Seventh Avenue, Newark facts for kids
Seventh Avenue was once a lively neighborhood in Newark, New Jersey. It was also known as the First Ward. Starting in 1870, many Italian immigrants made their homes here, and it became famous as Newark's "Little Italy."
At its busiest, Seventh Avenue was home to about 30,000 people, including 11,000 children, all living in a small area less than one square mile. The heart of the community was St. Lucy's Church, which was started by Italian immigrants in 1891. Throughout the year, St. Lucy's and other churches held special parades to honor saints. These events were big community celebrations, with the most famous one being the Feast of St. Gerard.
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Famous Faces of Seventh Avenue
Seventh Avenue was loved by many, including some very famous people!
Baseball Legend Joe DiMaggio
Joe DiMaggio, a legendary baseball player for the New York Yankees, loved the restaurants on Seventh Avenue. He enjoyed the food so much that he would bring his teammates to Newark to show them what he called "real Italian food."
Singer Frank Sinatra's Favorite Bread
Even Frank Sinatra, a world-famous singer, had a special connection to Seventh Avenue. He had bread from Giordano's Bakery sent to him every week, no matter where he was in the world, until he passed away.
Local Heroes and Leaders
- The Italian Tribune, one of the biggest Italian newspapers in the country, was founded right here on Seventh Avenue.
- Frankie Valli, the lead singer of the famous band The Four Seasons, grew up in the First Ward.
- Congressman Peter Rodino, a powerful leader in the United States government, was also from this neighborhood.
Changes to the Neighborhood
Starting in 1953, the Seventh Avenue neighborhood, which was home to many working-class Italian-American families, began to change. This was due to something called urban renewal, which means rebuilding parts of a city.
New Buildings and Roads
Some parts of the neighborhood, like Eighth Avenue, were removed. This meant many Italian-American residents had to move away to make room for new projects, such as the Christopher Columbus Homes (a housing project) and the highway Interstate 280.
Rebuilding and Recovery
During the 1970s, the area faced some tough times, including major destruction from fires. However, the neighborhood was largely rebuilt with new townhouses. Even though new homes were built, the original Italian community and most of its businesses did not fully return. The last of the Christopher Columbus Homes were taken down in 1996.
