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 That's my Grandfather, Charles Homer Shoemaker, standing out in front of the business he owned with his brother ("Uncle Art") - C.H. Shoemaker Lumber Company. (That only LOOKS like a 3-legged horse). The Lumber Company still exists, although under different ownership, at 13th Street and West Avenue in Ocean City, N.J.
I can remember when trains (The Pennsylvania-Seashore Line) used to stop there with all kinds of deliveries, and recall stories of how my Grandfather would do all the math in his head - no calculators then (OR Sales tax).
I'd like to hear YOUR memories of Ocean City - and they don't have to be "ancient history". Just use the "Post A Comment" link below - you might get invited to become a "Guest Contributor" !!
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Comments (18) :: Post A Comment! :: Permanent Link :: Email This Entry
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RE: Ocean City, NJ Memories ...
Posted by: Sherry
Date: Mar. 17, 2008
My grandmother used to take me to Ocean City every summer where we would spend the day on the beach and then have dinner and she would let me ride the amusements for a few hours. Around 8 or 9 at night she would always take me to I believe the convention center(on the boardwalk) where there would be singers singing I think it was like opera and I remember a male singer named Tommy but I don't remember his last name. My grandmother loved his singing. I was kind of wondering if anyone might have information about all of that. I remember not caring for opera too much but nevertheless I absolutely loved it because I was with Grandmom. This took place in the late 50's early 60's. I was wondering if anyone had any information on that concert that took place every so often back then. I went quite a few times in those years.
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RE: Ocean City, NJ Memories ...
Posted by: Tom Hybiske
Date: May. 13, 2008
Johnson's Ice Cream and Candy at 4th St. and the Boardwalk was always a stop on the walk back to our house on St. Charles Place. We'd stop and get an ice cream cone for $.15 and it would be gone by the time we got to our street. The dips of ice cream were unique. They were square! I've never seen another instance of sqaure dips of ice cream. At the bottom of each sugar cone we'd find a lemon sour ball for the final treat of the evening. The freestanding store was destroyed by fire in the early 1970's, and was never rebuilt.
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RE: Ocean City, NJ Memories ...
Posted by: Debi
Date: May. 26, 2008
My husband Roy Turner is from ocean city and grew up in the Lennox apts. does anyone remember the Lennox apts? it has been torn down for years now but in it's day it was quite a place to live and or visit.
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RE: Ocean City, NJ Memories ...
Posted by: Dan
Date: May. 27, 2008
Sherry: The concerts your grandparents took you to were by the Ocean City Pops Orchstra on the Music Pier. The singer was likely Tom Perkins a favorate for decades. It might have seemed like opera to you but was probably a variety 0f show tunes and old classics. For more info see: www,oceancitypops.org
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RE: Ocean City, NJ Memories ...
Posted by: ALAN
Date: Jun. 26, 2008
eating at Chris's Restaurant at 9th street and the bay. Chris always wore white pants and shirt and shoes. He had a fleet of boats. Old fishing trawlers like the Billy C and the Nettie K. Mitchell. Modern fishing boats like the Flying Cloud, the Wild Goose, and the Gone With the Wind. The Sweetheart Sailboat and of course, the speedboat rides on The Flying Pony and the converted PT boat, the Flying Saucer. wish I could relive those days.
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RE: Ocean City, NJ Memories ...
Posted by: Debbie
Date: Oct. 4, 2008
I remember the vegtable garden at the lumber yard. Grandfather was very proud of his gardens. I would help pick crops and take a few home. Cucumbers were my favorite. Sitting on the porch and waiting for the train was another favorite past time at "the office".
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More Ocean City, NJ Memories ...
Posted by: Tom Hybiske
Date: Jan. 6, 2009
Hendershotts Candy and Comic Book shop at 1st. and Atlantic Ave. I walk up with my cousin and we'd spend 20 cents for 2 comic books, read them and then swap them to pass the summer afternoons away. We didn't have TV then.
Sims, Watson's, Hogates, Anchor 'n Point restaurants, The Breaker's Hotel, The Delaware Hotel, the Sunocco station at 10the and Asbury where I pumped gas all summer long.
Learning to swim at the only salt water pool that I've ever been in, the Flanders and longing for the day when I could attempt the high dive in the diving pool (I eventially did).
