It was the first day of Summer. And, the temperature was just short of eggs frying on the concrete. It made me think back 6 decades.
I remember my mom was sick. I have no idea what it was, but she was in the hospital. A long time. So, I got to spend a good portion of my summer at my grandparent’s and my aunt’s. And, no punishment from my parents.
My grandfather introduced me to a parkway that I knew with an entirely different name. Where I lived, this parkway (then four very, very narrow lanes) was called the Southern State Parkway. Another one of Robert Moses’s creations. Which connected to the road my grandpa wanted me to tour- the Belt Parkway.
He took me to Fort Hamilton and the Brooklyn VA. Where we could catch a gorgeous view of the Statue of Liberty. My grandpa remembers the first time he saw that- from a ship that he managed to take from Southern Europe to New York. (He made enough money working in the circuses across Europe to make that journey).
I remember he told me that a wonder of the world- the Narrows Bridge (now called the Verrazano Narrow Straits Bridge) was going to be built to connect Brooklyn and Staten Island. No more ferries.
We went to Coney Island. Where there were so many people- running around or lolling around on the beaches, playing in the amusement park, and riding on rides. My grandpa also told me about the aquarium that was going to be opened soon. He remembered when it was in Battery Park, but Robert Moses destroyed that building to build the Brooklyn Battery Tunnel, connectng Manhattan and Brooklyn by tunnel (besides my favorite, the Brooklyn Bridge, as well as it’s also ran sister, the Manhattan Bridge- and the Williamsburg Bridge).
And, we spent hours watching the boats come into Sheepshead Bay and the Fulton Fish Market (the Fulton Fish Market was not in Brooklyn, but in Manhattan; except now it’s in the Bronx!) And, we’d buy fresh fish (and cured fish) for eating. Herring. Lox. Whitefish. (My grandma wasn’t much of a cook, so he didn’t buy much other fish that she would have to cook.) My mouth still waters as I recall those delicacies.
We went to Canarsie and to Floyd Bennett Field. The airstrip was being closed (it actually is the City Police Heliport now), but he regaled me with stories about Wiley Post, Howard Hughes, and Wrong Way Corrigan. (Those last stories were among those told to me by Kay Daughtery, as well, decades later. )
I remember he always bought me those windmills filled with hard candy at Carnarsie. Which I’d stick out the window of his Nash Rambler as he drove us to Idlewild. The big New York airport that is now called JFK. And, from there, he’d drive us home. Where I could watch the trains moving through the rail yards from their window for hours.
My Brooklyn memories. My memories of my grandpa Sol. Alav Hashalom.
Beautiful memories and it made me think of my grandparents and how much I miss them and wish they was here to talk to.
I know that feeling Glenda. Now, it’s OUR job to make sure our children and grandchildren will have similar, wonderful memories from our times together with them.
What awesome, sweet memories, Roy! Thanks for taking us down memory lane. 🙂
Thanks for sharing those memories, Martha. I have wonderful thoughts about my Grandfather Sol- his stories and the times we shared.
I so enjoyed this, Roy. My Dad grew up in Brooklyn (sadly, his neighborhood on Rockaway Avenue was not safe even by the time I was young); I also had family on Ocean Parkway until a few years ago. My late best friend lived in Gravesend and I still have a cousin in Marine Park. Finally, my Dad spent his last years in an assisted living facility in Sheepshead Bay. I’ve been on the Belt a number of times.
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I remember Rockaway Avenue as a fun ride- it was forever bumpy- and we traveled the road at the speed limit, which meant we went flying and landed routinely.
Memories are what we cherish late at night… May yours always bring a smile to your lips.
What wonderful memories to have from your grandad!
You betcha, Patricia! Now, it’s my job to ensure memories are created for my kids and grandson.
Didja ever go to Russ and Daughters? I’ve only gone in fiction (Tepper Isn’t Going Out) and memoir (Russ & Daughters: The House that Herring Built).
Russ and Daughters is on the Lower East Side. I’ve been there – but that’s Manhattan. My preference is for Sammy’s, because of the one dish that was a favorite in the family- Roumanian Tenderloin.
(I also grew up with Acme (also Brooklyn)- which you may know as Blue Hill or Ruby Bay, which are their national names; and Vita.)
What wonderful memories of days gone by and your grandpa. When I first read the title, I was thinking something different, like maybe grandpa took the belt to you! LOL But I’m sure you were the perfect grandchild 🙂
It was my father who used the belt every night. (My mom relied on a broom, a few days a month.)
Memories are funny .As I read this I can almost see you eat the fish and sit at the harbour watching boats .Loved it.
That’s a great vision! Thanks for the addition, Misra!
What great memories that you have. Thanks for sharing with us all those precious moments.
Thanks so much, Gaetane. For the comment AND the visit.
Hi Roy,
Thanks for the trip down memory lane. Is there a Memory Parkway?
Growing up in Canada, we heard a lot of stories about New York. So far I have visited it a couple of times. You tell your story well. Blog on.
Memories are made everywhere. It’s the retrieval that works!
Thanks for your visit and comment, Doug!