Welcome to another era in Ocean County's past, one century ago this spring! Let your mind wander as you consider life around Spring 1923, courtesy the New Jersey Courier and Ocean County Review weekly newspapers, from the Ocean County Library archives, and peppered with items of maritime interest (around a 20 minute read). BREVITIES AND EDITORIALS(written by NJ Courier editor, William H. Fischer, as he sat at his desk above Main Street near Washington Street; it was much like a collection of online social media updates seen today) Third month. Full moon tonight. And this is March. Days are much longer. Planning your garden now? Just think—strawberries will soon be ripe. Soon we'll be discussing daylight saving time. The vanguard of the Florida tourists are on their way home. A sure sign of spring—the baby chicks singing in the post office [being sent in the mail to the area poultry farms]. Thousands and thousands of baby chicks are being hatched now. Haven't heard of anybody starting the swimming season yet. Now, when we were boys-- Plenty of ice left in river and bay, and on ponds and bogs it is ten to twelve inches thick. While cranking his car on Friday last Mariano Gentile suffered a sharp blow when the crank handle snapped back, breaking a small bone in his wrist. Main Street wants a good heavy rain to wash the dirt off of it. Once in awhile somebody cleans up the dirt in front of his place—but about the only ones noted are two hotels, Ocean House and Marion Inn. Harold Chamberlain and family have moved from Dayton Avenue to their newly bought poultry farm at Berkeley Heights, south of the P.R.R., on the Dover road [now South Toms River Borough]. They have farm No. 2, on the northwest side of the road. Bert Blackman, of Lakewood, to acting agent of the C.R.R. Depot since the death of C.M. Campbell. Blackman is a native of Tuckerton, was stationed at Barnegat as agent for some years and is now extra agent on the C.R.R., living in Lakewood. Edwin H. Berry, who last week returned from a Florida trip, says you can see folks form this section wherever you may go. Mr. and Mrs. Berry saw Mr. and Mrs. Crabbe in both St. Augustine and Miami. In the latter city he met Will Klippel, a former Toms River boy, now at Detroit, Mich. He also saw William C. Alexander, of Island Heights, and others, from this locality at various places he visited. Ben Novins, of Fire Company No. 2 has been troubled with a wound in his hand ever since the fire at the Kaufman feed store, on Water Street, the Tuesday before Thanksgiving. Novins was on Kaufman's second floor when the side gave way and the building fell. He jumped and his hand went through a window, cutting the tendon in one finger in two, and the physicians last week decided that they had about fixed him up. He may, however, not get back the use of that finger—or he may, if the surgery develops right. Ben is a brother of Joe Novins, president of No. 2 Company who lost his life at the Hankins fire last spring. Martin Brandt is building a large chicken house at his Hooper Avenue place. This is the time of year to get your business in shape for the rush days you expect in July, August and September. High school students are working up their debate on the ship subsidy question which is to come off at Barnegat in a few weeks. The front of the Mathews and Evernham building, on Main Street, has been torn off and is being rebuilt, about four or five feet back of the former front. Coal seems to be coming along once more, and the worst of the cold weather must be over. Well, we have survived the winter and the coal famine so let's be thankful and happy. The cross roads and back roads in the township have been the cause of much loud and heated talk in the past month. Ruts froze hard, and the fellow unlucky enough to get his auto wheels in a rut was lucky if he had any tires after traveling awhile. The village school has been reduced to burning wood for the most part this winter, and without wood it would have been necessary to close it down, as coal has for a good part of the time been impossible to get. Most of our churches have also burnt wood a good part of the winter. Harry Staples has started work on the foundation for Ellenberger and Leming's new machine shop on Main Street, adjoining the George Alsheimer building. The store will set back some sixty feet from the sidewalk, leaving room for a store in front should they decide to build one. There will be several hundred thousand chicks hatched in Ocean County this season by the commercial hatcheries alone. In Fact it is said there are four hatcheries that can, and probably will, turn out a half million chicks. Two of these are at Toms River—the Authorized Breeders' Association and the Hathaway Hatchery; one in Laurelton, the Laurelton Farms, and one in New Egypt, Howard L. Davis. The Scott Poultry Farm, at Pine Beach, finished the contest at New York State School of Agriculture, Farmingdale, Long Island, for 1922, with the fourth best hen and the fifth best pen, out of 1000 birds in the contest. Mr. Scott has been in the poultry business for seventeen years. In 1905 he started at Valley Stream, building up a stock of 1000 layers; ten years later, in 1915, he moved to a larger farm at Rockville Center, Long Island and increasing his flock to 2000 layers; in 1919 he bought the 55-acre farm, just east of Quail Run, running it as an auxiliary to the Rockville Center plant till last summer, when he sold out on Long Island, and moved his entire outfit to this place. Mr. Scott's sons, Theodore and Harold, are associated with him in the poultry business. They breed single comb white leghorns exclusively. Complaint is made to The Courier, that owing to Main Street being so much firmer walking than Main Street sidewalks [it being recently paved with concrete for the first time], in wet and muddy weather, pedestrians are using it to such an extent as to endanger their own lives. On a wet night, either rainy or foggy, the auto driver has a slippery pavement to contend with and sometimes it is impossible to swing a car out suddenly to escape hitting a pedestrian... Boat owners are now due to look over their craft and dream of summer cruises—coming down from the city for the week ends to do it. Snow on Tuesday. Easter comes on April 1. Sap is running in trees and shrubs. Flocks of bluebirds are seen about. Did you see the eclipse Friday night? The first turkey buzzard was noted on Sunday last. The bottom dropped out of gravel roads with last week's thaw. Robins are reported now and then. Rather disgusted with the weather, though. Heard a song sparrow on Sunday. P.L. Grover says he heard one on Thursday before. During the warm spell wasps were seen—other insects were out—and a grasshopper was reported as seen in Pershing [section of Toms River]. Days are almost as long as the nights—in fact, the daylight is now longer than darkness, if we include the twilight. The post office is getting many applicants for the two jobs as letter carriers under the new free delivery plan. A number of the applicants are from out of town, too. A fire was started in the brush up Lakehurst road on Sunday morning, about 9 o'clock. No damage was done. The fire was started by Elbert Malcolm, a young lad, who said he wanted to hear the whistle blow and see the firemen come. Elbert is not responsible for his acts, and he will probably be secured a place in the Colony at Four Mile, Burlington County, or at Vineland, where he can be taught and cared for. About the finest sweet potatoes we have seen this winter were in a package that William C. Willoughby, of Pershing, left at The Courier office last week. Mr. Willoughby is an old sweet potato grower, having learned the art in Maryland, as a young man, and having had lots of practice. The Township Committee have changed the hours of the police so that one many is on duty at night, up till 5 A.M. This meets the complaint of merchants, that when a watchman was needed most, he had gone home, the night policeman formerly going home at 3 A.M., according to schedule. With two motor vehicle inspectors in the county, two state troopers at the county seat, beside our own peace officers, we ought to