Sometime in 1923, a drastic change occurred which eventually affected the lives of each and every one in our family. The change I am referring to was our move from 116th Street to a little unincorporated town called Lakeview, Long Island.
As I was told, our move was indirectly brought about by my oldest sister, Anna. Before I was born in 1917, my sister was the first in our family to marry. She married James Pavia, who was a printer by trade, was a member of the Printers Union, and accordingly received a good salary in that position. After their marriage they rented and lived in an apartment in New York City. Soon after their family began to increase; in those days large families were the rule rather than the exception. I am not certain, but I suspect that due to this increase in family size and their need for extra space, my sister and husband decided to leave the city. After looking at various properties, they arranged to purchase a large two-story 20-year-old frame house in Lakeview. It was situated on a spacious 100′ by 100′ plot of land at the corner of Pinebrook Avenue and Woodfield Road. Later, I will describe this house more fully. The new location was certainly open and quiet, and far different than the noisy congestion of the city.
Accordingly, Anna and James moved into their new house “in the country” and seemed to enjoy the change. However, their residence there lasted only for two or three years, as they decided to sell it and purchase a brand new home which they had seen and liked. The new home was located only a short distance from the Woodfield Road house. Anna was attracted to the new house plan, which contained lots of modern improvements, plenty of closet space, and all the things an active and growing family needs to add to their comfort.
It was at this point in time that my sister and her husband convinced my mother and father, after much discussion, that they should buy the Woodfield Road house. Selling the house to my mother and father would make it financially possible for Anna and James to purchase the new home they very much wanted to buy. Of course, just like a high-pressure saleswoman would do, Anna stressed and enumerated a long list of advantages that our family would realize by making this move from a noisy and congested city. In addition we, as a family, would be in close proximity of one another (about two miles).
Apparently Anna and James were successful in selling the idea for us to leave the city. An agreement of sale was reached with the approval of all concerned. (I do not know what the agreed purchase price was.) At last the respective moves for both families were consummated. A new chapter in our lives was ready to begin. There were nine of us besides my father and mother who would be affected by this move. The unanswered question was, were we ready to accept the changes ahead?