USA > New Jersey > Monmouth County > History of Monmouth County, New Jersey. Pt. 2 > Part 51
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767
OCEAN TOWNSHIP AND LONG BRANCH.
scribed by each for the purpose of building the school- house are here given :
Enos Eastwood . $5 00
William Green . 5 00
Francis Emmons 5 00
John Cook . 5 00
Samuel Slocum . 10 00
Benjamin West 10 00
Joseph West .
5 00
Asher Wardell . 5 00
Job West 8 00
Benjamin Wardell 10 00
Joseph Parker
10 00
Robert Parker 5 00
John Emmons 5 00
Richard Faber 6 00
John Faber 5 00
Cornelius Brower 5 00
Gilbert Lane . 6 00
Peter Slocum 10 00
Stephen Cook 6 00
Joseph Mcknight 10 00
Joshua Bennet 10 00
Bartholomew West . 5 00
William Throckmorton 5 00
Joseph Tallman 5 00
Henry Slocum 8 00
The house was built on the site of the pres- ent No. 1 School-house, on Main Street ; John Wood was a teacher in the house in 1814, he having previously kept a private school. The house stood until about 1840. The question of a new house was agitated as early as 1835, and on the 3d of August in that year Peter Parker began taking subscriptions for a new house. The enterprise was delayed, and August 6, 1837, a meeting of the citizens was held to take meas- ures to build a new house. This was not done, however, until 1840, when a school-house was completed and used until 1867. This house was getting old, but opinion was divided as to the propriety of building a new one. The old school-house was set on fire four times in the last few years of its use, but was saved each time. In 1842 the district was known as No. 6. M. Hampton, W. R. Maps and N. Woolley were elected trustees in March of that year. The new house was built in 1867, and is still in use.
Within the territory of Sub-District No. 2 the first school-house was built in 1844 on Broadway and Academy Alley, the site of the present Library Hall. It was used until 1881,
when the lot was sold and a lot was bought on Garfield Avenne, and the present brick building, one story, fifty by seventy-five feet in size, was erected at a cost of six thousand dollars.
In Sub-Distriet No. 3, North Long Branch, or Atlanticville, the first school-house was built before 1848, and stood on the road leading to Raccoon Island, half a mile north of the depot. The present house, thirty-four feet square, was erected in the rear of Atlantic Avenue in 1873, at a cost of three thousand eight hundred dol- lars.
In Sub-District No. 4 the original school- house was built in 1840, on Deal turnpike, near West-end Avenue, and replaced by the present one-story frame, twenty-five by forty feet in size, in 1875, at a cost of three thousand dollars. Sub-District No. 5 (Seabright) is in the school district of Long Branch. The first house was built at the place in 1874, on River Avenue. It was burned in 1878, and replaced on the same lot, in 1879, by the present brick one-story house, twenty-five by forty feet. An addition was made in 1882, making it sixty- five by forty feet in size. Its total cost was three thousand six hundred dollars.
In Sub-District No. 6 a one-story frame school-house, for colored children, was erected in 1884, on Brook Street. It is twenty-five by forty feet in size, and cost two thousand dollars.
An act passed March 21, 1867, provided for the division of counties into school districts, and under it, District No. 6, of Long Branch, No. 7, of Branchville, No. 11, of Industry, and No. 12, of Fresh Pond, were formed into District No. 85. In accordance with other provisions of the act, the voters of the district met Sep- tember 2, 1872, and passed a resolution instruct- ing the trustees to erect a new school-house in Sub-Districts Nos. 3 and 4, and to establish a graduated school. An act of Legislature passed April 3, 1873, authorizing the organiza- tion of a Board of Education, and providing for the establishment of a graded school. In ac- cordance with this act, a Board of Education of Long Branch was elected, who proceeded to the erection of a High School buildling on a block of ground lying between Prospect and Academy
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768
HISTORY OF MONMOUTH COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.
Streets and Morris and Willow Avenues. Pro- posals were advertised for, August 23, 1874, and a contract was soon after made for the erection of the present briek High School build- ing. It was completed at a total cost of thirty- two thousand dollars, and was dedicated July 12, 1876.
The High School building is of brick, three stories and basement, and of irregular form, the central part forty by sixty feet, with wing, making a total of seventy and eighty feet. The house has a seating capacity of seven hundred.