get by this summer in peace and quiet. The gap on Water Street, where the Kaufman building formerly stood shows what a fine thing it would be if the town could afford to buy all the property on that side of the street and clear it to the river [this happened during urban renewal projects in the 1960s, which is why Huddy Park and the river is viewable from Water Street today]. Capt. Jim Chamberlain says he saw king turtles crawling about in the creek during the warm spell, and also saw several kingfishers last week. Several people reported hearing frogs piping on Monday. But they were sorry on Tuesday. Jack Woods, who has been with the American Stores Company for some years, coming here as manager of their Toms River store, and for some time past being district manager, will resign soon and open a market of his own in the Traco Building. Local growers expect to make shipments of sweet potatoes in a week or ten days, as the market is getting stronger. A large list of candidates for naturalization papers came before Judge Newman today at the Court House. Sheppard Robbins, of Bridgeton, has been appointed station agent on the Central, at Toms River, to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Clifford M. Campbell. He took charge yesterday. Spring rains. When there is a dry day, boys get out the ball and bat. The concrete road on Main Street wants a good sweeping. Herman Fuhr is out again after a fierce tussle with the flu. The herring are running, how soon will it be time to bob for eels. A houseboat belonging to William Irons, on the lower end of the sandspit, was burned on Sunday night while Irons was away. It looks like a case of arson. One of Bill's dogs was also killed, it was reported, and he lost $60 in money that he had hid in the boat. The fireman turned out. Manager Perrin, of the Marion Inn, has been exhibiting some photos of Toms River, taken by the officers in Army C-14, recently, when they circled over the village. The two traffic posts have arrived, and will be set up the first of the week. The one at Main and Water streets will have four green lights flashing up and down Main, and east and west on Water Street. The one at Main and Washington streets will show green flashes on Main and yellow when coming west on Washington Street, to tell the traveler that the street goes no further. These are standard lights, adopted by road associations. The lights will be of the carbide tank kind, burning gas, the tank needing to be refilled only at long intervals. They set on a concrete base, and are as high as a man's head. They are the same type as those in use in Lakewood. Spring. Frequent rains. Maples in bloom. A few robins are heard. Boys are playing baseball. Frogs have been “singing.” Small girls are jumping rope. Women plan house-cleaning. Crocus buds opened Sunday. Boat builders are in their spring rush. James Purpuri of Main street learned last week of the death of his father, Rosario Purpuri, at Castelbuono, Sicily. The Purpuri shoe store closed three days in his memory. Jack Woods has left the American Stores Company and is now getting his new market in the Traco building ready for opening in a few weeks. Franklin Minturn has been appointed eastern distributor for the Elto marine motor, which he sold in this section last summer. He now has a much larger territory. Boatmen are beginning to talk and think about boat races. There are current many rumors of counterfeit $10, $20, and $100 bills being in circulation all along the Jersey coast, as having been paid out by the New York end of the rum-running syndicates to their helpers and to the ship masters who brought the rum to the shore. Let's hope that the $3000 cash bail given in behalf of the Clam Island “rum scout” doesn't turn out to be counterfeit money. Large quantities of sea clams have washed ashore on the beaches for several weeks past. Thousands upon thousands have been gathered for food. But for the most part vast flocks of gulls that have gathered on the beach have been feeding on them. The gulls in the air, on the beach, or sitting in the ocean, must aggregate millions. Frogs piping. Birds singing. Moonlit nights. Boatbuilders are busy. Buds are swelling more. Lawns show a spring green. More robins came last Friday. Elms and maples are in bloom. Gardeners are clearing up and getting ready. Painters and paperhangers are now getting orders. William Herbert is tearing down his house on the northwest corner of the village, and will rebuild it. Meantime, he has fitted up a new barn as a house and the family are sheltered there. Several cases of measles among the children and many of whooping cough. Bob Cahill and partner, of Toms River, captured the silver loving cup in the prize fox trot contest recently held at Forked River. An examination for letter carriers for Toms River has been slated to be held on Saturday, April 21. There are a number of applicants. Fifteen new books weer put on the pay shelf of the public library in the past week, and all were taken out the first day. It is the plan to add a few books of recent fiction each month this summer. The recent death of William L. DeGraw, the Water Street merchant, removes from the village one of its best known and best liked citizens. “Uncle Will,” as scores called him, had a cheery word and a pleasant smile every day and for everybody. The village loses in his death but is the gainer by the years he spent here. Little Bobbie Johnson, son of Mr. and Mrs. B.F. Johnson, had a personal message by radio from the broadcasting station which sends out the bedtime stories. Bobbie listens in to the bedtime stories every night, and is very fond of them. Recently hearers were asked to send in their names to the station, and Mrs. Johnson sent in Bobbie's name. One night this week the station at bedtime said it had heard from Bobbie Johnson of Toms River, adding that the sender had been to Toms River fishing and crabbing many times. No. 2 Fire Company bought 600 feet of hose, with nozzles, wrenches, bars, axes and other outfit at the Proving Ground sale on Tuesday. They also bought two electric siren fire alarms. They had intended putting one of these up for a modern fire alarm system in the village, but add that they have been told they will not be allowed to do it. Similar alarms have just been installed at Island Heights and Seaside Park at a cost of several hundred dollars each. It would seem that if Toms River could get one at a small cost, rivalry between two fire companies ought not to be allowed to stand in the way of an advantage to the village. April. A cold Easter. Fourth month. Sparrows are nest building. River is full of herring they say. Daffodils are trying hard to bloom. Forest fires have been numerous if not large. More boats are being built for Barnegat Bay racing this summer than ever before in any one year. The wooden mask has been torn off the Toms River Supply Company building which now shows up with a light brick front, like that of the Economy Sales Co. building next door. The two buildings make the finest looking business block in town, and are a credit to their owners. Large crowds yesterday at Traco benefit for Fire Co. No. 2. William F. Johnson of Hooper avenue is planning to carry on a gasoline and oil station on the corner of Cedar Grove road and Hooper avenue. From Friday to Tuesday night there were a number of forest fires, Tuesday evening the horizon from the north to the south, on the west side of town, was lighted up. George J. Gould, of Lakewood, has been reported as very ill at his villa in France. [He would soon die of pneumonia on May 16, 1923, on the French Riviera after contracting a fever in Egypt where he visited the tomb of Tutankhamun.] HYERS AND SNYDER STREETS If Dover Township does nothing else in 1923 it ought by all means straighten out the difficulties of Hyers Street. Here is one of the main arteries of travel in the town, which remains a country road, with no sidewalk, and with no entrance to Washington Street when it gets there. A good part of its length Hyers Street should be widened; it should be given sidewalks on both sides; the hole in the wall should be opened up. People living on Hyers Street, and