OUR NEIGHBORHOOD The Way It Was.......

This vintage postcard view shows the east side of Fresh Pond Road at Madison Street long before alternate side parking regulations became a challenge for car owners. Reader Rob Klein, who grew up on Madison Street, has warm memories of the Ridgewood area's food establishments. Judging by the comments that continue to arrive, recent columns about some of the bake shops that once were popular in our neighborhood apparently resonated with many readers.

In a message received via e-mail, Rob Klein of Gainesville, Va. states: "Thanks for many of your Old Timer pieces. The latest, on bakeries, reminded me of a wonderful bakery on the corner of Madison Street and Fresh Pond Road—Knipfer's (spelling?) and then called Ratchik's. Perhaps that bakery was once known as Brinker's, which was mentioned in the last piece.

"I grew up on Madison Street near Fresh Pond Road as a child of the 1950s. That bakery; Peter's Delicatessan (Martin Lambert was the proprietor), a few doors from the bakery; and Perry's Candy Store (Perry Sherman was the owner) on Fresh Pond Road near Woodbine Street, were all a significant part of my childhood.

Reader Noel Grebinger remembers a number of businesses that once operated in Glendale, including the tavern pictured behind the Pro Patria Memorial at Cooper and Myrtle avenues in this 1945 photo. "I have lived in a few places since Ridgewood, including Ann Arbor, MI, where I went on to graduate school; Washington, D.C.; and Gainesville, Va. (35 miles west of Washington), where I live now, caring for my 91 year-old mom, Louise. But I can say that with very few exceptions, food establishments in none of these places can match the bill of fare of old Ridgewood's delis and bakeries, and confections of the candy stores, which I remember so well from my childhood."

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We also received some interesting comments via e-mail from Artie Frauenhofer of Clemmons, N.C.

In it, he advises: "My father was the original owner of the bakery on Madison Street and 60th Place. He sold the business around 1954 to a Mr. Woefle.

"My Dad spent many hours in the shop down in the basement and it always amazed me how much he enjoyed the business when things were running smoothly. It was a difficult business when one of the bakers couldn't come in at night. He was the fill-in and worked continuously into the next day.

"It was interesting to note that there were so many bake shops in Ridgewood. My Dad's business must have done well as I remember cars pulling up in front of the store and parking by the fire hydrant. They would then run in, make their purchase and go on their way to enjoy whatever goodies the had.

"I spent many hours playing and sneaking cookies and also the pieces of bread that were left in the bread slicer.

"I still have a picture of the bakery that was taken when a new store front was put on. I had it hanging in an ice cream shop that we had that has since been sold.

"You have made me think of so many memories of the bakery—from the ladies that worked in the store, to the window displays and the kids hanging around outside on the corner. Great friends like Tom, Roger, Bobby, Dwight and Bill, who lived upstairs, and many others.

"Thanks for the article."

Old Timer's note—Perhaps one or more of the boyhood chums named by Mr. Frauenhofer will read his remembrances and contact us with some of their own.

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Our recent columns about local bakeries prompted reader and contributor Noel Grebinger of Glendale to send us a message via e-mail.

In it, he writes: "We are weekly subscribers to your great newspaper, and we really enjoy reading 'Our Neighborhood, the Way It Was.' I have sent articles to you before.

"In your Feb. 12 issue, I enjoyed reading the letter from Robert Hamilton about the neighborhood and the bakeries that we used to have.

"Before I continue, let me reminisce a little. I started dating my wife Ruth in 1950. She lived in Glendale; I lived in Jamaica. I asked her, 'Where is Glendale?' and she said, 'When you see all the bars, then you will know you're in Glendale.' Remember, they had a bar on almost every corner,

"Well, we were married May 13, 1951, on Mother's Day. We had our reception in Karl's Old Homestead on Fresh Pond Road. That's where LaFres Ford was not too long ago. It was great. Everyone had a good time.

"Ruth worked for the Liberty Mutual Insurance Company in Rockefeller Center in Manhattan. She used to pass by NBC Studios and see Dave Garroway and J. Fred Muggs, the chimp. I worked for the H.C. Bohack Company. They were the largest grocery chain on the East Coast.

"On my day off, I would take her down to the depot in the morning to catch the subway. I would then stop at Bickford's Restaurant in Ridgewood (Remember them?) and have coffee and an English muffin, or sometimes, I would go to the diner on the corner of Fresh Pond Road and Metropolitan Avenue—the greasy spoon, but they had great food and were always busy. You would see all the trucks stopped there.