The county superintendent, Rev. Samuel Lockwood, in his report of 1883, says of this district,-
"It is a notable fact that No. 85, containing the large borough of Long Branch, with its vaster school interests, with an efficient Board of Education, though but one school district, is really a consolidation of a number of districts, each one of which has greatly in- creased school accommodations since entering this union, and all have the advantage of the fine central High School. But the other schools are all feeders to this, and are classified as primaries, and the princi- pal of the High School supervises the primaries. This efficient solidarity is virtually an admirable exempli- fication and defense of the township system in vogue in some of the States. In the case here mentioned the principal is truly the local superintendent."
The present (as he was also the first) princi- pal of the Long Branch High School is Pro- fessor James A. Green.
Private schools have been taught at Long Branch nearly as follows: The first was taught by John Woods, about 1812. William R. Maps attended the sehool. It was taught in the new school-house in 1814. John Slocum attended school under him in that house.
In 1861, Miss Mary Shepherd opened a school on Broadway, in rooms of Mrs. Mary Morgan. She continued until 1865. The next year a school-house was built on Clark Street, in the rear of the St. James' Church. School was kept by a lady who later became the wife of the Rev. R. A. Poole, rector of St. James' Church. This school was afterwards taught by Miss Mary Moore until 1871, when the house was sold.
In 1870 a school-house was built, twenty by thirty feet, on the corner of Grove Street and
Broadway, in which school was kept by differ- ent ladies until 1875, when it was discontinued
In 1863, William J. Hubard, a graduate of Jefferson College, Virginia, opened a private school for boys in a building erceted for that purpose by N. W. Troutman, on the corner of Long Branch and Sea View Avenues. This school was kept about ten years.
In 1871, J. T. Jones opened a private school for boys in a building known as Scriven's Store, on Broadway, corner of Pearl. He taught there two years, and was chosen principal of School No. 2. He was followed by W. D. Ire- land, who continued about a year, and was ap- pointed principal of School No. 3.
In 1874, Mrs. J. S. Morris opened a private school and taught two years, and became a teacher in No. 2.
Miss Z. A. Eaton, in 1876, was a teacher in the High School. After one year she resigned and married. Mrs. Z. A. Schroeder is now teaching a private school for young ladies on Union Avenue.
The East Long Branch Reading-Room and Library Association owes its existence to the ex- ertions and energy of Mrs. J. S. Morris, who was prominent in its organization. It was in- corporated in the winter of 1879-80. The old sehool-house lot No. 2 was bought, and the cor- ner-stone of the present building was laid March 2, 1880. It is a frame building, thirty by sixty feet, two stories, with library and reading-room in the first story and a hall in the second story. A small collection of books was procured at first and the library was opened in Washington Hall, where it was kept until the completion of the hall. The reading-room is supplied with news- papers and periodicals. The library contains about two thousand volumes. Mrs. Hugh J. Hastings is president. Mrs. J. S. Morris was secretary from the first until March, 1884, and was succeeded by Miss Caroline Scott.
A Cirenlating Library Association was formed October 13, 1854, with rooms in a building which stood on the site of the Reformed Church parsonage. It closed after an existence of three years. In 1865 a library of about three thou- sand volumes was purchased in New York for
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OCEAN TOWNSHIP AND LONG BRANCH.
five hundred dollars by Dr. J. O. Green, Dr. T. G. Chattle, George Cade and Richard Davis, who brought it to Long Branch and opened it as a circulating library in Green's drug store, near Grand Street. It continued five or six years, and the volumes were then divided be- tween the purchasers. Messrs. Cade, Davis and Chattle gave their portion of the library to the Young Men's Christian Association, which was formed in the winter of 1875-76. Rooms were opened in Bergen Block April 10, 1876. The rooms were afterwards moved over the Central Market, and were finally elosed in 1881.
THE LONG BRANCH BANKING COMPANY was incorporated March 14, 1872, with a cap- ital stock of fifty thousand dollars, with right to increase to two hundred and fifty thousand dol- lars. The following-named persons were the corporators : William R. Maps, Joseph E. Lippincott, Aaron S. Bright, John A. Morford, Thomas G. Chattle, Bloomfield Drummond, William H. Bennett, Eden Wooley, Abner Al- len, Francis Corlies, Samuel C. Morris and William Hathaway. William R. Maps was ehosen president, and still holds that office. Joseph Burrows, Jr., was chosen eashier, and served until May, 1874, when T. Con. Mor- ford was elected, and served until May, 1883, when the present eashier, H. W. Johnson, was elected. The present capital is ninety thousand dollars, and the bank has a surplus of sixty thou- sand dollars. The banking-house was erected on the corner of Main Street and Branchport Avenue, and was opened for business May 1, 1873.
