Personal Memories of Growing Up

"I grew up on 189 Street between St. Nicholas and Wadsworth. I graduated from PS 189 in 1958. It's funny that so many people wrote about "the Italian section" of the neighborhood because I remember only Irish, Jews, Greeks and Armenians and very few Italians. The only thing I remeber well that was Italain was Papetti's luncheonette on Amsterdam and 186 Street (?) where we used to get malted. If anyone is interested I wrote a book about the German Jewish community of Washington Heights. The title is Franklfurt on the Hudson: The German Jewish Community of Washington Heights 1933-1983. It is available on Amazoin and from Barnes and Nobles.com.

Awilda Martin, Los Angeles "Hello my dear fellows Washingtonians, I've just tuned in and I'm overwhelmed! I graduated in '62 from G.W.High School. Those were some years. I hold deep memories of Mr.Levin,the best English teacher ever.I was still learning English ,for I was a non English speaker. I wish I could hear from him! G.W. was the most majestic school ever"

Patricia Wetzel Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. "I havn't lived there for 30 years, but my best memories/dreams are of those days. I was born in 1952 at Sloan Hospital for Women (Columbia Presbyterian) on Broadway and 168th Street. I lived until 1971 at 160th and Broadway. I attended St. Rose of Lima School on St. Nick and 164-65th Street for 8 years. I remember going to the parks on Riverside (164th and 172nd Sts.) with my mother and having the luxury of cooling off in the sprinklers. I remember sitting out on our fire escape on hot summer nights. We were allowed to stay there until one of us six kids "accidently" dropped something, and always with one of my parents. Or going across the street to the "pigeon park" which separated Broadway, writing on the ground with chalk or jumping rope while my mother chatted with her friends. I remember walking down to Riverside drive where we would stare at the lights and rides at Palisades Park across the Hudson. Taking the IRT to 181st Street to go Christmas Shopping. Or walking to the RKO on 181st on Sunday's when we got older to catch a Sunday movie. Going to High Bridge pool in the summer and thinking we were so cool because we got to wear our locker key on a little band around our ankle. Taking the number 4 bus to Ft. Tryon Park (Cloisters) on Sundays to hear the music. Walking to the bus station on summer nights when there was nothing else to do just for fun. Egg creme's. Candy stores. Stick ball on the streets. Carvel and Mr. Softee trucks. Hop scotch. Double Dutch. Hearing a wedding party making the rounds in the neighborhood, honking their horns. Fire engines leaving the fire house. Open fire hydrants. City kids having the time of their lives. Oh what I wouldn't give to feel the moment, only if for a moment. Those were the good old days. I'd love to chat with former heightsters. My email address is pwetzel@ggcvh.com."

R. J. Attanasio, Somerset, NJ "What great site! I grew up in the Heights and moved to NJ in 1951,
Our family had a small business at the bottom of the 158 street hill and I commuted from Bergen County to the Heights until 1961. My cousins lived on Pine hurst Ave and my grandmothers both were in the heights. One at 162 St. off Broadway the other at 188 St. near Saint Nicholas Ave. I attended Saint Catherine of Genoa school and walked.
Once week I would go to the Imperial deli for a sandwich and then walk back down 158 St. The Olympia florist was at the corner and the family lived in our building. 860 riverside drive. I was an altar boy at Our Lady of Esperanza church at 156 St.
I am going to dig about and find those old snapshots! Does anyone remember the American Indian museum at 155 st?
What great place for a kid! We could walk to the Polo Grounds to see the Giants and The New York football giants!
All those hills in the Heights! Remember the 181 St. subway stop? The long elevator ride to the street? Thanks for the site.

Barbara Saperstein Stern Queens "My Mother moved to Washington Heights when the first apartment building was built. My family lived in the Heights until I got married in 1958 when I moved to Queens and eventually my Mother moved out also. I graduated from P. S. 173, Humboldt Jr. High School (P. S. 115) and George Washington HS. I attended the reunion in 2000 for the 50^th reunion of the class of 1950 and it was wonderful. I would live to hear from more friends from that era."

Harriet and Allen Sperling Marlboro, NJ "Was just viewing the photos. on the wab sight and was surprised to
find a building that I lived in sometime around 1929, when I was 3 years old. It was 68 Norhern ave (at that time) we then moved across the street to 825 W. 180 St. for a number of years . then to 182 St, 183 st. 184 st, 187th and finally 169St. I worked at the Coliseum Drug Store (180 St & Bway) delivering orders. Then at 16, was an usher at RKO Coliseum. It as great fun That is why when I am asked where I lived on the Heights, my answer is "all over". I am still trying to locate any
members of the Comets SAC who met at the Heights Y. Also still trying lo locate Joan Dworkin and/or Thelma Friedman from 120 Bennett Ave (class of 1945 or 46). Please pass on if you know an of the above. Thanks."

