The Crystal Pier a Landmark Since 1927 Earl Taylor, a Kansas native, arrived in PB in 1923. He purchased and developed many parcels of land in the business district, within several blocks of the ocean. Crystal Pier-brainchild of developer Taylor-was built to entice visitors to the glory of beach living. It was dubbed "Pickering's Pleasure Pier," but builder Earnest Pickering's precarious finances caused Earl Taylor to turn the project overt to Neil Nettleship and Ben Tye. The Crystal Pier received its grand opening at last on July 4th, 1927, complete with a midway, and its much-heralded, cork-lined dance floor. Unfortunately for local dancers, uncreosoted pilings allowed marine borers to nibble the pilings from below, closing Crystal Pier for repairs. After 10 years of financial hardship that paralleled the Great Depression, the Pier reopened. This time, the midway was gone and 10 motel cottages had been added, along with promenade decks. A severe winter storm on January 27, 1983 tore away 240 feet of the Pier. In 1987, The City replaced the lost section, adding a sturdier, raised and widened fishing deck. This panoramic was shot with a Nikon D200 using an 18-200mm zoom VR DX lens. There were 33 photos shot on 3 rows. Web site: http://www.crystalpier.com/ |
