Just back from a trip to Michigan, Ontario, New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Indiana.
Now I know hubby and I are getting older because we tried to find his “roots” in Queens in NYC. We tracked down his school, P.S. 83, which was part of the Ravenswood area of what he thinks of as Astoria and what appears on some documents as Long Island City (they are adjacent). The old brown brick school, which was built in 1902, has been demolished and replaced by a new building.
The old school looked like this:
The new building (photo thanks to Google maps) looks like this:
From brown brick to . . . brown brick. According to Google, a residential treatment center called Phoenix House has its main location here, but I can’t confirm this for sure. The address numbers are quite confusing.
Rainey Park is next to the property. Hubby doesn’t remember the park, but rather a big playground. I wonder what it looked like when he went there. Today it is clearly a park. I looked up the history, and the park was acquired and named by the city in 1912! Maybe it seemed to extend the playground? Or maybe they used it as a playground?
I took this pic of the park looking out of the car window.
According to Google, as you look across the park you are looking across the East River to Roosevelt Island and beyond to Manhattan.
Hubby first attended school at PS 83 in 1960 and was only there a few years before his family moved to Michigan.
The more he saw places and thought about his childhood, the more my husband remembered. I started to wonder if it’s easier to remember your childhood if you lived in the same town for your whole childhood than if you experienced one or more dramatic moves. Or the other way around.
Hubby always said he grew up in a project, which was not something I saw growing up in Kalamazoo, so he wanted to see where the buildings were located. Lo and behold, they are still there–and people still live in the buildings.
There are 31 buildings of 6 and 7 stories. From here, hubby used to walk to school at PS 83 with the “big kids.” They stopped for candy on the way home at a little store.
If anybody knows anything about the history of the area, Ravenswood Houses, or P.S. 83, I would love to hear about it!
The Family Kalamazoo 
A dramatic move in his childhood.
The move was very dramatic. His mother was so relieved to get out of the city, but it was a big change. And his father changed their surname, too, which is another BIG deal.
Wow! I hate it when memorable places disappear! I think it’s WAY harder to remember stuff if you move a lot (whuch I have).
That’s what I was thinking–that he finds it more difficult than I do because he made such a big change at a young age, whereas I was born in Sturgis, Michigan, and lived all but that first year of my childhood and youth in the Kalamazoo area.
Sturgis was one of our arch rivals when I was a Marshall Redskin (now Marshall Hawks!)
Yes I’ve moved about every seven years as an adult with one early childhood move. I can remember ‘some’ of each place but the roads seem mixed up because many buildings have changed completely in each place. I loved every one of the places but none seem like ‘going home’ now!
Hi saw your post I can tell you what I know about PS 83 contact me
I attended this school from 59 til junior high
I appreciate your sharing your husband’s past and the photo of the Projects. I really wasn’t sure I had a good “handle” on what they looked like, Luanne. Too bad you were in Ohio but I was probably working. . . I used to imagine meeting you in person. Take care. xo
Robin, I would have LOVED to meet you, but alas we were making time through Ohio to get to Indianapolis to fly home. Hubby has certain airports he will fly in and out of that are as far as he will fly b/c of his celiac disease. So we drove across central Ohio on our way to Indianapolis. The color is beautiful right now!!!
No, Luanne. I was not trying to make you feel bad, like I mentioned we have not had any days off. I will be up at Mom’s for 9 days. They are releasing her from skilled nursing into my care. I will assess her strengths and weaknesses, along with needs. I still hope she may stay in senior living with Home Health care supportive services. It may cost about the same as assisted living. I may end up seeing you one of these less busy days. Ha ha! 🙂
Oh, you are busy, Robin. I hope all goes well with your mom! xo
Hi, Luanne! I am always happy to see your blog show up in my email. I don’t know anything the specific school or the buildings where your husband lived, but I did spend a lot of time in Astoria the year that my then boyfriend was living there with his college buddies (they were all from different parts of Queens). Back then it was a working class neighborhood of mostly Greek immigrants and their children. From what I’ve heard, it’s now become somewhat gentrified with nice restaurants and bars and lots of young adults. Have you tried contacting the NYC schools for more information?
I had no idea you had lived in New York! I think of you as Pennsylvania! What I know about Astoria is from my daughter who is an actor: lots of actors live there and they refer to it as Actoria. LOL But when my husband asked local more adult types about it they kind of turned up their noses and said it wasn’t all that gentrified yet.
I have not, but it’s good idea. I’m trying to get hubby to pick up the family and local history bug enough to do his own research . . . . hahaha
My brother spends his free time driving and walking around my father’s childhood neighborhood on the Hudson (the Jersey side). It’s as if my father’s childhood haunts my brother.
