The next round of oral histories from the 2018 oral history project are now available. In this blog post, find the oral histories of Bill and CY Treene, Brenda Smith Williams, Ron Owens, Thomas Russo, and Mario Velardi.
Bill and CY Treene. William (Bill) and Cynthia (CY) Treene were born in 1936, raised in Montclair, began dating in high school, married after college, and had each lived in the town for 82 years at the time of the interview. They recall Montclair’s history during World War II, including rationing, war bonds, support for English children, and the town’s sister cities in Graz, Austria, and Barnet, England. When discussing their home at 509 Park Street, once part of Applegate Farm, they reflect on the home’s history, the role of volunteerism, and how local development and global events shaped Montclair. Read more and listen here.
Brenda Smith Williams. Brenda Smith Williams, born in 1944, is a lifelong Montclair resident from a multigenerational Montclair family, with deep ties to Montclair High School and the South End neighborhood where she grew up among Black business owners and community leaders. She recalls an active childhood with extended family, town traditions like Mountie football, and formative experiences with both community pride and racial discrimination, including during her years at Hampton Institute from 1962–1966. After a long career as a teacher and guidance counselor, she remains devoted to Montclair while expressing concern that ongoing development threatens the qualities that have long made the town special. Read more and listen here.
Ron Owens. Ron, born in 1943 and raised in Montclair, grew up in Upper Montclair among families of varied backgrounds, with deep local roots on his mother’s side and a father who settled there after performing with a traveling circus. Trained in music, he pursued multiple careers as a teacher, entertainer, magician, theater agent, and co-founder of First Night Montclair, later becoming a bereavement counselor after earning advanced degrees following the death of his wife and business partner. Reflecting on his life, Ron emphasizes the power of music and laughter and concludes that growing up in Montclair meant a lifelong sense of pride, creativity, and connection. Read more and listen here.
Thomas Russo. Thomas Russo, a former Montclair Chief of Police and participant in elite FBI and Homeland Security programs, comes from a Sicilian family rooted in Cerami, Italy, with deep ties to Montclair dating back to the early 1900s. His family was closely connected to Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church on Pine Street and maintained strong community, military, and neighborhood traditions, including service in multiple wars and active involvement in Fourth Ward life. Mr. Russo later chronicled his journey and experiences in his book Street Kid to Top Cop, reflecting on both his upbringing and his law enforcement career. Read more and listen here.
Mario Velardi. Mario Velardi moved to Montclair in 1936 at age three, growing up in a close-knit, ethnically diverse neighborhood where his widowed mother raised six children, and he attended Montclair public schools, graduating from Montclair High School in 1950. He recalls community life centered on local stores, church, football, and simple pleasures like ice cream outings and shore trips, while working various jobs and remaining active in church service for decades. Though he moved to Bloomfield in 1960, Mario stayed deeply connected to Montclair and reflects that despite growing up poor, life was joyful and defined by kindness and community. Read more and listen here.
In honor of the 150th anniversary of Montclair, the Montclair History Center compiled oral histories from people who grew up in Montclair and/or lived here prior to 1960. The project recorded the stories of people who grew up in Montclair in a wide variety of neighborhoods and decades, creating a multifaceted snapshot of Montclair in the early to mid 20th century.
This project was funded by the New Jersey Council for the Humanities (a state partner of the National Endowment for the Humanities). Interviews were conducted with the assistance of Montclair resident and Professor Dr. Christopher Matthews from Montclair State University.
These oral histories are an expression of the views, memories and opinions of the interviewee. It does not represent the policy, views, or official history of the MHC.