Federal Hill Reveries circa 1957

R.I. Time Lapse: Looking back at Federal Hill

That Federal Hill scene arouses Proustian memories, although I was born in 1947 . In that year my grandparents ( Ludovico and Andreana Ruggieri ) were listed in the Providence Directory as residents of 62 Gesler St - a tenement house still there . My brother Rick and I would spend a week with them in summer ( circa 1957 ) .

 On the way to Holy Ghost Church early in the morning we would pass by these fruit stands and stop and buy fresh peaches and juicy red plums on the way back to the house. Later in the hot sunny afternoon Rick and I would " learn to swim " at the Angelo Zuccolo Pool.

 Back then there was high diving board and you could plunge into the ten feet deep pool water. 
At night in bed in an eerie bedroom lit by holy candles I could smell the Italian bread being baked at the  DeSantis Bakery. 

Earlier one night Grandpa took Ricky and me to see two horror films at the Columbus Theater : " The Fly " and " The Amazing Colossal Man " -which gave Grandpa nightmares.

It gave Grandpa Ruggieri nightmares

 He was listed as " cobbler " in 1922 Providence Directory. He did miss the Old Country. One day we learned that Grandma's brother - whose " Pizzeria " business failed- drowned himself out Narraganset Pier. He left a short note : " No flowers ". Down the street was a sinister place called " The Clubhouse ". " Stay away " , we were warned.

The Federal Hill pool today