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MR. PAUL'S STORY
(Bowman)
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(Introduction):- *AY
On Tinton Avenue in the lower East Bronx, there is an
old, three-story frame house. Thirty years ago, Tinton
Avenue was a tree -lined, suburban street. Now it is bleak
and stony. Apartment houses, old and new, blot out the
sun. The little, private house is ever in shadow, gripped
in the vise of two dirty, brick tenements.
Mr. P., a well-preserved, reticent man, 81 years of age,
has lived in this old-fashioned house for the past 35
years. In his backyard he has a small garden, in which he
cultivated flowers. This patch of earth, over which
clotheslines, fire -escapes, aerial wires and tenement dust
break the light, is Yr. P's last tangible relation with
the old Bronx.
Suspicious at first, Mr. P. later warmed up a bit and gave
a kaleidoscopic impression of the Bronx as it was years
ago: names, places, habits and customs.
There is an organization in the Bronx called the Old Timers"
Society. Mr. P. is one of its members. A rare individual.
A real Bronx Old Timer.
(Washington comment:- "Good deal of value as social history....
Reminiscenses recorded, too sketchy for use. But references
in copy indicate possible fund of (early) American material,
as well as material on horse-drawn trolley cars..."
(*LW comment:- "These reminiscences of the Bronx of years ago have
considerable interest, but are rather too fragment-
ary for our uses, in my opinion."
(*DS comment:- "Material as it is, not particularly useful. But
mention of Blizzard and Blizzard anecdoteA indi-
cates possible fund of such stories. "Tin -panning"
reference gives reason to believe that Mr. Paul
may recall other local customs and related incidents,
if properly cultivated. Bronx Old Timers' Society,
probably an excellimt source of both contacts and
material. Does the Society have a publication?
Does it keep minutes of its meetings?"
Introduction to MR. PAUL'S sToRy
On Tinton Avenue in the lower East Bronx, there is an old, three storyarame
house. Thirty years tgo,,Tinton Ave. was a-Aree lined, suburban, street. Now
it is bleak and stony. Apartment houses old and new,blot out the, suit:- The little,
private house is ever in shadow, gripped in the vise of two dirty,brick tenements.
Mr. P.,a well-preserved,reticent man, 81 years of age, has lived in this
old-fashioned house for the past 35 years. In his backyard he has a amall garden*
in which he cultivates flowers. This pitch of earth,over which,clothes lines,
fire escapes, aerial wires and tenement dust, break the light, is Mr. Nes last
tangible relation with the old Bronx.
Suspicious at first, Mr. P. later warmed up a bit and %Ai gave a kaleidosoopio
impression of the Bronx as it was years agog names,praces, habits and customs.
There is an.. organization in the Bronx, called the Old Timeris! Society. Mr.
P. is one of its members. A rare individual. A real Bronx Old Timer.
Earl Bowman: "Mr. -Paul's Story"
Material as it is, not particularly use-
ful. But mention of Blizzard and Blizzard
anecdote indicates possible fund of such
stories. "Tin -panning reference gives
reason to believe that Mr. Paul may recall
other local customs and related incidents
if prooerly cultivated. Bronx Old Timers
Society probably an excellent source of
both contacts and material. Does the
Society have a publication? Does it keep
minutes of ite meetings?
veftsivi-
These reminiscences of the Bronx of years
ago have considerable interest, but are
rather too fragmentary for our uses, in
my opihion. lw
GROUPS, GATHERINGS ACTIVITIES
REMINISCENSES BRONX Early
(Blizzard)
(Localisms)
VJASIIINGTON COLMNT:
Good deal of -value as social history. See Comnent on
Louisa G. Dawe story.
FORM C FOLKLORE
State: New York NEW YORK
Name of Worker: Earl Bowman
Address: 86 West 12th St., New York City
Date: Au.g. 22, 1938
Subject: GEORGE PAUL, Age. 81
953 Tinton Ave.
The Bronx, New York City
MR. PAUL'S STORY:
"In 1863 my father opened a grocery and feed store at
Elton Ave., and 157th Street, then known as Washington Ave*,
and Prospect Street.
"In 1878 he opened a branch store at Washington Avenue and
169th Street under the name of John Paul Son. Our next door
neighbor was J. G. Daum, the baker, who was known throughout
the Bronx for his rye bread and for his kindless to those in
need. His son still carries on the business at the same spot.
"On the northwest corner was Ferdon's Market, next came
Sherwood's Lamp and Oil Store, and then Haupman's Paint Store.
Dr. Henwood lived on the sOnaltwest corner and on the southeast
corner was Houchin's home and factory.
