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

Last year was a busy time for a number of institutions in our neighborhood that observed their centennial. This newspaper was one. Recently, we heard from reader and Ridgewood resident Peggy O'Kane regarding a school that will mark such a milestone this year.

The St. Matthias School Alumni Association is making plans for the gala celebration of the Ridgewood parochial school's centennial on Oct. 4, according to reader Peggy O'Kane. She submitted this photo of the June 1941 graduating class. Her late husband, Harry O'Kane, is pictured in the back row, at far left. In her letter, Mrs. O'Kane writes: "In 2008, St. Matthias Church celebrated its 100th anniversary. In 2009, the school reaches 100 years. Members of the alumni association are preparing for a gala celebration on Oct. 4, 2009, the 100th anniversary to the day of the school's opening.

"We're gathering memorabilia for this occasion. I started searching some old boxes left by my husband, Harry O'Kane. I found his June 1941 graduation picture. He is in the back row, on the far left. Maybe some of his fellow graduates will recognize themselves, or perhaps their friends and relatives will.

This vintage image of St. Matthias "5A" students presents a bit of a mystery. Reader Peggy O'Kane, who submitted it, doubts that the "28" in the photo refers to the year it was taken. "I also found a picture marked '5A.' Although it has the number 28 on it, I don't believe it means 1928. No one in my husband's family would have been in school in that year. I believe that the little blond girl in the third row, third from the left, is his aunt, Anna Wallner Austin, or perhaps his mother, Johanna Wallner O'Kane. If so, the picture probably dates from around 1915, which would make it one of the earliest pictures the alumni association has.

Hoping readers might know

"I am sending this to you in the hopes that you will publish it and someone will recognize the graduates. I doubt any of the graduates themselves are still around, because they would have to be around 100. Your readership is so large and so spread around the country that I'm hoping someone can confirm the dating for this picture.

"If any of your readers has memories, pictures, or memorabilia that they want to share, they can write to the St. Matthias School Alumni Association at 58-15 Catalpa Ave., Ridgewood, NY 11385; or they can sen an e-mail directly to alumni@stmatthiaschool.org.

"Thanks in advance for your help."

Old Timer's note—Hopefully, readers who can do so will respond to Mrs. O'Kane's request. Anyone with information regarding either of the photos can send it to the Old Timer at the mailing address (or email address) as listed at the end of this week's column.

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It's only fitting that we present a submission by another graduate of St. Matthias School.

We have an interesting letter from reader Joseph A. Simpson, a former resident of our neighborhood who now resides in Brick, N.J.

In submitting his remembrances, Mr. Simpson included a note expressing his enjoyment in reading the supplement—a pictorial history—to celebrate the centennial of the Times Newsweekly, established in 1908 as the Ridgewood Times.

"It brought back many memories of Ridgewood for my wife and I since we both were raised there 80 years ago," Mr. Simpson states in his cover letter.

"It was a pleasure seeing the pictures of the church and schools we both attended and also the restaurant where we had our wedding reception 59 years ago."

We are pleased to learn that Mr. Simpson is among the many readers who have found the centennial supplement to their liking. Due to its immediate popularity, the supplement sold out and copies are no longer available at this time.

In sharing his remembrances, Mr. Simpson writes:

"I grew up in Ridgewood, graduated from St. Matthias School, in the Class of 1942. I attended Grover Cleveland High School, Class of 1946, where I met and married my high school sweetheart, Louisa Assimus, on Sept. 3, 1949. We lived at 1934 Palmetto St. where two of our three children were born and then moved to 78-03 85th St. in Glendale.

"Our three children, Cecelia, Doreen and Joe, attended Sacred Heart School. In 1986, I retired after 40 years of service with European American Bank. We moved from Glendale to a lovely adult community in Brick, N.J., called Lions Head South.

A caring landlady's family

"I have fond memories of my younger years where I lived at 60-68 Catalpa Ave., Ridgewood. Our landlady was Mrs. Schleier, who had two daughters, Margaret Schleier and Dora Schultz. Dora, a widow, had a daughter, Margaret, living with her. She was closest to my age and was like a sister to me and my brother.

"When my mother passed away, Margaret Schleier took care of our apartment, cleaned and cooked for us and my father, who had a plumbing business to run. Margaret Schultz was a beautiful and wonderful person who married Lawrence LaTour and moved to Glendale. She always took the time to help me with my homework or take us to the movies or park.

