Container Diaries is a Blog dedicated to the greatest neighborhood in the country. It was a neighborhood where people looked out for each other, cared for the well-being of their fellow neighbor and worked hard at becoming the best they can be. It was a neighborhood where all types of sports were played. We played basketball, baseball, football, street hockey, whiffle ball, slap ball, and ‘pitching-in’.
The reason for the blog is to hopefully rekindle some form of communication and capture the Golden Years of growing up in Windsor Terrace in the 60’s, 70’s and even the 80’s…
I would love to hear from you!
hoops135@hotmail.com
I remember the Spanish Store on 17th Street & PPW. Right next door to Gerads Bar. With 300 lb. Orlando behind the counter. The entire neighborhood use to play the number with the booky in the back of the store. I use to go around there and get milk , soda & suzie q’s to get back to the stoop & watch the world go by.
How about Jocko’s Deli on Windsor Place and 11th Ave. Before playing softball in PS 154 schoolyard..I’d stop for some gum and a soda…love those Suzie Q’s too.
Do you remember the games of “Gestapo” we used to play around PS 154.
How crazy a game was that, you caught and beat the kids from the other team until he gave up his general. And who ever had Johnny Asfar on their team used to win cause he had the meanest charlie horse punch to the thigh in the world. I can still feel it when I talk about it.Ouch!! How about the games of roller ball on bikes in 154’s school yard? We used to take the card board from the refrigerator boxes and whack each other while riding on a bike and called it roller ball from the movie. And lets not forget all those games of Coco-leveo.
jerry`s on 10th and prospect, nat the cleaner on sherman across from the yard- remember running wild inside the pilgrim laundry when it was shut down. john costello went down the wrong shute and out of the building into a pile of bricks. i have to laugh when i think of the driver who came down prospect with the egg truck, hit the seeley street bridge and got stuck. we sent him to find a phone to call his boss and we ripped into his egg cartons made signs and were selling 30 dozen eggs for 5 dollars. we had cases of shitty smittys that night
HI EVERYONE THANKS FOR SHARING, COACH F GOOD POINT, WHY WASNT THERE ANY WATER FOUNTAINS IN THE SCHOOL YARD!!!! MIKE PURDY, ARE YOU THE SINGER IN THE FAMILY, I REMENBER YOUR MOM AND DAD GREAT PEOPLE, THE TRAPPES LIVED NEXT DOOR TO YOUR GRANDPARENTS, AND GREAT GRANDMOTHER, WOW, I REMENBER AS A YOUNG GIRL, YESSSSS I WAS YOUNG LIKE U GUYS LOL COACH WHO ON HOWARD SAID GET THE ROPE, JUST CURIOUS, YES THE BULLOCKS, REAL NICE FAMILY ALSO, KEVIN MALLOY, LOVED COCO LEVEO, AND HARD THE GARISON, AND PUCK PUCK HOW MANY HORNS ARE UP LOL THANKS FOR THE MEMORIESSSSSSS
I remember the scariest house on Howard place was the Zolies. We always thought it was haunted, it was always dark and dingy. And Mrs. Zoli would freak out every once and awhile. I remember they took her out in a straight jacket once. The house was next to the Rutters I think 2 doors up from the Trapps. Do you remember them Betty? I don’t remember him saying anything like “hang em” but that could be because anytime Mr Zoli came out I was usually running away very fast. Looking back I don’t think they spoke good english.
K.MOLLOY AND COACH F I SURE DO REMENBER MR AND MRS ZOLIES, AND YOU ARE RIGHT K. THEY LIVED NEXT TO THE RUTTERS TWO DOORS FROM US. THEY WERE REAL SCARY TO US AS KIDS GROWING UP ALSO, BUT ON A POSITIVE NOTE MY BROTHER BOBBY HURT HIMSELF ONE DAY AND HE COULDNT BELIEVE HOW EMILY HELPED HIM OUT IN HIS TIME OF NEED AS A KID. I WOULD NEVER HAVE REMENBERED THERE LAST NAME, YOU GUYS GOT A GOOD MEMORY. YES ALSO NOT SPEAKING GREAT ENGLISH WHICH I ALSO FORGOT.
Used to play a lot of street hockey, with the metal rollerskates on 11th ave between 16th and the parkside. There used to be a nice gap in the park fence right by 11th, I think the Saxon’s (remember them?) made it with a car jack so they could slip through and get to Suicide easier. Made getting over there easier for sleighriding. Also, it’s on the way to lookout, where Bro John used to run track practice on the “track” which once around was supposed to be a 220. A few of us would go half way and jump in the bushes to get out of running for a while, then jump back in. Remember seeing some funny stuff on that hill in all weather.
Someone mentioned the guy they found outside Connie’s frozen, I remember seeing him shortly after they found him, I think Bobby Cirillo found him all blue.
Anyone remember playing baseball cards? I still remember beating Stephen Keating in a 100er last. I think he’s still pissed. He did have a hell of an arm and if he hit you with a snowball, you knew it. For that matter, a brand new spaldeen hurt as much if it hit you playing swift at 154.
Hi….I remember Hitler very well and the man who painted the presidents on his fence..I remember he had Nixon and Eisenhower. Hi Betty ! I do sing a bit but my sister is the singer in the family.I sing at the Farrell’s parties from time to time. I remember the Trappes very well living next to my grandparents. We played basketball in the school yard one Thanksgiving. There was Gerard and Bobby, my Uncle Bob and my father and us kids playing chose up ball. I remember Sophie very well. At 86 she still had dark hair.
I remember having my first beer in Connie’s Corner on Windsor and 10th Ave. I had it the afternoon of my communion. Connie said I was a man today….have a beer. It’s been downhill ever since. Have to go..beer’s getting warm !!!
The Windsor Pub…. it had more fights there then Madison Square Garden. Remember Nicky and Marie ? They took over the deli on 16th and 10th ave. If they didnt know you Marie would around around from the counter and watch your every movement. Nick looked like Desi Arnaz’z crazy brother who was put away at birth.
Who played army in the lot on Windsor Place and Terrace Place? Unfortunately we had to stop….the rats were getting bigger than us. Found my first Playboy magazine there. …it had rat shit on it though. I thought it was a bunch of malted milk balls. Ahhhh….. the memories of our youth !!!!!
Hitler, As soon as you mentioned him it all came back… Bud, I think it was Buggy Bill’s, where u could get a loosie for.03 cents… Wow Great Memories…
.K. Molloy, My sis was correct Emily Zoli and her husband were very strange people but very Harmless….I remember as kids Emily would walk around the Block with a Pillow under her house Dress and make believe she was pregnant…And yes I was 6 yrs old and I broke my arm on the Tap Court in the schoolyard, I was hanging off the Bar and couldn’t get back to the fence, and fell to the ground and fractured my left elbow. I was afraid to go home and tell my grandmother what happen, because my mom was out shopping. Emily Zoli came out as I was sitting on her stoop and asked me if I was OK, I told her I was waiting for My Mom to come home becaus I didn’t want my Grandma to yell at me…Emily actually took me in the House and let me sleep on her couch and when My Mom came home she woke me up and told me my mom was home.. We went to the Hospital that night and I was in the Hospital for 10 Days, as I remember it. The Funny thing is that school started and I had to Learn how to right, so I started to learn to right Rightie, because of me breaking my arm right before the 1st Grade, I became a Rightie instead of the Lefty I was suppose to be……because of the Broken arm…. So I do Have to say the Zolis deep down inside were probably Good People also……
Mike Purdy, God Bless Mrs Brown, your Grandma and GrandPa. Your Grand Pa was the Best Tipper for Shoveling the Snow… 5.00 a Shoveling and your GrandMa was a Great Tipper for Simonizing the Old caddie…30.00. Great Family, even before all the Tips…..
Bud, you are and have always been the Best… God Bless, Aunt Lizzie, Aunt Mary, and Peggy, and Lucky, the Meeting Place was always right above Clark’s….
Other Notible characters and Places that might Trigger a thought or Two; For some of the Baby Boomers…..
Birdie, Coach of the Spartans-
Junkie Joe- Watch out for the Bottle…
Rex- Where did he Live? Everywhere…
Mrs Brown or Old Lady Brown-
Doc’s Candy Store- Easy
3 Devils-
Elephant Steps-
CherryHill-
Bohacks-
Mom’s Pizza- the Best of the Best Pizza= a Slice and a Coke,25 cents
Al’s and Moe’s-
Ronnies Candy Store-
Parkhill Rest- Hamburger special, .45 cents= Hamburger,Fries and a Coke….Nick the…..
Bove-
Harry’s- Haircut….
Wetter’s- What was a Bobby Special? and What was the most common thing purchased there…. C and an E
How about Suicide Hill and Three Devils. How many time did you go down Three Devils and fly over most of the second devil. Scared the crap out of me. And all the people watching below…to see if you smack up. I went down Suicide Hill on a car hood we found nearby. Smack into the big bush directly below the hill. You can’t steer a carhood down an icy hill. If my parents only knew. How many walked the subway tunnels? From Terrace Place and Prospect Ave. to 7th Ave. . We didn’t want to pay 50 cents for a token. If my parents only knew. And skitching in the snow on the back of a UPS truck along 10th Ave or making ramps and jumping over three , maybe four garbage cans with your new Royce Union bike hoping that the only thing you break was a rim. If my parents only knew. Shit…..they do now!!!!!!!!
If your memory serves you well #1,
Swinger Records (Windsor Place)
Hayes & Keyes Grocery Store (16th St. & 8th Ave.)
Frank’s Pizza (Prospect Ave. & 7th Ave.)
Louie’s Butcher (8th Avenue & near 15th St)
Brother Vincent & his 3 o’clock Club
Finger over your lip -1st grade in Holy Name schoolyard!
Gutter’s Shoe Store (15th Street & 7th Avenue)
Sam’s Grocery Store (16th Street & 7th Avenue)
Germain’s (15th Street & 5th Avenue) Where my mother
bought me my 1st 45 “I want to hold your hand”
& changed my life!
Sam The Tailor (15th Street)
Buggy Bills ( Windsor Place nr 10th Avenue)
Trunz’s
Thunderbirds & Huns & George Clavery ?? (neighborhood
bullies)
Coyne’s Dry Cleaners ( with 2 Beatle Lp’s in window)
Louie’s Candy Store (Mission Soda & .39 45’s) 7th Avenue
Hit Parader Magazine
Leo’s Bar (7th Avenue & 16th Street)
Prospect Park Bandshell & Golden Age Home Live Bands
EJ’s (Mike Dempsey)
Mrs. Reiney’s Dancing Lessons w/ Mark Shield
US Post Office (16th St & PPW)
Nick’s Candy Store (7th Avenue & Prospect)
Cousin Don Kent, Ernie & Ken @ PS 10’s softball games
Black Diamond Guitar Strings
Rheingold Bar (teenage hideaway for smoking & drinking)
Bobby Richardson (Baseball Cards & littering the gum
outside Ray & Otto’s)
Brian & Kevin Childs, Robby & Willy LeComte, Richie & Dennis Orlando, Steve Walsh, Victor Simoli, Don Gentry(Curty), Billy & Kevin (Ottie) Carroll, Joe & Anna Costantino, Joe Kazmack & Me!
Where Have All The Flowers Gone/Old Friends/Bookends/
In My Life,
FOREVER YOUNG
Thanks for the memories… Remember very well Sam’s- can still remember him writing in pencil the cost of the items I needed and asking me to add them up- for practice- of course I was always wrong- The stories I have told my son about growing up on 16th street- Holy Name – volunteering at “The Home” and family on almost every street on the way to school-that I had the best childhood….. I just recently drove the Brooklyn Queens expressway and my knuckles are still white! Although I had to travel to long island- I was so tempted to pull off at the prospect expressway to just have a look.
Ann Concannon Rooney
Forever Young mentions Mark Shield: Never had the pleasure until I worked as a bartender in Farrells, it was there that I got to know Mark, I will always remember how nice of a guy he was, it was always a pleasure to talk with him, he’d come in for a container and I’d get to chat with him for a little while, he always had something good to say. He past on way too young. May he rest in peace!
I remember when I was a kid on 16th street and 8th ave the little building next to the Clifford house was the ballon man. I f you knocked on his door he would give you a penny.
and Ray and Otto’s where at lunch time they would only let a few kids in so you would not steal and candy. Then Candy Land opened up where the bakery was. I can still smell the cheese danish
I know everybody will remember this. Waiting in line to go to confession and praying that you did not get Monsignor Downing because if you did he would yell out in the church what you did. Remember his summer night strolls along the parkside in full gear.
CONFESSION, yes that was an experience in and of itself, yes praying that I also dont Monsignor Downing, and what a relief, until im all finished up, and ready to go and He says OK Betty have a good day!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Great memoriessssss thanks
I remember hanging out on the corner of prospect avenue outside joes with georgie routhier danny ryan myles corrigan michael bunderick joe sullivan michael kennedy bobby lang tom larkin and a few other guys whos name escapes me I also remember the girls maryann carlucci gina janet composto lisa pastamo debbie alberti and a few others
i rememeber cadgee preaching on the corner he was a real nice guy .what about after playing ball during the summer going over to pat bonnilles to have an italian ice remember the big fake cone on the counter
does anyone know where or see any of the following people mike bunderick,tom larkin,myles corrigan,john haugh milo kennedy maryann carlucci lisa pastramo(lindsy) jennifer donovan .I have thought of these people for a long time and was wondering what they are doing know
Hi Bill,
Pat Cain here. Myles Corrigan works as a supervisor for the nycta. He was a motorman for many years before he was promoted. Bunny elrod is back at 39 sherman st. after living in seattle for over 12 years. His mom betty passed away last may ( cancer )
I live in toms river, nj and work for the nycta as a motorman for 15 years.
Woody has a place in jersey and in bklyn and doing great.
Myles Corrigan the last time I saw him was at milo kennedys brothers funeral, Jimmy Kennedy who pass away last year. I saw his mom Mary also what a Lady, and just last month my sister and I were driving down Howard Place and low and behold another Corrigan, Eileen, still as pretty as ever.
Hi Pat Cain………..my cousin tommy ryan will be happy that i heard from you if i remember correctly you and tommy used to hang out, Good hearing from you I was a little younger then you but i do remember your pretty red hair How are your brothers gerald and bobby Hopa all is well
anyone see or hear from brian d(papa0 last time i heard he was living above farrells
does anyone remember the night bobby lamb was fixing herny chaplins car on howard place and while he was fixiing it he dropped a nut into the engine and spent the night on howard place taking chaps engine apart to find the nut that fell in, They never found it and the car ran great another good guy who passed way to early
bobby i remember birdy the coach of the spartans who had a wax ear and we used to yell at him to stay out of the sun so his ear dont melt. I also remember you dating maryann carlucci and your favorite song of the time Me and Julio down by the schollyard evrytime i hear that song I think about you
BILL I REMENBER BOBBY DATING MARYANN C ALSO, BRIAN D HAS BEEN HANGING WITH HIS GROUP STILL WEARING HIS HATS, AND AS FUNNY AS EVER, OR IS THAT SARCASTISMMMMMMMMMM!!!!!!!!!!. bILL WHO PASSED AWAY BOBBY LAMB NOT CHAP RIGHT. THIS WEEKEND GONNA SEE JEROME BAYER AND HIS WIFE, AND ABOUT 8 OTHER OLDIES IN THE CITY. EVERYTIME I THINK OF CHAP I REMENBER THERESA!!!!!!!! MEMORIES
BETTY………….IT WAS BOBBY LAMB WHO DIED WHEN HE WAS ABOUT 35 YRS OLD IN A BOATING ACCIDENT IN FLORIDA BOY WHAT A MECHNANIC HE WAS,hENRYCHAPLIN LAST TIME I HEARD ABOUT HIM HE WAS STILL MARRIED TO DONNA PISCIOTI AND LIVED IN STATEN ISLAND A NUMBER OF YRS BACK I THINK HE HAD A STROKE
dOES ANYONE REMEMBER IN THE EARLY SEVENTIES HOLY NAME HAD A TEEN CLUB THAT ONLY LASTED i THINK 2 YRS AND ONE YR WE WENT ON A SKI TRIP TO THE ROCKIN HORSE RANCH WITH 2 BUSSES AND 90 CRAZY PEOPLE FROM BKLYN. tHE HOTEL HIRED A SECURITY GUARD FOR EVERY FLOOR IN THE HOTEL BECAUSE OF US BEING ROWDY
Great memories. I’m looking for Mary Johnson. She used to work for Croce Real Estate. Two sons, Jimmy and Barry. Lost touch with her.
Here’s another memory. In Holy Name School….while riding the elevator(which resembled the Munster’s coffin phone booth )… if you jump twice in it ,it would break down. You would be trapped and you would miss the rest of the class. If you turned it off and on it would reset itself and out you went. Not to many people knew that trick. I used it on a few occassions. I had my ups and downs.
How about playing KINGS in the schoolyard during recess. Our 6th grade teacher Mr. Jennings use to play along with us. It got so popular we had a few tournaments. And if you lost…BOOTIES UP! I went home from school many a day with Spaulding rings on my ass.
anyone remember officer tommy doyle from the 72nd He knew everyone in the neighborhood and what they were up to and wasnt affraid to give you a kick in the ass if you needed one to straighten you out
Great to hear all these great stories about the neighborhood. Brings back lots of memories.
Hey Matt Bullock,
What’s up remember me, I’ts so wierd to see your name after all these years, we had great memories and a great childhood. miss the old neighborhood. I’m married now with 2 girls Brianna and Siena 12 and 9 living on Long Island. Where are you these days.
How delightful to read memories of the old neighborhood! I hadn’t thought about Junkie Joe in eons. I grew up on 16th Street between 8th and 9th Avenue. Oh, those afternoons after school at Wetter’s, having a coke or an egg cream while sharing a laugh with friends. It was a time of innocence.
We actually beleived that the nuns were waiching out their windows or on the roof to see if we were doing something wrong. Each night at nine o’clock the strains of Holy Name drifted over the neighborhood. Does anyone remember the game skellsies? I remember melting crayons in bottle caps to over the pilot light on the gas stove so that the caps were weighted down. You drew a square with smaller squares inside on the asphalt (in the middle of the street of course)Theovjest of the game was to flick the cap inside of each of the smaller squares first to win. So many memories, it is hard to know where to stop.
I sure do……. Or maybe I should not…… LOL. But its great to hear from all of you. Did anyone mention “Candy World” on PPW he hung out there alot as kids……
Tony was a great guy. I sure do miss those days. I am well. Thanks for asking. I want to thank you for this blog. It really brought some cheer into my life. Its great reminiscing about our youth. While we never were rich financially. We sure were rich culturally and were blessed to have a great place to grow up. I would not trade it for all the money in the world.
Your right. Sucks getting old. Seems like only yesterday we were hanging around getting into trouble. Remember that guy Pat who had the pick up truck ? He used to let us jump on the back and drive us around the neighborhood like a maniac. That was fun times ………..
jimmy johnson was from windors near terrace. he was good friends with eddie and kenny krumbholz. he use to say” My main man pots and pans”. a great guy i saw him a few years back then i heard he passed away from a heart attack.
My son is Gerard. He’s 43. If that’s who you mean. I think they used to call him Jerry or G-rard.
Whatever happened to the girls from Sherman and seeley streets. Kathleen cain, Patricia Bartkowski, Madeline Schuck?
Feeling somewhat nostalgic I decided to browse the net and see what info I could come across about the neighborhood I grew up and still live in. I was sooooo happy to find this blog. As I read, memories of my childhood came flooding back to me. Thanks so much for creating this blog, it really made my day! Here are some of the things I most remember about the best neighborhood in the world!
Truck rides that used to come around during the summer like “The Whip” and “King Kong”
Mike the Ice Cream Man and Freezer Fresh
Hanging out on the steps of the Pilgrim Laundry
Neighborhood Gangs – Huns, Rebels, Jokers
Vomiting all over the bar in Shamrock’s on 17th Street when I was 17 years old on New Years Eve -LOL
Pitching baseball cards on Howard Place after getting out of school at 3:00 (Holy Name)
Hanging out and Playing Guitar on the Parkside across the street from Kalamo’s Grocery Store between 10th and 11tha ave’s.
Hanging out in the Gazebo by the lake in Prospect Park
Tending Bar and practically living at the K of C on 19th Street
Playing football on Richie Costa’s team in Prospect Park (Costa was our coach)
Buying Day Glow paint, stick-on flowers and other paraphernalia at the head-shop on Park Circle.
Playing softball against the Saxons (Porky, The McGovern’s, Big Richie, Little Joe, etc..) for a case of beer.
Holding the record for not attending 1 gym class during my entire junior year at Bishop Ford HS.
Playing block parties with my band and going to watch other neighborhood bands play. Yes all the great musicians that came from our neighborhood; Willy LeComte, Dennis and Richie Orlando, Eddie Essex, Stephen Joyce, Moe Mahoney, John Dudar, Kevin Walsh, Keith Carlson and many many more.
Sal Marino – Much better known as Junior in the neighborhood.
Sal, Eddie Essex is my cousin. I am sure he would love to hear that. Correct me if I am wrong. But his band was named “Brew”
Those truck rides were the best. King Kong and the Whip. I forgot all about them. I remember the summer’s seemed so long when I was a kid. Remember everyone running out of there houses for ice-cream when the Good humor truck came by. We couldn’t get out there fast enough.
I still see Jerry McGovern serveral times a week walking his dog. He lives around the corner from me on 17th street and yes Emmett, the Band name was “Brew” Willy on bass, Dennis Orlando on Lead Guitar, Richie Orlando singing and Eddie on Drums, I think there was another guitar player but can’t recall his name now.
looking for my dj buddy tommy pantano from terrace place. (skully)still go
back for the pizza and the hot bagels.those were the days.
looking for tommy priolo hows the 2-tone grandprix still got it
HA ha,,
i have had the pleasure of working at FARRELLs for the last 12 years and i have to say it has been the best experience of my life. HOOLEY ,DANNY, AND TIMMY have been the best bosses anyone could want. when i got hired i was on cloud nine,i will never forget it ,od says to me hooley is lookn for us, we werer both shitn in our pants thinkn we screwed up! od was still workn at smiths at the time and he gets a phone call from hoooley “MEET ME OUTSIDE” hooley pulls up with his big white cadilac and offers od the job, od walks back in with a shit eating grin (he was in) when was my call gonna come im thinkihg. they made me sweat it out for a month than danny popped the question. i said yes and here i am. i have met and worked with the best of the best. you can’t talk about farrells whitout talking about one of the finest men to ever walk in shoe leather (sorry tommy) VINNY BRUNTON. vinny was a father figure to all of us,well me and od and maybe duff. he was a man of few words but when he spoke his words were herd. it might sound corny but i know i come from the best neighborhood in the world,and this neighborhood would be gone without FARRELLS.
Brian and red so true about the neighborhood, we do come from the best neighborhood and Im so proud to know real nice men like Hoolie, Danny, and Timmy. Also Eddie Farrell, who even back when all come from the same mold. When I was about 6 years of age, I was hospitalized for 3 months with Ramatic Fever, and my parents told me that Eddie Farrell bought our family a bed for me. Back then He was always helping our community and being so very generous to many. COUNT OUR BLESSINGS ONE BY ONE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Bill Tumpy Shaw,
Say hi to the Ryans. Roachie and my brother Tim Cain hung out together. I never had red hair and have 3 brothers and 1 sister. Tim, Mike and John and my sister is kathy. Patrick Cain
Hi Kathy Priolo Cronin,
My Sister kathy Cain lives on 16th street with her family. Husband Tom and 2 daughters Elizabeth and katie.
WOW, what a cool site. Bringing back some great memories. Kevin… I do remember playing “Roller Ball” at 154.. that was completely sick. It’s amazing we didn’t break bones. And “hoopscoach” …. Steve, do you remember we were trying to make french fries with your brother and we ended up spilling the oil on your kitchen floor? We had to be 12… and we started “ice-skating” thru your kitchen??? I’m cracking up thinking about it!
Tommy,
Yo, my man! Great to hear from you. I hear you are doing well. I miss those days of living on 9th avenue! We had a lot of fun. And yes, I recall that day of the ‘great oil spill’!
Thanks for visiting and hopefully you keep checking back.
My email address is:
SteveFinamore@yahoo.com
(first part of email is all one word)
Hey Steve, I’m looking at the responses and hows this for some deep neigbhorhood roots; Tommy Bricks Mom Rita (Keys?)Brick hung out with my Aunt Madeline(Molloy)Cunningham way back in the day when they were young girls in our neigbhorhood, to tell you how long sadly my Aunt just passed away at the age of 91 in California. It goes on, my Mom Marie(Hudson) Molloy hung out with Patrick and John Cains Mom Irene? (Davis?) Cain back when they were young girls in the nieghborhood on 8th ave. My family the Molloy’s were tight with the Shaws,Ryans and Deere’s when we all lived on 9 ave over the stores. Big Danny Ryan was always one of my Dad’s best friends. I remember their Grandmother Nanny Ryan very well(she always liked me) and Pops Ryan was quite a character on the Avenue, wow what memories and connections lost in time.
