USA > New Jersey > Atlantic County > Atlantic City > The Daily union history of Atlantic City and County, New Jersey : containing sketches of the past and present of Atlantic City and County > Part 17
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The oldest living inhabitants still remember when pine slab seats served wor- shipers, who assembled about the high pulpit. now modernized, which then as now commanded a full view of the spacious galleries around three sides of this old- fashioned temple of Methodism.
Services are still held every other Sunday at the Head of the River, by the pastor at Tuckahoe, with a prosperous school every Sunday. The membership
310
DAILY UNION HISTORY OF ATLANTIC COUNTY.
includes some twenty-five families. The building has recently been painted and renovated by friends and descendants of the "rude forefathers" of these hamlets who have been laid to rest in the adjacent cemetery during the past century.
People from far and near still bury their dead in the adjoining cemetery and every fall hold anniversary services there, decorate the graves, recall the sacred past and help perpetuate and keep in repair this old church property.
Directly across the road is the site of one of the first Baptist churches in South Jersey, long since gone to decay. From the headstones in the adjacent cemetery the following inscriptions are taken:
Jacob Godfrey, died 1864, aged 73 years; Emmeline Godfrey, died March, 1889, aged 78 years; Solomon Warner, Died 1866, aged 82 years; Mahala Warner, died 1876, aged 86; Ebenezer Seeley, died 1848, aged 50 years; Mary Seeley, died 1876, aged 71 years; John C. Estell, died 1793, aged 46; Peter Corson, died 1793. aged 23 years. He preached the gospel of the Lord, and is gone to his reward. John Hogan, dicd June 4, 1868, aged 77; Catharine Hogan, died August 19, 1879, aged 86 years; Jolin Burley, died December, 1875, aged 72 years; Roxanna Burley, died 1879, aged 69 years; George Champion, died August, 1894, aged 88 years; Abigal Champion, 72 years, died 1888; Nathaniel Steelman, died 1864, aged 64; Elizabeth Steeiman, born 1808, died 1897; Theophilus W. Weeks, born 1817, died 1895: Hannah Weeks, born 1819, died 1882.
OLD CHURCH AT TUCKAHOE.
Five Banking Institutions.
HIS city is well provided with financial institutions. It has three National banks, two safe deposit and trust companies and half a dozen building and loan associations.
The First National Bank was organized March 18, 1881, after several months of persistent canvassing on the part of Robert D. Kent, who became the first cashier.
The first Board of Directors were: Joseph A. Barstow, John B. Champion, George F. Currie, Charles Evans. Richard H. Turner and Elisha Roberts. The officers were: Charles Evans. President, and Robert D. Kent. Cashier. The bank was first opened for business on May 23, 1881, occupying temporarily a room in the Currie Building, near the corner of South Carolina avenue.
Later the bank moved into the Bartlett Bank Building, which was erected especially for the purpose.
No dividends were declared the first year but semi-annual three per cent. dividends were paid thereafter, till now the surplus is three times the invested capital of $50,000, and semi-annual dividends of nine per cent. are paid.
The following are the present officers and directors: Charles Evans, Presi- dent; Joseph H. Borton, Vice-President; George Allen, George W. Crosby, Dr. T. K. Reed, J. Haines Lippincott, John B. Champion, Elisha Roberts, Fred Hemsley, Francis P. Quigley, Cashier. It will soon occupy its own handsome building on the site of the old Mansion House.
The Second National Bank was organized December 18, 1886, with a capital of $100,000, and began business January 24. 1887, in its own brick and stone building at the corner of New York avenue. It has steadily prospered and has paid dividends regularly since the second year amounting to $66,000, and accu- mulated a surplus of $50,000. The officers and directors are: Geo. F. Currie, President; Levi C. Albertson, Vice-President; Robt. B. MacMullin, Cashier ; Jos. Thompson, Louis Kuehnle, Enoch B. Scull, Israel G. Adams, Jas. H. Mason, Samuel K. Marshall, Jos. Scull, Absalom Cordery, E. V. Corson, Lewis Evans, Warren Somers.
