I’ve been going down memory lane lately – and right now, that “lane” is the 4th Street/Prater Lane Corridor in Reno and Sparks.
This all started with a writing prompt in a memoir class, which asked me to write about “Where I’m From.” A few days later, I came across the 4th Street/Prater Way History Project on-line. This coincidence resulted in a poem, a poetry contest, and some other writing I will share later.
It’s funny how some places feel central to a part of yourself, and how the change in a place can sometimes mirror your own changes. Although I’ve moved away and don’t hang out on 4th Street anymore, I can see the same progression as the street in myself. Starting out strong, being bypassed, and (hopefully) experiencing a renaissance.
I didn’t spend a lot of time on 4th Street, but I usually lived close to the corridor during my twenties. I really only hung out at the diner in the poem, the coffee shop at the El Rancho Motel on 4th, and occasionally a bar at Lake and 4th. When I lived in Sparks, Deer Park was a great place to have a picnic when it was too hot in the house. That was a long time ago, but those years shaped me in many ways. Those years helped lead me on the crooked path to where I am today.
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The History Project tells the story of the changes on this corridor, the old Highway 40, through town. The website breaks this story up into different eras. Each era is described in an essay, pictures, and the oral histories of some of the people who lived and worked there. Many of the people in these stories are there now, holding on to the old places or building new lives.
The corridor today is a place of art and business, new colors and old faded ones, that make such a wonderful collage. Take a look at all the wonderful work that went into this project.
Which streets, lanes, and paths, are important to your personal history? What made them so? Let us know in the comments. Better yet, write the story, the poem, paint the picture, take the photo. Send your idea to Nevada Narratives and we’ll work on publishing it here. The poetry contest ends February 26th.
Makes me want to go back down and wander around there. Haven’t been downtown to any of these areas is so long.
You should go. It’s really interesting what is happening down there. I am especially intrigued with the area just east of Virginia, out until about Wells Ave. Lots of creativity in that area. BTW, I’d love to see a poem from you for the contest.
Changes – à la Suzi and David
You make me think of a street I spent a lot of time on when I was in primary school: Wilbeam Avenue in Castro Valley California. When I’m in the area, I like to go back to see what changes have happened. The house where we lived for about three years was still there the last time I went by, surrounded by apartment buildings. I like the fact that it is like a “hold-out” amongst urban high-rises.
But the changes in the surrounding neighborhood are what make me go back to see if the “hold-out” is still there. What was a “continuation” high school down the street near the overpassing freeway was turned into a BART station some years ago, and the lots that we rode our bikes on and meandered through during summer vacation and weekends were turned into a massive parking lot.
When we lived there the population of the tiny town dwindled and they closed one of the two junior high schools and made one of the two high schools into the newly conceptualized “middle schools.” The other high school catered for grades 10-12. Of course it way my high school out in the Canyon, the one with a radical view of learning, “modules” and college-style schedule with different classes each day of the week.
When my friend and I learned that we would have to spend our last two years of high school at Castro Valley High, with eight periods every day of the same thing Monday through Friday, we took the high school proficiency exam and left our friends to suffer with the “jocks and the cheerleaders.”
I instead went to junior college and graduated with my A.A. the year my peers were getting their high school diplomas. Sometimes what may seem like a bad change, when handled properly, can become a good change.
So, I’d like to dedicate this story to Suzi Stormon, who’s taken an almost tragic — well, it was tragic in some ways, but she’s still with us! — event in her life and turned it into some wonderful writing and a forum for others to express themselves and turn negative changes into positive ones.
Thank you, Suzi!
P.S. As I finish this off, I cannot help but be reminded of my favorite words in my favorite David Bowie (RIP) song “And these children that you spit on, As they try to change their worlds, Are immune to your consultations, They’re quite aware of what they’re going through” – they may not be exactly relevant to the context above, but the force, courage and power they reflect appeals to me in both situations.
Thanks for your story Susan. I’m glad my story about a place encouraged you to write about yours. Going back sometimes lets us see the way forward. We need to watch these changes in our world and in ourselves.
Thanks for your story, Susan. Launched me back in memory lane.
Wandering down those lanes seems to be a common pastime for many of us. I hope it was a good ramble.
It was good in some instances, but it also reminds me of the adage “you can never go home”… Either you or “home” — or both… — change, whether they are gradual or quick. It’s only when the changes are shocking or unwanted that we might complain. Other changes are welcome. But change, as they say, is the only “constant”…
I agree. We might as well get used to the fact that everything changes. Sometimes it’s awfully good to look back though.