THE DEAD END OF 49TH STREET BLOCK PARTY

submitted by Joe Reynolds
Sunday Afternoon April 2, 2006 was the date for the 15^th neighborhood party on 49^th   Street adjacent to the Shoal Creek Dam. The party is a place to socialize with many of the people you meet while walking. You learn their names [they become Chris, not “the slow Shelty”] and where they live. There’s food, drinks, music, games. A contact list is distributed so you can remember those names and find that person you were talking to about compost. Kids get to know each other, not just adults. This was the 15^th year, with the largest attendance, 150 or more. Music was by DJ Jahkarma.

An informal committee of folks who live close to the Strass –49^th St intersection organizes things. This year Jackie and David Stence [ the party’s held in the street next to their house and all over their lawn] , Kelly and Sam Terry, Amy Wood and Todd Shaw, Monica and Geoff Mueller, Becky and Steve Reedy were the committee. Geoff Mueller and Joe Reynolds were the Burger Chefs. A small donation is solicited in the flyer announcing the date, to cover the burgers / dogs / BocaBurgers / drinks and paper goods. The rest of the spread is ‘Bring to Share’ and the sharing is spectacular.

Attendance is from many of the streets in the south of Allandale; mostly Strass, 49^th, 491/2^th, Pembrook, Rue, Finley, Fiset, but also Chiappero, Oakmont, Shoalwood, Fresco, and Turnabout.

This year Doris Arp was given a Plaque as the first recipient of a new annual award for neighborhood service named in her honor. Doris is one of the remaining ‘original owners’ who have lived in their houses since they were built in the 1950s. During her walks she collects litter and dispenses cheer.

The party was started by Dale Hersch who lived on Strass two houses from 49th, with help from David and Jackie Stence. Dale approached the Stence with the idea of a neighborhood gathering and wanted their OK since they would be impacted by the obvious place, the dead-end of 49^th where it encounters Shoal Creek, just by the dam. The first few years the party was small, open but not widely publicized. Dale organized and funded it several years during August. Dale told various stories about why he held the party. It may have been his Birthday, maybe not. Dale is a pilot for American Airlines and transferred to Miami. [He flies to Brazil and is now infamous for an incident involving visa photographs.] After Dale moved several neighbors decided to keep the party tradition and several more were held in August. The summer heat and conflict with vacations got the date moved to the Spring.

Click here to view more photos of the party.