Hangin' Out

[Bernard]

I recall most of the people JP68 mentions and hung out with a few of them on occasion.
Half of them lived in the Brooks Sloate projects or on the outskirts.
Great times indeed!
I haven't seen most old friends in many, many years.
Hopefully they're all well and that I will see their names and posts here one day.

Bernard

[Robin]

Union Ave in the Totowa section has changed dramatically....

Stores that are gone From Redwood to Manchester:
Belrics
First National Bank
Plaza theater
Totowa library
Theresa and Georges (Photography)
Defeos (Beauty Shop)
jean Shoppe
A and P
Glovers (Stationary)
Netzers
Totowa Spa
Metzlers (Delicatessan)
Verps Bakery
Corronado's (Fabric Store) School 5 girls knew this
Moore's Funeral

They have been replaced with either new stores or parking lots as in the case of Belrics. The Library has been gutted and is sitting idle....so sad. I spent many Sat. mornings there.

[shears]

Hi Robin-It's Muriel- I very much enjoy reading your posts- working in town gives you a first hand view of all the changes-Sounds like many of Paterson's finest stayed or returned to run/teach in the city schools. Sad to hear of the demise of the library!! Saturday morning story hours & the summer reading clubs are highlights of my childhood. I learned to sew in Coronado's basement from Mickey Kerwin - who recently passed away,-and of course purchased fabric there for those awful clothes we created in home ec at p.s.#5. Glad they dropped the requirement for making our own graduation dresses the year before I graduated ('62); bought fried flounder every Friday at Metzler's, stopped in for a free cookie at the bakery across the street- Was that Verp's on the corner of Manchester & Union?) checked out the Little LuLu comic boooks at Belrics, and spent many a Saturday afternoon at the Plaza Theater.(Last I saw it, the roof was missing-Has it been renovated?) I hope you and your family are well- am so happy to hear you are doing so well at KHS!

[Bernard]

Guest-shears said:

Hi Robin-It's Muriel- Sad to hear of the demise of the library!! Saturday morning story hours & the summer reading clubs are highlights of my childhood.
; bought fried flounder every Friday at Metzler's, stopped in for a free cookie at the bakery across the street- Was that Verp's on the corner of Manchester & Union?) checked out the Little LuLu comic boooks at Belrics, and spent many a Saturday afternoon at the Plaza Theater.(Last I saw it, the roof was missing-Has it been renovated?)

Hi Muriel,
I remember going to the library for storytime when I was very young but recall next to nothing else about it.

The flounder and potato puffs at Metzlers were delicious!! When I lived on Redwood Ave. I would frequent the Wagon Wheel Tavern on my off afternoons. After a few beers it was either the flounder or SunRay.

The first place I hung out on the Ave was Belrics. Spent most of the time outside waiting to be chased by the patrolmen for loitering. Those hangin' there at the time were Bob Sidney, Butch Palmieri, Boris Gudcilani, Frank Flocco, Butch Bromolo, Norbi Udeako, Joe Catalina, Ray and Bernadette Morgan, Charlene Walsh, Victor DeMartino and others I don't readily recall. Afterwards Debbie Puglise's Mom opened Debbie's about a block down and we hung there for a while. Buttons Morley, Pat Kimble, Tony Mangini, Ron and Bob Swayngum, Frank Cheifa and the boys from Red's and Ben's would drop by.
Where the Plaza stood is now the Auto Zone or something.

[Robin]

Hi Muriel,
We are all fine, thanks. I saw your parents in September, they never chang. They looked great!!!!The Plaza does not exist any longer. It was torn down and replaced with an auto parts store. I am lucky enough to have a piece of the facade and a piece of the wallpaper. It was given to me by Vince Marchese. The library is a shell and yes, Verps was on the corner of Union and Manchester. Fried fish on Friday and the best cole slaw around came from Metzlers. Was it really that long ago?

Have great holidays.
Robin

[sausage]

re: stores on "The Ave."......
Baldwins was on the corner of Sheridin ,and The Milk Jug was next door. A little further down was the hobby shope ( I don't think he let girls in the store) and Curchios cleaners.
I wish I had a piece of SunRay pizza right now!

[Robin]

I couldn't remember Baldwin's. I even called my sister to find out . Thanks, Eileen. Where was the hobby shop? I don't remember it at all. How about Girl Scouts in the Paterson Ave church? Every Wednesday at 7:00.