Evelyn Luciano NYC "I moved to the heights in 1973 with my family to 180 ST on Wadsworth.. Back then it was pretty much a Greek, Irish and Jewish neighborhood. If anyone has pictures of the old neighborhood from the
1970-1980's period I would love to see them.... I am 33 now and moved back with my family...I am in the process of gathering some myself and will gladly email you some pix once finished".

Walt Walenta Whitehall, Pa "My mother and grandmother grew up at 501 W.189th St. near the corner of Amsterdam Ave. I remember going to the park overlooking the Harlem River. Most people then were Irish or German. Mother attended Fort George Church My mother also went to PS 189, and graduated from George Washington High School in 1938. You're probably my age. My great grandmother lived in that same apartment building until her death in 1987. I remember the cramped apartment with the kitchen that looked out on another building with the washline strung between them. My uncle also lived there, George Fleming. He drove a cab in the city for several years until his death in 1986. In the summer we used to ride our bikes on Audubon Ave. My father grew up in Brooklyn (Ridgewood) and met my mother while he was a student at Columbia University. He met her at Fort George Presbyterian Church which I don't think exists anymore. Parking always seemed to be a problem in that neighborhood, and it was also not unusual to find someone sitting on the car when we were ready to leave. The last time I visited the area it unfortunately looked like the crack cocaine capital of the U.S. Thanks for the response. I remember some of my mother's neighbors well. (Elma Kuboohan 602 W.188th, Carol Konn 501 W.189th, and Florence Rose 609W. 186th ) Mother also remembered Henry Kissinger when he was a student at George Washington High School, although we never much cared for his political views."

Phil Haderer Manalapan, N.J. "Joseph and Palma Simonetti immigrated from Melfi, Italy in 1906. They raised 10 children in Washington Heights between 1911 and 1937. They moved around a lot as the family size changed but stayed in the Heights for over 26 years. All moves were within two blocks of each other on Amsterdam Ave. in the 160's.

Mike Seckendorf Carmel, NY "I was born in Jewish Memorial Hospital in 1941. I lived in the Heights until 1971 when I moved to Carmel NY, which is in Putnam County, about 50 miles north of the Heights. I went to PS 132 on Wadsworth Avenue and 182 Street from Kindergarten to the third grade. That year my Mom came to Open School Day at 132 and saw me an a friend, Artie Milstein, who lived in the same building aw we did, flying paper airplanes to each other while standing on our seats. The next week she dragged me to St. Elizabeth's School, and I graduated from there in 1955. My fourth grade there was the first year that the "new school" on Wadsworth Avenue across the street from the Church, was open. There had been an old St. Elizabeth's on the northwest corner of 187 Street and Broadway, but that had burned down in the 40's. I remember being scared to death by the fire there, as I lived across the street. After St. Elizabeth's, I went to Bishop Dubois High School at 152 Street and Amsterdam Ave. and then to Manhattan College for two years until I went into the Army. I became a cop in 1965 and retired a Detective in 1992. Keep up the great work on the "old neighborhood"

Perry Houston, Pearl River, NY "Wow what a trip!! Reading through this web site was unbelievable. I grew up on a 173rd Street and Amsterdam avenue across the street from Highbridge Pool. Incarnation graduate of 1956. I frequently reminisce with John Randles and Dickie Hennelley about growing up in the Heights and how lucky we were to have lived there. The pool was a year round source of recreation and fun. Does anyone remember the Thursday night fights during the winter months, which were run by Barney Felix? Just last week I sat in front of the pool on Amsterdam Ave and enjoyed some great remembrances of the past. Anyone interested in a game of curb ball on 175th Street?"

Frank Weil "Thanks for posting my reminiscing. These are the first of a few photos that I hope are of interest. More to follow.
The first photo was taken of my mother and me on W 141st Street, just off of Broadway in 1949.

Ide Cohen, Highland Park, Illinois "I too am from Washington Heights- I was born there in l942 and moved after graduating George Washington High School in l969. I lived on l64th Street between Broadway and Fort Washington Avenues. I remember walking over to Spector's as a little girl with my mother. It was an appetizing store and the smells were wonderful. It was a small store, piled high with delicacies from all over the world, and with barrels filled with brine and pickles. What a treat. Every Saturday I would take a walk with my father and he would take me to the deli for a hot dog with mustard and sauerkraut, and then on to the candy store where I would have an egg cream and he would buy me a Little Lulu comic book. Then we would sit in the park in the middle of Broadway and feed the pigeons. It was our tradition. Frankie Lyman and the Teenagers were just coming out with "Why Do Fools Fall In Love" and things seemed so simple back then. As I got older and went to Junior High School on the bus, I remember the thrill of making new friends and meeting at the l75th Street Loew's. We would meet boys and make out and then talk on the phone all night about it. Also the RKO at l8lst Street. I loved the architecture of these movie theatres. I wish they had been preserved. In George Washington High School, I loved the principal, Henry T. Hillson. He seemed like a great guy and used to tell us how he had come to New York in a covered wagon.....just joking around, but he was approachable. Luckily I never made it to his office, although there were some close brushes with the lady dean due to playing hooky. All in all, there were some sweet memories."

Robert Heller, Washington DC. "My family moved to 540 Ft. Washington Ave in 1939 ,and I attended PS 187 . I remember Leo Peiera, Robert Begam , Wolfgang Schwartz, Irwin Lee, Ruth Goldblatt [ very attractive] and Francis Michaels. I disliked PS 187 and was delighted to be sent to George Washington High School beginning with the Ishem Annex in Inwood . The names I remember are Ray Lewis, Ilsa Kopf, George Schueler , Robbins and Scneider . I would like to hear from them and others . An outstanding teacher was Mr. Foley and there was also Ms .Gottersman. I worked on the Cherry Tree and on the whole enjoyed the school. I volunteered for the Navy and later went to Illinois and Michigan Universities.
At PS 187 I made friends with Charles Brady who I met again after returning to NYC and living in the Village. He went to the Arts Student League and later moved to Ireland where he became recognized as a talented painter before he died. I recently visited his widow and friends in Dublin.
I particularly remember the IRT arcade on 181 ST where there was a second hand book store. The owner introduced me to James Joyce loaning me Ulysses which I still read and try to cope with . In addition the Hudson River, the George Washington Bridge and Ft. Tryon Park were delightful . I also played tennis in the courts near the Hudson River and played football at the park on Ft. Washington Ave. The movie houses also remain in my mind . There were two large RKO theatres and a number of smaller and cheaper ones on 181 street.
I would like to hear from others who remember those times, places and persons."

Harvey Steinacher, Scottsdale, AZ "Here is a photo of three old friends from the Heights. Richie Lipack on left, Elliot Kostick in the center and Harvey Steinacher on the left. We had a small reunion with our wives in Orlando in October. We lived in the Heights till the late 60's after PS 173, JHS 115 and GW while Elliot went to Stuyvesant."

Wolfgang "Johnny" Rauner Flushing NY "My family moved to 187th Street in September1941, just about 3 months after we arrived on these blessed shores, escaping from Hitler's Europe. We were one of the many refugee families who settled in Washington Heights, giving the community the popular nickname 'The Fourth Reich.' My parents were lucky enough to get a 3rd floor walkup apt.#36 in 572W187th St. right next to the Armenian Church. It was the beginning of the school year and I was put in class5a, with my teacher, Miss Willard. I was nearly 13yrs old, but spoke no English as yet. By 5b, the second half of the year, I was promoted to Mrs. Fulton's class. By now my English had improved enough for me to win 3rd place in the annual spelling Bee, against the 6th &7th grade. I still proudly show my bronze medal to my grandchildren. I remember that year we put on a class play about the Panama Canal in which I had the part of Col. WalterReed. I had to wear a pith helmet, and with my limited knowledge of English, the teacher had to convince me that pith was a perfectly acceptable word. Going on to 6th and 7th grade I had Miss Sugar, Mr.Cox and Miss Draddy. I don't remember in which order. In my last year I had Mr.Draddy her brother, who made us learn to remember all 32 presidents. He must have done a good job, I remember them still. Up till Roosevelt. The Principal at that time was Mr.Chenkin, a virtual god, whom you rarely saw. The Asst.Principal, Mr. Gussow, did all the dirty work. He was the terror. At least in my little refugee eyes.
These were the war years. We all were very patriotic. Every week those who could afford it brought in a quarter to buy a war stamp. They were pasted in a book and when the book was full you got a War Bond. I wasn't one of those who could afford that kind of money, so I contributed to the war effort in other ways. I still have the award certificate I got for collecting waste paper. I also collected scrap aluminum.