More than a couple of tears were shed on Monday, Oct. 12, as the door at Smugglers Cove was locked for the last time. Great memories can often lead to tears. The tears were happy but melancholy, created by so many good times and great memories.

On almost any busy summer weekend night here, it would not be unusual to see more than 20 Uber or Lyft vehicles scurrying around, taking riders to destinations both on and off the island. Now, imagine Seven Mile Beach more than 80 years ago.

Just past 108th Street in Stone Harbor are three narrow streets or “courts” – Bower, Weber and Stone – that are almost a throwback to days of yore.

With the holidays at hand, here’s a look back at Stone Harbor’s North Basin (since renamed Smugglers Cove) from December 1983. The photo features a tradition started by Lou Bachmann at the Smugglers Cove tackle shop in the 1970s.