I lived at 53 Winthrop Street a six family
tenement house owned by Margaret and Pat Caprio. We lived on the
third floor rear. We were a family of five brothers and sisters.
We attended Elliott Street School, the principle was Mr. Hardgrove.
My favorite teachers were Mrs. Little, first grade and Mrs. Nowacki.
I attended Elliott Street School until my family purchased a home
in the Forest Hill Section of Newark on Parker Street. There I attended
Ridge Street School for one year than back down to Elliott and onto
Broadway Jr. High and Central High School.
My fond memories living on Winthrop street was going around the
corner with my two sisters to Serafini's store for penny candy.
The store later became Chic's delicatessen. My mom would also send
us up the street to the chicken market. We would cut through the
factory parking lot and there was Serafini's chicken market and
my sisters and I would pick out a chicken for Sunday's dinner. Also
"Willie" the GoodHumor man would show up everynight and
that was a treat. There were so many families on the block and just
before the end of summer and the beginning of school, "Willie"
would give us a block party complete with cupcakes and ice-cream
sundaes. Also I have memories of my brothers and their friends opening
up the fire hydrant on the corner of Winthrop and Verona Ave on
the hottest days in summer. Of course the police would come and
close the hydrants only to have the boys open them again.
I still have relatives living in Newark. My aunt and uncle still
live on Winthrop Street. I attended Immaculate Conception church
on I married and moved to Ivy Hill Apartments, stayed there 2 years
and back down to North Newark and we lived on Irving Street. My
three children were born in Newark.
My uncles owned a gas station AJL on Broadway.
I could go on and on. My memories of Newark are rich in my Italian
heritage. Neighbors were friendly and you knew if you did something
out of line, your parents were sure to find out. There was respect
for your elders, police, teachers, your environment. Those were
the "good old days"
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