Darrell Branch, born in 1955, lived on Earle Street until 1964 and continued living in Glenville after moving. He attended the, now closed, Hazeldell Elementary school and then Louis Pasteur Middle School. His father was a teacher which helped spur his love for Dr. Seuss books, reading encyclopedias, and adamant studying. 

“Like the internet, if you could read you could find out anything. That’s one of the things my dad stressed. Once you learn how to read you can do anything because that’s where the knowledge is. You can get it from somebody, but you can get it without anybody if you have access to a book.” Branch remembered.

His outlets are on the creative side. Branch has a passion for music, art, dancing, and a love of play. “It was the best of times...any kind of those releases I thrived and I still do. I love collaboration and I love people.” Branch kept that mentality and now a lot of his friends are primarily entertainers like singers and dancers. 

Some of his favorite memories include playing outside under the rainier cherry tree that was behind the apartment he grew up in, and moving into his new house. When he got to the new house, he ran to the basement to see what was down there.. He discovered the coal burning furnace and thought the house was on fire. He was excited and over the next few years he explored more. He even melted crayons on the furnace, and was amazed watching the waxy colors drip down the side.

His school experiences were quite challenging.  His entire class was bussed from Glenville to Little Italy for schooling and were not integrated into the classrooms with the white kids. They stayed in one classroom throughout the day and even though the school had a pool they were not allowed to use it. The white kids would also harass them throughout the day. Branch and his fellow black peers were defenseless until after school. Back home, he was able to explore his creativity and share joy with friends and family.

While still in grade school, Branch experienced the Glenville shootout. This tragedy had a prominent effect on him as it did for many Glenville residents. “The scariest time of my life. By this time we got TV so you’re aware of things that are going on. There were a couple of words I didn’t know and I literally had to ask my dad what does that mean, what does Marshall Law mean? Because at one point the Glenville area was under Marshall Law.” 

Branch says the neighborhood never really recovered after the shootout and there was a flight out of Glenville shortly after for those that could leave. 

Branch still makes efforts and tries to support Glenville by going out on trash days and picking up trash along the street with local children to show them that they need to take care of the place they also play in, make art in, and spend time with their families in. This is how community is formed.