As a child, my October was bracketed by the Camden Pułaski Day Parade at the start and Halloween at the end. Halloween had costumes and candy, but Pułaski Day had so much more: a day with Babcia and Dzidek, rosoł, pierogi, kiełbasa, and pączki. The aromas of their Polish kitchen wafted out to the street, … Continue reading (White and) RED OCTOBER
Tag: Camden NJ
Babcia Cried
BABCIA’S TEARS OF JOY Babcia cried. I have never met anyone who could shed copious tears of happiness like Babcia could. Babcia cried when Myron Floren performed one of her favorite songs on his accordion on the Lawrence Welk Show. Babcia cried every September when a new Miss America was crowned. I was allowed to … Continue reading Babcia Cried
From Aunt Helen, On her 79th, correction 16th, Birthday
HANK ORTH. HELEN LARGE ORTH. JAMES LARGE I found a letter today. It was written almost 30 years ago by my father's sister, my Aunt Helen, on her 79th, correction 16th, birthday. I will let Aunt Helen speak for herself: Wednesday, November 8, 1995. Dear Debbie- I want to thank you for sending me such … Continue reading From Aunt Helen, On her 79th, correction 16th, Birthday
A Family Grocery in Polish Camden: Memories of Leona Burdalska
1545 Mt. Ephraim Avenue Camden NJ about 1950 AUDIO INTERVIEW: LEONA BURDALSKA LARGE Leona Burdalska Large, born 21 October 1931. Left us on 2 January 2023. With daughter Deborah Large Fox Audio File transcript 19 APRIL 2017 L: Leona D: Deborah Deborah: This is my interview with Leona Burdalski Large, my mom, and she is … Continue reading A Family Grocery in Polish Camden: Memories of Leona Burdalska
CONFLAGRATION: THE TRAGEDY OF LAURA JAKUBOWSKI
By Deborah Large Fox LAURA During the last week of July 1940, the residents of Camden NJ sweltered in a heat wave with temperatures reaching nearly 100 degrees. The sun beat down on the alleys and brick row houses of the hard-working people, who got little relief from open windows and noisy fans. The employees … Continue reading CONFLAGRATION: THE TRAGEDY OF LAURA JAKUBOWSKI
THE HUMAN TOUCH
Dominican Sisters of the Shrine of the Perpetual RosaryHaddon Avenue, Camden NJ about 2007 The Human Touch A finger poked through the metal grate separating us. I reached out my hand and was immediately hooked into a finger embrace. “Me, too! Me, too! Me, too!” Fingers wiggled through the metal barrier that separated me from … Continue reading THE HUMAN TOUCH
The Book and Other Gifts
The Grill6th and Penn Streets, Camden NJowned by Dorothy and Richard Large The Book and Other Gifts The small rectangular gift sat on the top of a pyramid of Christmas gifts on the top of the pool table in Aunt Helen’s basement. The table held about fifteen piles of gifts, all of the mounds higher than … Continue reading The Book and Other Gifts
A POLISH CAMDEN KITCHEN
by Deborah Large Fox My dziadek, Watson (Wencel) Burdalski, in his kitchen at 1545 Mt. Ephraim Avenue, Camden NJabout 1950 "Children should be seen and not heard." To use another saying common to my parents’ generation, if I had a nickel for every time I heard that admonishment as a child, I'd be a rich … Continue reading A POLISH CAMDEN KITCHEN
Deb Said 