A Rare Ruin in Bushwick

jack: 10th Feb 2007 - 15:32 GMT

its sad the way neighborhoods fall into ruin, the way old homes become boarded up and inhabited by rats and roaches. when i was a kid down on broome and mulberry streets there were some old buildings. they were dark inside, rats and roaches and other things but you have to live.

upfromflames: 10th Feb 2007 - 15:59 GMT

One could see it as something sad, or maybe not...

To me, I think this of this building as wrapped in a cocoon or hibernating. Whatever metaphor might be grabbed for, it denotes that this building will one day not be boarded up, but cleaned out, cleaned up, and lived in.

For now, if it was not boarded up, it would have burned down or been gutted by thieves. Pragmatism before beauty!

upfromflames: 11th Feb 2007 - 02:41 GMT

Though its hard to imagine what one could make of this house, caught in the middle of a block as it is. It was an unamed factory in plan in the 1929 street atlas.

img:[[18450]]

upfromflames: 11th Feb 2007 - 02:43 GMT

pierre: 13th Feb 2007 - 09:38 GMT

hey i know that area i went to JHS 111, Starr St between Central and Wilson. I met my wife in the area 28 years ago.

upfromflames: 13th Feb 2007 - 11:38 GMT

I teach there. Been there 4 years now teaching ESL. Its now two schools, sliced in half against better judgement. But its still going!

What was it like back then?

pierre: 14th Feb 2007 - 06:44 GMT

i graduated in 1977, it was a good school in the mid-seventies, i was in the band, we had a orchestra and a chorus. i remember that we couldn't go past a certain point outside past the handball courts because of the gangs (the dirty one's, the devil rebels, homocide law). i also remember learning French, learning to read the NY Times, and learning to play chess. very eye opening for a poor Puerto Rican kid, we had some very devoted teachers.

oh hale enrico fermi

BDweller: 14th Feb 2007 - 13:35 GMT

My friend Mike graduated from JHS 111 in the early seventies. It had already acquired a rough reputation by then, as I recall. Like Pierre said, the gang/thug threat was present. All of us kids faced the possibility of getting randomly "jumped" and "jacked up" for our money or possessions in the neighborhood. The introduction to ghetto crime is so often as a childhood victim -- below the radar of police statistics.

My buddy Mike was in SP classes at 111. Do they still call it that? He was a brilliant kid. His parents had gotten him the complete volumes of The World Book Encyclopedia and he'd consumed it voraciously. A bunch of us tapped regularly into those books; the world at our fingertips, no Internet in sight. We challenged each other on astronomy, geography, geology, paleontology -- you name it. Mike was particularly self-motivated and crafty. He took his shop class lessons home and with his own soldering kit created and fixed all kinds of electronic components.

"All heck to Freakin' Fermi..." That's how they'd tweaked the school song back then, or maybe it was just Mike. I can still hear it in my head as he used to sing it in mock. Is there even such a thing as a school song these days? No matter. I just hope there is more genuine belief in student potential nowadays. I mean, those teachers -- and they were all white then -- discouraged my bright friend from considering the elite Public High Schools and instead steered him towards the vocationals. I wish I could say his case was isolated, but one-by-one practically all of my friends, smart and motivated black and Latino kids, ended up at some point discouraged or steered toward lesser possibilities by a white Public School teacher. It took me decades to comprehend, but circumstances have led me to conclude that there is something much broader and deeper, indeed historical in this.

To upfromflames: Anything changed since way back then?

upfromflames: 15th Feb 2007 - 01:36 GMT

BD: Those are some weighty words you mention, but they do ring true right down through history. Its a sensitive subject, but there are still white teachers playing that sort of role--I am trying to replace this year. Like he told another teacher, "someone needs to wash the cars and clean the streets" so he fails his students and they fail him, one more step in a long road towards underacheivement.

But on the positive side, there are white teachers working there from those days who are great dynamic souls, using their knowledge of Bushwick kids to get them motivated to express and acheive.

As for recent non-Latino and Black teachers, like me, we are a different breed. Mostly teaching fellows, coming from very diverse backgrounds.

And I am happy to say that our school now has lots more Latino and black teachers, and personally, I can tell you that they are a major part of our improvement as a school, both quantitatively (test scores) and qualitatively (atmosphere). They are in almost every case the strongest teachers in our school.

And recently, there is a real improvement in the kids we have coming in. they seem to get better every year.

No, there is no school song. Yes, there are still problems. But there is community, and there also is hope.

pierre: 15th Feb 2007 - 06:00 GMT

BD: thanks for reminding me about the SP classes, I was in SP1 which is why we took French instead of Spanish and why all SP1 students were in the band with Mr. Montasano (i think that's spelled correctly). You're definitely correct about the student/teacher makeup of the school (95% black and latino students, no Latino teachers and a few Black teachers). I remember Mr. Lilly (black typing teacher) good teacher but he ruled with an iron fist. I also remember the shop classes - Metal shop, wood shop, and home economics. We did have students that went to Brooklyn Tech, Stuyvesant, Cooper Union, and Bronx HS of Science. Unfortunately for me my uneducated parents didn't know any better and I ended up at Eastern District HS but I managed to graduate in 3 yrs and go to Hunter College - another eye opening experience since EDHS did not prepare us for college.

upfromflames: is that world map (mural) still in the lobby after you enter the main Starr St entrance?

upfromflames: 15th Feb 2007 - 11:35 GMT

yep, it sure is. A ghost of a past that few are aware of.

No SP classes (presuming that means top track smart kids), they were replaced by the class number system, as in 631 for top and 633 for the bottom.
As for the range of classes, there is less choice but more quality.

upfromflames: 17th Feb 2007 - 08:45 GMT

I was surprised to find this entirely sealed up building not in some back street, but at the SW corner of bustling Knickerbocker (nee Maria Hernandez) Park. Is it the painful past of drugs and violence that passed in the crack years under this window? Is it a careless landlord who can't be bothered? or who is waiting for the right price?

pierre: 19th Feb 2007 - 06:28 GMT

i remember knickerbocker park and the avenue were so nice when the italians dominated the area. it's a shame to see what it's become.

Antoine Whitfield: 19th Feb 2007 - 19:24 GMT

Yo,
I grew up on Wilson ave btwn cooper and moffat st. I went to PS 113k before it closed, went to Halsey JHS and played ball in just about every school park in the hood before moving to Buffalo back in 88'. As I read things pretaining to the hood, I feel a loss. For one thing I miss the hood but more so I the people I once knew. Of course things change, that's life.
old stuff has to be torn down to make room for the new. If there any homie's out there from BWC holla back pernell43@hotmail.com it's been 20yrs since. Wilson ave , Decatur st, Moffat st holla back !!!

Ben: 21st Feb 2007 - 07:15 GMT

Yo! lived on Wilson between Cooper n Moffet, till 1960, suspect you weren't even born yet, they tore down mty 2 family house and put up a school.

upfromflames: 21st Feb 2007 - 15:18 GMT

Ben: What did your family do when they tore down your home? Did you stay in Bushwick or move to another community?

upfromflames: 23rd Feb 2007 - 12:36 GMT

About the original building at Troutman and Bushwick, I just wanted to clear up why its boarded up. Its not that the neighborhood is still dangerous, or that no one would live there. Its surrounded by gleaming new renos.

Its that its owned by the church next door, on Jefferson. Their school and church are both struggling for money. I can't quite figure out why they just don't sell this property for renovations?

upfromflames: 23rd Feb 2007 - 12:49 GMT

upfromflames: 24th Feb 2007 - 14:46 GMT

But I do worry about other less innocuous spaces...like this one...

When you see new housing boarded up, that is a red flag that something is wrong. Is it about the financial viability of the owner, a lack of rent payment on the part of tenant, a state loan pocketed? there are more questions on this one than answers. But the grafito says it all--what it was supposed to be, and is not.

Dave: 1st Mar 2007 - 14:08 GMT

Its so sad to see new homes boarded up.
And if the Bushwick's was in England the authorities would of sold it off to big concerns for a £1 or about $1.50(Dollars) for the whole lot as long as the did the buildings up.

BDweller: 2nd Mar 2007 - 08:59 GMT

Hey, upfromflames, your picture of the entirely sealed-up apartment building [Feb 17th] looks like a burn-out to me. You can see the scorch marks around the fire escape. "Is it a careless landlord who can't be bothered?" Not a chance. These days assessed value in Bushwick goes up 50% or more per year without physical improvements, one of the city's hottest markets.

If the landlord of that building wanted to sell, he could possibly double his price by delivering it vacant. Vacancy greatly loosens up rent-control restrictions, even opening up the possibility for condos. So there is great incentive to empty out multi-dwellers like this one. And I can't imagine that it's had vacancies for too long, considering the heavily trafficked location. Speculators must be hounding that landlord on the regular.

You're hearing more fire-truck sirens in the neighborhood lately. Still a faint echo of the bad old years of the 70's and 80's, but suddenly they're out every day. I can't prove it, but I'll bet there's some torching going on, or deliberate neglect by Dracula landlords that leads to firetrap conditions. Ease up on boiler repairs and tenants use space heaters and other means that will give you your spark.

Back in the day, the draculords would rent vacant apartments to drug dealers or carelessly allow in squatters to scare out the remaining tenants. Of course there was always classic slumlord neglect: Skipping all basic repairs saves money and gets people moving out without expensive drawn-out eviction proceedings. That was back when the incentive was to sell off in a decreasing-value market. Now its boomtown.

