Wayne (“Ted”) Bell (left), Cindy Bell, and Darrell Dufresne. Blogfinger photo. July 2011. ©
By Paul Goldfinger re-post:
A delicate balance was precariously achieved today at History Day during a presentation sponsored by the Historical Society of Ocean Grove about the Great Auditorium. The three authors of a soon-to-be published book about that extraordinary building discussed a variety of fascinating facts that are not widely known about the GA, but they didn’t want to reveal too much; after all, they need to retain some secrets in order to tantalize those who would buy the book, perhaps in September. The tentative title of the long-awaited book—3 years in the preparation— is “The Great Auditorium: Ocean Grove’s Architectural Treasure.”
Cindy Bell, Darrell Dufresne and Wayne (“Ted”) Bell offered a lecture-slide show in the Community Room, and then Mr. Bell took the group over to the Great Auditorium to check out some of the structural and engineering features that are so interesting and mysterious.
Cindy told us about the fund raising efforts by Rev. Stokes and his associates that went right to the wire as far as paying off the building in time. No deficit spending for those 19th century Methodists. Darrell talked about strange features like the huge wooden pipes underground and the primitive and nonfunctional air conditioning system found under the floor. He shared the secret of how the ceiling light bulbs are changed and he discussed how that massive roof is supported.
Ted Bell conducts a walking tour in the Great Auditorium. Photo by Eileen Goldfinger
During Ted’s GA tour, he was able to point out some fascinating facts about the installation of that huge Hope Jones organ (the 3rd largest organ in the northeast after Atlantic City and West Point.) One fact that leaked out has to do with the false impression that the GA is made totally of wood. The truth is that there is a steel framework that maintains the strength and rigidity of the building.
Steel buttresses and posts reinforce the GA to help support the roof. The pipes carry water in case of fire. P Goldfinger photo.
We all hope that Ted and his colleagues complete the book before the CMA decides to build a bigger tabernacle.
Editor’s Note, 2014: The Great Auditorium book by Bell, Bell and Dufresne was published in 2012 and can be purchased at the Historical Society of Ocean Grove and on Amazon.com. It is wonderful.
And Ted, Mr. Tambourine Man, thanks for playing a song for all of us in the Grove—PG
BOB DYLAN