Newark Talk

[Joey George]

This is the mystery school of Newark. It was born around 1850 and died in 1958. It was a three story brick school that served grades K-4 for the kids living between Arlinton Ave and Chester Ave (S/N) and Summer Ave and the Passaic River (W/E).

The demise of Summer Place school was hastened after a big fire destroyed and killed several students in a small old school in Chicago. Shortly afterward, the Newark Fire Department declared Summer Place unsafe, as it, among other things, had wooden floors. Immediately after the closing of the school, in the early spring of 1958, all the students finished the school year at Elliot St School. Afterwards, in 1959, the kids were divided-up, some attending Summer Ave School and some attending Broadway Elementry.

The building sat vacant for many years afterward. Today, a new building stands in its place that still serves children...a day care center.

My memories of Summer Place School are fond. It was the small farm school located in the big city. Every spring we had a small carnival in the playground. The day we left, we all cried.

I left Summer Place School in the first grade. Some of the people I remember are:

Ms Conlan (Teacher -Lincoln Ave)
Ms Cronan (Teacher)
Ms Becker (teacher)

Boonie Irving Chester Ave E...to Broadway Elem
Larry Irving Chester Ave E....to Broadway Elem
Joe Gamma Lincoln Ave.....to Summer Ave
Carl Memel Broadway....to Broadway Elem
Maria Mannachio Wakeman Ave.....to Summer Ave. I believe she eventually married Joe Gamma, above.
Donna Morris May St.....to Summer Ave
Robert Lane Wakeman Ave......gto Summer Ave
Elizabeth Lordi Lincoln Ave...to Summer Ave
Feeni Schmo Chester Ave E....to a life of crime; shot/killed by police in 1971 on N Broad St after he fired at them.
Joey George ....to Broadway Elem


There were others whose names I cannot remember.

Oh...I cannot leave out the wonderful crossing guard at Broadway and Chester, Mickie, from Summer Place, who continued crossing children until her death in the late 60's.