A Day at the Beach

An article on beachcombing noted that while a good searcher could earn over $400 a season walking the shoreline from spilled coins and lost jewelry, the lucky find of the summer of 1953 was at Sea Girt. Several Marie Therese Thalers were found in the sand. The silver coins dating from 1780 were probably from a ship prior to the American Revolution. Marie Therese ruled Austria, Hungary, Croatia and Bohemia from 1740 to 1780 and is depicted on the coin.

The Marie Therese Thaler was used in international trade in the 1700s

It was a lucky time to live and visit Sea Girt. The Garden State Parkway opening attracted people from the crowded north. Even those who could not afford a week’s stay could drive down for a day trip. Spring Lake and Sea Girt were conspicuously absent from the signs on the parkway, and more commercial destinations like Point Pleasant, Seaside Heights and Asbury wanted the exposure.

The mayor of Allentown NJ wrote a letter to his constituents about a 4th of July trip to the resort, about 45 minutes drive east of his village. It was carried by the Allentown Messenger Press:

“The past weekend being a holiday and since I was spending time at Sea Girt enjoying the beach, swimming in the ocean and watching the "sights," I thought my readers would be amused by some of my observations over the Fourth. The weather over the Fourth was ideal--warm and sunny--with a low humidity. The ocean temperature of about 69 degrees was most invigorating. The beach, crowded with vacationers, presented some very amusing sights.

The young and old, fat and thin, all love to don a bathing suit. Some just love to relax and sun bathe, others love to parade in their scanty attire by the water's edge. Then there are others who really enjoy the ocean bathing. Every color combination known to man has been made up into bathing suits for the ladies and swim trunks for the men. A young fellow passes by sporting the latest "French Riviera" trunks in flaming orange.

These trunks are very abbreviated and often referred to here as a "G" string. Another chap passes by and his trunks in brilliant red are more conservative. As for the fairer sex, the fatter they are, the more revealing the suit. Their colors and styles have too wide a range for me to elaborate upon except to say that some of the young girls wear those "G" string suits too. By the water's edge, the local fishermen are casting and reeling in their lines.

The 50s brought a more exposed body. Cheered by some, jeered by others.

Most of the time they reel in a baitless hook. The crabs out there love good bait and these poor guys are keeping them happy. Nearby sits a sun-tanned girl not too attractive, eying one of the young fishermen. She is busy knitting a pair of socks for her boyfriend perhaps? A group of elderly folks under a gay beach umbrella are eating sandwiches and drinking beer. It looks very tempting to all of us on such a hot afternoon.

Then there's the young couple who are making their first appearance of the season. Their skin is lily white, but not for long. They carry a small beach filled with "protection" oils, lotions, shades, nose guards and dark glasses. After settling themselves in their beach chairs under their umbrella, they go to work. Starting at the face and neck, they work their favorite lotion thoroughly into their skin.

Gradually, they oil their arms, chest, legs and feet. It is impossible for them to reach their backs, so the girl rolls on her stomach while the fellow gives her a Swedish massage. After this pleasant task is finished, his turn comes and the whole procedure is repeated. Having completely greased themselves and adjusted their sunglasses, they are now ready to "boil" in the sun. The lifeguards and "button boys" are busy keeping order.

Oil up. More skin exposed called for more products.

Occasionally a daring swimmer goes far and the guard will blow his whistle and wave him in. The approaches to the beach are guarded by young boys who ask to see your button before you can enter. They are known here at Sea Girt as "button boys." Only those who have purchased buttons are allowed on the beach. Offshore a speed boat passes by with a couple aquaplaning. Many fishing boats pass in view crowded from bow to stern.

Many of these aboard will go home with only a hangover and a painful sunburn. Near the horizon a red sail may be seen riding the waves. It brings to mind the once popular song, "Red Sails in the Sunset." Down in the water everybody is having great sport. Young and old are splashing and jumping through the waves. Some are riding rubber floats into shore, some diving through rubber tubes, others floating over the gentle waves.

Fathers are teaching their youngsters the art of swimming. Some love it, others scream and run to the edge of the water. Now and then ashore. Several elderly ladies sit as a wave knocks them over or turns them around. They laugh and holler with delight.

Suntanning became a sport in the 50s. If you burned you needed Noxzema

Now the show-off comes running down the beach diving into the waves with a tremendous splash. He is giving those timid, shivering souls on shore a premature shower bath. He thinks that is one way to get them into the water. He's correct for in they. go.

The parkway opened the shore to everyone

It is all in fun and everybody enjoys it. The late afternoon sun moves slowly to the west. The swimmers and sun worshipers pack up their equipment for the day, the guards go off duty, the lovers relax, the fishermen reel in their empty lines, the lunch baskets and beer cans are gathered up and soon the beach is deserted for another day. It has been a grand and glorious Fourth of July. EARLE W. HENDRICKSON, Mayor

It was also a good time to be a Catholic. St. Catharine had become too crowded and St. Margaret was built to accommodate the rising numbers in Spring Lake and Spring Lake Heights. The buildout of Sea Girt and the properties in Wall to the west, made the parish of St. Denis in Manasquan quite crowded. In 1952, the Catholic Church was approved to build a brick church on the corner of Crescent Parkway and Third with seating for 1,000. St. Mark’s cornerstone was laid in November 1953 by Bishop Ahr of Trenton and Fr. Thornton its first pastor.