Lambert 5-3176. By David Rosenfelt Class of ‘65
That was my phone number growing up in Paterson, New Jersey more than four decades ago. I can barely remember my present number, and I don’t have a clue as to all the others I’ve had over the years. But I remember that first number, just like I remember everything else about Paterson.
In this I am not alone, which is why I have recently attended my third “Paterson Day”. Every other year, Patersonians engage in a mass reunion, coming from all over the country to reconnect with long-ago friends. We opt to do this at a country club in sunny South Florida, since Patersonians are nostalgic, not stupid.
We range in age from forty to ninety five. We come in all shapes and sizes, though each year the predominant shape becomes rounder and rounder. We arrive from as far away as Hawaii, and Israel, and California. What we have in common is a shared reverence for our hometown, and an unshakeable, if unlikely, belief that growing up in Paterson was better than growing up anywhere else.To the outsider, there is nothing glamorous about Paterson. It’s reputation would probably place it closer to Beirut than Beverly Hills. Even the legendary town heroes always seemed to come out second best. Larry Doby was the second African American Major League baseball player after Jackie Robinson, earning him all the pain but little of the credit for breaking the color barrier. Louis Sabin invented the oral polio vaccine, a nice convenience but Jonas Salk gets the props for saving the youth of America. Even Lou Costello got second billing after the far less funny Bud Abbott.But we at Paterson Day know the truth, and we discuss it endlessly. We remember a world free of problems, so lacking in stress that “Ozzie and Harriet” and “Donna Reed” seemed dark and edgy by comparison. Logic tells me that it could not have been so good, that the years must have cloaked that time in denial. But if it’s a delusion, it’s a contagious one, and we all share it.Paterson Day for me brings both opportunity and challenge. It’s a chance to lose weight, and I reason that if I can go on a four week diet preceding the big day, my old friends never have to know just how large I have become. This year I dropped close to fourteen ounces, which didn’t quite get me to my goal.
The challenge is to realize that Paterson Day represents the only occasion on which I can’t lie about my youthful athletic and romantic exploits, since these people know better. Temporary honesty is not as easy as it sounds; I’ve been making up stories for so long, in some cases I’m not really sure what the truth is. Did I really hit the game winning home run against Clifton? I don’t think so. Did I actually wind up under the boardwalk with three girls, hours after the prom? Uhhh…no.
But the memories of my lack of athletic prowess, and my involuntary abstinence, are not painful now, because they were not painful then. I’m sure we had our disappointments and difficulties, but they were soothed by family and friendship. Playing stoop ball, or touch football, turned our street into a sports mecca the likes of which Mayor Bloomberg couldn’t dream of building.
Houses and parents seemed interchangeable. Wherever we were at a particular moment became our home. We knew what was in our neighbor’s refrigerator, and we were welcome to open it. It is to my lasting regret that my own children never got to experience anything like it. If it still exists anywhere, I was never able to find it.
Paterson Day gets a little smaller each time, as the ranks of older attendees inevitably starts to thin. I’m not sure why, but my generation is the last to participate. It might be due to a widening ethnic divide, or perhaps Vietnam took away the feelings of spirit and safety that made the past worth revisiting and remembering.
So we were lucky to live there, and smart enough to know how lucky we were. And I for one will continue to re-live it, every two years. And during the times in between, I’ll regale my non-Patersonian friends with stories about the time I was voted “Mr. High School Baseball” in New Jersey.
Lambert 5-3176. Call it, and if my mother answers, ask her if Dave can come out to play.
David is an established novelist with 7 mystery novels under his belt. He lives in California with his wife and 37 dogs. Together they started the Tara Foundation for lost or sick golden retrievers to find them new homes.
Sherwood 2-7408.
and do you remember having a “party line”
I haven’t attended a Paterson Day yet, but do plan on making 2009 my first one. Looking forward to it!
Class of ‘64 [Thunderbirds] - Living in Las Vegas now for the past 31 years, I have not been able to attend any of the celebrations. However, I do look forward to receiving the e-mail notices about these events and looking at all the pics.
As it turns out, I am at this very moment visiting New Jersey, sitting in my Aunt’s and Uncle’s family room in Wayne. We are here to celebrate their 50 th Wedding Anniversary.
A few days ago, we took a ride and drove through downtown Paterson. OMG, how it changed. It has been at least 20 years since I last drove on Main Street and what was named Broadway. The names of other streets have changed and after driving around in circles, ended up on Market Street at the elevated train station. So seeing a recognizable landmark and finally knowing where I was, I headed down Market Street toward Madison Avenue, knowing I would pass by Eastside High. In a way, lots of memories surfaced seeing the campus in person, not in pictures or when watching the “Stand By Me” movie about the Joe Clark days.