K.Molloy how r u, tommy ryan here,it has been a long time good to see u on this site
Roachie, I remember you – you were/are a good dude.
Hi Patrick Cain, Tell Kathy I said hi. I wonder if she remembers me. I live upstate about 2hrs from brooklyn. I also am married with 2 daughters.
I will Kathy and I’m 110% sure that she will remember you.
Hi Kevin, Good memories of the neighborhood. I know we have 1000’s of them.
Steve,
Michael is still an Iron worker and working at the new shea stadium (citi field). I believe from the beginning. His son is 18 now. His wife Maureen just passed away.She had heart problems. John’s with the NYCTA for 15 years (motorman). His son is 12 now.
Sal,
The other guitar player from Brew was Vinny Conlon from 16th Street.
hey junior, hearing the name vinny conlon thats a blast from the past this is a great site; do you remember steve rozakis and the 67 chevy. i’m sure that rings a bell,hope everything is good with you; talk again soon
remember carl,s fruit store directly across the street from farrell,s worked there for two hours one day he paid me a nickel. how about the brothers from holy name Vinny, Duane Aloyicious, Gardentious;Got my ass beat by them many times my dog kept eating my homework. Great idea Red knew your whole family hope all is well.
Simply A,
WOW, the 67 Chevy, now that’s a great memory, there are not many people who will remember that and that’s right Vinny was the other guitar player in Brew. Soooo Good to hear from you. Drop me an email anytime: sal@teknoms.net
Junior
Does anyone remember the night that Joey Corrar was outside Farrell’s running up to the window with a toilet bowl threatening to throw it through the window?
does anyone now what happened to maryann carluci and gina of 17th st and 10th ave .I spent many good times with them and have fond memories of there mothers meatballs. I couldnt go to there house without there mother making me eat meatballs. What good memories and i still havent had a better meatball so if anyone knows thre whereabouts please let me know.I remember a funny story from 1973. I had a day off from school so maryann decided that she would cut school that day to hang out.At the time she went to bishop kearny High school and had to wear a uniform to school and we were figuring out how she could cut school and hide her uniform so she wouldnt have to wear her uniform all day while cutting classes so we decided when my mother left to open up the card store next to smiths funeral home i would sneak her into my house and she would change out of her uniform and leave her uniform at my house until it was time for her to go home from school.she changed and we hung out for the day. Little did I know that sometime during the day my mother made a trip home and found maryanns uniform on my bed. Of couarse she thought that we had sex so she called maryanns mom to tell her what she found.When it was time for maryann to change back into her school uniform she chamged and i walked her home like a normal day. When we got into her house her mother was crying telling us that she spoke to my mother and what my mother had found. There thinking was that if her clothes were on my bed that we had sex We promised her that nothing happened which nothing did happen it was just innocent fun and that they had dirty minds/ I still laugh when i think of that day
another funny story growing up in windsor terrace.One night in the late 70s me jimmy routhier and richie deere were hanging out having a few beers in farrells when we decided to go to a club in the city. usually we would We were meet a farrells have a few cheap beers before going out to the mustard seed in bay ridge but this night we decided to go into the city being that jimmys parents were away for the weekend and his house was empty,We figured it would be easier to pick up some girls in the city.We went to this club and jimmy and richie picked up these 2 girls and talked them into coming back to jimmys house for the night.We had a really good night and finally around 10 am sunday morning the girls decided it was time for them to leave.It just so happened that 1 of the girls were balck and back in those days things were a lot different when it came to color.it was now sunday morning 10am and people were all going to church and we were trying to figure out how to get these girls out of the house without the neighbors seeing.We decided to call a car service and that i would wait outside and when the car service arrived and the coast was clear we would get them into the car. What memories I sure jimmy and richie remember that night well
Bill,
I still see Maryann from time to time on 9th ave. Next time I see her I will tell her about this site and give her your regards. By the way, do you have a sister named Madeline? We were pretty good friends and I wound up marrying one of her friends, Janine.
Hi sal………yes I do have a sister named madeline and another karen I am also first cousins with the ryans danny thomas susan and kathy. Madeline is married and has 2 children and lives upstate by windam. Please do send maryann my regards and tell her to check out the website.
wishing everyone a happy & healthy newyear. spread the word about this great website.
Loved reading about the old neighborhood–my cousin Eddie Keyes called to tell me about it –my brother Tommy and my sister MaryAnn–great idea!!!!
how about nick;s candy store on 11ave n windsor pl (nick fucey) might have mispelled his last name summer school 154 hot summer days hanging in the school yard n the bad HUNS LED BY C.K. D.B. H. M. OKEY M.L. J.C. C.D. C.C. T.K. D.M. K.C. K.C.
Sad to say but Nick Fucci senior just passed away this year in Toms River N.J.(I think he was 82). They lived right across the street from my parents in Toms River N.J. Mrs Lucy Fucci passed away there a few years ago not too long after my Mom. They were life long friends. My Dads still their. As far as I know Nick Jr is doing well and Living in Long Island.
SORRY TO HEAR THAT HE WAS A GOOD MAN HE ALWAYS TOOK CARE OF THE HUNS I CAN RECALL WE HAD A TEEN CLUB ON THE PARKSIDE BELOW SEELY ST HE WAS OUR CHAPERONE HE WOULD LOOK OVER US AT NITE MAKE SURE EVERYTHING WAS SAFE BUT U KNOW AS KIDS WE ALWAYS TRIEDTO GET OVER WE WOULD DRINK BEFORE COMING DOWN TO THE CLUB. WE WOULD GO IN HIS CANDY STORE TRY TO STEAL A PIECE OF CANDY HE WOULD CHASE U WITH HIS BUTCHER KNIFE OR HIT U ON THE TOP OF UR HEAD WITH HIS FIST SO ANOTHER GOOD MAN GONE WE HAD GREAT TIMES WITH NICK HE WILL BE MISS GOD BLESS NICK N LUCY FUCCI
Kevin where on long island is nick jr ive live in wantagh levittown for 25 yrs and now franklin sq and garden city. Everyone HAPPY NEW YEARS AND HAVE A WONDERFUL NEW JOURNEY ONE DAY AT A TIME. 2008 WILL BE A GREAT YEAR FOR ALL.
Hey guys, great blog, thanks for all the laughs and great stories. One of my fondest memories would be hanging out at the Wollman skating rink in the park. Two of the neighborhood guys had jobs there as skate guards and we used to sneak through the fence or J & M would let us in for free.
We would skate the morning & afternoon sessions from 11AM until 4PM and stagger home to a hot dinner. My aunt got me a good pair of skates and I practically wore them until my toes came through. I still go with my sweetie on weekends and now see 2nd & 3rd generations of kids from our area skating & falling. Admission has gone up since then but it’s still a blast!
Wow Love all the comments. Made me think of so any things, that i miss the most about the neighborhood. Boy its sure has changed.
Boy-o-boy I can recall the nights of hanging out on the avenue or inside Prospect Park favorite liquor with friends. Then getting chased by Tommy Doyle .
Hey Billy Shaw, Yes i grew up and was best friends with your cousin Tommy ryan and his sister Kathy. I was also friends with your two sisters madeline and karen. They were great people and remember many good times with them. Please tell them i said hello.
It was terrific to read all the stories about the old windsor terrace gang. I spent a couple of years there too, 1963-1991. Hopefully next week When I have time I’ll post a few stories of my own. Until then, have a healthy and happy New Year PDQ
Hey Timmy……….I will tell tommy and my sisters you said hello and give them this website, good hearing from you hows your brother pat doing? Happy new year
Hey… Paul Quirke threw the best parties in grade school.
I will try to e-mail you a picture of the January 1950 Boys Graduation Class. Does anyone have a picture of the Girls?
Bill Shaw, Yes I have An older brother Danny one of seven Quirke children.
Tom Brick, It has been a long time since we have seen and spoken to each other. Hope you are doing well. I now live in Chester, NY with my wife and 2 girls, 13 & 7. Still working as a fireman in the Bronx. How are things with you?
I want to give a shout out to the Holy Name cheerleading team from 1977-1979, coached by Gina Dwyer! Some of us were…Mary Kawas, Jane Harte, Gerry Craig, Eileen McBrien…just to name a few. It was a blast!
This is a great blog! The link was sent to me by Bobby Carey. Bobby and I were Holy Name grads in 1950. You all seem to be of my nieces’ and nephews’ generation. I’m going to send the link to all of them.
I saw my nephew Jake in that photo of the HNS kids in 1956.
It was such a wonderful school. I had members of my family attending Holy Name from 1936 until 1996–60 years!
It’s just great reading all the memories of the old neighborhood.
Whenever the Corrigans get together, Holy Name and “the neighborhood” always come up as good topics for reminiscing.
yea rember the baskball tourmant ant holy name school yard in the summer.and ray and ottos and ronnys l&j bakert rays cleaners on 9ave slavins lived up stairs
I’m the younger sister(Kathy) of the Hopkin’s clan my brother’s are Jake, Charlie, Hanky and Billy. my sister’s are Floann and Judy.
I remember Bohack on Prospect avenue I use to go there with my mother with the shopping cart or my father with the car grocery shopping and also going to my grandmother house on 16th street and 10th ave. stright to the candy store on the corner to get penny candy I don’t remember the name of the store so if anyone remember’s please let me know.
All the woman had to go thruogh the back door in Farrell’s and also on ST. Patrick’s Day the bar served corn beef and cabbage dinner it was YUMMY.
Red’s shoe store my mom use to buy my shoe’s for school in there and red was so nice.
And I can’t forget my friend Joanie Ward we use to go to Associated Grocery store on 9th ave and knock all the stock off the shelf’s Tony and Abe use to chase us out of the store it was very funny the things we use to do.
does any one remember LaLa, the man that use to come around and try to talk, and the kids use to make fun of him I never did I was a good girl.
Coin’s clearner’s carl’s fruit store joe’s cand store with big tall man and the little guy joe, and the old drug store were connecticut muffin is now, if any one can help me with the name of the drug store. they guy I foregot his name.
The butcher shop next doorof farrell’s the remember some of the guys that use to work in there….Geroge, Tony, Billy and Walter, there the only that I remember.
Not to mention the rides half of moon and the whip and the good humor truck that use to come around.
yep you can’t beat those day’s I would love to have those day’s back.
well if there is anything else I will put on here.
Good bye for now.
Kathy.
Hey Paul,
Want to take a ride in my Firebird ?
Hi, Kathy,
Did you mean Ballard’s Pharmacy on the corner of Windsor?
Glad you found this site. Please send the link out to all the Holy Namers in the family. (I’m missing some email addies).
Aunt Maureen
no pharmacy on bartel pritchard square tonys ethic pharmacy and clarks candy store on 16 st and 10 ave and dont forget sepes on 9 st and 5 ave bictfords 10 st and 5 ave burts windsor pl and ppw before the hardware store. the mountain of snow on ppw king of the hill.
How about sledding down Suicide Hill in the Park? Bill L. took me down on his back the first time I ever tried it. I was scared silly. My heart was pounding. But we made it to the bottom in one piece.
Hi, Kathy Hopkins (Sanchez), I was the goddaughter of Bill and Pee Wee Lordi. Spent a lot of time playing with their daughters, Delores, Joanie and son Billy and their dog, Rupert. We have probably met in the paste. I remember your mom, Florrie very well. She had a great laugh! Make sure you check out the photos of your brothers in the second grade on this blog. My mom and dad bought your grandmother’s house on sixteenth street near tenth avenue
Hi, Carol…I’m PeeWee’s sister. Of course I remember the Gogartys. I knew your Mom and Dad when they were first going together. I saw Margie at PeeWee’s funeral in 2006.
Your Dad was such a joker. When I was a teenager and a big fan of the Dodgers, Billy G. teased me by asking me if I wanted a date with Don Newcombe. He knew how to embarrass me.
They were a great couple, and very devoted friends of the Lordis and Corrigans.
Do you remember when Rupert ate the $20 bill off of the coffee table? Bill L. wanted to kill him. Twenty bucks was a lot of dough back in those days.
So good to hear from you, Maureen. I was telling my mom last night about hearing from you on these diaries. She will be tickled to hear your memories. I don’t specifically remember the story about Rupert eating the twenty bucks but it certainly sounds like a great story from the neighborhood. I used to love sitting out on the stoop on those hot summer nights with Pee Wee, my mom and Mrs. Mancinelli? who was Pee Wee’s neighbor. Oh the laughs we used to have. Pee Wee was always such a blessing to me. When I came back to visit with my daughter when she was small, I was lamenting to her how I thought Sarah would miss out on the commraderie of our neighborhood. I always remember her encouragement. She told me not to worry about it because even if I moved back to New York, the neighborhood experience would not be the same. She was right. My daughter has wonderful memories of her elementary, middle school, high school years here in Washington. And she loves visiting New York.
I remember Mrs. Mancinelli. She was a British “war bride” as we used to call the girls our boys married “over there”. She had some great stories and superstitions she used to share. A lovely and memorable lady.
Oh man! The memories.
Our kids will never have close to the experience we all share. Now its ‘play dates’ and IM. No more stick ball in the street. No more mob of kids meeting at the schoolyard and organizing the ‘game’. btw- somehow everyone played. etc. The whole experience! Too bad.
btw- A couple of names and places I haven’t seen here:
Bonali’s
Crazy Joe Carrar (sp) (He’s still around!)
The Park House
And yes. Finn and I were the only KC fans in the nabe. The abuse we took!
Nice blog Finn!
Bonalli’s Italian Ice on a breezless summer afternoon or evening. Chocolate, Pistachio,Cherry and the Lemon that was always the last option when the other favorite one’s ran out.
Parkhouse or Pakhouse as the Greek owners use to say relied on the teens of the neighborhood to keep them in business. Remember the front booth that everyone wanted so that you could people watch. The elderly waiter,Pete would say, “Nize to see you, hey,hey” I remember he brought a corn muffin still in the wrapper but it was warmed before there were microwaves without it being open or burned. Never could figure out how he did it.
Hoopscoach, this is a great site you got going, hope all is well. I got a great photo of the football team the nads. You are in it, I will send it to you through your email, Pete Vega is in it, God rest his soul,.
by the way ,mike purdy, That camaro of yours got us in a lot of “good” trouble.Will be back.
FLIP THAT URINAL
I was in Farrell’s watching the Giants-Cowboys game on Jan. 13th when nature called. I was amazed to see that the Men’s bathroom had a complete overhaul. The two tall urinals are gone along with the two old toilet stalls. I think a tear fell from my cheek. I didn’t want to pee. I thought I was in another place and time. The bathroom looks great…very white and clean. If you stand at the bar outside the bathroom, all you smell is new tile and grout… not the smell of a dump from a 70 year old man. Times are definately changing. I’ll miss those huge urinals. They were so big I use to throw a penny in the one I was using and make a wish…the wish never came true….you could still smell the dump of a 70 year old man. But not anymore. I did pee that night and the Giants won. I guess it was a good night. But the urinals are gone and gone for good. My pee’s will never be the same.
Hi everyone,
In answer to the question asked by Kathy Hopkins Sanchez, the drug store on PPW was Ethical Pharmacy. It was owned by Tony when I was a kid and later bought by Frankie Ozalas who was from 15th St. near 9th Ave. He later moved it directly across the street to a much larger space. I wonder where Frankie is today. By the way, Kathy, I graduated from Holy Name with your brother Hanky. He was my graduation partner. I remember wanting my partner to be Kevin Coyne (who I had a crush on at that time). I missed him by one person. Of course, I blamed Hanky for being 1/4 in. too short.
Keep the memories coming, it’s great.
Tony who had Ethical Pharmacy was such a nice man. He made you feel that no matter what health problem you had he would be able to help you in some way even if it were only to give you some emotional support. He was afflicted with the same disease that Michael Jackson had so over the years he lost the pigment in his skin. Did not make a difference because he was so beautiful and loving on the inside. Thanks Tony for your pharmacy’s ministry to our neighborhood.
Yes Carol what a Gentleman!! Thanks Denise and Carol for that great memory!!
I was in the mood for a cherry slush recently and it reminded me of buying one at Bonali’s and getting a pretzel rod to go with it!
My friends who are not from our neighborhood just don’t get it and think I’m crazy when I say I want a slush and a pretzel rod. How sad for them!!
Yeah. I asked for a soda and a frankfuter when I first came out here to Washington 35 years ago, the clerk looked at me like I had a hole in my head. “You want baking soda?”
What he understood was pop and a hotdog. No real bagels or delis. Pizza with bacon and pineapple!!!! Real culture shock. Over the years the area has become better with baked goods. Many people from NY have come out and established businesses so that other transplants can get a taste of the good stuff. How nice it is to turn people on to those comfort foods. Still they always taste better in NY.
Hello Carol, How are you I was happy to hear from you yes these are great memories that we all have of Park Slope we had everything right at the plams of our hands and didn’t have to go to far for anything.
Does any one remember the bowling alley near the stables around near PPSW that was a nice little bowling alley and great food, and the Roller Rink I can’t remember were exactly but I know it was near the bowling alley.
I was telling my Cousin Joan Lordi and she was so happy to hear that everyone was on here writing there memories, I was telling her names of some people on here and she said Oh My god really carol was on there too and betty trapp she said that great that we can communicate with each other and actraly find each other.
Ok well I’m getting ready to watch the GIANTS game and have to finish cooking the Hot Wings and make the salad and taco’s.
Talk to you all soon.
Kathy.
Hi Aunt Maureen, How are you doing, my brother Billy sent this site to me I just love it I read all the blogs the memories it’s great I want to see if I can send this site to my sister floann I think she will like it.
I hear from fran and katie from time to time it’s great to hear from them I hope there doing well
I will send uncle bill the picture that he asked for, this week I promise I been so busy and the days are getting shorter.
Ok well I have to start making my Hot Wings and salad and tacos and watch the GIANTS game.
talk to you soon,
Love your neice Kathy.
Well the folks from Wndsor Terrace have to be estatic tonight. I heard the screams from Farrells Bar & Grill. THE GIANTS ARE GOING TO THE SUPER BOWL! We were happy when they beat Dallas, glad they were going to Wisconsin. Even though we wanted to believe, back in our minds we truly hoped they wouldn’t get blitzed. Well we do belive now just like the days in the 60’s when we would ride the “D” train up to Yankee Stadium, say “Two for Tom” and hope the scout wasn’t looking, and go through the turnstile. We stood for three hours, had a blast, then we all went to Logans Bar to celebrate. Good times, good folks -many gone- but these times cheering for the Giants will always be remembered
Yeah, the Giants won! Whooo hooo! It was close but they pulled through at the last minute. I vaguely remember the bowling alley. I remember going there and getting very poor scores, Like 10! I do remember with pleasure going to the roller rink. I remember that they had a organ player that played music while we were skating around the rink. We got plenty of practice after learning how to skate on the street. Remember those skates that clamped on to our shoes and needed tightening with a key? Taking advantage of the gradual incline and smooth surface on 8th Avenue between Windsor Place and 16th street when they redid the sidewalk by the Little Sisters of the Poor home gave us plenty of practice. How often did we have a ball go over the wall into their back courtyard as we played with Spaldeens we would hit off the edges of the wall to make it pop up to hit or catch? The fire hydrant was right by your house that we used to play in on those scorching hot days. How about Billy and Bobby Porkoney? I can still see Bobby’s lumbering gait coming down the street. A big guy with a great sense of self deprecating humor and a big heart. It was always a joy to run into him. My mom reminded me that their mom worked at the Parkhill restaurant on the corner of 16th and 9th Avenue. Those were the days…….
Does anyone know whatever happened to Lisa pastramo. Last I saw her was her weddding day To Dennis Lindsay.She lived across from bohacks on proscept ave .I remember hanging out by Joes pizza with her
I went to Holy Name with Lisa Pastramo. Nice girl. Sorry, I don’t know where she is now. Does anyone remember the dentist Dr. Fleischer? He did everything, ex-rays, cleaning, etc… I don’t think he had a receptionist either. I remember getting novacaine and then having to wait in the waiting room until you felt numb. He was nice but I think that’s why I fear dentist’s it was always so depressing in there.
talking about dentists does anyone remember dr rosenstien who had a office on the corner of proscept and 9th ave above the lunchonette.I remeber one time sitting in his chair and him taking the water hose that they put in your mouth and letting my mouth fill with water to see what i would do when my mouth filled with water. when my mouth filled with water i lturned to my side and spit the water all over the floor and he broke out laughing
wow, my nephew in virginia just sent me this site….he sent me the
picture of my husband chubby in second grade…we are lucky to have a copy of it….oh the memories….bachman’s…i grew up on 16th street’just
below 10th and would run to bachmans for a bag of chips 5 sents and
bag of m&m’s also 5 cents….of course i remember the junk food….
prospect park….sledding down suicide at night….hanging in parkhouse
w/friends grace gormley, pat rail…joanie destafano. eleanor rail…was
the best neighborhood to grow up in….everyone knew everyone else..
and watched out for each other….chubby and i ususally go back every
march for the irish american day parade…each year there are less and
less people that we know….but it is always good to go back and walk
around….restores the soul!!!….
Over Twenty Club. Back in the early sixties when I returned from service I went to a meeting of the Over Twenty Club. Up on the stage were Pat Grace, Grace Lyons and Ann Cosgrove who gave my self and Chubby Brady permission to start the Sunday morning Coffee Club. For the next 10 years or so we enjoyed ski trips, New Years Eve Dances. Communion Breakfasts, theater parties, dances, bowling and other social activates.
Windsor Terrace and Holy Name was part of my life for nearly fifty years.
Being born on 15th. Street (in the Strand) and moving to 17th. Street. I remember Mark’s Bakery, Ebengers, Rosso’s Grocery store on 17th. Street, Haber’s Drug Store, Gay’s Deli on 10 Th. Avenue, Meyers Ice Cream Parlor replaced by Wetter’s. I remember Miss Lynn (4th. Grade) Miss Hubbard (3rd. Grade) Bro. Waren. Bro. Jan, Brother John of the Cross. The neighbor has not lost any of its charm.
hey hopscotch look at what you stared!!! its great right.yea all the good times around here the faces change,little oldtimers left.
Hi Allan,
In the 60’s I also had Miss Hubbard and Lynn in 3rd and 4th grades. I can still remember every time Miss Hubbard would walk down the isles in the classroom, her perfume would almost knock you unconscious HAHA! Then she used to dig her long fingernails into your arm when you did something wrong. Great memories!!!!
Just popping in to say “HI!” to my niece Cathy Rohde and my nephew Charlie Hopkins…so good to see you here. Holy Name was the best, and the neighborhood was a great place to grow up. The Bachman’s people were so nice…after old Mr. Bachman retired, his relatives took over…Erni and Rudi and their sister. Lovely people.
Schwartzie owned the candy store below Tenth when I was a kid. His son Marvin had a crush on me and would run out to wait on me whenever I walked in.
A Big SHOUT OUT!!! to Allan Maloney, one of my contemporaries. Props to you, Allan, for remembering the names of the store owners when we went to Holy Name, circa 1942 to 1950. Marx’s crumb cake was the best. Ebinger’s strawberry layer cake was my favorite. Remember the line outside Ebinger’s on a Saturday morning? All the mothers would go straight from daily Mass to Ebinger’s to stock up for the weekend, and to share the neighborhood gossip.
Weren’t you an altar boy, Alan? Do you still remember your Latin?
Do you remember my best friend Margie O’Toole and her sisters Eileen and Theresa? Everyone knew Margie, as she was the evening receptionist at the Rectory. I would visit her there some evenings and Bishop Boardman would tell us to go into the kitchen and have some ice cream. For a Bishop, he was a regular guy. That’s because he grew up in The Terrace.
For a good laugh check out Walt Handelsman’s animated editorial animated cartoons especially the one on Baby Boomers
hey Carol, do you have a brother Billy. And live on 16th St between 9th and 10th Avenue. if so tell him Paul Quirke said hello. Hey coach looking forward to seeing the nads on the site.
Hi Paul, Yes, my family used to live on sixteenth between 9th and 10th Avenue. My family has migrated over to Staten Island. Billy is married with a son, John who is very interested in ANY kind of ball playing but particularly likes basketball and football. Billy has been coaching and is very involved in his teams. Coming from our neighborhood I would not expect anything less. I certainly will let him know that you are sending your regards.
Carol
Has anyone blogged about Harry the Barber yet ? He was great. For four bucks you’d get a great haircut. And with all the tonics and aftershave he had lying around…you’d walk out of the shop smelling like a medicine cabinet.
And if you were lucky….while waiting for your haircut, you’d walk over to get a comic book from the shelf and under all the comic books you might find a Playboy magazine. The closest I got was the cover. Instead of a bunny…I ended up with Spiderman. If I remember correctly…didn’t Harry look like Boris Karloff ? Or was that Otto.