The Atlantic Safe Deposit and Trust Company is located in the same build- ing, with a capital of $100,000. It pays interest on deposits, rents boxes in its burglar and fire-proof vaults and exercises all the powers and privileges of such institutions. The officers and directors are: Geo. F. Currie, President; Jos.
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GUARANTEE TRUST COMPANY
UNION NATIONAL BANK.
SECOND NATIONAL BANK.
FIVE BANKING INSTITUTIONS
Thompson, Vice-President: Robert B. MacMullin, Secretary and Treasurer. and Thompson & Cole, Solicitors. Levi C. Albertson, Israel G. Adams, Enoch B. Scull, Jas. H. Mason, Samuel K. Marshall, John C. Fifield. M. D. Youngman. C. L. Cole, Warren Somers and Alfred C. MeClellan.
The Union National Bank was organized in August, 1890, and opened for business October 11th of the same year with a capital stock of $100.000. It also occupies its own handsome brick building at the corner of Kentucky avenue.
The Union Bank has progressed steadily, having acquired a surplus of $50,000.
The officers and directors are: Hon. Allen B. Endicott, President; Smith Conover, Vice-President; C. J. Adams. James D. Southwick, Alfred W. Baily, James Flaherty, Thomas J. Dickerson, Lewis P. Scott, Lucien O. Corson. George W. Jackson, Thompson Irvin, G. Jason Waters and James M. Aikman, Cashier.
The Real Estate and Investment Company of Atlantic City is an organiza- tion formed by representative business and professional men and prominent real estate holders in Atlantic City, in November, 1897. under a liberal charter for the purpose of making a profit from the judicious purchase and sale of lands. Individual effort along this line even with limited capital has brought fortune to many of the citizens of Atlantic City. This company was formed by a number of the most successful of these gentlemen, who feel certain that by using the com- bined brain and capital at the service of the company large returns must be realized. The company was not formed to develop any particular tract or to confine its work to any particular section of the city, but to avail itself of every desirable opportunity.
Its capital is $200,000, in shares of $100 each. At the close of its first fiscal year a dividend of twenty per cent. was declared and paid in cash.
The officers of the company are: Carlton Godfrey, President: William .1. Faunce, Treasurer, and Rodman Corson, Secretary. The Directorate is com- posed almost entirely of practical and successful business men who have been residents of Atlantic City for years, and who are thoroughly conversant with and alive to its needs, and familiar with the opportunities which arise out of its rapid and substantial development. The entire Directorate, which was unanimously re- elected at the annual meeting, is as follows:
Clement J. Adams, William .\. Bell. George W. Crosby. Rodman Corson. Thomas J. Dickerson, George P. Eldredge. William A. Faunce. John J. Gardner. Carlton Godfrey, Samuel D. Hoffman, Nelson Ingram, Louis Kuehnle. Arvine H. Phillips, Francis P. Quigley. J. Byron Rogers. Maurice D. Youngman.
314
DAILY UNION HISTORY OF ATLANTIC COUNTY.
The Guarantee Trust Company is the youngest banking institution in this city It was organized November 8, and was incorporated November 14, 1899. It opened for business January 2, 1900, and at the end of its first month had de- posits amounting nearly to its capital stock. The following are the incorporators, directors and officers: Carlton Godfrey, President; Louis Kuehnle, Vice-Presi- dent; John J. Gardner, A. H. Phillips, Wm. A. Faunce, Clifton C. Shinn, O. J. Hammell, Hubert Somers, William F. Wahl, James Parker, Dr. Nelson Ingram, M. S. Mccullough, Dr. Wm. M. Pollard, S. R. Morse, George P. Eldredge, Henry W. Leeds, Walter E. Edge, James B. Reilley, L. G. Salmon, Heulings Lippincott.
JOHN W. PARSONS.
Great Advance in Real Estate.
