From PMFA's Archive: A Stretch Of Smith Street In The Late 1960's

Back in the late 1960's, early 1970's

The same stretch of Smith Street in 2013

 

The section of Smith Street in March 2020 during the Corona Pandemic

Like all of our faithful readers, I am spending my days during the Corona Epidemic at my home in Carroll Gardens, only venturing out to buy the most necessary items. Since it will be hard to write new stories about the neighborhood during this quarantine, I thought I would repost some previous articles and photos from PMFA's archive
This post was first published on this site in March 2013, but I added a photo from March 2020 above. 

A while ago, I came across a xerox copy of a black and white photo of the stretch of Smith Street taken in the late 1960's. The image shows numbers 349, 351, 353 and 355 Smith Street located between Carroll Street and Second Street.

Though grainy, one can see that the four buildings have not changed much. This is no doubt due in part to the fact that #349, #351 and 353 fall within the Carroll Gardens Landmark district, the smallest in all of New York City.

What is more fascinating are the commercial spaces and the former businesses that occupied them then and now.
349 Smith Street
No doubt, many remember Joe's Superette and its famous prosciutto and rice balls.  Sadly, after 50 years at the same location, the business closed in 2011 when second owner Leo Coladonato passed away.
Avlee, a new Greek restaurant just opened up there last month.

351 Smith Street
When I moved into the neighborhood in 1985, Venuti's, a small hardware store, was still open.  Mr. Venuti, a heavy set elderly man, operated the business with his son and his daughter-in law. (I believe her name was Michelle, but I could be mistaken).  I remember the owner most for his custom of pouring a shot of rather harsh brandy to all his customers at Christmas time.  I must admit to leaving the store with quite a buzz once, when my mother and I stopped in to buy a few of the wooden ornaments Mr. Venuti had added to his inventory during the holidays.
I still have them.
Mr. Venuti and his son passed away one after the other just a few years later and the store closed.
Ting Hua, a Chinese restaurant, has been operating here for quite a few years.

353 Smith StreetWhen Frank's Italian Delicatessen opened two doors down from Joe's Superette, it created  a bit of a stir because,  from what I gathered from neighborhood old-timers,  Frank at one time worked for Joe, Joe's wife Ann and their two sons, Joseph and Steven.  When Frank opened his business so close to his former boss'  place and competed with Joe's Superette,  many were cross at him.

At one point, Frank's moved to the corner of Smith Street and 2nd Street, across from the subway station, where it is still to this day.

A Korean deli has occupied the storefront at number 353 for a very long time now.  Though the deli has remained virtually unchanged for the last decades, the Korean owners have changed at least three times since I have moved here.

355 Smith Street

A laundromat has operated at this address for a number of years.  I must admit that I don't really remember what was there before.  It would appear that in the late 1960's, it was either an office or a social club.

Does anyone remember more about these stores? Its owners?  I would love to hear your memories and stories about them and other businesses in the neighborhood.

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Appeal From Former Carroll Gardener: Does Anyone Have A PS 58 Kindergarten Class Photo From 1966?

Joey, as a wee lad sitting on his aunt's stoop on Carroll Street in the 1960s

 Former Carroll Gardener Joey Vento

Joey with his wife and daughter with some of the displays of his Haunted Barn Museum

I have often mentioned that the best part of posting about Carroll Gardens on Pardon Me For Asking is the people I meet in the neighborhood, as well as the correspondences with former Carroll Gardeners, who moved away years ago, but enjoy all the news and photos of 'home'.
One of these people is Joey Vento. He and I have exchanged emails over the past few years and I always enjoy his anecdotes from his childhood here.
Joey lived on Carroll Street between Smith and Hoyt Streets when he was young. His parents moved him to 'the country', which, as he tells it "ended up being Flatbush."
He now lives in the Hudson Valley, where he owns and curates the Haunted Barn Museum.

Joey recently reached out to ask if I could help him connect to someone in Carroll Gardens, who might have a PS 58 Kindergarten class photo.  He writes:
"I used to have my Kindergarten class photo from 1966 taken at the Carroll School (PS 58.) When we moved years ago, it somehow vanished and I wanted so much to show it to my daughter. I never thought to take a photo of it, and it probably would have done no good, since digital cameras were not quite developed yet. Anyway, I was wondering if you could post a plea from a former Carroll Street resident. If anyone has that particular photo...1966 school year...Kindergarten...Mrs. Borsh, teacher..i. would be so appreciative and...relieved!!!"

So how about it, Carroll Gardeners? Can we get Joey a copy of his Kindergarten class photo?

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A Moment Back In Time: John Malvasio, 85, Remembers Life In South Brooklyn

Screen images and video courtesy of Grete Suarez

You may remember Grete Suarez's wonderful film about enduring mom and pop stores in Carroll Gardens that PMFA had the pleasure of posting a few weeks back.

