This post was originally written as part of a series titled, The REAL New Jersey. After the series was cancelled I decided to re-write some of the previously published posts and republish them as time allows. I am beginning with Ocean Grove due to the "unofficial" start of summer this upcoming weekend.
The Jersey Shore: Ocean Grove
Introduction
Ocean Grove is a small community nestled between Asbury Park and Bradley Beach. It was founded in 1869 by the Ocean Grove Camp Meeting Associations by Methodist clergymen, William B. Osborn and Ellwood H. Stokes. The statue in the first image is of Ellwood Stokes. The name,
God's Square Mile has been given to Ocean Grove; each year tents are erected by the auditorium and are lived in, as they were more than 150 years ago. Church services are held in the auditorium, as well as shows and high school graduations.
When I was growing up the gates on Main Avenue were locked on Sundays - no cars were allowed. In the days before the invention of the automobile this prohibition applied to horse-drawn carriages. The ban was lifted by the New Jersey Supreme Court in June 1979 but the beaches are still closed on Sundays between the hours of 8:30 AM and 12:00 PM. Oh, and the town is "dry" - there is no alcohol sold within it's borders.
The town has been part of Neptune Township since 1921 but remained independently ruled until 1981 when their police department and court disbanded. You can read more about Ocean Grove here:
Ocean Grove
For me, there are only two (2) times of day to be in Ocean Grove - daytime and nighttime! Honestly, I can't think of any time when it isn't a good time to be there. I am quite partial to sunrise, though. Ocean Grove and the Fishing Pier were my go-to spot for sunrise. That was before Superstorm Sandy blew thru in October 2012 and destroyed the pier. They rebuilt most of the pier but stopped short of where the fishing shack used to sit. There is a plaque bolted to one of the pilings with Ralph sitting off to the side. Who's Ralph? He's the old fisherman "mascot" of the fishing club - he was a fixture at the end of the pier until he got carried away along with everything else. If you want to read more about Ralph, I have a few links below - he even has a Facebook page!
Ocean Grove is still my favorite sunrise, especially during the fall and winter when no one else is around. I've said it before and I will say it again - nothing beats the magic of a sunrise over the Atlantic Ocean. Now, sunrise isn't the only time Ocean Grove is photogenic; I have seen some wonderful sights during sunset, too. I have watched the setting sun disappear behind the Great Auditorium, creating a beautiful technicolor background to the steeple. If you are there for sunset (or sunrise for that matter) don't limit yourself to only watching where the sun is - sometimes the best show is off to the side or directly opposite. The golden glow can transform the ordinary into something truly spectacular.
The Beach
I did mention that Ocean Grove has a terrific beach, didn't I? It's true, I wouldn't lie to you about that. Whether you are chasing sunrises, striped bass, waves or rays, Ocean Grove is a place to enjoy a relaxing time by the sea. If you are going to be there during the summer months, I would suggest getting there quite early as parking fills up quickly and you may need to walk a considerable distance if you wait too long. Just don't get there too early on a Sunday, remember - the beaches are off limits between 8:30 AM and Noon.... There are restrooms and changing rooms located where the Ocean Grove Beach Office is at the end of Embury Avenue, where the pier is. There are several other entrances to the beach, including ones at Main Avenue and Ocean Pathway.
Bring a cooler (non-alcoholic beverages, please) and spend the day. If you don't want to haul food with you, you can easily walk to one of many restaurants and ice cream parlors within a few blocks of the beach. Until a few weeks ago, at the north end of Ocean Grove you don't even have to leave the beach for food, drink and ice cream. There was a nice group of restaurants called the Dunes Cafe, right on the beach but there was a fire this past April. The fire completed destroyed the building. There are a few different scenarios being discussed, including bringing in food trucks. Why would you go anywhere else?
The Great Auditorium
I briefly mentioned the auditorium at the beginning - it is a magnificent structure both inside and out. I only remember being inside once, for my daughter's high school graduation, but hope to get back again. The auditorium was built in 1894 and originally sat 10,000 people; today 7,000 people can be seated for everything from worship services to Beach Boys concerts to high school graduations. The first thing you will notice is the incredible pipe organ - it has 11,000 pipes and is one of the Top 20 in size in the United States.
The auditorium's acoustics rival the magnificence of the building and organ - built long before the days of amplification it was designed to carry the preachers voice to those furthest away. This makes the auditorium an excellent place for taking in some entertainment - some of the headliners have been:
Each spring since 1984 the auditorium hosts the "Annual Law Enforcement Memorial Service". The service pays homage to those law enforcement offices who lost their lives in the line of duty over the past 12 months. Law enforcement agencies from all over the state come to Ocean Grove to remember and honor the fallen.
