by Diane Norek Harrison
RAHWAY—Here are some 1980s memories from Rahway resident Derron Palmer:
“I remember buying Italian Ice at Truppa’s on Winfield Street, eating at the Foursome Diner, the summer sidewalk sales and the Fourth of July bicycle races in downtown Rahway. The summer reading programs at the old Rahway Library on St. Georges Avenue, playing hockey at Williams Field during the summer recreation programs, and having to pick up glass at Madden Field before playing CYRC baseball games.
“At noon every Saturday, the 12 o’clock whistle would go off. I believe this whistle was a weekly test of the Civil Defense Emergency System. This whistle stopped around the early 1980s. The front stairs at Rahway High School could only be used by seniors and were called the “Senior Stairs”
LINDEN—I received these memories from Donna Herran: “Hello, I read your column. My mom owned an “old fashioned candy store” on Roselle Street in Linden. It was called Herran’s Sweet Shoppe and it was a meeting place for many teens from about 1964 through 1969. Before that it was Ryan’s. There was a soda fountain, comic books, penny candy, etc. Cigarettes were 25 cents back then and my mom, Mary and my older brother Johnny even sold loose cigarettes.
“We saved the Elizabeth Daily Journal by writing customer’s names on them and having them for when they came home from work.
“Another funny story, one day the Pagans motorcycle gang stopped in for some smokes and one of them decided to pull his motorcycle into the store. My mom took a broom to him and started yelling that he should get that ‘bicycle’ out of her store. The other members laughed and from then on they were perfect gentlemen to her and called her mom.
“It was a fun place to grow up and it was a much simpler time in the 1960s”
Thanks Derrone and Donna!
Here is a picture of the farm house that used to be on the corner of Carteret Street and Morris Avenue in Linden which belonged to reader Mildred Laux grandparents. Photo courtesy of Mildred Laux.
Remember the corner hardware stores, candy stores, bars, dress stores, sporting good stores, bakeries, etc. that have faded away? Send me what you remember.
If you have your own memories or past material for Clark, Elizabeth, Linden or Rahway you can email me at dianenorekharrison@juno.com or send “copies” of your material to me at CMD Media, P.O. Box 1061 Rahway, New New Jersey 07065.
holla derron!!!!