By Kathy Arlt, Contributing Writer @Blogfinger
Way back in September of 2011, I showed you this photograph of the almost-finished North End Hotel. The photo came from an album compiled by the construction foreman Alfred Clark.
This time though, instead of focusing on the hotel, look at the little building in front of it with the curved roof. Mr. Clark noticed that building, too, and one of the captions in his album was a question: What happened to it?
Well, here’s the answer. It was moved. It now resides at 47 Heck Ave., where it’s become a cottage.
Next time: Correcting a Big Mistake
Debra–I knew that. Guess I just had Embury on my mind–and my typing fingers–last night.
@ Kathy- The cottage is on Heck Avenue. There must be a look alike on Embury Avenue
Thanks so much for filling in some blanks in this building’s history, Debra. I was wondering how–and why–it ended up on Embury Avenue.
How delighted I was to see the construction photo of the North End Hotel with our little cottage in the foreground. We were told it was the tool shed during the construction of the North End Hotel and later moved to Main Ave to serve as the ticket booth for the shows held in the Auditorium. When it was no longer needed it was recyled again and slid to the back of the lot facing Heck Avenue. A small addition of bathroom and kitchen converted it to a cottage with a great big yard-according to Grove standards! We have raised 4 children and a dog in this little cottage and love the Grove! I like the idea of painting Ocean Grove on the roof. I’ll put it in the “some day” file!
The “booth” was once manned by a charming, elderly gent back in the early nineties (believe his name was Bill), and it was filled with brochures. I recall how much “Bill” loved Ocean Grove and his part-time job helping tourists and townies. Perhaps others remember him? I also remember Bill telling me that it could get mighty hot in that little space, hence his habit of using a brochure to fan the breezes!
Frank S- The “booth” was the turret taken from the house owned by the Gannons on Webb or Abbott Ave on the beach block. The house was in poor repair and was torn down. The Gannons, who owned the house, restored and donated the structure. It served as the Chamber of Commerce building for a couple of years. Due to it’s small size, when a visitor entered to browse the literature, the Chamber employee had to leave the building. A nice bit of history saved for all to enjoy!
It was the cupola on top of a hotel at 2 Webb. When the hotel was divided into condos, it was taken off and placed in Auditorium Park. It was used a couple of times to sell tickets to events I think for the Historical Society.
That little booth isn’t from the original Youth Temple. It was salvaged from a hotel (or house) on Ocean Avenue that was going to be demolished. I’ll put up some pictures of the process in a couple of weeks.
On the subject of booths and small structures in OG: In South end of auditorium park across from OGCMA offices is a small booth-like structure. Was once told that this was a steeple from original OG Youth Temple that was saved. Is this so? What was this ever used for? Was told that at one time was used by Chamber of Commerce as an info/tourist booth. What if anything is it currently used for?
Great idea, except it would not be approved by the HPC.
Me too, DJ.
If I owned it, I think I would paint ‘Ocean Grove’ on the roof!
Kathy, Thank you for this wonderful piece of historical research. It shows how far ahead of the curve Ocean Grove was on recycling.