a native?

By

Gerry Niskern

A guest columnist for the Arizona Republic recently asked the question, “Are you a native?” He goes on to say that a native isn’t necessarily someone born in Arizona, but rather it’s what you have experienced here that makes you a native.

The “What if…?” questions that he posed were describing “late comers” as far as I was concerned. So I decided to ask a few qualifiers of my own. Here goes:’ If you watched the City of Phoenix fireworks on the 4thof July at Encanto Park that were set off on an island in the Lagoon or if you sat on the grassy slope in front of Encanto’s Bandshell and watch the entertainment at War Bond Drives,  you might be a native.

Do  you remember skating at the roller rink at  Five Points or going next door to Uptons for ice cream sodas to cool off? Maybe you had a cone from the very first Soft Serve ice cream machine in Phoenix, at the little restaurant on West Jefferson and l7th Ave.

Did you help the streetcar conductor turn all the benches the other direction for the trip back downtown at the end of the line  on 19^th Ave and Adams. Or did you go with your folks out to the Japanese farms on West Northern to pick the strawberries that were left in the field after the first crop was picked. Or maybe you remember the Vegetable Man (every neighborhood had one) who drove down the alley two or three times a week with fresh veggies for sale from his open-sided truck.

Did you watch the A-l Queens and the PBS Ramblers play in the old Joe Hunt Stadium on l9th Ave and Grand Ave? Did you ever go to the Strand or the Rialto on Saturday mornings? Better yet, was the Fox Leaders club movies on West Washington. And do  you remember the giant city Christmas Tree in the middle of Central and Washington, standing on a large platform in all it’s holiday glory.

Have you ever picked a Pomegranate from the hedge row along the railroad tracks on your way from school to nibble on. Maybe your dad brought home a truck bed full of over ripe cantaloupes from the packing sheds out on Grand Ave. They were too ripe for shipping but just right for eating and all the neighbors loved them!

If you watched the Rodeo  Parade on North Central every year and if Monty Montana and his trick horse came to your school during Rodeo week, and you remember the JayCees chasing down anyone on the downtown  area not dressed western and fineing them, you might be a native.

If you swam at the Riverside pool and had the nerve to go down the gigantic slide or last but not least, dropped from a rope on a Cottonwood tree into the cool water of an irrigation ditch below, you REALLY might be a native.

If you answered yes to a few of my questions, you just MIGHT BE A NATIVE!