FORGOTTENTOUR #82, Westchester Square to Parkchester

by Kevin Walsh

On yet another perfect weather day ForgottenTour #82 assembled at “The Chair” sculpture in Westchester Square, the intersection of Westchester, East Tremont and Lane Avenues in the Bronx, on Saturday, August 9th at 10AM, an early start to beat the heat. We saw several attractions at the Square, including the Huntington Free Library, ably assisted by Bronx historian Thomas X. Casey, the pivotal Westchester Creek crossing where Revolutionary War patriots checked the progress of British and Hessian troops, and St. Peter’s Church and Cemetery, where several veterans of the war are buried.

We then followed Castle Hill avenue and the Cross-Bronx Expressway to Hugh Grant Circle, named for NYC’s youngest mayor, and into Parkchester to view its ornamental sculptures, former theater, and what is possibly the Bronx’ most beautiful fountain at Metropolitan Oval.

Photos on this flickr page by Joseph DeMarco.

8/12/14

10 comments

NY2AZ August 12, 2014 - 5:18 pm

What a wonderful time capsule. I was born & raised in Parkchester. It’s amazing how intact it remains. The store with the orange sign at the edge of Hugh Grant Circle was once Hamburger Express, where if you sat at the counter a Lionel electric train would bring you your order. Next door was Zaro’s Bakery. Tempis fugit.

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bruce goodman August 9, 2017 - 11:34 am

thanks 4 remembering, my family owned hamburger express

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Anonymous September 15, 2017 - 2:31 pm

hey Bruce – your restaurant was the only one that ever had a “ballpark” in the basement. Remember – Frankie. Glassroth, Foreman, some others

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Anonymous April 25, 2020 - 9:58 pm

I went there as a kid circa 1960 – it was Lionel train heaven! Thank you for giving a young boy the memory of a lifetime 🙂

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Mike McGuire January 23, 2022 - 6:38 am

Yes Yes Yes, Hamburger Express where Lionel trains brought your hamburger to your table Great childhood memory. Parkchester a great place to grow up at

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stuart September 22, 2017 - 3:26 pm

Hi Bruce it is Stu my father owned Roxy fruit how have you been

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Carole Goldman September 24, 2020 - 12:12 pm

I loved Hamburger Express when I was Cookie Becker from Parchester

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Joyce Sheridan January 3, 2021 - 10:35 pm

I remember Hamburger Express!
My grandparents were friends with Mrs. Goodman!
In 1963, when I graduated out of my crib, Mrs. Goodman gave me a single mattress that she wasn’t using! I remember it was made of horse hair and I used it until I was in high school!!!

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Robert May 6, 2021 - 4:49 pm

My mother’s favorite shopping destination was parkchester. Macy’s and Woolworths but sometimes lunch at Hamburger express. The downstairs was scary for a 12 yr old.i remember the engine that pulled the train..a big yellow Lionel virginian rr diesel ! We also went to the Waldorf cafeteria and St Claire’s. So long ago.

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Jim Barbato December 8, 2021 - 3:17 pm

hey Bruce, we played little league together on the Kiwanis Team. we had the lefty infield me and you.
Hamburger Express was a great place to go and I was glad to have known you and play ball together.
Jim Barbato

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