Shirley Longwell--houses she lived in

“The home is the center and circumference, the start and the finish, of most of our lives.” (Charlotte Perkins Gilman) ***** When Shirley and Roy (my parents) were married they lived in “the little house” which was behind her parents’ house on Milwaukee St. It was very small but a great place for the young family to start their married life together. Shirley remembers walking from the little house to nearby St. James instead of St. Adalbert Church since it was closer and sitting on the hard, wooden pews while Roy was home taking care of their daughter (me.) Roy and Shirley lived in “the little house” for a few years. When her brother Ronnie was getting married, it was time to move out and let them have their turn. ***** The Longwells then moved a few miles away with their daughter Paulette. Because of construction of a new highway, “the little house” and the house her parents lived in were demolished a short time later. The destruction of many neighborhoods resulted in changing the Westside forever. The Longwells continued in the same house, eventually adding LInda and Lori to the family. They liked to live there with great neighbors and brought their children back to the old neighborhood to attend school at St. Adalbert. ***** 59 years later, Shirley moved to a condominium which she really likes. She still likes to do some flower gardening but no longer has to worry about so much upkeep.