March '62 Storm Brigantine, NJ

These scenes are from 8mm movie film shot by my father, Raymond Smith, during and after the March 1962 storm. The pictures are mostly of Brigantine, where we lived on 27th Street. There are some parts that show Maine Avenue and Gardner's Basin in Atlantic City. My father wouldn't leave the island, so we were in Brigantine throughout the storm. The water from the ocean and bay met right in front of our house on 27th Street at its peak. We had some water in the house, but were lucky that 27th Street is one of the higher parts of the island.
Bill Smith
Egg Harbor Township
Editor's note: Some highlights of this extraordinary video include damage scenes from the north end of Brigantine, the Brigantine Tourist Camp, Seahorse Pier, damage scenes of Brigantine Avenue looking north, Scheible Real Estate (destroyed), and an overturned Army personnel truck that was driven by Bill Smith's cousin, Joe Anastasi, a Brigantine police officer -- he was OK. Also shown are the Brigantine Island Diner, Hackney's in Atlantic City, C&H Float Marina, the lighthouse circle and the Jolly Roger Marina. Look for scenes at the height of a failed attempt to rescue a boat from the pounding surf. Watch closely and you will also see what is believed to be Bill Smith's mother, Catherine "Becky" Smith.

[@alankachin]

Your video brought back many memories of not only the storm but years living in Brigantine.I first lived with my family from 1953 at 856 West Shore Dr., I bought a home at 100 Putnam Place (4th St North) in 1965, owned a Restaurant across from the Seahorse Pier ( The Seafood House) 1967 and operated the Seahorse Pier in 1968. Thanks for the memories! I'm 70 now and so happy to see this video.

[@donnadidomenico5695]

wonderful footage! Brought back memories to my 91 year old mother! My parents built a house on revere blvd.... 2907 (i think). We still are coming down to brigantine every summer! I am 51 and never missed a summer down there! Brigantine Forever!

[@jimjohnson5273]

Amazing film. Right after that storm my grandfather had a house built on 8th street, right across from the church. He owned several lots and then another house on 17th Street and Brigantine ave. Both homes are still there. I remember as a kid certain styes of homes like that pink one in the film with the flat roof. Kinda funny seeing that phone booth. I love Brigantine

[@chuckcoxson4842]

I was a paper boy for the Atlantic City Press in March of 1962. I actually took refuge in the red boat shown about half way through the video, the house in the background belonged to my friend Bill Bachman. I will never forget that storm. I lived on 40th Street South and we did not get water in our house, but it came to within 2 house of our backyard.

[@multitieredinvestor5246]

Bill, none of us had any idea just how fantastic Brigantine was. I had it especially good as I was an AC Press photographer, also worked for Hess as Steel Piers photographer, photographed the Miss America Pageant for the Press and for Hess. Living 1/2 block from the ocean. Had a free pass to the AC racetrack. I lent it to the guys who worked in the composing room. Could park every where with the press pass.

[@billgale5568]

Multi tiered Investor .... that’s probably true Larry since in was all we knew but it was indeed fantastic...... I can’t imagine a better place to grow up than Brigantine and I probably had it even better than you did since I lived there from birth in 1935 until

[@billgale5568]

Multi tiered Investor .... meant to say from birth in 1935 until we moved to Florida in 1962 but I have made many month long trips back there in recent years and had a great time in the waterways in back and to the north of Brigantine.... the island is still nice but can’t compare to the one we had in the “good old days” .... (we would stay at the La Samana) ... pretty nice although we often rented a condo by the month at “brigadune condominiums” right on the beach.

[@Sdotmurr]

Great footage. Thx for uploading

[@multitieredinvestor183]

Lived on 31st during that storm. I was working in AC when storm hit and the bridge was closed. Had to spend the night sleeping with best friend and his girl friend in AC. Was a photographer and took damage photos which I sold booklets of 20 photos for $5.00. Do not remember where I put my copy.

[@billgale5568]

Larry Letzer ..... Larry ... Bill Gale here ...remember you well .... I married Myra Rotellini and we have lived in Florida for past 56 years ... married 60 years this coming October ..... I was in our bayshore Blvd house through that storm and remember it well.

[@multitieredinvestor5246]

Bill Gale Thanks for answering. I married a girl from Pleasantville and we will celebrate our 56th in October. I spoke to Bob a couple years ago. How is he doing?

[@billgale5568]

Multi tiered Investor .... Bob is doing pretty well... he had some health issues but seems ok now. ... Bob is 2 years and 8 months younger than me ... I’ll be 83 next month (May 23rd) but am in perfect health. Brigantine was the best place ever to live in the years I lived there (1935 to 1962) and Atlantic City was great too.

[@multitieredinvestor5246]

Bill Gale That is great news! Glad Bob is doing well. I am nearly 80 and still ride my motorcycle daily. Passed the FAA flight physical last year. However, I tell the VA otherwise.

[@billgale5568]

Multi tiered Investor .... what’s your name ??? I probably won’t know you but ... maybe ??? I was in the Brigantine PS 1 class of 1948 with Jackie Rosenbaum, Lee Harp, Russell Holst, Sellers Walton, Anna Lea Ernest, Dorothy Gans and Dare Aucott, ... a great bunch of classmates ...... I was only 4 years and 3 months old when I started kindergarten..... always the youngest one in my class. I had an absolutely WONDERFUL time “growing up in Brigantine” ..... it was a Kids PARADISE.

[@josephcoop]

BTW, thanks for the great video

[@Jeannie111523]

Looks worse then post Sandy. Was it a hurricane?

[@kfer829]

it was a Noreaster that stalled off the coast. I lived in OC during storm. Was there thru it.

[@billgale5568]

Jeannie111523 .... no, it was a “northeaster” .... I also lived in Brigantine through the hurricane of 1938 (3 years old) and the hurricane of 1944 (9 years old ... took out the Brigantine bridge) and I think the March of 1962 storm was worse than either hurricane but the island was much more sparsely populated in those years

[@billgallagher5654]

@@billgale5568 We had a bungalow on south 5th st for yrs. spent all My grade school yrs there played baseball for the sweet-shop + junior life guard all that changed in the 62 storm back to Philly

[@josephcoop]

Bill, I have an old house 2 blocks from 27th. Is it possible you have footage/pictures or other parts of the island from any other time period not just the storm?

[@billgale5568]

Joe Cooper .... yes, a few ... send your e mail address to [e-mail] and I’ll send them