The story of that building in the picture may be all on the up-and-up. But I know that it represents somebody's lotto ticket, and Bushwick has made me cynical.

MichaelB: 8th Mar 2007 - 07:43 GMT

BD and upfromflames, You seem to really know the area. Im looking at a place at BUSHWICK AV andTROUTMAN. I currently live in Greenwich Village and im interested in the safty and condition of the east williamsburg area. I am usually out and about at all hours. Is the neighborhood and Myrtle stop gen. busy with people? How will a 25y.o. white male fit in? Thanks.

upfromflames: 8th Mar 2007 - 11:28 GMT

Great corner with a good future, with LOTS of majestic buildings planned for north of this intersection. For visuals: reference first picture!

Jimmy Legs: 8th Mar 2007 - 19:22 GMT

that first boarded-up building may not be a fire victim, a lot of these old buildings get stains on their facades (in this case probably from rust from the fire escape). i mean, it coudl be a fire, but the continued existence of all the commercial spaces on the ground floor make me think the reason it's boarded up is because the landlord is making enough rent off the retail spots he doesn't need to deal with all the hassle of renting the upper floors. a bad attitude to be sure, but that's what they do in fulton mall, sometimes going so far as to rip out upper floors and turn multistory buildings into giant single rooms. UFF, these are great posts, keep it up!

Jack: 8th Mar 2007 - 20:56 GMT

I grew up in the adjoining neighborhood, Ridgewood, in the early 50s. Bushwick which I would go to play ball etc., was a beautiful neighborhood but tuff. There were fist fights but no shootings or stabbings that I recall. There were well maintained houses all kinds of shops, candy stores and ice cream parlors. The houses always seemed "old" to me but old in a good way,"historic",if you will, like the 1890s. Once in awhile I'll drive down Kinckerbocker or Bushwick Ave. just to see whats going on. Unfortunately, it can be depressing, I only hope that it turns around like other areas.

upfromflames: 8th Mar 2007 - 23:57 GMT

Take a look at this boarded up oddity, on the short, quaint oddball strip of Goodwin Place. A boarded up house next to a new development, how odd! You'd think they'd try to buy them out or something.

But then, I have the advantage (or disadvantage) of being an optimistic non-native New Yorker who knows very little about how the real estate market works. Thanks to folks like Jimmy Legs and BD Weller for enlightening the sights I've been capturing.

iggy: 6th May 2007 - 23:24 GMT

it is only a matter of time that you will see that house flat and a three or possibly four family will be in the air. It takes time to research the owners and then to make the buy, but bushwick is up and coming.

VinniethePooh: 7th May 2007 - 00:55 GMT

There's oe on the block of Nostrand between GATES AVE. & QUINCY AVE. The Gates side used to have a club before the arabs took the store on the corner. The Quincy side has a church that looks like secret meetings are held there by Masonic lodges. The lights stay on and no services are held. The gates are locked but they promote programs that are held within. The property is easily $100M even without the way real estate is headed. If people chip in and put a dance studio here Brookly will see a resurgence they never expected. That's not gonna happen though.

RickC: 1st Jun 2007 - 22:40 GMT

Bushwick and Troutman?? Based on your personal info, I would keep looking. The area still can be scarey at that time of night. You did a good job upfromtehflames. I got the post card you sent me today. I look forward to seeing you this summer. I'm suprised you didn't use my picture. As for the pivture of the building on Knickerbocker by the park, many have forgotten that Paul Costellano was killed 2 blocks away in the back yard of an italian restaurant.

upfromflames: 1st Jun 2007 - 22:54 GMT

I think you mean Carmine Galante--boy, is that a great story! 205 Knickerbocker Ave. at Joe and Mary's Italian Restaurant.

RickC: 2nd Jun 2007 - 06:05 GMT

I stand corrected. Paul got whacked in the city. I used to love getting pizza at that restaurant. Back then only italians hung out on that part of knickerbocker. I wonder if any of the old coffeshops are still there?Did I ever mention to you that I was a son of italy in those days. I had the honor of running under foot of some of those guys. One of my buddies as an adult lives next to teflon don in howard beach. I am not sure if he is still there, but it would be interesting to hang out with jr. and experience those fireworks!! Madon! it was something indeed. When I tell my present friends that when I was a kid most of my buddies were named joey, sebastin, vito, anthony and carmine... we all went to St. Joseph Cabrini as it was called back then. They look at me and say how the hell did you end up with a name like Rick in that enviroment? HAHA Too funny.

RickC: 2nd Jun 2007 - 06:21 GMT

I wish we would stop refering to Bushwick as the Ghetto. It is a community in transition. I was there when it was great and celebrities such as Jackie Gleason lived on Chauncey Street. Will Smith spent some time in bushwick as well. If you watch Wills last movie, watch the interviews, he talks about his life and mentions bushwick. I was also there when it was at its lowest and our house was one of only 3 that had tenants in it.
Bushwick is a location that gives you the ability to build character. If want to challenge yourself to be the best that you can, then Bushwick is the place to be. I am living proof of the fact. I went from Bushwick to one of the wealthiest communities in the USA. There are many folks that are even more successful than I that came from Bushwick. There are also many successful folks that still live in Bushwick.
I know you got gangs, but we had them in the old days too. I recall my family and members of my block standing up to the Devil Rebels and the Savage Skulls at the same time. Sure we were scared, but we didn't show it and we let them know that you don't shit where we live.
It took a few months, but we got rid of them.
It is too easy to complain about everything. See a problem? Be part of the solution. It feels good for many years indeed.

Bonnie: 14th Jun 2007 - 03:25 GMT

I too lived on Wilson Ave., between Cooper and Moffit Streets -- in the 1950's. We lived on the 3rd floor of one of the cold water railroad flats, right down the street from the subway station, where I used to meet my Dad as he came home from work in "the City." I went to 14 Holy Martyrs Catholic School, but some of my friends went to PS 113. We shopped at Bohack's or the A&P down the street -- and did our "Saturday Shopping" on Myrtle Avenue or Broadway. My grandmother lived on Knickerbocker Ave. over a pharmacy and my mother's friend lived down the street from her over a butcher shop. We would often stop off at Halsey Street Park on the way home. The population of the area at the time was primarily German, Irish, and Italian. Bushwick Avenue was called the Park Avenue (some said Fifth Avenue) of Brooklyn. We moved to the suburbs of Long Island in the mid-1950's, and now I live in Florida. I wonder what the old neighborhood is like today -- I'm sure I wouldn't recognize it.

Will B: 27th Jun 2007 - 19:59 GMT

I went to JHS111 and graduated in 1978. I was in the Band with Mr. Montesanto and I remember some great days. The rebel devils were there, the stockholm boys and savage skulls. they were at the schools but I feared my dad more than I did any of the gangs.

The 83rd precint was down the block from us on Dekalb and Wilson avenue. I was kid that summer of 77 the blackout, Elvis death and the Yankees world series win. Great memories. We were poor and didn't really know it until I got into high school and exploring the neighborhood. The neighbors were friendly and very involved on my block.

Joe S.: 6th Jul 2007 - 21:57 GMT

I lived at 633 Wilson Avenue (between Decataur and Cooper) until 1957. I was curious and went on line to find businesses in the area. I just spoke to a guy at a pharmacy at 610 Wilson Ave. He said 633 is still standing. I have found pictures of the Wilson Avenue subway station. I attended 1st grade at Fourteen Holy Martyrs. It's funny that after all these years I think of this. Does anyone have photos of the the "old neighborhood"?
Joe

Joe S.: 6th Jul 2007 - 22:14 GMT

Bonnie,
If you see this--we also shopped at Bohack the A & P! My grandmother lived on Decataur between Wilson and Knickerbocker--closer to Knickerbocker. I remember going to a candy store on the corner of Decataur and Knickerbocker. It's amazing but I can still picture our apartment. I also remember Halsey Street Park--all the neighborhood mothers used to take us there a couple times a week. We too moved to Long Island in the late 1950's--I now live in Colorado! Even though I lived there many, many years ago, I still have many vivid, good memories growing up there, and wonder what it looks like today!

Dee: 9th Jul 2007 - 17:48 GMT

I also went to jhs 111. The years I attended were 1966-1969 the school was about a year old then. I hated it, and to the young man that said
your friend wasn't encouraged because he was a Latino I say B.S.
the world was changing at that time . I remember Mr Lily and I remember an African American girl getting up in classa nnd callin him a bald headed f'er he did nothing, I on the other hand the minority (Italian)had to write a thousand times i will not talk.Mr Lily was a bigot.The majority of the people i attended school with SP classes were black or hispanic most went to Stuyvestant, Bronx hs of science, Brooklyn Tech
and other really good schools. We all lived there because our parents were poor so get over it. I was robbed and bothered and let me tell you I had many Latino and Black friends and they would always have my back.
If your brilliant buddy wanted to attend these specialized schools he should have taken the tests like everybody else. I took a vocation cause
my parents didn't believe in higher education. The teachers were mostly liberal jews who encouraged the minorities. So get over it!!!!!!!!!!!!