Paul Quirk, another real nice family from our neighaborhood. I went to school with Teri and Kathy what a sense of humor just like the bunch of you!! Paul I want to get in touch with Teri please let her know ok. thanks
hi Betty thank you for the kind words about our family. Here is my e-mail address PDQ27@optonline.net send me your e-mail address and I will send you Terry’s phone number. Hope all is well in the Trapp family. Hey coach nice job with the Nads football photo, but I would bet a dollar it was in the 70s not the 80s. Unfortunately two guys in the photo have passed away I just recently heard of Joe passing away and you know about Pete on 9/11, two great guys we will miss them. hey Mike couldn’t tell you anything about Harry the barber. Mom mother used to cut my hair couldn’t you tell.
Will be back soon PDQ.
Bobby Trapp let me know about this blog and I see his sister, Betty and brother, Gerry have left comments here. I have a theory that all the Trapp’s were good at b-ball because they lived by the courts, lol. Betty, I use to go to your games and you were so good at those bank shots and as a player that I think you were embarassed by your talents. I was from 17th St and 10th ave. and lived across the street from the Quirke’s and we played near the Pilgrim Laundry with Danny and Dorothy and my late sister, Valerie. Later on, “Our gang”, consisted of Robert “Mickey” Mikolajczak, Alex Batista, Joanne Slavin, Gloria Polanski, and Joyce Cuttita. After playing stick ball against the walls of Holy Name school, yes that was a strike, see the chalk marks on the spalding, we would hang out with the girls. I enjoyed going back to the neighborhood when we had the 2 reunions at Bishop Ford. One was the basketball reunion in 1989 and the other not long ago in the evening. I thank the person responsible for this venue and I can be reached at gtaranto@verizon.net and love to all. Eddie Veriker gave me a copy of the Holy Name Church Youth News from 1966 and I will try to pass it on to all.
Holy Cow!
I am seeing names I havent thought about in years!
Tommy Brick! wow! Remember camping with my dad and brothers? Still have the pics somewhere. And all the days in our pool with Eddy, Richie, Dee etc…too much fun
Matt Bullock! Hope your family is doing well…Its been years! How is Doris?
Paul Quirke…we are only living about 45 minutes from each other- yet only see each other at neighborhood functions- it figures!
Hope all is well with you guys and everyone else posting
Please feel free to email if you want to touch base with me or the rest of the Slavin crew ~ eileenpmac@aol.com
Just wondering if any of you transplants will be attending the Irish American parade in the Slope this year ? March is soon approaching.
Tom Brick and Steve I have not seen you or many others of our old crew for years. I would be great to see you guys. Maybe we could have some half assed reunion. I’ll buy the first round !!!!!!!
If any one is interested in contacting me my e-mail is rmoran629@hotmail.com
Love this blog………….
Rob “Emmett” Moran
Gerald so nice to see you once again! As usual you articulate so well! Mrs.Gruschow and Kevin Fogarty would get on me for the same reason you mentioned, but I must say, I like how you put it the best!!! Yes alot of good memories whenever we would go over to 17st. and see how the other side of town was doing!! About your theory Gerry, growing up I would always refer to the school yard as our “PLAY PEN” !@!!! So many things occured in the school yard, so many hours spent, so manys friendships made, so many memories cherished!! My heart feels for you and your family Gerry, whenever I think of you and Valerie!! Please know I do pray for you!! One christmas at Bobbys, I had the privilege of talking with Valerie and the both of us sharing, and her talking about her life reinforced to me just how SPECIAL she is, not many people could do what she did, concerning family.What a Lady!!!!
Betty-I still cry for my Val, and I was hoping we were on your pray list. She was a hard working woman with a flair on all she touched. Her daughter, Emma, is attending college in Brooklyn and studying dance and sports medicine. Her son, Colin, is an artist who has sold many of his creations and will be moving to Oregon. Their Dad, Al, is taking an expedition to Antartica this month, no really! Do you remember how you use to say I had hand trouble and I thought to myself that I never felt anyone up yet. What you meant was that I was always touching people and tapping them. Do you remember Theresa Rignola? When you graduated the 8th grade, were you the last on line when you lined up with the opposite boy/girl to have that first dance with. I was the last on line since I was 6ft since the 6th grade and never grew an inch more. Now I’m shrinking. Love ya, Betty!
Steve-I saw one of your commentaries about Converse sneakers and it made me smile. I never had the right pair of sneakers that were “in”. I finally got a pair of white Converse and everyone else had swithched to the black ones. I should have paid better attention. Anybody out there hear from Brother John. He use to try and talk us into the brotherhood anytime he could.
Hey Hello Eileen and Hi to Lisa Saba, doing well and the family is good. The Farrells football league is getting together this week or next, i`m not sure when but my brother Billy told me they are. He said he was looking forward to seeing Charlie Morale among all the others. He`s been sick but says if Charlie Kawas wants to race hell still beat him – lol
Gerald you have some memory!! When I asked you about your hand trouble, was it in fun or was I upset about it!!!! You are funny! Theresa R the last time I saw her was about 10 years ago when I had some oldies over to my home in Wantagh Long Island and she came. One day I was in a mall and I hear this yelling, BETTY TRAPPPPPPPPPPPP, it was Theresas sister Mary married to Teddy. She has not changed one bit and we had a nice talk, funny or what. Last or next to last and I remenber Brother Gardenius saying to Eddie Keyes and a couple of guys, move over Betty doesnt bite!! Yes I hated being that tall in the 8th grade, but today I love it!!!!!!!!!!!!! I have come to embrace how the Lord made me, finally!!!!I no longer am embarrased by my gifts!!!!!!!!!!! Gerald always a pleasureeeeeeee.
Gerry Toranto, he was our Big guy Growing up. Yes he was the Center at about 5′ 10 in the 5th or 6th Grade, and about 6 ft Wide… Gerry you set a good Pick. Those were the Beginning Days of when we learned to Compete with all the Good Team in the CYO. Even though everyone thought of Gerry as a Awesome Baseball Player, which he was, I think you told me Gerry You Loved Basketball more. I can remember playing in the Championships for Brooklyn with Gerry, Danny, Alex, and I think Johnny, Bobby,Danny and others, we could have very easily lost by 30pts, Playing against a front line of 6′6″. 6′3′ AND pOSSIBLY, 6′2″ at the age of 10 or 11, yea exactly lets check those Birth Cerificates….. I THINK SOME OF THE PLAYERS WE PLAYED AGAINST BACK THEN WERE; TONY STYLES, WAYNE LASANE, BIG IRA AND MAYBE CLARK BAR..Anyway We didn’t win the Game but it came down to the last 2 minutes and I think the score was about 28-25 and I think if the 3 pt shot was in back then we would have had a shot… But Yes Gerry was our big Man back then….. I think Gerry might have had a Pretty good influence on one of our All City Baseball players that came out og HNS and than was Mr Charlie Alberti….Good to hear from you Gerry, thanks for the Magazines, Gerry…..
Betty, we were always laughing at each other and the more you giggled, the more I would bother you. You mentioned seeing Mary and that brought back a memory of dealing with the big sister. When you liked someone you would say “will you go out with me” and that would start an official date of going “steady” and then when the word got around that you weren’t doing too good as a couple, one of you would call it “quits” and just walk away. Divorces should be as easy.
Bobby, thanks for the kind words. I didn’t even know what any ball was until transferring into HN in the sixth grade. If it wasn’t for your corner shots, it would have been embarassing. I remember how you use to flick your hand before and after the shot. I have played b-ball as an adult in one of the local schools in NJ from 1977 until my achilles tendon came off the bone last year. I still can’t shoot but honed the other skills. According to that 1966 paper I sent you, our team had Eddie Vericker, Mike Rash, Mike Moore and you and me. Coach Kent protested the Visitation team and we won the Deanery. Mickey McNally had Danny Conlon, Bob Piesz, Johnny Cregg, Alex Batista nad your brother Gerry. They were 14-0 that year. I was a tiger at HN and at Most Holy Trinity HS and now I’m just a pussy. Charlie Lived across the street from me and we always played stickball on 17th St. and u had to hit it straight or it went on the roof of the Pilgrim laundry.
Betty-the paper mentioned your team mates in 1966:Muriel Bradley, Joan Dudar, Mary Finch, Connie Mangam, Pat McLoughlin, Pat Rail, Kathy Ryan, Margie Shields, Anita Tufano and coach Linda Esposito. Did you all fit on the bench? You were going to play in the Richmond Hill tournament.
I remember when I was younger I use to go to the park with my mother to watch my brother Billy play in the bandshell with Matty, and Jack Cambria.
And go to McFadden’s to see Santa Claus.
Ok well I have to go now.
So you all have a great weekend bye now.
Hi there, Richie Corrigan from 16th st. Kind of funny to see Aunt Maureen, cousins Kathy Hopkins and Kathy Hopkins Sanchez corresponding on the web. It was really nice to get this link (thanks Aunt Mo). Can’t believe all the memories it brings back. Recognize a lot of names and places, even though we moved upstate in ‘72. Wasn’t aware of the other Corrigans in the neighborhood. My sister Joanne, my mom, and I live in Middletown NY, sister Linda in Wutrsboro, NY, and brother Matt in Ocean Pines MD. Will be checking in frequently and maybe throwing my 2 cents in once and a while. Used to hang out with Tim Hardy, Billy Pynn, Pat Quigley, Wally and Jody Staniczeski, Frank Maldonado, Jim Brady on the block, and went to Holy Name with Tim Kehoe, Stephen Shine, – that’s all I can recollect right now. Thanks to all who contribute.
Hey, Richie! How are you and everyone upstate in M-town?
I heard all about your Tiger Cruise. What an adventure.
Yes, it is odd but great how the internet keeps us together, even though the miles keep us apart.
Hi, Kathy. You have a good weekend, too. Are you going to any Super Bowl parties?
Hello Aunt Maureen, How are ya, we are all doing fine here just busy working and keeping busy I hope to get that picture to you soon I still didn’t send it yet…sorry, Richie is on here also wow our whole family is on here. HI Richie welcome.
I remember going to the park to watch my brother billy play with his band in the bandshell with matty and alex and other guys but not sure who you would have to ask him that was alot of fun watching and listening to my brother billy play wipe out.
Going to moms pizza place to get pizza they had the best pizza on the ave
Hi Richie, How are you all doing?. I’m so happy you have the site I sent it to your mom and linda I don’t have anyones else e-mail addy or I would of sent it everyone here is find working and keeping busy that is about it nothing much to talk about.
Tell everyone I said hello and keep in touch.
Cousin Kathy
I remember going to the butcher on 9th I use to go to the back of the store and watch george put the mean in the grinder and chop meat would come out the other end…lol.
I remember the guys that use to work there:
Tony
George
Walter
Billy
and there was one I can’t remember his name he was tall and I think had blond hair.
I think it was steve but now sure.
those guys were the best whatever we wanted they would cut the meat just right.
Oh yea the the sawdust on the floor I use to kick it around while waiting for my mom to get her order memoires like this keeps you young.
I was talking to my sister Judy wow…she had alot of memoires. I couldn’t take it all down but I sent her the site so I hope she writes in, does anyone know if they put bar stools in farrells they said they would never put stools in so we were just wondering if they did or not.
If anyone knows the were abouts of the ward family please let me know I was trying to get in touch with them thanks.
see you all soon have a GREAT SUPER BOWL
GO GIANTS>>>>>WOOO HOOO.
GO BIG BLUE
Hi Kathy I was in Farrells last year and thy put nice tall chairs, they maybe calling them stools for all I know, they look great!! I believe new tv also. Looking better and better!!!
Hi Betty,
I never thought I’d say it but the stools do look great in Farrell’s. At first I wasn’t to thrilled with them but now as I’m in my mid 40’s and after standing for an hour or two at the bar….the stools are a plus. After sitting in the stool for an hour or two then standing up is another story.
Who remembers when McNallay broke his ruler! He did it on Horse’s hands. Charlie refused to giver into McNallay and Mickey got so made and swung so hard he broke the ruler!
Br. John’s IOU paddle. Everyone got at least one smack.
Br Fl’s hand. I remeber one day he told Vito Planamura to get a hair cut and when the next day came and Vito did not BR walked down the asile and just lifted Vito by his tie and threw him out of the classroom.
And Br. Vincents sadistic ridicule.
Ah such wonderful Chatholic school memories
Someone just sent me the link to this site..lot’s of memories.
I cannot beleive no one has mentioned the McGees. Everyone in Windsor/Terrace has a McGee in their grae at some point. (Jimmy, Danny, Joey, Petsy, Ann, Maureen, John , Mike etcc… ) Heck the twins were born the day the Met’s won the World Series in 69.
Hey Betty, Thanks for the information now I have to call Judy and tell her that farrell’s put in chairs and maybe calling them bar stools…LOL.
Well hope you all have a GREAT SUPER BOWL DAY.
GO GIANTS.
Bro. Vincent had those Science fairs on Sundays and there was Sesso(forgot first name) who did not participate, and getting the snot beat out of him on Monday out in the hall. Bro. V also excercised us b4 every class with melodic cadence. Remember we had those sessions where we gave money to charity and Bro. John and Vincent would pit the classes against each other as the total went back and forth. It made us all dig deep. They were true salesman!
hey aunt maureen, richie and kathy s…..so glad to hear from you on
the web site…chubby was in the neighborhood yesterday for memorial
mass for john devaney…19 years since he passed….he was also in
Farrells doesn’t remember seeing any stools…but then again how long
was he in bar and how much did he have to drink…lol….was talking w/
friends this weekend frank lindsay, dell ennis, marie l and eileen e….
reminiscing about neighborhood and talking about this great blog site…
we will be going into neighborhood for irish american day parade in
march….hope to see some people we recognize there….shout out to
betty trap…how the heck r u?…..see your sister cathy often….she looks
great…a great family you have….maybe will see you in march….
gotta run now….
Forgot about those Science Fairs- We put on some great presentations for 7th and 8th graders. Joe Sesso was in our class- pretty tough guy from Windsor and Terrace. Never knew who would catch the wrath of Bro. Vinny, but it was always and often. Propagation of the Faith drives on Friday afternoon would pit one row of the class against another- Vinny would use our competitive nature to raise the bar. We would scheme up new ways to get a couple of nickels for those sessions. Great memory, Gerry.
re second grade picture 2B…..jim reilly is really jim sheehan….in front
of jimmy sheehan sitting down is frankie galinaro….mike trapp is in
second row last seat…. behind charlie terry is frank rizzo…that is all
i remember….chubby h
Hi Kathy and Chubby how the hell are you guys doing???? Yes Kathy, kate does look great, shes aging real well!! Kathy I remenber your mom and dad and what a nice couple on 10th ave. Your dad especially always a big hello!! I worked in MOrgan Guaranty and if I remenber correctly, he was a Security Guard there. I worked there for 10 years when I graduated High School. He always had a special smile about him!! Kathy maybe Ill see you guys for the Irish Am Day Parade. My best to all
Charlie, You and Jake were sooo adorable as little boys. My favorite nephews (don’t tell all the others)!
For Jerry Weldon-what year to you graduate from HN? I left in ‘67 and in Bro. John’s class and I think there was 2 8th grades, no? Baby boomers needed the extra room. Do you remember being a crossing guard with the white sash and badge? I was lucky enough to guard the boy’s entrance and the girl’s would see if they could sucker me in to letting them in instead of going to the next entrance…yes, I was a sucker!
Hi Gerry, yeah there were two 8 grades ,I was in Brother Duanes class. I think Brother Vincent is still lurking about here on Staten Island (just got a chill up my spine). Hope all is well with you since the reunion up at Bishop Ford.If you thought that was great ,you should have come on the HN cruise last July !!! . See ya later.
Hi Gerry,yeah there were 2 8th grades, I was in Brother Duanes class that graduated in 1967. I too was a crossing guard (i think i still have the badge tucked away somewhere). My “post” was 9th ave and Windsor Pl. and the crossing guard was Mrs.Stankus. Hope all is well with you since the reunion up at Bishop Ford. If you thought that was great, you shoulda’ come on the HN cruise last July!! it as really great!!!. See ya later,Paul
We use to play those games until the church bells would ring that signaled the game was over. Use to hate to lose.
Does anyone remember Paul White and his brother Osso? They were quite the characters in the 1960`s.
PAUL MRS. STANKUS HAS A DAUGHTER SHARON WHO IS JUST A DOLL AND WAS SEEN ABOUT TWO YEARS AGO AND IS A BEAUTIFUL AS EVER
Hey Jerry:
You were not only a crossing guard you were the Captain of the guards. You made me in charge of the girls entrance, yes!!!!!!!! If I only knew than what I know now. And about the science projects, I was cleaning out my mom’s house and came across the project we did together about mouse’s, remember, my mom still had my report. We fed those things vodka, etc…
OK, everyone!!! I spoke with Terri Brick-Doyle last night after I heard of Rita’s passing and she gave me this great blog! Do I know any of you? and Who is the person who started the blog? What happened to all the old crowd….I would love to get in touch with everyone and get an update on your lives………and update you on my life as well. Can’t wait to hear from you.
Helen Tripoli~~~!How great is it that this blog started up. Steve Finamore is the hallowed instigator of this flood of memories. I have been off work with a back injury so this blog has been keeping me company at times with some old and new friends from the neighborhood. My email address is cgheart @juno.com So glad to see that you are on board!
Carol
For Gerry Taranto- We moved to LI in “69 after I finished 7th grade in HN. Went to 8th grade at St.Mary’s and it was really a country club. I gotta say that I was ahead academically because of HN. Bro. Vinny and John had us way advanced in math and science- I guess fear was the great motivator. When I was there my last year Bros John and Duane had 8th- Blaine and Vinny 7th. I remember during class one day with Bro Vincent, some kids in the street were passing by on Howard Place yelling “Skinhead” He didn’t appreciate the nickname all too well, and proceeded to jump up on the windowsill and radiators to get a good look at the perpatrators as they walked alongside the school. We were snickering as he tried to walk down the window sills and fell. He made us pay for showing any glee at his expense that day.
junior whats up, living i staten island, are you still on 18th street
Thanks JW…I forgot about Duane, didn’t he have a saying that he always used on us? That was a funny story about Vincent and it sounded so like him. Good stuff.
Hi Richie Krumbholz,
Lisa Priolo(Saba) from Terrace Place you remember my brothers Gerard and Thomas. Hows your bro Kenny? I live on Long Island, and my brothers in NJ. Our older sister lives on Staten Island. Always remember hanging out in the shoolyard playing softball. What simple and fun times.
how are you, kenneth still lives on sherman street, i also live on staten island, yeah we lived in the school yard lol
Kenny Krumbolz was one of the best ball players in P.S. 154 schoolyard.
Gerry was it ” Come here Deer”…
BT-yes it was!!! He would have his hand to his face then point at you and say, “Come here Dear”, thought you were going to get away with it…lol.
Somethings just stay with us..
This blog is great and stirs up so many memories that it makes my heart pang. I have so many thoughts, I don’t think my fingers can type as fast as my thoughts . You know you guys talk so much about basketball, but how about the great group of girls who would meet after school down on Sherman St. to jump rope and double dutch. Diane Dragp, Patty Denny, Priscilla Davis, Pity Wall, Tisha Conlon, Christina Curtin, Margie DeStefano to name a few. Great cardio and created great toning for the legs!
I also remembered another thought when I saw the photo of the “well” at Holy Name. I was in 4th grade and was given the classroon assignment of clapping the erasers at the end of the day. The principal’s window was right above that area and that was where I was when she announced that JFK was shot.It was on the PA system and I wanted to run right home instead of going back to class.
Alex-We had 2 science projects that we did that I remember, one with mice, one with plants. We pulled the material together about a week before. We went to the pet store to get the worse looking mice with chewed ears and lousy color and say we fed them this and look at them. Same with the plants and my Mom got mad when we lost one of the mice in the basement and she swore she kept seeing it upstairs. We got a 3 out of 5 for both projects and you were a good talker. Denis Cummings always did well by cutting up a dead animal or was it live?
Oh the good old days. I think Dennis Cummings keep bringing back that same old dead cat every year. I remember you throwing me down your front stairs because one of my mice eat one of yours and those were long f+@#ing stairs. Joann is that you (now I’m crying), I miss u soooo much, hope everything is good with you. Jo & my ex Joyce (Cuttitta) were just two of the sweetest girls ever!!!! There was a time that the four of us (jerry) were always together, I think in spirt we still are. Love U guys…
Thanks Eileen McC for sharing the love of jumping rope with Pity Wall and Margie DeStefano. We were in class together. It is good to see some of the girls activities pumped up
Joanne, thanks for reminding me of the Principal’s Office. The Pricipals when I was there (1942 to 1950) were Sister Francina and Sister Polycarp. A call to the Principal’s Office in those days was usually connected to something good.
Two special girls–fifth grade or older–would be appointed as Candy Girl and School Supplies Girl, respectively. They would start out in the Principal’s Office every morning. They would carry around a box on a cord that went around their necks to each classroom, right after prayers and the Pledge of Allegiance.
Candy Girl had Tootsie Rolls, Twists, and other penny candies which we would buy and save until recess time to eat.
School Supplies Girl had pencils, wooden pens and pen nibs, and all kinds of erasers. I loved the smell of the white erasers. We didn’t need the ink erasers until fourth grade, because that was when we started using our pens, and the inkwells that were in every desk.
I was never appointed to one of these coveted positions, but I wa a regular customer!
Of mice and men…and those young women…mea culpa, Alex, for all past indiscretions. Thank God I can block out some of these things or I would have stuck a pencil in my eye by now. How about us blogging three in a row and those Slavin women getting last names of “Mc” like that.
Yeah what’s up with “Mc” names you would think it was an irish catholic neighborhood or something. I know I can take credit for being the first “spick” in the neighborhood, even though I thought I was a Conlon or Craig (two great famailies). I also have blocked out many, many of my indiscretions, some intentionaly, some …well it was the 70’s. Thank god there was no U-tube back than.
HI ALL SHERMAN STREET PEOPLE ,I CAME HERE IN 1970 WAS A GREAT NEIGHBORHOOD THEN ,AND STILL IS,ALWAYS A NEIGHBORHOOD OF MANY EVENTS ,LIVING ACROSS THE STREET FROM P.S .154 I SEEN MANY YOUNG PEOPLE GROW UP ,AND MOST TO THE BETTER
OK. I just noticed the note form Maureen Corrigan and had to respond. I was one of about 50 boys in the same class (1942-1950). We had nice little lady teachers during the first four years, then we got hit with the Brothers. Bro Colombonus ? Bro.Dermot, Bro.Warren, Bro. John of the Cross (aka Icky), Bro Kiernan & Bro. Yahn.
The little girls were all taught in nice little classrooms with heat in them, received all sorts of candy and treats, while the boys had to stoke the fires in the dungeons just to keep the little girls warm. If we were lucky, we would get to walk the principal’s pet rat on a leash out in the courtyard.
Alex, knock it off, noone ever used that Language around you. I actually never knew what you were, as far as your Nationality. I always thought of us as Ball Players or Non Ball Players, and I will say you were one of the Hardest workers out there. Glad to see your back with us again.I am glad Gerry sent me your e-mail so I’ll be in touch..BT
Hello all! It has been so much fun to read & re-read this blog. One memory of Windsor Terrace that I can’t believe no one has touched upon yet is Peter Finegan’s monkey. He used to dress it up & everything.
It was also so nice to read about Bobby Lamb. He was a very good friend of my husband Willy’s.
Oh well – thanks for the memories!
I remember a Peter Finegan that had a nickname of Oddball. Is it the same guy? I didn’t know he had a monkey, though, it’s fitting if it is the same fellow.
yeah and go figure that both of us Slavin girls married “Mc” guys that werent even from the neighborhood….at least the name now fits the face!
Robin Mardini
Just saw your shout out to the girls cheerleading team and OHHHH the memories that flooded back! Those were great times…I remember Karen coaching the younger team and flinging basketballs at our heads when we were messing around during mounts! And the year we had the combined team with all those crazy mounts Gina had us executing! Thanks for some great memories!
i think that was mr oddball, i think he lived on the parkside
Oh, Robert Carey–it’s a wonder you grew up sane. Or did you?
“Peter Finnegan’s Monkey”–that sounds like the title of a short story by James Joyce!
What would a neighborhood be without its characters?
hi thinking back to when the older much older guys from surrounding ps154 school yard, use to play soft ball after dinner every night in the summer some olders,, were mike fazio ,bob fells,bill krumbholz,ronnie d,ambrosie,harold christie,,we played danny ryan,jerry mc,govern and his crowd ,talk about laughs ,we had many
Hey Alex, nice to hear from you and the nice sentiments. Although my sister, Eileen, told me about this site months ago, I only got on it about 2 weeks ago. Isn’t it great! And hi to Gerry, although i still want to spell it with a J
My husband, John, tells me I should write a book…that’s usually after we’ve had 1 too many and just talking and reminicing. But now all i need is to get on this blob and everyone will know what I’m talking about!
I believe Brother duane was also known as ” Brother Twang” . “COM MERE DEAR” , etched in my mind.
