History of Monmouth county, New Jersey, Part 129

Author: Ellis, Franklin, 1828-1885; Swan, Norma Lippincott. [from old catalog]
Publication date: 1885
Publisher: Philadelphia, R. T. Peck & co.
Number of Pages: 1148

USA > New Jersey > Monmouth County > History of Monmouth county, New Jersey > Part 129

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The Long Branch Police, Sanitary and Im- provement Commission was incorporated (as before mentioned) April 11, 1867, with power

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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 aet, approved April 3, 1873, provides and declares

"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 thereon a building in which to keep said apparatus, it shall be lawful for the Long Branch 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 Braneli, 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 ereeted, 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. Atlantic 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.

Neptune Hose Company, No. 1, whose quar- ters are with the Oceanic, was organized in 1875, and now numbers thirty-five members. The company havetwelve 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 Distriets. 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 sea ; the Third District, all that portion bounded on the south by Brighton Avenue, on the east by the sea, 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 ordinance 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 Oceanic Engine Com- pany, Number One (1), shall consist of and be sixty members; 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 Truek Company, Number Two."

December 2, 1884, an election of the Fire Department was held by the Oceanic, Atlantic and Neptune Companies and Thomas D. Baz- ley, of the Atlantic, was chosen chief engineer

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for 1884 and .I. B. Flynn, of Neptune 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 Oceanic 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- Long Branch Encampment, No 49, 1.O O.F., was instituted in 1872. It now has forty-five members. Meetings are held in Odd-Fellows' Hall. porators : . Joseph H. Cooper, John Hoey, Charles Chamberlain, Samuel Laird, A. S. Bright, E. Boudinot Colt, Charles A. Stetson, J. Lester Wallack and Francis Corlies. Nothing Empire Lodge, No. 174, I. O. O. F., was instituted September 17, 1873, in Washington Hall, with ten charter members, and with Henry Hackman as Noble Grand. In April, 1878, the lodge fitted up Odd-Fellows' Hall, in the third story of the building on Broadway, near Liberty Street, where their meetings are 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 act 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 still held. The lodge at present has ninety- reservoir. Contract was made with Jesse W. eight members.

Starr & Sons, of Camden, to erect the works Long Branch Council, No. 429, R. A., was instituted in January, 1880, with nineteen mem- and to lay mains. The work was commenced January 1, 1877, under the management of - bers, in Templars' Hall, where they still meet. Berkenbine, engineer. The mains were laid They have at present sixty-three members.

Piqua Lodge, No. - , I. O. of G. T., was Street to the corporate limits. The water was instituted May 14, 1868. In the next year a Templars' Hall, twenty-four by seventy eight feet, was fitted up over the store of Case & Conover, which was dedicated June 26, 1869. The lodge disbanded several years ago. The hall is now used by the Long Branch Council, No. 429, R. A.

through Cedar Avenue, Ocean Avenue and Main 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.

The water system of Long Branch extends from Elberon to Seabright, about ten miles. Over fifteen miles of pipes are laid.

The Long Branch Gas-Light Company was incorporated March 15, 1884. Nothing was accomplished until 1868, when (July 1st) con- tract was made with James H. Lowry for the erection of buildings and laying fourteen thou- sand feet of mains for forty thousand dollars ; works to be completed September 1st in the same year. They were not, however, com-

pleted and accepted until October 22, 1868. They have at present about ten miles of pipe laid and connected. Joseph R. Thomas is president of the company and William W. Silkworth is the secretary. The works are in East Long Branch.

Arioch Lodge, No. 77, I. O. O. F., was in- stituted March 13, 1848, with six charter mem- bers (of whom Hamilton Taber is the only sur- vivor). Odd-Fellows' Hall was fitted up and is still used. The lodge has a membership of one hundred and sixty-nine.

