Founders’ Park by Jack Bredin. Oil on canvas. 30×40. Painted in 2014.  Click on image to enlarge.  Reposted from April, 2015.

“Shortly after nine in the evening on 31 July 1869, a few families erected ten tents in a clearing in what is now Founders’ Park in Ocean Grove. They had gathered there to consider establishing a holiness camp meeting. Although some of the group had preferred to watch the moon rise over the ocean, Mrs. Thornley pressed them to  hold a prayer meeting, so twenty-two people huddled by candlelight in the Thornley’s  tent for the first religious service of Ocean Grove. By all accounts, the service was a success, and the assembly consecrated the land as a permanent retreat for weary urban clergy.” *

The oil painting above is by Ocean Grove’s Jack Bredin, who has been working in oil for nearly 30 years and often does paintings of Ocean Grove.     This painting of Founders’ Park depicts a scene circa 1900 of a typical Sunday afternoon.  The young lad with the boat was nabbed for fishing on Sunday.

Jack says that he hopes that the fountain can be restored.  The Historical Society of Ocean Grove has a fund for that purpose, and they accept contributions.

Jack Bredin’s oils are on exhibit and for sale at the Ocean Park Gallery on Cookman Avenue in Asbury Park where they currently have 8 of his original oils plus some prints for sale. Jack’s OG paintings always sell out.  He spends over a month on each.

He also has works on display in the Grove at the CMA offices, Grove Hall, Richard Hogan’s law office and the Blogfinger Command Center.  —Paul Goldfinger, Editor @Blogfinger.

*This quote from the Ocean Grove Record, 7 July 1883,  was obtained from Troy Messenger’s 1999 book (University of Minnesota Press) called Holy Leisure—-Recreation and Religion in God’s Square Mile.

DAVE’S TRUE STORY     from the movie “Jack Goes Boating.”

Editor’s note  7/26/17:  The Historical Society of Ocean Grove is now resurrecting a fund drive to restore the fountain in Founders Park.  Details to be posted today on Blogfinger.

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