tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36892255.post4788826858423007746..comments2024-03-28T13:46:38.346-04:00Comments on Pardon Me For Asking: Memories Of Growing Up In The Gowanus Houses At 426 Baltic Street, South Brooklyn.Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17882047670852126739noreply@blogger.comBlogger23125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36892255.post-75629994256981788612023-07-01T09:02:13.051-04:002023-07-01T09:02:13.051-04:00Love this article! I grew up in Gowanus Houses too...Love this article! I grew up in Gowanus Houses too. With parents and my brother. I still do. Hoyt Street. Used to be one of the Best Developments to grow up in. Also alot of great talents come from Gowanus!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36892255.post-39007992638367964542019-01-01T15:34:32.098-05:002019-01-01T15:34:32.098-05:00I lived on Baltic Gowanus projects on the first fl...I lived on Baltic Gowanus projects on the first floor.I remember riding my bicycle, playing baseball as a kid until we move to Bushwick Projects.I also remember the hip hop break beats being played in the parks.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14244450820686294809noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36892255.post-19200744595427467212018-06-29T18:43:07.784-04:002018-06-29T18:43:07.784-04:00In 1949 my parents were able to qualify for the Go...In 1949 my parents were able to qualify for the Gowanus houses, we moved to 414 Baltic st. and were the first tenants to live in that apartment. Everything was brand new, the trees , saplings, the grass newly planted, we were so exited to have such luxury. The apartment, on the 10th floor faced the harbor and I could see the Statue of Liberty and the Manhattan skyline from my bedroom window. That would be a million dollar view today! Yes, I agree with everything that was said..we lived in a different time then, I felt I lived a perfect childhood. In 1954 we took a trip to Florida, my father had been stationed there during the war, the weather cinched the deal for, so we decided to move there. After all these years I still reminisce about the gowanus houses and going to school at Nathan Hale Jr. High, half a block away from my front door.Rgiegelnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36892255.post-83012503543123539602017-01-11T20:03:38.429-05:002017-01-11T20:03:38.429-05:00If you ever want to share some of your memories of...If you ever want to share some of your memories of growing up in Gowanus, I would love to post them.Katiahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06484246196723019291noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36892255.post-66582121967506069592017-01-11T19:01:33.119-05:002017-01-11T19:01:33.119-05:00Wow.. an awesome trip down memory lane if Gowanus ...Wow.. an awesome trip down memory lane if Gowanus Housing Projects.. 414 Baltic St. was my building growing up. Discovered lately many of my childhood friends & aquaintences have passed on.. smh.. sigh.. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12677665650745941879noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36892255.post-19301652452549116382016-01-06T18:49:33.536-05:002016-01-06T18:49:33.536-05:00Grew up in Gowanus, first 414 Baltic street....the...Grew up in Gowanus, first 414 Baltic street....then 195 Hoyt street.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15158045689853941897noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36892255.post-76714178466821893532015-12-02T19:00:15.816-05:002015-12-02T19:00:15.816-05:00Glad you came across my site as well and I hope yo...Glad you came across my site as well and I hope you will come back often.Katiahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06484246196723019291noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36892255.post-65891692876141100752015-12-02T17:57:27.005-05:002015-12-02T17:57:27.005-05:00Beautiful recollection of childhood memories,oh, t...<br />Beautiful recollection of childhood memories,oh, the good old days! Nice to read about coming up in the 'old' NYC. Kids spent more time socializing and playing outdoors. It's true most did not lock their front doors. Always there was that watchful concerned neighbor who looked out for the kids' best interest and chided whenever necessary. The elders were always respected and addressed as ma'am and sir. Candy was so cheap, goodness! Life went at a much more easy pace. I pray every child can experience these golden moments of carefree happiness and one day tell their stories to someone younger. Nice work, Glad I happened to stumble across this site!Lydianoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36892255.post-83436927968412736522015-06-25T23:22:33.166-04:002015-06-25T23:22:33.166-04:00Great work, Katia.Great work, Katia.Gowanus Old-Timernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36892255.post-1100956896100166692015-06-25T22:23:43.855-04:002015-06-25T22:23:43.855-04:00Growler, glad you are back.Growler, glad you are back.Katiahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06484246196723019291noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36892255.post-13655416957611718392015-06-25T21:43:46.907-04:002015-06-25T21:43:46.907-04:00I somehow fell out of the habit of reading this bl...I somehow fell out of the habit of reading this blog (maybe there was a lull in posts and I just gave up? I'm not sure why), but the Gowanus Current Facebook page linked to another post here, and I came back, and stumbled across this post. It is, simply, wonderful. Thank you so much.growlernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36892255.post-47792422342102656892015-06-23T15:31:16.647-04:002015-06-23T15:31:16.647-04:00I think a lot of us who grew up in the 50s and 60s...I think a lot of us who grew up in the 50s and 60s in this neighborhood can relate to, and identify with, Genevieve's experiences. Our parents weren't rich, but they gave us everything they could within their means. We had what we NEEDED, and that was just fine for us. I went to St. Agnes elementary school, just across the street from the Gowanus Houses, and many of my classmates lived there. We were a little "United Nations" all in one school building back then. The Sisters of St. Joseph were dedicated teachers, and they made sure all of us got an excellent -- and equal -- education. At home, we were fortunate to have one television, one radio, and even one record player (remember those?). While we didn't take vacations in Europe or go to Disneyland in California, we had Coney Island in the summer: the vast, clean beach, the amusement rides, fireworks on Tuesday nights, and, of course, Nathan's -- all a 20-minute subway ride away. Very conveniently, we had Carroll Park just up the block. And yes, it was a very popular place for family Easter photographs, many of which I have myself. We played street games, as well, waited for the Mr. Softee or Cubby Cone ice cream trucks, and we couldn't wait to get our ice cream treats from them every day. I agree with Mary above..."inner city" or urban kids of that era had a great upbringing, and I wouldn't trade it in for anything. Thanks to Genevieve for a great story full of memories that many of us share with her.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36892255.post-89996225619718437802015-06-23T14:47:08.493-04:002015-06-23T14:47:08.493-04:00What a great story.