Saw “Twang” Sitting on a bench in Battery Park one afternoon ’bout 20 years ago. Still looked the same. Also remember Freddies’ Cansy Store on 11th and Sherman and Shirleys’ Luncheonette on 9th. Living in the mid west now ( Cincinnati)
Hi everyone,
I hope this works. I’ve tried twice before to post a comment without much success. I’m new to this site and justed wanted to let everyone know how much I’ve enjoyed reading all the postings. My brother Charlie told me about this and its great. I see Betty Trapp has made several contributions. Honestly Betty, you amaze me with your memory. Its so great to hear the stories again. I look forward to seeing comments from my old friends as well as Bibba’s friends. What a neighborhood.
Hi Kathy, how are you doing? Great seeing you or I should say hearing you this fine day!! Kathy a group of us will be getting together for dinner if you are interested, let me know, someone from the past was asking about you and asked for me to invite you!!! Take care and have a great day!
Hey Tumpy – Maryann Marsillo just found out about this website and told me about it (you remember her right?). I couldn’t believe it when I saw your name. I always wondered what you were up to. I’ve been living in Staten Island for the past 21 years. I actually just went to the Father’s Guild Dance on Friday night at Holy Name with Tom and Diane. You know they have the card store on 9th Ave. I always ask about Jennifer too. She’s working at Methodist Hosp. but haven’t seen her. I’d like to get in touch with her. We all had a lot of fun back in the day – it really was a time to remember. I never hear people talk about where they grew up as much as we do.
Kathy Priolo – how are you – we only hung together when we were really young – you lived right up the block on Prospect but it was fun then.
Hey Betty,
I’d love to have dinner. You still have my number, don’t you? I’d love to see some of the old gang. I was wondering though. I thought I saw Chap mentioned somewhere but I couldn’t find it when I looked back at some of the entries. Has anyone heard from him? He was a great guy. I saw mention of good old Murph. He was amazing. What fun we had when he was around and what a sense of humor. I have some pictures that I can scan and send in if anyone is interested. I have some from our famous “dude ranch” trip. Also, I wanted to mention that I work with Billy Thornton’s daughter. Someone brought her around and one look at her and I knew who she was. She is the image of her father and what a wonderful girl. Not sure if he knows about this site but I’ll tell her tomorrow and see that she gives him the info. For now, take care.
Got this one from a friend. But I am sure some of you have seen it making the rounds on the internet. But for those who have not it might bring a chuckle and a few memories as well. Enjoy
THE SPOILED UNDER-30 CROWD!!!
If you are 30 or older you will think this is hilarious!!!!
When I was a kid, adults used to bore me to tears with their tedious diatribes about how hard things were when they were growing up; what with walking twenty-five miles to school every morning … uphill BOTH ways
yadda, yadda, yadda
And I remember promising myself that when I grew up, there was no way in hell I was going to lay
a bunch of crap like that on kids about how hard I had it and how easy they’ve got it! But now that I’m over the ripe old age of thirty,
I can’t help but look around and notice the youth of today.
You’ve got it so easy! I mean, compared to my
childhood, you live in a damn Utopia! And I hate to say it but you kids today you
don’t know how good you’ve got it!
I mean, when I was a kid we didn’t have The
Internet. If we wanted to know something,
we had to go to the damn library and
look it up ourselves, in the card catalog!! There was no email!! We had to actually write
somebody a letter …with a pen! Then you had to walk all the way across the street and
put it in the mailbox and it would take like a week to get there!
There were no MP3’s or Napsters! You wanted to
steal music, you had to hitchhike to the damn record store and shoplift it yourself! Or you had to wait around all day to tape it off the radio and the DJ’d
usually talk over the beginning and @#*% it all up!
We didn’t have fancy crap like Call Waiting! If you
were on the phone and somebody else called they got a busy signal, that’s it!
And we didn’t have fancy Caller ID Boxes either!
When the phone rang, you had no idea who it was!
It could be your school, your mom, your boss, your
bookie, your drug dealer, a collections agent, you
just didn’t know!!! You had
to pick it up and take your chances, mister!
We didn’t have any fancy Sony Playstation video
games with high-resolution 3-D graphics!
We had the Atari 2600! With games like ‘Space Invaders’ and
‘asteroids’. Your guy was a little square! You actually had to use your
imagination!! And there were no multiple levels or
screens, it was just one screen forever!
And you could never win. The game just kept getting
harder and harder and faster and faster until you died! Just like LIFE!
When you went to the movie theater there no such
thing as stadium seating!
All the seats were the same height! If a tall guy
or some old broad with a hat
sat in front of you and you couldn’t see, you were just screwed!
Sure, we had cable television, but back then that was only like 15 channels
and there was no on screen menu and no remote
control! You had to use a little book called a TV Guide to find out what was
on! You were screwed when it came to channel surfing! You had to get off
your ass and walk over to the TV to change the
channel and there was no Cartoon Network either! You could only get cartoons
on Saturday Morning. Do you hear what I’m saying!?! We had to wait ALL WEEK for cartoons, you spoiled little rat-bastards!
And we didn’t have microwaves, if we wanted to heat
something up we had to use the stove or go build a frigging fire ..
imagine that! If we wanted popcorn, we had to use that stupid Jiffy Pop thing
and shake it over the stove forever like an idiot.
That’s exactly what I’m talking about! You kids
today have got it too easy.
You’re spoiled. You guys wouldn’t have lasted
five minutes back in 1980!
Regards,
The over 30 Crowd
(Send this to someone you’d like to make smile,
whether they are under 30 or not.)
Hi Lisa Prostamo, I think we used to hang out together when we were in the 8th grade. I lived on Terrace Place. Do you remember Meg McCorkell, Annamarie Opulente and Linda Morlano. We are all still very good friends and all living upstate Ny.
Fitzi,
Please scan photos and send them.
hoops135@hotmail.com
Coah F – I’ll be sure to scan some of the photos. It will take a little time though. I have to search in the attic (ugh) but will definitely get them to you by the end of next week. I have the likes of Betty Trapp, Mary Anne Conlon, Barbara Bartowski, Betsy Byrnes, Johnny Hedderman, John Young just to name a few.
Also, wanted to ask everyone – when I was in Holy Name and Hugh Carey was running for Congress, some of us used to go out and hand out flyers on street corners of different parishes. Mrs Carey or one of her friends would pick us up and bring us to a certain parish where we would stand outside after the Masses and hand out flyers for Congressman Carey. After our job was done, she would drive us home and we would be treated to sodas and snacks. Politics sure has changed.
Hey Betty,
It was great chatting with you last night and I’m looking forward to dinner with you and the girls. I meant to give you my email address which is kbnyirish52@aol.com – As I mentioned on the phone, although I recognize several names that have posted here, most of them are several years younger. I hope more of our old friends (from basketball days, etc.) will log on. Talk to you soon.
hey Kathy (Priolo) – when you were younger didn’t you live on Prospect Ave near 10th Ave? I cannot believe you’re in touch with all those girls. Meg used to live on 11th Ave right? We were pretty good friends way back. I remember Annmarie, her sister used to work in Bohack across from me. I don’t really remember hanging out with Linda Morlano. It’s so nice that you all live near each other.
Lisa I always lived on terrace place. Meg lived on seeley street. Yes, it is really nice we all kept in touch. We see each other a few times a year. We meet for dinner with our husbands. I haven’t been back to Brooklyn in a couple of years. I went to a wake in Smith’s funeral home and walked around 9th ave. It was so nice being there. It brought back so many memories. Do you see any of the girls from our 8th grade class? Some names that come to mind are, Janice Hilke, debbie vanpelt, diane bohna, nora lufty, Linda silecchio, lori sabbagh, janie luken, jeanne and florence carrese, just to name a few.
Hey GT,
I resent you stating that all the Slavin girls got names with Mc in them!!!! LOL I always had to be different!!! LOL
Hi Lisa Lindsay i asked about you a few months back on this blog and no one new where you were. I was surprised to see a posting from you .The last time i saw you was on your wedding day to Dennis I hope all is going well with you When we were younger I had the biggest crush on you I remember going to visit you at your house and your grandfather who lived on the first floor wouldnt let me in to see you .Your mother had to come down and get me past him.
hi lisa ………I lived in annadale on staten island for many yrs. Icant believe tom and diane still own the card store How is dennis doing? How many children do you have ?I have 1 son 26 and have been married 24 yrs and live in long island.It was really nice seeing that your doing good I am going to stop by the card store and see diane and tom.
Hi Harry…………….Do you remember janie lukin lol
Hi Richie Krumbholz,
Yes I am still on 18th street. Janine and I just bought the house from my sister Lois who moved to NJ. We gutted the first 2 floors and extended the house 20 feet out to the yard. Still lots of work to do but should be done by spring.
I miss the good old days of working in Metal Litho
Great to hear from you, whats happening?
hey junior, thats great with the house, still playing around making things out of wood? living in staten island for about 15 yrs now, next time i stop by parents house i’ll ring your bell if your home, there still on sherman st,
Hi all,
I’ve lived in the area since ‘97 and have heard many stories and rumours re: Farrell’s, Sinatra, Shirley MacLaine, etc. How a women had never been in there until one night the Rat Pack was “slumming” and came in w/her in tow sometime in the mid- late 50’s. Any truth to this? I figured this would be a place to ask. Thanks!
Jane,
How lucky you are to live in a great neighborhood. But sorry to say, you missed out on a lot from back in the day. It’s not the same, but I’m sure it’s still awesome.
I believe the Shirley MacLaine story is Pete Hamil escorting her inside and she walked up to the bar…Maybe someone else knows?
Be sure to stop in Farrell’s and grab yourself a ‘Container’!
hi billy – it’s funny, i haven’t talked to u this much in 25 yrs – i have 3 kids -2 girls 21 and 23 and 1 boy who just turned 17 – dennis is good – still a fireman —- do u work in LI or manhattan? – i’m still working in manhattan – i’ll be working forever —- can’t believe u have a 26 yr old – do i know who your wife is? – i’ve asked various people about u over the yrs and no one could tell me anything – i loved reading your stories on this site – it was really funny what u said about my grandfather – that’s the way he was – though he actually was a mashmallow
Hello Billy(tumpy),
it’s been awhile, nice to hear the old stories, I could add 100 more. How about when Booby (spelled correctly) caught his belt bucket in the garage door on prospect ave. All the time we spent in Joe’s pizza (he looks the same by the way, must be the pizza) listening to Mississippi Queen with Miles, Milo. Danny, Georgie/Jimmy and Haughie. I run into Milo and Haughie once in a while and I was at a dinner in the fall that honored Jimmy
and spoke to him, his mom and Aunt Mary. I just sent this link to Wally
Jimmy Pynn, Rusty and a few other people. They will be adding to the blog I am sure. Too bad Lisa discovered this site this week we just had a fund raiser last weekend in the lower church(now shepherd’s hall) we could have all gotten together. In any event, maybe we can plan something this year.
Steve(Coach)(Red) Whatever:) which do you you prefer? The Shirley Maclaine/Farrells story I heard was that she was with Jimmy Breslin and they both got thrown out and barred when she tried to get served at the bar. Women were allowed in but had to sit in the back at the tables and the men would go up to the bar to get their drinks.
ON the Shirley McLain thing…I could swear there was a write up in the Daily News magazine years ago …in the 70’s i think
I heard she was at the bar, and wouldnt move until she was served despite the bartenders asking her to sit in back.
I would suggest talking to Hooley…but then again, we all know how he loves to tell a tale
Heard that also. But, the version I heard was that she walked in with Pete Hammil. Urban Legend or Truth? You be the judge
and I heard an ‘ole wives tale, that a woman wouldn’t be served in the bar until she put her bra there. Could it be that it was SHE????
Eileen’s on the right track, the story goes, as recalled from my brother Michael who was there is as follows: he remembers Pete Hamill showing up with Shirley McLain and them going right into the back of the bar as every couple would do back then. At some point he sees Pete Hamill standing in the middle of the bar by himself, Shirley’s in the back, seemed like he was trying to get a little piece and quiet away from her. She’s standing behind Michael and his friends, about 6 or 7 guys standing in the back by the air conditioner and she’s throwing out a curse every now and then believing she’s not allowed to get served at the bar, but she’s determined to get served by hook or by crook. I always thought she got served originally standing up at the bar, not the case, seems she ordered a drink yelling over the 6-7 guys standing in front of her, they were’nt letting her in to stand at the bar, so her order was passed over the heads of the 6-7 guys for her to take where she was standing. As time went on she persisted, and eventually she was able to wear everybody down and she got her drink at the bar.
Hi Lisa,Tom Diane………….Lisa your like a baby machine . You go girl lol.Afetr reading your post about tom and diane still having the card store and not being in the old neighborhood in many years I decided that It was time to take a step back in the past and visit. So i stopped by the card store to see diane and she wasnt in yet after not seeing her for 25 yrs you would think that she would be in the store by 1 pm but i guess being the boss has its privlages.Lisa remeber peter smith lol.I used to beat him up over you all the time.Tom I wish i had known about the fathers guild dance that you diane lisa and dennis went to would have loved to spend some time with all my old memories and what good memories they are.Drop me a line just click on my name and it will bring you to my e mail. Hope to hear from you soon and Lisa enough babies tell dennis to take it easy .Hope to hear from you all soon
Lisa……………..I work in the city .I manage an apt building on sutton place for the last 24 yrs.My wife is not from the neighborhood. but after hearing all my stories i think that she wishes she was .We have to get some of the old people together and have a night to remember
Hi Tom Larkin……………..I remember when you got your first car. If i remember correctly it was a dark blue chevy impala. You were the first one of our group to get a car and i rmember chipping in for gas and a bunch of us driving to staten island over the new verizano bridge to a+w How many kids do you and diane have .I wish she was in the store the other day because i have so much to catch up on being that i havent been in the neighborhood for 25 yrs.I was surprised to see the card store moved have many good memories of the old card store that my mom and aunt owned for many years before you guys. I was wondering about maryann and gina carluci debbie alberti and of course jennifer donovan who was like a sister to me growing up
Fitzi,
Did you hang out with my brothers Charlie, Jake, Billy or Hanky your name sounds so familiar.
hey you rember a real oddball from hippie hill jimmy mot with th fur coat yea we had some real oddball in the neighbourhood
How the heck did you remember that character, Jimmy the Mot? He acted like he was out of a hippie Mafia/concert promoter/drug dealer. Yes, he was an oddball!
billy are u billy hopkins from 16 st
yes
Prospect park was the best back yard ever. The sand pit, sleighing, ice skating, running along with the boys when Bro. John had track practice. Bro. John didn’t mind us girls because the boys would try to out-run us! He got good results. Ice skating was great on Wednesday afternoon, 1PM days because the CCD kids were coming. We would walk home through the Dutch cemetary and my brother Johnny and Dominick Fortugno, Ed Stendarti with Bro. Ramanos and other kids would scare all the girls. it was not so bad, we always went back the next week.
The Indian path and Cherry Hill. Great make-out spots! You wouldn’t catch me in there now at night. I did have a scare in the early 70’s. I warned everyone I knew except my Mom. She would have kill me!
We have some great home videos. I think all 8 of the Slavin’s have a baby photo in Prospect Park.
Billy; how are u its been a long time since i seen u at least 20 yrs or more i remember u allways had nice press shirts on walking up 16 st I forgot u use to hang out with another guy just can;t remember his name .well hope ur doing well maybe i;ll run in to u some time I live in N.J.
Corrado, Who are you? ,Is That your real name? Did you grow up in the neighborhood? Are you the actor from the Sopranos?How old are you? Did you have an afro when you were younger?
Corrado, Do you have a brother Frankie? Did you drive a blue sports car in the 70’s? Were you a Green Bay Packer fan like me and Schnazz?I think we used to put model airplanes together when we were young, if you are the same Corrado.I didn’t know you became an actor on the Sopranos,I didn’t recognize you without the afro,you appear much older without hair.Where in N.J. do you live? Do you ever come back to the neighborhood, or Farrell’s?
hey corrado thank for the rembering me yea its about 20 years i still live in the neighbourhood on windsor pl al the kids are growing 3 of them i retired now and hanging out relaxing i spoke to jimmy casino about 2 months ago ok hope all is well talk to you soon.
Bill H.- Did u hang with Ed Veriker?
yes you to , you live in calforina ,rember we used to go dancing rember whe we all fit into eddie vet from the city i think there was about 4 of us good to here from you hope all is well
Those “Conlins” you were talking about are actually Conlon , I am a Conlon….Gerard Conlons to be exact, who grew up at 43 Sherman street, all is well with all of them. Dolores married mark Ferro! and reside in breezy point and my father is still in the neighborhood we have a house on 17th street. Found the James Riches page a nice touch, he was my cousin but didn’t know him that well. I kept the family tradition alive by going to Bishop Ford HS.
The conlon comment was posted by his son
The frat dances we would go to until late then we would go to chinatown and pick a fight with the locals. One time we got out of the car and a shitload of guys came at us and we were jamming back in the car and it barely started as we got away and over the bridge.
Kevin,
Thanks for correcting the spelling on the last name; apologies. Danny ‘Conlon’ was and probably still is a good ball player.
Billy, you’re retired? Now I really feel old.
Speaking of dances, you and your brothers were the best dancers in the family. You all livened up the wedding receptions.
You took after your Mom and Dad, who were the most beautiful dancing couple on the floor when they were young!
its good to here from you aunt maurren yea its nice to be retired! say hello to uncle bill
My sister Maryann Marsillo just told me about this site. It brings back a lot of great memories about growing up in Brooklyn. I lived on Prospect Ave until 1978 when I moved upstate, then in 1997 I moved to Missouri.
Re: Shirley MacLain
Pete Hamill tells his version of the urban legend in his book “The Drinking Life”.
By the way, in case a yuppie views this site….it’s 9TH AVENUE. I am not sure where Prospect Park West is….(LOL).
That reminds me of the time when a well known writer from the 70’s showed up for a farrells race one year to write an article in his column. It was pretty cool I thought, the writer was somewhat of a celebrity and it always added a little different excitement whenever a notable showed up at the bar, Ed Koch, Harvey Kitel, Gov Carey, etc., a bunch others who I can’t recall this early in the morning, (Red, might be a good topic for the blog, good chance you’ll get to hear some interesting stories), I would have liked to seen the time when Ed Farrell would’nt serve Gov. Carey, the bartender working the other end of the bar stepped in to serve the gov and his entourage, saving them some public embarrassment, I was outside standing on the avenue when they came out, it looked like they were in there for a couple of hours. Back to the writer, so we thought it was pretty cool he shows up to give the farrells race some print, everybody heads over to the park, big turn out, beautiful day, lot of fun and laughs with so many neighborhood people running, many who were badly out of shape helping to add laughs to the fun event, the next day the article was printed and the writer discussing the big race, the people, the famlies supporting the race etc., if you read the story you would think the person writing it was there, turns out he was’nt there, he never left the bar, when we came back from the race he was long gone, I recall the article had some serious creditbilility issues with the description of the event, if you were just reading it not having been at the event you may have thought it was a good story, the guy literally mailed it in that day, who knows how many other times he and others in his business did the same thing.
GT,
Great stuff…You’re the best!
I remember a few years back Steve Bushemi came into Farrell’s with Duffer. I had a chance to talk to him for awhile. We talked about the time he hosted Saturday Night Live. He performed in a skit which was a parody of Alice in Wonderland. He played the Mad Hatter. One of the funniest skits on SNL. We were laught our butts off that night. You never know who you might meet in Farrell’s
GT,
Do you recall the night Chris Mullin appeared? Pretty late, you were closing shop…
He came in to take out a few containers, he had the Mercedes parked across the street in front of the corner deli, which really isn’t a deli. I remember one of the high school coaches, who went out to the west coast to work his camp, describe seeing amongst Chris’s junk mail pile about 50-75k uncashed checks laying around, not a bad career for him I’d say. I remember Danny Burns (the most confident person he’d ever met- per Mike Maronna, one of my all-time favorite people who left us way too soon)being there.
Never heard that Steve Buschemi came in with Duffer, must have been pretty cool. Who was the guy Danny Gorman brought around, he played a private detective, had cancer in real life later on, he seemed to be a decent regular guy.
Gerard
I think the guy that Danny Gorman brought was Robert Urich (not sure if I spelled that right.
Maryann,
That’s him, good memory.
Had a good time at Kathys surprise 50th, what a crowd.
Steve Buschemi was a fire fighter in NYC in the 80,s. I believe 1980 to 1984 Google says he worked at engine 55 in little Italy. So that very well could be a true story.
Gerard
Glad you enjoyed Kathy’s party. It is always good to see everyone.
I love reading this blog it brings back so many memories of growing up in Holy Name.
Have a good day
Maryann
Hey guys i still remember the day i was in Farrells and lo and behold when i opened the door to the ladies room there was Jimmy Breslin in all his glory LOLOL I never will forget that !
The story about Steve Buschemi is true as can be. It was a Saturday night. Later in the evening …it was myself, Steve Bushemi, Duffer, Danny Quirke hanging out at the bar by the phone booth drinking containers. Buschemi lives in Park Slope. When you bump into Eddie Mills…ask him about the time Walter Matthau walked into Farrell’s. And MaryAnn is right about Robert Urich. He was filming Turk 182 at the time.
wow as i go through this there are some names i did not pass away you lose touch with some and thak god for this bog! at lease you can read about the neighbourhood and i still live here.
i made a mistake i did not know that they pass away!
Billy, you are lucky to still live in the Best Neighborhood in the World.
Sometimes I am sorry that I ever moved away.
hey maryann, don’t know if you remember me, i lived on sherman st, hung out in ps 154 with your brothers, the picture from holy name, has your brother mike in it, i see tommie every now and then at terrance creggs house, at BBQ’S
Hi, Aunt Maureen,
I can dance I can shake my hips…lol
How are you and uncle bill doing I hope all is well I just love this site, I have to call fran and get together with her one of these days did marissa move back yet I hope so how is everyone else doing I heard from katy she was doing good the last I heard.
I just love my rosery beads that uncle bill made me I keep them with me all the time they match the color of my eyes.
have to go now so I love you both and miss you.
HUGS AND KISSES.
Hi Richie
Yes I do remember you, and I did see the picture of Michael’s 8th. grade class.
Howie Bishoff had hair, Gerard Lindsey still looks the same. Tom Fields was in that class also.
Maryann
Hi carrado,
This is Kathy billy Hopkins little sister I remember you, this reson why billy had nice pressed shirts was because he use to twist my arm from the kitchen to the living room and make me iron his shirts and then I use to cry until he gave me money.
http://brooklynpix.com/catalog15f.php?locality_no=13502 copy and paste this site click on photo’s and go to the bottom of the page, check out old pictures
richie, Great photos, what do you notice different when you look at the Howard Pl photo?
well kathy u did a great job now i know who to give the credit to i also remember u an i hope he paid u well u know how much they get now for a press shirt hope u doing well
There were trees on both sides of the street on Howard Place. The trees were London Planes, or what we called itchy-ball trees.
We used to throw those itchy-balls at each other. There was one particular tree on Howard where everyone carved their name.
REMEMBER A COUPLE OF GUYS WOULD HOLD U DOWN AND WE WOULD PUT IT DOWN UR BACK
there aren’t any cars either
Kathy,
I figured it was you who ironed your brother’s shirts! Great job. Your Mom used to iron all my summer dresss back in the 50’s….she just spoiled me the way she spoiled all of you!
We’re fine up here in the wilds of Pennsylvania. Snow and more snow. I am so tired of winter.
I hope Fran can get to see the Irish Day Parade next month.
Looked at that Howard Pl. photo…the lack of trees are instantly noticeable but I also noticed .no subway yet on Windsor and there are houses where the lot is.
THERE ARE ALSO NO CARS IN THE STREET NO PROBLEM PARKING
Eileen spotted what I noticed, I never knew there were houses once where the lot is, never recall it being said, subway came along and those houses had to go I’m guessing. When you double click on the photo it enlarges and you can see people on school side and I think up on top of one of the stoops, looks like there may be 2 people sitting, or maybe my eyes are shot.
GT,
I think the guy standing across the street is a college scout waiting for you to come out. He wants to offer you a scholarship!
You’re right about those houses, must’ve been a drag to tell the homeowners their place is being torn down!
that guy on fuller place looks like jed clampet from the beveley hillbills
GT
I never knew there were houses there on Windsor either. My parents told me of the houses that were torn down for the Prospect Expwy, but never mentioned Windsor Pl.
My mom was born in the neighborhood, in ‘28 when the pic. was taken….wonder if they came down soon after since she never mentioned it…
Hi All, nice to hear from cousins Bill, Kathy, and Kathy, and Aunt Maureen. When, where and at what time is the Irish parade? I would very much like to go down to the old neighborhood and see everyone. Does anyone know if the Hardy’s are still on the block? Aunt Maureen, I would also like to get as much info on Uncle Charlie as you have, and maybe go to the McFadden Brother ’s post on Memorial Day. All is fine in Middletown, just waiting for spring.
Hey aunt Maureen,
I got the picture of my dad I will sent it to you tomorrow( sunday) ok sorry it took so long I had to look and look for it I’m always misplacing things and al get so mad at me oh well getting old I can’t help it…lol.
