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You are here: Home / Neighborhoods / South / Layton Boulevard West / A life on Layton Boulevard with Raymond Konz-Krzyminski

A life on Layton Boulevard with Raymond Konz-Krzyminski

January 25, 2016 by Raymond Konz-Krzyminski 2 Comments

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  • In front of our Layton Boulevard home, Auguste, our dachsie, and my parents, Raymond and Estelle Konz in 1954 shortly before I was born. We were always sweeping the steps and sidewalk, keeping our property nice and orderly. (Photo by Raymond Konz-Krzyminski)
  • Our son Jeffrey shoveling the carport. As my dad used to say that his dad used to say, “Use the youngest horse first!” (Photo by Raymond Konz-Krzyminski)
  • Sure would hate to be the mail carrier today. (Photo by Raymond Konz-Krzyminski)
  • There’s nothing like a fresh coat of snow to make that Christmas-y feeling. (Photo by Raymond Konz-Krzyminski)
  • In my father’s German tradition we always had to wait until after Midnight Mass on Christmas Eve to turn on the holiday porch lights. Also the tree didn’t get decorated until Christmas Eve. (Photo by Raymond Konz-Krzyminski)
  • In my mother’s Polish tradition—Wesołych Świąt Bożego Narodzenia (Merry Christmas). (Photo by Raymond Konz-Krzyminski)
  • A family holiday visit to our dear friend Sr. Corina at the convent. (Photo by Raymond Konz-Krzyminski)
  • Eleanor Rose was thrilled with all of the staircases at the convent. Maybe a vocation for 2036? (Photo by Raymond Konz-Krzyminski)
  • Here we are at St. Joseph’s Convent Chapel. It’s not Christmas without a visit to Baby Jesus in the creche. (Photo by Raymond Konz-Krzyminski)
  • The nativity scene (creche) at St. Joseph’s Convent Chapel. St. Francis of Assisi is credited with creating the first nativity scene in 1223. (Photo by Raymond Konz-Krzyminski)
  • These educational and spiritual buildings on Layton Boulevard have always been a strength and inspiration for the future — formerly St. Lawrence Elementary School and Church, now Notre Dame School and Chapel. (Photo by Raymond Konz-Krzyminski)
  • Stepping into the holiday magic is always so easy when you crawl under the Christmas tree. (Photo by Raymond Konz-Krzyminski)
  • This cherished Christmas candle has been lit in this home in prayer and memory every holiday season for over 55 years. (Photo by Raymond Konz-Krzyminski)
  • Opłatki (Polish Christmas wafer) from a cousin’s family in Poland and homemade Christmas cookies baked and arranged by daughter Jill on an heirloom bell-shaped platter from our Layton Boulevard neighbor, Eleanor Holba. (Photo by Raymond Konz-Krzyminski)
  • Winter backyards here are always quiet and peaceful. (Photo by Raymond Konz-Krzyminski)
  • A quiet scene looking east from our upper porch window. (Photo by Raymond Konz-Krzyminski)

My parents, Raymond and Estelle Konz, were expecting me when they bought and moved into their new home on Layton Boulevard. My mother said she always loved the tree-lined street of the boulevard and dreamed to own a home here one day. So in 1954, on my father’s City of Milwaukee policeman’s salary, they were able to buy this duplex, built in 1904. It wasn’t until after they moved that they announced to the rest of the family that I was coming along, the last of their six children.

This home brought them a nice income rental property in the upper flat, where my mother’s youngest sister and her husband moved after I was born. I have lived here for 61+ years — maybe longer than anyone else on the boulevard.

I have countless memories of family events with my brothers and sisters, a cousin who moved in with us after she left the convent across the street, and my aunt, uncle and cousins upstairs. I remember sitting on the front porch on summer afternoons with family and serving mass at Sacred Heart Sanitarium, St. Lawrence Church and St. Joseph’s Convent chapel. I have special memories of serving mass for the nuns when they took their final vows and at my three sisters’ weddings at St. Lawrence. Each of them was lovely walking from home to church in their bridal gowns.

Years of memories include St. Lawrence Grade School, Meurer’s bakery, Greenfield Flower Shop (it’s still there), Green River phosphates at Harris’s Pharmacy and piano lessons at St. Joseph’s Convent. Further up on the boulevard, we’d have lunch at Bruno’s Restaurant or the Walgreen’s lunch counter in the new Mitchell Park Shopping Center, followed by a visit to the super modern and exciting Mitchell Park Domes.

When my father retired from the police force in 1971 my parents bought a winter home in Florida. Over the years a brother and his wife, and two sisters and their husbands had their children here and helped maintain the house. My parents lived in Florida until 1992, when my father passed away in his beloved warm and sunny home. My mother returned to our Layton Boulevard home and lived with my partner, Greg, and me. We had a wonderful time of it and then cared for her here until she passed in 2001.

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I inherited half of the value of the home and Greg bought the other half. The lower flat was handicapped accessible — perfect for Greg’s dad and mom to move into from Chicago. They lived here comfortably until his dad passed in 2005 and his mom moved to a supportive living facility. Our son Jeff moved here from Illinois, and still lives with us. And a dear maiden aunt who was disabled enjoyed living with us and a caregiver until she passed in 2011.

Because of all the lives this home has touched you can see why we affectionately refer to it as “The Shrine.” My partner and I have since married and this home is our refuge from sometimes-crazy city life. Now our granddaughter, who lives 1-1/2 hours away knows she has a room here on Layton Boulevard and will one day see herself as part of many years of family history.

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Filed Under: Layton Boulevard West, Neighborhood Lens

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About Raymond Konz-Krzyminski

Comments

  1. AvatarCathy Lathrop says

    January 25, 2016 at 11:12 am

    Raymond, what a lovely story and pictures. Thanks for taking the time to tell it. I hope your neighborhood continues to nurture good people building on lives like your family’s.

    Reply
  2. AvatarCarol Thompto says

    January 27, 2016 at 2:27 pm

    RAYMOND I LOVE THE STORY OF YOUR BEAUTIFUL HOUSE. THIS HOME HAS SEEN SO MUCH LOVE AND THIS IS CONTINUING WITH YOUR LITTLE GRANDDAUGHTER. WE ARE ALL SO BLESSED TO HAVE YOU AND GREG IN OUR AMAZING NEIGHBORHOOD.

    Reply

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