STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — Recent articles about supermarket prices and nostalgia have prompted a flood of correspondence from Staten Islanders eager to share their memories of the borough’s past. These recollections offer a glimpse into Staten Island’s small-town community character amid the big city.
One reader provided a correction to the previous article, noting it was the Bradford Room, not the Bradford House, and identified the staff: Mr. Lezzo as the boss, Mr. Harrigan as supervisor, and Charlie Munch as assistant supervisor.
The reader additionally wrote, “There were specials every night. 1/2 price specials popped up now and then to draw more people for ice cream or sandwiches.”
A former resident who now lives in South Carolina recalled various shopping destinations. “W.T. Grants or when it became K-Mart, named that dining area to the right, ‘The Bradford Room,’” they wrote. “I lived in West Brighton/New Brighton when going to New Dorp was like going to New Jersey. Loved Master’s when it opened next shopping center in New Dorp.”
The South Carolina correspondent, a self-described “huge music fan,” also remembered where to find the best music: “Korvette’s, Majors’, Masters had the best record collections. Dew and Dale on Richmond Ave., Penney’s and Kresgee had decent [selections], too. Woolworths in Stapleton and Neisner’s on Forest Ave were good too. Until Record Baron opened on Forest Ave.”
This image of the former A&P near Miller Field sparked memories. In 1960, Miller Field became the site of a tragic mid-air collision — part of one of the deadliest aviation disasters in U.S. history. The crash marked a somber chapter in Staten Island’s past and reshaped national air traffic safety.Staten Island Advance
Perhaps the most dramatic memories came from Lisa on the East Shore, who shared how the A&P in New Dorp was the setting for two major historical events. “The photo of the A&P in New Dorp reminded me of two major events that happened in the 60s and my mother was in the store for both,” she wrote.
Lisa recounted that in 1960, her mother was shopping when a plane crashed nearby. “She was in there when the plane crashed and large pieces dropped across the street into Miller Field. My mom ran across the street to see the wreckage before any help had arrived.”
Flashback to 1960: A TWA crew member’s hat and watch were recovered at the Miller Field crash scene from that December.
Three years later, her mother was again at the A&P when news broke that President Kennedy had been shot. “The news spread throughout the store, Kennedy had been shot and killed. She rushed to school, where we were being let out early by Sister Genevieve,” Lisa recalled.
That weekend coincided with her father’s birthday, creating an unusual situation. “We never had the TV on during meals but an exception was made that weekend. So as we were eating birthday lunch and watching TV, we saw Oswald get shot,” Lisa wrote.
Following the tragedy, Lisa sent a condolence note to Jacqueline Kennedy at her mother’s suggestion and received “a mass produced thank you card, framed in black,” which she still possesses.
St. Christopher’s as it looked in Grant City in the 1950s.Advance/SILive.com File Photo
Lisa also shared memories of St. Christopher’s School in Grant City, describing an “annex” on Lisbon Place/Midland that “looked like something out of a Dickens novel” with “beautiful brass doorknobs with ‘public school’ written on them in intricate writing.” She noted that the building was eventually demolished for a newer school, which has since closed.
Here’s a page from the Advance archives from March 1, 1978.SilvestriJust to recap
Have you been following our grocery series? Stories are inspired your correspondence that started on the topic with this story — A walk through Staten Island supermarket history by a food from this summer. The followup came with this story — Supermarket column sparks Staten Island memories. Discussion from Beyer’s Market further sparked good vibes — Staten Island grocer thrives after 43 years. Earlier this month, we took a survey of grocery shoppers to yield this interesting article — Sale-hunting and store-hopping. And that led to this conversation.
Pamela Silvestri is Advance/Silive.com Food Editor. She can be reached at silvestri@siadvance.com.
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