My husband and I were married during the summer of 1965. We were suburban kids who had always wanted to live in the city.  We rented our first apartment at 615 Sixth Street SE. Our apartment rent was $65 per mo. It consisted of a bedroom ( with no closet) a living room (with a closet) and a kitchen with an old gas range 1930's style. We had to provide our own refrigerator as well as what furniture we could scrounge up. Our bathroom was out in the hall, and we shared it with the students who lived in the apartment next door. Our total weekly income was $60 per week before taxes and we still managed to save money.
 Our friends were other young couples that were students who lived in apartments similar to ours.We had a 1958 Rambler, which we occasionally loaned to our friends who only had bicycles.
We walked down tree lined streets past beautiful old buildings to go downtown to the movies or shop because it was so close.
All of our other recreation and entertainment was provided free by the Minneapolis Park System. We sometimes met for picnic lunches in our neighborhood parks and sometimes drove the Grand Rounds and went to the other park areas in the system.
I clearly remember that sticky sweet smell in the neighborhood air, as I would walk to Jerry's market and the laundromat on University Avenue. My husband always thought it was the Cream of Wheat factory that was not far away. Whether that was it or not, no doubt it was due to the local industry. 
We still go back there to Campus Pizza once a week (the recipe is delicious and hasn't changed since then, you should all try it) and we sometimes go past our first apartment.
 
Funny how that smell brings back these  memories of a simple, easy and  inexpensive time.
 
Joan Berthiaume
Linden Hills
 

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