those who travel it, pay taxes. They are not apart from the rest of the town. We are told they cannot have free mail delivery because they have no sidewalks. They are surely entitled to all that the rest of the village has—and they must get it, too. And when Hyers Street is being put on the map why not extend Park Street through to Snyder Street, and give that cul de sac an outlet? [100 years later, and this was never done—houses now block the way] Of course, Park Street could not run straight on, but the improvised road used all last fall could be made into a street. Snyder Street people are also entitled to a sidewalk on each side of their street, and the street should be widened to obtain it. Why put these things off year after year when they are so obvious that anyone can see they ought to be done at once? The longer you put them off, generally the more it costs to get them done. LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Praises for Prof. Haupt To The Courier: It was somewhat over a year ago that I wrote you a letter of “defense” of Professor Haupt—now even to the people of this section he needs no defense for his works are a monument to him. At that time I spoke of how he designed some jetties calculated to keep open the mouth of the Manasquan River and how the government engineers said it could not be done, and how the half completed jetties were washed away in a storm and how they blamed him, losing sight of the fact that they built them three months later than Professor Haupt said they must be built. Now he has accomplished the seemingly impossible task of harnessing the power of the ocean and make them open the closed channel. At Barnegat Light the half completed jetties, partly destroyed because of their incomplete state, are still holding the sands they accumulated despite the severe storms of the past winter. Out on the beach can still be seen some of the $60,000 worth of “rocks” the government engineers placed there and the balance are deeply buried under the sands by the ceaseless action of the ocean. If you climb the 200 steps to the top of the light you can still see a few more piles in the inlet buried so deep under the waters that they can only be seen when looking from above. Now the government is planning to place (or bury) $100,000 more “rocks” while the Haupt jetties still stand. His knowledge is proven again when one looks at the jetties before Barnegat City [today Barnegat Light] and Surf City and now he is to build an additional jetty at Beach Haven Inlet, to stop the sea from encroaching and engulfing more lots at that resort. Is it not time for Seaside Park to get busy and have him design a jetty to prevent the mighty ocean breaking an inlet at that place? But possibly I am wrong. It may be quite interesting to the summer visitors at the Park to see how the government buries “rocks.” If they wait for the government to do it, then the money might have to be used to protect property from an inlet, for the inlet might be a fact before the engineers get busy and if an inlet does break through who knows but what it would cause the abandonment of the railroad bridge and then Mr. Haag and his fellow-citizens will be delayed more than the are now by the “dreadful delay of running into Island Heights.” No one knows Professor Haupt as I have known him, but to admire the engineer and the man. Charles F. Maisch Island Heights, N.J., Feb. 26, 1923 HEADLINE NEWSBARNEGAT SNEAKBOX AT THE NEW YORK MOTORBOAT SHOW Visitors from this section at the New York Motorboat Show, held the past week in Madison Square Garden, were much pleased with the exhibit of a Barnegat sneakbox, from the shops of J. Howard Perrine, at Barnegat. The boat shown was one of his one-design models, of which some of the yacht clubs in this section have fleets. The show had a number of new ideas in motorboat building, but the improvements and changes—the novelties shown—were more in accessories and fittings than in either boats or engines, is the report that comes back from New York. SCANDAL OVER DISAPPEARING EVIDENCE GRAND JURY ROOM GUARDED SMUGGLED WHISKEYS VANISH A mystery surrounds the session of the Ocean County Grand Jury on Monday last, March 5, that all the county sleuths have been unable to unravel. One of the matters the grand jury had before it was the seizure of 287 cases of smuggled Scotch whiskey on George J. Gould's gunning preserve, at Clam Island, on February 11. According to one of those mysterious stories that have no father, no mother, no sister or no brother, yet are known to everybody, a case of Scotch was taken from the county jail where it was behind triple-locked steel bars, and delivered to the grand jury room as evidence. The jury room door is guarded when the grand jury is in session, by from one to three officers, and that was the situation on Monday. Yet when the case was turned back to be again placed in safe keeping in the county jail, there was not a bottle of the smuggled whiskey left in the box. All had mysteriously disappeared. The whiskey seems to have a disappearing habit, unless it is behind locked doors and bars. According to the receipt given for it when it was brought into Barnegat Inlet and landed on Clam Island, February 4, there were even 300 cases. A week later, when seized by the Sheriff's officer and Coast Guards, there were thirteen cases that had disappeared during the week it was cached on Clam Island, the tally showing but 287. The disappearing habit, or trick, still stays by the stuff, if we are to believe the report about the happenings on Monday. LONG BEACH HAS BOOM MANY HOUSES TO BUILD Long Beach, particularly from High Point to Beach Haven, is said to be on the boom, and scores of houses are being built in the next few months. George P. Eckert, a Philadelphia business man, who spends about half the year at Brant Beach, was at Toms River on Wednesday, and reports that Long Beach is feeling the impetus of newcomers and is also reaping the benefits of the work done in recent years by those who have planned and gone ahead with pioneer development work. His home town, Brant Beach, with its water and lights, is an example, and a number of nice homes have just been built, and others will follow there. Last summer the Misses Dornan finished a fine summer home; last fall Walter L. Focht, of Birdsboro, Pa., completed an $3000 summer residence; the Morrison family are just completing a fine bungalow; William L. Evaul, of Riverton, will also have a nice bungalow for this summer. There are four or five more houses to be built at this one resort this spring. The largest building operations are generally at Beach Haven, but the string of small resorts all along the beach are also putting up houses. Beach Arlington [later consolidated within Ship Bottom Borough] and Ship's Bottom with their small homes are adding to the number all the time. The new resorts at the Junction had several new houses built last fall, and more are promised this spring. The Long Beach Township Committee have, Mr. Eckert reports, just completed the jetty at the north point of Beach Haven Inlet, as designed by Professor Haupt. He reports that the committee inspected it last Saturday and found that it had made a great deal of land, and that the sand was being impounded rapidly. There is need of another jetty, but the township is about at the end of its financial ability to build jetties, and has asked aid from the Board of Freeholders, and also from the State Department of Commerce and Navigation. JEALOUS LOVER SHOOTS GIRL AND KILLS SELF ETHEL RICHMOND, LAKEHURST, VICTIM OF FORMER SOLDIER Jealous because his former fiancee had danced and laughed with other men at the ball to which he had taken her, angry because she told him that the engagement was broken, and that she would not marry him, despondent because he had thrown up his job in Jersey City to be near the girl he loved, John H. Boyd, a former service man, put a bullet into the breast of Miss Ethel Richmond, at Lakehurst, last Saturday morning, March 24, and sent two bullets through his own heart. He died almost instantly; she is at the Paul Kimball Hospital, Lakewood, and will recover, not being seriously wounded. Miss