USA > New Jersey > Monmouth County > History of Monmouth County, New Jersey, 1664-1920, Volume II > Part 7
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The Independent Methodists, who had previously been holding re- ligious services in private dwellings and schoolhouses, met on February 19, 1842, at the house of Asher Pearce, and elected Adam Osborne, Lawrence Newberry and Ebenezer Allen, trustees of the Manasquan church, which was incorporated the following June 18th. In the same year the citizens erected the Free Church in which the Methodists, Pres- byterians and the Baptists held services. The ground was donated by Nesbit Mount and deeded to the trustees of the Independent Methodist Church. In 1850 the denomination was merged with the Methodist Protestant church, and conveyed the property to the trustees of that church, of which Rev. Thomas Hooper is now pastor.
The Baptist church was the first in the Trenton Association to be organized in the last century, having been constituted October 20, 1804, as the First Baptist Church of Howell, that township then embracing the present territory of Wall. Among the constituent members, appear
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the names of Havens, Freeman, Longstreet, Brown, Van Note, Stout, Woolley, Hults, Emmons, Brand, Poland, Blackman, Truax, Davidson and Johnson. The first church was built in 1808 in the pines, on the road from Squan to Burrsville, on the south side of Manasquan river, in what is now Ocean county. The organization was perfected October 20, 1804, with thirty-seven members, and Rev. William Bishop as pas- tor, who came in 1807. Succeeding pastors have been Revs. John Cooper, John Bloomer, William Clark, David P. Purdon, Charles Cox, Allen J. Hires, William F. Brown, and others. In 1842 the "Free Meeting-House on the Hill" was built, and the Baptists, in turn with other denominations, worshipped there until January, 1870, when their new church was completed. The Manasquan Baptist Church united with the Philadelphia Baptist Association in 1805, remaining in that body for ten years, when it withdrew and became connected with the New Jersey Baptist Association, continuing its relations until 1828, when in connection with several other churches the Central New Jer- sey Association was organized, from which body the church withdrew in 1865 to help form the Trenton Baptist Association. The ground for the church building was purchased in 1865, and on the completion of the basement a Sunday school was organized. The church was dedicated June 18, 1870, at which time Rev. Charles Cox was pastor. His resig- nation took place October 1, 1870, and Rev. Theodore S. Snow, his suc- cessor, commenced his labors September 11, 1871, resigning in 1874. He was followed by Rev. J. M. Barker, who gave way to the Rev. D. S. Parmalee, who preached his first sermon the first Sunday of 1877, con- tinuing in charge until October 1, 1885. It was during his ministry in 1882 that the parsonage on Curtis avenue was erected. The church un- animously called in 1886 the Rev. Henry Cross. The resignation of Mr. Cross took place April 1, 1892, and the vacancy thus created was filled by the selection of the Rev. Frank C. Brown, who remained in charge until the spring of 1896, when Mr. Cross commenced a second pastor- ate and continued until April 1, 1905. The next pastor was Rev. J. R. Kremer, who commenced his duties June 1, 1905, remaining until Sep- ember 1, 1907, when after a vacancy of three months the pulpit was filled by the Rev. A. S. Cole, his resignation taking place May 31, 1910, and succeeded the following September by Rev. Edwin S. Frey, who after serving four years was succeeded by the Rev. Lester Reddin, who also had charge of the congregation four years when the Rev. Robert Mckay became pastor, resigning in the early part of 1921 and succeeded by the present pastor, Rev. Walter E. Reynolds. The centennial anniversary of the church was celebrated October 20, 1904, and at that time the church building was remodeled, equipped with modern improvements, the two towers erected, and a town clock installed. Later new pews were built and floors laid and a pipe organ installed. The membership is about 170.
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Shiloh Baptist Church is a small wooden structure on Union ave- nue, and has not a residential pastor.
When the Rev. Charles Mcknight was serving the Presbyterians at Shrewsbury before the Revolutionary War, one of his preaching places was at the location now known as Manasquan. It was nearly a hundred years later that religious services by this denomination were regularly held at this location. The Presbytery organized a church and the corner-stone of a meeting-house was laid June 29, 1848. The first to be called to the pastorate was the Rev. Morse Rowell, who was in- stalled June 13, 1850. On his resignation, May 5, 1856, the pulpit was filled with stated supplies until November 4, 1868, when Rev. Charles F. Worrell became pastor, remaining until 1881, when Rev. F. F. Brown accepted the charge of the society. There have been many successors since, the present occupant being the Rev. J. Franklin Weaver.
