Tuesday, March 16, 2004

The Harbor Gameroom

A person could read any blog from the beginning. However, if there happens to be any logical development in the topic, then it occurs in reverse chronological order. For example, here's a recap of the last few days:

  • Last Friday, I mentioned that I had brought my camera to BCIT.
  • So, on Saturday, I showed a picture taken in the computer lab.
  • On Sunday, that led me to consider the music at the beginning of the PC era.
  • Yesterday, I spent some time discussing the movie, TRON, from that time period.
  • Now here's the current connection: The movie, TRON, contained arcade games as an important aspect of the plot. This has led me look around for a picture of the gang who brought Pacman to the Harbor at Sunapee, New Hampshire. Look at the friends in the picture who began The Harbor Gameroom. Thanks to Bret Wirta's endless business acumen, Joel Thomas's engineering aptitude, and the good fortune of the arcade boom, we created a summer business during my college years.

    Although the building no longer exists, our business is kept alive in memory. Our large roof sign now sits in the Sunapee Historical Society.

    Photo: Dennis Hurd (back), Joel Thomas, Bret Writa, Mark Wirta (left to right) - The Harbor Gameroom, Sunapee NH - Summer 1980

    "Come Play With Me .... at the Harbor Gameroom". That's what
    the t-shirts used to say and it was accurate for the hundreds of local
    and visiting patrons. I'm in the back. In the first row, Joel Thomas
    is on the left. Bret Wirta appears in the middle and his brother, Mark
    Wirta is on the right.