Gary DePasquale Knows Oyster Bay
The very first call we received on the Aug. 18 mystery picture wasn’t correct, but itself was a great description of another of Oyster Bay’s alley. Nancy Hussey said the picture was, “The alley to the right of the Oyster Bay Post Office, looking down the alley with what used to be the tailor shop on the right.”
Billy Minicozzi hit it just about right asking, “Could it be across from Oyster Bay Beverage?” He was a little north of the location but in the ballpark – on the correct street. On a sports note Mr. Minicozzi said, while the Mets aren’t doing too well now, if they don’t recover, he will root for the Yankees.
The next caller nailed the location. He said, “I know the mystery picture. It’s my father’s old restaurant, and grandfather’s, Joe Dee’s. We used to go down the alleyway to the parking lot in back. We lived upstairs when we were babies. Joe Dee’s was the first place for pizza in Oyster Bay,” said Gary DePasquale. “My uncle Joe Vacara and my father Angelo were partners. It doesn’t look the way it did then. Next to the pole was the sign that said Joe Dee’s.”
Ernest Muller said, “The mystery picture is the alleyway on South Street, right across from my store at 76 South Street. The alleyway is where Joe Dee’s restaurant was and where the Psychic is today. The parking lot the alley goes into, is behind Nino’s and Subway.” They are fronted on East Main Street.
Emma Guevara, Age 7, said, “It is South Street in Oyster Bay and that is the driveway that runs behind Nino’s.”
Next came a call from Eileen McCaffery. She said of the Aug. 4 photograph, “I believe it is West Harbor Beach in Bayville, looking out at the bay. I think the tree has a bench near it. It reminds me of where I sit. My daughter said it was TR Beach.” Right!
Ms. McCaffery said her daughter recognized the tree. “She said my son had his picture taken there when he was married. They had the wedding in Oyster Bay when the K of C was open. I didn’t recognize it at first. Now I remember. John and Christine McCaffery were married over 21 years ago.”
Now that makes for a perfect mystery picture answer. The past comes up in the present! Wonderful, wonderful.
– DFK
