A Stroll Down Spring Street

Below is a memory letter from the Museum’s archives, originally submitted to the West Ender Newsletter in 1986 by an anonymous author. In it, we follow the narrator as they walk down the West End’s Spring Street (c. 1930s-1950s), recalling the smells, sites, and sounds of the bustling corridor.

One of the liveliest streets in the West End had to be Spring Street. Up until the late forties, you would still see pushcarts and horse-drawn wagons peddling fruit and vegetables, from early in the morning until late at night. If you were not a sound sleeper, you would often hear the sound of the man playing the hurdy gurdy early in the morning.

We will start our walk at the corner of Leverett Street and Spring Street. Two popular stores located there were Pirri’s and Leone’s. Sam Pirri would have his ever-present smile on his face as he helped his father, and Dave Leone would also be helping his father in between going to law school. Their friends Billy Stavre, Niosa, Paris, Bobby Nicolosi, or Billy Black would usually be on or around that corner. Most of them were part of the Storrow Club at the West End House. As we walk along, passing the Junior Mob Club at 3 Spring, we would probably see Stanley Freedman, Billy Bernis, or Sonny Downey out front as they planned one of their schemes to drop Johnny DeMarco, Chuchie, or John Rosato off at a cemetery.

As we move along, we pass Lipper’s Dry Good Store, with a faded pair of dungarees hanging out front, on sale for $2.99. Mr. Lipper looked like an older version of the cartoon character Henry. Janie Prestigiovanni would often be seen playing out in front of his store. Across the street was Oshry Brothers Dry Goods. Anything from lamps to linens could be purchased there. A favorite pastime of ours was playing in the large boxes they threw behind their store in Kramer’s Alley, when we were really young. After passing a couple of Kosher butcher shops, we came to Rego’s store. It was better known as Margarita’s and can best be remembered by the large pan filled with Baccala soaking in salty water out front. Most of us envied the orange crate holding up the pan, as it would make a great scooter once we nailed it on a two-by-four and put roller skates under it. Next came Yaffee’s store on the corner of Chambers and Spring. Many of the West End kids bought their mothers a colorful handkerchief here for Mother’s Day. It was usually a school project at the Mayhew or Winchell.

Across the street was the colorful Barney Sheff’s, famous for corned beef sandwiches at low prices. We would often stop in for a slab sandwich for ten cents. It consisted of one thick piece of Jewish salami between two slices of dark rye. On a winter day, the corner of Chambers and Spring would be busy with kids coasting down Chambers towards Auburn Street. The only comparable coasting street was Cotting Street. If it were a summer day, you were likely to hear a man yelling, as he would sell his crabs from a pushcart surrounded by a flock of people and a swarm of flies.

A few doors down, you would see Percy Ross and his brother Paul selling their newspapers. During the evening, you would usually hear the cries of the men playing La Motta. Across from the Ross’s was our old friend Schnipper, who had the best display of fresh fruit in the West End. If you were on the opposite side, you would look in the windows of Harry’s Five & Ten, wishing you could afford some of the nice items he carried. I can picture a group of kids on bikes peddling by as they rang their bells. Usually the bikes were rented from Ralph Parazzi’s Bike Shop, and Franny Simmons was always riding with them – “The Midnight Rider.”

We now arrive near the corner of Poplar Street and can smell the fresh pastry of Silver’s Bakery, famous for cat’s eye pies. Christo’s was on the opposite corner and was always a busy spot. If an ice truck was anywhere in the area, a few of us would always be picking for ice on the back of it. Quite a delight on a hot summer day. We can all recall the ice men, lugging large blocks of ice on their backs up two, three, and four flights of stairs. They always had a rubber cape on their backs and a pick at their side. We can also recall the pickle man, as he made deliveries of his delicious kosher pickles. You would invariably see someone tasting the pickles inside, as the pickle man was in one of the stores.

As we arrive near the end of Spring, we would come to Joe the Greezer’s where you could hear the “ping ping” of the pinball machine, as Buddy Marino was throwing in another nickel. Finally, we come to the end of Spring Street.

A walk along any street would have you passing many neighbors sitting in front of their homes chatting, and many others hanging out their window sills, resting their arms on a pillow as they had the best seat in the house. You would also see kids playing kick the can, relievo, buck buck, red-rover, and punch ball. Well, maybe the West End was taken away, the one thing they can never take away is our memories… And they are great.