Linden, New Jersey is surrounded by the industrialized New Jersey Turnpike and the congested Garden State Parkway. Most know it by the huge Bayway Oil Refinery visible from the Turnpike as they pass through the state from somewhere else to somewhere else.
But to me, Linden was my hometown from 1949 to 1972, the scene of my first day of kindergarten with Miss Standish at School #1 through completion of my legal clerkship at the Essex County Courthouse in Newark.
The population back then — 30,644 — is a number I clearly remember. Now it has climbed to 42,000, nearly evenly divided between blacks, whites, and Hispanics.
MOVING AHEAD:
After I broke up with my Jefferson High School boyfriend in 1967, I moved to Massachusetts to accelerate the painful separation process.
I worked for a federal agency in Newark after my Douglass College graduation. I put in for a transfer and had a secure position waiting for me in Boston.
My aunt and uncle took me into their home briefly, providing the launching pad to my future in New England.
The ex and I continued to talk on the phone for months after my departure. Letting go is messy even with successful engineering of a geographical and job change.
I returned home in 1971 to serve as a law clerk for a judge in the Essex County Courthouse, living with my parents on Orchard Terrace, between Melrose and Robbinwood, for just one more year.
That was a lifetime ago.
LEAVING BEHIND:
Since then, no one I know lives in New Jersey anymore.
Neighbors and extended family completely disappeared over time.
The ex moved to Thailand. My dad Julius died in 1980. My dear neighborhood friend Elaine died in 1983. My mom Rose met Eli in Massachusetts and sold the family homestead in 1992.
The synagogue my parents helped found in the 1950s became an assisted living/adult day care facility.
The old brick library on Henry Street where I studied after school was demolished and replaced by a streamlined modern structure.
Pat’s Variety (next to the bank in Roselle Park), where I waited for my monthly copy of Seventeen Magazine and bought packs of Juicy Fruit gum, went out of business years ago.
The Dragon Restaurant where we ordered the exotic dishes of the time — Wonton Soup, Chicken Chow Mein and Fried Rice — is now an Asian buffet with additions of sushi, Thai, Vietnamese, and Korean fare.
The unique family owned businesses lining Wood Avenue—shoe stores with x-ray machines, photography studios for yearbook pictures, bakeries with Charlottes Russe, dry cleaners, travel agencies, hobby shops, record stores, pharmacies, optometrists, children’s clothing and women’s fashions—many owned by parents of my classmates, replaced by chains or “For Rent” signs.
The Plaza Theater, where we watched cartoons, newsreels, coming attractions, and double features on Saturday afternoons for fifty cents, silent again.
A modern shopping area in Roselle Park—the stand-alone cluster of new and larger stores that drew customers away from local shops—appeared in the Sixties, with Robert Hall for men’s clothing, Wilbur Rogers for women, a Food Fair supermarket, the Sun Ray Drugstore. They did their damage in their heyday until even they flamed out.
But Linden Lanes, the bowling alley where Don, a handsome blonde classmate, gave me a lesson one afternoon, survives with WiFi access.
The hilly vacant lot where we played Cowboys and Indians was leveled for construction of the Sunnyside Branch of the library, my second home as a studious child. I recently discovered that it was emptied of its books and hushed atmosphere to become a city recreation center. The now orderly block lives in my memory with its hiding places behind trees and rocks and the huge crater in the middle, our fort.
My Linden friend, Betty Lou, born and raised there, never moved out of town. She sustained her small apartment near Soehl Junior High School with her earnings as a bookkeeper. When her correspondence became illegible, I sensed something amiss. My last visit to Linden was in 2005, to see her before she died from early onset Alzheimer’s.
I drove by my old house before I left town. Exotic Japanese trees and plantings stood on either side of the front door, so strange for a small brick cape. But that’s only because they weren’t there before, in my time, when my dad tended to privet hedges and pink azaleas and I swept the terrace for my allowance.
I doubt my mother’s beautiful red rose bushes surrounding the backyard patio survived for long with the new owners. The concrete sections were lifting by the time I left for Massachusetts.
There is no one to visit, nothing to see.
My hometown is full of ghosts.
Including mine.
I’m commenting on your post about Linden, NJ. I only lived there for less than 2 years, so I don’t have the same fond memories. But I guess my time there did have an impact on my life, since a guidance counselor told me about a Smith College alumnae tea, which I went to, and which served as my ticket out of New Jersey to Massachusetts.
You see your childhood through rose colored glasses. That’s great, but I don’t remember mine that way. It was fine, but after I left New Jersey is when my life began.
I guess you were meant to be there for those two years, your launching pad. And I remember your mother’s apartment on Academy Terrace, and how she loved having her own first home.
“All gone to look for America.” However, as is said, you can’t go home again. The blessing, and the curse, of The Garden State and the proverbial Land of the Free.
Well said, thank you for your always incisive comments.
