My Brooklyn (304)

Artie S.

I was born in the Brooklyn Jewish Hospital on April 4,1945. My residence was 919 Eastern Parkway between Albany and Troy Aves, in what is called Crown Heights. That alone will tell you that this was some time and place that surely would hold fond memories. My elementary school was P.S. 167 (The Parkway School). Teachers who left an impression to be remembered were Pinkerton, Bono, Parisi (Peter's mom—where are you Peter?), Littman, Hein, Hawkins, Faron (Christmas carols), Tillman, Gradstein, McGrath (like a Toll House cookie), Scanlon, Mendelssohn, Bernhard. Moe Klores, another pleasant one to remember, maybe. The leaders of the pack were August Lodato and Bessie Goldstein. The office staff Mrs. Speilholtz and Mrs. Rosensweig. Shop teacher Mr. Wallace (the infamous pump lamp), and on the ladies' side we had Mrs. Raferty. Overlooking the safety of the kiddies that crossed Eastern Parkway and Schenectady was the good shepherd, Al Sheppard (compliments of NYPD). Friends that were made there; Elliot Perry, Mike Thaler (my cousin, since deceased), Jill Rayan, Marcia Ketel, Barbara Stein, Bernard Savedoff, Stuart Taylor, Nathan Schleifer, Joel Prussin, Alma Weinstein, Eddie Karl, Denis Edgehill, Steven Oginsky, Herbert Millman, Florence Koron, Gerald Goldberg, Cherie Matracht, Herman Mandleman, Irwin Eisenstein, Claude Cave (Mandrill Group, musicians), Marion Issacs and Arlene Lustig—both of whom lived across the street. Arlene, if you read this the lamppost is gone. People are the memories that will live in the mind forever because of all the good times that we shared.

Boy Scout Troop 404. We met at the Young Israel of Eastern Parkway, which has now been demolished and turned into a senior citizen home. Ray Bancie was the troop leader along with Lester Kirshenbaum and Steve Raucher. Down the hill now, and later on we find ourselves attending Wingate High School along with many of my friends from P.S. 167 and making new friends there. I graduated from Wingate in 1962 and went onto other ventures. The places that one can remember are numerous too: Big Apple, Marshal's, Famous Bakery, Emmett Kosher Meats, Hilltop Pet Shop, Freedman's Sporting Good Store, Tommy's Candy Store, Jaffey's Clothing Store, Sam Ash Music Store, so many more. Going towards the Museum we found the Kameo movie theatre, Chick's Bike Store, Loen's Kosher for Passover Only Bake Shop. Of course there were plenty more to mention, contact and we will exchange. I am married to the girl I met forty-one years ago on the corner of Albany and Eastern Parkway at Selma Kervin's house. We have been married for thirty-four years and share many of the pleasant memories that I have mentioned above together. (The wife's maiden name is Weinstein.)

Lastly, let me not forget to ask the question that has been busting my ---. What was the name of the knish store on St. John's Place between Utica and Rochester (or Rochester and Buffalo—not sure which two streets)? Looking forward to hearing from someone from the past.

3 December 2000