2003:

Mr. Coleman:

I myself grew up in Stapleton between the years 1962 and 1973 and was greatly surprised to see your site while surfing the net. Growing up in 597 Van Duzer St., we lived right across the street from Horrmann's Hill. I was wondering if you know of or can suggest any good books concerning the North Shore and particulary Horrmann's Hill.

I know exactly what you mean refering to Van Duzer St. being changed from a two-way street to a one-way. Until it was changed I was allowed to cross the street by myself. Once it went from a two-way to a one-way and the cars roaring down St. Paul's Avenue, that little bit of freedom was not permitted anymore.

Thanks for your time -- and you do have a great site.

-- Marty Petosa, January 13, 2003
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2002:

Wow! I just took a trip back in time and enjoyed every minute of it! I am an ex-New Yorker who currently lives in San Diego. I was born and raised in Brooklyn and, as many of my fellow baby boomers did at the time, got married and moved to Staten Island. The marriage didn't last very long, unfortunately, but I then spent a couple of years living the single life there and commuting back and forth to Manhattan. The memories . . .

I lived there for four years and when I was looking at the photos, it brought back to mind the blizzard of 1977. I was living up on Grymes Hill near Wagner college (you mention Staten Island being the highest point on the eastern seaboard. You might want to also add something about the view up on the hill back to the bridge. Awesome . . . ), and I had problems driving up to my house that night, the streets were so slick and that hill is so steep. I was just back there recently and I have a friend who still lives up on the hill. We took a walk through Clove Lake park, which used to be one of my favorite places to go. In fact, there is a question I get a lot about missing the "seasons" living in Southern California and I reply that one of the few things I miss is going to Clove Lake park in the fall and seeing the trees turn color. I have dozens of photos I took while walking through there.

I could go on for a lot longer here, but I am actually at work right now. I was eating my breakfast and reading an article in ComputerEdge, which is a weekly computer magazine that is published here and in Denver (I am a technical writer for a software company) and came across an article mentioning this web site. I jumped on my browser and thoroughly enjoyed the brief respite from my daily "grind." This site has already been bookmarked and will definitely be revisited. Thanks for the memories.

It was fun "going back" and I will check out the site in more detail when I have the time. Thanks again.

-- Jim Sanfilippo, December 6, 2002
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Hello there. I moved from Staten Island to Saratoga Springs, N.Y. in August of 1996. Ahhhh, my old home of 22 years will never be forgotten. My son was born at St. Vincent's Hospital 5/82, and my daughter, also, on 8/86. I lived on Van Duzer Street (470, 482, and 466), the old gardens pictured in your blizzard of '77. I wasn't there in '77, but moved there in late '78.

So much has changed, especially the new ballpark. I thought I was seeing things in the picture. I've yet to come back down and visit. I know I will, probably in the spring. I miss my old home, changed though it might be. I know I'll shed some tears for the missing World Trade Center, again, as I cried watching on TV. How many times did I sit parked with my kids in the car, eating Burger King, gazing over the water at Manhattan, and that soaring edifice.

I wish you all well, down there. I love Staten Island . . . always did, and always will. Long story as to why I moved up here. It's beautiful here, too, to be sure, but my heart is and always will be down there. Thanks for the fond memories. God bless.

-- Kris Cammisa, November 16, 2002
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If stuff like this was going on on Staten Island in my day, I might never have left for the big city. Very nice.

-- Doris Lane, June 13, 2002
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Dear Mr. Coleman:

I was surfing the net and found a reference to Gelgisser Hardware in an article you wrote, "Everybody from Everywhere." The reason for my search is that I married the granddaughter of Harry Gelgisser, the original owner of Gelgisser Hardware. The apartment you rented was probably the apartment my father-in-law, along with his brothers and sisters, grew up in.

I am trying to gather information about my wife's family so that it is not lost as the generations go by. If you could provide any anecdotes or observations that you had regarding the apartment and forward them to me I would be most grateful. Thank you.

Sincerely,

Herm Livingston, May 2, 2002
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I enjoyed "Island Living" photos. Left SI in 1976 and haven't missed it, except for occasional nostalgia.

-- Debbie (the mailman's sister), April 25, 2002
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2001:

Hi. I just stumbled onto your "SI Living" (I believe) webpage, and was very pleasantly surprised. I lived on Staten Island for 18 years and was glad to find some perspective on the place that wasn't written in a sycophantic chamber-of-commerce manner. S.I. was a, shall we say . . . interesting place. Thanks for bringing back the memories.

-- Neal (Brooklyn, NY), May 3, 2001
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© Copyright 2002 by A. D. Coleman. All rights reserved.
By permission of the author and Image/World Syndication Services,
P.O.B. 040078, Staten Island, New York 10304-0002 USA.