There aren’t many companies whose employees pass the burial site of the founder but Cavalier Boatworks is one such company. The plaque by the headstone tells the story.
Archive for the ‘Ocean’ Category
21 Aug
Abandoned on the Mullica River
I recently came across this non descript trio of houses on the banks of Mullica River. In Lower Bank these houses have sat for I am guessing two decades or more, judging by debris I found in the building. The buildings are in really bad shape but have been left alone by people. I saw no signs of vandalism or destruction, not even evidence of kids drinking and smoking pot. All I saw the decay of time. Built on sand, literally on the sand with no foundation, these houses built yards from the Mullica River were destined to meet a fate like this.
26 Dec
Sandy wipes out the LBI wreck
The LBI wreck was a small house of some sort that greeted people as they crossed onto LBI via the Route 72 bridge. I don’t really know anything about it, seems like no one does. Just an old abandoned shack. Sadly this fixture is no longer around, washed away, destroyed by the winds and storm surge of Sandy.These are photos of the LBI wreck before it was washed away.
20 Jan
The Plywood House
The Plywood House was built by a Architect Gamal El-Zoghby, an Egyptian man learned in astronomy, mathematics, philosophy and art, all of which were incorporated into his dream-house design. The house was sheathed in unpainted plywood and covered with several coats of special preservative or varnish to protect it from the sea spray and cold winters. Built in the late 90’s the design gives one the impression that it is unfinished, which was as intentional as the other design elements. The house is aligned precisely on eographic east-west and astronomical alignments. As in an ancient monument, two windows are positioned to capture the sunrise and sunset at the spring and autumn equinoxes. Unfortunately Mr El-Zoghby did not always appreciate the attention he receives and hated the nickname “the Plywood house”. The houses true name was the “The Parousium” from the Greek word “parousia,” meaning “presence or appearance.” I had visited the house many years ago and the owner was uninterested in discussing his home. Apparently he was tired of explaining the design to gawkers, passerbys and photographers….
The house and it’s owner were in the news today when a fire broke out. Firemen broke thru the walls with axes to get at various empty pockets of wall space. While doing this, child porn fell from between the walls and El-Zoghby was arrested as a result.
16 Jul
Beaches closed for a 2nd day in Seaside after shark sightngs
Although shark sightngs aren’t unusual in Jersey waters, the close proximity to the shore, as well as the catch and release of a large shark off Masschusetts led town officials to close Seaside beaches for a 2nd day in a row. Although it sucks that people couldn’t go in the water during the tail end of a brutal heat wave, it was the prudent thing to do. With all the beach goers unable to go in the water it probably caused them to spend more on the boardwalk anyway.
What many people probably don’t know is that shark attacks in 1916 were the inspiration for the Peter Benchley novel Jaws. [more info] The attacks lasted 12 days, 4 people died and another was seriously injured. It inspired many fisherman to head to sea to try to find and kill the shark that was responsible (though they never caught it). The hysteria caused by the event are excellently recreated in Benchleys novel, which was later made into a blockbuster movie and a shitty Universal Studios attraction.
An excellent book on the subject is Twelve Days of terror which recounts the story and really does an excellent job of setting the scene. it also features excellent analysis and investigation by the author and makes a fascinating read.
The Lostinjersey Blog 