Sue, The Light In Paul's Life!
She is Perfection!
Jersey Shore 1950's
New Jersey was great a summer time... I remember going to the shore and staying on the Atlantic City Boardwalk. Atlantic City has always been a resort town. Its location in South Jersey, hugging the Atlantic Ocean between marshlands and islands, presented itself as prime real estate for developers. The city was incorporated in 1854, the same year in which train service began, linking this remote parcel of land with Philadelphia. Atlantic City became a popular beach destination because of its proximity to Philadelphia. We recently (2000) ordered candy from James Candy... same one where Sue and her family ordered taffy in the 1950's!!!
Atlantic City is located on Absecon Island in Atlantic
County. It is approximately 60 miles southeast of
Philadelphia and about 100 miles south, southwest of New
York (North Latitude: 39 21'32", West Longitude: 74
25'53).
Atlantic City's original summer visitors were the Absegami Indians of the Lenni Lenape tribe. They enjoyed the island's natural assets and the outdoor activities. Early South Jersey settlers largely ignored the island and it had very few permanent residents. Access was only by boat across the six miles of bay and salt marsh from the mainland. Large dunes protected the beaches and the island was heavily wooded.
Area physician, Dr. Jonathan Pitney, envisioned a "bathing village and health resort" on Absecon Island. He joined with a group of businessmen anxious to develop South Jersey and in 1852, received a railroad charter from Camden to Atlantic City. Engineer Richard Osborne designed and named Atlantic City.
In March, 1854, the city was incorporated and eighteen
voters elected the first mayor. On July 1, 1854, the
first public train left from Camden, arriving two and
one half hours later at Atlantic City. Total railroad
cost was $1,274,030 and the city's colorful and
interesting history began.
Atlantic City's proximity to population centers and convenient, inexpensive train access allowed thousand to flee the hot cities and enjoy summer pleasures at the cool seashore. The city grew rapidly and provided lodgings, eating places, amusements, entertainment and activities for all ages, tastes and incomes. Over the years, many famous figures visited and entertained here. A number of attractions, like the Boardwalk, amusement piers and beauty pageants were developed.
From the 1880's to 1940's, Atlantic City was a major vacation resort. In the 1920's, it was a pre-Broadway show tryout town. Population peaked at 66,000 in the 1930's, and despite hard times, people came to forget their troubles. In the 1940's, the U. S. Army used the city for training purposes, occupying several of the major hotels on the Boardwalk.