James Mathis

I grew up at 1339 John St. I went to Washburn, Porter and Taft. I remember the old Laurel Homes before they tore them down to make City West. I played football for Taft. I got about 50 touchdowns at Taft High School up there, before they made the soccer stadium [TQL Stadium].

I remember the Regal, the State show [The State Theater], and all that downtown. Lincoln Center—I used to come here all the time and swim. I come downtown everyday because I know everybody downtown. It’s a lot of love down here. I see everybody, older people—it’s a lot of love. Heavy’s Restaurant on Linn Street, my mother worked in Heavy’s for years. She worked in the meat store on Linn; Ralph Bates had the barbershop on Linn, Calloway’s Barbershop was on Linn Street. It’s a lot of love from the West End, a whole bunch of love from down here.

Listen to James’s West End story: