It’s been over 50 years since I moved
from Newark yet I still consider it my home. Although I went to
14th Ave School I hung out with a group of guys across from St Ann’s
Church on 16th Ave. There was a candy store called Sillio’s
where we would meet every day. That store was our base of operations
for about 4 years and we even named our Softball team, the Sillio’s.
As I recall we had to pay for our own baseball shirts, since the
owner wouldn’t pay for them. In 1956 we went undefeated in
the West Side High Softball League with a 12 and 0 record. Our record
for the season was 22 won and 2 lost. We also played basketball
for St Ann’s in the CYO league.
A few years later we moved our group to Frisco’s Market on
16th Ave between 10th and 11th street. The owner’s son Frank
was one of the guys in our group. I guess his parents were happy
to see us around the place, since being there we couldn’t
get into too much trouble. I’ll never understand how people
shopped there with a group of teenagers hanging around in front
of the store.
The Frisco’s were wonderful people and were always there
for any of us who needed help. I was really thin and the one problem
I had with Mrs Frisco was every time she saw me she would say you’re
to shinny and she would try to feed me.
As we got older and starting hitting the bar’s we would always
end up at the Frisco’s and they would always welcome us regardless
of the condition we were in. And they were always ready to make
us breakfast. Often we didn’t arrive until the early hours
of the morning yet they always had a smile for us. About two years
ago through Facebook nine of us were able to get together and we
would meet for breakfast about once a month. There was Al Carrera,
Frank Frisco, Sal Giorgianni, Dan Seratelli, Nick Talmo, Sal Locanno,
Chick Squallaro, Lenny Cardenale and my self. We would sit for a
few hours and talk about the fun we had in Newark. Sadly two have
passed away and two are too ill to meet with us. They may be gone
but the wonderful memories growing up in Newark we shared will always
be there. |
