Early March, 1958: The BerraRizzuto bowling alleys in Styertowne Shopping Center made national headlines with a conversation between Yankees catcher Yogi Berra and Manager Casey Stengel overheard by a reporter in Miami during spring training. The discussion arose because of Casey’s comment that Yogi wore white gloves during a photo shoot because “he’s gone upstage since he’s built that bowling alley with Phil Rizzuto!” The story headline: “Berra Vetoed Stengel’s Offer of Loan for Alleys, ‘He Wanted Too Much Interest,’ says Yogi...” The report noted that the Berra-Rizzuto alleys will open soon in Clifton and Yogi frankly admits they cost more than either of ‘em figured. So Yogi approached Casey for a loan: “Casey offered to loan me up to $90,000 from his bank,’ said the catcher, “but he wants a lot of interest.” Yogi Berra, a Hall of Fame catcher with the Yankees, who won three Most Valuable Player awards and appeared in the World Series more than any other player in history, died at the age of 90 on Sept. 22 in Montclair. 1957: Former East Ridgelawn Cemetery property is developed by the construction of 144 Gregory Manor homes off Passaic Ave. 1957: J & G Podyinecz constructs the 40-home Plymouth Rock Village development between Broad and Grove Sts., south of Van Houten Avenue in Richfield. 52 October 2015 • Clifton Merchant
Yankee greats Phil Rizzuto and Yogi Berra did open their 40lane bowling alley on April 28, 1958. At top left, that’s their manager, Casey Stengel.
Sept. 9, 1957: School 16 opens in Montclair Heights with 330 pupils. Sept. 26, 1957: The Clifton Jewish Center announces plans to build nine classrooms, a gymnasium and an enlarged synagogue. A $250,000 fund drive goal is established. Oct. 1957: American Loose Leaf Corp. opens in a new plant in a 23acre tract in Delawanna. 1957: One and a half miles of Erie & Lackawanna rail lines are merged below Route 46, allowing the industrial development of Kuller Rd. off Hazel St. Jan. 24, 1958: The Herald News relocates to 988 Main Ave., near Highland Ave., Passaic. April 16, 1958: Capt. Joseph A. Nee is named Acting Police Chief. April 27, 1958: A monument to honor volunteer and exempt firemen of Clifton is unveiled and dedicated in Main Memorial Park. April 29, 1958: New Jersey Bank & Trust Co. is created through a
merger of County National and Passaic-Clifton National Bank. May 17-24, 1958: The third observance of National Youth Week. May 27, 1958: Stanley Zwier receives the most votes in the election and is named Mayor by the six other Council members. June 24, 1958: An urban redevelopment program with Passaic is proposed for Botany by Charles F. Hahn, Chair of the Planning Board. July 13, 1958: Ground is broken at First Presbyterian Church on Maplewood Ave. between Emerson and Sherwood Sts. for offices, a chapel, 20 classrooms a gymnasium. Sept. 25, 1958: 500 Clifton Midget League youth between ages 8 and 12 are placed on 72 bowling teams, and 200 boys are organized into an eight-team football league, as the fall programs are set for the year. Oct. 15, 1958: A new sanctuary is planned by St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church, Broad St.