By the 1920s, Rockaway Beach was the poor man's Rivera. It had a six-mile long boardwalk lined with amusements, and thousands flocked to the beach every summer weekend. Many families rented tents for the entire season, while those a little more affluent rested small bungalows. The concept of the bungalow in America was well established by this time as thev were built for summer communities on both coasts. The plans could be purchased from catalogues and were designed in numerous styles.
Built by Richard Bainbridge, this last remaining bungalow colony was built in the 1920s. The one and a half story houses all have front porches and pitched roofs. The design and style varies from street to street. Some of the bungalows are in a Spanish Revival style of stucco with wood trim and green the roofs, and others are in an English Tudor of brick. Lacking heat, they were closed for the winter months. The lanes which lead to the beach have permanent easements for common access to the beach.
As development pressures change the Rockaways, this small district has become endangered. But it would be appropriate to preserve and restore this remnant of past summer amusements.