My Summer Mantel Display: The Jersey Shore, Vintage Style!

Well hello there! I am happy to be back on my blog again after a brief hiatus called SUMMER!

We were so busy with the store, vacations, summer camps, etc. Always a good thing! We even found time to go treasure hunting! (An even better thing, right, my vintage lovin' pals?)



With all of that behind me now I wanted to do a post on my summer mantel before I change it Mid-September.

 

This is my ode to the Jersey Shore. Not the Jersey shore you saw in a raunchy reality TV show, but the REAL Jersey shore I've known and loved. Born and raised in NJ plus doing a four and a half year stint working at a local TV station for the Atlantic City/Wildwood area, I grew to love my time spent there.

So, whenever I find vintage NJ beach themed items, I pick them up. I have sold some of my Ocean City, NJ things but to tell you the truth, those are hard to come by.

I love mixing old aqua glass bottles with shells, books, etc.
 

This year I decided to also add in my Philadelphia Magazine pictures. I do think these are original covers that were mounted on foam core.

I love them and barely take them out of my office for fear of damaging one as they are dated 1910.

If I ever get a beach house, these will be framed and used for wall décor.

I also thought this little "beach chair" was too cute and had to be added to my vignette. The plate and vase souvenirs made out of china are fun to collect and are perfect for my mantel.

I love the deep navy blue of this pitcher.
I also get a kick out of the caption:
"Bathing in front of the big hotels."

Is that what we are doing? Bathing?
But then, I remember... we are wearing
bathing suits.



This is a close up of a small portion of a vintage painting... it sits below the mantel on top of the fireplace insert.

Hope you enjoyed my "little tour" of the mantel... stop by and say hi if you have a chance, I've missed chatting with all of you!

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While all of the souvenirs in this post are from Atlantic City, here are a couple of other posts I've written about Ocean City, NJ ... just click here and here. 

And while you're at it, you might enjoy this poem by Ogden Nash, titled Seaside Serenade. I wrote a post about it.... Just click here.

Let's Talk Vintage #74: New Jersey's Batsto Village

 

Welcome to Let's Talk Vintage!

 

This is where the party is...

if you love old stuff.

 

Today I am sharing our family

trip to New Jersey where we

met up with my Dad. We

usually try to find something

fun to do. A place to explore,

a place where we can learn

something. It's just what we 

like to do, when we visit (who

Bebe calls) "Pop Pop!"

 

 

So, over the weekend we took

Pop Pop to Batsto Village,

which had it's beginnings

around 1766.

 

 

It is a place that takes you back

in time...when you walk through

the village and go into the

restored buildings.

 

Batsto began during an era

of iron ore and glass making.

 

Homes were made for the

people to live in and other

buildings were created:

 

Gristmill

Sawmill

Blacksmith

Wheelwright

 

Batso played a vital role during

times of war...(remember the iron 

making ability.) Cannon balls

and other military items were

supplied to the Continental Army

during the American Revolution.

 

 

The workers of the village were

paid in "Batsto Money."

 

Which could only be used in...

the General store, etc. 

(Photo courtesy of the Batso website)

The General Store was open

six days a week. 

 

There was some definite eye candy...

 

 

Lots to see to get a glimpse of what life

was like back then.

 

 

Love these old display cases.

 

 

 

Just look at these awesome bins!

Mirrored fronts!

 

Look at this early mannequin!

 

 

In the center of it all was the

mansion, where the owners lived.

 

It is quite a vision.

Very different from where the

workers lived.

 

 

It was owned by the Richards Family,

then Joseph Wharton,

of Wharton's Business School

of Philadelphia.

 

He added the tall tower

and made some other

changes.

 

 

The entry fee for Batso is free,

as it is owned by the state of NJ,

but specially guided tours of

the mansion were by ticket only.

($3.00 for adults)

 

Unfortunately, I was not

allowed to take pictures.

 

(This is Bebe trying to get a peek before the tour started.
Look how large the windows are.)

 

I was so disappointed because there

were some neat things I would

have LOVED to have shown you.

 

But there was also a walk-thru tour

inside the Visitor's Center.

 

 

That's where we saw several

displays with amazing antiques.

 

 

I was happy to see that I

 have a set of sock stretchers

just like the ones in this case.

The pair above is mine, which

are small, for a child.

 

Since this post is going on

awhile, I'm only going to show

one more thing... part of the

glass making display.

 

 

This "End of Day" glass

chain was so neat!

Where they used the last of 

the glass  on this piece.

 

And that brings me to the end

my fun afternoon at Batsto Village

in New Jersey!

 

Can you tell I like old stuff

and the history behind it? 

 

************** 

 

Now for this week's features:

Brooke of Creative Country Mom
Check out her wreath
project... using vintage lace!

Penny of Penny's Vintage Home
set up an adorable Alice in Wonderland
Tea Party for her Granddaughter.
So sweet!

Kelly at  Homespuns & Hayfields shared a craft room sneak peek.  We all love those! She's off to a great start with these wonderful cabinets.

Wanda of Victorian 1885
shared her spring deck and patio
area of her new home on the island
...in a rain forest! Love the
window on the garden shed.

Dianne of Deanie's Stash made over
this vintage suitcase... if it's
pink then I'll probably feature it!

and Stacey at The Farmhouse
in the Field shared how she 
hand painted this $5 chair.
Her tips and advice were great!

Thanks to all who stopped
by to link up and to those
who follow along each week!
 

 

If you were featured, be sure to grab

this Let's Talk Vintage Graphic

for your blog side bar or for your post.

 

 

Now it's your turn:

 

 

An InLinkz Link-up