Clifford
North Dakota
Add an Article
Add an Event
Edit
Borough Of Sea Girt
History of Sea Girt
Centuries before white men discovered the delights of the Jersey shore, Sea Girt was a popular bathing spot.
The Lenni Lenape Indians came to the cedar-grown dunes near Wreck Pond Inlet for their yearly bath and baked clam feast. So began" Big Sea Day", for when the Jerseys became colonized, settlers from miles around came in their sheet-topped wagons for a get together at the same beach on the second Saturday in August. The day was one for friendly reunions, with bathing, singing, musical interludes, basket breakfast and lunches on the beach.
What now compromises the borough of Sea Girt was farmed in the 19th century. Dr. Charles Montrose Graham of New York City owned the Bell farm. John Sherman owned a large tract, which was acquired by Commodore Robert F. Stockton in 1853. Here the Commodore built a summer mansion with a sweeping lawn down to the sea. A broad ornamental staircase led across the sward to the beach, flanked by 2 large ornamental bathhouses. Tradition has it that Mrs. Stockton refused to spend a night by the ocean and so the farmhouse near the railroad was remodeled for her convenience.
The name Sea Girt is first found in a deed from Stockton dated 1866. The Bell farm adjoining was given the name "Ocean Side". Sea Girt was recognized as the entire tract's name in 1869 when, by act of Legislature, a corporate body known as the "Sea Girt Land Improvement Co." was created.
The corporation was instrumental in bringing the central railroad to Sea Girt in 1875. The first station was constructed in concrete made from beach sand. In 1903, a trolley road was run through the length of the track. A station constructed in --- is now the home of the town library.
In 1884, an agreement was entered into to purchase a tract of land from the south end of the Stockton tract. In 1887, by act of legislature, 120 acres were purchased for $51,000 for the purpose of establishing permanent camp, rifle range and seacoast battery for the use of the National Guard of the state. The lands were again annexed to Sea Girt in 1939 when State Assemblyman J. Stanley Herbert reported to Mayor and Council that the annexation bill had passed both houses of the Legislature. The camp was established as a summer capital of New Jersey where the Governors spent the warm months until the Second World War. It was here that Woodrow Wilson learned of his nomination for the office of President of the United States.
The first Governor's Cottage is the present superintendent's home, originally it was a farmer's house on the Stockton farm. What is now known as the Governor's house was the state of New Jersey exhibit at the St Louis exposition, which was moved here in 1906.
By the last quarter of the 19th century, Sea Girt was developing into a summer resort, as it primarily remained until after World War II when it's present year-round residential character emerged.
In 1895,the United States government obtained a plot of land on the beach at Bellevue Ave., now Beacon Blvd, to build a Lighthouse. The brass work for the lamp that stood 60 feet above high water was built at Tompkinsville, Staten Island. The lens was ground in France. The lighthouse was purchased by the Borough of Sea Girt in 1956 for $11,000 and maintained until 1981 when it was leased to the lighthouse citizens committee for $1 per year. The lighthouse is presently used for various community activities.
Until 1917, Sea Girt remained part of Wall Township. In February of that year Notice of Intention was filed with the state legislature of the residents desire to become an incorporated borough. On June 26, 1917 election was held for the first Mayor and Council in the Cranmer Building on the corner of Washington Blvd. and the Plaza, which, had been built in 1912. The Organization meeting of the newly elected officials was held on July 2 with Charles Emerick as Mayor.
In the same year, J. Bumford Samuels, a public-spirited man, and one of the first residents of Sea Girt, caused to be erected a municipal building, which, with the equipment for a fire department, he presented to the borough. Today this building houses the Borough Offices, Police Department, Fire Headquarters and Club Room, Municipal Court and Mayor's office.
Centuries before white men discovered the delights of the Jersey shore, Sea Girt was a popular bathing spot.
The Lenni Lenape Indians came to the cedar-grown dunes near Wreck Pond Inlet for their yearly bath and baked clam feast. So began" Big Sea Day", for when the Jerseys became colonized, settlers from miles around came in their sheet-topped wagons for a get together at the same beach on the second Saturday in August. The day was one for friendly reunions, with bathing, singing, musical interludes, basket breakfast and lunches on the beach.
What now compromises the borough of Sea Girt was farmed in the 19th century. Dr. Charles Montrose Graham of New York City owned the Bell farm. John Sherman owned a large tract, which was acquired by Commodore Robert F. Stockton in 1853. Here the Commodore built a summer mansion with a sweeping lawn down to the sea. A broad ornamental staircase led across the sward to the beach, flanked by 2 large ornamental bathhouses. Tradition has it that Mrs. Stockton refused to spend a night by the ocean and so the farmhouse near the railroad was remodeled for her convenience.
The name Sea Girt is first found in a deed from Stockton dated 1866. The Bell farm adjoining was given the name "Ocean Side". Sea Girt was recognized as the entire tract's name in 1869 when, by act of Legislature, a corporate body known as the "Sea Girt Land Improvement Co." was created.
The corporation was instrumental in bringing the central railroad to Sea Girt in 1875. The first station was constructed in concrete made from beach sand. In 1903, a trolley road was run through the length of the track. A station constructed in --- is now the home of the town library.
In 1884, an agreement was entered into to purchase a tract of land from the south end of the Stockton tract. In 1887, by act of legislature, 120 acres were purchased for $51,000 for the purpose of establishing permanent camp, rifle range and seacoast battery for the use of the National Guard of the state. The lands were again annexed to Sea Girt in 1939 when State Assemblyman J. Stanley Herbert reported to Mayor and Council that the annexation bill had passed both houses of the Legislature. The camp was established as a summer capital of New Jersey where the Governors spent the warm months until the Second World War. It was here that Woodrow Wilson learned of his nomination for the office of President of the United States.
The first Governor's Cottage is the present superintendent's home, originally it was a farmer's house on the Stockton farm. What is now known as the Governor's house was the state of New Jersey exhibit at the St Louis exposition, which was moved here in 1906.
By the last quarter of the 19th century, Sea Girt was developing into a summer resort, as it primarily remained until after World War II when it's present year-round residential character emerged.
In 1895,the United States government obtained a plot of land on the beach at Bellevue Ave., now Beacon Blvd, to build a Lighthouse. The brass work for the lamp that stood 60 feet above high water was built at Tompkinsville, Staten Island. The lens was ground in France. The lighthouse was purchased by the Borough of Sea Girt in 1956 for $11,000 and maintained until 1981 when it was leased to the lighthouse citizens committee for $1 per year. The lighthouse is presently used for various community activities.
Until 1917, Sea Girt remained part of Wall Township. In February of that year Notice of Intention was filed with the state legislature of the residents desire to become an incorporated borough. On June 26, 1917 election was held for the first Mayor and Council in the Cranmer Building on the corner of Washington Blvd. and the Plaza, which, had been built in 1912. The Organization meeting of the newly elected officials was held on July 2 with Charles Emerick as Mayor.
In the same year, J. Bumford Samuels, a public-spirited man, and one of the first residents of Sea Girt, caused to be erected a municipal building, which, with the equipment for a fire department, he presented to the borough. Today this building houses the Borough Offices, Police Department, Fire Headquarters and Club Room, Municipal Court and Mayor's office.