The Ocean City Skating RInk at St. James and Atlantic Ave where I learned to become a pretty good roller skater.
The Surf Movie theater where we'd go on particularly hot summer days to sit in the icy coolness and watch the movie 2 or 3 times. The theater had a trademark musty odor that never changed over the years.
The ice cream man who'd pedal his tricycle up and down the streets in the Gardens section of OC.
The knife sharpener man who'd stop his ancient truck along the curb as people brought their cutlery out to him. I loved the sing of the grinding wheel.
Seeing the streetlights in the winter with bags on them and the empty parking meter posts, and being the only car on the block.
Telephones with no dials on them. You'd pick them up and and wait for the operator to answer, and tell her what number you wanted.
Laying in bed at night, and hearing the surf on the beach and the breeze rustling the leaves of the 2 large poplar trees in front of our house.
Walking down the boardwalk at 18 in 1969, holding hands with a dazzling blonde in hot pants, halter top, and high heels, out of mind in love, and thinking I was the luckiest guy there..... I was...I married her!
Pointing out to my kids and their kids all of the places that aren't there any more where I spent my childhood and teenage years, and courted their mother.
Scattering my mom's ashes on the beach at St. Charles where she wished she could spend every day of her life in the sun and sand, and my dad's off the rock pile where he loved to fish.
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RE: Ocean City, NJ Memories ...
Posted by: Lynn Fox
Date: Mar. 2, 2009
These memories really take me back. I also recall the ice man, who came around in his truck to provide for all the restaurants. The Chatterbox was 2 doors down from my grandmother's house, so while the man was delivering the ice, we'd sneak chunks off the back of his truck.
My first job was at Bob's Grill, 14th and the beach. I was the early morning waitress, and since my parents went to OC every weekend from Easter on, I was available to work when Bob's opened in the spring.
Later I was hired by Watson's, the premiere place to work in OC. Made lots of friends there and great money, to boot! The food was always delicious, service speedy and excellent--a superb place for families to dine. Too bad they tore it down.
I, too, met my husband on the boardwalk. He picked me up at the ripe old age of 14, and we've been married 35 years this fall.
Long live Ocean City!
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RE: Ocean City, NJ Memories ...
Posted by: Lynn Fox
Date: Mar. 2, 2009
Oh, and I can't forget the Mary Hoyer Doll Store. These were the fore-runners of Barbie, not quite as developed, but wonderful! Our tradition was to be given one new outfit every summer. The dolls were made in Reading, PA, I believe. They had beautiful wardrobes, complete with every imaginable accessory. Still have the dolls and their clothes--just waiting for a granddaughter to pass them down to :-)
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RE: Ocean City, NJ Memories ...
Posted by: Cal
Date: Jun. 28, 2009
Does any one remember the name of two stores that were on the boardwalk in the 1970s - one had a deep sea diving suite and was nautical themed and one was a fantastic little toy store.
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RE: Ocean City, NJ Memories ...
Posted by: john yank III
Date: Jul. 2, 2009
Hi, I was wondering if anyone has any movies of Chris's speed boat "the Flying Saucer"
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RE: Ocean City, NJ Memories ...
Posted by: Beery Bill
Date: Jul. 29, 2009
I worked there during the Summer of 1958 at the Woolworth's "restaurant" as a short order cook, soda jerk, and all around lackey, One of my fraternity brothers worked three Summers at Bob's making sandwiches. Stayed at the Holiday House, 14th and Asbury. Full of college kids. That's where I met the great love of my life; but marriage was not to be (sigh). A couple years ago, after not hearing from each other for over 45 years, reconnected. Lost my fake ID at Bay Shores. Burned the candle at both ends and the middle and lived to tell about it. Fantastic memories.
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RE: Even More Ocean City, NJ Memories ...
