Haven’t you ever wondered how Silver Beach got its name? It is a neighborhood in the Bronx. Silver Beach sits on a bluff along the southern shore of Throggs Neck. The beach got its name from the color of the beach at low tide.
Let’s dive into the history of this unique area. The land was used as a lookout during the American Revolution. Imagine soldiers standing guard watching for any sign of the enemy.
In 1795 the Stephenson family sold their farm to Abijah Hammond. Hammond built a large mansion. Later this mansion became the offices of the Silver Beach Garden Corporation.
Fast forward to the 1920s. The Peters and Sorgenfrel families formed Silver Beach Garden. It was a summer colony of bungalows. These bungalows were later adapted for year-round use. Many streets were named for flowers and trees found on the Hammond estate.
Residents owned their houses. However they rented the land. Later they joined together to buy the land. In the mid-1990s, there were 350 small houses along narrow lanes.
Growing up in Silver Beach was special for many children. World War II was being fought during their early years. They played a game called soldiers. Sticks became rifles. Falling down dead after being shot was an art form. The tides brought debris from torpedoed ships. Oil-slicked life rafts became boats. Emergency food containers of malted milk balls became treats.
A half-mile east of Silver Beach is Fort Schuyler. It is home to the New York State Maritime College. The fort was built after the War of 1812. It protected New York City from a British naval attack. Some kids snuck into the fort. They explored the firing range. They picked up shell casings. They dug out lead for slingshots. They explored the fort’s tunnels and dungeons.
During the Civil War, the fort held Confederate prisoners. It also housed military convicts. It even had a hospital with 2,000 beds.
One kid named Sammy Gandelman knew all the fort’s secrets. He led his friends through long-forgotten dungeons. They explored fortifications lined with railroad tracks. These tracks once transported ammo. The original cannons were never fired in anger. Sammy showed his friends a couple of cannons hidden behind debris. He also showed them a pile of rusted cannon balls.
One day Sammy made a Molotov Cocktail. He threw it at a wall in a tunnel. A ball of flaming gasoline erupted. Everyone ran gasping for breath. It was then they stopped playing soldiers. They embarked on the safer pursuit of girls.
Later some of the kids became Marines. They spent time at the fort. By then all the tunnels and dungeons were cemented over.
Many years later one of them visited the fort. He watched his son graduate from the Maritime College. Sadly his son never explored the tunnels and dungeons. They were buried deep beneath the modern structures.
Today Silver Beach is a picturesque neighborhood. It offers waterfront views. Pelham Bay Park is nearby. It provides opportunities for outdoor activities. Silver Beach has a strong sense of community. It is a sought-after destination in the Bronx.