New Haven Independent

The gathering, founded and hosted by Diane Huff-Streater, culled generations of Newhallville inhabitants into a warm ballroom of the Community Outreach Center on Orchard Street, enriched by local jazz and abundant cooking. Zoot suits and sun hats speckled the dance floor and modest tables. Streater lauded the people of Newhallville, who “have so much to give back … a lot of wisdom and knowledge to the younger people.”

Helping that tide of knowledge along, members of the Old School Reunion Committee collected admission from the evening’s tickets, which were $20 apiece. Proceeds will benefit neighbors of all ages who wish to continue or begin their education. “Even if it’s just with a book,” Streator said.

Hazel Edwards, there with her sister Daisy Wells, shimmied to the live music with Bob Winters on alto saxophone. Winters smiled after performing, and said it was nice to see everyone all dressed up — with a few more dollars in their pockets.

While attempting to fill the empty slots in the “For Old Time’s Sake” section in the reunion’s booklet, Janice Staton looked up, had her eye caught by a friend, and gripped her in a hug. The rest of Staton’s time filling out her contact information in the book was just as interrupted.

“People get fat, they get skinny … I haven’t changed much,” mused Henry Blue, a World War II veteran. Growing up at his old place on 213 Newhall St., Blue was surrounded by white, Italian neighbors, he recalled. They shook hands after getting into an argument, Blue said. No one went looking for guns or knives.

From the left, Barbara Clarke, Ina Crawley Brand, Larry Holmes grin at the bar. Crawley used to babysit (and sometimes participate) in the mischief of Holmes and his cousin Richard Huff as they hopped fences and pulled pranks on the neighbors they didn’t like. As Huff and Holmes leaned on the counter top, they dashed out to hug an old friend or yell across the foyer to spike someone else’s attention. Holmes has since moved to Florida. He attributed losing touch to factors like “the chaos, the change in circumstance, family … life!” Like others, he flew up for the reunion.

Click here for Tom Ficklin’s photo album from the evening.