The Methodists of the locality prior to 1857 held services in the Free Church, but on July 30th of that year a corner-stone of a church edifice was laid and the following spring the building was completed and dedicated. The church was totally destroyed by fire March 27, 1869, when the present building was erected, thirty-six by fifty-six feet in size, at a cost of $5,000, and dedicated December 31, 1869. Among the early pastors, mention is made of the Revs. B. C. Sharp, William C. Chattin, J. Stiles, J. L. Roe, R. B. Sutcliffe, and others; the present pastor is the Rev. Edward Mount.
St. Dennis Roman Catholic Church was formerly a mission of the Catholic parish at Point Pleasant, New Jersey. Masses were held in the homes of the members, when in the first decade of the present century ground was donated by Dennis Sweeney and the present stone church was built. The first resident pastor was Rev. James A. Healey in 1913, and the following year he was succeeded by the present rector, Rev. James F. Gough. The membership in the winter season is about 200, which is largely augmented during the summer season.
The fraternal life of the borough is represented by Excelsior Lodge, No. 88, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, chartered February 1, 1849; Wall Lodge, No. 73, Free and Accepted Masons, chartered January 18, .1866; Goodwin Chapter, No. 36, Royal Arch Masons, chartered in 1881; Vredenburgh Post, No. 47, Grand Army of the Republic, instituted July 26, 1880; the Loyal Ladies' League, chartered January 24, 1882; and Pearl Lodge, No. 5, Knights of Pythias, instituted October 20, 1883. There are lodges of other secret organizations in the borough.
The present population of the borough is in the neighborhood of two thousand souls. Situated a mile inshore on the Manasquan river at a point where it broadens into lake-like proportions, it affords to the sportsman unlimited pleasure, as the stream abounds in striped bass, bluefish, blackfish and weakfish; also crabs are plentiful. In the ad- jacent woods in the autumn months, duck, plover, quail and woodcock
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used to be numerous, but at the present day there is little left of that sport to attract the hunter. Manasquan is noted for its wide streets bordered with fine old trees that meet in a green arch during the sum- mer. The fine bathing beach within a short distance of the village, the hotels and cottages, more like homes than temporary resting places, and the charm of the river and woods, are there for all lovers of the "natural life." Therefore, it has always been considered as a well known and popular resort, with the river affording excellent opportunities of sailing, rowing, canoeing, fishing, crabbing, and the thousand delights of still, salt-water pleasures.
The Brielle Land Association was incorporated July 7, 1881, with a capital stock of $15,000, and purchased one hundred and fifty acres lying southeast of Manasquan village. The Carteret Arms Hotel and three cottages were soon built. The location improved slowly, additional pur- chases of lands were made, and the population reached in the neighbor- hood of four hundred persons. There is only a limited supply of mer- cantile houses as the residents are supplied and generally do their trad- ing at Manasquan.
The borough of Brielle, the youngest in the county, was set off from Wall township April 19, 1919, the bounds being given as follows:
Beginning at a point marking the most westerly corner of the bor- ough of Manasquan, said point being situated in the middle of a ditch that flows into Glimmerglass creek, and from thence running south- easterly along the easterly boundary line of Manasquan borough, its sev- eral courses and distances, to where said boundary line strikes the main channel of Manasquan river, or inlet, at a point in the division line be- tween Monmouth and Ocean counties; thence in a southwesterly direc- tion along said county line, it being also the center of Manasquan river, and continuing up said river and county line to a point in the middle of the channel directly south of Osborn's island; thence in a south- westerly direction up said river, and still following said county line, to the center of the wagon-draw in the old Squan bridge; thence in a north- easterly direction along the center line of said bridge and the center line of the road leading from said bridge to Manasquan borough, its several courses and distances, to a point where the center line of Union Lane intersects said road, said point being also the intersecting point of five different roads, and known as the Five Points; thence along the center line of the road leading from the Five Points to Blansingburg two hun- dred feet to a point; and thence in a straight line northeasterly to the aforesaid most westerly corner of Manasquan borough, the place of be- ginning.
