SMITH POINT
IN THE 1950's
THE LONG WAIT
FOR A SHORT BRIDGE
seemed to be
finally coming to an end with the war over and the rapid developments
of the suburbs. Walter T. Shirley's 1947 development "Mastic
Acres" was located a short stones throw from Smith's Point
and he knew that the addition of the bridge would be an
ATOMIC BOOM
to his land sales.
If anyone knew
how to get things moving via publicity & politics it was ol'
W. T. Plus he had friends in both low & high places. Still
it wasn't going to be a cakewalk .....
NY Times 1949
and the cost is up another 1/2 million from 1938
FOUR YEARS
LATER
1953
1953 ....the
same year that Patti Page entered the charts with her recording
of Bennie Benjamin &
George Weiss' song
"CROSS
OVER THAT BRIDGE"
The song which
peaked at #2 was on the charts for 23 weeks well into 1954.
I bet it was #1 in the
Shirley Property Office. After all W.T. started out as a song
plugger.
Sing
It Loud Patti....Let 'em hear it all the way over in Center Moriches
(click)
WALLY WORLD
1952
Here Wally
Thomas, Floyd's first principal points to the plaque Wally Shirley
got for donating the land to build the first Wm. Floyd school,
as big Cliff Hawkins of the school board looks on. With that great
tan it looks like W. T has been to the beach. But gee if he only
had a bridge
He wouldn't
need this anymore
photo courtesy: Ken Vitellaro
MEANWHILE.......
IN DECEMBER
1953 IT'S
MERRY CHRISTMAS
TO ALL
Now the cost
it's up to a million,six...another 100 G in 3 months,
however it would still
take another 18 months before this event happened
JULY 16th 1955
NEXT THE PILGRIMS PROGRESS