SunRay....didn't you hang out there in your rebellious days?? Sorry bad stuff!!!!!!!

R.

[Bernard]

Baldwin's was catty corner to the library. They had gumball machines outside. If you got a silver ball, instead of gum, you won something. (I forget what though!?)

The Totowa Hobby Shop was between Sheridan and Sherman Aves. and on the same side as St. Mary's RC. I think there was parking lot on the corner and small clothing store (Jean Shop?) across form the hobby shop on Union. The hobby shop was owned by Harold and his mother. It moved to the Mountainside area of Wayne and, from what I hear, is still in business and run by Harold.

Area Bars
Union Ave.
Wedgewood
Carousel
Joe From's
Wagon Wheel
One on the corner of Paterson Ave.
On the corner of Wayne and Union. Night Owl??
The 19th Hole (Later Churchills)

Other Totowa section Bars
The one by PS 5, on Totowa.
Red Bar and 2 others on Wayne.
Golden Arrow & Widow's or Willow's on Preakness.
Michael's Pub, corner of Crosby and Sheridan(?).
Racoon Saloon, on Crosby near Marion..
AJ's on Murray Ave.
Samra's and another with a name like "Dew Drop Inn" or similar on McBride.
Billy Who's on corner of McBride and Glover.

What was the bar on Preakness going toward Chamberlain from Union. Left hand side?? Somewhat fancy, little place.

If I missed any of of the bars now, I doubt if I missed any back in the day.

Sweetshop Hangouts
Store across from PS 14, Debbie's, Belric's, The Spa, Netzer's, Beverly's & Tom's. All on Union.

Colonial Sweet Shop & Mom's (once Vickie's) on Chamberlain.

Red's (Lou's) and Ben's on Totowa. Thelma's ??

Enuff 4 now. I needs me a beer.

[shears]

Thanks Bernard- I just read that everyone needs 15 good laughs a day to stay healthy and you just provided all 15! ;D I wasn't in town long enough to frequent these fine establishments -married & moved by age 20) but I remember Sisti's Tavern on Wayne Avenue between Liberty & Walnut Streets-seemed like a much older crowd- the Widow's Tavern on Preakness betweeen Totowa & Union, and Londino's between Union & Crosby-I think Lou Tatti had his 8th grade graduation party in their back room-1962.
Rob- my little sister had rebellious days??!! What a difference 7 years between us makes!- 7 years of wearing down the parents! I remember Brownie troop 81 and Girl Scout Troop 5 at the Paterson Avenue Methodist Church - Do you remember the "fly-up" ceremonies? or 1000 year old Miss Dora at the Girl Scout Rallys at the Paterson Armory? My mother was a leader -along with Betty Young, Dot Parkin, Shirley Smith and Ruth Muse -determined to keep their daughters the world's oldest girl scouts- some girls married back then to get out of their parents' houses- I think we got married to get out of Girl Scouts. The Plavier's from Front Street- Shirley and Pat- were scouts as was Kathy Costabile-also from Front Street, Debbie & Rhonda Horn & all the Porter kids-I think there were 12! ( I remember Frieda, Kathy & Pat.)
Baldwin's- southeast corner of Union & Sheridan Avenues-sold the Sunday papers/ milk, bread & candy.-Sometimes the sons-very good-looking (probably 56 0r 57 years old today) worked the counter (I could only hope!)
Casale's Fish Market (phew!) the Post Office, Glover's Cards, Minchin's Funeral Home, ?

[Robin]

AH... the girl scouts. My mother became a leader when I was in the 5th grade, 1965. you're right they wanted us to stay in forever. After eighth grade I had had enough. I had been a Brownie, Junior and Cadet. I remember Mrs. Muse and Mrs. Young. In fact, Eileen told me that Mrs. Young died and was laid out in her GS uniform. Now that's a scout!!!!!I still have my sash with all of the badges. Yes, I remember flying up, the induction ceremony, and didn't we have to cross a bridge or something? We met in the church basement. It was pretty nice, as I remember. Good memories. In fact, I still remember some of the songs. I think Eileen went to GS camp.

Bernard, The bar across from 5's was Mom's. My Grandfather was a frequent guest at the place. We lived on the corner of Sheridan and Totowa at the time. Above the Boro Electric, across from Liguori's market. My mother would ask him to take my sister for a walk. Well lets say she knew all of the area barfly's and had her own bar stool. She still likes salted peanuts and soda. The Widows was the one on Preakness near Union. It was owned by the Taylors' whose daughter, by the way Muriel, was a Girl Scout. The "fancy" one that you are talking about was between Union and Crosby. I can't remember the name. There was also Hafely's on Crosby and Sheridan. Another grandpa hangout!!!!!

