By CHRISTINA WILKINSON
Forgotten NY correspondentĀ
DURING the 17th and 18th centuries, Dutch farmers settled Newtown and Bushwick on the western end of Long Island. One of these farmers, Paulus Van Der Ende, built a house in Newtown in 1710. The restored farmhouse is located at the corner of what are today Flushing and Onderdonk Avenues; the latter street was named after the house’s second owner, Adrian Onderdonk, who moved there in 1831. More about this house can be found on FNY’s Flushing Avenue page.
A border dispute between Newtown and Bushwick lasted over a hundred years, into the period when the English were ruling and settling Long Island. A somewhat temporary resolution was the placement of three giant rocks (referenced on this FNY page) by a surveyor in 1769 – each labelled with a ‘B’ on one side and an ‘N’ on the other – to delineate what he determined to be the border between the two townships.
In 1856, a reservoir was constructed on the Newtown-Bushwick border that supplied water to the City of Brooklyn. The water flowed through a series of canals and aqueducts across Jamaica, originating at the Ridgewood Ponds, in what is today the town of Wantagh in Nassau County. The body of water became known as Ridgewood’s Reservoir, after its eastern source.
The land in the vicinity of the reservoir was officially called South Williamsburgh at this time. Desiring a unique identity for their area, residents adopted the name of the reservoir for their town. When map printers applied the name ‘Ridgewood’ to an area larger than that of the town limits, the tight-knit community changed its name to ‘Evergreen,’ after the large nearby Cemetery of the Evergreens. In 1910, the name Ridgewood was officially bestowed upon the entire area nestled between Glendale and Bushwick. However, traces of the old Evergreen name still exist today.
The Evergreen Branch of the LIRR once passed through the area, and remains of it can still be found in Ridgewood if you look carefully.
Evergreen Avenue, once a part of ancient Bushwick Road (hence its slight twists and turns) leads right to Cemetery of the Evergreens. Evergreen Park sits adjacent to P.S. 68 at St. Felix and 75th Avenues.
“Evergreen,” or “EV,” was the predominate alphanumeric telephone exchange in Ridgewood and can still be found on display at some of the older businesses in the area, such as the one pictured at left.
(This 1873 map of Ridgewood was taken from the larger map of Newtown found on theĀ Brooklyn Genealogy Information Page .)
The Kings-Queens border has been shifted several times over the years, and Ridgewood has always suffered somewhat of an identity crisis because of it. This map shows that back in 1873, the border was drawn as a diagonal line without regard to the streets, so technically one’s house could be in both counties at the same time. Further complicating matters, the northernmost part of the town on the Queens side was called ‘East Williamsburgh,’ as though it was an annex of the well-established Brooklyn neighborhood.
(Ed.: note also that the name Ridgewood was only applied to the eastern part of what’s now Ridgewood; in that light, the naming of Ridgewood Reservoir makes a bit more sense. It’s now in what’s now Cypress Hills.)
In the 1920’s, the border was redrawn as a zigzagging line down Menahan Street and Cypress, St. Nicholas, Gates, Wyckoff and Irving Avenues. The street grid here slants to the left and does not line up with that of the rest of Queens. As you approach the border, address numbering follows the Brooklyn system and the Queens hyphen seems to be optional.
For the longest time, Ridgewood and Glendale were served by the Bushwick post office, and therefore were assigned a Brooklyn zip code. Envelopes were addressed as “Ridgewood, Bklyn, NY 27.” Businesses in the area at the turn of the century preferred it that way, because at the time, the name of Brooklyn carried more prestige than that of any part of Queens.
After riots and looting devastated neighboring Bushwick during the Great Blackout of 1977 ,area residents actively sought to disassociate themselves from Brooklyn. In 1979, Ridgewood and Glendale finally received a Queens zip code: 11385.
Transportation Hub
Many horsecars, steam trains, electric trains, trolleys and buses have chugged their way through Ridgewood over the years. It became a hub for transportation in the early 20th century, and the extension of the Myrtle Avenue elevated line through the area was responsible for a housing boom which began prior to WWI.
One exit of the Fresh Pond Road Station leaves you practically on someone’s doorstep. All of the Queens stations on the M line are in Ridgewood, with the exception of Metropolitan Avenue, its terminus.
More bus lines start with a B than with a Q the closer you get to the Brooklyn border. The state-of-the-art Fresh Pond Depot off Fresh Pond Road is home for most of the area’s buses.
(Ed.: the bus terminal at Fresh Pond Road is a former trolley station)
The LIRR’s freight line, run now by NY & Atlantic Railway, creates somewhat of a physical border between Ridgewood andĀ Glendale, its neighbor to the east.
Surrounded on two sides by rail tracks, Joseph Mafera (formerly Glenridge) Park is a true urban oasis. You might catch a glimpse of it while riding the M train, which rumbles along the north side of it. In this photo, a freight train crosses over the bridge at the Fresh Pond Railyard on the eastern side of the park while a baseball game is played below. Batters here can’t hold up their hands and call for time to allow the noise to pass, as the pros do out at Shea. The trains can take up to 15 minutes to go by.
The park is very busy on the weekends. This particular day, besides the rail action and baseball games, the playground and basketball courts were very active. A child tried unsuccessfully to make his kite defy gravity while a red-tailed hawk hovered above, demonstrating just how easy flight is. A vendor scooped Italian ice in the outfield and this junior Jeter was one satisfied customer.
Ye Olde Ridgewood
At the beginning of the 20th Century, Ridgewood was primarily made up of farms, small family businesses and factories. The two largest industries in the area were breweries and knitting mills. Below are photos of some of the structures from this period that have withstood the test of time.
The Meyerrose House was built on Forest Avenue in 1906 by the Sheriff of Queens County, Joseph Meyerrose. It subsequently served as a political clubhouse, a restaurant and a knitting mill. Today it is a Romanian church.
The Ridgewood Democratic Club building, on Putnam Avenue, dates back to about 1902. It was originally the office of Paul Stier, Ridgewood’s largest residential home builder. More on him later…
In May of 1908, the Bishop of Brooklyn was travelling to Rome via ocean liner when an idea came to him. He would build a church in Ridgewood and name it afterMatthias, one of the Apostles. (The Brooklyn Diocese oversees Kings and Queens Counties.)
In 1909, St. Matthias Church and School was built as an all-in-one building on Catalpa Avenue. The above postcard shows how it looked in 1915, after the new friary and convent were built, to the right of the main building.
By 1917, St. Matthias was overflowing with parishoners.
WWI delayed the construction of a new, larger church, which was finally completed in 1926. The school was then expanded to occupy the entire old building.
St. Matthias interior. See link at the bottom of the page for additional photos of the inside of the church, which is one of the most beautiful in all of NYC.
These buildings house J.& C. Platz, Inc. The Platz Brothers started selling painting supplies in 1909 from the smaller building on the left and in 1913 built the corner structure so they could expand their business to include hardware.
After almost 100 years, Platz Hardware is still in business. They remain at the same location, and now they also sometimes sell flowers. In 1909, they advertised on the side of a horse-drawn cart. Today they reach the masses viatheir website.
Moeschle’s Cafe stood at the corner of what is now 70th Avenue and 60th Street. The photo is from 1912.
Notice that they sold Rheingold beer, which was manufactured and bottled at a large brewery in Bushwick. Many Ridgewood residents worked in breweries on either side of the border.
Today, the building’s restaurant tradition continues, but the establishment is now called Cozy Corner.
Before the Prohibition era, there were 48 breweries in Brooklyn and Queens. Most closed in the 1970’s. TheĀ Brooklyn Brewery, which opened in 1996, is the only local (Williamsburg) brewery now.
The early members of the Ring family were farmers and lived in this house, which was built in 1860. In 1910, they sold the house and the land it sat on. As we will see shortly, selling their property wouldn’t put an end to the Ring family’s involvement in the development of their land.
The farmhouse was saved from demolition. It was purchased by a real estate dealer who moved it to its present location at Cypress Hills and 62nd Streets. Despite the alterations, the house still stands out among Ridgewood’s ubiquitous rowhouses.
This Greenpoint Bank was at one time a Childs Restaurant. You can always spot a Childs by the seahorse pattern that lines the tops of their former buildings.
Above the bank is a Navy recruiting office. This picture captured the sailors returning to their office after lunch. Instead of sailing the ocean blue on a big ship, these guys get to navigate through a sea of traffic in a blue sedan. It’s probably not what they had in mind when they signed up, but at least they get to save money on Dramamine.
The Ridgewood Theatre (1913) on Myrtle Avenue has been landmarked and saved from demolition.
The establishment pictured above was Kaspar Franz’s Saloon. It was located on Menahan Street. Above is a 1906 photo of Franz’s family.
Today, the same address is a Romanian Cultural Center named Banatul, which sponsors a soccer team. A peek inside reveals that the main room is still being used for its original purpose.
The housing boom
As mentioned previously, the subway extension into Ridgewood was primarily responsible for bringing new people to the neighborhood. Someone needed to give them a place to live. Four major builders were responsible for providing living space for the new residents, many of whom were German immigrants.
In this section, we will briefly describe who each man was and their contribution to the pre-WWI housing boom in Ridgewood. The four were: Paul Stier, Walter Ring, Gustave Matthews and Henry Meyer, Jr.
Stier Houses
Paul Stier built more than 750 houses in Ridgewood under his own name, and after he partnered with August Bauer, they together built 200 more. A short, dead end street off of Putnam Avenue and next to what was his office, is named Stier Place in his honor. The area bordered by Fresh Pond Road and 71st, Putnam and Forest Avenues had at one time been called ‘Stierville,’ since that is where many of his homes were built. He sold his single-family houses for $5,600.
In 1915, Stier won the election for Sheriff of Queens County. This new venture proved to be his downfall. The German immigrant, who came here with nothing and fulfilled his version of the American dream, was shot dead by a crazy man in Whitestone while attempting to execute a contempt-of-court warrant in 1916. He was 42 years old at the time of his death.
Ring-Gibson Houses
The Ring family was of the farming tradition, but farming began to die out in the early 1900’s, and they found themselves in a bit of a pickle. Part of their land had been condemned by the city to make way for P.S. 88. They then decided to have most of the rest of their land subdivided into 230 housing lots. 67th Ave, 68th Ave and 68th Road lie within this area.
One heir, Walter F. Ring, went out independently and found a partner, William R. Gibson. They formed the Ring-Gibson Company, whose forte was building multi-unit rowhouses with businesses at ground level.
They were very interested in developing the part of the Ring land that fronted Fresh Pond Road, but as it was still owned by the Ring heirs (of which Walter was one), they could not buy it directly. In a strange and legally questionable arrangement, they asked Paul Stier to buy the land, which Ring-Gibson then purchased from him for $1. Much of today’s Fresh Pond Road commercial district came about because of this deal.
Matthews Flats
Gustave Matthews mass-produced these multi-unit houses for about $8,000 and sold them for $11,000. They did not have central heating or hot water systems. The only heat came from coal in the stove and a kerosene heater in the living room. Despite this, the U.S. Government gave special recognition to Matthews’ concept in 1915 when an exhibit was opened at the Panama-Pacific Exposition in San Francisco. It showed the world how efficiently these type of apartments met housing needs for a surging population.
Ivanhoe Park
Henry W. Meyer was born in Germany in 1850. He came alone to America in 1866, when he was 16. He saved the money he made working as a grocery store clerk and eventually was able to purchase a failing tobacco store. He started making his own tobacco and turned the business around. His best selling brand was called “Ivanhoe.”
Before his death in 1898, Meyer amassed quite a bit of land in Ridgewood and Glendale by buying up pieces of other families’ estates. He called his estate “Ivanhoe Park.”
After his death, his son decided that housing development would be more profitable than the tobacco business. As a result, he built 104 rowhouses of cold-water flats, such as the ones pictured above on 64th Street, by 1921.
In 1959, New York City passed a law that called for conversion of cold-water flats into apartments with centralized heat and hot water systems.
The entire rowhome area of Ridgewood, all 2,980 buildings, comprises the largest National Historic District in the nation. All of the builders used Kreischer bricks, which give the buildings their golden appearance. Another spot in Ridgewood where Kreischer bricks are on display is Stockholm Street, a.k.a. “The Yellow Brick Road.”
Two banks named Ridgewood…
They say politics makes for strange bedfellows. It seems that the banking business does as well. Competing builders Paul Stier and Walter F. Ring, together with architect Louis Berger, founded the Ridgewood National Bank in 1909. In 1910, the bank moved into the building pictured above. The building is still there, albeit in an altered form, and is now a pharmacy – the inside of which retains some of the bank’s original charm.
A butcher, a baker, an undertaker, an attorney, a physician and nine other local residents were the founders of the ‘Savings Bank of Ridgewood,’ built at the corner of Forest Avenue and George Street in 1921.
Eight years later, the name of the bank was changed to ‘Ridgewood Savings Bank,’ which it is still known as today. A new main office was completed at Myrtle and Forest Avenues in 1929. Intricate exterior building details can be viewed in the photo gallery which is linked at the bottom of this page.
Memorials to Heroes
The Ridgewood Remembrance sits at the crossroads of Myrtle and Cypress Avenues and honors those who died in WWI.
It was dedicated on Memorial Day, 1923. The pillar is 11 feet high and contains 3 bas-reliefs of a soldier, a sailor and a pilot.
The soldier is accompanied by a woman with a torch, the sailor by Neptune, and the airman by an allegorical female figure.
[Near this location stood a building bearing the address 816 Cypress Avenue. This was where, in 1922, the WHN radio station held its first broadcast. At the time, it was one of only 30 stations in all of the United States, and the only one in Queens County. In 1923, WHN was sold to the Loew’s Theatre organization, which moved the operation to Times Square in Manhattan. The station changed owners, call letters, formats, broadcasting locations and frequencies many times over the years. Today, the station that traces its humble beginnings back to Ridgewood is1050AM ESPN radio.]
A spot named Korean Square at first seems a bit odd sitting in the middle of what is today a German, Spanish and Slavic neighborhood.
That is, until you realize that the name honors those who were killed in the Korean War.
The monument was placed on a triangle along Forest Avenue in May of 1955. A wreath-laying ceremony takes place here twice a year.
Venditti Square on Myrtle Avenue , home to this unique street clock, was named for NYPD Detective Anthony J. Venditti, who was gunned down on January 21, 1986 as he entered the diner pictured behind the clock. Venditti had been conducting surveillance of local mobsters. His partner was wounded, but survived, and managed to hit one of the suspects with return fire. Those responsible were apprehended, but were acquitted of murder. They later were sent up the river for racketeering.
Police Officer Ramon Suarez School, at Cypress Avenue and Weirfield Street, is dedicated to the memory of a transit cop who died on September 11, 2001. He was photographed aiding at least three people who escaped the World Trade Center with their lives. One of them was a pregnant woman, who two months later gave birth to a daughter. He died when he ran back into Tower 2 and it collapsed.
Close Call
At one time, Robert Moses, our favorite urban planner, proposed that a highway be built along the Brooklyn-Queens border, and across the southernmost part of Ridgewood. Interstate 78, or the Bushwick Expressway, thankfully never came to fruition.
Reservoir Redux
1859
2004
From a July 2004 mayoral press release:
“Ground was broken for the Ridgewood Reservoir on July 11, 1856 on the site of Snediker’s Cornfield.
“Water was first raised into the Reservoir on November 18, 1858 by two large pumps each with a capacity of 14 million gallons per day. [The 1859 lithograph above left, entitled, ” View of Brooklyn City Water Works and Cypress Hills from Ridgewood Reservoir, ” by F. Blumner and G. Kraetzer, celebrates the opening of the new water reserve.]
“By 1868, the Ridgewood Reservoir held an average of 154,400,000 gallons daily, enough to supply the City of Brooklyn for ten days at that time.
“The Ridgewood Reservoir remained in regular service until 1959. Ā From 1960 to 1989, the reservoir’s third basin was filled each summer with water from the City’s massive upstate reservoirs in the Catskill Mountains, and used sporadically as a backup supply for parts of Brooklyn and Queens.”
The entire complex was decommissioned by the city in 1990 and left to decay. Since that time, it has become a hotspot for urban explorers, such as those at Urbanlens, Netherworld Online and Dark Passage.
In 2004, Mayor Bloomberg and Parks Commissioner Adrian Benepe announced that the Reservoir would be cleaned up, opened for public use and managed by the city parks department.
Oh, and by the way, there is no longer an area called Ridgewood Ponds out east. Today, what was once the source of Brooklyn’s water supply is divided into Seaman, Wantagh and Mill Ponds. The only remaining clue that these bodies of water lent their original name to the Queens border town is the presence of tiny Ridgewood Drive to the east.
Forgotten Fan Sean Cornelis: The area where these lakes are located (now known as The Mill Pond Preserve and Twin Lakes Preserve) was at one time called Ridgewood, in fact the entire town of Wantagh was known as this during the early 1800s. When the Southern Railroad of LI (later became the Babylon Branch of the LIRR) came through here in 1867 the station was called Ridgewood and was known as that until 1891. The original Ridgewood station still exists but was moved to another location when the tracks were elevated. It’s currently home to the Wantagh Museum. Near Seaman Pond there are at least 3 Brooklyn Water Works buildings still standing.
Also, the “Ridgewood Drive” you mention is actually the Ridgewood Condominiums which have only existed for about 10 years. They were built on the property of Thomas Seaman (the namesake of the Pond) and the entire complex was actually modeled after the mid-1800s Seaman home that still stands on the property….so the name is new but still a tip of the cap to the old Ridgewood Ponds and Brooklyn Water Works system.
Sources:
Snyder-Grenier, Ellen M.: Brooklyn! An Illustrated History. Temple University Press, 1996
Palmetto Street: July 4th, 1914 by artist Doug Leblang
The color photos above and in the photo gallery were taken on May 14th, 2005, and the page was completed on June 11th, 2005 by Forgotten NY correspondent Christina Wilkinson. The black-and-white photos are from the Times Newsweekly, except where noted.
Ā©2005 Midnight Fish. erpietri”@”earthlink.net
But wait…there’s more!
