I was born in 1945 & grew up in Newark
when it was a wonderful place to live. As stated on a previous post
I grew up at 66 Madison Avenue in the South Ward. The house I lived
in was burned down to the ground much later when we lived in North
Newark. When I read it in the paper I got a lump in my throat.
Every Sunday we attended Blessed Sacrament Church which is where
I made my confirmation at 11 years of age. My father worked many
years in the Fairmount Cemetery on Central Avenue in Newark where
my cousins & I used to go hang out and read the epitaphs on the
headstones. This was when it was a safe place to be. I am sure there
were bad people back then but not as prevalent as today.
I was one of the first students to attend Clinton Place Junior
High when it was just built. It was a beautiful school. I'm not
sure if it is still there. Prior to that I went to Avon Avenue Elementary
School where we would jump rope (double dutch) at lunch recess.
I remember joining the "Pioneer Girls" at a protestant church on
Clinton Avenue where my friend Ruthie worshipped. It was a version
of the girl scouts I think. We had picnics & other good times.
One of my best memories is of the snow storms we used to get back
then. As soon as my father got home from a hard days work at the
cemetery & had eaten his "supper" (now we call it dinner) he would
get out the old beaten up red radio flyer sled & my cousin who lived
on Jelliff Avenue & I would bundle up & my father would pull us
through the streets of the south ward. I remember how quiet & muffled
every sound was after a big snow storm. I still love the snow, but
even the weather patterns have changed. Sledding down Madison Avenue
was great because it was a very big hill. It probably wasn't, but
when you are a child everything is magnified.
Also back then we had no phone, no car & not much money but we
were never bored & did not know that we were "poor". I really miss
those times. I think most people do.
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