Carol Marston Letter

Dear Stevie,

I grew up in Bayswater, attended P.S. 104 and graduated FRHS in 1956 (yes, with the notorious Bernard Madoff), but I did not know him.

The O'Kane building brings back some wonderful (but sad) pre-teen memories. In the 40s and 50s, the first floor of that building went through many businesses. The displays in the arched windows constantly changed according to whom the place was rented to that month or week! During the late 40s when I was way too young to wear lipstick, I passed the east window and saw the most beautiful display of lipsticks by Goubaud of Paris. I couldn't help it, I went in and pointed to the palest, delicate shade of pink I'd ever seen. The saleslady was kind and asked if I wanted it. I said I did, but would have to wait until I was old enough to wear it.

Every time I'd walk past the O'Kane building (which was almost daily) I'd stop and stare and the coveted tube of lipstick. I even asked my mom to look at it, but she wasn't impressed. I knew I'd have to wait until 1952 to wear lipstick (freshman year at FRHS) but asked if she'd just buy it and put it away for me...which got a raised eyebrow and definite "NO!" So I kept passing the window, knowing from the past that one day the magical item would be gone...and so it was one day when I saw the "For Rent" sign on the window. I wanted to cry.

A couple of years later I took art lessons from Sara Pincus, whose studio was on the other side of the tracks from the O'Kane building. It never failed to cause a pang of sadness when I walked to art class past that wonderful window I wished still contained the simple desire of a pre-teen.

Sincerely,

Carol (Solomon) Marston, VP
FRHS Online Alumni Association
lebaroness2@cox.net

Dear Carol,

Thanks for sharing that meaningful and poignant story! It is memories such as these that are worthy of reflection and give dimension as well as add value to our youth. We were so fortunate to have grown up at just the right time -- the middle of the 20th Century, and having experienced our formative years in Rockaway adds the proper "dressing" to the salad of our lives.

I lived closer to Seagirt Boulevard and I seldom if ever walked so far west on Mott Avenue as to pass by the O'Kane Building. However, I DO remember those arched windows you mention but in my day, the ground-floor store was rented by either a real estate developer or a travel agent -- I really don't remember which one it was. Having had some personal detailed medical examinations done in Forest Hills during the early 1960s, I needed several copies of certain doctors' reports and in my quest to make those duplicates, I was directed to the O'Kane Building -- where ultimately I paid a quarter each for several pages. Back in those days, the copies were made "wet" -- a process which took a bit of time and I had to spend about twenty minutes waiting while the work was being done.

As to the art school "across the tracks" -- I assume you are referring to the two-story office building at the east side of the O'Kane. I don't remember an art school being there but it might have been on the upper level. Back in those days, Far Rockaway commercial space was at a premium and seldom was a store front or loft vacant for any length of time.

	Letters from Our Readers: In a message dated April 21, 2010, Carol Marston writes to Stevie S. Stevens

