Early History of West Long Branch
Table of Contents:
The Early Times
The Beginning
Area Indians
Early Settlers
Early Businesses
Education
The Growth and Development of the Educational System
Shore Regional High School
Parent Teachers Association
Public Library
Serving Our Borough
Police Department
Fire Department
Fire Company No. 1
Fire Company No. 2
First Aid Squad
Fire Co. No. 1 Auxiliary
Fire Co. No. 2 Auxiliary
Junior Fire Co. Auxiliary
Free Church
House of Worship
Old First United Methodist Church
Lutheran Church
Saint Jerome’s Roman Catholic Church
The Calvary Assembly of God Church
Map- Branchburg 1873 (Former name of village)
Monmouth College
Guggenheim Cottage (current library)
Shadow Lawn Estate (main campus)
Community Organizations
Historical Society
American Legion
Senior Citizens Housing Corporation
Peter Cooper Village
Chamber of Commerce
Friends of the WLB Library
Celebration
First Church (Free Church)
Murder
McGregor House
Chet Bowman- Olympic Star
Name Change
J. Russell Woolley
Mausoleum
Celebrations
Anniversary Committees
Introduction
In compiling this history of the Borough, it has been our intention to make it educational, entertaining, interesting and factual. Many hours were spent in researching records, interviewing residents, pouring over old atlases and histories of Monmouth County, search- for old photographs and checking and crosschecking dates and facts. Each bit of information leads to others or raised additional questions. As our deadline grew closer we realized that it was necessary to say, "We must stop here" even though there are many more items of historical interest we would like to include. As with any book of history some will remark that a particular subject or person was omitted or incompletely covered. The editors accept full responsibility for any omissions.
The editors would appreciate errors or omissions being called to their attention so that corrections may be made in a future edition.
The Early Times
The Beginning :: Area Indians :: Early Settlers :: Early Businesses
The early settlers of the New Jersey area were the Dutch and the Swedes, the Dutch settling in northern New Jersey near the mouth of the Hudson River, the Swedes in South Jersey along the Delaware River.
By 1655 the Dutch had defeated the Swedes and had suffered heavy losses from Indian reprisals. Their colonization consisted of only two small settlements on the Jersey shore across from the tip of Manhattan. Even though the Dutch were attempting to colonize the Hudson and Delaware rivers, the English retained their claim over the land based on John Cabot's discovery in 1497. Occasional voyages from England reminded the Dutch of England's claim. In 1634 New Jersey was included in the first colonizing grant (boundaries poorly defined but included New York, New Jersey. Long Island, Pennsylvania. Delaware and Maryland) which was given to Sir Edmund Ployden by King Charles I. Ployden's four attempts to colonize ended in law suits and land suits.
Because the Dutch were destroying trading houses, confiscating goods and imprisoning English settlers, New Englanders urged the King to expel the Dutch. At home in England, business interests encouraged the King to send a force to take over the Dutch trade in the New World. King Charles 11 gave his brother, the Duke of York, power to govern a large grant of land which included New Jersey. The Duke, who was also Lord High Admiral, sent a fleet of four ships and 600 men under the command of Colonel Richard Nicolls. Colonel Nicolls was to serve as Governor and was given broad powers over the territory. Governor Stuyvesant quickly surrendered to the fleet on September 8, 1664.
Complications developed when the Duke of York gave to his friends, Sir George Carteret and Lord John Berkley, full ownership of the territory known as New Jersey. The two proprietors assumed that they also possessed the powers of government.
Colonel Nicolls, unaware of the transfer, had in good faith assigned large tracts of land in New Jersey to the companies of settlers, giving them the right to buy their land from the Indians. Among the grants was an area which included what is now Monmouth, Ocean and parts of Mercer and Middlesex counties, known as the Monmouth Patent, which was granted on April 8, 1665 to William Goulding, Samuel Spicer, Richard Gibbons, James Grover, John Bowne, Richard Stout, John Tilton, Nathaniel Sylvester, William Reape, Walter Clarke, Nicholas Davis and Obadiah Holmes. This patent required that 100 families settle the land within three years. The property would not be taxed for seven years and the settlers were free to make their own laws and to worship as they wished.
The land was purchased from the Indians with funds raised by settlers from Long Island and from what is now Rhode Island.
There were already small settlements at Shrewsbury and at Middletown. In 1668 Monmouth County was established.
Berkley and Carteret recognized the Monmouth Patent by granting 500 acres to each of the patentees but in 1670 required the land holders to pay yearly "quit rents" on their properties. The patentees refused to pay. The dispute continued until after the American Revolution and even then was never fully resolved.
In 1676 the area was divided into East and West Jersey with Carteret retaining East Jersey. Upon Carteret's death in 1681, East Jersey was sold at auction for 34,000 pounds to William Penn and eleven associates.
Of the twelve Monmouth Patentees only Bowne, Gibbons, Grover and Stout, all from Long Island, settled on the land. The others had sold their property to other settlers.
When the Baptists began to settle around Middletown and the Quakers in Shrewsbury, a vast forest of oak and pine covered the gently rolling land. Walnut, hickory and chestnut trees were abundant and supplied food for the settlers. The Indians had learned to tap maple trees and boil the sap for sugar. The early settlers were impressed with the fine meadows where the grass grew waist high.
Wild animals ranged throughout the woods. Panthers, bears and wolves added to the dangers of the early settlers. Disease took its toll. Where suitable meadowland was unavailable, the ground had to be cleared and plowed, the cattle, sheep and swine protected from wolves. Firewood had to be cut and stored for the winter. Fish and game provided the major source of food for the first settlers. Beaver, mink, raccoon and deer were hunted for their skins.
As the settlers moved into the area more farms appeared and small villages began to take shape. By the time of the American Revolution grist mills and saw mills had been built; tradesmen were established who provided the services needed by the settlers. There were smiths, cabinet makers, carpenters, wheelwrights and farmers. Farms grew wheat, barley and vegetables. Cattle, sheep and swine were raised. The cattle supplied milk, cheese, meat and leather; sheep provided wool and meat. Swine fed on acorns and were slaughtered for export to the West Indies. Salt pork was a staple. Chickens, ducks and geese provided eggs and were killed for food.
Horses were bred and exported to the West Indies (1685). Oxen were used to clear the fields and to transport produce.
Shrewsbury Township, incorporated in 1798, included a large area, part of which is now Monmouth County and part of present day Ocean County.
In 1849, the Township of Ocean was separated from Shrewsbury Township.
On April 11, 1867, Long Branch Sanitary and Improvement Commission was incorporated. The commissioners were appointed annually by the New Jersey Supreme Court.
In 1873 Eatontown Township was separated from Ocean Township. Eatontown Township included the present Eatontown, Oceanport, and West Long Branch.
The people of West Long Branch became discontented with paying taxes to Eatontown Township, believing they did not get a fair return for their money. At that time there were a large number of estates in West Long Branch and therefore they were paying a considerable amount of taxes. In 1906 an unsuccessful attempt was made to separate from Eatontown Township. In 1908 a group of men, led by Monroe V. Poole, requested that West Long Branch be separated from Eatontown Township.
On March 11, 1908, the Eatontown Council passed the following resolution: "Resolved that the Township Committee, of the Township of Eatontown, do earnestly protest against the incorporation of the proposed borough of West Long Branch as imperious to the township in seriously reducing its already small territory and cutting off a valuable portion of its assessed valuation in which but a small portion of its permanent population resides."
An election was held on May 5, 1908 and the minutes of Eatontown Council state, "On June 16th, 1908 the Township was separated in two sections, Eatontown and Ocean-port remaining in Eatontown Township and West Long Branch as The Borough of West Long Branch."
The Advertiser, an Eatontown newspaper, ran an item on May 8, 1908 on the events of Election Day.
"... An election was held in the limits of the proposed borough on Tuesday to determine if a majority of voters and taxpayers wanted it. The result proved that a large majority did want it. There were 225 registered voters, and of this number 163 cast their votes for the borough and 73 against it, giving a majority of 90. (Sic.)
The chief promoters of the borough were out early and worked hard to get votes. No voter, unless he was known to be strongly against the borough, was neglected until after he had voted. Several prominent citizens of Eatontown went over early in the day in an automobile and stayed all day. Their object was to give what encouragement they could to those who were opposing the borough by bringing in voters from the suburbs in the automobile. But unfortunately the automobile broke down in front of the polling place soon after its arrival and it was not till near the time of closing the polls that the damage was repaired. The accident was regarded as had medicine and this, with the fact that the West Long Branchers seemed to look upon them as interlopers and meddlers, discouraged all further action and the most prominent of the prominent citizens from Eatontown spent the rest of the day in an exasperating discussion of the constitutionality of the school law with several of the Branchers who knew the law and what was constitutional when they saw it."
On June 22, 1908, Monroe V. Poole, Edward M. Beach, Frank S. Brand, Thomas W. Cooper, Charles A. Poole, Thadeus Schenk and John H. Sutphen met for the "first regular meeting" of the council. Thomas W. Cooper was selected President of the Council, Fred A. Beale appointed Assessor; George L. Gibbs, Collector; George A. Hulick, Superintendent of Highways; and Arthur D. Van Note, Borough Clerk.
The borough was recognized as having three sections: Kensington Park, north of Broadway near Oakwood Avenue; Wall Street section, Wall Street in the vicinity of present day Oakwood Avenue; and West Long Branch, centered at Cedar Avenue, Locust Avenue and Monmouth Road.
One of the first actions taken by the new council was to authorize the appointment of three marshals; one for each of the sections. The marshals were to be equipped with a cap, badge, belt, stick and handcuffs. The speed limit was set at 12 mph. Nicholas V. White was appointed as constable to serve the West Long Branch section: R. Hayes Cubberly, marshal for the Kensington Park section and Charles Stricklin, marshal to serve the Wall Street section.
A beer bottling plant near the corner of Oceanport Road and the Eatontown Boulevard (Oceanport Avenue and Broadway) had been a nuisance to the residents. At the second meeting of the council, the plant was declared "a public nuisance and illegally conducted". The prosecutor was requested to take action to revoke the license.
J. Wesley Seaman was appointed city engineer to make profiles of streets and sidewalks. Other actions indicate how the residents felt they had been neglected by the Borough of Eatontown. In rapid succession the council requested the Board of Freeholders to build a stone road on Cedar Avenue and on Monmouth Road, installed lights on Wall Street and Monmouth Road; initiated action to widen "Locust Avenue... from Southerly Borough limits to intersection of Wall Street." (Monmouth Road from Cedar Avenue south was then part of Locust Avenue).
In order to keep down the dust with water, the council made arrangements with the county "to sprinkle the Eatontown and Long Branch Boulevard from Turtle Mill Bridge to Long Branch City line and our half of Norwood Avenue from Lane's Corner to borough line at Potpie Bridge for the sum of $40.00 per wagon per month."
Succeeding councils continued the work started by Monroe V. Poole, Edward M. Beach, Frank S. Brand, Thomas W. Cooper, Charles A. Poole, Thadeus Schenk and John H. Sutphen and have made the Borough of West Long Branch the pleasant place it is today.
