My Brooklyn

John F. Cope

I was a member of the following NY National Guard units: 955 FA BN(Korea), 226 FA Bn, 258 FA Bn, 244 ADA Bn,102 ADA Brigade,106th Infantry, 2d Bn 142 Armor, Howitzer Co 101 Cav. I retired from US Army Sept 1989.

Helge Sjolund

Great to find these pages and reminisce about the greatest city in the world to grow up in Brooklyn, New York. I find myself in the South Jersey suburbs of Philadelphia today and feel sorry for anyone that didn't grow up in Brooklyn during the 50s and 60s. My Brooklyn is:

• Subway lines that had names (West End, Sea Beach, Fourth Avenue Local, etc.)
• The view from the flagpole at Sunset Park
• St. Michael's Steeple
• Italian ices sold at a sidewalk stand
• The Giant Swing ride on the back of the truck
• The horse-drawn knife and scissors sharpening man
• A good knish
• Steeplechase
• The parachute at Coney Island
• The quiet of a snow fall
• The Christmas lights of Bay Ridge
• Carpet guns, chalk socks, orange crate scooters
• Christmas tree fires
• The neighborhood candy store
• Doo-Wop in the vestibules
• The countermen at Nathan's

Art Steinman

My Brooklyn is a ride on the Pioneer (now Command) bus from Mill Basin to Kings Highway. Hitting a Spaldine over the roof from the back of Fillmore Gardens. Playing Little League for Grainer's Pharmacy and winning the pennant in 1960. Reading the comics at Rose and Sam's Luncheonette on Ave. T and E. 57th St. Penny candy. Water gun fights in the "lots" of Fillmore. Playing with the Jagged Edge at the El Caribe. P.S. 236, 207, J.H.S. 278, James Madison. Protesting the war at Brooklyn College. Trying to eat a kitchen sink at Jahn's on Church and Flatbush. Camp Omega reunions at the American Legion Hall on Avenue N. Avey's Five and Dime, Mark's Deli on Ave. T. Hanging out at Strickland Park. Nathan's, Lundy's, Junior's. McBurney's boat yard (now Kings Plaza). Floyd Bennett Field. Farmer's market (now Toys R Us). Coney Island. Sheepshead Bay. Stoopball, Skelly, Ring-a-levio.

And that just scratches the surface.

Readers' reports continue . . .

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