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From: Virginia Holmes Powell pppjra@galstar.com
Date: 01 Mar 1999
Time: 00:41:14
Remote Name: 204.251.93.135
I am having a wonderful time.(from 9:00pm till 12:00 the last 3 nights ) going through your fantastic web site .I can't tell you how fast the old brain cells are clearing the cob webs to bring back happy memories of my childhood at the beach. First I must get my name straight. Virginia was very seldom used from age 1 to 16. Everyone called me GINNY on the Beach. Next ,I wonder how many of us 70 and older are still around? My very dearest friend,Stella Cangely Witkowski and I,began our friendship at age 2 .We have kept in touch all these years. She and Frank have visited here in Oklahoma several times in the last 4 years. Last year I made my first trip back to the Beach in 53 years. Stella and Frank had a reunion for 7 0f us girls that were in Seascouts, Girlscouts ,and St.James all girl Marching band,together.My husband Paul Is a true Okie ,and could not beleive a place like the Beach existed. He was facinated with the narrow ,one way Cts. and slim houses with no yards.We have 60 acres,and a few head of cattle around our home.It was great to "go back to all the old familia places".My home at 50 Florence Ave. is still there ,and looks so small now,but kept up beautifully. P.S.194 is not the same.(gone) .The concrete supports for the old Sheepshead Bay Speedway that we played on behind the school are gone,along with the miles of truckfarms . I'm going to interject something about the Sheepshead Bay Racetrack ,known as THE AMERICAN ASCOT ,which opened in 1880, (My grandfather ,John Frances Nash,And his father William Nash , bred and trained race horses to run at the SB.Racetrack.) In 1902 the first successful powered flights in the U.S,A,took off from the racetrack. Two small moterized dirigibles rose above Sheepshead Bay and flew from Brighten Beach and back.Remaining airborne for about 45 min. In 1910 ,betting was baned and the race track was closed.This 432 acre property was converted into a speedway. The million $, two-mile banked brick oval track with double grandstand seated 200,000 spectators and could hold 20,000 automobiles in the infield.It was said to have been used by the Circus and for motercycle races,aviation exibitions,field days,and athletic competitions.In 1952 a pair of the speedways cement supports were found .One was still standing behind P.S. 194 on Whitney Ave. We really had no idea what history there was related to our grade school play ground during the late 1930 s. Thats all for tonight. " Ginny " Holmes Powell. pppjra@galstar.com
