Corona

107th Street

Corona, New York

1950s

     There was a time when my dad was a little boy that he lived on 107th Street in Corona, New York.  My father and his family lived at 34-60 107th Street, which was right next door to the home of Louis Armstrong and his wife, Lucille. I have always been fascinated by the fact that Louis Armstrong was my dad's neighbor.  My dad has great memories of Mrs. Armstrong and he said that kids were always welcome to hang out on their front steps.  The house that my dad lived in was torn down at some point and today part of the Louis Armstrong museum sits on the lot. During a trip to Canada in 1993 my parents and I were supposed to stop in New York for a few days but a severe heat wave and my mother's then undiagnosed MS changed our plans.  One of the things on my life to do list is visit this street where my dad lived for a time when he was young.

Also in Corona:

Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic Church
Corona, NY

     According to the website forgotten-ny.com, Our Lady of Sorrows was the first Roman Catholic Church to minister in Corona.  Opened in 1872, the original wooden structure was replaced with this brick one in 1900.  The church is on 37th Avenue at 104th Street .  My dad  attended elementary school here in the 1950s.