Wednesday, June 17, 2020

Wordless Wednesday: The Mystery of Peddlers' Alley



I make the rounds to my favorite places when I head back to Sandusky, Ohio, where I grew up. The one place I always forget to go, and don't remember until I'm back home again, is Peddlers' Alley. It's an alley that I remember being surrounded by this really awesome, intricately designed red brick. I mean covered in it, from every angle. 


So, imagine my surprise when I got there, and there was a sign that said 'Peddlers' Alley' but it was open on each side, and led to a brick wall that was designed just like I remember (but the alley was open, and definitely NOT surrounded in brick!).


What the what? Did they tear down the sides of the alley? Is my childhood memory faulty (it can't be that faulty!)? I dunno. I searched for a bit online, but couldn't find anything to support that it used to look like I remember in my mind. All in the same, the wall at the end was nice, and I took a few photos on my phone. I'll keep looking to try and find something to support what my memory thinks is true, that it looked very different in the 1970s. Not that this new look was bad, it's wasn't, in fact it was cute, it just was not the same as my recollection of it.


There were signs of renovation, such as blocked in doors on the sides of buildings in the alley. There were things that must be kind of new too, like I don't remember the various decorations hanging on the walls (moons, stars, etc.,) though they were surely nice touches. 


Like I said, in my memory, when I used to walk down this alley when I was a kid, it was all red brick, cool red brick, like a deliberate design... like the wall at the end of it still is...though that's open now (free standing) too and can be accessed from various directions.


Did it used to look much, much different than it does now?? Or is that just my memory imagination (is 'memory imagination' a real thing?? ha!)? I do not know, but I'd like to...


Are the variances in stone patterns and such signs that I was right? Was there something more here once upon a time?


And if so, and it was as pretty as I remember it being, why would they tear it down (if they did)?


The Sandusky State Theater is steps away from this alley. I had half a mind to go take pictures there too, since it's such a landmark, but my mom was waiting in the car (she didn't want to get out to see the alley). I kind of wish now that I had. It was such a staple in our lives when I was a kid. My grandma took me to see my first concert there; My mom wouldn't let me go see The Michael Stanley Band with my friends there (she said I was too young), and oh how I wanted to go even though I only knew one of their songs; I sent my mom to see her favorite artist play live there when I was grown (oh the irony, ha!); I even saw my first movie there (with my mom, it was Dustin Hoffman's, Tootsie)...you know, one of those childhood places your remember fondly. The reason I wish I think it would have been nice now, to have gotten a couple of photographs, is because right after we left Ohio, a bad thunderstorm came through and ruined large portions of the building. The damage in online news reports looked pretty bad. I hope they will be able to rebuild. 


The fire escape is in the alley too, attached to an adjacent building. We don't see these in Florida, so I find them interesting. And now I have noticed that my "Wordless Wednesday" has gotten kind of wordy, so I'll stop here.

If you happen to know someone familiar with Sandusky, Ohio, and they remember Peddlers' Alley being different, please direct them this way. I'd love to hear what they remember!

51 comments:

  1. memory line, how sweet. makes me think of my home town, which I left some 25 years ago.

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  2. I love wordy Wednesday. I would love to see this in person.

    Your son is most handsome.

    Thank you for joining the Wordless Wednesday Blog Hop.

    Have a fabulous Wordless Wednesday. ♥

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  3. Memory is a tricky beast. Like time.
    It looks an intriguing place and if you find out more about whether/when it has changed I would love to hear it.

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  4. Nice to come home to see the old things again - even though they look different. Your son is getting so big - and cute!

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  5. Isn't it amazing how your memory can play tricks on you? I remember things from my childhood that are totally inacurrate. LOL

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  6. That's such a cool area. I love that brick. I completely understand the memory thing. I have tons of memories that aren't quite accurate.

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  7. Sorry it wasn't as you remembered it. Keep doing research.

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  8. Bahhahaha! I totally noticed that this wordless wednesday was pretty wordy, but for good reason!!!

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  9. This is such a perfect picture taking spot! How awesome that you got to return.

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  10. i have never been to Ohio but this alley is very fascinating. i love the architecture and all the gorgeous makeshift bricks.

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  11. It looks like one of those mysteries of the Little Chills, but having said that I really like it ... a perfect corner for photos.

