John was born in Hudson. His mother came to the United States as an indentured servant from Poland to work for the Tamarin Brothers. They had a store on Front and Warren Streets. She saved money to send for John’s father who made harnesses and barrels in Poland. They bought a farm in Greenport. The first year they had cows to milk and brought the milk into town to sell. The crop was poor that year. The second year, after John was born, the crops were good. They filled the barn. But lightning struck, burning down the barn and the house. After that his father went to the Lone Star Cement plant and worked there for 35 years. In the late 1920s, the family lived on Columbia and First Streets near Front Street. It was mostly a Polish area and they lived near the Polish Church. The Irish lived near St. Mary’s Church and the same with the Italians, the Jews, etc.
John’s parents moved from the enclave of Polish neighbors, church, stores, etc. and bought property on 5th Street. It was important to be “American”. No Polish was spoken at home. There were few language classes so when John learned to read, he helped his mother learn too. Eventually she also got her citizenship paper and became an interpreter for friends and neighbors. She helped them do whatever or go wherever they needed to go. She did not accept cash; instead people brought eggs or bread as a thank you.
Friday and Saturday were big nights in the city. The Salvation Army on 6th Street was playing instruments and collecting donations. There were three dime stores: Woolworth, Kresge’s, Newberry’s, an Army & Navy for men’s work clothes, a haberdasher, a tailor, doctors, lawyers and more. Between 3rd and 4th Streets on Warren Street was a town newspaper, lawyer, bakery, liquor store, sports stores, restaurants, and churches, all on one block. Between 6th and 7th Streets was the main drag, the only block with a gas station and a paint store. Blocks of bars were prevalent but John and his friends would only go inside to shine shoes.