NY System Hot Weiners and Other Rhode Island Favorites! - Rhode Island Wieners - Recipes - Rocky Point - Seafood - Food - Clams - Chowder - Newport

Memories of Rhode Island!

(Click on photo for a larger view)
First Communion - 1957 - Marieville

"Dream Lover" by: Bobby Darin

Website Menu	"Every town had that place - we had Canada Pond, or if you traveled - it would have been Twin Rivers. In the summer the playground would take groups to Twin Rivers. I was not allowed to go. Mom was to fearful. I learned to "float" at the Pawtucket YMCA , but the Polio scare caused my mom to remove me after one lesson. So- needles to say- I was only able to float; except now I have a harder time getting this body to "float". Winter was always a challenge in those galoshes /boots with the metal fold over closures and snow suits or snow pants. How about the home made mittens and hats and scarves , with Idiot mitten strings! We really did have MORE snow and they made us walk to school - UP HILL BOTH WAYS!,. It was up to our waists - I swear! Or at least a little kids waist. People did shovel the side walks for the most part. and we had crossing guards to help. That was the bigger kids -8th graders I believe. They got to wear the white strap thing and a whistle. Which reminds me, did you go to release time at the Presentation B.V M? With . French Nuns and old Father Hebert. and a younger Father Maynard. Most of the class did. As a matter of fact, I remember there was only one Protestant boy in our class- Paul White. You remember CCD- Catechism? I made my First Communion at the Old Church and then I made my Confirmation at the "NEW" church. I remember, we got to sit in these really old connected desks in really small class rooms in the basement of the old Church , we went in the morning on Wednesdays- I Think. Then there may have been Afternoon classes too?? It was all memory and repetition. "Who made you? God made You" Those nuns were scary. My cousins went to Parochial School , but I got the uniform sometimes as a hand -me -down jumper; as if nobody knew what it was- daaaa. I started out at the old Marieville Grammar school the one on Dodge Street. I can't remember all their names but the ones I recall are; Miss McCormic, she was my First grade Teacher. She was young. My Second grade teacher was older and very sweet. I remember a Miss Nevans and a Miss Houner. I remember a man teacher ; Mr. Dresner. And I believe the eight grade teacher was fooling around with the Principal, Mr Mowry. They had "meetings" in the Library and the kids would all whisper and giggle. I remember a time when we did split time at the new Marieville, because they were building the extension/ more class rooms. We went either morning or afternoon. Either way we went home for lunch. Imagine! We walked and had to eat and return all in one hour - Or at least that's how I remember it. Its kind of a blur, but there are some things that stick out. Also wasn't there another pond ...Gillen Pond... on the other side of Mineral Spring near 146?I think that was filled in and houses were built on that land. I guess - there , but for the grace of God - Goes I....... There was Twins Pizza and Doc's PX ( not there any more) There was the 2 drug stores Marieville ( New Marieville) and A REXALL - both gone as a mater of fact the Walgreens takes up the entire corner of Charles and Mineral Spring , where the Marieville Drug was. Those that were adventurous went to Johnnies Spa down near the Pawtucket Line on Mineral Spring and there was also Etta's Dry Goods- she sold those comics The Classics and the Cliff Notes There was even the Religious based Comic series. At Johnnies Spa you could buy the comic without the front page for 2 cents but since I lived at the 1069 Charles which was right next door to Doc's , we just collected the glass soda bottles and turned back in for penny candy and/or the a latest Jug Head, Superman, Donald Duck, or War comic Then came the Superman Annuals and even the fantastic Four or Justice League. (DC or Dell or Marvell). Of course if the season was right we bought
Application For RI Citizenship
Baked Treats
Baked Treats II
Block Island
David's Personal Tribute
Drive-In Theaters
Indoor Movie Theaters
Eateries of RI
Feasts & Festivals of RI
Links to Friends of RI Favorites
How To Speak Like a Local
Jaded, The Band
Life In Da 60's
Memories of Rhode Island
Native Rhode Island Favorites
NY System Hot Weiners
Pizza & Pasta Joints
Portuguese Cuisine
Seafood of Rhode Island
The RI Connection Page
Tribute to Salty Brine
Windows XP - Providence Edition
You know Your From RI When
Visit Our Store!
Home

baseball cards and popsicles . We didn't just collect though. No We pitched for fun and profit as well as decorated the spokes of the Schwinn! A nickel sure went a long way!"

