Then and Now: Bob Starr’s Childhood in Wildwood

Oh sweet summertime. Ocean breezes, sandy beaches, bike rides, fishing, summer jobs. Oh and don’t forget about the ten cent movie tickets, or the one dollar airplane rides. You know, back in the 1930’s when Wildwood only had one red light. One red light, imagine that? In the childhood years of Bob Starr, spending his summers in North Wildwood and his winters in Florida with his Aunt and Uncle, “life was good”. Bob Starr, 82 years old and born in Collingsdale, Pennsylvania, is a current resident of North Wildwood (8th and Surf), and has spent every summer in North Wildwood since his early childhood. His summer home of almost 80 years, built by his grandparents, is located on 22nd and Surf, also known as “Undertaker’s row”. Why undertakers row you might ask? Well, here’s a fun fact for ya. Starr’s Uncle Jim was a casket manufacture in Philadelphia, and it just so happened that every house on that street, with the exception of one, were owned by casket manufacturers as well. So there you have it: Undertaker’s Row. This home on “Undertaker’s Row” was in the Starr family since 1924, up until about five years ago, when it was sold to a new owner whom provided a generous offer for their family establishment. However, the memories that went hand-in-hand with their previous home, along with the summers spent there, were absolutely amazing. No one can put a price tag on that.

Starr had the privilege to grow up during the years of World War 2, in which he described as “unique”. Offshore in the Wildwood waters, silhouettes of the German ships could be spotted on a clear night with a full moon in the sky. Starr says him and one of his buddies used to lie on their bellies on the boardwalk, binoculars in hand, to watch the German ships in the ocean. In the 1900’s, an act like that was known as mischief. You were not allowed to be seen looking at the German ships, nor were you to hold any lights toward the ocean. During Starr’s childhood, blackout rules were enforced. Blackout shades were mandatory, streetlights and porch lights had to be kept off at all times, while anything with low lighting as small as a cigarette, had to be faced away from the ocean. Back then, in the time of war, the beaches were tar-filled and completely empty from the war-not exactly the suntanning, family hot spot that we see them as today. The modern family and friends’ crowd were replaced with the U.S. Coast Guard troops whom would patrol the beaches on horses, in Jeeps, and with dogs due to the wartime atmosphere. Starr recalls hearing the sounds of the torpedoes and the distant noises of operation drumbeat as he snuck on the boardwalk at night to catch a glimpse of history.

with World War 2 pertains to, in Starr’s words, “the monstrous thing”, known as the German airship, Hindenburg. One clear, May afternoon, as Starr was standing on the boardwalk, eyes glued to the sky, he remembers seeing the back shutter of the German airship as it was flying towards Lakehurst, a little after 5 PM. He stole a glance at the black swastika emblem, painted on the red background of the ship and couldn’t believe his eyes. As the airship failed to land in Lakehurst at its first attempt, it turned around in Cape May, in the presence of Starr. The Hindenburg crashed later that day in Lakehurst, and Starr witnessed history first hand, once again.

Although Starr lived through the seriousness of history in his double-digit years, he was able to be a kid just as often. In the summers of his youth, there was a place designated for kids his age on 26th street, known as, “Funchase”. For just twenty-five cents, kids could spend the entire day there and entertain themselves with slides, rides, and carousels. “Anything a kid could imagine was there-and all for just a quarter”, Starr explained, smiling. And my jealousy of Bob Starr’s childhood continues to rise...

Not only was Bob Starr one of the 1st people to live on 22nd and Surf, but he was also one of the 1st people to have an airplane ride in Wildwood. Impressive, huh? A man by the name of Bill James used to charge one hefty dollar for a fifteen to twenty minute plane ride around the island in his Wako by-plane that took off at low tide. Starr seemed to have set a trend with the locals because soon enough, the popularity of the plane rides rose, and so did the price! $2 was the new charge. Starr got away easy with that one

Bob Starr had his fun, but also kept very busy each year with a summer job. Ever since Starr was twelve years old he held a job consistently, up until this very day at 82 years old. He holds an impressive count of twenty years at his current job located at the boat ramp in North Wildwood on 5th Avenue and New York and still loves it day to day. Over the years he has worked for Dow Chemical (25 years), a wholesale milk company for his Uncle, Councilman (10 years), Director of Public Safety (5 years), Naval Reserve (14 years - he was also a Naval Lieutenant Commander), Commissioner of pilot (12 years), and also as a Lifeguard (2 years). He has always kept odd jobs on and off to keep busy and interacting with people. “I love being involved with people. I come here everyday and get to talk to these great people, they always stop in and say hello, bringing me things. I’m not much of a coffee drinker-a one cup kind of guy, but everyone likes to bring me coffee. It’s so nice of them, I can’t really say no”, Bob Starr says, speaking of his job at the boat ramp, still smiling.

Starr lived in an interesting time in Wildwood, before the tourists and crowds-when there were empty lots spread out among the island. Starr remembers during the 1930’s and 40’s when empty lots were occupied by camper’s who built a “tent city” of nearly 400 tents, which extended from 13-16th street-becoming their permanent residencies for the summer. With no running water! No running water? Boy, were they brave ...(and stinky!) The years on the Wildwood island of Bob Starr’s childhood were very relaxing and peaceful as he believes, “You never had to worry about locking up your bikes or your house, and it was just great. A great time to grow up”. With gravel roads, cars as a scarce commodity, and clubhouse memberships for $10 a year, I can easily believe it. To live in the early 1900’s, Starr was lucky-with college anyhow. Starr graduated from St. Joe’s University in Philadelphia- all expenses paid for. Although, compared to the cost of tuition today, $250 a semester and $500 for the entire year, he was one privileged college student. Hopefully my parents skip over this part of the article, or they would have a fit reading it!

Bob Starr says Wildwood was a “marvelous place to grow up”. After hearing his wonderful stories, I think we all can agree. Although Wildwood is not the same as it was 80 years ago, it is still an island filled with enthusiasm and happiness spread among the locals, tourists, and veterans of the town, including Bob Starr. Starr explains, “Some things change so much, it’s hard to go back to them. But I’m 82 years old and I believe I have lived a full life. I have lived to see my grandchildren and my great-grandchildren, and I come here everyday (referencing to boat ramp job), and I am greeted by wonderful people, I mean, there’s not much more to ask for.”

Ashley is a Journalism Major entering her junior year at Point Park University. She spent the summer of 2009 keeping busy with work at the Depot, friends, soccer, the beach, surfing and much more! She can’t wait to come back for another great season!