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Stella Goldberg Geller (6/52)
To add to Bergen Street lore, I worked at the 5 & 10 on Bergen near Shephard Avenue when I was 15. Most of my friends were 16 and had “Sweet 16” parties on Saturdays to which I was invited. Since I worked only Wednesdays after school, and Saturdays, which I regularly missed due to social commitments, I was fired. That day, in tears, I stopped in Chaloff’s, a lovely women’s wear shop next to the Park Theater where I learned English watching the double features. The Chaloff family took pity on me and hired me on the spot. I worked there for two and a half years until I started nursing school. The Chaloffs were the best bosses and sold only quality merchandise. Stella
Jack Cobin (Peshine/Linden 60)
Pretty sure the bakery on Bergen and Renner was called Gudell’s because my mom worked there. She also worked at Garden French Pastry on Chancellor Avenue. Bakeries must have been in her blood because her mom was a Lehrhoff. Jack
Jack Lippman (50)
In my time, the drugstore at the corner of Lehigh Avenue and Bergen Street was owned by Herman Shertzer, a pharmacist. My friend, the late Gerald Monastersky (WHS 50, Rutgers Pharmacy 54)) worked there. We sometimes went bowling after he got off work at 10 p.m.
And the late-night newspapers sold at the corner of Lyons and Bergen in front of Schmerel Brothers were usually the New York Daily News and the New York Mirror. The Newark Evening News usually came out in mid-afternoon and was stale news by the time the two New York papers came out with the afternoon ball scores and the racing results. The Star-Ledger didn't show up until the morning, as I recall. My father picked up the Mirror, which contained Walter Winchell's column) at another corner (Meeker and Elizabeth Avenues.). He did not want to wait for its appearance in the next morning's Star-Ledger. Those were the days, my friend, as the song goes. Jack
Jac Toporek (6/63)
Either in the 7th or 8th grade at Peshine Avenue School our teacher asked each member of the class to think about their future, pick a likely profession and create a report about that profession. My choice was pharmacy but not sure why. Could have been the influence of the Meeker Pharmacy that occupied the ground floor (corner Meeker and Elizabeth Avenues across street from the Tavern restaurant)) of the apartment building where my family lived.
One of the guides for the report was to speak to an individual who had actually chosen to pursue and was engaged in the particular profession. Did I make the easy choice of going directly to the pharmacist at Meeker Pharmacy? Nope! Probably because, to me, it was more of a candy shop and luncheonette than pharmacy. Opted to seek out what drug stores were available on Bergen Street. Found one where the pharmacist was helpful, talked to me on several visits and gave me professional magazines to help my research and which I used as a resource for pictures that ended up in my presentation. He also provided me insight into the day-to-day operation of the store.
So, now I get to the reason I’ve written that long intro, cannot recall the name of the pharmacy or pharmacist. Hope our readers can assist with an ID. Might not be a clear recollection, but I think the pharmacy was located on Bergen on the opposite side of the street of the area between the Park Theater and Henry’s. Jac
Recalling W-times:
Natalie Warringer Baron (6/61)
To Bette Krupenin Kolodney (60), so heartwarming to see great minds of the
WHS think and do similar, making entries into our yearbook of happy and not so happy remembrance of those we knew for such a short time in our lives but a lasting memory never forgotten. May all of their names be of a blessed memory. Natalie
Jack Lippman (50)
Does anyone recall a run-down novelty store called "Cheap John's', selling all kinds of junk, on the south side of Watson Avenue just below Badger Avenue? Jack
Esther Gordon (6/52)
To David Stern 6/69), if you are who I think you are, your mother was Belle Stern and you lived at 48 Demarest Street, corner of Nye Avenue. My grandfather, Banne Schanerman, built that house. Everyone in our family lived there at one time or another; we all went to Weequahic. For openers, there was my uncle, Nat Schanerman, who was in the first graduating class at WHS. The Weequahic cousins were Ina and Joel Schanerman, Bernie and Marty Steele and me.
Being naturally irreverent, we had nicknames for everyone. Your mother was Belle Starr. Melvin Mintz and his family were Mintz Pies. Among the other kids who called 48 Demarest home were Frankie Alexander, Wayne and Wendy Lerman, and David and Marcia Schindelman.
Across the street and above the grocery you wrote about, were the Rubin brothers, Marv and Gordy. In the houses around us were Richie Stein, Miriam Goldwater, Aaron Blutman and Laura and the other Weiner girls. As for the grocery, in my day when the perfume of the pickle barrel made every entry a delight, it was owned by a couple named the Olsons or Olsens. Talk about names, he called her “Mrs. Olsen." She called him "Hubby." Esther
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