Richmond, aged 19, tall, slender, vivacious, has been a popular figure in Lakehurst and Lakewood social sets. She lives in Lakehurst with her mother, Mrs. Lillian Richmond, and her grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. William Higgins. Her father, from whom her mother is divorced, is William Richmond, now of Trenton, son of Mr. and Mrs. LeRoy Richmond, of Lakehurst. Boyd was a soldier during the war and was stationed at the Proving Ground Post, after the close of the war. While at Lakehurst, attending dances, and other social gatherings, he became acquainted with Miss Richmond. He was somewhat older than her, perhaps 28 years old, his friends say, and wished to get married. She was young, full of fun and life, and did not want to settle down. For awhile she wore his ring and they were considered by her friends to be engaged. There was another suitor, a sailor at the Naval Air Station, who was also liked by the young girl, who apparently had not made up her mind which she liked best. The story goes that after the sailor was transferred to the Brooklyn Navy Yard Boyd thought he had a clear field. Lately this sailor had been sent back to Lakehurst. Meantime Boyd had been in Jersey City, working on the Pennsylvania Railroad, but returned to Lakehurst about a week before the tragedy. It is thought by some of his friends that he threw up the job to be near Miss Richmond. Friday night Boyd had taken Miss Richmond to the dance. It was noticed that he sat and sulked most of the evening, while she was full of life and fun, and rallied him for his sullen and sour behavior. She danced with other men, and also with the rival, the sailor. After the dance they walked her home. A neighbor, who had been at the dance, a married woman, walked home with them. This was between 1:00 and 2:00 Saturday morning. It is alleged that Boyd again asked Miss Richmond to marry him. She said that it was all off between them. He insisted on knowing if this was final, and she replied that it was final. It is then alleged that he said, “Well, if I can't have you, no one else shall,” and fired twice at her. She sprang aside and away from him as he pulled the gun, and only one ball took effect, making a flesh wound in her side, and not hitting a vital spot. He then turned the gun on himself, firing three times, two bullets going through his heart. Mrs. Richmond and the other occupants of the house were roused by the shots, and ran down stairs to find Boyd lying on the floor, the smoking revolver several paces away from where he had staggered, and the girl just collapsing. She was hurried to Kimball Hospital, and word was sent to Dr. Frank Brouwer, of Toms River, Coroner, and to Prosecutor W.H. Jayne, Jr., of Lakewood. Boyd's body was removed to C.P. Anderson's morgue at Toms River. That Boyd had intended to commit suicide if Miss Richmond refused to marry is evident from two letters he had written on Friday and from his taking a loaded revolver to the dance with him. The gun was a business-like .32. … Miss Richmond, a graduate of the Lakewood High School, was employed as a clerk at Silverman's department store, on Second Street, Lakewood. She is a niece of Mrs. William Giberson, of Lakehurst, who is serving a life term in the state prison for the murder of her husband... WANT TWO-COUNTY BASEBALL LEAGUE FOR 1923 SEASON The Asbury Park Press is proposing a two-county baseball league for the summer of 1923. It would take Lakewood and Point Pleasant from this county, and any others that cared to join, and mix them up with Asbury Park, Bradley Beach, Manasquan, Atlantic Highlands, Long Branch and Red Bank. Wonder if they would let Toms River in on that game—if Toms River should have a team this summer? IN GROVER'S STORE They were talking about luck the other night in Joe's store, and of course the tales were many and varied. When there came a lull, a quiet fellow, who generally has little to say, but who is a good listener, remarked: “I had quite a run of luck myself this last week. First, my wife went to the city, shopping, and lost her pocketbook—goodbye to $25 in cash [$449 in 2023 dollars]; then the fire went out, during the cold snap, and a radiator in an upstairs room froze and burst, and water ran through the floor, spoiling a room below, that had just been repapered and repainted. And next day I ran my car over and killed a neighbor's dog.” Then the gang began to talk about how the flounders were biting at the inlet. BAYVILLE COAST GUARD BAGS RUM RUNNER AT SANDY HOOK Boatswain's Mate Elwood Butler, of Bayville, a member of the Coast Guard crew at Sandy Hook Station, on Friday morning last, before daylight, bagged a small rum-running motorboat in Raritan Bay, on its way from the rum fleet off Sandy Hook. In the boat were fifty cases of liquor. The crew of the smuggler beached their boat and ran for it into the woods. It was a small craft equipped with two Pierce-Arrow engines. It was thought part of her cargo was flung overboard while being chased by the Coast Guards. The same night the Coast Guard crew from Sandy Hook captured the 60-ton motorboat Avenger, laden with 150 cases of rum. She was taken to New York and her crew of three men were jailed. Loren Tilton, of Silverton, one of the Sandy Hook Coast Guard crews reports that the rum runners are fitted out with the fastest engines obtainable and that the slow lifeboats used by the Coast Guards can only seize the rum smugglers when some break or fluke favors the Coast Guards. Francis W. Downs, of Tuckerton, another member of the Coast Guards in the Sandy Hook waters, chased several rum smugglers the same night, but they escaped him with their superior speed. It is said that the U.S. Government is having a fleet of the fastest motor boats that can be built, specially constructed to head off these smugglers. “A SALT WATER PREACHER” When Rev. Elijah Reed, newly stationed at the Tuckerton M.E. Church, was going through Toms River to his new charge last week, he stopped at Grover's Store, Toms River, to say “Howdy” to old friends. Mr. Reed told Joe Grover that in Rev. John W. Wainwright, the Toms River M.E. Church had as a pastor “another salt water preacher.” Dominie Reed ought to know. He was brought up out Metedeconk way, and has been picked out for such appointments as Island Heights, Belford, and now Tuckerton himself. But then the shore towns have always liked the “salt water preacher.” 14-ROOM SCHOOL VOTED BY DOVER TOWNSHIP 209-152 REVERSES VOTE OF LAST MAY WHEN SCHOOL WAS DEFEATED By a vote of 209 in favor to 152 against, the Township of Dover decided on Tuesday, February 27, to build a new school house at a cost of $155,000, when completed and furnished. This is the second vote on a new school house in about a year. On May 16, 1922, the proposition of building the same school as that voted on favorably this week, but with the addition of an auditorium, to cost $43,000 more, was voted down by 428 to 138... The proposed new schoolhouse is on plans furnished by Clinton B. Cook, of Asbury Park. It calls for a two-story and basement building, facing Hyers Street, and standing on the brow of the schoolhouse hill and running some 215 feet, with one end facing School Street, and the other facing Sheriff Street. On the ground floor there will be six school rooms, with the administration rooms, main entrance, and a corridor the full length of the building; also stairway at each end. On the second floor there will be eight school rooms, making fourteen in all. In the basement are to be boiler room, coal storage, play rooms and toilets for both boys and girls and also a kitchen and lunch room. The building is so arranged that each room has its own cloak room. It is also planned so that, should it ever be necessary, it could be continued around a hollow square, and should the town ever desire to do so, an auditorium could be constructed in the center of the hollow square. Each of the fourteen school rooms is planned to house about forty pupils. The building is to be of brick, with slag roof, and to be fireproof throughout except for wooden floors and desks and seats. Even the trim for windows and doors will be of metal. Everything that can