If you have any doubt that there was a Baby Boom following World War II, you need to look no further than this Edina Park and Rec film footage from the 1950-60s. More than 100 kids took part in a summer playground program at Concord Elementary -- yes, just at one playground -- in 1959.

That was the first thing that struck me as I watched this film footage. The parade of kids was never-ending for the Circus Day program, one of the many themed events happening every Friday in Edina parks. Bob Kojetin, then Park director and now a member of our board of directors, pointed out several kids who have gone on to achieve state judge office, start successful businesses and, well, grow up and now retire some 50 years later.

Another themed program shown here is Costumes of the World. Prizes were awarded for best in show. Other theme days were Park Olympics, Bike Day, a cowboy and Indians day, and more

The second segment shows a 1963 Camp A Night, an overnight camping trip on the old Hayes Farm, which later was developed into Braemar Park. The dozen or so young boys were chaperoned by just one man, Bob himself. He grilled them dinner (looks like kabobs) and mixed up pancakes for breakfast.

The third segment (circa 1964) shows volunteer playground leaders at a week-long camping trip at the YMCA Camp Menogyn in the Boundary Waters.

Grab your popcorn and watch some or all of this approximately 14-minute film. I'd love to hear your reactions to Edina's park past. Did you attend the playground program -- or perhaps see someone you know in the film? What was your favorite activity? Please comment here or email me with your memories.

1. Ray's Dairy Store
Paige commented on Photo Friday: Ray's Dairy Store, 3907 W. 54th Street, 1959,  My memory from the early 70's was the rotating chicken roasting in the window.

In response for requests on what other businesses to feature, I received this email: REALLY enjoy the blog. At some point you should do something on 50th and France and old merchants. There was Marty's barbershop...where they had....PLAYBOYS. Big deal when you're 11. Red Barn. Le Petit Cafe'. Gim Loong. Fanny Farmer. A Christian Science reading room. And then the apartments ABOVE the strip where General Sports was.

Anyone remember any of these businesses? I'll see what I find in the collection, which is incomplete for commercial buildings but still has some gems as you've seen from past editions of Photo Friday. Stay tuned....

In the mean time, check out Joe Sullivan's article in the city's quarterly newsletter About Town on the YMCA. I know he's written one on Marty's barbershop, but I couldn't find the story online. Here's a past Photo Friday on Fanny Farmer.

2. Docken's Store (Brookside, Browndale and more)
Daniel Grobani wrote following the post on  The corner store: Docken's family served Brookside neighborhood: Great research! Great write-up! Great post!

Normally I view complimentary emails with some suspicion that they're spam. I never approve them  for the blog because they usually link to some fraudulent web site. (For example, here's one that I'm sure must be: I have viewed so many blog post but yours are different. I like to ask how you composed your articles for it really leaves an excellent impression on me.)  Besides the odd wording, it doesn't reference anything specific in the blog or Edina.

But I know Daniel (despite never meeting him). He's the out-of-state researcher who set this whole research project into motion with his questions about the Brookside neighborhood. The topic is near and dear to the heart of  St. Louis Park HIstorical Society trustee Jeanne Anderson, who even created a whole web site The Brookside Timeline devoted to the neighborhood. She agreed to do the legwork and inspired me to do some online research. Together we looked through our files and compared notes. Daniel found more stuff online.

We have had a flurry of emails going back and forth about this and other topics that include:

• Browndale Park neighborhood and its ever-changing border. The neighborhood just north of Edina Country Club District  shows up in Edina AND St. Louis Park in the 1913 atlas.
  
• Emma Abbott Park, another neighborhood near Brookside.
• Maps, aerial photos, researcher resources, etc

In the midst of researching, I found cool things I didn't even think about pursuing.

For example, I found newspaper articles on real estate developers George Dartt and Frank Mackey (Streets bear their names in the Browndale neighborhood.)

Mackey, a Londoner, built the famous Leamington Hotel before turning his attention to developing in Edina. His wife was a Minneapolis woman whose parties and outings both at home and in London made Society column headlines. (See image at left from Feb. 6, 1910 story in the Minneapolis Tribune, via ProQuest news service.)

Given the city's current effort to identify and name neighborhoods, I am now hooked into finding out more. Thank you to Daniel and Jeanne for their contributions!

3. Biltmore Drive-in
Rick commented on Photo Friday: Biltmore Drive-in, 5001 Vernon Ave, 1959: Wow.... I remember the old Biltmore Motel off of Vernon but this was before my time!

A look through old phone books would probably confirm my hunch that the quaint drive-in didn't last that long. Our visitors typically reminisce about favorite childhood haunts, and not a one has mentioned the drive-in. I can see never hearing about an insurance company or investment firm. (No disrespect intended; they're just not places a child remembers.) But a drive-in? That sells malts and rootbeer floats? It seems strange that I have never heard about it.

4. Growing Up in Edina, 1970s memories
Brad Taplin emailed that the blog prompted a number of memories: I attended Cornelia, and Edina East and West, through the 1970s. I remember the Hedberg and Sons sand pits being a great place to off-road with my banana bike, long before mountain biking was popular.

I also remember one of my first restaurant jobs, washing dishes at Marc's Big Boy in about 1978 (now the Tavern), and other jobs at whatever TJ's was called, Roche Bobois, Karmelkorn, the YMCA, and York Steak House... all to pay for roller skating at Saints, for gas and car parts, for skiing at Hyland Hills, and for movies at the Southdale Cinema.

The best thing about Cornelia for me was math teacher Jim Fesenmeier, who realized when I was in about third grade that I needed glasses and wasn't just slow. I cried when I could finally see the blackboard and understood division.

When I emailed Brad for permission to post his stories, I told him that glasses changed my view of the world too. In third grade, I couldn't read the big E at the top of the eye chart. When I got glasses, I was surprised that trees had individual leaves instead of the big green cloud on a stick that appeared in the typical elementary school drawings. (I often wonder if Impressionistic painters weren't revolutionary as much as they were near-sighted.)

I like to hear from readers. Do you have a question about Edina history? Does this post prompt any memories? Please comment here or email me.