11-28-2009
( Reply#: 4008 ) |
Tom J |
Tom J said...
Duane! More details about Edju, please. That name sure sounds familiar. It is one that I am sure I have not heard mentioned or have thought of myself since my HHS days.
Tom
|
11-28-2009
( Reply#: 4009 ) |
Tom J |
Tom W said...
Tom
I remember running into Edju at Koskiosko Park one summer. He was surrounded by a bunch of teasing kids about my age. I was going to join them but couldnt so I walked away. I actually felt sorry for him. When I was a little kid at Irving School, there was a candy store across the street from the playground called Turley's. A guy stayed there named Art Sample that was a neighborhood clown. We also had a little kid named Hockers that was quite a character. Anyone else remember these characters? Take care Tom W Hammond Tech 55-58
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11-28-2009
( Reply#: 4010 ) |
Tom J |
Tom J said...
Kids can be so cruel to one another. In most cases, they really don't mean to hurt anyone, they are just having fun. That doesn't make the pain any less for the victim, though.
I don't think I ever actually saw Edju, because I was from a different part of town, but I know that I would hear his name mentioned from time to time back in my Jr. High and/or HS days.
Tom |
11-28-2009
( Reply#: 4011 ) |
Tom J |
Duane said...
I recall one episode that I read about in the newspaper....it may have been the Hammond Times. The article was headlined "Giant robs grocery store" There was a neighborhood store across the street from where Edju lived (he was probably in his mid-20's at the time). Someone had broken the glass on the front door during the night and stolen cash and merchandise. The trail of blood led the police across the street and right up to an apartment, where they found both Edju and the stolen goods.
Tom, you might be able to find that story since you have the subscription to the Hammond Times archives. Also, you might be able to find a photo of Martin Piniak for Cindy M. The Times occasionally did a story on him, and probably an obituary when he died, which I believe was in the early 1970's.
|
11-28-2009
( Reply#: 4012 ) |
Tom J |
Florida Kelly said...
Hey, I remember seeing Edju once. He use to walk back and forth in front of his house yelling obscenities at passing cars. I'm sure the cars were yelling at him too. Didn't he live like on Goslin or Chicago Ave?
I think he attended Bishop Noll and then transferred to Hammond High. I could be wrong too. Long time ago.
Kelly
|
11-28-2009
( Reply#: 4013 ) |
Tom J |
Duane said...
Not sure where he lived later in his life, but when he lived with his family, it was near Northcote and 150th. His family ran a liquor store and his father was my cubmaster in the boy scouts.
He attended EC Roosevelt High School. I remember this because when he first went to high school, of course he was a very big guy, and caught the attention of the football coach (ECR was well known for having good football teams). The coach asked him "Are you going out for football?" to which Edju responded "Is your mother going out for football?" Needless to say, Edju was not the football type.
While his last name was Pietroski, he would tell everyone it was Edju Tucker, because he would then rhyme it with "And I'm a bad ***.
What I remember most is that kids with a convertable would pick him up and he would sit on the back of the trunk with his legs in the back seat, and they would drive him around and he would shout out and yell at people, and they at him.
Go to Top of Page |
11-28-2009
( Reply#: 4014 ) |
Tom J |
No luck in my search of the Times archives, Duane. Bummer.
Tom |
11-28-2009
( Reply#: 4015 ) |
Tom J |
Paddy said...
Tom:
I subscribe to a geneaology site that includes all archived newspapers. The archives for the Hammond Times are spotty. They include stuff from the 1930's-50's, and some years in the early 60's.
|
11-28-2009
( Reply#: 4016 ) |
Tom J |
Tom J said...
Paddy:
I subscribed to newspaperarchive.com, and their coverage is spotty on the Hammond Times. There are major gaps in the years that I would be most interested in, the years from the mid 50s through the early 70s. I was too little to remember much before 1955, and I was grown and gone by 1971.
Tom |
11-28-2009
( Reply#: 4017 ) |
Tom J |
Tom W said...
As I mentioned above, we had a kid they called Hockers that lived on Hickory St. They called him Hockers because when he talked, you wanted to stay back a little. I wont say his real name here but this is a story that I have told many times. I was there and witnessed it.
On the corner of Oak and Hoffman there was a grocery store called Brussels. Next to it in the same building was Yerga's Meat Mart. Old Mr&Mrs Yerga had a son that was ill and handicapped.
