History of Monmouth county, New Jersey, Part 143

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 143

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

862

HISTORY OF MONMOUTH COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.

At three o'clock something gave way four hundred feet below, and in three minutes the small iron pipe sunk twenty feet through the sand, below the bottom of the bore. 'What does that mean ?' was asked. ' It means we have reached the sand bed,' said Mr. Safford. Immediately, the steamer threw down a stream of water from Fletcher Lake, with great force, and a wash of sand and water came np, a cart-load or two, in fifteen or twenty minutes. In halfan hour the engine stopped, but the sand and water continued to flow of their own pressure. 'What does that mean ?' was excitedly asked. 'It means,' said Mr. Safford, ' that we have struck water.' The interest grew and intensified. We watched and wondered-wondered and watched-and as the water and sand continued to roll out, rising four hundred and twenty feet to the surface, of their own force, grew almost delirious with joy. Hope had so long been deferred, and the heart had so often been almost sick, that the realization of our long-cherished desire seemed more like a dream than real. Our first promptings were to sing the Dox- ology. Then we took a bucket and measured the flow. Again and again we measured, so as to be sure there was no mistake. Then we found a barrel of forty- three gallons, which was filled in just one minute. It was now six o'clock P.M., and the water had been flowing three full hours without abatement. We left it for the night. The news spread with great rapidity. Next morning the water was still flowing, and there were crowds to witness the scene and offer their con- gratulations. Another measurement was had, and the flow was increased to a barrel in fifty seconds. Multitudes in coaches and on foot flocked to the scene all through the day, for days together, and the joy was general. By actual test, it was found that the water would rise in pipes twenty-eight feet above the surface of the ground. At eighteen feet nine inches above ground, the flow was one barrel of forty-three gallons in two minutes and thirty-five seconds, and at sixteen feet three inches, in one minute and forty seconds. After a week or so, upon consultation, it was decided to lead the water of the well through iron pipes, one thousand feet across the turnpike, just north of the head of Fletcher Lake, inside of Ocean Grove proper, and form a fountain, so that all passers along the high- way could see it, until such time as we shall deter- mine how best to utilize the flow. This was done, and on Sunday morning, August 25th, the first waters of the fountain flashed in the sun."

A quantity of the water of the well, in the best condition, was sent to New Brunswick, ` N. J., to be analyzed by Professor Cook, who, in his report, after giving the result of the analysis, said : " It is clear, bright and spark- ling, and cannot but be wholesome. The source from whence the water comes, the taste of it, and its appearance are sufficient vouchers for its

good qualities. The mineral matter is so small in quantity that the water will be classed as ' soft,' so that it can be used for washing and for all other purposes where such water is de- sirable." The total cost of the well was $3636.46.

This well is located a few feet south of the ice- house, near the railroad, a little south of the head of Fletcher Lake. From it the water is led, in four-inch iron pipe, across the turnpike to the head of Stockton Avenue; thence up Lawrence Avenue to Main, three thousand one hundred feet ; down Main to Pilgrim Pathway, one thousand five linndred feet, in six-inch pipe, where it supplies a fountain ; thence down Main Avenne one thousand two hundred feet, to plank- walk, two-inch pipe supplying a fountain there; up Pilgrim Pathway to the Auditorium grounds one thousand feet, in two-inch pipe, flushing water-closets, and thence eight hundred and thirty feet, one and a half inch pipe, supplying three other ornamental fountains in the Auditorium grounds. Public and private houses are also supplied, leaving a large overflow for flushing sewers.

The sewerage system of Ocean Grove was begun in 1880, and there are at present thirty- eight thousand one hundred and seventy feet, or seven miles twelve hundred and ten feet of pipes, fourteen thousand and twenty feet of which is six-inch pipe, sixteen thousand seven hundred and thirty feet of twelve-inch pipe, and seven thousand four hundred and twenty feet of ten- inch pipe.

The Washington Steam Fire-Engine Com- pany, No. 1, of Ocean Grove, was organized in 1880 with forty members, Captain Lewis Rain- ear chief. The Ocean Grove Association own all the fire apparatus. In 1872 they purchased two fire extinguishers, valued at one hundred dollars. In 1875 the association purchased a suction engine and hose-carriage and erected an engine-house. In 1877, in addition to this apparatus, they procured a four-wheel truek, four ladders, fire-hooks, axes, buckets, four small fire extinguishers and a large-size four- wheel chemical-engine. After the organization of the fire company the apparatus was turned

863

NEPTUNE TOWNSHIP.

over to the company. A first-class steam fire- engine, two hose-carriages and fifteen hundred feet of hose were purchased and an engine- house, twenty-four by forty feet in size, two stories in height, was ereeted on the south side of Olin Street, between Pilgrim Pathway and Central Avenue.

