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Grew up on Vermont St between Dumont and Blake; moved to Miller Ave between Dumont/Blake in 1958. Went to PS 182, then JHS 149, then Stuyvesant, because Jefferson was really going downhill by 1961. My wife was a Jefferson grad in'68, though she lived in the Boulevard projects. Escaped from ENY in Dec 63. Escaped is the right word, because by then ENY had become really crime-ridden; sad. I remember Mrs. Levy's, and the various deli's around the neighborhood: Van Siclen under the el; corner of Pennsylvania and Livonia; corner of Penn. and Blake. Pushcarts on Blake Ave from Penn heading west. Fortunoff's was under the el on Livonia, and the place to buy toys, housewares, records, etc. Anyone remember the Green Line bus to Rockaway? How about the vegetable farms on Linden Blvd before the projects and the dairy farm on Vermont St below Linden? There was also the Dutch Church on New Lots. We can't leave out Mrs. Maxwell's bakery on Atlantic Ave and Vermont. Anyone out there who remembers Mrs Lopez (music/5th grade teacher) from Ps 182? How about Mrs Klein, kindergarten teacher at 182? Reply #1 From: Allan (mrcozinali@aol.com) Date: 07/23/2007 My father and uncle had a luncheonette on the corner of New Lots and Alabama. It was called Richies. It was the neighborhood hangout at night complete with juke box etc. The music during the 50's and early 60's for the 'older crowd' was the mambo and cha cha cha. The beverage of choice was the egg cream and lime rickey. Those were good days in a good neighborhood that went downhill very fast. Reply #2 From: ex-brooklyn guy Date: 07/25/2007 East New York turned into a slum in only a few years. In 1960 it was a good neighborhood, by 1966 it was one of the worst areas in NYC. Someone wrote a book about ENY's decline. The book is "How East New York Became a Ghetto" by Walter Thabit. He is a real left-winger but his description of the rapid decline of ENY is scary. He blames everyone but the 'new" people who moved in and destroyed their own neighborhood. How come when the Italians and Jews lived there it was a safe neighborhood? http://www.villagevoice.com/books/0334,giuffo,46400,10.html http://www.amazon.com/How-East-York-Became-Ghetto/dp/0814782663 Reply #3 From: Louis (topcat756@aol.com) Date: 07/30/2007 I used to live on Pennsylvania ave between Liberty And Glenmore from 1965 to 1972 I used to go to Maxwells bakery all the time. I went to Thomas Jefferson High for 1 year then transferred to Automotive High where I graduated from. Reply #4 From: Mazz Date: 08/08/2007 Born and raised in New Lots. Everything in the book is true. I lived in hell during the 70-80-and mid 90's before Rudy came and saved the day. Rudy is resposible for ENY coming back. Rudy came to New Lots, saw major problems and did something about it. Not Dinkins, not Koch, nobody... in Brooklyn, New York today! |
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