was born in our family, we moved. Lived in Firestone Park, Highland Square, Goodyear Heights, North Hill, Summit Lake. As teenagers, we lived in a home built in 1919, with all the oak wordwork and built-ins. As adults, 4 of 5 siblings have owned homes built between 1902 and 1910. They don't build them like that anymore! The city has always been very diverse, culturally, but many neighborhoods have gone downhill over the past 20 years. Downtown Akron used to be amazing at Christmas time. Thanks for all the memories!
My dad was born and raised in Akron back in the 40's and 50's and his parents took him to Stricklands as long as he can remember. My dad then took me and my siblings in the 70's and 80's. We would go over to the landing strip and watch the planes come and go. I have taken my daughter there since the early 2000's till now. I hope one day to take my grandchildren there.
Grew up on North Hill and Crest bakery in the 70's and 80's and delivered pizzas for dominoes back the 80's when it was 30 minutes or its free. Things sure have changed since then. When I was younger my father managed 3 local McDonald's the one Waterloo Rd. had a fountain pond out front with fish, turtles and frogs. Woolworths, Polsky's and O'Neils Christmas shopping widow displays all long gone now. Great memories. Ah Strickland's still go when I can. As a little boy did exactly that cheap treat watching the planes and blimp. Got to go into the the giant building the blimps were in.
I know that sometimes around Christmas, Downtown Akron pulls out the Polsky displays and showcases them around Lock 3, although the Polsky building is currently used by the University of Akron to host the Akron Early College High School
My husband and I both enjoyed the memories, especially Swensons! Our son and grandchildren live in the area, we live in GA, when we visit, Swensons is a "must do".
I live in San Francisco I always go to Swensons I was surprised to see it in your your film I grew up in Cuyahoga Falls I always go to Swensons when I come back home. I love Northeast Ohio and I love Akron. Thank you so much for putting together this film. It touched my heart.
I'm so happy this was in my feed! Thank you, Mr. Hoffman! Does anyone remember Thackers in Goodyear Heights on E. Market St.? The Goodyear blimp hangars? Woolworth's Five and Dime in downtown? The Peanut Shoppe? Trecasso's? I can't wait to visit the Archives!
100%, one of my favorite memories. Buy 'em by the sack! I tell people about watching the burgers in production, and the little chocolate milks in bottles. We would take them out to the airport and watch the blimps back out of the hangar. Woolworth's too. That restaurant on Market Street that had Chicken Paprikash, My brother worked at Reddi Kilowatt- remember that big sign near the birdge? And of course, Friday night pizza at Luigi's, when the puppet band over the door was still working . . . . .
My mom's from North Hill went to North. We used to hang out on the train tracks back behind Easton Drive when I was a kid throwing rocks at the boxcars. My grandma worked on the Goodyear blimps in the twenties and thirties sewing together the blimps because she had long nails which was a requirement.
My dad and his siblings went to Saint Martha's way, way back in the day. I grew up in South Akron, not far from Firestone park. Also lived on Kenmore Blvd for a short time in 1970. I was pretty young when my family and I lived there.
Unfortunately, Crest Bakery is no longer in business...but that was a very special treat for us growing up. Akron used to be so beautiful! There are still a lot of beautiful turn of the century homes here (1800s to 1920s), but you have to see the INsides!
I was born here and went to Hotchkiss Elementary for Kindergarten. Left for California in 1980 and grew up there. I visit Akron to see my dad every so often and it's different every time I go.
A very fine presentation of Akron. Swenson's is the best, and an appropriate way to end things. I prefer the old Swenson's building seen in this video. The new Swenson's has no architectural character, but the food is still great. They should have built a well-designed edifice to match the food.
I was born and raised in Akron and worked at one of the rubber companies. They are all long gone purchased by foreign tire companies that moved them all out of Akron. My neighborhood has gone down down down. My parents had a barber shop and beauty salon. Recently one of my sister's visited and they are actually renting out rooms in the former shop!! Wow, they offer clean sheets with each bed....yikes! There is nothing appealing about the city any longer. Not the weather, jobs, shoppings, entertainment...very very sad.
I was there in Aug. this year--my neighborhood is going down--most of my hs classmates are long gone, Firestone and Litchfield are torn down--whole area in West Akron looks worn and crumbling--lots of foreclosures and no jobs--ain't happening my friend.
Firestone and Litchfield got a brand new $90 million dollar combined building. Sadly, they got it at the expense of Kenmore, North and Garfield who are all most likely being closed.Karen Smith, Akron is FAR from thriving. I don't know what fantasy YOU live in. Biggest heroin epidemic in the state...Violence...drugs....neighborhoods becoming more and more crime ridden and broken down. Michael is right.
I lived very close to Litchfield and FHS, my house was 539 Castle Blvd. --went back last year, old neighborhood is changing--such a nice area going away---Fairlawn is okay, Hudson is very nice, Medina is good, if I could take the cold I'd come back--I left in 81 for TX
My dad recently sent me a photo of me, Santa, and the Mayor of Akron back in 2005. After seeing this video, I realized must have been Bruce Ford who took that photo of me!
Hi Phil, and ZOT!!!! Great piece, when was it done though?! Some references seem like they're from a while back [edit - just got to the end, & see 2005 - even more changed it seems! Guzzetta Hall for one!]...Weird, I was out of Akron proper long before Canal Park was even started, so it's a bit disconcerting to go past when I'm up that way...and interestingly, I played music for the 'groundbreaking' so to speak of the U taking over Polsky's, it was Roland Paolucci of course and me & some fellow jazz students, all gussied up for the U brass and city/civic/biz people lunching in the empty building. Kinda eerie actually, but interesting. Great memories of my time at the U and getting my life started; met my wife at the U & we're married almost 33 years. Walking back to the dorm on Exchange late at night the BJ building with the rotating sign on top with the clock was always a comfort. Anyway, quite enjoyed this - be well! Craig and I have had numerous musical successes on Dr Demento as Power Salad, videos can be found here. Take care!
This is most interesting as for Kenmore and Bobs Mom now 97 was friends with the featured McGuiers , they are both gone , but were correct everyone did go there after a game or on a date. Pat Dillion was also a neighbor who as I was taken there as a young person Myself was taken there over the years from 1950 to the present day It srill remains . Swensons has been in Akron also and boy they are good tool
Check out my Rolling Acres Mall tribute playlist... it has many of the videos on here about "Rotting Acres" as the mall is famous for now; one thing I'm still looking for, however, is videos of the mall in its heyday... keep checking in as this playlist will grow as I find more stuff... ---Randi #RIPRollingAcresMall
That Swensons curb guy messed up that call. They are not supposed to say to go instead they just say go because the to is unnecessary and inefficient you know how long it takes to say to too long. Although we did always a the unnecessary bit polite please at the end. I used to be part of the inside crew but I took phone orders and called them out in addition to my usual position on the soda fountain. Go please.
Probably a lotta asbestos, too. The auditorium of the oldest high school in Akron had lead paint and asbestos in it. Still has asbestos in certain places, and probably lead paint under all the layers that have been painted over it, but the building is planned to be demolished by Akron U at some point in the next couple years
