Salt Lake City 1940..ishLast week I went shopping in antique stores on 300 South in Salt Lake City. I love poking around and looking at dishes, glassware, lamps and furniture that were once the height of fashion. I find it kind of amusing (or maybe a little sad) that some of the gifts I received as wedding presents are now high priced antiques or at the very least considered “vintage”.
After browsing in RetroRose ( one of my favorite stores) and Jitterbug(a store that specializes in antique toys) I walked across the street with no particular destination in mind. It had rained earlier in the day and the air still felt thick but the sky was a bright blue. I passed an old Catholic church with a crumbling foundation. Small children were playing in the front yard among flowers that needed tending.
I came to large 3 story red brick apartment building. It is U shaped with an enormous green courtyard that faces the street. White shutters adorn the windows while a black iron fence adds a bit of security. Three words flashed in my mind “This is it”. This was the building that my parents lived in shortly after getting married. I was always aware that they had lived in the city but never made the effort to find the exact location. Now here I was looking at the building and my mind is going around in circles. I tried to imagine what the apartment looked like…. What floor did they live on?...... What was their daily routine?...... All of these facts are now lost to me with their demise.
As I stood there mesmerized by this piece of the past I felt a small connection to them.. which in reality is a connection to who I am.
What a cool old picture of SLC! And what a fun day you had with special memories. I use to spend most of my days tromping around old stuff and wondering who used them, when and where. Don't have that luxury anymore but glad you can do it. If only walls and stuff could talk. Oh the stories they could tell....
ReplyDeleteOh what a wonderful rememberie! I have never been to those stores and LOVE picking through the "vintage" things. We'll have to make a Saturday breakfast date then off to the stores, huh?!
ReplyDeleteI know just the building you're talking about! I've always wondered/dreamed of what it would be like to live "downtown."
ReplyDeleteBrie loves Retro Rose, I always say I REMEMBER THAT!! Jitterbug is a bit spendy, I think he wants you to negotiate, he loves to talk :)
This is me, Life In Red Shoes
I love those old apt buildings downtown! A poignant feeling,standing in front feeling a connection to an old building with such a long ago connection! I get it!! Glad you had a fun day visiting the past!
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