USA > New Jersey > The New Jersey coast in three centuries; history of the New Jersey coast with genealogical and historic-biographical appendix, Vol. II > Part 13
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The Hotel Windsor, perhaps the most modern hotel on the Atlantic coast, occupies a ground space of six hundred and eighty by one hundred and fifty feet, and cost $325,000. The ground floor contains a Moorish room and a ball room and reception room of large dimensions. A portion of the basement is fitted as a café, to represent a cabin with port holes, mast tables and other shiplike appurtenances. This hotel has a central French courtyard, the first of the kind in Atlantic City, and it was also the first to provide a regular orchestra for the entertainment of guests.
The Hotel Rudolph has for one of its beautiful adornments a grotto in which are given splendid concerts by a large and well trained orchestra. This cavernlike retreat, when illuminated at night with its myriad varia- gated incandescent lights, presents a marvelously beautiful spectacle.
Many other hotels present special attractions peculiarly their own. Among these having a capacity of two hundred or more guests each are the Traymore, the Waldorf-Astoria, the Dennis, Haddon Hall and the Grand Atlantic, five hundred guests each ; the Luray, the Iroquois and the Islesworth, four hundred guests each; and the Shelburne, the Chalfonte, the Pennhurst, the Waverly, the Morton, the Irvington, the Berkeley, the De Ville, the Little Brighton, the Strand, the Runnymede, the Kuehnle, the Cedarcroft and the Richmond, two hundred guests or more each.
One of the most luxurious residence mansions on the coast may be taken as representative of numerous others somewhat approaching it, at various points. This was built in 1900 by J. C. Coatsworth, recently of Buffalo, New York, and was occupied by Charles M. Schaub, president of
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the United States Steel Corporation, during the season of 1902. The building is forty-six feet in frontage, sixty-five feet in depth, and is three stories in height. It is of red brick, with stone trimmings, the work mortared in white. The design is colonial inside and out. The interior furnishings are lavishly rich. The library contains mirrors and furniture from an Italian palace in Florence ; candelabra in cut glass and bronze, and an inlaid marquetry table from Holland; and antique sacristy lamps and incense burners from Rome.
Several charitable institutions are maintained with great liberality, and provide for the necessities of various classes of suffering humanity.
The Atlantic City Hospital had it's beginning in 1892, when a number of ladies and gentlemen organized what was then known as the "Atlantic City Hospital Association." and collected a fund of about $1,200. After a time most of those identified with the movement lost interest in it, and finally the fund was turned over to a private. sanitarium, and applied toward the founding of a free bed in it. Through the efforts of Mayor Franklin P. Stoy the city contracted with the institution referred to, known as the Atlantic City Sanitarium, of which J. J. Rochford was super- intendent, and for a few years all sick or injured persons, who became charges upon the city, were therein provided for.
The present hospital corporation was formed in February, 1897, when it was decided to select a board of nine governors, and Franklin P. Stoy, Stewart R. McShea, M. A. Devine, John F. Hall, M. V. B. Scull, H. S. Scull, J. Leonard Baier, Jr., Lewis Evans and A. M. Heston were chosen. At a subsequent meeting this board was enlarged to fifteen members.
The Woman's Auxiliary was organized at the Hotel Dennis, on Novem- ber 27, 1897, and the money collected by the ladies, amounting to $616.71, was set aside toward the furnishing of the hospital, when built. The officers were: President, Mrs. John F. Hall; recording secretary, Miss Caroline M. Giltinan; financial secretary, Mrs. James D. Southwick ; treas- urer, Mrs. M. A. Devine.
The property on Ohio avenue near Pacific avenue was purchased of Henry J. White, of New York, on August 20, 1898. The purchase price was $16.000, on account of which the Board of Governors paid $2,000 in cash, and executed a second mortgage of $6,000. The property was pur- chased subject to a first mortgage of $8,000. It included a frame build- ing containing ten rooms.
The formal opening of this temporary hospital building took place on November 30, 1898, on which occasion there were many visitors, and a generous welcome was extended to all friends of the institution.
CHRIST M. P. CHURCH.
IST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
TRINITY M.P. CHURCH.
ST. NICHOLAS R.C.CHURCH
CENTRAL M.E. CHURCH.
00
ENGLISH LUTHERAN CHURCH
GERMAN PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
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HISTORY OF THE NEW JERSEY COAST.