be done to make the building sanitary and fireproof is promised by the architect. It is planned to use the new schoolhouse for the first six grades. The high school will be kept in the present building. If the suggestions now made are carried out, and also the eighth grade. The annex will house the seventh grade. It is assumed that with this building for a little while to come there will be ample room in the school, and it will not be necessary to deny any pupil full time instruction... The Chamber of Commerce got behind the proposed schoolhouse, and some of its members worked earnestly to put the plan before the people in a fair way so that they might judge for themselves whether or not they wanted to vote for it. That in part accounts for the turn over in less than a year. Another significant fact in the election Tuesday was the large number of mothers who came out to vote. It is without doubt due to the mothers of school children that the proposition carried, more than to any other one element. CULTIVATING BLUEBERRIES Few people, even in this immediate neighborhood know to what extent the cultivation of the blueberry or swamp huckleberry has progressed at Whitesbogs, New Lisbon, under the direction of Miss Elizabeth White. It seems that Miss White has made a financial success of her blueberry plantation, and she predicts that growing huckleberries on the ground surrounding cranberry bogs, will in the future be an added source of revenue to the New Jersey grower of cranberries. Last year Miss White reports from sixteen acres she had picked and shipped 966 bushels of fruit, selling for $10,059.90,, as net returns after shipping and commission charges were deducted. There are several experiments in blueberry culture at Toms River. The Double Trouble Company (Messrs. Edward Crabbe and H.B. Scammell) have a plantation at Double Trouble that should be able this coming summer to market considerable berries, as some of their bushes came into bearing last summer. County Agent Waite has set out a number of plants or bushes. There are three other plantations on a scale large enough to produce berries for market, reported by Miss White, all getting their bushes from her—Messrs. Bishop, Stanley Coville and Dr. Darlington, all of Burlington. Miss White says that she has shipped blueberry plants to Alaska, Oregon, Washingon, Florida and nearly every state in the Union. Also to Czecho-Slovakia, Canada, England and Scotland, and has had inquiries from Tasmania. One shipment was of a carload of bushes, two feet high, to the Long Island estate of a New York millionaire, who wanted them for a hedge on his property. These bushes sold for $5 each. HOODED MEN PUT FIERY CROSS IN POINT PLEASANT STREET Point Pleasant has had its Ku Klux Klan flurry, following the one a few weeks ago in Lakewood. On Saturday night last three cars, carrying eleven men, all robed in the style that the popular mind associated with the Ku Klux, drove into Point Pleasant Beach Borough. They stopped at the corner of Richmond and Arnold Avenues, at Brisbane Park, and lighted a fiery cross [Brisbane Park today is the site of the building that houses Beach Bagel]. This took place, it is stated, at 9:30 P.M. Few people saw it, but the words of what had happened emptied the moving picture theatres and the streets in that vicinity were soon filled with excited people. The hooded men, it was stated, as soon as they had applied the match to the cross, leaped into their cars and sped west, apparently toward Lakewood. They were fully disguised and were not recognized. This performance was almost an exact duplicate of that a few weeks previous at Lakewood, where a fiery cross was lighted across the C.R.R. tracks from the railroad station, in the early evening, and the hooded and robed men, who placed it there disappeared in waiting autoes. In all probability Toms River may look for a visit next, the cross to be placed, judging from the previous performances in some such places as the schoolhouse ground, and perhaps, if they are particularly bold, in the Court House grounds. When the Lakewood affair was heralded abroad some thought it was the work of practical jokers. After the Point Pleasant exposition of the fiery cross, the general impressions seems to be that the Ku Klux Klan has a representation in Lakewood, and wants the public to know that it is planted in this section. An interesting feature of last Saturday night's affair is that Brisbane Park, where the cross was planted, is owned by and called after Arthur Brisbane, editor of the Hearst publications, and these publications have been particularly bitter against the Klan. OIL NUISANCE ON BEACHES UNABATED BY CONGRESS One of the bills that the late Congress failed to pass was the Frelinghuysen-Appleby bill, to prevent the pollution of beaches, oyster beds, etc., with oil refuse sludge discharged by oil-burning steamers. Sen. Frelinghuysen succeeded in getting this bill through the Senate two months ago. Congressman Frank Appleby, of Asbury Park, has given two years of diligent, constant, forceful toil to trying to get this bill through the House. But “Big Business” blocked the measure aimed to benefit the general public. The opposition that prevented the passage of the Frelinghuysen-Appleby bill came from the tannery industries and other manufacturing concerns in Massachusetts, who would have been prevented by its passage from dumping their plant refuse into navigable rivers. Other chemical and manufacturing plants, coal mine operators and saw mill owners joined with the tanneries and killed this measure. 258, NOT 287 CASES OF WHISKEY IN RECENT SEIZURE Sheriff Joseph L. Holman asks us to state that the number of cases of whiskey seized on Clam Island last February and turned over to him at the county jail, was 258, not 287, as stated in the Courier last week. Sheriff Holman says that the 258 cases were checked up by Coast Guards, State Troopers and his officers, a the time it was brought to Toms River and placed in the county jail. There are now but 257, one case having been lost last week, after being called for evidence in the grand jury room. T.R.H.S. BASEBALL GAMES Toms River High School is putting a baseball team on the diamond this spring. A.C. Worth is captain; Harold Woolley is manager, and M.T. Rahn, of the high school faculty, is coach. The season began yesterday, with the Alumni game... A TRIP TO FAIRYLAND The poorest could take a trip to fairyland on Wednesday afternoon, and see such beauty as the most lavishly spent wealth of the richest could not duplicate, when the bright sun came out on trees every branch and twig of which was encased in sparkling, diamond-bright ice. This beauty show kept up all the afternoon and was still to be seen Thursday morning, till the sun melted the ice away toward noon. It was a sight not seen very often, but always recalled with a thrill and a gasp of pleasure. Farmers say that a sleet storm like that is good for fruit, and always predict a good fruit year following such a storm. Scientists now come out and say such a freeze kills fungus growth and insect enemies of the fruit trees, and allows a better crop. The sleet was too early to harm fruit buds. COAST GUARD GETS 30 BAGS OF LIQUOR NEAR SEA BRIGHT In response to a telephone call at Coast Guard Station 100, at 12:30 o'clock Friday morning, March 2, Captain Lewis G. Brower and his crew, hurried to the beach at Normandie and captured 30 bags of liquor that had been abandoned on the shore. Each burlap bag contained six bottles. Captain Brower stated that they had no idea as to who gave the alarm. The coast guards said that as they approached the spot they heard a motor boat apparently departing, but did not arrive in time to see it. Apparently, it was said, the bootleggers had seen the guards coming and had fled, without stopping to take the liquor away with them. Captain Brower is a Mantoloking man and has several Ocean County men in his crew. HELIUM GAS EXPERIMENTS AT LAKEHURST AIR STATION Interesting experiments are being made at the Naval Air Station, Lakehurst, with helium gas, the non-inflammable and nonexplosive gas, that is obtained from Texas, where it oozes from the