MEMORIES written by Sarah SanServo Doyle
(1919-2004)
September 17, 2002
(I suggested to Mom that she may want to write
her memories of her early years. I copied the Memories from OldNewark.com
for her to read. What follows is what Mom wrote.)
Oh what a beautiful idea. Enjoyed the whole concept, completed
reading its entirety by midnight last night. Thank You, Thank You,
Thank You. It evoked many memories of a time when we had less and
thought and felt we had more. We were rich indeed and still are.
With a full orchestra in tow there will be music wherever we go.
We will start with school.
Name Franklin School K-8th
Principal Mr. Stauffer, later Mr. A. Budd
Teachers Mrs. McCarthy
Office Miss Ayres
Newly Married Mrs. Della Rosa
Penmanship Miss A. Bishop
Miss Marion Smith
7th Grade Mrs. Clifford
8th Grade Miss Josephine Smith
Graduated in a pink and brown dress we each made in sewing class
for the occasion in January 1934. I started school at 8 years of
age.
School Activities: Enjoyed gym, relay races (1st & 3rd), 50-yard
dash (1st & 3rd), Marching, Arts and Crafts, Sewing, Cooking,
Art and Music. I joined Glee Club, School Chorus, Plays, Solo Sing.
All around interested student, a learning sponge although I think
it dried up along the way.
Outside Activities: Any kind of live show, dramas, musicals. I
went to Newark Civic Opera House with Aunt Rose Pucillo Baccari
as a young teenager. Enjoyed the robust singing, enjoyed movies
(42nd Street with Eleanor Powell).
Branch Brook Park Concerts: on Sunday afternoon Concert Music,
on Monday evening Popular Music, on Wednesday Military and Highbrow
Music.
Bath House: For 5 cents you got soap, towel and a shower, not bad.
Some hot Saturdays the line was longer than the building and a sweltering
wait making the shower a blessed relief.
Neighborhood Movies: Regent Theatre on Broadway, 25 cents, 2 movies
one week earlier than the Colonial Theatre on Bloomfield Avenue,
25 cents, 2 movies one week later. Regent changed its name to the
Embassy Theatre.
Churches: First Holy Communion at St. Michael’s, Confirmation
at St. Lucy’s and I took the name Joann. We went to Sunday
Mass at Sacred Heart Cathedral on Park Avenue. After Mass 2 of my
sisters (usually Aunt Anne and Aunt Lee) walked out one block to
Bloomfield Avenue and bought rolls and buns while Aunt Mary and
I went home to prepare the table and tea and coffee.
Sunday Dinners: 1st Course: started with appetizers of peppers,
provolone, eggplant, pickled olives and celery with salt and pepper
and olive oil
2nd Course: soup with noodles, vegetables and cheese balls
3rd Course: spaghetti, meatballs, sausage and cheese
4th Course: bowl of salad with oil and vinegar which we usually
put in our emptied pasta dish (the mix was a tasty blend)
5th Course: main dish of roast chicken, roast potatoes, green vegetables
and brown gravy
6th Course: fruit mix (figs, Italian crackers or cookies, cheese
strips or wedges, bananas)
7th Course: home or store-baked pie, Italian pastry with coffee,
nuts to crack and chew
Last: a cup of demitasse
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