Photos that reveal some of the ways New Jerseyans have had fun during the dog days of summer.
When my wife and I shopped for houses in the early 1990s, we were shown many properties. But the parcel that made us look at one another and say "this is it" was the one that had a stream running through the backyard.
Okay, so the property we purchased didn't have a babbling brook; it was a runoff stream from street drainage. But, when my children were young, it might as well have been the Mississippi.
I have no doubt my daughter and son will long remember the times spent playing in and around the stream. It was where they sailed boats, caught minnows, slipped on rocks and stepped on stones to cross from one side to the other. Many times, they ended up "in the drink." This, in fact, was likely the objective, particularly in the summertime.
Good thing the Russian judge wasn't looking at that one .... For my kids, horsing around in a runoff stream was one way to keep cool in the summertime.
Here, we offer vintage photos of people involved in aqua activities in the Garden State. The photos - some taken more than a century ago - reveal some of the ways New Jerseyans have had fun during the dog days of summer.
Look for folks splashing around in public and private pools, running under sprinklers and in front of fire hydrants fitted with sprayers. Some people are pictured in their own backyards while others are shown at lakes, rivers, watering holes and swim clubs.
MORE: Vintage photos around New Jersey
And for folks asking "Where are all the pictures from down the shore?" have no worries; a vintage gallery on fun and sun at the Jersey Shore will be coming in a couple of weeks.
Make sure captions are enabled to read all about these vintage photos.
Can't get enough? Here's a link to last year's gallery.
Greg Hatala may be reached at ghatala@starledger.com. Follow him on Twitter @GregHatala. Find The Star-Ledger on Facebook.