Joe's Apartment
Joe's apartment in the Bronx was the corner building on the right next to the 183rd Street Station of the 3rd Avenue El. His apartment was actually level with the tracks (the 2nd floor). The building in the background was St. Barnabas Hospital, where Joe's mom worked for many years. This photo was taken in 1973, just before demolition of the el. Joe and I lived only a few blocks apart. We walked around the neighborhood growing up in the 1950s. Went to the same school 1952 - 1960 Our Saviours Elementary School, rectory, church and classrooms right on the corner of Washington Ave. and 183rd street. Joe told me a story about when they were shooting the movie The Incident (1967). While the film crew was shooting the scene from across the street, Joe's mother peeked through the blinds. When you watch the movie, pay attention and you can see her arm moving the blinds. Joe and I spent a lot of years together, visiting each other's houses. After we graduated in 1960, we lost contact for many years, until Joe organized these reunions on Arthur Avenue. We met many times in the early 2000s and walked through the neighborhood, reminiscing and taking photos. We revisited Our Saviours and even got a tour of the classrooms. We met in the Arthur Avenue Market and walked across the street to our favorite restaurant. Our last time together was in May, 2017.