Letters from Our Readers:

In a message dated January 13, 2010: Rita Deutsch Herring writes to Matt Bashie

Hello Matt,

Thank you for your reply to my email re: The Rockaway I knew. I went to the website and read ALL the chapters and thoroughly enjoyed doing so. I especially can relate to Chapter 5, The Beaches.

When the Wavecrest complex was built, the management also took over a small beach club on 19th street across from Roches. My mother was hired to "rent" the lockers (there were no cabanas) and manage the club during the summer months. I remember it was 1952 cause my mother put me on the payroll and I had to get working papers. I sat and punched admission tickets and whined to her cause I wanted to be on the beach. My Mom finally relented and let me go with my friends.

To the right of us was Shoreclub and Ostend. We used to walk in from the beach and swim in their pools. Ostend was the larger pool and less busy and we loved it. Naturally we could all swim very well. In fact, one day when I was about 21 yrs old, I met a new girl in town who couldn't swim. That's went it occurred to me that not everyone could swim. I just assumed everyone could.

Of course I remember places like Neveloffs and Bergers. Our family would eat at Bergers quite often and I do remember Huey behind the counter. We were also frequent visitors to Jimmy's Chinese Palace. Dad used to buy bagels and lox every Saturday evening at Toddy's on Central Avenue. Those were the days of double parking with keys in the cars and motors left running.

My uncle Jack Imber owned "Jack's", men's clothing store. Another uncle was Sam Goody of record store fame. My father was from Rockaway. My mother came from Washington Heights in Manhattan. Her family would rent a bungalow in the rockaways in the 1920's. My parents met on the beach. Mom would tell me about the wonderful hotels on the boardwalk in the 20's and 30's and how they would "dress" to go dancing on Saturday nights. Must have been lots of fun.

I'm enjoying reading everything on Rockaway Memories and thanks so much for your detailed writings. I look forward to reading more.

Best wishes,

Rita Deutsch Herring

Hello Rita,

Thanks for the nice, long, and informative eMail. It is so important that we share our experiences with each other. Our generation is probably the last to have enjoyed what the (resort) Rockaways had to offer -- at least we have our memories to pass on.

I do remember that the Wavecrest apartment complex took over a small beach club on 19th Street (across from Roches) and my best friend's parents took advantage of the locker facilities -- however, my time-frame for that was about 1954. Concession stands which lined the west side of Beach 19th Street were torn down and new wooden locker rooms were built. From what I remember the 19th Street Beach Club burned (at least half of it did) sometime after the season of 1956 -- I remember the place being on the "Spartan Day Camp property."

Jack's Clothing Store, Central Avenue, 1948

Jack's Clothing Store (interior), 1948

You mention "Uncle Jack" Imber -- Of course I had heard of "Jack's" and have seen pictures of the store. By the time I moved into Far Rockaway, most likely the store was no longer in business -- for I was never in that particular place of business. Would you by any chance remember the address of the store? That way I can place it into the scheme of things on Central Avenue circa 1952/53.

You also mention "Sam Goody" and I think I had heard that the family owned a home in Bayswater for a period of time. Perhaps you can confirm or deny that. From what I remember, there was never a "Goody" record store in Far Rockaway town.

About 40 years ago, one of the teachers at Far Rockaway High School showed me an old photograph of her mother and father walking on the boardwalk back in 1920 -- it was a "formal affair" and her parents were dressed in their Sunday finest for that stroll. Times certainly were different -- even back in the mid 60s. This woman (then in her 60s) told me that from what she understood, when New York City first opened the subway system back at the turn of the century, the train conductors wore appliance-white uniforms and matching gloves. Imagine trying to dress like that today!

Thanks again for taking the time to read my autobiography. Whenever you find the time or feel the need to write me again, please be assured that I would love to hear from you. Not only do I look forward to hearing positive comments from readers such as yourself, I also welcome any and all constructive criticism. Thanks again for taking the time to write!

Matthew Bashie