Suarez has been covering the neighborhood as part of her journalism graduate studies at Columbia University and she just completed another great video. This time, she interviewed long-time resident John Malvasio, who, at 85, shares some of his childhood memories in South Brooklyn and dispenses advice to the younger generation in this delightful little movie.

Suarez told us: "I hope people will stop and give him a hug next time they see him!"
It is safe to say that after watching this little gem, Mr. Malvasio will get many hugs.

Once again, thank you for allowing me to share your video on PMFA, Grete.

Here is a bit about Suarez:
Grete Suarez is a multimedia journalist based in New York. She's originally from Sydney, Australia, and have lived in Madrid, London, and Hong Kong working in the financial sector before deciding to become a journalist. Grete is currently honing her skills as a graduate journalism student at Columbia University, and is an avid coffee drinker.

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A Moment Back In Time: When "Chance" Was A Grocery

Photo credit: MP 

Photo credit: MP

Here is a look back in time.
Friend and fellow Carroll Gardener MP just wrote to say that she was going through some of her old photos and came across these two shots of 223 Smith Street at the corner of Butler Street.  They were taken in November 2000, when a grocery store/bodega occupied the storefront.
The space has been used by "Chance", an Asian bistro for quite some time now.
Does anyone else remember the T and J Deli?

Amidst MP's photos was also the one of 241 Smith Street, shortly after "Carniceria" closed at that location in 2007.  Before that it was Banania, a much loved French Bistro.
After Carniceria, it briefly became "Porchetta".
For the past few years, "Jolie Cantina" has been occupying the storefront.

Photo credit: MP

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A Moment Back In Time: Hitchhiking On The Corner Of Third Avenue And Third Street in Gowanus In 1998

photo credit: Craig Kafton

The photo above was sent to me by my friend Martin Bisi. It shows the corner of Third Avenue and third Street in Gowanus. Martin writes:

"About 1998, outside my studio at the American Can Factory. On the left you can see the buildings on other side of the Coignet building, where Whole Foods is now. The Coignet building looks really clean too - the woman in foreground is someone I was working with. Her name is Jane Jensen. She starred in Tromeo and Juliet, by Troma Films, an old-school New York B-rate film company.

The photo was taken by Craig Kafton. There's so much NY spirit in it. And we were never a waste 

land !"

Thanks for sharing this, Martin. Made me think back on what was happening in my life in 1998.
I had already been living in Carroll Gardens for 13 years at that point in time.

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Brooklyn Summer Street Styles....From 1987

"Marnal Whitney in ivory leather pants and dramatic jacket 

waiting for a Seventh Avenue bus in the Slopes"

"Vanessa Crane and Janet Eisner seem harmless visitors to the Heights, 

but who knows behind those shades?"

"Robert Cavale in Park Slope in linen pants and a white silk jacket"

"Jan Andrew was dressed in contrasting black and white  patterns 
to present an arresting and graphic fashion statement"

"Firefighters West and Rogers of Park Slope's Brooklyn Squad 1, who appeared in recently designed OSHA togs, weren't out of place on Fashionable Seventh Avenue."
(Photos above by Kathryn Kirk)

Since everyone seemed to enjoy the post about 1970's Hipsters so much, here are some more Brooklyn street fashions, this time from May 1987.
The article and photos above appeared in The Phoenix, "the hometown newspaper of downtown Brooklyn's historic brownstone neighborhoods" that was published weekly from 1972 to 1998. According to reporter, Kathryn Kirk, "the Streets of Brooklyn Heights, Park Slope and Any City, USA, are filled with people in athletic attire. Sweat pants are the most recent fashion statement. Running shoes are de rigueur. T-shirts have evolved into an art form."

The captions that go with the photos are rather amusing.

And where did the 1980's Brooklyn Fashionista shop?  Well at A&S on Fulton Street and at Benetton and Two To Tango in Brooklyn Heights of course.

What were you wearing in Brooklyn in 1987?  Or any other year, for that matter.  Let's see your old snapshots from the past. Send them to me to this email address and  I will gladly post them here on Pardon Me.

* I would like to thank life-long South Brooklyn resident Celia Cacase for keeping some wonderful old Brooklyn newspapers.  When Celia moved away recently, she left her collection of papers behind and I have been archiving them along with several community friends.




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A Moment Back In Time: A Stretch Of Smith Street In The Late 1960's

Back in the late 1960's, early 1970's

The same stretch of Smith Street today

Just recently, I came across a xerox copy of a black and white photo of the stretch of Smith Street taken in the late 1960's.  The image shows numbers 349, 351, 353 and 355 Smith Street located between Carroll Street and Second Street.
Though grainy,  one can see that the four buildings have not changed much.  This is no doubt due in part to the fact that #349, #351 and 353 fall within the Carroll Gardens Landmark district, the smallest in all of New York City.
What is more fascinating are the commercial spaces and the former businesses that occupied them then and now.

