Here is yet another interesting aerial photograph discovered at the Stone Harbor Museum archives repository. Several notable and long-standing buildings are depicted in this particular late 1940s image.
In the lower left corner for example, we see the large building located on the beach near 89th Street popularly known as the “Nautilus Apartments”. The consensus is the Nautilus was built in the 1930s with its front entrance actually on the boardwalk. According to Jim Talone, this structure consisted of 4 large apartments. One notable feature is however missing in this particular aerial view. Do you know what I am referring to? The Great Atlantic Hurricane of September 1944 essentially destroyed Stone Harbor’s mile and a half long and 25 foot wide boardwalk. The Nautilus Apartment building was a survivor of that great storm of ‘44 although it did sustain some serious damage including the loss of its cupola.
As you can see the two images immediately above are views sans or minus the boardwalk. The Nautilus finally succumbed and yielded to the overpowering Ash Wednesday Storm of 1962 when it was pushed off its pilings.
Next, at the end of 88th Street, we can see the short pier with a nice covered pavilion located on pilings at the water’s edge.
In addition, at the southeastern portion of the intersection of First Avenue and 88th Street, we can see two very large apartment houses. They were called the Herbert and Juergen’s cottages. The 1930s color post card depicting these two cottages with vintage automobiles is hereby included for your enjoyment.
One more featured property was the Bittner residence – a grand Dutch Colonial with its double gables and large wrap around porch – that was situated on the northwestern corner diagonally across First Avenue from the Herbert and Juergen’s cottages mentioned above.
Finally, as you can see referring once more to the image displayed at the beginning of this account, there were still many areas of this northern part of town that after World War II had yet to be developed judging from the numerous areas overgrown with natural vegetation. This is exactly the way this particular area of Stone Harbor looked like some 75 years ago. What a transformation the town Stone Harbor has undergone over the years!
ONE FINAL QUESTION: Do any of you readers wish to comment on what were your first and most poignant remembrances of Stone Harbor? Thank you in advance for sharing your recollections!