A message from Jerry Sutton

P.S. 125 Schoolyard
I just checked in on the Upper 46th Street Gang blog and thoroughly enjoyed Bob's memories of the "schoolyard" or "125" as we called it for short. Boy, does Bob bring back memories. I forgot about the three overlapping fields. Just goes to show you that as Bob says, we didn't even give it a thought. Quarters were tight. So what. We made adjustments with what we had. And we felt that we had it all.
Besides the three overlapping fields to contend with as I remember, we also had two obstacles: the handball court and the basketball backboard with pole it stood on. Remember how at least one of the outfielders on each diamond had to worry about clocking themselves going for a flyball near the handball court (by the way, that was probably the only area of the schoolyard that we didn't use much. I guess we thought anyone that played handball was a sissy). The basketball backboard and pole were right on the left field line if you played on the northeast diamond.
Then there was another field. We used our Mom's discarded mop broomstick to play stickball in the schoolyard. We called it "fast pitchin' in". It was a treasure. Two boys. One pitcher and one batter. With all those other games going on that Bob discussed, somehow two guys found a field which was between the handball court and the southwest corner of the schoolyard. The pitcher had no catcher. He didn't need one. There was the 8 ft. wood fence that Bob mentioned which was used as the catcher. And the pitcher through the ball to it. As I remember, we marked the wood fence (with chalk) to block out the strike zone. This marking, by the way, let everybody on the other fields know that this was the field for us "fast pitchin in" kids. Not everyone played it. Naturally, over the center field fence into the sub-schoolyard (3rd base on the main field) was a home run. Anything past the pitcher was at least a single. Against the top half of the fence was a triple and against the lower half was a double. We had it all figured out by ourselves and didn't interfere with the other games.
That same field, as I remember, was also the same area where those Club 13 and other "hoodlums" played Craps on Sundays. They were for big stakes too because the Police occasionally raided the games. I remember one time being in the area when the cops came and tried to nab them before they got away and then went to the area to clean up the left money. With nobody being in the immediate vicinity of the money left behind during this caper, both Spud Dolan and I picked up as many loose bills as we could and high tailed it before the cops came to claim theirs. This loot paid for a few brand new clincher softballs and softball bats. We told our colleges that we found them left after the Oilers completed their game.
Remember the Woodside Oilers. They played on the main diamond, naturally. Their games were on Sunday. It was like watching a professional ballgame. Lefty (pitcher with short arm), Eddie Lenahan who hit a home run one day that cleared the roof of the building behind the right field fence, slick fielding Red at third base. I can remember so many of their faces (shortstop with a bandana around his forehead) but forgot their names. Sounds like a good question for you guys. They played their games for money and proved it by diving, sliding and whatnot on the PAVEMENT. The best games that I remember were against the Harlem Yankees.
Anyway, on Sunday to watch one of these games, you had to come early if you wanted to watch without having a screen in front of you. That "on field" place was the rightfield wall again. The 8 ft. wood fence sat on a concrete elevation that was just about the right height of a chair. You were on the field so you were expected to scatter when a ball was hit or accidentally thrown out in that direction. All other fans had to watch behind the fences behind first base, third base (here there were box seats because there was a staircase to the school that happened to be positioned to the right of home plate) and if you wanted to watch afar, behind the left field fence which was elevated from the playing field by a high concrete barrier below the fence.
So here are some questions to the Upper 46th Street Gang:
(1) Remember where the other legitimate gate was in the schoolyard?
(2) Remember the illegitimate gate (cut chain link fence opening in the southeast corner). Who
always cut it open (it was done every time the authorities mended it or put up a new fence)?
(3) Can anyone remember the other Woodside Oiler player names and what position they played?
(4) Can anyone remember the other team names who played the Woodside Oilers?

Regards,
Jerry

A message from Jack Doxey

Hello to all my fellow Upper 46 St Gang,

My computer has been down for a long time and that is the reason that I have not posted a message recently.


