Whimsical Windows - Brigantine, Then...and Then

As the new moderator of the meme Whimsical Windows/Delirious Doors, I often look back in photo memories. But what got me this past was my wonderful Aunt Terry (she is the much bigger kid here :) sent me an old post card from Brigantine New Jersey.

Nestled as a barrier island facing he Atlantic, this card is from the 1950s and is of the old, and probably long gone, Sea Gull Cottages (originally the Seaside). As a child, this brings back whimsical memories from long ago vacations - in 1961 when I was aged just six years.

Yep, the artwork on the postcard can be corroborated by the four pictures showcasing the vacation lodging at low tide. Thanks for the memories Terry! And please add your links and pics too :)

Whimsical Windows - Sea Gull Motel

Vacations past seems to be a recurring theme for me, and so for Toby's meme Whimsical Windows/Delirious Doors, it is the soft sand and rolling Atlantic waves at Brigantine Beach New Jersey, and a retro look at the Sea Gull Motel, next to the old Sea Gull Cottages (long gone) in two phases - under construction in 1965, with my grandmother getting her pic shot by my namesake grandfather with his German Exa SLR.

The next is in color in its pink stucco with my grandmother, just four years later in 1969. An efficiency motel with a kitchen, it was the only way our brood of seven kids could afford a vacation by avoiding restaurants every day. More time to play on the beach :)

We stayed there for vacation getaways in 1966, Labor Day 1967, 1968, 1969 and 1972. Current reviews of the place now are generally poor - but not in my childhood memories of surf, sand and sun...

Shadow Shot Sunday - Sand, surf, siblings, shadows

Michele

Myself, Sharon

Claudia

Vicki

Shadow Shot Sunday 2 seems a place to showcase shadowy old vacations, and since I have been busy scanning the past, the New Jersey shore, five decades ago in 1961, seems to be a fitting place to secure them. Siblings at low tide on the beach in front of the Sea Gull Cottages. And since my sister Michele is going there today with grandkids in tow, this post seems quite fitting. I can almost feel the briny Atlantic breezes wafting by my computer screen...

Shadow Shot Sunday - Sixties sandy shoreline in shadow...

Boardwalk Bike Ride, Atlantic City, 1969

Alas, due to a busy schedule this past week, blogging has been missed. Among the tasks that has is been occupying my time is a family photo archive project with my Aunt Terry, scanning many decades of history - which seems just right for a blogging return to Shadow Shot Sunday 2.

Six of seven kids with dad. Brigantine Beach NJ, 1968

Early morning bicycle riding, Boardwalk, Atlantic City NJ, 1965

Today's subjects are from summer vacations in the 1960s in the New Jersey shore towns of Atlantic City, way before the glitz of today's casinos that line the Boardwalk, and Brigantine. Shadows subtly fall around the subjects and scenes upon these barrier island sandbars under the sun...Today's subjects are from summer vacations in the 1960s in the New Jersey shore towns of Atlantic City, way before the glitz of today's casinos that line the Boardwalk, and Brigantine. Although faded, hadows subtly fall around the subjects and scenes upon these barrier island sandbars under the sun...

Shadow Shot Sunday - Seasonal Antidote

Sisters have fun in the sand by the in Brigantine, NJ July 1969

Shadow Shot Sunday 2 returns amidst a cold winter in Southern New England - I know that there are way colder places to be, although I am tiring of the cold. Using a wheelchair for ambulation means that I cannot move around much to keep warm...however, a bit of applied psychology might change things a bit. Such as looking at a warm day on the New Jersey isle of Brigantine. A strong sun makes for shadows, salt water and sand make for a fun playground for the kids. I don't necessarily feel warmer now, although I think I do...

Shadow Shot Sunday 2 - Sentimental seashore shadows

Shadow Shot Sunday 2 returns near the official end of the heat and humidity of the northern Summer (and the lovely Patti is happy about that :) and as I am in the midst of scanning the family history over the eons, I like this as last look at the beach as Autumn lurks nearby. The year is 1965, the ebbing high tide of the Atlantic Ocean and the great New Jersey shore. The subject here is a cousin at age one who is being introduced to the surf with her mom, and the look of the child is one of a joy of discovery...the soft sand and salty surf are a revelation to the little one who loves  the new sensation...who wouldn't at any age?