Indians in the West Long Branch Area
The Indians who inhabited the Monmouth County area were Algonquins of the Delaware Nation. These were known as the Lenni-Lenape, in Indian tongue, and they claimed to be the most ancient of all aboriginal nations. It is known that at least as early as the first century the Unami clan had developed trails to the ocean from their principal home areas along the Delaware Valley.
One branch of their pathways crossed the southern part of present day Eatontown through the areas now called West Long Branch and Long Branch to the shore. These visits to the ocean were usually in the summer season following Spring planting, and were presumably made for obtaining oysters, clams, sea-fish and fowl, also for shells to make wampum, and just to enjoy the surf and sand as we do today.
However, a very small group called the "Nevisans" (Navesinks) settled permanently in the area. They were wealthy with goods for trade with the Dutch and English settlers.
Many communities cannot boast of the presence of Indians in their histories. However, a backyard discovery of skeletons and artifacts by Mr. and Mrs. Wallace Marken in the early 1930's was good proof that West Long Branch can make this claim. This led to an archeological "dig" by the Indian Museum of New York and subsequent findings in the whole vicinity of Dennis Place and Halsey Street, Franklin Lake, and Shore Regional High School. It would he quite natural to assume that Broadway was once the eastern end of a trail which passed by high ground and a stream (now Franklin Lake) necessary for suitable living conditions.
We have a proud tradition that our State alone among the 13 colonies paid cash or its equivalent for every inch of land taken over from the Indians. Although it must be recorded that a few "fast deals" do seem to have crept into the transactions. One slight twist in the tradition came about in the present-day greater Long Branch area, involving a noteworthy wrestling match hack in 1688 between an Indian and a settler on the beach. Colonists to the north had been eyeing the Long Branch area with an idea of spreading out. After preliminary dickerings, the Indians invited the whites to a feast. As entertainment, the Delawares staged wrestling matches, and their champion named Vow-a-Vapon, easily defeated all comers of the tribe.
Then, when it was time for business, the two groups disagreed on a term indicating land measure. It was settled by staging a wrestling match between Vow-a-Vapon and a giant named John Slocum. It was agreed that the terms would be settled by which side won the contest.
Vow-a-Vapon had a secret weapon in the form of goose grease smeared on his whole body so Slocum could not get a grip. Being no fool, Slocum used handfuls of beach sand to make a gritty surface, and two hours later emerged the winner. By arrangement, the next day Slocum "walked off" one day's worth which covered a considerable amount of ground Long Branch through Sea Bright, Little Silver through Eatontown, through West Long Branch to Oakhurst. Four English pounds was paid for the property. Not much later, the Indians of Monmouth County passed into the annals of the past.
The earliest "original" grave stone in West Long Branch is that of Elizabeth Green, wife of Asher Cook. The grave is located in the cemetery of the Old United First Methodist Church. Elizabeth died November 2, 1773, at the age of 37. Crossed bones are cut into the head stone. Nearby are the graves of Henry Green (died 1769 and John Green (died 1796 and their wives. William Green's wife, Ann, died in 1788. As with these and other burials that pre-date the grounds. They are all re-intermints made at a later date.
The earliest known grave in the Old Free Church cemetery on Monmouth Road is that of John Slocum who died in 1791 at the age of 70 years. William Brinley, who owned the mill at Whale Pond Brook and who donated the land for this cemetery, was buried there in 1840 at the age of 90.
Among the early settlers in West Long Branch was George Smith, who owned a large farm. To obtain help on his farm he acquired the services of Jurgh Michael Meps, an immigrant from Rotterdam. In return for payment of his passage from Rotterdam, Meps was indentured to George Smith for a period of 7 years. During this period Meps was to work for Smith, who would provide him with food and shelter. The agreement was signed in December, 1754. Meps later married the daughter of George Smith and built a home on the Smith land. His name became corrupted by his English neighbors, pronouncing it as Maps, and was spelled that way on his grave stone in the Old Free Church cemetery.
Michael Maps became well known in the area as a chairmaker. Some chairs attributed to him are owned by collectors and his descendents. William H. MacDonald, in his book "Central New Jersey Chairmaking of the Nineteenth Century", states that the Michael Maps homestead was noted as the house in which was held the first Methodist Conference in New Jersey. He also states that the house was photographed for display at the Centennial Exhibition in Philadelphia (1876) as a typical Monmouth County farm house. Michael Maps lived there until his death in 1802. His son, Frederich, who fought in the Revolution, continued chair making in this same house. Zenas, son of Frederich, continued the tradition of chair making.
Another family was the Howland family whose house still stands on Cedar Avenue. The original part of the house was built in 1711. Howland owned a large tract as was usual with the very early settlers. The house is now occupied by Mr. and Mrs. Aldo Barberi.
George Mount came here in the early 1800's and was the father of Mayor James Mount and Lavenia Mount. Lavenia was born at "Sandy Oaks", 9 Jeffrey Lane, in 1859.
Alexander McGregor came here about 1800, opened several stores in the area and donated property for the Methodist Church and the school house. He suddenly left the area in 1834 to return to Scotland. His daughter married a Hopper, another early family of West Long Branch.
Some of the names that appear frequently on old maps are Lane, Woolley, Sherman, Maps, Tallman, Dennis, Lippincott. Edwards, Pool (Poole), Slocum, Chasey, Mount, Metzger, Antonides, Hulick, Conroe, Smith, Van Note, Levy and Brower.
This area slowly grew more populous. A few farms appeared, and as the need arose, grist mills and saw mills were built. Two of the grist mills were located adjacent to present West Long Branch; the Brinley Mill on present Monmouth Road at Whale Pond Brook, and Turtle Mill located on present Broadway just west of Route 36.
In the early days, our area was referred to as long branch, after the long branch of the Shrewsbury River. The area included present uptown Long Branch and part of what is now West Long Branch. An 1823 deed for the home of Mr. and Mrs. J. C. Hermann at 1060 Broadway refers to the house as being "at long branch" (spelled without capital letters).
Around 1785, there were enough Methodists in the vicinity to bring Bishop Asbury here to preach. Bishop Asbury traveled through New Jersey preaching wherever Methodists gathered. In 1791, he referred to present West Long Branch as "at" Long Branch, and again in 1809, when he is believed to have preached at the present Methodist Church. he referred to preaching "at" Long Branch.
The first church in this area was erected on land donated in 1791 by William Brinley. The church was located on the west side of Monmouth Road near West Palmer Avenue. Land adjacent to it was used as a cemetery. After the church ceased to serve as a house of worship, the building was moved across the street and used as a barn.
One of the early craftsmen in this area was Michael Maps, who came to West Long Branch in 1754. His chairs are now prized antiques.
The first store at long branch was opened in 1812 by Michael Maps, grandson of the chairmaker, and Richard Wyckoff on the corner of Locust Avenue and Broadway. Three years later it was sold to Elisha Lippincott, who conducted business there for over fifty years. This intersection came to be known as Lippincott's Corner. A second store was built in 1826 at Liberty Pole (uptown Long Branch) by Alexander McGregor, whose home was located on the south-east corner of Monmouth Road and Cedar Avenue. He sold this home to John Hopper in 1815. The name of Hoppertown came into common use around that time. An 1851 map identifies the intersection of Monmouth Road and Cedar Avenue as Mechanicsville and shows J. Hopper's store on the north-east corner of Locust and Cedar Avenues.
A map of 1873 identifies the intersection as Branchburg and an 1889 map identifies the intersection as West Long Branch Post Office. Also on the same map, the West Long Branch School District No. 86 includes what is now the Borough of West Long Branch.
An early store which is still in use is on the corner between Locust Avenues and Monmouth Road. It is now Gallo's Luncheonette and Minnie's Beauty Salon. Will Golden sold groceries and dry goods in this store. Dot Dangler, who has lived in West Long Branch since 1890, recalls the wagon scales located in the road at the intersection of Cedar Avenue and Monmouth Road. Della Golden. Will's daughter would run across the street from the store to weigh loaded wagons so that the farmer would know the weight of hay, grain or whatever he was delivering. The weighing was done by a balance located near what is now College Park Cleaners. Several times the post office was located in Golden's store and also at times located in the building now occupied by the College Park Cleaners.
Two mills were located nearby. Turtle mill was built before the Revolution and was located on the north side of Broadway near the brook just west of Route 36. One of the several owners of the mill was killed when he became entangled in the machinery. The Brinley mill was located on Monmouth Road south of Whale Pond Brook. This mill was later sold to Hopper as shown on an 1851 map.
An early carriage factory was located at the present site of the Amoco service station (College Bow Service Center) at Monmouth Road and Cedar Avenue. In 1873, Charles Antonides was building carriages for use throughout New Jersey. In the early 1900's the building was a gas station operated by John Short, then for many years it was Cooper's gas station. It was torn down in 1972 to make way for a modem service station.
Other early businesses included a beer bottling plant near Oceanport Avenue and Broadway; Will Malchow's stone cutting place located on the north-east corner of Wall Street and Locust Avenue: Frank Dennis' ice house at Franklin Park Lake: the silk mill at Broadway and Oakwood Avenue which was originally an automobile agency and garage.
Frank Dennis was also known as the watercress king for the watercress he grew here and in the South. His ice house was located on the north side of the lake and men were hired in the winter to cut ice from the lake and store it under sawdust in the ice house for use in the summer. The ice house burned in the early 1920's, but part of the foundation can still be seen beside the lake.
It is not surprising that a stone cutter has been in this borough throughout the years since we have six cemeteries here.
Education
The Growth and Development of the Educational System :: Shore Regional High School :: Parent Teachers Association :: Public Library
The Growth and Development of the Educational System
The educational history of the early West Long Branch schools had its beginning in 1780, when the first house was occupied for school purposes on land owned by Elisha West on Cedar Avenue. one mile east of Branchburg. Branchburg then was a village in the southeast part of Eatontown Township. This school was used until 1812.
One of the early settlers in the Branchburg area was Alexander McGregor who in about 1807 purchased a small tract of land and erected a dwelling in part of which he opened a store. lie also donated a lot for school and church purposes, and a school house was built in 1810. Francis Martin was an early teacher in this school.
McGregor's house was owned by Mrs, Harriet Wilkeson for over forty years. Following Mrs. Wilkeson's death the house was sold to the Borough; the building was deemed unsafe and was demolished in 1957. The house was located on the present site of Woolley Park. McGregor kept his store at Branchburg until 1834 when he sold to John Hopper and the place became known as Hoppertown. Over the years a few homes were built around the store, church and school and approximately fifty years after Hopper acquired the property the area became known as Mechanicsville.
In 1869-70 fifty yards northeast of the school house, on the northwest corner of Wall Street and Locust Avenue, a two-storied frame building was constructed for school purposes. Heat was furnished by pot bellied stoves tended by the older boys. This school was under the supervision of Eatontown Township.
Two of our present day local residents attended this school; Miss Dorothy Dangler and Mrs. Louis Huhn. At one time funds were not available to keep the school open so Eatontown closed its doors. A local resident visited the homes of the pupils and offered to reopen the school and teach the children at a rate of fifty cents per pupil. It was not too long before funds became available and Eatontown Township resumed the responsibility for running the school.
