Catalog ID:
ORH-001-0018
Creator:
Prince, John "Jack"
Archives Field 21:
AUDIO: Click to Play
Scope & Content:
Oral history interview with John "Jack" Prince
Jack Prince discusses coming to Bridgeport as a 7 year old and living in the Hollow, then on Harold Avenue, and Washington Place. Sikorsky took him for rides in his test helicopter at Seaside Park. He went to the old Congress Junior High School on Arch street before it burned down and then Central High School. He went straight into the Navy and served on destroyers during WW II. When he came home in 1946, he worked briefly at General Electric and then in his Uncle's restaurant. His father and many of is brothers and sisters worked at one time from some of the large Bridgeport manufacturers. Jack Prince bought his own bar/restaurant in 1968. His building was taken by eminent domain in the 1980s.
As a child in the 1930s, and after the War, he was very familiar with many of the politicians and businessmen in Bridgeport who all came into the family restaurants. Prince's father became an alderman in the pre-war period. Prince discusses boxers and the sport of boxing in Connecticut and the larger region extensively. He recalls the great blizzard of the 1930s when school was closed for two weeks and being let out from school to see the Hindenburg fly over the City. Prince also discussions prohibition and speakeasys.
The interviewer asks Prince to review many of the mayors that were in office during his life in Bridgeport. Prince recalls a variety of topics related to growing up and running a business in Bridgeport -- city industries and stores, the condition of the economy, engaging in childrens recreational activities all over town, etc.
Jack Prince discusses coming to Bridgeport as a 7 year old and living in the Hollow, then on Harold Avenue, and Washington Place. Sikorsky took him for rides in his test helicopter at Seaside Park. He went to the old Congress Junior High School on Arch street before it burned down and then Central High School. He went straight into the Navy and served on destroyers during WW II. When he came home in 1946, he worked briefly at General Electric and then in his Uncle's restaurant. His father and many of is brothers and sisters worked at one time from some of the large Bridgeport manufacturers. Jack Prince bought his own bar/restaurant in 1968. His building was taken by eminent domain in the 1980s.
As a child in the 1930s, and after the War, he was very familiar with many of the politicians and businessmen in Bridgeport who all came into the family restaurants. Prince's father became an alderman in the pre-war period. Prince discusses boxers and the sport of boxing in Connecticut and the larger region extensively. He recalls the great blizzard of the 1930s when school was closed for two weeks and being let out from school to see the Hindenburg fly over the City. Prince also discussions prohibition and speakeasys.
The interviewer asks Prince to review many of the mayors that were in office during his life in Bridgeport. Prince recalls a variety of topics related to growing up and running a business in Bridgeport -- city industries and stores, the condition of the economy, engaging in childrens recreational activities all over town, etc.
Interviewer:
Witkowski, Mary
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