Long Branch Lodge, No. 78, F. and A. M., was instituted March 3, 1867, with George W. Brown as Master. Meetings were held in Odd- Fellows' Hall about two years, and in 1869 the lodge removed to Templars' Hall, and in April, 1878, to Odd-Fellows' Hall, in the lower village, where they are at present. The lodge has at present one hundred members.

Standard Chapter, No. 35, R. A. M., was in- stituted in 1875, and now has forty-five mem- bers. Meetings are held in Odd-Fellows' Hall, in the lower village.

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HISTORY OF MONMOUTH COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.

James B. Morris Post, No. 46, G. A. R., was 1823, Brittan Tucker was keeping a store, and organized July 5, 1880, in Odd-Fellows' Hall, | the Ocean Mills were in operation a short dis- where they still hold their meetings. The post . tance north ofit. In 1825 a tavern was kept has a membership of seventy-nine, with the fol- lowing officers: W. T. Cobb, Commander ; James Minton, Senior Vice-Commander; Ste- phen H. Lippincott, Junior Vice-Commander ; built the store he now occupies. George Brown Howard A. Brinley, Adjutant; Charles E. Den- : kept the other store and became the postmaster nis, Quartermatser. here by Hannah White, and later by John R. Conk. In 1857, Brown & Cook established a store, and in 1860, Thomas Cook withdrew and of the office established here in that year. He Ocean Lodge, No. 83, K. of P., was instituted April 29, 1873, with forty-five members, and George W. Brown as Chancellor Commander. Meetings are held in Odd-Fellows' Hall. The lodge now contains ninety-six members. was succeeded by Vincent Brown, and the office is now held by John Metzger. The present hotel was built first as a wheelwright's shop by Robert Bennett, and in 1854 was changed by John R. Conk into a hotel. It has been carried on by several, and at present is kept by Henry Gugel.

Endowment Rank, Section 430, K. of P., was instituted June 29, 1881, and has at pre- sent fourteen members. Meetings are held in Arioch Lodge-room.

Long Branch Uniform Rank, No. 8, K. of P., was organized in November, 1882, with thirty- eight members. Meetings are held in the White building.

Crescent Lodge No. 764, K. of H., was or- ganized May 31, 1882, and now contains twen- ty-two members. Meetings are held in Odd- Fellows' Hall, in East Long Branch. The offi - cers are Albert Embley, Dictator ; James S. Brown, Reporter ; William W. Silkworth, Treasurer.

BRANCHPORT joins the Long Branch corpo- ration on the north and west, and has Pleasure Bay as its northwest boundary. It is op- posite Port-au-Peek, an old Indian camp- ing-ground. Eighty years ago and many years afterwards it was the property of the Wardells, and known as the Peter Wardell farm. It has a dock on Pleasure Bay from which two steamboats make trips to New York. A hotel is near the dock. Because of its prox- imity to Long Branch, it has no church or school-house. Two wooden bridges have been erected over Pleasure Bay at Branchport, and in 1880 the present iron bridge was erected at a cost of five thousand six hundred dollars.

OCEANVILLE and Deal post-office are lo- cated a short distance sonth of Wreck Pond, and west of the south part of the incorporated district of Long Branch. At this place, in

In the northeast part of Ocean township, from the north line of the incorporated district of Long Branch to a point three-fourths of a mile below the Highland bridge over the Navesink River, are the lands of the Monmouth Beach Association, the Seabright Fishing Company, the village of Seabright and the Smith property. All these lands were originally patented by Eliakim Wardell, the first sheriff of Monmouth County, and also one of the associate patentees of Monmouth. He came to this county with the Sloeums and Parkers, and took the oath of allegiance at the same time. He was a son of Thomas Wardell, who came to Boston be- tween 1633 and 1640, and later moved to Exeter, N. H. He was a follower of Anna Hutchinson. Eliakim, after marriage, settled in Hampton, N. H. His wife joined the Society of Friends, which brought persecution upon them, and they went to Rhode Island, and thence, about 1667, moved to Monmouth County, where, in 1670, he secured a patent of land in Shrewsbury, lying north of what is now North Long Branch, bounded by Pleasure Bay, South Shrewsbury River and the ocean. He bought the Indian rights of this traet for four pounds. He was evidently a man of influence, for, on December 14, 1667 he was selected as a deputy to repre- sent Shrewsbury township in the council. In 1669 he was appointed constable ; in 1673 was elected "schepen," or magistrate, under the Dutch. On May 13, 1683, he was appointed

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high sheriff of Monmouth County, and in 1688 he was chosen a member of the Provincial Assembly of deputies.

