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FOLKLOW?
NC, YORK
Tuxt of I tervi'v: (Lhec:
STATE New York
OF wO' Nu. William Wood
NpmEss 7012-67 Place, Glendale,
DATE September 1, 1938
SI
JECT Mts. Rose Williams,
70th Ave. 67th Place,
Glendale, Lo I.
:•LEMINISCE,NCES OF OLD GLENDALE AND RIDGE'600D
When I was a young girl, all this district was farm land. Nest of
the people living here were either Irish or Dutch. The streets in this vioinity,
now lined by rows of two, fburs and six -family houses, were not then in existence.
Our roads, and the lanes leading to the scattered farm houses, were unlighted at
night. When we went out after dark we used to carry lanterns, burning coal oil
or candles. On Central Avenue, vertere the Grover Cleveland High School Annex
now stands, there was a litUe oountry school house a frame building.
In those days we used to have the old-time square dames; the polkas,
quadrilles, the Virginia Reel, and several others. There was one danoe in
particular that gays us a 'great deal of fun. It was called the "Nine -Pins."
The part of the Nine -Pin was played by one of the men, who would be either a
volunteer or a chap who yielded to persuasion. Be had to fill the role for the
duration of one dance, after which he was relieved by someone else. Usually,
he was a very happy man when relief came. The Nine -Pin had to stand in the ()enter
of the floor, within close reeve of the dances mbo mould get as near to him as
they possi,1y could. The caller would yell out, "Take hold of the NineimPin's
nose," or, "Take hold of the Nine -Pies ear," or take hold of the NineimPin's
right hand," or of his left hand, his thumb, his shirt -collar, his beardeme
if he had ono.,or any part of the chap which might embarrass him the at and
afford the greatest amount of merriment for the dancers. If a conceited fellow,
or a fellow the damoers wanted parcioularly to tantalize, happened to be the
Nine -Pin, he got pulled almost to pieces.
Number 10 Volunteer Fire Department was situated about a mile from here,
on Freshpond Road. Whenever a fire occurred that was too large for them to handle,
they had to get assistance from the nearest City Fire Department. On such occasions
there was displayed a great deal of rivalry. Bach of the two gam wanted to be in
charge of the fire and direct operations. Sometimes their arguments became
quarrelsone„ and they would almoat oome to blow*. Despite these personal exchanges,
the boys always worked hard until the fire was under control.
Not far from Number 10, there was a beer saloon that was patronized by
by the volunteer firemen. I have forgotten the proprietor's name, but I shall
always remember the MAMO by which the establishment itself vas known. It was
"The Sunday School." [he 'boys' used to congregate there, eveniii;s, to
drink a social glass of beer, relate their experiences, and tell evcries. The
Iris men used to carry red lanterei to tease the Dutohmen and the Dutch used to
carry green lantersn to annoy the Irishmen.
Once, the news leaked out that two or the firemen intended to get
married on the same day: Rudy Smith and henry Backus were their names, and they
both were members of Number 10. As the time of the wedding ar,proaohed, their
comrades asked them i; they intended to stand treat for the crowd. They both
declined.
After the oeremonies eaoh of the couples went to their own house, where
relatives had made preparations for the festivities. In eaoh house were good
things to at and drink, including plenty of beer. Very soon the members of the
fire station, divided into two groups and accompanied by all the acquaintances
that could be gathered together, armed themselves with pots and pans and sauelew
pane, and every other deltic,e they could think of for making noise. The homes of
the nowly*weds were soon surrounded, and the fun commenoed. What a serenade&
Rudy Smith was the first to tire of it. He came out and offered the gang.five
dollars to buy beer if they only would go away and leave him and his bride in
peace. Henry Backus still refused to treat, and pretended to pay no attention
to the crowd of people yelling like demons arowd his house. Among his guests
was the minister who had married him.
One of the serenaders, a young men, oh i bed into the kitchen through
an open window and took a large piece of limburger cheese from the table. As
soon as the joyed the crowd again he put the oheese into his coat pocket.
Suddenly the tin clans ceased to beat, and a spokesmen knooked at the front door
and asked Henry if he was willing to buy beer for his friends; but Henry still
declined. "All right," the spokesmen said, "I guess we have given you enough
serenading for one night. We'll all shake hands, wish you and the bride good
luck, and go home."
