Beach Memories & the Summer of 1942
My summertime memories started at an early age. The events of the early forties and the beaches of Cape May County during that time were the stuff that made memories that have lasted for more than sixty years.
In the last few years Cape May has restored one of the Coastal Watch & Fire control towers that were strung along the beaches in Southern New Jersey in the early days of World War Two. The concrete towers need not be restored to enhance my memory of those days. The reason for the towers placed on our beach was demonstrated many nights for me during those early war days in the summer of 1942.
The war was at the door of our summer residence. My bedroom was on the East side of our home facing the ocean. More than once I was awakened by the distant booms of explosions taking place just a few miles at sea. When I looked out my window I could see the red glow of the exploding Liberty cargo ships that had made the turn North out of Delaware Bay to dash up the coast. They were heading to form a convoy in the NY area with ships converging from all points on the East coast.
I learned at that young age what was happening just beyond the gentle surf that we played in almost every summer day. Those explosions produced additions to our beach which captured everyone’s sad attention. Life preservers and floating crates and debris washed ashore a few days after those booming disturbances of childhood sleep. Tar balls formed from the fuel escaping from the torpedoed vessel and were on our feet when we returned from a day at the beach . A ritual when returning from the beach was to clean up under the outside shower that was part of every summer residence. An addition to the shower stall in 1942 was either a can of Bon Ami or Old Dutch scouring cleanser. We were taught to sprinkle some on the concrete shower base and then scrub our feet on the concrete to remove the tar before we went in the house. In the summer1942 we all got out of our “winter feet” very early.
The Naval Training Airbase in Cape May County produced excitement as we watched planes racing across our skies to destinations unimaginable to a pre school mind. The Blimps(Airships) which were based at the Lakewood NJ Air station glided past us every day on their search for enemy submarines off our coast.
We knew the Germans were nearby and it caused concern but somehow little fright in the beach community. At least the fright was not exhibited to the kids playing on the beach although from time to time we heard conversations about husbands ,uncles and older sons who were more active than just collecting debris from the surf.. In 1942 we were at war but the Gold Stars in the windows were not yet appearing in the numbers that we would see 2 years later.
We have heard much in recent years about the Greatest Generation that saved the world in those years. That Greatest Generation extended to our shores populated by folks who while not in uniform were a part of the effort. They contributed with support and volunteering in bond drives, scrap collections, bandage making and planting of gardens as well as a myriad of other activities so that our troops could be supported by the best of everything the home front could provide.
Each year the start of the summer beach season, in South Jersey moves into full swing on the 4th of July, Independence Day. Growing up in Philadelphia, we always looked upon the 4th of July as our Special Day. Through my life on the summer beaches of South Jersey, I was never far from memories of those childhood summer days in 1942 when every part of our Nation was gathering
” together “ to assure that our Independence would not be diminished by the enemy at our door. They are powerful rememberences.
Your fond memories of your week on the beach this summer will be more joyful than those of my youth. Take a moment now and then to think of the price that was paid those many years ago to preserve the opportunity for us all to have those enjoyable moments of surf and sand as they were meant to be…..
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Buck, You brought back many of the same memories I have but they were a little further north on the beaches of Stone Harbor. Great article!!! Dick