Paterson

[JP68]

I grew up in downtown Paterson
we lived on Cross Street which is now called Cianci Street after the pastor from St Michaels church
you either went to school at St Michaels or PS2 or St Johns. But the main thing was that everyone knew everyone. We hung out at Falls View or walked up around the corner to Libby's or across the street to the Olympic.
We hung around with everyone
most of the St Johns crowd hung in south Paterson the St Michaels group came from the Totowa section
and the PS2 kids lived therein the neighborhood.
Later on in high school Central/Kennedy
we all evenbtually met up again
It was a different time and a difffernet era.
THere were the Fraternities Omega Gamma Delta
Sigma Kappa Delta, Kappa Gamma Lambda, and Lambda Beta Delta we all got along pretty well I think there were times that we didnt but all in all we were a pretty close knit group of people I dont think at anytime in Paterson there was a closer group
no matter were you went you knew somebody
even today Im amazed at where I go and the people I run into
alot of good people have passed on they are gone but not forgotten
and the good times are always in our memories
This is what made our time so great
We made memories that last.

[JOJO]

Hi,
You said that you lived on Cross St. , did you know anyone on Grand St.?
My husband went to School #2 also and so did his younger brother Johnny. They both graduated from there ,his brother I think in 65.My husband in 60.
Did you know them or anyone else from around Grand St. area? Also a guy named Victor that Johnny hung around with.
JOJO

[JP68]

There were 2 Victors I knew in the neighborhood
one worked for Costagliola on sross Street his mother was the crossing guard the other lived around the corner from St Michaels. The Rodriquiz boys came from Grand Street they were Manny Carlos and Josealso on Grand Street were the Ruth's and the Arlingtons
and I remember the Lil Dublin bar.

[Bernard]

I remember a Victor who hung with Johnny and Bob Moody.
The Rodriquez bros were in high school the same time as me and I can see them now hangin out at Dipsy's pool hall on Market.

[Sheam]

I remember the Rodriguez brothers- they were 60% of Central's-then Kennedy's starting -and winning-basketball team along with Stosh Bavarro from South Paterson-5'3" tall and quick as lightning!-(Last I knew he was teaching P.E. in Paterson) Backing up Steve Howe, Harold Bennett and Ron Austin in '66, they were unbeatable. Did Victor's dad own the pizzeria on market street ?- can't remember the name- (Picone's?)had a sister Audrey, class of '65 - it was a small, narrow storefront restaurant next door to Crescione's photography--where yearbook photos were taken.
Arlington sisters- Susan ('66) and Marion ('68?)- Sue was a sorority sister of mine- Phi Beta Chi- wore grey & black sweaters from Fordham Felt on Main street near St. John's Cathedral.
Also in the neighborhood-Roma Soccer Club -still there?

[JOJO]

The Victor that I knew hung around with my brother-in law Johnny. He lived off of Grand St. on a hill, I don't remember the st. but it was sort of behind the Grand St. projects.
Someone mentioned "Audrey Picone" her parents owned the Pizza place on Market St. and they lived upstairs. She was a nice girl and they had great pizza, I once dated the guy that she married, Guy De Phillips.
That seemed like sooo long ago.
I married a guy from Grand St. and his memory is worse than mine because when I ask him about certain places he doesn't remember. It's funny though because when we drove out there to see his old buddy that he grew up with he drove all over Paterson like we never left there, he knew all the streets.
I asked him about that Bar and the only two Bars that he went to (underage, I'm sure) was "Rosie's and the other bar by his house were for a different crowd of people (I'd rather not mention) and that was "Lil"s and it was by the cobble stone Rd.
Oh I forgot the one that was his favorite but wouldn't sell beer on Sunday like Rosie did and that was on the corner of Spruce and Grand. That was when he first started working in Construction and they all met there in the morning. "Shorty" was the bartender. I think it was called Chuck's.
JOJO

JOJO

[guest]

Dugan's?-another pub near Spruce & Grand - but I left Paterson before I was old enough to drink. Back in "the days" drinking age in NY was 18, NJ, 21. Many of us would head to Greenwood Lake - Long Pond Inn, then ride home on the wings of angels-some of us not so lucky- on those dark winding roads.
JoJo-sounds like you may have been away a while too. The Dean McNulty projects on Grand St. were leveled within the last year or two, not sure if anything has been built where they stood. Falls View has been replaced by Burger King (and I still say "hot dogs all the way,"too, - my husband often remarks-"You can take the girl out of Paterson but you can't take Paterson out of the girl"- and proud of it!) Some of the old factories on Spruce Street have been refurbished and converted to a museum, a woodworking shop, and a school, and the Olympic (Olympia?) across from Libby's-still there- is a produce market. Casa Rosa (by the Rainbow Bridge to Westside Park) is still serving terrific pizza.
Who remembers: Sleigh riding in St. Michael's Grove or Pennington Park, ice skating on the old tennis courts in Westside Park where Kennedy H.S. now stands, or on Barbour's Pond at Garret Mountain, swimming at Circle Pool (Lakeview section,) fishing in MollyAnn's Brook, feeding the reindeer at Westside Park, playing ball at the Totowa Oval, or looking for "Annie" at Laurel Grove Cemetary?

