Olga Torres

VAZQUEZ: In 1926 when you arrived from Puerto Rico, where did you come to live?

TORRES: 121 Sands Street in Brooklyn.

VAZQUEZ: Who did you come to live with?

TORRES: My parents.

VAZQUEZ: Anybody else?

TORRES: My brother and 2 sisters; Dolores and Petra--

VAZQUEZ: And what happened; what kind of a home was it, a tenement house?

TORRES: It was a private home.

VAZQUEZ: O.K. How many families?

TORRES: 2 families.

VAZQUEZ: How many rooms did you have?

TORRES: Five, railroad.

VAZQUEZ: What do you mean by railroad?

TORRES: They were straight. They weren't private.

VAZQUEZ: What kind of work did your mother do at the time?

TORRES: None.

VAZQUEZ: And your father?

TORRES: My father at the time was working for Grand Central.

VAZQUEZ: He was working for the Grand Central. What did he do for the Grand Central?

TORRES: Dispatcher.

VAZQUEZ: How old were you at that time?

TORRES: Approximately, 10.

VAZQUEZ: You came from Puerto Rico at the age of 10? At 1926, you were ten years old?

TORRES: No, 6.

[Interview interrupted.]

VAZQUEZ: Please tell me about school and the kinds of friends that you had when you came to New York. You lived in Brooklyn. You lived in Sands Street--

TORRES: Right. I went to P.S. 12 on Sands Street and I started in first grade. I did not go to kindergarten because of the language barrier. My friends, my teachers: excellent.

VAZQUEZ: I don't want to know that. I want to know about distribution. What was the ethnic distribution? What were your teachers? What were your friends?

TORRES: Americans, Italians, Irish, mostly Italians.

VAZQUEZ: But you said you had a language barrier? How did you communicate?

TORRES: How did I communicate? By signs.

VAZQUEZ: How about in school?

TORRES: Signs, writing in the board, some of my Italians teacher knew Spanish; 3:00very little, but Sicilian they knew. Spanish and Sicilian are very much alike.

VAZQUEZ: Were the teachers helpful to you?

TORRES: Yes, they were.

VAZQUEZ: This was what? P.S.--?

TORRES: P.S. 121.

VAZQUEZ: Where is P.S. 121 located?

TORRES: On Nassau Street.

VAZQUEZ: Nassau and what?

TORRES: Nassau and Navy--en la esquina.

VAZQUEZ: You were there to what grade?

TORRES: Six grade.

VAZQUEZ: And what teachers do you have? Do you remember who the principal was?

TORRES: Yes.

VAZQUEZ: Who was the principal?

TORRES: Mr. King.

VAZQUEZ: And what was he?

TORRES: Today? He must be dead.

VAZQUEZ: What was he?

TORRES: He was the principal. What was he? Mr. King, he was, uh, Polish.

VAZQUEZ: And most of your teachers were what?

TORRES: Italians. I had 3 Italian teachers, Mrs. Quinn, she was German--Composition.

VAZQUEZ: Did you belong to any other associations besides the school?

TORRES: We had at that time was what you called the G--GT, GO; General [unintelligible]. And we also belonged to sewing classes, and we belong to the--

VAZQUEZ: What about outside of school?

TORRES: Girls Scouts--

VAZQUEZ: The Girls Scouts?

TORRES: Yes.

VAZQUEZ: Where did they meet?

TORRES: We used to meet at 141 Gold Street.

VAZQUEZ: Where was that?

TORRES: Corner of Sands Street, Sister Carmelita's Catholic Settlement.

VAZQUEZ: Sister Carmelita's Catholic Settlement. Did you know Sister Carmelita?

TORRES: Very well, to this day I know her.

VAZQUEZ: Tell me something about her. Could you tell me something about her?

TORRES: Very intelligent woman, Sister. She was our catechism sister. She was our communion helper, and instructor. She was also our confirmation instructor. She was also my godmother, and she taught school for quite a number of years, and 'til this day, I believe she is 65, she just wrote a couple of books. She's still around.

VAZQUEZ: What else could you tell me about that time? What year was this? When you graduated elementary school, when you left, what school did you go to? Sixth grade?

TORRES: When I left the sixth grade, I went to P.S. 5.

VAZQUEZ: That was junior high school. Who was principal there?

TORRES: Yes, all the way through. Mr. Garlic, Jewish.

VAZQUEZ: Were your teachers there predominantly Italian?

TORRES: No, Jewish and Irish.

VAZQUEZ: What years are we talking about now? What year were you at P.S. 5?

TORRES: I'm talking about (36, 35?) '29, '30.

VAZQUEZ: About 1930? Where did you live in 1930? Were you still living at Sands Street?

