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It's a little tough to make out, but this is Silvestri's gas
station before it was owned by the Silvestri's. It was Solazzo's gas station first. The photo's on this page were all taken in the 1950's. Boy, not much traffic at the intersection of Forest & Richmond Ave's here huh?
This is the first rendition of Silvestri's gas station. This is not the same building that we grew up with. That came later.
Look at this beauty! Guess where this building was standing? The Log Cabin was a very famous nightclub in the 50's. It stood where the Mcdonalds now stands at Forest & Richmond Ave's. Pretty cool huh? The building to the far right is the beginning of Pop's candy store. To the rear was "The Grove". The neighborhood used to have football practices there. And if you look to the far left, you can just about make out a couple houses. Joe, maybe one of them is your's!
This shot was taken from Silvestri's looking out to the Log Cabin & Pop's. How cool is that car? Still, I don't see any traffic on Forest Ave!
Look at this shot. This is the same intersection of Forest & Richmond Ave's. That's the Orchard Inn on the left before it ever became the hole in the wall that we knew. Back then it was Shapiro's grocery store! And the building across the street used to be Ralstons Deli. My uncle Joe Hughes used to deliver groceries on his bike when he was a kid. But we knew that building as the Pork store. Now it's the Garden Center.
Look at this beauty! Standing on Forest Ave looking at the Richmond Ave intersection. This is the Heart of our whole neighborhood in one photo. Silvestri's to the left. And look above the houses on the left, do you see them? The chimney stacks from P.S.22. To the right is the awning from the pork store. Across from that is Shapiro's (The Orchard). Then Conduittes candy store (Pop's). Then the Log Cabin (Mcdonalds). And I only see 2 cars in motion here! Isn't this just the weirdest thing to be looking at a place where we grew up, even before we ever knew it was going to be the greatest time of our lives! Man, hanging out really was just so great, wasn't it? No cares, no worries! Just singing, drinking, softball and, oh yeah, a little school mixed in! I hope this picnic thing works! It would be awesome to see EVERYONE in the same place at one time again!
OK. Do you know where you are? You are standing on Forest Ave, beneath what is now the overpass right next to Perkins Restaurant facing towards "The Plaza". That first pole on the left is Trantor Place. To the right will one day become I.S.51 school playground. You see that billboard to the right that says "Christmas Tree"? Well right below that is a sign that says "Bayonne Bridge" with two arrows pointing down Trantor Place. Do you see the angled street between the pole and the truck? Thats the street that leads to where Brother's Pizza is now located. And still....I only see 3 cars in motion!
