By Kathy Arlt, Contributing Writer @Blogfinger
Well, here it is, in all its glory, sometime between 1877 and 1900—one of the oldest hotels in Ocean Grove: The Clarendon.
And this, sadly, is what happened to it on December 5, 1934:
The building on the left side of that second photograph (a partial double exposure, by the way) is still standing. If you start at Main Avenue and walk north on Pilgrim Pathway, you’ll see it—and the business that began operating there in 1936—on your left. And then you’ll see what now exists at the site of the beautiful “old Clarendon building.”
The yellow building next door to the blue one doesn’t look too Victorian either. Where is the HPC?
Note that in every one of these tragic tales of an old building that was lost, what has replaced it has been a non-Victorian looking, ugly abomination. Are there any instances of a beautiful Victorian-looking structure replacing an ugly building? In theory, this town should be working towards an increasingly pure vision of a Victorian seaside town.
Wow, that blue building is sure ugly. The owners should attempt to do something to make it fit in better with the town (e.g., new facade/siding),
The restaurant was called: Keatings’ Cozy Cottage.
Paul, that photo you are showing is on the corner of Mt. Tabor, not Mt. Hermon. It is across the street from the Camp Meeting office and Thornley Chapel
Thanks Waterseller—we have made the correction.
I believe it was Keating’s Cozy Cottage.
THE WINNER: I. McCutcheon wins a prize. Please contact us with your choice Blogfinger@verizon.net
Kathy tells us that the restaurant’s motto was: “When you think of eating—think of Keating.” The building now on the corner is a lawyer’s office. Thornley Chapel and CMA offices are across the streets.
For those who are unsure of the location of the Clarendon, it was at 35 Pilgrim Pathway at the corner with Mt. Tabor Way, across from the CMA and Thornley Chapel.
Editor’s note: Fred O. asks if anyone can name the restaurant that was in a new building which went up at the Clarendon site.
The first one to name that restaurant wins an Ocean Grove car magnet or a music CD “Best of Blogfinger Vol I”). You can also win three Ocean Grove fold-over photo cards with matching envelopes–each has an original metallic finish OG photo signed by Paul Goldfinger (these are currently for sale at the Smuggler’s Cove $5.00 each)