If you have been in the Sheboygan area for 10 years or more, I think this post relates to you.  When I read articles about crime, political disputes or corruption I think about how things used to be.  I am not all that old, but I have only lived in the Sheboygan area all my life, so I think that I have seen enough changes over the years.

Remember when you could go to the lakefront and enjoy the day?

Now if you are at the lakefront, you better not be with a large group of people wearing like colors or loitering about.  You might also smell something that you don’t remember the lakefront smelling like back in the day.

It is real sad that you really have no place to go and just relax.  There are a couple of parks that might allow for some quite time, but for the most part you are watching over your shoulder because of increased crime against people or the parks have been ruined over the years and you cannot enjoy them any longer.

Remember when you could walk home from school and not worry about getting robbed?

I lived within 12 blocks of my elementary, middle and highschools in Sheboygan, I walked every day the weather allowed me to.  I walked with friends, but really never felt like I was in any danger to do so.  I got home well before dark and rarely walked alone so it wasn’t an issue.

Now, you might think twice about allowing your child to walk even a couple of blocks home.  Larger groups of children are forming friendships, and when they are together, can cause problems for other children walking alone.  It’s too bad that you see much more traffic around schools because parents can’t be sure their child is safe to walk home from school every day.

Remember the days when it was quite in the city?

This might have seemed like a long time ago, but depending on where you live in the city of Sheboygan, it was quite.  You could sit outside and you didn’t have to listen to yelling people, barking dogs, squealing tires, stereos blowing up or heavy traffic noise in general.

I lived on 15th street on the North side for 17 years and before that became a mini-highway through the city, it was a nice neighborhood to live in.  Now the bar traffic, regular and commercial traffic in the area has made it a loud place to live.  I would consider it undesirable if someone asked me.

Remember shopping at the Memorial Mall?

Back in the day it wasn’t a bad place to shop, or even hang out at, after school.  You could go there with a friend or two and shop for clothes, music, games, whatever you wanted.  The mall was plastered full of stores and a couple smaller restaurants. 

Since those days, the mall has changed ownership and booming big box stores are popping up in the county forcing the stores from the mall for good.  They can’t get traffic in the store and to compensate the mall charges more for leases.  The snowball effect ultimately forces businesses out and further from the city itself.

Remember when you could drive a block and couldn’t find a home for sale?

It’s real sad to drive through the city and see a for sale sign every 3-4 homes on just about any block.  The market is crap and people are getting more poor by the month.  There are so many rental type units in the city, landlords that can’t keep up with irresponsible tenants and buildings that are vacant or falling apart that it really is sad for the city.

Do you have a “remember when” to add to the list?  Contact us with the link at the top of this page or just comment on this post.

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