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Fighting Georgie Colon in 1964
More Memories of long ago.......
Carol Joyce Ladarola Margate, Florida I lived in Washington Heights at 500 West 169th St. between Amsterdam and Audubon Ave from 1938 till 1952. We lived on the 5th Floor overlooking Highbridge Park on Amsterdam Ave. My grandfather owned a Barber Shop on 169th and Audubon Ave.(Frank Leale). Presbyterian Hospital, the Bus Line, Loew’s , Uptown, and the Coloseum movie houses were near us. There were matrons holding flash lights pointing to each row to walk people to or to keep order if we talk too loud. I went swimming at HighBridge pool every nite with my dad and sister for25cents, clothes rolled up in a basket and a tag was given to you with a number to retrieve your clothes. Loved those two large pools. I remember the gas explosion on 184th st. My two cousins were the last bodies to be found. The father and 3children were saved but the mom and her brother both died. My cousins picture was on the front page of the newspaper cause his mom was buried on his birthday. Very sad…. I went to St. Rose of Lima Catholic School from kindergarten to 8th grade on 165th st. Ate our lunches at the pigeon park in from of the church. I remember the frankfurter man with the cart going up Audubon ave. with those delicious franks and sauerkraut. We grew up in a safe world where everyone in the heights knew their neighbors. Had respect for the firemen and policemen. Willie Mays lived on 168th st. and Natalie Wood lived across the street from the bus station on Audubon ave. in a brownstone house. We played ball and jacks with her often.
Enjoyed reading all the news from years gone by and wouldn't trade my childhood for anything. After graduating from St. Rose of Lima, I went to St Catherine’s HS...sisters of Charity ....for one year and then moved to Fort Lee NJ. across the GW Bridge in 1952. Enrolled in Fort Lee High. Got married in Fort Lee, had 5 children, moved to Rockland County by Spring Valley NY and then in 1978 moved to South Florida and have been living here for 36 yrs in Margate, just north of Ft. Lauderdale. My maiden name was Carol Joyce. If anyone shares my school years, I would love to know. Thanks for this wonderful trip back in time. Has made me smile.
Alice Stevenson I lived at 501W189St and it is on the corner of Amsterdam Ave across from the side door (north side) of PS189. I could walk out of the courtyard of the building and into the school bldg.
If I'm in the right deli Dave's was on the southeast cornere of 189 & St Nick's. I think there was a small grocery, a bakery, a candy store (what we called a candy store) they had sandwiches and soda's. Before the zip code changed to 40 it was 33 and instead of going to Broadway through the tunnel one went down to around 178 or 179th I think between Wadsworth & Broadway. I'm sure someone can say for sure.
Does Teasties still have hand packed ice cream? Of course it won't be that name anymore. Wasn't Stahl's down aways and Yales across from Teasties? The chinese laundry was around 183 & St Nick's. There was a dress shop and a hobby store on the corner I think. They were in the same block. Later on there was a pizza place and one could get a slice & a drink for 25 cents. There was a fresh veg store across from the church. or was it the next block down? Well it's late a work awaits tomorrow. God bless.
Wilfredo Willie Fifo Baez I graduated from JHS 115 at 177St. and GW High School at 190St in 1959. I boxed in the Golden gloves from 1961-1963. In 64 I think there was no gloves due to the Newspaper strike. That year I fought in the Spanish Golden Gloves. I beat the then Champion. Georgie (the Baby Bearcat) Colon (118lbs.). I represented New York in the Nationals which was held in Utica, NY. I lost to the winner Gerry Lott. There were Greek American twin brothers were Pietro & Nickolas Spanakos (not sure of the spelling either). I did fight one of them I forget which one. I think it was Pete & I lost to a decision. They were real great boxers. I think they became Lawyers. Also one of the boxers in our gym was John Barnes. He was in the Movie "The Raging Bull". He Played Sugar Ray Robinson. I was in the Army from 1964-1966. Went to Okinawa and boxed there. I beat the Marine Champion, Okinawan champion & the Air Force Champion in Okinawa. I represented the Army team in Korea. Again I lost to Army Champ in Korea. I am attaching pictures from Okinawa. And when I won the Spanish Golden Gloves. In the New York Picture is My friend and sparring partner "Raymond Torres". Ray was the Interpreter for HBO for many years. Met my wife "Ana" in 1962. We got married in 1967, and are still together today. Have 2 children and 6 Grandchildren. Life has been good to me.. My real Name is Wilfredo Baez. When I was younger I was called Fifo. Now they call me Willie. Crazy I know but what are you going to do.
