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From: Patrick O'Hara (Mauroh@aol.com)
Date: 23 Nov 1998
Time: 12:21:49
Remote Name: 24.128.200.35
I was born at 5 Gerritsen Avenue (now it is 3078). My neighbor on my right were the original Andre's Caterers. On my left was the Beckmans' summer residence. They were the owners of Beckman's Bakers. Gerritsen Ave ended so my house was on the beach. When school was out I wore a bathing suit, except for Sundays when we went to church. Resurrection Church was about a mile's walk, a good hike for a six year old.
What a great time we had as children. There was no Belt Parkway, only the Plumb Beach squatters. There were more squatters on the point.
Pop Hente's claim to fame was Hente's fishing hole. Mr. Cunningham opened a candy store in the basement of his house and one winter stayed open. What a great time we had singing songs while his son Eddy played the piano. The next thing we knew World War II started and everybody went off to the war... Rations, stamps, scrap drives, air raids,black outs all became part of our lives. An Army Camp was set up at the end of Gerritsen Avenue.
Everybody pulled together and life was enjoyable. Mom Whitman's candy store was our hangout. She had a bulletin board with pictures of all the boys in the service. As they were discharged down came the picture.
I have lots more memories of the beach. Just thought I'd stop here.