ground, in spots, like natural gas. It is hoped to use it for ZR-1. The experiments are being made on a cell such as those that make up this aircraft... WHAT COUNTY FARMERS ARE DOING NOW BY COUNTY AGENT E.H. WAITE Egg-Laying Contests The New Jersey Farm Egg-Laying Contest is directed by the State Agricultural College, and the records of the co-operators are sent in by the County Agents from the various counties... Ocean County has a few over 50 co-operators in the contest. During November Martin Vogel, Whitesville, was high man, with 17.7 eggs per bird, and Chris Miller, of Toms River, was second, with 15 eggs per bird. During December, 1922, Martin Vogel was again high man, with 19.3 eggs per bird, and Fred Franke, Lakewood, and William P. Flint, Toms River, were second with respectively 16.4 and 16 eggs per bird. In January William Marquis, Toms River, was first with 19.6 eggs per bird, and Martin Vogel, second, with 18.3 eggs per bird. In February, William Craft of Dr. Ill's farm, at Toms River, was first, with 18.1 eggs per bird, and Charles Jagge, Whitesville, second, with 16.2 eggs per bird. Just to compare the production obtained by these men with the standard production for each month. Standards are as follows: November, 8 eggs, December, 10 eggs, January, 10 eggs, and February, 12 eggs [all per bird]. Poor Hatching Year Hatches this year are unfavorable. The percentage of hatches have run from 10 to 70 per cent, or better. The best hatches reported are those of William P. Flint, Toms River, with two hatches of 70 per cent, or better. The average hatching is running around 40 to 45 per cent. Saved Chicks Mr. Rabinowitz, of Lakewood, saved a large hatch of baby chicks when the brooder stove went out one windy night we had lately, by taking the whole bunch and putting them back into the incubator. Out of well over 800 Mr. Rabinowitz only lost a very few, although these chicks were practically stunned when he put them in the incubator. Duck Plant Borman and Schissel, of Laurelton, are expanding their plant and will raise 30,000 to 40,000 ducks this coming season. Growing Bettasweets Sweet potato growers are getting ready for another season. Wider Bros., of Forked River, and George Newman, Bert McKelvey, Melvin Hyres and Mrs. J. John, of Toms River, are getting ready to plant seed beds, as is Hamilton Tilton, of Silverton. All those beds will be planted with certified seed, and arrangements have been made with the Department of Agriculture, Trenton, to certify the plants taken from these beds which will be a double insurance against disease. Growing Blueberries The Double Trouble Company, of Toms River, have set several thousand blueberry plants on the area cleared last year. H.B. Scammell has had a very successful year with the propagation of blueberry plants. The Double Trouble Company's goal is 100 acres of cultivated blueberries. County Agent E.H. Waite has set out a plantation of 500 plants of blueberries on an area back of Martin Welbrook's saw mill, near Toms River, with the object of conducting a demonstration. These plants can be easily seen from the railroad and later a sign will be erected calling attention to the demonstration. There are nine of the improved varieties planted. Pure Bred Holsteins Julius Wider, Hollywood Farm, Forked River, and County Agent E.H. Waite, spent Monday in Somerset County inspecting pure bred Holstein herds. The term accredited herd means that the animals in the herd have passed three or more consecutive tubercular tests without any animals reacting. Mr. Wider has entered his herd with the Bureau of Animal Industry, State Department of Agriculture, Trenton, for accrediting. BEACHWOOD RESIDENTS HOLD WINTER REUNION IN NEW YORK COME FROM FAR AND NEAR TO THIRD ANNUAL DINNER Beachwoodites to the number of nearly 200 gathered in the Rose Room of the Hotel Astor, New York, Saturday, February 24, to attend the third annual dinner and dance of the Beachwood Property Owners' Association. This has come to be an event that is looked forward to each winter by the residents of this popular summer colony... In the past it has been customary to have one or two outside speakers, but this year only home folks discoursed. O.F. Rost, President of the Property Owners' Association acted as toastmaster in his customary manner... He introduced Mayor Collins, who spoke briefly of various matters pertaining to the borough. He told about the new borough hall which is in process of erection and which will also have ample quarters for Beachwood's efficient volunteer fire department; explained the steps that are being taken to provide for a new crossing of the railroads to Beachwood Heights [unofficially and long-forgotten name of the southern part of town below what today is Route 9] and spoke of a new Recorder who is soon to be appointed to act in conjunction with the police department to see that the laws of the borough are lived up to at all times. The Mayor further stated that he expected that upwards of forty new bungalows would be built this season and he predicted a most enjoyable summer for all. The toastmaster then called on the head of the various organizations of Beachwood to tell something of their plans for the summer. Speaking for the Polyhue Yacht Club [predecessor to Beachwood Yacht Club], Commodore Frank Young told the diners of the plan to purchase a twenty-foot racing yacht, to be known as “Miss Polyhue” to take part in the races of the Barnegat Racing Association, and asked all of the members of the club to get behind the proposition and help bring new glory to this enterprising club. Mrs. George Siffert, president of the Beachwood Woman's Club, told of the plans that are being made for building a clubhouse and commented briefly on the various civic improvements for which the club had been responsible. President Fred Jussen told of the success shoots that have been held this winter by Rod and Gun Club, and urged all those present who were fond of shooting to come and enjoy the fun. This organization, while one of the youngest in Beachwood, is the only one that actually owns its own clubhouse... OYSTER SHIPPING FROM OUR BAYS STOPPED BY THE ICE There was very little shipping of oysters from Ocean County bays during February, as most of the time the bays were shut up by the ice. The planters who had oyster stock laid out in the creeks, where they could get at it were able to ship that much, but it was impossible to take up stock in the bays. The planters are hoping to start at once with shipments and clean up their stock that is ready for market in the next month or six weeks. NEW KIND OF BOOTLEGGING The Seaside Park news of the Seaside Heights Review, says: some Chinese wine in peculiar shaped jugs washed ashore but those who tasted the wine say it was very bitter, not being agreeable to the palate of people raised according to the tenets of the newer civilization. DAYLIGHT SAVING TIME AGAIN It is probable that daylight saving will go into effect in this part of the country on April 29. The Daylight Saving Ordinance passed by the Philadelphia City Council last year, is in full force and effect that it is said that there has been no serious move made looking to its repeal... As the action of the municipal governments of Philadelphia and New York has controlled the time in the majority of surrounding cities, in the past [due to the railroads originating within yet operating beyond their city limits], in the past, it is deemed probable that this section will start getting up an hour earlier when the clocks are set ahead in Philadelphia. ROBBERY AT CEDAR RUN The W.S. Cranmer store, at Cedar Run, which a few weeks ago passed into the possession of Wesley Pettibone, was robbed on Saturday night last of about $50 worth of goods. Entrance was made by forcing the front door. State troopers and county officials are trying to ferret out the burglars. NAVAL STATION MEN DINE AND DANCE AT MARION INN Some forty odd couples from the Naval Air Station, at Lakehurst, last night, March 8, dined and danced at the Dave Marion Inn. The affair was gotten up in honor of Commander F.C. McCrary, and Commander R.D. Weyerbacher, of the Navy, who are in charge at the Naval Air Station. Dinner was served by Mine Host Perrin, in the best Marion Inn style, and hugely enjoyed by all. The dance followed... JAIL FOR THREE IN RUM RUNNING CASE Harry Linden of Highlands, owner of the motorboat Nina and Ida, which for the second time in less than three months was captured Saturday with 150 cases of whisky on board, was sentenced to eighteen months in the Atlanta Penitentiary and fined $500 by Federal Judge Rellstab Monday. His two so-called employees, Ross L. Coose and Chester Philbrook, also of Highlands, were sentenced to nine months each in the Mercer County workhouse. JAPANESE RADIO OFFICIALS VISIT TUCKERTON STATION Tuckerton, March 2.