Your webmaster accompanied Christina on her Ridgewood research. Here’s a couple of things she left out…
Former hay loft, Cypress Avenue and Menahan Street. Many NYC buildings are converted stables and haylofts.
“Ralph Street” sign at Cypress and Menahan Street, which Ralph Street later became. Christina proposes a theory that Ralph Avenue is a southern extension of Menahan Street, and a look at the map seems to support her: even though Menahan Street ends at Bushwick Avenue, Ralph Avenue begins at Broadway where Menahan would intersect if it continued through.
Ralph Avenue and its neighbor to the west in Bedford-Stuyvesant, Patchen Avenue, are likely named for early 1700s Kings County landowner Ralph Patchen.
Former US post office, Madison Street above Wyckoff Avenue.
Former RKO Madison Theater, Myrtle Avenue and Woodbine Street. The painted word “Madison” can barely be made out on the wall. The Madison opened in 1927 and showed its last film in 1978.
Cinematreasures has plenty of Madison reminiscences
Bleecker Street brownstones
Wyckoff Avenue, exterior date is 1897. According to Will Anderson’s book The Breweries of Brooklyn, it’s the office building of of Welz and Zerweck’s once mammoth brewery.
Thanks to Forgotten Fan Jack Termine.
OK, we’re done.
394 comments
There is a single block Brooklyn enclave in the Lindenwood section of Howard Beach, Queens (78th street between 155th & 153rd Aves). This piece of Brooklyn is entirely surrounded by Queens. Nobody seems to know how it happened but lots of theories involve the residents of Lindenwood resisting Brooklynization because they were on the borderline of Ozone Park (Queens) & East NY (Brooklyn) & this none block not being able to fight it. The neighborhood has a Howard Beach zip code but is geographically remote from the main part of Howard beach.
how about the coo-coo corner bar and grill on the corner of palmetto and forest
don’t forget browns bakery and platz hardware both on the corner of gates and forest
the little hotdog place next to the corner newsstand on the corner of wycoff and myrtle. a pal and i would buy the daily news and daily mirror. about 50 papers (night edition) for 3 cents apiece at 9 pm and go around and sell them for whatever 10cents to a quarter.we would then meet up at grandview and bleaker. at about 1am there was an itailan restaurant and bar that was open.. we would buy 2 pizza pies and 2 large bottles of schaefer beer every night. we thought we died and went to heaven each night.p.s we went to almost every bar in ridgewood
Was this near the El if so I remember a dinner, a hamburger place with with the most delicious onions and a Chinese restaurant on the 2nd floor. Did you know the L & H, Fealey’s, Night Out or the Half Moon
I remember the hot dog place. Was it called “Andrew’s” ? Delicious hot franks on a flat top grill.. Short gent with graying hair and glasses. Wonderful memories.
bloody marys saloon on seneca between madison and woodbine—the longest shuffer board in queens–great sandwiches
now I’m on a roll–chubbies bar -big round bar-just like chubbie.he was a bookmaker and weighed 400lbs.bar closed down and reopened as zumstantsh. corner of cooper and myrtle
My dad always talked about hanging out in Chubbie’s. As a kid, I remember him going to a bar down from where Chubbies was called Joe’s Bar. My grandparents always were there. I remember they had a
shuffle board table and on weekends, they’d put out a cold cut spread in the back.
Born (1950) and raised (till 1969)
6034 Putnam. Was Brooklyn. EV was begining of our phone #. Went to P.S. 93/and changed to J.H.S 93. Then Grover
Cleveland. My Dad and his dad worked at. Grandview Dairy. I have yearbook
pictures of me 1964 at PS 93. Banner
says Ridgewood Queens not Brooklyn. Article says changed to Queens in
1977?
Ive always said I grew up in Brooklyn.
Wish I could download these old
pictures.
My dad always talked about hanging out at Chubbies back in the day. As a kid, I remember him and my mom going to Joe’s bar, just down from where Chubbies was. They always put out a good cold cut spread and snacks on the weekend. My grandparents were always in there.
I grew up in an apartment on Fresh Pond Rd. With a Western Union below. We lived between Linden and Grove Streets. Our phone # was Glendale
(GL) 6-0221
Great bakery, Wilkins ice cream Parlor, Jimmyās Pizzeria on the corner of Grove.
Oasis Movie Theater across Fresh Pond Rd.
I had a great childhood. Fun days.
Marilyn Meissner Aruta here, I am late finding this site, was looking for some info for a dear friend who now lives in Fairfield OHIO Cathy (Cookie) Eberts Skiba. who lived on Bleecker between Seneca and Cypress. In reading I have seen references to places I know from growing up in Ridgewood 241 Grove Street between Knickerbocker and Wilson. I attended PS 116,(K-6) graduated June 1948, as I have seen others mentioned. Howard mentioned some names that were at GCHS when I was Lillian Roos for one, have already forgotten the other names. I moved to Maspeth in Dec 1947 but was allowed to finish out the school year if I could get to school on time. My sister Evelyn also attended thru 3rd grade. Went to PS 153 for 7 & 8th, and then to Cleveland June ’55 graduate. I taught 2nd grade at OLMM for 5 years before getting married and moving to Virginia Beach VA. I have been back to Grove St several times.. the first it looked like a bombed out war zone, the second some two story garden like apts were in place of the brownstone tenements, I was heartbroken. The Schwabben Halle turned into a Police Station. I have so many fond memories of my time living there – the best memory was the V-E block party – meant my older brother and some of the neighbors would be coming home. I was born in 1938 and was taken to the World’s Fair, swam at the aquacade every chance I could get – even skated ice and roller/ at the double rink that became the UN bldg soon after. I attended the ’64 WF w/some of my 2nd grade students and then back before it closed w/my infant son My parents worked at John Waehner Mfg Co. on Irving Ave between Grove and Linden and Myrtle Ave., diagonally across from the chicken market some mentioned, that was on Linden close to Myrtle. The window of the storefront bldg were painted bright yellow, and there were apts above the whole company… it lasted till after 1977. My dad worked there from 1938 till he retired in 1975. I think I remember the names of all the teachers I had at #116 Principal was Alice B. Rose, Kdg. Mrs Jacobson, 1st Mrs. Hubbell, 2nd I don’t remember because I missed most of the second grade due to an infection 3rd was Mrs. Holtzer (a cranky old lady) 4th can’t recall at the moment but am sure her name will come back, 5th Kelly, 6h Mrs Preuss Note there were NO male teachers I attended Saint Barbara’s church on Central Av.Neighborhood was mostly german, italian and irish. Mostly Catholic and Protestans, but some Jewish folks perhaps the merchants. It was a fun place to grow up, kids were all friends and all the neighbors had a “watchful eye” over the children who played in the street most of the time. YES, IT TOOK A VILLAGE, EVEN BACK THEN. One elderly lady we knew as Badiba (sp) an Italian immigrant who spoke little English sat at her window all day, and reminded us to be careful and play nice I somehow remember her last name being Abate, which I didn’t know at the time. Her son Dominic owned the barber shop on Knickerbocker between Grove and Linden. Several other names I remember Koestner, DiBari, Saladino, Yes there are lots of things folks outside of the area ever heard of, Thanksgiving tradition, Halloween was the chalk filled stockings, Italian ice in the soft cups, MELLO-ROLL. Charlotte Russe, Who remembers only two flavors of ice cream during WW II? The margarine which had the packet of yellow dye you had to knead into the fatty mess.
Thanks! Useful early 20th Century pictures, which I’m researching.
My grandparents (Jack and Bobbie Kohler) had a bar on Myrtle and Cooper in the 1950’s The “Putnam Bar and Grill”? My parents and I visited there often. I have photos and fond memories.
[…] next to us ordered and it looked delicious. Good post-date activities include walking through Korean Square (across the street, technically a triangle) and perusing the shelves at Europa or Max Euro further […]
Hope all is well. Is there any info on a bar called the Hoffman Road House on the corner of Mrytle and Cooper? Or any info of the William Eich Association?
Thanks and Take Care,
Bill
Bill, Which Luhrs family have you decended from?
Carol
Any info on Menningerās bakery on myrtle?
Menninger’s Bakery, at56-50 Myrtle Ave., Ridgewood
https://de.findagrave.com/memorial/104105504/johanna-menninger
https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=3112612695507339&set=pcb.3556546337754601
there is still a german rest &bar on mrytle &cooper named Von stammish Im not sure of the spelling
Maureen – Zum Stammtisch is the restaurant on Myrtle Ave. at the corner of 70th/Cooper Avenue. http://www.zumstammtisch.com
There was another restaurant on Cooper Ave & 71st place, Von Westerhagen’s, which has been closed for a few years now.
Don’t forget Gebhardt’s Restaurant on Myrtle Avenue in Queens going towards Fresh Pond Rd. and Niederstein’s Restaurant in Middle Village. Also, Durow’s Restaurant. These were all German restaurants which have closed over the years. Had my confirmation dinner at Gebhardt’s many years ago.
There was also Gotlieb’s on Myrtle Avenue near Wyckoff Avenue. My uncle owned the custard stand next door.
Best custard I ever had!!! 15cents large cone. Played with Gottlieb’s Baseball Team.
Jimmy’s Custard stand. .25 cent huge malteds pizza by the slice,15 cents. Had my first pastrami sandwich at Gottliebs. Lived around the corner on Woodbine. Thought it was Brooklyn but after this article maybe not. Great place to grow up either way.
Gottliebs had a waiter with a gorbachavf type wine stain on his head , I remember him , I got a fresh one (Italian slap on the back of your neck) for staring at him after my mother told me to stop ! As for Neidersteins , my mother in law was a coat check there for @ 20 years Madeline Corrello
I remember J-KAYS
Living in Woodhaven, Mom & I would head over to Gottlieb’s on New Year’s Eve mornings to pickup some appetizers (franks in blankets and mini knishes) for the evening. We had Christmas dinner in Gottlieb’s the year Mom and Dad took me to see The Sound of Music at the Ridgewood. Great memories… Mom and Dad grew up in Ridgewood…and Dad worked there much of my childhood. We spent a lot of time there.
I grew up in Woodhaven, but Mom and I would take two buses (before we became a 2-car family) on New Year’s Eve mornings to pick up appetizers from Gottlieb’s for the evening. Mom and Dad grew up in Ridgewood, and Dad worked there through my childhood. We spent a great deal of time there… our family doctor was on Fresh Pond Road. I remember having Christmas dinner at Gottlieb’s when Mom and Dad took me to see The Sound of Music at the Ridgewood. Sweet memories…..
Had my confirmation dinner at gebhardts
Jerry Tisi – I bet you would remember Jay Kay! You not only worked there for a short time, but you dated and lived with the Granddaughter of the owner for many years. š Hope you are well š
Remember you well..hope you are also doing well. Live in Ohio now you?
VON WESTERHAGENS NOW EDISION PLACE RESTAURANT
Zummy’s still makes great food. I remember Gebhardt’s.. there is a Gent at the Forest Pork Store in Huntington who worked there back when. Went to Neiderstein’s, Chalet Alpina, Eagle’s Nest, Mothers’s, Fresh Pond Diner, Karl Ehmer’s on Myrtle Avenue too. Rudy’s Konditorei and Bauer’s Bakery in Middle Village.
Wonderful article, Christina! I want to point out that the Ridgewood Theater has landmark status for the facade only. The interior is not landmarked. The community group: WeLoveRidgewoodTheater.org is interested in speaking with the new owners in order to communicate the desire of the community to have a mixed use arts and entertainment venue. Check out the website above and the Facebook page: Facebook.com/WeHeartRT. Viva El Teatro!
My best friends Grandmother was the Usher in the Ridgewood Theatre, her name was Ms. Kramer
My first job was an usherette in the Ridgewood ‘chain’. We worked not only there, but at a couple of other theaters owned by the same chain. I made 25 cents an hour. Did not have working papers nad on weekends was required to work 10 to 12 hours!!! That was in 1943. Only Kramer I knew was William Kramer and he was in my class at P S 106 and probably went to JHS 85. What was Mrs. Kramer’s maiden name? What year did she work there?
She worked there in the late 40’s and all of the 50’s. I don’t know her Maiden name or remember her first name, sorry.
Anybody remember the name of the bar on Menehan and Seneca that is now a Mexican restaurant
I think it was “Bochman’s” or “Bochmond’s.” Had to climb three steps to get in.
it was bachmans on linden and seneca also there was the senwood bar also any body remember the rat pack mc in ridgewood
Linden and Seneca . My family owned a seafood store there.
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Would you happen to have any history on the building located at 336 St Nicholas Ave (across the street from the old Boxing Arena). We rent space in the warehouse, and my employees always speak of an appartition that moves through the warehouse. I am curious if a murder/killing occured here in it’s earlier days prior to its purchase by St Nicholas Realty.
It used to be part of a trolley carbarn that took up the entire block. It burned down about 1924. The portion on Myrtle ave. was demolished but the section on Palmetto st. and
St . Nicholas ave. was repaired and sold. The building was also used to store automobiles by S& W dodge which had a small showroom next to it. Hope this helps.
My father opened a shop, Tom Kallenbach Co., at 335 St Nicholas Ave, Ridgewood. It may be still there as Kallenbach and Di Barry. Directly across was the Ridgewood Garage owner by George Franz.
Hi Maureen, the restaurant on Myrtle and Cooper Ave. is called Zum Stammtisch.
The park was always known as Farmer’s Oval. I was born in Williamsburg Gen. Hospital in 1949 – my family lived on Madison Street off Fresh Pond Rd. Everyone went to Farmer’s Oval – Garity Knights Pop Warner football team played there as did St. Matthias and PAL baseball teams.
Hello Walter–I think we went to St. Matthias together!
You’re right about calling it Farmer’s Oval. I think it had an “official” other name, but no one in the neighborhood used it. The handball courts were very popular in the summertime; I spent many an evening there.
I recall there being two farmer’s ovals: Old and New
The old farmers Oval is now occupied by Christ the King HS
I just read this again and saw your entry. Coincidentally I was thinking about walking home from St. Matthias with you. Also you came to visit me at Wyckoff Heights Hospital in 1959.
Spent some time at Farmers myself. Johnny on the pony against the handball walls next to the tracks, Knock Hockey in front of the park house, Bungalo Bar ice cream ( or good humor ), served from the back and side of step side converted pick up trucks (looking back, these trucks prob used dry ice as the only refrigeration). Above all, who could forget the Pizza Prince and their .15 slices and the long row of garages bordering the tracks on that street leading to the park. I always hung behind my older brother but I remember names like Howie, lived across the street, Cookie and Joanie , two tough gang war type of chicks” and others that time just fuzzes out. Wouldn’t trade these memories for anything. Kids today can’t even leave their house alone… we thrived on it. What happened????
Hi John, thanks for your comment about Farmer’s Oval. Did you ever watch any semi-pro baseball games there? Way, way back, Ty Cobb supposedly played there with his team called the Bushwicks.
Hi David,Farmers Oval was the home field for a team called “House of David.” All players wore long beards and were excellent players.
Officially named Glenridge Park.
Does anyone have a picture of Murkens Luncheonette? I used
to go there with my mom after our shopping trips to Myrtle Ave.
Thanks.
ALWAYS FARMERS OVAL AND THE BALL PARK BY CHRIST THE KING HS CALLED NEW FARMERS OVAL. A WHILE BACK FARMERS OVAL GOT THE NAME MAFERIA PARK.
I remember the park so well, and Yes everyone on the Neighborhood called it Farmers Oval and the park across the tracks was New Farmers Oval. When I was young, all the kids in my building would have our moms pack lunches and we would head for the park and the sprinkler.
Many times my friends and I would play on the tracks, climb the freight car ladders and walk along the tops of the train. Sometimes the train would start to move and we would receive a big jolt. It’s amazing none of us got hurt or killed. We would walk to the new farmers oval to play hardball which was sponsored by the PAL.
Hi Michael. I’m a few years older than you, but I remember how my friends and I would hitch rides on those freight cars like a bunch of cowboys. I remember seeing a blue robin’s egg for the first time at the old farmers oval. Funny how the little things can stick in your mind.
Hi Dick,
Took me too many years to find this great web-site. Michael’s memory of Farmers Oval is right on. Does anyone remember the “Farmers” semi–pro baseball team? They played in a nice park with steel constructed stands.To increase revenue they put an asphalt track around the baseball field and raced midgets. This ruined the place which was then torn down and replaced with smaller wooden stands I grew up in the 30’s & 40’s across the street from the Oval. I will never forget the troop trains waiting to be called to the Brooklyn docks during WWII. The solders on board would tear open “C” rations, keep the cigarettes and throw us the candy. Always wonder how many did not make it back.. .
P. S.: The “Old Time” got it all wrong
Hi Charlie. I don’t remember the baseball team you refer to, but I will ask my older brothers. They’re more in your age group than I am. There is another web-site similar to this one called “Growing up in Ridgewood in the 1960 – 1970’s.” There are quite a few old-timers in that one too. It doesn’t seem to be taking any new comments lately, but you can still read what’s there.
Does anybody remember Meyers delicatessen on the corner of Summerfield Street? In the late 50s and early 60s I came home from school for lunch and my mother always got meat cakes on a Monday from Meyers Delicatessen. I also played Little League baseball at a place called cooperdale Dairy Field
I went to PS 77 with son Ralph Meyers in 50s. Remember those meat cakes and
my Mom buying them for lunch.. Also remember Meyers vegetable salad. Such great food.Each deli had its own special. Kurtās on Myrtle Ave just off Centre Also had great meatcakes
Thank you for putting this on the internet. I miss Ridgewood still…..food was fantastic and so were my Italian neighbors and best friends. :} It was the best of times.
I had family that lived in a large apartment building on Catalpa Avenue in the early or mid 1970s. I remember the area well. I was wondering if that building was part of the historic district, or one of them and can’t determine it from the historic district maps. I also remember way back when there was a well known store or factory that sold fine knit’s on the second floor of a building there in the immediate neighborhood. Does anyone remember the name of it? I am sure it was closed many many years now.