Sea Girt is situated in Wall township, directly east of Manasquan, with an ocean frontage of two miles, with Newberry's pond, or Stockton Lake, forming its northern, and Manasquan river its southern boundary. For many years prior to 1853 the shores of what is now Sea Girt was the place where the farmers and other inhabitants of this section met to celebrate their annual harvest home festivals. In May of the above mentioned year, Commodore Robert F. Stockton purchased from Thomas
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Shearman a tract of about two hundred and fifty acres, upon which he erected a large and handsome mansion for the use of his family and the entertainment of his many friends. The property was sold by Com- modore Stockton, July 9, 1866, to Paul and Stephen L. Thurlow, of Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, who also purchased adjoining lands, and eventually the Sea Girt Improvement Company was organized. This corporation laid the property out into lots with wide streets and avenues. Sea Girt, fifty-seven miles from New York, is a particularly favorite resort, possessing ideal natural advantages. In the northern part of the village, highlands of no mean altitude afford an extensive view of the ocean and country inland, and the ocean beach gives all the opportunity for the enjoyments of the seashore.
Sea Girt owes its great distinction to its being the rendezvous for the National Guard of New Jersey during its summer encampment. Prior to its establishment at this point, the National Guard assembled on the old rifle range near Elizabethport, but this proved inadequate. Therefore, the State Legislature, April 21, 1887, authorized the pur- chase of a tract of land at Sea Girt for a permanent camp, rifle range and sea-coast battery, for the use of the National Guard, describing it as follows:
Beginning at a stake in the middle of Sea Girt avenue, which stake is four chains and fifty links distant, measuring on a course of south forty-five degrees east from a stone in the southeast corner of lands of the Sea Girt Land Improvement Company and in the line of lands of William Harris, and running thence along the middle of Sea Girt avenue south forty-three degrees forty-five minutes, east two thousand nine hundred and eighty-eight feet to a stake at a corner of other lands of said Improvement Company; thence by said other lands forty-three degrees forty-three minutes west, eight hundred and seventy-one feet to a stake; thence south seventy-one degrees twenty-four minutes, west one thou- sand seven hundred and sixty-two feet to a stake; thence southerly forty- three degrees forty-three minutes west one hundred and fifty-three feet to a stake on the northerly side of Stockton lake, or Newbury's pond; thence along said lake, and along a small stream emptying into said lake, the several courses and distances thereof, to a stake; and thence north- erly twenty-seven degrees forty-five minutes, east one thousand. seven hundred and forty-five feet to the place of beginning, containing one hundred and nineteen and twelve one-thousandths of an acre.
The sum of $51,000 was appropriated for the purchase, and James Smith, Jr., of Newark, and William L. Dayton of Trenton, were appoint- ed commissioners to complete the acquisition of the property. An at- tractive building known as the "Little White House," for the occupancy of the Governor and other officials, was erected, and suitable quarters provided for the troops during the summer encampments. The grounds extend from the railroad to the ocean, affording the soldiers ample op- portunity for healthful recreation in the water. The annual encamp- ment is attended by great throngs of visitors from adjacent States, in-
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terested in military affairs. On Governor's Day, the chief executive of the State as commander-in-chief of the National Guard, makes his visit of inspection, when the military exercises are inspiring, and the Governor's Ball in the evening attracts the society people from New York and Philadelphia. At the ocean extremity of the grounds are the rifle ranges, the scene of the most important interstate marksmanship tournaments. Since the range was established in 1889, a total of 265,000 National Guards, regular army troops and civilians, have been afforded target practice, thus establishing a world's record. The State Rifle Association has conducted international, national and state tournaments every year since 1889, with the exception of the year of the Spanish- American War and three years of the World War. The first interstate contest was held in 1889 between teams from New York, New Jersey and Delaware.
Though the resident population of Sea Girt is small, not exceeding one hundred, the territory outside of the State reservation was formed into a borough government.
