This is a lovely story to share from 2011 and even further back to the 1930’s. —Paul @Blogfinger. There is a journalism student from Rutgers who lives in town and is doing a paper on Ocean Grove, and specifically about the Whitfield Hotel.
I found this article for her and decided to share it with those who never saw it before or forgot about Julia West Howard.
Click on the word “Blogfinger” below this line.
OhGee : This is interesting . Dorothy’s Auntie Norton is whom Dorothy bought her home from . Do you know when your family sold home ? 60’s ? 70′ s ? 80’s ? You might somehow be related to Dorothy Young . Dorothy & her husband Gilbert initially used it as a weekend/Summer home . Then when Gilbert passed away Dorothy took up residence full time in early 1990’s .
When I was an infant, my family sold their home, #5 Main Avenue, to Dorothy Young. She resided there for several decades until shortly before her passing.
The greatest celebrity who lived in OG was Dorothy Young. Her father(a Methodist minister) owned Elim cottage(formerly 142 Main Ave.). She was Houdini’s last living assistant and swore to never to tell his secrets, had a fascinating career as an actress & dancer, was quite a generous philanthropist who donated/built a building for Drew university, was a successful business woman, a very talented artist/painter. Most importantly she was a very sweet dear woman. Lived in a modest home on Main by the ocean. Died about 7 years ago at age 103 .