These people had diverse backgrounds. One person originated from a middle-class neighborhood while a few came from working class neighborhoods or other projects. Many former public housing tenants moved into private homes and some bought cooperative apartments.
This varied group had the same goal. They sought, identified, and destroyed centers of left-wing activity. These people were cold war agents. Examining the movements of these agents suggests the government was their client.
Between April 1948 and sometime after April 1951, Daniel A. Meyer lived in a private house at 66-36 69th Street, Middle Village. He moved to the Woodside projects and spent seven years, 1952-1959, at 50-49 Newtown Road. In 1960, Daniel A. Meyer moved to a private dwelling at 73-07 Juniper Valley Road, Middle Village where he lived for more than thirteen years. In 1998, they listed John A. Meyer at this address with the former phone number of Daniel A. Meyer.
In the early fifties demand for public housing exceeded supply. The New York City Housing Authority had a waiting list. During the ususal two or three-year waiting period, the Housing Authority checked if an applicant's income was below the specified ceiling. This ceiling increased with apartment size. However, the ceiling was below average income and hovered near the poverty level.
The Housing Authority enforced the income ceiling. They monitored income of residents and summarily evicted tenants whose incomes rose above the ceiling. This practice continued until the American Civil Liberties Union won the right for a "tenant's day in court." After this 1955 ruling, the New York City Housing Authority brought eviction proceedings before an administrative judge.
Daniel A. Meyer bypassed the normal waiting period and was admitted to the projects in under a year. Apparently the Housing Authority approved his movements and waived the income ceiling.
Roscoe C. Brown, Jr. moved from a public housing project in Astoria to the Woodside projects. From 1954 to 1956, he resided at 50-29 Broadway. Afterwards Roscoe C. Brown, Jr. moved to a private house at 104-21 193rd Street, Hollis and lived there for at least six years.
Between 1957 and 1962, Joseph L. Gibson lived in the Woodside projects. He resided at 50-41 Newtown Road. Previously he lived in Harlem at 70 West 128th Street. In 1963, Joseph L. Gibson moved to a private home at 155-37 114th Road, Jamaica and was still there in 1998.
Du Valle Lee lived the Queensbridge public housing projects for at least eight years. In 1957, he moved to the Woodside projects and resided at 31-80 51st Street. Du Valle Lee remained in the Woodside projects for three years. In 1961, he moved at a private house at 179-45 Anderson Road, St. Albans. He stayed at this location for six years.
Movements of Roscoe C. Brown, Jr., Joseph L. Gibson and Du Valle Lee raise the question of their obscurity. They lived in a society that cherished the themes of "from rags to riches" and "poor boy makes good." One would expect they would put these exemplary individuals in the showcase. Examination of other former residents of the Woodside projects helps to explain the anonymity of these apparent public housing successes.
Between 1952 and 1958, Bernard J. Brothers lived in the Woodside projects. He resided at 31-58 51st Street. In 1959, he moved to the private home at 150-63 77th Avenue, Fresh Meadows. Bernard J. Brothers remained at 150-63 77th Avenue for nine years. In 1969, he moved to another private residence at 150-09 78th Road. Bernard J. Brothers remained at his new home for at least four years.
Joseph R. Burke lived at 31-45 49th Street for four years. In 1957, he left the Woodside projects and moved to a private home at 130-24 116th Street, South Ozone Park. Joseph R. Burke remained at this residence for more than sixteen years.
From 1950 to 1952, John T. Coggins lived in the Woodside projects. He resided at 50-18 Broadway. In 1953, he moved to a private house in the same neighborhood. John T. Coggins lived at 32-24 55th Street. For the following seventeen, he shared the same end-of-the-line bus stop, shops, and train stations with his former public housing tenants.
The movements of Bernard J. Brothers, Joseph R. Burke, and especially John T. Coggins begs the question of their stealth. People incorrectly identified public housing residents as welfare recipients. This misidentification would have placed Bernard J. Brothers, Joseph R. Burke, and John T. Coggins under scrutiny of the conservative radio talk shows which purportedly exposed welfare frauds.