Dee: 9th Jul 2007 - 17:53 GMT

Just want to say the school song for jhs 111 was
All Hail Enrico Fermi you do know who Enrico Fermi is right????
proudly let us sing
foward we are marching
let our voices sing
three chairs Enrico Fermi

upfromflames: 9th Jul 2007 - 20:21 GMT

Dee: i am so glad that you discovered that site! Your words and perspective is much appreciated on these pages.

Madelyn: 3rd Aug 2007 - 15:13 GMT

Wow! What an experience it has been reading all these posts about the neighborhood I grew up in! I also went to Enrico Fermi, remember Mr. Lily and played violin in the orchestra. I graduated Bushwick HS and attended Brooklyn College. I have lived on Long Island for the past 23 years, a few physical miles, but many worlds away from my old stomping grounds. I feel blessed to have grown up in such a culturally rich and diverse area. Like Will B., we didn't know we were poor. While my dad worked 20 hours a day, my mom raised a family of four with her stern Puerto Rican admonishments and aromatic cooking. They were happy times for us..times of dreaming of better places, nicer clothes, fancy vacations and swollen bank accounts. I still have my family...I have a home in a beautiful suburb, and a wonderful son...and I only hope I can share with him the richness of my history in Brooklyn, and the education I received that went far beyond the scarred desks and coverless books. All Hail, Enrico Fermi!

Tonya James-Rance: 3rd Sep 2007 - 22:19 GMT

The pic dated 23Feb looks like my old church and school St. Marks Lutheran.. Bushwick Ave... Wow!! Troutman sure looks bad.. When I was younger it was much prettier.. Well.. I thought it looked nice anyways.

Whoever runs the school and church now have let it go. Pastor Nordeen was the pastor when I was growing up. His wife Mrs. Mary Nordeen was a teacher there.. She was one of the best and strictest teachers there.

I moved away to join the military. If I did not have kids, I would move back. My mother still lives in Bushwick. She lives on Suydam between Bushwick and Broadway. I used to live on that same block until I was in 7th grade and then we moved to Harman Street between Central and Evergreen.
What sweet memories!!!

pat montelbano: 26th Sep 2007 - 20:09 GMT

we lived on knickerbocker bet willoughby @ starr atended ps 123 jhs 85 then on to bushwick hs i satayed later on in grove street park. there we heard the fascinators and the clusters. we had a club on central ave. we also stayed with the people from troutman st at their club. good times good memories i now live in howard beach.

Steven Hicks: 10th Oct 2007 - 00:39 GMT

The property on Bushwick and Troutman belongs to St. Marks Lutheran Church. I once lived at 23 Troutman, and went to and was raised in that church and school. I also was the principal at the school in the 90's. St. marks was to tear down the property and build a new school. The money never came through, and so it sits. I have more than once encouraged the church to sell the property, both while there and lately. It's a shame that it sits there.

Carl: 23rd Oct 2007 - 08:23 GMT

Yeah, gentrification is rampant in NYC, Bushwick is feeling it now. I don't mind new architecture if it's interesting. Unfortunately, many times, intricate architecture gets torn down and replaced with a rectangle. The irony of post-modernism: too much minimalism makes the Earth a dull planet.

Evelyn Villanueva: 30th Oct 2007 - 05:02 GMT

Just moved to Florida (3 months ago) from the Bushwick Area, lived there for 40+ years. Graduated from P.S 274, JHS 111 and Bushwick High School. Also in the 70's. I will tell you that it's a damn shame. All those houses are boarded up because of people like my former landlords widow. The house I lived in has to be torn down do to lack of care, including termites. She wants $550.000.00 for the property even though the house has to be rebuilt from scratch. The going rate on Harman St, between Evergreen & Central is 450 to 500 thousand dollars. Still, this value is for homes that are livable. My guess is that this house will end up boarded as well due to owners lack of consideration for those left out in the cold. Lack of care, and taking the rent money and not fixing up. One tenant lived there 42 years. BUSHWICK BROOKLYN HAS A LOT OF GREAT HISTORY AND TO LEAVE THAT ATMOSPHERE WAS SAD. I WISH LANDLORDS WOULD REALIZE THAT IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT THE MONEY. LADIES & GENTLEMEN, FOR FURTHER INFORMATION ABOUT BUSHWICK BROOKLYN (MANSIONS & HISTORIES) SEE THE FOLLOWING WEBPAGE. http://www.forgotten-ny.com/STREET%20SCENES/bushwick/bushwick.html

peg658: 3rd Nov 2007 - 18:26 GMT

Anyone grow up on Chauncey Street between Broadway and Bushwick during the fifties and early sixties? Anyone remember Niehr's with the best tuna fish sandwiches in the world.

Lisa A: 8th Nov 2007 - 23:43 GMT

I grew up on Jefferson and knickerbocker. I know the entire song for JHS111, I was in the chorus. I graduated in 1985. I also attended PS145. I was around when drugs came into the neighborhood, bringing it down quickly.

UpFromFlames: 9th Nov 2007 - 00:55 GMT

I don't think that drugs came into the the area then. It just transitioned from heroin (brought in by Galante) to crack -- brought in by ????.

Marti Cruz: 20th Nov 2007 - 17:11 GMT

Thanks for the memories. Grew up in on Jefferson St until the age of 14 when we moved to Queens. Drugs weren't such a problem, but you could see the heroin creeping in. I went PS 145 then JHS 111 gratuated in 1979. We used to have a block association on our street which was directed by a guy named Opie and every summer we had block parties. I used to play handball with my friends on the wall of the Coca Cola bottling company or play softball in the lumber yard. It's so sad to see the neighborhood in ruins. Hopefully new development will come in a rescue such a great area.

DAISY RUIZ : 4th Dec 2007 - 15:43 GMT

I WENT TH I.S. 111 AND GRADUATED FROM THERE I LIVED THERE ALL MY LIFE AND FOR THE PAST THREE YEARS I LIVE IN NEW JERSEY. THAT'S ALONG TIME CAUSE I'M 23 YRS OLD NOW. ITS WIERD WHEN I GO VISIT MY PARENTS AND NOW MY SISTER JUST GRADUATED FROM I.S. 111 BUT IT'S NO LONGER CALLED ENRICO FERMI. WELL IT WILL BE NICE TO GET IN CONTACT WITH PEOPLE WHOM I WENT TO SCHOOL WITH DAISDAISY0218@YAHOO.COM

antBlack: 5th Dec 2007 - 16:20 GMT

Hi Guys. I grew up on Stanhope st, between Bushwick and Evergreen. Went to PS 274, then to the Annex, then to JHS 111. I went to Art & Design for HS. This was during the mid 70's. Throughout Elementary and JHS I had taken "IGC" classes and "SP" in JHS. I was also in the band in 111 (anyone remember Mr Montesanto(sp?). I also remember having to take my sax home and having to navigate through gang infested areas: Homicide Laws, Devil Rebels, although I think the Jolly Stompers were gone by then. It is still a time I look back on with some fondness. My friends and I made an adventure of climbing the roofs of the Annex and also an abandoned Brewery nearby. Also, the library on Bushwick and Dekalb was my second home. I haven't been back there in quite awhile, but it has changed dramatically.

TCollins: 9th Dec 2007 - 15:11 GMT

Hello everyone. Was born in a house on Covert off Central in 1934. Went to 14 Holy Martyrs from 39 to 47. Got a scholarship to Bishop Loughlin High.Lived on Central right across from the Church then my Dad had a funeral parlor on Weirfield and Wilson. My Uncle John also had a funeral parlor on Central. Last lived at 34 Schaeffer St between Broadway and Bushwick. Went into the military in 1951. Noe retired and Living in South Carolina.

Anonymous: 14th Dec 2007 - 10:39 GMT

the Democrats for more than 50 years has had a run of Brooklyn, NYC. Left the Bushwick and surrounding areas in total ruin, with crime rampant, profound social apathy, and proliferating vermin to name a few.
The good people's decendants are coming back to reclaim their ancestral community and restore its respectability. Amen.

Michael worsley: 20th Dec 2007 - 03:56 GMT

I Was Born On November 21,1971 In Bushwick 37 Eldert Street On The Second Floor My Heart And Soul Still There In Brooklyn As They Say Never Forget Where You Came From

alex nieves: 5th Jan 2008 - 13:55 GMT

i love bushwick been here for 23 years .whish it was like back then all theses people from the city mven in are messn every thing up

alex nieves: 5th Jan 2008 - 13:55 GMT

i love bushwick been here for 23 years .whish it was like back then all theses people from the city mven in are messn every thing up

Michael Worsley: 7th Jan 2008 - 00:12 GMT

Bushwick Of A Blossom A Best Of Poetry,Can Be Expressed Musically.All Of The Days There.Natives of Bushwick Been Aware.You Might Say.Reflecting On Yesterday.All I Hear.Motown Music Clear.Winds To Blow.Just A Thrilling Soul.Bushwick Of A Blossom.

rich backes: 9th Jan 2008 - 03:20 GMT

lived at 624 chauncey st.early fiftees remember niehr's ice cream parlor home of the rail road boys, house long gone.me and my brothers visit there once in awhile don't reconize any of the houses on that block.good old memories of neighborhood kids kenny, bruce,tommy,bobby,neil,larry who died in vietnam in 56 we moved across broadway still on chauncey st.though.we always played stick ball during the summer there used to be tons of kids playing. not any more! i miss those days

bob rainis: 11th Jan 2008 - 03:49 GMT

lived on Bushwick ave just off Jefferson . Across the street was Murray's Antiques and an ice cream parlor. Left the area when I was 4 after my dad came early from work one afternoon to hear mother scream. A guy had just climed through our second story window. i heard one cop say, he must of fallen out the window. Later came back as a cop and worked the area in homicide and narcotics in the 90's. Family buried in the Catholic Cemetry (Evergreen ?). For extra cash my dad delievered for Bonacour's Bakery. Our MD was Dr Viviano, who moved to richmond Hill, where we moved, kept him as our doc until he retired. Dad would walk me to Highland Park on Saturday mornings.To the poster who lamented over the condition of St mark's lutheran and the "people in charge who let it run down" I remind you that the congregation is responsible and GOD is charge!