TORRES: 242 Gold Street.

VAZQUEZ: 242 Gold Street, near--Where was that?

TORRES: Gold Street was near--It was between--Bridge?

VAZQUEZ: Bridge and Gold. Could you tell me something about the characteristics of the neighborhood?

TORRES: Beautiful.

VAZQUEZ: No, what did it look like? What kind of people?

TORRES: Old people, decent.

VAZQUEZ: What kind of stores did you have?

TORRES: We had grocery stores.

VAZQUEZ: What kind of grocery stores?

TORRES: What kind of grocery stores? Rice, beans. American, no Spanish grocery stores; they were strictly Italians; Italian grocery stores. And we had 2 delicatessens.

VAZQUEZ: Were the delicatessens Italians also? Jewish delicatessens.

TORRES: No, Jewish, Mr. Rabinowitz, I'll never forget that name.

VAZQUEZ: What else can you tell me about Gold Street and the neighborhood in which you lived? You said, now, it's predominantly Italian. We're talking about the 1930s--

TORRES: Right.

VAZQUEZ: And if you wanted any Puerto Rican products, where did you shop?

TORRES: We had to go to el Barrio.

VAZQUEZ: What do you mean by "el Barrio?" What is el Barrio?

TORRES: El Barrio is uptown; 115, 116th Street, Lexington Avenue, Madison Avenue, and we had to go to the Spanish market. That was the only Spanish market at the time.

VAZQUEZ: Are you telling me that you didn't have any bodegas or Spanish grocery 8:00stores in Downtown Brooklyn at all?

TORRES: No, we only had one bodega and that was Centavis, Pedro. He was the first Puerto Rican man who had a bodega and then, again, it was mostly American products.

VAZQUEZ: Is he still alive, Pedro Centavis?

TORRES: He just passed away 3 years ago.

VAZQUEZ: Were there any Spanish or Puerto Rican politicians at that time that you knew?

TORRES: Yes. We had Carlos Tapia, who was one of the most--a big man. We had Oscar Rodriguez--Celio Flores.

VAZQUEZ: Who was Oscar Rodriguez?

TORRES: Oscar Rodriguez was one of the big politicians and he had a club, Republican club.

VAZQUEZ: Where?

TORRES: On Prospect Street.

VAZQUEZ: Prospect and where?

TORRES: Prospect and Sands, where the projects is now.

VAZQUEZ: And you mentioned another name, Mr. Flores? Celio Flores.

TORRES: Celio Flores, Celio Flores was a big politician and also a very big bookmaker.

VAZQUEZ: A bookmaker?

TORRES: Bookmaker. He ran Brooklyn. He was the owner of Brooklyn.

VAZQUEZ: What do you mean, he ran Brooklyn?

TORRES: Well, he was the big boss.

VAZQUEZ: Of what?

TORRES: Of every--of numbers.

VAZQUEZ: What year are you talking about now?

TORRES: Talking in 19--at the time we reside in Adams Street--and I am talking about 1936.

VAZQUEZ: You had moved to Adams Street, 1936. And what was his first name, Flores?

TORRES: Celio Flores.

VAZQUEZ: Celio Flores. You said he was a bookmaker?

TORRES: A big man, a big man.

VAZQUEZ: But you said he was a loan shark, but he was also a politician.

TORRES: Yes.

VAZQUEZ: What do you mean by a politician? What kind of politician was he? Running--

TORRES: He was Republican and he was running for--He was running at the time of La Guardia, or something--He was running for Assemblyman.

VAZQUEZ: --for what? He was running for Assemblyman, for what district? What area?

TORRES: Brooklyn.

VAZQUEZ: Where in Brooklyn?

TORRES: From Adams Street to (Jackson Heights?) Brooklyn Heights--

VAZQUEZ: Who else did you recall at that period--from that period in the 1930s?

TORRES: Tapia.

VAZQUEZ: What did he do for the people? What did Flores do for the people?

TORRES: He was very good to people. He did a lot of things for people. He helped poor people, with money and getting them--at the time that we had the NRA--which is like relief now, and getting them to the Salvation Army. They used to feed the people, would give them food and drinks, milk and money.

VAZQUEZ: If I wanted to get in touch, with Celio Flores, where would I look for him?

TORRES: At his office.

VAZQUEZ: Where was his office?

TORRES: On Adams Street.

VAZQUEZ: Adams and where?

TORRES: Adams and Washington. Washington, yeah right.

VAZQUEZ: And you mentioned somebody else, you mentioned Carlos Tapia.

TORRES: Carlos Tapia. He was always--he also was a good man, big man, a big 12:00politician. But he was the type--he didn't have nothing to do with numbers. He was strictly a politician, where he was--very honest, a very honest man. He was shot to death.