For whatever reason, this post reads as one of the most personal of your continuing memoir. I love the last couple of lines, which made me think back to my childhood and youth in Brooklyn, and while my experiences were no where near yours–my family struggled mightily during the depression, there are still some wonderful memories among the difficult ones. I hope to read many more of your posts, and then, maybe, a memoir that can be woven from these and other memory pieces.
Thank you Davida for your close reading of my writing. My goal later this year to compile all the pieces I have written in chronological order and see how far I’ve come and what I need to fill in. I appreciate your encouragement.
I agree with Davida about the last few lines being very poignant and bringing us back to our own childhood, mine being Linden NJ until I was 10 and moved to Maplewood. In fact, I think I might be in the photo you posted with the blog, having been your neighbor on Orchard Terrace for all those years. I’ve been living in Brookline MA for 40 years, and I think my children, who grew up here, may have the same reactions because so many small mom-and-pop stores have closed and been replaced by chains. Even some of the small chains, such as Peets, are closing down. They too may return to Brookline one day and feel that is full of ghosts.
Yes Carol, you are in the photo! From right to left, my brother Stuart in the jacket. Then me, your cousin Howie, Ellen Hebel from Melrose Terrace, and then the adorable ruffed you. I don’t recognize the two on the left.
Barrie whenever we drive down Broad St. to get to center city, I’m like a tour guide pointing out what was there in the good old day. We were from a section of Philly called Logan & my friends & I always say “You can take the girl (or boy) out of Logan but you can’t take Logan out of the girl”. Remember “They paved paradise & put up a parking lot”!
Remas
Yes, paradise has been paved, how perfectly apt.
I loved reading about Linden. I am forwarding this to my sister.
Thank you Anne. I can’t seem to get Linden out of my mind when it comes to nostalgia.
Hello, Love Your Story Of Linden We Grew Up In That Same Era My Brother And I. A Much Simpler Place In Time I Miss Those Times Greatly. Living In Appomattox Va For The Last 25yrs What Time Warp That Move Was. Anyway Great Story. You May Or May Not Remember My Brother You Guys Are Closer In Age. Ogden Lee (Kip)
Hello Michael, and thank you for your comment. I appreciate each and every one of my readers and followers. Yes, what a time warp it is when we think about the early days, it’s unreal! I didn’t know your brother, I was sorta shy and studious so did not mingle too much. I graduated in ‘62 and lived on Orchard Terrace between Melrose and Robbinwood. Best Wishes!
It’s fascinating how our old home towns have changed and evolved so much. I have the opportunity to drive through my old neighborhood every couple of months on the way to visit my stepmother in Northeast Philly. Along with the expected store changes, the most interesting change is that our public library was torn down and rebuilt from the local prison. The book sections are in individual jail cells! Once again, I am enjoying your writing. Keep them coming!
That reminds me that we have a big state prison in the next town, Rahway, a really ominous looking place.
I feel honored to be able to share in your lovely memories. Childhood, growing up, moving on. My eldest son and his family lives in the house where I grew up. It’s still home after all these years. My grandkids now play where I used to play, well, we play together now. I feel blessed. Thank you for a peep into your world Barrie. Those were the days…
It’s great when a home stays in the family and you can see the little ones take over. Sweet!
Gerald Rhodes:
While I was born in Elizabeth, my parents moved to Linden when I was in 2nd grade. At that time in the mid-1950’s we live on East Henry St and I attended School 5. Summers were greatas we played ball everyday and on weekends we would go to the Plaza Theatre 🎭 located on Wood Ave.
The school system was good and I was fortunate enough to have good and involved Family and Teachers that helped me to attend terific undergraduate and graduate institutions.
I will always be grateful for my Parent’s wisdom to settle in Linden.
Gerald, thank you so much for commenting on our mutual Linden childhood. I attended McManus when it was an elementary school and was in second grade 1951-52. I’m sure we saw the same movies at the Plaza, how about Tarantula and Creature from the Black Lagoon? Lone Ranger episodes? I felt that we received an excellent education in junior high and high school. I went on to Douglass and eventually landed in Boston, where I settled and raised my family. I hope that life has been good to you.
“Hail to thee, our school of fame…..”
I enjoyed this … it brought back lots of memories. I walked past your house hundreds of times. I lived on Raritan Road and walked Orchard Terrace to Linden High (Class of 1963), hung out at the Library in Sunnyside and Pat’s store near Roselle Shopping Center. Ellen Hebel was in my class. I delivered papers 1956-1961 on Rosewood, Fernwood, and Birchwood. Remember the Food Fair fire in 1964?
Hi Rich, good to hear from you, Linden friend! That was a long walk from Raritan to Linden High, but we survived it just fine. Mrs. Bedrick the science teacher lived next door to me and I heard that she just died at age 102. I am in touch with some of my ‘62 classmates, we’ve found each other on Facebook. I didn’t expect anyone to remember Pat’s because it was really in Roselle. I remember Pat himself, a short, trim, good-looking guy with dark hair, if memory serves me correctly. And you must have ice-skated or fished at McGillvarys Pond. It’s all good!
