Four Seasons of the Vacant Lot in Old Strathcona

For the children of the area, a vacant lot in Strathcona provided a magical world all year round.

In 1939, when I was about nine years old, we lived behind the old Strathcona Post Office, kitty-corner from my home; facing south was a whole city block vacant, and inviting. A huge sprawling maple tree offered horizontal branches for each of us to have a home. We played house for hours, climbing through our make believe mansions and visiting one another.

In summer, on another corner of the lot, we were favored with a circus. Big cones of pink cotton candy, music and the crunch of sawdust under foot, greet us. The invitations of the stall owners calling “Come see! Here!” intrigued us. Five cents bought some delicious candy, but the tantalizing smells of hot dogs and onions were free. The red, yellow, and blue of the balloons dancing in the breeze gave us pleasure.

We ran from one booth to another, listened to each call offering – from the vendors, “Come try your luck,” one shouted as he tossed the wooden hoops from one hand to the other.

In between the tree house and the circus corner was a huge area overgrown with grasses and weeds. In winter, it became a skating rink. At night, bright lights around the perimeter invited one to come and watch the skaters.

The men and older boys, who scraped the ice, created mountain-like mounds of snow, as they shoveled more and more over the boards. Some of the older children carved out tunnels and caves in the packed snow banks.

In places, the snow was piled higher than the boards around the ice. We jumped from one hill to another, explored the tunnels, enjoying the thrill. Would they cave-in on us? How far can we jump?”

In spring as the mounds of snow softened, a nickel or a quarter would glint in the icy slush. We hunted for hours to see what treasures we could find.

In the fall, it was back to school. The green leaves on our tree house gradually turned a brilliant, golden yellow. The autumn breezes whistled through the tall dried grasses and wild flowers.

Soon the field would be covered with frost and snow. All was quiet as the vacant lot was being prepared for winter; and for us.