HE increase in the values of real estate in this city has been marvelous. Fifty feet lots fronting on Atlantic avenue, which sold thirty years ago for $500 each, are now sold and held for $500, $800 and more per front foot. This is on land which in the early fifties was purchased by the Camden and Atlantic Land Company for $17.50 per acre. Land along the beach which was considered almost valueless in 1878 is now valued at $1,000 per foot fronting on the Boardwalk.
When John L. Young, in 1885, purchased the old Victoria rink, at the foot of South Carolina avenue, he paid $6,000 for the rink property; $4.500 for three lots adjoining, and $10,000 for several lots in front to low water. He sold one fifty- foot lot on South Carolina avenue for $12.000, which left $8,500 as the net cost of all the rest. Seven years later this property, containing the rink and merry- go-round was sold to the Somers Casino Company for $150,000, and in 1898 was bought back by Mr. Young and his associates for $200,000. The lot is 150 fect front by 400 feet deep.
The old Chester County House property on New York avenue was bought by Mr. Young for $65,000 in 1891 or 1892. He sold off the hotel section to Westminster avenue for $33.000, and disposed of other lots at $100 per front foot till he got all his money back, leaving him 90 feet of beach front clear, worth $1,000 per front foot.
Another lucky purchase was in front of the Hotel Luray at the ocean end of Kentucky avenue. This lot fronting 150 fect on the Boardwalk and extending back 200 feet, cost Mr. Young, in 1893, $75,000. John Hagan, three years before, had offered to sell it for $6,000. After holding it three years Mr. Young sold it to Mr. White of the Luray for $115.000, and it is worth $200,000 any day.
Another fortunate speculation was at the foot of Maryland avenue. This block, 175 feet front by 300 feet deep, was purchased in 1892 by Mr. Young for $25,000. He soon sold a part of it to James Bew for $10,000; another lot was sold to the Rutter Bros. for $16,000; a third lot to Hotel Islesworth for $12,000, and a fourth lot for $4,000; total, $42,000, leaving the corner lot, 75 feet front by 300 deep, worth $75,000, which Mr. Young sold to Nicholas Jeffries, in 1808, for $100,000.
About 1894, Mr. Young, with four others, purchased at public sale a full square of land near the ocean end of Atlantic avenue for $650. Two years later the land was sold for $21,000, and in October, 1898, it was sold again for $63,000, which is much less than its selling price to-day.
George W. Jackson purchased property fronting on the Boardwalk for $4,500. He paid John F. Starr $20,000 for lands in front to the water's edge. About fifteen years later Mr. Jackson sold the whole to the Steel Pier Company for $150,000.
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HARRY BACHARACH.
317
GREAT ADVANCE IN REAL ESTATE
The old Opera House lot on Atlantic avenue near Tennessee. 50 by 175 feet deep, was purchased in 1880 by Barclay Lippincott for $4,000. It was purchased to enlarge the City Hall site adjoining, in 1897, for $25,000. The Mensing lot. in the same square. 40 by 110 feet, was sold in 1867 for $1,100. In March, 1874, the Kuehnle Hotel property was purchased of William Conover, Ho feet on Atlantic avenue, for $6,200.
The lot on which Hotel Shelburne now stands on the westerly side of Mich- igan avenue, 150 feet deep and including everything from a point 450 feet from Pacific avenue to highwater mark, was purchased by Elisha Roberts, in 1874. of the Camden and Atlantic Land Company for $1.500. The hotel has been moved nearer the ocean and many thousand dollars worth of cottage lots sold from the original tract. The Shelburne property is probably worth $250,000.
The Chalfonte property, which was sold in 1898 for $225,000, was purchased by George T. DaCosta, in 1868, for $6,500. It then bounded 27952 feet on Pacific avenue and extended 310 feet, more or less, to high tide line. It now begins some 1,500 or 2,000 feet from Pacific avenue, thousands of dollars worth of cottage lots having been sold off during the past twenty years and the hotel moved nearly 2,000 feet nearer the ocean. DaCosta paid only $3,000 for this property in 1856, buying it of the land company. The purchase included the St. James Church property and the lot where Dr. Pennington's cottage now stands, all together now worth a million dollars.
