Today we spotlight the work of Beachwood man Joseph Jerue, who was a builder, World War II veteran (along with both of his sons – one of whom, John, was lost during battle) and mayor of the borough.

Joseph Jerue in his official World War II service photo. This photo originally hung along those of other Beachwood servicemen in the Beachwood Circle Shop during the war.

In 1937, Mayor Jerue, then 41 years old, was named the builder of a prominent cultural site on Washington Street in downtown Toms River, the Community Theatre. To our benefit, its construction and featured amenities were detailed in an issue of Box Office Magazine in August of that year. Below you’ll find that article in full. We hope you enjoy this look back to an era and its architecture that one particularly prolific Beachwood resident helped make possible.

Reprinted material courtesy Ken Bacon and Box Office Magazine.

A MODERN THEATRE IN THE COLONIAL MANNER

Toms River Community Theatre as it appeared after its construction, in 1937. Today it has been renovated into shops and eateries.

A new modern theatre with a seating capacity of 1,000 persons was recently erected on Washington Street in Toms River, New Jersey. Definitely out of the ordinary in design and decor, the new edifice reflects the most contemporary expressions of architectural composition.

It is operated by the American Community Theatres, Inc.

Unlike most modern theatres, with their brilliantly lighted marquees and  electric signs over the entrance, this theatre with its simple Colonial front presents a decidedly novel appearance. Its architectural simplicity is pronounced.

The theatre is set back 30 feet from the sidewalk and the intervening portion of the property in front of the theatre is beautifully landscaped and circumvented by a flagged walk of unique design which serves as a delightful approach to and departure from the theatre.

The Washington Street facade is of red facebrick with white joints, in front of which is a beautifully designed Colonial portico done in wood and painted white.

The ticket booth is situated in the center of the entrance screen of doors. Lattice work above the entrance doors and the circular windows above the lattice work are constructed of wood and glass. All portico in wood and painted white, against the masterly executed red and white masonry background presents a simple but beautiful facade.

In the evening this facade is illuminated by flood lights which increase the beauty and interest of the architectural simplicity to a spectacular degree. The same simplicity of design is followed throughout the interior of the auditorium.

The sidewalls are of acoustical plaster integrally colored to a neutral shade. Subtly concealed vertical lighting troughs along the sidewalks are provided with varied colored lamps, lending a beautiful and variable color scheme to the interior.

The foyer, promenade, ladies’ cosmetic room and the men’s room are also of simple modern design, the beauty of which is greatly enhanced by exquisite lighting fixtures, carpets and furnishings.

The auditorium is provided with exceptionally wide chairs spaced to provide the maximum comfort for the patrons. The floors are carpeted with rich, heavy, exquisite carpet which helps to promote finer acoustical treatment for sound reception.

Particular attention was given to the gradient of the auditorium floor to insure every patron a perfect view of the screen, no matter where he is seated.

A new modern ventilating system was installed to assure the occupants of a healthful and comfortable atmosphere while they are being entertained. The projection room and sound equipment in this theatre are of the finest known to modern science.

The Toms River Community Theatre is a delightful example of the modern functionally furnished theatre. It was designed and erected under the supervision of Thomas W. Lamb, Inc., architects. The builder was Joseph E. Jerue, of Beachwood, N. J.

The Community Theatre's billing was found in this photograph taken in Disbrow's Market, on Beachwood Boulevard, one year after the above article was written - August 1938.

Today marks the first of our extensive Beachwood Fall – 2009 Photo Essay. You’ll notice some Halloween homes snuck into this first set as all photos were taken on October 30, 2009.

Enjoy!

Photo Policy: All images Copyright (c) Beachwood Historical Alliance. Any use not explicitly permitted (ie – downloading and selling them) is strictly prohibited; violators will be prosecuted.

And here’s the second half of our special Haunted Homes of Beachwood Photo Collage 2009!

Since they don’t yet receive as much exposure on this site as they’re the newer half of town, we decided to focus much of this series on the southern end of the borough between Route 9 and the current borough hall on Pinewald Road.

We hope you enjoy this broader look at Beachwood and its strong spirit of Halloween, and invite anyone whose home did not make it in this collage to submit their own photo(s) at beachwoodhistoricalalliance@gmail.com or by physical mail at PO Box 3, Beachwood. Costume photos also welcome.