In the early part of April, 1899, Miss Elizabeth C. Boice, of Absecon, signified her desire to erect a brick annex to the hospital building, as a memorial to her father, Henry Boice, and her generous offer was accepted by the Board of Governors.
It was suggested that the proposed building be known as the Boice Annex, and that it be constructed of brick, with stone trimmings, to which she readily assented. The building being finally completed, at a cost of nearly $10,000, announcement was made of the formal opening on Thanks- giving day, November 30th, exactly one year after the opening of what is now known as the main building, but which will be razed or moved at some future time to make room for an imposing building, thoroughly modern in appointments and architecturally in keeping with the Boice Annex.
In May, 1901, the Board of Governors purchased additional lands, fronting fifty feet on Pacific avenue and extending to the other lot, a dis- tance of one hundred and fifty feet. This L-shaped lot is now valued at $40,000, without the improvements. When the requisite funds are in hand a main hospital building will be erected on the lot, facing on Pacific avenue.
The Children's Seashore House was opened in its present location, at the end of Ohio'avenue; occupying what is now the main building, in 1883. Fourteen smaller buildings have since been erected within the grounds by visitors at the different hotels, each bearing the name of the house by which it was erected. There are now accommodations for over one hundred chil- dren and about thirty mothers. The object of the corporation is to main- tain at the seashore an institution in which children of the poorer classes, . suffering from non-contageous diseases, or from debility, incident to the hot weather and a crowded city, may have good nursing and medical care, without regard to creed, color or nationality.
The Mercer Memorial Home provides a place where invalid women of moderate means may spend a few weeks at the seashore, and have not only the comforts of a home, but also good nursing and the care of a physician at a price which they are able to pay, but much below the actual cost. It differs from other seaside institutions for women in that it is intended for invalids only, and in this respect it meets a want which has often been felt by those who come in contact with the masses of working- women in our large cities.
In 1884 the building at the corner of Ohio and Pacific avenues was erected, largely through the munificence of the late Mrs. J. C. Mercer. of Philadelphia, who gave $40,000 for the purpose. An addition to the east wing of the building. finished in 1894, increased its capacity about
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one-third. The building is one of the finest of its size in Atlantic City, and is provided with every convenience for the care of sick women.
An organization of which Atlantic City. has ever been proud is the Morris Guards, a military company organized in 1887. It volunteered for service in the Spanish-American war, and became Company F, of the Fourth Regiment, New Jersey Infantry. Farewell receptions were given the company on the evening of July 11th, 1898, and the following day it left for Camp Voorhees, at Sea Girt, whence it was soon sent south. Its services were not needed abroad, and April 7. 1899, it returned from Greenville, South Carolina, and was accorded a reception and banquet. The Morris Guards were named in honor of Colonel Daniel Morris, who was one of the first residents of the place. It is both a social and a military organization, and is intended to be always in readiness to render any service required of a military company, and to officiate at the recep- tion of all organizations visiting the city in a body.
The city has experienced great disasters by fire at various times. These have involved immense losses in property, but there has been little loss of life. In every instance the losses have been more than repaired, the various edifices being replaced with others of better construction, and, in many cases, of much larger dimensions. Omitting several involving a loss of less than $10,000, the most damaging fires were the following :
May 18, 1884, buildings on Atlantic avenue, near Virginia avenue ; loss, $10,000.
April 26, 1887, the Park Baths : loss,, $25,000.
May 2, 1889, buildings near Atlantic avenue ; loss, $10,000.
August 8, 1889, the crematory partially destroyed ; loss, $12,000.
September II, 1889, buildings on Texas avenue and the Beach; loss, $14,500.
June 22, 1892, the Academy of Music and other buildings; loss, $52,900.
August 17, 1893, the City Hall, Opera House and other buildings; loss $54,700.
December 2, 1896, St. Monica's Roman Catholic church ; loss, $30,000.
February 7, 1898, the Academy of Music and other buildings; loss, $69,850.
October 8, 1898, buildings on Boardwalk, between South Carolina avenue and Ocean avenue : loss, $169, 190.
April 3, 1902, the two blocks fronting on the Boardwalk and extend- ing from Illinois avenue to New York avenue, involving a loss of more than a million dollars. Among the buildings destroyed were the Academy
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HISTORY OF THE NEW JERSEY COAST.
ot Music and a number of large hotels. Two thousand feet of the Board- walk were also swept away.
