I graduated from Central High School in
1962 and I remember going to Lucy's on Warren to get italian hot
dogs for 25 cents and a soda for 10 cents. Our prom night was in
the cafeteria and we had sandwiches, putch and cake. After the prom
we went to New York City to a bar and my date was the only to get
served so we all was sneaking a drink from his glass. We didn't
have any money so we came back to White Castle on Elizabeth Avenue
and had some of those 8 cent burgers.
I was so scared because I had never stayed out all night. My date
wanted to come home with me to explain to my father but I was too
embarrassed because I thought I was going to get a beating, but
my father just asked if I had a good time, boy was I relieved.
I also remember living on West Street and on Friday my father would
buy a slab of barbecue from the lady up the street that cooked it
in her back yard. I remember going to Branch Brook Park after getting
a whole pizza on Norfolk St. We also went to Grant Lunch on Friday
and had 2 hot dogs apiece and sometimes we went to Nedicks.
I remember going to the Rialto Theater on Saturday and seeing a
feature and 5 cartoons for 23 cents. We also shopped on Prince Street
where you could buy everything from food to furniture.
I was born on Liberty Street and lived down neck for 13 years of
my life. I graduated from Oliver St. School in 1958 and I wanted
to go to East Side High but we moved to the Central Ward and I had
to go to Webster Jr. High for a year before I could go to Central
because Central started in the 10th Grade.
I loved my childhood because everything was so simple back then
and nobody had any money so we had fun without it. I remember sleeping
on the fire escape in the summer because it was so hot in the apartment.
I also remember the cold water flats we lived in and building a
fire in the coal stove. I still remember how cold it was in the
winter. We had a lot of blankets on the beds to keep from freezing.
|