Ann Tsamas Bartol Phoenix, Arizona I lived at 247 Audubon Avenue on the ground floor, in the 1960's with my mom and older brother George. I remember a family that also lived on the ground floor with two daughters and possibly a younger brother and a great dane named Brandy. Linette, are you one of the sisters? The family moved to Freehold, New Jersey. In 1968 my brother got married and my mom and I moved to Ft. Washington Avenue. Washington Heights was a wonderful place to grow up in. It seemed like everyone knew everyone. The automat, Werthimer's, Nick's Luncheonette, Cinderella Coffee Shop, Bickford's, The Loewe's Theatre, the RKO Theatre.....what memories! My husband and I retired and moved to Arizona last year. Our oldest daughter and her family live in Arizona too. We are enjoying the wonderful weather here after living in New Jersey for 38 years. Raul Conde
Raul Conde New York"I guess the best place to start telling you about my memories of Washington Heights should probably be from the beginning as I remember it. I was raised in the 1940's and 1950's, on 160th Street between Fort Washington Avenue and Riverside Drive. It was a beautiful place to grow up and my friends and I would congregate at a wall that stretched from 157th to 164th Streets, and it was known as the "Greenees". This special spot overlooked New Jersey where we could see Palisades Park, the George Washington Bridge, and of course, we always had access to some great adventures exploring the area at the "Little Red Light House" under the GW Bridge. During those hot and sweltering summer nights in the 1940's and 1950's, everyone would come together at the "Greenees" wall to enjoy conversation and try to catch a cool breeze from the river (there were no air conditioners in those days). During the long cold winter months, we would all enjoy great snow events by riding our sleds down the steep hills at the drive along the wall. Most of us who were lucky enough to be raised in Washington Heights should remember the Lowe's Rio movie theater that was located on Broadway. In those days, not only could you see a feature movie, two or three serials, six cartoons and newsreels, and you would get ticket for a chance to win a prize which consisted of glasses or plates, all for the admission fee of twenty-five cents. In addition to the theater, a poolroom could be found on the second floor of the same building. Right next to the theater, was a great Mom and Pop candy store, where we looked forward to having ice cream sodas, chocolate egg creams, lime Ricky's, banana splits and at the same time were able to buy our hero comic books. At the end of this same block, you could always find friends gathering at E&G Luncheonette. This was a favorite gathering place of teenagers who would come together to talk about the next dance party, who was dating who, or what was happening at school, and this was usually done while eating a hamburger and drinking a coke. When I attended grammar school (Saint Rose of Lima) located at 164th Street and Amsterdam Avenue, it was at lunchtime that we all looked forward to having our lunches at "White Tower", located on 165th Street and Broadway, across the street from Columbia Presbyterian Hospital. It was a wonderfully inexpensive way for us to gorge on hamburgers and soda. There was also a public school named "Stitt", which was a place that some of my friends and I, whose names you might recognize, Kenny Rankin, and Larry Khoury, who later took the name Tiny Tim, would gather. We hung out at this particular school to listen to the neighborhood singing groups practicing a new and exciting type of music, music they called "Rock And Roll". There was one particular group who had a lead singer named Frankie, and he seemed to have boundless energy, and an extremely high voice, . . . this group was called "Frankie Lymon and the Teenagers". I found myself loving this new sound in music, and just knew that I had to be a part of it.
It wasn't until I went to George Washington High School, that I was able to realize my dream by joining a singing group called the Spirals, and the first song we recorded was called "School Bells". The "Spirals" were mainly made up of my school friends, Larry Loeb, Larry Rizzo, Mike Cole, Paul Towey, and myself, Raul (Al) Conde. We would meet on weekends at Chat&Nibbles" Luncheonette on just across the street from the 175th and Broadway Lowe's Movie House.
We would practice our music near the park on Fort Washington Avenue, at an area we called the dead end. Because we all loved this new music, we were lucky enough to be able to enjoy it even more at our Saturday night dances at Saint Spyridon Greek Church. Following our dances, we would usually end our evening at "Bickfords" Restaurant on Broadway and 181st Street; at "Al's Diner" on 184thand Broadway; at Cinderella's at the corner of Wadsworth Avenue and 181stStreet; or at "Falcaros Bowling Alley". "Falcaros" was located at the subway level on 181stStreet and St. Nicholas Avenue. Speaking of subways, there was absolutely no place like the tunnels for practicing our musical harmony. It was a sure thing that the people coming in and out of the subways either loved or hated our music, . . . there was absolutely no in-between. After leaving the Spirals, I joined a group called "The Chevrons", which included friends I had made on Nagle Avenue, Marty Trautman, Gary Giordan, Dennis Minoque aka Terry Cashman, and Frank Willams. We would practice at the YMHA on Nagle Avenue, and recorded several regional hits. Our first national hit was called "Lullabye ". In between all of the above, mostly everyone I knew enjoyed other great places where we would be entertained or have their food cravings satisfied. These were places like "Nick's Tea Room" on 181stStreet, "Good Will Chinese Restaurant" (just across the street from the "RKO Coliseum movie house"), the "St. James Restaurant" (an elegant place in it's time), and of course, "Nedicks" for a quick hot dog and a orange drink. There were several movie houses in a row on 181stStreet between St. Nicholas and Audubon Avenues, the "Lane", the "Gem" and the "Astral". Let's not forget about the "Heights" Movie Theater where the first foreign movies were seen! All of these were located within blocks of each other and all of these were always packed with movie lovers. There was great shopping on 181stStreet where you could get anything and everything you needed at Wertheimer's Department Store! Some of us can remember spending our allowances in "Woolworth's", and we could get a great lunch at "Horn & Hardharts", which was probably one of the very first "fast food" and "fun places" to eat. We also had a "White Castle" on the corner Audubon Avenue on 181stStreet, where a great hamburger experience could be had. If you were looking for a great potato knish or a corned beef sandwich on rye, you could find it Arnold's Deli on 181stStreet between Broadway and Fort Washington Avenue, . . . and don't forget the sour pickle that you hand picked yourself from a barrel. Our parents would buy our school shoes from "Indian Walk"on 181stStreet, we'd get our school supplies or toys at "Hobbyland" on 184thStreet and St. Nicholas Avenue, (has since moved to 181stStreet and Broadway), and so on and so on! Last but not least, if it was Mother's Day and we needed flowers, they were bought at "Ft. Tryon Florists", on 181stStreet and Broadway; and believe it or not, the original owner may be gone, but the flower shop and its name is still thriving. We were all within walking distance of everything we needed including our Public, Jr. High or High Schools, and the only locks we depended on were those on the bathroom doors. We never could have imagined metal detectors or gated up stores. Washington Heights, . . . what a great place to live! Washington Heights in the 40's and 50's was a wonderful time and place to grow up. I will always look back on these memories as a better way of life, a life that was filled with unequaled fun times.