A few years ago Mr. Joseph H. Borton, of Hotel Dennis, refused $300,000 for that property. It is probably valued at $500,000 to-day. It has been known to clear over $50,000 in one year. When Mr. Borton purchased the property, April 11. 1867, he paid William and Susan B. Dennis $12,500 for it. The Dennis cottage then stood near Pacific avenue, and the ocean was not very far away.
The lot consisted of three 50-foot lots, making 150 feet on Pacific avenue, and extending to "low-water mark." The first lot on the corner Dennis bought June 4, 1863, of Joseph C. Bye, for $800. The next lot of H. D. Gummer cost $150, in 1862, and the third of Charles W. Bacon, December 1, 1862, cost Dennis $364.
After holding this property four or five years Dennis sold for $12.500, the three lots which cost him $1.314, not including a 40-room boarding house which he had built and which is shown in an illustration.
The next 50-foot lot on Pacific avenue or the ocean end of it, beginning 300 feet from Pacific avenue, Mr. Borton purchased of the Charles N. Piersoll heirs December 11, 1886, for $3.500. This lot from Pacific aventte cost Piersoll $850 in 1872.
Mr. Borton has sold cottage lots on Pacific avenue for more than the amount of his original purchase. He has enlarged his hotel several times and moved it perhaps 1,000 feet nearer the ocean, on land which old ocean has so lavishly thrown up at his door during the past 30 years. Fortunate. indeed, were they who purchased land to low-water mark 30 years ago.
In 1886 Lewis A. Haines, of this city, bought sixty feet of beach front on
WILL'AM G. HOOPES.
319
GREAT ADVANCE IN REAL ESTATE.
the easterly side of Ocean avenue for $6,000. It extended back from the Board- walk over 100 feet and the beach was constantly making out and new boardwalks were moved out accordingly. In October, 1897, after eleven years, Mr. Haines reserved a sixty-foot lot in the rear and sold to Victor Freisinger the remainder of the 330 feet on Ocean avenue, which he then had, for $72,000. The property has since been sold for $90,000, or $1,500 per front foot for hotel purposes.
Every square foot of space in the city has shared in this great advance in value, that along the beach front being especially remarkable.
Of the number of buildings in Atlantic City, the following list compiled from late records of the underwriters' association, gives a very accurate idea:
Dwellings
4,234
Stores and Dwellings
541
Stores
155
Hotels and Boarding Houses
422
Stables
584
Shops
67
Storage Houses
30
Boat Houses
35
Fire Engine Houses
8
Schools (Public)
7
Churches
32
Along the Boardwalk
250
Railroad Depots
3
Ocean Piers
3
Total
6.377
In 1872, twenty-seven years ago, John Trenwith purchased three squares of sandhills, Nos. 21, 22 and 23, just below the Excursion House, between Raleigh and Columbia avenues, for $900. Twenty-three years later, in 1895, Trenwith sold his three squares to four gentlemen in this city, A. B. Endicott, I. G. Adams, C. J. Adams and Samuel Bell, for $35,000. After holding the land four years, this syndicate, in April 1899, sold two of the blocks at $20,000 each, and in August sold the third block, the one fronting on the ocean, for $25,000. The purchaser refused $62,000 for this square in November, asking $75,000 for the block which cost him $25,000 four months before. He could pay President Mckinley one year's salary on the profits of his beach front sandhills in so short a time. This land was purchased for five dollars per acre soon after the first railroad came to this island.
MRS. M. E. HOOPES.
GREAT ADVANCE IN REAL ESTATE
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The Allen Block.
Numerous handsome and substantial business blocks have been erected along Atlantic avenue the past few years, like the banks, the Elks building, the Currie block and Nassano building. Frame structures are no longer warranted nor permitted. One of the newest and most attractive of these brick and iron buildings, significant of the growth and prosperity of the town, is the new mil- linery store and apartment house of Mr. George Allen, at the corner of Virginia and Atlantic avenues.
