Camping in the Backyard--1930

The Finch brothers and their downstair's neighbor, Jeanine Smith pose for a photo next to the family tent in the side yard at 304 North Drexel Avenue in 1930. The home, split into two apartments, actually sits on the northwest corner of East New York Street and North Drexel Avenue. Although their front door faced Drexel, the Finch's upstairs living room faced busy New York Street. Years later, George Finch reported that the home was not a very quiet place in which to dwell with traffic whizzing by, including the city buses, whose tires sometimes hit the curb next to the house. Luther and Hazel Smith and their family lived downstairs at 4524 East New York Street. The Finch and Smith children had an easy walk to school as the Ralph Waldo Emerson Elementary School ( #58) was less than a block away.

In this historic photo, Richard (Dick) Finch sits behind his younger brother George. Jeanine Smith holds the baby, Robert (Bob) Finch. The small enclosed yard provided a perfect place to put up a tent. The street behind the children is Drexel Avenue. The historic image and stories are courtesy of Evan Finch.