So far, the summer of 2015 in New York City is typical: hot and humid. Here in California it’s just plain hot and dry; the west coast drought is making things brittle and dusty and people tense. Our evenings though, have been breezy and cool.
Conor and I spent most of July of all our childhood summers in Manhattan, visiting our grandparents. Coming from San Francisco, the heat and humidity were crushing. During the days – when we weren’t taking shelter in air-conditioned museums or department stores – we would crowd around our grandparents’ window-unit air conditioner, coloring or reading. At night we would struggle to sleep while being buzzed by mosquitoes and bombarded with street noise. Manhattan in the 60’s and 70’s was riddled with mosquitoes. Out on the streets, adults and teens partied, talked, played cards on fire escapes and stoops — no one could sleep. Conversations and music went well past 2:00AM and sirens raged through the night. The heat was so oppressive that a single bed sheet was too much.
Escaping to the coast for relief from the heat of the city is ingrained in New Yorkers. I hope you enjoy this collection of images, most of which were shot at beaches and resorts in New York and New Jersey.
Happy Summer,
Sioban
Marie (Garland) Gunst, Atlantic City, NJ, c. 1928. Image 102.4.N.BW.FFT.
Possibly Kate Moore, with Margaret “Nant” Moore, Coney Island, September, 1928. Thanks to Conor, we know this image is from September 1, 1928 or a day or two later. He was able to track down the cover of the Saturday Evening Post Kate Moore is holding. To see the illustration on the cover in color, click here. Image 11.2.N.BW.FFT.
Margaret “Nant” Moore and possibly Kate Moore, Coney Island, September, 1928. Image 93.4.N.BW.FFT
Possibly Kate Moore, with Margaret “Nant” Moore, Coney Island, September, 1928. Image 10.3.N.BW.FFT
This is one of those very rare images: not only is the print in great condition, but my mother listed everyone’s names on the back, which is helping identify people in other images. L – R: Kate Moore, with Mary (Moore) FitzGerald sitting on her lap, Margaret “Nant” Moore, Helen “Sis” Moore, Thomas “Sonny” Lennon, Ellen Moore, Margaret “Peggy” Moore (child looking down), Margaret Moore, Helen “Nellie” Moore, James Moore, Julia “Lennon” Moore, location unknown. 1936. Image 108.3.P.BW.FFT.
Mary (Moore) FitzGerald and Julia (Lennon) Moore, NYC, c. 1937. Image 55.1.N.BW.FFT.
Unknown and Andrew C. Moore, location and date unknown. Image 22.2.N.BW.FFT.
Likely a Moore, but name unknown. “Bushman Baths”, Coney Island, c. 1930’s. Image 28.6.N.BW.FFT.
Andrew C. Moore and his daughter, Mary (Moore) FitzGerald, location unknown. c. 1937. Image 63.4.N.BW.FFT.
Also likely a Moore, and name unknown. Coney Island, c. 1930’s. Image 58.1.N.BW.FFT.
Mary (Moore) FitzGerald, location unknown. c. 1937. Image 55.5.N.BW.FFT.
Mary (Moore) FitzGerald and her mother, Julia (Lennon) Moore, location unknown. c. 1937. Image 55.3.N.BW.FFT.
Mary (Moore) FitzGerald and Julia (Lennon) Moore, location unknown, c. 1937. Image 46.5.N.BW.FFT.
Mary (Moore) FitzGerald and Julia (Lennon) Moore, location unknown, c. 1937. Image 42.3.N.BW.FFT.
Mary (Moore) FitzGerald, location unknown, c. 1937. Image 32.8.N.BW.FFT.
Mary (Moore) FitzGerald, location unknown c. 1937. Image 22.4.N.BW.
Mary (Moore) FitzGerald and Julia (Lennon) Moore, location unknown, c. 1937. Image 55.4.N.BW.FFT.
- Andrew C. Moore and his aunt, Margaret “Nant” Moore, Andrew C. Moore, Jr. Keansburg, NJ, 1940. Image 105.4.N.BW.FFT.
Andrew C. Moore, with his aunt, Margaret “Nant” Moore and his son, Andrew C. Moore, Jr. Keansburg, NJ, 1940. Image 106.3.P.BW.FFT.
Julia (Lennon) Moore and Andrew C. Moore, Jr, Keansburg, NJ. 1940. Image 106.2.P.BW.FFT.
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Hi Siobhan
Loved your selection of pictures. It is great for you that you have such beautiful pictures of your mother
and grand parents. They all look so happy and contented. It is lovely to have such treasures
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Thank you, Julia. It’s a lot of fun trying to sleuth out which photos go together, where they are, etc. Cheers, S
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Hi Siobhan
Loved your section of pictures. It is great to have such a treasure trove of pictures of your Grandmother, and Grandfather and such lovely pictures of your mother. I have seen some lovely pictures of your grandmother that I have never seen.
as I said in my facebook comment. I thing that your grandmother looked very like her bother James Jimmy Lennon my father. James
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Thank you, James. Going to start to work on the next set. Cheers, S
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Hi Siobhan James have showed me the family photos they are very nice i know there is sadness too but is great to have the photos and the special memories they bring thanks to you and Connor for the great work you are doing and look forward to seeing more photos when tom rip passed away photos kept me going may they all rest in peace i hope you Matthew Alana and your Dad are keeping well I have a grandson Logan now six months who is keeping me going Anna Byrne (Lennon)
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Hello Anna!
First, congratulations on the birth of Logan! He must be a joy to you. Babies are magical.
I can imagine what a comfort having photos was to you when you lost Tom, RIP. I love looking at photos, especially old ones. I feel like a time traveler.
It is so nice to hear from you. I hope you can write again when you have time.
-S
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