Readers Report
My Brooklyn is a memory of times I hold very dear to my heart. I grew up on Beverly Road between E. 48th and E. 49th Street. I attended St. Catherine of Genoa Elementary School from 1959-1967. We moved out to Lynbrook, LI when I was only twelve, but I have always missed all those I knew as a child. I still wonder what happened to Nicholas and his cousin Sally Sorrentino, Susan Morello, Joseph Commerato, Michelle Spalluto, Randall Crawbuck, and a whole host of my classmates. Isn't it always your childhood friends you always miss especially when you feel you were torn away from them? Does anyone know what happened to any of these?
2 August 1999
I just discovered "Your Brooklyn" and stayed up for hours reading everyone's memories.
My Brooklyn was East New York from 1947 to 1963. I lived on Wyona Street between Sutter and Belmont from birth to age 10. I attended P.S. 182. Best friends Roberta, Myrna and I would walk to and from school together every day. I remember Dr. Nevins, the most intimidating school principal ever. It seemed to me at the time that everything you every wanted or needed came to us on Wyona St. I remember the ride trucks (whip and swing), the fish truck (fresh fish on ice), the vegetable man, the scissor and knife-sharpening truck, and of course the milk man and ice cream trucks. One never had to leave the block! On the corner was a candy store, a grocer, a Laundromat and a vegetable store.
I moved to Blake Avenue between Bradford and Miller, across from Kitzle Park, when I was about 10. I attended J.H.S. 149 and Thomas Jefferson High School. As a teen, my best memories are of summers with the group at Betty G.'s house on Van Siclen Ave. Some of the group were: Allen and DeeDee Zeller, Florence & Andrea Shomberg, Suzi, the Mikes (all 4 of them), Alan Corby, Jerry Hertz, Paula Minchenberg, Pete Shappe and, of course, Betty. Paula's dad owned the grocery store on the corner. We had a great time going to the beach as a group, to the Biltmore theater, to Nino's for pizza.
When I was 16, I moved to Kings Highway and East 28th St. I attended Brooklyn College with most of my old friends from East New York. But time passes and I've lost track of most of the old gang. If any of you read this, please contact me.
7 August 1999
Bensonhurst, Kings Highway, West 9th Street, Highlawn Ave., P.S. 97, Seth Low Junior High, Lafayette H.S., 86th Street, Bay Parkway. Pizza, Italian ices. The neighborhood—no place else like it in the world. Everyone knows your name your family. Car service, take you anywhere, you could easily escape to Manhattan or any other boro. There is a peace like no other in Brooklyn. Every time I go back it hardly changed. The people have an understanding not to let Bensonhurst change too much. . . . You're always home and someone always remembers you when. It will never change and I will be eternally grateful for that. Give it a try and you'll see why so many love BROOKLYN FOREVER!
7 August 1999
Return
to Brooklyn Home Page.