Enjoy and Happy Halloween!

Cable Avenue.

Longboat Avenue.

Forecastle Avenue.

Neptune Avenue.

Longboat Avenue.

Leeward Avenue.

Longboat Avenue.

Longboat Avenue.

Chestnut Street.

Anchor Avenue.

Longboat Avenue.

Longboat Avenue.

Today we have the first part of our special Haunted Homes of Beachwood Photo Collage 2009!

Since they don’t yet receive as much exposure on this site as they’re the newer half of town, we decided to focus much of this series on the southern end of the borough between Route 9 and the current borough hall on Pinewald Road.

We hope you enjoy this broader look at Beachwood and its strong spirit of Halloween, and invite anyone whose home did not make it in this collage to submit their own photo(s) at beachwoodhistoricalalliance@gmail.com or by physical mail at PO Box 3, Beachwood. Costume photos also welcome.

Enjoy!

Ship Avenue.

Ship Avenue.

Leeward Avenue

Pacific Avenue.

House unintentionally in the Halloween spirit, Mermaid Avenue.

House unintentionally in the Halloween spirit, Mermaid Avenue.

Pacific Avenue.

Pacific Avenue.

Ship Avenue.

Berkeley Avenue.

Oak Street.

Windward Avenue.

Mizzen Avenue.

Ship Avenue.

Leeward Avenue.

Wave Street.

Ship Avenue.

Ship Avenue.

Today we have for you a painted nighttime shot of our waterfront, circa the 1940s/early 1950s. It was printed on a linen postcard (hence the natural raised horizontal lines) which was created by first photographing the site and later painting the black and white image for printing.

Here you can see depicted the original yacht clubhouse, built as one of the original New York Tribune sites for the enjoyment of early residents as part of an informal property owners’ Beachwood Yacht Club. A more official incarnation, named the Polyhue Yacht Club, was created and later incorporated by consensus of interested residents in 1920, who then formally took over operation of the Tribune clubhouse (by permission of the borough commissioners). During its early lifetime, many dances, card parties, shows and meetings were held for members of the yacht and borough women’s club. Polyhue Yacht Club meeting minutes state that the original building was extended farther out over the water with the addition of the back porch-like extension and dock in 1922.

Following the construction of the larger yacht clubhouse farther west along the shore in 1926 (today the site of the Beachwood Community Center, constructed on the grounds of this second clubhouse after it burned in December 1978) it was taken over by the borough and used as the concession stand for the beach. The Polyhue Yacht Club disbanded for much of the 1930s, likely due to lack of funding as a result of the Great Depression, and was later reincorporated as the Beachwood Yacht Club in 1939. Fire destroyed the original Tribune clubhouse in 1958. Its location today is roughly marked by the entrance of the boardwalk from the beach.

Beachwood, N.J. Nov. 25 – 52

Dear Mrs. Horne,

Sorry we could not stop on our way back, we stayed shopping in Chester too long and had to get out of Philly before dark and the rush hours,

Yours truly,
Gertrude (sp?) Johnson

(will see you some other time)

Addressed to:

Mrs. Charles Horne
7 Center Ave.,
Essington, Penn.

Beachwood, November 25th, 1952.

Next in our monthlong series on the fire company for Fire Prevention Month, we bring you a short series of fire company photos from the 1940s.

From L: Chief Clarence Coryell, Henry Nolze, Marty Johnson, Brad Mills. Boy in front: Henry Nolze, Jr.

Names as written on back of photo (typed here to our best guess): L to R, 1st row: Ann Coryell, Ethel Randolf, ? Boutilette, Selina Lundin, Gert Mills, Vi Johmann, Catherine Foerster. 2nd row: Dottie Nolze, Ms. Perry, Lil McKien. Any further help on identifying this photo greatly appreciated.

Henry Nolze, Jr. on the fire engine.

Last Wednesday evening, scouts, parents and their leaders crowded borough hall when the Beachwood Council officially named them 2010’s ‘Citizens of the Year’ in honor of the numerous volunteer projects undertaken over the years. Boy Scouts, in particular, have dated nearly as far back as Beachwood’s existence, beginning with Troop 14.

Today we share with you photos and thoughts on this recognition, courtesy the Beachwood Council.

