Alexander's jewelers used to be my grandfather, Alex Kowalczuk's watch and jewelry shop. Our family moved into the area Started by my great grandfather, (Alex's father), who came from Poland. Built by hand, an old all-Red brick house about 5 blocks away was passed down and lived in later, by his grand daughter,
great grandchild, and lastly by a great grandson who also inherited the jewelry shop. I remember peeking around the watch desk in the shop as a small child, peering at all the fine tools and shiney watches ready to be fixed by my grandpas hands and magnifier dressed eye. All looking from above at the raised tool desk in the back corner. I remember too, when he passed, finding all sorts of "treasures" in the tiny drawers of a desk we were never allowed to touch. It was like finding doors to the secret garden. I remember my grandmother finding an index box with unclaimed watches or jewelry and the family names still attached. With these names In hand, she sought out each and every surviving member of those names that she could, and returned the families item. She found much joy in the laughter, surprise, sometimes tears, sharing the stories and reliving old memories with each return. I hold onto a child's memory in those neighborhoods of all the Italian and Polish immigrant families, and hold dear all the photos of the family members married at St Casimir's. I was the last in our family line, to go to school and grow within that church.
I will never forget our Girl Scout troop meetings in the school basement or the fall festivals, turkey bingo in the old hall with the bar in the corner or the quick bagging of paczki donuts with all the old ladies before church got out.
Though Alexander's jewelers is now a part of the neighborhoods history, so too the neighborhood changed. No more real Deli sub shop, real Italian pizza joints or the fun we had at the big ceramics shop. But I still hear Yarussos is still there! Someday we will make it back.
Last year brought my brother to see the old family brick house, we left before he was born, and shared our family history of the neighborhood. He never knew what roots we had there. I hope some of that history in stories will continue to go on.
To all my childhood friends: The Domiers, Hanes, Parbellas, Florins, Yarussos, Morelli's and the ones I've forgotten, hope you are well. read more
