Boardwalk Memories: Tales of the Jersey Shore

Overview

Enter the world of the Jersey Shore through remarkable archival photographs and lively tales in this heartfelt tribute to New Jersey's boardwalks. Millions of tourists have at one time or another visited "The Shore," as the locals fondly refer to the 127-mile coastline between Sandy Hook and Cape May Point. Few leave without a special boardwalk memory. Join historian Emil R. Salvini as he traces the evolution of these "walkways of wood" from humble plank paths to the seaside ...
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Overview

Enter the world of the Jersey Shore through remarkable archival photographs and lively tales in this heartfelt tribute to New Jersey's boardwalks. Millions of tourists have at one time or another visited "The Shore," as the locals fondly refer to the 127-mile coastline between Sandy Hook and Cape May Point. Few leave without a special boardwalk memory. Join historian Emil R. Salvini as he traces the evolution of these "walkways of wood" from humble plank paths to the seaside promenades and busy midways of today.
From Long Branch to Cape May, each of the boardwalks along the New Jersey shore has its own story to tell. While some preserve the honky-tonk, circus-barker atmosphere of yore, others have become peaceful promenades along the sea. North of Long Beach Island, the boardwalks have a distinct Manhattan flavor, with New York-style pizza, Italian sausage sandwiches, and Devils, Yankees, and Mets caps and jerseys in abundance. The boardwalks to the south serve as satellites of Philadelphia, replete with cheese steaks, pork rolls, funnel cakes, and naturally, Flyers and Eagles fans.
If you're looking for a Jersey-style, heavy-decibel, neon-laden boardwalk experience, look no further than Seaside Heights, Ocean City, and Wildwood. Or perhaps you'd prefer the noncommercial boardwalk at Ocean Grove, which reflects the pious tone of the town's religious founders, or that of Spring Lake where there are no rides, no games of chance, no cotton candy, and no funnel cake. As with Cape May to the south, residents here believe visitors come for the peaceful seaside ambience, the quaint architecture, and a chance to step into the past. Whatever your taste, there is a boardwalk that will notdisappoint.
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Product Details

  • ISBN-13: 9780762736744
  • Publisher: Globe Pequot Press
  • Publication date: 10/1/2005
  • Pages: 192
  • Sales rank: 585,559
  • Product dimensions: 8.66 (w) x 11.02 (h) x 0.68 (d)

Meet the Author

Emil R. Salvini is a member of the Cape May City Historic Preservation Commission, past president of the North Jersey Highlands Historical Society, and a life member of the Cape May County Historical Society. Author of several books on New Jersey history, this Harvard Business School alum lives with his wife in Wayne, New Jersey. They stroll the boardwalks as often as possible.
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Read an Excerpt

[photo caption]
Peter Lucia spent his childhood in Asbury Park. He lovingly recalls his city as a "storybook place" and how the "boardwalk stripes the ocean's sandy edge and is weighted in place by the most fantastic pavilions." Peter grew up with his uncle, the now famous Danny Devito, and they are both pictured here sharing a merry-go-round ride next to the boardwalk.

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Asbury Park

On a bright, sunny day in July of 1894, Sterling Elliot, the editor of the periodical Good Roads, was attending a convention in Asbury Park when he found himself in the midst of a sea of spectators. Elliot was at first unsure of the cause of the commotion and flagged down a local policeman. "What's up?" he asked the frantic constable who, after giving the newspaperman an incredulous look, replied tersely, "Baby Show." Elliot has stumbled upon an event that at its peak drew over 100,000 spectators to the one-mile long Asbury Park boardwalk.

The first baby parade was held in Asbury Park on July 22, 1890 and had 200 children competing for the grand prize of, what else--a baby carriage. What a sight it must have been, the bands serenading the oceanfront crowd with "Rock-a-Bye Baby," while Asbury's founder, James Bradley, carrying his trademark white umbrella, led the red, white, and blue caravan. The fearless judges of that first parade were a foolhardy bunch and presumed to award prizes to the handsomest babies. By the time Sterling Elliot visited Asbury Park the current crop of judges had decided it less dangerous to judge the best decorated carriages rather than the physical attributes of the occupants.
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Sort by: Showing all of 4 Customer Reviews
  • Anonymous

    Posted November 4, 2005

    My recollection of the Wildwood Boardwalk.

    The book is informative, filling in the facts and contributing to the memories I share.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted November 2, 2005

    A Perfect Gift for the New Jersey Shore Lover

    Emil Salvini has done it again. His book Summer City by the Sea, An Illustrated History of Cape May, NJ has become the quintessential history of Cape May. Boardwalk Memories does for the entire Jersey Shore what Summer City did for Cape May. From Long Branch to Cape May it is all here. Salvini uses his skill as a careful storyteller to transport the reader to a beautiful summer day on a busy boardwalk. Storms, fires, hand-carved carousels, famous personalities, amusements and boardwalk foods. The book is beautifully illustrated with vintage photographs. I plan on buying several copies for all of my relatives and friends.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted November 4, 2005

    If you love the shore, you will love this book.

    I just completed Mr. Salvini's book Boardwalk Memories and found it totally engrossing. This book provides the reader with a fascinating history of how the towns were created and how the boardwalks were developed all along the Jersey coastline. With each chaper, Mr.Salvini included interesting and charming anecdotes. You can read about how Eugene O'Neill spent the summer at Point Pleasant and which US Presidents summered at Long Branch. To complement the text Mr. Salvini included rare archival photographs that make you long for the 'good old days'. Mr. Salvini writes in an easy conversational manner. History was never this much fun. I recommend this book to anyone who loves the shore.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted February 13, 2010

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