VAZQUEZ: Was he honest? He was shot to death?

TORRES: Exactly, yes.

VAZQUEZ: Who else is there?

TORRES: Then we had Signorelli. He was Italian--

VAZQUEZ: Who was Signorelli?

TORRES: Well, Signorelli was a big mafia man. He was a big man.

VAZQUEZ: What do you mean by "a big man?"

TORRES: Well, what I meant by that was, he was a loan shark.

VAZQUEZ: Did he help Puerto Ricans? How?

TORRES: Yes, with money, with housing problems--

VAZQUEZ: What do you mean? How did he help them?

TORRES: The poor people; he used to get them apartments, used to send them to certain places to get them help, like the Salvation Army, and then we had other 13:00places that were similar to welfare, but not exactly.

VAZQUEZ: Where was Signorelli located?

TORRES: Signorelli was located on Pineapple Street. He had a very ritzy office there.

VAZQUEZ: Pineapple and what? What kind of an office did he have?

TORRES: He had a business office.

VAZQUEZ: What kind of business?

TORRES: They used to meet there just for politician business.

VAZQUEZ: Who else at that time was there in the '30s besides Signorelli, Flores, Tapia? Who else helped the Puerto Ricans that you remember, as a teenager? Did you ever--

TORRES: Raymond Rodriguez.

VAZQUEZ: Tell me about Raymond Rodriguez.

TORRES: Raymond Rodriguez, he was a real good man; he used to help everybody in every respect.

VAZQUEZ: What do you mean by "used to help everybody?"

TORRES: Run errands, lend them money, get them better housing conditions, send the poor kids to school, pay for them. He used to sometimes leave his job and come pick up his kids and bring them back home. Weekly he used to send them cases of milk to these parents that couldn't afford it. And to this day he is living. He is blind now and--

VAZQUEZ: Not totally, completely--

TORRES: No not totally blind, he is partially blind and he is about 70, because when we got married he was about 30 already.

VAZQUEZ: What else? Who else at that time?

TORRES: Then we have Farrulla. He is dead.

VAZQUEZ: Who is Farrulla?

TORRES: Enrique Farrulla.

VAZQUEZ: Who is he?

TORRES: Enrique Farrulla was one of the counselors.

VAZQUEZ: What do you mean by "counselors?"

TORRES: He used to help people--broken marriages--people who were just about to break up their marriages. He used to advise them and help them.

VAZQUEZ: He was a marriage counselor?

TORRES: Yes.

VAZQUEZ: Where did he reside? Or where was his office?

TORRES: He reside on--His office was also at the Catholic settlement.

VAZQUEZ: At the Catholic settlement? He worked with Sister Carmelita?

TORRES: Sister Carmelita and Father Ramis.

VAZQUEZ: Ramis?

TORRES: Yes, Ramis, he is dead today. He resided in Throop Avenue and Park at the time.

VAZQUEZ: And how did he help the Puerto Rican community?

TORRES: Counseling; he was very concerned about marriages that were to be broken 16:00and had children, and he was very concerned about children.

VAZQUEZ: Who else do you recall had an input into the welfare of the Puerto Rican community in the '30s?

TORRES: Slovasky, Mr. Slovasky. He is also dead.

VAZQUEZ: Who is Mr. Slovasky?

TORRES: The one that used to live at 204 Ellery Street.

VAZQUEZ: What did he do?

TORRES: He used to also help the poor people and he was very concerned about the Puerto Ricans. He did a lot for the Puerto Rican people.

VAZQUEZ: How did he do this?

TORRES: Also helping in getting them better homes and send them to different places to get money, get help. He did quite a bit for the Puerto Rican.

VAZQUEZ: What clubs or organizations were around in the '30s, helped Puerto Ricans?

TORRES: Yes, we had the Republican Club, the one in Adams Street. We had also the Vanguardia Puertorriqueña, which did a lot for the Puerto Rican.

VAZQUEZ: What was the Vanguardia Puertorriqueña?

TORRES: La Vanguardia Puertorriqueña was an association run by a few Spanish actors and actresses at that time, which there were very few; like Myrta Silva, Bruce Fernandez, Celia Cruz, Machito, Concepcion, Cesar Concepcion, Los 18:00Marcanos, el trio Los Panchos.

VAZQUEZ: Where was la Vanguardia Puertorriqueña? Where was it located?

TORRES: La Vanguardia Puertorriqueña was 181 Smith Street.

VAZQUEZ: Near where?

TORRES: Between Schermerhorn Street and Jay.

VAZQUEZ: What kind of services did that club provide? It was a social club operated by all these actors and actresses.

