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Work continues under Armster Reclaimed Lumber Co. with five employees. The first version of the Rockaway Wrecker proves too soft, using soft steel that bent under the stress of dense tropical hardwoods screwed with three inch bolts to the sub-structure. The boards are then piled in about forty piece lots on pallets along the boardwalk, waiting to be moved by a pallet jack to another area where they will be loaded into containers. The process seems to work best with two people prying up boards together on opposite sides. The work was difficult, even for people used to physical labor, as it used new muscles. Plywood was placed across areas where joists were removed to provide a stable surface for workers. The beach was quiet except for the occasional dog walker, with the beautiful views – the ocean going to the horizon with southern Long Island seen in the distance. The sea gulls were frequent, but the piping plover must have migrated for the winter. plenty of litter under the boardwalk – an intimate but rank type of housing, the beaches version of a cellar. 

The Rockaway Wrecker, designed by Klaas Armster – for decking removal at the site. Hurricane Sandy removed the boardwalk (from it’s piers), the Army COR of engineers lead troops in hauling it to the landfill. A custom welded hand tool was prepared to picked up what remained. 

The Army COR called to say that they ‘…want to support our efforts’ and are willing to provide container service of the lumber at the site. So we needed to drop D Daniels hauling at 200.00 per container. Encountered strong resistance of the boardwalk decking within one section, approx. 1800 sf – moved through it, though at a time cost. Canvased for space in the area. More bitter winds. Rockaway still seeming half alive. Stopped off at Madeline Chocolates, where I was previously reprimanded by police for taking a handful of wooden pallets from the sidewalk. The building has no windows and when I entered (two guys were coming out a side door with garbage), there was room after sprawling room of machinery. Finally reached one of the managers that said (about the wooden pallets)…”take all you want”. 

More chilly winds through the day, as the crew worked to finish removal of boards at B 86th. Six people from Armster Reclaimed and three hired through Craigs List (among close to 300 people that responded to the ad for post-hurricane clean-up). A lot learned in the first week – the pallet jack on day one and the reality of how long the work can reasonably take – in time. Prospects for working with an excavator at B 96th St. NYC Parks seems to be going along with our plans, even if the process has been more prolonged than expected. Ashnu Int’l staff person was said to have hostile approach to workers. Unions starting to circle around the job. Hoping to finish the three sections before a more difficult encounter happens. Decision to start sending loads to Riis Park – we’ll just need to meet safety standards. End of the day, Klaas and I stopped by a lot in the area, where a few truckloads of boardwalk was being stored – how it was acquired is still a mystery. Can the woods be purchased? The project is about 33% closer to 100% recovery – of the boardwalk decking.   

Mcsweeney’s writer on trees, literature and modern football. Go Trees! 

“A lot has changed in King’s County since Betty Smith penned her first novel in 1943. In those days, only a single tree grew in Brooklyn, now there are four.” The full story at McSweeneys.com – Timothy Leo Taranto