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 8
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The official history of Asbury Park begins with its incorporation under an act of the legislature passed March 4. 1874. By the provisions of this
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instrument, which was drawn to safeguard the interests Mr. Bradley had so deeply at heart, the vending of spirituous or malt liquors or other in- toxicating beverages, except at regular drug stores and for medicinal pur- poses, was declared unlawful, and these stringent restrictions obtain to this day.
Mr. Bradley was the first of the incorporators named in the organic act. He was also the first president of the board of commissioners, and he served in that capacity for many years, and since his retirement from that position he has continued to serve as a member of the board. He con-
WESLEY LAKE, BETWEEN ASBURY PARK AND OCEAN GROVE.
tinues to be the largest individual property owner in the community. In summing up the results of his labors, extending through many years, he has said: "Money has not been lost on the purchase of Asbury Park, but the slight profit made (a mere salary to its founder) would disgust the ordinary speculator, and although the calculation as to profits has been a disappointment, the enterprise has been a grand success."
OCEAN GROVE.
The establishment of Ocean Grove was intended to illustrate a belief that a community could be built up on the ancestral ideas of a Holy Sab- bath which our forefathers brought to this country. It meant further the realization of a larger experience of religion than was prevalent in the churches at that time.
It added a protection from evil dissipations, and the best possible con- ditions of bodily health. These ideas received the favorable consideration
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of men eminent for religion and government. Among the first were Bishops Janes and Simpson, the two great leaders of the Methodist church in all its developments, with President Grant, who frequently gave his presence and approval-who was often at its Sabbath services, and whose last public words were uttered from its platform, and Senator W. J. Sewell, ivho recognized its value to the State from the beginning, and who was its unfaltering friend against every attack up to the last hours of his life. He stated once that he believed good government was founded on the New Testament, and he accepted Ocean Grove as illustrative. A few months before his decease he answered a pressure to use his influence to throw Ocean Grove open to a public driveway by saying, "I do not think it right to force these people who made the place upon their own ideas, now that it is made, and you enjoy its benefits,. to force their destruction."
These men represented a large constituency and under these ideas and encouragements the following named gentlemen became its incorporators : Rev. E. H. Stokes, R. V. Lawrence, George Hughes, W. B. Osborn, Rev. J. S. Inskip, W. H. Boole, B. M. Adams, Alfred Cookman, Adam Wallace, J. H. Stockton, A. E. Ballard, Wm. Franklin, Robert J. Andrews; and D. H. Brown, Joseph H. Thornley, George W. Evans, Christopher Sickler, George Franklin, Samuel T. Williams, Wm. Manahan, John Martin, George WV. Cheesman, Hon. James Black, Gardiner Howland and William F. Jordan, dividing equally in membership between ministers and laymen.
In the organization Rev. E. H. Stokes was elected president, an office to which he was elected without opposition till the date of his death in 1896, when he was succeeded by Bishop James N. FitzGerald, who is. president now.
Rev. R. V. Lawrence was made vice-president, who soon died and was succeeded 'by Rev. J. S. Inskip, who served for a year, when Rev. A. E. Ballard was elected and has held the office since 1872.
Rev. W. H. Boole was elected secretary, and was succeeded in a couple of years by Rev. George Hughes, who gave place at or near the same period to Rev. G. W. Evans, who also has continued in the same office till now.
D. H. Brown was made the treasurer, and so continued till 1896, when he resigned and John. E. Andrus, Esq., of Yonkers, New York, accepted the position, which he still retains.
None of these officers receive salaries, except the vice-president, who assumes the duties of a general manager, and is compensated at what would be his expenses in a fair hotel, and whose entire time is given to his work. None of the cthers accept more than the cost of travel and support while in the active work of the association. Indeed, these men, according to their ability, contribute large sums from their own private purses to make
HISTORY OF THE NEW JERSEY COAST. 69
up deficits in the expenses of programs. arranged for the benefit of the people generally, where their cost was not reached by the contributions of the people.