Architecture
If you take a drive, better yet a walk, thru town you can't help but be struck by the beautiful architecture, much reflecting the late Victorian era. The buildings may be somewhat small, like the Thornley Chapel shown here or grand displays like
The Ocean Plaza Hotel. A walk up Ocean Pathway will be met with beautiful homes, hotels and gardens - not to mention a great view of either the Great Auditorium or the Gazebo and ocean. If you are in town during the encampment you will find more than 100 colorful tents, too.
The Boardwalk
I would guess that most, if not all, of you reading this know the song
Under The Boardwalk by The Drifters. I have always liked the song and I was surprised to learn that there are some people who don't know what a boardwalk is! I couldn't imagine; the boardwalk is so much a part of life here and I have spent countless hours "walking the boards." The Ocean Grove boardwalk is about 2/3 mile long, connecting with the boardwalk in Asbury Park to the north and Bradley Beach in the south. You can get on the boardwalk in Ocean Grove and walk for miles before running out of boards. Of course, all of the boardwalks are new, courtesy of Sandy. In Ocean Grove, at the end of Ocean Pathway you will find a gazebo on the boardwalk. During the summer outdoor concerts are held here but you are always welcome to sit in the shade and enjoy the sites and sounds. The gazebo is also available for weddings and other celebrations.
Food
If you walk just a few blocks from the beach you can find just about anything you desire - from the basic burger & fries to more eclectic gourmet meals. A walk up Main Avenue offers more variety and wide price range - also ice cream.
Have you noticed ice cream shows up in my writing a bit often? That's because I believe it should be it's own food group and it should be consumed at every meal. Ocean Grove gives you two (2) wonderful options for your ice cream indulgence - Nagels and Day's. It wouldn't be fair to pick a favorite because I have only been to Day's once but I can tell you that you will find a line at both places so.... Nagels also serves a wide variety of food at the restaurant inside.
Hotels, Inns, Bed & Breafasts
There are a surprising number of places to stay for such a small area and each place has it's own charm. I haven't stayed at any of the places in town but did get a brief tour of the Majestic (on Main Avenue) earlier this year. It is a very nice place and the hostess/innkeeper was very helpful and friendly. If you like something with a view of the auditorium and beach, check out the Ocean Plaza Hotel, shown here.
Local Art & Shops
I will finish up with the local art gallery and shops along Main Avenue. The
Main Avenue Galleria is owned by Norma Tolliver and features work from local painters and photographers, as well as jewelry, furniture, sculpture, ceramics, etc... If you get a chance, you have to stop in and take a look around. I interviewed one of the photographers from the gallery -
Interview with Jersey Shore Photographer Dan Falvo. You can take home a little bit of Ocean Grove to hang on your wall.
Gift shops line both sides of Main Avenue, many offering one-of-a-kind handmade or vintage items and there are plenty of clothing store options to choose from. You can also rent a bicycle from Ocean Grove Hardware - that is a great way to travel around town, just be aware of the boardwalk restrictions for riding.
Links to websites and other information
How to get there
Ocean Grove is a 60-90 minute drive from both the New York City and Philadelphia areas. See right for public transportation options.
FROM NORTH JERSEY: Take the Garden State Parkway south to exit 100B and follow Route 33 East to Ocean Grove.
FROM SOUTH JERSEY: Take the NJ Turnpike North to exit 7A. Follow Rte 195 East to Rte 35 in Belmar. Take Rte 35 around Shark River & across the inlet. Travel north onto Memorial Drive (follow sign for Bradley Beach), parallel to the railroad tracks for 2 miles to Corlies Avenue. Turn right across the tracks and into Ocean Grove.
FROM THE WEST: Take Rte 18 South to the Rte 33 East exit in Neptune. Follow Rte 33 East (Corlies Ave) to the end. Or, take Rte 195 East from the Trenton area to Rte 35 in Belmar & follow directions from South Jersey.
FROM THE EAST: Get in a boat, set your GPS for 40°12'36.3"N 74°00'09.3"W and don't stop until you hit the beach. 😉 😃
The "Special Guest"
So! Did you figure out who the "special guest" is in the seascape at the top of this post? If you did, good eye! If you didn't, I will end the suspense. If you take a good look at the main cloud, towards the right of it you can see the shape of Wile E. Coyote! Do you see it now? I wasn't aware of it until after I got home and started processing the images.
All other photos are copyright Joseph S. Valencia All Rights Reserved They may not be used in any way without express written permission of the photographer. If you wish to use any of the photos you may contact the photographer at valencia32photo@gmail.com