The place is abundantly supplied with water for fire purposes. The lakes on either side form a reservoir always available for the portions of the town near them. A fire-plug supplied by four wells driven on the edge of Centennial Park, furnishes water for a radius of fifteen hun- dred feet. The water from the main artesian well will soon be connected for fire purposes also.

Ocean Grove post-office was established in June, 1871, at which time there were not twenty-five people resident within a mile of the place. A little building occupied by Charles Rogers, near the Main Avenue gate, was made the post-office, and H. B. Beegle was the first postmaster. He opened the office for business June 30, 1871. The office remained in this building (now Elim Cottage) about six weeks, and was removed to a store building on the present site of the Janes Memorial Tabernacle, where it remained several years, until the build- ing was removed to the site of Association Hall, where it remained in the building until the completion of Association Hall. The office was moved July 30, 1882, and opened the next morning, August 1st. Mr. Beegle has been the postmaster from the establishment of the office.

The room occupied for postal and telegraphie purposes is on the first floor of the main build- ing, and is thirty-five by sixty-two feet, with iron columns supporting a ceiling thirteen feet high. The fixtures are of the most modern and approved styles, with seven hundred and seventy call and one hundred and twenty lock-boxes of the latest pattern. There are also three general deliveries, four call deliveries, one newspaper de- livery, one stamp and postal money-order win- dow, five boxes for depositing letters for mailing, and one telegraph window. Inside of the post-office inclosure is the mailing-room, for making up and distributing mails, postmaster's private waiting-room and telegraph-office, with

all other appliances needed in a first-class office room, the whole of which is lighted with gas. The work which incloses the post-office is of the Elizabethan style of architecture, built of white ash, California red wood, white pine, chestnut and other woods, with large square windows at the top for ventilation, working with pulleys. It is the design and workmanship of Ander- son Hagerman, of Asbury Park, and cost the very low sum of eight hundred and fifty dol- lars, not ineluding the one hundred and twenty lock-boxes, which cost three hundred and eighteen dollars and thirty cents. The whole expense of post-office arrangements, including lock-boxes, gas-fixtures and all complete, is over twelve hundred dollars, which is, in addi- tion to the room in which the office is located, furnished wholly at the expense of the asso- ciation, without remuneration from the general government in any way or form.

The Ocean Grove Record newspaper is pub- lished at Asbury Park by the Rev. Adam Wal- lace, who was the first editor and publisher. The first number was issued June 5, 1875,-a four-column quarto sheet. It is now a six- column paper, fifteen by twenty-two inches, devoted to Ocean Grove and its religious in- terests.

The bathing privileges of Ocean Grove were granted prior to 1876 to W. T. Street, whose time expired in that year. It was decided by the executive committee to locate permanently two bathing-places,-one near the foot of Wesley Lake, the other near the foot of Fletcher Lake, both to be under the same regulations, but con- dueted by different persons. The ground at the foot of Fletcher Lake was leased for five years to Mr. T. W. Lillagore, with the bathing privi- lege. Mr. Lillagore built two hundred and five bathing-houses and two pavilions. The bathing- houses and life-lines on the bathing-ground at the head of Wesley Lake, belonging to Mr. Street, were purchased by the association and leased for one year to George Evans. In 1877 they were leased for a term of years to Joseph Ross, who increased the number of bathing- houses to three hundred and sixty, and added twenty-four, in which are excellent arrangements for hot and cold salt-water baths. He also built

864

HISTORY OF MONMOUTH COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.

a building for a restaurant and two pavilions. In 1884 he had seven hundred bathing-houses and Lillagore eight hundred. The houses of both bathing-grounds are amply supplied with hot bath-rooms and bathing-suits, bathing-mas- ters and life-boats. Large pavilions are also on each property, with restaurants and places of refreshment.

ASBURY PARK is in the northeast corner of Neptune township, between Great Pond (now Deal Lake) on the north, and Long Pond ( Wesley Lake) on the south, between this place and Ocean Grove.