The first purchase of land was a small area of grove fronting the shore. This was supplemented by the acquirement of numerous other plots needed for rounding out the entire space between the ocean, Wesley and Fletcher Lakes, and the common road which afterward became the Turn- pike. These lakes, whose olden names were changed to suit the heroes of Methodism, represented two beautiful sheets of water fed from the distant sand hills, and emptying into the ocean. Their grade, however, was so low as to let in the seas in every storm and effectually let out all the water in them until some other storm made a new beach in their front and once again confined their waters. To remedy this condition, Hon. James A. Bradley, whose property adjoined the Grove above and below, united with it in the construction of suitable dams with gates which controlled the diffi- culty and left the lakes free for the boating, which for so long a period was one of the greatest charms among the attractions of the place.
The grove was bounded on its front approaching the ocean by a nat- ural rampart of sand dunes, varying from four to ten feet in height, and which nature had evidently placed there to mark how far the sea might make incursions into the land. These were left undisturbed for a con- siderable time but, finally, in order to afford freer access of ocean air into the grove, they were leveled down, and the whole ocean front made into a plateau, which has become the favorite spot for summer residence of all in the grove. Very soon after acquiring these properties grave questions of title began to appear. There had been a practice allowed by the New Jersey Proprietors of having a survey made, and the payment of five dollars, upon which land could be taken up and a title given. In one case a sur- veyor named Brinley had made what was called a' sweep survey, and thrown the papers aside as so valueless that they had never been recorded, and when Ocean Grove had the title searched nothing appeared on the records against it. After the property had been built upon by residences valued at over a hundred thousand dollars, the papers were discovered, and the default in the record was shown to have been the fault of the clerk, who was irresponsible financially. The parties interested were willing to accept the report of the Master in Chancery, which apportioned a sum twenty times in advance of its original value, but Chancellor Zabriskie re- fused to accept it, and only consented to waive a public sale of all the tract by the payment of between twenty and thirty thousand dollars. Other complications arose with other properties. The land was so utterly with- out valute that it passed from parent to child, or from one to another with-
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out any legal instrument of transfer. The lands were purchased from the actual possessors, and, as the records did not fix the ownership, there would often be a dozen claimants from lineal descent, in addition to the actual owner, all of whom were to be satisfied in some form or other for the interest, supposed or real, in the property. Altogether, in one way or an- other, the association paid about forty thousand dollars, besides the cost of the actual purchase, in settling the claims of almost all the former commun- ity against the land purchased by the association. Mr. Charles Rogers, who held a small piece of property on the edge of the first purchase, was a no- table exception to the general rule. Finally, Cortlandt Parker, Esq., of Newark, New Jersey, the first real estate lawyer of the State, made an abstract of title after all claims had been settled, which settlement is prop- erly recorded, and assures a perfect title to all.
In the beginning of the enterprise, the modes of travel were of the primitive character. There was a sand road leading from the populated vil- lages on the north to the scattered people on the south, but it was next to impassable at any rate of speed faster than a walk. The New Jersey Southern Railway Company had a New York connection from Long Branch, and the Pennsylvania had one from Manasquan, and the distances of six miles on either side had to be traveled by such improvised stages as could be gotten up for the purpose, making it a matter of difficulty to en- dure the discomfort in the heated season of the year. As these earlier years went on, the stage accommodations improved, and the sand road was changed to a turnpike, 'but still the transit was uncomfortable. In the beginning the association was rather pleased with the difficulties, as it increased their privilege of fuller seclusion from the people who would come simply from curiosity, but, when the twenty-six became twenty-six hundred, it became apparent that something better ought to be had. The "Southern" proposed an extension, but failed before it was able to com- plete its preparation. The Pennsylvania began operation from Manasquan, but suspended in favor of a projected road from Farmingdale to New Egypt, which was to take Ocean Grove in its route. This again failed, when the New Jersey Central purchased the bankrupt Southern and what there was of the New: Egypt, also. Then the present Long Branch road was projected and completed to Long Branch, to Ocean Grove, to Spring Lake and Point Pleasant, where the Pennsylvania shore system connected, and also an internal connection by way of Trenton at Sea Girt. The entire Long Branch system was leased by the Central, and the Pennsylvania acquired a sufficient interest, so that the road was operated jointly by both these sys- tems under the superintendency of Hon. Rufus Blodgett, a first class rail-
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road man from his youth up, and under whom Ocean Grove and Asbury Park have been freer from accident than any other similar resorts.