TORRES: Actresses. Right.

VAZQUEZ: Entertainers. What services did it supply?

TORRES: Well, they used to give functions and one or two dances a month just to help the people.

VAZQUEZ: To help what people?

TORRES: The entertainers; to get there, to get some place because it was just the beginning and they were very poor.

VAZQUEZ: In other words, this organization, this club la Vanguardia Puertorriqueña was primarily to help--

TORRES: La Vanguardia Cívica Puertorriqueña.

VAZQUEZ: La Vanguardia Cívica Puertorriqueña was there to help entertainers, 19:00Puerto Rican entertainers, get known and expose them?

TORRES: Right.

VAZQUEZ: And what other functions did la Vanguardia have?

TORRES: They were the ones that made Myrta Silva, Celia Cruz. Rafael Hernandez was the one that made Myrta Silva, you know.

VAZQUEZ: Who is Rafael Hernandez?

TORRES: He was a composer, a singer.

VAZQUEZ: Was he from Brooklyn also?

TORRES: No, he was from Puerto Rico. He used to visit Brooklyn. He never lived in Brooklyn. He used to come.

VAZQUEZ: Tell me why was la Vanguardia Cívica Puertorriqueña located in Brooklyn and not in Manhattan or in the Bronx or in another borough? Why Smith Street?

TORRES: Well the reason it was located in Smith Street, I believe, was because we had the most Puerto Ricans. We didn't have many at that time in Manhattan. In fact, we didn't have any Puerto Ricans in Manhattan at that time; maybe one or 20:00two families.

VAZQUEZ: So Puerto Ricans were concentrated in Brooklyn, Downtown Brooklyn?

TORRES: Downtown Brooklyn.

VAZQUEZ: Were there any other organizations that the Puerto Ricans belonged to in Brooklyn besides the Republican--? How about the Democratic Club? Any--?

TORRES: We had one, yes.

VAZQUEZ: Which one was that? Did it have any name or just Democratic Club?

TORRES: Just Democratic Club; that was run by Sergio Vazquez.

VAZQUEZ: Sergio Vazquez. And what happened to Sergio Vazquez?

TORRES: He died. [laughter]

VAZQUEZ: And what did he do? What did the Democratic club contribute?

TORRES: What did he do? Sergio Vazquez was also one of the counselors for this particular organization. He was the one that started up the little leagues.

VAZQUEZ: What do you mean by the little leagues?

TORRES: The little baseball leagues for kids; he was the first one to start in Brooklyn.

VAZQUEZ: For kids? In Brooklyn, Puerto Rican kids. Who else, what else?

TORRES: He used to give plays, dances around Halloween times, Thanksgiving--with little costumes, and whoever had the best costume won a lollipop, or a pencil. It was nice.

VAZQUEZ: Right. Who else, were there any other clubs? The Democratic club. When did the Bowlers Club come into existence, Downtown Brooklyn? Do you know the Bowlers Club, the Hernandez brothers' club?

TORRES: 1938.

VAZQUEZ: In 1938, the Bowlers Club, where was that located?

TORRES: Hernandez Club; sure, I think that they were located on Park Avenue 22:00between Tompkins--no on Delmonico Place near Tompkins.

VAZQUEZ: That was in the Williamsburg section?

TORRES: Right.

VAZQUEZ: Didn't they have a club earlier in the downtown area, Columbia Street or--?

TORRES: Yes. But I don't recall. That was--Daniel Santos had something to do with that; El Cantante, the singer.

VAZQUEZ: The singer? Where was that?

TORRES: Hicks Street.

VAZQUEZ: Did Daniel Santos live in Brooklyn?

TORRES: Yes he was born and raised in Brooklyn. He was born 115 Hicks St., Columbia Street, Columbia Street.

VAZQUEZ: Columbia Street. And he's still a popular singer?

TORRES: Yes, he is. And he resides in Mexico now.

VAZQUEZ: But he comes originally from Hicks St., Columbia?

TORRES: From Columbia.

VAZQUEZ: 115 Columbia Street. And he was connected with the club there, 23:00political club?

TORRES: Yes.

VAZQUEZ: What else can you tell me about that?

TORRES: I don't know too much about that. That was out of my section and my mother was very strict. She didn't go to the dances--

VAZQUEZ: You don't know too much--What other organizations do you recall; political organizations in the downtown area here that Puerto Ricans had contact with?

TORRES: La Cívica Puertorriqueña?

VAZQUEZ: What was la Cívica Puertorriqueña?

TORRES: La Cívica Puertorriqueña was the club to--they started to--they wanted to build a Spanish hospital for the Spanish people. They started, but they never finished.

VAZQUEZ: Where? Where was the hospital supposed to be opened? What was the--?