Shadow Shot Sunday - Sixties shoreline sibling shadows

Shadow Shot Sunday 2 is back, and as no out-of-state vacations/holidays are planned this year, I refer back five decades ago (alas, I am that old :) to the year 1961 and shoreline shadows on the beach of the sandy Atlantic barrier island, Brigantine New Jersey. Then, it was a family of five children at the time and the four rows of the Sea Gull Cottages was where we stayed. Shadows abound as Grandpa liked to take pictures - and on these sunny days, with shadows falling into the briny surf at low tide. And the briny salt air - as much a treat now as it was way back then...

Tina's Pic Story - Vacations

Tina's Pic Story is back with its simple rule: she provides the theme, we supply the photos. The theme this week is vacations...I am going back a generation and two, and we see our daughter at the water's edge on Cape Cod, and a sibling of mine quite awhile ago at high tide in Brigantine NJ. For kids, work is play, and on these vacations, the children are very hard at work...

Tina's Pic Story - H

Hedge in front of our Home, Ansonia CT, early spring

Tina's Pic Story is back for the week, and we are happy to participate. She thoughtfully provides the weekly theme that we provide the photos for. This week, it is the letter H, and I have visited the photo archives for examples of that letter which includes Hedge, High Tide and Hounds...I hope this works!

High tide     Big sister Michele, Atlantic Ocean, 1961

Hounds, Maggie and Tasha, East Hartford, CT 1980

Tina's Pic Story - Wet

She is sitting on the sand and does not need the tube to float.. Both are having fun

Tina's Pic Story is back, and we look for the photos that match up to her weekly theme - which today is nass - wet. For me, it is the beach and includes little kids at high tide.

The year is 1961, the water of the Atantic, the New Jersey beach in the seaside town of Brigantine, the siblings aged 7 and 5. The briny sea water is wet - and certainly fun!

Ruby Tuesday - Brigantine ruby

Ruby Tuesday 2 is back, and we follow the ever simple rule - red, a lot or a little. Today it is the latter...

This is a very early and very rare color print (Kodachrome?) in the family archives, my grandfather in front of the Sea Gull Cottages on the beach in Brigantine New Jersey in maybe 1953 or 54. Not much red apart from the bathing suit to each of the cottage doors. And perhaps a hint of a sunburn ruby on his skin - although the fading and sepia sand may mask it a bit...see ruby iterations at RT2!

Shadow Shot Sunday - Jersey Shore

The scanned and archived is for this week's Shadow Shot Sunday 2.The time is 1956, the place 23rd Street in the seaside island hamlet of Brigantine New Jersey. 

The house was small, guessing about 925 sq ft (86 M sq). It was one block from the bayside beach, three blocks to the Atlantic. Grandpa always lamented that he should have bought the house for vacations (the grandkids these days, looking for an inexpensive holiday today, would not have minded if he had :)

The cast today includes Michele (2-1/2 years), myself (1-1/2), Aunt Terry (14) and the timeless photo impresario grandfather (ageless). The playtime outside was provided by Terry, watching the kids at play while interlopers stopped by to chat...

After a day at play, the kids are dressed and hopefully winding down to slumberland, soon hopes the parental units. Grandpa was ready to chronicle the sleep ready children, the smiling kids equally...I chose to not crop out the date stamp on one picture - as if the era really needed description.

The home might have been small - but plenty big for toddlers...

The photographer is shown in the front of many long gone hotels in nearby Atlantic City sans casinos...

This was the casual gentleman dress with a wool sport jacket, plaid shirt (buttoned), wool driving cap and Exa SLR. Stylish and refined manor with a satisfied look that meant this family visiting to NJ was a great trip - with shadows inside and out. Thanks for this fun meme to all our hosts!

Shadow Shot Sunday - Low Tide

Shadow Shot Sunday arrives on a warm winter's day, about 58°F (14.5° C), not at all typical.

Today, I offer an old black-and-white print, a vacation day from many decades ago, the (then) five children along with Aunt Terry, at low tide at the, the New Jersey shore at Brigantine. Shadows are falling about the watery sand that sits below the classic Sea Gull Cottages. I am to the left...

I have spent this past December working with about 100 scanned prints, making slideshows and learning the many nuances of I-Photo, I-DVD and YouTube. That project is now complete, this old view part of that...Follow the shadows at this always fun meme!