8
Dorothy and Mathias Gartner (Grandma and
Grandpa) lived next door on Frieda Avenue.
The aroma of bread fresh from the oven, warmed
cinnamon and simmering apples seemed to waft through the
little kitchen / workroom as Florence described Uncle
Gartner’s bakery where her mother sometimes worked. First
located on Cherokee Street and later on Michigan Avenue,
Gartner’s Bakery had a reputation for its fresh baked bread
and Aunt Eva Gartner’s peach cobbler. The icing on the cake
for Florence, so to speak, was the bowling alley across the
street from the bakery.
By some standards Elizabeth and Oliver Bayers may
not have had much in the way of material goods, but they
had what they needed and shared what they had. They
played together, laughed together and cared for one
another. Like every family, love and suffering made up its
heart.
We all made a game of sliding across the hardwood
floors in the dining room. Dad tried it and ended up
sliding across on his hinny. It was really funny when
Mom tried running. She had a very ample hinny.