From Morris Daniels “Story of Ocean Grove. 1869-1919.” It is our source for all quotes here. Our home can be seen at the left edge of this photo. It’s called the Beagle House for the walking tour. Rev. Beagle once lived there, but we call it the Bagel House.
By Paul Goldfinger, MD. Editor Blogfinger.net .
The historic Woodlawn Park became the Ocean Grove place where John Alday MD was honored in 1915. According to Daniels History of Ocean Grove, “One of the most beautiful of the enduring recognitions with which Ocean Grove has begun to honor some of those who have signally helped in the making of her character and fame is the John H. Alday Memorial Fountain.”
“This graceful tribute of affection and remembrance was erected in 1915 and was most appropriately placed in the center of Woodlawn Park, the prettiest of Ocean Grove’s little green parks and close to the home (for many years) of him whose name and work it commemorates.”
But now the historic fountain is gone, replaced by a big bell honoring OG firemen and surrounded by a concentration camp decor iron fence with spikes and plantings with dangerous sharp thorns. If they were going to get rid of the Alday Founain, at least they might have made that park welcoming and beautiful. Instead they keep the fence locked with an intimidating iron chain and padlock.
Blogfinger post about the park
Somehow Dr. John Alday, who was important in town, had gotten bumped with just a little grave-like plaque in the ground. At around 2002, the park looked crappy. The benches were uninhabitable, and we paid to restore them. And about 6 neighbors , including us, bought trees which are now mature. The grass is actually a weed farm, and one would have to be very careful to sit down for a picnic. Flowers and planters were purchased and maintained by neighbors who live along Delaware Ave. and Mt. Hermon Way at the park.
Some of the huge old trees are dangerous and not well maintained. And now we need a landscape architect.
Firemen’s Park is a terrific place for dog walkers, people walkers, and for children to play. But it is disgraceful. Except for Santa on Christmas Eve, the Township and the CMA offer no events there. It is perfect for the kind of small town happenings which we need for those non-tourists who actually live here. These could include children’s events, small flea markets for the locals, small concerts, art shows, plays,craft events—juried, poetry readings, and history lectures like the Walt Whitman Festival which Kevin Chambers organized in town, etc.
A rare event for the locals at Firemen’s Park. Halloween. Oct. 26, 2019. Paul Goldfinger photo. Blogfinger.net.
It has been our observation that the Camp Meeting Association has little interest in the historic element of this town which is on two historic registers. They are the founders, but they do not have an official historian in their organization. Even the so called Historical Society takes little or no interest in the bigger picture of our historic town, for example regarding restoration of deteriorating houses and fighting the take-over of the North End by ersatz designs and functions.
They did see to the restoration of the Fitzgerald Fountain at Founders’ Park, led by historian Ted Bell. But the CMA trailed along and then had an unannounced religious service at the dedication.
This is what should be done: In keeping with historic precedent, the park should be re-dedicated to all the heroes from OG who have served for over 150 years: fire, police, military, emergency services, etc. Let’s call it ” Heroes Park.”
The big bell should be placed somewhere else without any fences. Most towns around here have bells, but none have fences, ugly or otherwise. Many are surrounded by flowers in season. Go see the bells in Asbury Park and Bradley Beach.
A fund drive should be initiated to restore a fountain in the middle with a plaque to honor Dr. Alday whose magnificent home is beautifulyl restored next to the park by Steve Mandeville and Victor Aluise, businessmen in town who own the Alday mansion at Delaware and Main.
HARRY NILSSON: “Make Believe”. A beautiful park is a terrific place to make believe.
And, if it’s romance in a lovely place, you can take her to “Heroes Park” and grab a private bench by the flowers and then:
Nancy Wilson:
Zinc statues were economical alternatives to bronze. However, they were less durable and required internal support that could rust away. The zinc Angel of Victory on the ocean front at Main Avenue was damaged by wind and eventually smashed by a storm. It was reputedly melted down for fishing weights. The more durable bronze Bradley statue in AP was blown down at the very same time, but survives to this day.
Doug: I think it deteriorated badly. Maybe David Fox will tell us. Paul
I wonder what ever happened to the statue?
The park had an earlier fountain in 1894 that was erected by the citizens. This was replaced in 1915 with the iron fountain featuring a zinc figure supported by a steel armature. This was curious as it featured both electric lights and water. By 1959, the fountain had been out of service for some years and the 1895 former fire bell moved to the park as a memorial. This originally chimed the number of the activated alarm boxes placed around town. The bell weighed 2,462 lbs. and sounded at a pitch of E. The bell was defaced in the 1970s and a fence erected about it after a sandblasting. Had the bell been supported internally from the center, it could be bonged for ceremonial occasions.