Michael Worsley: 14th Jan 2008 - 00:10 GMT

In Bushwick Brooklyn In The Early 1970's When I Was Growing Up All I Heard Was Music Marvin Gaye,Stevie Wonder,Earth,Wind & Fire,Herbie Hancock,Grover Washington,Jr.Antonio Carlos Jobim,Astrud Gilberto,George Benson,I Use To Go To A Thrift Shop Out On Forest Parkway And Jamaica Avenue In Woodhaven Queens And Also There's 591 Jazz Records In My Collection 9 Shy Of 600 Someday I'll Collect Close To 2,000 Ha,Ha,Ha,Ha,

Lenny Santiago: 15th Jan 2008 - 22:54 GMT

I too remember JHS 111. I graduated from PS 274 to 111. Graduated 111 in 1976. I was in the band with Mr. Montesano. I attended City college after that, then moved to Dallas TX. I have been living down here for over 21 years. I still remember 35 Starr Street.

peg658: 17th Jan 2008 - 18:33 GMT

Hello to Rich Backes. Were you one of the twins? If so, I spent many hours walking you and your brother in your carriage around the block with your sister, Mary. Tell her Peggy (Betty's cousin) said hi.

Bill Foss: 21st Jan 2008 - 17:58 GMT

I went to PS 145, then JHS 111. I lived on Morgan Ave, but hung out on Jefferson st. between Wilson and Central Ave. It was the mid 60's , and we played stickball EVERYDAY!!! also punch ball, slapball, football, rollerskate hockey, and had a great time...I miss those days Would like to hear from the old gang, Larry, James, Jackie, Paulie, Vinny, Joe, Johnny, Gary , Eddie, Artie, Frankie, my email is Pool07@aol.com.

Michael Worsley: 23rd Jan 2008 - 20:07 GMT

Growing Up At An Early Young Age My Idols Were Marvin Gaye,Stevie Wonder,Smokey Robinson,Maurice White,Philip Bailey,Reggie Jackson,Hubie Brooks,Did You Know Hubie Signed With The Mets On Tuesday June 6,1978?Three Weeks Later On Tuesday June 27,1978 I Graduated From P.S.45 Annex Kindergarden,How Can I Have A Good Memory?But It's Good To Remember.

pierre: 24th Jan 2008 - 07:42 GMT

Lenny:
Mr Montesano was the best music teacher in 111 (the orchestra and chorus sucked), i graduated in '77, i also went to ps274. good to see that others made it out successfully.

antBlack: 24th Jan 2008 - 17:45 GMT

LOL...Well, the Orchestra did suck! The band was great and Montesano was a great teacher. I played Bflat Tenor sax...not many solos, but still, it was the Tenor sax! Anybody remember Mr Weintraub in the gym? Mr Solomon and Mr Silverglad? All great teachers ('cept Weintraub!) Hey, what was the name of that lil italian bakery around the corner on Knickerbocker where you could get the small square pizzas (tomato pies) that were room temp and about 25 cents?

Joey - The TPA Crew: 24th Jan 2008 - 21:56 GMT

Wow, I was born in Bushwick, and it was interesting to see the commentary as well as the photos. Thanks for the update.

Bill Foss: 25th Jan 2008 - 11:11 GMT

Hey antBlack...I had Mr. Solomon in 1966 for Home room and Math.

Bill Foss: 25th Jan 2008 - 11:19 GMT

HEY DEE... I graduated from 111 in 1967...Mr. Lilly was my Home room teacher in 8th grade...also my typing teacher...a strict teacher...but fair...I really liked talking to him about life at home.

Bill Foss: 25th Jan 2008 - 11:23 GMT

Who remembers Miss Crelando from P.S. 145...my 6th grade teacher...she weighed abour 300lbs. and thats not lie. she hit us on the palm of the hand with a ruler if you got caught talking or chewing gum. She also had a wooden dumbell she'd chuck at you to get your attention, bring back this kind of teacher, and you'll learn in school...believe me!!!

antBlack: 30th Jan 2008 - 18:51 GMT

Hey, Anyone remember Mr Tommicelli (sp)? Taught math at ps 274. Also had an old school meat market on Broadway... wow, so long ago

Dekotastone/Levon : 31st Jan 2008 - 18:34 GMT

Mad Props To All Of You For Keeping This History Alive And Mad Respect To All Of You That Have Move On To A Better Life.. I To Was There And Seen It All.. I Wish You All Well In Life.. For I Also Am Doing Well.. I Am Levon The Taylor One Of The Founder Of The Devils Rebels And CEO Of The Devils Rebels Magazine, And Godfather Of The Devils Rebels Eternal Family In Florida..

Dekotastone/Levon : 31st Jan 2008 - 18:41 GMT

P.S. Doz Anyone Have Photos Of The Devils Rebels Please Send Me A Copy
Devils.Rebels@hotmail.com

rich backes: 1st Feb 2008 - 04:46 GMT

hi peggy no i'm the twins older brother i used to hang out with your brother bobby.how is your brother? i thought that was you from your nov.message.couldn't get this site back kept getting another bushwick site drove me nuts.don't know how i got back here.live upstate now my sister and two brothers live in jersey, were are you? do you ever go back? u won't recognize any of the houses on that block ours is long gone.hope i hear from you again put this in my favorites so i don't lose it again so long for now

NervaVels: 2nd Feb 2008 - 15:19 GMT

I lived on the block of Green/Evergreen/Harman for almost 20 years; prior to that, I lived on Jefferson St between Knickerbocker and Irving (still remember getting picked up by the bus to go to a private school called Junior Academy). I remember when it was an Italian neighborhood and the rich wonderful smells of food and cheese and bread and pastry permeated the air.

I moved to Green Ave between Central and Evergreen in the late 60s early 70s. I remember all those boarded up buildings when they had people in them. I remember the fires and the city's fiscal emergencies that left Bushwick looking like an apocalyptic post nuclear warzone. I remember the packs of dogs (yes, there were!) and large open 2 or 3 block areas empty of homes (where now stands the projects and Hope Gardens). I remember Dean's Department store just past the Knickerbocker M train station and the huge empty factory building that blew up and destroyed some really beautiful buildings and two family homes there.

I went to PS 274 from the second grade(as did my kids and for a year, my grandchild). I attended JHS 111 (god I remember the song, people: All Hail, Enrico Fermi, proudly let us sing! GAH!) Do you remember that wall with the raised relief of the planets? I loved that wall. I used to run all around that building and fell down all the stairs. I was one of the few students who understood when a teacher was making the remark, "Hey, you gruesome (grew some)" I shot back, "I am NOT Gruesome!" I had friends who were part of the Devil's Rebels, the Lady Rebels, the Baby Rebels... I read all the time. But I remember my neighborhood dying, and looking like something from one of the scifi/fantasy books I had read, and then struggling to get back up.

My mother worked at Menorah Hospital (nursing home on Bushwick), and I ended up working there for a little bit as well before they moved. I went to an all-girls' school in Manhattan called Mabel Dean Bacon. I lived for a bit in Queens (ghastly) and The Bronx (loved it). But I always came back to Bushwick; my parents still own a home there. My eldest child lives there with her daughter.

I left in 2004 to PA; I couldn't take the crowds anymore and I couldn't work in the city either, after 9/11. Except for PS 274, all the schools I attended no longer exist - makes me feel a little wierd.

I recognize all the buildings in the pictures, and it kind of makes me nostalgic, but not much. There's so much hope and promise in Bushwick, but something always seems to interfere and it breaks my heart.

One of the pictures you have here used to have a billboard for the Alexandria Montiel hair and beauty products. For some reason, that building most of all makes me sad.

Here's to hoping that Bushwick's future glows bright with promise and not more disaster.

Bobby: 4th Feb 2008 - 00:09 GMT

Richie Backes, now there's a name out of the past. Send me an email and we can talk old times. borne2x@earthlink.net Your old buddy, Bobby

antBlack: 7th Feb 2008 - 16:57 GMT

You know, a lot of people used to talk down about Bushwick as it was in the 70's. But I remember it as a real nieghborhood - everyone know each other and looked out for the area. Even "gang members." (Snoopy and a dude named Chocolate

Bobby I: 21st Feb 2008 - 17:00 GMT

It's a shame that time goes by so fast. I lived on Starr between Wilson and Central, before JHS 111 was there (it used to be PS 53) and it had a nice little schoolyard where we used to play stickball and punchball and many other games.

I belonged to the Imperials baseball team of Starr Street and we used to play against other teams from other blocks. We had to move out in 1962 because they took down the whole block to build 111.

