In this episode, you will hear stories behind why the 1200 block of W. Washington street in South Bend, IN was nicknamed, "The Block." The area around the intersection of Washington & Walnut Streets was a thriving neighborhood & business district, but the area started to change in the 1960s. Citizens called it a skid row, a dumping ground with abandoned buildings, drugs, robberies, prostitutes, and gambling. It is now a calm residential street & other than a few storefronts & buildings that survived, you would have NO clue what used to stand here. It’s a fantastic success story of revitalization that our city & the South Bend Heritage Foundation should forever be applauded for. Former South Bend Police officer Sam Walsh (think Crime Stoppers) joins me and shares his memories of patrolling "The Block" in the 1970s as a uniformed officer as well as undercover. Jim Bankowski also joins me & shares his memories of his grandparents & then parents tavern, Nyikos, which stood right in the belly of "The Block." Be sure to follow Round the Bend Now and Then on Twitter: @roundthebendpodLike us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/roundthebendnowandthenTo contact the show, you can email at roundthebend574@gmail.com or message on Twitter.For current & historical pictures and commentary on the South Bend & Mishawaka area, follow @roundthebend574 on Twitter.Lastly, as I mentioned in the episode, be sure to share Round the Bend Now and Then with somebody who you think will appreciate it!

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