MORE CROTON MEMORIES--THE STARLIGHT DRIVING RANGE

Welcome to Everything Croton, a collection of all things Croton--our history, our homes, our issues, our businesses, our schools--in short, EVERYTHING CROTON. 

INTRODUCING CROTON MEMORIES, a new series that will focus on Croton from the 1940's through the 1970's—more or less. Here’s the seventh installment, again with thanks to The Croton Historical Society. 

THE STARLIGHT DRIVING RANGE

Prior to the opening of Starlight Lanes--and eventually replacing it, another recreational offering existed in what is now the Shoprite Center here in Croton: The Starlight Driving Range. Owned and operated by James Britchey from the late 1940’s to the mid 1950’s, the rules were simple: rent a club, “buy” a bucket of balls, and drive away. Many a teenage boy had their first job at Starlight--retrieving balls—and one resident joked that during the construction of Shoprite decades later, the workers were still finding golf balls that never made it home! 

Click on the link to see a charming photo from the mid-1950’s showing a typical group at the range http://www.flickr.com/photos/22283683@N07/6098395713/in/photostream 

Shown from left to right are Tommy Alford, Wayne Edell, Alfred Luposello, Alan Pearson, Clifford Haight and Joe Edell.