"At Third Avenue was Jake Schappertls Market and John
Sauer' a Shoe store. On the northwest corner was Wetzel's
Saloon. Thai came John Dammes Cigar Store, and farther up the
block Pfluger's Barber Shop, Conrad Daum, the tailor and
Richard Damn, the baker.
"At the northeast corner was Reinhart's Grocery and Feed
Store.
FORM C..Page #2
arbject: GEORGE PAUL
WORKER: EARL BOW1141
FOLKLORE
NN YORK
"In 1886 I moved to Third Avenue, when the elevated was
being built. A station was located at our corner.
"Then came the blizzard. Dreste's bakery wagon got stuck
in the drifts at our comer and could not be moved for three
days. All the bread in the wagon was carried into my store and
we sold every loaf. The horses were placed in my barn and
had a good rest.
"Though I have lived in the Bronx seventy-four years, I feel
like a stranger here now. I can walk for an hour and not meet
a person know. To meet old friends amid schoolmates I attend
meetings of the "Old Timer's of The Bronx," as I am fortunate
enough to be a member.
"There we talk about old times, and it is: 'Mr. Paul, do
you remember when the boys used to hang around outside your
store and you put up a sign in your store window, 'Twelve loafers
wanted to stand on this comer?' We did better than that;
there were thirteen of us. And on my way home from school I
used to upset your barrels:.'
"'Remember old 'Dutch Five' lkigine Company, how they used
to celebrate after every fire? And how your father doctored
some bologna with pepper to cure them of their 'taking ways?'
"As I walk down 163rd Street to Washington Avenue, memory
brings back the Melrose and Morrisania of seventy years ago. The
building which was 'Pickle' Snider s pickle factory is still
standing and looks pretty good too. But Bruckner's Brewery,
FORM C...Page #3 FOLKLORE
Subject: GEDRGE PIUL NEW YORK
Worker: Earl Bowman
"Stocker s Slaughter House, Knapp's Lumber Yard and Charlie White's
coal yard vanished long ago.- Nearby was Mr. Short's fine garden
in which were several cherry trees. My father used to buy the
cherries to sell in our store and my brother Henry and had
the flm of picking them.
"Conover's had a fine rese garden which we used to pass
when on our way to the baseball games at Union Ball Grounds.
Bob Nicholson too, the real estate man, whose house was left
high up on the rocks when Elton Avenue was cut down.
"I remember the night somebody set fire to a carload of
hay belonging to Alonzo Carr. It was a big fire, and the
engines pumped water out of Mill Creek, the brook for which
Brook Avenue is named. I remember 'Old Pokey' crossing the
railroad trestle over the brook back of Old Melrose School.
Sometimes the boys jumped on the cowcatcher of the engine while
in motion. *le day Tom Condon tried to jump on but missed
and was killed.
"We used to go bobbing for eels in the brook and caught
some too, but they were not very big.
"Jokathan Hyatt was principal of Melrose School at that time.
I don't think there was ever a better principal in The Bronx, but
no school has ever been named after him. Our Board or Education
ought to do him this honor.
"One day about seventy-three years ago, while going through
Peggy Woods I found a nice baseball, bat, which I have kept all
FORM C...Page #4
Subject: GEORGE PAJL
Worker: Earl Bowman
FOIKLORE
NEW YORK
"these years.
"I remember the 'tin-pannings' at weddings. The boys with
their pans would make a great racket until someone came out
and gave them money for a treat, or else invited them into
the house for refreshments. One man was not so good natured
VY
and sent for Judge Bauptmonn who arrested to of the biggeib boys."
-Ifiengia&S, COMMENT:
The foregoing is given in Mr. Paul's own words, without
editing or change; and I was careful to preserve his
exact expression.
Mr, Paul is 81 years of age and it required three visits
before I could secure the story from him. He is quite
well preserved; lives in the same house he has owned for
more than 35 years, an old fashioned three story frame
structure. He has a beapt1241 garden in the rear and
no doubt has been preserved in health by his interest in
the cultivation of flowers, etc.
Personally, he is rather reticent and suspicious, so it was
necessary to "cultivate him a bit.
It might be that he could later be induced to talk of many things
that would be of interest.
It will be noted that he uses the words "Tin -panning" for
what in some parts of the country is the old-fashioned
charivari. No doubt editorial scrny will reveal other
'localisms' in his expressions.
"Cad Tobey"...evidently was the name they applied to the railroad
engine mentioned. The terse sentence: 'One day Tom Condon tried
to jump on it but missed and was killed.' Seams to he a classic
in simplicity and tremendous tragedy.
-FreltrectiFfin
--Earl Bowman