My most vivid memory is of the number 6
Cross-town bus from which I could get anywhere! I worked part-time
after school at Haine & Co. and lived on Fabyan Place. After
work (9 at night) I could ride the #6 home and walk the 12 or so
blocks unafraid to a door that never needed to be locked.
I lived across the street from the Hoffman soda warehouse and
remember vaguely a Drake's Cake factory a few blocks away. My father
was an air raid warden during the 2nd World War and every home had
to keep a bucket of sand available in case of an air raid bombing
(a lot of good that bucket of sand would have been!!) He had to
go out with his gas mask and flashlight during the blackouts to
be sure everyone had their windows covered.
The entire neighborhood was like one family, looking out for each
other's children. Our Weequahic neighborhood was a rich mixture
of Jewish and Italian and everyone got along great! The memories
of yesterday are so much richer than the realities of today, aren't
they?
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