349 Smith Street
No doubt, many remember Joe's Superette and its famous prosciutto and rice balls.  Sadly, after 50 years at the same location, the business closed in 2011 when second owner Leo Coladonato passed away.
Avlee, a new Greek restaurant just opened up there last month.

351 Smith Street
When I moved into the neighborhood in 1985, Venuti's, a small hardware store, was still open.  Mr. Venuti, a heavy set elderly man, operated the business with his son and his daughter-in law. (I believe her name was Michelle, but I could be mistaken).  I remember the owner most for his custom of pouring a shot of rather harsh brandy to all his customers at Christmas time.  I must admit to leaving the store with quite a buzz once, when my mother and I stopped in to buy a few of the wooden ornaments Mr. Venuti had added to his inventory during the holidays.
I still have them.
Mr. Venuti and his son passed away one after the other just a few years later and the store closed.
Ting Hua, a Chinese restaurant, has been operating here for quite a few years.

353 Smith Street
When Frank's Italian Delicatessen opened two doors down from Joe's Superette, it created  a bit of a stir because,  from what I gathered from neighborhood old-timers, Frank at one time worked for Joe, Joe's wife Ann and their two sons, Joseph and Steven.  When Frank opened his business so close to his former boss'  place and competed with Joe's Superette,  many were cross at him.

At one point, Frank's moved to the corner of Smith Street and 2nd Street, across from the subway station, where it is still to this day.

A Korean deli has occupied the storefront at number 353 for a very long time now.  Though the deli has remained virtually unchanged for the last decades, the Korean owners have changed at least three times since I have moved here.

355 Smith Street

A laundromat has operated at this address for a number of years.  I must admit that I don't really remember what was there before.  It would appear that in the late 1960's, it was either an office or a social club.  

Does anyone remember more about these stores? Its owners?  I would love to hear your memories and stories about them and other businesses in the neighborhood. 

Read more

A Moment Back In Time: Before There Was Union Market On Court Street...

photos courtesy of the New York Municipal Archives Collection

Here is a wonderful blast from Carroll Gardens' past.  Friend and reader Mary P. recently sent me a link to the New York Municipal Archives Collection and to the great old photos of the one story building at 288 Court Street.
The photos were taken by the NYC Department of Finance for taxation purposes in the mid- 1980's, when the building housed a store that sold Italian decorative items such as lamps, shades, ornate chandeliers and Capodimonte Porcelain, which has been continuously manufactured in Naples, Italy since 1743.

I remember the place well, but by 1984, when I first came to the neighborhood, it seemed as though it wasn't doing cut business any more.  I must admit that I never set foot in it, something I regret now.
I don't even remember the name.
Sometime in the early 1990's the  closed and a sporting goods store took it over.  ATLAS SPORTS only lasted a few years at the location, however, and soon, it became a BLOCKBUSTER Video store.
It sat empty for quite some time after the video store closed, and in 2009, work started on the Union MARKET store that occupies the space today.

According to my good friend Joe Alameda, before the building housed the Italian Decor shop, it was a   school for casino croupiers. But even before that,  Joe told me: "In the 1950's and 60's it was AARON'S Department Store in the 1950's and 60's. They sold juvenile furniture and the really big baby carriages which where called 'Cadillacs'.  Aaron's also sold toys, bicycles and models."

Does anyone remember the Capodimonte store and its actual name?  How about Aaron's or the croupier school?  Do you happen to have some photos?   I would love to find out.

*A big thank you to Mary for sending these photos my way.




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A Moment Back In Time: A Spring Day In Carroll Park In The 1960's

Here is a wonderful glance into the past from Genevieve, who grew up in our neighborhood and now lives many miles away. She recently came across this wonderful family photograph taken in Carroll Park in the 1960's.
Genevieve writes:
"We are outside Carroll Park getting ready to go to church on Easter morning. I'm pretty sure it was Easter. Ma only took pictures like these on special days and I am wearing pink. I have no idea how old I am, but my brother was six years older than me and he looks young in the photo. Sweet memories!"

Thanks so much for sharing, Genevieve. I love your little coat and the little Easter hat.
Perhaps others have some old photos of themselves in the neighborhood from years past. By all means, let me know by emailing me at pardonmeinbrooklyn at gmail dot com. I would love to post more.

And click here for the story I did a while back on my friend Dolores. Check out the photos taken of her in Carroll Park at different stages of her life here.