November 25, 1888, a terrific storm occurred which "in severity and damaging results was unequaled in the history of the city up to that time." September 2, 1889, wind and storm destroyed more than one-half of the Boardwalk and many buildings. The total loss amounted to $200,000.
Outside the city are numerous beautiful little resorts within easy reach. An electric line traverses the island its entire length, a distance of ten miles, passing through Ventnor, South Atlantic City and Longport, ter- minating on Great Egg Harbor Inlet.
Extending out of Atlantic City is also the Speedway, a new drive, extending from Seaview to Longport. It is about seven miles long. The opening of this drive is celebrated by a floral parade in June each year. Other drives in Atlantic City are as follows : Beach drive, at low tide, ten miles ; to Longport or Great Egg Harbor Inlet, eight miles; the Elephant, or South Atlantic City, five miles ; Absecon Inlet and lighthouse, two miles ; Pacific avenue drive, five miles to Ventnor. Another pleasant drive is to the Inlet on a macadamized road. Still another drive is across the meadows to Pleasantville, and thence along the shore road to the Country Club and Somers' Point, Absecon and other pretty towns in the vicinity of Atlantic City. The road across the meadows is kept in first-class condition.
A few blocks below the built-up portion of Atlantic City is a select suburb, called Chelsea. It is laid out on a comprehensive scale with wide streets and large lots, those fronting on Pacific avenue being sixty feet wide and the corner ones sixty-five feet. Restrictions embodied in the deeds require all houses to be set back a good distance from the street, and prevent them also from being crowded closely together. Only one building for dwelling-house purposes is permitted on each lot. No liquor saloon or other undesirable places are allowed in the place, and stringent regulations govern the drainage arrangements.
Longport is below Atlantic City, and occupies the western end of the island, bordering on Great Egg Harbor Inlet. Its water advantages are unique. The ocean, the inlet and the thoroughfare surge restlessly or wave pleasantly on three sides of it. The island narrows and is scarcely more than one block in width in the improved portion of Longport, render- ing both bathing and fishing convenient. The ocean beach is broad, smooth and level, making a fine promenade ground when the tide is out, and safe bathing when the tide is in. Fish are abundant in the thoroughfare, and are caught steadily from the pier and breakwater, which accommodate and protect the shore at different angles. Little steamers make regular trips to Ocean City and Somers' Point. Sail-boats accommodate those
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who desire such recreation. The village is a beautiful family resort with two large hotels, a fine club-house, and numerous cottages. It has trolley and steamboat communication with Atlantic City and contiguous points. In 1884 the Agassiz Association was formed here for the study of marine life and the shore flora. The Oberholtzer family were the prime movers in the enterprise, and their effort culminated in the erection of Natural Science Hall, which was also used by religious, educational and social assemblages. The Bay View Club House is a substantial structure and is the headquarters of the Bay View Club, which is composed of Phila- delphia gentlemen. Longport derived its name from James Long, a Phil- adelphia merchant, who sold the land to M. S. Mccullough, founder of the resort.
Somers' Point, one of the oldest ports of entry in the United States. is famous as the birthplace of one of the most gallant naval officers of the United States, Commander Richard Somers, who sacrificed his life in the harbor of Tripoli, September 4, 1804, while attempting the rescue of a number of his fellow countrymen who were being subjected to inhuman treatinent by their captors. Here has been erected a beautiful momment in commemoration of his noble conduct. Somer's Point is a favorite resort for sportsmen. It is reached by steamer from Longport, but the popular way is by railroad, across the meadows to Pleasantville and thence to Somer's Point. The ride in pleasant weather is in open cars across the wide expanse of salt meadows and through a fertile farming country to the bay on which Somers' Point is located. In its vicinity, many years ago, was the summer encampment of the Algonquin Indians.
OCEAN CITY.
Great Egg Harbor Bay breaks its way into the ocean between Absecon Beach on the north and Peck's Beach on the south. Into it flow the waters of Great Egg Harbor River, an important stream, Middle River and Tuck- ahoe River, and Thoroughfare Sound sweeps away over the meadows to the southwest. On the north side of the bay is Somers' Point, and not far from it Anchoring Point, bothi notable maritime points, and particularly so in the war times of the Revolution and of 1812, when privateers sailed from them to prey upon the commerce of the enemy. At Anchoring Point numerous attempts have been made to discover treasure told of by tradition as having been buried by pirates. The most recent of these efforts was that made by a wealthy but credulous resident of Pittsburg, who endeavored by means of a peculiar divining rod to discover the location of the Spanish vessel "L'Pagadere," said to lie sunken in the waters there, laden with
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HISTORY OF THE NEW JERSEY COAST.
gold and silver coin. A long prevailing superstition that the seeker after this lost treasure would come to his death in the undertaking found con- firmation in the minds of many when the body of the unsuccessful explorer was cast ashore at Longport.