Adrienne, oh, that is something. I wonder why it haunts him so much? Maybe he’s trying to figure out your dad?
My father was a very strong character who left a big impression on us all. I think maybe because my brother was the only son he sometimes wishes he was my father (yet rebels against him still even after he’s been dead 10 years).
I remember you telling me that he was a strong character. That is so hard on your brother, I’m sure.
I’ve lived my entire life in the same county! The Squire and I will drive along and I’ll tell him “that was such-and-such” or “we did this or that here”. I can even remember the names of the neighbours on either side the house where we lived until I was ten. He just looks at me with his mouth hanging open. (Although, as you may have gathered, he does that a LOT.)
Hahahaha.
I attended PS 83 from 1959 through 1966, when the school closed. Ours was the first sixth-grade class to graduate from the successor school, PS 76, which is about seven or eight blocks away. When I attended PS 83 Rainey Park was certainly a park, and I recall sledding down the slope that ends at the fence along the East River. We also did a maypole celebration and some other outdoor activities in Rainey Park. I lived in Queensview West, which paralleled Ravenswood. I had many friends from Ravenswood. Feel free to contact me.
I’m passing this info on to my husband. Someone else commented after your comment if you care to read it.
I went to PS 83 from 1956 (kindergarten) through 6th grade with Mrs. Weiner. We had Maypole dances in Rainey Park and also used it for dodge ball. We went to Pats or Pops for penny candy across from the school.
Omg. Me too. I have photos of the Maypole dance. And I went the same years as you!
My twin brother and I attended P.S. 83 in 1953 and 1954 in the seventh and eight grade. I just spoke to my brother yesterday. He confirmed what I remember, that P.S. 83 was across the street from Rainey Park and a short way up the block. The only conceivable place for where it was once located would be where the Phoenix house is now located. It is definitely not the lower buildings with the garage doors, as they are on the same side of the street as Rainey Park. We also attended this school in 1949 in the fourth grade as well. After the fourth grade the students went to the brand new P.S. 111, but it only went up to the 6th grade, so back again we went to P.S. 83. By the way Rainey Park was definitely there, as it is now. I remember that we had assembly once a week. There were four classrooms that had pocket doors that rolled back, making it one big room for the assembly. Now I’m on a roll. We actually had a big graduation ceremony at the end of 8th grade. I personally thought it was a horrible school. No bright colors, sought of joyless. I remember at graduation we had to say the Aphebic Oath (sp?). It was coral speaking, and if you actually listened to it, you were pledging to keep the city clean. Lord, help us. They also had representatives of the sanitation department pitching to the 8th grade boys at assembly, not at graduation, a career picking up garbage cans after high school, and telling them how great the benefits were. Shame on them. There is nothing wrong with working for the sanitation department, but they should be giving the students something to aspire to not something to settle for. After all, this was a place of education. Even as a child I thought this was terrible. Luckily my brother was accepted into Brooklyn Technical High School and his close friend Mel was accepted into Stuyvesent High School, both among the top rated high schools in the five boroughs. A short aside, it was in this school in the fourth grade that my brother and I and another little girl named Carol Ennis had a debate with the rest of the class regarding Santa Claus, the three of us believing and the rest of the class not so much. I stood up and explained that of course it’s not the same Santa Claus, but he had a son, and his son had a son etc. and that is the Santa we have today, right Miss Facillis? She was busted. She had a very funny smile on her face, but she had to say something, so she said right, and I said to the rest of the class “see”. I obviously went home and told this tale to my parents, and the next day as I had one foot out of the door to go to school, my father said “Lois,” I came back in and he blurted out “there’s no such thing as Santa”. I was devastated, tears in my eyes, the whole nine yards. I realized that he just didn’t know how to tell me, and he didn’t want me to make a fool of myself and be made fun of. So much for my P.S. 83 memories
Lois, I will share your comment with my husband. Thank you!
A couple of additional points: There was a playground within Rainey Park. Your husband probably is fixating on the playground section, but there was always a broader park and the playground was within it. Second, when I attended it the school only went up to sixth grade. PS 111 was for kids who lived in the eastern section of Ravenswood and east of 21st Street. I won’t comment on the quality of the New York City school system, which, as a professor at Brooklyn College, I deal with every day. It’s worse now. I can’t complain about the particular teachers I had at PS 83, but I don’t doubt that there must have been many lemons through the years, and public education policy has gone through many ups and downs, and I don’t defend it. Today, the New York City schools aren’t worthy of the name.