Think this is where Blockbuster Video was at during the 90ās and 00ās.
born in RIDGEWOOD. have a sister still lives on60th place & gates. my granma lived across from the Ridgewood movie over Teddies dress store,next door was Ludwigs applicance store. she later moved over that store. I worked across the street in Kiddie fashions for 8 years. Lived on SENECa & weirfield, went to ps 77 & Grover clev
aland hs. lived at afew of the streets & yes I still miss it.
I lived at the corner of 60th Pl and Gates Ave till 1962 in the six family red brick building at 59-54 Gates… went to OLMM. I now live in San Diego and fondly remember my days in Ridgewood.
My Grandmother (Irene) worked in Kiddie Fashions many years and her co-worker and friends was Ruth.. I may be combining different memories, but I think Kiddie Fashions was the store that had these chairs that seemed to be high up (sort of like shoe shine chairs), and I loved going there. I would give anyting to turn back the hands of time and go back.
Small world! I lived on Seneca and Center St a block away for 30 years until 1983. I went to PS 77 and PS 64 and then Ridgewood JHS. Went to Brooklyn Tech instead of “most holy Grover”. I inherited that building when my mother passed and still own it today.
Hi, Eric – I remember that area quite well, though I moved from 930 Seneca Ave. in 1960, when I was 13. Do you remember the little store on the southwest corner of Seneca and Centre, Reiger’s? Husband and wife sold penny candy, bread, milk, groceries and Mrs. Reiger made some salads like potatoes, etc. They had a Coca Color cooler to the left as you entered the store and had to reach in with bare arms in the summer to fish for a favorite bottled soda. The ice often melted but the water was cool in the hot summer months. I remember that couple very well. They weren’t young in the 1950s. Mr. Reiger waited patiently as I made my candy selections. I had all the time in the world to make my selection – haha!
Does anyone remember Wilkies chocolate factory next to Ridgewood beer service near Cooper st???
I went to PS 77 with son Ralph Meyers in 50s. Remember those meat cakes and
my Mom buying them for lunch.. Also remember Meyers vegetable salad. Such great food.Each deli had its own special. Kurtās on Myrtle Ave just off Centre Also had great meatcakes
I lived 3 houses down from Reigers and I remember your family. My best friend was PHYLLIS Savarese who lived upstairs from you. We kept in touch all these 60 odd years. Sad to say she passes 5 years ago
Hi Eric, are you Eric Farrell! Think you had a younger brother. I am Marie Garner, I lived at Center and Seneca over Mickeys candy store.
I moved to Glendale, with my parents, from the City around 1970, attending Bklyn Tech and graduating in 1972 from the Aeronautics course. In 1971 Tech admitted its first two female students, among an entering freshmen class of about 2000. The following year we had 200 girls entering.
I remember Mr Grimm, our grizzly old shop teacher saying that allowing girls in would be the end of Tech.
I would play handball at The Oval and we would have to chase lost balls onto the LIRR tracks through holes in the fences.
After my graduation, I attended York College in Jamaica. It was in its infancy and had no campus. They rented various local buildings (a YMCA, a Yeshiva, and an old Montgomery Wards building that still had the IRS on the 2nd or 3rd floor) for our classrooms, and we took a bus out to Queensboro Community College for our science courses for my first couple of years.
Hi, what a wonderful trip back! I grew up on 60th Kane and Catalpa Ave. Went to P.S. 88, JHS 93 and Most Holy Grover HS, ( as we called it!) Spent years playing at Farmers Oval and any street where we could. Yelling āCAR!ā when we had to stop play, bouncing off parked cars playing football. Anyone remember cutting thru the back of Farmers Oval thru the train tracks to Metropolitan Ave by way of the cemetery. Iām now 62, living in the Seattle area.
Enjoyed this site very much! My family were original Ridgewoodites, we owned our home on Grove St. between Forest Ave & 60th Pl. from I believe 1910 to the early 2000`s Ridgewood was a beautiful place to grow up, I went to PS 71 & Grover Cleveland HS. I revisited Ridgewood a few yrs. back and was sadly disappointed…..nothing stays the same:( But, my heart will always be in good ole’ Ridgewood.
I too, grew up in Ridgewood. We lived on Linden Street, between 60th Place and Fresh Pond Rd. Went to PS 93 and Grover Cleveland H.S. Had my wedding reception at Durow’s Restaurant. The Good Old Days! I live in AZ now and do miss those wonderful times.
Janet Seibert Patey, I grew up on Madison Street and graduated from PS 93. My father Johnny owned the butcher shop on Madison St. He died and we moved to Glendale. The memories
I am related to LUEHRS of of Brooklyn and Queens. Are you? Grove Street Yes.
Friedrich and Julia Sauer – children: Julia, John M and Arthur. Are you related?
Carol
I also lived my whole life in Ridgewood and consider myself lucky to have grown up in such a memorable neighborhood. Older German ladies scrubbing their stoops, wonderful ethnic restaurants, and who could forget our local theatres. The Madison, the Ridgewood and Oasis were actually each works of art. I’m brokenhearted just knowing they’ll never be appreciated again. By the way, what ever happened to going to a friends house and entering the vestibule, ringing the bell and waiting to be buzzed in. I guess you just wouldn’t know if you didn’t grow up here. At 92, my mom still lives on gates at 60th place and wouldn’t have it any other way. I visit quite often and consider myself lucky to find parking within two blocks (always had parking just outside of my door … bummer). Late 50’s &early 60’s found entire neighborhoods on their stoops at night avoiding the summertime heat in the house. You actually got to know who your neighbors were. I guess affordable AC ended that era. The area was riddled by knitting mills and yes, breweries at one time. Rheingold was a big locally brewed favorite. Does anyone remember voting with paper ballots for Miss Rheingold in your local deli??? 1950’s??? I’ve been gone for 45 yrs and don’t miss today’s Ridgewood at all for reasons I won’t post here. My heart is more like in a place that no longer exists.
Hey John you forgot the Majestic Theatre located on Seneca Ave. We called it “the dumps.” Fourteen cents for two features an six cartoons. It had a “sister” theatre called “The Grandview.” The Grandview was an outdoor movie (not a drive in.) I think we sat on long wooden benches. People who lived next to the movie theatre would sit on their fire escapes or lean out their windows and watch (and listen) to the movie. It was only open in the summer and only in the evening. I saw “The Thing” there. Oh yes I remember voting for Miss Rheingold in George’s Deli across the street.. Great days.
hey Santo, in my years I remember the Majestic being closed. I particularly remember it because I always had a terrible urge to explore the inside. Of course I was prob only between 5-10 and never had the pleasure. Passed it very often as I had a cousin below (corner of Seneca??) and a cousin on woodward (6 family house bordering on the red school playground). must’ve been late 50’s. I also know the Grandview bldg. ( ridgewood chapels). I’d heard it was outdoor but never imagined that it had benches!!! My mom told me that she remembers movies being shown in the bldg. that now houses the chapels.
Don’t quote me on the benches. They might have been folding chairs, but definitely wood. It was a long long time ago.
Hi Dick, I worked for the Majestic and Grandview Theatres delivering circulars for the upcoming movies to be shown.Friday night was dish night and we had to sweep the aisles after all went home because the people were always dropping the dishes.The Livoti Family were the owners.
Hi Bill. I remember those circulars. I think we called them “programs” or maybe “programs of coming attractions.” What collector’s items they would make today. I wish we kids had been kinder to the matron. We gave her a hard time (at times). I can still remember the ticket collector. Going to the Grandview at night during the summer was unique. I’ll never forget it.
Does anyone remember Hanks poolroom above thr Ridgewood movie theater
I played pool there. However, I remember it as “Cappies.” An old Italian guy who’s famous saying was “No free lunch.” This was around the mid-50’s. Perhaps he sold out after that and it became “Hanks.” Is that a possibility?.
Yes it is.
My late husband used to play pool at “Sals” on Freshpond Rd. & 68 Ave. Always made enough to take me to the movies, or across the street to Kedenburgs for a cherry coke!
Was that an ice cream parlor on Fresh Pond and 68th? My husband took me there often when we were dating, but it was called Tiderman’s at that time. They had original names for various ice cream servings. We always had a ‘creole’. Chocolate syrup in bottom, scoop vanilla ice cream, whipped cream, scoop of chocolate ice cream, more syrup, whipped cream, topped with a cherry – 20 cents! That was way back in 1944 so maybe they changed hands and changed names!!!
I remember Sal’s, may have played pool with your late husband. Losers had to wait in line so I spent most of my time in the bowling alley downstairs
Gary and bilbo went there!
I played pool at Hank’s pool hall for may years starting playing there in 1971 – 1974. Remember the Grove pool hall on Palmatto St. Nicholas Ave. Rough group played there
Absolutely spent a lot of time there, Hank was a great guy.
I remember Hank’s Billiards.It belonged to one of my great aunts’ brothers in-law.I shot pool there regularly in the sixties and early seventies.I bought my first pool que from Hank for $25. He let me pay him $5 a week for it.
Born in Whycoff Heights Hospital 1950. We were living on Palmetto Street at the time and when I was 5years old we moved to 60th Place,right behind 68 Park.,Spent a lot of time in that park and also Farmers Oval playing handball and stickball. Went to PS 68 and later St Matthias. Graduated from Cleveland in 1968. My father took me to Gottliebs after graduation at the Madison Theater, where he bought me a pastrami sandwich and gave me a gold watch.After my graduation sandwich, I went back to work at Oeding’s Ice Cream Parler which was at Mrtle Ave and Decatur St.
I remember those thick pastrami sandwiches and the long French fries
I remember voting for Miss Rheingold. I also remember everybody on their stoop. Some people chased us from sitting on the stoop. Mine on the corner of 66 and Central was always occupied. There was a great wall on the corner house to play Chinese handball. We also played stoop ball on the stoop of the six family houses. We then patiently awaited the bungalow bar on a summer night. Wow
I’ve heard the term Chinese handball before but I don’t know what it is. Can it be the game we called “King-Queen” where you hit the ball so it hits the ground first, then bounces off the wall and over to another player or maybe what we called “box-ball” where you hit the ball onto the cement squares back and forth on the side-walk?
I had forgotten about “Chinese handball” until you mentioned it. I think it’s your first description, where the Pensy pinkie (or Spauldine) hit the court first, before hitting the wall. Of course, that was for the little kids when we outgrew it and played handball the “right way.”
Enjoyed your post, brought back lots of memories. Lived there from 1953 to 1971 till age 18. The stoop, hanging out, playing stoop ball, German ladies scrubbing the stoop, Miss Rheingold contest, the knitting mills, I declare war game etc. Did anyone shop at Urdangs, ladies clothing store on Myrtle Avenue? My 1st job was sweeping up, taking out garbage and putting clothes on hangers.
My parents lived on Summerfield Street until death, 30plus years. Bill and Stella Van Caem.
Hi John, I remember everything you mentioned. I Lived on Fresh Pond Road from 1947 until 1968. It was awesome, our parents all hung out on the stoops in the hot summer nights. Us kids would all look out the window to take sure they were still down stairs as we played in the hall. the vestibule is something no one will ever again hear of. I went to all the movie houses you mentioned, you neglected to mention the Glendale theatre on Myrtle, near Fresh pond Rd.
Hi you don’ know me but I had a friend that lived on your block, Frank Epich… You might have known him also. From 1964 I lived at gates and 60th . My name is john fink…. maybe we knew each other. I left around 1972 and never looked back. Just now realizing the “Magic” that I grew up with.
Did you have s brother Doug Fink, and did your father coach the Maspeth Darrowās?
I knew 3 sister’s name Epic, Gurtrude, Sophia and Anna, They lived in my building with their parents
Are you related to Edmond Fink. He went to P.S. 68 in the 60ās
I grew up on 70th Ave down the street from the cozy corner in the 1940’s thru 1980″s. All the houses on the street were 2 family and most of them had 2 generations of the same family living in them . There was also a newspaper called he ridgewood imes written in German for the many german immigrants. The cozy corner and the bar under the Fresh Pond L station was the place to go
Was the Ridgewood Times ever printed in German? Shortly after I was born in July 1940 at Boulevard Hosptial in Astoria, Queens, to parents who lived in Maspeth, they moved to Ridgewood (Woodbine Street between Seneca and Cypress Avenues to be exact), so I’m very much a historic Ridgewoodite. We read the Ridgewood Times with some frequency and my recollection is that it was always in English. The German-American newspaper that we read was the Stadts-Zeitung und Herold and I believe there was one other German language paper that German speakers in Ridgewood read at the time, though I don’t recall its name.
I used to go to the cozy coner.Back in the 60s.Quite a bit.My friend David Marshell lived down the St.He had a pool table in his living room.We wound up in Raymond St. jail together back in the 60s.We were both 16 at the time.
Cozy corner.. $5.00 all you can drink on Wednesday
I also grew up on 70th Ave, on the same block as Cozy Corner. Lived there from 1961, later got married and lived in the lower apartment in my parents’ house. Left in 1988. Attended PS 88, then JHS 93, and later Brooklyn Tech and York College in Jamaica. Also have some fond memories. I’ve lived (off and on) in Jersey City, San Francisco, London UK, and currently in Salt Lake City, Utah.
Chris, your name sounds familiar, I also attended PS 88 the years were 1952 – 57 I think
I was wondering when you went to Tech and York, as I attended both. We moved to Glendale around 1969 or 70 and lived on 64th Place between Myrtle and Cypress.
I attended Tech from 1968 to 1972, graduating from the Aeronautical program and went to York, graduating in 1976.
In late 1978 I left for the USAF.
George, I went to OLMM and Trinity HS. Were we classmates?
Bill Shaw
Bill, I think we were friends if you are the same Bill Shaw. I also went to OLMM
I was just wondering if somebody could help me out. My grandma passed away in December and I’ve been trying to learn more about her past. She grew up in Ridgewood in one of the cold-water, railroad flats. All I have is a picture of her from a couple years ago of her in front of the door of her place in Ridgewood. The door is a big wooden door with most of it covered with a glass window. The house number on the door is 1280. I see that most of these flats are brick but this one has beige siding. Her name was Carol Baumann. She also went to Grover Cleveland High School.
I was just wondering if somebody could help me out. My grandma passed away in December and I’ve been trying to learn more about her past. She grew up in Ridgewood in one of the cold-water, railroad flats. All I have is a picture of her from a couple years ago of her in front of the door of her place in Ridgewood. The door is a big wooden door with most of it covered with a glass window. The house number on the door is 1280. I see that most of these flats are brick but this one has beige siding. Her name was Carol Baumann. She also went to Grover Cleveland High School.
Thank you for taking the time to read this.
I played in a band with a guy named Louie Bauman who lived on Bleeker street. Ring a bell?
I moved to Ridgewood in 1975 my son Joey went to Miraculas Medal on Bleeker St.
We lived on Madison st the corner building across from a little grocery store we lived in the
same apt for twenty years. I loved the neighborhood feeling and how clean it was kept lots
of good memories there lots of good friends. I used to take the M train to work in the city.
we lived right down the block from Joes Italian restaurant and they delivered what a great place
to live and for my son to grow up
I lived on the corner of 60th pl and Madison st until my first marriage 1985. I also went to PS88, JHS 93. Automotive HS
I would like to know the age and any information about the extremely old house on Cypress Ave., between Hancock and Wierfield Sts. in Ridgewood, NY. The house is near the corner of Hancock. I lived around the corner on Seneca when I was young and this house always intrigued me. I have since come to imagine that it was owned and occupied by a beer master because there was a brewery across the street for many years, starting sometime after the Civil War. The house in question is partially obscured from view on Google Maps street scene because of a fenced-in area.
I’ve been in most of these buildings in this article on Ridgewood, Queens. I grew up in this area of Queens during the 1960’s and if I could turn back the time I would freeze things like the people, buildings, culture and the feelings people had during the holiday’s on Sunday’s after church. Life was different. People spoke of honor, respect, religion. Early in the morning you would see people washing the concrete steps of houses with buckets of water and scrub brushes. The bars set up home made food free of charge, most of which was fresh kill from hunting season. These were the days when people said hello to you on the streets and had pleasant coversations.
Wonderful article. It brought back so many memories of my time in New York. We lived on Putnam Avenue and our relatives all lived within a few blocks. It was a wonderful childhood. We certainly frequented Myrtle Avenue often for shopping, movies and restaurants. I never knew the history of the area before so it was very interesting. Thank you.
Enjoyed reading all about Ridgewood and loved the pictures .Lived there most of my life My Grandmother owned the house on 71st Ave between Forest and Fresh Pond rd in fact it was right next to Hummels furniture store sold it in 1970.My Dad used to go to Cozycorner in fact had my wedding reception there and Mon and Dad had there 25 wedding anver there also ,I sure do miss Ridgewood
Julie, you don’t know me but given your somewhat unusual last name, I do believe I knew and yes even worked with your dad. Could be wrong but was his name John and he retired upstate???
Hi John;My Father name was John and no he never moved Upstate .My Dad owned a Butcher store with his 2 brothers.I went to St Matthiaas school and then Richomd H HS kater on worked at M&M french cleaners on Woodwood ave.
Hello, Julie. I’m Jeanette. I have 3 siblings, Marion, Dorothy and Bill. My maiden name is Puttre. My father, Bill Puttre and my mother, Dorothy, moved to Ridgewood in 1946. They bought a 2-family house on 68th Ave.
between Fresh Pond Rd. and Forest Ave. We went to St. Matthias School. Both of their parents lived in Ridgewood. My father’s father was George Puttre and his mother’s name was Marie. George was a butcher. They owned property on either Himrod or Harmon St and some property in Ronkonkoma, LI. Marie died at the age of 44 from cancer.
Jeannette, did your brother Bill marry a Mary Ann Ford? If so, I knew them when we were teens. Kathy Barry was my maiden name.
Compliments to you, Christina, for an informative and fascinating narrative about Ridgewood, with terrific pictures. I grew up on Myrtle Avenue near the Glenwood movie theater in the 1930s and 40s, before most of the correspondents writing to your blog lived there. Ridgewood has gone through different phases over the years, with trendy creative types now streaming in. My time in pre-WW II Ridgewood was a dark period. German immigrants were the vast majority, and just as in Germany the population overwhelmingly backed Nazism and virulent anti-Semitism, their brethren in Ridgewood did the same.
