We've all enjoyed what winter has to offer at some point in our lives.
I have been going through photos for these galleries for a long time and it only now has occurred to me what makes vintage winter photos particularly special.
Look at pictures from other times of the year and you'll see people involved in a multitude of different activities in a variety of places with an equally diverse number of "toys."
Samuel Leeds Allen of Cinnaminson invented and patented the Flexible Flyer sled in 1889. But with the snow scene photos, there is a certain commonality; snow delivers a quiet sameness regardless of the locale.
People building a snowman? Looks pretty much the same everywhere. Sledding? Well, other than the fact that it's called sleigh riding in north Jersey, it looks the same.
Ice skating, shoveling, whatever activity goes with snow and ice, anyone looking at these photos would have little difficulty placing themselves in the picture. And, so many experiences were shared; plastic bags in boots to try to keep feet warm, adapting to fingerless mittens or the snow caked on winter clothes at the end of the day
MORE: Vintage photos around New Jersey
In fact, we want to see you in your photos and hear from you as well. What was the best sledding hill in your town? Best lake or pond for ice skating? If you have photos taken before 1987, attach them as .jpgs and send them to the email address shown below, and we'll use them in the Part Two of this gallery next month.
Here's a gallery of vintage photos of wintertime in New Jersey. Want more? Click here and here for a couple of galleries from previous years.
Greg Hatala may be reached at ghatala@starledger.com. Follow him on Twitter @GregHatala. Find Greg Hatala on Facebook.