Hi Mitchell,
My husband asked me to write back to you. He said that he remembers a lot of what Lois (above) writes, especially assembly on Fridays where he had to wear a white shirt and tie and they opened the pocket doors to make the assembly room bigger. He went to nursery school somewhere and the K and 1st grade at PS 83. Another big memory is throwing bread in the East River for Bedikat Chametz (for Passover). He was probably too young to realize the difference between the park and the playground, would be my guess. I hear you about the quality of education–I think that is true pretty much across the country (and I used to teach college English). If you want to write to my husband, you can reach him through mlmmcastle@gmail.com.
Also, what do you think about what Lois says about the school being across the street from Rainey Park instead of adjacent?
Yes, it was across Vernon Boulevard…Absolutely so. The drug addiction center is where the school used to be. I too recall wearing a white shirt for assembly, but my memory of the assembly is dim. I recall that they used to read a Bible passage when I went there in the early 1960s, which is illegal today. I recall doing a play when I was in the fifth grade. Yes, they did throw bread into the East River. I thought it was for Yom Kippur. though, rather than Passover. Rainey Park abuts the river.
I don’t remember the pocket doors, although it may be so. They may have done some construction on the assembly room between when he went and I went. I remember the assembly room as on the top floor and as an open room, but I’m not positive.
You may be interested that I was in the first sixth-grade class to graduate from the successor school, PS 76. A group of friends (whom I mostly haven’t seen in 40 years) decided to hold a 50th anniversary reunion this year. It is just over 50 years since PS 83 closed. I think we moved to PS 76 during the fall part of the school year in 1965, but I’m not certain.
I too attended P.S 83Q from kindergarten until we marched over to P.S 76Q until I graduated and moved on to JHS 204, I have worked in P.S 76Q for the past 23 yrs as a paraprofessional. A 50 year reunion is in the making, if your husband joins My Ravenswood & Queensbridge Experience, I’m sure he would re-connect with many people.
Rosita, I can’t believe I missed your comment. I was probably traveling ugh. Wow, that is fabulous about the reunion. Did they have it yet or is it coming up in the future? I just went over to the Facebook page and requested to join it because the hubster isn’t on Facebook. You meant the Facebook page, right?
Great Photo of 34-05 12th Street.
I actually lived in that building from 1952 through 1962 before moving to Rockaway and than California.
You must have been a neighbor of my husband! It sounds like it was a really good community. I wonder how many New Yorkers have made their way to California! We brought our kids up in California.
I graduated PS 83 in about 1960 and went to JHS 126 for the 7th and 8th grades. Some of my friends in the building went to JHS 204. I’ve been in California since 1975. Yes Ravenswood was a really good community. All of our parents in the building knew each other, as the kids were all friends with each other.. Never had what they now call today “play dates”. Our friends were always just down the hall. Of course, at the time, I always wanted to live in a house, but looking back, I do not regret growing up in a housing project at all.
Although my husband’s parents moved them away to suburbs when he was quite young, he has fond memories of the diverse neighbors they had at Ravenswood. Hahaha re the “play dates.” Yes, I know what you mean about that. We just all congregated together and played!
I have the same memories about living in Ravenswood – that is was a multi cultural existence with all 48 families in the building knowing one another and getting along. I went to PS 83 and then went to JHS 126 for 2 years. While I was there it changed from a 3 years school to a 5, 6, 7, 8 so I went to Bryant starting in 9th grade. I think back then they alternate from 126 to 204. I too loved growing up there and get tired of defending the wonderful childhood of growing up in a project.
My father was Johnny Emmi who owned the deli on the corner. My aunt was a teacher at PS 83 Mrs Orilia . Mr Sherry was the principal there when i went there. Mr Hawkey was the custodian,Mrs Beesack was a teacher also. I moved in 1965.I was allowed into the boiler room and remember the coal room very scary. I will look for the pictures i have.There was a episode of the naked city filmed at my fathers store. And to think my grandparents built that building in 1923. I have a picture of Katie some where.LoL Tommy Emmi
I graduated PS 83 in about 1960 and went to JHS 126 for the 7th and 8th grades. Some of my friends in the building went to JHS 204. I’ve been in California since 1975. Yes Ravenswood was a really good community. All of our parents in the building knew each other, as the kids were all friends with each other.. Never had what they now call today “play dates”. Our friends were always just down the hall. Of course, at the time, I always wanted to live in a house, but looking back, I do not regret growing up in a housing project at all.
Your experiences explains the old saying “you can’t go home”. While we change wherever we are, the old home places are changing too. So the new home is not the old familiar home anymore.
My husband and I went to a former home town a few months ago and nearly got lost. There was a trolley track right down the Main Street through three whole cities. We didn’t expect that. Culture shock!
