Guessing here, but that looks like the old "viaduct" in the background. Could this be 11th street between 7th and Orange? Or that little street on the East Orange border that intersected with OrRange Street
In light of Bob's analysis, I hereby expand my guess. I would say it might also be North 13th looking down at the bridge over the railroad and/or "viaduct" at the corner of 7th Avenue, on the East Orange border. If I am correct, there would be a store on the corner to the right of where we see the steps going up. I once saw a guy, who shall remain nameless in this forum, run in there and grab a full glass bottle of coke and use it to end a fight by smacking another guy over the head with it. There should also be some guys drinking cheap wine or quart bottles of beer wrapped in paper bags, but they might be just out of the picture. At any rate, that runs me out of guesses. :-)
Bob, you are right on the money! Joe, you are are alittle confused. The photo is of N.13th between Orange St. and railroad. I lived around the corner on Orange St. from 1934 to 1959.
The three story brick house on the left side of the photo was abandoned some time before we arrived. As a little kid I loved to explore the house. After the war the house was repaired and rented to three families. The photo may not show it, but the apartments were very large, The building was more than three storefronts deep. I am not sure, but I think I remember that Father Washington's brother and his large family lived there for a short time.
The block itself is interesting. Half the people on the block were white and half were black. The only store on the block was a Kosher chicken market to the left of the steps up to the "Viaduct". The first black medical doctor I knew lived on the right side of the block and the first gay person I knew lived on the left.
Joe, your story of guys with brown bags sounds like what we called the "Bottle Boys", but that another sad story.
Doris, is the Kosher chicken market the same place where chickens ran around (some with, some without heads) on the ground level floor? I remember passing that place on hot summer days when I could peer inside at the squacking poultry. What threw me in the photo, however, is the staircase at the end of the street. It seems to be fairly short, and I remember that it seemed like a higher staircase. Or maybe I'm confused and mixing this street with the one that was one or two blocks back (closer to Roseville). My memory is hazy, but I think the street I was thinking of marked the last main retail block on Orange St before the street turned into whiskey junction.
Yes Barbara, that's the same LIVE chicken market you remember. Who could forget the smell? The staircase up to the viaduct was high and long. Only a third of the steps are visible in the photo.
Joe Bilby's original assessment was correct. That picture was definitely taken on North 11th Street. If the picture were taken on North 13th Street you would be looking at the bottom of the upramp over the RR. I crossed it a thousand times as a kid. Ask Jim Portington who lived on on the corner of North 11th & Orange St. - from where that picture was taken. 11th St. without a doubt.
Having lived at the corner of both Orange and 11th St (3 N 11th) and Orange and 13th st (597 Orange), sorry Joe but you are wrong! The bottom of the ramp ower the RR was at 11th St. The bridge over the RR at 11th St had only three or four steps. Ask Bob Davis
I have to chime in here about the RR bridge at N. 11th St. I lived on N. 12th and took that route to school every day. There were only a few steps...my guess is less than five.
I believe Bob's answer is right on, I have the same recollection. Having grown up on North 11th Street, I have many, many memories of "our bridge". It had at least 8 to 10 steps and neighborhood kids use to do flips off of it. Not too smart considering it was a big old steel thing and very cold to touch in Winter. Summer months we set up our "club-house" underneath, and it was a great hiding area when we played Hide and Seek! And we certainly remember Mr. Davis entertaining us on the 4th of July right in the middle of that bridge. I even have a picture somewhere taken one Easter Sunday at the top of the steps with snow still on the ground.
Hi Pat, I think I may have visited your "clubhouse" on at least one occasion. I remember somebody taking me to it when I was a kid. It looked really cool to me.
I hate to differ with my esteemed and knowledgeable classmate, Joe Deehan, but I believe the upramp was approached via Hedden Place (maybe another block or two in the direction of East Orange?). How are you, Joe? Planning any trips to Connecticut to visit the grandchildren? Call us if you're in the area.
this photo is on 13th st the steps are on the east side of the street on 11th st the steps were on the west side of the street on gray street the steps were in the middle of the street
John , If I remember correctly , there were 3 bridges on 7 th ave. by us. One was the one on the side street of the Tivoli. The next one was by our block 11th street. There was one more up from us. Is it the Street where May's Shoe store was on the corner of ORange Street? I believe that was the next street up from the 11 th Street bridge. I know that it is not the bridge on 11th street between 7th and Orange. I fell down that bridge and broke my father's watch. I am trying to remember the names of all of the streets. It's been 40 years and 3 states ago since I moved away from N. 11th Street! Boy how time does fly by!
this photo is 13th street between orange st and 7th ave when you walk over that bridge you will be at the foot of INDIAN HILL between 12 st and 13th on 7th ave go to the left a half a block and you will encounter a viaduct on the corner of 13th st and 7th ave climb these stairs and you will be on the top of INDIAN HILL if you turn left you go back down the hill to 7th ave if you go right you go to eaton place and east orange if you walk stright ahead you will go back down the hill on HEDDEN PLACE to orange st on the photo at the foot of the steps is some kind of chicken market they may have killed chickens there and sold them