"The summers were always very hot and humid. At that time, no one had air conditioners, but had canvas awnings installed on the windows to keep out the sun's rays. It was supposed to make the front rooms a little cooler. Few people had cars, which made for the shoveling of snow off the sidewalks into the roadways, where the snow was piled into high mounds. We would make caves from those mounds and played 'King of the Mountain.' You were supposed to tag and knock the 'king' off these mounds. Every child had a sled which they used on steep roadways near Farmers Oval or the train trestle.

Recalling boyhood pals

"The Kerkovich boys, Joe and Charlie, were our good friends, along with their sisters, Anna and Lillian. The Wendling boys, George and Robert, who lived across the street, were also playmates. Mary Kohl, Madeliene Kretzer, Catherine Burns, Bobby Granlick, George Gumbo, Willie Tappee, Wilma and Carl Stecker, Paul Freiheil, and Leticia Winters were all friends of mine and my brother, Jim.

"The schoolyard of P.S. 88 was our playground and hangout for all the neighborhood children. My brother, Jim, was a terrific softball player and athlete and belonged to many teams that played in the P.S. 88 schoolyard. Many adults would watch these teams, by standing all along the Fresh Pond Road side of the schoolyard. It was enjoyed by all who watched these games.

"I also remember a Pastor Bader, who was the Reverend at the Lutheran Church at the end of my block on Catalpa Avenue. He resided in a house a few doors from where I lived and would always greet and talk to me on the way home from his church services. Although I was not of his parish or faith, I enjoyed meeting and talking to him.

"Every June, there was an Anniversary Day Parade, where the Protestant churches would march along Catalpa Avenue. The parade would pass in front of my home, which gave me a good view of all the marchers, floats and bands. I enjoyed this parade and always looked forward to this event every year. I'm happy to hear that the Catholic churches now participate, which brings us a little closer to Christian unity.

Grew up during World War II

"I also grew up during the World War II years and can remember that families were issued food stamp rationing books allotted by the government to make food purchases. War stamps and war bonds were sold by the government at post offices and banks to help the war effort. Blackout drills were held throughout the war years. War bond rallies to help raise money were successful in helping to win the war. At these rallies, some movie stars would appear and I was fortunate to see Marlene Dietrich and Jeanette MacDonald, two well- known actresses at that time.

"On Wednesday evenings, the Madison and Ridgewood theatres would include five acts of vaudeville, along with two feature films. At times, instead of vaudeville, they would have a local talent show. It was at one of these talent shows that my wife was a participant. She had a beautiful soprano voice and sang 'My Hero.' She won first prize. I believe it was $10—a lot of money back then.

"How many of your readers remember roller skating at the Ridgewood Grove on St. Nicholas Avenue on Sunday afternoon? My father enjoyed the boxing and wrestling matches held there and would take me along with him to see them. I also remember seeing a circus at the Ridgewood Grove.

Chinese food and a strip show

"As we grew older, we were allowed to visit a Chinese restaurant, the Ridgewood Terrace, located next to the Madison Theatre, where we danced, ate and watched a floor show, which many times included a stripper. This was our night out. My friends at the time were mostly high school buddies—Jimmy Burns, Frank Walsh, Raymond White, Helen Rausch, Dolores McCall, Carol Hartman, Loretta and Eddie Kempf. During the summer weekends, we would take the Long Island Rail Road to 116th Street in Rockaway Beach. It seemed that all of the young crowd assembled in this area of the beach. We all had great, clean fun and enjoyed these outings, rain or shine.

Roller skating was popular

"Roller skating was a popular sport. At Christmastime, it seemed everyone received roller skates as a present. Since there were very few automobiles at that time, we used the roadways to skate, roller hockey or to play stickball. We used the top of an old broom for the stick. We also skated indoors at the Queens or Hillside roller rinks. It was fun and kept us busy on Saturday and Sunday afternoons.

"Perhaps some of your readers will remember me or my brother, Jim. He passed away in 1984, but I have very fond memories of him and all our friends of long ago."

Old Timer's note—We think our readers will agree that Mr. Simpson did a fine job in recalling the neighborhood where he was raised. Perhaps his effort will inspire others to do the same.

Mr. Simpson is not the first reader to recall the strip shows at the Ridgewood Terrace. We know that a stripteaser named Juanita Rouale (a stage name; her real surname was Carpenter) was a neighborhood resident— she lived in a basement apartment on Madison Street—during the late 1940s. However, we do not know whether she ever appeared professionally at the Ridgewood Terrace.

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.