In 1904 the Board of Education voted to have a census taken in the Kensington Park area. The result of the census found forty-one students would attend a school if erected. Construction started in August 1905 and the school opened its doors in October 1905. Miss Bessie Dennis was appointed to teach in the Kensington Park School at a salary of $50.00 a month.
The Wall Street School was built in 1904. It consisted of two rooms. After its erection the school house on the northwest corner of Wall Street and Locust Avenue was closed. According to the minutes of July 8, 1908 the County Superintendent of Schools, John Enright, appointed to the Board of Education Robert Reid, president; Monroe Poole, district clerk; George Gibbs, custodian of school monies. Other members appointed were William Morris, George Waters, Austin Hurley, George McKellip, James Heyer and Richard Hughes.
Miss Mona Denise was hired to teach music in the Wall Street and Kensington Park Schools at a salary of $200.00 a year. Two pianos were purchased from James Durnell, a Long Branch piano merchant, at a cost of $250.00 each. Mr. George Nelson was appointed principal at a salary of $1,000.00 a year and substitute teachers were paid $2.50 a week.
In 1914 to accommodate the borough's expanding population the Wall Street School was enlarged. The Kensington Park School was closed the following year and the children from that area were transported to the Wall Street School by horse and wagon: in the snowy weather sleighs were used. These daily trips were enjoyed by two present-day residents, Herbert Van Note, Sr. and Basil Slocum. The former Kensington Park School building still stands today on Oceanport Avenue and is a private residence.
The borough continued to grow and in 1927 the Wall Street School was expanded to its present size. At that time when students graduated they went on to Chattle High School in Long Branch and later to the present Long Branch High School building on Westwood Avenue.
West Long Branch, as today, continued to be an attractive community and the population continued to grow. The baby boom that followed World War 11 brought about a demand for additional classroom space and the Locust Avenue School was erected in 1951. In 1955 the Federal Government appropriated almost $1,000,000 to build four and one-half additional rooms to the structure. In 1958 the Board of Education announced the addition of 12 classrooms, one all-purpose room, a nurses' room, one teachers' room, three administrative offices, store rooms, a small kitchen and boys' and girls' show I looms. One of the highlights of the borough's fiftieth anniversary in 1958 was the dedication of the School as the Frank Antonides School to honor a civic minded man who spent forty-six years on the Board of Education. At the present time the elementary school population is approximately 900 pupils and 60 teachers.
The Superintendent of the West Long Branch Public School System is Peter C. Sandilos who was appointed in 1961. Assisting Mr. Sandilos are Miss Betty McElmon, principal of the Wall Street School and Ernest A. Melofchik, principal of the Frank Antonides School. Serving on the Board of Education in 1977 are: Peter S. Falvo, Jr., president, Mrs. Marylou Renzo, vice president, and James Gallagher, Jr., Dr. Edwin T. Hunter, Mrs. Wendy Paskin, Mrs. Angela Sgro, F. Donald Squillante, Mrs. Lynn R. Steneck, and Albert Wagner. Robert Tarantolo is the capable Secretary to the Board.
In the late I950's the Long Branch Board of Education notified several of its sending districts nets that it no longer would he possible to continue accepting high school students. West Long Branch, along with Oceanport, Sea Bright, and Monmouth Beach began immediately to plan for a regional high school. One of the important decisions was the location of the school. After an extensive search an attractive site was selected in West Long Branch. The school was to be called Shore Regional High School. Ground was broken in September of 190 and the dedication and opening was in September 1962. The school is a one-story sprawling structure located on the shore of Franklin Lake. At this writing approximately 1,175 students attend the school and they are taught by 81 faculty members.
The Borough has four representatives on the Shore Regional High School Board of Education. Representing the Borough in 1977 were James P. Delehanty, Jr., James M. Ronan. Anthony M. Manzo, and John S. Jones. Mr. Donald W. Cahill was the Superintendent of the District and Mr. Thomas W. Garland, Jr., was the Secretary to the Board.
Like many organizations involved with the welfare of children, the group we know as "P.T.A." developed out of the impulse to work for children, with a basic motivating dependence on God.
The winter of 1897 had seen a remarkable gathering of women in Washington, D.C. in response to a summons to the "Motherhood of the Nation." Mrs. Edwin Grice, one of the first women ever elected to a board of education back in 1895, worked to make a New Jersey branch of the new National Congress of Mothers which was spreading through the country. Years later Mrs. Grice, the first president of the New Jersey Parent Teachers Association reflected, "In the spirit of absolute dependence on Divine Guidance, was the N.J. Congress of Mothers born."
The New Jersey Congress of Mothers was an aggressive, socially concerned group from the start. For example: legislative works protecting child labor and women was in progress by 1902; a petition was sent to the legislature that women be placed in managerial positions at the state Tuberculosis Sanitorium: home economics courses and "household arts" were requested for elementary schools; a "Good Roads" department was established for safety. As far back as 1918, pre-natal pamphlets in five languages were distributed to foreign-born mothers. The annual physical and dental examinations for all school children were established by P.T.A. Emphasis was placed on hot lunches for students, higher salaries for teachers and the importance of early religious training.
1925 saw the completion of the gradual title transition from "N.J. Congress of Mothers-Parents and Teachers" to "N.J. Congress of Parents and Teachers" in order to conform with national action the year before.
1926 was the year West Long Branch decided to become part of this movement. Or December 1st our P.T.A. held its organization meeting in the Grammar School with the late Mrs. Fred W. Van Note as presiding officer and twenty charter members. By 1948 membership was 157 and this year it is 785.
P.T.A. is among the most democratically structured organizations in America. Any parent or teacher in a given school system may join and have equal "say" with all others. All work and time are volunteered. Committees may he added or dropped as needs change.
When Mrs. S. Green was presiding during 1933-34 the P.T.A. bought material and had drapes made for the Grammar School's second floor auditorium in time for the June grad nation.
Before 1940 a P.T.A. staffed cafeteria, complete with printed menu, was in full operation at the Grammar School. One lady was cook and two were asked to serve on a one-week basis. Due to the smaller appetites of younger children, and their overwhelming love for peanut butter, the program was disbanded in the early fifties: when K-2nd grades were returned to the school after a few years at Frank Antonides School.
In the early 1940's P.T.A. sponsored the student insurance plan; and in 1952 a safety patrol was established. During the period 1940-42 Mrs. Bogardus, now Mrs. E. Bradley, held meetings which laid the ground work to institute the "2¢ milk" program, which was then matched by government subsidy. Frequently, after general meetings, there were history quizzes with men versus women. P.T.A. sponsored a Cub Scout troop with the help of Mr. and Mrs. Bogardus. Many fathers were active in P.T.A. at that time.
The year was 1 953: a very successful "Can Can" show was put on by the P.T.A. members to launch a student scholarship fund, according to Mrs. Allen Woolley, Jr., one of the committee women. The first scholarship of S400.00 was awarded in 1958, Mr. Russell Olivadotti became the first male president in 1955.
Our little kindergarteners have been welcomed with juice and cookies on the day before school begins since 1956. They meet their teachers (then Mrs. Gibb or Mrs. Pruitt, now Mrs. Cameron or Mrs. Pruitt) and their new surroundings. This, too, is accomplished by P.T.A. ladies.
Around 1958 the P.T.A. began providing an annual Teachers' luncheon to encourage communications between parents and teachers. As the population of the borough began to escalate in the early 1970's. P.T.A. introduced a new parent welcoming. In 1972 the association established the Block-Parent Program.
A pre-school handicapped child census was conducted in cooperation with the National P.T.A. For the past two years the P.T.A. has presented Board of Education Candidates introduction Night.
Among the gifts donated to the schools by the P.T.A. are draperies, a piano, blacktop behind the gym, tape recorders, movie projectors, swings, a portable public address system, numerous library books each year and television sets. The P.T.A. and the Board of Education divided the $5,000 cost of a system consisting of two television cameras, two monitors and two video tape recorders. Recently, a potter's wheel, an announcement sign and gym equipment were given to the schools.
Association officers for the current year are: Mrs. Helen Gallirio, president; Mrs. Janet Tucci. 1st vice president; Mrs. Syvilla Davies, 2nd vice president; Mrs. Virginia Masterman-Smith, recording secretary; Mrs. Carolyn De Marco, corresponding secretary; and Mrs. Mary Gallagher, treasurer.
West Long Branch Public Library
The following is excerpted from a flyer distributed by the West Long Branch Library Association dated 1919: "In the summer of 1917 the ladies of the Borough of West Long Branch formed and incorporated Library Association. They have made rapid progress since then and now have a collection of over five hundred excellent books. The Library is at present in the auditorium of our public school. It is open as a reading room and for the circulating of books on Tuesday and Friday afternoons from three to four o'clock."
In 1927 a referendum was submitted to and approved by the townspeople to have
a Municipal Library and the Borough took over the operation. Until 1957 the Borough Office and the Library had no permanent home. When the Borough arranged with the West Long Branch Community Center to purchase the south wing of the center, provisions were made to house the library in the renovated structure. Previous to this the Library had been housed in two other locations: most the records concerning this period of the Library's history have been lost or destroyed. In speaking with former board members it was learned that the Library remained relatively small operation for many years. One part-time person was in charge and board members offered their assistance as needed. A report for the year 1940 is available and shows that the Library had 243 adult and 166 junior members; the collection consisted of 5,461 volumes.
After the move to the new Municipal Building in 1927, where the Library was housed in one relatively small room, the library hours were expanded to three afternoons and three evenings per week, a total of 15 hours. During this period the collection was growing: particular emphasis was placed upon strengthening the reference collection. The Library was able to offer a greater variety of services when an agreement was signed in 1959 with the Monmouth County Library. A statistical report for the year 1960 showed 600 borrowers. At the present time 49% of the Borough residents are registered with the Library.
In 1970 the Borough entered into an agreement with the West Long Branch Community Center to purchase the breezeway area of the center. The area was then converted into a modern, handsomely decorated and furnished library facility. Once part of the Norwood Country Club complex, it was a stable for polo ponies in the 1910's. The Library staff consists of the Head Librarian and an assistant, two library clerks and two pages. The hours have been increased to thirty which include four evenings, five afternoons and Saturday morning. Special services include story hours, film programs, pick-up and delivery to shut-ins and a large print collection that includes fiction and non-fiction, the large-type edition of the Reader's Digest and the New York Times Large Type Weekly. The Library circulates over 60 periodicals and is adding regularly to a record collection which at present numbers 700.
