Traditionally, things slow down here at Bodholt's in the summer. We're averaging less than 600 page views a day as opposed to almost 1,000 during the rest of the year. But I guess that's good, because it's a bonus to get away for a while. But bring your sunblock.

On hot summer days we used to get on our bikes (I usually had to borrow one) and pedal all over the place. A favorite destination was Two Guys over in Kearny. Or was it Harrison? Or more often we'd hop the subway for a cool ride downtown, where we'd fool around for a couple hours (department stores, the Museum, etc.), then ride back, usually in time for supper. After that, of course, we'd be back out enjoying the cool evening. Seems to me kids don't hang out as much as we used to.

I loved going to the Newark Museum in tne Summer when I was a kid. The 22 bus would drop me off there and I spent entire days just keeping cool and finding something to do (with empty pockets). My favorite feature was the Planeterium, then onto the Youth area where, at certain times in the afternoon, we were treated to a free Science show. Another great "prize" was winning any rocks or crystal quartz that you could name. What a great way to spend a Summer Day!

Does anyone remember in the basement of the Newark Museum there were boards on the wall which you had a crank that you would turn and the crank would move gears,levers and pulleys that would move in mysterious and counterintuitive ways? For some reason these boards fascinated me and I was always reluctant to leave the room.

Gene Burke (60)

Yes, I do remember that room, Gene. Also there was a small, darkened gallery room where black lights and stuff were demonstrated. And Pat is right about the planetarium -- it was fantastic. But back then I didn't fully appreciate it; I thought every city had a museum (and a cool subway and a nice park).

I have to say sometimes I wonder if I really did grow up in Newark, the very same place you all talk about. I never remember anything you speak of. My parents, especially my mom, kept us in our own back yard all summer. We were lucky to have a tiny little 15 foot round above ground pool while our neighbors all had much larger ones but ours served the purpose. Kept us cool and I had lots of fun. I never even made it to Bodholts, believe that? At least I don't remember going there. I do remember Grunnings though. I was allowed to go ice skating in branch brook park rink three times a week all winter though, and walked no less....go figure......wish I could share more of you memories!

I, too, have fond memories of the Newark museum. My father used to drop us off there for special programs on Saturday morning, and then pick us up on West Market Street, where we usually could be found climbing all over Gutzan Borglun's statue of Abe Lincoln. In May of this year, when I went down to SRL for the 8th grade luncheon, I brought my older son Peter with me. After the lunch, we drove downtown and went to the Museum. I probably had not been there in over 40 years, but it was still great: The Ballantine mansion was a new exhibit, but I swear that some of the Native American artifacts were the same ones I had seen back in the 50's! If we had more time (we had to drive back to central CT), I would also have taken my son to the Newark Library, another place of happy memories, although I didn't spend a lot of time there until I was in high school. My younger days and my childish literary ambitions were well-satisfied at the East Orange Library.
But in the good old summertime, we also spent almost every day at the East Orange Oval, which was practically in my backyard. We made lanyards, learned baton-twirling, practiced skits, learned about healthy eating from the Health Department nutritionist who asked blindfolded volunteers to identify various raw vegetables. (I never did well on that; I knew peas,corn,carrots, and string beans. Period) There were best-dressed doll contests, decorated baby carriage contests, and at the end of each summer there was a revue of sorts, in which all the kids who had spent every day at the park strutted their stuff and entertained the masses (or at least our families.) It was wonderful...