[Bernard]

My wife and I just came back from the Stoney Rd. section Paterson. It's the first time I was at my old house in several years.

On the way back we stopped at the new Falls View in Pequannock and had some "texas weiners all the way" and fries with gravy. They have a place mat with a brief history of Falls View. Interesting. They claim to have gotten the original recipe for the sauce from one of the brothers who first opened the stand in 1949.
The food was OK but then I always liked Libby's better.

I remember all the thing that "guest" mentions.

[JOJO]

To Guest,
I don't know who you are but would like to. I remember Dugan's it was across from The Grand St. Diner.
I left Paterson a long time ago but my heart and many fond and happy memories will always be there.
I go back every year for a few hrs. with my brother and My grandaughter, sorry to say my brother takes full control of my little visit so we go where he wants to go and that is to "Libby's" we drive thru the projects and to the cemetery to see our relatives that are all buried back there. Then back to New York City, he sends us a round trip ticket every year and likes for big Sister to be there for his birthday. I love him very much but I get really burnt out on New York.
He says that Paterson is too depressing now but we go because we belong there, but our visit is very short.
JOJO

[JP68]

Armand Picone own the pizzeria on market street he also owned the bakery down the block.
he's nephew Tony Dente use to run the pizzeria for him .
Tony Dente Jerry Cargayno and Stash Bavarro and I all use to hang around together
I remember the Moody Brothers Dwight anf Bob
and also Harry Conti and Anna marie Delano and Judy Pellicotti from the Cross street gang along with the Pezzano's the Forte's and Perruzzi's.
THe bar you mentioned JoJo on Grand street Diamond Lil's was a lesbian bar sometimes on Friday nights we'd go in there after hitting a few other bars and Lil would tell us she didnt want any trouble eventually we started trouble and she throw us out.
This past october there was a fund raising dinner for Richie Fortino at the Brownstone over 800 people showed up for him it was packed with people from the old days in Paterson I saw people I hadnt seen in 30 years it was a great night but the circumstances I wish were better
I was hoping my class would have a 35 year reunion this year the 30 yeqar one was great and it was nicve to see all the old gang from Kennedy again

[JOJO]

I didn't want to post about Lil's being a lesbian bar but you are right it was. My husband lived on Spruce St. and that's why I know alittle about that part of town.
My husband used to go to Rosie's Bar and Chuck's they are both on Grand St.
I remember the Diner on Grand St. that was the first time that I ever drank a cup of coffee and it had lots of sugar in it. Isn't it funny how some things will always stand out in your memory and some things are so far back there that sometimes it takes someone to try to help you remember. That's why I love to read everyone's posts.
JOJO

[JP68]

your husband is alittle older than I am but i was wondering if he remembers some of the other guys that lived in my neighborhood there was Joey Pellicotti
actually there were 2 cousins 1 lived on Cross street the other on Ward. On lower market street there were 2 brothers their last name was Crabtree their father would always hollar at us for playing pall in the school yard. and on Passaic street was a guy named Frank Portelli and their was another 2 brothers 1 was named Tommy DeVita his brother was one of the original Happenings and there was the Chelsey brothers Lenny and his brother who was just called Dillenger and their was also a guy named Jackie Julianno
Maybe some of these names he'll remember

[bornie]

I remember Harry Conti! He was active at the YMCA for a while,,, was a pretty good basketball player for St John's I believe. I remember going up to his place one day and him trying to teach me "The Monster Mash" on his guitar. All thumbs!

Stosh Bavarro was one hell of a soccor player from Kennedy. I watched from the sidelines as a JV player for Kennedy, when Vic Felano (the Lombardi of JFK Soccer) was coaching. Stosh, Tolek, Bobby Yacano, Ali Hubey, and a bunch played like there was no tomorrow.

Jack

[JP68]

Harry Conti is doing well he lives over in Clifton
Stosh Bavvaro I believe is still teaching in Paterson I think he was coaching there for awhile but dont know if he still is.
Vic (THE @#$%&) Felano is still alive and well
lives in Wayne
As for some of the others dont quite know whats happened to them.

[Robin]

JP, you mentioned Stosh Bravarro. I umpired my first baseball game with him in 1979. You also mentioned the Pezzano's. I now work with a Joe Pezzano. Is this the family? He is from Paterson also. I also know Jack Guiliani. He just retired from the Paterson school system. I worked with Vic Felano for a few years and then he retired. I saw him recently at the JFK Hall of Fame dinner. He really hasn't changed much. Does anyone remember Rich Roberto? He is now principal of JFK. He graduated from Central. I think in 65/66.

Robin