I hope I have sparked memories of your own, of a wonderful place to grow up, a place we called "Washington Heights".
Bob Gaines Back in the years between 1931 until I left in 1963, I was Bob Ginsburg. We lived at 511 W. 186 Street. What memories this web site brings back. To me, the Heights was like a small town placed in one of the nicest parts of NYC. Oh how I treasured our entertainment center which included the Loews, the Uptown, the Audubon, the Bridge, the Coliseum, the Heights, the Gem, the Lane, and the lowly Empress (which on any given Saturday morning offered 3 movies and nine cartoons. I think the price was nine cents). There were other things as well, like the "Y" on Fort Washington Avenue where guys and girls would congregate (later it was replaced by the Bus Depot). And all those great kosher delis(on 181st, 187st (Epstein's on 189st which was the best). I also remember Bickford's cafeteria and the pizza downstairs in the 181st terminal next to Falcaro's Bowling Alley. Of course, I also remembered Arnie Portacarro who went onto the Philly A's. Terrific pitcher. In those days (circa 1947-1950) George Washington High School had a great baseball team. My choice, however, was always softball, which I did every weekend at the school yard of P.S. 189. My problem was that I had a hitch in my swing. But I could run 100 yards in 10.1 seconds. So anything I managed to hit on the ground was almost a guaranteed hit. My nickname was "Elmer" after Elmer Vallo right fielderof the A's. Why, because I usually wound up in right field (that's where the least valuable players were sent). However, there was a lot of talent on that school yard. Some of the guys went onto the minor leagues. And there were others that could have made it also. Does anyone remember Buster Hickey and his brother Tom? Or John Annacelli. Or Astor (sorry can't recall his first name)? There were many others who are faded memories now. Like Gilbert Price, Joe Hanoka, etc. Plus, there were also the crap games in the school yard. The police knew exactly when to drive their car in, scare the hell out of the players, pick up the money and ride off. Most of the girls I knew were in the 1953 GW grad class. Some of the names I remember were Marcia Mines (had a crush on her), Lois Kantor, Eve Gugenheim, Sandy Litchenstien, Donna Connor, Beverly Westrum and Rhoda Neidich (she was too good to pass up, so I married her. That was 50 years and 4 children ago. Incidentally, her family owned the Fashion Dress Shop across from the Coliseum for over 60 years) Ah yes, my memories of the Heights were sweet. But it is a different place now. The traffic on 181st is maddening. Gone are all the stores. Gone are all the people. Gone are all the memories. No longer is there a Caruso barbershop on 186th street. No longer is there a Yale (where there's always a sale) drug store. No longer is their a Woolworth. No longer is there a Grants. No longer is there a Wertheimers. My precious world no longer exists. Except here. Thank you, one and all. Miguel Guerrero.Pittsburgh, Pa. My fondest memories are of growing up in the Heights. My father was a doctor and we immigrated to the US and NYC in 1959 ( from the Dominican Republic) and lived on 176th between St Nick and Amsterdam from 1959 through 1961. In 1961 we moved to a much bigger apartment at 47 Ft Wash Ave on the corner of 161. The building is still there and my mother still lives in the same apartment. I attended Incarnation from 1st through 8th grade graduating in 1969. I can tell you that not many people even knew where the Dominican Republic was when we first moved to the US. If you were Spanish back then in NYC everyone thought you were Puerto Rican! I have fond memories of growing up in the Heights and going to the RKO and Lowe's as well as spending most summer days at Highbridge pool and buying penny candies across the street from the pool afterwards (although I can't remember the name of the candy store.). I was also witness (and part of) to the change in the people who lived in the Heights. When I started at Incarnation, it was a mix of Irish and Spanish and when I lived at 161st it was mostly Jewish with some Italian still there. Nothing will ever replace playing stickball in the summer and football in the winter on the street right in front of my apartment building. I remember the older folks sitting in chairs in front of the building worrying about us hitting them with the ball. Does anyone remember the game of "points"? Or how about stoop ball? We played them all including Johnny-ride-a-pony. I also noticed a lack of anyone talking about Van Cortland Park. I know it's in the Bronx but whenever you wanted to go to the real "outdoors" nothing beat a ride up on the #2 train (?) to the 242nd street station, last stop for the park. And for those of us who lived in the 161st through 164th street areas in the 60's and 70s who remembers Roger the Good Humor Man? Or how about Freddy's Record store on 165 and Broadway (or was it 166?) where you went to buy your 45s? I would like to see if any of the kids I grew up with see or use this web site. This would include Cookie and Frankie Weisbart ho lived across from us on 161. Johnny Ragonessim Frankie Lopez, Carlos, Tony, Suzanna, Alvin, Eugene, Bruce Barrera and Mark. I have a good number of pictures of growing up in the Heights. I'm trying to figure out how to get them scanned and downloaded on the site. I was referred to this site by a young lady who works for the same bank as I do. She came to a training session in Pittsburgh and in the obligatory introductions at the beginning realized we both grew up in nearby neighborhoods. She attended Good Shepard. I owe her a big thank you for turning me on to this web site. I look forward to being a regular contributor and reader!