"In th evening, I would pick Ruth up and we would go to Gottlieb's Deli and have dinner (Remember when they got bigger?). Great food and the best coffee in town (They advertised Ehler's Coffee on the menu), then we would either go to the Madison or Ridgewood theater and take in a good movie. We always sat up in the loge.

"How many remember the Oasis movie theater on Fresh Pond Road, where the CVS store is today; the Belvedere, on Myrtle Avenue at 64th Place; or the Glenwood, on the corner of Decatur Street and Myrtle Avenue, where the Ridgewood post office is today?

"Regarding bakeries, how many old timers remember Kurz, on the corner of 67th Place and Central Avenue, where, on Saturday mornings, they would have as many as four ladies behind the counter? They had a seven-layer chocolate-covered cake that was out of this world.

Remember the Ernest Bakery between 70th Street and 69th Place on Myrtle Avenue? They had delicious cake.

"Remember Bob's Diner, which is the Glendale Diner today? They had a big sign in the front saying 'Sauerbraten Served Daily.' Where Walsh & LaBella Funeral Home is today, on the corner of 71st Street. and Cooper Avenue, there was Bensor Mirror. They made beautiful mirrors. We bought a big one and hung it on the wall in our dining room. We still have it today.

"Glenridge Oldsmobile had a showroom on the corner of 71st and Myrtle. Next to Bob's Diner, there was a machine shop. On the opposite corner—where the bank is today— and next to the machine shop, there was an auto body shop. Where Mc- Donald's is, my wife's uncle, George Johnson, had the Gulf Station.

"Remember the bar on the corner of 70th Street and Myrtle Avenue? That's where the German restaurant, Zum Stammtisch, is today. I remember on Memorial Day, when the veterans used to assemble for the parade at the Glendale Monument, they were feeling pretty good by the time the parade started.

"I wonder how many remember the pickle works that was there on the spot where St. Pancras School is today. Remember the P&M Department Store, right accross from St. Pancras School? That's where my mother-in-law, Bertha Jakobs, worked. Do any of you old timers remember her? She was a good sales lady.

"Boy, for the good old days. But you know, Glendale is still a great neighborhood.

"Keep up the good work, Times Newsweekly."

Old Timer's note—We thank Mr. Grebinger for taking us along on a stroll down Memory Lane. We're sure that his mention of so many neighborhood spots will stir the memories of other readers.

Regarding his former employer, H.C. Bohack Co. stores operated in the New York area for 90 years, before closing in 1977. After property in Maspeth was purchased from Wrigley, the chewing gum company, 22 acres were used to establish Bohack's headquarters. The location at Flushing and Metropolitan avenues became known as Bohack Square.

Henry Bohack, a German immigrant who founded the company in 1887, responded to the Great Depression by opening additional stores in an effort to create more jobs in 1930, the year before he died.

By 1939, the H.C. Bohack Co. had 740 stores.

In 1950, Bohack acquired the old wooden-frame hotel building that stood on the southwest corner of Myrtle Avenue and 68th Street in Glendale. The building was torn down and Bohack opened a supermarket on the site.

Bohack filed for bankruptcy in 1974. When the company went out of business three years later, its 59 remaining stores were closed.

The tavern that once operated on the site of Zum Stammtisch was owned by Frank Honigman from 1933 to around 1945. He wore glasses, had a mustache and bore a striking resemblance to Teddy Roosevelt. We have a photo of the location that was taken in 1945, after the establishment became known as Kohler's Bar and Grill. The tavern had a social club called Kohler's Hoople Club.

Mr. Grebinger also mentions Dave Garroway. For those who may be unfamiliar with his place in television history, Dave Garroway was the first host of NBC's "Today" show, from 1952 to 1961. Highly regarded as an understated communicator, Mr. Garroway was known for wearing horn-rimmed glasses and bow ties. His trademark sign-off was to look at the camera and say "Peace" with the palm of his hand upraised.

As for J. Fred Muggs, the chimpanzee gained enormous popularity and boosted the show's ratings upon being added after the first year. In what has been called television's first ratings stunt, J. Fred Muggs appeared as "co-host" on "Today" for several years during the 1950s. It has been reported that Dave Garroway was less than thrilled with the arrangement.

If you have any remembrances or comments that you would like to share with our readers, write to the Old Timer, c/o Times Newsweekly, P.O. Box 860299, Ridgewood, NY 11386-0299.

To send a submission via e-mail, our e-mail address is Old Timer@timesnewsweekly.com.