We couldn’t believe the changes in just 10 years.
Wow, that’s hard to get used to! Our world is changing so fast!
True.
The name of the candy store was Patsy. I remember going there after school for 1cent candy or an egg cream. I
lived in Ravenswood and my address was 12-21 35th Ave. I believe my class in PS 83 was the last class to go up to the 8th grade . Sad school is gone , but it was old back then. Thanks for the memories jl
Hard to remember one cent candy!
This was how it looked in the 1960s, from one of my classmates:
Katie was the mean old lady that we all avoided on the same side of the street at the school.
The deli on the corner (Ninth St. and 34th Ave) was John Emmy’s
The candy store across the street, that we would jam into during lunch hour, and fill a brown bag full of penny candy, was either Patty’s or Patsy’s. There were Italian ices in a white paper funnel cup; pickles for a nickle from the big barrel….and oh, that incredible display case with all the candy: licorice, bit-o-honey, turkish taffy, root beer barrels, candy dots on the paper, malt balls….I think if I were to create a hospice center, I would stock it like our childhood candy stores; that’s how I “want to go”!
I too lived at 12-21 35th avenue in Ravenswood and attended PS 83 from Kindergarten to 6th grade…graduated in 1964. I fondly remember Patty’s across the street, Katie’s (which was owned by a mean old woman), John Emmy’s on the corner of 9th street and 34th Avenue (great meatball sandwiches for 35 cents.) Rainey Park was across Vernon blvd at the end of 34th Avenue and served as the site for the PS 83 Maypole spring festival. We also threw bread into the East River on Rosh Hashanah, symbolic of throwing away ones sins on the Jewish new Year. The school had playgrounds on either side of the school, the Vernon Blvd side being up some stairs from the 9th street side. The custodian was Mr Hawkey who played ball with us and shoveled coal into the boiler. The top floor of the school had pocket doors that opened to make a large auditorium and at the end of the hall were two class rooms. We were told that these were used when the school went up to 8th grade. Weekly assembly was led by Mrs Beesack (sp) who I never had as a teacher but seemed very strict and a bible verse was read each week. I feel that I got a good education from the NYC Public School System which I graduated from in 1969. It certainly is not what it was but what in this world is? Great memories from a long time ago!!! Now where did I leave my keys?! 🙂
I will pass this info on to my husband! Great details you recall!
Thanks!
Who can forget Mr. Haughey? (I think that’s the spelling). He used to play dodge ball with the students!
Actually, I played punch-ball with Mr. Haughey.
I did have Beesack for a teacher. She seemed scary until she became my teacher. After being her student I realized that she was a sweet lady.
My parents moved from the Bronx to Ravenswood in about 1951. We lived at the end of the long hall on the fifth floor of 34-15 12th St. We played stoop ball right in front of the building and out in the street.
I attended PS 83 for all of elementary school, then on to JHS 204 in 1958. We moved to Bayside a year later, I finished at JHS 158, then graduated from Bayside HS in 1963.
One year of college on Long Island, a semester at a university in Utah, two summers working at the NY Worlds Fair, then joined the US Navy.
Never lived in New York again, but visited family until they were gone.
I went to PS 83. The candy store across the street from it was called patties. I remember you can get a large dill pickle for nickel from a wooden barrel. I lived at 1221 35th Avenue Not far from what they called the big Park. About a six or seven block walk from PS 83. I believe your hubby would have done a similar walk.
Thanks, Charlie! I will let my husband know!
Charlie, I remember you! My name was Sara Hersch back then and you and I eventually wound up at LIC. I moved from the Bronx to Queenview West in 1959 and started PS 83 in the middle of 3rd grade with Mrs. Gottesman. For 4th I had Mrs. Price, 5th Mr. Noble and 6th Mrs. Weiner. Mr. Sherry was our principal. I remember the neat rows of wooden student desks with the unused inkwells where we did our work and that we hid under for air raid drills. I also remember the mandatory skirts we girls had to wear and walking to school with pants or leggings underneath on cold days that we’d remove when we arrived. I also recall that if you didn’t behave, there was always the threat of being sent to reform school. For me, John Emmi’s deli was where I’d get a ham, tomato & mustard hero with chips (so good!). The candy store across the street was a child’s dream and aside from carefully choosing from the display of enticing penny candy, it was also fun to buy red wax lips and a juicy nickel pickle. There was also a dispenser at the front of the store with Mexican jumping beans. You’d put one on the flexed palm of your hand and it would bounce about. Rainey Park was a fun place to run around and look over the river but I also associate it with the dining needles that hovered overhead. It’s great to have such memories.
