When one gets into the so-called old age, he or she begins to recall the early days of ones life. And this is occurring very often in my dreams or when reflecting during silent moments or when a news item or tv show jogs my memory bank. Several months ago I felt the desire to visit the street and area in which I was born and spent my early childhood. I was born in Brooklyn, N.Y., Williamsburg section, On So. 2nd Street. I drove there on the Williamsburg Bridge and found So. 2nd Street, but not my tenement house, no. 299. This street and the tenement houses were demolished and the Brooklyn- Queens Expressway was constructed by Robert Moses, who was instrumental in converting all of New York City and environs into a vehicular city with highways, beltways, parks, beaches, etc. For a moment, I felt a wrenching sensation. Some part of me had been destroyed. I did manage to locate similar tenement structures and made a photo of the four story walk-up apartment house, with outside fire escape facing the street, on which we played children’s games or watched the grown-up boys play punchball.
While taking a photo of the tenement house copy of my birthplace, I spoke with a small group of young men and girls, who were at the spot of my camera work. These youngsters were Latinos, now living in this area. I speak un poco Espanol and created a relationship with them. And when I told them of my birth in this area and this street, they got all excited and very friendly. I told them this was an all Jewish area. they nodded and told be of the Chasidim area on the other side of the rail tracks, which I knew of. I told them I intend to visit the area because I had attended a Yeshiva there, when I was five years of age. When I said my good-bye to these youngsters and wished them luck, I realized that their life is somewhat akin to my youthful days, chidren of immigrants, who migrated to the U.S….in order to improve their lives in good old U.S.
Joey said
A vividly textured image of a place in time. The neighborhood has changed so much in some ways, but I think landscapes can influence people from different cultures and generations in strikingly similar ways.
Brahna said
Uncle Irv, I will treasure all your musings about your early years. I would love to hear about your parents – what they were like, etc. I never knew Grandpa Roth but I do have a few memories of Grandma Roth as she didn’t pass away until I was about 5 years old.
Do you know approximately when the tenements were torn down? Was it after the 1930’s? If so, it might be possible to get a photo because the WPA took photos of all the buildings in New York. I’m not sure if it extended to Brooklyn but I can find out if you’d like me to do that.
Looking forward to reading many more blogs from you.
Bonni
Raime said
Great post! Wonderful that you could so quickly bond with those kids from another generation, another culture. We are constantly bombarded with messages of how ‘divided’ our society is, but how we live our lives is up to us.
Post more soon!
steven said
Unk–
Keep ‘em coming. would love to hear stories about our family as youngsters.
Suzie Roth said
Dearest Irv–what a wonderfully written post! I am now awaiting your next terrific installment.