Eugene Brown

I grew up in the West End in the 60s. I went to Washburn Elementary, then Porter Junior High, and graduated from Taft Senior High in 1975. I went to work as a young man right after that.

Back in the 70s, it was a good time to be growing up. I was born in the 50s and lived on Fourth Street near the Heupel Brewing Company and Dolly Madison Cakes, which we used to call Butternut. It was a nice town to grow up in.

I remember when the expressway came through. That’s when they moved all of us from what we called “down in the bottoms” over near Linn Street and Clark Street.

When I was growing up, if we had a problem, we handled it with our fists. After the fight, it was over. But now, it’s guns. I don’t know where they’re coming from, but they’re everywhere, and some people seem to think that’s the only answer. It’s not. That’s the quick and easy way out, but it’s not the right way.

My kids grew up here safely. I think the West End is as good a neighborhood as any in the country. I’m partial to it because I was raised here, but I truly love it. I wouldn’t trade it for anything.

There’s been a lot of progress, especially downtown. I remember when I-75 came through—I might even live to see the second phase, the new bridges they’re supposed to build over the Kentucky River. They've been talking about it long enough. Maybe next year they’ll finally start.

Cincinnati is a great place to grow up. It’s a nice city with good communities, especially downtown. You really had to live here to understand how nice it is.