I still can't picture the hobby shop. My parents, when first married lived over Red's store. (1950) I don't remembers Thelma's. Where was it?

Robin

[sos sister of sausage]

Starting at Liguori's, (Corner of Totowa & Maple)walk along Totowa Avenue toward Wayne Ave. Just past Wing-Lee's Chinese Laundry- (The Felicitas lived in that building) and Moore's Funeral Home (across from Old School 5) was a tiny candy store-Was that Thelma's? Beyond that, a liquor store, a florist, (McMaster's?)a bakery(Paterson Pastry?) a pet shop, a bait store (that used to buy "nightcrawler" worms from us, 2 for a penny) and Hip's Gas Station.

Across the street, a beauty salon-Do you remember the name? -a stationery store-Totowa Stationer's, ? and then The Red Bar- drove by about a week ago- the building is GONE!)

Thanks, all, for the chance to reminisce- many happy memories, & my parents too,- lifetime Patersonians, are enjoying the look back at how it used to be. They remember canoeing on the Passaic River. coffee at Bickford's, and riding horseback on Garrett Mountain. (Anyone remember the pony rides across from the Resevoir?)

[Robin]

The beauty salon was named Louise's. I forgot all about the stationary store. I remember the Chinese Laundry and how politically incorrect we were by refering to him as the "Chinaman".

McMasters' Florist was there and is now in West Paterson near Rt. 46. It is run by Jimmy McMaster. His brother Randy became a firefighter.

I bought a hamster from the Paterson Bird Store which is the pet store that you mentioned. The liquor store is still there. I don't remember a Bakery. I do remember the pony rides.

Then there was Borelli Real Estate, Lola's Dancing school, the small church that had Pioneer Girls, Some homes and Uprite Dry Cleaners. That brings us to Manchester and the "Girl Scout Church'

Too many years ago. All of these businesses are gone.

[JP68]

I remember the Widows and Reds and the Wagon Wheel
Good Bars The widows served cream ale and it was a nickle for a coffee mug of beer and a dime for a glass
the cream ale was the best we'd go in and play bagatell
and drink all night on a dollar
You guys forgot to mention Difts barber shop on Wayne ave and around the corner on union ave was Joseph's
and remember it was the 68 and 120 bus that took you downtown.

[SOS]

Lola's! Thanks, Robin, for making me smile- What fun that was!-Did you take lessons from her too? Ballet, jazz, and "tap" until the little sister polished my tap shoes inside & out with Vaseline. I think she was about 3 years old at the time & truly thought she was helping. I preferred the barre anyway. (That's barre as in ballet- not as in the most comprehensive list of bars provided by you gentlemen-Thanks Bernard & JP- who enjoyed a far more colorful Paterson experience! My neighbor Bill Bickel & his pal "Buddy" were regulars at the Widow's. Much older & long gone, now- Perhaps you knew them? Grocery store downstairs from Lola's- Can't remember the name's Meat Market?
JP- Sounds like you're in "black dirt" territory- very beautiful countryside. (I ride occasionally with the Orange County Riders-the gang with the camels on their jerseys, - Its a long way from Paterson!)
... and if you were willing to walk some rather than wait for the next 68/120, there was the "4 Singac."

[JP68]

SOS the 4 singac and the 50 govenor took you over to Mcbride ave and stoney road
And Im just past the black dirt region I see the bikers past by all the time while Im riding my tractor
Ive got a 30 acre ranch up there and it does take some work to keep it up its a never ending job. But the country is beautiful.
I have an old 1964 John Deere tractor with a 6 foot mower on the back and in the summer I ride for awhile
grab a cold one take a dip in the pool and then ride some more out on the front of the place I see the bikes come buy the guys usually wave to me as I ride my tractor along the road . They must think I'm some old country boy. I think sometimes if my friends could see me now.
Its along way from walking union ave or the halls of Kennedy and hanging out with the boys
The other night 5 of us from Paterson got together at Ruberts on Rt 23 I asked about some of the guys we use to run around with and I always seem to ask about someone that has past away. It seems sometimes I can see still theie smile or hear their laugh or even remember long conversations.
I don't think any other place on this earth has produced the kindred spirits that bonded in Paterson.