Greta's
Photos
from
Greta
Tucker's Personal Collection
Ms. Greta Laura
Spiess Tucker is no stranger to any one who was around Mastic
Beach from the WW2 era up until the mid 1990's. As the granddaughter
of Paul "The Mayor" Schulte, she grew up watching her
grandfather and uncle Paul Jr. run the first business' the town
ever had. The Schultes were always very active in community affairs.
They didn't call Paul "The Mayor" for nothing. (Mastic
Beach never had an official mayor, until it became a very short lived incorporated village 2010-16 ) Greta's mother Friede "Mamma
Schulte" Spiess would take over the running of Schulte's
Tavern after her father and brother passed away in the mid 1950's
and then hand over the business to Greta in the early 1960's.
Back then you just had to say the name Greta and folks knew who
you were talking about. Sort of like the way Miss Kitty was synonomous
with the Longbranch in Dodge City, everyone in town knew Greta
and later on her husband "Tucker" who ran the tavern
with her. Like Pat & Mikes Texaco, Schulte's was another Mastic
Beach community center, where good spirits and advice were dispensed
to all who entered.
I contacted Greta
recently in Florida , where she is enjoying her retirement by
the ocean, and as regular followers of this website know, she
has been most graciously supplying me with very rare photos, news
clippings and anecdotes about "our town" that appear
on the following links and in various other spots :
Paul Schulte "The Mayor"
Fisher's Market
and now....
GRETA'S PHOTOS
are sure to bring
back some golden memories to any who were lucky enough to have
been in town back then. All are clickable and will fill your monitor
screen with great detail. When clicked on, they are quite large
in size and will take time to load on slow computers, but ....definitely
worth much more than the wait.
Miss Greta &
Good Company
Here's a young Greta smiling
away at her table on the left. With her are Charlie & Louise
Gillen with Louise holding their son Charlie. Center stage at
the table on the right is none other than "Mamma Schulte"
Mrs. Friede Spiess. On her right is Mr. __? Rose. At far right
is Frank Lauge, a resturant owner and chef. He at one time owned
Capt. Andy's and also had Frank's Place in Section 1. Notice the
stable stuff decor , the buggy behind Friede, and hay in the rafters,
This was during the "Schulte's Stable" era (mid 1950's
) when Friede started having Country & Western bands play
there. Also visible out the front door is the house that became
Joe Rug's Pizza on the northeast side of the five corners.
His Honor The Mayor
Tipping his derby to the crowd
at what is most likely a Memorial Day Parade is none other than
Paul Schulte Sr. aboard one of Mastic Beach Fire Departments finest
trucks. Photo dates back to the 1930's. The MBFD held their recreational
activities & meetings at Paul Schulte's Tavern when in their
infancy the department was just a simple wood garage. Paul Schulte
and son were active in forming the West End Fire Department that
supplied protection on the west side of the Knapp Estate in sections
4, 5 & 6. Paul Jr. was Fire Chief from 1941-44. The west end
of MB would grow into the permanent home of the both the town
& the department. Behind him are the Clune Brothers one (Arthur)
for whom the MB American Legion post is named. The Clune Family
were caretakers at the Robert & Lawson Estates aka Doctors
Point (1900-1944). Seated next to Paul is Eddie Hessler and
Charlie ?__.
The Ladies Auxilary
Were always there to lend support
to their firemen. In this pic however it looks like there is not
enough support in the rear springs of then nearly new 1929 Pierce
-Arrow fire truck. I think this is the original fire house on
Lakeview Dr. in Section One. Before it's retirement to a parade
vehicle in the 1950's this truck served as the emergency wagon. I have
fond memories of riding in it with my brother Butch and our dog
Boots around 1952 when our Dad brought it home. Speaking of
dogs, that's Pete the dog with Gus and Magda Fischer sitting on
the running board.
Happy Hours
Lots of them for many years.
Here Paul Jr. and Bill Henning are holding forth and keeping that
shiny bar well tended to. Boys don't look now but Sam Cole (in
the cap) is ready for another. The gentleman on the bars backside
between Sam & Paul Sr. is unidentified. Sam Cole was a longtime
fixture in our town, those with good memories may recall my writing
about him in the first story on here The Mansion. He was the contractor
who took the chimneys down of Knapp's mansion in the winter of
1959. It is the summer of 1940 here and playing at the Sayville
Theatre is the future academy award winner "Our Town".
The Firemen of East Moriches are advertising their carnival and
Patchogue Theatre is also posting it's weeks offerings.
"Bar Band"
Now any good bar worth it's salt
just has to have a band. And Schulte's through the years has had
more than it's share. And all types of bands too. Shown here circa
1938 is the Joseph A. Titmus Orchestra , in it's scaled down size.
According to Paul Sr. the Titmus Orchestra once had 9 pieces playing
for the crowds at his tavern. If the name Titmus rings a bell
with Mastic folks it well should. Joseph Allen Titmus (standing
right) was the leader and drummer. He was also a community leader
in Mastic. His wife Gertrude is on the piano. Gertrude was also
the organist at Moriches Presbyterian Church for 75 years. The
"Joe" on the sax is their son Joseph MacGregor Titmus,
who was father to Mac Titmus whom I went to Floyd Schools with.
Mac Titmus by the way runs the fantastic
Long Island Geneaology Site which has to be seen to be believed.
On the Tuba (which I'm sure was The Mayors favorite instrument)
is Jack Haun(sp?). The last names of George and Russ are not known
yet, but I'm sure they will be soon.
In 1962, I was up on Schulte's
stage for the first time with my band The Islanders consisting
of Adolph Almasy, Doug Percoco, Pete Morano, Bill Clausing and
Frankie O'Shea. After years of hearing bands in there from the
sidewalk and the stoop of Smith's Fish Market, playing on Schulte's
stage was the big time for us.
Eat Drink and Be Merry!
The kitchen was always open at
Paul's, but keep out will ya. There's health laws ya know, Speaking
of laws there are WWII "Price Ceiling Laws" posted twice
here along with a war poster telling ya to keep your mouth zipped
as "Loose Lips Sink Ships" That's Lord Calvert sitting
pretty atop the Juke that I wish I had today.
The Price Was Right
They didn't need no Goverment
Regulations..... Here's the Schulte Price List
Beer for 10, Wine for 20,
a Rum & Coke for 40 and a Manhattan for 45 cents !
"My beer is Rheingold
the Dry Beer"
Movers & Shakers
& True Merry Makers
Here we have a meeting of some
MB Town business leaders. John Watrous (Hardware), Capt. Andy
Neskovits (Fishing Station), Paul Schulte Jr. "Denny"
Barnes (Builder) and Walter Ury (printer and real estate). They
are planning a spring dance at the Community Center to raise money
for a Christmas Party for kids they held at Schultes through the
WWII Years. I have personally heard from several folks out there
who went to those parties and said it was great thing especially
for the less fortunate kids of Mastic Beach.
Happy New Year! 194?
It looks to be mid 1940's perhaps
post WWII. The Mayor himself is standing up mugging for the camera.
His son Paul in foreground , certainly looks like he is enjoying
himself too. Going round the table from Paul Jr. are Mr___ ?,
Mrs. Glass who ran The Stop & Shop, Ms ___?, on the backside
are the Bindels, then the Hendersons and last but certainly not
least...... Willie & Johanna "Hannie" Schluder,
the last caretakers of the Knapp Estate.
Click here for more of
"Greta's Stuff"
