So was Penn Valley a Levittown? You know who else has written eloquently about growing up the suburbs and a Levittown in particular? Bill Griffith, creator of Zippy, esp. in his graphic memoir Invisible Ink. PS: Chris feels exactly the same way about being snatched out of grim postwar central London and exiled to the the green suburbs of Middlesex.
Does the Main Line west from London go there? Most of the first ring of suburbs of Philadelphia were settled by the Welsh. The suburban line I rode started in Radnor and went through Bryn Mawr and Merion. My sister now lives at the other end of the suburban arc. Her train station is North Wales.
It’s south and west, between Carmarthen and Haverfordwest, near Tenby and Laugherne - Dylan Thomas country. It’s a small market town in a hill, lots of sheep farmers. But with real charm. Pilgrims certainly sailed from nearby so I’d be confident of a link!
Fabulous as always. I had a more mobile childhood, being born in Bolton, Lancashire, a mill town just north of Manchester, but moving to the leafy suburbs of Hertfordshire before I could remember much. There we could travel the tube into Central London and often did. Then we moved back to the North West and I encountered prejudice for the first time. Nothing a strong as anti-semitism, but hurtful nevertheless. My “southern” accent labeled me as not being “from round here”. Whenever there was an argument between me and a fellow class mate the teacher always said I was in the wrong, and I still remember being told “that maybe how you do things in the south, but it is not how we doing it here”!
Nicely done (as usual) Michael. Many echoes of my own history (Levittown, Great Neck), although mostly minus the anti-semitism. I grew up in a school system that was 90% Jewish, my Dad gave me a warning on my imminent departure for college in Ohio about how I would probably encounter anti-Jewish sentiment. I was baffled, what? I had no memories of living in New York City, so never missed it. Actually hated visiting The City because they made me wear itchy dress-up clothes.
So was Penn Valley a Levittown? You know who else has written eloquently about growing up the suburbs and a Levittown in particular? Bill Griffith, creator of Zippy, esp. in his graphic memoir Invisible Ink. PS: Chris feels exactly the same way about being snatched out of grim postwar central London and exiled to the the green suburbs of Middlesex.
No. Penn Valley was tract developments but much smaller in scale and slightly more in price.
I wish I had your memory Michael - wonderful stuff. Have you ever visited Narberth in Wales? You should
one day ...rather different proposition ...!
Does the Main Line west from London go there? Most of the first ring of suburbs of Philadelphia were settled by the Welsh. The suburban line I rode started in Radnor and went through Bryn Mawr and Merion. My sister now lives at the other end of the suburban arc. Her train station is North Wales.
You could get most of the way from Paddington but would need a bus or taxi for the last few miles ...those Philly Welsh names are brilliant !
It’s south and west, between Carmarthen and Haverfordwest, near Tenby and Laugherne - Dylan Thomas country. It’s a small market town in a hill, lots of sheep farmers. But with real charm. Pilgrims certainly sailed from nearby so I’d be confident of a link!
Fabulous as always. I had a more mobile childhood, being born in Bolton, Lancashire, a mill town just north of Manchester, but moving to the leafy suburbs of Hertfordshire before I could remember much. There we could travel the tube into Central London and often did. Then we moved back to the North West and I encountered prejudice for the first time. Nothing a strong as anti-semitism, but hurtful nevertheless. My “southern” accent labeled me as not being “from round here”. Whenever there was an argument between me and a fellow class mate the teacher always said I was in the wrong, and I still remember being told “that maybe how you do things in the south, but it is not how we doing it here”!
These are great, Michael - thank you
Fascinating piece, Michael! Will share it with my wife, who grew up in Far Rockaway, another place where, back when, everyone was Jewish.
Nicely done (as usual) Michael. Many echoes of my own history (Levittown, Great Neck), although mostly minus the anti-semitism. I grew up in a school system that was 90% Jewish, my Dad gave me a warning on my imminent departure for college in Ohio about how I would probably encounter anti-Jewish sentiment. I was baffled, what? I had no memories of living in New York City, so never missed it. Actually hated visiting The City because they made me wear itchy dress-up clothes.