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Hi, I am Sig (junge1),
I was born in Dominikus- Krankenhaus in Berlin-Hermsdorf, Bezirk Reinickendorf in December 1939. Bezirk Reinickendorf was one of 20 Bezirke that made up Gross-Berlin before World War II and one of 12 Bezirke that made up former West-Berlin, the other 8 Bezirke were Russian occupied and became East-Berlin after the war. Moved from Berlin to Neurohlau (Nova Role) Sudetenland (now Czech Republic), in August 1943 (our entire block of apartment buildings was bombed out in November 1943) and returned back to Berlin in November 1945. Saw my dad the first time in my life in August/September 1946 after he returned from POW camp. Attended elementary school in Berlin-Waidmannslust, high school in Berlin-Hermsdorf, and trade school in Berlin-Kreuzberg. Was an apprentice for the trade of Klischeeaetzer (photo engraver) at Burrath & Schmidt on Friedrichstrasse between U-Bahnhof Kochstrasse (near to what later became Checkpoint Charlie) and Hallisches Tor.
While watching Allied planes supplying West-Berlin by air during the Berliner Luftbruecke in 1948-49 I developed my love for aircraft. I guess I could be considered a 'Berliner Grosschnauze", or at least I used to be.
'Wanderlust' led me to leave Berlin in summer 1960 to emigrate to Toronto, Canada and in February 1962 to move from Canada to New York City, NY, USA. In January 1963 I joined the United States Air Force, one step ahead of Uncle Sam drafting me. Became a United States citizen within 7 weeks after it became a security issue because of my military career. One day after I was sworn in as a citizen in Seattle, my entire unit left for Southeast Asia in June 1966. After nearly 5 years of active duty (extended 11 months to make it an 18 months overseas deployment) I got discharged and moved to New York City. In 1973 I moved to Phoenix, Arizona and two years later joined the Arizona Air National Guard.
Received my higher education at Arizona State University and the University of Georgia and worked for 22 years for the Arizona Department of Water Resources in various capacities. Upon military retirement in 1999 and State retirement in 2005 I looked at a number of things to keep me occupied. Traveling and joining 'renderosity' in September 2007 were a couple of them,
Sig..
Comments (38)
kgb224
Excellent capture my friend.
Minda
opps im glad i see this before my bed time...wow! this is really great capture sig this place it look similar of my country ,you are really great photographer sig im glad i found your gallery..
beachzz
This is so familiar, just like Mexico, where they also work on the bottom and live on the top!!
Hendesse
Excellent and very interesting shot!
PIERRE25
Excellente capture, interressant contraste dans ce paysage
ledwolorz
Fantastic photo.
efron_241
re development often means high rise glass and steel.. nice for those who build it.. but horror for the city
Levemark
Very good!
Alz2008
Wonderful capture, Excellent well done..
jeroni
Wonderful and very creative work
fredster66
Really interesting indeed. Nice work!
flora-crassella
ein sehr interessantes Foto! Ein "schöner" Einblick.....
rainbows
Love the contrast of old and new, Sig. A wonderful shot. Hugs. Di. xx
tallpindo
This is what urban planners want to build in America, with alleys for tradesmen in the back.
mairekas
Very interesting contrast. Great find!
pixelmeister
Beautiful! Well done!
durleybeachbum
Very interesting. Would be very desirable if just restored!
PD154
Excellent shot Sig, great POV!
MagikUnicorn
Thanks for sharing ! :)
JeffG7BRJ
The others had to be a fantastic upgrade from these then Sig, I didn't like the new ones at first I do now though after seeing these. I thought maybe they had been the traditional style with the pagoda roofs. These really need to be knocked down. Excellent capture. Bravo!!!!!
lucindawind
very intereting .. excellent capture
MrsLubner
I would have like to have seen this with all the bustle of life before the "fall." It seems to me that living above one's business is good business for a small business like these must have been. Fabulous shot.
annie5
Very interesting Sig..great capture! :)
junge1
To clarify my title for this upload. Re-development should be restoration. Singapore intents to restore these building so they look like the ones shown in my previous upload 'Chinatown'. The difference is that the restored buildings primarily house professional offices rather than shops - but there are also some small service industry related shops. Singapore essentially lies on the Equator (1.5 degrees N) and at sea level. Rainfall occurs throughout the year and the climate plays havok with anything man-made, whether buildings, cars or anything else. One can almost see things grow and buildings falling into disarray, Sig...
SSoffia
EXCELLENT CAPTURE :)
leanndra
Interesting photo. I have read novels where the businesses and living quarters were set up in this way. I had always wondered if it was literary license, but apparently not. Thanks for sharing. Lea
Kaartijer
Great capture, a nice memory for the future! Congrats!*****
bronwyn_lea
I really like this. I also like the history of this.
Richardphotos
really shows the old with the new.the people probably got kicked out with nothing to show for their property
dbrv6
Excellent capture - a bit of history in architecture.