Pamela Fierro called to identify the mystery picture in the Jan. 6 issue of the Enterprise Pilot. “It’s the historical house on Summit Street. I live up the block so I know. I’ve lived here all my life. I work in Testa Wines, a wine distributor in Oyster Bay. I’ve worked there for a couple of years. I do paper work, answer phones and am the executive assistant to the owner and a jack-of –all-trades.
“We have an international clientele and wines from all over the world.”
Ms. Fierro said, “I just walked into the house and was relaxing and looking at the paper and recognized the place.” Ms. Fierro is an Oyster Bay High School graduate with the Class of 1971. “My mother, Marie Minicozzi Golden was a graduate of OBHS too. My dad was Buzzy Golden and he went to St. Dominic’s. I’m one of seven kids and a longtime resident.”
Linda Morgan too knew the picture. “The mystery picture is the Earle Wightman House at 20 Summit Street. I should know; I picked up my mail every other day when I was treasurer.”
The Morgans are getting ready to move to outside of Charleston. She said, “A friend of mine said springtime started already. “The month of February is when the annual House and Garden tours take place. In May is the Spoletto Music Festival. It was going on when we visited there the second time. We like the music. It goes from rock ‘n’ roll to classical music so you can pick out any way you want to go.” She is very excited about their new location and looking forward to being there.
Belle Santora called to identify the mystery picture but first said, “I’m having a hard time reconciling about Arthur’s death. Arthur Herrforth, of Plainview died on Dec. 22, 2011. I had a wonderful eight years with him and I gave him a lot of happiness. I can’t tell you the wonderful things he did for me. I haven’t bought a stamp for six years. I’d mention stamps and the next day he would show up and I’d have 80 stamps. He came in with Parmigiano-Reggiano and Romano cheese. I can’t get over it,” she said tearfully.
She changed the topic saying, “I think I know the picture. Arthur got a kick out of my answers and he got a few too. It’s the Wightman House. I loved where it was on South Street. It was in the parking lot of Oyster Bay Fire Company No. 1. They moved that and the veterans moved their Legion building and that building is gone too. Gone are all those things I loved so much and grew up with…”
She said Arthur made a lot of friends at the Doubleday Babcock Senior Center. “They all loved him. He was a perfect gentleman and he was a First Lieutenant in the Marine Corps and was at Iwo Jima. You know veterans, they never talk about it. You have to dig it out of them – anyone who has been in dangerous places.
“I remember so much. I can remember the way people spoke to me the expression on their faces and the tone of their voice.
“Everyone is taking about my 100th birthday. I’m not that excited. Now people live to 103 and 104. Now, I’m pretty good. No one believes my age.” Her hair is still dark. “People think I dye my hair. Never. If it goes gray, I’m entitled to gray.”
“People say, what is your secret. It’s olive oil, garlic, a glass of wine and a lot of stress. That’s my secret.”
Her thoughts returned to the mystery picture. “I’m glad I was right. They should keep taking pictures I know,” she added.
Correction
Lou Brusca called to say he enjoyed reading the Mystery Picture column that mentioned his enrollment in Queens College but had a correction to add. “It is correct I started college at age 16, but it was in Jan. 1946. The war was still raging in ’42 and the veterans didn’t come home until the war ended in August ’45 and so they started the in spring semester in ’46 and I was happy to be there.”
He added when the family’s commitment to education was mentioned, it was due to, “Rose the love of my life and me.”
The mystery picture is always a great way to talk to community members. We have very interesting readers and it is a delight to tell their stories – your stories.