I left Linden before my class entered H.S. from McManus They skipped a grade and would have been in the class of ’62 I skated on McGillvarys Pond and played tennis there all summer
Did you go to school with Stanton Marlan. He lived on Swarthmore Road. Stanton is my Cousin.My name is Alan Kawalek,Class of 1976.
Hi Alan, thanks for writing. Yes, I remember Stan, he and Sherry Farkas had this great high school romance, a beautiful couple. I wonder, did they get married? How is Stan? He wouldn’t necessarily remember me, I was a study nerd – maiden name Weiner. I think he was at the corner of Orchard Terrace. And how are you – hope you are safe and well.
Hi Barrie. This is such a great piece! It’s sad yet a beautiful ode to the natural procession of time and the chase of nostalgia. As someone who has moved many times, I can definitely relate. It’s strange to see the stark changes to places you’ve grown up with. Your piece shows that feeling so well.
Thank you Natasha for reading my post, it was a labor of love and bittersweet memory. Your kind words about my writing mean a lot to me.
I thought i left you a comment but it did not appear. I loved reading about Linden, my home town…….the Lin-den, Tacson’s, St. Georges diner and much more. I recently rode by my house on Exeter Road which used to be pink at one time with pink stars…then finally gray. Living next to Linda and Anne…..I am lucky to have a sister who lives in Clark and a cousin in Westfield so I can revisit…..but oh so different and so many memories and such changes and deletions. Heartwarming and sad at the same time. Thank you for the trip down memory lane and so happy to have met you in Salem, MA!
Hi Betsy, your comment got in, thanks for being persistent. Yes, I remember that pink and gray was a popular color combination in clothing, on houses, and for-two tone Chevrolets. It was a special place and time, the kids, the parents, the schools, the teachers, the stores, the temple, the pond. I have enjoyed paying homage to the place that made us who we are.
PS I’ll see you in the spring in Salem!
Hi Betsy. We were neighbors. You are referring to Linda and Anne Wolin. I loved Tacson’s!!! I was a little kid and would go in there with a few cents and the usually gave me more than I asked for. I played baseball at Deerfield all the time and I remember when that school was being built. I went to 6th grade the first year it was open and had Mr. Kelly as a teacher. I just realized. Are you Betsy Greenberg? your sister is Jane? I lived on Princeton Rd, adjacenct to your backyard. I am Steve Goldman .
Wonderful memories of a great hometown. I bought my seventeen magazines from the LinDen. Loved hanging out at the St George Dinner. Going with my older brother Stuart (he was Class of 60) to Walt’s. Plaza Movies on Saturday afternoon where we saw a newsreel, cartoons &
if my memory is correct TWO movies.
I went to McManus for grammar schooland junior high. I should have been LHS Class of 63 but moved to Maplewood for my junior year, where I reconnected with another Lindenite Carol Chvat.
I went to Hebrew School had my Bat Mitzvah & attended many USY dances at Suburban Jewish Center.
Your beautifully written piece reminds me of how fortunate we were to grow up in such a lovely town.
Hi Ellen, I love strolling down memory lane with you, my classmates, and neighbors. It’s like being cousins, our formative years created a deep bond. From the comments I’ve received on Facebook, many say the town has changed and not so much for the better, someone even alluded to certain Sunnyside areas being unsafe. I’m not against progress and a good economy, but I can’t imagine condo developments lining Wood Avenue!
Hi Ellen – loved reading your piece. I grew up on Thelma Terrace and have very fond memories of that time in my life. There was something about Linden and the people that lived there that lingers fondly in our hearts. On some level, it was perfect.
Thank you Stephan for reading my blog piece about our hometown. I agree that it lingers, and that for a moment in time, it was paradise.
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Thank you for the memories. I think of Linden often, so many good times. I left in 1969 for New Hampshire, where I still live. I appreciate all that I had growing up in Linden. I feel that I had more opportunities and a great education living there. I remember all the dances at the parks in the summer and at the schools the rest of the year (with real bands). Waiting for Friday night to go downtown for some shopping then to Father and Sons to get hot dogs and root beer or Annacapri’s for pizza. Saturdays were for football games and parties at night. During the week it was nothing but homework and studying at the library except for Monday when I took a short break for religious classes and CYO at St Elizabeth’s. My life back then was great even though I might not have believed it at that time.
I hope to read more of your stories. I really enjoy your writing.
Thank you Janis for reading my pieces and supporting my blog. Your own experience paints quite a colorful and nostalgic picture of Linden, the hometown that had it all, and never to be forgotten. I see that you also live in New England, it certainly is a different life up here in these really small towns with lots of space and history.
I too grew up in Linden, now living in Medina, OH. Linden shaped my life, my memories are many & fond. Still have family there. Try to get back to NJ as ofter as possible. Will be moving to northern Nevada in a few months to be near my son & his family, making it harder to get back to NJ, but i will.
Karen, thank you so much for commenting on my blog piece. Lately, I have been remembering more and more about Linden. It was quite a life, growing up there when I did. You have spanned the country, whereas I moved up to Boston and stayed there. Hope your future plans turn out well.