GEO. \T.I.
NEW STORE AND FLATS OF GEORGE ALLEN.
This fine building with all latest facilities for heating, lighting, living, and business purposes, is shown herewith. Visitors pronounce it the completest and best stocked millinery, notion and gents' furnishing store in the State. Mr. Allen first opened a store in this city in 1879, and has been constantly enlarging and improving to meet the demands of trade ever since. At 1214 Chestnut street he has the largest store in Philadelphia, devoted almost exclusively to millinery goods. It is five stories high, 25 feet front by 235 feet deep. and employs about 225 hands in manufacturing and selling goods. The business is of such a grade and character that a greater portion of the stock has to be imported from Europe. The Atlantic City store is a revelation to strangers who come here too little ap- preciating the enterprise of our leading business men.
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DAILY UNION HISTORY OF ATLANTIC COUNTY.
Bacbaracb & Sons.
Two leading clothing and gents' furnishing stores in this city are conducted by Messrs. Bacharach & Sons. They were founded in 1871, by the senior member of the firm, for summer business only. In 1881 the store at 931 Atlantic avenue was enlarged and kept open permanently, and in 1891, Isaac Bacharach, one of the sons, taken into the firm. The business prospered beyond expectations, wide- awake enterprise meeting with popular appreciation. In March, 1892, a larger store was occupied at 1028 Atlantic avenue, next to Tower Hall shoe store. In September, 1895, another still larger store was opened at 1420 Atlantic avenue, and both stores were conducted with characteristic enterprise. The last advance of this enterprising firm was in opening their present fine store at the corner of New York avenue, on March 14, 1898. The firm now includes the three brothers, Benjamin, Isaac and Harry, who, with a large force of salesmen in their two stores, do a surprisingly large business every month in the year. These gentle- men are also largely interested in real estate and other local enterprises which share the success of the town.
DENNIS COTTAGE.
ATLANTIC CITY PRESS.
The Daily Union.
The Daily Union is the only evening newspaper in Atlantic City. It was first printed September 3. 1888, and has been published continuously since. It is second to none in advocating measures for the best interests of the city, and aims to be fair, generous and just towards all. It is published in connection with a first-class job printing office, where booklets, cards, legal blanks, and all kinds of mercantile printing is done in popular styles at popular prices by the Daily Union Printing Company, John F. Hall, editor and manager.
The Atlantic Review.
The Atlantic Review, daily and weekly, was first established in 1872, by A. L. English, and was Atlantic City's first newspaper. It became the property of John G. Shreve and A. M. Heston, March 8, 1884, and after several years of joint proprietorship, during which it prospered, became the property of Mr. Shreve, by whom it is still published. The Review was an early school for jour- nalism of many men now prominent in this connection in other cities, and while never aspiring to any great heights-owing to the proximity of Philadelphia and the facilities of bringing the journals of that city here in the early morning-and its management has only desired that it meet the demand for a reliable and pop- ular home newspaper. To this end the Review has been improved greatly of late years, and now possesses a brick publication office at 906 Atlantic avenue. and an excellent mechanical department, including typesetting machines and all other up-to-date essentials.
The Review has always championed any improvements for the betterment of the resort, and has always endeavored to do what it could to increase the popu- larity of the City by the Sea, the growth of which-from a small, little-known watering place on the coast of New Jersey. in 1872, to a grand seashore metropolis, the greatest pleasure resort in the country, in 1900-it has witnessed with great pride and satisfaction.
The Times=Democrat and Star=Gazette.