I do thank Bob Doxey and Jerry Sutton for contributing to our blog with some reccent postings.
Here is a posting from my brother Bob Doxey to Jerry Sutton ( it is in respnse to Jerry's memories of a game called Johnny Ride a Pony)

" Hello Jerry,
I enjoyed reading your memories of 50th Ave. and the game of Johnny Ride a Pony but if the kids today played that game they would be put in jail or sued by their parents. Question: Did Joe Connelly become a valued member of his team because of his weight? Am I correct in remembering that being the pillow was the best position when playing Johnny Ride a Pony?"

This is Jack Doxey talking once again:

I can answer that question because most of the time I was the pillow. I was small and I think the other players felt that I was not capable of being a pony. I did not argue with them. As the pillow you had your back to the wall and you held on to the first pony and then each pony linked on to the pony immmediately in front of them. I do remmeber that one time when it was my turn to jump that I jumped so far that I hit both the pillow and the wall and came close to knocking myself out. I went home with a large lump on my forehead. Yes being the pillow was the best position because nobody jumped on your back.

On a different note, Jack Sutton underwent a back operation recently. I hope that you are feeling better and that the operation has eliminated some, if not all, of your chronic pain.

I got Joe Murphy's home address and sent him a paper copy of the Upper 46St. Gang blog. via the US postal system. He does not have an Email address. Iwill continue to keep him updated via the mail. I do not have Dick Driscoll's address or e mail. Can anyone help me with this information?

Take care and please send me your memories and I will post them. Jerry, I will comment on your memories of the alley on 50th Ave. in my next posting.
Jack

Amessage from Bob Doxey

One of my best and vivid memories of our neighborhood was the P.S.125 schoolyard. On any given summer day you could observe 40 to 60 boys playing games in the schoolyard in what appeared to be complete chaos. DO YOU REMEMBER THIS! There were 3 diamond which overlapped each other. For example the Main diamond was inthe northwest corner of the yard at 46th st. The leftfielder would be standing in the infield of the northeast diamond which was at 47th St.. I that was not enough, there was also a diamond at the southwest corner {next to the Apt, house} There was a wooden fence Approx. 8 ft high with a chainlink fence above it hopefully to protect the windows.. The rightfielder of the main diamond would stand in the infield of this diamond. Are you confused by now!. Well we were not confused and somehow we would make it all work and here is the "KICKER". Not one adult was around. Do you remember that if your parent came to the g ame you were embarrassed. How times have changed. We were not embarrassed of our parents but of the situation of which you might be thought of as a WIMP" who had to have his parent around to protect him. I'm convinced that those long summer days in the schoolyard helped to mold our characters. It was good clean fun. This is not to say that there were no disputes, but the most extreme measure to settle a dispute was a fistfight which at the most resulted in a bloody nose. The schoolyard was not a place for political correctness. It was astrict Merit system administred by the boys themselves. We selected two captains and the teams were selected by the strict order of ability. Who could hit and field the bes were picked first.. If you wer not picked for a team you did not go into a corner and sulk ,but waited on the sidelines until someones Mother called him home. Then you would replace him and play. This was a glimpse of the competitive world of adulthood that we were to join soon and I think the schoolyard helped us to succeed in our future endeavors. I hope this brings back some happy memories. of a time long past which we were so fortunate to be a part of. BOB

