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The Roaring 20's continues For recreation, Adolph took the boys-Sid, Stan, and Phil down to the Maumee river where he taught them to swim. Helen and I never learned because Lena was concerned for our safety, probably because she didn't swim. Ottawa park was a place for picnics and Walbridge park to visit the animals which both parents enjoyed. I remember the odor was awful and for years I resisted visiting zoos. How did the family get around to these outings? Well…the Blitzers were moving up, things were looking good, and … they owned a car-a 4-door Durant! I always wondered how Adolph could afford an automobile. The following article, the history of Durant cars, provides a view of the car industry and a flavor of the times. To boost car sales, Alfred Durant created the concept of offering "finance" to the purchaser. Buying on credit gave my family a chance to taste "the good life" and from then on, buying on credit made it possible to live. The "Star" pictured here was the low-end model. Read about Alfred Durant and the founding of General Motors.  A fascinating, more in-depth article about Alfred Durant can be read at this website:www.Detroitnews.com Adolph bought the car around 1926. (Philip recalls playing on the car floor when he was about 4.) My father also bought a home on Thatcher Drive close to Jermain park and Toledo University-the other side of Bancroft St in close proximity to Hyman and his family who lived on Parkdale. The house turned out to be cold in the winter and there were no Jews in the neighborhoods. Both conditions probably forced the family to move back to Jerome Street, probably in 1928.
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