There were regular street corner rallies run by the German-American Bund (I remember one at the intersection of Myrtle and Forest) where speakers cheered for Hitlerās victory throughout Europe. The Bund held its meetings at Schwaben Hall. On weekends, kids in my class at P.S. 77 went to a Nazi youth indoctrination center at Camp Siegfried in Yaphank, Long Island, to prepare for when the Aryan race subjugated all others. Stores on Myrtle Avenue run by Jewish shopkeepers, and the synagogue on Cornelia Street, were defaced repeatedly with ugly swastikas.
It was reported that the notorious German spy, Kurt Frederick Ludwig, took a taxi directly to Fresh Pond Road to begin his notorious āJoe Kā undercover operationājoining other spies and saboteurs who used Ridgewood as a base. A āgeneral āNazi feelingā ā ran throughout the Ridgewood community, according to Peter Duffy in his book, Double Agent. It was a tidy, homogeneous, and reactionary neighborhoodāhostile to blacks, browns, and even whites who didnāt have a light Northern European complexion. The exception was Italians, maybe because Mussolini was a junior partner in Hitlerās plan to conquer the world.
All of this contrasts mightily with the fond and upbeat comments of the contributors to your blog. My experience doesnāt cancel out theirs, but it rounds out the picture by describing an earlier time in the story of Ridgewood. Just as you try to shine a light on āHidden New York,ā this shines a light on āHidden Ridgewood.ā
Excellent reply, Jack. An historically accurate description of what some groups of residents in Ridgewood actually stood for, and applauded. Never again! You write very well.
The story helps me understand the evident anti Semitic in the area post wwIl. Very interesting. Thank you for tour entry.
Wow, thanks Jack for this information. My father went to P.S. 77, and my grandfather owned Isaacs Jewelers on Myrtle Avenue in the forties. Their synagogue was on Cornelia Street. My family have heard stories about those times in Ridgewood, yours was an important addition! Thank You.
Compliments to you, Christina, for an informative and fascinating narrative about Ridgewood, with terrific pictures. I grew up on Myrtle Avenue near the Glenwood movie theater in the 1930s and 40s, before most of the correspondents writing to your blog lived there. Ridgewood has gone through different phases over the years, with trendy creative types now streaming in. My time in pre-WW II Ridgewood was a dark period. German immigrants were the vast majority, and just as in Germany the population overwhelmingly backed Nazism and virulent anti-Semitism, their brethren in Ridgewood did the same.
There were regular street corner rallies run by the German-American Bund (I remember one at the intersection of Myrtle and Forest) where speakers cheered for Hitlerās victory throughout Europe. The Bund held its meetings at Schwaben Hall. On weekends, kids in my class at P.S. 77 went to a Nazi youth indoctrination center at Camp Siegfried in Yaphank, Long Island, to prepare for when the Aryan race subjugated all others. Stores on Myrtle Avenue run by Jewish shopkeepers, and the synagogue on Cornelia Street, were defaced repeatedly with ugly swastikas.
It was reported that the notorious German spy, Kurt Frederick Ludwig, took a taxi directly to Fresh Pond Road to begin his notorious āJoe Kā undercover operationājoining other spies and saboteurs who used Ridgewood as a base. A āgeneral āNazi feelingā ā ran throughout the Ridgewood community, according to Peter Duffy in his book, Double Agent. It was a tidy, homogeneous, and reactionary neighborhoodāhostile to blacks, browns, and even whites who didnāt have a light Northern European complexion. The exception was Italians, maybe because Mussolini was a junior partner in Hitlerās plan to conquer the world.
All of this contrasts mightily with the fond and upbeat comments of the contributors to your blog. My experience doesnāt cancel out theirs, but it rounds out the picture by describing an earlier time in the story of Ridgewood. Just as you try to shine a light on āForgotten New York,ā this shines a light on āForgotten Ridgewood.ā
WOW!!
I lived at 60-78 69th Ave, exactly one half block from Fresh Pond Rd. we knew it was the exact middle, because all of the homes on our side of the block had the high red stone steps, that changed the side the steps were on, from rt side of house to the left side in the middle of the block. I went to St Matthias for awhile and remember it as being a really long walk for a First Grader, then was able to go to PS 88, right around the corner, graduating from the eight grade in 1952. From what I remember, it was a great school. Sadly, I even remember the names of all of the teachers in the school. These were great years to just be a kid in Ridgewood. We played outside till the street lights went on, most times right on the block or in the school yard.Every Saturday, we went to either the Glenwood or Belvedere movies (theaters), when they opened around noon and stayed till 5pm.We were only renting the top floor but,these were the days when the home owners, mostly Italian, Polish or German, would scrub these red stone steps, at least 25, with buckets of soapy water and a scrub brush. My brothers friends, me and my friend spent many hours sitting on these steps talking, planning our “futures” and playing games. I look back with a lot of love and gratitude for those days.
This was not my experience whatsoever. My father fled Germany to avoid Hitlers impending reign of horror. He served in the US Army and ultimately settled in Ridgewood . In 1952 my parents bought a house on Seneca Ave. We lived on the first floor and on the second floor lived a couple along with the woman’s mother that were my parents very best friends, more like family really.They were Jewish, the two women being concentration camp survivors. She was like a second mother to me as I grew. I have been to Schwaben Hall many times as a youth, spent lots of time with lots of Ridgewood Germans and never once heard or saw anything to corroborate your views. If I had I would have reacted strongly. Ridgewood was a great cultural melting pot and a terrific place to grow up. So many cultures respecting and embracing each other. That’s what I remember.
I lived in Ridgewood from 1937 until 1956. Of course I was young during WWII, but I don’t remember any anti-Semitism while I lived there. Our doctor, Dr. Brody, lived on our street (Linden, near Fresh Pond Rd.) and our family all were his patients, even my grandfather who lived on Himrod St. near Woodward Ave. and didn’t own a car, walked to his office when needed. Dr. Brody was Jewish. We were of German extraction. Dr. Body’s son, Michael, and I were playmates growing up. I attended P.S. 93 and Grover Cleveland, H.S. I lived on Long Island after that and moved to AZ in 1989. I loved Ridgewood best of anywhere that I’ve lived.
Hey old timer. Thanks for telling it like it was. My experience was different. I moved to Ridgewood in 1945 when I was six years old. The final “A Bomb” was dropped and the war was over. We used to play a game in the street called “I Declare War.” We’d draw a circle in the street with chalk. Then we’d draw sections in it like a pizza pie. We’d write down the names of European countries (Axis and Allies). Then we stand by our country and someone would take a ball (spalding) and bounce it into a box while saying “I Declare War on (whichever country you chose”). The kid representing that country would chase the ball and when he got it (here’s where I forget what happens next). If anyone remembers this game.or anything else about those days in Ridgewood, I’d love to hear from your
When the kid got the ball, he would yell “Freeze”. Everyone else would have to stop running and freeze where they were. The kid with the ball would then throw it and try to hit someone with it. That person would then be “it”. Is that how you remember it too? I grew up in Glendale on the “Horseshoe”, 62nd street, up the hill from Cooper Ave.
Hi John. Your description of the game sounds right. At the time we played those street games I lived on Woodward Ave. & Himrod St. Later on we moved to Norman Street near Cooper Ave. Still Ridgewood, but close to Glendale. There was a train tressel nearby. Sometimes at night I could hear the train whistle in the distance.
OMG haven’t thought of that game in years. I declare war, skully, ace king queen, and not to forget the balls… stick, slap, and stoop.
As well as the other balls in Cleveland Park, ….hand, foot and soft. (base was played in the lots).
and one more: basket
Reading this, brings back memories. I remember living on Mary St., in Maspeth. it was before the great depresssin of 1929. The street was dirt, horse drawn wagons were frequent, Fruit and vegetable peddlers would shout there wares, A horse drawn, hand cranked sort of Merry go round would offer youg children rides for a few pennies. I remember attending my first kindergarten school where Mom would walk us to school. I remember German OMM-PA groups of street musicians occasionally roaming the neighborhoods. Pop lost his job about that time and it was goodbye to Mary Street. We moved to flats, in the Brooklyn – Ridgewood section. WWII; marriage and family was another story. Now living in Missouri at age 90.
subvetpaul@aol.com
Hi Paul. Funny but things didn’t change all that much from your time to mine. In the late 40’s and early 50’s there were still horse drawn wagons selling fruits and veggies. “Hey-o peaches two pounds-a quarter”. Mrs. Brooks would always act shocked at his prices but would eventually give in and buy his stuff. Our oil and ice were delivered by horse and wagon. Three guys would come around and play music and sing for change that people would throw out of their windows. Some guys would go to the beer gardens and perform some kind of act, sometimes playing two spoons in each hand to a tune. On Saturday nights I would lay awake listening to the German Um-Pa-Pa in the beer garden across the street till about 2 a.m. (I had no choice). The singing got really loud around mid-night.
This history of Ridgewood was fascinating to read. Really brought back good memories. I was born in Ridgewood in 1951 and lived for fourteen years on Bleecker Street between Cypress and Seneca Avenues. Played ball everyday in the PS81 school yard which was right across the street. My family moved to “Upper Ridgewood” when I turned fifteen and we lived on Grandview Avenue. I attended Grover Cleveland H.S. I still own this house on Grandview Avenue where my son and sister live. I currently live in East Meadow, Long Island. Thanks for the memories.
Can you tell me if you remember Arty’s Tavern at 485 Grandview Avenue, or any of the owners or people that worked there? My grandfather and grandmother owned it; there was a large party room in the back but they lived in the apartment above. Her kids are (my uncle) Kenny Stark and (my aunt) Barbara (Babs) Stark. If you have anything you can share with me, please feel free to call me at 631-423-1611? My name is Ellen.
To Ellen; I remember Arty’s in the 1950’s. I new a kid named Tony Barowitz who’s parents may have owned the place. As teenagers we hung out at Nutsbergers Candy Store on either Fairview or Grandview Ave.
Yes, Anthony Borowitz (known as Tony or Tommy) was my father’s brother, and my godfather. Virginia and Arty Stark (my grandparents) owned Arty’s. My grandmother ran it for many years after he died. Sadly, Uncle Tony (and his wife, my Aunt Lee) moved to Ohio around 1970. Sadly, he passed away a few years ago.
Thanks for the feedback. I’m sorry to hear about Tony. As I recall, he was a good kid. I’ve lost track of most of my old friends (I’m in New Jersey since 1970). I have many fond memories of Ridgewood. Feel free to send another e-mail with questions about the old town anytime.
This reply is a little late ,by 4 years. I remember Arty’s Tavern very well. My grandmother Sadie Quattrochi ran
had the fruit and vegetable store across the street and she lived in the back where she raised my mother and
3 others. The room had a separate bathroom.and that was it. The room was heated by a coal stove. Until later when it was converted to gas heat. I was raised in Massapequa. We traveled to holidays to Ridgewood
and after dinner my father and uncles would take me across the street to Arty’s where they would drink beer and watch baseball games in the summer. I was probably around 8. My grandmother;s brother was the shoemaker next door to her. I remember Bargons Ice Cream Shop on the corner and also a bakery on the same side as Arty’s. One of the daughter’s of the owner was in my mother’s bridal party. I am 70 now.
Hello,
Ellen, you are a relative of mine. I hope you see this; my grandfather, Stanley Stark, was a bartender at Arty’s Tavern for many years. His wife, Betty (nĆ©e Kerner) – my grandmother – lives with me now in the Florida Keys. They had six children and lived on 65th St. and Betty went to PS 153 and Grover Cleveland High School. My mother Nancy remembers your uncle Kenny and your aunt Barbara, and remembers the large party room in the back, as does my grandmother, who of course also knew Arty and Virginia. The family left the city in 1968 and relocated to Lake George.
Played in ps81 school yard had Mr Brill
And mrs Thorne 8th grade .Grad.1952 .
You lived on the block of The Shoen
Family,they lived. Next to the Delli on
Corner called Hicks Delli.The Petzold family
Middle of block .great memoirs .Harry
Would like to know more about that Schoen family. Do you know what their address was or anything about them? I am related to Rosa Schoen Schlaepfer, who lived on Madison St., daughter of John and Marie Schoen. Rosa died in 1968.
My grandparents (James and Edith Reimann) rented a house at 1113 Wyckoff Avenue (near Decatur) that was owned by Senator Martin J. Knorr. My aunt (Jennie Fremgen) owned a beautiful house with a wrap around porch next door that we believe had been a speak easy or other house of notorious ways, as it had a complete bar in one room, with a back staircase, and twin cellars (one could only be entered through a closet). The house has since had the front porch either removed or enclosed. A Mobile gas station was next door, and the Silvertop Diner was next to the gas station (which was partly owned by my Uncle Frank Evagelatos. My cousin owned the house across the street (Hummrich) which has a wrap around porch, and is Victorian looking. My parents owned a home at 1087 Cypress Avenue, which was built when the street was Smith Street. I’m not sure how old any of these homes were, but they were beautiful.
I lived at 1115 Wyckoff
I went to ps 68 school with an edith reiman. they owned a chocolate shop kay jay on cypress anveue. Edith and I were friends. I went to cadets with her.
Later I went to grover cleveland. Edith was a good kid.
My name Is
Carolyn Batty
I lived on Summerfield Street and I remember going to Kay Jay chocolate shop. They had a display window and Would put candy on sale after Easter. Had a sweet tooth so I’d wait for the sale, although didn’t have enough money to buy much without family help. Lived there from birth 1953 to 1971 age 18.
I enjoyed reading about ridgewood.I I lived on palmetto street, went to p.s.116 also junior high 85, I also lived on st. Nicholas av. across the street from the ice cream parlor. Is the ice cream parlor still there? I remember Julie’s mom owned it. I used to go there all the time,lots of good friends and fun times, many good memories.I have been away from New York for many years.
Wow! I taught at PS 116 from 1971 to 1977. My mother Elizabeth Farrell, for whom the school was renamed after, taught there from the early 1950’s til her passing in 1973. Henry Kash was the principal then.
I went to PS 116 from 1967 to 1971. I remember Mrs. Farrell and Mr. Kash. I had a three teachers named: Mr. John Schick, Ms. Jane Rosenthal and Mr. Weingarten. They were the best. I remember Mr. Kash asked me once what was my career goal and I answered: Actress. He said, “Oh you want to be a thespian.” I’ve never forgotten that word. I would love to see if those 3 teachers are alive. I would love to let them know how much they contributed to my life. I remember Mrs. Farrell always love to sing Rain Drops Keep Falling on My Head at Assembly.
Great job! If you read Stephen Solomita books, you will find some really important details of the streets and the culture of these neighborhoods as he knew it while he was working as a Taxi driver. I read his book Twist of a knife. Real good.
I lived on Fresh Pond Road, on the corner of Catalpa Ave. from 1947 – 1962. I went to Farmers Oval park often. I lived across the street from public school 88. And the Knights of Columbus building. I attended PS 88. My church was ST Mathias, about 6 blocks straight down Catalpa Ave from my house. I lived in a 6 room railroad flat, cold water and a “dumb Waiter”. I spent many a day playing in the old trolley barns, on Fresh Pond Rd. The # 13 bus stopped right in front of my house. The 104 Police Station was around the corner on Catapla Ave, as was the court house where ” the wrong man” starring Henry Fonda was filmed. The stores on my block or close by were Jay Rose, The ridge wood chemists, an Army and Navy store, candy store, butcher, Murray’s Laundermat, a grocery store owned by Barny and Morris, a fruit and veg store, “Merkle’s” moving company, Maggio’s Italian Restaurant and Naggengast hobby store. Just a few on the stores I remember on my block or across the street. There was an Italian shoe maker around the corner on Catalpa Ave and a barber shop owed by a guy named Gus. I am almost 70 now but I remember Soooo many things about my old home and neighborhood. I’m happy to answer any questions about the area you may have.
Memories of farmers oval park. Loved that place
My Aunt and Uncle and I and eventually my son went to St. Mathias.
Hi Michael. Do you remember 2 ice cream parlors n fresh pond road – one was Kedenbergs (spelling) and Von Ron’s. Marianne
Yes, I do remember the two ice cream parlors on Fresh Pond Road. I went there often, I had forgotten the names of them but I went to both. I mostly remember going to the Ice Cream Parlor on the same side of the street as PS 88 about 2 blocks away.
Do you remember Mama’s restaurant on Fresh Pond?
I do remember the restaurant BUT I think it was called Mother’s restaurant. I may be wrong but I do remember it.
Was Mama’s located under the train station on Fresh Pond Road? If yes they had great food. Attended St .Matthias and then Edison. Left in 67 to join the Navy. When back in 2012m will not be back again. Someone mentioned the Ridgewood and Oasis , forgot the Madison, was a block away from the Ridgewood. There was another movie house down Mrytle near what was called Old Fresh Pond Road, led up to Cooper and the cemeteries.
Hey Michael, Of all of the businesses that you mentioned, you forgot my favorite one. On my way to Farmers I’d pass the Pizza Prince. I even assembled boxes for either a15 cent slice or a coke. It sure was good pizza. I remember watching Jack Merkel working on his hotrod in the garages bordering the tracks on the way to Farmers. I’m guessing I was 7 to 10 years old. Ultimately, I’d end up in the park playing knock hockey or whatever. Imagine kid that young out on his own today.
Hi John, I do believe the Pizza Parlor took the place of the Grocery store around 1957
I remember Nagengast hardware store and hobby store in the back where I would buy my HO trains. They were located on Fresh Pond Road, not far from the El.
I lived on Catalpa Ave and 62nd Pl, just one block up from Fresh Pond heading towards Farmer’s Oval. One morning, I got up and looked out the window and here standing by our gate was Henry Fonda. I was so surprised. I learned they were filmng “The Wrong Man” at that Police station. My friend who lived on the next block said when she woke up and looked out her window, there was Alfred Hitchcock in a ‘cherry picker’ directing the movie at the Police station. I was so awed, it never occurred to me to even try to get an autograph. There was absolutely no one around him – – except my cat – – who unceremonially proceeded to relieve himself right at Henry’s feet!! Hah!
I saw the movie. I didn’t know until now that it was made in our neighborhood. Very cool.
