Post by JerseyDigger29 on Oct 12, 2006 22:06:15 GMT -5
Just wanted to let everyone in on a strange feeling I've had lately:
Some time ago, we all talked about all the motels we've lost in the last couple of years - Heck, we're still talking about it. Anyway, someone said something like, "I wonder how many are left."
Well, this week, I've been getting this strange feeling that makes me wonder, "How many did the Wildwoods have BEFORE the demo craze began?" It must have been an enormous amount. Here's why:
Over the course of the summer, I began an ongoing personal project of mine to photograph every single motel on the island (from approximately WWII to now) that is still here, open or closed, or remodeled, or being renovated, or whatever. As long as it hasn't yet been torn down, I'm taking photos of it. I want pics before it IS torn down. That way, we will be able to say - definitively - "In 2006, these motels were still here."
I've learned a couple of interesting facts from this project:
1) I'm using a Doo Wop hotel brochure that the DWPL put out a while ago as a starting point. It's highly inaccurate in that hotels aren't always where the brochure says they're supposed to be and some of the hotels listed obviously were torn down while the brochure was being produced because they're no longer there (The Earle, the Monte Cello, etc.)
2) It also doesn't include every Doo Wop hotel (or Doo Wop styled building on the island), especially some that are west of, say New Jersey Avenue. IMO, there are many more examples that we don't seem to celebrate as much as those on the east side. But all this is neither here nor there. Back to my point...
3) From the beginning of the summer until today, I've photographed somewhere around 100 hotels at random intervals around the island. Today, I started at the Reges and began working my way block for block north. I am now finished every single hotel between the Reges and the Admiral West, east of Seaview Avenue, in addition to many random hotels at other places in town.
So that's somewhere around 100 plus hotels still alive and kicking - And I don't think I've taken photos of more than 45 or 50 percent of the hotels islandwide. I haven't gotten the hotels west of Seaview in the Crest yet, which I think includes some on NJ and Park Boulevard as well as some on side streets west of Seaview. And this is just the Crest.
In Wildwood proper, there are all kinds of tiny hotels on the side streets that I'll bet many of us have never even heard of. And a couple of original Doo Wop motels that have been converted into apartments or condos. (The names have changed, but the shape remains the same...).
This fact is just blowing my mind. How many did we start out with?
It must have been huge. Which leads to the obvious follow-up question: Just how many did we lose?
I really don't think anyone can possibly know for sure. I think everyone just gives a round-about guestimate when they're asked.
I still have every single block from Rambler to Anglesea to complete. I'm guessing right now by saying that when I'm finished I'll bet we still have between 150 to 200 motels left.
But this is not a guess, it's a fact: When I'm done, we'll know for sure. "In 2006, these were here!"
I must seem really wierd, I guess. Back around 92, when Pacific Avenue was as dead as it could ever get, I did a survey for a story I wrote for the Wildwood Leader on how many businesses were closed and how many were still open between Maple Avenue and Spicer I think. (The length of the Holly Beach Station Mall). I actually walked from one end to the other and counted them. It was something like 20 + open and over 75 closed. I'd like to dig that story up now to compare it with the current Pacific Avenue situation.
I'll bet we've come a long way since then.
Anyway, what are your thoughts and guesses about the total number of hotels left?
Thom
P.S. We've had a good dry spell recently concerning demos, but in a trip around town the other day, I learned accidentally that another one of our favorites is about to go. I took lots of photos for next week's paper. (Don't you hate when I tease? Sorry)!
thom@theWildwoodsReporter.com
TheWildwoodsReporter.com
Digital Dazzle Photography
Some time ago, we all talked about all the motels we've lost in the last couple of years - Heck, we're still talking about it. Anyway, someone said something like, "I wonder how many are left."
Well, this week, I've been getting this strange feeling that makes me wonder, "How many did the Wildwoods have BEFORE the demo craze began?" It must have been an enormous amount. Here's why:
Over the course of the summer, I began an ongoing personal project of mine to photograph every single motel on the island (from approximately WWII to now) that is still here, open or closed, or remodeled, or being renovated, or whatever. As long as it hasn't yet been torn down, I'm taking photos of it. I want pics before it IS torn down. That way, we will be able to say - definitively - "In 2006, these motels were still here."
I've learned a couple of interesting facts from this project:
1) I'm using a Doo Wop hotel brochure that the DWPL put out a while ago as a starting point. It's highly inaccurate in that hotels aren't always where the brochure says they're supposed to be and some of the hotels listed obviously were torn down while the brochure was being produced because they're no longer there (The Earle, the Monte Cello, etc.)
2) It also doesn't include every Doo Wop hotel (or Doo Wop styled building on the island), especially some that are west of, say New Jersey Avenue. IMO, there are many more examples that we don't seem to celebrate as much as those on the east side. But all this is neither here nor there. Back to my point...
3) From the beginning of the summer until today, I've photographed somewhere around 100 hotels at random intervals around the island. Today, I started at the Reges and began working my way block for block north. I am now finished every single hotel between the Reges and the Admiral West, east of Seaview Avenue, in addition to many random hotels at other places in town.
So that's somewhere around 100 plus hotels still alive and kicking - And I don't think I've taken photos of more than 45 or 50 percent of the hotels islandwide. I haven't gotten the hotels west of Seaview in the Crest yet, which I think includes some on NJ and Park Boulevard as well as some on side streets west of Seaview. And this is just the Crest.
In Wildwood proper, there are all kinds of tiny hotels on the side streets that I'll bet many of us have never even heard of. And a couple of original Doo Wop motels that have been converted into apartments or condos. (The names have changed, but the shape remains the same...).
This fact is just blowing my mind. How many did we start out with?
It must have been huge. Which leads to the obvious follow-up question: Just how many did we lose?
I really don't think anyone can possibly know for sure. I think everyone just gives a round-about guestimate when they're asked.
I still have every single block from Rambler to Anglesea to complete. I'm guessing right now by saying that when I'm finished I'll bet we still have between 150 to 200 motels left.
But this is not a guess, it's a fact: When I'm done, we'll know for sure. "In 2006, these were here!"
I must seem really wierd, I guess. Back around 92, when Pacific Avenue was as dead as it could ever get, I did a survey for a story I wrote for the Wildwood Leader on how many businesses were closed and how many were still open between Maple Avenue and Spicer I think. (The length of the Holly Beach Station Mall). I actually walked from one end to the other and counted them. It was something like 20 + open and over 75 closed. I'd like to dig that story up now to compare it with the current Pacific Avenue situation.
I'll bet we've come a long way since then.
Anyway, what are your thoughts and guesses about the total number of hotels left?
Thom
P.S. We've had a good dry spell recently concerning demos, but in a trip around town the other day, I learned accidentally that another one of our favorites is about to go. I took lots of photos for next week's paper. (Don't you hate when I tease? Sorry)!
thom@theWildwoodsReporter.com
TheWildwoodsReporter.com
Digital Dazzle Photography