I haven't seen any listing about this section
of Newark where I grew up.
I was born in 1958 at Presbyterian Hospital. Our house was on Springdale
Ave. between No. 9th St. and No.11th Street. Yes this was part of
the north ward.
My great grandfather, Patrick Tyman worked for the railroad and
purchased the house in 1925. After researching years of my genealogy
I have come to learn about all of my relatives that had lived and
died in that house. My mother Joan Anderson was born there. As a
child growing up there I always knew the house had great history.
I won't go into all of that now, I'll have to save that for another
entry.
We lived on the 2nd floor, my grandparents, the Koller's who weren't
really our grandparents but had begun renting the 1st floor in1945
became our grandparents. My mother's parents passed away before
I was born, they left the house to my mother and the Koller's became
like parents to my mother and grandparents to us. It's funny how
people that were complete strangers became part of our family and
helped raise us as if we were there own. I wonder if the same would
be true today?
The best memories of my life were back in those days. I wish I
could step back for a day and share those times with my children.
The first thing that stands out in my mind were the smells. The
smell of freshly baked pies and cookies my grandmother would make
from scratch. The smell of clean laundry just coming in off the
line. The smell of fresh paint. My grandfather would always paint
the woodwork with white high gloss enamel, and the front porch with
gray paint.The smell of the many rose bushes in our back yard. We
did live in the Roseville Section and all our neighbors were so
proud of their yards as small as they might have been. It seemed
like plenty of room to us back then. Everyone took such pride in
cutting and keeping up there hedges which surrounded our little
patch of grass in the front yard. I remember walking down the street
picking the hedges and the old guy on the corner yelling at us not
to pick his. The smell of (not sure of the spelling) Houton's chocolate,
the smell from Tip Top Bread, we were so close to East Orange.
Three years after I was born my sister Sharon came along and three
years after that my sister Valerie. I hated not having any brothers,
it seemed like we were the only family without any boys.
There were so many kids back then. The Davis's lived upstairs.
Across the street were the Scalzi's and Caraglia's, the Krickett's.
On our side were the Ocjo's, the Pope's, the Cross's, Russo's, Around
the block were the Montagna's, the Karlowicz's, most of which I
am still friends with today.
Our parents and grandparents kept us busy. We would go down Springdale
between 11th st. and 12th to Phil's. She owned the store since my
mother was a kid. All the produce would be out front. Philamina
lived in the back of the store. We would buy cold cuts, bread and
milk and put it on our bill. After Phil died Pepe took over the
store, that's were my sister Sharon had her first job, I think she
was 12. Across the street from Phil's was ABC Laundry, where we
would bring my grandfather's shirts.On the corner next to Phil's
was the Carabou Bar. When we were little were weren't allowed to
go near the bar. The door was always open and we'd sneak a peek
by and hear the juke box playing. On the way back to our house we'd
stop at Mrs. Buchmann's and elderly lady who's door was always open.
We'd go to the store for her and we'd sit and talk with her, she
always had bowls of candy and we'd politely thank her for giving
us some.
All the cool kids hung out on 3rd Ave & 12th Street in front
of the limousine place.They were older than us.
On New Year's Eve we would get pot and pan tops and clang them
together at 12:00,everyone would be out there. We had the best fireworks
on the 4th of July. Thanks to all the boys on our block.
Everything back then was in walking distance. We'd go to Roseville
Ave to Savory's, my grandfather would order a case of Pabst's Blur
Ribbon, which they would deliver it to our back porch.We would walk
up to Ampere to the 5 & 10 and buy thread and patterns for my
grandmother to make us new outfit. There was a record store there
where we would buy 45's.My mother would take us to Vera's Luncheonette
for a hamburger.
Does anyone remember the coffins outside on Park Ave. by 13th
street before the bridge to East Orange?
Springdale Ave was a busy street back then. Worthington Pump was
down the block in East Orange. That's were my parents had there
first jobs and just about everyone else on the block.
On Saturday we we go up to Roseville Ave and 2nd Ave. to Caruso's
and to a candy store across the street. Then to Stadium Pharmacy
for our prescriptions, they had a counter there where we would get
ice cream soda's. I think the woman that worked behind the counter's
name was Kay. There we would get our 110 film developed and look
at all the perfume. We'd stop at the butcher for some fresh veal
cutlets and freshly ground chop meat, which the butcher would give
us little handfuls and we would eat it raw!! If we wanted larger
qualities we'd go the Ernie's Pick A Deal on 2nd Ave.Next to him
was the shoe maker and we'd get new taps put on our shoes.
On Sunday's a whole group of us would get dressed up in our best
dresses, that my grandmother made , put on white fishnet stockings
with garter belts, we hadn't seen pantyhose yet. Back then we didn't
think of it as sexy we just thought it was so grown up to wear stockings
instead of tights. Before we got in the church we'd bobbi pin our
veils on. I'd always feel sick in church because we weren't allowed
to eat before communion. On the way home we'd pass City Stadium
and then stop at the Bakery on Roseville Ave. for some crumb buns
and crullers. We'd always eat one on the way home. We'd walk down
Peck Ave. and gather chestnuts and save them forever, My grandfather
would find and old bag of them I'd save in the cellar years later.
Sometimes we'd run down Peck Ave because the boys would be having
chestnut fights.
On rainy days we play in the cellar of our house. We had a club
house in the front room. We have beauty contest with all our friends.
Always arguing over who's sister was the prettiest.
My favorite pastime was sitting on the front porch. My grandfather
would bring out the folding rocking chairs which had been carefully
covered in plastic. Those chairs lasted forever and looked brand
new. All of us with sit on the porch playing cards and listening
to my portable record player. I'd play my 45's like "Build
Me Up Buttercup" and we'd all sing and dance. Inside my grandparents
had a stereo which we weren't allowed to touch because it had a
diamond needle!
We'd watch baseball games and cheer for the Mets. My grandfather
was always adjusting the rabbit ears. We'd play games like who could
jump off the porch from the highest step or could hurdle the hedges
without touching.
I could go on and on but I have kids and work, I hope others will
enjoy and relate to my wonderful memories. Things did change in
the late 60's early 70's,maybe someday I'll have a chance to write
more. But for now I wanta remember the good times.
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