This particular photo was discovered in the Stone Harbor Museum archives and records indicate it was taken on July 4, 1911. This image depicts a very large number of contestants, each with identifying a bib number showing they were properly registered and participating in what was becoming quite popular, “marathon” or distance racing. In fact such competitive races were so popular that they were conducted on a weekly basis at Stone Harbor during the Summer of 1911. While it should not surprise us, close inspection of this image reveals that the contestants were all male runners. Female runners had not yet become part of that culture and would not do so until many years later when the Amateur Athletic Union dropped its ban and allowed women to register for running marathons in 1961. The AAU was a governing multi-sport organization founded in 1888 for the purpose of promoting and regulating amateur sports. Like so many photo images that reside in the Stone Harbor Museum, here is yet another example of a photo becoming the basis for the publishing and issuance of yet another picture post card.
Here is that same photo as illustrated earlier only featured in this case in the format of a vintage picture post card. This view was taken at the beginning of a race on First Avenue at the 82nd or 83rd Street area. The caption on this postal item suitable for mailing states the following: “Start of the great beach Fourth of July marathon run, Gala Week, Stone Harbor, 1911”. Such post cards, and this is just one of many, became very suitable messengers and countless little couriers for communicating the greatness of the fledgling Stone Harbor resort. The Risley brothers were masters of advertising, promoting and advancing their “New” Stone Harbor using such mailable picture post cards and one can easily imagine that these little missives were quite effective in “spreading the word” and “getting the message across” to many people. According to my friend and long-time Stone Harbor resident Graham Hueber, the large cottage in the background is still standing. Furthermore, annual running races and fundraising walks for all sorts of causes are regularly offered today and assuredly are open for all to participate.