— Daitro Arakama, radio engineer of the U.S. Department of Communication and K. Yonemura, of Tomioka, Japan, were here on an official visit to the Tuckerton Radio Station this week. They were in company with Harold D. Kent, a former member of the radio force here, now Superintendent of broadcasting for the Radio Corporation of America. Mr. Yonemura is Superintendent of the Iwaki, Japan, radio station, which is similar to the station here and is used in connection with the local plant. Messages are sent to the Pacific station of the Radio Corporation of America, located at Bolinas, California, relayed to Hawaii, thence to Japan. The Japanese officials were interested in radio communication and were here to gather facts on new methods now being used in this country. C. OF C. PATTED ITSELF ON BACK AT LAST MEETING The meeting of the Chamber of Commerce on Wednesday evening of this week was almost a jubilee meeting, the C. of C. patting itself on the back, so to speak, because of the accomplishment of a number of things it had been striving for. Committees were able to report that the new schoolhouse had been voted; that free delivery was only a question of a few weeks, if people wanted it; that the township had taken over a large part of the expenses of the Rest Room; that the township had agreed to make a “white way” of the Main Street business block, with ornamental iron poles and lights; also that automatic, gas-burning traffic posts had been ordered for Main and Washington and Main and Water street junctions. The matter of town planning, so that parts of the town now unoccupied could have streets opened at some later day instead of street “just happening” was talked over at some length. Messrs. C.N. Warner and William H. Fischer weer appointed to attend the next meeting of the Township Committee and ask that Hyers Street be given attention—beginning at the “hole in the wall,” at Washington Street and going its whole length. Emphasis was again put on the fact that the dock around Huddy Park is not available to transient boats because so many boats tie up there permanently; also to the fact that the Washington Street line at Main Street has not yet been straightened out. FREE DELIVERY FOR TOMS RIVER ASSURED TWO MAIL CARRIERS AND TWO DELIVERIES DAILY PLANNED Free delivery for Toms River seems assured. Postal Inspector C.H. Harrison, of Arlington, N.J., came here on Monday, and with Assistant Postmaster Samuel B. Pierce, went over the town, to lay out two routes. One route is approximately three miles, the other is a half mile shorter. The plan calls for two deliveries, one to leave the office after the arrival of the morning mail, or at 9:15, as near as may be; the other will leave the office at 3 P.M., and will carry out the Philadelphia mail arriving at 10:30. Of course mail coming in after 3 P.M. must wait for delivery till the next morning. Unfortunately mails do not arrive at Toms River in a way to fit in with any possible schedule by which two carriers could deliver them all quickly. The lock boxes will of course be retained in the post office, and those preferring to get their own mail instead of having it delivered, will be allowed to do so. It is doubtful, however if the post office will remain open as late as it does now. Carriers will start out on collection trips at 7:30 A.M. and will also collect from street boxes on their two delivery trips. The collection boxes will be located in front of post office (combination letter and package box), letter boxes at Main and Water Streets, Main and Broad and Main and Walton Streets, at Central Railroad Station and at Court House... Inspector Harrison says that the free delivery service can be started just as soon as the houses are numbered and fifty per cent of the houses to be served are fitted up with receptacles for mail. This may be a mail box on the front porch or a slot in the front door, at the option of the householder... LAKEHURST AIRSHIP TO BE USED IN POLAR RESEARCH Polar explorations will be made by the ZR-1, the United States Navy's first rigid dirigible airship, now being put together in Lakehurst, which will go into commission about July 1, according to statements made by Rear Admiral William A. Moffett, chief of the Bureau of Aeronautics. In addition to trips to the north and south poles, Admiral Moffett said that the airship would fly over the principal cities of United States and would be sent on a voyage around the world. STILL ANOTHER HEARING ON BARNEGAT R.R. ABANDONMENT Another hearing will be given at Newark on March 5, next Monday, on the application of the Pennsylvania Railroad and the Tuckerton Railroad for permission to abandon service on the Barnegat Railroad, running up Long Beach from the Junction, at the bridge across the bay, to Barnegat City [today Barnegat Light Borough], at the Inlet. A hearing was held at Trenton on Tuesday of this week, and the opponents of abandonment think that they got in some good licks... ZR-2 [AIRSHIP] SURVIVOR AT LAKEHURST N.O. Walker, who has been stationed at Akron, Ohio, is back at the Naval Air Station, Lakehurst. Walker is the only survivor of the ill-fated ZR-2, which collapsed over Hull, England, in August, 1921, killing over 40 men. 1922 CRANBERRY CROP GAVE 204,000 BARRELS FOR JERSEY Final reports on the cranberry crop for New Jersey in 1922, as gathered by Crop Statistician Weiss of the Department of Agriculture, and as reported by H.B. Scammell, of Toms River, secretary of the American Cranberry Growers' Association, in his published account of the fifty-third annual meeting of that body, show a total crop of 204,000 bushels. It is figured that these berries were shipped as follows: West Jersey and Seashore R.R., 31,059 barrels; Trenton Division of P.R.R., Tuckerton Railroad, and Pennsylvania and Atlantic R.R., 87,500 barrels; Atlantic City Railroad (P. and R.), 8573 barrels; Central R.R. of New Jersey, 72,900 barrels; locally consumed, 4000 barrels. The report notes that 30 years ago the fall of 1892 produced 26,000 barrels, a light crop, as the average crop in the decade preceding 1892 was 36,000 barrels. ARMY DIRIGIBLE VISITED TOMS RIVER YESTERDAY The Army dirigible, C-14, went over Toms River on Thursday, March 1, about 11 A.M. The big aircraft came apparently from the west, crossed Main Street, over the Union House, swung round to the northwest when it reached Hooper Avenue and started off toward Lakewood. Later it swung round again toward Lakehurst. The C-14 was flying low. The roped on the rigging could be plainly seen by the naked eye, as could the mooring cables that streamed down from her bow. She flew an American ensign at her stern. Seven men could be seen in her carriage, three forward and four aft. The whole village was out looking at the airship. She was painted aluminum color, and the legend “Army C-14” was in large characters on her side. The dirigible came up from Maryland and landed at the hangar at the Lakehurst Air Station. Captain Reid, of Lakehurst Station, took her and made the trip to Toms River with his own crew, returning to Lakehurst. The army crew then started back to Maryland. DIRIGIBLES AND PLANES AT LAKEHURST AIR SCHOOL The report is given out that the army dirigible, C-14, which was in this neighborhood a fortnight ago, is to be used in the Navy-Army Air School, to be held at Lakehurst, where both army and navy officers will be trained in handling aircraft. It is also stated that a number of airplanes are to arrive at Lakehurst this week for the same purpose. [More