Ocean Grove, New Jersey. June 22. 2013. By Paul Goldfinger © Click left to enlarge
Thanks to John Anderson who sent us this link to Peter Genovese’s article in NJ.com. This web site has done a very good job in reporting about Ocean Grove. I only have two comments. The first relates to his statement that says, “Ocean Grove is a dry town, but you can enjoy wine or beer on your front porch. But it must be in a cup — no beer cans or wine glasses allowed.”
Perhaps that’s true for the tents, but, to clarify, those who live here know that wine bottles, glasses and beer cans can be seen all over the rest of town on porches. In addition, you can bring wine or beer to your favorite OG restaurant and enjoy it inside or al fresco outside. Sometimes outsiders confuse Ocean Grove with the Camp Meeting Association.
The second comment is related to this statement by a tenter: “When my parents came here it was called Ocean Grave. Not now.’’
I really dislike that ugly term because it is still used today and it is a useless and wrong metaphor in 2013. I heard a visitor say it recently, and the master of ceremonies, an OG spokesman, said it prior to a Great Auditorium concert.
In the opening scene of the movie “Greta” she is on a bus heading to Ocean Grove. I paraphrase, but she said, “I don’t know why I am going to visit my grandmother in that town—it’s a place where you go to die.”
On Blogfinger we have worked hard to portray the town as it currently is: a vibrant, diverse community with people of all ages, including children. So hopefully Ocean Grovers will bury the grave remark in the interest of good public relations.
PS: Do you think there is hanky panky these day in the tents? Listen to LEON REDBONE–perhaps he has visited. —Paul Goldfinger, Editor @Blogfinger
When I first moved here, an oldtimer told me about an Ocean Grove tradition called “tea time.” People would gather on porches for an old-fashioned afternoon tea — except the tea was cocktails, served in teapots and teacups.
And yes, they still called it “Ocean Grave” in those days, but it sounds to me like those Gravers still knew how to live it up.
He is making a statement about 30 yrs ago when the beverage had to be covered… in glasses that you could not see.