Readers Report
Memories
How can you say one particular thing about Brooklyn. You just can't. I remember the first ride on the "El" Train. The cobblestone sound when my dad's car drove down the street. The first time I walked to school past the slaughter house and saw the famous chicken without a head. I remember my neighbors who were like extensions of my family all cry when they found out Mike from next door wasn't coming home from Vietnam. Weddings in apartments, stick ball in the street, Johnny on the pony. Great schools and teachers who really wanted to teach. Cops who were respected and feared all in one. Coney Island, American Bandstand. Ed Sullivan. I grew up in Brooklyn, met my best friends there. Learned life's lessons there. Most of all Marine Park with dad's car and my best date ever. My memories will always be with me like a video. It's a shame I can't open my eyes and smile and let everyone see what I'm talking about. I'm just glad I lived there and met the people and saw the simple things that I remember as great. As with all memories they fade from generation to generation. I will pass on things to my kids and hopefully they will remember enough to tell their kids. I can only hope.
When I was 3 (1934), the family moved to Eastern Parkway—Turner Towers—just across from the Brooklyn Museum. There was a subway station with entrances on both sides of Eastern Parkway, and for years that was the only way my folks would let me cross the street—down one entrance and up the other.
An early memory was the construction of the Brooklyn Public Library—construction had started and then bogged down with the depression—there was a high board fence all around the property with stenciled letters "post no bills."
It must have been 1940 or so when the new library finally was finished, and I remember Mayor LaGuardia arriving for the dedication—we all were fascinated by the police escort and a big black limousine with the license # 100 on it. It was a great day with lots of activity and speeches. Anyone else remember that day?
Williamsburg, 1949-1956
Eastern District H.S., the Hick Shop
Commodore movie house on Broadway
P.S. 19, J.H.S. 50
The Blue and Gold of J.H.S. 50 cheerleaders—any still around?
Remember the YWHA Bedord Ave.
Many wonderful memories of the last age of innocence and neighborhood togetherness . . . the club houses . . . danced danced danced . . .
If you are from this area, e-mail me. Looking for fond memories. . . .
Readers' reports continue . . .
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