It
was our own neighborhood entertainment center. If it was important, it happened in the stadium. It sits there still on Bloomfield Avenue, like a
miniature of the Coliseum in Rome, extending the whole block, back to First
Avenue. You could go there to see evening Little League games, or watch the
industrial leagues playing fast-pitch softball. Under the big lights you spent an enjoyable summer evening. As the smudge red sun set in the humid night
air, you might be holding hands with a girlfriend or just killing time with your
buddies, watching the action.
It always seemed to be open. We often
wandered in after dinner from one of the two gates on First Avenue where the Little League diamonds seemed always in
use. For the big events you entered from the Bloomfield Avenue side. If no
industrial leagues were playing you could use the track for a run, or just walk
around and enjoy the atmosphere.
When I was small, my cousin Teresa and her boyfriend Bob-now married for almost
35 years- used to take me there all the time for an ice cream cone. My cousin
“Babbers” and Uncle Mickey played in the industrial leagues. Uncle Mickey
did so long past others his age.
As I got older, I would make the walk from home on 5th Street, and be back home
about 9:30. No lurking dangers from a night walk back then. Everyone would be
sitting out on their porches or walking around. It was completely safe. If the
events were not so great, we might detour over to First Avenue School and play
some basketball. Back then the playgrounds were lighted and open from 9 AM to 9
PM with chaperones like "Mr. Bell" (Belmonte) a big brother and
teacher to many kids in the area.
In the Fall afternoons, it was high
school football, most likely a Barringer home game; or perhaps some Saturday night you might watch The Newark Bears play
their semi-pro games. The smell of popcorn, fresh peanuts, hot dogs, pretzels,
and occasionally some “sneaked –in” beer made for a happy, cheering crowd.
There were visiting sporting events, track and field competitions, exhibition
games featuring softball greats, and once I remember seeing open air
professional wrestling there-certainly not the extravaganzas you see on TV
today.
The Fourth of July events were always
memorable. The fireworks, mixed with brilliant ground displays, made for a
magical event. How the aerial bombs shook my chest and scented the air with
gunpowder---an aroma often smelled the following day. You did not have to sit in
the stadium to enjoy the fireworks. Sometimes, to avoid the big crowds, we just
brought some lawn chairs to an open area between the houses on my street, or to
an empty lot and watched from there. The bright flashes of light and the
resounding "booms" that resonated down your street gave you an eerie
feeling.
Many a romance bloomed there at the
stadium----a hurried and exciting kiss under the stands in your favorite
“smooching place”. I’ll bet the kids today still do. Good kissing places
never go out of style.
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