Arthur Edward Kane, Sr.

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  Untitled
  by Tom Kane

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  If you want to read a story about Poppy's brothers Charlie and Jasper making their own skis to hit the slopes in Prospect Park, see Skiing in Brooklyn.
  	Added by Tom Kane

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  Poppy's Ruler
  by Michael Kane

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  	Added by Michael Kane

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  Untitled
  by Beth Kane

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  I liked the story Artie wrote about the parking meters in New York and Poppy's role in installing them, but I wonder if the family knows this: 1951: First Parking Meters Installed In 1951, New York City’s Traffic Department installed its first parking meters. The first 25 went up along Harlem’s main commercial thoroughfare, West 125th Street between present-day Adam Clayton Powell Boulevard and Lenox Avenue in Manhattan. It cost ten cents an hour to park between the hours of 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Acting Mayor Joseph T. Sharkey activated the first meter on September 19 at 12:57 p.m. — after borrowing a dime. The nation’s first parking meters had been installed in Oklahoma City in 1935. In 1960, the city created its first unit of civilian parking meter attendants, 100 women who were quickly nicknamed “meter maids.” Within six months, they had issued more than 200,000 tickets for parking meter violations. Today, parking meters like the one shown at left generate tens of millions of dollars in revenue every year. –Cynthia Blair 'Don't Walk' Signs On February 5, 1952, the first Don't Walk' automatic signs were installed in New York City.
  	Added by Beth Kane

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  Young Love c. 1936
  by Beth Kane

  Table of Contents
  Poppy was very much in love with my mother-in-law, Kathryn Sheehan Kane. She was very fashionable and mannered, and Poppy always called her "The Dutchess" with obvious pride. Here's a cute photo of them. Other Poppyisms. "Measure twice and cut once." "Don't worry, we can fix it."
  	Added by Beth Kane

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  Untitled
  by Eileen Montano

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  I remember, as a 4-5 year old, I thought Dad was the handsomest man in the world. I used to run to meet him each day when he walked home from work. There was a big bump in the sidewalk and he used to hold his breath because most times I would trip on it. Then I would cry, and get a big egg on my forehead. He'd bend down and hug me, and try to make it better. He was a wonderful father. Auntie used to say, "Mac, when they made him, they threw away the mold!" He used to tell us stories sitting around the kitchen table after supper. Artie and I would beg him to tell tales of his childhood. With such a big family of eight children, there was lots of material! He would also tell us things of historical interest. I pretty much remember George Washington and the cherry tree, and Abraham Lincoln writing the Gettysburg address. He used to call Artie "Oscar Wascar". He and Artie would sometimes wrestle after dinner, and he would say Artie had a hard Kane head, and he had to watch out for it. It was a weapon. When Artie was four or five he became convinced that lions and tigers were breaking into his room at night. In the middle of the night I would here running steps down the hall. Artie was fleeing these dangerous animals, to the refuge of his parents' bed. Instead of chastising or spanking him, Popie realized that he was truly afraid. His ingenious solution was to nail up a set of bars outside Artie's window. This kept the lions and tigers out and gave everyone a good night sleep. Popie was a great photographer. He had a Kodak black and white fold out camera, and the pictures were crisp and clear. Much of our childhood is preserved in these pictures. Everything he did was oriented towards his family. Trips to Riis Park to swim on the weekends were a great feature of our childhood. He and Nanny were both great swimmers, and he had the patience to help us learn to swim. The ocean was usually quite rough, so we had to watch out for waves while we were learning to float. I must admit that I never did get to be the graceful swimmer that my parents were, which I blamed on not wanting to get my face wet and being vigalent for the next pounder. Popie also had the patience to teach Artie and I to drive. Mastering the manual shift and clutch took a lot of patience on his part. We both passed our driver's test on the first try. I recall that the perfect job I did on parallel parking has seldom been duplicated since! We were so fortunate to have such a loving and caring father, a perfect gentleman, who was well read and well educated, and deeply understanding of the pains of our growing up. Eileen Kane Montano
  	Added by Eileen Montano

