To the editor:

I enjoyed Elizabeth Black’s observations on the subdivisions of Lawrence (Pulse, Aug. 6). Times change. I recall a simpler time.

Born on Maine Street in 1928 and coming of age with World War II, I had also lived on Illinois, Mississippi, Indiana, Ohio, Rhode Island, New York and Learnard streets. Growing up, I had various paper routes south of the Kansas River to Haskell University with Oak Hill Cemetery on the east and Indiana Street on the west. There were about 15,000 citizens back then when the 3,000 KU students were at home. There were six districts with dividing lines:

1. East Lawrence (“old town”) dates back to the original plat and development by the pioneers of 1854, the New England Emigrant Aid Society; bound on the west by Massachusetts and south of the river to 23rd.
2. The Black and Mexican enclave east of New York, north of 11th; many were railway, cannery or warehouse workers.
3. North Lawrence, north of the Kansas River, railway or agriculture-related workers.
4. Old West Lawrence, west of Massachusetts, south of 13th, mostly merchants or retail workers in the central business district.
5. The Kansas University community, west of Kentucky from 11th to 19th, west to the gravel road of Iowa Street.
6. The Haskell community, south of 23rd, east of Vermont.

The principle delineating consideration was a home where you could walk to work and come home for lunch. Gasoline was 11 cents per gallon if you could afford the $600 black Model T Ford.

George Taylor,

Lawrence