(White and) RED OCTOBER

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 →

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 →

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 →

THOSE WILDWOOD DAYS

Is there any food memory more visceral, more redolent of childhood, than that of eating a melting ice cream sandwich, with a gritty coating of sand, on a hot Jersey beach while sticky rivulets of vanilla ran down your arm? “Fudgy Wudgy Man!” We could hear his call before we could spot him on the … Continue reading THOSE WILDWOOD DAYS →

I WAS A BLUEBERRY THIEF

AUNT JO AND UNCLE JOE “Don’t worry! I know the farmer. He doesn’t mind if we pick his blueberries.” Uncle Joe Siligato waved away my father’s concerns as Jimmy and I jumped into the back seat of the Oldsmobile. Unsafe and unsecured, we held on to the seat rim as Uncle Joe hit the gas … Continue reading I WAS A BLUEBERRY THIEF →

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 →