From Councilwoman Beverly Clayton:

“Though our borough has seen profound changes over the past decades, the heart of this community remains persistent and preserved. Beachwood shines, not because of our beaches or woodlands, but because of the people who inhabit it. Our citizenry shares a vibrant history of vision and volunteerism, of care and concern, of energy and entrepreneurship.

“There is simply no better example of this legacy, no brighter promise for our future, than our Boy and Girl Scout volunteers. It is in this spirit that I respectfully submit the Boy and Girl Scouts of Beachwood, their Leaders, and Parents for Beachwood’s 2010 Citizen of the Year.

“The reasons for this nomination are many. Our lovely community owes, in no small part, a deep gratitude to the Scout volunteers. These young citizens consistently donate time, effort and ingenuity to projects that make our town run safer, more beautiful, and infinitely more enjoyable. Below is a listing of only a few of the recent Scout projects that have directly affected the citizens of Beachwood:

• Annual Clearing, Weeding, Replanting of Community Sites throughout town
• Initiated: Construction of Public Restrooms at Eagles Point
• Project: Create Mile Markers on Public Walking Path – Mayo Park and Little League Field
• Project: Encourage Visual Home Numbering to Assist Emergency Response
• Built and Installed Parking Bumpers at Mayo Park
• Built Volleyball Court at Mayo Park
• Refurbished Bocce Court at Mayo Park
• Built New Lifeguard Benches for Beachwood Beach
• Installed New Public Bench Seating at Beachwood Beach
• Built and Installed Bait Station, Garbage Cans, New Benches at T-Dock

“The citizens of Beachwood are indeed indebted to these neighborhood youths. Naming these Scouts, their Leaders, and their Parents as Beachwood’s Citizen of the Year helps to remind us of the importance of teaching each generation about the need for and the rewards of community service. The Boy and Girl Scouts of Beachwood, their Leaders, and their Parents make our everyday lives safer, more beautiful, and… simply better.

“It is a privilege to nominate these model citizens, our Boy and Girl Scouts, their Leaders, and Parents. Our community is grateful for all that you do.”

Additionally that evening, Council President Ronald Roma swore in new Beachwood police officer Philip Schena, also a former boy scout troop member. Borough Police Chief William Cairns stated that Officer Schena set his sights on becoming a fulltime officer in the borough for a long time, and he was glad to see it come to fruition.

The next in our series of borough fire department related coverage for appreciation of their service (and of October being Fire Prevention Month), we present to you an article printed August 2, 1989 in the Asbury Park Press detailing the recognition of one borough resident’s quarter century of service to both the fire department and first aid squad.

Beachwood Woman Cited for Service Beyond the Call

by Kathie Reed
Press Staff Writer
Asbury Park Press
Wednesday, August 2, 1989

When M. Eileen Heeley moved to Beachwood with her family, she didn’t know many people.

So she joined the borough First Aid Squad and became involved with the Beachwood Fire Co. auxiliary.

Because of her more than two decades of service to both groups, Mrs. Heeley recently was named Beachwood’s Citizen of the Year.

“I still go to the building and help out, but I don’t run anymore with the ambulance,” said Mrs. Heeley, who became a member of the First Aid Squad in 1964. “I did run with the ambulance for about 24 years.”

The Heeleys moved to Beachwood from Emerson in 1962, and Mrs. Heeley, who had four school-age children at the time, took first aid courses with another woman in town.

After passing the course, she joined the squad.

“I was one of the main day people,” she said. “We had more calls than the night people because there was more going on” during the day.

She never tired of the work, and every day was different, she said.

“During the day, you could run from 10 to 15 (calls) or maybe just one,” she said.

“I remember one February, we had a storm, and I think every person in town slipped out their front door (and fell). I don’t think I got home that day at all.”

Summer was always the busiest season, however, with the influx of people and swimming and motor vehicle accidents, she said.

“When we started, we worked by telephone. They didn’t have pagers like they do today.”

“The sheriff would call one person and that person would call two more and you would go.”

Mrs. Heeley also was commended by Beachwood Police Chief John Moody a number of years ago for reviving a man using cardiopulmonary resuscitation. Although the man was initially saved, he died a few days later, she said.

Some other residents, including Genevieve Romer and Joseph Victoria, also have been members of the First Aid Squad about as long as she has, she said.

“I could never have done it without my children and my family helping me,” she said. “You have to have your family behind you.”

