My Brooklyn

Readers Report


Edmund Wilkinson

I lived on Lefferts Place between Franklin and Classen. My Brooklyn was Sunday trips to the Musem on Eastern Pkwy. We used to run down the dirt hills that were in the rear (1933-35). Attended Boys High on Marcy Ave. Watched the BIG Memorial Day parades on Bedford Ave. Hiched rides on the Fulton St. and Putnam Ave. trolley cars. Ice skated at the Ice Palace on Atlantic Ave. and also at the playground at Classen and Fulton. Enjoyed the delisious cakkkes from Ebinger's bakery on Nostrand Ave. We made scooters from roller skates and a board and a wooden box. We used to skate down the hill at Park Ave, "I think that's the station on the Franklin Ave. line after Bergen St.? There used to be a Catholic Seminary on Brevoort Place. Can anyone remember the name? Back in the 1930s theer was a big fire that distroyed the apartment house at Brevoort and Bedford Ave. My mom used to tell me that she took me in my stroller for air at the Fulton Park. Most of my firiends have moved or passed on. I left NY in 1988. I now live in Oklahoma City and am 74 years old. Sure would like to hear from other Brooklynites.

26 January 1998


Anon.

My Brooklyn is between 3rd and 9th St. at Prospect Park. It became Camp Prospect during WWII. The barbed wire shortened our sledding on "Monument Hill" and the "Sugar Bowl." The Swan Boats had swans on the front and their were peddle boats for two. Manual vs. Erasmas and Brooklyn Tech. vs. Boys High was an Election Day event. We would walk home through the park singing after that night game at Ebbetts Field without fear.

Your comment about Newfoudlanders is incomplete. My parents were from there. Most lived above 7th and 8th Ave. between Carroll St. and 15th St. The men were largely ironworkers or carpenters. Along with the Mohawk Indians they were the largest 2 groups in Local 361 and 40. My Father worked for #361 for 35 years. They attended All Saint's Church 7th Ave. and 7th St., Grace Methodist Church 7th Ave. and Sterling Place, and Memorial Baptist Church 8th Ave. around 16th Street.

29 January 1998


Sharon Small

My Brooklyn begins in 1950, Brownsville, 5th floor walk up, 514 Howard Avenue. My grama lived 2 floors down, my best aunt and uncle and cousins lived next door. We knew everyone and everyone knew us. Mostly Jewish people, 1st generation American. My grama came from Russia. We took care of her and she took care of us.

My Dad whistling as he came home from work and climbed the 5 flights of stairs. The days were wonderful and filled with excitement in our courtyard, concrete backyards. The nights were warm and safe. Almost everyone had a mom and dad who lived with them, usually a grama or grampa too.

Walks down Pitkin Avenue, with my Dad and my uncle. So, so safe. Stop off at the Choclate Shop for an egg cream. Look in the Stadium Toy shop, and hope.

One day my dad took me to John's Bargain Store and told me to pick out any 5 toys I wanted. I never felt so happy in my life!

My dad passed away 14 years ago, but his memory lives on 4 ever in "my Brooklyn."

30 January 1998


Readers' reports continue . . .

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