These talk shows featured listeners who phoned in stories of welfare abuses. While most listeners reported stories that lead nowhere, a few reported real abuses. A public housing tenant failed to report after school earnings of their teenage son. Another tenant concealed a Christmas bonus. The authorities confirmed these cases and the media publicized these abuses.
Throughout the fifties, not once did the media publish a report on a former New York City public housing tenant moving directly into a private home. Probably they recognized such a movement was unrelated to welfare fraud.
Between 1950 and 1956, Ralston A. Grant lived in the Woodside projects. He resided at 50-07 Broadway. In 1957, Ralston A. Grant moved to a modest residence at 105-13 171st Place, Jamaica. He remained at this location for three years. In 1962, Ralston A. Grant moved to a fine private home in St. Albans. He lived at 104-46 199th Street for the next eight years.
Peter J. Johnson Jr. lived in the Woodside projects. Between 1950 and 1957, he resided at 31-65 49th Street. In 1958, Peter J. Johnson Jr. moved to a private house in an affluent section of Bellrose. For more than fifteen years, he lived at 244-53 90th Avenue.
From 1952 to 1956, Michael Ledwozan lived in the Woodside projects. He resided at 50-10 31st Avenue. In 1957, he moved to a private home at 218-37 105th Avenue, Queens Village. Two years later, Michael Ledwozan moved to 217-18 100th Avenue and remained at this location for more than fourteen years.
Professionals assisted the movements of Ralston A. Grant, Peter J. Johnson Jr. and Michael Ledwozan. Real estate agents would have superficially checked the background of their clients. However if any of these individuals bought their new homes, mortgage bankers would have fully investigated potential borrowers. Had the bankers found any irregularities they would have denied any loan and probably would have reported their findings to the authorities.
Between 1951 and 1955, James P. Matthews lived at 50-48 Broadway. In 1956, he left the Woodside projects and move to a private home in the comfortable neighborhood of Whitestone. James P. Matthews lived at 169-20 26th Avenue for more than seventeen years.
Richard T. Thornton lived in the Woodside projects from 1952 to 1957. He resided at 50- 41 Newtown Road. In 1958, Richard T. Thornton moved to a private house in Woodside. He remained at 51-18 72nd Place for the next five years.
Between 1950 and 1955, Wallace R. Walker lived in the Woodside projects. He resided at 50-04 31st Avenue. In 1956, he moved to an affluent section of Bayside. For the following eight years, Wallace R. Walker lived in a private home at 204-02 45th Road.
The Gwinn amendment of 1952 illuminates the anomalous movements of Bernard J. Brothers, Joseph R. Burke, John T. Coggins, Ralston A. Grant, Peter J. Johnson Jr., Michael Ledwozan, James P. Matthews, Richard T. Thornton and Wallace R. Walker. This revision of Public Housing Act of 1937, denied residency in federally aided projects to members of any subversive organization.
The New York City Housing Authority was obligated to identify and evict subversives. This compulsion encouraged employment of undercover agents. However, the courts required the housing authority to prove suspected tenants engaged in subversion. Once an agent testified, they forfeited their usefulness for undercover work in the projects.
Although some may find the use of undercover agents objectionable, local, state and federal laws did permit such activities in public housing. This interpretation would explain how so many apparently poor people could bypass many safeguards and quietly move on to a comfortable or affluent life styles. Examining these new life styles show some former public housing tenants changed places of residence and employment.
Sarah H. Gordon lived in the Woodside projects. Between 1951 and 1955, she resided at 50-45 Newtown Road, Woodside. In 1956, Sarah H. Gordon moved to a private house at 26-25 98th Street, East Elmhurst and remained at this address for more than seventeen years.
Between 1954 and 1959, Jerome F. Gorman lived at 50-11 Broadway, Woodside. In 1960, he moved to a private home at 152-05 11th Avenue, Whitestone.