Posted by: Tom Hybiske
Date: Aug. 7, 2009
$.15, yes fifteen cents for a slice of Mack and Manco pizza!.......$.10 for a tall glass of Litterer's orange juice. We'd always stop for a glass on our morning bike rides on the boardwalk. The girl would be squeezing oranges retreived from a large glass bin. The machine would wring every last drop from the orange, and the juice would run down a long glass pipe and into the deep tank. Even today, all OJ I drink is compared to my memory of Litterer's......Seaside Baths on the boardwalk where the "shoobies" would go to change and shower after a day on the beach.......Finally being old enough to grab the rings on the merry-go-round and hoping to snatch the gold one for a free ride........At 10 years old, getting a coveted summer "job" as an Ocean City Lifeguard mascot, then realizing it was just a bogus go-fer job.......Waiting for the train and its big, black, steam engine to come in on Friday night carrying my favorite uncle. He rode it so much that he knew the engineer who would let me ride in the cab, and blow the whistle the several blocks to the end of the line......walking through the crowds on the beach as a kid looking for bottles to return to the snack stand at St. Charles Place and the boardwalk. At two cents each, five bottles would get you cold soda......Earning enough allowance to buy a small five transistor radio that you could actually listen to on the beach!......surfing day in and day out along with my two summer buddies, and thinking that summer lasted forever......Closing the house up in September, spreading moth balls in the closets, and between the matresses, taking the screens out of the windows and storing them in the garage, turning off the water, and draining the pipes and recall it the being the best summer ever!
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RE: Ocean City, NJ Memories ...
Posted by: Anonymous
Date: Aug. 19, 2009
Oh do I have memories of the shore. Growing up in Haddonfield, NJ I went to the shore every summer since I was 10 mos. old. We rented various places from the North End to the South End. In 1961 when I was 9 years old my parents purchased a little cottage at 32nd and West (Beach side of West Ave.). Although we rented it at the heght of the season, we still enjoyed it in May, June, September, and October. When I got older I lived in a rooming house each summer and worked at the Elida and the Sindia Restaurants. In college I graduated to Gregory's in Somer's Point. This summer for one of my 35th wedding anniversary trips I asked to go back to Ocean City for Night in Venice Weekend. It was a weekend to visit relatives and friends and relive the most vivid memories of my youth. I have lived in NC permanently since 1974 and still miss the Jersey Shore!!!!!We have a place at Smith Mountain Lake Va. ........it can't quite compare!!!!!!
Gail McGarrigan Deal Greensboro NC
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RE: Ocean City, NJ Memories ...
Posted by: Randy Allen
Date: Aug. 28, 2009
Does anyone remember an ice cream parlor on the boardwark at Plymouth Place circa 1970 - 1980s. I'm pretty sure it was in the same building that Guiseppes Italian restuarant is in now.
Our family used to go there alot and I cannot remember the name. Please help!
Thanks
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RE: Ocean City, NJ Memories ...
Posted by: Fran Focacci
Date: Sep. 5, 2009
We just got back from a week at OC. We have been going there the last few years with our children. We absolutely love it there. We stay on the North end, and we love Brown's for fresh donuts and cheesesteaks too. We stayed on St. Charles and walked right up the road to Brown's and also went to the beach right in front of Brown's.
Of course the kids had us going non stop on the amusement park rides and we had to buy countless tickets to get on all the rides at both Gillian's Wonderland Pier and Playland Cove. If we remain in NJ , we plan on making OC our family resort town for many years to come.
We also love Shrivers for Taffy/Chocolate!!!
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RE: Ocean City, NJ Memories ...
Posted by: George
Date: Oct. 6, 2009
My family and I were once there and it was beautiful on the ocean at least. But all of Gods Creation is . But to know him as God and Saviour,the Lord Jesus Christ is still the best thing there is. Look at these sites and know your going to heaven and have your sins forgiven. Sincerely; George www.FellowshipTractLeague.com or www.FBNRadio.com , or www.FishermenBaptistChurch.com .
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RE: Ocean City, NJ Memories ...
Posted by: Janet Adams
Date: Oct. 23, 2009
Grew up in Ocean City in the 70's. Went to St. Augustine's on 14th and Asbury....my Dad rode the train from 9th street to Philadelphia everyday. Worked at Sunoco gas station on 9th street during the "odd and even days" of the gas crunch. Worked at the Forum and the Pavilion as a maid. Spent all my money on the boardwalk! Remember being able to buy 7 ride tickets for $1 at Wonderland. Those days are long gone!! We were always glad when the 'shoobies' went home.....although I'm now one but haven't heard that term used in years. Enjoyed roller skating at the rink on 2nd street, the annual Halloween parade on Asbury avenue and Mischief Night. Remember wearing my bathing suit under my school uniform on the last day of school so we could head right to the beach. Good times....great memories.
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