I will call franny and see if maybe we can get together to see the parade but I still love the one in bay ridge sorry…..lol.
Richie,
how are you doing I sent some mail to your mom once in a wile it’s good to hear from you how is the family doing tell everyone I said hello you hve to e-mail me your e-mail addy so I can send you some thing on uncle charlie and other information and pictures that, I have I want to ask your mom if she is not to busy if she can fine the pic of her, my mom , floann, and aunt nancy,with all of us on there laps when we were babys I would like to have a copy of it if she can fine it if she don’t mine.
also you have to ask my brother billy when the the irish parade is in park slope I don’t know when it is and I will ask jake when it is also and i will let you know.
ok well I have to get ready to go bowling so I will talk to you all soon
bye now.
Charles Corrigan’s info is on the net now:
http://www.brooklyneagle.com/categories/category.php?category_id=23&id=10418
Corrigan-Kiernan VFW Post 8160:
http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&rls=com.microsoft:en-us&um=1&ie=UTF-8&q=Corrigan,+Kiernan,+VFW+Post,&near=Brooklyn,+NY&fb=1&view=text&latlng=40652188,-73975951,8642420616591053609
hey all….
found out about the blog thru a friend,(JH) and just wanted to say hi to some old friends.
first , the friends from h.n, such as robin, ed, jane, mel, bt, tommy brick, kevin molloy, pdq, and ms. monzillo.
anyway all is well, i live in belle harbor with my childhood sweetheart dawn,
i just got 24yrs in the carpenters union, and have a great job as a forman for wabc,tv.
i still ride a skateboard, play frisbee, and still have that birth mark in my hair.
peace……..
oh , happy birthday to joanne slavin,….it falls on easter this year
Hey Mike
It was great seeing you last year at the golf outing! Glad all is well and that you found the blog.
My sis is going to love that you remember her birthday…major brownie points for you! LOL
Could someone please post the details about the Irish American Parade here in the comments section?
Date, time, where it begins, where it ends, meeting places afterwards?
Many people check the Comments page instead of the Message Board. I’m sure it would be a great help to post the information here.
Thanks in advance!
Hello Mike Layden!
How are you? I had dinner with Jane a few months ago and we had a chance to catch up! It was great to see her.
I’ve been teaching in a public elementary school in Brooklyn for the last 19 years. I work with Bob Slavin-small world!!
My husband and I have a wholesale balloon business and it keeps us pretty busy.
Can you believe it’s been 30 years since we graduated from Holy Name? We should plan a reunion this year!!
Take Care,
Robin
30 years? Man o man, where did all those years go?
Robin, do you know who this is?
the irish day parade will be sunday march 16 1:00 pm start at bartel pridged square down to 7 avenue along 7 ave to uion street to propest park west along ppw to 15 street. enjoy all!
Hey Steve Finamore,
How are you?
I just spoke to my brother, Michael and he told me that this is your blog!
I love it!! Can you believe we graduated 30 years ago?
Remember disco dancing at the 8th grade dance?
Take Care,
Robin
Hey everyone out there , my sister Lisa gave me this site and I could not believe all the names that were so familar,, it was such a great feeling to feel a bit of my childhood again,, wondering who remembers me, i remember alot of you , i lived on Prospect Ave, between 10th and 11th aves,, i remember the Bullocks, had a bad crush on Chris,, lol,,, lots of those back then, but that was a long long time ago,, i have four children , married , happy,, lived in Florida while my husband was going to school for about 6yrs now living on Staten Island, busy , crazy life,, but still have time to think about all the people i went to Holy Name with, saw Cathy Brady, Teresa Price and a couple of others a few yrs back at my nephews soccer game at Holy Name it was great,, hope everyone is well and maybe talk to some of you again,, Be Happy,,, Lori Prostamo Panarello
SU-HEEL !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
hey robin!
how the hell are you?, long time no see, long time no hear.
i’m glad everything is well
you spoke to jane recently, and after 28 years i got her back into playing music,and singing again,….. we sound great
thanks for writting back,…i really enjoyed your friendship growing up, and i always knew you were a great person,…we had o lot of laughs together.
what did you have for lunch today? i had liverwurst on rye, with pickles, and meet mel and dennis at bonali’s for a lemon ice
call jane soon and lets get together
jane has my numbers, call me
thanks robin
mikey
Hey Robin!
Tell my brother I said HI…you probably see/speak to him more than me at this point! LOL
seriously, I am sure he told me he is working with you, but I completely forgot! The Slavins are a family of teachers, it seems. I teach Spec. Ed upstate, Jim is teaching and Mary just got a job in her town upstate as a teacher’s aide!
Eileen
Hey Lori Prostamo!
It’s Maryann
Good to hear that all is well with you. Last time I saw you was out at Patti’s
house probably about ten years ago. Jimmy and I still live in Marine Park, Brooklyn. Christine is in Manhattan College (her second year) and James is a Junior at Xavier High School. Don’t know how I got that old…lol
I was reading something someone posted to your sister Lisa about your grandfather living down stairs from you guys and it made me think of all the times we spent in your house during our high school years.
Bill H,
I thought the Irish day Parade was always the Sunday AFTER March 17th, That would be Mar 23rd. Can you or someone confirm the date this year? I don’t want to drive up from Pennsylvania on the wrong date. Thanks
The parade is definately on March 16, 2008. You can check it out on this site: http://www.saintpatricksdayparade.com/brooklyn/index.htm
http://www.saintpatricksdayparade.com/brooklyn/index.ht... – 21k – Similar pages
Suheil in the house
check this out http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EFzkWsMrNfk
Here’s a video I made about Brooklyn and put on YouTube. Received many hits.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=InRQQu96tFk
Bill H,
How’d you know I was a huge Chieftans fan and Alison Krauss fan? I actually have tickets to see the Chieftans at the Kimmel center in Philadelphia March 15th. I have box seats right on stage, this is my second year going to see them there. I am also going to a buffet dinner with them afterward along with 100 other guests, its a fund raiser for the Kimmel center so I should get to meet them. What a coincidence I ask about the parade and you post a chieftans video.
Just stumbled into this blog. I had googled Hippie Hill for some reason and got a hit on Billy h’s mention of Jimmy Mot. Remember him well and his purple acid dealing on the circle. Er, of course I never bought any of it.
Havn’t read all of this blog, but I will. Great stuf!
willy wickham…this is “cathy rohde, man”….do u remember……how r
u and where r u living now….r u still in touch w/harold and all the rest…
harold is now living in florida….bumped into him last year at the irish
american day parade….how about buster?….my husband chubby bumped into him many years ago at hippie hill….and then again after 9/11….he
had been working at windows on the world….but lucky for him was not
in that day…..aunt maureen……the irish american day parade is
march 16th….steps off at 12 or 1 not sure…in front of sanders theatre..
marches down 15th streel along 7th avenue to union street.. there is a
reviewing stand at 9thstreet..where they stop and the irish dancers
perform then on back to sanders where they disperse…..most people
just hang around if weather is nice or go to farrells or circles restaurant
right next to sanders theatre….dont know if we can make it this year..
have a surprise bd party for a friend at 4…maybe we can stop in for
a couple of hours…
Thanks, Cathy. We can’t make it, but hope to see you at the wedding in May.
hey kenny krumbholz how the hell are you do you remember in brother vinnys class when we were disecting those foot long earthworms and rupert riley was holding one over his mouth and jeffrey price smaked his hand and the worm went in his mouth the whole class erupted in laughter truth is stranger than fiction hope all is well willy huguenin
Cathy Rohde, man, what up? I’m in Bay Ridge since 2001. Before that, was out in Staten Island for about 20 years. Don’t see the old gang too much. I bump into Mickey about every ten years. The Mick is still The Mick. Last saw Harold, with Lucille, in 1994 on Hippie Hill. My brother gave me Harold’s phone number in Florida last year and I lost it so, if you’re reading Harold, that’s why I didn’t call. I saw Buster several years ago at a gallery showing George Ryan’s photography. George makes some great pictures. And he SELLS them!
This site is too funny. The reference to Buggy Bills. William Kemp was his name. He was called Buggy because of a huge mole on his forehead that looked like a big roach. A very unsavory character who sold tons of glue to kids. The glue used for plastic models, which he didn’t sell.
willie,,
too funny about buggy bills…i lived around the corner from his store
and thought it was because the place was full of bugs…..roaches….never bought any candy in there….yuk!!…..saw lucille at a bridal shower
yesterday..her and harold have a grandaughter…saw her picture she
is beautiful….i am living on staten island now for the past 13 years…
had been in good old brooklyn until then…..love the place….but had
to move on….really far…lol….so, george is selling his pictures….good
for him…..my husband sees mickey from time to time whenever he
drops into farrells…we see nicky squicerini quite a lot…he is retired and
doing good….miss the park a lot and good old days just hanging and
enjoying the sun!!!!…..funny, that is all that i want to do with the rest
of my life…..
aunt maureen,,
missed you at the shower yesterday….was good to see everyone…
especially floann who came with her girls and her grandson t.j….
will see you in may at the wedding!!!
hey k molloy with a name like k molloy who would not like the chieftans ans allison krauss enjoy show it will be good!!!!
Hi this is John Marsillo’s 12 year old daughter…..I just wanted to say that i LOVE looking at the is website- its so interesting what you guys did!
Hiya, kid! So glad you are enjoying all the ancient history here.
Ditto, kid. But, if all of this starts making any sense to you, stop reading immediately.
Cathy, so you guys moved to Staten Island. Far out!
Staten Island was good for me in many ways. I just heard that fat lady singing and knew it was time to come back to Brooklyn. What do I miss most about Staten Island? K-Mart. There’s no K-Mart in Brooklyn. You’d have to level a square block to build a decent K-Mart in Brooklyn. So, I go to Staten Island for K-Mart.
I came accross the first grade class picture here featuring your Chubby and brother Jake!!!!!!
There’s another first grade picture here with Michael Minogue in it. I don’t know if anyone remembers Michael. His parents, Charlie and Millie, had the little candy store on 15th street near 8th avenue. Michael was quite a kid. He would do ANYTHING on a dare. In the Sanders Theater on saturday afternoons he would usually be found in the front row ridiculing whatever movie was showing, those two old bag matrons shining their flashlights in his face and telling him to shut up. They walk away, he’d start right up again. Once in while he would half chew a Juigy Fruit till it was a gooey mess and throw it at the screen. It would sometimes stick to the screen and when it lined up with someones nostril he’d shout, “He’s got a snot hanging out of his nose!”. By then the ogre manager, Jimmy Curtis, would throw Michael and anyone near him out. Our saturday afternoon was complete.
Michael died tragically young. But he’s not forgotten. Here’s to you, Magoo!
Willy,
Thanks for the classic Sanders story. Mike must have been quite a guy!
Too many left us too soon.
anyone remember the white or pink elephant sales we used to have in Holy Name School basement? It was like one big garage sale. Everyone in the neighborhood
would donate all of their junk that they didn’t want anymore, and you could pay it for like .50 cents or something. One man’s trash was another’s treasure.
YES I remember them, but does anyone know what the distinction is between a white elephant and a pink one??
As a kid I did all my Christmas shopping for my family at those sales! A couple of bucks went a long way for an 8 or 10 year old at those sales.
I won three Mets tickets at the Pink Elephant Sale. At the Met game I got to see Tom Seaver pitch and Willie Mays scoring the winning run against the Houston Astros. Remember walking in the schoolyard and all you saw was those tickets you rip open.Three cherries won you $25. One year I bought a Stan Laurel lamp there. Damn thing never worked. I hate Stan Laurel to this day !
Eileen
I don’t really remember why sometimes it was a pink elephant and sometimes it was white.
Mike
yeah I remember those rip tickets with the cherries. I remember at one sale Br. Lambert made me go up on stage to pick out a raffle ticket, maybe it was me
that won you those Mets tickets. lol
Maryann,
If it was you who picked out my ticket …I thank you. It was the best game I ever went to. My brother Tom went with me to that game. If Holy Name ever has a White or Pink Elephant sale…I’m donating my Stan Laurel lamp. To install the bulb I had to twist off his head. Maybe I twisted to hard. I won’t even mention where the on and off switch was located.
The difference between the Pink and White Elephant sales was that everyone back then ran White Elephant sales. The Xaverian Auxliary wanted to have their own sale. They called it the Pink Elephant sale…thats what my sources tell me.
Do you guys remember a “pink belly?”
YOuch are you talking about getting your belly slapped til it turned pink?
How bout the indian,(or should I say native american) one where we would twist someones arm in two directions til it turned red?
YES and YES! Great call…
that was called the Indian burn. It really hurt!
Remember the name of the game where by losing the penalty was making a fist and getting your knuckles hit with a deck of cards? I remember playing that game a going home with bloody knuckles. You could get hit numerous times. I guess I wasn’t good at the game.
Mike, I really think that game was called “Knuckles”. There was also a way you got hit, it would be worth 10 points, chopping down on your Knuckles with the whole deck, where your knuckles really got scraped up…
how about asses up when you played kings or another game!!
Hey Mike
I remember that our mothers were members of the xaverian auxliary along
with Mrs. Fields, Mrs. Hardy and Mrs. Keating and probably most of the other mothers from the neighborhood.
Your right this year the parade didn’t have too many marchers, the whole thing
took about 15 minutes, but I don’t think that anyone really goes up just for that anyway. I saw your sister MaryBeth
Knuckles………I should have known. And Asses up…I’ve been on the wrong side of that too. It really hurt when the ball would hit the upper thigh. You were better off having the ball hit you squarely on the cheeks.
Maryann,
You’re right. Most of the mothers in the neighborhood belong to the auxilary. Now some of them belong to the Red Hat Society. You can tell when the mothers had an auxilary meeting. The day after some of the boys went to school with wrinkled shirts.
I have film of the very first Irish American Parade. What a difference from then and now. Back in 1977 you couldn’t walk the sidewalks…it was mobbed. I agree with you….most people don’t go for the parade anymore.
Hey what a great site, found this trying to google an old friend Myles Corrigan. I spent 18 months with him in Crete, while in the USAF. I spent a few days visiting your old neighborhood in 1979. Had some beers at Ferrals. I remember meeting his mom Mary on howard place, and going to see his grandmother across from prospect park. Funny thing was when we knocked on her door, and Morley identified himself, there was a series of about seven locks opening before the door opened. I live in Montana where we lock almost nothing. this left a memory i’ve never forgotten. Any way I haven’t heard from Myles in years, If anyone out there see’s him tell him I wish him well.
Hello to everyone in the class of 1978! I can’t find my autograph book!
I do remember that I listed my favorite song as “Because the Night”, by Patty Smith and my best friend was Jane Harte! Remember disco dancing at the 8th grade dance? I was in Brother John’s class. Remember going to Great Adventure for the 8th grade trip? Remember saving the 16th page of our autograph books for the boys that we liked? It’s hard to believe we’re all in our forties now! I am immature now as I was then-maybe even more!
Robin,
Good to hear from you. The Great Adventure trip was great. I’m with you, I’m as immature as ever – I know when to be mature though. My daughter keeps me young as well as my team.
Happy Easter to everyone!
To those still in the neighborhood, I hope you get to put on your finest to parade in Prospect Park, or to go over to Fifth Avenue and parade in front of St. Patrick’s Cathedral.
Wherever you are, be safe and happy this Easter.
Alleluia! He is Risen as he said!!!
Happy Easter to ALL! One memory is being in our Easter clothes and not wearing coats over the nice new outfits and lining up to go to church and snow all around us. New shoes with slippery souls and suits and the girls in dresses freezing with little socks and white buckled shoes. Maureen Corrigan, do you have a brother nicknamed, snappy? I seem to remember that and memory does fail at times.
Hope everyone had a nice Easter! Reading Gerry’s response reminded me of my mom dragging me downtown on the #75 bus to go to Robert Halls to get my annual Easter suit. I think their claim to fame was that their suits came with an extra pair of pants (this way you could play in your suit at your cousins,put a hole in the knee of the new pants and still have another pair of matching pants). On the way back home we would make a stop along 5th avenue to get a pair of new shoes at Tom McCanns or National Shoes.I remember I couldn’t wait to to take those new shoes off after coming home from Mass,cause the hurt so much!!!
I remember that #75 bus. I think my brother’s had those robert hall suits. Light blue if I remember right. We also went to 5th ave to Tom McCann’s. Anyone remember Lady Fair or Different? We always paraded up and down Terrace Place in our Easter outfits and my dad would take pictures with the 8mm camera. As we got older it was so embarrassing, but everyone else was doing it too.
Anyone remember the Loft’s candy store on Fifth Avenue that sold solid milk chocolate crosses with different color jelly beans in each section left by the cross in the box. I cannot find anything like it today.
Carol
Yes, I do remember the Loft’s candy store on 5th. and when my brothers and I got older my mother would give us those crosses, instead of baskets full of candy. After all, that cross is the reason we celebrate Easter.
hoopscoach is this steve finamore, Johns younger brother? hows he doing tell him i said hello
Richie,
You got it my man! Hope you enjoy the blog.
i used to work at that store loft’s on 5 av back in 1974 are there any loft’s left the guy who frist own candy land bought it at that time- chocolate cherries were my favorites
How’s it going Fin? Mike V turned me on to Container Diaries last month. I just love reading and remember all the people we grew up with in the Slope/Terrace. Wow, my mind is Abuzz with all the wonderful and not so wonderful times all of us had. I plan on going through some old photo albums; send what I can.
I would like to add the following:
Donald Leaver, one of the best childhood friends I ever had! Right now I’m remembering the Stones Concert that Donald and I went to at JFK stadium (I’m thinking 1981?), what a time. We got in free the first night by rushing the gate, went back the next day and weaseled our way in with the same tickets!!
I have so many great memories of you Donald, wish you where still here.
I miss you Bro!!!!!
Your friend always,
Paul R.
4/5/08 WHAT I STILL LOVE ABOUT FARRELL’S: We stopped in tonight to have a quick one & check out the new pizza place next door. Spent 20 – 30 minutes at the bar – always treated like family & I ran into 4 different people who have known me my whole life…….God, I love that place.
Hi Billy Shaw,
I remember the teen club ski weekend that was so out of control
that we built a snowman in the hallway of the hotel .
This is a great blog. It brings back so many memories that were
forgotten.
When is the re-union??????
Kathy G, how are you? Drop a line.
I’m married and live in Bay Ridge.
Nancy Pavone
Hi Nancy……………..I have many memories of you.I remember that ski weekend like it was yesterday.I remember you and bunny always haning out together .I think the last time I saw you that you were dating one of the Bullocks.I lived in Bay ridge for a few years and now live in Long Island married with a 26 yr old son .Did you marry someone form the old neighborhood? How many kids do you have? It was nice seeing that your reading the blog and still doing good You were always such a sweet girl.
Hi Nancy We’re supposed to meet May 24th in Farrells and we’ll play it by ear after we meet. I hope all is well with you. Check out ” The Mod Squad ” and ” The Outsiders ” on this blog and you’ll see some old familiar names and what we’ve been talking about. I hope you can make it on May 24th. Harry
Hi Billy Shaw Are you going to be in the neighborhood on May 24th ? HM
Hi Harry …………Whats happening on may 24 .I will be around .Let me know Billy
Hi Billy,
It’s good to hear from you. I married someone from Queens 5 years
ago and have no children. I dated Billy Bullock for years.
I actually went ice skating this year and it looks exactly the same,
even with the nicks from the skates all over the benches.
Do you ride anymore? I haven’t ridden in a long time.
Hope to see you on the 24th.
nancy
Hi Harry,
It’s been a long time. How’s Mary. I don’t see her in the mall anymore.
I used to bump in to her once in a while.
I’ll try and make it on the 24th, it will be a blast. Who is going so far?
Nancy
Hi Nancy……………I still ride every once in awhile.But im getting old now and I need some help getting on the horse lol Only Kidding You sound like you are doing well and I do hope to see you on the 24th .I havent been on ice skates in 30 years so I guess your in better condition then me .See ya soon
Billy
Any Class of 78′ folks at there who are up to some kind of a reunion. It’s 30 years since we graduated.
Count me in.
Karen and Kev,
I can get the ball rolling if you’d like on this get together. I need to get back to NY soon. I know Ford didn’t something in conjunction with HN but a reunion with the class of 78 would be sweet.
Some possible locations to meet:
The back of the home on Windsor.
Parkside.
Horse Corral.
Ninth avenue (pick a spot, any spot)
Laura Cox’s hallway.
Boys schoolyard on Howard.
Subway stairs by the parkside.
I vote for John John’s basement.
Would be nice to get together. Not sure how many people would show up, but it’s worth a shot a getting as many as we can.
That Ford party was so huge & so much fun. It was so cool to see so many people from the neighborhood. I ‘m thinking this would be on a much smaller level then that party. Guess we can’t really pick a place until we know how many are really interested. If it’s just a few, then we meet in Farrell’s.
I haven’t seen too many on the blog from our class – but I’m sure the word could spread fast.
to Mike Layden,
It’s been about a month or so since I’ve been on this blog and was blown out of my mind when I saw a comment from you and you mentioned my birthday, on Easter. What flattery! How the hell are you? It must be at least 20 or 25 years since I saw you last, at a St. Pat’s celebration at Farrell’s, I think. I live in California (20 years) and have 2 beautiful girls of nearly 16 and 18) By the way, how’s Janet and Joe? Please write back. You just made an old lady (although I do my best not to look it) feel great. Thanks, Joanne
count me in for the reunion, Ford’s was great. I hope everyone is doing good. This bought back so many memories. Soooo sorry to hear about Joanne Mackey, my heart goes out to her family.
This is a great website. Reading through it brought back so many great memories of my childhood. I was upset to hear about the passing of Joanne Mackey, it made me very sad. By the way me and Patricia DeRossi are still best buds, we see each other often and speak to each other all the time. Keep us informed about the reunion. Would love to see all of you.
Gina
Gina,
Glad you found us…
Patricia D,
How you feelin’?
http://fadingad.wordpress.com/category/windsor-terrace/ does this guy do this all day long lol
http://ducts.org/06_02/2002/zelon.html
Richie
Where did you find that “Ducts.org” article about Vinnie? I never saw that before.
Maryann
i don’t remember lol, i was looking around for pictures of the neighborhood, and i came across an article on vinny, i don’t know who the person was who wrote it, but i thought it was nice.
Betty Trapp, to say I feel slighted is an under statement. We go all the way back to “Eddie and Betty” 8th grade in Holy Name and all I get is a tiny mention about us being the “tall ones” at graduation in 1965. And “hand trouble” with Gerry Taranto (Hi Gerry!)….. Come on, I thought we had something serious! Kidding aside , thanks Betty for being in touch and a good friend all these years.
One of the all time funny ones was the horse in the room with Johnny Hederman and Jackie Herr up at the dude ranch trip. The horse came out of one of the girl’s room going at a good clip w/ Johnny hanging on for dear life!
Kathy Fitz–hope all is well, if you have pics it would be great to see.
Richie
I don’t know the person who wrote that article either. She said
in it that she is a newbie to the neighborhood. Accept for a few inaccuracies…(like Vinnie having a slew of kids, calling MJ Smith’s
“Frank Smith’s”, and her mentioning a drag queen in the funeral procession…. the person she is describing was more than likely Maureen Mollica) I think she did a nice job. It really painted a picture of what that day was like.
OMG this is where you’re all hanging out…..I’ve been bumbling my way around this blog for a few weeks…this is amazing.
Matt Bullock, how the heck are you? Tell your family hi! I always loved bumping into you around the neighborhood whenever I was back…..it’s been years and years, now, though…
Mike Layden, you and your friends playing frisbee on my bay at Coney Island beach while I lifeguarded was probably the only thing that kept me awake in the chair half the time…nice to see you.
Robin Mardini…my cheerleading days are a great memory in my life!
I remember the day I tried out and you were one of the judges…thanks for letting me on!
Mike Purdy. I have not half lived my life…where was I while all of these things were going on? You were one brave maniac…..I was far too afraid to do half the things you all are describing here…..you’re also even more hysterically funny than I even rememberd and I really remembered you as being very funny.
My husband (Jimmy Cutrone) and I were in Prospect Park walking our three dogs this past holiday season and we bumped into Kathy Cain. Kathy was my very first swim coach ever.
When I was in first grade I sat in Sr. Helen’s homeroom and heard an announcement for the Holy Name swim team come over the loudspeaker. I went flying home, delirious about joining…my mother had no choice but to bring me, a bathing suit and a towel to John Jay High School…..it turned out that you were supposed to be in second grade….I hadn’t heard that in my delirium…my mother begged Kathy Cain and Liz?? Liz…your last name escapes me but I can see you in my mind’s eye…..was captain, maybe? Rosemary Sheehan was also a coach….and they decided to let me try.
They lined the eighth grade girls up along the lane so they could get me if I drowned, I guess…I got in and swam the whole way. My memory is foggy at this point but I believe they let me join that year….