Spring Lake is an attractive summer resort, in the eastern part of Wall township, near the seashore. The land on which it is located was originally patented by Robert Hunter Morris in 1770. In 1870 the first cottage was built here by Rev. Dr. A. A. Willett, a distinguished Pres- byterian clergyman and a popular lecturer. Early owners of the prop- erty were Jeremiah Chandler, Samuel Emmons, Abram and Capt. For- man Osborne and James Pearce. In 1875, John Reading, James Hun- ter and Paul Thurlow, of Philadelphia, purchased from Captain Osborne and James Pearce, whose lands lay on both sides of Fresh pond, now Spring Lake, three hundred and fifty acres adjoining Wreck pond, and running northerly about three-quarters of a mile, which they laid out in lots and improved. The tract was bounded by the ocean, Wreck pond, or Sea Girt inlet, and the highway from Manasquan to Long Branch. Spring lake is formed by fresh water streams, and overflows into Wreck pond. In 1876 a company composed of Abraham Browning and George Maurice of Camden, and Edward Browning, James Hunter, Paul Thurlow, G. A. Nichols and John J. Reading of Philadelphia, erect- ed the Monmouth House, which at that time was the largest and finest hotel on the coast. Many other large hotels have since been erected, including the Essex and Sussex, the Breakers, Shoreham, Allaine, the Warren and others.
Spring Lake is one of the most fashionable resorts on the New Jer- sey Atlantic coast, and has a winter population in the neighborhood of fourteen hundred persons. The location of this resort is ideal, on the shore of the beautiful sheet of water from which it receives its name. Around the lake is laid a plank and asphalt walk, and a rustic bridge spans its west end. The transparency of the water is one of the peculi- arities of this lake; a coin dropped within its midst can be seen at the
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depth of twenty-five feet. Around its shores among the pines, hickories, maples, oaks and other trees, are handsome cottages and charming drives, while the lake swarms with black bass, sunfish and pickerel. Wreck Pond Inlet runs through the southern portion of the borough, its shal- low body affording good crabbing. A borough government is maintain- 'ed, and artesian water and sewerage system were installed over a score of years ago at an outlay of $80,000. The village was developed by the Coast Company, who annually sold a limited number of building lots to approved buyers to become permanent residents. A destructive fire in the autumn of 1900 destroyed three hotels-the Monmouth House, the Essex and the Carleton.
Trinity Protestant Episcopal Church was erected in 1880, and is only used for regular services during the summer months, when visiting clergymen officiate. The Presbyterians erected a church building on a lot donated for that purpose by Mrs. Matthew Baird, who also subscribed liberally towards the fund for the building of the church. The total subscriptions received were $16,000 and building was commenced in November, 1882, and completed the following spring. The church was sixty by eighty feet in size, with a tower eighty feet in height. The audience room has a capacity of seating five hundred persons, and the church was dedicated July 17, 1883. There is no settled pastor. There is also a society of the Methodist Episcopal church in the borough, who have a house of worship and are in the charge at the present time of the Rev. B. C. Lippincott. The rector of the St. Catherine's Roman Cath- olic Church is the Rev. W. T. Leahy.
In accordance with a petition signed by L. A. Maltby and others to the Monmouth County Court of Common Pleas under the provisions of an act for the formation and government of boroughs approved March 12, 1890, a special election was held March 8, 1892, in the township of Wall, the object being to vote for the incorporation of a proposed bor- ough, the boundaries being thus described :
All that certain district situated in the township of Wall bounded and described as beginning at a point in the middle of Ocean avenue dis- tant northerly 190 feet from the middle of Jersey avenue, said point be- ing designated by a marble monument buried about two feet below the present surface of the road thence westwardly parallel to the middle line of Jersey avenue to the middle of Third avenue thence southerly along the middle of Third avenue 380 feet thence westwardly parallel to the middle line of Morris avenue and to first course herein before mentioned crossing the New York and Long Branch Railroad to the middle of the public road (formerly known as that leading from the village of Manas- quan to Sea Plain and Shark River) thence southwestwardly along the middle of the said old road leading from Manasquan to Shark river 2875 feet, thence southeasteriy making an internal angle of 102 degrees 91/2 minutes with course last mentioned to the middle of the original now the easterly track of the New York and Long Branch Railroad, thence southerly along the middle of said track 1660 feet thence easterly to
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a middle line of First avenue a distance southward of 700 feet to the middle line of York avenue thence continuing the course southwardly 2000 feet thence northerly to the middle line of Ocean avenue, thence westwardly to the point of beginning.
At the election for borough officials, Edward V. Patterson for mayor received 27 of 29 votes cast. There was established in the borough in 1919 a free public library which has on its shelves three thousand vol- umes. It is planned that on the erection of a proposed community building, the library will occupy commodious quarters in that building.