	Carol Marston with her grandson Michael, April, 2010
	Dear Stevie, I grew up in Bayswater, attended P.S. 104 and graduated FRHS in 1956 (yes, with the notorious Bernard Madoff), but I did not know him. The O'Kane building brings back some wonderful (but sad) pre-teen memories. In the 40s and 50s, the first floor of that building went through many businesses. The displays in the arched windows constantly changed according to whom the place was rented to that month or week! During the late 40s when I was way too young to wear lipstick, I passed the east window and saw the most beautiful display of lipsticks by Goubaud of Paris. I couldn't help it, I went in and pointed to the palest, delicate shade of pink I'd ever seen. The saleslady was kind and asked if I wanted it. I said I did, but would have to wait until I was old enough to wear it. Every time I'd walk past the O'Kane building (which was almost daily) I'd stop and stare and the coveted tube of lipstick. I even asked my mom to look at it, but she wasn't impressed. I knew I'd have to wait until 1952 to wear lipstick (freshman year at FRHS) but asked if she'd just buy it and put it away for me...which got a raised eyebrow and definite "NO!" So I kept passing the window, knowing from the past that one day the magical item would be gone...and so it was one day when I saw the "For Rent" sign on the window. I wanted to cry. A couple of years later I took art lessons from Sara Pincus, whose studio was on the other side of the tracks from the O'Kane building. It never failed to cause a pang of sadness when I walked to art class past that wonderful window I wished still contained the simple desire of a pre-teen. Sincerely, Carol (Solomon) Marston, VP FRHS Online Alumni Association lebaroness2@cox.net Dear Carol, Thanks for sharing that meaningful and poignant story! It is memories such as these that are worthy of reflection and give dimension as well as add value to our youth. We were so fortunate to have grown up at just the right time -- the middle of the 20th Century, and having experienced our formative years in Rockaway adds the proper "dressing" to the salad of our lives. I lived closer to Seagirt Boulevard and I seldom if ever walked so far west on Mott Avenue as to pass by the O'Kane Building. However, I DO remember those arched windows you mention but in my day, the ground-floor store was rented by either a real estate developer or a travel agent -- I really don't remember which one it was. Having had some personal detailed medical examinations done in Forest Hills during the early 1960s, I needed several copies of certain doctors' reports and in my quest to make those duplicates, I was directed to the O'Kane Building -- where ultimately I paid a quarter each for several pages. Back in those days, the copies were made "wet" -- a process which took a bit of time and I had to spend about twenty minutes waiting while the work was being done. As to the art school "across the tracks" -- I assume you are referring to the two-story office building at the east side of the O'Kane. I don't remember an art school being there but it might have been on the upper level. Back in those days, Far Rockaway commercial space was at a premium and seldom was a store front or loft vacant for any length of time.	I want to thank you so very much for sharing your personal memories with me. I hope you derived some enjoyment from reading my article "Some Historical Buildings" as displayed on the website. Over a period of time, many of my childhood recollections will be presented and perhaps you will be kind enough to keep in touch and continue to give me your own thoughts as well as valuable critique on my writings. I wish you and yours the very best of health and continued happiness. Stevie S. Stevens Hi Carol, Thanks for copying me on your email to Stevie Stevens. I enjoyed reading your recollections of Far Rockaway stimulated by the O'Kane Building article. Coincidentally, I also took an oil painting class with Sara Pincus. Do you remember her companion, Some elderly Italian guy? I believe his name was Toto ( but not the dog in the Wizard of Oz). Rochelle Shapiro, who graduated FRHS in 1964 also studied with Sara Pincus and was in some of my classes. I still have all of my paintings from that class tucked away somewhere in a dusty valise. I thought the Smithsonian might have some use for them some day! Best wishes, Marty Nislick Hi Marty, Toto Tamburino, the dirty old man!! Sara was madly in love with him! Love is truly blind. One of the ladies I met at the 100th in 1997, Alice Botein-Furrevig, class of 1966, also was a student of Sara and still paints. They became very close and Sara went to Alice's wedding. I wasn't the only girl who thought bad things about Toto. Ali told me several stories about him. Ugh. I stopped painting after high school because we moved to Chicago the day I graduated and my mom didn't shlep my easel, etc. She figured if I wanted to paint, I could find an art teacher like Sara in Chicago because it would make too much of a mess in our high rise apartment. Back in Far Rockaway we had a basement for messy stuff. I had to laugh when you mentioned your old paintings might be treasures in the Smithsonian. Here's why: when my father was transferred to Chicago, he was VP of advertising for PaperMate. His office was in the Empire State Building. Gillette bought PaperMate in December 1955, and their home offices back then were in Chicago's Merchandise Mart. All the NY employees either had to move or quit. I'd made a painting for my dad's office. It never made the trip to Chicago. I've often wondered if it remains in the Empire State Building, but (and this is horrible) I can't even remember the subject of the painting. I was into horses, landscapes and waterscapes; Toto would take the brush out of my hand and start dabbing here and there...especially tree leaves. He WAS a good artist, but God, what a horrible personality to foist on little girls. He did teach me the art of using a mall stick, something that has stayed with me through a zillion years of applying lipstick with a brush, pinky firmly planted on my chin. Glad you enjoyed the piece I sent to Stevie...feel free to use it, if you'd like. Regards, Carol