One of my best and vivid memories of our neighborhood was the P.S.125 schoolyard. On any given summer day you could observe 40 to 60 boys playing games in the schoolyard in what appeared to be complete chaos. DO YOU REMEMBER THIS! There were 3 diamond which overlapped each other. For example the Main diamond was inthe northwest corner of the yard at 46th st. The leftfielder would be standing in the infield of the northeast diamond which was at 47th St.. I that was not enough, there was also a diamond at the southwest corner {next to the Apt, house} There was a wooden fence Approx. 8 ft high with a chainlink fence above it hopefully to protect the windows.. The rightfielder of the main diamond would stand in the infield of this diamond. Are you confused by now!. Well we were not confused and somehow we would make it all work and here is the "KICKER". Not one adult was around. Do you remember that if your parent came to the g ame you were embarrassed. How times have changed. We were not embarrassed of our parents but of the situation of which you might be thought of as a WIMP" who had to have his parent around to protect him. I'm convinced that those long summer days in the schoolyard helped to mold our characters. It was good clean fun. This is not to say that there were no disputes, but the most extreme measure to settle a dispute was a fistfight which at the most resulted in a bloody nose. The schoolyard was not a place for political correctness. It was astrict Merit system administred by the boys themselves. We selected two captains and the teams were selected by the strict order of ability. Who could hit and field the bes were picked first.. If you wer not picked for a team you did not go into a corner and sulk ,but waited on the sidelines until someones Mother called him home. Then you would replace him and play. This was a glimpse of the competitive world of adulthood that we were to join soon and I think the schoolyard helped us to succeed in our future endeavors. I hope this brings back some happy memories. of a time long past which we were so fortunate to be a part of. BOB

One of my best and vivid memories of our neighborhood was the P.S.125 schoolyard. On any given summer day you could observe 40 to 60 boys playing games in the schoolyard in what appeared to be complete chaos. DO YOU REMEMBER THIS! There were 3 diamond which overlapped each other. For example the Main diamond was inthe northwest corner of the yard at 46th st. The leftfielder would be standing in the infield of the northeast diamond which was at 47th St.. I that was not enough, there was also a diamond at the southwest corner {next to the Apt, house} There was a wooden fence Approx. 8 ft high with a chainlink fence above it hopefully to protect the windows.. The rightfielder of the main diamond would stand in the infield of this diamond. Are you confused by now!. Well we were not confused and somehow we would make it all work and here is the "KICKER". Not one adult was around. Do you remember that if your parent came to the g ame you were embarrassed. How times have changed. We were not embarrassed of our parents but of the situation of which you might be thought of as a WIMP" who had to have his parent around to protect him. I'm convinced that those long summer days in the schoolyard helped to mold our characters. It was good clean fun. This is not to say that there were no disputes, but the most extreme measure to settle a dispute was a fistfight which at the most resulted in a bloody nose. The schoolyard was not a place for political correctness. It was astrict Merit system administred by the boys themselves. We selected two captains and the teams were selected by the strict order of ability. Who could hit and field the bes were picked first.. If you wer not picked for a team you did not go into a corner and sulk ,but waited on the sidelines until someones Mother called him home. Then you would replace him and play. This was a glimpse of the competitive world of adulthood that we were to join soon and I think the schoolyard helped us to succeed in our future endeavors. I hope this brings back some happy memories. of a time long past which we were so fortunate to be a part of. BOB

Jerry Sutton takes us down memory lane

To the old gang and all Ships at Sea:

Hi folks,
I'm excited about some of the messages that Jerry Sutton sent me about some of his memories regarding Upper 46St. I thought I had a good memory but Jerry has stimulated some of my grey matter and as a result of his letters it has stirred up some memories of my own.

Please read Jerry's posting and I gurantee it will bring back some fond memories of our old neighborhood.

I now have the following people on my distribution list: Catherine Doxey, Bob Doxey, Jim Sutton, Jack Sutton, Jerry Sutton, Ed Reilly, Jack Doxey, and Pete Heslin. I need Joe Murphy's E mail address and Dick Driscoll and anybody else you can think of. If anybody has this information then please mail it to me.

Please keep in mind the way this blog works is that you will receive the latest correspndence from any of the old gang in the form of an Email. the nice thing is that you dont have to go to an attachment. The enire message will be in the body of the E mail. It aso allows you to not only to read the latest message from an old gang member , such as Jerry Sutton, but you then can cursor down and see all messages ever posted on this blog. In essence it is a diary of all corresndence from the Upper 46 st. gang.