Her husband, Paul F., also was named Beachwood’s Man of the Year in 1980 and 1981. The title used to be Man of the Year or Woman of the Year before it was changed to Citizen of the Year.

He was honored for his service as an ambulance driver with the First Aid Squad, volunteer fireman, special policeman and civil defense volunteer. Today, he is an exempt fireman with the Beachwood Fire Co.

One of the Heeleys’ four children, Mark, also a Beachwood resident, is following in his parents’ footsteps as a volunteer with the Beachwood Fire Co.

Their other children are Paul H., Tuckerton; Martha R., Bloomfield; and Susan Kuriger, Mystic Islands.

Mrs. Heeley joined the Beachwood Fire Co. auxiliary about the same time she joined the First Aid Squad.

The auxiliary conducts fund-raisers for the fire company and helps out in other ways, such as providing coffee and food for firefighters at a fire if necessary.

“Years ago, they had a lot of big forest fires, and they would be out for hours and hours,” she said.

“When we came down here, Beachwood only went back about seven blocks. Now, there are about 15 or 16 blocks. It used to be like a forest back there.”

For the past 10 years, she also has been on the Local Assistance Board, which meets four or five times a year. She currently chairs the board.

Being named Citizen of the year is not the first honor Mrs. Heeley has received this year for her volunteer work.

In honor of Women’s History Month in March, she also was one of more than 30 women in the county to be named Hidden Heroines in recognition of their community involvement.

A month later, “Mrs. Heeley Day” was celebrated at Pine Beach School and one of the trees the students planted on Arbor Day was in her honor.

Mayor William T. Hornidge praised Mrs. Heeley’s dedication to others and the town, adding at least once a year she visits him and tells him about problems in the town.

“We’ll discuss things that she has seen or become aware of that could be a problem and almost always will have a recommendation for a cure,” he said.

One year, she brought to his attention that several streets in the borough were becoming unsafe.

“Upon inspection, in 99 cases out of 100, she was right,” he said, and the problems were corrected.

“You get a lot of people who complain about something,” he said. “She’s offering to help resolved potential problems, and that’s unique.”

“She’s that type of person. She cares.”

Mrs. Heeley passed away on August 11th, 2007, at the age of 83, after having retired to Whiting in 1993.

The above entry was compiled from items donated by the McCormick family.

An early 1920s roster photo of the Beachwood Volunteer Fire Company, No. 1.

Today being the first day of October with its designation as ‘Fire Prevention Month’, we present the steps leading up to and conditions surrounding the creation of our borough volunteer fire company, as recorded by William Mill Butler in his 1924 publication, ‘Beachwood Who’s Who and Directory’ (which can currently be purchased in reprint at the Ocean County Historical Society, Toms River).

Check back throughout the month as we have scheduled a full slate of fire company related articles in recognition for their service as part of fire prevention month.

Nov. 1914 – New York Tribune ‘Beachwood’ land promotion advertised
May 1915 – Beachwood officially opens on Decoration (Memorial) Day weekend
July 20th 1916 – B.C. Mayo writes letter on behalf of himself and Tribune to residents suggesting they meet and “appoint committees to handle the following matters” including fire protection
July 29th 1916 – Residents organized the Beachwood Property Owners’ Association for the purposes outlined by Mayo
1917 (unspecified date) – “Frank J. Turner and M.R. DeMiege were re-appointed fire wardens for the year.” Butler did not mention their original appointment the previous year, but it can be safely understood that these men were the borough’s first fire wardens following the organization of the Property Owner’s Association the previous summer.
January 1917 – “The picturesque Japanese pagoda house erected on Capstan Avenue by Mrs. Wanda E. Lohr was completed.” [Mrs. Lohr would later factor in as a main fundraising organizer for the borough's first fire apparatus]

Wanda E. Lohr's Japanese Pagoda house, seen here in January 2009.

1917 (unspecified date) – “It was reported that M. Maximillian R. DeMiege, who spent the summer in Beachwood, was an agent of the French Government and had signed a $35,000,000 contract for munitions and supplies.” [Clearly related to World War I, which had been fought until this period among mostly European nations since late 1914, but to date no further information has been found regarding this odd report on one of our two first fire wardens]
1917 (unspecified date) – [Writing about popular ice skating on Windy Cove]: “During the evenings bonfires supplied light and heat and were also utilized by the skaters to roast marshmallows.”
March 5th 1917 – Beachwood Borough bill is introduced and passed by New Jersey state senate without a dissenting vote; is later passed by the House and signed by the governor.