Serving Our Borough
Police Department :: Fire Department :: Fire Company No. 1 :: Fire Company No. 2 :: First Aid Squad :: Fire Co. No. 1 Auxiliary :: Fire Co. No. 2 Auxiliary :: Junior Fire Co. Auxiliary :: Free Church
The West Long Branch Police Department
The West Long Branch Police Department has come a long way since the appointment in 1908 of two marshalls, Nicholas V. White and R. Hayes Cubberly who served at an annual salary of 250 dollars. In the twenties a motorcycle patrolman covered West Long Branch. In the thirties and forties a two-man police force served the Borough and a two-door Oldsmobile coupe replaced the motorcycle in the forties. It was not until 1934 that radio communication was established. As the population of the Borough grew following World War II it became necessary to expand the department. Old timers had fond memories of the motorcycle patrol officers: Joseph Slocum, Fred Slocum, and Robert Hoyt. Earl Hanaway was the first police chief to be appointed; this was in the early thirties. Earl was the father of patrolman Michael Hanaway who joined the force in 1972. Chief Hanaway and Captain Frank Bilotta were the West Long Branch Police Department until 1951 when patrolman Warren Brand was appointed to the force. Chief Hanaway served until 1955 when he retired and Bilotta was then made Chief; he served until 1973, the year of his retirement. Lieutenant Brand retired in 1968 as the result of an injury sustained while serving as a police officer. Our present Chief, Ira E. White and Lieutenant Ralph Yamello joined the Department in 1955. Lieutenant Herbert Van Note followed in 1957, Sergeant Alfred Thorne in 1961 and Sergeant James Maletto in 1965.
The Police Department, along with other Borough departments, moved from Monmouth Road to the present headquarters in the Borough Hall complex located on Poplar Avenue in 1957. Previously the department had been located on the second floor of the fire house used by Fire Company No. 1; this building has since been demolished and replaced by a modern structure. The Police Department was a one-car operation until 1957. Only one man was on duty at a time and the Police Department telephone was manned by Mrs. Pearl Brand who operated from her home. This was a complex means of communication. Mrs. Brand received calls in her home and then called The Monmouth County Police Radio Station in Freehold; they in turn called the police car on duty in West Long Branch by radio. In 1968 the Borough established its own two-way police radio and hired dispatchers who work from a desk in police headquarters. In 1971, under a grant from the New Jersey State Law Enforcement Planning Agency we received funds and installed a complete radio console containing the most up-to-date communications equipment. During the same year a grant from the New Jersey Office of Highway Safety was used to acquire a traffic safety unit which contains the latest radar equipment, traffic car, breathalyzer and other modern traffic safety equipment. In 1975 a Detective Bureau was established under the direction of Detective John Falduti who joined the department in 1968. Patrolman John Demaree serves as juvenile officer; he joined the force in 1971. Under the capable direction of Chief Ira E. White the Department maintains a high standard of excellence. All members of the Police Department have been trained and are constantly being brought up-to-date on new police techniques.
West Long Branch Fire Department
The volunteer fire company is a unique American institution. No history of West Long Branch can be written without mentioning the deeds of self-sacrifice performed by the members of our volunteer fire department, They are frequently called upon to get out of bed in the dead of night, sometimes in a blizzard, to make rescues and fight fires at great personal risk to protect somebody else's home or place of business.
West Long Branch Fire Company No. 1 had its beginnings in 1902, six years before the official founding of the Borough. At that time what is present-day West Long Branch was a section of Eatontown. The Company was known at the founding as Fire Company No. 3. The organizational meeting to found the company was held in the old Junior O.U.A.M. building that occupied the site of the present Mechanics Hall. The building was destroyed by fire and subsequent meetings took place in a barn of the property of Charles Taylor. Later sessions were held monthly at the homes of the members until enough money was raised by donations to construct a fire house.
The first piece of equipment owned by the company was a steel frame truck equipped with chemical tanks and ladders: this rig was purchased by the Township Committee. At first the firemen supplied the brawn to get the apparatus to a blaze, but permission was granted later by the Committee to commandeer any team of horses that was handy. Also among the first expenditures undertaken by the Company was at the January, 1903, meeting, when a fire gong in the form of a locomotive tire was authorized to be purchased.
Among the highlights in the early history of the Company was acquisition of its own fire horses. An earlier chronicler put it this way: "It was in March, 1915, that we reached the highest point in our progress, when the long sought ambition was realized, in the purchase of those faithful old, yet beautiful, black fire horses, Harry and Howard, from the Neptune Fire Company of Asbury Park through the intercession of Chief Stillwagon, at a total cost of $350.00 which was paid, by assessment of the members, on a note carried by brother Solomon Sherman."
The next major step in the history of Company No. I occurred in 1921 when they acquired a motor driven fire apparatus in the form of a Stutz 500-gallon pumper and a hose truck. This sturdy truck served the Borough for 28 years and replaced by a 750-gallon pumper in 1949. Another high point in the history of the Company was when they dedicated their new firehouse on Monmouth Road; many members of the Company volunteered their services to construct this modern building.
West Long Branch Fire Company No. 2 was formed in 1915 when a group of volunteers met at the home of William H. Dennis on Victor Avenue. Mr. Dennis was elected the first president. The company's first firehouse on Oceanport Avenue was dedicated in 1916 and with the arrival of the company's new engine they were ready to protect the Borough. An attractive, new functional building now serves as the Company's headquarters; this building was dedicated in 1967.
In May of 1973 a wetdown was held for the company's new 1000 gallon Mack Telesquirt. The "Squirt" as it is fondly called has a combination of a 55-foot aerial ladder and water tower. She has proven time and time again how important she really is in their fire attack plans. She carries 500 gallons of water in her booster tanks as well as having Scott Air Packs it her jump seats just aft of the cab. The Company also has the oldest truck in town still in service, a 750 gallon Mack pumper that has served faithfully for many years.
The worst fire ever faced by the West Long Fire Department came in January 1927 when flames leveled the palatial Hubert T. Parson mansion. Damage to the mansion, which had served as the summer White House for President Wilson, was counted at $1,000,000. Firemen from Long Branch and Ocean Township aided in the fight.
The West Long Branch Fire Department provides transportation for Santa Claus each Christmas. Atop the tire trucks Santa rides through the Borough distributing toys to each child under 12 years of age. This is one of the many heart-warming traditions of our friendly Borough.
West Long Branch First Aid Squad
The West Long Branch First Aid Squad was organized on April 17, 1931 with Harry Cooper as its first president. With 16 members, they purchased their first ambulance from the Flock Funeral Home for $2,000 in July. The late James R. Mount, then Mayor, endorsed a note for $2,100 and through the efforts of the squad members a house to house canvass was made, in which $2,200 was raised, enabling the note to be paid off on September 25, 1931. The first ambulance was put into service on August 3, 1931 and was garaged at Chester Dennis', later at George Van Huel's and then room was found at the firehouse.
The squad, by incorporating in 1933, was able to be aided financially by the borough as the result of a state law giving the borough that power.
During the period from the squad's organization until April 1938, the First Aid Squad and the ambulance were maintained by the members of the squad through public donations and the sponsoring of numerous affairs. In that year, the ambulance was turned over to the borough so that expenses of maintenance and operation could be shared by the taxpayers of the borough as in the case of the Fire Department. In April 1938, bids were received by Borough Clerk J. Russell Woolley for a new ambulance. In May the borough contracted to purchase a modern custom built ambulance at a cost of $3,000. This ambulance was put into service July 1938 and gave faithful service until August 1955 when a new ambulance was purchased.
The squad answered an average of 90 to 100 calls per year at this time but the number increased each year so that in 1966 it was necessary to replace the 1955 ambulance with a new ambulance with the latest equipment. This ambulance had oxygen piped in, a Robinson stretcher which enabled the First Aid corpsman to pick up patients without disturbing their position and was also equipped with F & J resuscitators. This ambulance was dedicated to J. Russell Woolley for his faithful help to this growing squad. The First Aid Squad now averages better than a call a day, making 452 calls during the year 19Th.
To satisfy the need for multiple ambulance response for traffic accidents involving two or more victims and/or the increasing frequent simultaneous first aid calls, a Grumman modular ambulance on Ford truck chassis was put in service in 1975. This ambulance is equipped with air conditioning, piped in oxygen and suction, extrication equipment, cardio pulmonary resuscitation adjunctive equipment and soon to be installed direct radio communication with the hospital.
Our First Aid Squad has a Plectron service which is a signal system. When a call for help is made, it goes through the police dispatcher who sends out the alert through the system installed in the members' homes. The "silent" system is on from 12 midnight to 6:00 a.m. and each night four members are on duty for those hours every night so you are always assured of getting help. The Plectrons and 2 encoders were purchased by the First Aid Squad at an expense of approximately $5,000.
Our First Aid Squad has 12 "life" members – men who have been in the squad for 25 years or more or are past 60 years of age. There are 30 active members at the present time. The ambulances are housed in the Borough Chemical & Truck Company No. 1 built in 1959.
Not only has the squad proven itself locally, but statewide as well, having answered such disaster calls as the Morro Castle, September 1934, and the Hindenburg at Lakehurst in May 1937. It has covered such events as the Governor's Day in Sea Girt, and attended ceremonies when the King and Queen of England arrived in Red Bank.
The squad has taken an active part in the spread of First Aid work such as classes and demonstrations of first aid work both locally and statewide. The First Aid Squad is a charter member of 1st District of the New Jersey First Aid Council but because of geographical sub-divisions has joined the 16th District which is composed of towns in the surrounding area.
The officers for 1977 are Kenneth Walters, president; Thomas O'Rorke, vice president: George Blair, secretary: Paul Updike, treasurer; Victor Huhn, captain; George Blair, 1st lieutenant; Nels Warren, 2nd lieutenant.
Most of the information in the above account appeared in a souvenir booklet issued by the First Aid Squad on the occasion of its fortieth anniversary in 1971.
West Long Branch Auxiliary of Fire Company No. 1
The auxiliary was organized in April 1916 at the wedding reception for George and Selina Van Huel. Mrs. Van Huel was our first president. Rounding out her slate of officers were: Mrs. C.H. Stillwagon, vice-president; Mrs. James Atcheson, secretary and Mrs. Frank Antonides, treasurer. There were fourteen charter members and by the end of the first year there was a total membership of thirty-six ladies.
During six decades we have had several presidents, namely: Mrs. George Van Huel, Mrs. Lewis Palmer, Mrs. Walter Sherman, Mrs. William Morris, Mrs. Fred W. Van Note, Mrs. Frank Dennis, Mrs. Leon Bowman, Mrs. Cornelius Woolley, Mrs. Henry Schultz, Sr., Mrs. Louis Huhn, Mrs. John DeBruin, Jr., Mrs. Fred Worles, Mrs. Joseph De Filippo, Mrs. Vern- on Worles, Sr., Mrs. Russell Hagerman, Jr., Mrs. Phillip Cittadino and Mrs. Peter Wortman.
The auxiliary's goal has always been to help the firemen when called upon. An example of that help is told in an excerpt from the minutes of the Borough Council meeting of June 15, 1922, which read "A check for $1,000 was received from the Ladies Auxiliary of the Borough Chemical and Truck Company No. 1 representing their donation toward installation of the fire alarm signal system."
Through the years that followed our major donations to the firemen have included: cabinets, drapes, a refrigerator, a memorial plaque and paint for the interior of the firehouse. It is always a challenge for us to think of new ways to help our men.
During our early years we raised money for our projects by holding socials, auctions, bazaars, dances, and card parties. In more recent years we have added to our fund raising activities by having rummage sales, car washes, and tricky trays. This year we are adding a booth at the Community Center Fair.
