"Allenhurst!"
Exclusiveness. "Allenhurst" appeals only to the best class of our citizens, and it may be said at the outset that it is a resort of the most exclusive character, and it will be conducted on lines which will maintain the high standing which it has attained. Guests are safeguarded against annoyance in a thousand ways, and cottagers and guests of the Inn may feel assured that no excursions will be admitted, nor other features which would mar the resort, and "Allenhurst for the Residents" may be taken as the motto. The ocean esplanade, pavilions, bathing, amusements, etc., are restricted, being private property.
The previous writings/paragraphs are taken from an old Coast Land Company prospectus. a nostalgic glimpse into yesterday, which was reprinted (date unknown) privately by Donald L. Terwilliger, of Allenhurst, NJ in the interest of those of us who love "our beautiful town by the sea". Sale of the booklet is expressly forbidden, but it makes no comment regarding further reproduction.
A HISTORY OF ALLENHURST, N.J. By William C. Grey For the 75th Anniversary Celebration, April 1972
In 1664, King Charles II, of England, granted to his brother, James Stuart Duke of York, all the Dutch holdings in America, part of which included the area now known as the present State of New Jersey. The Duke in turn, transferred to John, Lord Berkeley, and to Sir George Carteret, the region between the North (Hudson) River, and the South (Delaware) River, extending North to the 41st, Latitude. At the same time receiving this grant, Carteret was Governor of the Island of Jersey and so called this area in America, New Jersey.
In 1524, Giovanni Verrazano, an Italian Explorer, was first to see these shores when he approached New York Bay. In 1609, the Explorer Henry Hudson, also sailed into New York Harbor, and anchored inside Sandy Hook. Hudson noted in the ship's Log Book about this land as "being a very pleasant place to see."
Carteret was in financial difficulties, and in 1682, he sold his section of New Jersey, (Lord Berkeley having the Southern section of the grant) namely the North Eastern area, tot William Penn, and eleven other Quakers for the sum of 3,400 pounds sterling, roughly $17,000.00. In 1683, the North Eastern section, now owned by Penn and his Quaker friends, was sub-divided into several Counties, on of which became known as Monmouth. Then years later, in 1693, Monmouth County was sub-divided into three townships, namely Middletown, Freehold and Shewsbury. In 18449, Ocean Township was created through a sub-division of Shrewsbury Township, and the Southern portion became the Township of Ocean, taking in the Atlantic Ocean front, from Manasquan to Sea Bright. After the creation of Ocean Township in 1849 local Governments came into being along the Seashore, such as Long Branch in 1867; Ocean Grove in 1869; Asbury Park in 1871; Sea Bright in 1886; Deal in 1898 and Monmouth Beach in 1906, and of course Allenhurst in 1897.
My Memories of Allenhurst, When it First Started By Archie Height, 1960
In June 1960 Mr. Archie Height, who was in the plumbing business in Allenhurst for almost 60 years, prepared the above historical sketch. We are indebted to Mr. Frank Lamb who preserved these brief notes and they are reprinted without editing.
Copies from the free town book written for historical purposes dated 1972, with no copyright to be found.
It is located between Loch Arbour and Darlington and Deal Lake and the Ocean. The Lake had many branches running through the town, one at Hume St., where O'Neil Supply House is now located and came up as far as where the Fire House is now, and the other was where the Boy's ball field is and came up to the Railroad. The hole under the Railroad was the marl pits where the Allen family got the fertilizer for the farm.
The entrance to Loch Arbour was an old Wagon Bridge that ran from Interlaken Railroad station diagonally to a point where Ed. Thompson had livery stable. There was about a dozen houses in Interlaken. The first house as I recall it was built at the northeast corner of Page and Corlies Ave., I helped to pull up the corn and drive a well so the mason could lay the foundation make of brick as no cement was used at that time. The well was 13 ft. deep and gave all the water needed. In this building was a small room about 12 ft. square, on story high. This was used as an office for the Coast Land Co. Later this house was moved to the northeast corner of Page and Elberon and is now owned by Mr., William Kelly. That small room is still there.
It was about this time Mr. Benjamin called all his men (about 200) to get their weekly pay, he said, "Gentlemen, Mr. William McKinley is running for the office of President of the United States, if he is not elected I will close down this operation." One of his best carpenters stood out from the crowd and smote his breast and said, "I am an American Citizen, no one can buy my vote, I will vote as I like." Well, Mr. McKinley was elected. The Land Company put an observation tower on the house at the corner of Ocean And Allen Aves., where President McKinley's brother lived so he could watch the annual carriage and flower parades.
In the year of 1896, the Coast Land Company put in an Artesian well and the little pumping station was located in the small brick building on Hume St. My boss did most of the plumbing work with George D. Morrow, General Contractor. We ran 2" pipe on top of the ground in the rear of the lots working under a layout plan before the streets were laid out so you see it was a bustling town, digging cellars and filling up the lake branches opening the streets laying sewer pipes and water pipes. Later they layed a separate line of water pipe for the lake water system for irrigation and fire protection. We could build a pressure of 125 lbs., so we did not need a fire engine. I am an exempt member of the company and the oldest life member of the Firemen's Relief Association in Monmouth County.
The Borough of Allenhurst was incorporated in 1897. The first Mayor was Edwin T. Benjamin the second was W. H. Duval, the third was George D. Morrow, next James L. Ralston, next was W.C. Shelby.
James L. Ralston lived at 126 Cedar Ave., and he owned and operated a large Green House and Flower Beds from the Buckalew and McCue Stable to Page Ave., now removed and built up with new houses.
The Allenhurst Railroad station was built about the year 1898, and Main St. was opened and a new bridge from Asbury Park to take the place of the old wagon bridge to Loch Arbour, then the original Ocean Pavilion was built and Mr. Albert Hankinson was employed to transport people the new station to the beach free, by Mr. Benjamin.
In three years time there had been built about 300 homes.
Then, the Coast Land Co., bought the Spier Estate, this was a farm laying east of Norwood Ave. from the Deal line, south to a point in the center of the block just north of the Borough Hall, to the beach and this was developed very fast.
Mr. Edward H. Ward, ran an old country store, where they sold feed and supplies located on the lot now owned by Mr. M. Fronapfel. Mr. Ward was the first Borough Clerk.
Mr. William Welshausen had a horse and wagon loaded with fruit and vegetables and groceries, and later opened a store in the Plaza building on Spier Ave.
Mr. W.J. Bruns bought the Francis Smith's house on Corlies Ave., and removed it and placed a sunken garden, swimming pool and fountain there. The Bruns house is now owned by Mr. Peter Morgan. A Mr. Carson C. Peck owned a house east of Norwood Ave., now owned by Mr. Franklin Lamb. He built the original Peck Building now known as the Plaza Building where I have been located 52 years.
The Spier Mansion was occupied by Mr. Benjamin and family several years and then it was rented to Mr. Hubert T. Parsons before he bought Shadow Lawn.
I have had the good fortune of working for most of the families all through the years and am now working for some of the grandchildren.
When the last large club house was built in 1899, it had 40 bath rooms in it an I was foreman for the plumbing contractor, J.E. Flitcroft with 18 plumbers on the job.
The house on Corlies Ave., where the late Mayor Mr. Selby lived, was built by Mr. George Allen an sold to a Mrs. Cheesbro and later to Mayor Selby.
The new post office is located in the plot formerly owned by Buckalew and McCue, The Allenhurst Livery Stable.
Richard and Kathleen Pettys
Please report any errors so that they may be corrected. Thanks