Hi Sara I’m John Emmi’s son its great to hear stories about him. I also went to PS 83 Thanks for all the memories Tom Emmi ( tomme442@yahoo.com)
Charlie Schwartz: Did you have a brother named Harry? I too lived at 12-21 35th Avenue in Ravenswood and remember two brothers Harry and Charles living in the building. My nickname at the time was “Mickey”.
-Mike Fusfield
Hello! Does anyone recall a statue of Columbus Polizio at P.S. 83, which was later moved to Rainey Park? He was a young LIC resident/ Army soldier who died in the Great War in 1918. His statue was removed about 20 years ago and his family is trying to locate its whereabouts. Any info is appreciated, thank you!
I hope someone who know the answer sees your comment and responds!
Hi: I have no memory of a statue at PS 83 of Columbus Polizio. Has it been located?
If you are still looking for more information on Ravenswood, PS 83, Rainey Park, and LIC/Astoria, let me direct you to a Facebook group called Queensview friends 1950-1968. The moderator of the page is very knowledgeable about the area.
My brother and I grew up in Queensview West, a group of seven apartment buildings across the street from Ravenswood. We both went to PS 83. Queensview was another group of apartment buildings across 21st street whose residents whose children went to another public school.
Thank you so much for this information!
Hi Sue My name is Tom Emmi my father owned the grocery store at the corner of ninth street 34 ave near PS83 . I went there also. My aunt was a teacher Mr Orilia. I have a lot of history of the area. feel free to email me …tomme442@yahoo.com
I used to live next door to PS 83 after it was closed and while it was demolished.
A structure was built and it was supposed to be a nursing home but they had funding issues and it inevitably became a Phoenix House. You can contact me at my email address if you have any questions
Leslie….I was also at PS 83 Q from 1956 (kindergartnen) through 6th grade with Mrs. Weiner (who lived in Queensview West). We must have been in the same class. I remember walking to school from my apartment in Ravenswood. Like you, I have memories of trips from the school to Rainey Park.
I when to ps 83 from 1952 to 1954
Hi My father owned the Grocery store on the corner John Emmi , also he might of gone into Katie candy store between the school and the my dads store. My aunt use to teach there, Mr Orilia, the principal was Mr Sherry, Mr Hawky was the janitor. Any other question email Me tomme442@yahoo.com Happy traveling
I went to PS 83 in the 1950’s. I lived right on 9th just down the street from PS83. Rainey park was on Vernon Blvd right on the East river across from, what was called at that time, Welfare Island. Now is Roosevelt Island
Phoenix House and the old location of PS 83 is across the street from your Google maps picture. Rainey Park was named after one of the men committed to funding and building what is now the Queensborough Bridge. He donated his property for this (nearby this park), but the project was obviously moved to where it is now. This is probably because it would be too close to the Mayor’s residence in Carl Schulz Party across the East River.
My name is Tommy Timpanaro. I lived at 33-57 10th.St. Just around the corner from P.S.83. I’m older than most you all.I attended 83 ffrom kindergarten until I graduated in 1950 and then went to L.I.City H.S. in Queens Plaza.I left Ravenswood after I got married in 1960. Ravenswood during my time was made up of mostly Italian immigrants, my family included. I am first generation American. Ravens wood was like living in a small town where wveyone knew each other. lnew the Emmi family well. I knew Johnny Emmi and the Orillia family. Johnny Emmi’s brother was Dr.Emmi. Dr. Emmi had his first office right next to Emmi’s grocery store. He was our family Dr. My father was a cigar maker and worked at the DeNobili cigar factory on 9th. St. and 35th.ave. Ravenswood in my day was like living in a small town. If you got in trouble everyone knew about it. Mr,Arnold was the principal at 83 then followed by Mr. Landau. My teachers were Ms. Kelleher, Miss Grant, Miss Hetherington, Mr. Mauro, Mr. Rachlin. I remember Patty’s candy store. These were great years. My first job was working at Armando’s grocery store on 34th.Ave between 10th. and 11th. street. The Orilia family owned the building on the corner of 34th. Ave. and 10th. Street. Ravenswood was great in my time. Great memories. If anyone reads this I hope it stirs the memories of a prior era. Tommy Timpanaro.
I went to PS 83 from 1958 to 1961..The principal was Joseph Sherry. Some of the teachers were Mrs. Weiner, Mr. Nobel, Miss Price, Miss Beazak and Mrs. Romano. The custodian was Mr. Haughty who loved to play sports with the 6th grade boys.
There were two different candy stores on 9th Street. Patty’s was across the street from the school. Katy’s was on the same side as the school. Katy was really mean to the kids so most of us went to Patty’s which was owned by the Cardell family.