Velma Vento (continued)
Don was about 4 years older than Velma. Maybe Don could see a different relationship between his Dad and his sister. Maybe he saw a different love there. Children are pretty wise and pick up on those things. Don may have been a little jealous of Velma for that reason and he was always tormenting poor Velma, pushing on her nose and slugging her. Velma always believed that’s why her nose was so big, while in actuality it was just a good “Roman” nose. She didn’t realize Don’s nose was different because he didn’t have any Italian in him. He had only Dutch genes. Jane and Pete kept the secret about Don’s birth from their children until Jane had passed away and Pete was on his death-bed. That was when Pete told Don that he’d been adopted. I’m not sure if Don was ever told if he was a child of incest. As it was, Don was devastated by the news.
Jane’s family, the Yeaples, had an apple farm outside of town. They would bring a bag of apples for the Ventos but only the tarnished ones with pits and worm holes. Either way, the Ventos were so poor, they were glad to get them.
Pete worked as a salesman for Friedman’s Department Store, 69 William St. in Newburgh, NY. Slim, nice looking, and always well dressed, Pete was quite a flirt. He excelled at the store and soon he was buyer, then manager. When Morris Friedman retired, Pete bought the store and the building. At first Jane was against it, but i the store provided a roof over their head for many years though.
Although they were poor, there were lots of people poorer in Newburgh. It was a very depressed area although Newburgh was initially a beautiful city, housing Washington’s headquarters, on the Hudson River. However, it eventually spiraled downward into slums and a large African American population. It was in serious decline after Pete bought the store. Neighborhood-by-neighborhood became more dangerous, dirty, and in disrepair.
Velma was use to hearing people sing. Her Poppa Mirto sang (like an opera star), her father sang at public events such as weddings), and her mother always sang hymns when she was doing housework. So, Velma sang, and she had an amazing voice. She became a semi-professional ballroom dancer as well. As a young adult, Velma danced and sang at the upscale nightclub at Bear Mountain where many New York city dwellers came on the weekends.
Velma started singing and dancing in high school. She sang “Tangerine” in the high school talent show and got a standing ovation. From then on she was called “Tangerine” by her classmates.
Velma couldn’t wait to get out of Newburgh. It is thought that Velma was determined she would find a husband at West Point and get out of Newburgh. She was so beautiful and talented, she caught the eye of many cadets when she got a job at West Point working for Colonel Weitzel, Dean of Economics. Weitzel had many Lieutenants working for him as well. When the Colonel called out, “Miss Vento come here!” Velma responded and all heads would turn to watch her elegant stride, not to mention her beautiful legs! She was beauty, inside and out.
Jane’s family, the Yeaples, had an apple farm outside of town. They would bring a bag of apples for the Ventos but only the tarnished ones with pits and worm holes. Either way, the Ventos were so poor, they were glad to get them.
Pete worked as a salesman for Friedman’s Department Store, 69 William St. in Newburgh, NY. Slim, nice looking, and always well dressed, Pete was quite a flirt. He excelled at the store and soon he was buyer, then manager. When Morris Friedman retired, Pete bought the store and the building. At first Jane was against it, but i the store provided a roof over their head for many years though.
Although they were poor, there were lots of people poorer in Newburgh. It was a very depressed area although Newburgh was initially a beautiful city, housing Washington’s headquarters, on the Hudson River. However, it eventually spiraled downward into slums and a large African American population. It was in serious decline after Pete bought the store. Neighborhood-by-neighborhood became more dangerous, dirty, and in disrepair.
Velma was use to hearing people sing. Her Poppa Mirto sang (like an opera star), her father sang at public events such as weddings), and her mother always sang hymns when she was doing housework. So, Velma sang, and she had an amazing voice. She became a semi-professional ballroom dancer as well. As a young adult, Velma danced and sang at the upscale nightclub at Bear Mountain where many New York city dwellers came on the weekends.
Velma started singing and dancing in high school. She sang “Tangerine” in the high school talent show and got a standing ovation. From then on she was called “Tangerine” by her classmates.
Velma couldn’t wait to get out of Newburgh. It is thought that Velma was determined she would find a husband at West Point and get out of Newburgh. She was so beautiful and talented, she caught the eye of many cadets when she got a job at West Point working for Colonel Weitzel, Dean of Economics. Weitzel had many Lieutenants working for him as well. When the Colonel called out, “Miss Vento come here!” Velma responded and all heads would turn to watch her elegant stride, not to mention her beautiful legs! She was beauty, inside and out.