TORRES: Haverstraw, New York.

VAZQUEZ: What was the purpose of this hospital? Why did they need this hospital?

TORRES: They needed it because they thought that the poor Puerto Ricans needed a hospital and if they had their own hospital they would be doing better than going to the American hospitals because they couldn't speak the language. With the purpose of hiring Spanish doctors and Spanish nurses.

VAZQUEZ: What year was this?

TORRES: This was already in 1939-1940.

VAZQUEZ: And who was in charge of this la Cívica Puertorriqueña?

TORRES: Los Viruets; Paco Viruet, Andy Viruet, Nillo Viruet, Frankie Viruet; he was the engineer, he was the architect.

VAZQUEZ: Architect. Now wasn't la Viruet family also involved in numbers?

TORRES: He still is.

VAZQUEZ: Who still is?

TORRES: Millo, Emilio Catalan, right.

VAZQUEZ: Emilio Catalan Viruet. Wasn't Paco Viruet also?

TORRES: Yes, but he retired now.

VAZQUEZ: He retired from the numbers.

TORRES: Yes, he is too old. He is in Florida.

VAZQUEZ: Weren't they the first Puerto Rican bookmakers in the neighborhood?

TORRES: Yes.

VAZQUEZ: But you mentioned somebody else before that, Celio Flores? He was the first--

TORRES: He was the one, he was first, and then he started them, yes.

VAZQUEZ: The Viruets. Why do you think that there was a market even then for numbers among the Puerto Rican population? Do Puerto Ricans play a lot of numbers?

TORRES: Yes, they still do.

VAZQUEZ: Did they play a lot of numbers then?

TORRES: At that time, yes.

VAZQUEZ: Would you say that that is one of the characteristics of the Puerto Ricans in Brooklyn or in New York City in general?

TORRES: Yes.

VAZQUEZ: How about political affiliations aside from the clubs that you mentioned? Did you know any other politicians that were well known at that time? 26:00You mentioned LaGuardia was well known. Did the Puerto Ricans like Fiorello LaGuardia?

TORRES: No, LaGuardia; very much. He was a good mayor. Al Smith was a good mayor.

VAZQUEZ: The Puerto Ricans liked Al Smith?

TORRES: Very much.

VAZQUEZ: That's Alfred E. Smith? Alright.

TORRES: Yes.

VAZQUEZ: Who else? Did you ever hear of a man called Jaime Kelly? What about other clubs? Do the--Did the Puerto Ricans feel discriminated against here at that time?

TORRES: Yes, definitely, we were, very much so.

VAZQUEZ: By who?

TORRES: Especially Italians.

VAZQUEZ: Were they assisted by people like Signorelli, an Italian man?

TORRES: Yes, Signorelli; he was an exception to the day he died, and in fact, he married a Puerto Rican girl.

VAZQUEZ: What other exceptions did you have besides Signorelli? Were there other 27:00Italians in the community that assisted the Puerto Ricans?

TORRES: No, they were very much against them.

VAZQUEZ: Where there any Puerto Rican theaters or movie houses in the community?

TORRES: Not at the time.

VAZQUEZ: What year was the first one and which was it?

TORRES: El San Jose, in Harlem.

VAZQUEZ: El San Jose? No, I am talking about in the Brooklyn community.

TORRES: Oh, the little Gold house, the Gold Theatre-- [laughter]

VAZQUEZ: The Gold Theatre was a Spanish theatre?

TORRES: The Gold Theatre was the first Spanish theatre.

VAZQUEZ: Where was that located?

TORRES: Gold Street.

VAZQUEZ: Gold and where?

TORRES: And Sands Street, right across the street from us; 5 cents show, three features, cartoon--Mickey Mouse--

VAZQUEZ: Cartoons. Didn't it have a little diner next door that you could buy frankfurters?

TORRES: Yes, five cents.

[Interview interrupted.]

VAZQUEZ: The Gold Theatre came into existence, that was the first--what year?

TORRES: You mean the Gold? The Gold was around '38.

VAZQUEZ: 1938? And when did the Heights come into existence, downtown here?

TORRES: --Into existence, '42, or '41-'42. Before that, Alba Theatre came in Spanish.

VAZQUEZ: Now before you--You went from Sands Street to Nassau Street. How many years did you live in Nassau Street?

TORRES: On Nassau Street, about 10 years, because my school was around that way.

VAZQUEZ: After Nassau Street, what happened?

TORRES: After Nassau Street? That's when we moved to Gold.

VAZQUEZ: And after Gold Street, what happened?

TORRES: After Gold Street, we moved to Adams Street.

VAZQUEZ: And how long did you live in Adams Street?

TORRES: The rest of my life, until I married your father.

VAZQUEZ: What year was that?

TORRES: 19--[inaudible] 1939.

[Interview interrupted.]

VAZQUEZ: Please tell me what happened after 1939. You said you were married in 1933 and you lived--you were living in Gold Street when you got married. And then you went to live at 226 High Street after you got married. And from there you went to Williamsburg. But prior to that, while you were living at High 30:00Street, you had a son who was born at Cumberland Hospital. Were you attended by--did you have any Spanish-speaking doctors at the time there?

TORRES: Right, No, no one, there was never anybody there by that time.

VAZQUEZ: Was there any language problem there at the time?

TORRES: No, I didn't. No.

VAZQUEZ: Could you tell me a little bit about your experiences at Cumberland Hospital--?

TORRES: At the time that I was there, during my child was born. I was treated very well. And, at that time, we had to stay in the house for fourteen days. I had a beautiful healthy baby, so, I was very happy. And I was discharged after the end of fourteen days. I was very pleased.

VAZQUEZ: How did you stay, living in High Street, after your child was born?

TORRES: After my child was born, I lived on High Street two years.

VAZQUEZ: Where did you move to then?

TORRES: After that I moved to 204 Ellery Street.

VAZQUEZ: What kind of a neighborhood was 204 Ellery Street?

TORRES: Already was changing.

VAZQUEZ: What do you mean, "changing?"

TORRES: When I first moved, it was pretty good?

VAZQUEZ: What do you mean, "pretty good?"

TORRES: Well, it was straight up. There were poor people, but they were decent people.

VAZQUEZ: What kind of poor people, what were they?

TORRES: Puerto Ricans.

VAZQUEZ: Mostly Puerto Ricans. You lived mostly with Puerto Ricans?

TORRES: In my building, they were all Jewish. We were the only Puerto Rican family.

VAZQUEZ: How about Italians? Was there a lot of them?

TORRES: They were next door. Across the street we had two Puerto Rican families and on the side of the building where we reside, they were all Italians.

VAZQUEZ: [unintelligible] from the area?

TORRES: We had one, two, three--We had about five Puerto Rican families at a time.

VAZQUEZ: And the others were Jewish. Did you have--What were the stores like?

TORRES: Jewish. We had one Puerto Rican store and that was Rogelia. We had another Puerto Rican store--no, we had an Italian store, that was Joe Felito, Italian fella. He died recently. Gusomano was on the other side, Gusomano was on Delmonico Place.

VAZQUEZ: Gusomano? And the candy store across the street was Gusomano's?

TORRES: That's right. Then we had a little fountain candy store; Ellery and--

VAZQUEZ: That was on the corner of Ellery and Throop. Who owned that?

TORRES: --Throop. Gusomano owned that. Sure. Then we had the school across 148th--

VAZQUEZ: Gusomano owned that? Tell me a little about the employment; the world 33:00of work. Your friends and neighbors, what places did they mostly work at? Or where--

TORRES: Factories.

VAZQUEZ: --were they working? Yeah. What kind of factories?

TORRES: Clothing, shoes, ties, scarves--

VAZQUEZ: Garment district.

TORRES: Garment district.

VAZQUEZ: Did you know of any Puerto Ricans that worked in the Brooklyn Navy Yard? Were there many?

TORRES: Yes, I knew three of them. At the Navy Yard because they were very prejudice.

VAZQUEZ: Only three working? You are talking now about the '30s and the '40s.

TORRES: Right.

VAZQUEZ: Tell me something else. You were talking earlier about la Vanguardia Civica Puertorriqueña where Puerto Ricans in Brooklyn went for their social activities and entertainment. Were there any clubs? Other clubs, between the 34:00'30s and the '40s, where Puerto Ricans would join, would congregate for recreation purposes?

TORRES: No. We had dancing halls. We used to go dancing.

VAZQUEZ: What halls?

TORRES: Lenruth Hall, and you had the Central Palace.

VAZQUEZ: Lenruth Hall. Where was Central Palace?

TORRES: On Broadway between Park and Flushing.

VAZQUEZ: On Broadway, between Park and Flushing was the Central Palace.

TORRES: Central Palace. And we had the--

VAZQUEZ: The Imperial.

TORRES: The Imperial, which was also on Broadway. We had the Arianata which is still there.

VAZQUEZ: These were all the clubs that catered to the Puerto Rican community.

TORRES: In Brooklyn.

VAZQUEZ: Where is Lenruth Hall? Or where was it?

TORRES: On Waverly Street and Myrtle Avenue. And that's finished, that's gone.

VAZQUEZ: Could you tell me generally what you feel is the lot of the Puerto Rican? Has the Puerto Rican come a long way? Still in the same place; socially and economically?

