By Kathy Arlt, Contributing Writer, Blogfinger.net 3/11/2012
Several weeks ago, Blogfinger reader Frank S asked for information about the small pink structure located in Auditorium Square, at the intersection of Pitman Avenue and Pilgrim Pathway.
Two readers commented. Hobe reported that the tiny building was part of a hotel at 2 Webb Ave. Frank Devine placed it as part of a house owned by the Gannons, and gave them credit for restoring and donating the structure.
Both commenters were partially correct. The cupola did come from a hotel—the Ocean Villa—located at 4 Webb Ave., and it was owned by the Gannons in 1977. Here’s a photo showing the hotel and its address, and, of course, the cupola on the top of the building:
But credit for rescuing the cupola belongs to Robert Green, who was profiled on Blogfinger last June. Mr. Green spearheaded a movement to preserve the cupola when plans were announced to demolish the Ocean Villa in 1985. He started a “Save The Tower” fund, and Ocean Grovers raised $1,000 to renovate the cupola after its removal; the United Crane company donated building-moving services. After a short time in storage while the renovation work was being done, the Ocean Villa cupola was placed in Auditorium Square where it lives on today.
And here, from the pages of the Ocean Grove and Neptune Times, are photos of the moving process.
The cupola is the only part of the Ocean Villa that remains. A completely new building was built in 1986…and if you’d like to see what it is, stroll over to 4 Webb Avenue and take a look.
Editor’s note: In June 2011, Blogfinger interviewed Bob Green. And again in 2012 below:
Donors contributed funds for the moving and restoration of the cupola from the top of 4 Webb. There was to be a memorial plaque bearing the names of those in whose memory/honor the funds were donated. I don’t believe the plaque was ever created. Gale W.
No. The 3-unit building behind that, on Webb.
So, the Ocean Villa was replaced by the combo Greek Temple/Bank Building with the swimming pool on the roof?
So many questions! So much research to do! I can’t promise answers right now, but I’ll do my best…both on the tents and the Angel of Victory.
Robert Green is a long time Ocean Grover who has worked on and personally financed a number of important projects in the Grove. We interviewed him last June, and a link to that article can be found at the bottom of this article by Kathy (Arlt).
Priceless photos of the cupola on the move! All hail Bob Green for preserving, literally, a piece of old Ocean Grove. And Kathy, while you’re looking into tents that were removed and possibly became cottages in some fashion, I have always wondered when and why the number of tents shrank from many hundreds to the present 114. Did demand slacken? [Now of course there is a waiting list for tents.] How is it that lots today, and perhaps back then, are bought and sold by individuals when the CMA owns them?
Kathy Arlt,
Thanks for the full story. I remember when it was moved to the north end for storage. Thought for a while it would be the final resting place for yet another piece of OG history. We were pleased that the restoration was completed.
Do you have any information about the Angel of Victory and the movement to replace the Angel of Victory? It would be a fitting icon once again.
I’ll see what I can find out, Anonymous. And thanks for giving me a topic for my next article.
Just which OG bungalows/small cottages used to be tent homes (whether moved there or originally there)? Maybe too many to note? Just across Fletcher Lake on Madison Ave. in Bradley Beach are 2 or 3 small bungalows/cottages that I was told were moved from OG there. Is this so? For what reason (s) would tent homes be moved? When were the tent homes along Wesley & Fletcher lakes removed? Tent homes along the lakes must have been quite a pretty sight. Thanks.
Amazing research with pictures and all. Thanks Kathy for the clarification.
Moving Man: I’m a little confused about your question. Tents used to be almost everywhere in Ocean Grove, not just where they are now, by the Auditorium. There were tent grounds fronting both Fletcher and Wesley lakes, and some small cottages were built following the footprint of a pre-existing tent. Also, most people didn’t own their own tents. In addition to the CMA, there were several tent rental companies operating in Ocean Grove back in the early days. During a severe storm in the 1870s, the CMA did loan tents to surrounding communities in order to shelter residents…is this what you mean?
Thanks very much for further information and the neat fotos. Really quite an interesting project.
While on the subject of moving historical items around town I have another question. I understand a number of tent homes have been moved about in Ocean Grove (some even out of OG to Bradley Beach). Some left as tent homes while some were converted into bungalows/cottages. Do you (or anyone else) know which and where they originally were and why they were moved?? Fotos would be wonderful.