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A Moment Back In Time: The Pony Cart

This certainly is a blast from Carroll Gardens' past. Reader Mary just sent me the photo above which she took on Clinton Street in 1989 or '90. The pony and the cart belonged to an old man who sold flowers around the neighborhood.
I certainly remember him. In the spring he had annuals and in the fall he offered chrysanthemums. He also sold vegetables. I sometimes would see him and his pony all the way on Clinton and Atlantic Avenue. It was always a delight to run into the duo.

Someone told me that the horse was stabled on Columbia Street, but I was never able to confirm that. I am not even sure when I saw them around the neighborhood the last time.

Does anyone have more information on who the old man was and what happened to the horse?

Click here for another photo, which I posted a few years back.

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A Moment Back In Time: "Respectfully Yours..."

The site where 140 Wyckoff stood approximately once upon a time.

The site is now part of the Gowanus Housing Complex.

I came across this wonderful old photograph of six children standing in a Brooklyn doorway a while back and had always planned to seek out the address of photographer B.J. Mulligan, who took the photo in the early 1900's.

A stamp on the back indicates that Mulligan had his studio at 140 Wyckoff Street active at the turn of the last century. I found no other mention of him online, but there is a mention in the New York Times of a John Mulligan having died at 140 Wyckoff Street in 1903.

I finally took the time to check out the address,but the building is long gone, having been replaced in the late 1940's with the Gowanus Housing Development.

A handwritten note on the back says:

"In the upper row William Adelaide Elizabeth.

In the lower row from left to right- David Joseph and Jane. Some time later Neville sent Agnes' likeness and it will give me great pleasure to send a likeness of their mother. Respectfully, D.A. McShane"*

There is no indication of where the photo was taken, but the children may have posed in front of the studio on Wycoff Street. In any case, I would love to know more about them, the photographer and McShane. Don't you?

*At least, I think this is what it says.

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A Moment Back In Time: Diving At Brooklyn Navy Yard In The Early 1900's

I recently came across this great postcard from the early 1900's entitled :"Diver preparing to descend, Brooklyn Navy Yard, Brooklyn, N.Y." The equipment worn by the diver in the photo just looks so inadequate, but was probably state-of-the-art back then. One wonders if the poor guy ever made it up to the surface after his dive.

However, a quick interned search revealed that such dives were part of a US Navy program which led to innovations and longer dive times.

From Wikipedia:

Experimental diving in the US Navy started in 1912 at the Brooklyn Navy Yard under the leadership of Chief Gunner George D. Stillson. Stillson's research program ultimately led to increasing diver capabilities from 60 feet (18 m) to over 300 feet (91 m) of depth based on Haldane's decompression work with the Royal Navy. This resulted in the first publication of the United States Navy Diving Manual and established the need for a facility dedicated to research and development of diving procedures.

In 1915, Stillson's team was sent to salvage the F-4 submarine. On these deep dives, the divers experienced the debilitating effects of nitrogen narcosis leading them to try the addition of helium to their breathing mix. The navy salvage operations then came under the direction of Warrant Gunner C. L. Tibbals who lead teams through the salvage of the S-51 in 1925 and S-4 in 1927 further establishing the naval need for equipment, training, and procedures for rescue operation.

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A Moment Back In Time: Atlantic Avenue Before The BQE

I just recently came across this photo of Atlantic Avenue, seen from Hicks Street, before the Brooklyn Queens Expressway Overpass was erected. The picture is dated 1950.
I love the unobstructed view of the water and the harbor.

Yesterday, I attempted to take a photo from the same spot, but honestly, traffic was so heavy, that it was difficult to recreate the shot.
The row of houses on the right side are still intact, but one in the distance, where the on ramp to the highway is located right now, was taken down.

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A Moment Back In Time: The Bakery On Columbia Street, Now Long Gone

The bakery at 230 Columbia Street back in the winter of 1948

The same spot on Columbia Street today

Columbia Street at Union Street, where # 230 would have stood.

How cool is this great black and white photograph taken of neighborhood residents and policemen on Columbia Street? This winter scene took place in 1948 and was taken in front of a bakery store at #230 Columbia St., between Union and President Streets.

The bakery and the actual building is long gone, unfortunately. It was most probably taken down shortly after 1975, when the city began digging a trench for a sewer line at Columbia and President Street, to connect to the Red Hook Sewer treatment plant. According to the South Brooklyn Network, during the excavation, "water seeped into the constuction trench. As workers pumped it out, the water table fell, weakening the foundations of nearby buildings. Two buildings collapsed, and one man was killed. 33 buildings were demolished as a safety measure, and many remaining businesses and residents were pulled out."

Do any of the old timers in the neighborhood remember this bakery? What was its name. Would love to find out more about it.

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