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  The Prettiest Little Doggie in all Belle Haven
  by Beth Kane

  Table of Contents
  Poppy used to tell Mishka that she was, "the prettiest little doggie in all Belle Haven." Mishka believed every word. Poppy told me that getting a dog was not such a great idea the Christmas I decided to surprise the family. Poppy said that I'd be the one who had to take the puppy on walks, etc., but he was wrong. Actually, Poppy took on all those tasks, and he and Mishka loved each other dearly. I remember Poppy telling me one day after he came into the house with Mishka, "Well, Mishka and I are getting old at the same time. We don't walk as fast as we used to, but we're on the same track." I never really thought twice about it, but now I do.  W hen Poppy got sick, Mishka failed quickly, and died the week before Poppy did. We were not surprised to find a brand new leash and big box of Milkbone dog  bisquits in the trunk of his car.  Poppy was buried with Mishka's collar in his pocket because, somehow, even if this sounds a little "sappy," we always figured that maybe, with a little luck, Mishka had simply run on ahead and was waiting for him.
  	Added by Beth Kane

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  Untitled
  by Bill Montano

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  Yet more Poppy-isms  - "Did you bring your appetite young fella" asked just before dinner.  -  He would say Bum!! (Boom in Brooklynese)!! when someone fell down.  - The super loud whistle done on special occasions always with plenty of warning to cover your ears.  - Just like Sammy Hagar says in "I can't drive 55" Poppy drove in rush hour traffic with one foot on the brake and one on the gas.   The man who tought me to swim, patienly waited while I ran quarters through video games at the local mall, brought me to the Air and Space Museum and many other great places in D.C. I miss him dearly.
  	Added by Bill Montano

