Harlan’s History

Post Cards from the Past

Harlan Radford was born and raised in South Jersey and while growing up his family would spend their vacationing at Stone Harbor usually at C-7 Weber Court.  He has a particular love of Stone Harbor and its rich history.  Currently retired, Harlan was a high school Social Studies teacher for 34 years in the northeast Ohio community where he now resides. He has always had a strong interest in the Jersey Shore and has been collecting post cards most of his life.  Harlan belongs to numerous historical society’s and has been writing for the Historical Society of Riverton  (N.J.) for 20 years.

 

Harlan reestablished his connections to Stone Harbor this past year and we are pleased to announce that he has agreed to write a series of short histories derived from postcards for the Stone Harbor Museum website.  We are excited to announce that these pieces of Harlan’s Histories will start appearing on Fridays.  Stay tuned for his first history on Friday, January 7th

Harlan Radford

July 16, 2025July 15, 2025

Harlan’s History Of The Day: THE BOARDWALK AND ENTRANCE TO BLAKER’S THEATRE LOOKING SOUTH FROM CEDAR AVE. WILDWOOD, N. J.

by in Harlan Radford, Harlan's History
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Harlan’s History Of The Day: THE BOARDWALK AND ENTRANCE TO BLAKER’S THEATRE LOOKING SOUTH FROM CEDAR AVE. WILDWOOD, N. J.

I have selected and decided to feature this particular post card because (1) it does indirectly pertain to Stone Harbor and (2) perhaps inadvertently or unintentionally promotes the borough of Stone Harbor. For the record and during the late teens and early 1920s, the South Jersey Realty Company (SJRC) which was created by the Risley brothers was headquartered in Philadelphia and also had 3 other convenient seashore offices, one located in Wildwood, another in Atlantic City, and of course, one in Stone Harbor.

Let it be said the story and history of Stone Harbor tells us that the SJRC’s comprehensive advertising and promotional plan was assuredly and without question most instrumental in fostering the early growth and development of Stone Harbor.

July 9, 2025July 24, 2025

Harlan’s History – TWO VIEWS: THE PLEASURE BAY AREA BY AIR

by in Harlan Radford, Harlan's History, Picture Of The Day
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Harlan’s History – TWO VIEWS: THE PLEASURE BAY AREA BY AIR

This first aerial view of the Pleasure Bay area of Stone Harbor was in all probability taken sometime during the 1940s. The three vintage automobiles, hardly discernible here, appear when enhanced to be from the time of the 1940s. Looking west with the Great Channel in the distant background, we see a portion of Pleasure Bay with numerous waterfront homes. The Golden Gate Drive is visible running north-south near the top of this photo and the Corinthian Drive as well as the Sunset Drive are seen in the lower portion of this image. One thing that is quite apparent is the amount of green space and parcels of land that have not yet undergone housing development.

July 2, 2025July 1, 2025

Picture of the Day Harlan’s History- Stone Harbor From Above

by in Harlan Radford, Harlan's History, Picture Of The Day
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Picture of the Day Harlan’s History- Stone Harbor From Above

Featured here is a late 1960s aerial view of Stone Harbor encompassing the area roughly between 100th Street to 104th Street and focusing primarily on that part of town close to and overlooking the Great Channel. This image is derived from a picture post card that was published and available for sale in the early 1970s and we know that because this particular item was postmarked and mailed on July 20, 1972.