Annadale/Barat Beach Surf

Surf breaking on Annadale beach, at the end of Poillon Avenue, on Raritan Bay, in front of the old Barat Hotel (later Beachcomber Tavern). Dorothy Day owned a bungalow right here in the late 1950s through early 1960s and retreated to it often to rest, write, see people, collect specimens and shells at low tide, and bathe in the water. The bungalow was used for hospitality to others in her absence. My family lived in the other bungalow owned by the Catholic Worker and we kids spent many happy hours in the water. (Background sound: There was a Beachcomber Reunion party going on the day the video was shot. It was the occasion of my revisiting this beach, for which opportunity I am forever grateful.)

Category:

Travel & Events

Tags:

• Staten Island
• Annadale
• Poillon Avenue
• Raritan Bay
• Dorothy Day
• Beachcomber

[UTJosie]

Hi, cocobee. Your family must have stayed in one of the later bungalows, not far from where this video was shot--on the other side of "the point," that spit of land you see where the camera has finished panning left. Those bungalows were more primitive than the ones at the end of Poillon Avenue, but they were perched on a bluff with a great view of the bay and the shore and were owned by the "association" of an interesting community known as Spanish Camp.

[cocobee68]

I think I stayed at one of those bungalows for a few days once in the early 70's with my mom and brother. My parents were involved in the CW community since before I was born and Dorothy was a close family friend.