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Allen Horn

We participated in my activities together, one of which running Laurel Avd fromEgle Rock Rd to Livingston and back was a favorite.

To my friend/classmate JAY KAPLAN:

I recall so vividly our friendship  during our public school days. The walk frim my house to your Stanford Ave address(27?) was quickly accomplished in either direction.

You know my eldesr son is a Jay as well. Hope this note finds you in good health.

Ed Czekaj

We had a magnificent time at my cousin's, just outside Greenville, SC this past Monday watching the total eclipse. There are no words to describe the awe and amazement we all experienced. My youngest granddaughter (Alexa 11) was so taken with the experience she said she wanted to experience it again. I told her sorry she'd have to wait until April 8, 2024 when the next total eclipse would come by (and we'd have to go to Texas or Illinois). Charlotte to Greenville is 135 miles - took us 8 hours to get home - do the math - about 15 mph - still worth it though. See you all then. Hope Myles and Howard make out okay in this Harvey storm. 

Myles Schlank

On a sign at the Eagle Rock, West Orange, 9/11 Memorial

"The world gasped on that bright September morning as planes, soaring high above New York City, crashed through the windows of the World Trade Center’s Twin Towers. Thousands were drawn here to watch as the buildings collapsed, returning day after day, leaving notes and pictures, flags and flowers in silent respect. This Memorial honors those lost across the river, at the Pentagon, in the fields of Pennsylvania, as well as those who helped them. It will forever stand here as a testament to the American Spirit."

I dove into mullings.com for Rich Galen’s 09/12/2001 cyber column. Click here for his story.

Won’t you share your story? Scroll up above this and click on "Post Response."

Myles Schlank

additional info, 09/17/ 12:10 central time) Regarding the Equifx fiasco: in addition to freezing our credit reports at all 3 bureaus and claiming your free credit report, was the recommendation to cancel direct-pay for bills like gym memberships, as their databases might not be sufficiently secure. Instead they recommend you pay these bills through your bank, online (vs. cutting a check or using your debit card).

Anyone have other recommendations?

Myles Schlank

It's 7:00 pm.

I could really go for a slice of Claremont cheese cake (click here for the recipe) and a cup of Irish breakfast tea. Remember the days when we could eat heavy late at night (and not need Rolaids) or drink caffeinated beverages all hours (and sleep like a baby)?

How about you? What were your favorite eateries and menu picks? WO, surrounding cities, all the way to NYC?

Jeffrey Wagner

Vesuvious,(not positive about the spelling) in Montclair.  Partially owned by Yogi and Joe Dimaggio.  Great food.

Rum Cake, Steak Pizzaola, you name it.  No one here on the West Coast understands me !!!

Maxine Youin (Kleiman)

I still mourn for Pals Cabin.  A reuben sandwich is simply NOT a Redwood.  Tried Reubens in lots of restaurants and it's not a Redwood!

Marlene Cooper (Grad)

I loved the coconut cream pie  at Clairmont dinner.   Those were the days and so hard to imagine all these years have gone by so quickly   Some of us have grandchildren in high school now!   Marlene 

Carol Siegel (Ross)

Pal's Cabin also had wonderful mushroom soup. My granddaughter is graduating college in December.

Jay Kaplan

Miele’s pizza - still there on Bloomfield Ave - the family could eat for 10$. Almost choking on kishka casing at the Claremont.

Ellen Goldring

I agree with Maxine. Pal's Cabin Redwood sandwich was the best along with their mushroom soup. I can vaguely remember being in a bowling league somewhere nearby and filling up on both of those before participating. Have no idea how I even moved! I guess back then my stomach and capacity was very different from now!!!

Allen Horn

Back in "the day", Steve Lipton and Myself had Stick Ball games almost every day

After our matches, we gravitated over to the Mint for a Wonderful Ice Cream Soda (.25cents) and a Hostess Cake or Devil Dog.

On Fridays, after Canteen, a visit to the Capri  Pizzeria on Pleasant Valley Way for a meatball on a Italian Roll sure hit the spot.

Jay's Deli for a corned beef on rye along with crispy french fries and a Dr. Brown's Cel-Ray were a delight.