Eliakim Wardell lived on what is now Mon- mouth Beach. He had several children, of whom Joanna beeame the wife of John Eaton about 1715 and settled at what is now Eatou- town, as he at that time owned the mills there. Jacob, a son of Eliakim, settled on the original traet, and had two sons, Joseph and Peter. .Joseph settled on Narumson, or Rumson, where his descendants still live. His brother Peter remained at home a few years and moved away, and his children settled elsewhere. He returned to the old homestead in his old age and died there. After Peter left the homestead, Joseph bought out the heirs and placed his son Ben- jamin on the place. He was born in 1763, and built the house now a part of the Monmouth Casino. He died in 1821, and left the property to his sons, Charles and Henry. The former moved to New York and engaged in active busi- ness, and was prosperous. Henry remained on the homestead, where he lived until his death. Of other sons of Benjamin, John went to Colt's Neck and was in business there in 1812.

In 1865, Dr. Arthur V. Conover, a physician of Freehold, purchased of the heirs of Major Henry Wardell all the land from Atlanticville and is used only during the summer season.

(now North Long Branch), between the South Shrewsbury River and the ocean, to a mile north of Seabright, with the exception of the track of the railroad company. Dr. Conover removed to the old Wardell house, and, in 1869, sold Seabright to Mr. Mifflin Paul, and the place | began to develop at once.

June had purchased the entire place, from Mr. Gould's down to the Scabright line. Mr. Tor- rey, having leisure time and great energy, went to work, with the assistance of Harry Fosberg, a Swedish engineer, and laid out the whole place, shifting the New Jersey Southern traek from the beach and running it back where it is now, at an expense of twenty thousand dollars, the company furnishing the irou rails. Ocean Avenue was then continued until it met the Seabright road.

In 1872 the old Wardell house was remodeled and made into the present Monmouth Casino. A survey of the property was made, and lots and streets were laid out the entire length of the tract. A charter had been grauted in the winter of 1869-70 for the Seabright and Long Branch Turnpike Company, which was built in 1870. This was purchased by the association and made part of the plan. A large gang of men were set at work grading the lots which are on both sides of Ocean Avenue. A large number of cottages have been erected. An Episcopal Church (St. Peter's of Galilee) was built on the extreme north line of the associa- tion's land and near the ocean, at a cost of eight thousand dollars, and was dedicated August 26, 1873. It is supplied by visiting clergymen,

The Seabright Fishing Company own a traet of land between Monmouth Beach and Sea- bright, it being two hundred feet on the ocean and three hundred feet on the river. There are upon it a few cottages, an ice-house, a steamboat wharf and boat-houses. At this place fish are packed for the New York market. On the 1st

In the spring of 1871, Mr. Keasbey, of New- 'of June, 1884, two hundred and sixty-eight ark, Cortland Parker and John Torrey, Jr., 'small boats were on the shore at this place, thoroughly examined all the capabilities of the each having two men, and all loaded with fish.

place, staying in the old Wardell homestead, SEABRIGHT is situated on the narrow neck of land that lies between Shrewsbury River and the ocean. The land forming its site was sold June 25, 1869, by Dr. Arthur V. Conover to Mifflin Paul, who was the contractor of the Long Branch and Sea-Shore Railroad, and (1865) built the road from Long Branch to the where Dr. Conover was residing. It was built in pre-Revolutionary times, and was filled with delightful relies of a past age, full of historical interest. The three gentlemen then worked out the plan of the Monmouth Beach Association, and, enlisting with themselves seventeen others of the foremost men of New Jersey, including | steamboat wharf on Sandy Hook in 1865. The Secretary Robeson and Senator Cattell, formed land he purchased extended from the north line the association definitely, and by the 17th of | of the Seabright Fishing Company's land one

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HISTORY OF MONMOUTH COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.

mile and three chains, northward to the Ocean House property (now Bellevue), owned by Lewis Smith.