Sarah H. Gordon left the projects and moved to a modest middle-class neighborhood. Given the racial discrimination of the era, Sarah H. Gordon's relocation was on par with highest expectations. Jerome F. Gorman was unhindered by prejudice. He moved to an affluent neighborhood. After leaving the projects, Sarah H. Gordon and Jerome F. Gorman remained close to public sector operations. Sarah H. Gordon's new home was one block from Public School 127 at 98-01 25th Avenue, East Elmhurst. Jerome F. Gorman was less remote from activities. His new residence was across the street from Public School 193 at 152-20 11th Avenue, Whitestone.
Between 1950 and 1957, Ralph K. Greenfield lived in the Woodside public housing projects at 49-15 Broadway. In 1958, he moved to a limited-profit housing development in Flushing. Ralph K. Greenfield lived at 31-50 140th Street for more than fifteen years. He was across the street from Public School 214 at 31-15 140th Street.
During 1957, Joseph L. Harrison lived at 31-27 49th Street. In 1958, he left the Woodside projects and moved to a private home at 188-10 Pineville Lane, Springfield Gardens. He was living one block from Intermediate School 59 at 132-55 Ridgedale Street. Joseph L. Harrison remained at this location for six years.
From 1950 to 1954, George J. Soffer resided in the Woodside projects at 31-34 51st Street. In 1955, he moved to a private house at 147-21 71st Avenue, Flushing. His new home was less than two blocks from Public School 165 at 70-35 150th Street.
In 1953, the Eisenhower administration combined the former departments of education and welfare into the cabinet-level Department of Health, Education and Welfare. If Sarah H. Gordon, Jerome F. Gorman, Ralph K. Greenfield, Joseph L. Harrison or George J. Soffer had operated as undercover public housing agents and later participated in public school operations then their actions would have been legal.
Herbert Stollerman resided in the Woodside projects. From 1950 to 1952, he lived at 49-15 Broadway. In 1953, Herbert Stollerman moved to private home at 69-42 230th Street, Bayside. Herbert Stollerman's new neighborhood was suburban and had paved streets. However, his neighborhood lacked a public school. He had to wait three years before Public School 213 opened at 231-02 67th Avenue. Herbert Stollerman remained two blocks from 213 for more than seventeen years.
Between 1950 and 1960, Dorothy B. Williams lived at 49-11 Broadway. In 1961, she left the Woodside projects and moved to the middle-class neighborhood of Bayside. She resided in a private home at 206-63 46th Avenue for at least thirty-seven years. Dorothy B. Williams was less than two blocks from Intermediate School 158 at 46-35 Oceania Avenue.
Sarah H. Gordon, Jerome F. Gorman, Ralph K. Greenfield, Joseph L. Harrison, George J. Soffer, Herbert Stollerman and Dorothy B. Williams were former public housing tenants who moved to homes near public schools. They moved with stealth and avoided the spotlight. Simultaneously they left a trail to entice newcomers. They employed the help of professionals and passed credit and background checks. Combined circumstances of these individuals strongly suggest they were part of the internal national security apparatus.
At least two residents of the Woodside projects were concurrently involved with public school operations. They were Joseph L. Gibson and Henry J. Oswald.
Henry J. Oswald resided in the Woodside projects. Between 1957 and 1961, he lived at 50-41 Newtown Road. Henry J. Oswald worked with Caroline Oswald who watched William C. Bryant High School from across the street. They were especially interested in students from known and suspected communist party families.
Joseph L. Gibson and Henry J. Oswald operated aggressively. They posed as progressives and enticed tenants to their meetings. After a tenant attended a few meetings, other agents would uncover a witness who said the tenant was a party member. They would give the entrapped tenant a choice to either cooperate or face eviction for undesirability.
Federal, state and local laws helped public housing agents operate with impunity. The New York City Housing Authority compelled residents to sign a declaration of non membership in subversive organizations. This meant they could prosecute for perjury any public housing tenant denounced as a communist. The media contributed toward this atmosphere of fear. They informed people every time a denounced person went to jail.
A feud between Joseph L. Gibson and Henry J. Oswald ended their aggressive operation. Their dispute pertained to the excessively harsh treatment of a whistle blowing relative of Joseph L. Gibson. In 1961, the Gibson family hired a private investigator. The investigators found chemically induced depression was a contributing factor toward the suicide of thirteen-year-old Luke Gibson.