Either way, it was Kathy Cain that sent me to the Prospect Park YMCA swim team in eighth grade and the Ferro’s allowed me to tag along to and from practice on the B75 and walking…..Mark had the coolest flip turn ever. I even used him as an example a few months ago with one of my swimmers. He is very tall and flips way too close…I told him he flips like he is two feet tall and not six three. I then got in and did a “Mark Ferro” flip turn. His problem was solved ever since…..
I also learned to carry my swim bag in the coolest way possible from Mark and John…..one hand slung back over my shoulder with the bag resting on my back/shoulder.
Anyway, seeing Kathy Cain in the park was just like nothing…like we had seen one another every day and not just three times in thirty years. Kathy Cain is my hero. Love her dog, too!
Mike, I just clicked on your link for the Brooklyn video and then watched the one you made from the cruise. You just gave me gold…I had not seen any pictures from the cruise and in your video I got to see my mother and my uncle, aunt, another aunt and Helen all together singing karaoke.
That’s just the best thing, ever. Not to mention I got to see you and Kathy, too!! Hello to Kathy. We are trying to get a reunion going for the PPY swim team…Lee Anne and I have been talking about it for four years, now…..
Hi Annemarie !!!!!
I’m glad you liked the video. The cruise was fantastic. We bumped into your mother and aunt’s in a karaoke bar on the ship. They kept hogging up the mic. If Dick Clark was there they would have tied him up and stored him somewhere. They were having a blast singing away. I’ll tell Kathy you said hello. How’s Eddie doing? Please say hello for me. Hope all is well with everyone !
Hey ann Marie Mc Grath,
If i recall correctly , you were my first big crush. I use to ask the older kids to cross me so i could play with you.I think we were like 4 or 5 . Sherman st was great. hey to lisa priolo too
Matt Bullock….in one hundred years I never would have been brave enough to say that you were absolutely my very first boyfriend…I believe we even attempted to kiss one day (due to crowd encouragement) at the young age of four or five. I also believe you were the very first person I ever punched but I can’t remember what made me so mad at you….
Mike Purdy, didn’t mean to leave you hanging, Matt got me all flustered….
It cracks me up to think of my mom hogging the mic on a ship….she and I sing so badly that people around us in church used to lean further away so they could keep on carrying their tune as my mom and I belted out “The King of Glory” and so on….
Eddie is doing really well and he is still hysterically funny. My children find themselves doubled over with laughter with his antic…..we laugh, we dance, he’s as nuts as ever. Thanks for asking. I’ll tell him hello.
Would someone please tell Kathy Brady that I was watching THE TODAY SHOW one morning and there she was, dancing with Faith Hill..it was amazing. I started shouting at the tv.
Annemarie,
Eddie will never change. He’s one of the funniest guys I know. Ask him if he remembers shooting some bottle rockets of down in the 16th subway station. That had to back in the late 70’s . Where has the time gone. I’ll tell Kathy Brady that you saw her on the Today Show. You sure it wasn’t Benny Hill ?
Hi Matt, I haven’t been on this website in about a month or so.busy with work and kids.Are you still in Brooklyn? I’d love to come back one day with my kids and show them my old house and the neighborhood. does anyone know where John Riches(jughead) and James Kavanaugh are? Curious.
Wow. I don’t remember anymore how I stumbled on this, and I didn’t grow up on 16th St. but have hazy memories of visiting in the summer when I was little. So, Mom, Kathy and Hopkins cousins–it’s funny to meet up with you here! Fun reading about a place I heard a lot about growing up.
Mike, OMG Benny Hill. That thing where’d they drive by and suddenly whack some crumbly off a bicycle would make me pee myself…….
I can’t even imagine Eddie shooting bottle rockets off in the subway station……the rule follower!
The two of you, outside Farrell’s one night (when I was lifeguarding at Coney Island), going on and on about CPR and XYZ….that was one of the funniest experiences of my life.
Eddie IS the funniest guy I know but you run a close second! The two of you together and I need some Depends.
Hey don`t want to hog up space but if any one wants to say hi, my e-mail is
sorry, i got booted laborer1965@aol.com matt bullock
I remember Mr Clean he use to walk down the block and check all the kids hands to make sure that they were clean if not he use to tell you to go and watch them and he would check out hands again.
He was a bald headed man he really looked like Mr. Clean…lol.
who the hell is that guy flying dough on 9 ave that store use to be the butcher shop
Sorry to change gears on everyone, but reminiscing got me thinking about a few things, like how peer pressure was never greater than when we were growing up.
As the saying goes, “the shoes make the man”, but growing up it was, “the sneakers make the kid”. Having the right pair of sneakers made you cool and likewise, the wrong pair made you the subject of much ridicule. No sense trying to explain this to an age group (Parents) that just didn’t understand this. So if you were unlucky enough to have them buy you a pair of super indestructible hard rubber sneakers from a bin in Bohack (commonly known as Bohack Specials), you were screwed. Above these in the hierarchy of sneakers were the irregulars, which were affectionately, called ‘Rejects’. Accusing someone else of wearing “Rejects” was more pungent than a curse word in any verbal schoolyard argument.
Another prime example of peer pressure was when the Good Humor Truck turned the corner and rang those all-too-familiar bells. Everyone ran into their homes to ask their parents for ice cream money. Although they somehow don’t taste as good as they did back then, I still fondly remember the frozen treats that I loved:
· Popcicles was in several flavors and was the cheapest thing on the menu.
· Bomb or Rocket Pops which was a large, patriotic (red, white and blue) colored Ice Pop which was both respectable and economical.
· Italian Ices had the yummy syrup on the bottom.
· Ice Cream Bars like Chocolate dipped vanilla bar, Toasted Almonds (My Favorite) and Strawberry Shortcake. We saved the sticks to make fake switch blades.
· Super Deluxe Ice Cream in a cup (this was their high-end product)
If you came out of your house empty handed or with some sort of store bought ice cream, you would again be subject to ridicule. Sharing was absolutely forbidden.
On the other hand, cookies from home were the complete opposite and sharing was expected. Saying “No grubbing” was used as a countermeasure to avoid having to share.
OMG Patty, Toasted Almond was my favorite, too!! My second favorite was the one with the solid chocolate in the middle…..I dont’ know the name of it and sometimes buy things that seem to resemble it, just to find out the name and I’ve yet to come across it….anyone?
Patty, Eddie and I used to shout up to my mother from in front of 35 (we lived above the Denny’s, on the second floor, for those of you unfamiliar with Sherman)…”MOM!! GOODHYUMMA!!” and she’d come to the window, in her housedress with change wrapped up in paper or a napkin (we’d be SCREAMING “MOM!! MOM!!! HURRY UP!! GOODHYUMMAA!!!” and she’d be screaming back, all of us at the top of our lungs “ARIGHT! ARRIGHT!! I’M COMIN!!!”) and then she’d open the window and HURL the money (these are coins, remember) right AT our heads……she didn’t understand the physics of the whole thing and thought she had to throw them down with all her might so that, in fact, we had to scatter like crazy so as not to get killed by this flying missile of coins, wrapped up in paper and headed right AT us….then we’d grab the money and hope that enough of youse were still on line (imagine that online means something different now?? On line…online…) and the guy was still there…..
I sometimes bought a Bomb Pop only because they were the biggest thing you could buy…..and I assumed it would last the longest….but it also melted the fastest, so…
Next we HAVE to talk about the rides in the trucks. I used to LIVE for The Whip.
I was terrified of King Kong (was it called?) and would only go on when I felt I had to prove something. I was so friggin scared of that thing……
Why did the rides never really go to Windsor Place? Whenever I was at my grandmother’s, they were never there….
The Whip. OMG was there anything more fun on the planet than The Whip?
I remember the last time I ever rode The Whip…it was the day I realized I was too big for the little seats. It was so sad. I felt kind of stupid that I was on it, you know? That’s what made me realize I was too old. I was so so so sad…..too big for The Whip………….
Annemarie
I am sitting here, early morning enjoying a quiet moment with a cup of coffee AND I JUST SPIT IT ALL OVER THE COMPUTER SCREEN
you had me rolling with you description of the Good Humor “sprint” TOO TOO FUNNY
Ugh, I think coffee up the nose is worse than soda when we were kids!
I LOVED the Whip! It was the best ride. I went on the King Kong when dared by the likes of Joey Stasiak and then of course the dare was to sit on top! And you couldnt show you were scared at all, so I would be laughing on the outside and screamin on the inside.
How many of you ever ran into the old Good Humor truck…rang the bells (the string was located above the dashboard).. then ran like hell before the Good Humor man caught you. Remember in the old trucks the driver had to step out of the truck to serve you. I really pissed the Good Humor man off big time….enough so he was the Bad Humor man when he got home.
Eileen, I can’t tell you enough how fun it was to picture you spitting your coffee out….that makes my heart happy. I’m still so friggin sad over being too big for the WHIP, though….
Joey Stasiak……
Mike. I’m sitting here with Jimmy, reading your post and I’m like, NO I NEVER DID THAT OR KNEW ANYONE ELSE DID..and Jimmy’s like, Yup, I remember that! LOL Bad Humor…..
Was I really such a nerd?
Jimmy likes the old trucks better. The ones where the guy had to get out to get to the side to reach into the box on the side of the truck to get it..you and he are the same age, Mike. Old. I don’t know what any of you are talking about, lol!!
Good Humor truck? Not at all…Most of the time didn’t have the funds. I stayed loyal and bought local, Bonnali’s!
speaking of the good humor guy do you remember having a few friends distracting the guy on one side of the truck so you could open a door on the other side and grab an ice cream ???
Every now and then he would open the same door on the other side and then it was time to run! Not that I ever did this. PDQ.
PDQ, that is so right. I was watching ‘A Bronx Tale’ and the kids did that to the fruit man. So you know we have to put that scene in when they do the movie, ‘Container Diaries’.
Are you the one who distracts or the one who reaches in. If I were betting, I’d say you reached; with that long ‘reach’ of yours…
You know, Paul Quirke, you were always an interesting guy….
Fin. Red. Do you know how long a walk it was up that hill to Bonali’s??? Heck, that was something we saved for once a week. We didn’t want to leave Sherman during the day, lol….
Patty, something on the shoes. My mother would take us to Red’s shoe store on ninth. I remember specifically coming home with new sneakers on and you and Eddie were sitting on your stoop. I was maybe six? Seven? And all I wanted to do was show the two of you how fast I could run in my new sneakers from Red’s. So, you guys told me to show you and said I should run as fast as I could all the way to Tenth Avenue…..I remember turning around at the corner of tenth and looking back….and then, bam, realizing why you sent me that far. LOL!
Just so you know, I laughed hysterically typing this story…
I love Bonali’s because it was such a special treat for us. I loved the milkshakes but especially the soft ice cream dipped in hard chocolate. OMG I loved those.
I never stole ice cream in my life…..did it taste better that way? LOL
With all this talk of the Good Humor guy i just had to share….Last year, My husband and I are sitting on the back deck enjoying a quiet moment in the sticks when all of the sudden, we hear that familiar tune……
We look at each other in amazement and say..”Cant be…not around here…”
Sure enough an ice cream truck pulls up our dead end lane in the middle of nowhere…
It was a bit Steven King-ish/Twilight Zone the first time….And we actually tipped the guy the first few times to make sure he would come back regularly- he is now a staple of summer on our block and even gives my dog a cup of vanilla ice cream!
Mike and I grumble at times about the cost of a bomb pop these days, but it is awesome that my kids get this same experience that we had, even living “in the sticks”
To cool off after a long hot day of playing stickball on 10th Ave…I would walk over to Bachman’s Deli on 16th Street …go to the front counter and stick my head in the ice cream freezer….pretending I was looking for an ice cream.
They caught on after awhile. As a matter of fact they might have slammed the freezer door on my head. That explains a few things !
It sure does MIke
Hi Annmarie,
I also remember the new sneaker experience. You felt like you were walking on clouds and could run as fast as the wind. Having such uncontrollable power as this, one could easily find oneself inadvertently kicking oneself in the rear while in mid-stride. Such things were short lived however, for stepping on them “christening” had a way of permanently sapping their power.
LOL on the rear-kick. Yes, like a spindly, wild, long legged crazy run so that you could go so FAST…..
I hated christening of shoes. HATED it. I tried to avoid as many feet as possible during the new phase.
Mike, I don’t know for fact, but I think I may have seen you stick your head in the cooler! LOL
Who sold more ice cream on the street , the good humor guy or bungalow bar ??? Bonalli’s or mr. softee ???
THERE IS A PICTURE ” THE OUTSIDERS” OF A GROUP OF KIDS IN THE SCHOOL YARD AT 154. I CAN NAME ALL BUT 2 OF THOSE KIDS.
CHARLEY KAWAS CHARLIE DISPONZIO,AL CALORA,TONY FASANO(ME) HARRY MILLS
BEN IN SUNGLASSES (RAN SUMMER PROGRAM) PAT “OAKEY”
O’CONNOR, MARTY LANG(HAT) KEITH CARLSON AND THE GUY WITH THE GLASSES IS DENNIS( FROM WINDSOR AND 8th /7th)
you may have a better chance of getting together a group from the 60`s- 70`s and 80`s even leave an open invitationfor anyone who would want to attend. charge admission and give it to a fund that is worth while(reunion)
whos the line man?
My niece, Emma Powers, will be entering her last year in Brooklyn College where she has been studying dance and physical therapy. Her last apartment was closed down by the city and she has been at a lost for a place to stay if not for Charlie and Theresa Powers opening up their home. Any help out there for an apartment or room for rent by other college students? Please pardon me for using this venue.
Happy Mother’s Day to all you grandmothers & mothers out there. I hope you all have a great day tomorrow.
Helen
hey tony go on mod squad there’s a picture there u might like to see
hey bummsey– ya out there ? HM
Hey Harry Mills,
Billy says hi, hIs computer is down. I`ve been working with him the past 6 months. Hes doing great and always says you were one of the best. I`m sure he will come up one weekend to my house if you ask. he can stay at my place in chester and we can have a bar-b que. what do ya say !
how are you matt ????? Billy WAS, and IS the BEST !!!! i talked to him on the phone about 4-5 weeks ago. i will call him tomorrow and tell him that some of us are gettin’ together sat nite in farrells (if you’re down, come by) i’m in chester alot (shoprite). i’ve been trying to renovate my house for the last 10 yrs, but i’m in the middle of it right now and everything is upside down, but when it’s done we’ll have the 2nd bar b que at my place ! HM
Hi Harry Mills
Remember you first trip to Modell’s?
danny— me, you and tommy realyea(hope that spelling’s close). i finally got my nose fixed about 7-8 years ago.
i said how are you harry! allways wanted to say that.
PDQ
An old friend turned me on to this website, does anybody remember my good friend Rudy K. ? I grew up on 13th street between 8th and 9th ave. spent many saturdays at sanders movie theater, saw many movies such as karate flicks and the exorcist etc… hung out in ps 107 school yard, sleigh riding at prospect park, then went to is88 john jay highschool, i remember slick and lala scared me to death, is sean riley did he used to hang out with bozo and kevin avlerizez who died on 8th ave sorry to say, i worked in C and S meat market on 7th ave and 8th street i used to deliver meat on the heavy bicycle. i also played football for st. savior church in early 70’s peewee league, does anybody remember the pool hall they opened on parkside circle?
hi paul— hope all is good with you !! yes, ” taxi ” is one of my all-time favorites. i also thought ” the sequel ” was an excellent song. i hope to run into you soon, in our neck of the woods ! HM
I am so glad I was told about this site, it makes my day. Has anyone heard anything about Henry (Chap) Chaplin, Johnny Slavin (Jr.) or Paul Lawrence. Grew Up with the three of them and lost touch over the years.
Joe its about time you surfaced!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Joe you forgot one special person also, Jerome!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Joe Chap is in the Huns picture and was at Farrells for their reunion, so talk to the Huns about chap. Johnny Slavins sisters are on the blog also so read some of the articles. Paul has been seen with us in the last couple of years, but now is getting remarried and is doing great. Joyce, and I have often talked about you and was wondering when you would surface!!!!!!!!! Its great seeing that.
Joe I forgot you and Couch are related, how the hell is he doing?? I keep in contact with one of his special friends Eddie Keys. Joe you also forgot another special friend of yours!!!!!!
hey joe green, i remember hanging out with you as well……where are you now??????????
Harry so happy you all had a wonderful time and a great picture. Was Henry Chaplin (Chap) a Hun, not too many things I missed growing up but that one I did. Thought maybe his wife was one of the Hun Ladies. It was great seeing you all.
LIving in Brunswick, Georgia. Moved down here in 1990 and not thinking of leaving “Duke” is someone I would never forget. Is this the samr Priscilla that married him. I’m a EMT down here and I love the work. There are so many people that I thought about, it would take a week to list them all. I’ll be more in touch and if I ever head up that way, I’ll stop by I don’t think Chap was a Hun, he was closer to the early Saxons.
It’s the same Priscilla. I can’t believe this, Jerome and I were just talking about you over the weekend and we were wondering how and where you were. Give us your e-mail address. Hope to hear from you.
Hey Joe, it is Jerome and believe it or not me and Priscilla were talking about you this past Sun in the car. Still married and living in NJ; all the kids grown and gone although you probably only remember the oldest. It is really good to hear you are settled in and doing well. Never would have thought Georgia……..
Stay well and if you ever come north, try to get in touch
Hey Joe, it is Jerome and believe it or not me and Priscilla were talking about you this past Sun in the car. Still married and living in NJ; all the kids grown and gone although you probably only remember the oldest. It is really good to hear you are settled in and doing well. Never would have thought Georgia……..
Stay well and if you ever come north, try to get in touch
It’s me again. I’m like a kid in a candy store, don’t know where to begin. My e-mail address is emtijoe@msn.com Anyone e-mailing me please put Park Slope in the Memo box. That way I will accept it as safe mail. Betty T, are you still in the neighborhood. It is great to see some of the names I grew up with. Who remembers Mom’s Pizza, that had to be the standard setter.
Donald from 13th Street, although you are much younger than I, you probably knew some of the families I was friendly with on that street: the Fagers, Boyces, Tutunjians, Bobergs, and Haggars.
Joey Haggar is now Monsignor Haggar of the St. Elias Church in Rhode Island.
There were so many great people on that block!
themmaureen ,they dont ring abell ,i lived above the boves they went to holy fam liz ,janet bove ,i lived there from 67 to 78 the parkers ,slevins ,burke i remember …
Donald the Slevins are related to the Trapps, their mom and our mom are sisters. They lived next door to the Parkers. The Parkers are a great family also. Their mom was a nurse I belive and they were great dancers. Bobby Burkes mom and our mom back in the 70s was both diagnosed with breast cancer and they became very good friends and were going for treatments together and within months they both passed away. I can still still their mom she was a much younger and beautiful looking women. Not sure but Bobby was the oldest of the family and I think he might had been about 16 when his mom passed away and their was about 4 younger ones. My heart broke for them at that time.
Joe Ive been out of the neighaborhood for about 28 yrs living Long Island, I have two girls 26 29 and 3 grandchildren and one on the way in Oct. I was a single mom for 18 yrs and when the girls grew up I decided to start dating and I got married 6 yrs ago to a great guy. Of course both times I married gentlemen out of our neighaborhood.
betty im convinced that 13th street was cursed,iremember mike burke i heard hes a cop, i also knew mike slevin i was sorry to here what happen to his brother frank…a lot of good peolple i knew had past on ,one of them my best friend rudy kantakusin , who ill always remember the good times growing up on 13th street…ijust heard that tom parker is a vet doctor in park slope ..
Thanks for the “hardball” piece! Stirred a bunch of Holy Name baseball memories!
Just want to get one in for the slightly older guys!! This year marks the 40th anniversary of the 1968 Holy Name “Junior Division” baseball team’s NYC Sandlot Baseball championship season. Coached both in our Tyro and Junior years by Mr. “TU” Tufano!
After winning the CYO Brooklyn Queens division the team went on to win the whole ball of wax and played into the Fall at places we never knew about before—as I remember at Long Island and around the city. Some of the guys on the team were Dennis Flynn, Jim “Jughead” Riches, John “Koch”Conway, Nicky Canella, Eddie Keyes, Joe Tufano, John Mahoney, John (MVP) Luciano, Harry Gonzales, and several others I regret I cannot remember all.
We had a lot of fun, practiced and played hard on the “diamonds”and at the Parade Grounds all the while guided by a great coach.
PS-Hi Joe Green, best to you. How’s the Koch man doing?
This is a shout out to Susan Rail. Susan! A few weeks ago, we were in New Paltz, NY and on the way outta there, we stopped AT THE WELDON HOUSE! OMG OMG OMG OMG! I leapt around with glee. It was after nine pm and dark, but the moon was light enough to see. EVERYTHING IS THE FRIGGIN SAME! My kids and I ran up and down the hill, ran over to the swimming pool (which has a tree growing through the middle!) and then to the playground near the shuffle board courts……(which are overgrown).
On the playground is that same slide with the tunnel, the same swing set (sans swings) AND AND AND THE MERRY GO ROUND THING is there. WE RAN IT AROUND AND SWUNG ON IT FOR SO LONG! I felt like I was twelve years old. That was, hands down, THE most incredible experience I have ever had in my life. My kids said they never saw me play like that before.
It was AMAZING!
Annemarie
next time you are in New Paltz, give a call I live up here!
YOU DO NOT!! OMG I love it there. That’s my second favorite place to live on this planet. Okay, I never lived there but I wanted to! LOL We went to visit the schools and things because we thought we might move there. My kids and I went to the middle and elementary schools. We were treated very well. Lucky you, it’s gorgeous there.
About 30 yrs. ago I played for Brennens and 5 Corners. I played free saftey under Pauly Kenny, the head coach. Yes, you were the fastest player in the league, but I sacked you, that is, if you can remember about 3 times in one of the championship games. It’s been a long time so I don’t remember in detail. But one thing I do remember is that I looked forward to those Sunday football games. They were my life for a long time. I do appreciate this computer site you guys have. It sure brings back great memories. You guys were always a tough team to play.
Thanks for the memories,
Robert
Hey Annemarie McGrath
Just now read your post from a couple of weeks ago, Re: “GoodHumor” and I believe that the name of the ice cream with the chocolate center is “Candy Center Crunch”.
Hope that helps.
Maryann
Hey Annemarie
I’ll introduce you to all the fun people when you move up….LOL
its really all transplanted Long Islanders….who are originally from Bklyn anyway LOL
NP schools are awesome..lots of cultural arts programs etc…my kids love it…Meg is in Lenape..the 3-5 building and Kelly is just finishing in Duzine the k-2 building.
The MS principal is awesome and the school is tightly run
I live 15 minutes south of NP, in Gardiner and have a gorgeous view of the Ridge from my deck
Come visit! If you are house hunting and need a place to stay, just let me know We are in the phone book, but shoot me an email (eileenpmac@aol.com )
Hi Annemaire,
I remember having some great summer vacations at the Weldon House, but I was a little saddened to hear that it has fallen into such disrepair.
A friend and coworker got me hooked on New Paltz’s great rock climbing. Just outside the town there is a Farmer’s Market that makes an awesome almond poppy muffin. I also like the vineyards and the apple orchard nearby. As well as some nice places to eat, the town has a very friendly and eclectic feel.
Hey, if anybody is in the neighborhood, they are putting in a new store where Wetter’s used to be, they tore down the sign
from the pet store, and you could see the old stained glass
from Wetter’s saying Ice Cream, etc. I don’t know how long it will be visible, this site is great, I see a lot of names that I remember for myself, but also a lot from my sisters, Cathy, Colleen and Roseanne Flanagan. I am basically not too swift with the computer, but I will try to find my way back to this site. Carol Gogarty, I hung out with your brother Mike, how is he doing?
I also wanted to let people know that Joey Corrar died, I know there was a rumor a while ago, but it is true this time, he passed away on Sunday, his family is in the process of making arrangements with Smith’s, they are hoping for Thursday, with a Mass in Holy Name on Friday morning.
I think my original comment got deleted before it was posted.
They are renovating the old Wetter’s, it was a pet store for years. Anyway, they took down the pet store sign, and beneath it was the old stain glass border for Wetter’s , with the flowers and the words Ice Cream, etc. It really was a blast from the past, I don’t know how long it will be visible, I am sure they are in a hurry to put something new there, perhaps a real estate office, or a sushi restaurant?
Hey Steve, I think a great blog would be places worth traveling out of our neighborhood to eat. Just to name a few, Pizza at Spumoni Gardens, a pastrami sandwich at Katz’s Deli after practice at LaSalle, a calzone from Lenny’s on 5th, a knish and dog at Nathan’s in Coney Island , nowhere else counts.
PDQ
Hi MAUREEN HOW ARE YOU? HOWS THE FAMILY?? NICE SEEING YOU ON THE BLOG.
Patty Larkin, you ROCK CLIMB???!! That’s awesome……I get scared halfway up into any situation and then lose my mind trying to get down! LOL I’ve traveled all over the world but struggle to rock climb. It’s ridiculous. Good for you.
Eclectic is my favorite place to live….that is what it’s like where we are now….and the sense of community in a place like that, as I see in New Paltz as well, is just amazing.