I was about 7 years old and was able to meet with Henry Fonda and Alfred Hitchcock in the back of a truck. I was offered a doughnut, it was so cool back then,
I moved to Seneca and Myrtle in the 60’s. I remember seeing the Sound of Music at the Madison Theater and graduated fron JHS at the Ridgewood. Some of the stores I remember are Howard’s Men’s shop, Bohack, Trunz, Martin’s paint, Ronny’s luncheonette, Glendale bakery, Fair, Woolworths, Pants Pantry, We had a “head shop” across from our house call Headquarters One, owned by a great gay couple Vinny and John who were friends with my sister and gave me my fist bell bottoms. On Weirfield Street was a little china laundry who would starch my dads white shirts. The schoolyard gangs scarred me . I went to Conties (?) barber shop and may of us had our first beer at the Elco. Looking back we had a great childhood. I live in New England now and was able to get back to Ridgewood a few years ago to pick up a dog we rescued, the neighborhood looked great. I had coffee at Ronnnys and walk around seeing many of the sam stores. I went into Rudy’s to bring home cake for my dad who was in his 90’s at the time.
I remember Rudy’s bake shop. They had great cheese cake, but the best cheese cake was Heinegan.s on Myrtle Ave.
I worked for a short time at the Glendale Bakery.
My parents were born and raised in Ridgewood. After they moved to NJ, my Grandmother would always bring us the rum balls and black forest cake from Rudy’s. I have never had either that could compare to those!
Rudy’s best Black Forest cake around
I went to Conte’s Barber Shop. Originally, there were two brothers, then one of them sold out. The shop; was on Seneca Ave.
930 Seneca Ave., to be exact, Dick Santo. Mr. Conte, his wife Rose, and their sons and daughters lived across the hall from me on the second floor of that address. That barber shop later became a law office. Mr. Conte set up his barber shop on Forest Ave. after closing the Seneca one. I write to his grandson on Facebook once in awhile. I remember Mr. Conte very well. He died in the mid 1950s while he was in his early 50s.
Hi, Mark – Mr. Conte and his son, both barbers, lived across the hall from me and my family. The younger Conte, Willy, had a barber shop on Seneca and Weirfield many decades ago. The Elco was down the corner from me. I lived at 930 Seneca Ave, next to Bohack’s. I still remember the area quite well and visit it sometimes.
My family moved to Ridgewood from Bed Sty in the summer of 1945 (Woodward Ave. & Himrod Street right across the street from George’s Delly. We did all our food shopping there until the Bohack super market was established in Ridgewood. We almost always bought our food on credit at George’s. We had a little book and George would make all the entries himself. Sometimes our bill would get really high. George and his wife were good business people but they trusted us and we always paid up. In the summer time we kids could walk into any Drug Store and ask for a glass of water and we’d get it. If we got hurt in the streets the Druggist would patch us up and send us on our way. One time I got hurt really bad so my friends took me to a Drug Store. The Druggist patched me up. I needed stitches in my head so he closed his store and drove me to Wycoff Heights Hospital where I got stitched up. All of this was free of course. Those were the days.
Hey Dick, wasn’t there a small market on the bklyn side of Woodward called Dilbert’s .I was real young then. I so remember the smell on coffee beans that you’d grind right there… I guess that’s how they did it back then. I’m talking 1954-5. I do remember a deli on the queens side of Woodward that had rotisserie chicken that smelled wonderful. Woodward was quite a street to do your shopping.
Hi John. I do remember a Dilbert’s. I can’t remember where it was. I thought there was a Bohac’ks on Woodward Ave. but I’m probably wrong. When I lived on Woodward( between Stanhope and Himrod) we thought we lived in Brooklyn. Even my graduation book from St. Aloysius School has Brooklyn, N.Y. on the cover. I graduated in 1953. We had zone numbers then instead of zip codes. Our zone was “Brooklyn 37” The post office was on the Brooklyn side of Ridgewood and thus the confusion. I think the border line was Cypress Ave. I did not know that Woodward went from Brooklyn to Queens. I remember it went down to Flushing Ave. but I’m not sure about it being in both Brooklyn and Queens. Could you be thinking of Woodbine St.? That did cross the boarder.
hey Dick, Don’t feel bad about the geographical confusion… seems like no one ,in those days, ever knew the actual Blkyn Queens border. I lived on woodward between harmon and himrod(???) till +/-1956. Then moved to cornelia st ( st matthias parish)… that was a 27 zone. Although it was all Ridgewood, the Brooklyn post office confused all issues. A technical factor could have been the 19xx house numbers till forest (bklyn) and the hyphenated 60-xx numbers after forest (queens) . But even they got it wrong. I’ve lived upstate over 30 years and have lived in a particular town with another town’s post office and yet another’s tax district, so I guess it’s not that unusual. go figure
Hold on John. We were neighbors. Did you know Billie Immel, Johnny Mayer, Robby Rabe or his brother Walter, Tommy Lippolt, Nicky Wolf, Billy Johnson (of Johnson’s candy store), Butchie Baher or John Francis? This would be a late 40’s early 50’s crowd. I lived on Woodward Ave. from 1945 to 1957.
The day triple a team at farmers oval which is now Christ the king he was us steele
My grandfather helped build it and I worked there when I wanna a kid
The owner was a man everyone called during ch
Was that the Ridgewood Chemist on Fresh Pond Road that treated you?
Hi , it’s been very interesting reading and seeing pictures of buildings that I as a young boy wondered
” wonder what that was” the structures that were different or older looking than the flats we always rented .
My parents arrived on the mainland from Puerto Rico in the late 1950s , living and working in Clinton Hills brownstowns divided into SRO’s and working local factories . As a family we lived near the Brooklyn side of the Manhattan bridge . From there in the mid 1960’s we moved to North Brooklyn , Knickerbocker Ave with all the Italian bakeries and numerous coffee shops with older Italian men playing cards . In those years we moved a few times Halsey St , Cornelia St …..etc we had a few landlords who were widows dressing in complete black every day , the fig trees , home made wine that I always tasted when my father would give me the money to go pay the rent .
We shopped on Knickerbocker , Broadway , Graham , Myrtle ave depending on what was being bought . School clothes were bought on Delancey St and barter for cheaper prices with the semetic Jewish owned store owners . Loved going especially to go to the Jewish bakeries for pumpernickel bread , rye bread with caraway seeds so , so good .
On a factory workers salary my father saved enough for a down payment for a 6 family row house on St Nicholas and Dekalb . He was tired of having to moving us around , fixing rental places up and then needing to move .
I do agree with the gentlemen who mentioned the hostility found in the Ridgewood area , stares , followed till you walked off the block . Even on our block neighbors were primarily Italian and they were incensed at the local realtor who sold us the house . My father was very fair skinned as was my older sister who accompanied him . My mother was ” a light brown” as was my younger bother and me . The experiences that him and me had growing up in the “hood” were completely different than my three fair skinned siblings .
Most of my youth we lived with diverse people , working class , renters , black , white , Latin , other
especially on Halsey and Irving Ave during the late 60’s , 70’s .
Now in my mid 50’s I’ve seen the the gentrification start even 25 years ago , riding the LL the first explorers were young , grungy and fearless moving to factory spaces around the Metropiltan ave stop . The original Dumbo pioneers , not for status but space to create and affordable I welcomed them .
We lived and rented an apartment on Madisin street As the street began to Change we left as a result of gunshots on a quiet Sunday We first went to a real estate office and were immediately told. “Forget about ridgewood , Germans will not allow Italians in.
Hi, Tony – I lived in Ridgewood from 1947 to 1960 with my family. The whole two floors were people of Italian ancestry, good neighbors I must say. The man across the hall from me had lived in that building on Seneca for decades before. His father had owned the building next door since the 1920s. Italian, from Italy. So Italians go a long way back in Ridgewood. Of course, Germans were the vast majority – they buillt Ridgewood – and excellently!
Hi Jose. I read your post two years ago and just now read it again. I just realized how good it was. You had quite an experience growing up. Not easy Your father was quite a guy. You must be proud of him. You covered a lot of ground and had many experiences. From pumpernickel bread (how I miss real pumpernickel) to dealing with the ignorance of some nasty people. Best wishes to you and your family.
My father grew up in Ridgewood, Brooklyn, where my great grandparents lived.
My family, the Taylor’s lived on Knickerbocker Ave. & Cornelia St. All the kids (6 of us) graduated from St. Martin of Tours. The boys, Ed, Don (deceased) Jack & Jerry all played softball in Putnam Playground. The girls Joan (deceased) & Ceil did their own thing. It was a great place to live. If anyone remembers us, it would be nice hearing from you.
Hi I lived at 635 knickerbocker ave right next to the Heiser post I went to st Martin of yours and graduated in 1958 we would spend hours on the block playing punchball,stickball,stoopball and Johnny on the pony also in Putnam park of course handball and softball and we would sit on the giant steps to watch the older guys play
Lived at 924 Knickerbocker Ave and Cooper St my last name is Latterner father owned the Ice Cream Paler at 367 Knickerbocker Ave.
Any pics of the woolworths down ridgewood and the other at st pancras school site on myrtle ave?i am a Glendale girl raised and schooled there moved out as a teen
Anyone who “hung” pout on Fresh Pond Road ice cream parlor Kedenburgs. From late 40s until early 50s. I joined the army in 1952 and now live in Alaska. Francis?
My dad had a candy store on 67th ave. between Forest Ave. and Fresh Pond Rd.Across the street was Andrews Deli. I truly miss the area. My dad would close the store on Sundays at 2:00 in the afternoon and we had our Sunday dinner. Later in the day we went to the movies. It was one of three theaters either the Ridgewood, the Oasis or my favorite the Madison. My mother would go shopping on Saturday afternoons on Myrtle Ave.It’s great remembering those times.
H I’m back. Lived on Woodward & Himrod from 1945 to 1957. Played baseball in the vacant lot between Himrod St. and Stanhope st. near Grover Cleveland Park. Played softball, handball, roller hocky, basket ball and football in Grover Cleveland Park. Played stickball, king-queen, Johnny on the pony, capture the white flag, skellsies, marbles, stoop-ball, slap-ball, ring-a-leriio, tag, you name it, mostly on himrod street next to the lots. Had water pistol season, putty blower season, played cards for comics, flipped baseball cards (now worth a fortune), played “I Declare War” (a popular WWII game), listened to Let’s Pretend, Buster Brown, Jack Benny, Our Miss Brooks, Life with Luigi, Mr. & Mrs. North, The Fat Man, The Shadow, Ellery Queen ,Inner Sanctum, Life of Riley, on the radio. Listened to Martin Bloc’s “Make Believe Ballroom” Oh yes, Saturday afternoons at the Majestic Theater on Seneca Ave. (two features and six cartoons) for fourteen cents. Whew! More later.
I remember that vacant lot. We would catch butterfies there, There are houses built there since about 1970.
I believe that the majestic theater is now a funeral home. How sad,
Did anyone know Diane Fitzgerald, Doreen Shuster (Daisy), Laura and Johanna Caritta,
James Healy, Margaret O’Brian(MEG), Kathy O-Brien, Mr Munze, (liquor store owner)
Mr. and Mrs Stoltz, and crazy George., Koch Pharmacy, Marty’s butcher shop, and.Kaufman’s grocery store, Grover Cleveland park, Cherry Valley, and Bohack market, I lived at 404 Seneca Ave. I graduated from St. Aloysius in 1962, and Grover Cleveland in 1966.
I knew Koch’s and Marty the butcher. My brother Tom made deliveries for marty in the early 50’s. I guess you saw the movie “Marty.” It was about a butcher in the Bronx named Marty. Maybe they got the idea for the movie from our Marty in Ridgewood. You never know.
There were two Cherry Valleys on Seneca Avenue one near Himrod St and one near Madison St. I lived on Himrod Street meet my wife of 40 years at the other Cherry Valley will my friend worked. Send me an email at tefrz@comcast.net and say hey if you were from either Himrod or Madison streets.
i worked at cherry valley on himrod st
Crazy George used to ride a around yelling out meatballs while flapping his arms .
He also used to do a Woody Woodpecker imitation and ride around with a giant portable radio in a basket on his bike. The man had SERIOUS Mental problems.
I remember a James Healy who would be around 80 years old now..also remember Crazy George who rode around the neighborhood on his bicycle..
Jimmy Healy, born 5/8/49, St Aloysius class of 1962, passed away on 11/20/09. I knew him very well.
Hi Jim. I wrote a lot but they apparently didn’t allow it. I’ll try another time. This is just a test. Sorry.
Great website! I have a photo from 1922 of a section of Wyckoff Ave that shows Mullins Ice Cream, a trolley that says “Wyckoff Ave” on the front, an old car (with a NY plate that says “1922”), and the cobblestone (and mud) street. Let me know if you’re interested and I’ll forward a copy to you.
– Dave Levitt
I played baseball in the first year Ridgewood Little League in 1952. I played for the 104th police coordinating Council. We played at the than New Farmers oval which is now the home of Christ The King High School. I than went on to Play for the Ridgedale Hobos, a very successful team under the guidance of George Slats Leaning. The team consisted of many locals including, Joe Kepics, Bill Engesser, Dick Lallier, Bill Mertz, John Rossman, Carl Krolik, Dick Waltz, Fred Neuscheler and others. We played at what was called the Old Farmers Oval. If any of you may still be around and read this, please reply. I now live in Delaware with my wife Marie. We have four daughters and 12 grandchildren.
Frank Marx
Hi Frank. I remember the old farmer’s oval. I played baseball in a vacant lot on Himrod St. There was a kid named Walter Heckle who’s father played baseball for the Brooklyn Dodger’s farm team. He often trained his son Walter in the lot. I was just wondering if you came across either of them in your baseball travels. Congrats on your family. Quite a brood.
Dick santo ! Wow a name from the past . Of course I remember everyone you have talked about. Walter Rabe was my best friend. Wally heckle was in my class at St.A’s Johnny Maier was my next door neighbor Just recently been together with Bobby Immel billy’brother. To bad you move out in 57. It was great growing up there with everyone. I like you and though you were a cool guy. I think you hah an older brother who hung out with Robert Rabe! Johnny Reid an more .I just attended St. A’s 60th reunion.it was fun .Only one kid from 55 and me from 57. I went to grover Cleveland till 61. The best time in our neighborhood was Friday night dancing at the Silver Dollar Club on the third floor of the ridge wood theatre ,everyone was there. I just got this I pad it’s fun searching .but I don’t like typing. I still like voices. I hope we can connect and have some fun.. Who was the barber on the ground floor nest to you. Was it Tony’s ?
Jacky Donahue! Holy Toledo! I have corresponded with a lot of people from Ridgewood on this blog, but this is the first time I actually connected with someone I know. Yes my brother Tom hung out with R. Rabe. Sad what happened to Walter Rabe. Didn’t you have a Super-Man outfit when you were a little kid? I guess I forgot the Silver Dollar club was third floor. Did you ever shoot pool in Cappies? The barber on the ground floor was named Shwartz. Didn’t know his first name. Tony Penisi had a barber shop on Woodward Ave. around Green Ave. I think. Johnny Maier lives in Florida along with Bruce Van Aken and Billy Johnson (if still alive). You signed my graduation book in 1953 from St. A’s. Great to hear from you.
Hi Dick ! It’s Jack Donahue again. Always lots going on with my family , sorry I couldn’t get back sooner. I somehow touched base with Billy Moran ( Billy Johnson). Check us out on Facebook .Hopefully we can connect the gey’s and gal’s of our neighbor hood.Let’s keep up the real Woodward ave. conversation.
Hi Jack. Good to hear from you. You had mentioned that you’re still pals with Bobby Immel. I remember him well. A while ago I heard that he had been wounded in Vietnam. I guess you know his brother Billy died a year or so ago. Billy was a close friend of mine back in the day. We did some crazy stuff together. He was a NYC Fireman. Say hello to Billy Johnson. I don’t do face book. My technology level is “0.” Really great to hear from you again.
Hi Dick ….Try going to this site ….You must have lived in Ridgewood , if you remember….. You won’t believe the group pictures that Billy Johnson ( Billy Moran) ,put on and more. ENJOY.
Is there anyone you don’t know, Dick?! Been reading through these posts trying to find info on Rudy’s Bakery from the 1930’s. We lived on Himrod between Woodward and Fairview. Walter Heckle lived next door. Knew them well.
I am shocked no one has mentioned the carnivals in that lot every summer. Such fun. Fell asleep listening to the music and games. Heaven. My parents were great friends with the owners of that beer garden across from you, Virginia and Jimmy. Spent some wonderful times there (restaurant in back). We were with the Stadtmuller sisters living on Himrod and Woodward. Thanks for the name of that deli, “George’s.” Their wonderful son threw my sister’s doll down a sewer one day. He was charming. We used the grocery on Fairview and Himrod. Can’t remember his name but had the same “accounting” system as George. LOL. They moved to Arizona in the 50’s when their daughter had asthma. We were on the “P.S. 71” side of Woodward.. Danny Giovanelli’s family moved into the corner building across from the bar. He was a young boxer, and trained running around that block. I was friends with his sister when they moved into the neighborhood, early 50’s. Used to love watching all the high school kids walking to school with their “senior hats” on Senior Day. And then one day there I was. My uncle’s picture hung in the Cleveland lobby while I was there. He was Cleveland’s first “Gold Star” son in WWII, killed on the aircraft carrier Lexington May 8, 1942; he was 17! This was a fun site about Ridgewood. Moved to PA in 1966. Meet with some grade school friends every summer in Staten Island. And, I don’t know you, unless you were one of those boys singing on the street corner. LOL.
