Just read your article on the history of Sound Beach. Brought back many memories. Yes I do remember Sunny, who sold hot dogs and soda at the pavillion. I also remember the gong at the fire house. I think it was Mr. Calace who rang it to announce the defeat of Japan on VJ day. I have also been told, although I don't know for sure that it is true, that mail was slow in arriving for those SB residents who did not patronize Calace's supermarket.

A great place to grow up in the 40s and 50s. You could walk along the dunes from Sound Beach to Dawn's Pass without any obstructions. The beach was much wider then than it is now. It was a real beach. I wonder if there is any connection between the construction of houses on the top
of the dunes, and the attempt to control the erosion of the dunes, and the loss of our beach?

Kids used to keep their boats on racks near the bottom of the dunes. They were only 12-14 ft long and were easy to carry to the water. No locks were needed. They just sat on their racks for anybody to steal but nobody ever did. Sometime in the early 50s a hurricane swept the beach clean. After the hurricane boats were found as far away as Sunken Meadow.

Did you know about the celebration that was held on the beach each Labor Day? They had three legged races, sack races, all sorts of contests. I recall a highlight of the event was a swimming race between the ropes that was always won by either my friend Harvey Saffron or (I think) Jerry Mackin's older brother.

Thanks for the article.

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