“The corner of Surf and Beach Ave. looking a little different these days!! Was working over there and thought your readers would be interested…..” Photograph by Bob Bowné. Special to Blogfinger. ©
DR. HOOK. Nobody will be sharing the night together again at the Whitfield Hotel in Ocean Grove.
This hotel began life in the 1870s as the Gem and notable for being one of the few Gothic Revival structures in town. It had pointed arch windows as does the Tabernacle. It was 2.5 stories, but much enlarged for the 1910 season.
“The Whitfield is the old Gem property, the house having been rebuilt during the past winter.”
“Mrs. B. M. Harrison and Miss A. G. Beers announce that the new Whitfield at the corner of Surf and Beach Avenue will be open for the reception of guests on Wednesday of next week, June 15. The Whitfield is the transmogrified Gem, known for years to many visitors to Ocean Grove.”
The exterior was covered with stucco and it was claimed to be “fireproof,” which was obviously not the case.
The Whitefield became home for a year round population. One resident was arrested for “lewdness on Olin St.” in 1992. The building was demolished for single family houses in 2017.
I dont think that at this point, 20 Surf exhibited any kind of historic significance. It was not an example of historically unique architecture and nothing historic occurred there. While the need to preserve the overall historic community, which is mainly based upon its architecture and layout, not every structure qualifies.
Another sad day in Ocean Grove, losing yet another historic structure. When you drive into Ocean Grove it says that we are an “Historic District.” What exactly does that mean? Apparently not much. What does not get torn down, mysteriously burns down as soon as the conversation of “preservation” comes up.
There are many things that make Ocean Grove special, but what makes it unique, is its eclectic structures. The street side and view from the beach is like no other. We seem to be in a rush to make it look exactly the same as every other town, a fake version of history. When my home burned down, the historic preservation commission cared more about what type of window went in the door of my brand new house instead of any efforts to save the historic Park View hotel. Apparently their goal is to create a Walt Disney World “Celebration” type of community, which feels inauthentic and sterile.
I’ve quietly read this blog for several years as people have complained about the residents and use of the Whitfield, but there is no money to be made in solving that issue; it’s much easier to let millionaires build more homes which depict a fabricated version of Ocean Grove’s history instead of keeping what it really was.
This is bad on many levels, and people responsible should be ashamed, and those of us on fixed incomes, middle class or just here to enjoy the uniqueness Ocean Grove, should be very afraid and should speak up.
Glad to see progress here but why is so much waste allowed to blow around the neighborhood?