Rascals and Rogues column writer Ralph Horner continues his chronicles growing up in Cleveland neighborhoods in his newest series, Rumbles on E. 49th.

Growing up on East 49th Street in the 1950s,“the old neighborhood,” could be rough for a kid. In fact, according to a report on juvenile delinquency in the Jan. 8, 1955 Saturday Evening Post, crime and disorder committed by teenagers increased by a 45% between 1950 and 1955. Horner recalls what life on the streets of Goodrich-Kirtland Park was like back then.

The Superior-Luther playground was the hangout place of choice for most of the young boys of the neighborhood. 

It was called Superior-Luther because it was situated between those two Avenues off of East 49th Street. The playground boys accepted me pretty well, but I had the feeling that I had to defeat one of them in battle to be fully accepted into their fraternity.

White City Beach on East 140th Street and Lake ErieMy chance came one day at White City Beach on East 140th Street and Lake Erie. We were rough housing around on the beach and it got a little out of hand. I lost my temper and popped Joe Kolesar.

I thought, “That will take care of him.” Boy, did it not! He proceeded to thrash me severely around my head and thorax areas. Suddenly, I realized that I was in a seated position.

After I got up from the ground, I spit out a tooth, wondered what I was going to do to stop the blood that was gushing out of my nose and tried to focus my right eye which was rapidly closing. My bathing suit was also full of sand due to the fact I hit the ground pretty hard and slid backwards when I landed.

I thought, “I had better stop before I seriously hurt this guy.”

I told him that was enough. There were no hard feelings, especially on my part. That episode gave me pause to consider the fact that fighting might be something that I just might be not very good at.

I decided that from now on I would use my wits instead of my fists when tumult raised its ugly head. People generally liked me, for some reason, and somehow, I could make them laugh without too much effort.

I got into a few scrapes after that day, but that tool of making them laugh served me pretty well to prevent confrontations. For the most part I usually avoided getting into fights.