In addition, on Sunday's my Family would frequent the China Inn on Eagle Rock for a Dinner  with 2 from A, along with 2 from B and Ice Cream for dessert for $5.00

What a Deal 

Maxine Youin (Kleiman)

I am remembering that a current restaurant called Fairchild's Market in Roseland on Eagle Rock Avenue took the original recipes from Pals for the Redwood Sandwich and also Tabatchnick's Sloppy Joe.  I've been there and it is really true.  Tastes the same (but the atmosphere at the place is not the greatest) but if you want to recreate the food experience, try it. You'll be suprised.    Best Regards, Maxine

Myles Schlank

EssexGreen is in the news: controversy and low occupancy rates. Sad. Click here.

Here are comments from cross-posting on our class facebook page:

Sandra Bowers (Linton)

Unfortunately, as someone still residing in West Orange, our taxes are going up and up.  We pay more than towns all around us.  Our home values have almost dropped to 60% of what their values were several years ago.  Towns that have a stable tax base have home prices that apprecate.  However, towns with high taxes have homes that have to be "given away."  I have a small 4 bedroom cape cod in a development in the Mt. Pleasant School district.  The houses on my street were in the $400,000's several years ago.  Now, we'd be lucky to get $260,000.  My mother bought the house in 1952 for $12,500.  Needless to say, the taxes are more than she paid for the house. 

You're absolutely correct about the number of students in our school systems that do not live in West Orange.  They give addresses of "aunts", "uncles", etc.  We used to have Betty Barandy who was the truant officer.  She was terrific.  She would follow people from side streets, question neighbors, etc.  She worked very hard to check each and every student she thought was not from West Orange.  She checked students against addresses - where there were too many students giving the same address, etc.  It doesn't seem like the same is true today.

They're finally almost finished with the apartment complex in the Edison factories on Main Street that sat idle for years and years.  The developers got all kinds of incentives for that mess.  They keep building and building.  The schools are overcrowded and the infrastructure cannot take any more.  The traffic in the mornings and in the evenings is like a parking lot.  You can sit through one light after another - but they still keep building.  As the home prices plummet, people are leaving.  People are also leaving because the schools/educational system is not the jewel it once was.  We have some wonderful teachers trying their best, but it isn't easy for them.

It's just very sad to drive around and see what West Orange is and remember was it was.

Sandy (Bowers) Linton

Allen Horn

Does anyone remember when the town dropped PING PONG balls from a plane flying over the town with discounts at local merchants printed on the balls?

I also remember a campaign to "keep West Orange residential" started when Essex Green was first being considered as a growth project for the town.

How about the golf driving range that was located at the corner of Eagle Rock and Prospect Ave.

Soon to become Korvette's- great place to shop for 33 1/3 rpm long play albumns selling for $2.99

How times have changed in 50+ years.

Jay Kaplan

I remember my father taking us to drive golf balls before Korvette's was built. He owned a furniture store on Bloomfield Avenue (Broadway Interiors) with his partner Dom Ventura. I remember my father referring to Korvette's as 'the devil' because they could undersell him. Eventually Korvette's mismanged itself out of business. 

Sandra Bowers (Linton)

I remember during West Orange's centennial plans dropping wooden nickels that could be used in town estalishments.  When they were building Essex Green, they would have "big" stars there to entice people to come.  My friends and I would walk up there.  Two of the signatures of the "big" stars I got, were Clarbell the Clown from Howdy Doody and Farfel the Dog from N E S T L E S, Nestles is the very best ...... chocolate.

As kids, we didn't know anything about the financial ramifications, we just thought it was cool watching the big tractors and machinery.  Those were nice days spent exploring.  Before my husband passed away, while driving through town, he noticed that when we were growing up, there were vacant lots around town - no more.  There isn't a blade of grass that doesn't have some building on it.  

I wish everyone and their families a wonderful and healthy holiday and New Year.

Sandy

Steven Langdo

  I remember the wooden nickels; still have one kicking around somewhere.

 Does anyone recall the small plane crash at Pals driving range?  I don't remember the year, but I remember my mother waking me up late at night to walk up to see it.  (We lived a few blocks away)

Myles Schlank

Steve, Sandy, Jay, Allen, responding to your posts:

1)  see the photo of Pal's Ice Cream shop and, behind it, the golf driving range, Pal's Fairways, which the owners opened in 1953. I remember the range well: a bunch of us did a midnight requisition of golf balls; the police interrupted our hunt.

In 1957, a New Mexico businessman landed his private plane there after running out of fuel (with only minor injuries and damage). (Was he fined?) Info according to Joe Fagan, town historian. 

2)  and, below it, a photo of the wooden nickel. (Any bids?)

