Worthington neighborhood has changed a lot since '62

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WORTHINGTON — Neighborhoods come and go. Homes have made neighborhoods somewhat permanent, with maybe a few changes. There was a neighborhood that changed in the area around 10th Street, 10th Avenue and McMillan Street. This change was quite evident as it was my first residence in Worthington, when I became a teacher in the high school.

First, look at the lumber yard. One notices no change except for the ownership. That corner did not change.

Going down 10th Street, two residences are visible. They didn’t change and still exist today. However, the other residences and buildings down to Eighth Street were removed. In that spot, The Atrium was constructed. It almost was filled even though the number of apartments and people who live there was not available.

Across from The Atrium, two apartment buildings were built. When they were constructed was not available. They don’t seem to be a part of the neighborhood. That is true of the residences to East Ninth. They hadn’t changed then and are mostly the same then as now.

In the area of East Ninth, the first building was removed and another was built in that place. The duplex was built in this change period. The three houses up to Paulson Avenue were removed, and that is where the Worthington Post Office now stands. It is one of the busiest corners in Worthington, which is usual for a post office. My first residence in Worthington was one of those three houses.

Across McMillan at Paulson, a structure, which houses Southwest Hearing, was built. Going up 10th Avenue, an apartment building and a small grocery store were removed. In that space the United Prairie Bank was built, fronted by a parking lot for its customers. From there is Alltel Wireless and the Shear Expressions beauty shop. Diagonal Road begins there and goes up to Oxford. Tenth Avenue begins again after Diagonal.

What remains on 10th Avenue are five silos that were erected by the Hogenson Construction Company in 1949. How long they were used is not common knowledge. If they will be razed is not known; maybe some time. There is a small beauty shop on the grounds in front of the silos.

This neighborhood is not the same as it was in 1962, when I came to Worthington. There are no residences at the junction, but there is much traffic as people use the Post Office every day except Sunday. Diagonal Road and McMillan lead traffic out of this area to Oxford, a very busy street that crosses the north side of Worthington.

Al Swanson is president emeritus of the Nobles County Historical Society.

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