The Times-Democrat and Star-Gazette is a combination of four newspapers. The Democrat was first printed at Absecon. in 1861. The Times was first pub- lished by Gen. Joseph Barbiere, at Hammonton, in 1877, till it was brought to Atlantic City in the interest of the Narrow Gauge railroad the following year, and purchased by the present owner in August, 1879. The Star originated in Mays Landing, and the Gazette in Egg Harbor City, finally reaching their present hyphenated group in Atlantic City, forming the leading weekly newspaper of Atlantic County. The paper is conducted chiefly by Mr. Ernest Beyer, and owned by the Daily Union Printing Company, of which John F. Hall is manager and principal owner.
L. M. CRESSE.
ATLANTIC CITY PRESS.
Atlantic City Daily Press.
Five years ago, realizing the opening for a progressive, clean daily newspaper the Atlantic City Daily Press was started by its present owner and proprietor. Walter E. Edge.
Mr. Edge had previously for a short season published a distinctly hotel paper known as the Atlantic City Daily Guest, which from a financial standpoint was one of the most successful publications ever issued in Atlantic City. This encour- aged Mr. Edge to the work of conducting an all the year daily newspaper. and the Daily Press has occupied a position in the city which has been the natural pride to its publisher and his friends.
The Daily Press has been conservative yet at all times advanced the best interests of Atlantic City as a popular all the year resort. It is Republican in politics but its policy has never been offensive in a political direction.
Its publisher has been interested in all matters relating to the welfare of Atlantic City, contributing to a considerable extent from a newspaper standpoint. to the advancement of the resort, besides occupying various positions of trust and confidence in the city's social, municipal and financial world.
The Atlantic City Freie Presse.
The Atlantic City Freie Presse (German) was first published in September. 1889, by P. J. Dalborn. In 1891, Mr. Carl Voelker purchased the property and has since conducted it in the interest of the German-American citizens. He has been greatly assisted in his literary work by Mrs. Voelker, a highly educated woman. The Freie Presse is Democratic in politics, and wields a large influence among the German element of this city and county. Its circulation extends be- yond the State among friends of Atlantic City, in Pittsburg. New York, Buffalo. Philadelphia, Cleveland and Washington, D. C.
The Sunday Gajette.
The Sunday Gazette, the only Sunday newspaper in Atlantic County, has been edited and published by William J. MeLaughlin since 1891. It is Repub- lican in politics and gives special attention to social events and society affairs.
Persistent Publicity.
In the history of this county, dwelling upon the remarkable and rapid growth of Atlantic City, a few words as to the notable results obtained through the judicious use of newspapers by leading business men of the city would perhaps be well in place. There have been many instances of success in advertising but
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DAILY UNION HISTORY OF ATLANTIC COUNTY.
it remained for Atlantic City to demonstrate to the world at large that it was possible, through a combination of natural attractions and an expenditure of a few thousands of dollars, to distinguish Atlantic City from a popular summer resort to unquestionably the best and most favorably known all-the-year resort in the world.
Ten years ago to have suggested to the tourists of large Eastern cities that 111 a few years Atlantic City would offer them attractions for a Winter sojourn superior to Florida or California, would have seemed ridiculous in the extreme. Situated on an island, on what would be supposed to be the bleak North Atlantic Coast, with no particular beauties of nature or tropical surroundings, it was a proposition that even the most enthusiastic citizen would have questioned before attempting.
The leading hotel men of the city, however, supported by the business element and municipal government, undertook this proposition but first at an acknowl- edged loss, keeping their hotels open throughout the winter, following this by continual and effective newspaper advertising in all sections of the country, sending out personal representatives of the city to interest the railroad companies and prospective tourists in the resort, providing winter diversions and attractions for them. The progress was exceedingly slow and for several years in the early nineties it seemed that a paying winter business was almost impossible. This fact, however, made the Atlantic City business man all the more determined to succeed and more strenuous efforts were put forth during the past five years in the way of increased advertising appropriations, increased railroad facilities, increased popular attractions in the city, and increased hotel facilities. The results have been that to-day Atlantic City is enjoying two distinct and profitable seasons, while Asbury Park, Cape May and other neighbors, look on with envy and are compelled to work long and arduously to enjoy one.
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