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Growing up Sunset
The Bars & Taverns of
Sunset Park's Yesteryear
Alcohol has been part of our society since the first accidental fermentation of fruit. Excessive consumption has led to the destruction of families and the ruining of lives.
But establishments that serve alcohol have been "social" centers in many societies and provided an important gathering place.
The local "pub" or "tavern", the "ale house" or "beer garden" has been a meeting place where information was exchanged, relationships formed and a sense of community made stronger.
The early Dutch, in Sunset Park, made an alcoholic cider from apples in their orchards.
They also made whiskey. Alcohol-based drinks had a longer shelf life and so they were the drink of choice.
Even children drank alcohol, but watered down.
The Germans that followed the Dutch to Sunset Park were known for their numerous "beer gardens"
throughout Sunset Park. Roaming the community, from beer garden to beer garden
were small bands - called "oom pah" bands. These bands of 3 to 5 members often centered around a tuba.
You could also find a trombone or clarinet in the band and sometimes an accordion.
The alternating between the low sound of the tuba and higher pitched instruments
gave the up and down - or oom and pah sound.
The Germans were followed into Sunset Park by the Irish and then Scandinavians and Italians,
Poles, Greeks and many other European groups.
Bars popped up on every corner. The distance from one Sunset street to the next is 200 feet,
and in that short space it was possible to have as many as 5 separate bars & taverns.
As a kid, I did a survey and found that Sunset Park - the neighborhood of churches, had 3 bars & liquor stores
for each religious institution. In the 1960's bars had to close at 3am. Yes, there were "secret" after-hours
"clubs" (where you could continue drinking) but most folks were "thrown" out into the street.
And it was not uncommon to see men laying in the gutter using the curb as a pillow.
It was a very sad time for not just our community, but our nation.
But many of us were fortunate and were able to frequent bars on a weekend night with friends
and not lapse into sad depths of alcoholism.
While offering a prayer to those who suffered from alcohol addiction - both those who drank and
their loved ones who suffered along with them - this page is dedicated to those of us who have fond memories
of bar hopping & socializing with friends in Sunset's drinking establishments.
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