Role of Promptly Reissued Telephone Numbers
Posted August 31, 2004
Generally the telephone company deactivated a discontinued phone number for many years. This practice reduced refunds for calls placed to wrong numbers. Some people, however, found special uses for recently reissued numbers.
Occasionally an incoming tenant of public housing listed a number recently held by a former subscriber.

Within seven years, Harry H. Brown lived at three Forest Hills residences. From late 1944 to late 1947, he lived at 112 Ascan Avenue. Between early 1948 and late 1949, Harry H. Brown dwelled at 110-21 73rd Road. He called 67-38 108th Street his home during 1950 and 1951. During these seven years, Harry H. Brown listed BO8-3509 as his telephone number. He was unlisted in 1952.

From 1953 to 1958, Harry H. Brown was a tenant at 67-14 Parsons Boulevard in the Pomonok Public Houses and listed JA3-2369 as his telephone number. From early 1948 to early 1951, Hubert Jacobs of 167-46 109th Road listed the same number. In 1959, Harry H. Brown moved to a private home at 71-32 168th Street and retained JA3-2363 for seven years. He remained at this address until 1973.

Between 1952 and 1955, Daniel R. Davis was a tenant at 34-15 12th Street in the Ravenswood Public Houses. From 1953 to 1955, he listed ST6-7393 as his telephone number. From early 1949 to 1952, Henry Greenberg of 43-05 44th Street, Sunnyside listed the same number. In 1956, Daniel R. Davis moved to 231-15 145th Avenue, Rosedale. He relocated to a newly built apartment house in 1962 and resided at 88-08 151st Avenue, Howard Beach for the next eight years.

Sidney F. Kaplan lived at 41-35 45th Street, Sunnyside in 1943. He moved in 1944 to the Queensbridge Public Houses and retained his former IR6-2235 telephone number. For five years, Sidney F. Kaplan listed 40-13 Vernon Boulevard as his address. During 1950, he was unlisted. In 1951, Sidney F. Kaplan moved to 31-25 49th Street. For the next five years, Sidney F. Kaplan remained at the Woodside Public Houses and listed the AS4-4598 telephone number formerly held by a local attorney, Richard E. Rosenbaum.

Richard E. Rosenbaum moved his law practice from Flushing to Astoria in 1948. He opened an office at 38-07 Broadway and established a nearby residence at 32-86 33rd Street. Early in 1951, Richard E. Rosenbaum moved to a new residence at 64-14 Asquith Crescent, Rego Park. In 1955, he moved to a newly opened cooperative at 43-57 Union Street, Flushing. In the mid-sixties, Richard E. Rosenbaum moved his law office to 32-51 Steinway Street and his residence to 35-69 165th Street, Flushing.

Wallace H. Roberson was an original tenant of the Woodside Public Houses. He entered late 1949 or early 1950 and remained at 50-10 Broadway until 1956. Throughout this period, Wallace H. Roberson listed AS4-0511 as his telephone number. During early 1949, Thomas Clemente of 28-35 41st Street, Astoria listed AS4-0511. In 1956, Wallace H. Roberson moved to a home at 22-67 47th Street, Astoria. After two years he relocated to a residence at 32-34 35th Street. With each move Wallace H. Roberson retained his AS4-0511 telephone number.

Marcus M. Wachs lived at 34-35 12th Street during 1955. He moved in 1956 to 65-54 Parsons Boulevard in the Pomonok Public Houses and listed OL8-3487 as his telephone number. For the previous six years, Arthur D. Fischer had listed the same number at two addresses in Fresh Meadows. Marcus M. Wachs lost his OL8-3487 number in 1966 when the telephone company changed every number in the neighborhood. He remained at 65-54 Parsons Boulevard until 1972.

When the former subscriber paid the phone bills of the incoming public housing tenant they, had a license to remotely tap an extension of their phone and collect admissible evidence.

Alternately a new subscriber would list the abandoned number of a former public housing tenant.

