New Britain herald., 1928-08-11
oliver Street IS
NOW WELL known
Comes Into Its Own as Smith
Birthplace

A>S" IN @NNb' - WV SeAS N'AS
birthplace and home of a candidate
for president of the United States
with peoples getting its place in
the sun.
Within a radius of three blocks
in all directions Of the crumblAg
pile OF bricks that at one time was
the house in which Governor Alfred
E. Smith was born, residents know
the "Guvnor," know that he is rum
ming for president. and probably
direct the curious to the highlights
of the Smith youthful environment.
Women wearing jenny models.
men wearing extensively tailored
suits step out of limousines and
taxicabs and meekly ask to be
shown the house where AL Smith
was born.
Asked for information, women
wearing calico dresses sagging over
shapeless work-worn bodies and
men whose clothes defy all CLASH
fication. except that of covering
them, direct the tourists first to 25
Oliver street as the place that was
Smiths home in his early married
life and then to the RACED structure
on South street where he was born.
''What's Going On?'
Say what's going on down there
at Oliver street." asked one of New
York's finest as he swung the
Bowery traffic about him. Whats
everybody going down there for?
You're about the eighth person
who's asked me that this morning.
Some swell looking women went
down there, too. Think I'll have to
investigate" and one Of a pair of
very blue eyes winked confidential
".
Down the elevated darkened
Bowery eight blocks from the SUBJ
way entrance wends the pilgrimage
to Oliver street, which swings un-
c--1r~~,-u.y off at Chatam Square.
The first block OF it is wide, clean,
and there five doors from the ele-
waited is-25 Oliver street.
A. black hearse before the little
narrow stone steps that lead to an
entrance that Is squeezed between
dozens of similar entrances along
the street fulflls the large under
takers sign in the window.
yeah volunteers what must be
an undertaker's apprentice. Gov
ernor Smith kept this place right
up until three .years ago, even
though he was In Albany. And he
still comes here and visits a lot.
Everybody Knows Him
Sure everybody around here
knows him. And lois of people who
don't live around here. too. I guess.
They're always bothering us. Folks
from way uptown"
From the former Smith home
Oliver street leads into the East
river at South street, in the shadow
of the lacework of Brooklyn bridge.
Its three blocks become narrow.
with kittens scraping in the cutters.
babies rolling over one another, and
vendors of everything from hot
boiled corn on the cob to suspen-
ders.
where little, al" played as a young
ster and where he had his first busi-
ness experience as a newsboy every
body knows where to direct visitors.
A black haired. black eyed fat lit
tie woman sitting on the only porch
the neighborhood boasts pointed out
the house that has been torn down.
That's what everybody wants to
see all right. It's a shame they had
to go and tear it down. just when
We all had a reason for showing 1t
off," she complained.
president? ] don't know whcth-
err he will be or not. You see, peo-
pie have to vote first You know
how 1t goes? They vote and then
there is another president. OF course
labor has got a lot to say about 1t l
guess" she sagely concluded.
Hes a good fellow. He comes
down here lot. And he always
brings something you know" said
the guide.
'Yeah--candy,' supplemented \
ten year old who was clinging to the
guides skirt.
The four blocks of oliver street |
and the turn around the corner to
the house a block away on South |
street are crowded with humanity. |
humanity that is proud of its men,
Der who has gained fame, and hui
manity that is eager to show Off us
neighborhood and to bask bit III
the reflection of having known Smith |
way back when"
AK