Helen Van Dam DiBella grew up in Bayside as one of six siblings. She describes her childhood as "poor but happy", with street games, radio shows and the movies for entertainment. World War II was most apparent to her in the neighborhood air raid drills, the ration stamps she took to the market to buy sugar, and the Victory Garden in which her father grew vegetables. Both of her brothers served in the Army during the war years, and she recalls the many soldiers stationed at Fort Totten who spent their off-duty hours strolling on nearby Bell Boulevard.
Disclaimer |
Privacy |
Copyright |
Contact |
Back To Top