Barry E. Nelson - Lancaster, California Mr. Steve Voloshin Wappinger's description of Washington Heights brought memory induced tears to my eyes. His recollection of my old neighborhood took me back to a place that has seen many changes throughout the years, but continues to serve as a vestige of both old and new world New York. I am guessing that I am probably the youngest contributor on this site, but like the rest of you I too have found memories of the "Heights." From the age of eight I lived at 820 Riverside Drive and 158th Street in 1969. I too recall "The Wall" and its seemingly sprawling "snake like" concrete divider between the upper and lower Riverside Drive. Hornsteins Stationary store was the place were my mother would purchase birthday cards while I would droll over the newest Duncan yoyos or Hotwheel cars for sale. That store was one of my favorite places in the neighborhood to buy toys or gifts. Speaking of my mother, She worked at the "Rexall" drug store as a counter waitress before the owner skipped town and they turned it into a Kentucky Fried Chicken. That newsstand in front of the drugstore was where I began my comic book collection. If any of you remember the Rexall drug store next to the IRT train station, my mother's name was Edythe and she worked there from 1969-1974. Many celebrities from my era would eat there daily. Tiny Tim, Freddie Prinze, Geraldo Rivera, Garrett Morris, Charles Rangel, and many more future stars where served by my mother and other hard working waitresses at that establishment. From there, my mother worked as a waitress at Wilson's Bakery up on Amsterdam Avenue and 158th Street. It was also a pleasure to read that Mr. Wappniger remembers Ernie's Supermarket as I do. Boy, have supermarkets changed! I too graduated from P. S. 187.
Although, by the time I graduated it had became I. S. 187. The principal at the time was Sarah Mandel. She like other faculty members, where strict disciplinarians like Dr. Rulas who was the Vice Principal. However, I also remember teachers like; Ms. Lipsky, who, as a sign of the changing times,where very hip and free spirited. 181 street like so many others remember was the place to shop. It seemed like every Christmas season my motherwhisked me onto the #4 bus, which made its way up Fort Washington Avenue, to do our Christmas shopping on 181st street. I attended GW High School for one year and next year I was transferred downtown to the brand new Martin Luther King, Jr. High School on 66th Street across from Lincoln Center and Julliard. It seems that GW became too rough of a place to attempt to get a decent education so for my safety my mother had me transferred. In those days, my movie theater of choice was the San Juan theatre (next to the Audubon ballroom) Two movies and a cartoon was all the entertainment my friends and I ever needed. My life in Washington Heights was beautiful and joyous time for me, and I too will go to my grave with cherished memories of my ole upper Manhattan existence. [email protected]
Peter Beck Pacifica California I lived at 605 West 170th Street. I went to PS 173, JHS 115 and Stuyvesant HS. A group of us rode the A train to school every day. I was a member of Boy Scout Troop 718 that was located in the Broadway Temple Methodist Church on 173rd St and Broadway. We used to go to summer camp at the Ten Mile River Scout Camp in Narrowsburg, NY. I lived across the street from the Uptown Theater where we would sneak into the movies as often as we could. I also went to the Loew's 175th Street and was a member of an Irish gang called The Celtics. I was a refugee from Hitler's Germany but because of where I lived, most of my friends were Irish Catholics from St. Rose of Lima parish. I remember running in CYO track meets in the 169th Street armory and watching both roller derby and the 6 day bike races in that armory. We played basketball in the schoolyard of PS 173 and swam in Highbridge pool. I was a Lifeguard at Rockaway Beach 103rd Street for 2 summers then wound up going to Syracuse University. Made a career of the US Marine Corps. Visited the old neighborhood in the early 90's, thought I was back in Vietnam. Things changed a little. Tried to go into my old apartment building but it didn't look too friendly and since I had my wife with me, we opted to return downtown via the #5 bus. That was also quite an experience.I had great times in the Heights. I remember The Lakes of Sligo Inn on 169th Street and the Conemara Bar on Amsterdam Avenue. The Knights of Columbus and the Hibernians would hang out there after their meetings in full dress uniforms. Ah, those were the days. I am now retired in Pacifica, California, 10 miles south of San Francisco. I will always be a New Yorker. Thanks for this website.
Father Henry Beauchamp, C.Ss.R. Rome, Italy Greetings from Rome, Italy. I only recently discovered this page through the alumni page of St. Elizabeth's elementary School. I am enclosing three photos. The first is of my dad Carmelo Beauchamp. He is pictured in his store C & G Luncheonette which was located on St. Nicholas Avenue between 189th and 190th St. The C and the G stood for Carl (my dad) and George Glamann, who were partners in this Stationary and luncheonette store from 1955-1966. I remember that the neighboring stores were a laundry and tailor service run by a gentlemen I only remember as Max and the other was a linoleum store run by the George Zerabrenic (not sure of spelling) family. We lived in Washington Heights until I graduated from St. Elizabeth's School in 1966 and we moved to Puerto Rico. My dad passed away tin 2007 at the age of 87. My mom is still alive and lives with my sister. I only saw George and Blanche Glaman once, after they moved to Fort Lauderdale in the late 80´s since then, both have passed away. I have only driven through the old neighborhood twice (in the late 80's). It's been a very warm experience finding this page. Thank you for providing this very fine page of memories.