WILLIAM R. MAPS was born September 14, 1809, at Long Branch (then in the town- ship of Shrewsbury), Monmouth County, N. J., of humble, though respectable, parent- age, whose ancestors figured conspicuously in the War of the Revolution ; and with their inherent patriotism they combined practical piety, and were among the first to compose the Methodist Episcopal Church of that place, and early taught their offspring the observance of religious principles, as a result of which the family of seven children all were religious, and members of Christian churches. A younger 49
brother, the Rev. Lewis T. Maps, wasa member of the New Jersey Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and died while stationed at Paterson, N. J., July 11, 1846.
Mr. W. R. Maps, at the age of thirteen, under the pastorate of the Rev. Bartholomew Weed, was united in church fellowship to the Meth- odist Episcopal Church of that place, of which he has continued an active and efficient member, having been its recording and corresponding secretary over fifty consecutive years. He has also filled various other offices in the church, such as class-leader, Sabbath-school superinten- dent, trustee, steward, etc. During his minority, to the age of sixteen, he remained at home as- sisting his father, working on his farm nine months in the year, and attending school during the winter season. At that age, owing to ill health, he was obliged to abandon work on the farm and engaged as elerk in a country store.
In 1826 he was employed by Alexander McGregor as clerk to take charge of his store at Long Branch, in whose employ he continued three years, on a salary of two hundred dollars per year, furnishing his own board and clothing. In 1829 he purchased the store of Mr. McGregor, paying what little money he had saved from his small salary and giving his note without seeur- ity (though a minor) for the balance, which was paid, principal and interest, within five years. Mr. Maps, although always strictly temperate and a stanch friend of the temperance cause, was obliged to sell liquor while in the employ of others, as it was universally kept and sold in connection with groceries at that early day. But when he commenced business on his own account he resolved that none should be sold in his store, notwithstanding the prophecy of friends that he could not succeed in the business withont it, as it was a staple article of sale in the mer- cantile business and paid the best profit. But he resolved to test the experiment : hence he had a notice posted up conspicuously in the store announcing that " No more rum bought or sold here." This was the first, and for many years the only, temperance store in this section of country. How well it has succeeded time has demon- strated.
On the 11th of February, 1832, he purchased
770
HISTORY OF MONMOUTH COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.
the site for his future residence, and on the 16th of the following month commenced the erection of what has been his subsequent dwelling. This being completed, on the 15th of November, 1832, he was married to Miss Mary A. Tncker, adopted daughter of. William I. and Mary Mar- tin, of Deal, N. J. He still resides in the same house where he commenced house-keeping more than fifty-two years ago. On the 17th of Sep- tember, 1838, his estimable wife died, leaving two daughters,-Hannah Maria and Mary Ann, the foriner now the wife of the Rev. Thomas Hanlon, principal of Pennington Seminary, N. J., the latter the wife of A. S. Lokerson, of Oecan Grove.
On the 12th of April, 1844, Mr. Maps mar- ried Miss Susan A. Hampton, of New York City, who died suddenly of heart-disease, May 27, 1883, leaving a daughter-S. Augusta Brit- tan, widow of Joseph R. Brittan, deceased-and granddaughter,-Susie May Brittan.
In 1832, Mr. Maps, being permanently located at Long Branchi at that early day, and possess- ing an enterprising, progressive spirit, sought in various ways to give impetus to the importance of the place. Up to this time the nearest post- office was Eatontown, a distance of five miles from the sca-shore, and but a few years previous the nearest post-office was at Shrewsbury village, two miles farther off. It would be thought a great hardship, at the present time, to travel seven miles to mail or receive a letter. It was mainly through his persistent efforts that the post-office was established at Long Branch. The Post-office Department refused to extend the route until it became self-sustaining, so that for three years he had to have the mail carried by private conveyance from Eatontown to Long Branch before the department would consent to an ex- tension of the route.
Mr. Maps also manifested a deep interest in our common schools, which at that time were in a very low condition. The school-houses were generally small, badly managed, and many of then in a very dilapidated condition. He ad- vocated the building of a large two-story house in his district for two departments, but this met with opposition, and as a compromise, he suc- ceeded in scouring the erection of two
new houses, though smaller than he desired. Owing to the deep interest he manifested in the canse of education, he was elected and served for a number of years as school superintendent for the township of Shrewsbury before it was divided, embracing what is now comprised in Shrewsbury, Ocean, Atlantic and Eatontown townships, making it an onerous duty to visit all the schools once every quarter to examine and license teachers and give attention to all other matters appertaining thereto.