On the 1st of July, 1869, William W. Ship- pen, of New York, and Samuel B. Dod, of Princeton, became partners in the property, with the intention of developing it. A stipulation in the purchase was that a bridge should be built across the river, connecting with Rumson. A bridge between three hundred and four hundred

Hoboken. In the spring of 1870, Robert Emory erected a hotel which has since been enlarged and improved, and is now the Seabright Inn.

MIFFLIN PAUL .- Josiah Paul emigrated from England and settled in Camden, N. J., where his death occurred in 1796 of yellow fever. His two sons were William A. and Benjamin. William A. was a native of Camden, and spent his life in the State of New Jersey, having mar- ried Elizabeth Bennett, of Bordentown. Their

Mifflin Panel,

feet in length was built, which was torn down in . children are William B., Mifflin, Jane (Mrs. 1881 and replaced by the present iron bridge, at ; Joseph Rickey), Joseph, Harriet (Mrs. Robert a cost of thirty thousand dollars. A station- ! Narraway), Richard, Sarah E. (Mrs. Howard house was erected at the place, on the line of the railroad. Knowles) and Mary Ann (Mrs. William Utter). Mifflin Paul was born on the 6th of April, 1814, at Moorestown, N. J., and in youth he moved with his parents to Groveville, Mercer County. Though deprived of opportunities for a thorough education, he devoted his leisure hours to intelligent reading and study, acquir-

The Long Branch and Seabright Turnpike Company was chartered in the winter of 1869- 70, and the turnpike built in 1870, under the management of Mr. Paul. Cottages were built in that year by Mifflin Paul, William W. Ship- pen, Samuel Dod and Mrs. E. A. Stephens, of | ing a thoughtful habit of mind and mental dis-

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OCEAN TOWNSHIP AND LONG BRANCH.

cipline, which made ample amends for the want of an academie course. In 1825 his father ex- changed his property in Mercer County for two farms in Jefferson County, N. Y., to which the family removed and continued to reside for eight years. Mifflin Paul, in 1833, entered the employ of the Camden and Amboy Railroad in a subordinate capacity, and was finally pro- moted to the position of conductor, which he continued to fill acceptably for a period of eighteen years. He was then made superintendent of the Burlington and Mount Holly Railroad and directed the construction of the Pemberton Branch of the road. In April, 1861, he re- moved to Hoboken, having been made general superintendent of the various railroad enter- prises projected by the late Edwin A. Stevens. He built the Hoboken and Newark Railroad, as also the Hoboken and Jersey City Horse-Car Railroad, and put both into operation, continu- ing for a while as manager of each. In 1865 he eommeneed building the Long Branch and Sea-Shore Railroad, of which he was for four ; years superintendent. Determining, in 1869, to embark to some extent in real estate operations, he purchased one mile and three chains on the sea-coast, now familiarly known as Seabright, and at once began the work of building and improving the property. It is not extravagant praise to say that Mr. Paul was the moving impulse in all the improvements made at this point, and has manifested much enterprise and taste in his extensive and varied undertakings. IIe obtained the charter and built the bridge aeross the Shrewsbury River against great opposition from the freeholders of the county, who at the time placed an injunction on the same, thereby delaying its completion. He has also ereeted two hotels, various cottages and other attractive buildings. Mr. Paul was, in September, 1835, Yard, of Mercer County. The children of this marriage who grew to mature years were Sarah E. (Mrs. George B. Sandt), Loretta (deceased), Jane A. (Mrs. D. W. Bedford, de- eeased) and Julia A. Mr. Paul was again married, in 1855, to Mrs. Martha H., widow of John P. Martin, whose children are Martha M. (Mrs. Charles Dederer) and one who is de-

ceased. Mr. Paul manifests little interest in the political issues of the day other than to vote the Republican ticket. His church relations are with the Baptist congregation at Red Bank. Of this church he is an active and useful mem- ber.