Hey Barbara, I got a kick out of your post. I’m sure we bumped into each other somewhere along the way. My friend Roger sort of dated Patty Stadtmueller ( they were about 11 years old). I knew her older sister but can’t remember her name. She went out with a guy named Manny. George’s son “Billy” was pretty wild. I know he could be a buster but he had a good side. Among other things he and my older brother Tom used to go to the beer gardens on Thanksgiving. Billy played the accordion while Tom went around with the hat and collected the money. I’m pretty sure they split 50/50. I remember my mom taking her cut when Tom came home. God knows we could use the money. So you knew Danny’s sister. There was a brother “Silvio”. We called him Jack. He hung out with my brother Tom. The carnival came to town every September just when school started. My friends and I would walk around there in the mornings looking for unused tickets before going to school. I also had some cousins in the war. They got back o.k. One of them brought back a Samori (sp?) Sword. There was this little kid named Anthony. He lived on Himrod St. but the next block up. I used to wave to him on my way to Cleveland Park as I walked through the lots. He always waved back but we never got to talk to each other. Did you know him by any chance? Regards.
Knew a Cindy Marx. Any relation?
I was raised in Maspeth,but my family comes from Ridgewood. My maternal grandparents moved from Greenpoint in 1908. My grandfather built their house at 60-12 Madison St. He and his brothers dug foundation by hand and they moved in 1910. My mom’s best friend was Christina Caldroney Gaeta who lived two houses down. We went to Trinity Reformed Church and I graduated from Grover Cleveland in ’63. Had graduation at Ridgewood Theater. My father’s people, the Harms family, lived in Ridgewold since 1880’s and my cousins grew up in Ridgewood also. We did most of our cloths shopping in Ridgewood on Myrtle or Fresh Pond. My father would shop at Howard men’s clothing store. I remember Jay Rose. The food was the best. The bakeries, Forest Pork store. Karl Ehmers, the delis and of course Gebhardts and Durros. My aunt and uncle would have Sunday dinner and have a dance there on Sunday afternoons. Many of my childhood memories are rooted in the neighborhood. I’ve lived in Virginia since I married, but always think of Ridgewood as one of my homes..
hello everyone .
i am looking for data on a store called ‘ ridge furniture – myrtle ave and seneca ‘
thats the general area .
i was there 1973 .
my uncles owned the place.
say what you may know.
In response to ābeen thereā looking for info on Ridge Furniture … My father worked there on and off in the ’70’s and ’80s. He would have worked for your uncles and later one of their sons, I guess your cousin.
info on Ridge Furniture ā¦
one of their sons would be Lenny Porter
Yes, my father worked for the brothers and later for Lenny.
I read a newspaper article about 4 people killed during a lightening storm in Prospect Park, Queens. There was a 30year old man John Evens who lived in Ridgewood, Queens and his companion was killed also in 1973. John Evans address was 60.43 67th Avenue in Ridgewood, Queens.
Does anyone know about this John Evans who died in 1973 or his friend who died also?
My name is Steven Ebeling and l lived at 805 Seneca Ave. from 1955 to 1967. We lived directly next to Ridgewood Furniture. I āworkedā there rolling up the awnings at the end of the day for 25 cents a day- my first ājobā. I worked for a man named Jack who invited me in to get a drink from the water cooler after l finished. Then l would go to the candy store across from my house and get a pack of hot rod cards and a fudgicle. I went to St.Matthias school from 1960 to 1967. It was a great place to grow up. Many fond memories- weekly family dinner on Sunday, going for a custard on Myrtle Ave., Rudyās Pastry, Villa Maria pizza, stoop ball, stick ball. A great place to live back then
Mary if you Graduated from Grover Cleveland as I did in 1963 then you graduated from the Madison Theatre.
I went to Grade school with Artie Harms at P.S.81.
Hi Nancy, Artie was my cousin. His sisters are Carole and Lillian. They lived on Stanhope and then moved to Cypress then Long Island. Great memories.
As a Social Studies teacher at PS 81 on Cypress Ave., I love this website and all of the comments. The hayloft/Ralph Street sign right across the street from school are signs of the past that have always intrigued me, as are the two heavy metal plates that are still at the top outside step of PS 81 that were used to scrape the mud off your boots when entering our school from unpaved Cypress Avenue at the turn of the century. I would welcome the opportunity to interview anyone who would be kind enough to indulge me so that I can learn more about your personal recollections about life in Ridgewood. I’d love to pass on what are clearly very fond and relevant memories of your experiences. Thank you.
Hi Don. No need to interview me. I have comments all over this website and on another one called “Growing up in Ridgewood Queens in the 1960’s.” However I will mention two more things that are strange and peculiar to Ridgewood.
On Thanksgiving In the late 1940’s and early 50’s we kids would dress up like hobos and go through the back yards singing songs . People would throw money down to us or sometimes bags of goodies. We’d also ring doorbells and shout “Anything for Thanksgiving?” We got apples, money, etc. When Halloween came around we would fill nylon stockings with flour and hit each other with them, getting flour all over ourselves. We did other stuff with chalk and candle wax that I won’t mention. The thing is, we never even heard of “trick or treat.” The first time I heard of trick or treat was reading a Walt Disney comic with Porky Pig trick or treating.
Another strange one is that we called firecrackers “salutes.” As far as I can determine only Ridgewoodites did this.
In my travels I told these things is to people from Brooklyn, Manhattan, South Carolina, you name it. Nobody knew what I was talking about.
Hope you enjoyed find this little bit of Ridgewood history.
I remember thanksgiving going begging,people think I am crazy when I tell them about doing that.I guess it was a new York thing . I have lived on woodbine street also Palmetto Street also St Nicholas Av. Now I am a Californian.
I remember going begging at Thanksgiving, when I tell people about that they think I am crazy as they never heard of doing that.I grew up on woodbine street, then moved to palmetto street.remember my friend Marily Russo, Mary Medaglia ,I baby sat Mary Murphy’s children., then lived on St Nicholas av. remember the ice cream parlor across the street last owner was Julies Mom. I then moved to Connecticut, now I am a Californian for he last 47 years.
A friend of mine did that also – we were living in Bushwick at the time
Hi Dick, My aunt owned a candy store across the street from ps81.A lot of the kids from the school were my aunt;s customers.On Thanksgiving the kids used to come in her store and ask, “anything for Thanksgiving??
She told them all to come back at 12 o’clock. She closed the store at 12pm.All the kids showed up. My aunt had all the kids line up and my aunt, my brother and I gave out pennies to all the kids.Everyone went home with something.
Hi Dick, Back in the 40’s my brother and I went singing in the backyards on Thanksgiving. my aunt owned the candy store on Cypress Ave and Greene Ave.The kids used to go in the store and say “anything for Thanksgiving?” My aunt told them all to come back at 12 noon.My aunt lived above the candy store and at 12 noon she opened the window and threw boxes and boxes of pennies to all the kids below. She loved to watch them scramble.
Was your aunt’s last name Robinson. The husband’s name was Kenny.
I grew up in Ridgewood went to PS116, JHS162 and Brooklyn Techā¦and I remember saying “Anything for Thanksgiving” on thanksgiving dayā¦at that time I never heard “trick or treat” on Halloween
In response to “been there” looking for info on Ridge Furniture store, I believe the showroom was on Seneca Avenue and Cornelia Street. They had a warehouse entrance on Putnam Avenue. My parents bought quite a bit of their furniture from Ridge. The owners were always pleasant to them. I lived there in the 60’s and 70’s….
I was born in Ridgewood in 1932 – and grew up there until my family
managed to scrape together $500. for a down payment in a house in
West Babylon, “out on” Long Island.
During WWII I remember the effort put in to defeat the “AXIS” –
saving newspapers, tin foil, food rationing, buying war stamps
until you had enough to trade for a war bond. Kids used to sing:
“Whistle while you work, Hitler is a jerk, Mussellini is a meanie and
the Japs are worse!” Nobody I knew was sympathetic to Hitler.
I was born in 1939 but I remember that song word for word. As you probably know, the tune was from “Snow White.” I lived deep in the heart of Brooklyn during the war. Moved to Ridgewood in 1945.
I was born in 1938 an I remember singing that song back in the dayā¦.
OMG We moved to Ridgewood, Madison Street in about 1933. My dad was Johnnies’s Meat Market on Madison Street. My sister and I went to PS 93. The bakery across the street from my dad’s store was called the Konditore. Yes, I remember everyone washing their front steps everyday. Playing in the streets in the summer while our parents sat on chairs outside my dad’s shop. We had a cany store right next to us and our nickle allowance was spent there. I remember sunday nights walking to the movies on Myrtle Ave. Please let me know if anyone remembers my dad’s shop.
A relative of mine was a Swiss baker who lived at 6433 Madison St.. I wonder whether that bakery you mentioned (Konditore) was his bakery.
The house on forest Ave off woodbine is really old. It has a porch.
none of these memories can ever be replaced. i worked as a kid at al’s candy store which was perry’s before al and terry took over, between madison & woodbine st. next to franks bar, also helped bob on the bungalow bar ice cream truck. this was all around mid to late 60’s. great times.
Spent ,many a day in Al’s on fresh pond. Was a really great time hangin with the Madison park crowd.
Thanks so much for the many posts from so many people. You have brought back many memories and caused me to want to share some of my own.
I was born in 1938 at the Methodist Hospital in Brooklyn and lived in Ridgewood from 1939 when my parents bought a six family apartment building located at 2004 Woodbine Street between Fairview and Forest. We moved in 1956 to Middle Village. Iāve lived in New Jersey since 1964. My parents, Emil and Kate have passed away and are buried in the Methodist Cemetery on Onderdonk Ave across from Grover Cleveland HS.
I can confirm much of what has been shared, especially by Dick Santos ā dressing like hobos on the night before Halloween (we called it Goosie Night), begging on Thanksgiving and calling fireworks āsalutesā.
My parents owned a German Delicatessen at 267 Wyckoff Ave between Grove and Menahan. I played āRack Ballā on Menahan with Lennie Magio and Ray Lonie (SP?), Tommy Sataruffo (SP?). While Ridgewood was mostly populated by people with a German background, there were many families of Italian heritage as witnessed by my Menahan St friends. I attended my first Brooklyn Dodger Baseball game at Ebbettās Field with Lennie and his father in August 1950 ā I remember because Gil Hodges hit four home runs and a single that night ā True.
I attended a German language school on Wyckoff Ave Saturday mornings. The school was a storefront and taught German history and culture. I remember the school having a Christmas tree that had real burning candles.
My parents sold the store in 1956 after Bohack opened a supermarket across the street on Wyckoff and Menahan. Our store survived for some time because of the quality we offered, credit we extended and the deliveries I made to shut-ins with which Bohack didnāt compete. My father told me that everyone always paid the money they owed.
I attended P.S. 93 which was up the street from our house on Woodbine St. If I remember correctly, boys used the Madison St entrance and the girls entered on Woodbine St. There was a library on Madison St near the school entrance. My mother worked for a while at one of Ridgewoodās knitting mills located on our corner next to our house at Woodbine and Fairview and there was a funeral parlor on Fairview between Woodbine and Madison. Sometime in the 1950s the City took the rest of the block in order to build another school (or was it a park?). My parents and the other owners sued the City in order to obtain fair compensation and won the case.
Wyckoff Heights was our local hospital. My brother in law died there in the 1960s after being stabbed on Forest Avenue.
MY long-time friend, Gary, grew up on Grove St and attended P.S. 81. We met, when I at the age of eleven joined a Boy Scout Troop (Gary was already a Scout), sponsored by the St. Johnās Evangelical United Brethren Church on Gates Ave and Seneca (I think). We attended Stuyvesant HS together. Every few years we take a long walking tour of Ridgewood starting with our arrival at the Myrtle Ave station of what used to be called the Canarsie Line.
I attended Ridgewood Methodist Church on Grove St. Itās now a Coptic Christian church. I met my first wife, Claire Gendreau and married her there in 1961. She lived on Linden St. (1912 I think) and attended Grover Cleveland HS graduating in 1957. I remember Phillip and George Schmidt, Joey Koestner, Marjorie and Gertrude Bronner, Virginia Steinkraus and Lillian Roos who also attended Ridgewood Methodist.
As a young child, I often rode the trolley under the Myrtle Ave El from Forest Ave to Wyckoff Ave for 3 cents with my mother who paid the full fare of 5 cents.
We had ice delivered to our ice box on Woodbine St from a horse-drawn wagon. The delivery man would place a piece of burlap on his shoulder and carry a block of ice up to our apartment on the second floor.
Another horse-drawn wagon delivered produce to our street. āWhoa bunniesā was the peddlerās cry as he entered our street.
I was too young to know of Nazi Bund meetings. I have been shown, however, where they reportedly took place on St Nicholas Ave. I have also been told by a reliable source that a neighbor was arrested and removed to an internment camp for Germans located somewhere in New Jersey. What I do personally remember was being questioned by the FBI in 1942 when I was 4 in my parents apartment on Woodbine St as to their activities (my mother was a US citizen, but my father was not yet naturalized). We were cleared and the agent commented that I didnāt have a German accent.
Some random recollections: The Staatās Zeitung und Herold was a German language newspaper sold in the neighborhood.
Rudyās Konditorei on Seneca Ave near Myrtle sold the best Swartzwalder Kirsch Torte (Black Forest Cherry Cake)
In addition to Gottliebās and Durrows, the Bratwurst Glockle was a German Restaurant under the El down towards Schwaben Hall.
The Grandview Theater did indeed show movies outdoors at night after the war. As mentioned before, the seats were long green benches.
And finally, we went to the Ridgewood Grove for boxing and wrestling matches. It was one of two or three major venues in NYC along with Madison Square Garden and the St. Nicholas Arena in the late forties and early fifties.
Hi Howard. What a great post. So my memory did in fact serve me well regarding the benches at the Grandview Theater. And I have trouble remembering what day it is. Go figure. You mentioned a Joey Koestner. I’m thinking of a kid who lost an eye dueling with another kid with sticks. Was that him?
I saw my cousin Eddie Gaynor box for the Golden Gloves at the Ridgewood Grove around 1955. Three round events. Eddie went down in the first (he’d better not see this). There was a welter-weight named Danny Giovanello who lived across the street from me. He boxed at the Grove and the Garden. Fought some big names too.
.
Hi Howard,
I was looking at a website http://80s.nyc/ wondering if i could find a shot of 267 Wyckoff because i lived in that building for a short time as a child. I was in the building when it burned down actually and rescued along with my mother by the local fire dept. I was hoping to find a shot of the building before it burned. I located this image instead which has a sot of the building behind where it used to be with the smoke residue from the fire. http://80s.nyc/#show/40.7012/-73.9137 Thanks for posting this my search continues.
~Tasha
Hello again Howard. Your comment on Ebbett’s Field and watching Gil Hodges hit four homers brought back memories. I remember the 1951 season checking the newspaper every day as the Giants crept closer and closer to first place and after being 13 games out of first in August they beat the Dodgers in the playoffs on Bobby Thompson’s home run. Then in 1955 the Dodgers won their first World Series (and against the Yankees). I traveled home from school that day on the Myrtle Ave, El and Brooklyn was going wild. Streamers flying out of windows. People must have been saving them for years just waiting fort the big day. Fireworks (salutes) galore. What a day it was. Also, Jackie Robinson visited my High School in Manhattan (Chelsea Vocational) and gave a speech on good citizenship. He was a good speaker and a good man. The Dodgers left Brooklyn soon after. A sad sad event for Baseball.
Way before the Worlds Fare came to Flushing Meadows Park in Queens, Flushing Meadows was a wide open semi-marshland. There was a swimming pool called the Aquacade. Cost nine cents to get in. Diving boards galore, up to 40 feet high. Anyone could use them (no lawsuits then). There was also a weekly show in the evening. It featured some serious professional diving. But the main attraction (at least for me) were the daredevil water clowns called the “Aqua-Zanies”. We travelled from Ridgewood via trolly-car. Eventually the busses took over (big mistake but that’s progress)
We also went fishing on the lake (car antennas for fishing poles). Caught carp, red-carp, catfish, eels and sunfish. Took them home too (in buckets of water). There was an old dilapidated house next to the lake with water running through some of the rooms. We called it “the haunted house.” It was made into a boat house after the worlds fare closed down. We did this stuff in the late 40’s – early 50’s. I guess other kids carried the banner until 1964 when the Worlds fair came to New York for the second time.
Was 1938 the first time the worlds fair came to flushing meadows?
I believe so. Flushing Meadows, 38 or 39.
Didn’t the Aquacade have a diving horse as well?
HI Dick. We have the same Joey Koestner in mind. He did, indeed, lose an eye very early in life in a stick fight. His parents had a second home in Comack on Long Island, where I once was a guest in the fifties.
I just recalled having gone with my mother to a live poultry market on Myrtle Ave near the RKO Ridgewood Theater where they would slaughter chickens and turkeys. Sometime in the late forties I believe.
Having read all your posts, I can’t believe you can’t remember what day it is.
Poultry market was there till mid 60’s… then became Madison dinner.
TeitelbaumĀ“s on Myrtle and Seneca
What was Teitelbaum’s on myrtle and Seneca?
Johnny Breitenbrook lived on the corner of Menahan and Wyckoff. They said he was a middleweight contender and I saw him box a number of times at the Ridgewood Grove. I believe he quit boxing and became a cop.
Hi Howard, Johnny was a good friend of mine iHe left the police dept and was a salesman for a beer co.he went back to boxing and had many bouts at the garden. He passed away a few months ago. Johnny and I played ball with the Ridgewood Dukes.
my dad ed bailey and barney saladino were involved with johnny when he was fighting..
There was a german bar kyusols ( cant spell it) i think in was on woodwood did any body ever go there?
Kioodles
Jack Lohrmann
I remember the chickens. Hundreds of them in crates clucking away. Awful smell. My older brother Tom says we would pick up chicken claws that were scattered all over the place. I also remember a farm way down on Woodward Ave. (I think it was Woodward). We once sold a praying mantis to the farmer for fifty cents. We told him it would help control the insects on his farm. Thinking back I guess he was just being kind to us.
I remember going begging people did not believe me when I told them about it. I have lived on woodbine street, Palmetto street, St. Nicholas av. I remember the ice cream parlor, Julies mom owned it . I remember friends from palmetto st. Marilyn Russo and Mary Megdalia and I baby sat Mary Murray’ s children.
Yes /my time shot pool and use Togo dancing
At the Silver Dollar club on Friday night up
Stairs . Hung out in Ridgeood Grove Pool
Room and a bowling alley together. There
Was another pool room called Cappies on
Gates Ave by the Myrtle ave ELL mid 50s
Bars Bucket Blood , Rattskeller ,and
Bickfords if you where hungry . Good
Memories 1950 / 1960 .Got married
1960 to my wife Chickie went to get ther
45yrs 1954 to 1998 pass away .