Mr. Maps represented his township, then Shrewsbury, in the Board of Chosen Frecholders from 1839 to 1847, having for his competitors during that time such prominent men as the Hon. Thomas G. Haight, Dr. John R. Conover and Captain James Green, alternately. Owing to the magnitude of this large township, and the amount of labor to be performed, the office was deemed of considerable importance.
He has also filled various offices of responsi- bility and trust, both in the township and in the church, with marked fidelity and efficiency. Mr. Maps, in 1872, having long felt the neces- sity of banking facilities for the accommodation of the citizens of Long Branch and for the snc- cess of business pursuits (having no bank nearer than Red Bank), took an active part in the es- tablishment of the Long Branch Banking Com- pany, and at its organization was elected presi- dent of the institution, which position he still retains, giving entire satisfaction to all inter- ested.
EDEN WOOLLEY is descended from English stock, his grandparents having been Benjamin and Catharine Cook Woolley, who resided at Poplar, Occan township, Monmouth County. Their children were Patience, wife of George Corlies ; Deborah, married to Jesse Cook ; Mary (Mrs. Thomas White); Elizabeth, wife of William Parker ; and one son, Jacob, born on the homestead, where he was, during his active life, a farmer. He married Elizabeth, daughter of Samuel and Elizabeth Tueker, of Deal, and had children,-Benjamin, Catharine (wife of John P. Lewis), Jacob, Tucker, Elizabeth (wife of John Howland), Joseph, Eden and Emeline (wife of John Corlics). Eden Woolley was born March 5, 1805, on the homestead, where, after
771
OCEAN TOWNSHIP AND LONG BRANCH.
such advantages as the country schools afforded, he gave his services to his father in the culti- vation of the farm, which he afterwards success- fully managed. He was married, on the 10th of October, 1836, to Miss Elizabeth, daughter of Daniel Williams, of Poplar. Their children are Mary Elizabeth (Mrs. James E. Lippincott, of Long Branch), born September 21, 1836, and Sarah Louvinia (Mrs. Benjamin B. Hance of New York), born October 12, 1841. On the death of Mr. Woolley's father, in 1827, in his
during his active life so occupied with business interests as to leave little time for the discussion of political questions. He is still true to the Quaker teachings of his youth, and worships with the Friends' Meeting.
THE LONG BRANCH MUTUAL FIRE IN- SURANCE COMPANY was incorporated on April 9, 1867, with the following corporators : Jacob Herbert, Francis Corlies, Henry Howland, James E. Lippincott, Samuel Laird, Samuel C. 1
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Eden Woolly
sixty-sixth year, his son Eden inherited a farm, as did each of the sons, his property em- bracing a portion of the homestead. This he sold to his brother and purchased land on which he at present resides, where he has since 1835 fol- lowed the pursuits of a farmer, though much of the labor has latterly fallen to other hands as a consequence of his advancing years. Mr. Woolley is a director of the Long Branch Banking Company, and, as a Republican, has served on the township committee, though
Morris, Thomas G. Chattle and Joseph H. Cooper. The first president was Jacob Herbert, who was suecceded by Dr. T. G. Chattle, who continued until its discontinuance. Dr. Chiattle was secretary until chosen president, in 1870. He was sueceeded by John E. Lanning. The affairs of the company were closed in 1875.
The Long Branch Police, Sanitary and Im- provement Commission was incorporated (as before mentioned) April 11, 1867, with power
772
HISTORY OF MONMOUTH COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.
to purchase fire apparatus. Little was done at first, but in January, 1871, the Oceanic Engine Company, No. 1, was organized with twenty- three members. In the spring of that year the ; commission purchased a four-wheel Babcock Fire Extinguisher, No. 2, which was used until 1878, when it was exchanged for a No. 1 appa- ratus of the same kind.
A supplementary act, approved April 3, 1873, provides and deelarcs
.. "That for the purpose of establishing an efficient Fire Department, and for procuring a hook-and-ladder truck, or other fire apparatus, and preparing cisterns for a suitable water supply, and for procuring a suit- able lot and erecting thercon a building in which to keep said apparatus, it shall be lawful for the Long Branci Commissioners to raise, at such times as they may deem expedient, a sum or sums of money, not exceeding in all the sum of seven thousand dollars, by taxation, in the usual manner for raising funds for the use of said commissioners.
"That the said commissioners be, and they are hereby authorized to entrust the apparatus aforesaid to the Oceanic Fire Engine Company, No. 1, of Long Branch, for care and use, subject to such regulations as said board of commissioners shall deem essential to the welfare of Long Branch; and they are hereby authorized to raise by taxation and appropriate such moneys from time to time as may be necessary to keep the same in repair."
