Historical Society of OG
From David H. Fox submitted to Blogfinger on May 10, 2022
New York Times, 4 June 1907:
“By decision of the Monmouth County Board of Taxation handed down today, Ocean Grove’s $3,000,000 beach front, the property of the Camp Meeting Association, is to escape taxation. It was shown to the board by the association’s legal representative, Samuel A. Patterson, the valuable strip of land, with its board walk, had been dedicated years ago by the association as a public highway, and was not therefore subject to taxation.”
Of course, crosses have been erected on the sand over the years. The future fishing pier is rumored to be cross-shaped. I can imagine some of the faithful assuming a crucifixion position at its center as a pious act.
Editor’s note: The New York Times, no expert in OG history, says that the OG beachfront is “the property of the Camp Meeting Association.” But not so fast!
The modern day CMA not only believes that it owns the beachfront (excluding the boardwalk which is theirs) but it charges money to go on the beach here. As far as we know, New Jersey is the only state which allows admission charges (ie beach badges,)
And there is strong reason, going back to the Roman Empire, to believe that the State of New Jersey owns the beach back to the high water mark and owns the Ocean out to a predetermined location.
If you read our article from last June and today (see below) you will learn some more about this subject.
–Paul Goldfinger, MD, Editor Blogfinger.net
The matter of taxing the beach came up again in the 1920s. I recall the Association Minutes mentioning a purchase of riparian rights from the State of New Jersey perhaps in the 1880s.
Ocean Grove Times, 23 Jan. 1925:
“This concerns an assessment on the land of the Association bordering on the Atlantic Ocean and including riparian rights.”
This is a matter for someone with more legal experience than myself.