We lived on Durham for most of the 60's and my brothers and I went to Saint Bartholomew’s until 8th grade. Zent's Bakery was the best at the corner on Delavan. The smell of freshly baked glazed donuts in the morning made me a glazed donut lover my whole life. On some winter mornings, old St. Barts had donuts & hot chocolate in the gymnasium. Back in the 60's it was a wonderful neighborhood. I can still remember the nuns dragging me by my ear to class if I was late. And let’s not forget our treasured Mr. Martin, sixth or seventh grade science class. He was fond of saying “take a long walk off a short pier” or “there’s a train leaving in ten minutes, be under it”. If someone was misbehaving in class, he would stroll around the room with his trusty metal ball in hand looking for the offender. And how many of us had to hold out books at arms length for what seemed like an eternity after class for speaking out of turn or just generally annoying the nuns. My two brothers and I spent much time in the hospital grounds flying kites, collecting chestnuts and exploring. I don't remember the name, but there was a small store on Grider with the best penny candy ever. One morning on the way to school, I noticed at one of the houses on our street, someone was throwing out boxes of hobby magazines. Car & Driver, Road & Track, Hot Rod, Popular Mechanics, Model Builder and some others. I took them all home and in return was late for school. I spent a lot of time reading thru them all and that is how I developed many hobbies and interests. For years as a kid, I built every model I could find….race cars, planes, ships. That same neighbor also gave me Aurora HO race track parts. Instantly, I was hooked. Off to Twin Fair or the hobby shop on Bailey to acquire the remaining parts & cars to get the race track working. That hobby shop was a shrine for boys and filled with all manner of Christmas list wishes. Much of everything I am today, came from Saint Bart’s Church, school and the Durham neighborhood. My mom was divorced and I wonder how she ever got us in there all those years but I am very thankful. Either tuition was free or my mom’s family took care of it.
Jim McCadden
26-Mar-2006 18:46
Was an altar boy & attendee of St Barts, graduated in 1963-Father McCoy was pastor at the time. I Remember Manzellas Pizzeria, Marions paint Store-Butcher shop, Russ's Grill, Pioneer Roofing(we lived upstairs)Kulicks Drug Store....remember many days of roaming the hospital grounds, china walls, etc. Played baseball in the Curtiss Wright field. MANY memories.
Jim Sittnick
01-Feb-2006 18:47
And the hospital grounds (now ECMC) were the "City Hospital" aka Edward J Meyer Memorial Hospital. Mnsgr. O"Hearn was the founding and long time pastor at St Bart's. Others I remember were Fr Kieber, Fr Cusimano and the one who painted the interior of the church. The gaudiness of the paint scheme caused an uproar.
Guest
01-Sep-2005 01:25
Father Kramer excomunicated a bunch of us teenagers for sitting out back on the stoop and smoking. That was when we played across the street in the Hospital Grounds. Marions Paint store was just past the church toward Filmore. Just up the street toward Kensington the Little K theatre, saw original War of the Worlds there, later became a plumbing supply warehouse. There was a Pizza place next door then also, got in touble with Johnnie who's dad ran the place. His sister sure was fine too.
