From the early '50s comes this shot of a May Day celebration at Newark Stadium. I wish I knew the young lady's name, but it's safe to assume she was one of St. Rose's finest. They wouldn't let just anybody bedeck the BVM.
John F. Crowley
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"Strong before our birth are the Sons and Daughters of the Garden State!"
This message has been edited by cbonaire from IP address 65.59.107.27 on May 2, 2003 2:20 PM
Does anyone remember being bussed from St. Rose over to Jersey City for some sort of anti-Communist "living rosary" type rally and drum and bugle corps contest in the early '50s? Or am I delusional, which is distinctly possible.
Joe. Yes your right we were bussed over the old Lincoln Highway to Rossevelt Stadium. I remember going more than once. This stadium was where the Brooklyn Dogers played when they came to Jersey City, which they did several times a year. At that time I went to Sacred Heart Cathedral School.The Archbishop came and a May crowning was done. It was the Church's response to the Commie May Day celebration. I'm not so sure a contest was held, but drum corps units were there.Later the events were held in the different counties. Thats why this photo is from Schools Stadium.
I don't remember the crowning at the stadium but I do remember the crowning every year at school. The nuns would always pick one of the tiny girls to crown Mary and since I was always one of the taller girls, I knew I would never, ever get the chance to crown Mary. So I would be very upset.
Tino C. set the May Shrine on fire. The velvet curtians were burnt. He was put back a year and ended up graduating with our class of 64. Geno Dalbo do you remember it?
Hi Peggie - I do remember it! Were you there? Do you remember who all was involved? I think it was either after school or maybe a Novena that the class all had to attend. Anyway, several people got permssion to stay behind and help decorate the "May Shrine" we had in our classroom. I guess Sister Agnes Lucy must have recognized Tino's devotion to the BVM to allow him to volunteer. Funny that nobody else did. Anyway, Tino decided to scare some of the other volunteers by taking out his cigarette lighter and pretend to set the crepe paper decorations on fire. Well, he did accidently light the lighter and next thing we knew was the statue was ablaze. Fortuntately the crepe paper burned out quickly before the fire did any serious damage. You remember how "cool" Tino was, that was the only time I saw him scared. Do you remember his "nicotined-stained" fingers? He had them since sixth grade. He was a classic character. Wonder whatever happen to him?
Susan, I was picked in 1961 to 'carry' the crown for Diana Romandetto. The crown was placed on a pillow. I proceeded to drop it and then step on it. The principal before Sr. Gertrude James (I forget her name) really let me know how much I disrespected the Blessed Virgin. As a result, to this day, I always place my crown on the top shelf next to my sword.
I remember standing far up in the grandstand of Roosevelt Stadium in Jersey City and seeing all the "hail marys" dressed in blue and all the "our fathers" wearing white. I can't recall the colors of the crucifix, but they created quite a spectacle strung out across the green of the playing field.
I must be getting old because I don't remember any of this.
I must have been out sick on this day, every year.
Probably spent the day at Nick's Candy Store with Jeff Deuel playing the old Cover Girl pin ball machine in the back of the store.