Windy Cove, seen here frozen in Winter 2009.

April 6th 1917 – America enters the Great War, later to be known as World War I.
May 11th 1917 – A special election is held for the first borough officials; George D. Suydam is elected as a councilman for a two-year term.
May 14th 1917 – First borough council is organized; Mayor Joseph H. Senior appoints George D. Suydam chairman of the police and fire committee.
September 25th 1917 – Primaries for the fall election held and passed with no changes from May special election.
November 6th 1917 – All nominees appointed at the May special election and subsequently chosen in September primaries were elected with no changes.

Circa 1918.

January 4th 1918 – Mayor and council met for reorganization meeting; George D. Suydam elected council president.
March 1918 – “A forest fire during the first week in March touched the southwest end of Beachwood, and had the wind been favorable, it might have been serious. The lot-owners were urged to comply with the ordinance to clean up the underbrush.”
September 1918 – Borough switches to commission form of government due in part to “the difficulty in obtaining an adequate attendance of members of the borough council” as many held year-round homes and jobs in New York City.
Fall 1918 – “The work of cleaning out the underbrush in the lots of the built-up section of Beachwood progressed considerably.”
Fall 1918 – “Mrs. Wanda E. Lohr and A.D. Nickerson, of Beachwood, were among the judges of the Toms River mardi-gras for the benefit of its fire department.”
November 11th 1918 – World War I ends with the signing of the Armistice Treaty on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month.
1919 (unspecified date) – “A brush fire in the woods on the southeast part of the borough was put out by Mrs. F.W. Goodrich and two small boys.”
August 9th 1919 – “At the annual meeting of the Beachwood Property Owners’ Association… the movement for the purchase of a chemical fire engine, started by Mrs. Wanda E. Lohr, was warmly endorsed.”

Original Beachwood Borough Hall, located approximately where the Mayo Park Playground stands today.

August 15th 1919 – “The Beachwood “races,” a novel and amusing entertainment, in aid of the purchase of a chemical fire engine, drew a large attendance at Borough Hall. The idea was to cut long narrow pieces of tape into two strips and those that finished first in the various “heats” were the winners and ran again in the finals. Mrs. Wanda E. Lohr, chairman of the committee on fire protection, was the moving spirit, assisted by Mrs. A. Keller and Dr. J.H. Richards. Many beautiful prizes were secured by them in Toms River, among them being a gold watch donated by W.L. DeGraw. Cash donations were also received and the event proved a great success, between $300 and $400 being realized for the engine.”
1920 (unspecified date) – “Joseph A. Spears, having started to burn rubbish and accidentally set the brush afire, was fines $25.00 for failing to obtain a permit.”

Edwin D. Collins, circa 1924.

July 10th 1920 – “At the meeting of the Beachwood Property Owners’ Association, E.D. Collins, treasurer [later elected mayor], reported on hand: Fund for fire protection, $331.78.”
July 12th 1920 – B.C. Mayo dies in Asheville, North Carolina, of pulmonary tuberculosis
1920 (unspecified date) – The Beachwood Property Owners’ Association adopts a resolution “that the association should conduct a carnival and fair during 1921, for the purpose of raising the additional money necessary for the purchase of fire apparatus.”
June 20th 1920 – “A forest fire which threatened Beachwood [this] afternoon was said to have been set at Pinewald by a Jersey Central train. The fire in Beachwood burned around several houses on Beachwood Heights [their name for the area of town south of the railroad tracks, today existing as south of Route 9 from the Garden State Parkway to where it meets Atlantic City Boulevard in front of St. Paul's Lutheran Church] but thanks to a small army of fire-fighters, under the direction of Fire Warden Joseph E. Abbott, and the Toms River fire company, the conflagration was extinguished without loss of life or property.” [this may be the very first fire call answered by residents of Beachwood not yet organized as a borough fire company]
August 11th 1921 – “The leading event of the 1921 season was the Beachwood fair in aid of the fire apparatus fund. Borough hall [the original borough hall operated within an original building erected by the New York Tribune as 'The Auditorium', located approximately where the Mayo Park Playground stands today] was beautifully decorated with pine and oak and red, white and blue bunting and flags. Fifteen booths were arranged around the sides of the hall, with a five-foot aisle between the booths and the partition separating the main room from the veranda. The chairmen in charge of the booths were [extensive list of residents and their duties has been removed for space].