Enjoy Jerry's letters and please contribute by sending me via E mail or regular mail your memories of the old neghborhood. I promis you I will Post them for averyone to see.
God bless and take care.
Jack Doxey

A message from Jerry Sutton

Hi Jack,
Here are some more memories to chew on. These are about our activities as kids on 50th Ave.only:

(1) Remember the "Alleyway" between 46th street and 47th street? That garage driveway where there was nothing but a dirt road with car garages that extended from 50th Ave. to Laurel Hill Blvd.? Don't know why they were needed in those days because there was no parking restrictions of any kind on the streets (except fireplugs) and there were very few cars parked on the neighborhood streets never mind on any particular street. As a matter of fact, I rarely saw a car go in or out of the "Alleyway" driveway. But anyway, it was a very mysterious place for kids because it had no lighting of any kind at night which made it very scary. Remember, during the summer recess from school. If you were lucky enough to be let out after dark, you would go into the alleyway at night with your friends? You couldn't see the hand in front of your face after dark. So we played ghostly games on one another like hiding in the alleyway and make scary noises so that we could frighten each other. Then we circulated rumors that there were ghosts in the "Alleyway". "I heard them too!!" was the common cry.
The "Alleyway" also had a couple of garages facing 50th Ave. This is where some of us adventurous kids played "Johnny ride the pony". One kid would stand bent over with his two hands extended out against the garage door. He was the "pony". Kids took chances as "Johnny" who would take a running jump onto the pony's back. As you know, that could be dangerous. Correct me if I'm wrong, but weren't you the "Johnny" who unfortunately overshot the pony one time and hit your head on the garage door opening up a head wound with a bit of bleeding? Anyway, I believe that word got to the parents about that experience and "Johnny ride the Pony" was then considered as a game to avoid.
We also played marbles on the concrete and on the dirt driveway of the Alleyway. Remember you had to have "knucks down" when you took a shot? And you always wanted to get the "puree" in the middle of the circle which was the "pot". Some guys had a real knack of "sticking" which was to shoot, knock a marble out of the circle while staying in the circle to clean out the rest of the marbles while always sticking in the "pot". It was far easier to "stick" on the dirt than on the concrete.
(2) Softball was played by the 46th St. gang between 46th St. and 47th St.with home plate at the 46th St. end. The foul lines were narrow because the Ave. was narrow. All bases were chalked on the street. I don't remember if hitting the ball into the Mets garden was a homer or out. But a few of the sluggers put it there.
Touch Football was played on the same field. I remember that we got "skinned" many a time with our falls to the asphalt. God we had a lot to do.
(3) Stickball was played between 46th St. and 45th St. and was not played by the 46th St. gang. It was played by the 50th Ave. crowd like Kevin Lynch and others. They played with a pink Spalding which was pitched on a bounce. They had about 3 guys on each side - a pitcher, mid fielder and a deep outfielder. Kevin told me that a home run (if not caught) traveled 2 sewer covers. Remember the big sewer covers in the middle of the streets? They played their stickball games facing opposite to our softball games to avoid a lot of confusion (chasing a ball on another games field).
By the way, remember how to choose up sides for a game? Hand over hand on a stickball or softball bat till whoever had the last grip on the bat had his pick.
(4) Roller Hockey practice was played in the fall between 45th St. and 44th St. by a conglomerate of Woodside kids. It was right next to where St. Teresa's church is located today. But in those days the church wasn't built yet. It was in the basement of the school. So what was there was a beautiful green grass area with a big Weeping Willow tree on the corner of 46th St. and 50th Ave. which eventually got taken down by a hurricane. I remember Fr. Manton walking his little Scotch Terrier around the block all the time. The practices were played by the personnel of the Creepers and the Jr. Creepers (later known as the Woodside Canadians). Although we didn't like each others team, a lot of good competitive workouts occurred there. We practiced there after school was out or on Saturdays. These were in preparation for the regularly scheduled hockey league games which were generally played on Sundays by the Creepers at Shermers (48th St. and 48th Ave) or Canadians on 43rd St. between 50th Ave. and Laurel Hill Blvd. or the 82nd St. park and of course various other places.
(5) Sleigh Riding was done in the winter between 47th St. and 45th St. or on the "Grass" which was out of our neighborhood (about 3 or 4 blocks away). The two block 50th Ave. sleigh ride was perfect because the hill leveled out at 45th St. We used to position a guy at the corners of 46th and 45th Sts. to warn drivers. Don't recall that there were any close calls.
Well that's it for now, Jack.
Regards,
Jerry

