The Chappetto brothers in front of their Mastic Beach bungalow in 1960: front, Richie, left, and Tom; back, Raymond, left, Charlie and Lou.
It all began on Memorial Day in the year 1950 when my parents put down a deposit of $50 on a beautiful bungalow in Mastic Beach. It seemed like an enormous amount of money to spend on a house, but compared to today’s standards, $3800 was dirt cheap for a summer get-a-way place. There were four boys in the family at that time, with the fifth boy to be born one year later. Well, this purchase turned out to be the best investment our family ever made! Through the 1950s, 60s, and 70s, we were regular summer residents of 24 Lakeview Drive with loads of food, weekend visitors, trips to the beach, and memories galore!
Getting to Mastic Beach in the early days from our home in Astoria, Queens was no easy task. Taking roads like the Grand Central Parkway, the Northern State Parkway, Motor Parkway, Vanderbilt Parkway, Farm and Market Road, and the Sunrise Highway were our circuitous route to arrive at our wonderful summer escape. The Long Island Expressway was a most welcome addition to our travel experience. As some may recall, the LIE was built in stages from 1940 to 1972, and our family welcomed each new stage, lessening the travel time to our “home away from home.”
As time went on, it became necessary for me and my brothers to find work during the summer, if we were going to be able to have the luxury of being in the “country house,” as we called it. My Dad inquired if there might be any summer jobs with the Mastic Beach Property Owners Association, of which we were members. Beach Guards were needed for the four private beaches that the MBPOA owned. For myself and two of my brothers, Tom, and Richie, it was the anchor that kept us in Mastic Beach for those teenage years.
My days on the beach gave me a wonderful opportunity to enjoy the company of the beach goers, the time to appreciate the beauty of the Moriches Bay, and loads of time for reflection, especially when I was alone at the post. I often wondered if I could be doing something other than raking the seaweed and soaking up the rays. I wondered if the local Catholic Church might have any jobs available.
An answer to prayer came at the end of summer 1966 when the Pastor of St. Jude Church invited me and my brother, Tom, to run a Vacation Center the following summer. It was a dream come true! Working with adult and teen volunteers and the many participating children gave us a way to use our time and talents and give the local community kids something to do besides hanging around and annoying their parents. Between 150-200 children participated in an eight-week program that included Bible Study, sports, games, arts and crafts, music, movies, and even field trips to local sights with the most memorable being, trips to baseball games at Yankee Stadium and Shea Stadium. For four summers (1967-1970), our summer job was truly a “labor of love.” We enjoyed planning and preparing the camp schedule and supervising the activities. We charged a modest fee of $2 per week per child with discount rates for siblings. People donated snacks and we gave the children a wholesome experience. It was the “talk of the town.” We loved every minute of it!
After my parents died in 1978, we kept the house for fourteen more years. But we used it less and less. We all had our “real jobs” and life moved on. But those beautiful memories of summers in Mastic Beach will never fade. They were special days, not to be forgotten. Returning to Mastic Beach in early August to celebrate the 75th Anniversary of St. Jude Parish made the memories come alive and seem like yesterday!
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