One day, they had to call the fire dept ambulance. The ambulance was a white 56 Ford wagon. When the ambulance arrived, the siren drew about 20 people that gathered around the ambulance including Hockers. The 2 firemen rushed in and left the doors open on the ambulance. The radio was turned up real loud and started calling INHILATOR 5, INHILATOR 5. One of the guys in the crowd said "Hey Hockers, tell him that they are inside." Hock said "You think I wont?" That was his standard reply. He walked over, leaned in and grabbed the mike and hollered "The amulance guys are all inside Yerga's." The radio immediately answered "Hockers PUT DOWN THAT MIKE AND GET AWAY FROM THE AMBULANCE!!" Take care. Tom W Hammond Tech 55-58
Go to Top of Page |
11-28-2009
( Reply#: 4018 ) |
Tom J |
COOL! I'll bet that shook old "Hockers" up. As the dear, departed Paul Harvey would say, "The rest of the story?" How did the dispatcher know Hockers? Did you ever find out?
Tom |
11-28-2009
( Reply#: 4019 ) |
Tom J |
Tom W said...
Tom J.
Exactly! We didn't know how he was known to the dispachers but he had evidentally made his name known to many more people than our little group. Therin lies the mystique that these legendary characters carry so that here we are, SO many years later, scattered all over the map, can meet and aknowlege that we knew them or of them! Make sense? Take care Tom W Hammond Tech 55-58
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11-28-2009
( Reply#: 4020 ) |
Tom J |
seejay2 said...
Getting back to Edu, I remember one evening we paid Edu a visit. It was the first time I saw that character and just his sheer size made an unholy impression on me. Another one of his limericks went something like "Your mother sailed the seven seas, selling ***** to the Japanese".
The night we went there, he came out with a shoebox full of earrings (probably all stolen)to show us. Most of them were still on the cardboard backings with pricetags. Anyway, he passed the box into the car for us to look at, and when he wasn't looking, the driver, Ray, snatched a pair. When he gave the box back to Edu, the big freak glanced once into the box and immediately knew he had been ripped off. I will never forget the look in his eyes when he demanded them back. I thought he would peel back the top of the car to get them. Ray threw them out the window and sped off. The second trip we made some time later, brought Edu's father outside shouting that we we there to "get him riled up". That was my last visit to that circus.......Cj |
11-28-2009
( Reply#: 4021 ) |
Tom J |
Tom J said...
Thanks for sharing those memories, CJ.
It would sure be cool to know what ever happened to the big dude.
Tom |
11-29-2009
( Reply#: 4024 ) |
Tom J |
Seejay2 said...
Kinda looks like I have another quest when I get back home, doesn't it? Last I had heard, he had gotten partially thru a sex change operation and was calling himself "Stacy".............Cj
|
11-29-2009
( Reply#: 4025 ) |
Tom J |
Pro2am said...
Duane,
I remember Edu from my years at Bishop Noll. He was quite a local "legend" back then.
Mike Rapchak Jr.
|
11-29-2009
( Reply#: 4026 ) |
Tom J |
HassoBenSoba said...
MY story involves Edju "in name only"---but it gives you a good idea of the LEGENDARY status of this guy in E.C. during the 60's.
One fine afternoon in May of 1966, Bishop Noll's senior class presented a little after-school comedy skit in their auditorium entitled "Peter Panski", a spoof of "Peter Pan" that supposedly took place in "da Region"--cute idea. I was a freshman at the time, and I recall that the auditorium was jammed packed for the one-and-only performance of this (entirely student-produced) show. The only cast members I recall were a senior named Tom Dillon, who played one of the kids; he was in pink pj's (with the feet), sitting in a huge crib. Peter Panski was played by the late Mark Chiki, a tall, gangly guy with a high, unbroken voice--- he was a neighbor and friend of mine in Hessville--and a really nutty person.
The audience, of course, was waiting for the big moment when the title character first appeared onstage; when Panksi finally made his entrance (on the right side of the stage), the audience chuckled as Tom Dillon asked " Who are YOU?!"; for a split-second, the house was absolutely silent, but before Chiki could respond, some deep-voiced dude from the audience shouted "EDJU"!!------and the place went up for grabs!!
I kid you not, EVERYONE in that audience immediately doubled over in their seats HOWLING...SCREAMING..CONVULSED! I remember the pianist for the show, Anne Marie Gardena, seated up on the little platform side-stage on the right, her back to us, CRASHING down onto the keyboard and staying in that position as she wept with laughter. It took literally 3 or 4 minutes before the crowd settled down--as Mark Chiki stood there in his green tights and Robin Hood cap with hands on his hips, peeing his drawers with laughter along with the rest of the cast.
