The wind was chilly, so we bundled up and decided to bike along Sandy Hook to a place called Fort Hancock. With the Raritan Bay on one side and the Atlantic Ocean on the other, it was quite blustery, but the kite surfers were making the most of it... I wonder if we could just strap a kite to the bikes... I know the hubby complains about the extra weight of the kiddies...
Anyhoo, riding around these beautiful old buildings, my heart was saddened by their state of disrepair. The Fort was originally set up in 1899 and included 18 Georgian Revival-style homes for officers and their families.
These beautiful houses have spectacular waterfront views and the sunsets along this six mile sand bar peninsula are amazing... and yet here they are crumbling... the beautiful grand doorways decaying... such a shame that these buildings can't be put to some good use.
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| This building, once the officers house, is open to the public as a museum. |
One can but hope, though... reading in the local paper the other day, there were talks about potential uses for these grand homes, so as I rode around with the hubby and the girls, we chatted about what we would love to see them transformed into... restaurants, shops, cafes, guest houses... to see these derelict houses, once again bustling with people... but, this time around, filled with the vibrance of life and not the ominous threat of war...
Wishing you all a great start to the week!
Lx
Those houses are amazing - especially in that setting. Hope they can be developed, as you suggest - such a waste otherwise. Have a good week! Abby x
ReplyDeleteHi Laura
ReplyDeleteIt is lovely to see the area which you live in - What a shame those beautiful buildings are going into disrepair, and what a lovely place they are located in. It was lovely here on Sunday also lets hope the rest of the week is the same.
Jillxx
What amazing buildings, i would love to live in one with the views they have. I hope they don't crumble too much more before anything is done with them. Have a great week.
ReplyDeleteBee happy x
Have a delicious day!
Yes, it is a shame indeed. They have so much potential, it's amazing! Over here places like those are developed in town after town, into unbelievably expensive apartments and houses. But also restaurants and cafés!
ReplyDeleteLooks like a perfect day for a bike ride. I'd be your neighbor in one of those homes!
ReplyDeletexo Cathy
It's so funny that I've lived in this neighborhood for 30 years and it takes a English/British young woman to show me the sites in my backyard. Thanks Laura :)
ReplyDeletehello lovely gal...
ReplyDeletei truly cannot believe that these incredible houses are a bike ride from your magic place!!
imagine getting your hands on one...is there a community around them...what if you bought one...is that big dream possible- would you be the only ones there...would you want to live there?
i am plotting a visit to the states...i have my 12 year old super keen on NY city...you may have a baby sitter for us all to go to your local fave haunt if i play my cards right!!
melissa xxx
I love your photographs - you showcasing them here gave them a little love they were looking for :) Looks like a great day! XOL
ReplyDeleteThe fort in our area
ReplyDeleteis also crumbling, but
there has been a ground-
swell to begin bringing
it back to life. A
brilliant example of this
is Fort Vancouver, in
Washington State ~ The
Officer's Row there is
really well-tended {lucky
renters live in most of
them, drawn by lottery}.
Inside the fort walls, all
the old buildings are in
pristine condition: the
blacksmith, the jail, the
doctor's house, etc. Wish
our snow was gone as I
cannot wait to get the bikes
out. Have a wonderful week,
Laura!
xx Suzanne
That was a nice little tour around your neighborhood Laura. What a waste of such beautiful buildings...it looks like it could be a great spot to eat and stroll around if someone developed it. Robx
ReplyDeleteLooks like you had a great day soaking up that sunshine! You're photos capture everything so beautifully - Melissa xx
ReplyDeleteHi Laura,
ReplyDeleteIndeed, what a shame not to use them! Hopefully your wishes about them will come true, it would attract a lot of people, again, to the area right? Thanks for the share!
(sigh, it's cold at your side too, but at least you have the ocean...I think I might have ocean envy...)
Maureen xx