Document text
&LA -4-4
AOUPS, GATHERINGS ACTIVITIES
(Section D. (Isolated Groups)
FOLKLORE
Forms to be tilled out for Each Interview
NEW YORK
STATE
hat YORK
FORM A
Circumstances of Interview
NAME OF WORKER SAUL LEVITT
ADDRESS
DATE
SUBJECT
27 Hamilton Terrace, New York City
October 18, 1938
STORIES OUT OF LOCAL LIFE Fred Librere
1. Date and time of interview
October 17, 1938
2. Place of interview West Farms Creek
October 17, 1938
3. Name and address of informant
Wred Librere, West Farms Road
4. Name and address of person, if any, who put you in
touch with informant.
Harbor Police
5. Name and address of person, if any, accompanying you
6. Description of room, house, surroundings, etc.
A green -painted barge moored to the bank of West Farms Creek about 30 feet
from the roadway, (West Farms Road). West Farms Road is a traffic thoroughfare
bordered by junkyards, auto -wrecking establishments, auto display lots,
warehouses, and some ancient frame -houses. There are half a dozen squatters
in barges and houses on the shore at this point (vicinity of 177th Street
subway station IRT). Directly opposite "colony" on the other side of the
Creek is the starlight Amusement Park, which has been shutdown for several
years and is overrun with weeds and which gives an effect of a deserted city.
At this point, the Creek is cleaner than it is father east where it approaches
the East River; the water runs clearer; fall leaves off the trees in the
deserted amusement park float down the stream. The barge on which informant
lives is extremely clean and well -furnished an equivalent of a lover middle-
class dwelling.
(Use as many additional sheets as necessary' for any of the forms, each
bearing the proper heading and the number to which the material refers.)
-2- Continuation of Form A
It is divided into four rooms, a living room, kitchen and two bedrooms.
There are several alcoves and closets. There is a stove and an electric
cooker in kitchen. In the living room and one of the bedrooms there are
bookcases. Electricity is used. The rooms are all small.
GROUPS, GATHERLiGS ACTIVITIES
Section D. (Isolated Groups
FOLKLORE
FORM
Personal History uf Informant NEW YORK
STATE NE -ii YORK
NAME OF WORKER Saul Levitt
ADDRESS
DATE
SU8JECT
1. Ancestry
27 Hamilton Terrace, New York City
October 17, 1938
STORIES OUT OF LOCAL LIFE: Fred Librere
Alsatian
2. Place and date of birth
3. Family
New York City, 1908
No family. Mother died a year ago.
4. Places lived in, with dates
Has lived in New York City all his life; on barge for last eight years.
5. Education, with dates
High school and courses in industrial chemistry at New York University.
6. Occupations and accomplishments, with dates
Generally capable along mechanical lines; worked for Edison Company in
technical capacity some six years ago; housepainting, electrical work.
7. Special skills and interests
S. Community and religious activities
9. Description of informant A thin, discouraged -looking young man with
thinninE dark hair; rather nervous. Was very cynical at beginning of
interview but in a little While thawed out and wanted to talk a lot about
himself. Informant is very lonely; no social life; like other dwellers
10. Other Points gained in interview on Creek shore and at Eastchester Bay
his viewpoint, while confused, was one of protest against poor social and
economic conditions.
GROUPS, GATHERINGS ACTIVITIES
Section D. (Isolated Groups)
FOLKLORE
FORM C
NEW YORK
Text of Iqterview (Unedited)
STATE
NAVE OF WORKER
ADDRESS
DATE
SUBJECT
NEVv YORK
SAUL LEVITT
27 TTamilton Terrace, New York City
October 17, 1938
STORIES OUT OF LOCAL WE: Fred Librere
I talk straight from the shoulder. Those old fellas further down they're
ready to break a pot yeah they like to talk but I don' manna talk. I'm
an Alsatian by background. What do I consider myself German or French?
I'll tell you the truth I dent give a damn I'm an American if there was a
war there'd be some prosperity here. Maybe it wouldn't last long but right now
it would do something. Gee, I'm sick of this place no work nothin'. What
can I do? Say, there isn't a thing I can't do. I studied industrial
chemistry at HYU. Why do I talk this way? I don' know. I just talk
straight that's all. You mean about the grammar and that stuff I'm
careless that way but it don' mean nothin'. I've read a lot of philosophy
and all kinds of books. (Leads interviewer into living mom and shows him
bookshelf filled with encyclopedias, several
other titles). Say, I've read them all and
lived by himself up there heh just like me.
volumes by Thoreau, Tom Paine,
Thoreau? The fella that
But I'll tell you who I like. Have
you ever read Tom Paine? That Tom Paine was a chip off the old block. I feel
like Tom Paine. He talked straight from the shoulder no b I've told
you there ain't any stories around here. Did I ever get scared living up here?
Hey, what do you manna know. You moan about the Creek now at night? Jeez, it
ain't Africa. But I'll tell you this, when I first care yp here, sounds you'd
hee, ylknom, different sounds. Like the water washing up. It didn't scare
me I never ret nightmares or nothing like that no. There's no fishing here but
-2- Continuation of ',Om C.
about fifteen years ago I hear they used to fish for eels up further.
Hell, I'd get out tomorrow. When my mother was alive it was different
she died a year ago. It makes a difference. I haven't got anybody
now. Girls are fine but what can you do when you're broke. They'd like
the view from the kitchen? Hah-hah. I pick up odd jobs these days. The
day I get a job I'm getting out of here. It's too lonely nobody comes to see
you. I'd live in a boarding house no a hotel. I want service. I want
to walk in and out and take in shows and have a good time. I listen to
these guys over the radio. I'll tell you something. It's these silver tongues
that I don't like. Yeah, they know haw to talk. I don't like silver tongued
guys. I want a job. Do I really want to see a war? I just want a job, see,
but I don' want anybody killed. There's gonna be a war anyway. All those books I
got and not a one of them tells you how to get a job. What's the good of all that
philosophy. I just gotta read there's nothinl else to do.