From Sue"My parents had one of the trailers at the "Trailer Park' starting in 1950. We lived in Clayton NJ, just about an hours ride away and had made many day trips to Strathemre before then. My dad, Frank Dennis loved to fish and my mother, Adele and my sister Sandra and I .......Susan Dennis loved the beach. Our first overnight stay in Strathmere was at the old hotel on the bay. We spent a long week-end with the Barclays, also of Clayton. I remember each of us kids was allowed to bring along a friend so there was lots of kids. Susanne Barclay Lindner and I have remained very good friends over all these years. Our first year in Strathmere, my sister worked at the "counter" at Harkers corner, and I was the bus girl. The next year I got a job at Mildred's where Susanne Barclay and I worked with Judy Yeager all through high school and into my college years. I LOVE STRATHMERE......it is in my blood!! I have taken my children and grandchild there and they all love it too. I have many fond memories of Strathmere, even though I worked 8 hours a day....many days were split, so I always go a few hours on the beach everyday. I love the fact the is STILL the same!!! I love the stinky smell of low tide and walking on the big wide beach. My daughter couldn't get over it..... like a step back in time, only different generations of kids living there now."
Sue sent us these photos, including 2 great photos of the Navy camping on the Point. She also including two poems that she wrote about Strathmere
|
'STRATHMERE…….SWEEET….. STRATHMERE' Oh Strathmere, sweet Strathmere To me you are so dear I love your bay and love your sea You are the very breath of life to me When warm days come once again Many more people do enjoy your shore Others run their boats in your bay All enjoying the sun of your day You are small, but closely knit Two bodies of water around you fit The Atlantic to the East, above Corsen’s Inlet And Ludlam Bay where the sun does set Jimmy Twist is a place we all go And at night where the kids have their hop Charlie’s Place there on the bay Where you rent boats and bait for the day Oh Strathmere, sweet Strathmere To me you are sincere I love every inch of you Which includes your waters blue Andress Dock with all it’s crew And Capt Shaffer is there too I can’t forget the “Starfish” and “Sea Bee” Who all season long fish at sea The house that has a floating dock The airboat, pool table and the clock The house with the fence and the trailers too All of these things are a part of you Millie’s a favorite spot For Italian food, good and hot Up at the point, where nature does prevail Stands a tower, around which the winds wail SRD 1960 |
|
'Our Summer And The Navy' It happened all so suddenly When the Navy did arrive They sure did cause commotion Through they numbered only five They were here a few days When we finally went Up the beach to their camp And into the equipment tent Their camp was in the sand dunes Around the Coast Guard tower They had a lot of visitors Most ever day and hour Tom who came from Texas Dave and Pat from the middle west A southerner named Lewis the cook And Chief Wooten who was the best LORAC support team number two Was the name this outfit went by They were on a secret mission That we couldn’t find out though we tried We would sit in the tent with the radio on And hear ASTORIA , a ship a sea They would ask for a count down , then say mark What they were doing was a mystery to me They had a tower high in the dunes That had something to do with this all First Tugwell purple, then Tugwell Green Then Tugwell Mike would call The camp consisted only of Three big tents, that’s it One they slept in, one to eat, And one where we just sit They had four vehicles As far a I could see Two new Navy trucks Louie’s ford, and Tom’s MG They were all quite busy When the new man came To help with their job And Gary was his name All through the day and night time The watches they did stand When Dave had the 12 to 4 Sue stayed and gave him a hand There were many girls in Strathmere But only three young Navy men Judy, Suzanne and Eydie Came out on the winners end Judy tagged Pat as hers Margie wanted him too Patrick made the best choice Left Margie feeling blue After being here for quite a while Their part of the mission was done So they all had a few weeks To get out and have some fun Old Tom’s little MG Was always within reach Anytime of day or night And even on the beach Sue, Judy and myself Spent lots of time at camp Morning , noon and night time too Even when it was damp Just as suddenly as they came They broke camp and went away Maybe we’ll see them again Somewhere, sometime, someway Susan Dennis Summer 1958 Strathmere NJ |
These two pictures were sent by Carole Sproul Laughlin who writes - "I just came accross the Strathmere website and I was remembering the fun vacations I spent there. My father was an electrician and had a friend who was building a summer cottage in Strathmere. I do not remember the friend's name but I know he lived in Stratford NJ. Anyway, my father did the electrical work on his summer home and instead of paying him for the job, we got to use the house for our vacation for a number of years. The house was unfinished inside, but paradise to us since we had never gone on a vacation at the seashore. I do not know the name of the street. It was sand and there were other small cottages on the street....mostly new or being worked on. There was one main street you crossed and then onto the beach. I remember the store in one of the pictures....called Harkers Corner but it could have been called something else (then). We spent our time on the beach all day looking for shells and building sand castles. You could find the best shells on that beach! I remember it being very deserted and rural.
Attached are a two pictures I found. One is of my brother, Jimmy Sproul, cousin Billie Ann Myers and me...Carole Laughlin. The date on the picture is August 1951.
Another picture is of my Mom, Martha Sproul, cousin Priscilla, bro Jimmy and me Carole in front of our first car, A 1950 Ford. We had just arrived for our vacation. This must have been the first year we went since we did not have a car before that year.
I am going to go to Strathmere this summer and see if the house is still there. I haven't been there for over 55 years."
These 10 photos were given to the site by John Motter.
First is a view of the beach at Webster in 1959. Then next are two 1965 views. The middle photo is of the 'Indian Rocks' or what's left of them. They were once on the outside wall of a concrete house that stood on the beach at Sherman. The house collapsed in the hurricane of 1944, and for many years the wall with the Arts and Craft Indian mosaic was a favorite place for kids to play on. Anything that might still remain of them are under sand on the beach. The 2nd photo is a view of the beach in 1965.
Next is a view of Webster, coming from the beach, looking towards the bay.
The 2nd photo is a house that has now been remodeled.
Then Two 1972 beach views. First is the beach at Webster, then the beach at Sherman
This photo of the empty trailer park was taken in February 1973
This 1998 photo shows a view of Whale Beach after a storm
These 2 photos are of the upstairs lounge at the Bayview Motel, taken sometime in the early 1970's.
All photos and text Copyright Carol Baker. Do not copy or reproduce.
If you have any info,
or images that we can add to the site, please
EMAIL us
We are looking for vintage images, and histories of homes in
Strathmere.
Home