The land on which both Asbury Park and Ocean Grove are now located was granted to Gavin Drummond, November 2, 1692, and con- firmed to him November 12, 1701. It was described in parcels as "Ye meadow on Little Pond (now Sunset Lake), Long Pond (Wesley Lake), Goose Pond (now Fletcher Lake) and on Duck Creek, by Shark River." These scem to be the meadow-lands along the ponds or lakes. Drummond afterwards took up and purchased other tracts in the vicinity. From that time to 1869 this tract was in possession of different parties, and was a wilderness, uneultivated and uninhabited, except by an occasional fisherman. The canses that brought about the purchase of the land for a summer resort have been often narrated, but they will be mentioned somewhat in detail here as pertinent to a historical account of Asbury Park. The story is here given as told by James A. Bradley, a brush manufacturer of New York City, the original proprietor of the Park,-

"One afternoon in May, 1870, I was walking down Broadway, New York, and suddenly ran against my friend, David H. Brown, Esq., treasurer of the Ocean Grove Association. 'IIow is Ocean Grove getting along?' I asked. 'Very fairly,' said he, 'why don't you buy a lot? Those who have their names put down now have first choice.' 'Well, put me down for two,' said I. A few days after, in company with Rev. W. H. Boole and George W. Cheeseman, of Birmingham, Conn., Rev. Mr. Saxe and others, we started for Ocean Grove. We took the boat for Port Monmouth, thence by railroad to Eaton- town. The sea-shore route was opened a few days afterwards. After dining at Mr. Brown's country-house at Eatontown, we drove to Ocean Grove in carriages.

The turnpike company had just commenced oper- ations, and from Great Pond to Ocean Grove was one of the worst roads that could well be imagined. I was completely taken with Ocean Grove and its surround- ings -- so much so that I purchased the first lot ever sold there, the premium being eighty-five dollars.

"Having for some time previous been in bad health, I concluded to try what I had been recom- mended-sea-air. So, a few days after purchasing the lots, taking two horses, carriage and tent, and John Baker, my colored man, I left the hum of the busy eity behind, to become an inhabitant of the wild woods, where my wearied body and brain might rest, lulled to sleep by the murmuring sea at night, and awakened in the morning by the songs of birds in the pine-trees surrounding my couch.

"John and I arrived at Ocean Grove just at night- fall, and having got our horses under shelter, we has- tened to erect our tent. It was too dark to get poles, so we hung the tent on the beams of what was after- wards the association office, the first building ever erected in Ocean Grove. The building at that time was without roof. We were without light, and soon after lunching on some crackers we lay down to sleep, our heads resting on the carriage cushions, and our cov- ering being the carriage blankets. So we spent our first night in Ocean Grove.

" In the morning Baker sighed and said, ' Mr. B., this is a wilderness place.' IIe was homesick ; for, let the reader, who, perhaps, has been on the same spot during the busy summer season, and heard the continuous click of the telegraph instrument and seen the vast throng of men and maidens call for their letters when the mail arrives, remember it was far different on the morning of which we are writing; although it was the 10th of June, not a soul was within hearing distance of us. I cheered him by saying : 'Oh ! don't be cast down,' and soon we were eating our morning lunch. That finished, we proceeded to my lots on the lake, and pitched our small tent on the ground now built upon and owned by Rev. Alfred Cookman's widow. My large tent was erected on the lot now owned by William P. Breck, Esq., and so we began our Crusoe life. During the day we occasion- ally saw Mr. Franklin's men, who worked about the grounds, and at night we were left to our solitude. Mr. Franklin's men tented on the lots now covered by the Hayward cottage, but on Sundays went to their homes, in the interior of the township.

"One evening Baker and I took a stroll along the ocean and I proposed a bath. Baker smiled and said 'No, no.' 'But remember, John, cleanliness is next to godliness.' I took an ocean bath ; but, oh, how different from the way bathers usually enjoy the surf, the waves dashing over their heads. I laid down on the soft sand and allowed the water to just toneh my body, and I can tell you, reader, it is somewhat lonely to trust yourself in the great ocean in the twilight and alone. After I had been lying on the beach for a

865

NEPTUNE TOWNSHIP.

little while, I looked around to see what had become of Baker. He had plucked up courage hy my exam- ple and had really divested himself of his clothes, and, coward like myself, barely allowed the water to touch him. His dusky skin was somewhat in contrast with the white sand, and never before did I realize the re- lation that must have existed between Robinson Cru- soe and his man Friday.

