Growing up, whenever my parents had weekend plans, my sister and I would each go stay with one of our grandmothers—kind of on a rotating schedule. One month I’d head to Grandma Wollberg’s, the next it was Grandma Lubker’s turn. These visits felt like little adventures, and we always looked forward to them.
Just as our grandmothers were very different from each other, so were the experiences we had with them.
Grandma Wollberg lived in South St. Louis, near Carondelet Park, at Grand and Dover. One of my favorite parts of staying with her was our evening walk up Grand Avenue to Velvet Freeze. I can still taste the ice cream—cold, creamy, and absolutely perfect. Funny, we never thought twice about that walk. I was probably seven or eight, and Grandma was in her mid-sixties (which, come to think of it, is about my age now). Today, I’m not sure I’d feel so comfortable letting a child and an older woman take that walk alone. But back then? It was just part of the magic.
She also made the best fried chicken I’ve ever had—cooked from scratch in her electric skillet. Colonel Sanders didn’t stand a chance. And if Wrestling at the Chase was on TV? Well, that sealed the deal. Harley Race and the gang were practically family. You wouldn’t guess it by looking at her, but Grandma was a big fan. She even went to live matches now and then with her friends and neighbors, Betty and Wayne.
Visiting Grandma Lubker was a completely different kind of fun. She lived near the Southtown Famous-Barr, on Morganford near Beck. We’d often walk down to the department store and use the underground pedestrian tunnel to cross the busy street—a detail anyone from that area or era might fondly remember. There was a Steak ‘n Shake on the corner back then, and a visit to Grandma Lubker’s always meant a steakburger treat.
She wasn’t into wrestling, but we got to stay up late and watch The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson. We’d fall asleep on the couch with the TV still on, and sometimes wake up to the high-pitched test signal after the station had gone off the air for the night.
These weekends were simple, but they were filled with love, laughter, and comfort—precious time shared across generations. I know they brought joy to our grandmothers, just as they did to us.
I often wish I could go back for just one more visit. One more walk to Velvet Freeze. One more steakburger. One more night on the couch with Johnny Carson. But mostly, one more evening with Grandma.
Welcome! 