Like the leaves that fall off the trees at autumn and slowly reappear at springtime, so it is with the guys who stand on the corner. During the harsh winter months they vanish only to return with the sunlight of spring. It is anyone’s guess what they are doing, but the residents of East Tremont have one thing in mind, illegal activity. “The neighborhood has come a long way,” said Charmaine, a one-time resident of East Tremont. “With police patrolling the streets it has become better,” she continued. There are some things, though, that seem to linger. Added pressure from the police department will no doubt continue to fight any illegal activity that inhabits the street corners and back roads of East Tremont. “I don’t walk on the Marmion side of the building,” said a resident of the neighborhood, “because I don’t want the police to think I am involved in anything,” he continued. Some people believe that the police are watching that section of Marmion.
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Recently, a Bronx fire claimed the lives of eight children and one adult. It has been called one of the worst fires in history. However, it serves as a reminder of another deadly fire that took place in the Bronx neighborhood of East Tremont almost seventeen years ago.
      On March 25, 1990, at about 4 am, the Happy Land Social Club was set on fire by Julio Gonzales after he was thrown out of the club due to an altercation with another guest. That morning, eighty-seven people lost their lives.  As the anniversary approaches, there are signs that the neighborhood has recovered but also that the people in the community still remember that dreadful morning.
      Across the street from where the Happy Land Social Club was located, a memorial was built to honor the 87 victims who died that day. The site of the club has undergone changes since the fire. It was split into two separate establishments; one of which is a beauty shop and the other an income tax facility. Each business is accessible from the other; thus creating two exits instead of the one exit that the Happy Land Social Club had.
Despite the alterations, the burgundy color of the Happy Land Social Club is still visible above the awning of both establishments. There are no indications that they plan to change the color, perhaps honoring those who died in a different way.
Each of these stories also reminds us that it is very important to be prepared in case there is a fire.
For those of you who might be having a little trouble researching your neighborhoods. Or you did not already know about this, here is a website that might help you. It contains past and present information about New York City neighborhoods.
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