When the show finally resumed, things were never the same and,as I recall 43 years later, the level of comedy as scripted never came CLOSE to matching the hilarity of the totally unexpected, brilliantly improvised contribtuion--a single word, the Iconic name of E.C.'s legendary denizen--as shouted by that anonymous audience member.
Those were the days!
Larry Rapchak
Go to Top of Page |
11-29-2009
( Reply#: 4027 ) |
Tom J |
Duane said...
INCREDIBLY GREAT STORY, Larry!
I wish I would've been there. You had me doubled over in laughter, 'cause I could see what was coming in your story, but it still made me howl.
Funny, how with all these great stories, Edju (or Edu) doesn't seem to be listed anywhere on the internet.
Now if only Shep had written an Edju story into his writings, like if the Bumphus' lived on one side of Ralphie, and Edju lived on the other. Just imagine if Edju had mixed it up with My Summer Story's "Big Dickie" Bumphus (and Edju would have absolutely loved that name!!!!)
Go to Top of Page |
11-29-2009
( Reply#: 4028 ) |
Tom J |
Tom J said...
Larry:
THANK YOU! Even though my recollections of Edu are much more vague than those of several of you in here, I still could see the tremendous humor in your story.
You have a REAL talent for story telling, my friend!
Tom
|
11-29-2009
( Reply#: 4029 ) |
Tom J |
Bill Bucko said...
Why waste time discussing such a disgusting jerk?
I, for one, have better things to think about, and will avoid reading any further posts on this thread.
Bill |
11-29-2009
( Reply#: 4030 ) |
Tom J |
Tom J said...
Disgusting jerk he might have been, Bill, but he was still a legend from our youth.
Tom |
11-29-2009
( Reply#: 4031 ) |
Tom J |
HassoBenSoba said...
How tragic.....
To think that ONE negative post could DERAIL the entire "Edju" thread....No postings since March--and things were just starting to really get hilarious!
Let's not be faint-hearted; Edju is one of da region's icons and we should continue to sing his praises. Then again, maybe we've all exhausted our supply of stories; I've already related my only Edju-centric tale. In that case, it's fitting that he's being immortalized here in the Shepard Forum, which seems appropriate--too bad it's hidden in the "Calumet Bridges" topic; how would anyone searching for Edju-related lore ever find it?
Larry r
Go to Top of Page |
11-29-2009
( Reply#: 4032 ) |
Tom J |
Tom J said...
Larry, I think it is more of a case of folks running out of stories than of one post derailing the thread.
If you have any more, please post them!
Tom |
11-29-2009
( Reply#: 4033 ) |
Tom J |
HassoBenSoba said...
Tom--
Is there a way to copy/paste--or somehow transfer all of the Edju-related stories from the Grand Calumet/Bridges page into a NEW thread with its OWN topic-title?....something like "The life and times of "Edju Tucker"? It would make it much easier for people to locate this off-beat info and hopefully add to it. I'm sure Jean Shepherd would have loved the idea of an all-Edju chronicle.
Larry r
|
11-29-2009
( Reply#: 4034 ) |
Tom J |
Tom J said...
Larry:
I guess we could try. I don't have admin privileges, since I am just a member like anyone else. It would be pretty easy to do with access to admin stuff.
Tom
|
12-07-2009
( Reply#: 4097 ) |
Jay |
Wow, I had nearly forgotten about Edju until I read this thread!
Although I never knew him personally, I did know his parents and his younger brother since we were all members of the same Cub Scout Pack. I also remember his mother acting as a temporary Den Mother for us as well.
As for Edju, although I had encountered him many times out in public on the south side of East Chicago, I always kept my distance. Because I was so young, initially I did not associate his mannerisms with being effeminate. He was just peculiar to me. His tall height and wide girth intimidated me. And the foul language he often spewed prevented me from getting to know him better. Except for his offensive language, he reminded me of the cartoon character Baby Huey.
Does anyone know if he is still living? |
12-07-2009
( Reply#: 4119 ) |
seejay2 |
From what I understand, he had a partial sex change, changed his name to 'Kim', but is dead now and I wouldn't bet the farm on that info...Cj |
09-14-2010
( Reply#: 6082 ) |
tom pancheri |
quote:
Originally posted by Tom J
Duane said...
