The Early Years

 

This was written by my mother in February 1980, and reprinted in a history of our family book by my sister Louise on my birthday October 12, 1982. It is slightly edited by me for grammer only because Mother never lost her Italian language.

"Our first child, Simeo Anthony Gallo was born October 12, 1929, a Saturday. What a joy we had to have our first son born at our home at 401 Congress Street, a beautiful baby. He was circumcised on my dining room table. It was something new to us, but the doctor said it was something good to do for health purposes - but he cried so much. He grew up very active and fast, crawled all over at 6 months old and walked at 8 and one-half months. We were very proud of him. After three years he had a little sister that he loved very much, never was jealous of her, protected her, and she never left his side until later life but still happen to be in touch as often as they could. We love you Sam as far away as you are. You are the one that Angelo took you all over with him. I am so proud and your Daddy is too of his son. Have a nice life and enjoy your family as we did ours. My father used to tell stories about our childhood around the fireplace but now days the TV interferes so I did tell you a few things here. We love you and may God bless you.

Love, Mother."

 
The memory I have of my earliest childhood is the birth of my sister Louise when we lived in an apartment on Crane Street. The photo here was taken in 2014. My parent's bedroom was off the living room and had several windows that made the room bright. And for some reason I remember a party my parents had once but for the life of me don't remember who was there. I guess because as a child the sounds of so many people in our home at one time rested in my brain. Another recollection about Crane Street had to do with our "Ice Box." We did not have a refrigerator. The Ice Box sat on a porch. When Mom needed ice she would hang a placard in the front window. One position read 25Lbs, the other 50Lbs. People often wonder how my mother could maintain a kitchen with just an Ice Box. I remind them in answer that one block in all directions was a grocery store. Mom's "cubboard" was just down the street.

After my sister was born, we moved to a two-story house at 1234 Main Street in Mont Pleasant. I have not been able to determine if we were renters or if Mom & Dad owned the house. We lived on the second floor which makes me guess we were renters. Owners usually lived on the first floor. I don't have much memory about that house, but as I come across events to refresh my mind, I'll add them here.


 

I relate to most of my youth living at 1260 Main Street, the second house my parents purchased just a few doors down the street. The history of that period until I went into military service is found throughout this book. My parents purchased two more houses, the first a ranch style all brick home in a suburban area of town, technically Rotterdam, although that first house was quite close to the Mont Pleasant area. The last home they owned was across from Mont Pleasant High School.

 

 

___My parent's homes after Shirley and I were married ________

Tower Avenue, Rotterdam, New York

1092 Forest Road, Schenctady, New York