Alfred Lewis I was born in 1922. I lived on Riverside Drive and 179th Street, next to he George Washington bridge. I went to PS 132 and to George Washington High School. My freshman year was at Isham , then sophomore year was at Tryon and the third year we were in the main building at 191 st . It was a long walk to school but rich kids that had a nickel could take the subway. I played ball several blocks away on Haven Ave . We played softball and football on a small lot. I remember Carl Hubell who pitched for the New York Giants and who would visit us on the lot. One day he invited us to his apartment and served a dozen of us breakfast and then went thru his closet and gave us baseball equipment ( balls, bats ). At PS 132 Lou Gherig spoke to us as he went to ps 132 and also went to Columbia Univ. and was the famous New York Yankee ball player. We also had a former 132 student called Segar who was the writer and artist of the Popeye the Sailorman. He would draw on a 6ft roll of paper the Popeye and Olive OIL characters and gave me one of the drawings but one of my younger brothers tore it all up. I never forgot it. We used to have 4th of July fire works on the George Washington bridge, which I could watch from my bedroom window on the fifth floor of our apartment. The navy used to have ships stationed in the Hudson River and you could get free rides to the ships for tours. One of my friends was Lester who became a famous naval architect like his father. Another friend was Bobby Cannon whose father was an all American football star at Dartmouth College and he showed Bobby and I how to play football. Later on Bobby got a football scholarship to Notre Dame . Even though we were living during the depression we seemed to have fun and enjoy life.
Bob Mesibov Penguin, Tasmania Interesting website! I lived in the Heights for 20 years from 1946. In 1973 I emigrated to Australia, where I've been ever since, so my memories haven't been refreshed in a long time! Our family lived on Pinehurst Avenue until 1954, when we moved around the corner to 240 Cabrini Boulevard. I went to PS 187 when Mrs Froehlich was principal. Her favourite motto was "Just Enough Is Not Good Enough". We had excellent teachers, among them the wonderful but no-nonsense Devanny sisters. I left the neighbourhood on schooldays from 1958 to 1962 to attend Bronx HS of Science, and from 1962 to 1966 to go to the uptown campus of NYU. It was always exciting to walk down 181st St to Broadway and beyond, to Woolworths and the bigger clothing outlets, and to see what films were on the "coming soon" boards outside the RKO Colosseum and Loews 175th. I remember a tradition of walking to the canvas-protected kiosk outside the IND subway entrance on Fort Washington Ave, opposite Bennett Park, very late on a Saturday night to pick up the next day's Sunday NY Times. I also remember a tradition of buying hot rolls and rye bread early on Sunday morning at the bakery at FWA and 187th St, close to "The Steps", which makes me wonder how much I could have slept on Saturday nights!
Like other contributors I have very fond memories of Fort Tryon Park and its gardens (and the Closters), both in the lush, bright green of summer and the pale light of winter (another sled nut from Suicide Hill here). Did the garden sign read "Let no one say/ and say it to your shame/ that all was beauty here/ until you came"? Sundays there were German immigrants, mainly, dressed up formally for a promenade through the gardens, and near the entrance was an old man with a magnificent parrot on a perch. The Sunday crowd was probably the highlight of the week for the squirrels and pigeons, who were fed peanuts (bought in little packets from the Park kiosk) by dozens of little kids. Bennett Park was also pleasant and safe, partly thanks to the humble man in a green uniform (The Parkie) who kept us little kids in line in the 1950s. There was a plaque on a granite outcrop in the Park announcing that this was the highest point on Manhattan Island, and at the south end of the Park was a set of concrete playing tables where serious-faced European immigrants spent long hours at chess.
It was a nice ethnic mix in the neighbourhood then, with German and Russian Jews, Irish, Greek, Chinese, Hispanics - even a Japanese family, the Otanis, on Pinehurst Avenue. We seemed to be a pretty tolerant lot then, although it wasn't until my high school years that I noticed the black/white divide and realized I had to travel outside the neighbourhood to see black friends. Before finding this website, I looked over the old neighbourhood on Google Earth, and could hardly believe how little the basic geography has changed in 50 years. The street trees are still there, only bigger. "The Lots", a wonderfully neglected woodland across Cabrini Boulevard from the Mother Cabrini complex, still looks as undeveloped as it did in the 1950s, and is probably still a nature playground for adventurous neighbourhood kids. I hope so!
Robert K. Jackson Arizona Hi - Heights resident from 1933 - 1954. Born at St Elizabeth Hospital (now gone?), lived on Pinehurst Ave, then Fort Washington Ave and 178th St, was torn away from the Heights at age 21 by The Army. As the token WASP in the neighborhood, I attended PS 173 across from Jay Hood Wright Park, then JHS115 (Humboldt Junior High), then downtown to Stuyvesant High and NYU. Enjoyed the tennis courts under the GW Bridge, the pool halls around 181st and Broadway (that is until Rev. Poling from FW Collegiate Church chased us back to church). The "rich kids" all lived in Hudson View Gardens or Castle Village. From a pub booth down 181st St and about Cabrini Blvd we used to see the baseball announcer Vin Scully who dropped in after a game on his way home to Castle Village. I could go on and on. I have lived in Arizona for about 50 years. I had heard that the Heights now was all about slums, gangs and drugs. My granddaughter is visiting NYC this weekend. She called me from in front of my old flat at 400 Ft. Washington Ave, just yesterday. I asked her what it was like. She said fine -- older folk, young people, kids, clean and well-kept -- and we're not getting mugged Pappy. I was relieved and surprised. Thank you for your website.