The conditions of residence once established, the residence itself be- came a matter of largest importance. The place was isolated-six miles from the nearest village-and the conveniences obtainable there were of the most meager description. There was one store in the country, about four miles away, and the places of merchandise in Manasquan and Long. Branch were only stocked for village consumption. Even when purchases were made, it was a matter of no small amount of negotiation to get them to their destination. Families at the first found it much more convenient to bring a hamper of provisions with them and stay until it was eaten up, and then go home for another-contracting beforehand with stage proprie- tors to carry it for them when it came. There were blueberries in the bushes which could be picked for dessert, and which were so picked by ladies who would have hidden in despair to have been surprised by acquaint- ances in such dishabille as was perfectly in character here, sunbonnetted among these bushes. The residences were tents, or, a little later on were rough, cheap, one story cottages twelve by fourteen feet, roofed anyhow, on lots twenty by forty on the map line, or not, as it might happen. The writer was considered aristocratical because he put a second story on his little cottage, with a terra cotta chimney running out of the roof. Stoves for cooking or warmth were improvised out of old material culled from the garrets and cellars, or sometimes there were only the gypsy accommo- dations of two sticks and a cross pole, on which the food was prepared. The first boarding house was a tent kept by John Martin, an early mem- ber of the association, in which the cooking was mostly done in this way, and where in fair weather the boarders sat outside, where a table of boards held the viands, with an improvised sheeting of muslin over head as protec- tion from the sun. The sleeping was principally upon straw, with a quilt which had been retired on account of long and faithful service, spread over it for a bed, and such parts of outer garments as could be made useful to assist in covering. The first attempt to procure "Store Goods" was made by clubbing and engaging a team to go once each week to the "Store," to which had been previously sent the "order." At this time a fresh order would be left for the coming week, which would give the merchant time to procure what was wanted, if he did not have it in stock, which usually he had not. As the numbers increased, the express (a one-horse wagon) went twice. After a little more time a store was started at the grove itself. The patronage was not extensive, but it would eke out a living for the present, and gave prospects of profit for the future. Some- times one proprietor got weary of his lonely condition for ten months out
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of the twelve, but there were always others ready to take it, until in a short time goods could be purchased at an Ocean Grove store as cheaply and of as good quality as in any surrounding towns. With the advent of the railway, and the consequent cheapness of transportation, supplies were enlarged and the prices reduced so that living became as cheap at Ocean Grove as almost anywhere else.
In connection with these improved conditions, the people for some miles back, where there were lands available for the lighter fruits and veg- etables, began to turn their attention in that direction, and soon market wagons, of the most modest description were seen in plenty, wending their way to the cottages, content if a few dimes could be realized daily from such produce as they could raise, and affording luxuries, the loss of which began to be felt as the novelty wore away. Then followed improvement in the "homes." The vice-president's example found imitation, and two stories-a room below and a room above-began to appear; some added a kitchen in the rear, then these were shoved back, and a front built to them with chimneys, and windows all round. Some went so far as to have a lan- tern or lamp hung out before their homes, but these were exceptions.
