134th Street from Amsterdam to Broadway

As I wrote the title to this post it dawned on me that there was more to 134th Street on the other side of the IRT tracks. I was thinking that it was just one short block but it did continue on. At least in my era it did.  Now that other side is completely gone.
501 is the only building whose residents I can remember for sure. There was the O'Reilly's, Jimmy, Phil and Mary, who was my age. Mary and Molly Torres went to high school together and last I knew Mary was married to Philip Vicente from 135th St. The Broderick's were there. I could always count on Billy to be at the St. Patrick's day parade on 5th Ave. No matter what time I got there, Billy was already there. He had a younger brother, Robby who would join him on occasion and he had a sister, my age, Patsy. I also recall a guy, Richie Miller, who I think lived in the building. There was a dentist in the building, Dr. Ross. He was not one of my favorite people. I never did like dentists.  Another guy comes to mind, Porky Shatuk (?). He was friends with Billy Devlin and his mother was always chatting with Mrs. Devlin in her candy store. 501 had its own candy store, the name I recall was Blackie Bartolini. I may have been in there once or twice. It wasn't my candy store and I don't remember it being a hang out like Devlin's was. There was also a laundromat in the building and I think Theresa McCarthy ran it. It was a life saver for me because after grammar school my Mom told me that my laundry was my responsibility. Theresa not only washed and dried but she also folded. It was something like sixty cents a pound.
Moving around the block, one of my favorite families was the Newell's. I just mentioned Billy Broderick always being at "the" parade. Well Maureen Newell was also there. She absolutely loved the parade. Maureen was very active in the production of the Vinegar Hill Gazette and the guys loved having her on the staff. Maureen had a sister Nancy and two brothers, Tommy and Joe. Joe was in my class. He must have been a little older that me. One time I borrowed his draft card so I could get served down at Rockaway. While I was down there I landed up getting a ticket for littering the beach. I had missed the garbage can when I flipped the lid from my beer container. When I met Joe on Monday morning to return his draft card I also handed him the ticket.  I used his draft card for identification. I promised him I'd take care of it and I had to appear in court,  back down in Rockaway, to pay the ten dollar fine. Mrs. Newell was a big lady and she was one of the last people to move from the neighborhood. She just didn't want to move and because of her size she never had a problem. We lost Maureen a few years ago and last I heard, Tommy, Joe and Nancy were all living in Palisades Park, N. J.
There were several Donohue families on the block. One family was all girls, and one all boys and I think there was a third family. I remember a freckle faced girl who I think was a Mary Donohue. Anyway, the all girl family was Anne, Maude, Madline and Mary. Mrs. Donohue worked in Heinick's Department Store on the corner of 133rd St. Now I have it in my  head that Maudy went to a prom with Mike Cassidy from my building. I have run into her a couple of times down at the shore. One time my wife and I were part of a group doing a set dance demonstration at a St. Patrick's party in Maudy's community. Mary is now Sister Mary O.P. She is in the same order that we had at Annunciation. I understand that she is the principal of a school up in Peekskill, NY. The other,all boy Donohue family, was Donold and John.  John was in that 1947 basketball team picture. I understand that he went to All Hallows and then Niagra. Donold was on the NYPD. A group of my friends used to follow an Irish trio led by Jimmy McPhail. We went to see him up at Irish Eyes on 212th and B'Way. As I walked in the door who was sitting there but Donold. I hadn't seen him in years. Sadly, since that time Donold has passed on.
The Quealy family was there. Mrs. Quealy had some of the bluest eyes I can ever recall seeing. They were beautiful and she always had a lovely smile on her face. The Quealys were Mike, who became a priest and was mortally wounded in Viet Nam, Grace and Theresa. Theresa was my age and she did inherit her mothers smile and she had these great big beautiful eyes.
The Bosser family was there. That would be Edie and her brother Billy and her cousin Millie lived with them. I remember that when we were all starting to get our TVs, Edie's parents had the extra expense of getting a converter. It seems that some of the buildings on 134th St. only had DC electrical service and so you had to buy a converter to change the DC to AC. Then you could run your TV. The TV? oh yes, it was black and white and had a twelve inch picture tube. It was a big deal getting a TV. My dad bought ours at Davega's on 125th St. and the payments were twelve bucks a month for a year.