The weather this week has been cool and damp with showers earlier this week. In just a few days we will be heading back to the deset with triple digit days.
Well, hope everyone has a great time at the next celebration.
Larry Tirri
larry.tirri@unlv.edu
Have never made one of these since 1989. Sure sound good. Here’s to seeing you in Feb. Keep me advised.
David,
I wonder how many times over the years that I dialed that number on our wonderful rotary phones!
I’m looking forward to attending the next Paterson Day Event. The 3 previous ones I attended were wondeful and full of surprises.
The site is wonderful!
Aloha:
I will not be attending Paterson Day, BUT have been back each summer to see my folks.
I love/loved Paterson, and still go shopping downtown, because prior to moving to 10th Ave, I actually lived downtown on Benson Street. My grandparents had a fish store on Tyler Street. We were one of the last families to leave downtown for 10th Ave. I stayed with my aunt on 34th Street to attend EHS. Sure, the ethnicities have changed, and the
prosperous downtown area, is now a host of inner city stores and such, still I love it. Look at the skyline -the bldgs still represent the original architecture and for a moment I am back in time, eating peanuts from Mr Peanuts, buying 45 records, getting a new outfit at Quackenbush, or Jacobs, eating a sundae at Knickerbockers. I walked endless times from downtown to Eastside Park or Temple Emanuel. I did not have a car till I was 17. I walked daily from Benson Street to YMYWCA, until we moved to East 22nd st and 10th Ave. I come back in July so, I miss it all, I do have a few close freinds come by my mom’s or cousins to visit, they are in North Caldwell, and Fair Lawn. I enjoy seeing each and every one of them, and hearing from them is very cool indeed. I actually heard from a friend from PS#4, that isn’t even there anymore its some vocational school now.
Sarah Clark, a blast from the past. SO please keep me in your mind,when u think paterson. though I am in Hawaii since 1972, I am a Jersey Girl, Paterson all the way.
fuggetabout it, shalom har
Hey all you Patersonians
Remember Toys Chinese Restaurant
Remember Y dances and teen lounge?
Tree Tavern, I had my Sweet 16 there!
Ice skating, Falls View Diner, Woolworth, Spivaks, the Fabian, Majestic or other movies,
Fireworks at Hinchcliff Stadium, Toby’s , Cozy Corner, CYO dances and cute Italian boys?
Christmas parade, catching the bus to Palisades Amusement Park, Veritans Day Camp,
Garret Mountain (XXOOO), crusing listening to Cousin Brucie, watching submarine races while listening to our fav tunes on the radio… Violas Restuarant, dinners, and best friends EVER…. what pride in our town, our friends our school…
Too good… memories forever…
CYO Dances at Blessed Sacrament
Stenchevers Shoes
Meyer Brothers
Johnny & Hanges
Patsy’s Pizza
Fasolo Sweet Shop
Sussman’s Drug Store
De Nova’s Food Store
MU4-5199
Bernie’s
Watching Fireworks on East 26th Street & 7th Avenue
Patti-Chris-Andrea-Margie-Colleen-Norma-Marsha-Louie-Marty-Kenny-Saul-Ricky-Ilene
Sleigh riding down 7th Avenue
Painting bases on East 26th Street
ABG Girls
Walking to 21’s from East 26th Street
Taking the bus on East 26th Street to Downtown Paterson
Fabian Movie Theater
http://www.pbase.com/ncbeaches/paterson_day_2007
I won’t be coming to Paterson Day because I live in Myrtle Beach SC but wish I could be there. I’m always proud to tell everyone I lived in Paterson. Hope my list of memories brings back memories for each of you. Some are repeats but they are all part of what makes Paterson special to me.
Blessed Sacrement CYO & Father Ralph
PS 18 and the Riverside Oval
Pearless Lanes…Joe Ordini’s
Third Ave, E 18th St and E 26th St
The E 26th St gang…Linda, Patti, Andrea, Ricky, Louie and Kenny
Scandone’s, Patsy’s Tavern, Musty’s Sweet Shop
Madison Ave Library
EHS and Vinnie’s Sweet Shop
Downtown Paterson
Jacob’s, the Mart, Dumont Music Store, Quakenbush, Meyers Bros, the Five & Tens
Paterson Falls and Garret Mtn
Johnny & Hange’s, Toby’s, Teddy’s, Carvels, Falls View
Not everyone has left Paterson. Yes, I have been with the Paterson Public Schools for over 32 years. I’m now at JFK HS. It’s getting close to that leaving time for me. I just can’t seem to leave Paterson! By the way, my first phone # was Lambert 3-3196. I also find it amazing that I can remember that but still can’t find my keys!
