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I lived in Asbury Park in 1970 and am now reading the book
"Creepers". Was there really a Paragon Hotel?
If so according to the book it shut down about the time I
lived there.
In 1970 the Boardwalk was still crowded (or at least it was to
someone who had no idea what it was like before). Our
landlord had a salt water taffy shop on the boardwalk and we
lived a couple of blocks from the boardwalk. My husband
was in the military and I remember being told not to go to the
boardwalk after dark. Was that when the riots started and what
started them?
In 1998 my second husband and I revisited Asbury Park so I
could show him where I lived. I couldn't believe how it
looked. We had the entire boardwalk to ourselves. The
house I lived in was still there as was the park near it.
In 1970 my first husband took a picture of me sitting on a
fence in that park in front of a sculpture. In 1998 my
second husband took a picture of me in the same place.
What a change.
What is it about Asbury Park that touches the heart in its
desolation? I was extremely depressed when I left in
1998 although I only lived there for one year.
I can remember where I worked. It was in Schatzows 5
& 10 in Belmar. We went there as well and it is now
a chain drugstore.
I would appreciate any information you could send. I
just picked up the book "Creepers" and started
reading it before I knew where it was about.
One other question: A few blocks from the Boardwalk is a
building with decorative tile as part of the facade. No
one lived in it in 1970 and there was still no one in it in
1998. Could you tell me the history of that building?
Thanks,
June Cooley
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