Tent Village, Ocean Grove. Jean Bredin photograph. July 18, 2020. © Blogfinger.net.

By Jean Bredin.  Blogfinger.net reporter/photographer. 

Bob and Bonnie Harley have been tenters all their lives.  Bob’s father and mother, Jack and Helen Harley, were the occupants to this tent over 60 years ago.

I asked them how has it been in Tent Village this year?

“Very quiet, ” Bonnie replied.  Maybe 85-90% occupied, but mostly weekenders.  They reminisced about many things. There is much history to be found among the tenters.

Bob said he learned to swim in the Ocean Grove Pool at the North End.

Ocean Grove Choir Festival in the Great Auditorium.   Paul Goldfinger photo. Blogfinger.net ©

Jean noted:  “Jack Harley was the maestro  of the Teaneck Bergen Chorus many years ago.  My father was a member.  Jack encouraged his singers to join the Ocean Grove Choir Festival, which my father did.”

“The next year I came down to sing.  The rest is history. I am a year round resident of Ocean Grove.”

Here’s an arrangement that Jack probably would appreciate.  It’s Max Raabe with the Das Palast Orchester performing in Carnegie Hall:   “Singing in the Rain.”