Eileen…we went into the school (the lower grade one) and spoke to a mom volunteering at the front desk, just in front of the office..she was sitting in for half an hour while someone went to lunch? Said she does it all the time..she was so nice. She showed us a website with the other school and spent half an hour telling us about the area and the sports……I couldn’t believe how nice she was.
Our only problem was the lack of lacrosse in the area. They’re big on the baseball but not much on lacrosse. Glad to know the swimming is huge there, though…..
I am going to email you..I just stuck you in my address book. We’re crazed busy for the next four days but then normal again….
HEY!! Thanks for the Candy Center Crunch. I’m going to try it!! I love that thing.
Patty….I had heard they closed completely so even though it is in disrepair, it’s okay with me that it has found some new strength recently.
Tell you what, let’s buy the place (I believe the McGoldrick’s still own it??) and revamp it for summer reunions. That’d be awesome. My kids said they had NEVER seen me that happy before. I loved that place..it is the reason I traveled to Africa..if I didn’t say that before……
hey thanx for the nomination of the “Fence Climbing Hall of Fame” Guys. it brings back so many memories i can thing of all the good ones we had. i remember Mrs. Drago aka The Mean Lady who , if the balls went into her yard she would never ever give them back to us when we played in the lot.
just remebering going to Ray’s & Otto’s to buy Spaldines……as we called them when we were younger…you know the pink rubber ball that had “Bounce”
Playing stick ball on 10th ave between 16th st and Windsor placebut we would use a broomstick till we could collect enough money together to be able to buy one $1.19 from Ray’s & Otto’s. reading all these great words you guys have written make realize the special times we had growing up……..Three Devils enough said….Cherry Hill the capitol of Hangouts in all of Windsor Terrace
talk again soon
i will be sure to continue reading here
bye for now
Joe Stasiak
you guys whoplay ball in the lot ….remeber the big giant rock between 1st and 2nd base…..one of the things i remember growing up was that everyone on your block new you!!!!!! parents and kids…..not today your lucky you know 3 or 4 of them
JOEY!
awesome to see you on the boards!
too many memories of playing with you and the Stanizewski’s to count
and you definitely did earn the title of Fastest Fence Climb
Hey, Joey Stasiak, nice to see you!!!
its great to have a site like this ……..so many great people from the old neighborhood on this site …..memories i can even count after reading some of theis stuff…………..nice to see you Eileen as well as you Annmarie……hope you are doing well …as well as your familiesa………..
oh by the way who’s idea was this to come up with this site “Container Diaries”…………Love It…….
Miss being that young age again……….
Eileen remeber i dated Karen Kawas from sherman street?
does anyone know what ever happen to her or even the Sandra girls the small one and the other one John Pagano dated………..somany people i wonder what happened to
signing off have to get some sleep
bye for know
Hi Betty, thanks for the greeting, all is well with the family, or
as well as can be expected these days! Willie Wickham, how are you? I just came onto this site in the past few days, and I saw your post re Harold from some months back. I can assure you, Harold is not reading this! He is resistant to technology, although he does have an answering machine. A quick story, he was in recently, and we made plans to go to the Botanical Gardens, I was at work on 9th St, so I told him I would meet him up by the monument on 9th St and the parkside at 12:30.
I ran a few minutes late, but he was there when I got there. Turns out, he thought I said 11:30, so, as he was waiting, he began to think he was wrong on the time, but since he does not own a cell phone, and there are no public phones around, he just waited. After that, he said he may reconsider getting one, but he does not have a computer. I have his number, you can call me at ——– Oh, how arrogant of me, I am just assuming you remembered me, it is a long time ago, anyway, if you don’t remember me, I assure you I am not a nut, it is safe to call for Harold’s number!
Joe Stasiak?? Whats up?
Hey Joey
I havent heard from karin kawas in years. Reading all the stories about Sherman Street has had me wondering how she is as well
I know Sandra Casagrande(little one) is living somewhere in Orange county, NY…she married a guy from HS who is a fireman. I see her every 5 years or so at reunions.
Which other Sandra?
I am still good friends with Dee Dixon, Kristin Rower and some of those “IHM” girls….Theresa McEvoy, Maureen Powell etc etc
Hey Mike Mardini! how are you?
Annemarie
Just found out this morning…New Paltz is starting a lacrosse team at the HS level so its only a matter of time b4 the townleagues start in order to train the kiddies! And Highland- one district over_ also started a HS team this past year
So it is coming……………..
MAUREEN FLANAGAN! Not THE Maureen Flanagan? The RICE threw me when I read your post about Joey Corrar. Of course I remember you! As far as I know I’m not yet into having senior moments. Sounds like Harold is, though. No computer? No cell? WHAT does he do? We’ll all have to let it be known that we are talking trash about him online. Then he’ll get a computer just to find out what we’re saying.
Thanks for the phone number. I’ll call. Now, I don’t want to get preachy, but it’s not a good idea to put your phone number on a message board like this where it stays forever and any whacko who happens in sees it. Now, I’m not calling any of the present company whackos but who knows who might show up. Mousey? Deadwood? So, it should be taken off now that I have it.
I will try this:
ATTENTION MR COACH
PLEASE REMOVE MAUREEN’S PHONE NUMBER FROM #436
Willy,
Just saw your post, the number has been removed.
My brother Scott just told me about this site, I think it is great. Just reading some of the names and stories brings back alot of memories. Steve how is your brother John, last time I saw him was at the WTC. I will be reading on, this site is addictive.
Eileen, that’s wonderful!! Lacrosse just rocks.
The kids in this area LOVE it……..they cry when they can’t get to practice! LOL
Hello to all, I am off to start a high school swim league in my area….basing it on what we did with St. Saviour and the other schools at St. Francis College.
Hi Billy LaVassuer its me Lori Jo, Lisa and I were sitting here together at her house and reading the website saw your name up and wanted to say hi,, remembering all the great times and funny funny stories, hope all is well with your family how is your mom loved seeing her last year it was great hope we do it again and mayber you will be there next time,,, Love to all and hope to see you again
Hey Maryann just saw your reply, great to hear from you,, how is Jimmy and the kids hope you are all doing well, talk to Patty and Lisa Balzano all the time and talk alot about high school years its always always fun,, love to hear from you again,,, Love to all
In September 1967 Mr. Fogarty visited me in Methodist Hospital as I had busted up my leg in a few places while sliding into 2nd base at the Parade Grounds playing baseball for Holy Name. He made certain all hospital and doctor bills were paid for and kept tabs on me. A good man who looked after the kids in Holy Name. Rest in peace Mr. Fogarty.
to all my friends and the people of good old park slope,and the boyz.i just heard about the website from doreen kawas.
it’s great to have a chance to hear about the neighborhood
i used to live on 8th ave between 15 and 16 street,sorry to hear about joey,new him well.got to love that farrells beer.was just there last week with duffa{john powers}.i really miss the hood,miss the people and friends.i live in p.a. now anybody want to come visit just give me a message…..waiting for response…nems
Hi! Lori
Jimmy and the kids are all doing well.
Tell Patty and Lisa that I said hello.
I was just remembering all of those summer nights when we would hang out on 10th avenue… when we got too loud that old lady would throw water on us.
Do you remember when we had that sweet 16 for Patty and Regina in my basement? Your cousin (who Andrea was in love with) asked her what time it was and she actually turn her wrist to look at her watch with a drink in her hand….needless to say he was wearing her drink.
Hope all is well with you, Greg and the kids (you have 4..right)
Love, Maryann
Hi Tony Nemnom,
My brother Jerry and I were just talking about you and your sister Laurie a few weeks ago. We used to have lots of fun on 8th avenue when we were little kids. My two brothers and I all live in NJ now. I reading love the blog, it’s nice to know what’s going on with everyone from the old neighborhood.
Helen Cole Prestia
Tony Nemnom, did your family have the grocery on 8th ave.
between 12th and 13th st.?
Hi Lori,
Its been a long time. How are you? Hope all is well. Mom and Dad are doing well, it’s her birthday on Monday. I was reading that you have 4 children, you have your hands full. I have a boy, 19 yrs old in Pace U, and my daughter, 17, just graduated HS… going to Iona in Sept. I’m sorry I missed the dinner. Hope to see you soon.
Hey Fin – I was at my parents house yesterday for Father’s Day. My sister Eileen & her husband Russ Baranik were in from Vegas. Their friend, Billy Campbell showed up & he had copies of pictures from the Container Dairy. He doesn’t even have a computer & he knows about the site. Just more proof that this site is spreading like wild fire. Thanks for the site & keep up the great work. Karen
Karen,
WOW! That is awesome. You never know who will stop by and read the blog. I wish we can all get in a time capsule and go back to 1978…
Coach when are you coming to Brooklyn? We got to get a picture in fron of Farrell’s
coach you need to go into the message board and remove the blog or filth that some asshole left.
“4909 Interesting Things”
whoever did this is a slime ball who needs his teeth knocked out of his head.
Does anybody remember the Farrell’s softball teams,when they were winning.The drinking we did after the games win or lose.Teams like kelly’s,Terrace cafe,John’s pub,Ryans,Parkhill.
Look to hear from all
Jim,
You were the coach, right?
Hey Jim Fox, are you Mary’s son? It’s Denise. How are you?
Denise ,I am Mary’s son.I live in Tampa now.I am doing fine,love the weather and enjoying my retirement.Don’t hear much about the old neighborhood,just when I come up for football games in Jan. to see Kelly,Trapp,Kawas,Meyler.Hope to hear from you again
Hi Jimmy great seeing you at Tommy C party. How long are you down florida?? Jimmy, Irish and Michael seem to be looking like one another as they age. What do u think?? Jimmy my best to your wife, have a great day.
Betty We are down here almost 11 years,boy does time fly.It was nice to see you there also.I come up in Jan to go to Billy Mylers house down the shore to watch football games and everybody shows up
Great to hear from you Jimmy. Do you keep in touch with Patrick? The last time I saw him was at my daughter’s wedding in June of 2006. Otherwise, it’s just Christmas cards every year. I’ll have to drop him a line. How is Linda? Tell her I said hello. I don’t know how you guys stand the heat down there. It’s bad enough here lately. Well it’s good to see you on here. Hope to keep in touch.
Linda’s doing fine.We talk to Patrick every week.As a matter of fact He is coming down for Christmas to spend a week with us.As far as the heat, I have adjusted very well,Linda on the other hand as some problems with it when working outside.You have to get outside work done early in the morning or not at all.Talk again soon
Steve:
Just found out about your blog. It is the best thing on the web! What a tremendous forum you are providing for people to celebrate their Windsor Terrace roots. Just know that Chris Johnson, Terry Greene, Kevin O’Donnell and myself think about you often, and we are so happy that you followed and achieved your basketball dreams. Not many people take the thing they love to do and make it their life’s work. You did, and that is truly a great achievement. (We miss playing ball with you as well!)
Al
Big Al,
You’re the best! Hope you are well. Thanks for the kind words…It took a while but the switch finally came on!
How about our Knicks? Making the moves to improve the current team.
I miss those Monday night runs at Ford – just last night I grabbed my ball and worked on my dribbling for an hour. I love the game more than ever!
Hey Gina Tarrapino, is that really you from Temple Ct.?
If so, I can’t believe it. This site is awesome. My best little kid friend. Where did we go….
And for you, Michael Layden, how the hell are you. I see you forgot about the other girls you hung with….me & Janice O.
Come on Mike we walked to school for years. And remember, the early bird catches the first worm, on our way to Ford. I gotta tell ya we all had the best growing up years in that neighborhood. Miss ya all & the times we had.
Gwen,
Hope you are doing well. Thanks for sharing the memories…
Steve:
Would love to hook up if you come back in August. If its on a Saturday in the day, we can visit Chris Johnson at the 12st street bar, he works the day shift. Coffee, soda readily available. Lots of NBA to discuss.
Al
This is a great website! I see alot of people on here from the old neighborhood. Windsor terrace was the perfect place for any child to grow up on. I remeber 10th ave was constantly a buzz with sports like stickball, wiffle ball, football, man hut or coco levio, bloody mary and all that fun stuff. people like patrick smith tim odea anthony caccamo bob galvin jb mccall steve oconnor jim mcloskey elmo and everyone else made it a great child hood. I am married now 3 kids living in sheepshead bay. its nice here but i still drive by looking for those old familiar faces that bring me back when i was a child
also i lived there i guess over 20 years and my family is still lives near the theater ( i remember when it was sanders and it was closed and we broke it to hang and drink beer)used to be 41 ppsw)
my uncles would like to know who is still around in the neighborhood or where have they gone? my uncles are angelo and john sarris. s so if you have any infomation or like to contact me my email address is atg51169@aol.com
Steve:
Your Post on reading and libraries is excellent. Here is an article written by Pete Hamill in the New York Times 20 years ago describing his experiences in one of the libraries you mentioned: the 6th avenue and 9th street branch.
D’Artagnan on Ninth Street: A Brooklyn Boy at the Library
By PETER HAMILL; PETE HAMILL IS A NOVELIST AND SCREENWRITER. SINCE WRITING THIS ESSAY HE HAS BECOME A COLUMNIST FOR THE NEW YORK POST.
LEAD: THE library was on Sixth Avenue and Ninth Street on the south slopes of the Brooklyn hills and for a long time in my young life it was the true center of the world.
THE library was on Sixth Avenue and Ninth Street on the south slopes of the Brooklyn hills and for a long time in my young life it was the true center of the world.
The formal name, back then, was the Prospect Branch of the Brooklyn Public Library, but to me it was always just The Library and it remains that way in memory. I seem always to have gone there on Saturday mornings, following the same route each time, hurrying past the grocery stores, bakeries, drugstores and bars of Seventh Avenue. At the corner of Ninth Street, I turned left and the broad street dropped away into the distant jumble of the waterfront. On clear mornings, I could see past the elevated tracks of the IND subway and glimpse the Statue of Liberty in the harbor and the vertical smudge of the skyline of Manhattan. But usually I ignored the view. I was locked into a sensuous, almost religious ritual, with the holy sanctuary of the library drawing me like an iron filing to a magnet.
I can feel now the way my blood quickened as I crossed the trolley tracks, passed the stately brownstones and the small synagogue and saw ahead the wild gloomy garden behind the library. As a gesture of support, I would run a finger along the menacing iron pickets of the garden’s fence. I wanted that fence to stand forever, holding back the jungle; each spring, the riot of weeds and nameless plants seemed to grow more menacing. I sometimes imagined it spilling into the streets, marching steadily forward to link with Prospect Park. Or it would turn to the nearest target: the library itself. The vengeful blind force of untamed nature would climb those granite walls, seep under the windows and assault the books, those sheaves of murdered trees, sucking them back to the dark earth.
But then I would glance through the immense windows, relieved: the books were still there. Turning at Sixth Avenue, I would look up, feel momentarily dwarfed by the majesty of the mock Corinthian columns that framed the entrance. Then I would take the wide granite steps two at a time. Into my second home. I was 10 the first time I took that journey alone; I kept taking it until I was 17 and went off to the Navy.
Inside, behind walls as thick as any true fortress, I always felt safe. The high-roofed building was warm in winter and cool in summer, and although it seemed built to last forever, and the sense of space was unlike anything I knew except the lobbies of movie houses, the attraction was not merely shelter. I was there on a more exciting mission: the discovery of the world.
In those years during and after the war, I was a citizen of a hamlet we all simply called ”the neighborhood” (now cynically renamed the South Slope by real estate developers). There were strict rules (Pay Your Debts, Don’t Cross Picket Lines, Don’t Squeal to the Cops, Honor the Old) and powerful institutions (the church, the police station and Rattigan’s Bar and Grill). There was wisdom in the hamlet, of course, and honor, and the safety of the familiar. But within the boundaries of this working-class parish there were also men who gave it a dangerous edge: sallow-faced characters with gray fedoras and pinkie rings who carried guns under their coats; youth gangs called the Tigers and the South Brooklyn Boys, who wore pegged pants and rolled through the streets with the swagger of victorious armies. There were homeless rummies too, and deranged vets still fighting Tarawa or the Hurtgen Forest, and cops on the take and brawling dock wallopers and apprentice wise guys. As a boy, I was afraid of them, a condition that went beyond the normal fears of childhood. But I knew one big thing: none of them ever came to the library.
So, in one important way, the library was a fortified oasis. At the same time, it alarmed me. The books seemed to look down upon me with a wintry disdain. Most certainly they were adult, and I stood before them as an ignorant child. They knew what I did not know; they were, in some ways, the epitome of the unknowable, full of mystery and challenge and the most scary thing of all, doubt. The harder I worked at cracking their codes, the more certain I was that the task was impossible. I will carry that awe before the printed word to my grave.
At first, in my tentative probes of the Caliph’s palace, I was condemned to the children’s room. I liked the bound volumes of a magazine called St. Nicholas, full of intricate pen drawings and the cheery innocence of the 19th century. I read through most of Robert Louis Stevenson (enthralled by ”Treasure Island” and ”Kidnapped,” disturbed by ”Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde,” defeated by ”The Weir of Hermiston”); Dumas pere thrilled me with ”The Count of Monte Cristo” and ”The Three Musketeers”; I consumed ”Howard Pyle’s Book of Pirates.” But the rest of the books meant nothing to me; they all seemed to be about kids living in idyllic country glades, rabbits who talked and an elephant named Babar who had adventures in Africa. Outside the library, I was already traveling through the Africa of Burne Hogarth’s comic-strip version of ”Tarzan” and plunging into the South American forests of Bomba the Jungle Boy. When I read ”The Count of Monte Cristo,” I began to think of the children’s room as another version of the Chateau d’If.
BUT even in that brightly lit cell, a peculiar process had begun. On the street, I consumed the artifacts of what is now called popular culture: comics, movie serials at the Minerva and the Globe, boys’ books that were not in the library (Bomba, the Buddy series, Tom Swift, even G. A. Henty) and radio serials about Captain Midnight, the Green Hornet, Captain Silver and the Sea Hound. Out there, I was swept away by the primary colors of melodrama.
The library took that instinct for the lurid and refined it. The books that were talked about in schoolyards and on rooftops gave me a need for narrative, for removal from the dailiness of my life. But they stood in relation to the books in the library as the raw does to the cooked.
At first, I didn’t know one writer from another. It didn’t even occur to me that books were actually written by a lone man or woman sitting somewhere at a desk. They were there on the shelf and you took them down and opened them and began to read. To this day, I don’t remember learning to read any more than I remember learning how to breathe. And in those years, I read books with a joyous innocence I’ve only rarely felt in all the years that followed. I had not begun to read, as I do now, as a writer; that is to say (in Stevenson’s phrase), I was not reading as a predator.
Looking back, it’s clear to me that I was reading as a creator, bringing myself (and comics, radio, movies, the street) to a collaboration with the writer in the invention of an alternate world. These books were not collections of abstract symbols called words, printed on paper; they were real events that had happened to me. So I was Jim Hawkins. I was Edmond Dantes. I was D’Artagnan. I hid from Blind Pew. I discovered the hidden grotto. I fought duels with the henchmen of the evil Milady. But alas, I also discovered early that telling these tales to my friends could sometimes provoke boredom or scorn; the stories then became part of my buried private history, another solitary vice.
When I escaped at last from the children’s room, I felt like an explorer who had been handed a map written in invisible ink. As in life, one thing always led to another. At 14, I was trying to understand Latin at Regis High School. In the stacks at the library, this led me to Stevenson’s ”Virginibus Puerisque,” which I still read for pleasure and reward; to Cyril Connolly’s ”Unquiet Grave” (the byline read ”by Palinurus”), and though I surely understood virtually nothing it said, and skipped all the passages in French, I was consumed for a week by its mood of romantic loss. I pored over a translation of Cicero’s accounts of murder trials. I took home a book called ”Daily Life of the Romans” and copied most of the line drawings of free men and slaves. None of this helped me much with Latin, but the journey did take me to the meditations of Marcus Aurelius, and that splendid book was to help me through the brief anguish of losing all faith in religion.
Other books provoked similar journeys. The Bomba books led me to the geography section of the library, to volumes about South America, to a biography of Simon Bolivar and the fevered discovery of the existence of the great Chilean Bernardo O’Higgins, as Irish as I was, the liberator of his country. In that time, I often rode through the Andes of my imagination, a member of a revolutionary army, about to charge hard upon the hated viceroys in the capital; or I was an old man, seeing the revolution betrayed, saying (with Bolivar): ”I have ploughed the seas.” These were wars, conflicts, tragedies in the real world, but they were not taught in our schoolbooks, and so they became (I arrogantly thought) my own private discovery. If you lived in Brooklyn in those years, you said words like Caracas and Lima, Cartegena and Bogota, the Amazon and the Orinoco, as if they were digits on a secular rosary. Years later, I would travel this private tributary to school in Mexico City, to Diego Rivera, David Alfaro Siqueiros and Jose Clemente Orozco, to Carlos Fuentes and Octavio Paz, Luis Bunuel and Jose Luis Cuevas, Jorge Luis Borges and Julio Cortazar, the granite of Neruda and the magical groves of Macondo.
The library taught me one other thing that has survived and expanded through the course of my life: the love of books themselves as objects. I came to love the feeling of a well-made book, the look of type on fine paper, the leathery worked splendor of certain bindings. I even loved the aroma of certain books, the smell of drying paper, the moldy fragrance of the past. This also has a context: I grew up as the oldest son of seven children of Irish immigrants; we were, I suppose, poor; there were always books in the house but none of them were very fancy. The library allowed me to borrow the first beautiful things I ever took home. When I was not reading them, I would place them on tables, on the mantelpiece, against a window, just to be able to see them, to turn from dinner and glance at them in the next room. I hated to bring them back, and often borrowed some books three or four times a year, just to have them around. As a result, I am today one of those people with a book jones. There are 10,000 books in my library, and it will keep growing until I die. This has exasperated my daughters, amused my friends and baffled my accountant. If I had not picked up this habit in the library long ago, I would have more money in the bank today; I would not be richer.
In short, the library was a place where most of the things I came to value as an adult had their beginnings. Art was there, poetry, history and words. Millions of words. Trillions. Politicians have come and gone since many of them were written, empires have risen to temporal glory and collapsed into decay. But those words remain as powerful as they were when I was a boy and will be there long after I’m gone. I went to the library in a different time, of course, during the last years before the arrival of the great obliterating force of television. I went to the library in search of entertainment and discovered the world.
Today, kids don’t seem to embark on that exhilarating journey as often as they did when I was young. Politicians keep chiseling away at the branch libraries, truncating their hours, reducing their staffs. The dumb forces of darkness still riot in the garden. But there, through the windows, you can still see the shelves. The books stand in eternal wintry challenge, full of wonder, fear, certainty and doubt, just waiting to be opened. Hey, young man, hurrying by, a Walkman plugged into your skull: pause a moment, mount those steps and enter. The world awaits you.
FOR ANYONE WHO IS STILL IN THE OLD NEIGHBORHOOD:
This Friday night, July 25th, STEVE JOYCE and his band will be playing at the Greenhouse Cafe in Bay Ridge. They play all the great songs of the ’60’s. They start at 9:30 and go to about 12:00 midnight. The Greenhouse is on 3rd Avenue between 76th and 77th Street. I’m sure many of you remember Steve (a really great musician) who still lives in the neighborhood. So, if you can, come out to Bay Ridge on Friday night, I know you’ll have a great time.
Excellent blog going here – sure brings back a lot of great memories !! Hey to Maryann & Jimmy – been a long time !
Only in the new millennium can I be sitting in a computer cafe in New Orleans feeling connected to my neighborhood reading a blog started by a guy in Michigan!!!!
Hey, Maureen, so you made it to NOLA! Say hello to Fats Domino for me.
Mo-
And that guy is sitting on the third floor in the library at Michigan State University!!!
I grew up on Windsor Place (#98) and graduated HNS in 1971. Classmates that come to mind were Dan Mahoney (who lived next door @ 96), Gerard Kash, Joseph Harouni, Charles Alberti, Joe Farrell and George Brossard.
You may also remember my brother Paul who was class of 1973.
Growing up in Windsor Terrace in the 60’s & 70’s defined the word neighborhood.
Re: Post #476 – somehow a smiley face popped up in my old address. For the record I lived at 98 Windsor Pl.
Just want to say what a beautiful day we had at the Vinny brunton golf outting It was good to see faces i grew up with . And now i can put some faces to this site .RED wish u coud have made it . would have been right up ur ally THANKS to all the people who made it happen THANKS to the people who came we made it a GREAT DAY IN HONER OF OUR GOOD FRIEND CAPT. VINNY BRUNTON
Hi Steve McLaughlin, the name caught mt attention, don’t know if you remember me but was once good friends with Paul. This is a terrific web site for old neighborhood friends to re connect. Please say hello to Paul for me.
Hi Timmy – I do remember you as well as your brother Patrick. I passed your post along to Paul.
Paul & I are planning to drop in on the old neighborhood possibly on Sat 8/23 – we’ll be @ Farrell’s for starters!!
I hope all is well with you & yours.