The Keenan sisters were there, Kathleen and her sister Margaret. Also the Moore's, which would have been Kay, Margie and their brother Stevie. There was also the Caraisco's, Georgie, Marie, Louie, Tommy and Jimmy. For some reason when Mr. Caraisco came home from work he would walk up 135th and then down the avenue to 134th. He always had a big brown bag under his arm which I suppose was loaded with goodies for the kids. Benny Beackum and his sister Anne were there along with their dog, Teddy. The reason I remember Teddy was that one day when we were horsing around one of the guys pushed me into Teddy. It looked like I was going to fall on him so he took a good healthy bite of my leg. Joan Dowd was in the same building they were in. Joe McNamara and his brother John were there. Joe was one of the Regis guys. As I recall he married Kay Taggerty. I didn't know that Kay had a sister and at one of the parades I started chatting with this girl who was with the Vinegar Hill crowd and she turned out to be Kay's sister.
Father Mike Gannon was there with his brother Pete. Pete always stood out in my mind because he was always impeccably dressed. From the time I was a little kid I can remember Pete walking to and from the subway and always sharp as a tack.  Frankie Byrne and his sister Mary were there, too. I think Frankie was about 23 or 24 when he passed away. He had a bad cold and the next thing we knew he was gone. Mary married Jimmy Whalen from 136th St.and last I heard they are living in Florida.
Eddie Duran and his sister Margurite were there. Eddie always impressed me with his knowledge of all things sports. Junior Mc Govern and his sister were there. There was also Arthur Baker. 
Mary Purcell and her brothers, Pat, Joe and Bill were there and then they moved to 136th off B'Way. I remember walking Mary home a couple of times and her mother would always make me tea and toast. She was a lovely lady. I got to visit with Pat and his wife, Simone down here in Fl. and Pat tells me that Mary is in the process of moving to Texas to be near her grand children. Tommy Sheehan was there, he was one of the Xavier guys with the uniform. For some reason the only other guy I can recall going to Xavier was Bernie Harrigan and I'm sure there were more guys from the hill who went there.
Joe Connaire, whom we called Canary, was there and I didn't realize until years later that he had a brother whose nick name was Pigeon. Pigeon wrote some great articles for the Vinegar Hill Gazette. Joe married Anne Coughlin from 135th St. The Gibbs boys were there too. Marty was a year younger than me and he had a few  brothers, George and Ray and Coley. Billy Hackett was also there. I understand Billy had a great career in advertising. It is amazing how many things those kids from Vinegar Hill accomplished. Marie Swift and her brother Tommy were there. Tommy's daughter sang some beautiful solos and some of the reunion Masses. There was quite a few Spanish guys who moved into the neighborhood from Puerto Rico. Some of them were new to the English language and they had a tough time at Annunciation. I can remember working with Henry Correa, Joe Costa, Andrew Saintz, Harry Cruz. They all lived on 134th St. Tony Paleyo was there too, but he didn't have a problem with English. Tony almost got me thrown out of Annunciation one time. He decided to carve my name into one of the pillars in the church in like two inch high letters. Of course I got called on the carpet and fortunately Sr. Euphemea believed me when I proclaimed my innocence. They never did find out who did it.
134th Street did have a couple of bars on the block. Of course Gallagher's, didn't they also call it P and Gs? That was right on the south west corner and directly across the street, just below the park, was Bradley's. I recall that Bradley's was the first place in the neighborhood to serve Pizza. None of the other bars sold it. It was like a new food and we all went crazy for it. I still love my pizza. The thing I remember about Gallaghers was Mr. Trabold, the baker. He had a German Shepherd and whenever Mr. Trabold was in the bar the dog, Wolf, would be sitting outside waiting for him. No leash, or chain or any restraint, the dog would just wait there until he came out.
No sooner will I post this and I'll think of six more names from 134th St. This is enough. It's fun to wonder through the memories with you. Even when I am not always correct. Please don't hesitate to correct me. Let me know at tomyread@aol.com

I got some more great mail since the last post.