Jerry Sutton's thoughts

Hi Jack,
Just a few thoughts for your 46th Street Herald:
Do you remember some of these memories while we were playing slapball and up against the point in those years? After our games and we were all sweaty and tired, we went down to Stettan's (?not sure about the spelling) Candy Store on lower 46th St. and bought a Coke, Pepsi or an egg cream. Of course, those who needed more cola bought a Pepsi bottle over Coke bottle cause it had 12 full ozs. and "that's a lot". But some bought their soda in a glass right from the counter - soda jerk style. Those who had a paper route could afford the egg cream which was a penny or two more. On special occasions, like Sunday, the paper boys could afford to buy a vanilla or strawberry sundae with chocolate whipped cream. Wow!! And if anyone had a pennies left over, they were used up by putting them in the bubble gum or candy machines.
When we bought bottled soda, we of course went back to upper 46th St. to enjoy them sitting on the curb outside Mrs. Lee's window and listened to the Brooklyn Dodger game (Mrs. Lee thought everyone was a Brook fan, God bless her). Those of us who were Giant or Yankee fans feigned interest only to please her cause she was so nice. Of course, we had the diversity of places to sit also. If it wasn't there, it was on the Met's stoop, the archway at the top of the Met's stoop, the Wall's stoop or the running board of one of the very few cars parked on the street. Of course, in the heat, we sat on the running board that was shaded from the sun. But no one sat on the running board of the "Green Hornet". Remember? The guy (don't know who he was which made it all that more mysterious) used to get in his green car and pull right out at high speed right from his turning the key in the ignition. That's what kids today would call - Cool.
Speaking of newspaper routes, those who were strong enough carried the Long Island Star (prior to being called the Long Island Press). Usually those routes had at least 100 customers. Sunday's paper must have been a nightmare with all those extra inserts. Then, there was the Brooklyn Tablet (the diocesan paper) which I think still exists today. Unfortunately, I had one of those routes. Unlike the good distribution practices for paper boys that carried the Star, the Tablet route distribution manager, Barney Beglan, gave my two brothers and I a route that contained about only 25 to 40 customers and they were spread out between 39th Place and 48th St. As if that wasn't enough, the route was also between Laurel Hill Blvd. and Skillman Ave. What a walk just to deliver about 30 papers. But we were too young and conditioned not to complain. Let's face it, we didn't know any better to speak up in those days. But I couldn't wait for the tips on Christmas week. That made up for everything. Some of those people were very, very generous and probably couldn't afford it.
Well, that's it for now. When I get some more thoughts for your blog I'll pass them along.

Regards,
Jerry

The Woodside Creeper

Hi folks,
This message is in response to Jerry Sutton's question : Who was the Creeper?

The Creeper, as best that I can remember, was some kind of a pervert who liked to look into peoples windows at night. He also would climb into the bottom floor windows of the apartments and homes in Woodside and run through the apartment for apparently no good reason. Some of the aparments were called railroad flats meaning that the apartment was set up in such a manner that all the rooms were in line with each other much like a railroad car. For example, if you were in the kithcen and wanted to go to the bedroom you might be required to go through the living room, then the dining room and perhaps two bedrooms before getting to the last bedroom which often had a window that looked out onto the street.

The rumors that went around were that the Creeper would enter the main door on the bottom floor apartment which lead into the living room and then run through the entire apartment "lickity split" and then jump out of the front window and run down the street and out of sight.