Remember Peggy’s Wonderland for toys…got my first Barbie Doll there.
How about Mr.Peanut ?
Kanter’s luncheonette, Sunshine Deli, and Ben & Bobs come to my mind also.
I can still recall Edith and Natalie cooking hamburgers on the grill or making a malted or a lime rickey at Kanter’s. Sunshine deli for the best hot dogs and fries and of course, those sour pickles.
Do you remember when Eastside Park had live reindeer?
What a childhood!
Greeting’s to all.
I’m looking for Carol Sellars of Central High School.
Such wonderful comments and memories of our beloved town. Dont forget the Garden and U S theaters. We walked down Park Ave to Market St to take in a matinee to watch horror or scifi movies “Forbidden Planet” comes to mind. 50 cents went a long way. The White Castle, where you could buy a “million” burgers for a buck. When I was stationed at Ramey AFB, PR., the local supermarkets carried Tree Tavern pizza. I still recall when EHS was dismissed so we could see JFK by city hall. Talk about crowds. I visited Paterson, in 1986, I was saddened by what I saw and what had happened to our “Lovely Lady.” I felt as if she too was longing for simpler times. If a choice was offered as to where to spend eternity, it would be Paterson, in the 50s, early 60s. So when I cross over lets all meet at Garrett Mtn, fly kites, or at Barbour’s Pond, throw rocks at those pesky ducks.
Lambert 3-1254. If you call and I’m not home, just remember I am thinking of you.
Not another town or time like it.
Sigma Phi
Pledging
The Cozy
Carlos ices
I grew up on Paterson in the 60s and 70s. Elementary school 1965-1973; HS 1974-78. During that decade I saw the neighborhood in which I lived change drastically before my eyes.
We lived in an apartment house at 11th avenue and East 23rd St. As a kid, I have fond memories of walking to the kosher butcher up the street with my mother, or Food Fair supermarket. We got our drugs from Sussman’s (that was when a guy name Sussman actually worked there), and our newspapers from Abe’s Candy Store. Abe made a terrific egg cream soda. Sometimes my mother and I took the #26 bus downtown and shopped in Meyer Brothers or Quackenbush. I would eat a cheese sandwich and an ice cream soda at the Woolworths counter. Later when I was a teenager I worked in Meyer Brothers for one very long summer. I hated working there but in retrospect I remember it to be a grand and beautiful store and it’s a real shame that it burned down.
I went to P.S. 21 and have fond memories of Mrs. Ray (4th grade) and Mrs. Threet (music) and Mr. Frank (my 7th grade teacher).
I wound up going to Eastside High because my parents were poor and didn’t have money to send me to Paterson Catholic (which is where most of the kids from P.S. 26 went). I actually graduated at the top of my class and went on to graduate from Montclair State.
Ironically, now I live in Northern California.
I want to elaborate that mine was the third generation to grow up in Paterson. My parents both went to Eastside High. My mother also went to P.S. 21, as did my older cousins.
My aunt (mother’s sister) had a beautiful house on 11th Avenue and E. 39th Street.
When I was a teenager I volunteered at The Great Falls Festival as a tour guide. I still respect a lot of the history behind the city, particularly because my grandfather worked in those silk mills along the raceways. I even made a documentary about it when I was in college (it was strictly a college project). I suppose my favorite part of Paterson is the Falls.
I live about a thousand miles away now, in Kentucky, yes Kentucky, and we do wear shoes, and have TV, but can’t find a pizza like Patsies anywhere! I sure miss the food in Jersey. Hey Larry Tirri, are you from E 16th street?, thats were I grew up. I remember Franks Deli on 5th ave and 17th Street , and Johnnie and Hanjes (sp), man what great memories. Any ps. school 18 classmates here?
Where to start, where to start,
well, in 63 we moved from fifth ave between 18th and 19th to the corner of 6th ave & 19th street.
I’m the baby brother of Frank, Lenny Lembo and Lucia (Danna) Lembo.
I went to school 18 and graduated in 73, spent two weeks in Eastside then went to Passaic Co. Tech. Joined the navy in 77…. I now live in virginia. they didn’t have enough Italians here so I thought I would help increase the numbers.
I do miss Patsy’s tavern. the best pizza around. I remember fanny’s, the milk jug
jonny & hanges—————– holy cow where did the years go.
the “vets pool”, Blessed Sacrament bazzars, and best of all—– goin down the shore.
here in virginia, we go to the beach. it’s ok.