Allen Fisher I grew up on 173rd Street between Haven Ave. and Ft. Wash. opposite J. Hood Wright park. Went to 173, 115 and Stuyvesant. I'd like to get in touch with anyone and all from Mrs. Martin's sixth grade class in P S. 173 around 1944. (a/k/a. "The Martin Marauders". Some names I remember....Stuart Kaufman, Norman Klein, Norman Rosenfeld, Arthur Katz, Ari Kiev, Marjorie Farb, Francine Marcus, Maki Iwamoto, Lily Szoeke, Madeline Hollander, Barbara Werner, Jimmy Fatseas, Dorothy Olsen, Phyllis Kafka, Joan Oliner, Joan Schneller, Louie Edelman, Martin Darensoff, Violet Itkin, Jimmy Fisher,Martha Eigen, Leonard Cohen. How about a reunion! Email address:[email protected]
Yvonne Hernandez San Juan, Puerto Rico What a wonderful site!!! I wish there were more photos from 1957 to 1965. I was born in 1952. My parents moved to 511 West 171st Street (we had High Bridge Park down the corner), when I was 5 years old. My mother gave birth to my brother at Columbia Presy Hospital in October of 1957. My father and uncles worked there in the laundry department. My sister graduated from PS 115 and GW. I went to PS 173 and was there till the new school was built, PS 128. I got to enjoy the new school for 2 years. Then I went on to Humbolt Jr High 115 when I graduated from 6th grade from PS 128. (Remember the autograph books we would get at graduation time??). I finished 7th grade at PS 115 when we were moved to the new JR High PS 143 Eleanor Roosevelt Jr. High. I finished 8th grade there before my parents decided to move back to Puerto Rico in 1965. I was happy and sad at the same time. I remember going to White Castle near Columbia Pres Hospital, buying comics at 5 cents, spalding balls and playing handball, playing checkers in the middle of the street, skating, throwing ballons filled with water from the roof, jump rope, trick or treating at Halloween as soon as I got home from school, going to church on Sundays at St. Rose of Lima, playing with my friends at play street where incarnation Church was located, going to confession on Saturday nights,having a cherry soda at Mr. Gregory's, going to the A& P, double features at RKO or Loews. Those were wonderful times that I constantly remember with watery eyes. I often tell my 3 sons how fortunate I was to have lived there. Please continue to post updates. I will be looking forward to it."
Maureen L. Wertheim "Having been born in Wadsworth Hospital in 1955, which my mother walked to from our apartment building on 192nd and Wadsworth Avenue, I attended PS 189 and have my original composition book where I learned the ABC's. My dad was a butcher for Bloch and Falk and I sledded down Snake Hill and took the subway up, one stop to warm up."
Rose Zunz SowadskyAlpharetta, Georgia "What wonderful memories! Only people from Washington Heights can appreciate the way of life the area represented. This article was sent to me from my dearest friend. We met in the Heights when we were nine years old. Now we're both 70 and still the very best of friends. I attended P. S. 132, the School of Industrial Art and CCNY.My parents and I came to Washington Heights in 1938 from Germany. Our first apartment was on the corner of St. Nicholas Avenue and 177th street. We then moved to 181st street and I lived there until I got married in 1954. My husband and I then moved to Inwood. We had three children and lived there until 1969. We then moved to Atlanta, Georgia. We now live in Alpharetta, Georgia a town north of Atlanta.Does anyone remember the blizzard in the late 40's? The schools even closed! My friend lived on 183rd strret and we played stickball (with the boys) using sewers as bases. There was little traffic and we could play a long game before a car came by. We loved going to Highbridge on Sunday's, Fort Tryon Park, Nick's, movies and so many simple things. It was a good life."
Andrew Colorado "Hi, I grew up at 485 W. 187th which is between Amsterdam and Laurel Hill Terrace.My family and I lived there until 1963.I attended PS 189, JHS 52 and GW. My parents had also attended GW and they had met when they both lived as teens on 187th and Wadsworth.. Every time I visit NYC, ( I now live in Colorado) I go to the Heights and walk the streets with tears in my eyes, lost in visions of the past. I LOVE NYC and especially the Heights."
