6100 Kingsbury May XX, 197X
This brainstorm was executed by Pat Kohn, Susie Roach, Betty Newsham and probably a few others. They used a large canvas to reach across Skinker. Bill Kohn designed the lettering and the women put out word that they needed large scraps of brightly colored material for the letters, which would be sewn on. One day, I stopped at Pat’s home and there were ladies on her living and dining room floor with portable sewing machines affixing the letters to the banner. I quickly left! They completed this glorious banner and it called out to all who traveled Skinker to come to the Fair and House Tour. It was a tremendous success and a pretty classy event through the years. People came from all over and saw a neighborhood take charge of its own destiny.
I believe it was the first of its kind in the city, and it lasted until 1981. Tilles Park and other neighborhoods followed our lead and had their own art fairs and house tours. Perhaps we ran out of gas, but we felt our mission was accomplished.
While we were reminiscing about those days, Suzanne remarked that, “we were lunatics.” Yes, I suppose we were. But, the neighborhood was worth it!