Circa 1924.

The fair was opened promptly at 4pm on Thursday, August 11th, by O. Frederic Rost, president of the Property Owners’ Association. Max DeRochemont was general chairman of the fair committee and Mrs. George D. Siffert [nee Thomas, she was the daughter Samuel Bath Thomas, founder of Thomas English Muffins] chairman of the booths in charge of the Woman’s Club.
The receipts from sales were $2,170.17; cash donations, $137; total, $2,307,17; expenses, $331.30, leaving a net result of $1,975.87.
Of this, the sum of $1,645.99 was paid for the handsome four-wheel chemical fire engine, which was on exhibition during the fair, and which had been previously ordered by vote of the board of trustees of the Property Owners’ Association and actually purchased by President Rost on his personal responsibility. After paying for the apparatus, there remained a cash balance of $329.88, according to a report made to the association on August 27th.

Labor Day 1921 – “One of the striking incidents of [this day] was the formal presentation of the fire ring system and the fire apparatus to the borough by the Property Owners’ Association. O. Frederick Rost, president of the latter, made the presentation speech, in front of the club house, and Mayor J.H. Senior responded for the borough. The suggestion for a volunteer fire department was made about this time.”

Original hand-pulled fire apparatus, 1921.

Beachwood Fire Apparatus at presentation, 1921. William Mill Butler can be seen standing at foreground-left, identifiable by white hair, glasses, crossed arms and speckled bowtie.

March 9th 1922 – “At the meeting of the trustees of the Property Owners’ Association, in New York, the treasurer reported funds on hand as follows” including $686.56 for the fire protection fund.
1922 (unspecified date) – “Subscriptions toward the engine fund of Toms River Fire Company, No. 2, were received from a number of Beachwood residents as the company aimed to protect property in the outlying districts, including Beachwood.”
May 9th 1922 – “At the first meeting of the season of the Property Owners’ Association, a communication was received from the new board of commissioners who were elected May 9th, suggesting that, instead of purchasing a separate hand-drawn fire apparatus for use in Beachwood Heights, a Ford truck chassis be placed at their disposal, and then the fire apparatus previously presented to the borough would be mounted upon the chassis at borough expense and made available for use in all parts of the borough.
It was also promised that a volunteer fire department with fifty or more members would at all times be ready to respond to fire alarms. The trustees of the Property Owners’ Association thereupon voted to purchase the chassis without delay and present it to the borough.

John J. Nolze, circa 1924.

June 23rd 1922 – “The Beachwood Volunteer Fire Company was organized [on this date], with the following officers: Chief, Mayor E.D. Collins; deputy chief, Capt. E.F. Parker; captain, Jacob J. Hoffman; foreman, John J. Nolze; secretary and treasurer, William B. Brown.”
July 7th, 1922 – “At a meeting of the fire company, Jacob J. Hoffman, John J. Nolze, and Chief of Police James McDonald, were appointed a committee to secure a Ford chassis upon which to mount the fire apparatus. Also to look for a site for a fire house. The chassis was soon promised by the Property Owners’ Association which originally donated the apparatus, which was hand drawn.”
July 14th 1922 – “At a meeting of Beachwood Volunteer Fire Company, No. 1, a total membership of 24 was reported. Also, $80 subscribed toward the company’s equipment.”
August 1st 1922 – “The subscriptions to the equipment fund of Volunteer Fire Company, No. 1, had reached $161 by [this date]. The amount required was $250.”
August 5th 1922 – “Despite threatening weather, Volunteer Fire Company, No. 1, had a fine dance at Borough Hall [this] Saturday evening. Property owners all agreed that fire protection was necessary and declared that those willing to give their time to fight fire should be commended and encouraged.”
September 2nd 1922 – Curiosity and amusement were had by attendees of the annual masquerade when a number of borough women arrived masked and dressed in homemade costumes as firemen, proclaiming to be “Volunteer Fire Department, No. 2″
Labor Day 1922 – “Beachwood Volunteer Fire Department, No. 1, held a parade at 2 o’clock on [this date], headed by Mayor Collins and Captain James McDonald and a number of police reserves. The firemen were dressed in their new uniforms of dark blue trousers, shirts and caps, with badges on the front of the latter. Then came the newly-equipped automobile fire truck, manned by volunteers, and followed by an automobile driven by Mrs. B.A. Levett, in which rode Mrs. Wanda E. Lohr, the original agitator for fire protection, and Mrs. Albertine Keller and Dr. and Mrs. J.H. Richards, who had all assisted in getting up the first entertainment for the benefit of the fire protection fund, out of which grew the fair and final presentation to the Borough of the fire fighters’ apparatus. Then, in the parade, came the wives of the firemen, dressed in white and wearing white cockade hats. The parade came around the plaza to the club house where President Rost, on behalf of the Property Owners’ Association, formally presented the Ford chassis, upon which the chemical engine was mounted, to the Borough, the engine, hand-drawn, having been presented the previous summer. Mayor Collins accepted the gift with appropriate remarks. In behalf of the committee on Labor Day games and sports, Mr. Rost also presented a siren to the fire company for the purpose of sounding alarms.”

