The Amory Big Five was comprised of the very best of PHS graduates
who played many of the best travelling basketball teams in the 30’s
 
Lou Panzanaro is pictured, third from the left, in this picture and notes provided by his daughter
Kathy Berry.
Others in the picture are Norm Bell, Wilbur Jewel, Ta Astrab, Charlie Neff, Jim Jacoby, and Doug Reynolds.

.At other times Lou Amory, Glendon Jessup, and Dave Gardner to name just a few of PHS stars
that continued their playing days and the Washington Street National Guard Armory.

The Big Five played such well known travelling teams as the Kate Smith Celtics
(later to become the Boston Celtics), The Harlem Globetrotters, (the Globetrotters put on a pre-game
show of fancy ball handling) The Chain Gang (during the warmup the gang wore the black and
white striped uniforms that the prisoners wore). 
These visiting teams were very good professionals but the Big Five seldom lost a game. 
They beat the All American Red Heads which was a very strong and well known girls team.

The Armory also sponsored an Army Lassies team who took the floor at 6 PM. 
Among the players were Madeleine Gedney, Muzzie DeLuca, Ta Astrabs sister, 

Some of the Armory Juniors were Ettore Panzanaro, Juliano Otice and Sonny O’Brien

The webmaster remembers well going to the early games, admission was 25c,
but if one was careful there was always the opportunity to walk in
during half time of the preliminary games

We welcome pictures and articles of the days and events that took place in yesteryear

The Franklin Street school fronted on Smith Street. Many old timers (including the webmaster) will remember playing in the excellent adjoining field.  It has been demolished now for several years. We are grateful to Lisa Hintze for sending us this picture

The late Stuart Weinger, (class of 1947) was a well-known photographer who captured many
pictures of people and events in Peekskill. We are pleased to include two of them here and
we would welcome more

Above is the “Tom Thumb” wedding at Park Street School in 1939
Junje Schnapp, the bride;  Harold Smelter, the Groom; Dolores Demaria, John Demaria
and Stuart Weinger is the minister

The Boy Scouts of Troop #33, February, 1942 - highlighting the “Waste Paper Drive
Stuart Weinger front; Walter Weinger; Paul Ganeles; Herman Poritzky; Lowell Rapping

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