Bernie Donovan writes:
I've attached the picture I mentioned. Or at least I think I have. It's from about 1950 in a place I think we called Pops on the west side of Amsterdam between 135th and 136th. It shows - from left to right - Paddy Magner, Billy Briody, Danny Doherty, me, Paddy Clancy, Gerry Magner and Pete Mugan. Thanks.
Bernie Donovan
 

Click on the picture to enlarge it

Ed's note: What a great picture. Bernie says he thinks it was Pops. I think it was John's Luncheonette. Anybody have any other recollections? It's a terrific picture and I thank Bernie for taking the time to send it in.
John O'Rourke writes:
Tomy
I enjoyed your latest blog as always. Seeing the basketball team photos, I searched my files and found the attached photo of the 1956-57 Annunciation basketball team. I will try to identify all in the photo; your readers are invited to send in any corrections.
Top Row (left to right): Stanley Prinston(?), Thomas P. Murray (later played for the varsity team at Rice HS), John O'Rourke (I think they let me play in one game), Dennis O'Brien, Phillip Meehan, _______?
Bottom (left to right): John Reynolds, Joseph Rodriguez, Jack McGrath, Dennis Meehan, Tom Sullivan.

Tom Sullivan and Phillip Meehan were clearly the stars of the team.




John McKenna writes:
CALL 9.I-1 ... WAIT, THAT'S YEARS AWAY



The late afternoon was darkening towards early evening as I walked with three friends along Convent Avenue towards


home and supper. We were all about age 10 and I'm not sure where we were coming from.


Tony Diaz was a few steps ahead of us and was first to spot the man leaning against the lamppost- As we reached the


comer, we could see the man's light colored slacks were slashed around the side pocket. Sorneone said, he's been


robbed .Just then the crime victim , lvho was a dark-complected black man, probably in his 40's, tumed towards the


light and we saw he was bleeding from several stab wounds. f'm sure my friends were like me? about the violent scene


we had come across. I felt very sorry for the man and what happened to him, but there was also an air of excitement


surounding the entire incident.


I told my buddies, "I'm going to call the cops", and began to run to the nearest phone. I could hardly believe my ears


when the man said, in a sad, almost crying voice,


"be good boys". As I ran to the pay phone, at McCarthy's candy store on Amsterdam Avenue, I thouglrt, is this guy


uazy? Does he think my friends and I would ever stab and rob someone?


I remember being glad about how fast I ran non-stop the nearly two blocks to McCarthy's- I stepped into the phone


booth near the back of the store and dropped my nickel (this was a long time ago) into the slot and dialed the operator.


When she answered I told her I wanted the Police Department. Almost immediately the Police call-taker was on the line


and the conversation was as follows:


Operator: Police Department


JMCK: A man's been stabbed and robbed at hun thirty frfttr and Convent.


Operator: (Confirms address)


JMCK; Yes, hun thirty fifth and Convent...that's the 3fth Precinct


Operator: ok maam...


JMCK: I'm a boy!


Many years and many life experiences have passed since that sad and exciting crime scene. All the boys who helped


turned out fine... no stabbing... no robbing...


For more than 15 years, I worked as a fire departrnent dispatcher and never called a ten-year boy "maam ..." at least I


don't think I did.

Ed's Note:  John, I appologize. For some reason my copy got corrupted and this is what I landed up with. Your format was much neater.