Richard Shuba

I remember Pals Cabin very well, and have many Pals memories.  When Pals bought the 4 homes to our north side, and demolished them, our house was next to the expanded parking lot.  At night we could hear the valet parking attendants squeeling the tires on Corvettes and other hot cars driving them around and around the parking lot.  Little did the owners know.  It was like the scene in Ferris Buellers Day Off. And just to be accurate, Pals opened in 1932 as a very modest hot dog stand 10 by 12 feet. 

I remember to golf range too, and the airplane that tried to land on the driving range, but overshot, and hit a light pole in the parking lot, and spun around, crashing into the parking lot.  The airplane suffered pretty severe damage, but I think the pilot walked away.  He was lucky.

Myles Schlank

Rich, thanks for the details about the plane crash and the building of the Cabin, as we knew it.

Before they closed, costs apparently had escalated: $20,000/month for utilities and approaching $200,000/year in taxes. Click here for a quick retrospective with wonderful photos. (Did you know Pals helped kick start Liberace's career?)

Here's a photo of the original Pals with founders.

Allen Horn

sI, too, remember Pals and the adjacent  business activity very well. My sister, Alice, worked as a waitress at Gary's just below Pals on Eagle Rock Ave. With her personality she did amazingly well on tips. I used to trade dollar bills for her quarters and built up a nice collectrion of REAL silver quarters, some of which I still have and are saving for grandchildren.

On Tuesday afternoons, a group of us used to walk  from school up to the Eagle rock Lanes to bowl 3 games for a $1.00 I remember Lloyd Levinson was a pretty good bowler. But the champ in our grade was Leigh Blumenfeld. He was a 200+ average.

My faavorite place was Pals Pancake house.After the BB games we hung there quite often.

And, if we  became adventuresome, we would go to Don's and Grunnings for a little intra-town  show of force.  of sorts.

Ron Farber

Hey 'youze guize,'

Nice to read all the comments and jog memories of those once iconic landmarks of our youth.   What  I remember about the 'Pal's driving range'  was that they had to keep raising the fence since golf balls were often clearing it and going onto their other property, Mayfair Farms.  

Also, their ice cream stand had a 'soft serve' that was even better than Dairy Queen or Carvel!

And Myles, I believe it was 'The Westwood' on the NE corner of Pleasant Valley Way and Northfield where Liberace became famous.   Have seen others write up Pals as the place (particularly when it closed).  However, the Westwood (which underwent many changes and is now a medical building) was the place.  It was owned by the Risse family in the mid 1960's and I was friendly with the son, Walter, who went to Fairleigh Dickinson then as I did.  He had confirmed this fact then.  Also --  some who lived on Mayfair Drive in those 'formative fifties' may remember the Likos family (across from Marlene Cooper).  Robert was a year younger than us and his dad, Andy, had worked as a bar tender at The Westwood.  In the mid '50's when Liberace had a TV show, we all heard about this!

Yeah, most of our 'hallowed' landmarks are now gone.  Remember Bonds with the 'Awful-Awful' milkshake, the bookmobile, The Burger House (on Eagle Rock Ave.), The Claremont Diner, Anne's Clam Bar.  And, until they opened up a movie theatre in Essex Green, the closest to us were the Verona Theatre, The Embassy on Main St. in Orange and The Colony in Livingston.  And ice skating on Vincent's Pond!

Jay Kaplan

I was five when we moved to WO. We lived on Stanford Avenue and so Vincent's Pond was a short walk. At that time it was fed by a slow moving stream (long since piped) and was surrounded by woods. A great place to explore and play, including looking for treasure allegedly buried by old man Vincent. I can't remember exactly when the  building everybody uses for skating was put in. However, i do remember watching them plow the snow off the pond with a tractor so that we could skate there.  Pleasantdale was so sleepy that i could play with my toy soldiers unsupervised on the corner of Pleasant Valley Way and Stanford Avenue under a large maple tree. I also remember endless days playing stickball in back of the elementary school, with the braver amongst us (not me) shimmying up the pipe to retrieve balls that flew onto the roof. One memorable day one of us smashed mouth first into a metal bannister that was next to the school. We all marched our bloody friend to the doctor's house that was nearby on Pleasant Valley Way (Dr. Small?). He fixed our friend up. Through the fog that has become my memories, it seems that the winters were colder, the town more friendly, and times far more innocent than now. Sniff.