Memories of the old JCC

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The Alliance’s beautiful Dwares Jewish Community Center is located at 401 Elmgrove Ave. in Providence.  But, back in the day, the JCC was in a building that was once a Providence police station. I am sure that Donald Dwares shares some of my memories of those days.

The first thing I remember about going to the JCC was attending meetings of the Judy Ann Leven B’nai B’rith Girls. I also remember that many Aleph Zadik Aleph meetings were held in the old JCC.

I remember that when I walked into the building, I’d see girls and boys running up and down the stairs to meetings. The atmosphere was happy and fun. Groups of young people would gather outside the building to talk and perhaps make a few new friends. I can remember police cars riding by, but I never recall them driving up to see what we were doing. We were just a group of harmless teenagers having fun.

There were Saturday evening dances at the JCC. What anticipation! What were you going to wear, who would you meet and, most of all, would someone ask you to dance.

After a dance, or perhaps a Saturday night date, we would go to the East Side Diner or Crawshaw’s restaurant, over the “Red Bridge,” for a bite to eat.

Later, in high school, I joined a Jewish sorority. There were two: Iota Phi and Phi Delta. The sorority opened a whole new Jewish world: the young women came from different parts of Providence and Pawtucket.

I discovered that there was also a JCC in South Providence, on Hamilton Street – also in a former police station. They also had dances. After the dances, they probably went to Burns Pullman Diner for a bite.

I do not remember my parents telling me that I could not “hang out” at the JCC. I believe they were happy to know there was a safe place for me to visit with my friends and other teenagers.

Please feel free to email me, at mayronnyzeidman3@gmail.com, about your teenage memories. They need not be from Rhode Island – I am finding out that life was not all that different in other places.

In my April 20 column, I mentioned the Sunbeam baking company. A few people have told me that it was the Tip Top Baking Company at that corner. I welcome any corrections.

All of this was a long time ago, and I do my best to remember accurately.

MAY-RONNY ZEIDMAN is executive director of the Sandra Bornstein Holocaust Education Center, located in the Alliance’s JCC in Providence.

JCC, BBG, AZA