TORRES: I think that they have come a long way.

VAZQUEZ: What do you mean? How?

TORRES: I do believe that most Puerto Ricans are doing very well in both ways.

VAZQUEZ: What do you mean both ways?

TORRES: Socially and economically.

VAZQUEZ: Who are the prominent Puerto Ricans now that really helped Puerto Ricans, you think? Do you have the equivalent of Carlos Tapia, or Cerio Flores, 36:00or la Familia Viruet or Sergio Vasquez? Do you have any of those or that type of individual today?

TORRES: Yes, we have. Well, the only ones we have--

VAZQUEZ: In Brooklyn.

TORRES: --the Viruets, they are all living.

VAZQUEZ: And are they still active in the Puerto Rican community?

TORRES: No.

VAZQUEZ: So who is active in the Puerto Rican community?

TORRES: The only one that's active is Millo Catalan Viruet. He's quite active, still.

VAZQUEZ: How is he active? What does he do?

TORRES: Well, he has something to do with the community. He is doing some social 37:00work now.

VAZQUEZ: What do you mean, "social work?"

TORRES: He is doing--in other words; he is--trying--helping people, financially, and trying to get them better homes, which he has done for a quite a few people that I know.

VAZQUEZ: Didn't you go to school--and your sister--go to school with Celia Vice?

TORRES: Yes, we did.

VAZQUEZ: Could you tell us something about Celia Vice; how she contributed to the community?

TORRES: I think she has contributed quite a bit. I think she has done a pretty good job in every respect and she still is.

VAZQUEZ: In what capacity?

TORRES: Well, I think she has done pretty good as far as her community is concerned.

VAZQUEZ: What was she doing during the 1940s? Did you know her, associated with her?

TORRES: She was a politician. She was always running for something. She is very active. She is never still. She was always doing something.

VAZQUEZ: Before we close could you tell me about other Puerto Ricans that you heard in passing during the '30s and the '40s--besides the ones that you mentioned, that you maybe have just heard their names mentioned? Never met. Were 39:00there any others?

TORRES: Well we have Eugenio Muñez.

VAZQUEZ: Who is Eugenio Muñez?

TORRES: He was a Puerto Rican lawyer and a big--

VAZQUEZ: Where was he located?

TORRES: He was located in Sands Street.

VAZQUEZ: Where on Sands Street?

TORRES: Most of the time he lived in my house, because he is Beatrice's Godfather.

VAZQUEZ: Who is Beatrice?

TORRES: My sister.

VAZQUEZ: And he lived in your house and he was a lawyer. Is he alive today?

TORRES: He is a lawyer. Yes. [inaudible]

VAZQUEZ: Where does he reside now?

TORRES: Puerto Rico; in the country club community, I think it's in Isla Verde.

VAZQUEZ: He is retired?

TORRES: Retired. Yes.

VAZQUEZ: He's still living there?

TORRES: Yes. He is also a poet and he's also a writer.

VAZQUEZ: And he worked here?

TORRES: He worked here for many years.

VAZQUEZ: He was a member of the--He was very active in the Puerto Rican community?

TORRES: Yes.

VAZQUEZ: What did he do for Puerto Ricans?

TORRES: Like I told you, he was a writer and he used to compose poems and he used to go around these clubs and--

VAZQUEZ: Was he a Democrat or a Republican?

TORRES: A Democrat. Excuse me. Que es Jesus Campos?

VAZQUEZ: A Puerto Rican Nationalist, Independentista.

TORRES: That is what he is. He still is. And he is very famous, Mason--Masonic--

VAZQUEZ: Mounier. [inaudible] Could you tell me more about anybody else?

TORRES: Eugenio Mounier. That I would remember? We had Mercado.

VAZQUEZ: Who was Mercado?

TORRES: He died, also. He was the second Puerto Rican lawyer that came to this country.

VAZQUEZ: Who was the first?

TORRES: Eugenio Mounier.

VAZQUEZ: Eugenio Mounier, he was the first Puerto Rican lawyer you know in Brooklyn--

TORRES: That I know.

VAZQUEZ: And the second one was--

TORRES: Mercado.

VAZQUEZ: What's his first name?

TORRES: Manuel Mercado, he drowned.

VAZQUEZ: Where?

TORRES: Sheepshead Bay.

VAZQUEZ: He lived in Brooklyn?

TORRES: He lived in Brooklyn.

VAZQUEZ: Where?

TORRES: Nasssau Street.

VAZQUEZ: On Nasssau Street. Do you know anything about the first Puerto Rican doctor?

