The "Faces of Strangers: #51" Story

Front of Clarke's Sunset Market in Stone Harbor, New Jersey.

It was an ordinary day.  Stopped in Clarke's Sunset Market on Third Street in Stone Harbor, New Jersey with my brother Steve to buy some groceries for the evening meal.  As we walked around the small grocery store I found a few items near the deli counter that interested me.  There on a shelf to the rear of the deli counter was a deep-sea diving helmet.  Wow, what a great piece of diving history.  I asked the clerk about it and she told me she would get the owner to help me.  

Charlie, store owner and metal shop teacher standing
in front of the diving helmet he has on display in his store.

Before long I was introduced to Charlie who owned and managed the store as well as loved anything nautical.  He told me all about the diving helmet and where he bought it and then directed me to a few other pieces of nautical equipment that were close by.  Sitting on the end of the deli counter was a light that looked as if it might have been on a ship or even a lighthouse.  

On the end of the deli counter sits this
great beacon light.  The base was made
by Charlie for display.

I examined it and said to Charlie, "Was this base that it sits on part of the original lamp?"  He replied, "No I made it myself to display the light.  I used to be a metal shop teacher."  Wow!  "The weld job you did around the base of the light is perfect," I said in return as he got a smile on his face.  Then I said, "I used to teach high school wood and metal shop myself before I ended up teaching graphics and photography."  Well, we spent the next fifteen minutes talking about where he taught and how he came to be the owner of the grocery store.  He had to pull up a few photos on his computer to show me of a shop built by a friend who now teaches woodworking to adults.  We could have spent another hour talking about teaching and his nautical collection, but I noticed my brother was in the checkout line.  Asked if I could take a few photos and after shaking his hand, headed out the door.  The older I get the more I realize how small a world we really really do live in.  Seems there is always someone around the next corner that I share a story or interest with and enjoy talking to.  Most times they are complete strangers!  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.

The label on the diving helmet says it was made by Schrader's in Brooklyn, NY in December of 1943.  Made primarily from copper and brass.  Inside was a speaker that was used for communication with the vessel above.

Another neat beacon light standing in the store.