Henry J. Oswald went into hiding. During 1962, some people placed Henry J. Oswald in Ridgewood. In 1963, he emerged in a pleasant section of Astoria. Henry J. Oswald had colorful neighbors at 24-50 27th Street. Daniel and Vito D. Gigante played their roles well. Vito D. Gigante was the silent one. He flexed his muscles as he stood around looking mean. Daniel Gigante roamed the streets while mumbling to himself. Henry J. Oswald resided for seven years with his interesting neighbors.
The immediate purchase of cooperative apartments by former Woodside Public Housing tenants is further evidence they belonged to an organized activity.
Cooperatives required potential purchasers to prove their income exceeded a preset level. The usual formula was the weekly salary of the buyer exceeded the monthly maintenance charge. Expenses included in this monthly charge were mortgage, electricity, gas, oil, water, taxes, and management. Sometimes cooperatives would request an old tax return as proof of earning capacity. Further, in the sixties these cooperatives did not allow financing. Buyers paid cash. These requirements meant buyers were comfortable.
Lazer Goldberg lived in the Woodside projects. Between 1950 and 1958, he resided at 49-15 Broadway. In 1959, Lazer Goldberg bought a cooperative at 33-24 93rd Street, Jackson Heights. For the next twenty-two years, he lived around the corner from Public School 149 at 93-11 34th Avenue.
For three years, Jacob Green resided in public housing. Initially he lived in the Queensbridge projects. During 1957, Jacob Green lived in the Woodside projects and resided at 50-30 Broadway. In 1958, he moved to the Northridge cooperatives. Jacob Green lived at 32-30 89th Street, Jackson Heights. This initial move placed Jacob Green around the corner from Public School 148 at 89-02 32nd Avenue. The following year, he moved to the Southridge cooperatives. Jacob Green lived at 32-25 91st Street for the next eleven years.
Seymour J. Sherman lived in the Woodside projects. Between 1950 and 1954, he resided at 31-69 49th Street. In 1955, Seymour J. Sherman moved to the Fracconia Village Cooperatives. He remained at 43-57 Union Street, Flushing for twenty-two years. Seymour J. Sherman was living one block from Public School 24 at 141-02 Holly Avenue.
Between 1951 and 1958, Edward A. Stromberg lived in the Woodside projects at 50-11 Broadway. In 1959, he brought a relatively new cooperative at 33-04 93rd Street, Jackson Heights. Edward A. Stromberg lived for the next nine years at this location. His cooperative was one block from Public School 149 at 93-11 34th Avenue.
Bernard Yukelson lived in the Woodside projects. From 1956 to 1964, he resided at 50-33 Broadway. In 1965, Bernard Yukelson moved to a cooperative at 33-24 Junction Boulevard, Jackson Heights. He remained there for at least thirty-three years. The west side of 33-24 Junction Boulevard was across the street from Public School 149 at 93-11 34th Avenue.
The Jackson Heights cooperatives occupied an area of about twelve square blocks. Two previously existing public schools were nearby. Public School 148 was near the Northwest perimeter of the Northridge cooperatives and Public School 149 was one block from near the Southeast perimeter of Southridge. Nevertheless of the four former Woodside public housing tenants who moved to these cooperatives, three became long-term residents in the immediate vicinity of these two public schools.
If they employed military-personal as public housing agents then retirement could explain the movement of former public housing tenants to private homes near public schools. However, the unpleasant reality of US racism renders this possibility impractical. Some people who moved from public housing to homes near public schools were Blacks. They were apart of the vanguard who integrated public housing then moved on to integrate the "all-white" suburban neighborhoods of Queens County. Frankly, the military of the nineteen fifties and sixties did not have many, if any, Blacks in their intelligence organizations who were eligible for retirement.
The Woodside projects were typical of the public housing projects of Queens County. A small group of tenants followed the flow of public money. While some moved from public housing to government-sponsored cooperatives, many former public housing tenants moved to private homes near public schools.
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