Barbra Olsh writes:
Hello Tom Read,
I just stumbled upon your blog and absolutely loved reading the wonderfully well-told stories of your old neighborhood. Although my main interest was in the most recent entry, after I discovered how warmly you created life of the kids of Vinegar Hill, I have read all of them.
About two weeks ago, I was going through my late mother's collection of family photos and clippings and I found a very, very faded March 29, 1949, Catholic News featuring the Archdiocesan CYO 1949 Basketball Champions. One of the group caught my eye. Over the image of one of the boys in the photo "Annunciation, West Manhattan, CYO Junior Champions" my mother had written,"Billy." That was my cousin, Billy Regan. I googled a bit and finally tried: "Annunciation school" and "Billy Regan" and came up with your Vinegar Hill blog and the photo of the team from a different year. (Thank you for including the higher resolution image because I now have a beautiful 8" x 10" print.)
My family here in rural Maryland lost touch with Billy after his mother, Helen Regan McMahon, died in 1952. I was delighted to find that your neighbor Noreen Cunningham Carberry's husband also Identified Billy Regan and added the information about his being a FDNY "Battalion Chief." Sadly I think I may have found Billy Regan's Obituary. There is an article and photo at: www.parsippanyfuneral.com/visitations/View.php?id=53
Perhaps the Carberry's will be able to say for sure if this is the same "William J. Regan."

Editors note: I hate to be a fatalist but after reading the obit I'd have to say that it is  his obituary.
If someone knows otherwise, please let Barbra know. Her email address is toward the end of this letter. This is such a lovely, loving letter with some great pictures that I didn't want to wait any longer before posting the letter. I hope I haven't offended anyone by my quick judgement. Tom
I have attached several photos of Billy & family when they lived at 517 West 131st St. where Billy grew up.

Photo #1: Billy Regan, first communion (c1940)

Photo #2: Billy in the neighborhood with his stepfather, Eddie McMahon (1942) Eddie was a bartender - at one time he was a "singing bartender." Aunt Helen also sang in local clubs from time to time.

Photo #3 Billy (c1951) on the roof of 517 W. 131st St. with his cocker spaniel, Ginger

Photo # 4 & # 5: Billy's high school graduation photos c1951 or 1952 (I don't know what high school he attended)

Photo #6 Helen Regan McMahon, her brother Capt. John Z. Olsh (my father) and Eddie McMahon
Barbara Olsh
springud@gmail.com

I loved the knickers in the second picture. When I made my first communion I had to wear knickers.

We just recently celebrated the feast of the Annunciation, March 25th. Here in Florida all the "Jersey Girls" pick a day to have a house party. My Maureen told me the days that were available and one of  was March 25th. I commented that it would be the sixty fifth anniversary of my first communion. We had the party on the 25th and all the girls came in white outfits. Snowbirding is just like summer camp, nothing but fun.

l.to r. Maureen Read, Mary Bigley, Maureen Donahue, Peggy Buckley, Me(with my new prayer book) Terry Lombardi, Nancy O'Rourke, Anne Dunn, Betty McIntyre

Last month there was a mini Florida Vinegar Hill Reunion, all 10 of us up in Palm Beach Gardens.


l.to r. Janet Harrington, Tom Sakel, Artie Lamarch, Rosemary Lamarch, Tom Read, Helen Francisco, Joe Aguayo, Simone Purcell and Pat Purcell.

Walter and Margie Wheatley stopped by one Saturday for our village's weekly cook out. It is always great to see old friends.

If anyone has Eddie Kneafsey's phone number could you email it to me?  tomyread@aol.com   I got an interesting email from a lady who must  be related to the Kneafsey's and she found my mention of his name in one of the blogs.

That's it for this edition. I am not sure where I am going next but I have some ideas kicking around in my head. As always  I'd love to hear from you. Comments, suggestions, corrections are greatly appreciated.
God Bless

Tommy Read

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