This is a photo of Crystal Beach looking toward the Pier. You will notice that there was a side walk running parallel to the lake and in front of the beachside cottages.
This is Crystal Beach circa 1910s. You can see in the background a large sign that reads "Notice To Bathers" and at the bottom there is a reference to Mentholatum which had facilities on both sides of the river.
This is another color postcard showing Crystal Beach sometime in the World War I era. You will notice most of the women depicted have long neck to ankle dresses showing the modesty of the time. Another interesting situation is that all four of the national flags shown seem to be American.
A group of Crystal Beach lifeguards in the 1960s.
At the 2008 after race party at the Palmwood.
These lovely ladies from 1910 are Kathryn Lawrence(top),Sophia Zink(bottom left)and Florence Dixon(bottom right).Kathryn lived on Alexandra here in Crystal Beach during the summers. Many may remember her as the woman who owned and ran the very popular Kathryn Lawrence Tea Room in downtown Buffalo.
Sophia Zink and her son Oliver J. on the beach in 1915. Notice the outfits of the people standing on the boardwalk in the background. Sophia was a long time resident of Maplewood Ave. where her relatives still live today.
This photo was taken on July 10, 1914 on Crystal Beach in front of the original pier. The outfits seem to indicate they may have worked in some capacity in the park or in one of the nearby hotels.
This advertisement appeared in one of the local papers promoting the opening of Crystal Beach in 1933.
Pat Zink and Jim Watt on the beach in 1943. They met at the beach, had their first date in the Crystal Beach ballroom and were married in 1945 when Jim returned from Japan after WWII.
Creating the Amusement Park
These photos were taken in 1922 of workers building the new amusement park in Crystal Beach. You can see that part of the sand hill had to be cut away to allow enough room for all the rides and buildings that were to be added.
It is movie night on Oakwood Ave.