PS – does Gerard Kash still live a “stones throw” from Farrell’s?
Hey Tim Cain, how are you? Hope all is well. Have you seen any of the boys? Let’s catch up.
Hey Tim-O-Thee Cain! How are you, long time no speak. Do you see any of the boys at all? Hope all is well, let’s get in touch.
Hi Steve, thank’s for the note. Everything is great here, hope the same for your’s and Paul’s as well. Patrick lives in NJ and i moved back to windsor terrace a couple of years ago…still a great neighborhood. I’m not sure if Gerard is still around, really don’t see many familar faces. Nice to connect with you. If you guys will be at Farrell’s on 8/23 i will make a point to stop by…take care.
1973 Graduate HNS. Lived on Windsor Place. Has anyone seen my old gang, Pat Quigley, Joe Hurley, Espo, and of course my old sweetheart Liz Hardy!
Corrado
I agree, Vinnie’s golf outing was a great day. It is always good to see everyone. Thank you for attending. Look forward to seeing you again soon. Give my love to Bunny.
Maryann
HEY PABLO, Holy Moley…talk about a blast from the past. All off the old crew are doing well, espo, quigs, rocky and recently seen Liz on the avenue…been too long paul, HOW ARE YOU? Give me a call, i’m listed (Bklyn) and if i’m not there leave a number, i work crazy hours, OK.
Hey Tim, Long Time. Not this weekend but the following my brother and I are planning a trip back. Let’s get together and have a beer. Hope your well and I’ll look your number up. Say hello to everyone for me.
Hello Paul, that sounds fantastic. Looking forward to speaking with you. I will tell the fellows you said hello…they will be thrilled
Hi Paul, the best time to reach me would be between 11am and 2pm…cheers
Haven’t seen anything about the Over 20 club from Holy Name (in the 60’s) – Alex Fazio, Alan Maloney and many others were involved in the club as well as cabanas in Breezy Point. Most of the comments are the “younger” crowd so where are all the mature Holy Namers???
Joanne I did see a writing from Alan Maloney, somewhere in this memory lane. The over 20 club, wow you guys did alot of things, concerning that club, I was born in 50 so a bit before my time, just a tad bit. How long was that club in progress?? I have older siblings and they were involved.
Joann just talking to my sister Mary Trapp (Murphy) and she said to say hi, and was so happy to hear you wrote into the Container Diaries. Joann im sorry its wasnt Alan who wrote in it was Billy Maloney a real nice gentleman, the brother of Alan of course. Mary told me you also came from 12street, and John came from 14st. She also was asking for your brother tommy who she had alot of fun with, they went to the Worlds Fair. You brought a big smile to my sister Mary.
I remember my older sister going to the 20 and over club on Sunday mornings after Mass. I think it was around 61′ or 62′. A couple of times I went along with her (I was only 8 or 9yrs old) . They served coffee and rolls and buns from L&J’s ,so I got a free breakfast. She was part of the ” older crowd” that had hung out on the parkside between 10th &11th ave’s in the late 50’s. I remember last names as Nader,Volpe,Bush ,Cumm, Garrity (sp?). Anyone remember ” fat Richie” the strange guy who use to bother all the young girls on that stretch or the parkside ?
Timmy Cain:
Couldn’t find your number thru information. My e-mail address is pgmclaughlin@optonline.net. Drop me a line. Talk to you soon.
http://www.nydailynews.com/ny_local/brooklyn/2008/08/18/2008-08-18_brooklyn_nostalgia_dies_with_joey_corrar.html
Richie,
Thanks for the link but if you read the Blog, I posted that on the front page. Joey’s famous!
hey, heard about a farrells trip again in 2009 to europe?
if anyone has details please let me know…interested…
thanks
Subject: BEST POEM IN THE WORLD !
I was shocked, confused, bewildered
As I entered Heaven’s door,
Not by the beauty of it all,
Nor the lights or its decor.
But it was the folks in Heaven
Who made me sputter and gasp–
The thieves, the liars, the sinners,
The alcoholics and the trash.
There stood the kid from seventh grade..
Who swiped my lunch money twice.
Next to him was my old neighbor
Who never said anythin nice.
Herb, who I always thought
Was rotting away in hell,
Was sitting pretty on cloud nine,
Looking incredibly well.
I nudged Jesus, ‘What’s the deal?
I would love to hear Your take.
How’d all these sinners get up here?
God must’ve made a mistake.
‘And why’s everyone so quiet,
So somber – give me a clue.’
‘Hush, child,’ He said, ‘they’re all in shock.
No one thought they’d be seeing you.’
JUDGE NOT.
Remember…Just going to church doesn’t make you a Christian
any more than standing in your garage makes you a car.
——————————————————————————–
It’s only a deal if it’s where you want to go. Find your travel deal here.
Steve:
Possible topics:
1) What Parish was Holy Name’s main rival, and why? How did that rivalry play out?
2) What is the most memorable event in Windsor Terrace history? Not a personal event (i.e. graduation) but one other residents who do not know each other would recognize?
3) Best concerts ever seen at the Prospect Park Band Shell.
Al
Al,
Great ideas…
Hope you are well.
U-S-A-USA-U-S-A!
Betty, that is great, I am going to have to get someone with
computer skills to print that out for me, I am afraid if I hit print, I will get all 500 comments!!! By the way, coach, congrats on that. Back to the poem, I love the principle behind it, and can
achieve the non-judgement at times, but it is a constant struggle. The line about standing in the garage is one I have never heard, and it is priceless. Whenever I find myself in judgement mode, I try to remember the saying ” people who judge don’t matter, and people who matter don’t judge’
Steve:
I forgot to tell you, during the NBA playoffs, I emailed Pete Vecsey some jokes, and a couple made it into his columns.
Check it out:
After watching Chris Paul-verizer run a clinic on Kidd, column contributor Alex McNeil reports he overheard Joumana remark to a friend, “And I thought I had it rough.”
Any chance we’ll see a cell phone commercial where Charles Brokely asks Dwyane Wade to cover his Vegas markers? wonders column contributor Alex McNeil.
After a lifetime of reading him, it was awesome to get in his column.
Al
Alex,
PV is the best! No one comes close. I have also had the pleasure of return emails from him. I asked him why he doesn’t write a book and he said he never will. Tell me he wouldn’t have the best stories. I have been reading him for a long time.
It was a hot, 90 degree plus summer day in 1968 up at the zoo where a bunch of us neighborhood guys were working the outside concession wagons selling everything from hula hoops to cracker jacks. The seal pool was just re-surfaced and a new filter system put in. At around 5:00PM, myself and Timmy Mullins (recently deceased, Denis Hamill wrote a great article on Tim)got the bright idea to take a dip. With our “parky-type” uniforms still on we both jumped in. It was GREAT! Immitating seals, who had yet to be put back in the pool, by barking and jumping off the top part of the concrete seal hangout was hillarious and a small crowd of people were taking it all in. Finally, two very understanding cops told us to get out—no harm done— “Just get lost!” My personal best day at the zoo!
Hey Bobby Trapp–Great job keeping the ’60’s HN school yard memories up! Remember the pull-up bar in the girls schoolyard close to the avenue? I particularly recall George Bruns playing in the summer league — picked up by the old Long Islanf Nets.
Please give my regards to all the Trapps–a great family!
Hi Everyone—In ref to Mz Millers artical–I sent this to the Editor of the Daily News–I hope they print it—-Farrells Bar & Grill is what makes Park Slope special – and so are the people who were born and raised there. People who will come from far and near when there is a need – like keeping Holy Name School from closing. Enjoy your $10.00 glass of wine in Curleys bar across the street — I will be in Farrells, enjoying my free beer – It will be on the house, because Hooley hasn”t seen me for a while – and thats what neighborhood friends do. They may have raised the price of houses in Park Slope- but it’s not a better class of people buying them!!!! Kathleen Gorman Farrells Fan Born and Raised in Park Slope
Hi all, does anyone remember Jack’s shoe store? The son used to put nails in his mouth and then take them out one at a time and hammer them into the soles of the shoes, while you sat in the old wooden booth with the door in front and placed your feet on the little stool provided for you. Incredible!!!
Hey Gwen – YES it’s me Gina Tarropino from Temple Court. Geez it’s been a gazzillion years. Hope all is well. If you’d like to chat and catch up please email me at nataliesmommy826@gmail.com or gina.tarropino@chase.com
I’d love to hear from you and see how everyone is doing. While browsing through this site I found a comment from Dee Farney from Temple Court – you were neighbors with the Farney’s (Karen, DJ, Susan, Christine, Richie, Skippy). Her email is kats40@aol.com if you’d like to drop her a note. I’m going to send her a note to say hi myself.
There are so many great childhood memories of Windsor Terrace and Temple Court. It warms me up inside when I think back at them. Nothing could ever compare. We were innocent kids 5, 6, 7 years old or maybe even younger and now here we are all these years later looking back at our younger years and all the good stuff and reminiscing.
Anyone else please feel free to send me an email to chat and catch up – it would be great to hear from you.
Gina T.
Joyce, I remember the shoe store. I loved the way it smelled, of good leather and wax. And the little booth–what a convenience.
I was in there a lot having soles or heels put on, because I would always wear out my shoes running, jumping, skipping rope, playing ring-a-levio, and enjoying all the other play activities.
During the war, shoes were rationed–you could only get one pair every six months.
So Jack’s repair shop was a lifesaver!
Dear Stephen, I am so sorry I didn’t get to talk to you the day of your mom’s Mass. First, let me say I am so sorry for your loss.
Your mother left this world in peace. No pain or fear. She was loved and cared for till the end of her life. She truly was a courageous woman. She faced some unbearable circumstances at different times in her life with strength and humor. I was and am, in awe of her spirit and her determination to go on in spite of the odds.. She was in deed loved and respected and she is missed by both Maureen and I. She brought a love and affection to our house that will never be replaced. From everything I’m told she was very happy living here with us in Keyport. She adjusted well to the move and made friends easily. The last three years I hope were as happy for her as they were for us. As we get older Stephen, we realize life is far too short and that sometimes there’s not enough time to say the things that are in our hearts. Live and Love Life to the fullest, with no regrets. I wish you peace.
Cousin Susan
Steve McLaughlin – how are you doing? This is a great site – great memories from the old neighborhood. I would have graduated in ‘71 with you guys, but my Mom died and we moved out to Long Island in ‘70…so missed out on going graduating and going to HS in Bklyn. The guys you mentioned in earlier blog – boy I remember them…Dan Mahoney (”Snowman”), George Brossard, Harouni (he and I had a race on who wrote the most book reports in 6th grade), Charlie, Joe, and Gerard…
I hope all is well with you, I guess you are around city as you said you were going back to the neightborhood. I’m in Maryland, just north of DC.
For some reason, I keep thinking you had a nickname, “Yates?” Something like that… is that right? where did it come from?
hey guy’s was told of this site the other day will contact people soon
JUST WANT TO GIVE A SHOUT TO U ALL LOVE READING THESE STORIES WHEN’S THE BOOK COMING OUT (PEACE N LOVE TO ALL)
Went to see Ronan Tynan last night at Bishop Ford. What an opportunity… to have this massive talent performing just a 10 minute walk from Windsor Place. He put on a great show. I bumped into many familiar faces and some I havent seen in sometime. The next time Ronan Tynan performs at Bishop Ford I highly recommend that you go. To have a performance like this…so close to home doesn’t come around to often.
yo yo yo coach red what up. thanks for the name drop. hope all is well. not a day goes by that i dont think how you gave me the confidence to be the player i was. wish you stayed around because i would have been that much better. i was not a holy name boy, bay ridge all the way you know that man. remember your white car going around watching all the games to scout teams. well hit me up to catch up. 23 23 23 all the way every day best ply ever.
Any Lang stories would be appreciated, remember we are the ones with the small group of twelve. Lol
A Lang family tree? I would need a whole forest!
Hey, Coach–Keep it up. Great memories. My brother Joe tipped me off to the Diaries and I have been lurking for a while so I thought I’d throw something out there.
Last night we held the first practice of my daughter’s 8th grade team that I coach and it got me thinking of the crazy times we had on Holy Name’s BB teams back in the early 70’s.
Pretty much the same team was together from 6th through 8th grade, built around Joe Santos at guard and Tommy Ferro in the post, with a supporting cast of Michael Routhier (fastest kid in Bklyn), Artie Lee (best rebounder), Jimmy Martin, Pat Walsh, Mike Cronin, Mike Larkin, Danny Raymond, and yours truly. If memory serves, we had Al Lopez one year and Edgar DelaRosa another. We could do some damage and got pretty deep into the playoffs one year–lost to a St.Thomas Aquinas team down at the OLP gym (with the old bowling alley in the basement) featuring Chris Mullen’s brother. Had a big fight at OLA another year (or every year) outside that upstairs gym with the low roof! Practiced down at John Jay and IS 88s.
For coaches we had Mr. McNally, then Chin Gruschow (remember the Fu Manchu stash?), then Franny Napoli’s sister’s boyfriend. Mrs. Gruschow even coached us for a few games when Chin was MIA.
Ultimate memory: The time Bro. Lawrence took us on a road trip to the basketball Hall of Fame and we got kicked out cause we tried to steal Calvin Murphy’s Niagara College jersey right off the mannequin. You can take the Boys out of Brooklyn, but…
Jim yes great memories, especially about the two great coaches, McNally and Chinman, who could be still missing in action!!!!!!!!! Na just kidding, he was too much, talked to him about a yr ago when his mom passed away, and sounds great. So glad you wrote in, instead of just being a silent reader like many are right now.!! You hear me all!!!!! Please make a change like jim and share some of your memories especially from the older group, more my age!!!!!!!!! We need you all. Jim I remenber your dad, a real nice man, always gave me a nice smile and a big hello. THANKS
Billy Shaw (Tumpy)
Just Found me. My mom happened to be over today and we read your stories. My mom said anytime you want meatballs come over. Please email me at acirillo1@nyc.rrr.com and I will send you my phone number. Billy thanks for being honest about the sex, my mom still does not believe it.
Hey Harry Mills, I remember when you , my brother Ed and I would go to [ I think it was Morans] Off of Coney Island Ave. and drink beer till the wee hours of the morning. I was only 16 at the time, you guys used to sneak me beer. Then when we left you would be calling to that freak that used to hang out acroos the street from there. I can still hear you ‘Chubby,, hey Chubby”. Do you remember that?
Grew up on 15th St during the 70s & 80s I have many fond memories of the greatest neighborhood in Brooklyn, I would love to hear from ANYBODY who remember me. I have served 3 tours in Iraq, and am getting some payback for what was done to OUR city.
hi gary— how have you been all these years ? how’s eddie ? i talked to him maybe 10 yrs or so ago via e-mail or classmates.com. are you guys still upstate ? we had alot of late nights down there. we used to always sneak a qt. of blackberry brandy into the mens room and move a tile and leave it on the drop ceiling, and we’d all be hitting it all nite long. then the next time we’d go there, we’d sneak another one in and reach up into the ceiling and push the empty to the back and so on and so on. the bartenders always wondered why we were getting so smashed on the small goblets of beer we had on the bar. tell eddie i said hello.
Harry, my brother doing good. Yeah we’re still upstate, I’m getting old man, 50 now. Scary. It’s great to talk to you again. Miss those old days. Lets keep in touch. Take care.
Harry, my brother is doing good, yeah we’re still upstate. I’m getting old man, 50 now. Scary. Learned about this site from Mike Patino. You probably remember his brother Tommy. It’s great to talk to you again. Lets try and keep in touch. Hope all is well. Take care. Talk again soon.
Is this the Maryann who has a real sweet mom and if my memory serves me you guys lived near 17st????? Or Prospect ave??
During moments of solitude, I often find myself thinking back to the “Growing Up” days in Park Slope. When I came across this blog, I was amazed at all the people, and places that I had actually forgot about. Now at 45, It’s an amazing feeling to know that the same people that I hung around with are just like me, looking back. Do you remember the days of partying up at the old horse coral? or at the bottom of suicide hill, mooning the cars at night as they drive by? Remember the day after the 4th of july when every kid in the neighborhood was up at the crack of dawn to find all of the unexploded firecrackers in the hope of making the ultimate BOOMB? or how about those trucks that used to come through the neighborhood with thoses small rides on the back??? The memories just keep flooding back. It is sad to lose track of people. People like Kenny Read, John Rowland, John, and Michael Karvounos, Ralph Connoly, Michael, and David Mardini (and thier sisters too).
I was telling my brother about one of my recent trips back to New York City, and that I went back to the old neighborhood. He told me that I was just chasing ghosts. Well that maybey true, but I always leave with a smile on my face, and peace in my heart.
Well, after graduating from HighSchool (Fort Hamilton/81) I joined the military. At such a tender age, it was quite an experience hanging out with people that had just returned from Viet Nam some 5 years earlier. It made me gow up quick, because nobody was going to take care of me except me. I have been proudly serving this country for a bit over 27 years, and have NO plans to retire anytime soon. I would love to hear from anybody who remembers me, or if you just want to say hello……thats ok too.
Hi Maryann Carlucci – remember me? How are you? I don’t when was the last time I saw you. I tried emailing you at the address you wrote but it bounced back. Lisa
Hey Maryann………..I tried sending you an e mail and it keeps getting returned Must be an old e mail adress.Drop me a line and tell mom Ill be over soon for some of her meatballs
Patrick Cullinan
I worked at La Salle as a teacher with Bro. Paul Carnicelli — he was at La Salle during part of the ’70’s and I think the early ’80’s. My Mom also worked at La Salle at that time, and my mother and I went with Bro. Paul a few times to the New Hankow Chinese Restaurant on 34th Street. Bro. Paul loved the religious life. His kidney failure didn’t bother him. In fact, he looked forward to the dialysis sessions because he liked to socialize with the other patients. There’s a photo of him at a La Salle picnic in 1983 at http://pcullinan.smugmug.com/gallery/921704_vbUVc#42113264_n6jKJ. [pcullinan@verizon.net]
Stories of hangin out at PS 154. I remember playin basketball with Brian Lang, G. Thomas, Steve Finnemore, Eric Swanson guys who were stronger & older than me teaching me how to play. I had to learn quick !!! I also remember playin stickball and hitting it over fence onto lower sherman or hitting houses accross the street. A
Anyone remeber Nats dry cleaners who used to provide thirsty kids with the milk sized container of water in the summer?
Who recalls some of us who used to scale the bricks using the pipe to get on the roofs of the buildings in school yard to retrieve our tennis, spalding, or blue stickballs?
I finally got to check out the site. Amazing? Great work !!! I’ll be back for more and will give my two cents too.
Hey Red, Thanks for the kind words. I get a lump in my throat everytime I go to the site. Hope you’re doing well. I always had a lot of respect for you because you didnt drink and were still one of the funniest guys around. Great ball player and a better person.
Thanks Danny, I’m trying man, I’m trying. Do you still play ball? You still got that Celtics Starter jacket?
Wow…my neighbor and best friend was Tom Layden. We actually lived in Kensington (11218) on Seeley Street. My parents were married at Holy Name Church. I remember going to mass there on Sundays and an old priest would sing from the pulpit:”Oh my God, I believe in you…” This song would go on forever. After mass we would go to L&J Bakery to pickup a 7-layer cake. My sister Lynn went to Holy Name School from 1961 to 1968. It wasn’t until I was a teenager that I started hanging out on Jim Molloy’s porch, playing guitar to Jim’s sister Donna. We hung out with Gerard Haugh, Bill Purdy, Rob Labia, Jim Molloy, Tommy, Joe Interliggi, Bobby Artz, John DiMaio, John Grasso, Pete Iulo and forgive for forgetting names. I do recall on PPW (9th Ave) trying to find thre right key to open up the treasure chest full of toys at the shoe store. Also, the old men lining up at Farrel’s Sunday morning waiting for foe the doors to open. Remember when “Dog Day Afternoon” was filmed where the old warehouses were? It was a cold October when they filmed that movie! Do you remember the fight we had with the Spanish guys when we had that party in that small hall? One of the Spanish guys tried to set fire to the place while we were still in it. I remember the sad day when Al Colora (sic) died on Prospect Park SW skitching from a B-68 bus. The Huns…the Saxons…Flash Gordon (the old women usher who used to shine a flashlight in your eyes and tell you to get your feet off the seats! (By the way, Randy Mancuso was the one who threw the egg on the screen at the Sanders theater.) Unfortunately, the only time i find myself back in the neighborhood, is to attend a funeral, but we always stop at Farrel’s to toast the departed. Thanks for the memories.
Gina T., I hung with Skippy Farney. We used to play all kinds of sports and go to Manhattan Beach. I lived at 250 Seeley from birth (1957) to 1980. I hung out with Billy Simmons, Eddie Soper, knew Warren and had a tremendous crush on Eileen Kelly. She was the cutest thing in a peacoat and dessert boots. I knew the Slomen’s. We used to play stickball and slapball in front of the stores. We would torment the Chinese Laundry and hang out in front of the White Rock office. My first job was at Seeley Food Center. LeBlanc Pharmacy on the corner, Morris the Tailor, I could go on.
George,
Welcome…
Red, I had to get rid of the Celtics jacket a few years back. I still play ball on Sunday mornings with a couple of Holy Name legends, Dan Conlon and Mark and Ricky Ferro. Once a week is all the kness can stand. Are you back out in Michigan??
Yes Dan, coaching on the juco level, Jackson Community College in Jackson, Michigan. (Who would’ve thought I would get into coaching?) I spoke at Timmy’s awards dinner at SFC when I was at Saint Peter’s with Bob Leckie.
I used to like the runs up at Ford with you and the others on Saturday mornings.
Hello Mr. Cullinan,
Hello Mr. Cullinan,
I attended LaSalle from ‘74 to ‘78 and ran track all 4 years. I remember you but I don,t recall what class you taught. I enjoy your website… brings back alot of memories. The lower East Side has changed a great deal since then. I recall Mr. Stephen Quinn also taking a great deal of photographs. Do you still work at LaSalle? I have been to the alumni website and would love to see photos from my tenure at LaSalle.
Billy,
Good stuff – hope you are well.
Hey Bill
You always did run fast. Remember those two hand touch/tackel games on 10 AVe? How about Christmas in July! The traditional tree from prospec park erected in the middle of 10th AVE.
Hoep this finds you well.
Hey Bill
You always did run fast. Remember those two hand touch/tackel games on 10 AVe? How about Christmas in July! The traditional tree from prospec park erected in the middle of 10th AVE.
Hoep this finds you well.
Fiore
Scottie was faster than Billy…
Hey Fiore,
How are you doing? It’s been a long time. Football games were rough on the Ave, gotta watch out for the laundry truck. Xmas in July, some of the guys still do it but down in New Jersey. Scott was always fast but he did not lose a step cutting. Believe it or not Chris was probably the fastest of all of us. Hope all is well.
the team is holy name 63 coached by joe brennan managers gerard conlin ken nolan and moe of coures jimmy maloney was on the team can you name others
little moe
Hey George Raheb how are you. I remember those guitar lessons on the porch. You even tried to teach me how to play, I lasted about a week. I think Donna tried a little longer but neither one of us had much musical talent. I could play a mean air guitar though, especially when I had my trusty boom box blasting some tunes. I told Jim about this site but I’m not sure he has checked it out yet. He’s doing well and living in New Jersey. Hope all is well with you and yours.
OMG, I remember La-La. I lived on the corner of Seeley Street and PPSW. (Across my courtyard was Tom Layden. We were childhood friends.) La-La chased us along the parkside. The kids were relentless with there torment. We did try to communicate with La-La…yes, he’d show the photos of his family. You could see how frustrated he was trying to communicate. Now that I look back at it, I feel sorry for this guy. Noone had any empathy or pity for him. It’s funny you brought up “Junky Joe”. Now I remember him. We’d scream out:”Hey, Junky Joe” and run as if he’d murder us.
Hi Moe— Can you give us some more names of the guys in that photo?
Hello to all my old friends, I’m Susan Carlson, Keith’s sister and of course you all knew my dad Charlie, aka Mr C. My sister Karen turned me on to this wonderful site and I did peek at the pictures @ 154 and coney island and of your reunion last year, ” We’ve come along way baby” I’m living in Washington state since 1979. I joke that I came from The Big Apple and here Wenatchee is The Apple Capital of the World, married an apple farmer. you had to see this city girl on the John Deere tractor a far cry from riding the F train. Life has been good,married-divorced, I have a daughter who 28 now,married-widowed, through both marriages I have 9 grandbabies, oldest 29 youngest 7months and 2 great grands. Christmas can get crazy. I’m planning a trip home this spring, summer are you ready for another reunion…………………It sure has been fun reading and seeing all your names, harry-corrado-charlie, who’s cc and nancy- kathy g. I was in Farrels 5 years ago, I still think it’s the best beer by far. I hope this gets posted cause I’m raising my glass to Irish day the 16th and doubles for the 17th. Here’s to the Huns……
Susan, welcome. Don’t be a stranger.
Harray, harray….I was lost but now I’m found. I’d love to hear from you guys and play 25 year catch up.