As we all know money cannot buy everything, so we support the men by making coffee at fires, helping at their functions, serving breakfast before their Christmas toy distribution and marching in parades. To add a little fun to our work schedule we participate in the games at the Annual Fireman's Field Day at Franklin Lake. We also enjoy a summer barbecue and a gala Christmas party.
Many years have elapsed since our inception. We now operate with a membership of thirty industrious ladies, which include two charter members who are still active in the auxiliary; they are Mrs. Florence Huhn and Miss Dorothy Dangler. It has been due to their dedication and service, and others like them, which has enabled us to continue working toward our goal.
Our present officers are; Mrs. Judy Wortman, president; Mrs. Rae DeFilippo, vice-president; Mrs. Karen Huhn, corresponding secretary; Mrs. Irene Works, recording secretary; and Mrs. Paula Cooper, treasurer.
In the future, as in the past, our goal will remain the same, to help and support the men who unselfishly volunteer their time and services to contribute to the well being of our community.
West Long Branch Auxiliary of Fire Company No. 2
West Long Branch Fire Company No. 2 was organized in 1916. Through the untiring efforts of the men of the Company who gave of their time, labor and money, a lot was purchased on Oceanport Avenue and a firehouse erected. On September 18, 1916 the first meeting was held.
During this period great hardships were endured and it soon became evident that if the Fire Company was to be a success, aid was needed. Permission was granted by the Company to organize an auxiliary. On December 17, 1916 an organization meeting was held at the home of Mrs. William H. Dennis and the following officers were elected: Mrs. William H. Dennis, president; Mrs. Kate Brower, vice-president; Mrs. Robert Parker, treasurer; Miss Latham Dennis, secretary; Mrs. John Wollcott, Mrs. Mortimer Thorne, and Mrs. John Rohbeck, ways and means and welfare committee.
In the early years money was made by having pie socials, cake sales, fairs, block dances and by making clam chowder for sale at the firehouse on special days. In later years, card and Bunco parties were held, Chances were sold on special gifts and many affairs were held at the homes of members.
Most of the money was given to the Fire Company to help clear the mortgage, which was retired in 1927. Each year the women, with money furnished by the Company, have purchased gifts for delivery to the children of the Borough at Christmas time by the Fire Company.
Great credit is due the men and women who so tirelessly gave of themselves a monument for the good of all citizens of the community. The members of today are still willing to give of themselves, to aid in any way possible, the Fire Company in the volunteer work necessary to the success of the Company and the .Borough of West Long Branch.
This year the auxiliary is honoring six members who are still active after 25 years. They are Mrs. Herbert Van Note, Sr., Mrs. William Conway, Mrs. John Conway, Mrs. Kenneth P. West, Mrs. Jennie Breglia, and Mrs, Rose Tarzia. These members have held various offices in the auxiliary over the years.
The present officers are: Mrs. Joanne Van Pelt, president; Mrs. Marion Driscoll, vice-president; Mrs. Alexis Schulz, secretary; and Mrs. Louis Payne, treasurer.
West Long Branch Junior Firemen's Auxiliary
The West Long Branch Junior Firemen's Auxiliary was established in 1969 in association with the West Long Branch Fire Department. This came about after many months of lengthy deliberation within the fire department. As a result of these deliberations it was decided that younger members were needed. These young men would be involved with both fire companies in the Borough.
The purpose of this organization is to give interested young men of the Borough between the ages of eighteen to twenty-one an opportunity to become involved with the fire department and all aspects of the fire service. Once an individual becomes a Junior Fireman, he can see first-hand what is involved in being a fireman. It also gives the fire companies an opportunity to train these men for three years under all conditions thus once becoming a regular member they have a fully trained man on the job.
These young men are members of both of the fire companies in the town so that both benefit. Also, by being associated with the two companies a junior can decide more constructively which of the two they wish to join as a regular member.
The only limitations placed on these men are: (1) They are not permitted to enter a burning or burnt out building without the orders of an officer. (2) They are not permitted to drive an apparatus at any time. These limitations are for insurance reasons. In all other aspects a junior is a full fledged fireman.
To become a Junior Fireman, an individual has to be a resident of the Borough for at least three years, his age has to he eighteen to twenty-one, and he has to be medically fit.
Once accepted by the regular company as well as the juniors, he enters a one year probationary period during which to prove his desire to be a fireman. During this time he is required to attend the Monmouth County Fire College for training. He is also required to attend company and department drills and lectures, and maintain a 60% percentage of all events.
The Junior Fire Department is self-governing. It has a president, vice-president, secretary, treasurer, and a captain. They hold their own regular monthly meetings on the third Monday of each month. They are also permitted to attend the monthly meetings of the senior companies.
In the opinion of most who have come into contact with this organization and have seen it function under many different situations, it is agreed that it is one of the best things that has ever happened to the department as well as the Borough.
Cemetery Dedication
In 1665, the Duke of York granted the Monmouth Patent, which was the basis for the founding of Monmouth County. One of the participants in this Patent was William Reape, the great-grandfather of one William Brinley who operated the grist and saw mills on his land along Whalepond Brook, the dividing line between Oakhurst and West Long Branch. The Brinley family secured the land from the Indians and lived on it for several generations. They had their home, which still stands just south of Whalepond Brook, their mills and farm.
Early records recount that about 1785 Bishop Francis Asbury, the Methodist Bishop, was preaching in the area, using a school house, a clearing in the fields or a private home as a gathering place. Apparently seeing the need for a permanent place of worship, on February 7, 1791, Mr. William Brinley, the miller, deeded this acre of land, which was a corner of one of the fields on his farm, to be used for "a church and burying ground, free for all ministers of the Gospel bearing exemplary life and conversation, of any denomination of Christian whatsoever and for the exclusive use of the Methodists every third (second?) Sunday.” The deed was made to Peter Parker, William Green, Frederick Maps and Thomas Little as Trustees and the agreement was bound for the price of five shillings, The church that was built on the land was known as the Old Free Church and the congregation was the nucleus for the present Old First Methodist Church on Locust Avenue.
By the early 1800's - about 1808, dissension had arisen in the congregation, purportedly over the Bishop, and Mr. Alex McGregor deeded land for the new church on Locust Avenue. Most of the members of the Old Free Church left to join the new congregation. A few remained and called their group The Independent Methodists, but services were discontinued a few years later. In 1845 the church building was sold by the remaining Trustees to Mrs. Harriet Baker and it was moved across the road and was used as a barn on her property. It purportedly was destroyed by a hurricane in 1934.
The cemetery itself has stood idle since January 24, 1905 when the last recorded burial took place for Maria Tallman. The earliest recorded burial was that of Mr. John Slocum on June 26, 1791. Mr. William Brinley lived to the ripe old age of 90 and did not occupy a place in his own cemetery until January of 1840. It is interesting to note that the cemetery was functional for 114 years and contains 134 recorded graves, according to a listing of tombstones made about 1915 and published in 1930 in the Genealogical Magazine of New Jersey. Most of the burials were in the 1800's.
After the split in the congregation, and without a parent church to oversee the cemetery, it seems to have lain rather forgotten except by a few since that last interment in 1905. Many West Long Branch residents do not even realize it exists, as it remains screened from view by its height off the road and by the hedge in the spring and summer. I discovered it after moving to West Long Branch in 1958 and thought it a beautiful little place, peaceful and quiet and speaking quiet words and thoughts of the years passed. It deserves to be protected and cherished, and this dedication today will hopefully mark the beginning of an effort to care for it and preserve what remains for the future. The Historical Society, out of its budget appropriation from the Borough for last year's Bicentennial Year, very generously used funds for the placing of the plaque which we are here to dedicate today. May we all also dedicate ourselves to a little of our time and effort each year to keep this lovely old cemetery in the condition it deserves.
Houses of Worship
Old First United Methodist Church :: Lutheran Church :: Saint Jerome’s Roman Catholic Church :: The Calvary Assembly of God Church
Old First United Methodist Church
The Sermon on the following pages was taken from the 100th anniversary booklet of the Old First Methodist Episcopal Church printed in 1909.
Supplemental Sermon
By the REV. CURWEN BARTINE FISHER, A.M.
On the Centennial Anniversary of the Laying of the Corner-stone. May 16.1909.
From the beginning Old First Church has kept good company. 1809. the year of her birth, chronicles the advent of Alfred Tennyson, Oliver Wendell Holmes, William Ewart Gladstone, and the immortal Abraham Lincoln. However, Methodism antedates the organization of Old First by several years. Francis Asbury made a preaching tour through Monmouth County in 1785 and tradition says he preached here at Long Branch at that time. A church building was erected about this time midway between the present villages. West Long Branch and Oakhurst. TI is early became a part of Freehold circuit which reached from Trenton to the shore. Other denominations seem to have shared this place of worship with the Methodists. About the year 1795, Zenas Conger began his labors as a Methodist preacher in this vicinity. He proved to be a man of irregular habits and complaints were made against him. Many of the congregation sympathized with him. These adherents he gathered about him and organized another church which he styled the Methodist Independents. After the Methodists built the present edifice in 1809 the Independents continued to worship in the old property which was finally deeded. to them, their trustees being Stephen Cook, Richard Taber, James Edwards, Ralph Thompson, Thomas Brown, Abram Lane, John Emmons. This society finally became weak and the house unused, and was sold by Stephen Cook in 1846, he being the sole surviving trustee. It was then moved across the road, where the frame may now be found, as originally put together a century and a quarter ago, as a part of Mr. Walter Cornell's barn.
Notwithstanding this departure of the Congerites, Methodism in its purity continued to flourish at same time, Bishop Asbury's journal for Monday, Sept. 5, 1791.
contains this record: I rode through much rain to Monmouth (Freehold) where I preached to a considerable congregation on ' The just shall live by faith, etc.' There is some stir among the people at Long Branch, within eighteen months, as I am informed, nearly fifty souls have professed conversion."
Another entry in Mr. Asbury's Journal reads: "Sunday Sept. 30, 1809, at Long Branch my subject was Acts III: 26. It was given me to speak in strong words, words of God and from God. At 3 o'clock I preached in the Episcopal Church at Shrewsbury; I came home with John Throckmorton."
I am led to believe that this sermon by the Bishop was delivered within the sacred walls of the present Old First Church, though as yet not completed. It was in March 1809 that the present Old First was incorporated, with the following named trustees: Elihu Chadwick, Joseph Parker, John Martin, Peter Slocum, John Lippincott and Michael Maps.
The corner-stone was laid May 16, 1809, at 11 o'clock, according to the statement of Mrs. Theodore Woolley, whose mother was born on that day, and related to her this fact. The services lasted from 11 o'clock in the morning until 6 in the evening. The lot for the church was donated by Alexander MacGregor. Joseph Totten was the presiding elder and Samuel Budd the preacher in charge. Totten succeeded Budd as preacher in charge of the circuit the next year. The first quarterly meeting was held in the church in 1810, Michael Coates, the presiding elder, preached and Totten followed him with another sermon. Picking berries afforded the girls the means for the gratification of the womanly desire for fine feathers, etc.
