Our neighborhood in the early 1940s, we were so lucky to be kids then.

We roamed thru the woods played and climbed the big trees where Highline Medical Center is. We walked most everywhere as our fathers drove the car to work, very few mothers drove then.

I remember when the carnival would come to Burien, all of us would collect beer bottles, from neighbors and along the road, too. We would take them to Bill's Tavern on 151st and Ambaum or Mable's Tavern further up Ambaum.

We also went to Lake Burien to swim a lot before it was private. Mr. Fitchett would let us cut thru his property and we would collect big green ferns, make a mattress out of them, bring a sheet out, and sleep outside - we didn't have a sleeping bag. We would look up at the stars and talk most of the night.

Mary Ellen Somers-Povick

Burien