Beachwood Fire Apparatus, remounted on Ford chassis, circa 1923.

Fall 1922 – “In order to purchase a site and erect a borough hall and fire house on Atlantic City Boulevard, near Beachwood Boulevard, the commissioners decided to issue temporary improvement bonds, to the amount of $6,500. Notice to bidders were issued November 29th.”
January 27th 1923 – “Bids for the new fire house and borough hall were invited on [this date].”
February 24th 1923 – “Residents of Beachwood, to the number of nearly 200, gathered in the Rose Room in the Hotel Astor of New York City, Saturday evening [on this date], to attend the annual dinner and dance of the Beachwood Property Owners’ Association.
Mayor E.D. Collins… delivered a brief but interesting annual message concerning the affairs of the borough. He mentioned the new Borough Hall which was in process of erection and which also contained ample quarters for the volunteer fire department.”

Beachwood Borough Hall/Firehouse, erected 1923.

March 18th 1923 – “The cornerstone of the new Borough Hall and Fire House was laid on Sunday afternoon [on this date], in the presence of over 100 people from Beachwood and Toms River. The Star Spangled Banner was played by the American Legion Orchestra of Toms River during the raising of the flag and Rev. R.S. Nichols of the same village offered prayer and delivered an address before the cornerstone was put in place. The stone bore the inscription, Borough Hall and Fire House. A copper box, donated by Frank Goodrich, was placed inside and contained a brief story of the Borough Government written by William Howard Jeffrey, the Borough Counsel, besides papers of various civic and social organizations which were read by Commissioner John J. Nolze, director of public property, before being sealed up.
Mayor [Edwin] D. Collins made an address in which he treated upon the high hopes and ambition of the present Borough Government for a greater Beachwood. Mrs. Wanda E. Lohr, as the original advocate of fire protection, was also called upon for a brief address. The new building is of concrete block with asbestos shingle roofing. It is 25 feet by 40 feet and two stories high. The ground floor is for fire house purposes and the upper floor for the Borough Hall and accommodation of the Borough officials.”

For some time now, the Beachwood Historical Alliance has actively pursued a sweeping downtown revitalization in conjunction with the upcoming Ocean County Rail Trail project and borough centennial. To this end, we have applied – with cooperation and support from borough officials, residents and many business and property owners – to become an affiliate of the Main Street New Jersey program.

Taken directly from their website, the MSNJ program “provides selected communities with technical assistance and training of proven value in revitalizing historic downtowns. The program helps municipalities improve the economy, appearance and image of their central business districts through the organization of local citizens and resources.”

This program holds four tiers of community membership, of which affiliate is third. If chosen, becoming an affiliate would provide us with training, communication support, and inter/intra state-level advocacy to utilize directly and immediately within downtown Beachwood while preparing us to apply for the highest tier designation at their next application period in 2011. This advanced tier would more completely aid in the downtown project through stronger and more inclusive training and support within the promotion, economic restructuring and design aspects of downtown Beachwood.