TORRES: The first Ruerto Rican doctor--the first Spanish doctor was Dr. Perez; he was from Madrid España. Then we had Chalissant, he was a Cuban. And then we 42:00had Dr. Saez; he is still on Tompkins Avenue. He is a Puerto Rican.

VAZQUEZ: Was Mr. Mercado, was señor Mercado active?

TORRES: Very active.

VAZQUEZ: In what?

TORRES: As a lawyer.

VAZQUEZ: As a lawyer for the community. What did he do for the Puerto Rican community and what year are we talking about?

TORRES: Well with Mercado, we are talking about 1944.

VAZQUEZ: And he was Downtown Brooklyn?

TORRES: Court Street.

VAZQUEZ: Active? What did he contribute, do you think, to the Puerto Rican community?

TORRES: Really active. He--in most of the cases for the Puerto Ricans, they were so poor they couldn't afford to pay. In most cases, he let them go without paying.

VAZQUEZ: What kind of cases did most of the Puerto Ricans get involved with that time?

TORRES: Criminal.

VAZQUEZ: What kind of criminal?

TORRES: Murder.

VAZQUEZ: What kind of murder? What do you mean "murder?"

TORRES: Well, they use to fight and they use to forget about it--and at that time they used to fistfight and then forget about it--and then months later they would come back with a hammer and hammer you down or hit you over the head or bring a dagger and cut your legs and then they'd just drag you to the river.

VAZQUEZ: Was this common?

TORRES: Very common. It used to be the Puerto Ricans against the Italians. This was constantly. Every weekend, there was a big fight. That was Italians' entertainment.

VAZQUEZ: Beating up Puerto Ricans?

TORRES: Beating up the Puerto Ricans.

VAZQUEZ: The Puerto Ricans then didn't have any gangs or any organizations--?

TORRES: No.

VAZQUEZ: --That protected them?

TORRES: There was nobody to protect them, but this Mercado used to really help a 44:00lot. Until, then the Puerto Ricans decided that they should have a gang too, and the gangs started around Columbia, Hicks Street, Red Hook.

VAZQUEZ: What year was this, the Puerto Rican gangs?

TORRES: This started 1941, '42, '43, '44.

VAZQUEZ: Do you remember any of the Puerto Ricans gangs' names at that time?

TORRES: Yes.

VAZQUEZ: What were they? These were teenagers?

TORRES: Los Diablos de la Cruz, and we had another one, Los Changos, and we had another one--Teenagers--Conmigo no te metas. And they had that written in the 45:00sweaters at that time; they didn't have any of these decorated things, so they used to take white thread and red, and they used to sew it, and put red thread on top of it.

VAZQUEZ: Repeat those gangs again.

TORRES: Conmigo no te metas, Nosotros somos Changos, El Diablo y la Cruz--

VAZQUEZ: That's it? Those were the 3 biggest gangs?

TORRES: Yes.

VAZQUEZ: Now where were these gangs located?

TORRES: They were around Columbia, Hicks Street; and Red Hook. They originated 46:00from there.

VAZQUEZ: From Red Hook?

TORRES: From Red Hook.

VAZQUEZ: All three?

TORRES: All three.

VAZQUEZ: Did they ever fight against each other or just against the Italians?

TORRES: No, they use to fight against Italians and Irish.

VAZQUEZ: Do you remember any of the Italians' gangs at that time?

TORRES: They had one named after the boys, these boys on pictures, the bad boys [inaudible]. It's very common, seen on television, you know, the East Side Kids.

VAZQUEZ: Where were they located? These were Italians or--?

TORRES: Italians. Yes, also around Columbia Street and Hicks Street.

VAZQUEZ: What other gangs?

TORRES: They had another Italian gang--

VAZQUEZ: Or Irish gangs?

TORRES: I don't remember Irish gangs--But I know there was another Italian gang called "Catch Me if You Can."

VAZQUEZ: That was their Italian name?

TORRES: Yes. They were bad, those were bad. They used to carry daggers, knives, spades.

VAZQUEZ: Do you think that the Puerto Ricans have improved, as far as the world of work goes or the education?

TORRES: Some.

VAZQUEZ: What do you mean, "some?"

TORRES: Some Puerto Ricans have.

VAZQUEZ: Have they moved faster or the same as other, as other immigrant groups?

TORRES: No, they have moved pretty fast. I think they are doing very well.

VAZQUEZ: Why do you say that?

TORRES: Why do I say it? Because I am among them every day and I know the ones that are improving and the ones that are not improving.

VAZQUEZ: Is there anything else you would like to say before we end; any comments--?

TORRES: No comments, but I will say this: As far as my parents are concerned, and my family, I think my mother and my father did a wonderful job and I think that if every parents do what my parents did, it would be a better world.