Readers Report
I grew up on 19th Ave. & 62nd Street in Bensonhurst, Brooklyn. God how I miss my old neighborhood, my friends, Big Toga, Mamelli, Frankie "Cheech" Salvato, Irene, just to name a few of them. The 18th Ave. feast had the best sausage & peppers ever. Oh how I miss J&V pizzeria. I thank God every day that Brooklyn was a part of my life. I visit the old neighborhood when I can, and it's so funny how when I'm back, I feel like I never left. I lived in Bensonhurst 23 years out of 29. I live in Florida now but my Brooklyn is my life; there's just too many memories. Those who lived there and who are still living there know what I'm saying.
27 June 1998
My Brooklyn is in Bensonhurst on 17th Ave., just off 86th Street. I thank you for putting this site together. There isn't one comment that I read that didn't speak of the things that I also experienced. I think I'm older than most of the writers who submitted their memories. I'm 69 years old. I went to P.S. 163 up until the 3rd grade and for a short period after we moved I attended P.S. 201 and graduated from that school in 1943. If anyone remembers 201 back then, I would like to hear from them.
I remember playing in the streets all year long and in any weather. Remember taking the Bath Ave trolley to Coney? The Coney creek had a real fine aroma. It meant we were getting close. And when we arrived the air was filled with the smells that only Coney had. Luna Park. Locker and steam rooms. Getting lost on the crowded beach. Swimming from rope to rope. Pulling muscles off the rocks and loving them at home.
Just closing my eyes and recalling the past brings a longing to go back. Thanks again for this opportunity to share. By the way I'm still close to Brooklyn: I live in Staten Island. One last thing, does anyone know what year the site was cleared of homes being condemned as a result of the Prospect Xway going through?
30 June 1998
Thanks for the memories. I grew up in Brooklyn on Albemarle Road and Ocean Ave. and then moved to 855 President Street before heading out to California—the Bay Area. But it was fun seeing your site. Is it possible to add some maps for those out here who have never been there but would like to see where various streets are?
30 June 1998
It seems like yesterday when I was five years old and living at 695 Montgomery Street; however it is actually 43 years ago. I played stoop ball, A My Name is Alice with a pinkie or Spaulding, used my hula hoop for hours on end, played Chinese handball on the wall of the apartment house on the corner of Kingston Avenue and bought punks at Sid's Candy Store for $ .02. My friends included Joan Sedaka (a cousin of Neal's, I think), Barbara Wasserman and others I have trouble remembering now. I attended P.S. 221, played at the after school center there which was run by Mr. Kraft and Mr. Stern and will always remember my first boyfriend in 2nd grade, Gary Lazonsky (I have no idea how to spell his last name). We skated in the middle of the gutter, bought small cokes and sour pickles for a nickel, flipped each other for baseball cards. Two hot dogs and a coke were only 40 cents at the deli. My favorite teacher was Mrs. Hoft and the meanest teacher I ever had was Miss Warrell (I still shudder when I think of the horrible way she treated me). I sold my older brother Kenny's Superman comic books at the Lefferts Avenue Park for $ .02 each as well as my Archie comics (he never fully forgave me) and played knock hockey, hopscotch and paddleball there too. I could play outside of my house until it was dark and my parents never were worried. Life was good. Growing up in the 50s was a very special time.
1 July 1998
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