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For our Catholic classmates:
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Photos
of the Fire in 1960
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St.
Anthony of Padua, the
Roman Catholic church commonly referred to as "The Shrine of St. Anthony,"
featured a chapel built
in 1928 35 feet underground. It was world
famous, probably the second most famous
Catholic church in the New York City metropolitan area (after St.
Patrick's Cathedral) and the most famous site ever in
our little
town
― even more famous
than Nathan's Roadside Rest.
According to Richie Woods,
author of
Oceanside (the book),
"It wasn't uncommon for 10,000 people to
pilgrimage there each weekend." |
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But on March 25, 1960, the underground chapel was tragically
destroyed by fire and was never rebuilt.
Of course, the fire was certainly no
joking matter, but forgive me, folks; I can't resist this:
The place
literally burned up
to the ground!!
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Photos
of the fire courtesy of the
Terrace Hose Co. #3, Oceanside Fire Department
www.terracehose3.org
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A brief
eyewitness account received from one of our classmates after she viewed these
photos:
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I
remember that day like it was yesterday. The smoke was chocolate brown,
and it blocked out the sky. What a shame.
― Nancy Keegan
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(Click
here to read the story published March 31, 1960, in
 .)
Copyright
© 2001, 2007, 2011 by Howard B. Levy and
1960 Sailors Association Inc. All rights reserved.
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