To better inform why an historical organization or anyone at all should care about our downtown, we encourage you to take a moment and read information from Solutions for America, a “civic problem solving” site. All of the elements of downtown revitalization described therein are dead on to our downtown and its needs and possibilities. Of particular note is their statement that “research shows that a healthy and vibrant downtown boosts the economic health and quality of life in a community. Specifically, it creates jobs, incubates small businesses, reduces sprawl, protects property values, and increases the community’s options for goods and services. A healthy downtown is a symbol of community pride and history.”

The best way to preserve our borough heritage is by breathing in it renewed and perpetual life through projects such as a comprehensive downtown revitalization program.  Placing pleasing photographs from the past on a website and encouraging the independent preservation of borough buildings, while enjoyable, is largely passive and only one facet of what we think is possible both through the Beachwood Historical Alliance and the borough at large.

Beachwood itself began as a sort of good-faith gamble that succeeded only due to the initial community pride it fostered. This bond, inherited by subsequent generations, propels us forward through these tough economic times, political battles, social issues and environmental dilemmas yet will dwindle if left unattended. Right now, our downtown properties are suffering from this destructive form of progress and social dwindle, and it can be seen as plain as (for some) their deteriorated exteriors as it can the regular winking in and out of businesses that bloom and fade within months of opening.

Our downtown and general borough businesses need our support, today. Please solicit them often and whenever possible. Right now we are being offered an almost total clean slate to recreate a vibrant downtown through the availability of the Carpetland corner site for purchase as well as the former Disbrow’s Market/Clancy’s Video building and former Clancy’s Video/Clutter storefront for rental (among numerous others up and down the Atlantic City Boulevard/Route 9 corridor). Where many see blight, we see opportunity.

Some ideas:

Photo by Bob Bielk of the Asbury Park Press.

Photo by Bob Bielk of the Asbury Park Press.

Photo by Bob Bielk of the Asbury Park Press.

A well thought out destination business in the Carpetland (former Circle Shop and currently for sale), something like a Surf Taco, would do wonders for the downtown social activity and foot traffic. Not only is it virtually the downtown cornerstone, it also has its own parking lot, can support upstairs professional offices (and is primed for a renovation to meet all needs and become doubly self-sustaining for  a new owner), is within a five minute drive of Toms River South to accommodate those carloads of students on lunch, is within short walking distance of our public waterfront (meaning any rail trail patrons walking down to use the beach, docks, parks or community center would have to walk right by) and can fantastically utilize the original structural design elements.

CLICK HERE to read an August 30th, 2009 Asbury Park Press article on Surf Taco

CLICK HERE to view the property listing for Carpetland

CLICK HERE to view Surf Taco’s website

The former Clancy’s Pharmacy/Clutter Shop store -

What about a quality sit down Asian restaurant?

A combination active recreation store for skateboarding, biking, surf/body boarding, kayaking, fishing plus their associated clothing lines, etc?

Art Gallery/Antique/Used Book store that holds regular events and utilizes eBay and the general internet for better sustainability?

The former Disbrow’s Market/Clancy’s Video -

What about a music instruction business utilizing the wide windows to attract passerby by allowing them to see the more accomplished (or not yet accomplished) musicians hone their skills?

Or how about reinstalling a market/cafe that also delivers and allows one-click online ordering?

As you can see, tons of potential, open ideas, and a bright future if stewarded by the right individual(s)/group(s) and especially aided by being 1) a solid destination business and 2) a multifaceted operation that uses alternating (and alternate) means for revenue: walk-ins, traditional advertising, word of mouth, social networking, internet site and auction, etc.

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I encourage anyone with an interest in forming or restoring the bonds of a community to consider joining  and volunteering within our organization or any other borough organization, from the recreation commission to our volunteer fire and first aid companies; the Friends of the Beachwood Library to the soccer club and little league. Or, better still, if you can think of a need you can help fill, consider starting your own proactive organization, whether it be a chamber of commerce, civic society, or merely a group of neighbors that simply walk around picking up or clearing out litter from time to time.

Beachwood Borough will survive to see many other days. The question of how it makes it through the rough spots and challenges lies entirely with you – the resident, the student, the business owner, the passerby.

Erik Weber
Beachwood Historical Alliance

The Beachwood Historical Alliance holds monthly meetings on the last Thursday of each month at 7:00pm in St. Paul’s Lutheran Church on Cable Avenue in the borough. All are welcome to attend. The next meeting is on September 24th.