In the seventies of the past century, Ocean Beach was a name given to a popular resort and town lying on the south side of Shark river, ex- tending along its shore from the ocean beach. In 1872, twenty-five gentlemen then owning summer cottages at Ocean Grove, purchased several tracts of land in Wall township, embracing about one hundred acres. Among the purchasers were William S. Yard and A. G. Richey of Trenton, James S. Hayes and James G. Barnet of Newark, Thomas Kennedy, D. H. Wilson and James S. James of Philadelphia, Major James S. Yard of Freehold, and John W. Fielder of Brooklyn. The Ocean Beach Association, composed of sixty members, was incorporated in 1873, owning about four hundred acres, with a frontage on the ocean of one mile, and on Shark river of one and a half miles. The river was for many years known as the planting ground of the famous oysters which were known by its name. It was also a well-known fishing ground, and favorably known to New York and Philadelphia anglers.
A petition was addressed to the mayor and council of Belmar, Feb- ruary 27, 1893, representing $406,785 of the taxable properties, to or- ganize a borough under the act for the formation and government of boroughs approved April 2, 1891. The boundaries designated were to include all that tract of land and water in the township of Wall:
Beginning at a point in the middle line and the north end of the county bridge, crossing the east end of Lake Como; said point being about 8000 feet southerly from the mouth of Shark river thence north- westerly by a straight line to the intersection of the middle line of Twen- tieth avenue proceeding westerly with the westerly line of B street, thence southerly 1350 feet more or less thence northerly along said wes- terly side of B street 2080 feet more or less to a point distant sixty feet southerly from the northerly side of Twentieth avenue, thence westerly parallel to and sixty feet distant from the northerly side of Twelfth ave- nue, 1650 feet to the middle of E street thence southwesterly 540 feet more or less to a point in the middle line of Thirteenth avenue, 150 feet thence easterly to the easterly side of F street, 150 feet, thence southerly parallel to the east side of F street, 690 feet to the southerly side of the county road, known as Sixteenth avenue to the intersection with the westerly side of the public road known as the Turnpike now Third street or the road leading from Pearce's store to Shark river 1600 feet more or less, thence northerly along the westerly side of the Turnpike to H street, 400 feet more or less to the southerly line of lands owned by the Ocean Beach Association, formerly owned by Peter White, dec., thence
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southwesterly along the line of lands owned by said Ocean Beach Asso- ciation, said corner being marked by a brown stone six inches square at its top, thence northerly along the western line of lands owned by said Ocean Beach Association 1100 feet to a point on Shark river thence northeasterly by a straight line a distance of 3400 feet more or less to a point in the middle line of the easterly track of the New York and Long Branch Railroad at the north side of the railroad bridge crossing the southerly channel of Shark river, thence northeasterly 800 feet more or less to a point in the middle line of the iron bridge recently erected by County of Monmouth, crossing Shark river and being the continuation northerly of F street, thence north 85 degrees, east 3200 feet, thence south 75 degrees, east 2000 feet, thence southerly parallel to the westerly side of Ocean avenue as laid out from First avenue to Twelfth avenue 8000 feet, thence westerly in a straight line to the point of beginning.
The tract of the Ocean Beach Association was laid out on a liberal scale and with a regard to the health and comfort of those occupying it during the summer months. The lots were of uniform size, fifty by one hundred and fifty feet, intersected by twelve main avenues of eighty feet in width each, commencing at the ocean and ending at Shark river. On the erection of the borough the name was changed to its present title, Belmar. The population in 1900 was about 1,000, which has in- creased at the present time to 2,500 inhabitants, who have in a progres- sive spirit established public schools, a public library, police and fire protection, and the borough offers a combination of suburban and city life that cannot be excelled.
The religious life of the borough dates back to the organization of the Ocean Beach Methodist Episcopal Church in 1872-73, when A. Bitner, Jr., donated a lot on the corner of D street and Tenth avenue for the erection of a church edifice. The church was dedicated June 8, 1873. There was no regular pastor until 1882, when the Rev. W. H. Farout was appointed. This church was replaced in 1902 by the present beautiful edifice, and the Rev. D. Roe Heaney is pastor at the present time. The Methodist Protestant society prior to the completion of their church edifice in April, 1884, on the corner of Sixteenth avenue and F street, held services in Bitner's Hall.
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