Mr. Totten preached a sermon against such ungodliness. The young men came to their defense and resolved to thrash the parson. Totten learned of this, and taking his whip he stepped outside and cracked it challenging them to conflict, but his stalwart form and defiant air proved too much for the young gallants. He was not molested.
In 1813, William Mills was the succeeding pastor, a native quaker of Monmouth County, but fired by patriotic feeling became an officer in the Revolutionary Army in 1776, captured by the British, and after thrilling experiences returned; was impressed by the despised Methodists, entered its ministry and closed his career in a most remarkable manner. Sunday morning, December 14th, just as he foresaw and predicted he would before leaving home for the circuit work of the week, yet persisted in entering upon his duties; after first giving his wife sundry directions and advices in case of his death, filled all of his appointments, preaching most fervently, met the early Sunday morning class and returned to Mr. Lippincott's and retired to a room to prepare for the sermon to follow at 10:30. The congregation assembled, but the pastor tarried. Finally on entering the room he was found in a dying condition. Being asked if medical aid should be summoned he replied, "The Lord is the best physician," and soon the heroic Methodist itinerant was with the church triumphant. At this time the entire Freehold circuit numbered 736 members.
In these early days the parish of the old Church extended from Sea Bright, on the North, to Shark River, on the South. Now twenty-one churches share with her this territory, and she is mother or grand-mother to them all.
Britton Woolley, born in 1812, has a vivid recollection of the appearance in early boyhood of the old Church. The interior remained for some time without plaster. The coming of the circuit rider was a stirring event. The roads were lined with pedestrians walking for miles, men, women and children, carrying their shoes to save the wear, and putting them on before reaching the meeting house. Young children were often carried for miles, for vehicles were scarce in those days. Edward I. Pitcher relates that his
mother was considered the proudest young woman attending the church because, while walking to church barefoot like the rest, she brought with her a towel and stopped at a nearby house to wash her feet before putting on her shoes.
"William Throckmorton maintained a prophets home," declares the Rev. Thomas O'Hanlon, D.D. Three daughters married methodist preachers: that eloquent and excentric Irishman. Billy Barnes, took one; Samuel Jaquett another, and William Franklin a third. A son, Samuel, entered the ministry. At this home Bishop Asbury and many others whose names are illustrious in the pages of early methodism found sympathy and refreshment. He passed to his reward in a good old age in 1861.
Another such house was that of Michael Maps. For thirty-two years Mr. Maps was the class-leader of that part of the membership which met in the old school house near the present location of Simpson Memorial Methodist Episcopal Church, and this class was the origin of that church. As was the class at Fresh Pond (North Long Branch the origin of Asbury Church. Mrs. Captain Valentine well remembers walking regularly from this point to the old church, and that many others came from much greater distances: mothers in some instances carrying infants and all bringing with them lunches for the day.
Isaac B. White related, as an incident of the times, that his Grandmother White once came a little late to lovefeast, and Francis Martin, the sexton who kept the door, refused her admittance, and she replied to him, "Francis, you have not the keys to the Kingdom of Heaven, and I am sure of getting in there."
Mrs. Mary E. Jeffrey Mount, of Red Bank, has in her possession the well-worn family Bible and hymnal used by her father, William Jeffrey. at family worship, and which was handed down to him by his mother, Nancy Jeffrey. This ancient copy of God's word will be used in the Centennial Services. His was also a prophets home. Mrs. Mount well remembers the first great stoves into which Sexton John Woolley poked full cordwood sticks as the minister preached, moving around softly two or three times to replenish the supply.
Those churches directly descended from Old First are the following in their order Shark River, (Hamilton). Rumson. (Little Silver). and from this succeeded First Church, Red Bank, and Grace. Tinton Falls. Eatontown, in 1851. Centenary, (St. Lukes), in 186o. Oceanport. Simpson, 1879. Wayside, 1879. North Long Branch. Sea Bright. And now our baby, Oakhurst, in this our centennial year, as one born out of due time, but fulfilling the Scriptural promise to the righteous, "They shall still bring forth fruit in old age, they shall be fat and flourishing."
In 1874, under the ministry of the Rev. George Reed. the Old Church was rebuilt at a cost of more than four thousand dollars. The side galleries were removed, the windows enlarged and thirteen feet added in front.
In 1886, during the pastorate of the Rev. B.C. Lippincott, D.D., the Sunday-school Chapel was built.
In 1895, under the ministry of the Rev. Pennington Corson, the beautiful modern pews were added and the ceiling was put on.
In 1902, during the ministry of the Rev. William Mitchell, the Old Church was further improved by the addition of the fine memorial windows, and a little later under the pastorate of the Rev. James Moore, D.D., the building was thoroughly repaired, painted and carpeted at a cost of about one thousand dollars. This was made possible largely through the labors and generosity of Mrs. J.H. Parker, a summer resident, from New York City.
In 1905, the old dilapidated parsonage was rebuilt and enlarged, under the pastorate of the Rev. Eli Gifford, at a cost of about four thousand dollars, and additions were also made to the Sunday-school Chapel.
The beautiful copies of the new church hymnal. ample to supply every worshipper, were the gift of Mrs. Richard Deeves, another New York friend. The kindness of many other such friends might also be mentioned to show the veneration of all for the dear Old First.
The pastors serving the charge subsequent to those mentioned in the historical sermon follow in their order: George Reed, W.E. Boyle, Walter Chamberlaine, R.J. Andrews, W.S. Barnart, B. C. Lippincott, Willis Reeves, George S. Sykes, J.R. Daniels, Pennington Corson. C.F. Downs, L.O. Manchester, J.W. Morris, William Mitchell, James Moore, Eli Gifford, C. B. Fisher.
The excellent memory of Brother Edwin S. Woolley has helped the writer to bridge over many gaps.
The Recording Stewards of the earlier period in order seem to have been Michael Maps, William R. Maps, Isaiah S. Lane, C.V. Golden, Thomas Cook, and to them we are indebted for the most we know. William R. Slocum, our present recording steward, is a worthy successor, having filled that office for twelve successive years.
The early minutes of the official meetings contain some interesting entries. In 1837 a resolution was passed enjoining the preacher to attend to that part of his duty relative to the distribution of the lovefeast tickets."
In 1842 appears a resolution recommending that Rumson and Tinton Falls be seperated from this charge, provided a single man can be obtained as preacher for the new circuit.
At this time camp meetings were annually held near Red Bank and were unitedly supported by all the churches of the circuit. An entry states that the camp meeting was ordered to take the place of the quarterly meetings, which implies that quarterly meetings meant something in those days. The recommendation of several men for reception into the traveling ministry appears; among them being Thomas I. Lyon, the brothers Gardiner and William Crum, Thomas C. Campfield, Samuel T. White, Lewis T. Maps, Samuel F. Hudson, H.S. Gascoyne and others.
Certain brethern are reported as delinquent as to class dues, and a resolution appears providing "that their cases be attended to according to the Discipline."
A committee is constituted to "estimate the table and other necessary expenses of the preacher during the present conference year." "Resolved, that the hay and fuel of the preacher in charge be included in the estimation of expenses and that thereby the salary be increased from $400. to $500. for this year." At this time Rumson's share is $125. and Tinton Falls pays $75. Old First $300. Estimating committee reports: "Disciplinary allowance for Brother - and wife $2oo; three children $72; table expenses, horse and fuel, $178;" all of which is strange reading to this generation.
In view of the present effort to build a suitable church at the seat of Princeton University, the following entry is significant: "Presiding Elder Isaac Wirmer called attention to the project contemplating the purchase of a lot of ground in the village of Princeton for a site upon which to erect a M. E. Church. The plan was that the price, $500.00, should be paid by the official members of the district as their part towards the church. Resolved, that the officials of Long. Branch raise $40.00 as their portion of the same." Whereupon $46.50 was subscribed by the brethren present. This was in 1846.
In 1851. "It is the sense of this meeting that the time has arrived when it is expedient to make an effort to build a M.E. Church in the village of Eatontown."
After the above noted separation from the charge of Rumson and Tinton Falls the preaching plan of the charge as arranged by the pastor, the Rev. Joseph Chattle, in 1850 was as follows: Preaching at Old First every Sabbath both morning and evening, and preaching on Sabbath afternoon in rotation at Long Branch School House, Wolf Hill School House, Sea District School House, and Poplar (J Howlands), which gave these points a service once in four weeks. But local preachers were on hand and filled in the gaps.
Through the kindness of Mrs. Mary Van Brunt of Long Branch, there was placed in the writers bands the Biography of the Rev. Thomas E. Stewart, who was associated with David Bartine and others on the old Freehold circuit in 1832 and 1833. Among the many interesting facts there recorded, we learn that the circuit then comprised eight principle appointments, besides the number of minor ones where the preachers held forth in school houses and private homes, requiring four hundred miles travel and three weeks time to make the rounds. These were: Long Branch, (the most influential), Bethany, Rumson, Middletown, High Point, Keyport, Squankum, Shark River, Freehold, Tinton Falls, Colts Neck, Trap, Red Bank and others. At Red Bank but two methodist families were found, but by the assistance of brethren from Rumson and Tinton Falls, an excellent congregation was soon obtained. Mr. Stewart was the first Methodist preacher who ever preached in Red Bank.
Writing to a friend he says: "There is room for work in the neighborhood of Long Branch there is: much hope. The people flock to the prayer meetings, held in private houses, so that we are compelled to conceal them from the public, lest they come in multitudes that could not be accommodated."
In his diary for June 5, 1833 he writes: "Preached this evening at Brother Fountain's, seven miles from Middletown Point. Here I saw a very singular phenomenon or else it wan an optical delusion, a streak of fire came through the ceiling, and passed down through the floor of the apartment in which were assembled! The effect I am positive was not a delusion—the people fell all over the floor! I closed the Bible and surrendered to the workings of the Spirit! The Lord was preaching in his own way! Saints were powerfully blest, sinners were converted and the little society in this neighborhood was built up."
June 7, 1833, "Preached at Mount Pleasant. Three good sisters walked twelve miles; four others eight miles! I remarked— 'You came a long distance, sisters. Bless God, said they, we have meeting all the way home.'"
During the two years of the ministry of Mr. Stewart and his associates more than one thousand professed conversion. Their work extended from beyond Keyport to within a few miles of Toms River in the pines.
August 6, 1833, he writes: "Hundreds are seeking salvation on this circuit. I preached last Tuesday at a place where the congregation has increased in fifteen months from twenty to five hundred."
During his pastorate Mr. Stewart resided in the old parsonage here (Long Branch) and remained at home every fourth week for rest and study. He speak of the delightful home and the great kindness of the people to his family. Speaking of the pain experienced by his wife through these long periods of separation, he says : "She had kind and attentive neighbor's in the families of William Throckmorton, Philip Dennis, Michael Maps and John Hopper."
