Readers Respond: The best and worst of Middle Village

What do like about Middle Village these days? What can't you stand? What do miss from the old days?

Great place to grow up

My parents bought their house in 1939 as the subway was just built in Queens and my Dad could get to work in NYC. I grew up on 83 St. and Eliot Ave. and my Mom lived there until age 94. I attended Resurrection- Ascension School from 1950-58, learned to ride a bike in Juniper Valley Park, worked in McCrory's Five and Dime store on 63 Drive, shopped in Alexander's Dept. Store on Queens Blvd., and enjoyed the amusement park where the mall is now. There isn't room for everything but I still love Queens.

—Guest Joan C

Where is this reunion in Florida?

Lived in 77th place i lived in the ps49 schoolyard!!! 1960-70s

—Guest Geoff Chambers

merrill oltchick

Born in 1933 and lived in Middle Village until 1955. Knew everyone since we all attended PS 87. Today, 2012, there is a Middle Village reunion every year in Florida with about 200 attendees. Contact Spencer Werwick iin Tampa for dates and information. PS Contact me for thr real lowdown on living and enjoying the early years.

—Guest Merrill O.

Charlie R

Grew up at 64-38 78th Street off of Furmanville Ave. Went to St Margaret's from 1950-58. Great memories all around. Lived there until 1974. Many changes since then. The owners sold off Shrimpe's flow farm which is now rows of 2 family homes. Some multi-story, multi-family residences have ruined the feel of 'Mudville'. Most of the old stores are gone now. Sad. But I still have great memories of Juniper Valley Park, PS 49 schoolyard, the Arion, the Drake. Great kids on my block to play with. Remember playing punchball on 78th street (had to stop when the Q38 bus came rumbling thru. Played tag, redlight/greenlight, take a giant step, stoop ball, etc. Loved Halloween. One man on 79th St used to give us a quarter (a lot of money in the 50s). We would rearrange our costumes and go back several times. The best neighborhood to grow up in.

—Charles.Rosenburg

Growing Up in MV

Wow! My mom & dad bought a house on 71st & Penelope in Aug '58. I was almost 6 and ready for school at PS 128. In that summer and several more, we still had pony rides, the knife sharpener (on a wagon), milk & soda deliveries (milk had glass bottles w/the little cardboard tab tops), and the bakery truck stopped by once a week! What great memories of riding my bike to school, especially in the Fall, with all the leaves on the ground on 70th St. I remember seeing The Blob at the Arion in '58, for my birthday. And my 1st day in Miss Manthey's class, where I fell in love with a little red-haired girl named Susan Batja! The '60s were a great time...playing drums in a band, being in "Sings" at Cleveland HS, taking the "M" to "The City" and wandering around The Village and Wash Pk, taking the bus to Jamaica and hanging out at The "Head" shop...Carlo's Pizza, the matball subs across the street at the restaurant (can't recall the name), hanging out at the handball cts. So much more!

—RonP007

The best of middle village...

I grew up in Middle Village . I was 10 yr's old. My family lived there 40 yr.s You were able to walk the streets at 4 am. It was great, Metropolitan ave was the best. All the great stores were up there. The old library mobile truck, A &P , Bohack and the Arion theather. I grew up and moved far away, but still have freinds, great friends , I made years ago. I go back and relive my childhood days.

—Guest Cathy

Miss it

Moved to Middle Village in 66 when I married my wife who was already living there. Moved to 74St then bought a home on 84St across from the apartments, that was a mistake. Moved out in 95 and now we live in the woods of Ma. Miss being able to walk to the Dairy on 80St and the great feeling just to walk on Metro. Ave.

—Guest Vincent

Best and Worst

Best-Juniper Valley Park I love the small town feel great place to grow up.The worst thing is all the cars in the area and you never get to park by you house.Also tearing down older houses and building multiple units in thier place to many people to many cars.

—Guest Nancy at 77st

Middle Village has my heart! Services

I was born and raised in MV and couldn't be happier. The neighborhood is clean and always improving. The neighbors are friendly and its always easy to get around. We have some great places to eat and you can find entertainment almost anywhere you go. You probably have even seen me running around with my camera for years filming movies or taking professional video or photographs (something I have done for most of the residents in this fine neighborhood). If you are ever interested or need professional photographs or professional videography, feel free to contact me and my team. BriSavesMemories Photography & Videography http://www.BriSavesMemories.com (Plenty of samples and testimonials). All the best! Brian

—Guest Brian O'Neill

Reunion

I don't know if many of you remember me, but I grew up in the village in the fifties. I am now 74 years young. Each year with the exception of 2010 I have been having a reunion at Abbracciamento's formally The Drake Theater. This year it is being held on September 10, 2011. If anyone is interested please contact me @ 631-957-3561 or e-mail keuling2@yahoo.com . Thank you & Stay Healthy George (cueball) Keuling

—cueball123

Public driveways adjacent to 76th Street

My husband has lived in Middle Village, since he was a toddler, so that he could make friends. There were not that many children at the time his parents moved to Middle Village, NY from Hempstead, NY. I married my husband Walter, and we inherrited his family one dwelling house that was willed to him upon his parents death. Middle Village is like any other neighborhood, it's the type of people who communicate with each other and help each other in good and bad times. We reside on 76th Street, and my concern is the public driveway in the back needs to be repaired. There is no drainage when it rains, and new sewers need to be put in. The property in back of the dwellings need to be re-cemented as well. As I am a Middle Village resident, I have not seen any changes. That issued has to be addressed. Otherwise I enjoy living in Middle Village. I am a hop, skip away from Juniper Park.

—Guest Marie

neighbors

we had the best -- ruthie, freddie, and mrs weis as neighbors. the worst of middle village, is that we all grew up!!!!!

—Guest pat

Middle village

I grew up in Middle village. we moved there in 1965. it was at its peak. The ave (metro) was full of great stores, John bargain store, arion movie house, schienfields flamm mortys jewerly store and lincoln card. you could walk the streets 4 a.m., those were the days.

—Guest cathy

Middle Village

I concur that Niederstein's is sorely missed! Some years ago I was a big fan of Kopp's Bakery (the original - owned by the Franks). I went there so often that the ladies working behind the counter would just ask me, "The usual?" It was a pound of "finger cookies." Ha! I'm still trying to take that extra poundage off. Trunz Meat Market was on the corner from them and you could always get a good deal on their packaged filet mignon. Across the street (Metropolitan Avenue) was Harrison's Department Store. One could get any size garment needed at great prices. Parking was always a good walking distance away.

—Guest Anita

The other side

I grew up in the NE corner of Middle Village @ Woodhaven Blvd and 63rd ave, not what most consider Middle Village. JV Park was great even though it was not well maintained in the 70's..I spent many days there playing ball and catching tadpoles in the small pond near the track. One of the greatest things was Niederstein's..it had great food back then and we spent many special occasions there. I'm sad it is gone, but we still have London Lennie's which has always been awesome. I worked at the Drake theatre and also enjoyed the Arion which is now a drug store. Now there's some cookie cutter theatre off 80th Street. I'm afraid the best is gone..long live London Lennie's seafood restaurant!

—Guest Mike previously from Middle Village