Nobody could catch him. He was sighted almost every night and on some occassions he was sighted two and three times in one night

It all got written up in the newspapers and some people were terrified of the Creeper. However I think most people found it exciting and a big event in Woodside. Personally I think some of the stories were made up and there was even a question as whether the Creeper existed at all.

One thing I do know is that we kids thought it was great adventure and proud that the Creeper picked our neighborhood. We were so impressed with his daring exploits that we decided to name our newly forned hockey teams in honor of the Creeper and so the creation of the two teams-- the Creepers and the Junior Creepers.

Jerry, I believe you and I were on the Junior Creepes and your brother Jack was on the Creepers. The Junior Creepers disliked the Creepers intensly and personally I hated being junior to any team. On occsions we would play themn and they were brutal games. It delighted us when the Junior Creepers beat the Creepers. It humnilated them and that made us happy.

Jerry what can you add to this ? it has been along time so my recllections might be foggy.

Upper 46th Street Sports Herald

My name is Jack Doxey and I currently reside in San Diego California.  I am one of the original gang of kids that came out of Woodside Long, Island New York.  This publication represents the 8^th edition of the Upper 46^th Street Sports Herald.  The 7^th edition was published on June 20, 1945. A slight delay in between publications to the tune of 59 years.

 

With the permission of the original editor and publisher Bob Doxey, I am restarting the Upper 46h Street Sports Herald.

This was a kid’s publication of the events that took place in the streets of New York.  To be more specific it was between 48^th Avenue and 50^th Avenue on 46^th Street in Woodside, Queens New York. 

 

Most of us were first generation Irish American kids that had strong imaginations and a natural flair for organizing street games that took us through the entire summer.  We were highly organized and had the never wavering assistance of my brother Bob who at a young age was a gifted writer and established some written history of one of our activities called Off the Point..  If you grew up in New York you would probably be able to explain this game but for those that do not come from N. Y. C. let me do some explaining:

 

Every street in New York had curbs. In order to prevent the cars, from destroying the concrete curb the city placed steel edging along the full length of the curb.  For us kids it turned out to be a God Send because it created the necessary ingredient to create a game called Off the Point.

 

The object was to throw a rubber ball at this steel ribbon and if you struck it at the right angle it would go sailing across the street.  Depending on where it went you would get a base hit or make an out.  My brother Bob published, in the summer of 1945, the following ground rules that were to be strictly adhered to by all league members:

 

Single: When the ball reaches the center of the street up to and including the wall on the bushes of the Metropolitan Apartments. (Affectionately called the Mets.)

 

Double:  In the bushes and up to the top of Hannah’s window

 

Triple: The top of Hannah’s window up to the bottom of Sherman’s window sill.

 

Home Run: Above the bottom of Sherman’s window sill

 

Keep in mind that the names Hanna and Sherman were not simply names pulled out of the ethers but rather the names of real people that lived in the Met Apartments.   They had the distinct pleasure of us kids constantly hammering away at their windows every day of the summer.  The amazing thing is that for the most part the residents did little complaining.  Or, perhaps closer to the truth is that we ignored their complaints.

 

To anyone who was not part of our Off the Curb league, back in 1943 through 1945, all this is meaningless   However to the kids who were members of the league this was information of monumental importance.

 

Here are a few excerpts from the Upper 46 Street Sports Herald:

 

“Opening day, this year, will be a gala affair.  Each team has made their own flag and they will fly on our League Tree.  The opening date is set for June 28^th. 1945.  Opening day ceremonies will be attended by all members of the league or else.  (Please see the rules about wearing your hats):

 

In my opinion growing up in New York City was an exhilarating and rewarding experience.  At no time, did our parents interfere with the daily sports that we kids were involved in.  We set our own rules of play, laughed at the things we did together and yes we fought together.  But we always resolved our issues at the kid level.  It was against our code to get the parents involved.

 

Most of all it was a great safe environment to learn how to cope successfully as kids.  More importantly these early lessons carried through to our adult lives as well.