From 1947 or earlier to 1951, Alan A. Apfelbaum lived at 40-03 10th Street in the Queensbridge Public Houses. He moved in 1952 to 223-03 Manor Road, Queens Village. In 1956, Alan A. Apfelbaum relocated to 221-22 Manor Road. Between 1952 and 1954, Joseph Brown of 36-18 29th Street, Long Island City listed the former ST4-3015 telephone of Alan A. Apfelbaum. For the previous two years, Joseph Brown listed ST6-8553 at the same address.

Samuel Cohen occupied two apartments at the Queensbridge Public Houses. From 1948 to 1950, he lived at 40-04 Vernon Boulevard. In 1951, he moved to 40-09 12th Street and retained his former ST6-3324 telephone number. Samuel Cohen listed the same address and phone in 1952 and was unlisted afterwards. In 1953, J. P. Coffey of 39-44 47th Avenue, Long Island City listed the former telephone number of Samuel Cohen. The following year, J. P. Coffey listed ST6-3324 at 41-05 43rd Street.

In late 1948, Peter L. Philios moved from 41-04 10th Street in the Queensbridge Public Houses to 14-41 31st Road, Astoria. Concurrently, a Manhattan attorney, Arthur I. Winard, established a residence at 48-51 43rd Street, Sunnyside and listed the former ST4-4549 telephone number of Peter L. Philios. One year later, Arthur I. Winard moved to 48-50 44th Street and retained his telephone number.

In 1950, Peter L. Philios replaced John M. Quinn as resident of 25-75 45th Street, Astoria. In 1955, Peter L. Philios moved to 35-20 24th Street in the Ravenswood Public Houses. He remained at this address until 1965 then moved to 172-44 133rd Avenue in the Rochdale Village cooperatives.

Under these circumstances the new subscriber could legally tap any extension of their phone left behind by the former public housing tenant.

Sometimes a tenant would leave public housing, move to a new neighborhood and acquire a recently abandoned telephone number.

Nils A. Youngberg was a tenant of the Queensbridge Public Houses. From 1950 to 1953, he lived at 41-05 10th Street. In 1954, Nils A. Youngberg moved to a private house at 32-43 77th Street, Jackson Heights. For eighteen years he listed HA6-0027 at this address. From 1942 or earlier to 1953, Lyall S. Marks of 82-15 35th Avenue listed the same telephone number. He was unlisted during 1954. Afterwards, Lyall S. Marks listed 162-01 Powells Cove Boulevard as his address.

Clinton L. Rose resided at 24 Coe Road, Rockaway during 1949 and 1950. He was unlisted in 1951. During 1952, Clinton L. Rose lived at 60-05 98th Road, Rego Park. For the following seven years, he was a tenant at 4-10 27th Avenue in the Astoria Public Houses. In 1961, Clinton L. Rose moved to a private residence at 123-17 11th Avenue in an affluent section of College Point. He listed the former FL3-4498 telephone number held from 1944 to 1959 by William Wade of 14-28 114th Street.

Thomas J. Savage was a tenant at the Queensbridge Public Houses. Between 1955 and 1956, he lived at 41-04 10th Street. In 1957, Thomas J. Savage moved to an apartment in Queens Village and listed HO8-2996. From late 1949 to 1956, Joseph Cohen of 89-49 220th Street had listed the same number. Thomas J. Savage lived at 207-13 Jamaica Avenue for eight years.

From 1951 to 1952, Alvin E. Thompson was a tenant at 34-20 24th Street in the Ravenswood Public Houses. In 1953, he moved to a private home in Jamaica and replaced Hugh J. Kelleher as the occupant of 114-11 148th Street. During 1953 and 1954, Alvin E. Thompson listed the former OL9-6695 telephone number held by John Wagner of 123-15 155th Street until 1952. In 1955, Alvin E. Thompson obtained a new telephone number and resided at 114-11 148th Street for three additional years.

Interconnections between holders of recently abandoned telephone numbers show they belonged to a wider activity.

From 1957 to 1965, Thomas J. Savage lived at 207-13 Jamaica Avenue. In 1967, another recipient of a recently reissued telephone number occupied this address. This recipient was the Ehrlich Tool Company, Inc. Four years later Kurt Ehrlich and his company listed 207-13 Jamaica Avenue and a common phone number. Between early 1945 and 1952, Fanny Ehrlich, Kurt Ehrlich or the Ehrlich Tool Company, Inc. listed HA9-7771 at two different addresses. William S. Friedman was the holder of HA9-7771 during 1942 and 1943.