INCREDIBLY GREAT STORY, Larry!
I wish I would've been there. You had me doubled over in laughter, 'cause I could see what was coming in your story, but it still made me howl.
Funny, how with all these great stories, Edju (or Edu) doesn't seem to be listed anywhere on the internet.
Now if only Shep had written an Edju story into his writings, like if the Bumphus' lived on one side of Ralphie, and Edju lived on the other. Just imagine if Edju had mixed it up with My Summer Story's "Big Dickie" Bumphus (and Edju would have absolutely loved that name!!!!)
Go to Top of Page
|
09-14-2010
( Reply#: 6083 ) |
tom pancheri |
To Larry Rapchak: Edju was a legend! I was at the one and only performance of Peter Panski standing in the wings in my stage manager role. You are absolutely right the place went up for grabs and took a couple of minutes, an eternity for an actor, to calm down such was the mystique of EDJU! Once I stopped at the neighborhood store across from Edju's house to buy cigarettes, we all smoked in those days, and the owner told me Edju had been out in the middle of the night stopping traffic and screaming "Bow down to me I'm the Queen of Calumet City." The cast included Mark Chiki who was lost at sea in 1969. Tom Dillon who died in Pensacola FL in 1994. Bill Borah who is now a Cook County Judge. Marybeth McGowan as "Superchicken" and my old pal Mary Niemiec. Borah and I traveled to Florida shortly before Tom Dillon's death to visit him. I Don't remember you Larry, but I fondly remember your late brother Mike. I'm sure you miss him. By the way I was the guy who presented Peter Panski with the bouquet of dead weeds at the. Is anyane curtain call. there is an Edward Piotrowski in the phone book listed as an East Chicago resident, is anyone sure of the spelling of Edju's last name? Could he be our Edju? Somebody find out, Tom Pancheri |
09-19-2010
( Reply#: 6087 ) |
HassoBenSoba |
Tom--
I remember you well ("whaddya talk, whaddya talk...") from the Music Man in '66 (I was in the pit band), and as the Old Actor in "Fantasticks" in summer of '68 (I came to a dress rehearsal). I remember it all quite well and would love to compare memories sometime. I spent some time with Terry Sherman this past February and have talked with Phil Ponce a number of times.
It's great to hear from someone who actually remembers "Peter Panski" and was there on that fateful day in May of '66; now all Sheptalk knows that it's true---every word!
Larry r |
09-21-2010
( Reply#: 6091 ) |
LegulusQ |
Tom & Larry
Can you fill me in on the mention of Mark Chiki "lost at sea in 1969"? I remember Paul Chiki from OLPH, but am not familiar with what happened to his brother Mark?
My sister Carolyn graduated from Noll in 1963. My sister Connie went to Noll her first two years and then transferred to Morton, similar to Larry, graduating in 1968.
LegulusQ |
09-21-2010
( Reply#: 6092 ) |
tom pancheri |
Hi LegulusQ: I'm going to assume you are a lawyer since half the kids who went to Noll ended in law school. My brother Jim,"Noll 63" is a lawyer. Paul Chiki is Mark Chiki's little brother I know nothing about his current location. Perhaps Larry has more information. Mark was sailing off Cape Cod in the summer of 1969 with a couple of other people. They got caught in a storm, I believe one person survived and rest were never recovered. Tom Pancheri |
09-21-2010
( Reply#: 6096 ) |
LegulusQ |
Hi,Tom. Thanks for the info. I had never heard about Mark's unfortunate end.
Actually, I am a physician. Maybe that's because, unlike my sisters, I never went to Noll. I graduated from Morton in 1970.
Craig
LegulusQ |
10-01-2010
( Reply#: 6118 ) |
rrossa |
I remember going over to Edju's house in E.C. One of my friends parents were former neighbors. If this is the same guy, he would come out and talk to us, and occasionally we could get him to sing. He would kind of prance around and sing "This is dedicated to the one I love." He had a high voice, very effeminate, Truman Capote like. He would also yell at cars going by. After a while his dad would make him stop and come in.
Bob |
10-01-2010
( Reply#: 6119 ) |
Tom J |
Hi, Bob. Welcome to Sheptalk, and thanks for your contribution to the discussion. Hope you will do a lot posting.
Tom |
10-01-2010
( Reply#: 6120 ) |
HassoBenSoba |
Bob,
Welcome to the site. From what you've described, it couldn't have been anyone OTHER than the legendary Edju. What a goofball!