Carvel on rt 20, Georges pizza on river st. musty’s on 18th street, jerry’s on 4th &18th
and there was abbotts on 3rd ave by school 18’s and uncle Jons on 18th street right next to the school. he was an older Italian man that sold lemmon ice in the paper cup.
man the memories. The oval, joe ordinies, pearles lanes,the shoemaker on third ave at river street. wow, what a neighborhood. franks deli on 5th and 17th street, hanging out on the corner was “normal” and your mother knew where you were.
yeah, Paterson. Home of the second largest water falls in the U S
yes I do remember party lines and the number was AR8-3951.
we would get alot of calls for georges pizza. that one was AR8-3921
My address will be indelibly etched in my brain forever - 409 East 40th Street - although I don’t remember my phone number.
So many memories - many mentioned above - some not - here are just a few:
King’s - my grandfather’s (Jack Levine) store on 21st Avenue and all the wonderful sales “girls” who worked there
PS20 - memories of that building seem so gothic & scary particularly the basement
The Bonfire & the candy store next to PS20
The Memorial Day Parade down Park Avenue
Krause’s Candy on Route 20
Food Fair
The Hi-Way (I think) Movie Theatre on Route 4 in Fair Lawn where we’d get dropped off for hours on Saturday’s
The Anthony Hamilton Hotel
The Black Bear
The Steak Pit in Paramus
The zoo & sledding down the hills in Eastside Park. Also the “maze” in the park.
Lilac bushes
Barnert Hospital
Dr Shinefeld my pediatrician
The library on E 33rd street
Temple Emanuel & Rabbi Panitz
All the stores on Park Avnue near 33rd Street & on 21st Avenue
The gas station across the street form the library on 33rd Street
Having charge accounts at local stores
Basements & attics (we don’t really have them in Dallas)
Walking to PS20
Taking the bus to EHS
All the wonderful teachers at PS20 & EHS with a special nod to Al Weiss & Ms McCabe
Lambert Castle
Mayor Graves & Mayor Kramer
Rutt’s Hut (cheating - Clifton)
WOW! What a flood of memories. I lived on 5th Ave. between 18th and 19th streets, moved to 6th Ave. on the corner of 19th street. School #18 ,’69, Paterson Catholic ‘73. I have 3 brothers, Frank, Lennie, and Peter. (Hi, Pete ;). I now live in Glen Rock so I travel through Paterson very often. I married Sal Danna, Eastside ‘65.
We talk about Paterson so much my kids know some of the places and stories. It was a place like nowhere else! We still go to Patsy’s and bring many of our friends there. I am proud to be from Paterson. I taught 4th grade for several years and NJ is studied. When I told my classes that I was from Paterson, they were pretty impressed too. ( of course!)
Knight Sisters Dance Studio (5th Ave)
Max’s store
Shams
Jerry’s candy store
Toby’s
I can’t even begin to continue the list
Does anyone remember having Angels lead them into Blessed Sacrament Church for their First Communion?
Riverside people, How about Miss Van Wyke from School # 18
My last Paterson phone number began with “ARmory”. I lived on 15th Avenue between 33rd & 32nd. I’ve booked a flight already to attend my first Paterson Day, although it will be bittersweet for me. I married Samuel Chase (EHS class of ‘65) in 1969 at Temple Emanuel. We raised two great kids and spent almost 39 married years together. Sam and I often talked about going to Paterson Day and were very excited, but sadly Sam died from Pancreatic Cancer September 17, 2007. I will miss having him at my side because so much of our history took place in Paterson, but I look forward to connecting with other Patersonians and enjoying the event. See you there. Riva (EHS ‘66)
Spent most of my time at the skateing rink. Lived on Clinton then Laurel St
Everyone seems to come from the Eastside. Anyone out there from the Totowa section.
How about the bells of St Marys. Or the Baptist church chimes every evening in the summer.
Roovans Tavern, The Plaza, the Bon Bon shop, Nesters, the Number 12 Bus.
Favorite spot to watch the happenings at Hinchcliff was the free patch on Scotch Hill.
Can’t forget the Totowa Drive-in. Schools 5 & 14, St Mary’s High and how about those Taylor Mutten Pies.
And yes, after 40 plus years, I still remember the old party line - LAmbert 3-5517.
Its good to see people from Paterson getting together everywhere. I live in NY state but still get together every 6 months with people from Paterson we have a nice dinner out ( last time was at Patsey’s still make a great pie) and talk about the good ole days in Paterson. Once a year a group of us about 50 to 60 guys get together at the Brownstone just before Christmas usually. I grew up on Cross Street which is now Cianci St. My family owned the Fabian Bar and grill across the street from the Fabian and then moved to Hamilton street and changed the name to Petrosi’s. There are a few nice web sites out there that may bring back memories one is the Paterson People Network has a lot of good stories and links. For those of you that were in a fraternity, try Omegagammadeltafraternity.com
Hopefully one day I’ll make it down for Paterson day
ciao