I remember going to Knickerbocker Park and then going for pizza at Parkview Pizza- it was the best. I remember the pool room on Starr St. Also playing stoop ball, Johnny on the Pony, Hit the Stick, Boxball. They were great times.

Manny Cruz: 25th Feb 2008 - 21:06 GMT

Lenny Santiago! I bet I can remember you if i see your pic in the yearbook my man. I went to 111 and remember being in the orchestra with mr Greenspan i played bass. I also lived in Himrod off central. Wow, this really brings back a lot of memories

Yola: 26th Feb 2008 - 13:39 GMT

I also went to JHS 111. I've been searching the web for this school. I feel wonderful that I finally found a site. I graduated in 1969. Gangs, I don't remember.

Evelyn Villanueva: 1st Mar 2008 - 06:50 GMT

Hey, Nerva.. its me your Co-grandmother! Funny how we surf the same sights. this is my 2nd writing on this web-page. Using my maiden name to
practice for when the divorce comes through.

Bill Foss: 2nd Mar 2008 - 00:20 GMT

Hey Bobby, I lived on Jefferson St. between wilson and cenral, right next to the funeral parlor...remember caruso's drug store? how about the Italian store on the corner of troutman and wilson..Email me dude..its pool07@aol.com

Joe Gonzalez: 3rd Mar 2008 - 03:55 GMT

I grew up on Knickerbocker Ave., 799, between Halsey and Eldert...My father owned the corner grocery, on the corner of Eldert and Knickerbocker.....We moved in in 1964 and I left to see the world in
1976...US ARMY....Live in New Jersey now and remember Snoopy from the
Halsey Bobs....Snoopy died in Nam...along with a guy named Guzman....
in 1967-1968...anyone out there from this era...Went back last month
and the house I lived in was torn down...the grocery is still there
but under different ownership....Halsey park and St. Martins Church bring some fine memories of dancing and beautiful girls...Joe G.

Sammy Perez: 5th Mar 2008 - 19:59 GMT

Let me start by saying, this is unbelieveable. On a whim I typed in Enrico Fermi JHS 111 on Google and up comes this blog. What's even greater is that there are one or two people on here that I actually went to school with. I graduated from JHS 111 in '76. I used to live on Jefferson St. between Central and Wilson. The summer of '76 after graduation, my family moved to Bethlehem, PA where I've been ever since. While I love the Lehigh Valley and wouldn't trade it for anything, I truly miss my Brooklyn roots and many of the memories I've been reading on here. Funny how you can read about things such as the 'Devils Rebels' and drug infested Knickerbocker Park and they actually make you smile. Manny Cruz, believe it or not, I think we were in the same class together, 8-231, with Miss Graziani; Correct me if I'm wrong. Lenny Santiago, I think I remember you were in 8-201 if I'm not mistaken. Unreal I found this, but I'm glad I did. For the record, Pierre was ragging on the chorus teacher, well for the record, I was in the chorus and Mr. Shor was easily one of my favorite teachers. Anyone from class of '76 that wants to hit me up can do so @ alljam1@msn.com. Use JHS 111 Class of '76 in the subject field, it would be great catching up with you.

Easy,

Sam "ALL JAM"

Steven H.: 30th Mar 2008 - 18:37 GMT

antBlack is right. I grew up in Bushwick in the 60's and 70's, and moved to the other side of Brooklyn in 78. I remember it being a true neighborhood, my friends were black, hispanic, jewish, polish, etc. We cared for each other. I went to parochial schools, St. Marks and then Martin Luther in Queens. It was some of these good friends who kept me from being bothered by the gangs, and from being beat up. They seemed to pick on us "private school kids." Does anyone remember the old bowling alley that was in an old building on the corner near Broadway and Myrtle? Also, the two movie theaters down Broadway. My favorite stores were John & Als and Riccos. Remember when John & Als had the hostage situation in the 70's? We thought that going to Highland Park or Forest Park was big time. I came back in the middle 90's to work in Bushwick, and the drug problem was rampant, and prostitution big. Buildings were abandoned. I moved to a school in Queens, but still go to Bushwick for activities and am amazed at the transformation going on. I should have brought one of those brewmaster mansions when they were cheap, and I had the chance :) ! Oh yeah, remember the breweries? To many memories to write about!

Sammy Perez: 3rd Apr 2008 - 18:33 GMT

Steven H., two things you mentioned bring back great memories. First of all, you mentioned theaters on Broadway. The one I remember is 'Teatro Rio Piedras' where they would show Kung Fu double features in the early '70's. The other thing you mentioned that I remember vividly is the Rheingold brewery on Central Avenue, which I would pass everyday as a kid when I attended P.S. 145 on Noll Street. One more thing, Rico's was the store if you wanted sporting goods. Thanks for the memories.

Easy,

Sam "ALL JAM"

antblack: 7th Apr 2008 - 14:10 GMT

Steven H, Sammy - I remember going to Loews Gates on Broadway to see my King Fu Double features. We used to climb the roofs of the Rheingold brewery for fun. and also PS 274's Annex. we'd also walk all the way up Dekalb to go to Marcy pool when the johnny pumps (lol) were capped with sprinklers. Gosh - block parties, stickball, skelly, helado coco guys walking down the street with the red and white carts, and "crack tops" that game we used to play with the old wooden spinning tops with the strings.....

Sammy Perez: 8th Apr 2008 - 19:33 GMT

antblack, you mentioned skelly, stickball, tops and coco carts. Those are some serious memories there. Here a few more for you: punchball, cocolerio 1,2,3, off the wall and chinese handball along with riding the J and M train to Essex Street in Manhattan. Memories are good, but good memories are great!

Easy,

Sam "ALL JAM"

antblack: 9th Apr 2008 - 15:31 GMT

Chinese Handball!!!! On the Bounce! Big Wheels, go carts made out of old metal roller skates, a 2 by 4 and a wooden milk crate, and chuck sticks using the chains off peoples garbage can lids!

Sammy Perez: 10th Apr 2008 - 13:20 GMT

antblack, you are definitely hitting some memory chords with the go-carts and nunchucks. As for 111, the one thing I remember is playing handball in the morning and at lunchtime. Besides the two main handball courts in the schoolyard, we played against various walls against the school building. There were easily 5 handball games going on at the same time in that schoolyard. On a different note, regarding fashion, do you remember silk satin plaid shirts and marshmallow shoes in the mid '70's along with long feathered back DA haircuts? Classic!!!

anon (ppp76.tc-5.kal-ch.mi.localnet.com): 18th Apr 2008 - 19:33 GMT

Does anyone remember Bushwick High School during the 1960's, and some of the teachers there, such as Mr. Abel (Orchestra and music), Mr. Holden (swimming), Mr. Fieldler (Track and sports coach), Mr. Cohen (Sports and was also at Guidance Counselor), Mr. Faber (Guidance Counselor), and some of the others. Also the movie theater across the street form the park on Starr Street. There was a lady manager there at the time. Her son went to Bushwick (I did errands for her, such getting her a newspaper, coffee, etc.) Some of the kids who lived and played on Central Avenue going towards Starr, one was a girl who I believe had red hair), and there was at times, a fellow named Benji (Benjamin). We woiuld try to avoid him though. Would love to hear from you - Macallen@breakthru.com

E.stoned bushwick: 1st May 2008 - 20:46 GMT

I grew up in the bush on wilson av in stockholm st.I was one of the f,ups had a baby at 14 with a girl named nelly . I would play hooky from school from 111 and go see my girl at cleavland I was A young nieve little bad as with no guidence my friends and I would hang out in the park knick. we would smoke blunts and drink 40,s all night I still miss my first love nelly were u at? I still miss bushwick and all the shit that went down I currently live in florida. stice were u at? l.g were u at? nelly weres my dauther?

dops: 7th May 2008 - 16:04 GMT

wow im 22 years old and live on central between melrose and jeff..its kool heaing all you guys stories about back in the days...

Pinky: 8th May 2008 - 17:59 GMT

I luv reading all these wonderful memories everyone has about our childhood neighborhood. I graduated in 1975. Does anyone remember Mr.Tillman? He was a gym teacher. I was in sp 8-BG. One of my fave teachers was Mr.Spurber. He taught science. Looking back, it was the very best of times 4 me. I think it may be a bad area now but it will always hold a special place in my heart. PS- Does anyone remember Carol Marks, Illiana Roman or even Donald Hart?????? Class 0f '75.

Atasha: 14th May 2008 - 01:29 GMT

It's wonderful hearing all these stories about my hometown. I was born in 1991 and attended PS 123K and JS 291. I used to live on Stockholm St., between Irving and Wyckoff Avenues, but 5 years ago, my family moved to Long Island.

To tell the truth, I knew Bushwick had gangs and drugs, but I never thought it was really that bad. Atleast, it didn't seem that bad back in the '90s, when I was growing up. I have such fond memories of living in Bushwick. Every time the weather was nice, my family and I would go to Maria Hernandez Park between Knickerbocker and Irving and we'd buy ice cream from the carts. We'd go to Knickerbocker just to "knock around." I remember walking to JS 291 every day and have to go through metal detectors every single morning, where I'd look like an idiot because the alarm would always go off on me because of my hairclips, braceletes, or earrings.

The pizzeria on Knickerbocker and Hart is/was awesome! I wonder, is it still there?