The apparatus was turned over to the com- pany, and the present two-story building on South Street, near Bath Avenue, was erected, and is now occupied by this company and the Nep- tune Hose Company. The company has at present ninety members.
At a meeting of the commissioners, December 4, 1884, it was decided to purchase a steamer for this company, and one also for West End Com- pany. Atlantie Engine and Truck Company, No. 2, was organized December 13, 1873, with thirteen members, The steamer "Atlantic," with twelve hundred feet of hose, was purchased by the commission and placed under charge of the company, which now numbers about one hun- dred members. The engine-house is on Third Avenue, near Broadway.
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Neptune Hose Company, No. 1, whose quar- ters are with the Oceanic, was organized in 1875, and now numbers thirty-five members. The company have twelve hundred feet of hose, which belongs to the commission.
The Long Branch Fire Department was or- ganized by an ordinance of the commissioners, November 2, 1878, and the limits " divided into six fire districts, to be known as the First, Second, Third, Fourth, Fifth and Sixth Fire Districts. The First District was made to include all that portion of the incorporated district lying south of Green's Pond ; the Second District, all that por- tion bounded on the north by Brighton Ave- nue, on the south by Green's Pond, on the west by Deal turnpike and on the east by the sca ; the Third District, all that portion bounded on the south by Brighton Avenue, on the east by the sca, on the north by Bath Avenue, and on the west by road leading from John Woolley's corner to Lane's store, and by that portion of Deal turnpike running from said Lane's store to Brighton Avenue ; the Fourth District, all that portion lying between Bath Avenue and the New Jersey Southern Railroad, and west of the New York and Long Branch Railroad, also all that portion lying west of the west boundary line of District No. 3 ; the Fifth District, all that portion bounded on the south by Bath Avenue on the east by the sea, on the north by New Jersey Southern Railroad and Cooper Avenue, and west by New York and Long Branch Rail- road ; the Sixth District, all that portion lying north of the New Jersey Southern Railroad and Cooper Avenue." .
The ordinance provided for the election of a chief engineer and assistant chief engineer. An ordinanee passed June 20, 1881, provided
"That the number of members of the Fire Depart- ment in the incorporated district of Long Branch shall consist of and be two hundred members, who shall be active firemen, duly enrolled, to be distrib- uted among the different companies of said Fire De- partment, as follows, viz .: The Oceanie Engine Com- pany, Number One (1), shall consist of and be sixty meinbers; the Neptune Hose Company, Number One (1), shall consist of and be forty members; and the Atlantic Engine and Truck Company, Number Two (2), shall consist of and be one hundred members, to be distributed as follows, viz .: sixty members to the fire-engine and forty to the truck of said Atlantic Engine and Truck Company, Number Two."
December 2, 1884, an election of the Fire Department was held by the Oceanie, Atlantic and Neptune Companies and Thomas D. Baz- ley, of the Atlantic, was chosen chief engineer
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OCEAN TOWNSHIP AND LONG BRANCH.
for 1884 and J. B. Flynn, of Neptmie Company, was chosen assistant chief.
The Board of Commissioners, at a meeting held December 3, 1884, decided to purchase two steamers for the Fire Department,-one to be placed in charge of the Oecanie Engine Com- pany, No. 1, and the other to be placed with a new company recently formed at West End.
The Long Branch Water Supply Company is the successor of the Long Branch Reservoir and Water Company, which was incorporated April 11, 1867, with a capital stock of twenty-five thousand dollars and with the following cor- porators : Joseph H. Cooper, John Hoey, Charles Chamberlain, Samuel Laird, A. S. Bright, E. Bondinot Colt, Charles 1. Stetson, J. Lester Wallack and Franeis Corlies. Nothing of any importance was accomplished by this company during the seven years next following its incorporation. On March 15, 1874, the company was revived by aet of Legislature. The right of Whale Pond Brook was purchased for a water supply, and Green's Pond (now Takanassee Lake) was brought into use as a reservoir. Contraet was made with Jesse W. Starr & Sons, of Camden, to erect the works and to lay mains. The work was commenced January 1, 1877, under the management of - Berkenbine, engineer, The mains were laid through Cedar Avenne, Ocean Avenue and Main Street to the corporate limits. The water was first used in June, 1877. Pipes were extended as required, and in 1879 attachment was made with the pipes of the Monmouth Beach and Seabright Water Company. In November, 1882, a consolidation of these companies was effected under the present name and present management.
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