Did
lots of good memmories
I wirked the old Gebbys off Fresh Pond Rd n Mrytle Ave n also Cozy Corner the clean very clean establishment Cozy had Pillars that looked like the Titanic bust of woman or Mermaid. Both severed food clean clean. It was my 1st taste of Jagermeister the Best medicine yes if u have cold it is potent cured whatever Great area so much history
In addition to a pool room above the Ridgewood Theater there was a club called “The Silver Dollar Club” below the Ridgewood Theater in the 50’s. Anyone out there old enough to remember it?
Hi Dick,
I remember the club very well. My intended and I went there a lot in the late 40;s. It was a nice night out.
I lived on Putnam Ave from 1946 to 1968 when I got married I attended St. Matthais till 1954 then went to PS77 Mr Walters was 8th grade History class then Grover Cleveland graduated ar the Madison Th in 1964 Those were the best years. I to went around any thing for Thanksgiving and got apples nuts candy and sometimes coins Now live in Fla.
great website, I enjoy reading all the fun things that we grew up with.
We lived on Madison between Wyckoff and Myrtle I remember Movie stars pulling up to enter the rear doors of The Madison Theatre for Personal appearances.Myrtle Ave five and tens , the lights at Christmas . Walking to St Brigidās for school Playing pool At the Grove as a teenager.My mother grew up during the war on Woodbine and would tell me stories of German sympathies in Ridgewood.My fathers parents lived on the corner of Madison and Seneca as a kid I would take the Beer pail down 3 flights of stairs cross Seneca go to Kioodles they would fill it up with Rheingold.Later on we moved to Fresh Pond Road above a bar across from Bohacks and I hung out at Madison St Park.And of course there was Grover Cleveland.
Anyone remember, Stengers bakery. His daughter was a steady for a while. German mother, great cook
Does anyone remember the German Deli on Catalpa Ave. run by Jacob and Gretel Hoffmann? They were friends of my parents and when visiting them in the evening, I remember Gretel always making German potato salad to be sold the next day in their deli.
OH YES!! It was half way between Fresh Pond Road and Farmers Oval Park , If I recall this correctly. The food and salads were GREAT
S/E corner of Catalpa and 60th St. I lived around the corner on 69 Ave until 1964.
That was the deli on the corner. Across the street it’s the police station. My parents went there back in the 60’s and 70’s.
This was a great article…My great grandfather used to own a hardware store on Myrtle Ave his name was Ed Loder, then my grandmother had bought the hardware store from him and turned it into a luncheonette her name was Dorothy Smith. I believe it was close to across from the social security building and also close to PS 88 probably in-between the 2. I have lost most of my family that might have pictures of the place but would have loved to come across one. I don’t know if anyone knows of the place I’m taking about? I wasn’t even born yet once they were sold.
I may be wrong, but I think Loder’s was on the N/W corner of Fresh Pond & 69th Ave, a block south of PS 88.
I was correct. Just confirmed this with my Dad. We lived on 69th Ave from ’48-’64.
are you ed kelly who lived on madison st. around 1976 ?
please remove ,it was an error.. thanks.
Don Buddenhagen, I grew up in Ridgewood as well . I believe the name of the restaurant that was located across from the bus depot was Pellegrino’s and Maasbach’s was next door. Myself and my girlfriend Cathy Bennenati,who worked at Chase bank across the street, would eat there. Did you go to Grover Cleveland ?
I just bought a copy of an old book of songs and poems and in the front cove is an incription that says:
Barbara Asbeck
61-47 Linden Ave.
Ridgewood, New York
October 1927
I’m curious about who Barbara Asbeck was.
Thanks for the article, very interesting, I love rigewood queens.
These Queens memories are a kick. I am reminded–after having forgotten this detail for decades–that my father, born in Astoria in the early 1910s, also used to call firecrackers “salutes,” but I seem to remember that this name was reserved for the bigger, louder artillery, like cherry bombs. Also remember that my mom, who moved to Corona while still a kid, told us how she and her brothers and sisters would go “begging” at neighbors’ houses after Thanksgiving dinner, asking, “Anything for the poor?” I don’t remember anything about hobo clothes, however.
More on words: it was only about ten or twenty years ago that I realized I’ve always called the slide in a children’s playground a “sliding pond” or a “sliding pon.” I had no idea why, and after some looking around, found that this expression is exclusively a New York City-ism, heard nowhere else. Some etymologists trace it back to a Dutch word, glibaan, a type of slide. If you are interested, there are now lots of references to this online.
Thanks to all for your entertaining memories!
Wow, yes! Sliding pond. I’d forgotten that, having lived outside NYC the past 40 years. I lived the first 16 years in the City, then we rented the top floor of a 2 story rowhouse in Glendale on 64th Place, behind an old, closed movie theater.
Does any know or remember Fred Hofmeister who lived on Greene Ave between Cypress and Seneca in the 40’s.Fred and I served together overseas and we lost touch when we got out of the Marines in the late 40’s.Would like to make contact.
There are just so many memories I recall as I read these many posts. I was born on Fresh Pond Road in 1947. We lived in a 6 family building on the corner on Fresh Pond and Catalpa. It was a cold water flat that required my mom shelving coal into a big black stove. The stove was used to cook and to heat water so that we could bath. The apartment had a dumbwaiter and 6 railroad rooms. For some reason, I remember the rent being $41 dollars a month.
Next to my building was a grocery store. It was owned by two men name Barney and Morris. As a kid,I would go there with a not from my Mom with money wrapped in the note. lot’s of times I was sent there to buy cigarettes and milk along with some cold cuts, usually the selection was ham, bologna, taylor ham and store cheese. The grocery store was eventually sold and it was turned into a Pizzeria.
I lived across the street from PS 88 and remember a few of the teachers names. I do remember the Principal’s name was Mr. Silverman. His name was posted in Big Gold letters on his office door, Other teachers were Miss Muldowny, Miss Reader, Mr. Newshun and Miss Flecher. I am not sure of any other the spelling.
My church was St. Mattias, on Catalpa ave. I also attended Religious Instructions every Wednesday afternoon at the church.
I do have many more memories if nay one is interested in hearing more.
I recall going to the Ridgewood, Madison and Glendale movie theaters when I was a boy. The Glendale was my favorite. All of the theaters were on Myrtle Avenue, within blocks of one another. When we we ambitious, we would all walk to the Oasis movie theatre on Fresh Pond Road. I also remember the man that sold pretzels for a nickel outside of St. Matthais church on Sundays. In my area we had the Dietz Fuel Oil Company, 104th Pct, Murray’s Laundermat, Jay Rose, Ridgewood Chemists, Mother’s restaurant, Maggio’s Pizzaria, Farmers Oval, Town Cleaners, Army and Navy store, Joe’s Fruit store and more. Most of the stores were on Fresh Pond Road, the same block I lived on. The other’s very close. I remember them all so well. Those were such good times.
Michael Olikus olikus@aol.com
How about pictures of the old Ridgewood Times Building?
Once a school, (St. Leonard’s HS) it was now renovated into apartments.
I attended PS 93 in 1949 – 1951. What ever happened to that school?
Are there any photos of it?
Wow!..reading all these memories really hits homeā¦I lived on Menahan st right next to the Myrtle avenue elā¦Went to PS116, JHS162, Brooklyn Tech and Brooklyn Polytech. Some of the people I grew up with are Danny Wood, Herbie Koenig, Ken & Roy Angevine, Don Ipsen. I also played softball on Bachmanns and Gibbys were I knew John and Stan Taylor, Jowell Heinz, Richie Fleshmann to name a few.. In addition to the Madison and Ridgewood movies I remember the Parthanon theater..In addition to the pool rooms mentioned I played at Sharkeys pool room..
ed bailey
I went to PS 93 and graduated from Grover Cleveland HS in June 1945. Julius LaRosa was also at Grover Cleveland back then and dated a girl named Irma Schmidt , who lived on my street. I believe he died last year. Nice guy! Jimmy Durante had a brother who lived around the corner….or so I was told back in the day. The Oasis movie theater was on FreshPond Rd. and a trolley car was the way to travel for a nickle. I remember a bar called Kioodle’s on Onderdonk Ave ( loved the name) across the st .from a bldg. where my grandparents owned a bakery….when I was a little girl. Dr. Charles Tonsor wrote in our HS yearbook “V-E Day is in the air! The forces of life are stirring among humans also. The destruction cannot go on forever.”
But that was long ago and far away. Hope springs eternal.
anyone remember weirfield street and knickerbocker avenue. in the 1945 was there a murder on weirfield street three house away from the church.
I remember a whole write up about it.
Brought back lots of memories. My parents and I lived on 1861 Linden St. That was near Onderdonk and Linden St. That was such a great neighborhood. Convient to the Senaca El.
train, local stores, and the Madison Theater on Myrtle Ave. My father (Victor Stampfl) new a
lot of German folks throughout Ridgewood. He worked in the Jamica MTA Bus Depot as a
Carpenter. I enjoyed the feedback from all you folks from Ridgewood.
Hey Walter…My name is Jack Donahue. My moms maiden name was Micklitsch. We had a connection with your family.Do you remember anything. The Micklitschās lived on Menahan St.between Woodward and a Onderdonk. I have vague memories of a Stamph family And pictures from long ago. Hopping to hear from you, this is a tough site to find info.
I also grew up on Menahan between Onderdonk and Seneca. The name Micklitsch does sound familiar. My last name was Goederer – first name Jane. I was there in the 50ās and 60ās.
i grew up in bushwick but when my dad drove up freshpond by madison st. he would always mention his army buddy jim castle died fighting in the 8 th division ;lived over here.
Hello History Geeks; I thought that some of you may be interested in a new webseries my friend and I will be starting mid September of 2018 called the FIVE BOROUGHS PROJECT. The idea of the show is to explore all the 300+ neighbourhoods in NYC; each neighbourhood is a new episode. Feel free to follow our journey when we launch our first episode and watch our trailer on Youtube.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Ai2XxGxm_w&t=1s
menahan st, in the spring of 1983 ….where and when i met my woman,Josephine.
Does anyone remember Sonny and Jake’s bar on Forest and Fairview? My dad was a partner therwhen I was a boy and my brother and I hung out there as kids
Yes, I remember that bar, my aunt lived directly across the street above the Card store.
Hi, Can anyone be able to tell me the name of the cardboard box factory that was located in Fresh Pond Road back in the 1960 – 70’s and then moved to N.J.?
Great memories here. I played baseball and basketball and of course knock hockey at Farmerās Oval. I also remember Rudyās Konditorei and their Schwartzwalder Kirschtorte – Black Forest Cherry Cake. It was fun to say it in German.
Did you graduate from St. Matthias School in the Class of 1960? If so, I was in your class in 8th Grade with Sr. M. Teresa.
Anybody remember how generous ridgewood savings bank was by letting neighborhood kids playball in the parking lot after hours untill the seventies?
how about bloody marys saloon. seneca nd woodbine. had a long suffer board. or brown bakery across from platz hardware
I grew up in Ridgewood with friends Danny Woods, Herbie Koenig, Roy and Kenny Angevine and others.
Went to PS116, JHS162, Brooklyn Tech and Brooklyn Polytech. Played softball with Bachmanns and Gibby’s and
knew John and Stan Taylor, Richie Fleishman, Eddie Coin, Jowell Heinz to name a few. I now live in Florida but remember
all the great things that happen back then
Hi Ed. Was Bachmanns located on Menehan and Seneca? Had to climb three steps to get in?
located on seneca and linden st
Hey Dick…time to say hello again. Since the last time we talked, l connected with Billy Johnson ( Moran) , Jonny Maier,Bobby Immel and now have a clue to find Bruce VanAken. Itās sure fun to bring back those memories. Billy Johnson put some great pictures on Facebook. They show almost all the guys and gals at a party for Billy J. In the bar on our corner + …. l hope you can find them..Jack…..
Always good to hear from you Jack. Glad to hear you’re touching base with so many of the old crowd. Whatever became of Bobby Reid and Richie Brooks? I did get to see a picture of a group of guys and gals sitting in a living room. One of them looked like Bobby Reid. One of them may have been you. I somehow found it without using facebook. I still can’t get over the fact that you signed my St. A’s graduation book back in 1953. Rregards.
Hey Dick..so happy that you picked up on my reply. Iām the guy in the living room along with Bobby Reid , Eddie Bottcher,Eileen Mensing and Joni Newmier. I was about 16 ?…Johnny Maier just passed on April 4th. I got to speak with him just before, thanks to Billy Johnson who had been in contact with him. Is Tom still with you? I remember him with Robert Rabe.The super cool guys a generation above us. Itās so funny that I signed your book. Tony B.,Manny and many more signed mine.My best friends were Bill Lincoln and Walter Rabe.We had one hell of a time growing up together.Our part of Ridgewood was a great place to grow up ,we all hung out on the corners and nothing can replace that feeling of belonging in our multi generations. So many stories of the guys and gals of our neighborhood. I live in Farmingville L.I. ? Where are you?
Hi Dick .I hate this site . Every time I type out a message it gets lost ,but Iāll try again.Im glad that you found the picture, hope you found the group shoots. Yes ,thatās me at about 16 .Im with Bobby Reid , Eddie Botcher, Eileen Mensing and Joni Newmier. Jonny Maier just passed away April 4th. I got a chance to speak with him before he left us ,thanks to Billy Johnson who had his phone #. I canāt believe that I signed your graduation book from St. Alloysious.Tony Barowitz,Manny and more signed mine back in 57. I remember your brother Tom. He Was friends with Robert Rabe and that generation above us. ( The cool guys) I was also friends with Barbara Mc Nulty, Mary Giovanelli and Wally Heckel and his group on Himrod St. My best friends were Bill Lincoln, Walter Rabe, Gilbert Beyer and everyone else from that great group from our spot and corners of ridgewood.. I hope to hear from you again but this is a hard site to find ,Jack. o
Hi Dick ,I hope that you got my message.
Hey Jack that was some list of people from our neighborhood. Most from Woodward Ave. between Stanhope and Harmon. Eddie Bottcher from Harmon St. was in my class at St. A’s. He was a lefty who hit a mean baseball. Eileen Mensing married Bruce Van Aken. Was Bill Lincoln known as “Bubba?” Was Tony B. Tony Borowitz? You mentioned Barbara McNulty, but I remember a Pat McNulty on Woodward Ave. She had great freckles. And Gilbert Beyer lived in the same building as Richie Brooks next door to me. I never got to know Walter Heckle very well but I saw him playing baseball in the lots on Himrod St. I don’t remember Joni Neumier. Manny went out with Florence Stadmuller. Right? The Rabe brothers were great guys. Robby was my brother Tom’s best friend. You asked about my brother Tom. He lives in Long Island. He’s had a good life but recently has become gravely ill. I was truly sorry to hear about Johnny Mayer’s passing this April. I got his phone number from Bruce Van Aken a while ago and planned to call him up but never did. I remember Bobby Reid and his big brother Johnny. The Giovanelli family lived across the street. I would have sworn their last name ended with an “o” not an “I.” Danny (the boxer) would run through Cleveland Park when training. His brother Silvio (Jack) was friends with my brother Tom, R. Rabe and Johnny Reid. For myself, I joined the Navy in January 57. When I got out in 1960 my family had moved to Norman St. in Ridgewood. I lived there until I got married in 1967. Moved to Jersey in 1970 where I’ve been ever since.
Does anyone recall the name of the restaurant that was located across the street from the bus depot on Fresh Pond Road with the entrance under the elevated train? The location is currently occupied by Corato Pizza Restaurant. BTW, great website, brought back lots of memories. Grew up in Ridgewood and lived at 21-52 Himrod Street, across from Grover Cleveland High School until 1979.
It was probably Pellegrini’s (under the train) or Maasbach’s (which was on the corner).
I did a little more searching on the internet and discovered that the name of the restaurant I was asking about was Maasbach’s. Thanks anyway!!!!
Oh goodness, Maasbach’s! Flood of memories. My grandparents lived on Palmetto St for most of my childhood and I remember on super special occasions we’d walk up to Maasbach’s and I thought it was so cool to walk under the tressel. Many weekends spent visiting with a trip to a big park I don’t remember the name of and their standard Sunday routine of mass at Miraculous Medal, and grocery shopping at a place on Fresh Pond Rd called the Met. Gifts from my grandmother were more often than not reboxed in a Jay Rose box. But man, Maasbach’s – got such a strong sense memory of a place I hadn’t thought of in 15 years.
Pelligrinos was another restaurant across from the bus depot
Grew up in Ridgewood Brooklyn on Menahan and Myrtleā¦with friends Danny Woods, Herby Koenig, Jimmie Abrams, Dean And Bob Holzman, Roy and Kenny Angevine and others.
Played Softball in Glendale in the 1960’s and hung out in Bachmanns and Gibby’s bars. Some of the people I remember are Stan And John Taylor, Richie Fleishman, Jowell Heinz and others
Does anyone know the where abouts of any of these people?
Ed,
Do you remember a toy store on Myrtle growing up called Ridgewood Toyland. It was my grandfather’s toy store. I never got to see it but if you have any memories of it I’d love to hear it. Doug
I remember a toy store on Myrtle Avenue. I was very young and held my mother’s hand. There was a train set with the train running and all the toys a child’s eyes could feast upon. My memory of it is the same as the wonderment in the Ralphie’s face in the movie “A Christmas Story”. Every trip down Myrtle required my mother to stop at the toy store so that my sister and I could look through windows.
Anita,
That’s such a nice memory. I think I remember my mom mentioning a train set in the store. I appreciate you describing the store so well. I recently asked my Uncle if he had any picture of the store and there just aren’t any. Thank you for giving me a great memory of my grandfather’s toy store. I’ll show this to my brothers and sister. Doug
I think it was Schachne”s.
Loved all the memories. I lived at 1910 Grove st. Moved to Richmond Hill early 1940″s, but went back many, many times with my mom….even to buy my shoes at a store on Myrtle Ave. Anybody remember a store that sold clothing, including shoes?