Between 1953 and 1958, Alvin E. Thompson resided in a changing neighborhood. He lived among transient residents who moved to other sections and became the new neighbors of former public housing tenants.

Robert J. Harper moved in 1951 to 114-35 148th Street. He remained in Jamaica for six years. In 1958, Robert J. Harper moved to 194-32 Nashville Boulevard, Laurelton. The previous year, Hoyt L. Wilson of 194-27 Nashville Boulevard moved from 41-14 12th Street in the Queensbridge Public Houses. Robert J. Harper remained at his address until 1965, one year longer than Hoyt L. Wilson stayed at 194-27 Nashville Boulevard.

Paul P. Williams moved in 1952 to 114-18 148th Street. In 1956, he relocated to 204-05 45th Road and Wallace R. Walker was his new neighbor. From 1950 to 1955, Wallace R. Walker was a tenant at 50-04 31st Avenue in the Woodside Public Houses. He moved to an affluent section of Bayside in 1956 and resided at 204-02 45th Road until 1965. Paul P. Williams remained at his address until 1958.

During 1959 and 1960, Clinton L. Rose and Mrs. Lois M. Snoddy were tenants at the Astoria Public Houses. In 1956 and 1957, Paul P. Williams of 204-05 45th Road and Mrs. Lois M. Snoddy of 204-40 45th Road were neighbors.

Sidney F. Kaplan and Seymour J. Sherman of 31-69 49th Street were neighbors at the Woodside Public Houses from 1951 to 1954. In 1955, Richard E. Rosenbaum and Seymour J. Sherman moved to a newly opened cooperative at 43-57 Union Street, Flushing and were neighbors until 1966.

Between early 1948 and late 1949, Harry H. Brown and Arthur Gordon resided at 110-21 73rd Road, Forest Hills. From the spring of 1947 to early 1948, Richard E. Rosenbaum and Arthur Gordon practiced law at 36-53 Main Street, Flushing.

Surprisingly some of these holders of recently reissued phone numbers or former public housing tenants had members of a small family as neighbors.

From 1953 to 1955, Alvin E. Thompson and Michael Oswald were neighbors. Michael Oswald resided at 114-38 148th Street, Jamaica from early 1945 to 1955. This residency followed a twelve year absence of Oswalds at this location. Previously, M. J. Oswald lived at 114-38 148th Street, Jamaica for two years.

Between 1952, and 1954, Henry J. Oswald, Jr. lived at 25-42 45th Street Astoria and Peter L. Philios was his neighbor. Perhaps this Henry J. Oswald Jr. was related to the Henry J. Oswald who moved to the Woodside Public Houses in 1957.

In 1955, Marcus M. Wachs and Mrs. Mary Oswald were tenants at 34-35 12th Street in the Ravenswood Public Houses. The following year, Marcus M. Wachs moved to 65-54 Parsons Boulevard. His neighbor, Jack A. Oswald of 65-52 Parsons Boulevard was an original tenant of the Pomonok Public Houses.

In 1968, Hildegarde M. Oswald moved to an apartment at 98-01 67th Road, Forest Hills. Her new neighbor, Emanuel Gross was among the original tenants of the Pomonok Public Houses. From 1953 to 1963, he resided at 67-14 Parsons Boulevard. Harry H. Brown was his neighbor until 1959. In 1963, they listed Emanuel and Susan Gross at this address. Neither Emanuel nor Susan Gross listed 67-14 Parsons Boulevard as an address in 1964. Instead, they listed 98-01 67th Road, Forest Hills as their common address. Susan Gross dropped her listing in 1966 and Emanuel Gross continued his until 1971.

Hildegarde M. Oswald lived at 98-01 67th Road for two years. In 1971, William R. Wilson listed her former address and 459-6814 telephone number.

Although thirty Oswalds listed residences in a county of 1.5 million inhabitants, a disproportionate percentage of them had former public housing tenants as neighbors or dwelled in the immediate vicinity of public schools. These statistics show the depth of involvement by Oswalds in public sector activities.

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Last Updated on December 3, 2008 by Herbert Blenner