Larry r |
10-25-2010
( Reply#: 6199 ) |
Jay |
I just happened to be in the local library doing some research in the Hammond Times microfiche.
For August 30, 2001, I discovered an interesting obituary for an Edward A. Piotrowski of East Chicago. It stated that he had passed away on August 27 at the age of 54.
Judging by the names of the surviving father and one of the brothers listed, I believe this was our infamous Edju.
What surprised me was that it indicated he had retired from the East Chicago Sanitary District after working there 25 years. I always thought he was on disability. |
10-25-2010
( Reply#: 6201 ) |
duane |
J. - that age would be just about right, as if he was still alive, he'd be about 63 today. I do recall he was a few years older than my brother. So was our Cubmaster, Mr. Pietrowski still alive in 2001? I can still see and hear him leading our Cub Scout Pack in a rousing version of "The more we get together, the happier we'll be!"
With that many years in at the Sanitary District, I wonder if Edju actually became a responsible citizen? |
10-26-2010
( Reply#: 6204 ) |
Jay |
quote:
Originally posted by duane
J. - that age would be just about right, as if he was still alive, he'd be about 63 today. I do recall he was a few years older than my brother. So was our Cubmaster, Mr. Pietrowski still alive in 2001? I can still see and hear him leading our Cub Scout Pack in a rousing version of "The more we get together, the happier we'll be!"
With that many years in at the Sanitary District, I wonder if Edju actually became a responsible citizen?
I searched the internet and discovered that at http://www.faqs.org/people-search/edward-piotrowski/, it lists an Edward A. Piotrowski of Each Chicago who died on March 11, 2004, at the age of 88. This site also lists the 54 year old Edward A. Piotrowski of Each Chicago, but his death date is listed as August 15, 2001, and not the August 27, 2001 that the Hammond Times reports. Because the names and residence city match exactly, it appears that the father outlived the son by 3 years. |
11-11-2010
( Reply#: 6234 ) |
Second Son |
Back in the 90's I worked at the Family & Social Services Administration (welfare department) in Gary in the old H. Gordon & Sons store building at 8th & Massachusetts and Paul Chiki was a a supervisor there and far as I know he is still there. He was a nutty guy, fun to be around.
I can't say I had personal experience with Edju, but we all had some vague knowledge of this mysterious legend and we didn't really have any clue why. But the sex change bit was something I do remember.
Does anybody remember Old Man Martin? He was another legend; supposedly he was some kind of a hermit who lived under the 9 span bridge. |
11-11-2010
( Reply#: 6235 ) |
duane |
Yes - here is a link to some discussions about Martin Piniak (also more about Edju too). http://sheptalk.com/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=402
I think more comments about Martin might be scattered around in other threads as well, because I remember one poster here saying that his mom dated Martin in his earlier days, when he was a dapper and somewhat a "looker" and man about town. |
12-24-2010
( Reply#: 6360 ) |
mcgyver |
Jeez... I could not BELIEVE it when I first saw this post! I recall MANY Edju sightings in downtown Hammond(The wildest one was he was dressed in a mi-skirt and combat boots!)Sometimes my older sister (She had gone to Noll and knew of him) would yell ouy "Hey, EDJU!" and he would always reply with that soprano-shriek "HIIiiii!" of his... There also used to be this elderly German man who kind of hung out downtown by the Wallgreens somewhere in the late 60's I never knew his name, but he'd always talk to everyone he met... his favorite line "...is GOOD for you!!"
Mcgyver
Hammond Tech Class of '71 |
07-30-2011
( Reply#: 6753 ) |
musicluvrdon |
While on the topic of odd "legends" of our childhood, there was an older man who lived on the east side of Sheffield Avenue...I believe the 4000 or 4100 block. Everyone referred to him as "Screwy Louie". He allegedly did advances out his living room picture window. This guy as I recall is a north Hammond legend. Everyone avoided him...for obvious reasons!
Don H. |
07-30-2011
( Reply#: 6754 ) |
tom w |
Back in the late 40's, there was a candy store on Pine St across from Irving School. It was Mrs Turleys and she only sold penny candy and candy bars. She was a nice quiet old lady and there was a character staying there too. he was an elderly gentleman named Art Sample. He never bothered anyone but he always dressed in baggy, old pants, a bright silk shirt. green bow tie, rumpled, dirty white and blue sport coat that was too big and red and white baseball cap with a propeller on top. Wonder what ever happened to him.
Tom W |
