South Brooklyn Boys | Garfield Boys
South Brooklyn Boys
South Brooklyn Boy Sections:
- SOUTH BROOKLYN ANGELS
- SOUTH BROOKLYN DIAPERS
- THE WANDERERS: Featured in the movie "The Wanderers"
- DEGRAW STREET BOYS
- SACKETT STREET BOYS
- SB DEVILS: (Union Street 4th Ave.)
- GARFIELD BOYS: (Garfield and 5th)
- BUTLER GENTS
- GOWANUS BOYS
- KANE STREET MIDGETS
The SBB consisted of something like 8-10 different gangs. There were: The SB Angels, SB Diapers, Wanderers, Degraw St boys, Sackett St Boys, The Butler Gents (My gang). They all considered themselves part of SBB, but only came together in big gangfights against the Untouchable Bishops(Latino) or the The Mau Mau Chaplains (Black). Otherwise, they did their thing separately and shared the turf from Butler Street to 9th St. from 4th Ave up to 7th Ave. Some other SBB gangs were SB Devils and the Garfield Boys.
Turf boundaries included the following corners:
South Brooklyn Boys Turf Map
Butler gents wore sweaters, like the kind you got from school athletic teams. They were Black button down v-neck, with white piping and white interlocking BG on the breast. We really thought we looked bad walking down the street together in our colors.
We hung out at Joes Luncheonette on 5th Ave and Sterling Pl., two blocks down from where an infamous plane crash occurred in 1960. A commercial airliner narrowly missed St. Augustine's school full of thousands of kids on Sterling & 6th and crashed on Sterling & 7th, demolishing the block and killing everyone aboard and people on the ground as well.
One of their biggest battles was when the Untouchable Bishops invaded Joe's Luncheonette one afternoon and their leader, Geronimo, threatened and intimidated Joe's wife, Molly. Joe's was also a big cop hangout and the cops from the 78th Pct. looked the other way as the Gents retaliated for days afterwards. A week later, a cop named Quigley walked in to Joe's and threw the G Geronimo wore on his beret on the counter. "Here you go, Molly." End of Geronimo. End of story.
In 2001, Mickey and DC, with the help of Ray, who worked in a DA's office, managed to locate and contact over 30 former Gents and Ladies from all over the metro area and beyond and had a great reunion (after 40 years) in the old neighborhood. They continue to meet and communicate regularly. Mickey can be contacted at Mickey: dodger6@optonline.net
South Brooklyn Boys Rivalry with the Red Hook Tigers
In 1950, the South Brooklyn Boys had many rumbles in Prospect Park against the Red Hook Tigers gang. In one gang fight - a South Brooklyn Boy shot and killed a Red Hook Tiger. On December 6, 1950, the shooter received 15 to 30 for the killing, which caused a riot in the courtroom after the sentence.
South Brooklyn Boys Turf
Louis Fontana, South Brooklyn
You can also note that Anthony Gaspipe Casso, one time underboss of the Luchesse family, was a member of the gang. My family lives on Court and Degraw, and my brother and mother remember them hanging out in the pharmacy that use to be on the corner block. ''THE DEGRAW STREET BOYS, that is.“ They protected the neighborhood from robbery, rapists break-ins. Those things just never happened back then. Here, along with the older crowd, the Gallo crew came from this area as well Crazy Joe Gallo (and his crew). Court Street and Degraw, in particular, had two bars and a restaurant owned by a Gambino Capo, and a dry cleaners that mob guys use to use as their social club. Members of the Gambino , Genovese , Gallo gang , an Luchesse family members use to be seen coming and going from Court Street around Degraw Street and Sackett Street so the area was very safe. This should be noted. Up until 1991 Court Street, between Degraw and Sackett, was safe, and a social club, controlled by the Gambino family, was there in later years run by Anthony shorty massuzio until he was murdered, and then by Bobby Borriello until 1991 until the time of his murder in April, 1991. Borrriello got his start with the Gallos in the late 60's. If there is one thing this neighborhood has it is history; and I know a lot of it. Also, it was a lot safer with that element of people around. Now, all the Yuppies who moved in made rents sky high, and the old time Italians, most of them, had to move to State Island and crime has risen. No one sits on their stoops at night. And, as for the Yuppies, they’re only good for calling the cops on neighborhood kids hanging out on the street and doing nothing more. So, now, people walk through this area knowing no one will question them for not belonging in the area which, sadly, is why crime is like any other area in the city here. In the early 80's gangs tried to come back to South Brooklyn. A few crazy f_ckin white boys, created by Frankie D, were a large gang that hung out in 29's school yard and Carroll Park. Then crazy f_ckin Ricans their brother crew, came out due to the change in nationalities in that were the area. Also, CBN, crazy but nasty, was just that: a nasty bunch from Smith and Butler near Gowanus Projects , and the V.I.P 's, then shortening to V.I's, dominated Columbia Street which became the area Drug Blvd in the area in the 80's .. Also, was the R.D's, first called Roller Dancers, being roller skaters got big during that era. Then, just called R.D's. No more skates. Just a gang. The Ching-A-Ling motorcycle gang also hailed during this time and had their club house in Red Hook. Ahhh, there is a lot more, and a lot more detail. What became of the Court Street mob area kids, after the capos died, a killing spree took place of kids who all went to grade school together. Many from Sacred Heart. Also, graffiti crews helped the gangs die down. Many crews began in the late 70's - non violent, just wanted notoriety for getting up on trains, buses, etc ...
cfw //// aow nsa graff crews