Nostalgic, sad trip to Cincy (Cincinnati, Norwood: condo, hotel, house)

[blockhead]

I just returned today from my first trip to Cincy in 20 years. My mother died last Friday and was buried in Cincinnati yesterday. I spent a few days in Cincy so between the sad events, I was able to revisit some old haunts, and see places I have read about on this site. My old elementary school, North Avondale, was torn down (apparently just recently). Walnut HIlls HS was still open and functional (if looking a little worse for wear). My old house on Paddock Rd still stands. I drove through Bond Hill and found it about as I expected it to be from reading about it on this site. Ate at the Rookwood Pottery (not nearly as good as when I was in HS). Tried to go to Mecklenberg's but it was closed on Sunday. They had Graeter's ice cream in my hotel. Much to my chagrin, did not get to eat any Chili.

I was actually in town at the time of the get together organized by Hartwell girl and Goyguy. I was there in spirit (and it sounds as though a lot of others made the same sort of non-physical appearance).

Thanks to everyone for your input on Cincy

[mike1003]

Originally Posted by blockhead

I just returned today from my first trip to Cincy in 20 years. My mother died last Friday and was buried in Cincinnati yesterday. I spent a few days in Cincy so between the sad events, I was able to revisit some old haunts, and see places I have read about on this site. My old elementary school, North Avondale, was torn down (apparently just recently). Walnut HIlls HS was still open and functional (if looking a little worse for wear). My old house on Paddock Rd still stands. I drove through Bond Hill and found it about as I expected it to be from reading about it on this site. Ate at the Rookwood Pottery (not nearly as good as when I was in HS). Tried to go to Mecklenberg's but it was closed on Sunday. They had Graeter's ice cream in my hotel. Much to my chagrin, did not get to eat any Chili.

I was actually in town at the time of the get together organized by Hartwell girl and Goyguy. I was there in spirit (and it sounds as though a lot of others made the same sort of non-physical appearance).

Thanks to everyone for your input on Cincy

Our condolences to you and your family. I remember your Mom fondly

[goyguy]

As fate would have it, I ended up in attendance at a memorial service for somebody's mom while I was in town as well. It's sad that we reconnect with old places as well as with old friends (and, all too often, family) only when a person's passing MAKES us stop what we're doing.
North Avondale Montessori is due to reopen on Clinton Springs. It's a shock to me that its former, concrete building was demolished - maybe it was just surrounded by scaffolding etc? 'twas a fugly structure, but the detailing and lettering on the front were kinda neat.
Graeter's has expanded its manufacturing into a new plant in Bond Hill. Better yet, you'll soon be able to take a tour and get free samples! Whether this facility is in that industrial area between Tennessee Ave and the Norwood Lateral, or on the former Longview land near Paddock & Seymour, nobody I've asked has known yet. That can only be a good thing for the neighborhood: production jobs that don't stink up the air!
What's left of Corryville does close on Sunday, LOL. HWG and I - and some guys who hit a winning streak on scratch tickets - were all that kept Martino's open. And it wasn't only the end of UC's academic year that was the cause, either. Short Vine only has two businesses that I remember from back in the day: Bogart's and The Cupboard. How many tattoo parlors and junk-jewelry stores does a commercial strip need anyway? It was practically a ghost town in terms of both pedestrian and vehicular traffic; even the buses run on Jefferson instead of Vine. IMHO shutting off Vine St and University Ave as main drags really did a number on that neighborhood that could'n't've been foreseen. I'd been a witness to the decline of the area, but seeing it over the course of an afternoon really brought it into sharp view.
I always get that same "can't go home again" feeling when back in town, but there are always positive changes to find too.

[soozycue520]

On a good note, Newsweek just named Walnut Hills the #60 school in the nation~

Walnut Hills ranked No. 60 in nation | Cincinnati.com | Cincinnati.Com

So, some things haven't changed!!! WHHS is my alma mater.

[goyguy]

Gotta love Walnut Hills! It wrested the #1 ranking in the area away from Wyoming this year, in the perpetual tug-of-war between those high schools and those of Indian Hill, Madeira, and Sycamore. What I like about WHHS and my alma mater is that they serve a socioeconomic cross-section, as opposed to the other three. Quality public education should be a birthright for Americans - it used to be...in fact, before the '70s there was no cause for shame to say you'd graduated from Woodward or Hughes or any other "district" high school in Cincy. They all prepared their students well.
But I should get off of that soapbox while I'm ahead!

[Ohiogirl81]

I'm sorry about your mom.