I've lived on Hoyt Street...What a great story. <br />I've lived on Hoyt Street since '09 and always what was going on around here in the years past. Thanks for sharing your story Genevieve. And thanks again for your great blog Katia.<br />And, wow, how great would it be to track down Mr. Crea.Jeffhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02340830961206023610noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36892255.post-24093243442784579152015-06-23T12:51:04.441-04:002015-06-23T12:51:04.441-04:00Thank you Genevieve. This made my day. Thank you Genevieve. This made my day. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36892255.post-43392473749809693752015-06-23T11:19:27.357-04:002015-06-23T11:19:27.357-04:00I grew up in London in the same era and I'm st...I grew up in London in the same era and I'm struck by the similarities - our mothers throwing down the money for ice cream when the ice cream trucks came around - I had forgotten that. Playing outdoors from morning till night and having so many play mates. We used to go to a "common" - a very large park dating back to English "common lands," that had a wading pool for kids. That's where we spend summer days until we were old enough to take a bus to a very large public pool a couple of miles away. It was also about the size of the Red Hook pool and with its aqua blue water, we thought we were in Spain or some other exotic place. If you add the back track of the Beatles, Stones, reggae and Motown, it was a really wonderful time, and such a rebuke to those who condescend to "inner City" kids. They don't know any and don't know how rich their lives can be and how many thoughtful teachers and mentors can be found at urban schools and day camps.<br /><br />Thanks, Genevieve, for taking the time to write such lovely memories. MaryMarynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36892255.post-67602830312680244872015-06-23T09:24:59.129-04:002015-06-23T09:24:59.129-04:00Thanks, Margaret. Miss you!Thanks, Margaret. Miss you!Katiahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06484246196723019291noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36892255.post-52066780079752314442015-06-23T08:20:38.227-04:002015-06-23T08:20:38.227-04:00What a lovely remembrance, and so sweet that Genev...What a lovely remembrance, and so sweet that Genevieve and her Mom came back to see the old neighborhood together.<br />Reading Genevieve's memories - I wonder, maybe life WAS better then. (I also remember my roller skates with the key! Wonder bread. When we came to the USA as immigrants we used Wonder Bread to make ice cream sandwiches. That's what we thought ice cream sandwiches were!) And Easter photos - the nostalgia. Thank you so much for sharing your memories Genevieve, and what a wonderful story of how you and Genevieve met and became friends, Katia.Margaretnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36892255.post-27353062491210915392015-06-23T06:41:59.301-04:002015-06-23T06:41:59.301-04:00A beautiful story!A beautiful story!Jim Kennanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36892255.post-29186024258887479162015-06-23T05:30:18.389-04:002015-06-23T05:30:18.389-04:00Nice to know the joy and glad they were able to r...Nice to know the joy and glad they were able to rise above and move on. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36892255.post-77778053019027854232015-06-22T23:12:55.542-04:002015-06-22T23:12:55.542-04:00What wonderful memories. Thank you for sharing the...What wonderful memories. Thank you for sharing them.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36892255.post-10535233256641232662015-06-22T20:41:44.102-04:002015-06-22T20:41:44.102-04:00What an evocative account--lovely! I hope someone ...What an evocative account--lovely! I hope someone who can help find Mr. Crea sees it!Melissa Walkerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17130128666084908687noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36892255.post-41693706729878829212015-06-22T19:15:22.978-04:002015-06-22T19:15:22.978-04:00I grew up in the Red Hook Projects from the time I...I grew up in the Red Hook Projects from the time I was born until I got married in 1961. Your story sounds the same as mine growing up. I had wonderful times and great friends back then..things do change but the memories we have stay the same...Louisenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36892255.post-72327686955053987982015-06-22T12:10:12.877-04:002015-06-22T12:10:12.877-04:00Thank you for this lovely account which brought ba...Thank you for this lovely account which brought back so many memories, which are so similar even though I grew up on the Manhattan side of the bridge. The experiences she recounted are strikingly similar. New York in the 1960's - seems like a millennium ago! Thanks again. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com