The Octagon Hotel was built by Mr. Paul for his daughter, Mrs. George B. Saudt. This was used a few years, and in 1879 the present hotel was built on its site. The Penin- sula House was built on the river side in 1881, by Mr. Paul for his daughter, Mrs. C. H. Dede- rer. In the winter of 1884-85 it was moved to the ocean side, when the original structure became the wings of a eentral building, then erected, making it the largest hotel in Seabright. The Hotel Shrewsbury was originally erected by Cornelius Stokem as a refrigerator for fish. It was later turned into a cottage, and in 1880 into the present hotel, now kept by Woolman Stokes, Jr. A life-saving station is near the hotel. A post-office was established at this place in 1870, and located at the station. In August, 1872, John Megill, station agent, was appointed postmaster, and is still in office. In 1881 the office was moved from the station to the present location.

Seabright is Sub-District No. 5 of School- District No. 85, Long Branch. The first house was built in 1874, destroyed by fire in 1878, rebuilt of brick in 1879, and enlarged in 1882, at a total cost of three thousand six hundred dollars.

Water is supplied to Seabright by the Long Branch Water Supply Company. A company had been formed at Seabright, who laid pipes and connected with the Long Branch Company. In November, 1882, the companies consolidated and are now working as one.

The Ocean Fire Company of Seabright was married to Catharine, daughter of Benjamin | organized May 25, 1881, with fifteen members.

An engine was procured and an engine-house erected on Ocean Avenue.

THE TABERNACLE METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH was organized in February, 1875, with six members and with the Rev. William P. Strickland as pastor. He has been succeeded by Revs. John Wilson, - Given, E. C. Hancock, J. E. Lake, C. E. Hill and the pres-

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HISTORY OF MONMOUTH COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.

ent pastor, A. M. Lake. Services were held for a time in private houses. A church edifice was begun on Ocean Avenue in the spring of 1875, and dedicated in June 26th in that year by Bishop Janes.

In 1877 a small Presbyterian Church was erected, which was replaced in 1880 by the present church. It is used only in the summer, and is supplied by visiting clergymen.

A Roman Catholic congregation was organized in 1883. Services are held in Poppinga Hall.

The iron bridge across the Shrewsbury River connects Seabright with Jumping Point, on ; Rumson Neck. Many fine residences have been built at the place. Opposite Jumping Point was at one time the old Shrewsbury Inlet, through which the waters of the river entered the sea. The inlet has been several times open, and as often closed, as at present, forcing the waters of the river to seek an outlet into Sandy Hook Bay. In the diary of Robert Harts- horne (now in possession of his grandson, Ed- ward Hartshorne) are found the following en- tries :

" January 10, 1756, with a very violent gale from the northeast, the sea broke through the beach opposite the mouth of Shrewsbury River."

"On January 20, 1757, with a very violent gale from the northeast, the sea broke through the beach at Jumping Point, now Salter's." The place here mentioned was the land of Rich- ard Salter, opposite the Wardell property, which is now Seabright.

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History of Monmouth county, New Jersey, Part 129

Author: Ellis, Franklin, 1828-1885; Swan, Norma Lippincott. [from old catalog] Publication date: 1885 Publisher: Philadelphia, R. T. Peck & co. Number of Pages: 1148

Author: Ellis, Franklin, 1828-1885; Swan, Norma Lippincott. [from old catalog]
Publication date: 1885
Publisher: Philadelphia, R. T. Peck & co.
Number of Pages: 1148