Ahh, the memories of Roche's Beach and Ostend! My family had a locker at Roches for many years, back in the 50s, and we kids used to try to sneak in to the pools next door at Ostend.

We would play ping pong at the tables on the pavillion at Roche's, and eat lunch sometimes in the restaurant on the B. 19th Street side, operated by Hope Papouches (spelling?) and her family. Of course there was the carousel next door, and other games amd bumper cars on B. 19th St.

We also used to go into the steam room once in a while, and laugh at what the old ladies looked like nude. Well, all these years later, it isn't so funny, since I see the same kind of body when I look in the mirror!!!!

Another memory - at the end of the day, when the crowds had gone, the nuns who lived in the convent from St. Mary's school, and maybe from St. Joseph's Hospital too, would come down to the beach for a swim.

They would wear long robes as they walked down tho the water, and take them off just before going in. Of course, they wore very modest bathing suits, similar to those worn the 20's.

When the beach clubs finally closed, it seemed like a shame that anyone from Rockaway who wanted to join a beach club had to go into Nassau County. It is still the same situatioin - many of my friends give their money to Nassau County beach clubs, not to mention the tolls on the Atlantic Beach Bridge. It's too bad that there aren't any left here in Far Rockaway.