" During the camp-meeting that took place in Au- gust, we often heard the inquiry, Who owns the land on the other side of the lake? One day Rev. William B. Osborn and myself went over, and, at the risk of having our elothes torn from our bodies, worked our way through the briars until we reached Sunset Lake. And, like the red man of whom we read in history, we could say ' Alabama-here we rest ;' for we stood on the banks of as beautiful a sheet of water as ean be found anywhere. We returned to the Grove by way of the beach, and soon set to work to make up a company to purchase the land. We soon learned the owner would not sell the land in parcels, but the purchaser must take the whole or none. Here was a difficulty ; five hundred acres! 'Never mind,' said some one, ' there's a pile of money to be made, and the more land we have the more money we will make.' Our company was to consist of eight persons, some of whom were very enthusiastic; but, alas! when the cool nights of autumn came along, it chilled their en- thusiasm, and their example had its chilling effect on me. But I often thought of the matter, and as soon as I heard that Bishop Simpson, of the MI. E. Church, urged the Ocean Grove Association to purchase it, to prevent its falling into the hands of some one who was not in sympathy with the enterprise they had in their hands, I called on David H. Brown, and pro- posed he should join me in the purchase by taking one-eighth, the price asked being about ninety thou- sand dollars. 'No,' said he, 'I am determined to have nothing to do with any enterprise in that neighborhood that would seem to place me in an in- consistent position, as I am now treasurer of the Ocean Grove Association. This I will do; I will write to every member of the association, and if they say buy, I am inelined to think I shall not oppose it, although I think we have enough land now. But if they do not bny it, you can. And as you wish me to negotiate the purchase, I will do so, on condition that you advance the requisite amount to secure the prop- erty, and if the association decide to take it, your money to be refunded. We are to have a week's op- tion to consider the matter.' A majority of the as- sociation decided not to purchase the land, although some nrged it very strongly ; so the property became mine; I, at the same time assuring them that the prop- erty would be resold only to such parties as would appreciate the situation of the place. After the pur- chase, the briars before alluded to, with the tangled underbrush, were removed at a cost of several thou- sand dollars. And very few would now suppose that

the choice spots upon which are now creeted beauti- ful cottages was so recently a jungle."

Mr. Bradley, foreseeing the demand for land for settlement along the shore, commenced the purchase of land at different places. The tract on which Asbury Park is situated con- tained three hundred and eighty-seven acres, then in the township of Ocean (now Neptune). This and two other tracts were purchased of Luther Elting, January 24, 1871, the three tracts containing six hundred and fifty-eight acres. A portion of the first tract mentioned was platted and laid out into lots fifty by one hundred and fifty feet, fronting on avenues from seventy-five to one hundred feet in width. The parks were also located and the place was named Asbury Park, in honor of Bishop Francis Asbury.

After grading had been properly commenced, and the grounds laid out under a well-devised and considered plan, the lots were offered for sale to such, and such only, as would build upon them. Park Hall, a two-story frame building, was at once erected. It stood where H. Stein- bach & Co.'s brick store now is. This building was the headquarters of all business connected with the place, and, almost without exception, all the churches, societies and other enterprises have been organized in this hall. It remained upon its original site until the fall of 1882, when it was moved to its present location, where it is now used as the offices of Board of Commissioners, Sewer Works, Board of Health, Artesian Well Water Company, and court- room. The police station is also connected with the building.

On the 4th of March, 1874, an act was passed to incorporate Asbury Park. This act provides and declares :

"That James A. Bradley, Lybran Sill, Isaac Mc- Farland, A. J. Brown, Abram H. Morris, W. L. At- kinson, George C. Ormerod, W. Windsor, William F. | Wilson, William Miller, A. E. Hemsted, Theodore S. Woolley, Poiset Cross, Richard B. Campbell, Wash- ington White. Jeremiah Bennett, Heury Campbell, James Hagerman, John A. Githens, John H. Beegle, William T. Street, Lewis C. Greene, Justice W. Beards- ley, Theodore Oves, Alpha J. Kynett, William H. Parker, David H. Wyckoff, Isaac L. Martin, John Langford, Peter J. Cox, James H. Orr, George W. Weikel, William I. Gill, William H. Pearne, Allan

866

HISTORY OF MONMOUTH COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.

