Ocean Grove water tower near the border with B. Beach on Main Street. Paul Goldfinger photo © Click to enlarge.
By Paul Goldfinger, MD, Editor Blogfinger.net
Water towers are found up and down the Jersey Shore. They often are the first structures visible as one enters a shore town. Does anyone know why this one does not have the town’s name on it?
“STATUES AND STORIES:” From the original cast recording of the Light in the Piazza by Adam Guettel.
Ocean Grove originally owned some property beyond its present recognized boundaries. The site of the Asbury Park railroad station was one of these. The water tank in question is very near the location of the 1883 artesian well that fed the Ocean Grove water system.
Fletcher Lake is fed by springs and this place was likely tried for a source of water on that account. The waterworks was eventually supplemented by an electric generating facility.
Editor’s note: Thanks David. We always welcome historic insights regarding the Grove. When I started Blogfinger, I called the CMA and asked to speak to their historian. Amazingly they said that they don’t have one–the HSOG takes care of that.
As Groucho once said, while flashing his cigar, “That’s the most ridiculous thing I ever heard.”
I recall seeing an old map that showed the properties which the CMA bought to create the Grove and I think some were on that west side of Rt. 71. How that became part of Neptune is unknown to me, but eventually it did allow Clancy to sell alcohol.
Originally the sale of alcohol was banned within a mile of the Grove’s property line, although the exact perimeter may have been less.
Note that the Grove became part of Neptune only after Neptune was carved out of Ocean Township in the late 19th century. Maybe that carving was behind how Neptune acquired some of the OG land or maybe we are talking about the historic roots of Neptune’s conspiring to dump on OG.
Not sure. I think the Clancy mall (West Grove) is considered Neptune, so you are probably right, but given the tourism situation I would write Ocean Grove on that tower. PG
Are you sure that’s not on Neptune property, not Ocean Grove?