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Received 10/2006: Twice during
the 1930s when I was a youngster, (I am now 75) my parents and
I visited relatives in Freehold, the first time in 1935 and
again two years later. Of course, on each of these visits
we were taken to Asbury Park. To this day, I can remember the
boardwalk, the Convention Hall and even playing miniature
golf. These visits were exciting and glamorous adventure.
A decade and a half later, my wife and I holidayed
on our honeymoon for a few days in Asbury Park, staying at the
Monterey Hotel. The city was just as attractive and fun as it
had been years earlier..
This past weekend, (now married
52 years) we returned to Asbury Park for a few hours, this
time with one of our daughters. While I had heard that
the city had suffered grievous times, nothing had prepared us
for the devastation that we witnessed. The city today
looks like a bombed out ruin in a third world
country. The wreck of the Casino is simply unbelievable. And
the Monterey is no more. What we had hoped would bring back nostalgic
memories turned into a sad and somber experience
From the signs of construction,
it would appear that efforts are underway to reverse the
fortunes of Asbury Park. One can only hope.
A spin off memory of the July
1937 trip. The Hindenburg disaster had occurred only two
months before, and so we visited the U.S. Naval air Station at
Lakehurst. Back then (unlike today) there were no restrictions
on entry into the huge hanger that had been built for the
giant transatlantic airships. I can distinctly remember seeing
the aluminum nosecone of the Hindenburg suspended on a wall of
the hanger. I understand that the cone was melted down
during the Second World War to assist the war effort.
So many memories... so many
years.
William H. Lewis,
Welland, ontario.
blewisbecon.org .
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