People began to wish to pass the summer here, but were financially unable without some addition to their resources. They needed the benefit of sea air, and were willing to work to obtain it. The only employment to be found was in taking care of other people, and many began to try it. Two could be accommodated in the spare room, and, in case of pressure, two more could occupy cots in the hall. It was wonderful how many people could sleep in a house with one spare room. There were many per- sons who desired to be boarded, as well as many others who wished to do so. In these cases there was no danger of bankruptcy, because the families did their own work without employing outside help. But, with the prosperity of the business, a larger development projected itself in the shape of a boarding house, which materialized in the Howland House, sit- uated then and now fronting the block of lots encircling the auditorium. Mr. Coryell Howland, the proprietor, was a farmer living near, who be- lieved that the products of his farm could be turned into good account in this way, but who did not realize that a successful farmer might not be a success as a hotel keeper, and in a few years came to grief and passed his property over to Dr. Adam Wallace, who improved it greatly and who still holds possession.
The Lawrence House, corner of Main and Central, came in succession, then a number more, too many for profit. Then Mr. Charles Howland, in the belief that a first-class hotel would be successful, built "The Arlington," which has maintained under different landlords its position ever since, along
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TENTS AT OCEAN GROVE.
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with the Sheldon, Queen, The Alaska, The Sea Side, The Majestic, and a number of others rapidly reaching up to this level. The residences have kept pace with these improvements, from a cost of fifty dollars upwards, some reaching into sextuples of thousands. From a summer population of two or three hundred it now numbers as many thousands; from the in- conveniences of a wilderness it has reached the comforts of a city, and the problem has been solved of the luxuries of living combined with the largest recuperative forces of sanitation.
Previous to the conception of "Ocean Grove," there had arisen a gen- cral feeling of dissatisfaction with the "camp meeting" system in New Jersey. Outside of the Methodist church there were but few, and these were simply for hunting or social pleasure, which now challenged the criticism of public sentiment. Those of the church were religious only, and in earlier days, when churches were few and preachers were scarce, they were among the chief instrumentalities of revivals. The multiplica- tion of churches and ministers had lessened their usefulness, and they were more of a Sunday gala day than forces in religion, and the presiding elders began to object to their continuance. They were a recuperative force as a "summer outing" which began with the improved circumstances of the people to be a national custom. Many religious people fell in with the habit and went to the summer resorts already established, whose customs were usually unfavorable to religious development. The religious "camp meeting" outing was good in itself if it could be freed from the evils which had grown up around it. If the ground on which it was held could be owned by those in authority, in order to permanence; if a charter could se- cure exclusiveness, and confer policc authority ; an experiment on these lines would be worth the trial, and success would add another to the great forces of religion. A restless feeling had been growing in the membership of the Evangelical churches, especially among the Methodist people, on the question of a personal realization of holiness, or completeness of religion in the heart and life. This involved the Gospel idea of perfection-wholly sanctified-and, in some form or other, demanded a conscious personal ex- perience of God in the soul, and a life in accordance with the "Sermon on the Mount." The mass of the churches did not possess any heart belief in the doctrine, and only a few professed an experience, yet the demands of the Gospel were plain, and could not be ignored because there was a general unbelief in their practicability. These few people who professed it began to agitate the question to the great disturbance of church conscience, which mostly became hostile to what they deemed fanaticism. But the numbers increased, and, in their increase, began to hold meetings of their own with "Holiness" as the distinctive battle cry of their assemblages, and at
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last a great "Holiness Camp Meeting" was held under the presiding elder- ship of Rev. Dr. Ballard, who afterward became the vice-president of the Ocean Grove Camp Meeting Association. The encampment was greatly, successful in the spirituality of its experiences and inducement to others to begin a religious life. The men who were at the head of this movement winked in their minds its success with their own previous conception of what a camp meeting might be under the best circumstances, and concluded to make the attempt if a suitable location and charter could be obtained. The men most deeply interested proposed to ascertain the possibility of a suitable place. The conception of holiness took in the body as thoroughly as the soul, and made the holiness of the body as essential as that of the soul. A resort devoted to these principles demanded the healthiest sur- roundings, in which vacation visiting might recuperate from the depressing weight of the heated town, and place the physical system in better trim for the life work to which they were consecrated when they returned to their homes.