I had a relative named John Luhrs who lived at 2018 Grove Street, 1942.
Two kioodles owned by Al Knaus. Kioodles is German for dogs. I told everyone I lived between the Two Kioodles and the Winter Garden.
My Mothers (Irene) parents (Wamsganz) lived on Norman street 1920’s onward. She had a black dog of course named Blacky and believe went to Saint Mathias. Her Father John served in the Great War in France and played baseball for one of the neighborhood teams and worked for the post office. My Uncle Frank and Tini Goetz also lived there and he tended bar at the corner establishment, it served Riengold beers and others. I had hundreds of bottle caps I used as soldiers to play with all day long. Schmidlen would also be a relation. Would love an email or a call to learn more leave a message if you call 804-972 1500. Have some old photos too I’d love to share
I have a Schmidlin line in my family tree. Would be interested in the “Schmidlens” you are referencing.
Had wonderful memories of growing up in Ridgewood. My parents grew up there too. My maiden name was Lanigan. We lived on Harmon St. between Cypress & St. Nicholas aves. My brother Jimmy & I went to PS 81 & St. Brigidās. Remember being dismissed early on Wednesday for religious education. We walked with our friends unchaperoned to St. Brigidās. The neighborhood was safe back then / couldnāt let our kids enjoy that freedom today! Also remember the landlords scrubbing the steps on Saturday a.m., playing outside til your mom called you from the window, the Majestic movies (14 cents) childrenās price, Weberās bakery, samās candy store, Johnās deli, Lafossoās Italian store where we got hot Italian bread , Bungelow Bar ice cream truck which was great on a hot summer evening. My Mom worked in a knitting mill when we got older. We moved to Long Island in 1956. I remember. The Morinās , the schroerās, the Petrickās, the Kehlās families. Great time growing up in such a wonderful place!
My mom also worked in a knitting mill…and ran the mill when the owner had a “vacation” in a “rest home” š . She told me that Martin Balsam’s dad was one of their clients; he would always talk about his son, the actor, and the gentleman gave her a lovely pendant at Christmastime as a gift. I still have it.
Does anybody remember a place called the Wintergarden Restaurant in Ridgewood? I remember it was up against the El easement…it might have been on Forest Ave. My grandmother’s funeral dinner was held there in 1972, and I can still remember that fabulous meal. I remember Mom and Dad also taking me to Sammet’s on Onderdonk. Wonderful food.
Ate at Sammet’s a few times circa 1975-1976. Excellent German food. I think its gone now.
Yes!!!!
My wifeās (though at the time she was my gf) grandfather passed and we had the funeral luncheon there in the late 80ās. One of the best meals Iāve ever had, and Iāve eaten in many high end nyc restaurants over the decades. But Iāll never forget these meatballs and boiled potatoes in a nearly black gravy. It was sooo sooo good that I asked for seconds which they happily provided. Sooooo sooo delicious that place. I always meant to go back there for a happier occasion but sadly never did go back. The winter garden (garten?), what a great place with such authentic atmosphere, not faux-German but perfect 40ās-50ās-60ās Ridgewood.
I think the Winter Garden may have been on the corner of Woodward Avenue & Madison Street.
I lived at 1926 Palmetto St for most of my early years (1942 to 1952?} The family next door, the Hildebrandts were very nice. One worked in printing and gave me a book I still have. I used to spend a lot of time in the library around the corner reading about printing and how to publish a newspaper. Went to PS 93 and Grover Cleveland high school. Cohens drug store was on the corner of Palmetto and Fairview. He was our principle go to person for healthcare. Also worked a day at a Chinese laundry on Fairview delivering laundry. Went with my sisters to the Grandview theatre and watched movies outside in summer on long green benches. Cost something like 10 cents.
Ed M
Where was the Putnam Bar & Grill? It was a few blocks off Fresh Pond Rd.
There are many great memories and comments about Ridgewood. Many of you make comments about and/or attended Grover Cleveland High. I am interested in learning more about a painting that was in the G.C. High School auditorium. It was painted in 1938 (WPA mural) and is now completely gone. I would be interested in knowing if anyone would remember it, heard stories about it, and what impression it made on students over the
years. Thanks so much!
There was a gentleman who coached Garity Knights football in the mid 70’s named Frank Mularz. I know he has passed on. Looking for anyone who might know of any family? I believe he had a son named Hank who also played on the football team.
This is an amazing collection of memories
I Lived in Ridgewood circa, 1945-1962 our first appartment was 1349 Halsey Street and Irving Ave when I was 10 years old, moved to 871 Wyckoff Ave when I was 14. Then left to join the USMC at 17 years old. I hung out with Ricky Theiry, Billy Poole, The Dumbar brothers, John Saul, Bobby Robinson Bobby Uhl and His sistem Joaney, I had a major crush on Roseann Arckonold. I have forgotten so many others.
Iām looking to see if anyone remembers a bakery on forest ave in the 60s. My grandparents lived there and owned a bakery there I believe. My grandfather was polish, but I believe he did mostly German goods out of the bakery. Trying to find out some info for my dad who was born there in 63 and I think moved to pa when he was about 6.
wintergarden was on woodward and madison. now is a supermarket.
I practically lived there ! My dad played pinochle with Vic (the owner), and Robert Geiss who owned the funeral home 3 nites a week in the back room, in the 50’s and 60’s. I played softball for them (along with the Alley Kat) for years in the late 60’s , early 70’s. My sister had her wedding in the back room and we went to many christenings. On Sundays, Vic always had a wedding and we’d be able to get a huge plate of food for $1.25 after they wedding party ate while we were at the bar playing shuffleboard or pool !!!!
Lived at 1865, and later at 1863 Cornelia St from 1933 through 1955, then moved to Greene Ave and Fairview Av, in 1956 to 1958, then moved way out East to Commack, NY, and Town of Smithtown, where I am now still residing at 88 years of “young” age ! From coal stoves to computer technology, those years living in Ridgewood were the best of my entire life, that I will always livingly remember.
My great grandparents owned a tavern at 682 Seneca Ave in the 1920s. (I don’t understand how they were able to own a tavern during Prohibition…) Does anyone know how I could find out more about this business? Would there be records somewhere?
I grew up in Ridgewood in the 1960’s. I lived on the third floor of the Ridgewood Democratic club when my father was the custodian. We later moved to Palmetto Street off of Fresh Pond Rd. I wrote a memoir about growing up here that was published in the old Ridgewood Times later called Times Weekly?. It was published over about 6 weeks with some old pictures of area and friends.
PS park was nemaed after an old friend of my father Joe Mafera. However, we kids called it Farmers Oval.
James we lived on Putnam 60-34 Putnam. You lived on our corner
I watched “a king and his court” baseball team play against a Ridgewood softball league all starts at Farmers Oval when I was about 6 or 8 yrs old. My dad managed 2 teams, Gus’s redwings, and the Winter Garden. Gus’s became the Alley Kat and 20 yrs later I played softball for both the alley kat and wintergarden.
Jimmy Healy passed away on 11/20/09 at age 60. I knew him very well . I graduated from St. Aloysius in 1963 and my sister Mary graduated in 1961. We lived at 1875 Stanhope St. from 1948 to 1992.
My Uncle Jake Wilhelm owned that bar,
Great stuff, reading all this brings a lot of things to mind. Grew up in Ridgewood and Glendale. 577 Seneca from ’43 to ’51 then 79Place Glendale to ’59 when I joined the Army. Now living in Va after living from coast to coast. How about Bob’s Diner which I think is still there? Anyone hangout at Savito’s Pizza place next to the diner? Played basketball everyday, year in year out , at the cage on Myrtle and 80th st. St Brigid and Sacred Heart grade school then Richmond Hill High. PS 119 had rec every night for the basketball guys. The Ridgewood Terrace for chow mein after going to Bklyn to see Santa Claus. The music concerts at Forest Park on Sundays and a chow mein sandwich at the carousel. My wife and I used to go to the Cozy Corner on Friday nights for the fried shrimp dinner, $2.50, when we were first married 1963. Lived 71-27 65 St. before moving to Cal in 1966. Been to Wallers Bar or 74th street tavern? I delivered meat for Petris butcher shop during HS days. We all hung out at Granny’s candy store on the corner of Myrtle and 78th St. Whoa, my brain is spinning with memories thanks to you all who have contributed. I also loved those 5 cent pretzels out side church, 6 for a quarter, St Brigids. This site is terrific and I have a lot more to say at a later time. Some names some of you may recall next time I post. This has been great fun.
We bought pretzels for 3 cents and sold them for a nickel.
Hi all, looking for the name of a General Hardware and Home Good store on the triangle where Fresh Pond and Cypress Hill Street meet. The day after Christmas they would sell toys at 50 percent off. I am asking for my husbands family who grew up in Glendale.
My other SIL said it Strauss Stores!
Hi,Just a few words about the Grandview Theater. I lived nearby, 2032 Grove St. The outdoor portion of the theater only operated, obviously, in the warmer weather. All shows were double features with the main attraction and a “B” movie. The first picture was shown inside at an early hour when it was still light outside. The second feature was then shown outside followed by the first picture to wind up the evening. You always took your chances about the weather and many times had to scurry inside out of the rain. It was possible to buy flavored italian ice in a paper cone and a large salty pretzel as snacks. My distant cousin was the manager there. He was noted for his statement when the weather looked threatening that “It is only sprintzing”.
Saturday matinees was mostly for the kiidsa nd had lots of cartoons. The cost was 10c and you also got a free comic book.
Stephen, I remember Al’s Candy Store .. my father owned Frank’s Bar & Grill at 66-47 Fresh Pond Road. Bohack’s across the street. Sal’s vegetable stand on the corner of Fresh Pond and Woodbine. My dad would give us 50 cents to walk to the Woolworth store and buy a game to play. My parents owned the 6 family above as well. Ridgewood was such a magical town. Love reading everybody’s stories
Karen, yes Franks was next door. Bernie was the the manager of bohack. I remember woolworths at Christmas
When you sat with
This was in relation to Karen. I came up as anonymous for some reason. It was woolworths or grants downstairs
at Christmas time, sat with Santa and received a free gift. Not like today you pay to sit with Santa.(lol)
I remember my Mom taking me to sit on Santa’s lap. It was downstairs in Grant’s 5 & 10. He also gave you a wrapped gift. This was probably in the early 50s.
I grew up on 1914 Grove St. between Woodward and Fairview. Then we moved to 6126 Linden St. off Fresh Pond Rd. I went to st. Brigid’s , then St. MichaelHS and then St. John’s U. I was a teacher at PS 68 for 32 years. Happily retired. I fondly remember Colleti’s Ice Cream Parlor on Myrtle Ave. and Merkens on Myrtle ave off Forest ave. I shopped at Urdangs.I live on Long island now and returned to the old area a few years ago and how it has changed. Memories can’t be changed!
I went to St. Michael’s H.S. (60-64).
Grew up on 64th between 68Ave and Catalpa. Thousands of hours in Farmer’Oval:hoops, girls, softball, handball, fast pitch softball league. Played hoops for WonderBar on Fresh Pond Rd.
Matthias kid School and alter boy thru H.S. Married and moved to 4rm apt Forest and Stephen. $94 a month. Also taught at PS116- Mrs. Farrell got me and others the gig.
Live in Vermont for last 25- but the heart if Ridgewood. The parish was going a a huge picnic and we stood around waiting and waiting. Busses went to Ridgewood N.J.!
I was in your class at St. Matthias (Class of 1960). I remember you very well.
I have a 65yo 9-11 responder friend ho wants to move back to Ridgewood from Manhattan. Please let us know if you hear of rent stabilzed apartment that’s affordable. Contact AnaLoggana at gmail please.
I lived at 1722 Menahan Street until 1979. The house, which sat on a corner had a store and 5 apartments inside. Right across the street was PS81. My Great Grandfather Owned it, my Grandfather Owned it and my Uncle & Father owned it. They sold it in the early 1980’s.
Does anyone remember Isaacs Jewelers on Myrtle Avenue?
My grandfather had a store – Isaacs Jewelers- on Myrtle Avenue, near Seneca. Anyone remember?
I remember isaacs jewelers on same side as byhoffs records and opposite woolworths and lerner shops
Martin’s Hall on the corner of Wyckoff AVe & Norman St (were I now live). What does anyone know about it? does anyone have a street map from 1910?
https://1940s.nyc/map/photo/nynyma_rec0040_4_03479_0031a#17.37/40.70514/-73.905517
A site with photos of all the houses in New York City taken in the 1940s
My uncle, Anthony DeRisi, played semi pro baseball for the Ridgewood Greys back in the 1940ās. Does anyone remember them? I have photos.
Does anyone remember the name of the Pizza Parlor on the corner of Fresh Pond Road & Catalpa Avenue? A friend of mine met her husband there.
It was the Pizza Prince in the 60’s. Slice and a Coke for $.25!!!
What was the name of the catering hall (upstairs) on Wyckoff Avenue near Myrtle Avenue?
As a lifelong resident of Woodhaven, Queens, I never really had a need to go to Glendale or Ridgewood and was never really sure if either or both were in Brooklyn or Queens. Probably the closest I came was playing ball at Victory Field at Woodhaven Blvd. & Myrtle Ave. I became more aware of these two communities when Archie Bunker hit the air.
Hi Walt. My father’s family – Conway, Grandmother nee Koenig was in Woodhaven. We lived with them until 1950 when we moved
to Levittown when I was 3 and my brother 2. My mother’s family – Seibert was in Glendale. Her Aunts there were Bauer, Eichstadt,
andWerner. My only memory of Glendale was visiting Aunt Margaret Bauer and my brother and I going to see Lady and the Tramp
at a local theater, by ourselves!
Went back to Woodhaven frequently though, and many memories of my grandmother taking my brother and I to Forest Park,
climbing the 100+ steps at the Forest Parkway entrance, to the original carousel and occasional pony rides. My grandfather
would take us for summer evening walks along Jamaica Avenue from 80th Street to Woodhaven Boulevard and back,with
stops at several bars where like Cheers, everyone knew his name. At Woodhaven Blvd, there was a place, not a bakery per se
where we had doughnuts or other treats to fortify us for the walk back.
During the day, there were trips to Smilen Brothers or Trunz, always getting a slice of the cold cuts he was buying. Very exciting!
On 80th Street just before Jamaica Av was a bakery that my cousins lived above. We slept over there once and two unforgettable
memories were my kindly Aunt telling us not to jump on the roof where they had a tiny wading pool, and the sound of the El
before falling asleep. I was pretty scared about falling through that roof, and that train was loud!
Right around the corner was the Haven theater where I remember seeing Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis in Hollywood or Bust! and
Davey Crockett at the Alamo. I’ll end my hijacking of these very enjoyable Ridgewood memories, having read each and every one
with just one more of Woodhaven….
Maxie’s candy store on 78th Street. Many years ago I saw a mention of it on the internet, and now I saw someone, either on this
or the Glendale board mention it. They remembered getting a pail of beer at Neir’s and going next door to Max(ie)’s for ice cream.
I saw Edward Materson’s link a few posts above and It was great to have my memory of going there for my favorite Green
(Spearmint) Leaves about 65 years ago confirmed.
https://1940s.nyc/map/photo/nynyma_rec0040_4_08908_0036#18.36/40.690083/-73.863312
Thanks to alll for sharing your memories, and apologies for my Woodhaven hijacking…
left 18-71 dekalb ave at 2 and 1/2 years old in 1952. does anybody know location of holy cross episcopal church was located? parents were married there and am curious about where it was as i see no reference s about it on the net. lizzie rupert was our landlady and made it to my wedding in nj when i got married in 1973..
thanks…..steve overgaard
lived on 68th ave off freshpond road. Played baseball at new farmers oval for George Lehning Ridgdale Hoboes. also played softball at glen ridge park.
Was part of the start of the Ridgewood little league in 1952.
My name is Joe Pettit the grandson of George w. Smith who lived in a brownstone at 61-28 Palmetto st and also owned and operated the Farmers B.B. Club.
He built a B.B. stadium in Ridgewood I was only 7 yrs old, but remember it was steel constructed, and had lights for night games-Farmers oval was named for my Grandfathers B.B club not the house of David Jewish B.B
team,
Born and raised Ridgewood 1945 -1964 (left for Nassau County) Lived on Woodbine between Cypress & Seneca
Some answers to some questions previously posted on this thread:
Hank’s Poolroom on Myrtle – same building as Ridgewood Theater- played pool there 1962-64
Madison, Ridgewood, Parthenon and Oasis Movie Theaters. First three were on Myrtle, Oasis was on Fresh Pond Road. Parthenon was pretty dumpy, rats under the seats!
Farmers Ovals, Old Famer’s Oval and New Farmers Oval. Played ball in both. Old was above Fresh Pond Rd, New was below Metropolitan Ave.
104 Pct located just above Fresh Pond Rd,
Myrtle Ave El. Used to take downtown to go to high school. Got off the Vanderbilt Ave stop – attended Bishop Loughlin for 3 years then transferred to Grover Cleveland
Attended St Brigid’s grammar school.
Collettis Ice Cream Parlor – between Palmetto & gates on Seneca (I think)
Pop’s Soda Fountain and Newspapers under El Palmetto & Seneca. Jobst & Ebbinghaus – opposite corner. Ziegler’s Bakery Seneca between Gates & Linden (my friends parents owned it – best square buns in NYC)
Voting for Miss Rheingold in Honig’s Delicatessen Seneca between Woodbine & Madison.
Adam’s Candy store – Seneca between Woodbine & Madison.
Franzini’s Fruits & Vegetables – Seneca & Madison
Rudy’s Konditorei best German Bakery around – Black Forest Cake – Still in business new owners
Abner’s Bakery Myrtle near Madison
4 Barbers on St. Nicholas & Woodbine
Times Square Store on Myrtle near the RR overpass
Old A&P on St. Nicholas & Woodbine
Gottlieb’s – took my dates there after movies
Woolworth & Kresge’s Myrtle Ave (they were the star attractions on Myrtle)
Loft’s Candy Store – there at Myrtle and Onderdonk (1950’s)