Ocean City is one of the most delightful resorts upon the coast,
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PUBLIC SCHOOL BUILDING, OCEAN CITY, N. J.
and presents particular advantages for those who seek a pleasant summer home removed from the greatest clamor of fashionable life, and where they may live inexpensively. It is situated on the island known as Peck's Beach, immediately south of Absecon Island, from which it is separated by Great Egg Harbor. It is sixty-five miles from Philadelphia, and is reached by three lines of railroad. The Pennsylvania, which was first to enter, runs regular trains from Philadelphia throughout the year, pro- viding additional facilities for summer travel. The Reading road extended its line to Ocean City in 1897. Besides these there is the West Jersey and Seashore's Motor Line of open cars to Sea Isle City, Avalon and Stone Harbor, and steamboat connections running on a twenty-minute schedule to Atlantic City via Longport. The motor line gives a magnificent marine view, much admired by visitors.
The city, with a permanent population of 1.307, which is multiplied
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HISTORY OF THE NEW JERSEY COAST.
into many thousands during the summer, is governed by a mayor and board of councilmen. It is lighted throughout by electricity, which is also used for heating and cooking. The water supply is derived from artesian wells eight hundred and fifty feet deep, the analysis showing the water to be absolutely pure, and the sewerage system is perfect. The sidewalks are paved with wide flagging, and the driveways are nicely graded, making ideal roads for driving and cycling. Street cars run on Central avenue to the built-up portion of the city, and extend along the ocean front. The fire department is well equipped and seventy-five firemen are employed.
The largest of the houses of worship is the Auditorium, seating twenty- two hundred people, and was the first erected. It was designed for open
IVF
AUDITORIUM,' OCEAN CITY.
air use, and was built in its present form early in ISSI. The Young People's Temple, also on the Auditorium grounds, was erected by the Epworth League. Its interior finish is beautiful. Services are held reg- ularly during the summer, and every day during the camp-meeting term.
The First Methodist Episcopal church was erected in 1890. The edifice has a seating capacity of about five hundred, and its congregation is the largest in the city.
St. Augustine church ( Roman Catholic) was begun in 189.4 and com- pleted in 1897. It is a handsome edifice, with a seating capacity of two hundred, and has a large and constantly increasing summer congregation.
Holy Trinity church ( Protestant Episcopal) was begun in the summer of 1896, the corner-stone being laid on August 10th of that year. This is considered the handsomest church edifice on the island. Services are held during the summer season only.
The Presbyterian church was completed in 1897, and, although its
-
I26
HISTORY OF THE NEW JERSEY COAST.
membership is small, it maintains a resident pastor, and services are held throughout the year.
The Baptist church, located on Asbury avenue below Eighth street, is the most recently built church in the city, having been erected in the spring of IS99. It has a seating capacity of two hundred. Prior to its building, services were held in a tent. In addition to these there are two large colored congregations, African Methodist Episcopal and Baptist.
The public school building, a substantial edifice of three stories, is centrally located, and the course of instruction is that of the established graded school system.
The financial affairs of the community are transacted through the First National Bank, organized in 1901, with a capital of $50,000, and succeeding to the business of the Central Trust Company. The moving spirit in the establishment of this bank was the Hon. Lewis Mitchell Cresse, now a member of the Legislature of the State of New Jersey, and a gentle- man who is widely known and highly esteemed in business and financial circles. The vice-president, Richard B. Stites, is a native of Cape May county, and a pioneer resident of Ocean City. The cashier, W. Scott Hand, also a native of the county, was the first local agent of the South Jersey Railroad, and was afterward, and until its absorption by the First National Bank, in the employ of the Central Trust Company. These gentlemen and the following named constitute the directorate: Messrs. J. M. Chester, E. V. Corson, I. S. Champion, R. W. Edwards, Harry Head- ley, S. Wesley Lake, Ellis H. Marshall, Charles Matthews, W. E. Massey, H. D. Moore, Joseph I. Scull, R. Howard Thorn and P. M. Wheaton. Mr. J. Fithian Tatem is solicitor. The bank building is, for its purpose, one of the handsomest and most convenient in the State.
