My Edgewater Story by Ellen O'Reilly Garcia

In 1955, my parents moved from a one-bedroom apartment in St. Henry's parish on Hoyne Ave.  They bought a house on the 5400 block of Magnolia, bringing their six children along.  I was the fifth, age 2.  My parents went on to have four more kids, being the Irish Catholic couple that they were. We all attended St. Ita's grade school, a block from our house. And we all made the sacraments at St. Ita's Church, and my parents were very involved with church activities.  

We did not have a car, so our lives were very much centered on activities that were walking distance. My brothers sold newspapers on Ridge and Broadway, in front of what was then Corcoran's Grocery store.  My sisters and I worked at Corcoran’s in high school. All of us babysat for families in the neighborhood and we still see some of the “kids” we cared for.

We all loved Heinemann's Bakery, on the corner of Broadway and Ridge. For the holidays, it always sold sugar cookies with hard frosting. Shamrocks, hearts and bunnies were always a big treat. A very special memory on Bryn Mawr and Magnolia was "Tony's Shoe Store" where my father would bring his shoes for repair. Tony was a soft-spoken and kind man. He would decorate his display window at Christmas with a lovely scene of trees and kids playing in the blanket of cotton snow. For Halloween he prepared small brown paper bags with treats for the kids--a pioneer for the goody bags for kids' parties. Tony's wife is still involved at Unity Lutheran Church at Magnolia and Balmoral and is now in her mid-90s.

Bryn Mawr's stores east of Broadway included Sure Save Grocery and Smithfield Meats where Pat the butcher would give us kids a piece of bologna when my father shopped there. Bryn Mawr Theater often showed "Adult Only" films and we were to avert our eyes while passing to avoid seeing posters of "Goldfinger," etc.  And Stoyas Drug Store was on the southeast corner of Broadway.  

Moving down to Balmoral, we would go a drugstore on the corner of Broadway that sold candy bars for 5 cents. We called the drugstore “Doc’s” because that’s the name we gave the pharmacist. We also went to Karl's Food Shop just west of Doc’s, by the alley. We’d buy penny candies there after turning in pop bottles we found and exchanging them for cash.  Karl's daughter is a good friend of mine to this day.

Mrs. Gladden, on the 5300 block of Magnolia, gave piano lessons in her living room, using two baby grand pianos.  During the summers she would direct many of us children from the neighborhood in plays, mainly operettas by Gilbert and Sullivan.  After the show she would serve Rice Krispie treats, cookies, and punch, using glass cups for all ages!

I went away to college and later to a grad school program in Madrid where I met Angel.  Five years later we married, and he moved in with my mother and me. My mother was so happy that we ended up having four kids…who went to St. Ita's, (which transitioned to Northside Catholic Academy), who had friends on the block as we did, and who had to come in once the streetlights came on. 

Finally, it's so clear to me that all 10 of us O’Reilly’s had an enjoyable and safe childhood in Edgewater, filled with many happy memories. And my children were able to share that privilege as well, which has given me much joy. 

Copyright © 2024, Ellen O’Reilly Garcia