In 1943, when I was about 18 months old, we moved north to the country town of Maungaturoto (the picture shows Grandad Dale and older brother Max).
Dad was a chemist and worked in a chemist shop in Queen Street in the centre of Auckland, but he wanted to have this own shop. I don’t know why he chose Maungaturoto, except it didn’t already have a chemist, so I guess he thought it was a good business opportunity.
For the first year or so, we lived in a very small rented house with just four rooms. Mum said that it was tiny. We moved a couple of times to other rented houses, but eventually we had a brick house specially built for us. The builders were my uncle and grandfather (mum’s brother and father). Here’s a photo of it, taken in 1985:
Grandad Dale's tales of yore 
#1 by Mandy on 5 July 2016 - 7:55 pm
Was interesting reading this article.This is now our home and we love it
#2 by Dale Lacey on 5 July 2016 - 8:06 pm
Hi Mandy. I started this blog for the grandchildren, but never got very far with it. Maybe I should get back on the job, eh!!! I lived in Maungaturoto from about 1944 to 1957 (aged 18 months to 15). Dad owned the chemist shop. We lived in the brick house on the right just as you leave the township and start driving down towards the railway station. What do you do there?
#3 by Mandy on 15 July 2016 - 8:01 am
Hi there. I now own and live in your old home . I was trying to find it’s history and came across your writing
#4 by dalelacey on 15 July 2016 - 9:09 am
Oh, I see, Mandy! I thought you just meant you live in Maungaturoto and didn’t realise you actually live in our old home. How wonderful!!!
As I say in the blog, the house was built by my uncle and grandfather, I imagine about 1945 (which fits in with a childhood memory I have). The house was originally rectangular, but (I’m not sure when, maybe about 1950), the extension at the back was built.
We also owned the five acres out the back of the house, on which we kept a cow and two horses. But more of that in a later blog; you’ve inspired me to re-start the blog, Mandy!