By Krystle J Bailey
Since 1997, the Chicken Bone Beach Historical Foundation has been dedicated to preserving the rich history of jazz in Atlantic City. The stories and never-before-seen photographs of the iconic beach where Sammy Davis Jr. and Martin Luther King Jr. once came to relax can now be enjoyed in the new book Chicken Bone Beach.
Curated by Atlantic City legend Henrietta W. Shelton and Dr. Ronald J. Stephens, Professor of African American Studies at Purdue University, the book chronicles decades of history in Atlantic City.
During the time of segregation, African American beachgoers were limited to the Missouri Avenue section of the beach, which came to be known as “Chicken Bone Beach.” As the buzz grew, local families and celebrities alike flocked to the water.
From the early 1900s through the mid-1960s, this beach was a hot spot but not the only place where Atlantic City history was unfolding. Away from the ocean, between Mississippi and Missouri Avenues, the sounds of jazz echoed from the former Club Harlem, and the electricity of Kentucky Avenue could be felt for miles.
Co-author Dr. Ronald J. Stephens approached Ms. Henrietta W. Shelton two years ago with the idea of producing a book that would chronicle these stories and more. Shelton, who started the Chicken Bone Beach Historical Foundation, was happy to lend her experiences in order to bring this book to life.
Images of the first hotels on the North Side and Easter Parades of beautiful black and brown families grace the pages of Chicken Bone Beach. With in-depth captions under each photo, readers are guided through a piece of Atlantic City history that often gets left untold.
Chicken Bone Beach is a visual contribution to American and local history. Memorable moments include the installation of Pop Lloyd Stadium in 1949 and images of heavyweight champion Joe Luis on vacation. The stories go on to include the founding of the Chicken Bone Beach Historical Foundation, a visit from the NAACP, and the opening of the Chicken Bone Beach Jazz Institute.
“It opens up a perspective about American history that is sort of missing in the historiography,” explained Dr. Stephens. “It explains to people that there is a piece of American history that is ignored, denied, and dismissed. This book informs, educates, and gives readers a broader perspective on what it means to be an American.”
After two years of collecting photos and sharing the associated stories, with the help of Atlantic City Library Historian Heather Perez, Chicken Bone Beach was officially published on April 24th by Arcadia Publishing.
“Not only are you learning about the people that came to the beach from 1900-1964, but you learn about the North Side, the streets, business owners, and millionaires,” expressed Stephens. “You learn about some of the inventors like Madame Sarah Spencer Washington and the Apex Empire and ownership of the golf club.”
Henrietta W. Shelton’s lived experiences and photo captions bring the stories to life in a new and exciting way for those inspired by the history of Atlantic City.
For more information, visit www.ChickenBoneBeach.org, and be sure to grab your copy of Chicken Bone Beach.
