Five years ago, as part of the N.J. Meadowlands Commission’s Oral History Project, we interviewed lots of folks about the region in the old days. We are reprinting the best of them here, every Tuesday, for 11 weeks. This week: Mae DeVoe, one of the first Meadowlands residents to participate in this blog’s Oral History project. She passed away in 2012.

Raised in North Arlington in the 1920s and 1930s, Mae DeVoe loved growing up in the Meadowlands.

In this audio interview, Mae shares several colorful recollections from a childhood spent exploring copper mines, skating on the old Jersey City Waterworks reservoir and attending high school dances.

Mae also talks about life in North Arlington during the Depression and World War II.

In the following audio clips, Mae recalls exploring the old copper mines off Schuyler Avenue and the Belleville Turnpike.

Mae’s recorded reminiscences follow.

In these two audio clips below, In the above audio clips, Mae recalls exploring the old copper mines off Schuyler Avenue and the Belleville Turnpike.

In the  audio clip below, Mae talks about attending Queen of Peace grade school:

In the audio clip below, Mae discusses Mrs. Beaver’s Farm, a popular place for schoolchildren:

In the audio clip below, Mae talks about Queen of Peace bazaars and WPA concerts:

 

In the audio clip below, Mae recalls the shops and stores in North Arlington during her childhood:

In the audio clip below, Mae talks about school dances and proms in the 1930s in North Arlington, Kearny and Harrison:

 

 

In the above audio clip, Mae talks about ice skating at the old Jersey City Waterworks reservoir:

 

In the audio clip below, Mae recalls wildfires in the Meadowlands:

In the audio clip below, Mae talks about life in North Arlington during the Great Depression:

In the audio clip below, Mae talks about life in North Arlington during World War II: