Happily, my column is causing old memories to resurface in the minds of many

Auburnians. Jimmy LoPiccolo, who once lived at 2 Wallace Ave., called me the other day to share some thoughts about Columbus Street, and many of the events that took place in that area during the 1950s and '60s.

His old neighborhood is one that I had visited many times in the past, since I had good friends there, living on Wright Avenue, Wallace Avenue, Underwood Street and Lafayette Place.

As he spoke of the people who lived there and the businesses they frequented, I remembered much of the history of what Jimmy referred to as “Little Italy.”

As he mentioned family names, I realized that I knew most of those people, or their families. Butchie Marrapese, who lived on Wright Avenue, was a very close friend, and Sam Vitale, who lived on Columbus Street, was the best man at my wedding. Sam worked at Indelicato's meat market in his younger days.

The building where Indelicato's Market is now was once Jimmy Vitale's chicken market, while Indelicato's was originally located on the southwest corner of Columbus Street and Lafayette Place.

Jimmy remembers the day that he was standing in front of Vitale's market, in the mid 1950s with Stan Warwo, Peter Basile, and Jimmy and Frankie Netti, when they saw a farm truck, loaded with peas on its way to the canning factory. It was a tradition for young boys in the neighborhood to grab peas from the truck while running along side. On this day, Mr. Vitale, often called “Mr. Jimmy,” flagged down the truck and spoke to the driver. While they conversed, the boys removed a few of the yet unprocessed vegetables from the vehicle. I would guess that Mr. Vitale was thinking of the safety of the young adventurers when he took this action.

As Jimmy described his memories, he characterized the area as a self-sustaining community, with food markets, restaurants, barbershops and workplaces such as American Locomotive, Columbian Rope, The Box Factory and many small industries never heard of by many of the city's inhabitants.

The Saint Francis playground was a focal point of the area, where many “fiestas” were held, such as the Saint Rocco's Bazaar. This was a yearly event, where one could go to enjoy the finest Italian food, usually prepared by talented, hard-working ladies, who brought their art from “The Old Country.” Rides and various amusements were available to the public, and the fireworks display at the end of the evening was beyond comparison. The Shrine Circus was also held on these grounds, where an elephant once escaped and broke out through the playground fence.

Jimmy told me of the time he, Stan Wawro and Lawrence Porter were at the playground when the news that Hurricane Hazel was on her way, reached local parents, who came and brought their children home. The three boys did not leave, but climbed into a Pepsi truck, which was parked at the edge of the playground, near the bottling plant, and rode out the storm in the shaking and tilting vehicle.

I don't remember this, but I was told that Tripiciano's restaurant on Columbus Street, in the late 1950s was Auburn's Arnold's of TVs “Happy Days,” with booths, a soda fountain and a rock and roll juke box.

Wouldn't you like to see this today?

The area even had its hobos, who followed the railroad tracks and warmed themselves at fires built under the tressel behind Sperky's car lot. They left their legacy of empty wine bottles, but apparently caused no trouble.

Many of my readers may remember Nick Daddabo's barber shop, when haircuts were 25 cents, or the Columbus Street Restaurant, run by Joe Graceffo in the 1930s. Jimmy LoPiccolo's Godfather. Jasper Gucciardi, remembers Mr. Graceffo as the most respected man in the neighborhood, always ready to help people in need. He was called “Good Man Joe.” His restaurant was later operated by Frank Ciula, who was later succeeded by his son Tony.

Jasper also noted that the neighborhood's Caruana brothers, local mucsicians and song writers, played with the Mitch Miller Orchestra, and were seen on TV on the “Sing Along With Mitch” show.

Other memories may include Bissi's corner store, Salemi's Restaurant, Sam Asaro's liquor store,The Little Gold Dollar Tavern or the houses on Kelsey Street, later removed for ALCO's expansion. And Joe Vitale called to remind me to mention Locastro's Restaurant, at the corner of Columbus and Orchard streets. He said, “It was one of the best restaurants in Auburn in the '40s and '50s.”

If you would like to share your memories, please call me at 252-0544 and we'll “go back” together.

Tom DeFurio is former town supervisor for Sennett.