5/13/15 Hi, Jim,
On what is probably a fool's errand, I've been trying to find photos of all the places I've ever lived (and at age 70, that's quite a few). In the early spring of 1970, I lived for several months in Hampton Beach. The address I found in an old list is 142 Ash Street, Apt 4. At the time I was a graduate student at UNH, and struggling through the breakup of my marriage. I was able to afford the little apartment because it was a cold weather price. I had to move out when warmer weather brought a fourfold increase in rent.
What brought me to your site was a Google search for the Agape Inn. I did some song writing and guitar playing, and somehow got a gig at the Agape Inn, where I played a few times. I learned that the Inn was opened by a church group (possibly a Baptist group??), and was part of its mission to reach young people. They were willing to let me perform songs, which were a mix of traditional folk songs, and some that I'd written (and, because of the time, some of those were war protest songs, which I admired the Inn for letting me play).
Other memories of that early spring include seeing the snow fall into the ocean for the first time, quite a revelation for a young man who grew up in Missouri, and playing my guitar on the beach, something that would have been difficult if I'd been there in the summer, I'm sure.
I'll have to go through my old photos to see if I haven any taken during that time. If so, I'll be sure to send you copies.
Thanks for bringing back some fond memories.
--Paul Garrett pgarrett'at'pshift.com
04/06/13 Jim, I just wanted to share a short note from many summers I spent at Hampton Beach in my youth. I noticed that a couple of your responses to Hampton Beach memories involved remembering the 'Agape In' (noticed I used one N not two).

My name is Jim Jenkins and I am the nephew of Bill Jenkins, founder of the Agape In!

I spent at least 8 full summers at the Agape In since my mother was the 'House Mom' for the college students who worked there through the summers! I was 17 my last summer there! Spending that many summers there I have more memories than I have room to write down in this email. If there is anyone who does remember the tall skinny kid with curly hair known as Jimmy, that hung out with a kid half his size (known then as Little Larry), that was me, the tall one!
Little Larry was the brother of the sisters who were the fortune tellers at that time on the Beach Boardwalk, along with his mother! We were two pees in a pod and knew the beach and casino like the back of our hands. I'm sorry to say Little Larry is gone now, but his memory lives on!
I have attached a few photos from the many I have of those years and the Agape In. They are old and not in good shape, but feel free to use them if you wish. As far as the one 'N' on the Agape In, that is a mistake that was common, even for the newspaper. If you look at the pictures of the building, it has one 'N' and the reason it was like that was a story behind the scenes! I will leave it at that for now and if anyone cares to remember or guess why it was like that, feel free!
You have some great photos of Hampton Beach and I enjoyed looking through your site. Feel free to use my email and I would love to hear from anyone who might remember when!

jjclass79'at'yahoo.com

One note about the photos, that is Little Larry standing under the bath house sign photo. Thanks for taking the time!
Regards,
Jim Jenkins

7/08/10
I worked at Hudon's Restaurant for 3 summers. I too spent a lot of time at the Agape when I wasn't girl watching down on the beach, playing cards with the other restaurant/hotel workers or surfing up on North Beach. One of the girls I met there, one evening after the weekly fire works, is my wife of 34 years. We had written for a while after we met but then reconnected, through a mutual friend, when I was in college. I met a lot of people hanging on the beach who have been lifelong friends to me. There is an Agape Facebook group for those who are looking to remeet friends who worked there. Brother Bill is alive and well.
Mark Lawton

09/09/08 Hi Jim,

I stumbled upon your site because I just bought a house up at Hampton Beach. I did a Google search and one had an awesome pic so I checked it out.

Well here's the funny thing. I live in Saugus, (right off The Fellsway) too. When I read your description of your summers at Hampton, I can so relate. I remember going up there back in the 70's with all my cousins for a week or two and never wanted to leave. Its' kinda cool that it really hasn't changed, but that it did change for the times.

The second funny think is where I bought my house.** Perkins Ave!!..How ironic is that?

I was wondering if you have any old photos of that street/area. I would be interested in buying some to frame and put up in the house.

Let me know.

Thanks. You have a great site too.

Jimmy

(spyketek 'at' hotmail )

7/06/08 Hi Jim....found your site by accident. I have many fond memories of Hampton from when I was a little kid in the 50's. I still like it just as much, although it has changed. I can remember the bandstand,and that Hampton had it's own 'Big' band that played every night. I can remember Bill Elliot the singing cop. I remember that the band conductor always came out dressed up (dinner jacket) and that the band had a standard theme song that they used...'Say it with music.' I remember when the Casino had many of the 'Big' band names there...men and women would line up outside waiting to get in. They were all dressed formally, men with white dinner jackets,women in their gowns. It was such an elegant time, it impressed this little girl. I can also remember being able to sit up stairs at the casino, there were benches outside and you could sit and watch the band concert. I even played in the playground,a few pieces of the equipment are still there,but not many.

I have something I would like to find out. Does anyone besides me remember a traveling museum that was on the boardwalk (yes,it really was a BOARDwalk)one summer?? It probably was the summer of '57, maybe '58. It was called the SS Spellbound,and it looked like a ship. You went in one end of it for a small price, walked the length of it, saw many interesting things from the sea. This included a real treasure from a sunken ship. My significant other says I dreamed it. I could go on and on about so many things. Anyway, thanks for letting me share some of my memories. Pat Germaine nanaweb@aol.com

01/29/08 Hi Jim,

I was just visiting Hampton Beach via internet and saw your wonderful photography, your name and invitation to write.

I lived on Ocean Blvd. and worked at the Agape Inn the entire summer of 1977.

BTW, I was upstairs in my bedroom when I learned that Elvis had died! (Funny how things like that stick with you.)

I read where you spent lots of time there, also.

Do you happen to remember the Agape Inn Coffee House? We were a stone's throw from the band shell. The last I heard was that the building had been turned into a T-shirt shop. Of course, it's probably gone by now.

Just wondering if you had any photos or memories of my little corner of the world in the Summer of 1977.

I'm married, a mom, and a Kindergarten teacher and live in Rogersville, TN, (65 miles NE of Knoxville) and my memories of that pre-chilled (errr, pre-frozen) ocean water are still vivid! What a wonderful summer that was, and oh, the FRIED DOUGH---everybody said we had the best!

Here's to youthful memories, Hannah Gillenwatere