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  Untitled
  by Art Kane

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  I am very happy my sons, Tom and Michael, chose my dad, Arthur E. Kane Sr., to be the first person to appear in the Portrait section of Commontales. He was a great guy with the perfect blend of humor, intellect, humility, and above all, patience, and everyone loved him. You’ll hear that over and over about him. Everyone called my dad “Mac.” For some reason I did, too, until years later when the grandchildren came along and he became “Poppie” to us all. He always put family first and was devoted to my mom. One of the few indulgences he allowed himself was to get vanity plates when they became available. He was the last person you would ever think of to have vanity plates, but “KAY-39” celebrated his wife and the year they were married. My dad graduated from Brooklyn Polytechnic Institute (just like three of his brothers) with a Civil Engineering degree and went to work for the city of New York eventually becoming Director of Parking for all five boroughs of New York City – not exactly a stress-free job. He was involved in the development and deployment of parking meters and had to conduct a lot of contentious neighborhood meetings with the merchants pitted against the residents. The merchants wanted meters for a quick customer turn-around, and the residents always were opposed. Sometimes, he’d bring a prototype parking meter home and show me how it worked. I think he hoped I’d turn out to be an engineer, but alas those inventive genes bypassed me. Luckily, they found their way in abundance in Michael. A big problem with the early parking meters was that they were an easy source of cash for petty criminals. A lot of effort was spent in the beginning trying to make them more impenetrable. I remember my dad telling me that it was hard keeping ahead of the bandits. Once the locks and the meters were constructed from better materials and could no longer be opened on the spot, the thieves developed ways of decapitating the meters from their stands quickly. They would fill their trunks with these meters, take them home, and then figure out ways to open them at their leisure. I guess the race was then on to develop a pipe that couldn’t be cut. Later in his career my dad oversaw the building of municipal parking garages. Visibility was a big thing. He always made sure there were no areas where someone could hide. Safety was of primary importance especially for a woman alone in a garage. Mac always had a few “projects” going on. He was the resident carpenter, general handyman, inventor, and auto mechanic. One of his best ideas was to rewire the ignition switch on the family car. A toggle switch was then hidden under the dashboard. Unless the switch was in the right position, the car could not be started by a thief either by “hotwiring” or even with the key in hand. Another of his tricks was to tape an extra set of keys under the hood on one of the engine mountings with black electrical tape. In those days, the hood did not automatically lock, and if you lost the car keys, you would be able to retrieve the extra set. The taped area quickly became almost invisible once enough engine grime accumulated. And, don’t forget, we had the toggle switch if the key fell into the wrong hands. This saved me a lot of frustration my first year in college. A few friends and I drove my car to Florida for spring break. Since we were coming from frigid Syracuse, we were all pumped up the first time we sighted a beach and the temperature was above 70. The jeans came off and the bathing suits went on in a hurry. I threw my clothes in the trunk and as soon as I slammed it shut (and trunks did lock automatically), I realized the keys were in my pants. Thank God for Dad’s foresight. Mac routinely went “above and beyond” when needed. One of my most vivid memories is from the summer of ‘64. Four of my friends and I had planned a summer-long bash in California. It was the summer before my senior year in college. One guy from Syracuse had the only car , a Ford Fairlane – a real piece of junk – so we were in desperate need of a second vehicle (especially since three of my friends were varsity basketball players). We came up with a great idea — I found an ad in The Times looking for someone to drive a new car from the East Coast to California to deliver it to someone who recently moved there. I sealed the deal with the auto dealer on a brand new Chevy. All I had to do was deliver it unscathed within seven days, and we had our ride! The gas was on me, otherwise it was free. My dad and I picked it up early one Saturday morning; signed the appropriate papers and brought it home. Mac, of course, checked it out thoroughly before I left. All the tire pressures and fluids were perfect. Later that day, the car was packed, the appropriate goodbyes said, and I was on my way from Brooklyn to Syracuse to meet my buddies. So – here I am — about 50 miles north of NYC on the NY State Thruway when things start to go wrong. The hot light appears. I pull over to the shoulder, let the engine idle and cool down, and the light goes off. Back on the road for 10 minutes and it happens again. I go thru the same drill a few more times. Finally, I’m nearing an exit where there will be a gas station. The damn light comes on again and this time I decide I’ll chance it. Bad move! Soon there’s a loud bang and smoke starts billowing out of engine. I get over to the shoulder and sprint away from the potential explosion. As I’m standing on the shoulder, another college friend who lives in that town happens to be driving by, recognizes me, and stops. We go to the nearest garage and they send a tow truck for the car. The prognosis is not good. The garage figures it was some malfunction in the circulation of the oil that caused the engine to seize and the engine is totaled! I can’t believe it. My friend takes me to his home for some food and the phone call to my father. My dad, of course, is only concerned that I’m OK. I’m sure since I was penniless, he had to sign some kind of financial commitment to get the car. He knows how distraught I am and tries to calm me down. He gets directions to my friend’s house, tells me to call the guys in Syracuse to let them know I won’t be there that day, and that he’ll see me in the morning. The next day he picks me up. We go to the garage to confirm the findings on the car. Mac gets a report so he can square it away with the auto dealership and drives me up to Syracuse so I can cram into the Ford Fairlane with my four friends and start our summer adventure. As I’m writing this story, I’m doing the math in my head. Mac was in his mid-fifties. The roundtrip to Syracuse that day for him was about 12 hours. The next day he was going to have to deliver the bad news to the dealership. And the whole conversation with me that day was not to worry; he’d take care of everything, and have a great summer. What a guy!
  	Added by Art Kane

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  More Poppy-isms
  by Michael Kane

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  Laurie - I thought it was "Mr." Speedy but I could be wrong "The Prettiest Dog in all of Belle Haven!" "Snazzy" "The Mayor of Montebello"
  	Added by Michael Kane

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  Untitled
  by Laurie Montano

