Paul Goldfinger © Sandy Hook. Re-posted from 2012. Click to enlarge.
ROY ORBISON “Beautiful Dreamer” by Stephen Foster (1864)
“Beautiful dreamer,
Wake unto me
Starlight and dewdrops
Are awaiting thee
“Sounds of the rude world
Heard in the day
Led by the moonlight
Have all passed away”
One of my fondest childhood memories was a weekend camping trip I took with my Boy Scout troop to the end of Sandy Hook. Located there were two large installations built during WW II that housed the 16″ guns designed to defend New York Harbour. The guns had been removed, as well as all interior furnishings, machinery, etc. What was left was a set of underground tunnels through each of the two hills built to hold/conceal/defend the guns. The tunnels were long, multi-level, and completely unlit. The Scouts explored these installation, played war, and generally had a blast.
I was sad to hear a few years ago that the gun installations had been completely removed and the hills razed. Unfortunately, no Scouts will ever again be able to have the fun we had exploring a curious piece of American history. This is yet another example of our society’s irrational pursuit of a risk free life. Ease up folks and have some fun…..