Don't park on Ocean Avenue in 1940, Asbury Park, New Jersey


As I was looking at this photo from 1940 at the Duke University website, I couldn't help but notice that there seemed to be a lot of "no parking" instructions.


By the way, we're looking north on Ocean Avenue right where Asbury Avenue does the curve, in Asbury Park, New Jersey, and the first thing you see in the middle of the road is "No Center Parking", and then just to be sure you get it, it's written on the street as "Dont Park" (or is it Park Dont?). I've never parked in the middle of a street, but I've seen old photos with cars there, so it must have been a thing.

It looks like there are parking meters over on one side of the street (next to the lady who's walking), and my best guess about this is that parking by the ocean has always been crowded, and difficult. By the way, check out those great old cars! If you recognize what they are, please tell me, and I'll update the post. And there's the Colonial Cafe, where the Stone Pony is nowadays.


No, I've never been to Asbury Park, or even to New Jersey, and not even to the East Coast, but I've got Google Street View, and with the exact location of the Colonial Cafe (1st Avenue and Ocean) that I got today from my top history adventurer, I can go take a look.



Looks like they've worked out their parking problems, and there are even a couple of old buildings still there. How about that!

Thank you for visiting Asbury Park in 1940 with me! Be careful where you park!
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