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  What a wonderful picture of Poppy. When I look at it, I see Artie, Billy, Tom, Michael. I had to add a note when I read Aunt Beth Kane's words about never seeing Poppy mad or lose his cool... stay tuned because I've got a story for you... When I was in 6 or 7 years old, Nanny and Popppy came to visit while we lived on Ft. Wainright in Fairbanks, AK. Billy and I shared a room then, he was 2 yrs younger than me. One of my favorite things to do at night when we were supposed to be sleeping, was to make Billy laugh, and this night was no exception. I was doing my imitations of all of the characters in the Archie comics, and telling stories with their voices. Poppy had already come into the room several times in his kind non-threatening way telling us to quiet down and go to bed. I kept on talking, with stories of Jughead, Archie, Reggie, Veronica, and Billy kept on laughing. Finally, he had enough, and Poppy pushed open the door and I said in my best Archie imitation voice, "Hi Poppy, my name is Archie!" He replied in a deep, stern voice I had never heard from Poppy (and never did since then), "Shut up and go to sleep!" I was so shocked, I cried a little, and of course fell right to sleep. He was all of those things that Aunt Beth said...kind, patient, loving, but he put his foot down when you crossed the line. I guess I was the only grandkid who was willing to push him that far. I respect him even more for this today. When I was preparing a few words to say at his wake, in addition to writing about what a wonderful grandfather he was, I began making a list of things that reminded me of him. When it came time to say something about him, I read this list, and everyone smiled with memories, and some even added to it. From my memory, here it is... Breezy Point The Good Humor Man The Zoo Busy and Plain (when teaching Billy how to match his clothes) Speedy Home movies Backgammon The Pool A Button Nose KAY39 Marybeth added: the Scripto Mechanical Pencil Can anyone remember others?
  	Added by Laurie Montano

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  Untitled
  by Mary Beth Backman

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  Looking back, "592" was wonderful.!  Geraniums, hydrangeas, backyard basketball courts, friendly ice cream men who came punctually  at 2:15pm and 7:30 pm daily.  On the bottom porch would sit my Uncle Mac.      Perhaps, as a child, I underestimated his love and strength.  Now I know he anchored us all to that house.  He accepted, protected, and brought out the best in us.  I am grateful for his patience and intelligence because he tutored me through grammar school , high school and college.   I am also grateful for his generosity and sensitivity always including me on familyexcursions to the library, zoo, park, Nathan's for lunch, and always stopping at Carvel on the way home   from the beach.  It is good to remember.
  	Added by Mary Beth Backman

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  Untitled
  by Tom Kane

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  Here's a picture of me kissing Poppy when I was three. It looks like he was helping me with my watercolors set. The pink pj and barette combo in the background is Bethie.
  	Added by Tom Kane

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  Untitled
  by Michael Kane

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  That was a nice note, Mom.  Poppy (the kids often spell it "Poppy") was a great guy.  There are so many things -- I know I'll add multiple notes here. I'll start with something I remembered at his wake.  At the end, everyone stood around and shared some memories.  I said, "Poppy was the kind of grandfather who would pick me up from school when I was sick and take me straight to McDonald's." Everyone laughed at that.  Poppy was a fantastic grandfather.  I'm so glad I had that relationship in my life; it meant a lot to me, and I know it did to him, too.
  	Added by Michael Kane

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  The Dearest Man
  by Beth Kane

  Table of Contents
  I always knew how unbelievably lucky I was to have a father-in-law like Arthur E. Kane Sr., affectionately known to us as Mac, Maxie, Poppie, or in lighter moments, The Popster. I knew Poppie for 40 years and never once did I ever see him lose his temper or even "his cool." He was the most patient man I ever met ,and his son is a close second. I thank Poppie for providing such a great example. Poppie was great with Michael's Cub Scout projects and repairing Bethie's dolls. He helped Tom confirm for his science project that Dominio's Pizza drivers were most likely to run the red light than anyone else. They made this discovery after hours of observation on Rt. 1. It took the Washington Post at least five more years to figure that out! He got me out of more than one tight spot. He very patiently explained the workings of the furnace and radiator system in our 75-year-old house every fall season. He said it was so I could carry on when he was gone.  He taught me well, but carrying on without him is an entirely different story. It can't be done (I do know everything about the furnace and find little notes and reminders from him every now and then). They are always uplifting, have a bit of cheerful advice, good news. They make you smile, miss him, and try to be a little more like him. Poppie, if you can see this, I miss you.
  	Added by Beth Kane