Kirsten Gray

Second-Generation Church Hill Resident
B. 1967

I run the Eric Schindler Art Gallery. My parents moved the gallery here in 1965. it. I was born in ’67. I was baptized at St. Patrick’s Church. And we lived above the gallery, which is very old fashioned. It’s the oldest commercial gallery still operating in the city. I actually birthed my second child in the home, and I also took care of my mom, who died in the home.

In the ‘80s, I could get on the bus and get all the clothing I needed from Thalhimers and Miller & Rhoads and the shops downtown. As a matter of fact, I didn’t even drive. On 25th Street I took my boots next door to the post office to have them repaired. On Jefferson there was a thrift store. We were all into punk rock, so we thrifted. What’s changed is back then I couldn’t get a homemade muffin or pie or a fancy coffee but I could actually get my shoes fixed. I could buy clothing to wear. In the market, you could buy fresh vegetables, fresh fish, fresh meat, fresh breads. More necessities were available.

I see working class people, white and black. I know south of Broad, I’m one of the last left. The expense of living in an historic neighborhood pushes out anybody who is working class or working poor. I’m white as I can be, but I was raised in public schools and a neighborhood that was African American. All my black neighbors are gone.