Sunday morning in July 2022, a service is going on in the Boardwalk Pavilion, and this man solicits passersby.  Paul Goldfinger photo. © Click to enlarge

A girl in her summer clothes on the OG boards. 7/30/22. Paul Goldfinger Click to enlarge.

A B and B converted to a single family home. Main Avenue. Paul Goldfinger ©. A gay wedding event. Click to enlarge.

Block party. Mt. Hermon Way. Paul Goldfinger photo. ©.  Diversity is welcomed in contemporary Ocean Grove.

By Paul Goldfinger,  Editor Blogfinger.net

On Blogfinger we have written about the changes occurring in town due to  more aggressive programming by the CMA.  But other changes within the secular sector have  been occurring as well.

Recently a commenter on BF  named Stephanie argues that the town is fundamentally unchanged from its religious past. Here are some of her assertions:

“Beyond being a Christian enclave, it’s a Methodist enclave”

“It’s always been a Christian seaside town”

“Ocean Grove practically is the CMA.  Anyone who has a serious problem with this should’ve  done a better job looking into where exactly they were choosing to put down roots”

But we have been here for over 20 years, and there are obvious changes.

When the CMA stopped their popular secular Saturday night shows, it was the first strike in throwing down a gauntlet.  We had heard that the CMA Board was divided into two camps, and one prevailed, and the CMA was to become more aggressive in promoting their brand of Christianity in this town.

And we all have seen that increased fundamentalism.  If you went to the new pier dedication, you could not miss that.

And for many, that swing of the pendulum from well balanced to religious outweighing secular in terms of lifestyles in a small town is OK. But it may not be OK  for those many new  residents in the Grove.

The truth is that the town has been changing in a variety of ways at least since 1980 when the CMA lost the right to govern. Instead the NJ Supreme Court invoked the need for separation of Church and State, and Neptune took over.

Some thought that CMA would fold, but it kept some blue laws and went on its merry way.  In 2012 Blogfinger interviewed  President Rasmussen of  the CMA who  said that his organization would devote itself to its “Mission” and take essentially no interest in the growing secular residential community here .

But even 20 years ago notice was paid to how OG was becoming a more secular small town. On June 14, 2002, The NY Times wrote a piece about life styles in the Grove and they barely mentioned the  CMA.

They said,  “At the northern end of the Jersey Shore, Ocean Grove is a blend of urban living and down-home simplicity. Once primarily a Methodist retreat, it now attracts a mix of families, heterosexual and gay couples, retirees and singles”

“In addition to its diversity, what gives this one-square -mile town its urban feel is that it’s a walkers paradise. ”

They mention a variety of aspects to reinforce the idea that this OG was becoming small town, seashore secular America: coffee on Main, a walk to the seashore, take the kids to the playground, people watching, rent bikes at the hardware store, Saturday night concerts, affordable real estate, shopping on Main, eateries, ice cream, and tennis.

The Times showed a photo of Main Avenue near the shops–none of the CMA historic sites are photographed or mentioned.

They conclude by saying, “Ocean Grove is a blend of small-town simplicity and urban diversity.”

And there are some other important historic events which illustrate how this town has changed, and that change cannot be denied, even though the CMA sees itself as extending what began as a 19th century idea.

a. In 1920 there was a groundswell of interest in secession from Neptune. It succeeded at first, but the Borough of Ocean Grove only lasted one year.  See our article about this below.

b. In 1980, the CMA was changed forever as governance was turned over to Neptune, and all but a few “Blue Laws” were allowed to continue. (Neptune worked that out with the CMA–an alliance that hasn’t been helpful for most OG residents—witness the zoning changes for the North End Plan)

c. 1980’s.  OG, along with the rest of the Shore,  collapsed into decline. There were riots in Asbury, and the CMA barely hung on.  The miserable  town of OG was saved, not by the CMA, but by a secular group of activists under the banner of the Home  Owners Association led by Herb Herbst–hero. (no relation to the current crew.)

They solved the boarding house and mental health issues and they led the town into the 1990’s when the Grove began to get back on its feet, and a diverse group of secular investors began to buy and restore Victorian homes and businesses.  The CMA was no hero back then.  And then the town came back with a roar and with secular diversity.

We saw many derelict Victorian houses be brought back to life, and the demographics were changing as 2000 approached.  We saw young families, kids, teenagers, diversity,  expensive cars, sales of NY Times going up at the newsstand,  better businesses such as April Cornell,  the OG Trading Company, Cheese on Main, Favorite Things, and others.

Blogfinger was begun in 2009.    And we saw Asbury Park rise from the ashes, creating a great alternative for Grovers to enjoy.  And more….

And of course we now see an influx of sophisticated New Yorkers and Philadelphians in the Grove who are boosting the home values in town and they are bringing their urban tastes and sensibilities.

The CMA may see itself as restoring a Christian town, but the subsequent  facts will speak for themselves.  What will the future bring, we will see, but to deny change is nuts.

JIMMY BUFFETT