If you have some pics of Bushwick, please post them! I haven't been to Bushwick in a while and don't have a chance to go back. I would really appreciate it if someone posted some pics or email me some.

To anyone who graduated PS 123K in 2001, please email me!! I've been trying to look for my classmates for a long time now.

my email: mere_pehla_pyar@yahoo.com

Sammy Perez: 14th May 2008 - 18:17 GMT

Pinky:

I was in the class after, 1976, so I remember Mr. Tillman and Mr. Sperber quite well. As a matter of fact, Mr. Sperber along with Mr. Shor, the chorus teacher, were my favorite teachers also. For the record, after some searching, I found my 1976 yearbook from JHS 111. If you like, you or anyone else from the class of '76 can hit me up at ALLJAM1@MSN.COM, just use JHS 111 in the subject field. Thanks for the memories.

Easy,

Sam "ALL JAM"

anon (nat2.northshorelij.com): 3rd Jun 2008 - 13:29 GMT

Hi

I grew up in Bushwick, along with most of my cousins. I went to Fourteen Holy Martyrs School- graduated in 1964. I have wonderful memories of my growing up years in a culturaly diverse as well as culturaly sensitive community. We moved yo LI 1966-67, and as much as we had looked forward to our own home - a back yard - and safe schools, it was culture shock. I don't think that I ever realized how nurturing my old neighborhood community was until I moved to LI. I used to travel back to Brooklyn to visit with Father Heitz - and the wonderful Dominican sisters that gave us a fantastic education. Alas the neighborhood changed, Fourteen Holy Martyrs - which had been the heart of the community I grew up in - closed. I would give anything to go back in time and revisit the people and places of my youth. dancing School at Nellie Cook's School of Dance on Broadway - recitals at the Brooklyn Acadamey of Music, Putnam Park, Cypress Pool, Bishop McDonald HS, the Wilson Avenue line, Highland and Forest Parks. Trigger any memeories out there????

Lou Romero: 27th Jun 2008 - 20:24 GMT

Wow, its great to know someone remembers Father Heitz of Fourteen Holy Martyrs, I remember the funeral service for him in the church (circa 1969-1971) then Father Martin took over duties as principal of the school.
I was there from 1967 -1974, the nuns I remembered were Sr.Ann Melanie, Sr.Betty and Sr. Ana- great memories

Rita Spencer Knudsen: 27th Jun 2008 : 28th Jun 2008 - 03:55 GMT

I lived around Flatbush Ave. and my Mom would take me over to Decatur St. to see my Aunts Francis and Nellie. Nellie had the Nellie Cook Dance Studio on Broadway and I took dance lessons there and was in the shows at the Brooklyn Academy of Music. James Cook a vaudvillian and Francis and Nellie first lived on Chauncey Ave. in 1910. My memories are terrific of their row house, filled with tulle, feathers, sequined costumes and capezio dance shoes getting ready for the shows,the studio and all the kids that came.

Bertha Gibson (Sanchez): 30th Jun 2008 - 12:20 GMT

Hello to all. Great blog here.
Louis (Koochie....smile)
Oh my goodness, I remember viewing Father Heitz' body in the rectory (1970?). Fourteen Holy Martyrs (on Central/Schaffer St) merged with St. Martin's (on Knickerbocker/Weirfield St) and the building (on Central/Schaffer) was taken over by Pilgrim Baptist Church. Then sometime in 2002, Pilgrim moved to Gates/Broadway. Wasn't Father Martin the priest who married one of the church's nuns (her name escapes me)? If this is the same priest.... he was one fine-looking priest. LOL. Although we longer reside in Bushwick, I will always consider it my home. Sweet sweet memories!

Lou Romero: 30th Jun 2008 - 12:30 GMT

Welcome aboard Bertha, looks like the Father Heitz memories is in full steam, yes, Father Martin, I believe did marry one of the nuns, I think
they had to leave the church to do that, I believe Laura would have to confirm that story.
I remember he(Fr.Martin) was not very encouraging of me as a candidate for the RFK school, well I had to show him, and I did. !!

Bertha Gibson : 30th Jun 2008 - 12:40 GMT

Thank you. I'm surprised you received no encouragement from Fr. Martin, whom seemed to be such a nice priest. Was it Sister Betty of 14 Holy Martyrs (now St. Martin's) who passed away recently? I heard she was one strict teacher/nun.

upfromflames: 30th Jun 2008 - 14:01 GMT

I'm glad ya'll have found each other here. Bushwick has an important place in the hearts of CityNoise contributors and editors.

If you have any photos of Bushwick from your youth, you are welcome to post them here at citynoise.

And in addition, have you considered joining bushwick buddies? Thats a whole community of former residents, where you can find others like yourself.

Lou Romero: 30th Jun 2008 - 20:31 GMT

Thanks UFF,
I am a member of BushwickBuddies, maybe a little to crowded for me now (lol)
A cousin of mine forward us to CityNoise, showcasing the pictures of Bushwick.
I'm hoping to hear from more Fourteen Holy Martyrs alumnii between the years 1973 to 1975

Renee: 1st Jul 2008 - 18:27 GMT

Just stumbled on this site. I was born in an apt Bushwick and Gates. We later owned a house on Linden just off Bushwick during the Depression. Went to what was then called Halsey Jr H and then Cleveland HS even though I was supposed to go to Bushwick. Cleveland was new and clean. What fun reading all these entries about that neighborhood. We used to walk to Highland Park as teenagers.

jackie: 5th Jul 2008 - 17:50 GMT

does anyone remember of a factory on 69 troutman street between
evergreen and bushwick? Did they make stuffed animals?

VeeJay: 11th Jul 2008 - 14:34 GMT

Found this sight quite by accident. Like many of you I grew up in Bushwick and we left there in 1962 because I was mugged and beaten several times - we lived on Goodwin Pl. between Broadway & Bushwick and Green & Grove. Prior to the muggings it was a safe area and playing in the A&P parking lot waswhat we all did. The houses were burnt down in the 1970's but there is a beautiful victory garden there now. Wish there were a way to go home again.

Lou Romero: 14th Jul 2008 - 17:21 GMT

Amazing !! I didn't realize the quality of life and safety had began to decline as early as 1962.
I know that the "white flight" was in full swing from 1965 onward, many neighboorhoods still had your Italians, Irish and Germans, what I remember from FHM was the dwindling number of white children up until 1975.
The Blackout of 77' must have been the "icing on the cake ".

upfromflames: 14th Jul 2008 - 18:28 GMT

Lou: It depends on what part of Bushwick you are talking about, as the process of demographic change proceeded differently in different part of the neighborhood. In ther southern side of Bushwick--south of Myrtle--the process started just after WWII, and proceeded quite slowly, as Caribbean and African Americans fmailies moved over from Bed Stuy--Crown Heights. Those working class areas fared quite well and still have lots of historic homes.

But by the time that Central Bushwick (Palmetto, Gates, Linden Aves) were changing over, it was a much less organic process. White flight was sped up by demolitions for school construction, block busting real estate agents, and the inreasing pace of the civil rights movement on the national scale. Hundreds of families moved from those blocks in in 62-63.

It got even worse by the time that Northern Bushwick changed over during the late 60's and early 1970's, with the arrival of poor Puerto Rican families. Ethnic clashes were followed by the abandonmemt of whole blocks, which soon burned down following city disinvestment.

Lou Romero: 14th Jul 2008 - 20:40 GMT

Thanks UFF, your response was almost totally on the money, except
for the "poor Puerto Rican families" part.
Many PR families were hard-working and wanted a better living conditions as well as good schools, many who could afford to send their kids to parochial (ie: catholic) schools, a good many who went on to A-rated high schools and colleges.
A lot of factors led to the decay and negligence of these Bushwick neighbor hoods, one especially was the rising arson rate before the Blackout of 77'.
Also damaging education wise, was the closing of about 6 or 8 catholic
schools in 1975 (FHM, one of the casualties).
It was a sad time, thankfully there's a light at the end of the tunnel.
But for many, it may not be a light.
Its called Gentrification.

upfromflames: 14th Jul 2008 - 21:59 GMT

Yeah, trends are very general, so I don't want to stereotype at all. I meant poor relative to the earlier families. Thanks for correcting me on that one.

I am a little blurry on the cause and effect of why the schools closed down, if Puerto Rican families were attending in large numbers. I had understood their congregations were dying out, and that's why they shut down.

Your original point about 77 being on the "icing on the cake" rings true and bold--though I would say "the "straw that broke the camel's back", for the ruinous shape in which Bushwick was left.

But I really don't think that gentrification is a light at the end of the tunnel.Its just another twist in a long evolution of the community.

LSpegal: 15th Jul 2008 - 04:52 GMT

I didn't grow up in NY but I have a few ancestors who grew up or lived in Brooklyn. I'm researching them and the areas where they used to live and Arthur THAMM lived at 633 Wilson Ave. at least in the 1920 & 30 censuses and probably until he died in 1965, his wife was Jennie. Just on a whim thought someone might be able to tell me something about that address, neighborhood or possibly have a photo or two of the block perhaps. My dad remembers walking there and that there was a school (what school?) across the street from their place. Perhaps someone might remember them? Neighbors at that address in 1930 were SWAN, William & Catherine with children William 7, Mary 5, Robert 3, James 1. TETONS(?), Peter & Frances. MUNTOBANO, Joseph & Grace. BONADAMA, Frank & Katherine. FALZONE, Joseph & Theresa with children Anna 15, Jennie 12, Charles 10, Patsey 23 boarder. SCHULTZ, Mary and son Joseph 14. Maybe one of the names will ring a bell with someone out there. Thanks for your time! I've enjoyed all the great information and postings I've read on citynoise immensely.