In 1836 the official body was constituted as follows:
L. Lenhart, preacher in charge: William Throckmorton. Joseph Parker. Obadiah Sairs. John Hopper, John Cook, Michael Parker, William R. Maps, Joseph Covert, Michael Maps, James Joline, John Martin, William I. Sanford, John Woolley, Joseph Campbell, William Covert, Benjamin King, James Martin, Gordon Wardell, Peter Slocum, Edward Bown, Henry Brinley, Joseph Goodenough, Ellison Covert, Thomas I. Lyon, William Crum.
The blood of the heroic saints of these early days flows in the veins of many descendents in this community, and the fact that the old names are perpetuated so largely in the records of the church speaks well for the home religion and influence of those days.
May the glory of the Old Church never fade and her influence never wane.
The Lutheran Church of the Reformation
The Lutheran Church of the Reformation is situated on the southeast corner of Broadway and Locust Avenue. Organized in 1931, with 24 members, they built a colonial building in 1948 which they outgrew. A new handsome contemporary church building was constructed in 1963, with modern facilities, such as a kitchen, a parish house and classrooms. A spire was added in December of 1967 and a carillon was added in 1970. In 1975 a large parking lot was completed, curbing and sidewalks were constructed on Locust Avenue and on Broadway, and a garage was built to serve as a storage area for the Boy Scouts and the church. Also in 1975 the church assumed the responsibility of sponsoring a Vietnamese family. Early in 1967 a lovely addition was completed on the east side of the church. The addition houses offices for the pastor and church secretary and frees more room for the Sunday Church School.
The Reverend Robert H. Linders is the pastor, present membership consists of over 400 confirmed members and over 100 child members. They also have one of the oldest Senior Citizens units in our area. Dr. William Wollman, of the Music Department of Monmouth College is the organist and choir director.
Saint Jerome's Roman Catholic Church
Saint Jerome's Roman Catholic Church was dedicated in June of 1967; the church-school complex cost over $500,000. The founding pastor was Reverend Francis X. McGuinness who served the church until his death in 1966. His immediate successor was Monsignor Henry M. Tracy who served until July 1967; he was followed by Father Gerald Lyons and Father Gerald C. Celentana. The present pastor, Father Michael Garry, was appointed in 1968.
The parish consists of over 800 families from West Long Branch, Ocean Township, Eatontown, and Long Branch. The school presently has an enrollment of approximately 325 students. The faculty consists of seven lay teachers and four nuns of the religious order of the Sisters Filippini. The principal is Sister Dolores Gallagher, M.V.F. The motherhouse of the Filippini Sisters is located in Morristown, New Jersey.
On May 12, 1976 the school children of Saint Jerome's buried a time capsule containing pertinent information in observation of the bicentennial year. The capsule was buried behind the statue of Saint Jerome and will hopefully be opened in the year 2026. In order to meet the religious needs of the children of the parish who attend public schools the parish has an active Confraternity of Christian Doctrine program. 200 children received instruction during the 1975-76 school year.
The congregation is an active one. The societies organized at Saint Jermome's consist of an Altar Society, a Parent Teachers Association, Holy Name Society, adult choir, ushers, scouting troops, and athletic teams.
The Calvary Assembly of God Church
The history of Calvary Assembly of God Church dates back to 1928, at which time, cottage prayer meetings were held in the various homes of the nucleous which were to become a part of the newly-formed church. The church has been affiliated with the Assemblies of God since its inception and has been actively engaged in the various ministries of the denomination.
In 1951 the present property on Broadway in West Long Branch was purchased. In May of 1960 the former minister, Reverend J. Wesley Clark was called to be pastor and in October work was begun on the new edifice. Much of the work on the new building was done by the pastor and members of the church under the direction of Emory Polhemus, a building contractor.
The sanctuary which will seat 200 is finished with green walls and mahogany wainscoating, and provides a pastor's study, a water baptismal pool directly under the pulpit area. The education building provides and auditorium and classrooms. A large parking area provides for off-street parking. The Reverend B.R. Dravineek is the present pastor.
Century Homes
The West Long Branch Historical Society with the cooperation of the Borough Council has presented bronze plaques to the owners of homes which are over one hundred years old. The following owners have provided evidence of the age of their homes. Photographs of the ten oldest documented homes are shown here.
Mr. and Mrs. Aldo Barbieri purchased their home located at 496 Cedar Avenue (C. 1711) from Mr. and Mrs. John Seaman. This structure, built by some of the earliest settlers, the Howland family and known as the "Old Howland House," featured wood frame clapboard construction and three chimneys.
Mr. and Mrs. Gardner C. Klein reside at 407 Monmouth Road in a home long known as the Cooper house. The house is situated on five acres of land and features English coin locks on all doors. The house originally had eight fireplaces of which four are still in operating condition. The Kleins' renovated their house, retaining the original floor design of two living rooms, a dining room, kitchen and center hallway on the ground floor. When they opened a closed hearth in the kitchen, a stone was discovered with the date 1737 inscribed on it. It is believed that this is the date of the original building, the small section farthest from the road. The house was enlarged by Alexander McGregor around 1790 and was later occupied by William Tallman.
Mrs. Klein is the author of two booklets on the history of West Long Branch.
Mrs. Arthur C. Savoth and family reside in what was originally known as "Ye Old Toll House" at 456 Monmouth Road. The original structure dates back to 1779. Old maps show that it once stood on "Old Plank Road" near the shores of Corlies Pond. Today the Deal Borough Hall sits on this site and Corlies Pond is now Deal Lake.
Just before the Civil War, Egbert Hopper of Hoppertown bought the house and moved it to his farm on Monmouth Road. Hopper's descendants lived in the house until six years ago when the Savoth's purchased it from Mr. and Mrs. Leroy Johnson. Many changes have been made by various owners since Hopper's time but the toll house has remained almost the same, and is now the Savoth's living room. The room features the original beamed ceilings and windows. Near the front door there is a small niche where the toll taker collected his fee.
One of the oldest homes in the area (circa 1795), is owned by Mr. and Mrs. Nicholas Salimbene at 96 Wall Street and features poured glass windows through most of the structure. Pegs were used in construction of this frame farmhouse - no nails were used. Also there is brick insulation inside the walls, and a wood shingle roof. The woodshed was later made into a kitchen. This house was built by John Hopper whose first son was born there.
Mr. and Mrs. J. Hellmers' home, circa 1820, is located at 133 Wall Street. The fireplace is built with hand made bricks. Cut nails and pegs are used in the construction. Photo shows a portion of the original siding exposed during replacement of a porch.
Mr. and Mrs. J. C. Hermann reside at 1060 Broadway, which was constructed prior to 1823. This was part of a parcel of land that extended to Franklin Lake. The floors feature wide plank boards, there are no nails in the doors, and the original hand-blown glass remains in the windows. It was owned by Joseph Tallman and passed on to Rebecca Tallman. The house, including 2 acres of land, was sold for $156.00 to pay Mr. Tallman's debts. The Thorne family owned the house for 60 years and planted a maple tree that still stands.
Dr. and Mrs. Walter Ryan's home is at Monmouth Road and dates from 1835.
The home of George W. DeCamp at 323 Wall Street, was built with old squarehead nails with a structure of clapboard. The barn was converted into a guest house, and an enclosed front porch added. Dates hack to 1841.
The home of Mr. and Mrs. Stephen Muccio. Jr. at 9 Jeffrey I.ane (C. 1844), was a farm estate known as "Sandy Oaks." Mr. Muccio used to farm the land before he was married but never thought he would own and live in the house.
"Old Timers" in the local area refer. to the residence of Mr. and Mrs. J.O. Petersen at 8 DeForrest Place. as ''The Old Homestead." It was built around 1844 and has sandstone foundation and pegged floor beams. The property belonged to a parcel of land owned by John Lippincott; Shore Regional and Frank Antonides Schools were part of the original farm. The home was purchased by Mr. Petersen's great aunt, Signe Sanders, in 1934. Her husband was a sea captain. The house was left to Mrs. Petersen's father in the late 1940's, and Mrs. Petersen purchased it from her mother 15 years ago.
The home of Mr. and Mrs. John Paolantonio, known as "The Maples" on 470 Monmouth Road, was built around 1846. The property was part of a larger parcel of land extending to the brook dividing West Long Branch and Oakhurst. The original old church building which was on this property belonged to the cemetery on Monmouth Road near Palmer Avenue and was moved across the street and used as a barn for many years on the property of Mayor Samuel Baker. Badly damaged by a storm, it was torn down in 1951.
The property of Mrs. Albert Frey, 53 Victor Avenue (circa 1851) was purchased from Lillian Jackson. When purchased by the Freys in 1921, water was obtained by pump. The well pump shed and outer shed attached to the kitchen was made into a porch. Also the foyer and living room were made into one room. Indians made short cuts through this area from the Shrewsbury River where they clammed and fished, and the Freys discovered many clam shells and arrow heads on their property.
Mr. and Mrs. Clarence F. Wilson reside at 575 Cedar Avenue, and their home was built about 1852.
The home of Mr. and Mrs. David S. Anderson at 262 Norwood Avenue, c. 1856, was built by Mrs. Anderson's grandfather, Joseph Brown, and features wide floor boards.
Unusual features of Jack Creveling's home at 278 Wall Street (circa 1856), are cellar walls of fieldstone, hand hewn ceiling beams and clapboard construction. The previous owner was Peter Cooper, and included on the property are 9 box stalls, a tack room, 2 car garage and a garden tool house.
The Old First Methodist Church parsonage at 207 Locust Avenue, (C 1860), was bought by the church in 1860. The south side of the home is the original section, with the present play and laundry rooms having been the kitchen. The present kitchen was once used as the pastor's study. The north side addition was constructed in 1905 and the old barn was removed in 1976 due to its poor condition. Several pictures of the home are exhibited in the church' museum.
Mr. and Mrs. McCarthy reside at 63 Wall Street in a home built about 1862.
Mr. and Mrs. Joseph DeFilippo reside at 324 Monmouth Road, and their home was built approximately 1865.
The home of Mr. and Mrs. Henry Garreau, 205 Locust Avenue, c. 1865, is located on
land of James D. Maps which was surveyed in 1848.
Miss Emily L. Conover resides at 570 Cedar Avenue, in a home built approximately 1867.
Mayor Joseph Davison VanNote built the house now occupied by Mr. and Mrs. Arthur
C. Herry at 564 Cedar Avenue in about 1868. His daughter, Annie, married Richard
Hughs, a landscape artist who managed Shadow Lawn and built the scenic Drive in
Atlantic Highlands. The Mayor purchased this land from Isaiah Lane's estate in 1865, and there have been few changes over the years. The front door of the original frame is now the bedroom door of Herry's daughter Lee Ann. Bricks from the original chimney now serve as the family's patio.
When Mr. Vincent Sacco renovated his home at 1 Dennis Street, (circa 1869), he discovered old newspapers dating back to the 1800s used as insulation. The original staircase and bannister remain in the home along with the original wood floors. The property was once part of the Dennis estate.
Mr. and Mrs. Edward Ivins Jr. live at 96 Oakwood Avenue in a home built 1871.
Mr. and Mrs. Charles Fowler's home is located at 579 Cedar Avenue and was built about 1873. As noted in the family Bible, Emma Maps Thomas was born in this house on August 4,1876. It features a wood slate roof and asbestos shingles over weather board siding.
