Chicken Hill Chronicle

by Lawrence E. Cohen

During a family gathering, eighty-two year old Norman Cohen becomes incensed. A causal remark about his father releases long repressed memories. For the first time Norman realizes the extent of his parents€™ lengthy mistreatment of himself, their oldest son. He slips into depression. To salve his anguish and eventually find redemption, he crafts with brutal honesty a memoir that his son edits. The end product is a kaleidoscope of family history reaching back to the nineteenth century immigrants who settle in a small Pennsylvania town in the low-end neighborhood of Chicken Hill. Three generations of Jewish life are vividly portrayed in this gripping narrative. Led by the family patriarch, the first generation of greenhorn immigrants launch new lives in a strange English-speaking Christian world devoid of Jewish institutions and so unlike that of the Galician shtetl. The second generation is generally successful in both business and professions with the exception of the eldes

Genres: Memoir, Nonfiction

332 pages, Paperback

First published March 1, 2011

Reviews

[Bobbi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very touching story of a father, toward the end of his life, finally sharing his life memories with his son, who then wrote this memoir. My cousin recommended I read this book of our hometown, and I was delighted to see my father (the same age as the author’s father) mentioned once and my grandfather also mentioned. There were lots of other names and places that I enjoyed recognizing as I continued the story. The negative for me was the incredibly positive light of the main character, especially as contrasted with his miserably unhappy and nasty mother, and his inept father who stole from him throughout their lives. In any event, thanks for bringing the early days of my hometown to light.

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

After reading James McBride's The Heaven and Earth Grocery store set in my hometown Pottstown, PA, I decided to read Lawrence E Cohen's memoir of his father Norman's growing up on Pottstown's Chicken Hill. Norman's life story is compelling as he goes back to recount the life of his first generation American grandfather Adolph who started out as a peddlar,and then onto the life of Adolph's oldest daughter and Norman's mother Yetta. Norman was treated terribly by both his father Abe and his manipulative mother, yet he constantly honored them even after they failed to attend his highschool graduation, his Bar Mitva, and his departure for boot camp just before the US entered World War II. They stole from him repeatedly and they ignored his advice that would have helped their floundering Royal Shoe store business.
It is obvious that McBride was familiar with Norman's story as there were multiple events that McBride use in his novel.

[Jonathan Strom · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really liked this book. I'm from Pottstown and my father was the son of Jewish immigrants there. I knew some of the names mentioned, and some were my cousins! I learned some things about my home town and the Jewish culture and history particular to it. I'm curious to know how people not from Pottstown, or not Jewish relate to the book. I think it would be interesting to anyone.

[Fran · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very touching story.

I took care of Mr. Cohen's horses for a time back in the 70's and also shopped at Royal Shoe Store. I still have a pair of shoes that I bought shortly before the store closed. Thank you for sharing his story.

[Beth · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you are interested in the real-life tales of Jewish people who lived on Chicken Hill in Pottstown, PA—especially after reading James McBride’s The Heaven and Earth Grocery Store—this book is for you.