Lew Geiger Beaverton Oregon " Lived in the Heights from l933-l942. Attrndrd PS 173, 115 and The High School of commerce. Hung around the famous meeting place, "The Wall" on 175th St and Ft. Washington Was a member of the Bulldogs Athletic Club. Played basketball at thr Broadway Temple and softball at PSl73. Some of the old gang that comes to mind, Stan Cohen,Sonny Schwartz, Jack Rucker,Hal Harris. If any of you guys or others are familiar with this gang, I would centeraly like hearing from you. I now live in Beaverton,Oregon. I can be reached at my e-mail [email protected]"
Carol Belleas I must say this is really a walk down memory lane. I has stirred my heights juices. I forgot to mention in my last article, that my name is Carol Belleas(nee Leslie) I was born in the University Heights Hospital in the Bronx (no longer there) June 22, 1938. I went to kindergarten at P.S 132 and to this day I am still friends with a classmate, John Campanelli. We often talk about the old neighborhood, and how it has changed. He still goes there every now and again to visit his mother-in-law. I went to 132 with him till the zones changed, and had to atttend P.S. 173 starting third grade. We met up again in P.S 115. After graduation, I went to George Washington High and he went to Samuel Gumpers. I remember the trolly cars on 181st street and Bdway. I would see them on my way to school(132) It was a sad day when the RKO was torn down. Also a sad day to not be able to go to Loews to see a movie any more. I was an usherette there in the late 50's and got to know all the words and songs from Seven Brides For Seven Brothers. Thank you for the memories of Nick's tea room. I baby sat for a friend who worked there. Also remembering Wertheimers. I remember the uniformed man that sat out side on a little wooden stool, and kept an eye on all the baby carriages while the mothers shopped. The cafeteria that so many of you remember (corner of 181st St and St. Nick) was the old Horn n' Hardarts. I would stop there on my way home from George Washington to get the best baked beans I have ever tasted. You would put a quarter in the slot, lift up the little glass door, and pull out your beans. Wow!! I can still taste them. This site brings back so many good memories. Does anyone remember Albrechts store? And Cushmans bakery on the corner of 181st and Fort Washington Ave. Thank you so much for the great memories.!! Can't wait till the next installment."
Old Heights landmarks click on images to view large image
Thomas Levendakes, Babylon, Long Island "I remember after mass at Saint Spyridon Church, we used to meet at Nick's Tea room or Cinderella's coffee shop on 181st Street and Wadsworth Avenue, and sit there for hours, We also did this on Friday night after senior GOYA. After 1963 my family moved and I lost track of the people that we used to hang around with, It seems that some of the fondest memories that I can recall were the years that we spent growing up in Washington Heights".
Trudy Mosler Neger Ft Lauderdale mtneg @aol.com "I have been reading all those wonderful stories from many people from the Heights. After the tragedy of the Knickerbocker Ice House on Amsterdam Ave, the local football team played a game at the Geo Washington H S Stadium. Ed Sullivan came and so did Rocky Graziano. I was a cheerleader and my girlfriends and I cheered our hearts out for the families of the victims. The team was called the Robbins. Does anyone remember? I was in a taxi coming home with my date, when I looked out of the window, and said "I think I see an Airplane over there" Yes I did. My brother's friend Tommy Fitzpatrick was at it again. He also flew under the Geo Washington Bridge. What a dare devil he was. He also was a great guy. I knew his sister, her name was Kay. We lived across the street from their family on 189th St. between St. Nick and Audubon Ave. That was a long long time ago. I am so enjoying the site, please keep it up .When I get a scanner I will certainly send photos too. The team I cheered for was a local team. The boys were from all over the neighborhood. Amsterdam Ave Wadsworth St Nick from 181st to 193rd.I don't even know if any of them went to GW( it was a long time ago) My hubby and I live in Ft Lauderdale FL My son was born in 1952 at Jewish Memorial Hospital. Thank you all, it is truly wonderful. I think I am much older than many, but if anyone out there remembers me please write"
Allen Kline Skydoc2[email protected]( 215 ) 276-3500 "Lived in Washington Heights from 1942 (the year I was born) and went to PS 173 , then Humboldt, Jr. High School PS 115, then George Washington High school, then CCNY. Much more memories but not enough time to write them all down now. However I am looking for anyone who knows me Allen Kline, Phil Rivera, Carol Benoit, Fred Suess or anyone graduating from PS 115 in 1957, for a REUNION. Mrs. McAvoy was the Home Room teacher for our graduating class. Thank you Heights Memories for allowing me to post this note."
Annie Danelli-Marr " I was born on Dec. 27th 1962 at Woman's Hospital. My Father was Richard Danelli. Who grew up in the Heights went to G.W. While playing a game of tag he met my Mother Agnes O'Donnell. My Father was a Sea Scout and went to WW2 at 18. He was a Seabee. After the war my parent were married in Incarnation on Valentines Day 1949. Jimmy Brennan was the Best Man & Eileen O'Donnell Maid of Honor. My Father became active in the Legion Hall in Kingsbridge, as well as a Sea Scout leader. They had two daughters Eileen & Annie. My Grandma always lived close by as well as Uncle, Aunts, & cousins on both sides of the family. My Uncle "Buddy" O'Donnell owned the Riverview Bar on 181st street by Castle Viliage. I remember my school bus going by the bar & all the kids flocking to the window because my Uncle always came outside to wave. My Aunt Peggy O'Donnell moved into "The Bridge" Apartments Wow were they nice then. You had to be on a waiting list!! I went to P.S. 187 for kindergarten(Miss Fink) and 1st grade (Miss Nome). Then went on to St. E's. I remember playtime at Bennett park. The A train to Rockaway Beach. Field trips to Rye beach with St. Elizabeths. The nuns habits flying behind them on the Roller Coasters. My dear friends Jean Schmidt who lived in 2b. Susan Lennon who lived on Fort Washington Ave. Regina Kelly, Clare Donellan and Margaret Smusz. I had a chance to go to St. E's this fall. It looks wonderful. On St. Patrick's Day 2000. Our dear friend Pat Moore gave us VIP tickets to the parade. My husband (a southern Firefighter) had never been. What a wonderful gift. Little did we know six months later such horror would fall on our city.
