Return to Muddy Brook

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Scroll to bottom of page for the latest installment of excerpts: Chapters 16-18

At the memorial celebration held at the Pearl River Public LIbrary in 2013 for the combined graduating classes from 1950 to 1960, Alvin (Albie) Dawson of the Class of 1959 gave a wonderful reminiscence of growing up in Pearl River.  He also told us that he'd written a book, "Return to Muddy Brook" that recounted the story of his family and the events of the times that we all had in common.   It was several years later that I bought a copy of Albie's book and began to appreciate it for what it is - a  memoir that any of us might like to think  we could or should write, if only we had the time.  It is a magnum opus that surprised even members of his family.  Here's what Al's son, Brian Dawson, wrote to Tom O'Brien as  we were discussing how we might make excerpts of Al's book available to our class.

I had some mixed emotions about Dad's book when I read it. Some facts as Dad "remembered them" were not the way others remember them at all, but I guess that's what makes the world go around.

When he "surprised" me with a copy of his book, I was shocked that he had done it! My sister Robyn then informed me that he had confided in her that he was writing it, and I just wish that he had used the spell/grammar check on his computer or at least a BETTER "copy house" that would have proofread his work before printing it.

I am proud of my dad for doing this, and I think that he would be proud to have your friend [RGS] use some of his "insights."

Brian Dawson, October 10. 2015

Sadly, our community lost Al Dawson on September 2, 2015. 

Here's an excerpt from the preface to "Return to Muddy Brook."

This book is a story about a family, two young boys, a father, and the main character, a mother, her life and the boys lives and the way they were brought up, and where they grew up. The period of time was during the 1940s and 50s. The town they came from that molded their lives, the people that influenced them through the years, .. The street where the family grew, the friends that they made, and in the town that they loved and kept coming back to, throughout the years.

Now that you have an idea of the theme and purpose of the book, what about the excerpts that you will find here?

First of all, the book has 28 chapters. So there is a lot of material from which to chose.  There are descriptions of Pearl River in the old days, the history of the town's founding and, of course, family history and personal vignettes.   I've included text that was interesting to me and that I think will appeal to others, including parts that chronicle the Dawson family.  In Al Dawson's pages we see the strength of the American family drawn from its roots in immigrant cultures and life in a small town on the edge of a big city.  For anyone who, stimulated by what they may read here, would like to read more,  "Return to Muddy Brook" is available from Amazon in both paperback and e-book.

Excerpts will be added over the course of the coming year(s).  If you have comments or recollections that you would like to add, just email them to me and I'll be happy to add them as we go along.

Our thanks to the Dawson family for their kind permission to present these selections from the book.

Bob Stokstad,  October 18, 2016

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Excerpts from:

Chapters 1-4.   How Pearl River got its name.  History of the Rockland County area from the 1870's through Prohibition.

Chapters 5-7.   It's the late 1920's and 1930's. Anna and Frank Dawson meet, marry and settle in Pearl River. Frank gets a job at Lederle and then Rockland State Hospital.  Frank Jr. (Al Dawson's older brother) is born.

Chapters 8-12.  Albie Dawson enters the world - but as a boy instead of the hoped-for girl.  The Dawsons move to 50 Ridge Street and a bigger house.  The Ablondi family joins the story.  Growlers and frequent visits to Ablondi’s Bar and Grill. The Korean war.  Sports in Pearl River.3-1

Chapters 13-15.  13. Older brother Frankie graduates PRHS and Albie tags along as Frankie starts a softball team and becomes involved in community sports when home from college.  The NY State Thruway and Palisades Parkway bring in new residents - including policemen and firemen - who commute to the City.   14. The mid fifties - a rough time for the Dawsons. Uncle Al dies, and financial difficulties force the Dawsons to leave Pearl River and move to the family homestead in Spring Valley.  15.   The family returns to Pearl River, renting a place on Central Avenue.  Albie is having trouble in school and gets a lecture from Uncle Ira (Shuttleworth).  He doesn’t listen and quits school in September, 1958.  Dad orders him to find a job immediately and Albie goes to work for Feisal’s Express.

Chapters 16-18.  Family life.  Frankie and Albie meet their wives and start their own families.  Kids come along soon and in rapid succession.  Life is good - Albie pulls in a respectable income as a truck driver and member of the Teamsters Union.  He plays softball for Riess Beer Sales and then Modern Auto Body, along side older brother Frankie. The Dawsons now have three children and move to a larger house.  All’s well, but there are clouds on the horizon.  Although Albie doesn’t realize it right away, his marriage is in trouble.