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Marie De Yampert 

(Interviewed by Gloria Howard on 4/5/1984. Transcription: 6 pages)

Summary: 
Marie De Yampert has been a resident of Teaneck since 1959. At that time, she and her husband desired to leave the crowded city and were attracted to the lovely suburban town across the bridge. Soon afterward they joined the Garden Club of Teaneck and developed their interest in gardening; they had been members for twenty-five years when this narrative was recorded. Mrs. De Yampert recalls that they participated avidly in Club flower shows and were fortunate to win many trophies and blue ribbons for their exhibits (p. 1 - 3).

The narrator joined AARP when it was organized in 1976 and functioned as their tour coordinator for six years (p. 4). Mrs. De Yampert states, having resided twenty-five years in Teaneck, she has noticed a reduction in some municipal services and has observed a decline in the appearance of Teaneck Road. She remembers, for example, garbage collection being three times a week; it is now collected twice a week, and street sweeping went from every third day to once a week. The speaker attributes the decline of Teaneck Road to the influx of blacks moving into the community and blames township officials for "not taking direct interest in the newcomers who come in to get them adjusted to the old way of living..." (p. 4-5). Mrs. De Yampert remembers Teaneck in the early sixties as being a quiet, nice town with very little crime and feels that the majority of the ethnic groups that came into town were not of the caliber Teaneck should have had. She believes real estate brokers, who were blockbusting at the time, could be held responsible for that, claiming "they were getting anyone to come in by advertising in the AMSTERDAM NEWS. (p.5).

Mrs. De Yampert resides on Cooper Avenue and claims her neighborhood was once known as Cooper Farm and that historical markers, indicating American Indian influence, can be seen on trees on her property that have survived from long ago (p. 6).

 

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