By Kathy Arlt, contributing writer @Blogfinger
In 2011 it’s not uncommon to see Ocean Grove visitors (and residents) walking to the beach in their bathing suits, but this was completely unacceptable behavior in the 1800s—even though an 1800’s bathing suit covered one’s body from head to toe. So Victorian beach-goers must have been thrilled to read this announcement in the May 12, 1877 issue of the Ocean Grove Record:
The builder and operator of these bathing houses was Theodore W. Lillagore of Philadelphia, through a lease agreement with the Camp Meeting Association. (Another entrepreneur, Joseph Ross, was awarded the same concession for the North End beach. More about this in my next post.) This 1878 Woolman and Rose engraving shows the finished product:
It’s difficult to say how long the bathing grounds looked like this. Year after year, winter storms took their toll on every structure built near the beach. But that fact only seemed to stoke a desire to rebuild even bigger and better. In fact, in 1904, when the second “Auditorium” (the Great Auditorium we know today is actually the third Auditorium) was torn down, many of its elements were incorporated into a grand “Lillagore’s Pavilion” at the South End beach. Sadly, however, in 1915, the pavilion fell victim to the Grove’s other nemesis: fire.
Despite this tragedy, when visitors arrived in 1916, they were greeted by this new South End Pavilion.
This grand structure, too, fell victim to the ravages of Mother Nature. I’m thinking it was destroyed in the Great Hurricane of 1944…but if anyone out there has better information, please share it with a comment.
(Note: Kathy Arlt is no longer associated with Blogfinger.)
Reblogged this on Blogfinger and commented:
Reposted from 2011. See comments
William C. “Bill” Hogan was the proprietor of Hogan’s, with access to the bath houses, a restaurant, hamburger/hotdog stand, gift shop, sundry store, ice cream and a candy counter.
It all came down after Hurricane Bell in 1976. Blll was also the long serving tax assessor for Neptune Township from 1961 to 1981. His son Dick is the proprietor of the Hogan law firm on Main Avenue today.
The restaurant that was there when I was a kid was Hogan’s. It was a hamburger, hotdog type of place. I think they served ice cream too and had a gift shop attached.
Hello Groovers and Paul,
It was nice to see this material on the bath houses, and my OG history project includes this. I will keep my depictions of those establishments though. Keep that stuff from those good old days coming though.
Does the OGHS have any records of who owned the properties in OG from 1929 to 1948? I have a hole in my project that could be filled in if the info was available.
Rich
I’m guilty of wearing my bathing suit on the walks oops ; ) I feel like I’m on vacation. The Grand Structure looks really awesome, was that where the restaurant was Nancy L? Curious, what kind of food did they serve?
Hi – As a child I swam at south end beach (1940-50s). The bathhouses, restaurant and taffy shop were all in good repair. We had our own little bathhouse to store our beach gear in. Had to walk through the tunnel to enter the beach.
Then a hurricane did destroy part of the complex, but my stepfather in the 50’s did check your ID to let you inside the bathhouses, but the taffy shop was long gone.
I brought all my children here in the 60’s and the entrance and tunnel were still in use.
Can’t remember when the final “blow” came.
Nancy E. L.
Another great article Kathy…..keep them coming!
The bathhouses were in operation into the 1960s at least. I know we all cheered when they were gone because they were always musty and not very pleasant.
I still am surprised when I see people in bathing suits on the street.