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  12. I also have those memory imaginations of my childhood. Every thing is blurred everytime that I'd tried to recall it. Lol.

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  13. Love these kinds of places. What a fun spot for a little photo shoot!

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  14. Never been to this place before, but it seems really pretty and I'd like to go for a visit sometime! Thanks for sharing!

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  15. It's nice to read about your memories associated with the place. Memory can sometimes play games with us.

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  16. these mosaics and motifs wow!!! I would love to check this one one day, super cool!!!!

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  17. That looks like a great mystery place to visit. Glad that you go back there where you grew up.

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  18. It seems to be a mysterious childhood like you even didn't remember any of moment particularly haha😁😂 well this was really amazing and much interesting to know more about the place..Thanks for sharing this...

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  19. It's always nice to visit your hometown! So many memories. This place looks so cool! Thank you for sharing it with us :)

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  20. Hihi....you had me going on there, enjoying how your childhood was. That wall is a stunning piece of art.

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  21. What a great place to visit for the family...I wish we had spots like this near me to explore.

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  22. Walking down memory lane. Nice brick wall designs.

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  23. Oh I love these types of place, what a great area to get some pictures taken!

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  24. Haven't been to Sandusky since I was a kid. (They've got Cedar Point, right?) That alley is a great backdrop for some photos, think I'm due back. ;)

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    1. Yes, Cedar Point. I love that place. We didn't go this time, they were closed for the pandemic, but we did drive by and we could see across the bay. :)

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  25. It's amazing how much the things we remember from out childhood change when we revisit them as adults. Maybe you could ask at the city hall if any recent works have been done there? The planning department should know.

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  26. This looks like a place with lots of history and stories. Would be interesting to visit.

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  27. That looks quite an interesting sight to see. The photos look amazing and our memory is very tricky at times.

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  28. That brick pattern really is special! Thank you for introducing it to us so we can get a glimpse of a unique spot in the world.

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  29. This alley is so mysterious! But it speaks a lot of things that happened in this place.

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  30. Wow! I love the bricks! It looks so mysterious though. Hope to visit this alley!

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  31. Learned something new. These stories teach us to open our minds and think out-of-the-box.

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  32. I think you have good memory. I believe landmarks change over time by weather, damage or industrial change.
    This was a fascinating read.

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  33. That looks like a fun place to explore with the family. Love the pictures you shared.

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  34. Old places, things bring back many memories. I love the way you have played with words here. These stories are lovely..

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  35. A great place and some creative ideas, thanks a lot for sharing :)
    and TGIF~ would love to go out and do something out doorsylike you! - Knycx jourenying

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  36. Never heard about this place before but the intricate design is very captivating

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  37. Memories are the best that we could cling on to when changes took place already

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  38. That's some pretty amazing brickwork.

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  39. Peddlers' Alley looks like a cool place for photos. It is always a good thing when we are able to back to our childhood places and see them from the eyes of our children.

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  40. Sure looks like a great spot. I think I'd trust your memory. The cat on the other hand is skeptical lol stinks about the storm ruining the building.

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  41. The brickwork is amazing. Your son, how old is he now! It feels like we bloggers have watched him grow up.

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    1. Hi Susan. I feel like that with the bloggers who have little ones right now too! He will officially be a teen in a few months. Crazy fast how quickly that time went by. I started the blog when he was 5. :)

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  42. Such a beautiful place to explore and a great photo opportunity for many different projects

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  43. It's happened to me too. I have a very distinct memory of a place but when I went back as an adult, it's very different from what I remember. I feel bamboozled.

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  44. Don't you just hate it when you remember the way something way years ago, then it isn't as grand when you scope it out later in life? I've never heard of Peddlers Alley before, so I can't be much help to your recollection of it, but all in all, it still does look like a neat place to roam for a bit.

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  45. Nice post it's amazing how things change over time especially places I enjoyed that Rosey

    Have a nostalgictastic safe week 😷😷😷

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  46. I remember going home, when I was in college, and a whole movie theater was gone. Poof! It happened each time I left. So sad! I know new stuff is built, but it's still so odd.

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  47. What an interesting place to explore. It is neat to go back to places we remember from when we were younger.

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  48. that is so neat looking and to have your background info is so interesting. i live about 90 minutes from there. will have to go check it out.

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