Joann Davis joann_k_davis@yahoo.com

___________________________________

"This is so true. I miss home. We live in Florida for 6 years now and how we miss the unique language and history and the great hot wienas on Al's arm. We rememba the first hot wienas and also ya would just get in ya cah and drive to the donit shop. Everyone would be there. Pahk ya cah and go in (how ya doin, houz it goin, what is it wit you and hey- theres a podey layda.
This e mail makes me miss da corna, da pahk, the chowda and most of all da Hill.
We went to Rahgah Williams Pahk, down city and then went riden around. Peetza was good at Cahcerta's. How about Del's frozin lemonade, reckid hops and dancin to the Videl's songs at the Elmwood Post. OK I betta quit while I'm ahead because I am going way way back now. Great times in the Rocky Point Palladium and at Rhodes on the Pawtuxet dance hall will be in my memories foreva.
Thanks for a wonderful funny e mail that only us Rhode Islanda's would understand.
Michele Kostelnik Parrillo - yup my husband comes from Thornton. The corna of Atwood Ave and Plainfield St, Johnston. I lived in Wahwick most of my life. Alot of wise guys came from Wahwick. It was sure a cullifull time back in da old days.
So long - catch ya layda ( I guess most of the guys are in da can or passed on.)
The spelling in this letter is strictly for locals."

Michele Kostelnik Parrillo mickykrp@yahoo.com

___________________________________

"I received your site from A friend who now lives in Florida. I was born on Dec. 5, 1945 on Tell Street in Federal Hill. I unfortunately have no photos to send in. But I just want you to know that I think your site is great and hope it continues on. I read A letter that I believe is on page 8 written by Bobby LaNinfa. Come to find out, he is friends to one of my uncles.
Reading his letter just brought back memories from the HILL. I just had to send him my own e-mail. Hope to hear from him soon.
Well, keep up the good work."
Sincerely,

Frank Foster petercar89@cox.net

___________________________________

"Hi,
I loved your website. it brought tears to my eyes reading about R.I.. I was born in Prov. and spent most of my time in Federal hill with my cousins. I remember as a child going to the Boston store with my mother and having ice cream soda's , then later going to Chen's , the stairs seemed so steep then to get up to the restaurant. when I was 11 we moved to a place called Gaspee Point in Warwick and there I stayed till I moved to Calif. in my teens we would hang out at rocky point pool on summer days. we would go to dances and movies at a community hall in G.P. after the dances we would go to governor's steak house and have the best steak sandwiches in the world. I still always go there when i visit R.I. we used to go quahauging all the time. it was not allowed because they would say the water was polluted. my mother would make me hide them in my bathing suit so we wouldn't get caught. as I got older we would hang out at the burger chef , go to the shipyard drive in, some of us in the trunk. all the dances were at "Rhodes on the Pawtuxet" . I remember seeing Frankie Avalon and other stars there and going all the proms there. some of my fondest memories were at the carousel at Roger Williams park.
when I visit R.I. every couple of years, being Italian all my cousins there are like my brothers and sisters. anyway, all I want to do is have clam cakes, lobster, dell's , NY system weiners. I always go to Iggy's in Oakland beach, they have the best clam cakes.
when I first moved to Calif. in 78 I had to learn not to say bubbler and gravy for sauce, no one knew what I was talking about. I still have my accent and most people think I am from N.Y. some people think R.I. is in N.Y.
Thank you for some fond memories."

Joanne Fracasso Chalooche@aol.com

Return To Top of Page