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Chapter 02: South Main

By The Architect of NextBlock City February 27, 2026

125 South Main Street

Julian Bento Reis was born June 29, 1950 at United Hospital in Port Chester, New York. The fifth child to Julia Bento Reis, a first-generation Cape Verdean immigrant.1

Julia lived over the pool hall at 125 South Main Street in one room with a shared hall bathroom.

  • Julian Reis, memoir. ↩ ↩ ↩ ↩

    • No Language

    Julia was the third youngest of six. Her parents, Antonio and Barbara, came from São Nicolau — at the time a Portuguese colony. On Antonio’s papers, the country of origin is marked Portugal.1

    There was no language or culture in the household. Julia had not learned enough Creole herself to teach it to her children.

  • Julian Reis, memoir. ↩ ↩ ↩ ↩

    • The Disintegration

    Little is known of the family’s disintegration. Antonio was a laborer, Barbara always listed as housewife. Abuse was part of the family dynamic between Antonio and Barbara.1

    That led to separation and the state taking the children from Barbara and placing them in foster care.

  • Julian Reis, memoir. ↩ ↩ ↩ ↩

    • Fourteen

    Julia’s children came from various fathers. Ronald. Geraldine. Paulletta. Anthony. Julian. Mark. Norman. Robert. Sylvia. Juan. Frederick. Valerie. Curtis. Gwendolen.1

    Fourteen children. The 1950 Census, April 6th, shows Julia with four. Julian had not yet been born.

    1. 1950 U.S. Census; Julian Reis, memoir. ↩ ↩ ↩ ↩

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