The shore of the New Jersey coast, or such a part of it as was free from malaria or mosquitos, was looked upon favorably, and Rev. Wm. B. Osborn, one of their number whose pastorate was near the coast line, and who was an enthusiastic believer in the agency of camps as a promoter of spiritual religion, was commissioned by the others to explore the coast line and see first if such a suitable place existed, and next if it could be purchased. The first location reported by him, was "Pecks" (Five Mile) Beach, near Cape May. Negotiations for the purchase were almost com- pleted when it was ascertained that "mosquetoes" possessing original rights declined to vacate them, and the project failed. Later on the same inde- fatigable explorer discovered Ocean Grove, near which there were no swamps or sounds, and consequently no mosquitoes-the only place along the coast, so far as known, free from that foe to all human happiness and comfort. Even religion would find it difficult to develop any other virtue than "endurance" if located where these insects hold possession. The lo- cation was accepted, and the purchase of the property made from the "New Jersey Proprietors," whose grant dated from an English King in the early settlement of New Jersey, and who still owned a few spots along the coast whose natural unattractiveness prevented people from selecting it as a place of settlement. The land was a deep sand-incapable of cultivation as the sand itself. Salted either by the overflow of the sea or the salinity of the atmosphere, it was so utterly worthless that its taxation was merely nominal. The only wood upon it was the smaller varieties of oak and pine, worth little for firewood, and next to nothing for lumber. Even if it could have been valuable for the lumber, the roads, in the depth of
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their sands, made its cartage more costly than the value after it had reached a market. The fishing was valuable if there had been an easy way of market, but the distances were long, and modes of transit slow and costly, so that but little was done in this direction. Here and there was a little patch of upland which could be farmed, or, if not, that could produce valuable timber, but only a little was done in either of these directions, and it was a mystery how the few people who lived among the "pines" eked out a living at all. But for the purposes of the Ocean Grove progenitors the pure salinely inoculated sand was what they wanted for health and vigor. The ocean which rolled at the foot of the sands was nature's great antisep- tic against disease. It was free from any deposits on its surface of clayey substances. The whole beach was sparkling sand, affording the same as- surances of health as the upland. After the purchase of a small portion of what is now inclosed within the limits of Ocean Grove, a "Declaration illus- trative of their views and purposes" was adopted by the incorporators, as follows :
"Recognizing the truth and beauty of the scripture declaration that 'the Earth is the Lord's and the fullness thereof,' and being specially im- pressed with the propriety of having a position on the land skirting the sea consecrated to its Sacredness : We, whose names are hereto annexed, with a single eye to the Divine Glory, and in humble dependence upon our Heavenly Father's aid, do solemnly covenant together to use certain lands which have been providently committed to our trust for these high and holy purposes. And we further declare it to be our design to keep these lands a perpetual oblation upon God's altar, enjoying the same duty upon those who may succeed us.
"To this end we mutually pledge our Christian honor."
This declaration was followed by the provisions of a charter adapted to its design, prepared by General James F. Rusling, of Trenton, New Jersey, whose familiarity with the legal and methodistic history of the State eminently qualified him to so adjust its forms to the demands of both church and State that it has stood the test of a third of a century without a change in its provisions.
The charter was emphasized by declaring the appropriation of the grounds for a permanent Camp Meeting and Christian Seaside Resort. It empowered them to purchase and lease or sell lands or other property, and to impose any restrictions not repugnant to the law's of the State, to per- petuate their own successors from members of the Methodist Episcopal church of the association, and to vacate the membership for incompatible conduct. It exempted an annual value of $5,000; it conferred police powers, and accepted a provision made by the association that deprived it
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