Doris Campbell Hector passed
away on June 2, 2002 at the age of 81
BUSINESS FACILITIES OF THE IRONBOUND SECTION - NEWARK - 1920-1946
The location of Ferry Street is from the New Jersey Railroad Avenue
to the junction of Merchant Street. This section was strictly a
commercial area, similar to today's "strip mall" without
adequate parking, serving the needs of the people living in the
Ironbound section. There were few, if any , private residences.
However, people did reside in flats/apartments which were located
above the various stores.
On Ferry Street, close to Penn Station, there was a bank at the
junction of Market and Ferry Streets; Our Lady of Mt. Carmel RC
Church; the Rubber Set Company, which offered local employment.
Moving eastward, there was a firehouse, Shore Piano Co., where my
parents bought a player piano; Orego Florist, Dugan Bakery Outlet,
Goldfinger's Children and Infant store, where my First Communion
dress and veil were purchased. There was the Ironbound Theater,
where from 1930 on, only foreign films were shown. Also, the W.
J. Jelly Furniture Store, Morrison Photo Studio, where. on special
occasions, our family had photos taken. There was the Rivoli Theater,
where, on many a Saturday afternoon, I watched serial after serial.
The aforementioned business facilities are the only names I can
recall at this time; however, there were various specialty shops,
I.e., dresses and coats, bridal, millinery, shoes, a couple of taverns,
two more banks and, of course, ice cream parlors to satisfy the
sweet tooth.
The makeup of Wilson Avenue differed slightly. The area known
as "Dutch Neck" started at Wilson Avenue and Merchant
Street on the east, past Route #1. St. Stephen Lutheran Church is
at the juncture of East Ferry Street and Wilson Avenue. Across the
street on Wilson Avenue was Barrett's, a very popular tavern and
beer garden. Later, the name was changed to the Five Corner Tavern.
There was the Wilson Avenue Grammar School, Hensler Brewery, an
A&P Market, Kryle Hardware, Koppel's Ice Cream Parlor, Schrott's
Bakery, Wolf Memorial Presbyterian Church, Scholtz' Drugstore. Past
Route #1 was Ruppert Stadium, owned by the owner of the New York
Yankees, Jacob Ruppert. The baseball team was the Newark Bears,
which at that time was a New York Yankees minor league team. This
was the team that won the Little World Minor League Series in 1932.
There were many occasions over the years that I, personally, saw
among others Joe DiMaggio, Phil Rizzuto and Yogi Berra play baseball
there.
In the "Dutch Neck" area, there was Pfeifer's Butcher
Shop, located on Napoleon Street and New York Avenue. It was the
shop's policy (if you were a pre-teen) to give you a slice of baloney
to eat on the way home. Then there was Becker's Bakery on Lang Street.
Mrs. Becker always added an extra crumb bun on top so I could pick
off all the cinnamon crumbs on my way home. I never minded going
to these two stores.
There were other business facilities in this area, but I have
a lack of first-hand knowledge of them. I know that Celanese Corporation
was somewhere around Darcy Street and Ballantine Brewery was on
Freeman Street. A leather factory was on Oliver Street. Perhaps
someone else can fill in the gaps.
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