News - Augest What I like best about living in Camden - Augest What I like best about living in Camden

    Camden is my home. I grew up here, went to school here, worked here, and still live here. The people and landmarks are familiar. My grandfather delivered milk to homes here a hundred years ago. My father could see the smokestacks of the Riverside generating plant where he worked. My childhood memories revolve around 36th and Morgan and Folwell Park. The wading pool in summer and the skating rink and sledding hill in winter. The hill was fast and safe because it dumped your sled in a field not near the street. We could play for hours. I went to Penn School and Jordan (both gone now) and Henry High School. Later in life I was thrilled to briefly teach at Penn School before it was demolished. I still have a brick from the stairs. I finished my career at Loring School. Living near 42nd and Russell and teaching in the same area was wonderful because the parents and children around here are so respectful and friendly. In fact, I think the neighborhood is getting more friendly every year. So it's obvious why I like living in Camden because my heart lives here and my brain is full of memories that go back to my immigrant grandparents that first chose the Northside of Minneapolis to live in and love.

    Why should someone who doesn't have this long history enjoy Camden? If I try to look at this neighborhood as a tourist seeing it for the first time, I would say it looks clean and neat. For the most part, yards and gardens look well kept, but not formal and stuffy. It feels open with parks for recreation and Victory Drive for walking and biking. I really like the way all the houses look different, not like some cookie cutter suburban areas. Walk along the Drive and you see brick, stucco, siding, different combinations, different styles and trims. It's wonderful, both the walk and the view. The neighborhood has an informal and refreshing feel. The people are hard working and intelligent as you surmise from the two neighborhood newspapers, the Camden News and the North News, delivered right to your door every month. The people are friendly and very helpful. If you get stuck in a snow pile, soon you will have volunteer pushers. There is no lack of opportunity for children with activities at parks, churches and library. You see the river and have a chance to cross the mighty Mississippi (fourth longest river in the world) or fish from its banks.

    As a traveler to a new area I'm always interested in the wildlife and because of the river we have more animals in Camden then you would expect in the city. If you are watchful you can see eagles flying above the river and deer along the banks. I have seen whole families of raccoons and of course woodchucks. Beaver nibble at the trees along the Mississippi and I've even seen a fox.

    Camden is more of a neighborhood for living than for shopping and entertainment, but maybe a traveler would come for one of the neighborhood festivals. I would recommend the Holiday on 44th, Dog Daze, or the Spring Art Party. Music fills the air in the summer from outdoor concerts on the Drive or Camden Music School recitals. Workhouse Theatre entertains the neighborhood with award winning plays. There is no boredom in Camden. Small restaurants are sprinkled throughout the neighborhood making it easy to find a good meal. Another helpful feature for a traveler is easy access to transportation. With buses running on Penn, Fremont and Lyndale it is simple to get to downtown Minneapolis. You can get your oil changed or your pants hemmed or your hair cut. If you need a dentist or doctor, they are handy. Even if your dog has fleas he will find relief at Camden Pet Hospital. The talented artists that live in Camden often give lessons in their homes. I could recommend glass fusing by the Goddess of Glass. Adult education at Henry High School will teach you skills from finance to cooking and help train your dog too. There are painters, jewelry makers, textile artists, photographers and more displaying their work at the Spring Art Party. Also in spring, garages start to bloom with sale signs as the annual neighborhood garage sale brings residents walking or biking along the alleys to buy each others cast offs and enjoy a chat.                 Casual, cozy Camden is a comfortable place to live. There ought to be a sign on the Camden Bridge to tell the world.