Henry and his male guests, including the preacher, came outside to
join in the hand shaking, and each one of them 5ot his hand well smeared with
with limburger cheese. The smell was awful.'
A gang of young hoodlums used to infest a part of Central Avenue, the
other side of Ridgewood. They ranged between tan and fifteen years of age, and
were known as "The Little Potatoes." They used to refer to themselves as "The
Little Potatoes..hard to peel." Some very bad boys were among their number.
Not content with pitying mischievous pranks* these young ruffians frequently
ire quilty of acts of downright maliciousness. No doubt their parents were to
blame. The neighborhood they terrorised was a hotbed of bigotry and race
prejudioe. A Jew could not pass through the streets unmolested.
One cloy they sot upon a poor, inoffensive peddler* whom they easily
overpowered. They robbed him of his pack of notions, and after dividing the
mires among themselves threatened to store him if he didn't "beat it." As
he retreated, the unfortunate man shook his fist at his tormentors, sayings
"Some duy we 01.1.11 utons zar
Of course, no Jewish peddler familiar with the district would run
the risk of attempting to do business there, but 000asionally an unsuspecting
stranger would walk into a peck of trouble. I remember the case of one of them
who entered the danger zone and run direotly into the clutches of the "Little
Potatoes." he escaped with his bundle of merchandise. —but not before he had been
deprieved of his beard. One of the yoono, desperadoes snipped it ofi with a
pair of shears.
The words of the first peddler —the one who was robbed of his pack
may not have come to L,e literally true. Nevertheless, they were not altogether
unprophetio. The part of Ceotral Avenoe thot once was overrun by j venue
gangsters is new the center of a large Jewish population.
Every awe, as well as every locality, has its awn peculiarities and
customs. Today, the girls smoke cigarettes, even out on the street, and think
nothing of it. ;rhen I was a youliE, woman, such a practice was unheard of. In
feet, we never heard of cigarettes) to sa;,, ,athing of women smoking them. but
don't think for a moment that the girls of those days did not have habits of their
own. One of these was snuffil They used Scotch snuff, which they carried about
with them in little boxes. Some of the girls sniffed it up their nostrils. Other
ones carried a small stick which they used to dip into the snuffbox and then
rub against their teeth and gums.
Styles for woments hair are constantly changing. Short hair and
boyish bobs are not by any means of recent vogue. Loner than fifty years
ago a fad started among women, for short hair. It did not last for a great
length of tiae; but, during the time it did last, a great many women made
themselves appear hideous. Their hair was out as short as a man's, and they
looked anything .12t womanly. The practioe soon oemame unpopulars A few years
ago it was re ,rived in a modified form, but the perm-nent waves of today look
much nicer than the shortosorops that were von= durisk, my girlhood.
I can remember a haunted house, a very old frame building where the
tenants never remained ion,. It was owned by a brewer, Frank Eberts, and was
said to be the scene of a murder that had been oammicted years earlier. /lazy
people who sneered at superstition and voiced their defiance of ghosts,
occupied the premises from time to tile. They were awakened at niht by weird
noises and unoanny sou dB. Some claimed that they neard sYAeks and moans.
Those who had most blatantly mocked tne supernaral usually wore the qtAckest
to seek rmother residence. Eventually. Mr. Zberts had the house renovated from
basement to roof. The old doors and windows were covered up by now lumber,
and new doors and windows were made in other places. The effect seemed magical.
The "ghost" apparently had found repose, l'or the nexi, occupant of he house made
no complaint. Finally. Hr. Eberts himself moved in. Two years afterwarda, he
died) and people s id the ghos4 had returned.
FOR Y D
EYtra Comment
STATE
New York
NAME OF WORKER
William Wood,
ADDRESS 7012087 Moe, Glendale, L. I.
PATE
September 1, 1938
SUBJECT
ROCE WILLIA7S0 STORY
FOLKLORE
NEW YOU
Mrs. Rose Williams, the narrator, is about seventy years of
ago. She is the owner of a fleet of buses, andivas interviewed outside
the orrice of her garage at the corner of 70th Avenue and 87 Place,
Glendale, L. I.