Mr. and Mrs. Ralph E. Manna Sr. reside at 316 Monmouth Road in a home built about 1874. This home features built-in cupboards in the dining room and stained glass windows which had been removed from a carriage house on the property and installed in the Manna's home.
The home of Mr. and Mrs. Patrick Roppoli, 167 Wall Street, (circa 1876), was once a part of Lewis Lane's farm and also a furniture shop. The house is said to have been moved from Fairway Avenue to its present location. The home features Victorian style tongue and groove, and the original clapboard has been covered with Cedar shakes.
Monmouth College
Guggenheim Cottage :: Shadow Lawn Estate
"College in Jersey receives estate." New York Times, September 7,1960
On September 7, 1960 local, state, and national newspapers carried the news that the Murry and Leonie Guggenheim Foundation of New York City had donated the Guggenheim estate at the corner of Norwood and Cedar Avenues to Monmouth College. The estate, completed in 1905, had been the property of the foundation since the death of Mrs. Guggenheim on January 31, 1959; her husband, Murry Guggenheim died in 1939. Murry was one of seven sons of Meyer Guggenheim, an emigrant from Switzerland.
Meyer was penniless when he arrived in Philadelphia in 1847. He began his career as a peddler, carrying a sack over his shoulders selling various odds and ends from house to house. He had reached a stage of affluence when he was able to buy a horse and wagon. As he grew more prosperous he became interested in importing laces and embroideries from Switzerland to this country. With the capital raised from this enterprise Meyer moved into the field of mining and smelting; his sons joined him in this venture. Through a series of judicious investments in mining properties, Meyer and his sons became multi-millionaires.
They early became philanthropists and began giving back to their country a considerable part of what they had been given an opportunity of earning. Murry and his wife Leonie in 1929 organized The Guggenheim Foundation, which was noted for its support of research in dentistry and the establishment of a dental clinic on East Seventy-second in New York City. This institution was the largest of its kind in the world. It was created to provide dental care for underprivileged children whose parents could not afford the services of a private dentist.
The gift mansion was world famous even before its completion in 1905. The building was designed by Carrere and Hastings, architects, whose work interestingly enough included the main building of the New York Public Library. The design of the estate earned them the Gold Medal of the New York Chapter of the American Institute of Architects in 1903.
After the college received title to the property the mansion was thrown open to the public for inspection. The weekend of October 7-8, 1960 over ten thousand shore residents streamed into the estate. After the public viewing, work was begun on converting the 35-room mansion into a modern college library; the building was to be called the Murry and Leonie Guggenheim Memorial Library. Conversion took one year and the building was formally dedicated as a library on Sunday, September 24, 1961. The guest speaker that day was General Carlos P. Romulo, the Philippine ambassador to the United States. "Philanthropy of this type shows that Americans are really a spiritual people," General Romulo said in his address. It also shows "that capitalism recognizes its social responsibilities of today and that capitalism has a soul." Also on the speaker's platform that day was Edmond A. Guggenheim, the only son of Murry and Leonie. In his speech Mr. Guggenheim said he "never dreamed that this, my boyhood home, would become the library of a fine college." Other Speakers were Dr. Edward G. Schlaefer and Monmouth County Judge Elvin Simmill, chairman of the college's Board of Trustees.
After the library opened in September 1961 the collection grew rapidly. Within five years the capacity of the building had practically been exceeded. Fortunately, once again, the Guggenheim Foundation came to the aid of the college. In 1966 the Foundation donated $625,000 to be used for the construction of an addition to the library. The donation, coupled with a grant of $300,000 from the federal government permitted the construction of 30,000 square ft. addition to the library providing space for an additional 125,000 volumes and 500 seating spaces.
Included in the Guggenheim gift, in addition to the mansion, was the carriage house located on the south side of Cedar Avenue. The carriage house has been converted to a modern fine arts and drama laboratory. The complex includes classrooms, office space, and a hexagonal multiform theatre with a seating capacity of 200.
South of Whalepond Brook at 10 Norwood Avenue, in the Township of Ocean, is the Brookside estate. This property was purchased by the college in 1961 from Mrs. Herman Levinson and now serves the college's Department of Education. Situated on a 5 acre tract, Brookside was built at the turn of the century; a true center-hall colonial house, it has an immense staircase leading to 19 rooms and 6 baths.
The Monmouth College campus is a most interesting blend of old and new architecture. While this historical account has centered upon the old, the campus visitor will be interested in The Thomas Alva Edison Science Building, the College Center, Alumni Gymnasium, and the Classroom-auditorium complex.
"A mansion colossal in its proportions, dignified in the refinement and elegance of its architectural beauty," was how a writer, in 1930, described the mansion constructed for John Augustus McCall (1849-1906) at the southwest corner of Norwood and Cedar Avenues. McCall, who was president of the New York Life Insurance Company first summered at Allenhurst, N.J. where he was a guest at the Allenhurst Inn. In 1902 he decided to build a mansion-type summer residence and engaged Henry Cregier, a well-known architect, to design the structure called "Shadow Lawn." McCall, whose tenancy was to be of short duration, moved into the home in 1903. Residents of West Long Branch who saw the house grow like a phantom palace prophetically christened it "The white house by the sea." The colonial frame structure contained 52 rooms.
When McCall disposed of the estate. in 1906, it passed rapidly through a succession of owners. One of the owners was John A. White, who was known as "Postage Stamp White" because he bought a $15,000,000 government bond with the sole capital of the two-cent stamp used to mail the bid. Shortly after Mr. White. who renamed the estate "White Park," sold it to Captain Joseph B. Greenhut, the head of Siegel, Cooper Company, One of New York's finest department stores of that era. Captain Greenhut had won his commission on the battlefield during the Civil War.
Captain Greenhut arranged with Woodrow Wilson for the President to use the estate as his "summer white house" during the 1916 presidential campaign. Actually "fall white house" would have been a more appropriate term as Wilson, and his entourage, arrived on September 1, 1916 and departed on November 8, 1916, the day following the election. The highlight of Wilson's stay was on Friday, September 2, when he received notification from his party of his candidacy for a second term.
After the official notification, Wilson conducted his fight for re-election from Shadow Lawn. The huge porches surrounding the home were put to use by the President as a speaking platform to address the crowds that assembled on the lawn. Throughout October special days were designated for states from which supporters came on chartered trains to hear the President. To the chagrin of residents of West Long Branch, Long Branch was considered the site of the President's residence. This may have been on their minds when they voted on November 7 because Wilson failed to carry the Borough.
Theodore Roosevelt wrote the bitter essay "The Shadows of Shadow Lawn" while Wilson was at West Long Branch. The essay was critical of the President's supposed softness concerning Germany's submarine activities. On election day Wilson traveled to Princeton to vote and then returned to West Long Branch to await the results. The election was first conceded to his opponent. Charles Evans Hughes, who had gone to bed believing himself President. It was not until late the next morning, when the results of the California vote were received, that Wilson knew he had been re-elected.
Two years later, during the spring of 1918, the property was sold by Captain Greenhut to Hubert Templeton Parsons, the president of the F.W. Woolworth Company. Additional land was added to the estate raising the total acreage to 108. A devastating fire, on January 7, 1927, totally destroyed the lavish mansion. Almost immediately Parsons made arrangements to construct a new, fire-proof. French-style mansion; he engaged the well known Philadelphia architect Horace Trumbauer to design the structure. At this time commissions for palatial homes offered American architects perhaps unprecedented opportunities for handsome fees. In April 1928 a contract was awarded to the Thompson Starrett Company of New York; the job was completed in November 1930.
The new mansion contained 130 rooms and is considered an outstanding example of French architecture in the manner of the Palace of Versailles. It is a completely fireproof structure of Indiana limestone, marble, steel, and concrete. The exterior has wrought-copper balconies and pillared entrances. Sphinxes flank wide steps leading to the front terrace (south side), and on the roof are cupid and dolphin statuary. It is ranked with the top twenty mansions in America, and is so described in a book written by Merrill Folsom entitled "Great American Mansions and Their Stories." In a more recent book by James T. Maher entitled "The Twilight of Splendor" Shadow Lawn is numbered among the five most opulent private houses built in America between World War I and the Great Depression.
In addition to the main house the estate included a 10-room house for the superintendent, a two-story estate garage, eight greenhouses, a horse barn with six stalls, a cattle barn with 12 stanchions, a poultry house, a two-story palm house, a bullpen, a ram pen, sheep pens, pheasant pens, rabbit hutches, an icehouse, cottages for the dairyman, the greenhouse man, and the poultryman, and kennels for the six police dogs that were turned loose on the grounds every midnight.
There were about 100 on the staff, and the estate had its own communal telephone, water, electrical and sewerage systems. There were five vegetable gardens, flower gardens, raspberry and currant patches, a grape arbor, and an artificial lake stocked with ducks, geese and swans. In the center of the lake, on a small island, was a little summer house. Lining the great grassy expanse leading to it were the magnificent trees which inspired the name "Shadow Lawn."
By the time the great house was completed, Parsons already was beginning to experience the difficulties that in 1938 would force him and his wife Maisie to leave Shadow Lawn. The stock market crash in 1929 began the descent of the Parson fortune. By 1936, he was closing the elaborate greenhouses at Shadow Lawn and selling the estate's butter and milk in the village markets. He failed to meet his property tax commitments and to protect its $127,813 tax claim the Borough of West Long Branch acquired the real estate. The transition was from summer white house to white elephant. In September 1939 the house was offered at public auction. An intensive advertising campaign failed to attract a buyer and the estate was purchased by the Borough, the sole bidder, for $100.
Mr. Parsons died in New York City on July 9, 1940 but just prior to his death the furnishings of Shadow Lawn were auctioned off by the Concord Galleries. The sales catalog consists of 310 pages and lists 2,278 items. The auction opened on June 4 and closed on June 22, 1940. The sale of furnishings was made possible when Mrs. Parsons paid $32,592 in Borough property taxes. This released liens against the furnishings and permitted Mrs. Parsons to dispose of the household items as she wished. The house and land remained the property of the Borough. Local taxpayers were encouraged to make free tours through the building to inspect what the Borough owned and so that they might view, at first hand, the problem facing the local governing body. Following this, tours were offered to the general public at a charge of $1.00 per person. The revenue derived was used to help defray the maintenance costs. From May 25, 1940 to June 22, 1940, 3,292 people toured the estate.
During this period many entrepreneurs presented elaborate plans to utilize the estate. A military school, the Monmouth Military Institute, was established in the building in September 1940 but the five students enrolled were sent home for the Armistice Day holiday and told not to return until "things are cleared up." The Borough next negotiated with the U.S. Army concerning a plan to convert the mansion into a general hospital for the Army's Second Corps Area; the plan failed to materialize. The cost of converting the mansion to hospital use was too expensive.
On May 31, 1942 the Borough agreed to sell the property to Dr. Eugene H. Lehman. At the time Dr. Lehman was conducting an exclusive school for girls in Tarrytown-on-the- Hudson, New York. Dr. Lehman had founded Highland Manor School for Girls in New York