The papers of regular issue throughout the year are the "Ocean City Ledger" and the "Ocean City Sentinel," and both issue daily editions dur- ing the summer season.
There are several flourishing industries now in operation which supply local wants, among them being the Electric Light and Power Company, the Ocean City Ice and Coal Company, and the Headley & Adams Sash, Door and Planing Mill; these employ a number of persons ranging from ten to twenty in each establishment.
There are two yacht clubs, the Holiday and the Yachtmen's Associa- tion, both located on the bay. Frequent races and regattas are held in the season, and at the wharves careful and experienced captains are always in readiness to take parties out sailing or fishing.
The principal hotels are the Excursion House, the Trayniore, Hotel Brighton, the Emmett, the Illinois, the Lafayette and the Vandalia, and
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there are many comfortable cottages where guests can find accommoda- tions at very moderate rates.
The beach is exceptionally hard and smooth, and the surf bathing can hardly be surpassed. A fine boardwalk, ten squares long and twenty-four feet wide, was constructed in 1897. Along this on the ocean side are located a number of pavilions, none of which obstruct the view of the sea, but which afford delightful places in which to sit and enjoy the refreshing saline breezes. Refined amusements are afforded in many ways by the stores and establishments on the land side of the boardwalk.
The founding of Ocean City is due to E. B. Lake, S. Wesley Lake and James E. Lake, aided by their father, the Hon. Simon Lake. The three former named brothers, natives of New Jersey, and ministers in the Meth-
THE LAKE RESIDENCE.
odist Episcopal church, sought the establishment of a seaside resort where the sanctity of the Sabbath should be preserved and the sale of intoxicating liquors should be forever unknown. The elder of the brothers, E. B. Lake, was chosen as leader in the enterprise, and he withdrew from the active ministry in order to devote all his energies to the purpose which he and his fellows had so deeply at heart.
After the elder brother had visited many points along the New Jersey coast in search of a desirable site for the proposed resort the site whereon Ocean City now stands was finally determined upon, and a company was formed under the name of the Ocean City Association, and in the organiza- tion were included all the members of the Lake family. October 20, 1879.
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HISTORY OF THE NEW JERSEY COAST.
title to the land was secured, and during the following autumn and winter the first survey was made by William Lake. A portion of the grounds were platted, and lots to the value of $85,000 were sold. The deeds provided for forfeiture of title in the event of liquors being sold upon the premises, and this restriction is insisted upon to the present time. The first build- ing erected was the little "Pioneer College," for use as a boarding house for the workmen, and this was sometimes occupied by as many as forty men. The first hotel, the Ocean House (now the Hotel Brighton) was built by I. B. Smith. In May, 1880, the first newspaper was issued. In the same year a railway was opened from Pleasantville to Somers' Point, and a steamboat was purchased to ply between the latter named place and Ocean City. In the following year a turnpike road was constructed from Beesley's Point to Ocean City, and a bridge was built over Thoroughfare Sound. The village was incorporated April 30, 1884, and G. P. Moore was the first mayor elected.
From Ocean City, on Great Egg Harbor, to Cape May, the southern extremity of New Jersey, a distance of thirty miles, outward from and paralleling the mainland, is a succession of narrow strips of land having a width of from one and one-fourth miles to one-fourth of a mile, and separated from each other by inlets. Upon each of these are situated beauti- ful little villages which are sought by seekers of health and quiet recreation.
Sea Isle City occupies the entire extent of Ludlam's Beach, an island having a frontage of six and one-quarter miles on the Atlantic Ocean. extending from Corson's Inlet, on the north, to Townsend's Inlet, on the south. Between it and the mainland is Ludlam Bay and the Thorough- fare, the latter being a navigable channel affording excellent facilities for fishing, boating and bathing. The village is reached by two railroads, the West Jersey and Seashore, and the South Jersey, and a fine turnpike road extends from the town to the mainland, nearly three miles distant.
The town was founded in 1880 by Charles K. Landis. It is governed by a mayor and council, and has a waterworks department and a police force. There are churches of various denominations, a public school sys- tem and a weekly newspaper. It has thirty hotels of various grades, and three hundred cottages. It numbers among its summer residents some of the most prominent business men of Philadelphia and other cities, and the social life of the resort is most delightful. Dances, concerts and other entertainments are of nightly occurrence during the season.
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