I'm a new member with lots of memories. Please read! - PS 164 Alumni

It's strange to hear you guys…

2009-03-17T17:33:40.235Z

It's strange to hear you guys talking about playing football in "the court" behind the garden apt's on 77th and 141st and Vleigh Place, since I played so many football games there myself - but ten years before you guys, I guess. I lived in the corner near the stores, in the end apt., 2nd floor, across the entranceway from Dr. Shenkman's office was, if he was still there when you moved in. Howie Ginsberg was my best friend - you may have known Lannie.

When we moved in, back in '53, the little playground was still there, and that whole courtyard was dirt and mud, weeds and trees. Then a guy named Max moved into one of the first floor apt's with a patio on 141st. And one fall morning, he came out there with rakes and a roller and bags of grass seed. He put us kids to work raking and gathering rocks - and even let us push the roller. It really seemed like a huge lot to my young eyes. But come nightfall, the grass was planted and in the spring it came in lush. Max surrounded it all with a little twine fence, just as a reminder, and I guess because it was "our grass" we kept off it enough that it made it through that critical first year. After that, it was football heaven.

Don't know whatever happened to Max. Great guy - kind of a Johnny Appleseed in my memory...about time I thanked him.
Rick

i graduated '65 and used to r…

2009-02-28T03:02:40.392Z

i graduated '65 and used to ride bikes in Flushing Meadow Park before they even started constructing the World's Fair. when they started construction in about '63 i would ride around with my friends near some of the machinery (on weekends; no one was working) and once a guard caught us, took down my name and address and went to my house and "told" on me. my father got really mad because he thought i was becoming a juvenile delinquent, but we were just riding bikes.

and yes, i remember those "key" type skates that clamped onto your shoes.

Hi, I just joined this site a…

2009-02-18T04:31:39.429Z

Hi, I just joined this site and am having a blast reliving some old memories. I remember those parent/teacher volleyball games! We used to sit on the ledge of those great big windows (or at least somewhere near them) and watch the games. I remember being so proud that my mom was playing. I also remember a bunch of us girls performing on the stage one year (I graduated in '74) and singing Helen Reddy's tune: "I am woman here me roar..." Does that ring a bell for anyone?

Rollerskating with those key-type skates on concrete sidewalks and in the 164 park is still vivid in my mind (I can still feel my teeth shaking from the vibrations!) Riding bikes to Park Drive East and all around the town, playing Ring-O-Levio, playing in the alley behind my house on 73rd Terrace....such great vivid memories!

Sandy, Your memory is great a…

2008-12-14T01:42:08.390Z

Sandy,
Your memory is great as well.
I remember you and I riding our training wheelers down one of the alleys
screaming "Happy days are hear again, the sun is shining clear again...."! And eating peanuts and drinking
kool-aid in your basement.
And I remember the milk-bottle story this way:

Knock knock at the front door .
"Come in", says my mother.
"Hi Mrs Neumann. Want me to bring in the milk bottles?", asks Sandy.
"No no! Sandy" (says my mom), "Its ok. Please. I'll get them. Just come in to the kitchen.
Don't worry, Mrs Neumann, I can do it......
CRASH-SPLAT- Milk all over the living room.

LOL. HILARIOUS TO THIS DAY!!!!!

Man oh man David. You have a…

2008-12-14T00:45:04.010Z

Man oh man David. You have a great memory. I had forgot alot of things you mentioned. Reading your comments, brings back a lot of great memories.

I have a vague memory that the school had some kind of event/fair held in the gym where you cold play knock hockey and all other sort of games.

You were always super fast. I remember one football game in the big court where I caught a pass and, to me, I thought I had clear sailing to the end zone. I had a about 50 yards to go and I thought no one was going to catch me. Unfortunatley, you didn't see it it the same way I did. You caught up to me about 15 yards from the end zone, leaping on my back and dropping me good. Those days were so fun. We'd play every day until dark.

It seems we would play football almost every day fall and winter day. Occasaionally, we would suit up in full pads. I'm sure we looked pretty cute as youngsters in those shoulder pads.

