Letters from Our Readers:

In a message dated January 8, 2010, Ellen Cohn Levy writes to Rockaway Memories

Hi Marty,

When I was born in July, 1939, we lived in that scary huge old Norton House at the corner of Mott and Dickens. Later, we moved to Brooklyn, then to Corona. We finally returned to Far Rockaway moving across the street to the third floor of 2360 Mott Ave. Our huge house had earlier been converted into three apartments, one on each floor. For many of the years we lived there, Cookie and Barry Juran were the kids on the second floor. When the Jurans moved David and Milton Hayden replaced them. David Newman was the boy who lived on the ground floor. My first friend, who lived next door, was Carol (Solomon) Marston.

My dad was Henry Cohn, the town locksmith and auto glass wizard. He had trained Artie Levecove. Artie graduated FRHS with me in 1957. Unfortunately, they are both deceased.

When I got my working papers my first job was toiling in the kitchen at Broad Channel Day Camp. I also remember working in W.T.Grant's department store after school. I was a cashier in Popular Cottons for many years. I purchased my first bra at Barney Young's store. I remember Barney's daughters, Anita and Carol. When I became 16 I was permitted to work at night as an "Usherette" at the Pix (Gem) Theater.

I met my hubby Chuck Levy (deceased) at the State Diner. We raised three children. They all attended schools in the Rockaways.

My memories, my nostalgia are so strongly tied to the Bayswater/Rockaway community. As a child growing up there life seemed simpler,safer and more innocent.

I feel blessed by my Rockaway heritage. I am also very fortunate to have enjoyed the second half of my life living in San Diego.

Thanks for this marvelous site.

Ellen Cohn Levy