MORE PHOTOS OF
THE WAY WE WERE
DOWN IN MASTIC BEACH
This first group of new old photos came to me courtesy of Art "Guy" Speyer, whose family goes back to the start of Mastic Beach when his grandfather T. O. Davidson of Bayside, Queens purchased 5 lots on the south east corner of Bayview Dr and Elm Rd in Section 4 circa 1927 - 29.
That is Guy's Mom Winnie on the bike with two of her sisters & his Grandfather Davidson standing in the background. This appears to be looking NorthWesterly with Mr. Davidson standing near Bayview Drive with Elm Rd crossing it in the background . I would surmise by the amount of houses alleady there that this photo was taken circa 1929 or early 1930's as Home Guardian started installing the poles ( that are visible) for future electricity and phones in 1929. Section 4 was opened in 1927
THE TREES HAVE HAD A FEW DECADES TO GROW
THE SLOWPOKE
When Guy first contacted me and said he owned the " Slowpoke " that he kept on Pattersquash Creek. I remembered it right away even down to the blue & white colors . Looks to be a 25HP Johnson, it later was upped to a 30 HP Evinrude. My own boat the Little Chief came from Guy's immediate neighborhood
THE "WINART"
Guys parents skiff on Pattersquash Creek
THE SPEYER's GEMINI
Largest Sailboat On The Pattersquash
Fast Boats & Fast Cars That's What Summer Was All About For Me As A Kid
In Guy's first E mail to me he told me he had a 40 Ford Coupe with an Olds engine in the mid 50's. I wracked my brain trying to recall it as that is something I would of noticed & poured over being the car nut I was. When we spoke on the phone I said to him , your 40 Ford must of been a real sleeper and just blended in with everyone else's old car that lined the streets of town. He said it was, however if I ever saw it like it appears in this photo taken back in Queens when he first installed the Rocket 88, I would of been all over it like fleas on a houndog.
ROCKET 88
Down At The Lagoon In Section One
This is how it looked when out at Mastic Beach. Definitley A Bit Of A Sleeper, But Still I Can't Believe I Never Took Notice Of It. Wearing a coat of primer, some wide whites and a non Ford rear bumper ( a 49 Plymouth with Chevy License Plate Guard?) and some dented hubcaps. As A Teen Ager Guy worked at Fisher's Market And Would Make Bank Runs In It To Center Moriches, Carrying The Store Receipts In A Milk Box In The Trunk.
NEW PAINT
The Last Year Guy Had It ( 1957?) He Had It Painted & Added Custom Nerf Bars, Motorheads will note that it has '40 Standard Grille & Hood But the coupe was actually a Deluxe. Guy liked the look. I agree
AND SPEAKING OF CARS & THINGS
These came my way via regular Knappster Gary Messinetti, who took them with his Polaroid in the early 60's. They were sent to Gary via his cousin Bobby Siriani.
THE NEW REAR ADDITION TO PAT & MIKES TEXACO
GARY'S DAD PAT MESSINETTI
Of Pat & Mike's, At His Home On Bayview & Cedar With His Fairly New Olds Starfire.
The Property Behind The House Is Part Of The Old Bayview Hospital Land
WHERE WERE YOU IN '62
Pat's old '58 OLDs became Gary & Johnny's new one in 1962
Notice The Hub Caps Are Off It __ Probably Ready To Venture Out To Westhampton Drag Strip
DOWN IN THE BASEMENT
Not To Be Corn - Fused With Down In The Boondocks
WALK DON'T RUN
Finished Basements Were A Big Thing In The Few Areas Of Mastic Beach Where You Could Build One Without Owning SCUBA Gear. That's Bobby Siriani in the family basement On Bayview Dr holding somebodys Harmony? guitar, looking like he really knows what he is doing. How about that big amp on the bar !
Gary's brother Johnny displaying his Ping Pong Prowness as his partner cousin Richie Vitale backs him up
That's Bobby and Pete Lampasona with their backs to Gary's Polaroid.
CHEERS
I think they are all of age here? Vic DiPierro, Richie Vitale, Bobby Siriani, and Johnny Messinetti's right arm
MORE PICS OF THE WAY WERE IN THE MASTICS