I remember watching you chase Peter all over the place when he get under skin. Very fun.

I remember one baseball game at the park. We had a collison at first sending us both flying in oppsite directions. You hit the ball to me; we reached the bag at exactly the same moment. Kabam.

I rememember us painting the alley, measuring out 100 yards and timing each of us in the 100 yard dash.

I remember your mom was scared to have me in your house because accidents tended to happen when I was there. As I recall, one time I dropped a milk bottle in your living room. Another time we werethrowing pillows around. You got me with one pretty good. I threw one at you. You ducked and the pillow did some damage, knocking over a large plant. Your mom was not amused.

Sandy

Hey David! Your address caugh…

2008-12-12T00:49:36.996Z

Hey David!
Your address caught my eye because I lived on 75th Rd. (one street over from 76th ave.) and my house number was 137-48. And then remembered that one of my classmates had a similar address (can't believe information like this suddenly pops up out of nowhere 40 years later....). I double checked my class list (which is posted on my page) and Gloria's address was 138-48 76th ave. Of course, I am from the class of '66, so maybe her family moved around the time I left NY in '63.Doesn't really matter though...I thought perhaps you knew or met their family. Anyway... I enjoyed reading your memories. I love this site because it not only reconnects us with our old classmates/friends, but also helps bring back memories that happened so long ago...It's good to know that good memories live on in us forever..
Yumiko

David, My wife will be prett…

2008-12-04T16:02:57.740Z

David,

My wife will be pretty scared to know that someone other than myself remembers that play! The Byrnes brothers (Owen and Ricky) did live back in "the court". If you check out the class lists, they both went to 164 (Owen 74 and Ricky 76). Ricky was a very good athlete. My sister Jackie is in touch with him from time to time. I think they went to Queen of Peace for religious school as well.

Don't remember the science project but my memory these days is selective to sports plays I made and crushes. As to hearing my name when you see the name Harvey, you have my sincere apologies!

Happy holidays to you as well! I'm actually considering coming to this reunion next June. Could be fun.

Harvey

Hi Harvey, I absolutely remem…

2008-12-04T15:13:00.910Z

Hi Harvey,
I absolutely remember that! And also remember being frustrated I didn't catch you and Joel in time. :)
We (from the 76 ave and Vleigh place area) played football near your house all the time. We called it the "court" and I remember how big the grassy area seemed back then. There was a kid who lived
in the same complex who didn't go to 164 (maybe to Queen of Peace) whose last name was Burns--am I right?
I also have a vague memory of having to go to your house to either lend something to you or borrow something from you, related to a science project at school. Do you remeber that?
Another thing I remember is your first name which is not that common, and to this day, at the age of 49, whenever I see the name Harvey, I hear "Harvey Harris" in my head. Amazing.
Happy Holidays,
David

Hi Yumiko, We lived at 138-48…

2008-12-04T15:02:30.399Z

Hi Yumiko,
We lived at 138-48 76 ave and bought the "house" from a family named Glazer so you must
be thinking of a different address.
David

Hi David, I'm not sure if yo…

2008-12-04T03:51:28.528Z

Hi David,

I'm not sure if you'd remember me but I have a funny story about a vivid memory from us playing football. I lived on 77th and 141 St. and there was a backyard where we would play ball. I was a year younger than you were and most of the guys playing in the game were a bit older than I was. I remember it was the last play of the game, your team was up on TD and we'd either lose or tie. I stayed short as a safety valve and after five Mississippi the QB had no one open so he had to dump it off to me. So I start running up the field and you were coming after me and I was able to cut back without you tagging me (and I remember that you were very fast and I was very pleased with myself for getting by you!). As I got closer to the end zone guys were closing in on me when Joel Steiker (Jason's older brother) picked me up and ran us into the end zone to tie the game! Hard to believe that I still can picture that vividly.

And who didn't have a crush on Miss Addonizio! Mine was on Mrs. Welch. Thought I went to heaven. Lots of good times. Hope you are doing well.

Best regards,

Harvey Harris