Lou Romero: 16th Jul 2008 - 16:37 GMT

Good exchange UFF,
The catholic schools other reason for closing was the declining enrollment from the local neighborhoods (ie: PRs and Blacks), many
of these families could not afford the tuition.
I remember classmates of mine going to the Public Schools after 4 to 6 years in catholic schools.
As for gentrification, an uncle (by marriage) of mine is now complaining
of the increasing rent in his Gates Ave neighboorhood, between Bushwick and Broadway !!
And that was a neighborhood, I used to dread walking on back in the 70's and 80's.
I guess some medicine is hard to stomach in the beginning :)

upfromflames: 16th Jul 2008 - 22:18 GMT

Yeah I appreciate your voice here too!

Question for you: When Puerto Rican folks replaced Italians, did they tend to join the catholic congregations--i am thinking about St. Barbara's Cathedral and school, which i am writing about now.

What do you remember?

Lou Romero: 17th Jul 2008 - 15:04 GMT

The majority of Puerto Ricans are Catholic in tradition, so of course they gravitated to their local churches, as for education, that was their choice or discretion if the children were to attend the catholic schools.
My dad was not very religious, but he saw that catholic schools offered a better education than the public schools.
As for St.Barbara's, the congregation is heavily Hispanic, the PRs are not the majority they once was going back to the 70's to the 90s.
St.Elizabeth (or St.Martin, for the older folks) has a large Dominican concentration.

Linda Steinmetz: 30th Jul 2008 - 15:50 GMT

found this site while looking for info on P.S. 113 - the one on Moffat Street. I Grew up on Moffat Street, same block as the school, We had one of the houses with backyards that backed up to the brick walls of garages on the street behind us. (What street was that ??)
We sold and left in 1957 - patriarchal Iris family and my grandfather told us it was time to move "because the neighborhood was changing". Sadly, went back several years later to find that subsequent owners of "my" house had had the full sized Japanese cherry trees in the backyard removed. And, to be honest, at that time (mid 60's - I was in college) the neighborhood was not in the best of shape.
Hope things have gotten better.

Grace Ramos-Huertas: 14th Aug 2008 - 00:09 GMT

Hi everyone-I too attended JHS111 from 9/69 to june71.
Though I was terrified to be starting JH at the time becuse of a few bullies for the most part I have nothinbg but wonderful memories of my time spent there. All my teachers were always nothing but supportive of me.I was born on Suydam St. between evergreen and central with the myrtle ave M train putting me to sleep each night.I lived there until my 21st birthday. We then moved to Stanhope st, where my mom still lives.There is a lot to say about slum lords but we need to blame renters who don't think twice about trashing someone elses property. I loved growing up on Suydam. To me there was no other place in the world like it. I thought I would never leave it or New york for that matter. I still miss "home". Does anyone remember the science teacher Mr. Spangler and his wife?

HOBrien: 14th Aug 2008 - 14:17 GMT

Hi Tom,
My name is Harry O'Brien. I lived at 569 Central Ave between
Eldert and Covert across the St from FHM. You and I started school together and played with the same kids . Remember the Malone brothers . They lived on Central across the St from the firehouse. (Jack,Fred and Tommy)
HOPE TO HEAR FROM YOU,
Harry

always a Bushwick kid: 15th Aug 2008 - 17:23 GMT

What a great site... I've read almost all the comments and they ring true for most of it. I grew up in Bushwick- lived on Jefferson in the 60’s, moved to Bleecker Street in the 70’s when ‘rocking’ ( a music/dance movement took place amongst various groups (the Little Davids come to mind with their tan Jackets) then onto Irving Ave in the 80’s when folks were stealing car batteries and radios and trading them in for drugs. I’ve moved out a few years ago. The weirdest thing is reading about some of the stories. I happen to recall some of the schools being built (291 & 383) and ALL THOSE BURNED DOWN BLOCKS! I attended PS 106 and HS in another part of Brooklyn. I thought I would leave Bushwick for good once I graduated from College in the 80s; but in fact, I came back to teach in that District (District 32) in the early 90s, became Principal of what was IS 111 [now IS 347] in ’02 taking it from the 6th worst school in the city to the 50th percent bracket in one year (i.e. in reading, math and attendance scores). However, it’s not the boasting that I feel like writing about; but what I am currently observing in Bushwick. There seems to be a neighborhood sense that crime once again is on the rise (coincidental to the activity that we saw when we had similar economic conditions in the 70s and 80s?). What has taken a few decades to rebuild like a phoenix rising may in fact usher in a bird flu-like epidemic of crime unless disenfranchised folks have access to decent paying jobs and/or we assist in that process of guiding them to access such employment. I’m curious to know the opinions of others who live and/or work in Bushwick if they feel the same as I do.
Congratulations to the site’s author- great idea!

always a Bushwick kid: 15th Aug 2008 - 17:54 GMT

Hey Lou Romero: you mentioned Sr. Ann Melanie, Sr. Betty, etc. Well Sr. Ann Melanie died not too long ago and Sr. Betty still works in Bushwick- she runs Independence House on Cornelia Street (between Irving & Wycoff Aves). Sr. Betty is one great woman!

Hey UP FROM FLAMES: the St. Barbara side of Bushwick did have a PR presence in the 70s and 80s (certainly there is a shift among other Latin American communities). At St. Martin of Tours Church (St. Elizabeth Seton School being aross the street) has a large influence of folks from the Dominican Republic. Private Education (Catholic, Protestant, etc) still remains the single ticket out for families who could afford it. Certainly it happened to me in the 70s and 80s. The Catholic Church was magnetic in the 60s, 70s and early 80s for latino families; however, some migrated to churches in the city during the 60s until spanish speaking priest [ergo services] arrived in Bushwick(I remember my dad playing baseball for St. Mary's Church in the lower east side in the 60s and early 70s because we did not have a spanish mass at St. Martin until Fr. Rodriguez came to the parish). I believe now that the Catholic Church has lost significant influence on the newer generation as the number of 3rd & 4th generation latinos have dwindled in these local parishes. 1st & 2nd generation folk continue to make-up the majority of mass attendees.

Steven H.: 16th Aug 2008 - 04:07 GMT

I just love this site! Growing up in Bushwick was a big part of my life.I had friends in all walks of life. I grew up at St. Mark's Lutheran at Bushwick and Jefferson. A white pastor, Pastor Prange, got my family there, because he would not let it die when the white people left.

I go back every now and then. Keep writing, it just gets better and better.

Grace: 16th Aug 2008 - 14:15 GMT

Does anyone remember the bakery on dekalb and wilson near the police station it was owned my the messinas?? or amendalaras soda outlet on wilson.. does anyone know anyone on that block.. would like to hook up with old friends, even just to chat

So many memories

Eleanor: 16th Aug 2008 - 17:48 GMT

Lou, UFF and everyone else who is reading this post. I certainly don't think that Bushwick Buddies is too crowded ... as a matter of fact we have more and more interesting pictures every day ... being posted by "buddies" who have been on the site for a long time. There are loads of pictures from Knickerbocker Avenue ... all along it ... I would say that 633 was across from PS 106 between Putnam and Cornelia. The only thing is that Bushwick Buddies is a "private site" and you have to have a username and password to join us ... we like it that way so that people can feel free to become closer with each other. We've tappered back our political comments since people seem to get hauty about them ... but we definitely have people from both sides of the political spectrum on the site. We've been growing for five years so you can imagine how many threads, pictures and history there is stored there. Give it a try ... contact me at eleanorctr@aol.com and let me know you saw it hear at "citynoise.org" ... Happy surfing!

upfromflames: 17th Aug 2008 - 02:32 GMT

Steven H:

glad you like the thread.

Noticed that you mentioned you grew up going to St. Marks. I wonder about that church, why they have not sold that old building on Troutman (picture above). Its not only a wreck, its a waste! Seems like they could use the sale value to repair the building.

HOBrien: 17th Aug 2008 - 05:49 GMT

Hi , I lived at 569 Central Ave and attended 14 Holy Martyrs school
from 1940 to 1946. My name is Harry O'Brien.

Dennis: 20th Aug 2008 - 15:16 GMT

Hi neighbors,I lived at 6 Covert Street between Broadway and the almighty Bushwick Avenue. I too remember those classic games of playing skelly,stoop ball and johnny on the pony ouch! I just caught a neck spasm just thinking about that one. Does anyone remember Dominic's pizza shop on the corner of Covert and Broadway? How about Shapiro's hardware store? It's been many years since I lived in Bushwick yet I always find the time to visit from time to time. The punks in the neighborhood don't scare me at all. I walk around like I own the place because to me I do. When I'm there I'm wearing my white tee shirt,jeans and high top converse sneakers.In my pockets you'll find bazooka bubble gum,a spaulding ball and and my bottle cap for a game of skelly. Hey! Is anybody up for a game of ring-o-livio? God's blessing's to all...