R. Cook, George Atkins, J. C. Morgan, Harrison Dixon, William W. Wimer, Thomas Perrins, William H. Deitz, Uriah White and Reseau Brown, and all other persons who may be legal voters in said Borough of Asbury Park, be, and they are hereby constituted a body corporate and politie, in fact and in law, under the name and title of the Borough of Asbury Park, in the township of Ocean, county of Monmouth, to have, hold and exercise, all and singular, the privileges and powers hereinafter described.

"That the boundaries of the said Borough shall be as follows, to wit: Beginning at a point in the middle of Great Pond where it empties into the Atlantic Ocean; running thence westerly through and up the centre of said Pond to the west line of the New Egypt and Farmingdale Railroad, as now graded; thence southerly along the west line of the same until it reaches Wesley Lake; thence down the eentre of Wesley Lake to the Atlantic Ocean; thenee norther- ly along the shore of said Ocean to the place of begiu- ning.

"That it shall not be lawful to sell, vend or barter spirituous liquors, ale, beer or any intoxicating liq- ours of any kind whatsoever, within a distance of one mile from Wesley Lake Bridge, at Ocean Grove, and Asbury Park, in Monmouth County, State of New Jersey, except for medicinal purposes, at regular drug stores, and under the prescriptions of regularly prae- ticing physicians; any person or persons offending against the provisions of this act shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor, and fined fifty dollars and costs for each offence, said fine to be paid to the overseers of the poor, for the support of the poor of the county."

James A. Bradley has been president of the Board of Commissioners from the first to the present time, with the exception of 1883, when N. E. Buchanon held the office. Isaac C. Kennedy was clerk until 1878, and was sue- ceeded by Caleb T. Bailey, the present business manager of Mr. Bradley. The following- named are the present officers of the borough of Asbury Park : Commissioners, James A. Bradley, (president), Bruce S. Keator, M.D., Theodore Oves, Myron S. Gould, Edward M. Fielder, James H. Romain, John Rockafeller. Chief of Police, C. T. Bailey ; Clerk, C. T. Bailev.

The borough fire Department was commenced by the purchase of the La France steam fire-en- gine that is now in charge of the Wesley Steam Fire-Engine Company, No. 1. This company was organized in 1871, and has at present fifty members. The valuation of engine and real estate, including fifteen hundred feet of hose, is

six thousand dollars. The engine-house is lo- cated on the corner of Bond Street and Mattison Avenne.

The Independence Hook-and-Ladder Com- pany, No. 1, whose building is adjoining the Wesley Fire Company, was organized in 1879 and incorporated November 8, 1881. It now has twenty-five members. Its house, lot and appa- ratus is valued at one thousand dollars.

The Neptune Steam Fire-Engine Company, No. 2, whose engine-house is on Main Street, between Asbury and Sewall Avenues, was organized in December, 1882, and incorporated Jannary 5, 1883. It has now a membership of sixty. The steamer was originally a Silsby, but was afterwards altered to a La France. The valuation of the real estate, engine and fifteen hundred feet of hose is seven thousand dollars.

The Allen R. Cook Chemical Engine Com- pany was incorporated April 30, 1884. It is composed of eighteen young men. The engine and hose are valued at five hundred dollars. The house is adjoining that of the Neptune.

In addition to the engines mentioned, Mr. James A. Bradley has five hand fire-engines valued at five hundred dollars, located at the following places : One in rear of Glendale Cottage, Seventh Avenue, north side, near Packard Street; one at southeast corner Fifth Avenue Pavilion ; one at Asbury Avenne Pavilion ; one at Asbury Park stable-yard, Main Street, between Fourth and Fifth Avenues; and one at Park Hall. The Fire Department is under the charge of S. W. Kirkbride, chief; Jacob Borden, assistant chief. In 1877, Educational Hall, on the Centennial Grounds at Philadelphia, was purchased by Mr. Bradley, taken down and ereeted on Grand Avenue, between Second and Third Streets. It is used for local entertain- ments and religious services. It has a seating capacity of two thousand.

Entirely as a private enterprise, Mr. Bradley, in 1881, began laying sewer-pipes. Since that time sixteen miles of pipes have been laid through all the streets, so that every lot can be sewered. Of the eight hundred and ten cottages in the Park, over six hundred are in connection with the sewer system of the place.

At Asbury Park is the railway station,

867

NEPTUNE TOWNSHIP.

which also accommodates Oeean Grove, there being no station at the latter place. In 1883 a station was located at North Asbury Park. Following are given the railway statistics of Asbury Park and Ocean Grove for the year 1883, viz. :

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

History of Monmouth county, New Jersey, Part 143

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