I am proud to say that I worked at Ohrbachs. July 1964 to November 1964. I worked in women's shoes. I was paid $1.05 an hour and actually did such a good job, I was given a .05 raise. I left to work in the post office. Where could anyone make $2.53 an hour in those days and with night differential it was $2.78 an hour. I heard the 7th game of the 64 series on a little Philco in the shoe stock room, as we worked. I had two cheeseburgers and a milk shake everyday for less than a dollar at lunch. The city subway was .15.
Essex Catholic 'Hall of Fame' alumni / reunion dinner slated for Friday, 11/17 @ Chandelier in Bellville.
In '07 there will be an affair at the original building @ 300 Broadway!
Make sure you have a hair cut and don't be late
otherwise you'll be standing at jug. I look at it
as the 35TH reunion of "210 WORMAN"S WARRIORS" who
destroyed the Brothers in football that year.
The favorite play of the day was: "Over Levy on two!"
That is where Johnny Mc Cree and Rudy Guverra crippled
Brother Levy as George Hopkins ran over his head.
When Brother Bray, who was refereeing asked me to stop
it he had enough, we only ran it 6 more times for a
touchdown. We were eating it up , and the clock!
The Third Street guys my age got a kick of teasing me about being "in women's shoes". I guess I predated Al Bundy,
Three weeks ago I met Lenny Marano of The Tennis courts and we had a great time talking about working at the old Newark Post Office. A lot of funny stories. Did anyone else on this forum have the honor of working at the old P.O.?
Hi Frank: I started at the Newark PO in February of 1963.I was a clerk at the main office till 1965 when the Belleville Annex opened. In 1971 I got a window bid at The Belleville PO. In 1979 I took the philatelic window bid in Nutley. I retired in 1999 with 37 years plus four years in the Navy. My last boss in Nutley was Joe Sica, who is mentioned occasionally on this great site.
I started at the Newark PO as a substitute clerk the day before election Day in Novemeber of 1964. I started with Joe Sica. since he did not have a car and was on my way 405 Orange Street, I gave him rides until he was drafted late in 1965. I worked 6;00 to 2:30 pm second shift nights. I started out pitching mail, but then worked for Johnny Sayers, Sam Harding, Jake Gless, and Jerry Capadonna in loose pack. I picked up New York City twice an hour to midnight.
Joe Sica was a great guy. Do these names ring a bell: Mr. Parsons, Mr. Dragon, Tony Venero, Anthony Zoppi,
Mr. Goldberg, Gene Hutmaker, Frank Molinaro, Jake Steiger, Big Fat Louie, Mr. Evangelista. I will think of some more.................
Mr. Hurley, Mr. Pomerantz, Carmine Ciriaco, Danny Fitzgerald (he looked like Sam Malone), big Mike the mail handler who held the markers at Barringer football games, John Williams, Chicky Denardo, air lift, loose pack, city, the loading platform, the air port, Pioneer Street, Tommy Malanga, passing the scheme, blue cards for subs, yellow for Korean War temps.
I remember Parsons standing by the time clock at 6:00pm watching the subs punch in. A fearsome boss.I started on tour 3 at 6:00pm but they made you stay 12 hours till 6:00am. At straight time!! I went to the union (Casey Frieda) to request the 10:30pm to 7:00am tour to avoid working 60 hour weeks. My first shift, the boss Jake Frieder saw me coming in at 10:30 and started screaming at me about the union running the post office....I used to volunteer to work the platform for Nate Pomerantz because I hated pitching mail. When John Dragon would cross the work floor the employees would sing "Puff, the Magic Dragon" to him.
We were luckier. Except for Christmas, we rarely had to work the 12 hours. Once we were sent home after two hours. I remember Parsons in his white long sleeved shirt. He died while I was workiung there. I also remember The Dragon and Jake Pomerantz on the platform. I made $2.53 an hour, but $2.78 with the night differential, 6 pm to 2:30 am. It was a different world then, a different world.
DOES ANYONE KNOW WHEN THE ESSEX CATHOLIC REUNION IN THE OLD SCHOOL ON BROADWAY WILL TAKE PLACE? MY COUSIN TOMMY DE NIGRIS IS INTERESTED. HE WAS IN THE CLASS OF 1979.
My cousin is a Class of '63 alumn & is interested in attending the Reunion in September. Does anyone have a contact name so he can update his address to receive more information?
Bert Tobia from St Michael's. Can't remember e-mail address
will have to look it up. St. Michael's has a web site.
Google it and you can probably fin him. Anybody out there
have bert's e-mail handy?
From the ECHS Class of '68, (SRL '64)I would very much be interested in attending a reunion especially at 300 Broadway. If anyone has more details I would greatly appreciate updates.
A special message to Nick Caravassi, Class of '69, (SRL '65):
Hey Nick, wanna go together? I will keep my calendar open.