Lou Romero: 25th Aug 2008 - 19:53 GMT

Thanks AABK,
For the info on Sr.Ann Melanie, she was my fifth grade teacher at FHM, a
very serious nun who often made you laugh with her antics.
And its good to hear Sr. Betty is still around, I remember back in the 80's that she was doing social service work with the teens from the Bushwick neighborhoods.
Now if anyone has any info on Mr.Curatolo, who was my 6th grade teacher at FHM, back then he had the 70's look, bell bottoms, curly fro and mustache.

Antoine Whitfield: 27th Aug 2008 - 16:40 GMT

yo,
I get a rush nostalgia when i hear you all talk about the the old hood... i didn't realize our shared history and how diverse we are as people "Bushwick Bred". Wow, i heard of stores i remember , the blackout, RKO movie house on Myrtle, Loews gates.
antblack!!! I think i do remember you and your brothers from stanhope. Even though I from down hill, wilson between cooper & moffat sts. I would hang down there and i think i remember you living across the street from the school park??? Also we attended Art & design together where your brother also attended b-ball players, right?
anyway, it's god to hear from you guys and likewise i miss the hood. right now I live in buffalo where i own & operate a HVAC co. So, to comment on the truth in success via Bushwick there's plenty. My nephew Dondre Whitfield (The Actor) is from the hood also so we do have our own royalty via the hood.

antblack: 27th Aug 2008 - 17:50 GMT

Whats up Antoine. I lived on Stanhope btw Bushwick and Evergreen. I only had one brother who (shockingly!) didn't like NY and subsequntly moved to NC when I was about 9. Now I wander if you are talking about Duck, TT, and Junior Banks? LOL. A little after I graduated from JHS 111 we moved to FT Green. That's when I went to A&D (79/80?). Perhaps we did go together. Either way around we know each in spirit!

Bea K.: 30th Aug 2008 - 21:50 GMT

Lou Romero, Upfromflames, all: I've heard so much about "white flight" just about all my life, that I honestly don't think that 'term' will 'ever' go away, how sad it that? I've also wondered if white people think it was any 'easier' for those of caught up in what was going on to "stay behind", when they had no other way out (didn't have the money to leave or even no where else to move to at that time)? I've seen other areas, and not just in New York City, go through what Bushwick did (and unfortunately still are going through) survived well enough to make something better of their lives.
I've only lived here 18 years already, but keep asking myself why it is, white people (not all but too many) feel that when 'other people' move into the areas where they reside, their 'property values will decline, they even feel 'threatened' to some extent, or maybe it's time for them to 'sell and get out' (white flight)?
Is it that you trust your own kind (skin color) better than you'd trust those of 'other races', or perhaps you feel that your own kind is better at taking care of what they possess and put more importance on things like property value (homes, land, etc.)?
Not trying to stir up a race debate, or anything else, I just want to seriously 'understand' the 'real motives' behind "white flight" (and yes, I can understand the fact that people black, white, brown, whatever wanting better for themselves and their loved ones, but should it come at the 'expense', don't know if that's the right word here, of 'those' who want the "exact same things" that you do?), in order to question if there will "ever" come a time when we don't feel so "threatened" by another persons skin color, and recognize that there's good and bad in every last one of us?
Once again, I am not trying to create a forum for a race debate, just asking a very serious question that still baffles me to this day.
P.S. To show you how 'history repeats itself', some of those Caucasian's (and others as well) who left Bushwick several years ago, their children and grand-children are 'now' returning and the demographics (ratio), is starting to 'change' along with it. Glad those of you who've left have found something worth while in your 'new' place of residence.

"Peace is not a place but actually a state of mind"

thesouthernapple: 7th Sep 2008 - 18:26 GMT

Hey everyone,

I'm sad to see the neighborhood in such decline. But I'm glad to see so many memories here, about the Ave.
I graduated Valerdictorian from St. Marks in 1985, and I know that its because of the love and discipline that I received there, I am the person I am today.

The housing crisis and gentrification makes it hard to gamble with a move back to Brooklyn, now as a wife and mother. My family moved to the suburbs of Atlanta GA in 91, after the tragic violence that stole my best friend away from me at the age of 17. Sure the quality of life is nice, but there is no sense of community here, with only the occasional nod to your neighbor while doing the yard. Every time I meet a fellow Native, we wax nostalgic, and wish that we could go back...Oh how I long for block parties, the corner store, good food, etc.

To Steven H. and Tonya James-Rance, I would love to get a website together for all of my St. Marks alums. Maybe, just maybe, we can get networking and do a little something for the alma mater. If anyone else remembers Pastor and Mary Nordeen, recess in the courtyard, Wednesday chapel, accolyte duty, Oscar the Ghost in the Rectory, green, white and the blazing red notes home, dodgeball in the basement to Sweet Georgia Brown, Principle Gober and Mrs. Scott-Gober, Mrs. Stahl and Mrs. Kirven, walking to the 40 bus, and getting teased about the uniform, hit me up! I miss my hometown, and all my fellow alums...

T. Alana Smith, M.A.
St. Mark's 1985 (I'm proud of my Blue and Grey Plaid!)
The Millbrook School 1989
Boston University, 1993
Shorter College, 2006

Bill Diggins: 8th Sep 2008 - 11:52 GMT

i grew up on granite street off bushwick in the 50s and early 60s. went to our lady of lourdes off desales pl.granite was a dead end. led up to bing belly hill over the tracks and aberdeen park, railroad boys gang!!! anyone remember???

punsterbill: 3rd Oct 2008 - 08:34 GMT

Born in Williamsburg Hospital in '41. Lived on first floor of 99 Stockholm St until '47 when we moved to Cornelia Street. went to PS 56 on Bushwick Ave, Halsey JHS and one year at FKLane before moving to Queens. Halsey was pivotal in my education. OLGC was our church, Dr. Rosenthal our GP. Gates, Bushwick and Monroe were the movies, and a long walk to Highland Park when we wanted to play baseball instead of stickball. When I llived on Stockholm, there was an Italian ice cream parlor near St. Barbara's that he lemon ice that I still remember. Been in California for 30+ years. Only miss NY when I want to take the grandkids someplace where the history is older than a hundred years.

JohnnyFDNY: 9th Oct 2008 - 23:06 GMT

The memories! Grew up on Stanhope and Central 1954 to 1960.Attended St Joseph Patron, on Suydam St, graduated 1960. Hung out as teenager on Himrod and Myrtle 1962 to 1963, belonged to Club Tesian 1963 to 1970 (Himrod off of Knickerbocker).Graduated from East New York VTHS, 1964.

needa_dayoff@hotmail.com: 10th Oct 2008 - 01:29 GMT

I grew up on knickerbocker avenue parallel to the park in an appartment just over the italian cafe and across from the bar always interesting outside my window I was a little kid when we moved on to onderdonk ave but i remember it well as we would go to the park often. I suppose to look for my dad who was deffinatley caught up in the happenings of that park.Still 20 years ago that neighborhood was a magic place somehow we all belonged there and we all belonged together i know this is true because 20 years later here we are

b.rock and gigi: 16th Oct 2008 - 13:17 GMT

i grew up on grattan st 103 and i looking four a gril that i love her name is gigi no lie nancy go to my best friend you no is mono

tanya: 26th Oct 2008 - 13:02 GMT

Hey everyone......those memories .......BORN IN 82 I grew up on bleecker bTWN wilson ansd cental ......ST. BABARAS CHURCH........went to Ps.75 Is 291..........bushwick is beautiful....

Yolanda Rodriguez: 6th Nov 2008 - 20:38 GMT

How many memories ah, Knickerbocker and Halsey. I lived at 792 Knickerbocker and Halsey. My brother Raul, Frankie,Eduardo, my sister Lucy. Does somebody have any comunication with with lucy, frankie or eduardo. You can write me at jolyann@yahoo.com I will appreciate it.

Barry: 9th Nov 2008 - 03:12 GMT

I remember Mr. Tomaselli. A teacher for all time. I lived in the heart of Bushwick Avenue from 1967-91. Attended PS274 where he taught. Knew my siblings who also attended his classes. He did worked in a meat mkt where my family shopped on Broadway. About 3 years ago, i went to a thrift store to buy books and came across a jhs album. Surprised to learn Mr. Tomaselli was, I believe, the principal of that Queens school. Amazing.

Peter: 9th Nov 2008 - 03:14 GMT

as a current bushwicker, ive really been enjoying reading you guys' reminiscence here about the old days. you guys should also check out other bushwick posts at citynoise.org/search/bushwick and see if any of the neighborhood still looks familiar to you guys... and if you have photos fro mthe old days, post em here! we'dd love to see em...

antblack: 10th Nov 2008 - 19:58 GMT

Barry, did you see my post above about Mr Tomaselli?

antBlack: 30th Jan 2008 - 18:51 GMT

Hey, Anyone remember Mr Tommicelli (sp)? Taught math at ps 274. Also had an old school meat market on Broadway... wow, so long ago

He was a great guy, old school style. Would tell my mom when I was slipping on my school work whenever she went to the meat market. They don't make teachers and neighborhoods like that anymore..no sir.

Dennis: 18th Nov 2008 - 17:19 GMT

Hey did anyone attend P.S.45 on Bushwick and Schaeffer? Remember a really cool teacher by the name of Mr. Roger Wilbeck? Hard to find teachers like him. He was always there for his students.I'd like to send him a shoutout no matter where he's at. A big thanks to other teachers who rock....