I lived with my parents at Stella Wright
Projects up until age 13. Living in the projects was not always
a negative experience. In fact until the ravages of "white
flight", political corruption and crime converged it was a
positive experience.
My address was 232 Prince Street, Apartment 4G. I even remember
my old telephone number while living there. It was (201)248-6550.
I am not sure that "248" is even a Newark exchange anymore.
I know that "243" was a Newark exchange but at some point
it became a West Orange exchange.
I went to Morton Street School from 1965 to 1972 (K-6). I remember
my teachers. They were Ms. Kimbrough (K) room 105; Mrs. Horton (1)
room 101; Ms. Butler (2) room 212; Mrs. Tate (3) room 208; Mrs.
Hardwick (4) rm. 303; Mr. Douglas (5) rm. 409; my mother had me
transferred to Mrs. Ciccone (5) room 405; Mrs. LoCicero (6) room
404. These last two were sisters-in-law (maybe sisters). There were
three principals while I was there. The first one was something
-celli. The next one was Mr. Coughlin. His vice principal was my
first grade teacher, Mrs. Horton.
From where I lived, my bedroom window in fact, we watched the
1967 Newark riots take place on my seventh birthday. Before this
there were shops, churches, "mom & pop" stores, barber
shops, shoe stores, etc. I remember a live poultry market, a church
with a bell directly in front of my window, Mantell's shoes, Freddie's
Barber Shop, King's liquors, Martie's Meat Market, Mr. Bob's candy
store, the Milk Bar, the Two-Way Inn. I remember the White Way store,
Slim's store (he was sickly), I think there was a Mrs. May's store.
I remember Zeke's Barber Shop when it was on Spruce Street. There
was red stone house with a curiously designed lightning rod. There
was a wood frame multi-family tenement where my great aunt lived.
My father, Leon De Vose, played as a lead drummer for the Essex
County African Dance Society. One of our neighbors, Fifai Jones
was a dancer. Abdulla Baywas the lead dancer and choreographer.
Tom MCCray was a drummer as was Charles Bessler. They performed
all over. My most memorable performances include a performance at
Eagle Rock where I was frightened by Abdulla in the witch doctor
costume for the first time (Abdulla was a tall enough man, standing
at least 6 feet - the witch doctor costume made him look even bigger).
I knocked my father's drum over trying to escape. The other performance
I remember was at the Garden State Arts Center where they were the
last act at a festival before Kool and the Gang came on. I think
that was summer 1973 (maybe it was 1974).
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