Even now 24 years after leaving Riverside Drive. I feel it is my home. When we get off the bridge onto the Henry Hudson going to Riverdale(Mom's there now,) I look up at 1314 to see if someone might be jumping rope in the courtyard."
Marion, San Diego "Great site. I grew up on Cabrini Blvd. in the 1950's. Went back a fewyears ago and the building, ll5 Cabrini Blvd., and the neighborhood in general, looked more beautiful and "London-like" than I remembered. Of all the places I've been somehow I still have great affection forthe old neighborhood, PS l87 (graduated l959) and George Washington High School, class of l963. Anybody out there graduate from PS 187 in 1959? I remember several stores on l8lStreet going up the hill from Cabrini. I remember a bar and grill on the corner, a large candy store where the first of every month I'd buy a new "Little Lulu," (there was another candy store, Sid's, across the street), further up the hill there was Sammy's fruit and vegetable store, then came those steps that went to Pinehurst Avenue(?) then it almost seemed as if another neighborhood began. I remember a Jules Stein Dance Studio somewhere near the RKO and an Al's Diner, what seemed to be a great Italian restaurant (around the corner from the movie house). I also remember an "art" movie house across the street somewhere on a sidestreet near the RKO. And of course the Woolworth's, better than Bloomingdales any day!"
Manos Kypar "to john rauner, recently my daughter called me and told me that my name was on the internet. Sure enough there it was in your letter on washington heights nostalgia. John, I remember you well, I also remember jack karibian, diran dekmejian,ted dimon, elliot butler, lou lambris, henry golzwarden.charles wassa gerald gilbert ,humberto de pedro. the girls i remember are natalie perrone, elizabeth georges, doris dritsas , a suzanne, and a gloria. [the last names escape me.] someplace there are pictures and the autograph book , if i ever dig them up, i'll post them, along with some memories that have never faded. next year it will be 60 years since we graduated. Memories, as fast as they come to mind are, losing marbles in the street to a box, approximately 12"x6"x3" with several openings to howie silverman. the robins softball team and their star shortstop jack karibian. watching stickball in the schoolyard, taking the trolley to yankee stadium, walking home from the 191st station to 188th and amsterdam [coming home from brooklyn technical high school] and asking what's the score [yankees] along the way. the stars were nick etten, bud metheny, george stirnweiss etc, this was 1942-1944. knitting wool squares to make into blankets for our soldiers [this without embarrassment]. gotta run catch you again. in my letter to john rauner i forgot to mention howie but i remember him well.
Perry Houston, Pearl River, NY"Wow what a trip!! Reading through this web site was unbelievable. I grew up on a 173rd Street and Amsterdam avenue across the street from Highbridge Pool. Incarnation graduate of 1956. I frequently reminisce with John Randles and Dickie Hennelley about growing up in the Heights and how lucky we were to have lived there. The pool was a year round source of recreation and fun. Does anyone remember the Thursday night fights during the winter months, which were run by Barney Felix? Just last week I sat in front of the pool on Amsterdam Ave and enjoyed some great remembrances of the past. Anyone interested in a game of curb ball on 175th Street?"
Frank Weil The first photo was taken of my mother and me on W 141st Street, just off of Broadway in 1949. We're standing in front of my uncle's 1948 Buick Roadmaster. Owning a car was a big deal back then and we were all very proud of his car. He was a lieutenant in the army and had recently been discharged. As we get old we all long for a simpler place and time. The Heights was a great place to grow up . Those days are long gone but we are lucky to have grown up in a neighborhood where everyone looked out for their neighbors children.
Ide Cohen, Highland Park, Illinois"I too am from Washington Heights- I was born there in l942 and moved after graduating George Washington High School in l969. I lived on l64th Street between Broadway and Fort Washington Avenues. I remember walking over to Spector's as a little girl with my mother. It was an appetizing store and the smells were wonderful. It was a small store, piled high with delicacies from all over the world, and with barrels filled with brine and pickles. What a treat. Every Saturday I would take a walk with my father and he would take me to the deli for a hot dog with mustard and sauerkraut, and then on to the candy store where I would have an egg cream and he would buy me a Little Lulu comic book. Then we would sit in the park in the middle of Broadway and feed the pigeons. It was our tradition. Frankie Lyman and the Teenagers were just coming out with "Why Do Fools Fall In Love" and things seemed so simple back then. As I got older and went to Junior High School on the bus, I remember the thrill of making new friends and meeting at the l75th Street Loew's. We would meet boys and make out and then talk on the phone all night about it. Also the RKO at l8lst Street. I loved the architecture of these movie theatres. I wish they had been preserved. In George Washington High School, I loved the principal, Henry T. Hillson. He seemed like a great guy and used to tell us how he had come to New York in a covered wagon.....just joking around, but he was approachable. Luckily I never made it to his office, although there were some close brushes with the lady dean due to playing hooky. All in all, there were some sweet memories."
In 1955 disc Jockey Alan Freed aptly said Washington Heights was Doo Wop Central. Many groups got their start in the Heights including the Frankie Lymon and the Teenagers, the Ronettes, the Chevrons, and the Cadillacs