I was born and raised on 131st Street, between Lenox and 7th Avenues (now Malcolm X and Adam Clayton Powell Boulevards). At the east end of the block, there was a drug store owned by Mr. Kantor. The Barrow family owned and operated the grocery store above it. [There was] a cleaners owned and operated by Mr. Richards and his wife, who assisted with the tailoring. Across the street was a plumbing company owned by Mr. Houlihan, whose apprentice, Ken Taylor, became a licensed master plumber. The apprentice took over the business, and Ken Taylor Plumbing still exists today.

Near 7th Avenue, Mr. Marshall owned a candy store, and the children loved his generosity. In the same building, a laundromat, owned by Friendship Baptist Church and operated by its members. These businesses were adjacent to the world famous Lafayette Theater. In the middle of 131st stood Friendship Baptist Church, a pillar in the community, pastored by Rev. Mumford and, in 1947, by Dr. Thomas Kilgore Jr. The church was responsible not only for providing a place to worship, but programs for young people and adults: bible school; Boy and Girl Scout programs; summer programs, etc. Rev. Kilgore interacted with residents from one end of the block to the other, and was respected by all.

On the west end of the block there was a liquor store and bar — "Matthew's" and the "Admiral." Both establishments were well-supported by a small group of men, constantly in attendance, but they were also protective of the children and adult residents. Dr. C. Augustin Petioni, father of Harlem's beloved Dr. Muriel Petioni, a distinguished, articulate man, with a handle bar moustache, had his office at 114th West 131st Street. Muriel Petioni’s practice was later in the same office as Dr. Savory, and C. B. Powell, who owned the Amsterdam News. Judge Thomas Dickens and Judge Amos Bowman were the judicial representatives. Ms. Andrews was a music teacher at P.S. 68. It was memorable to live on the same block with a teacher ‘who looked like you." A well-known music family, Mr. Watkins, his son, Willie, and daughter, Helen, directed choirs, wrote music and taught piano lessons.

Back then, Blumstein department store, on 125th Street, hired very few blacks. However, an elevator operator lived on the block, and she was a welcome sight to shoppers. Johnny DeVeaux, who owned Small's Paradise, lived on the block, and was a well-dressed, personable man. Today, there are second-and third-generation descendents living on the block, who grew up there: D. Coakley, C. Joseph, D. Kelly, C & D Williams and me. We were, in some ways, influenced by the people and facilities, which surrounded us during our formative years. Personal, spiritual, cultural, professional, physical, emotional, educational and other needs could all be satisfied on this one block in Harlem.