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: genealogy
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
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
Uncle Bill’s Stetson Fedora
Uncle Bill and Aunt Katherine Landy visit us at 1127 N. 19th Street in Camden NJ on Christmas Eve, 1956 My job, when company arrived, was to take the guests’ hats and coats upstairs to my parents’ bed. All the men wore fedoras. All the women’s coats smelled of Chanel No. 5 or a popular … Continue reading Uncle Bill’s Stetson Fedora
The Off-Season
When I was five years old, I was entrusted with a huge secret, one that no other child in the world could know: I knew what Santa Claus did in the off-season. That’s right, I knew Santa’s summer disguise. I could spot him on the street, in a store, or at the race track. I … Continue reading The Off-Season
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 