Paul Barrett (b. 1954)
('Click' on the lower part of the class photo at right for a larger class photo image)
[Editor's Notes] Paul was the wise-guy and comedian in the Barrett family while growing up in Jersey City. Although I
don't recall any specific incidents, I know many times he had me laughing with the things he said and did.
I do recall that both Paul and myself had an interest in electronics back then. We were always playing around with copper
wires and electronic components such as resistors and diodes.
Paul's memories of these bygone years are hilarious and I still get a chuckle when I read them. I'm sure you will too.
Memories & Anecdotes
I was sitting on the toilet one day when mom went down the stairs to get the newspaper. That was a windy day and as she was going out,
the door behind her slamed shut locked; I guess I was about three years old and still sitting on the toilet. Mom had to
get a policeman to go to Mrs. Boxer's house next door and climb from her roof onto ours and unlock the door. What a day that was.
I remember us making a Go Kart out of a milk crate and an old pair of roller skates and a 2 x 4 piece of lumber. We were very inventive.
I remember one night mom and dad went out for the first time and we had a baby sitter that night. Ruthy made some cookies but
we didn’t have any sugar. So she used salt instead. Those were some nasty cookies.
I remember making money during our lunch time at PS #12 school by collecting soda bottles at Lincoln High School.
[Oh, Lord]. I recall my brother Joey having his first girlfriend. Daddy picked her up and James and me were in the
car. We both laughed.
I remember the day when Joey was sitting on a chair in the living room a bullet came through the wall. A policeman was chasing
someone and he gave him a warning shot. The policeman came into our house and measured
where the bullet came in; Joey was blessed thank God.
One day while working with daddy, he stopped at George Talbert to pick up some work. Myself, Joey, and James were standing outside
the car and decided to throw rocks. We hurled rocks but James hit the glass door and broke it. Daddy came running out the building
mad. I believe that James' whipping was the worst he received in a long time.
One thing daddy always did was butt his head on the wall. We were scared of daddy butting our heads ... that was a weapon.
We enjoyed seeing dad putting on his light blue pants. We knew than that we were going to the park.
I recall the time on Harrison Avenue that we wanted a dog so dad got us a puppy. It was black. The only problem with our puppy was
we didn’t train him so he would mess up and down the stairwell. Well daddy got rid of him and Joey cried.
At church time on Sundays in Jersey City usually us older ones would go to Long Island with Elder Bickers. He was a fast driver.
One day he came to our house and blew the horn. We came running down the stairs. I was the last one getting into the car and he began
driving away while I was half way in the car.
We also enjoyed buying ice cream at Brummer's ice cream parlor at the Junction on Sundays.
We didn’t have a summer vacation because we always worked with daddy. And after work there was summer revival at Deacon Rains'
church on Communipaw Avenue. He was a relative of our neighbors the Pettifords.
James was the problem child in the family. He always got into trouble and mom had to take both of us wherever she went.
Church was wonderful downstairs; dad was a musician and he played the guitar and piano. We all had to sing a song. Oh boy, what a
time we had in church.
Ruth Armstead (b. 1952)
('Click' on the lower part of the class photo at right for a larger class photo image)
Memories & Anecdotes
Ruthy remembers some of the games we used to play as children
growing up on the sidewalks of Jersey City. One of these games was called O-U-T, Out. It was played on the sidewalk which
consisted of two side-by-side squares.
This game used a rubber ball and had four players each standing in his/her
own square. The object was to hit the ball to each other with the palms of the hands without letting it touch the line which
separated the squares. If any player hit the line with the ball, they were out.
We also played Hopscotch, jacks, and 1,2,3 Red Light. We had fun with tops,
hula hoops, jumping double Dutch, and going swimming. I remember Mr. Payne and his daughter who worked at the Municipal Swimming
Pool. I think his daughter was a life guard there.
Mommy used to leave us babies outside in the carriage by ourselves; you could
do that then, but not today.
Lois Bulle (b. 1955)
Of all the Barretts, myself included, it turns out that Lois has the most detailed memory of all. She remembers a lot of what
we did and happened in the old days. For instance, she remembered that I was among my brothers and sisters who sneaked into the
Monticello Theater (my father wouldn't allow us to go to the movies).
I don't remember being with them at the time.
Memories & Anecdotes
James Barrett (b. 1953)
Photo left shows James in a high chair (I have no idea what it is he's looking at). The photo at above right pictures him with his
lovely wife, Debby.
Memories & Anecdotes
You should have seen your dad and the entire Barrett clan during our days growing up in Jersey City. Somehow all 12 of us, 10
children all one year apart from each other in age plus mom and dad, use to stuff ourselves in one little car with a spare tire
tied to the roof! Ooh Rah!
Eventually, dad drove a station wagon with the third, rear-seat facing the traffic. That's where the Barrett boys sat during our long
drives to the country to visit mom's family. You better believe we hated every wave and funny look as drivers passed us on the highway;
dad wasn't the fastest driver around! Inside we thought, "Dad, speed up; the speed limit is 55 MPH!"
In those days, lunch was prepared by mom and packed in the car with a big jug of kool aid and soda mixed together to make a refreshing,
mouth-watering cool drink! Mmmmm! I can taste that red-colored liquid right now! Wow, that must have been a big jug which was able to carry
enough ice cold drink to quench the thirst of 12 people with some nectar left for later!
By the way, we needed that drink to help wash down those delicious, cold-cut sandwiches! We didn't know anything about McDonald's or
Burger King back then; money was tight! Funny thing, even now as I reminisce about those early years, as I sit here typing just a few
years older than my dad was during those trips, I still pack my lunch brother!
God brought us through without missing a meal on his meager income. You see, he never completed the third grade, and he lived his life
by faith in a God who could and did supply all our needs! I tell you what, dad worked hard and relentless well into his latter seventies!
Now, that's another story for another time! Maybe one day I will be half the man he was!
