The Corner of Heinrich Road and Valley Circle Lane

     Before my parents got married, they decided they wanted not only to have children, but to raise their kids outside of the city. So they shopped around and found a subdivision that was being built in North Boston – a hamlet of the town of Boston, about 20 miles south of Buffalo. (If you climbed a tree high enough in North Boston, and looked in the right direction, you could see the steel mills of Lackawanna – which was just south of Buffalo.)

     The subdivision was called Valley Circle Lane – and it was a circle of about 30 houses which began and ended on Heinrich Road – (everyone pronounced it Henrich – and I was surprised at the unusual spelling when I learned how to read – after that I realized that there were some people who pronounced it Hinerick). On one corner of Heinrich Road and Valley Circle Lane there was a quarter acre lot with a tiny two bedroom house being built. I don't think there were any other houses with just two bedrooms, just this one. And it was the one that my parents could afford – they bought it!

Heinrich Road and Valley Circle Lane 1952

     Actually, there is a story that goes with that. Mom had been working since graduating high school at 17 at a patent attorney's office in downtown Buffalo. She lived at home with her parents and paid her mother $5 a week for room and board! Mom was able to put some money in the bank. She was 19 and Dad was 23 when they got married. Dad's job situation was not that steady, and his savings were non-existent. So when they went to the bank to take out a mortgage for this house of their dreams, Mom was going to provide the down-payment. Mom thought that since they were not yet married, and the money was hers, the mortgage would automatically be put in just her name, and so she asked if the bank could please put both their names on the mortgage?

     And the bank said no!

     The bank said they do not give mortgages to single women!– it was 1952, and unmarried women were considered to be too big a risk! The bank did say, however, that the mortgage could be taken out in just Dad's name! He was not considered as big a risk – even though he was not the one with the savings account or the steady job! Mom had a moment's hesitation – if she put her money down on a house in Dad's name, he could break off the engagement and have both a house and her money!

     Mom decided to trust him, and the mortgage was put in Dad's name......until they got married. Not too long after they got back from their honeymoon, Mom went back to the bank and had the mortgage changed to both of their names!

Same House 2009

    This whole scenario sounds so sketchy – yet look how it all turned out! Their three children grew up in a house in the country.  This story helps me to have more faith than facts when it comes to others' relationships. Thank goodness my parents had faith in the future that they saw with each other!

9 20150109 the Corner of Heinrich Road and Valley Circle Lane