Poppi Remembers

I had some time to sit with Poppi tonight after coming from my weekly Scripture Discussion group and I really enjoyed the memories he shared with me.  I only wish I had recorded tonight’s stories as his memories about these long ago times are so crystal clear and concise.  He speaks of Street names that I should remember a lot better given that I am 30 years younger and grew up in the same neighborhood but I am already forgetting which street was which.

Forgive me but in order to get some of the facts down before I forget them I have not been too careful with grammar and style.  

So here goes- Grandpa Joseph Fries (Poppi’s father) bought the house on Interboro Parkway (# 64) in 1913, 2 years before Poppi was born.   The street was named North Vermont Street (# 8) at the time and then renamed # 8 Vermont Ave before being re-named Interboro Parkway after the parkway was built which happened while Poppi was in Brooklyn College (he remembers hearing construction vehicles as he studied for exams).  I believe the address is now #64 Jackie Robinson Parkway but I don’t know that for certain.   Uncle Joe Fries, Poppi’s older brother was born in Williamsburg Brooklyn (German Town) before his parents moved to their new house in the “countrified area” of Queens.   The county border was later moved and the house was then in Brooklyn rather than Queens.   At the time, this area was far different from Williamsburg which was much more populated and congested.  Grandpa Fries heard that the house on North Vermont Street was up for sale from someone he met at work by the name of Mr. Maybeck (I think he might have been a cop with Grandpa).  Poppi (Charles A. Fries, Sr.) was born in the front bedroom of the house.  His mother, Elizabeth Daniel, was assisted by a midwife.  

Poppi remembers that while he was growing up, large groups of cows would pass by on the dirt road in front of the house.  Poppi is not sure where they came from but he believes they were on their way to the slaughter house.  Periodically a truck would come along which would spray tar over the dirt to keep it firmer and less blow away.  There were no sidewalks but rather planks of wood that were approximately about a foot and a half wide and several feet long that were placed together in a row  and were used as a walkway.   When he left for school in the morning (to go to St. Michael’s Elementary School on Jerome Street- the German parish as opposed to St. Malachy’s Church which was the Irish parish), Poppi would leave via the back door of his house and go across on the property behind his house which for awhile belonged to his Aunt Mary and her family. He  would cross Crosby Avenue and get out to Miller Hill which was also wooden slates at this time in order to get down to the area of St. Michael’s.  Poppi was in class with Father Godfrey (I’ll have to ask Poppi what his first name was before becoming a priest- in the 5^th grade class photo he is listed as J. Leuchinger).  There are 34 boys in the photo – all are wearing shirts and ties and Poppi is one of only three kids who are wearing glasses. Poppi’s glasses are perfectly round and remind me of the glasses he wears to this day.  His white shirt appears to be starched and ironed meticulously and his tie appears to be white or at least very light in color.  I dare say he is the most dapper guy in the entire photo and he looks so cute with his happy little smile.  The title on the photo says St. Michael’s School Fifth Grade.   Father Godfrey is also in the photo. 

After spending two years is a pre-seminary school in Garrison, NY Poppi started Bushwich High School on 400 Irving Avenue in the Bushwich section of Brooklyn.  He would cross through a fence that was in the area of Crosby Avenue and walk through a grassy field on his way over to the high school.  It was probably about a 30 minute walk.  Poppi remembers this as a very pleasant time.