Today was awesome. End of post....just kidding. Let me just tell you how awesome today happened to be. We left the beach house at 9 and headed north on the GSP. This in itself was exciting because I got to run the route I used to take when I worked in Keansburg. I love that drive, and the road was new and black and smooth and the traffic was quick moving. We drive all the way to NY, a new state for little girl. Once in NY we traveled to Stony Point and Letchworth Village, aka WIllowbrook. Look it up, the history on the institution is plentiful and so sad. But to sum it up, Letchworth was a hospital for mentally and physically disabled people, mostly youth. Lots of bad things went on there and it closed in the 1990's. We found several parts of the buildings and community and we explored around. Many buildings were closed up and really locked up solidly so we got to see the outsides and to peek into broken windows. A couple of the buildings were literally wide open, no gates, no boards and at some points, no doors. we ventured inside these buildings, but not far. This place has decayed rather rapidly and so it didn't look very safe. Steps were rotted through, ceilings were fallen down, light dangled. It was awesome. Our favorite spot was the kitchen and what we named the dining/living area. We saw trays and plate covers stacked up and multiple pieces of kitchen equipment and living room furniture. There was lots of conversation about what this place was and who lived there. I am not sure my little sidekick got it all, but she said she felt bad for the people who lived there, so maybe she got more than I think.
Our next stop was, what else but the Letchworth Cemetery. After seeing the cemetery in Pittsburgh and being so upset over the care, I wanted to see this one. A short ride and a beautiful, serene walk through tall trees, over a babbling brook, we came upon a clearing and mound. In front stood a couple benches and a large stone naming the hundreds of innocent people buried here. I have to admit with no shame, I cried. So many people, buried nameless until this stone was erected. Upon the hill sat the graves, hundreds of them only marked with a metal T and a number. We explored through the graves and Curly Girly sang to the graves. She made up lyrics to a made up tune and told me it was to make the people here happy just like she sang at my mom's grave. No shame, I cried again. As we left, she asked if she could put a rock on the large marker like at my mom's. I can't say I cried again because I had not stopped crying from before. On the way out we stopped at the brook. A small hill and some wet feet, throwing some rocks around and getting splashed lightened the mood for both of us. So off we went.
We stopped for a break at our friends' home in Mahwah and got to catch up before heading south and onto Staten Island. I had not been there in forever, since my friend Jen got married maybe 15 years ago. Past NYC we drive, got a great view of the Empire State Building and the new World Trade Tower and many other buildings I just do not know. Over the Goethals Bridge to Staten Island and the Arthur Kill Graveyard of Ships. Easy find, not so easy to access. People like to put up walls in Staten Island I suppose. We finally found a break in the wall and some steps. Guess where it led us...not only to the ships but through a cemetery that was from the 1700's. This small plot of land held maybe 25 - 30 graves, marked with the most descriptive messages. I read several to Curious Georgina and then we looked out. There, lying in the Arthur Kill waterway, rusted from the elements, decaying were boats. So many freaking boats. We found a path that led us down to a field and we ventured out as far as we could without being stuck in the muck. We looked at the 7 ships we could see. Lots of curious questions: what kind of ship was that? And that? Who went on those boats? I have to go back there. There are kayak tours so we will definitely be doing one next summer.
After the ships, it was onto the GSP and down to LBI. Eight hours and 10 minutes after we left, we pulled onto our rocks. Tired, a little sweaty and full of adventure adrenalin, we came up to our home. And as I look out my door towards the bay I marvel at what we actually did today, what we saw and how all of those places hold so many stories and unknown. But now we are part of it because we were there and we will surely have to go back.
Our next stop was, what else but the Letchworth Cemetery. After seeing the cemetery in Pittsburgh and being so upset over the care, I wanted to see this one. A short ride and a beautiful, serene walk through tall trees, over a babbling brook, we came upon a clearing and mound. In front stood a couple benches and a large stone naming the hundreds of innocent people buried here. I have to admit with no shame, I cried. So many people, buried nameless until this stone was erected. Upon the hill sat the graves, hundreds of them only marked with a metal T and a number. We explored through the graves and Curly Girly sang to the graves. She made up lyrics to a made up tune and told me it was to make the people here happy just like she sang at my mom's grave. No shame, I cried again. As we left, she asked if she could put a rock on the large marker like at my mom's. I can't say I cried again because I had not stopped crying from before. On the way out we stopped at the brook. A small hill and some wet feet, throwing some rocks around and getting splashed lightened the mood for both of us. So off we went.
We stopped for a break at our friends' home in Mahwah and got to catch up before heading south and onto Staten Island. I had not been there in forever, since my friend Jen got married maybe 15 years ago. Past NYC we drive, got a great view of the Empire State Building and the new World Trade Tower and many other buildings I just do not know. Over the Goethals Bridge to Staten Island and the Arthur Kill Graveyard of Ships. Easy find, not so easy to access. People like to put up walls in Staten Island I suppose. We finally found a break in the wall and some steps. Guess where it led us...not only to the ships but through a cemetery that was from the 1700's. This small plot of land held maybe 25 - 30 graves, marked with the most descriptive messages. I read several to Curious Georgina and then we looked out. There, lying in the Arthur Kill waterway, rusted from the elements, decaying were boats. So many freaking boats. We found a path that led us down to a field and we ventured out as far as we could without being stuck in the muck. We looked at the 7 ships we could see. Lots of curious questions: what kind of ship was that? And that? Who went on those boats? I have to go back there. There are kayak tours so we will definitely be doing one next summer.
After the ships, it was onto the GSP and down to LBI. Eight hours and 10 minutes after we left, we pulled onto our rocks. Tired, a little sweaty and full of adventure adrenalin, we came up to our home. And as I look out my door towards the bay I marvel at what we actually did today, what we saw and how all of those places hold so many stories and unknown. But now we are part of it because we were there and we will surely have to go back.