Information and above photo, courtesy Scott Air Force Base, Illinois: In the summer of 1923, the U.S. Army Balloon and Airship School at Scott Field received the training airship C-14 from Langley Field, Virginia. as part of the Army Air Service’s plan to consolidate airship training at Scott Field. Background: C-14 was not actually an Army C-Type airship, as the C-14 designation was actually derived from the Goodyear Type UA control car number C-14. In reality, the unique Army airship C-14 was a combination of several classes of airships, consisting of a D-type envelope and control surfaces and a TC-type control car. Operational History at Scott Field. C-14 was transferred to Scott Field from Langley Field, Virginia in June 1923 as a replacement for the destroyed Scott Field airship, TC-1. On 17 July 1923, C-14 deflated while on the ground at Scott Field in just a 10 mile per hour wind. The accident investigation determined that the envelope was probably defective and recommended the airship be scrapped. C-14 was dismantled shortly thereafter after just one month service at Scott Field. Photo – Army training airship C-14 inside the massive Scott Field Airship Hangar (Oluf T. Jensen Collection at 375th Airlift Wing History Office)] PERSONAL Dr. George T. Crook spent Saturday in New York to visit the motorboat show. Atlantic City dispatches report the death of Capt. Sam P. Gale, inlet boat captain, from pneumonia, at the age of 67. Capt. Sam had one of his inlet boats, the Mehrer II, built at Toms River by the late William P. Kirk, and he was well known to many Ocean Countians. In fact he was a descendant of a Tuckerton family. Edmund S. Fritz, who is working on the plan to build a dam across Toms River, west of the town, was here from Philadelphia this week. Newspaper reports this week say that Delos Thomas, aviator, who for two summers past flew from the various resorts along Barnegat Bay, from Bay Head to Beach Haven, is missing from Miami, Fla. Thomas, who had a fine record as a flyer, was at Miami, with a seaplane, taking out passengers, as he did in our bays in summer, and has been missing since February 28, with his mechanician, according to reports. Mr. and Mrs. Edward Crabbe and daughter, Miss Georgiana, arrived home on March 15, after a six weeks' motor trip to Florida. They also made a visit to Cuba, spending some time in Havana and its environs. Mr. Crabbe reports seeing Toms River and Ocean County people in all parts of Florida... A letter to The Courier, from U.S. Consul Howard D. VanSant, at Dumferline, Scotland, formerly of Island Heights, says that he is well, and that his daughter, Miss Gretchen, who was with him last year on his visit to Island Heights and Toms River, is attending school at Edinboro, a Ladies' College... “The Squire” says he has rewritten Barnegat Pirates, and that another edition will be published next fall. The new issue will be illustrated. Senator and Mrs. A.C.B. Havens, of Toms River, celebrated their 59th wedding anniversary on Tuesday, March 27. They made no formal celebration of the affair, but their family, friends and neighbors dropped in through the day and evening to offer their congratulations upon this unusually long and happy period of married life. Mr. Havens served in the State Senate from 1881 to 1884; he was county clerk, and moved to Toms River in 1888, serving in that office fifteen years. In the thirty-five years they have lived in Toms River, Mr. Havens has been an active factor in the growth and development of the town, helping to form the Water Company, Electric Company, the Ocean County Trust Company, and being connected with the Dover Building Association and other public-spirited concerns... Senator Havens' 82d birthday was on Wednesday of this week. Announcement has been made by Mrs. James Woodruff Lillie, of the engagement of her daughter, Miss Edith Holt Lillie, to Mr. Franklin J. Minturn, son of Supreme Court Justice James F. Minturn, of Hoboken. WANT HOUSES NUMBERED At the meeting of the Chamber of Commerce on Wednesday evening, Postmaster Havens explained that the department was ready to start free delivery at Toms River on May 1 if the houses were numbered and fifty percent of them had some place to put the mail by that time... DOINGS AT TRENTON Assembly Bill No. 207, incorporating the Borough of Forked River, also Assembly Bill 306 (both introduced by Assemblyman Parker, of Ocean County), reducing salaries of County Freeholders in Ocean and Cape May counties from $3000 to $1500 (as originally made), have passed the Assembly and are now in the hands of Senator Mathis. Also Assembly Bill, by Parker, authorizing the incorporation of the Borough of Beach Arlington on Long Beach [Island], has passed second reading in the Assembly, and will probably pass the Assembly at their next session, next week. CARR, THE BEE MAN E.G. Carr, of New Egypt, knows the State of New Jersey exceptionally well. There is hardly a town or hamlet in which he has not spent an hour or two. Also, he knows bees. He can go out among a lot of hives, walk around without being molested, and he can tell one all about the habits of the “honey-makers,” as he is well versed in “bee-lore.” Mr. Carr travels into every country in the state in the performance of his duties and he knows “bee men” everywhere. Occasionally he finds time to talk before some of the various societies in the counties and always gives them a lot of valuable information. CAN THIS BE SO? Hanover Farms letter in Mt. Holly Herald says: “Rumor says that some capitalists contemplate getting control of the land in this vicinity that is underlaid with bog ore with the idea of establishing a furnace for making iron. Years ago there were several furnaces in the pine sections of Burlington and Ocean counties where iron was made out of this bog ore. FISH AND GAME The Newark Call says that Jack Williams, of Elizabeth, caught three striped bass, fishing a small creek below Barnegat last week. Also that Bert Conley, of Newark, went out fishing off the beach at Seaside Park, with some Swede fishermen and caught seven cod, recently. The ice in the upper bay has prevented perch and pike netting all of February. It is against the last to haul seines under the ice in the old-fashioned way. With the bootleg fleet lying just outside the three-mile limit, the outside fishing ought to be a very popular pastime with a certain brand of fishermen, who are particular about their “bait” this summer. Great quantities of geese and ducks are in the bays. The game wardens are kept busy watching for the gunners who are sometimes not too particular about obeying the law. Herring are in Barnegat Bay and its tributaries—at least the forerunners are here. On Saturday last an Island Heights fisherman, Charles Johnson, brought in two herring, the first so far reported. The Newark Call states: “James Creed and Phil Crane are going to join the salt water fishing clan. They are looking for a bungalow site along Barnegat Bay, and expect to put a new sea skiff overboard about May 1. They fished the lakes for black bass last summer, but found it rather tame sport, they said. Creed had one day at Point Pleasant, where he caught a six-pound striped bass. Joseph Stuttgart has been working in a lumber camp in North Jersey all winter and is now getting ready to join the fishing fleet at Barnegat Bay, with Toms River as his headquarters. He said that it was a hard winter on the game birds and rabbits up his way. He expects to take out fishing parties this summer. RECENT DEATHS Howard VanSant VanSchoick Howard VanSant VanSchoick, son of the late William R. VanSchoick, of Island Heights, died from pneumonia on March 3, aged 27 years. Mr. VanSchoick had spent most of his life in Island Heights, and he was a general favorite in all this community, liked by all. He served in France, going to Camp Dix from Toms River, on February 26, 1918, and being in France a few months later. His death is attributed to the condition of his heart and lungs were left in from being gassed while at the front in the fall of 1918... Mrs. LeRoy J. Hutchinson Mrs. Hutchinson, wife of LeRoy J. Hutchinson, of Pine Beach, died on Sunday last, March 4, at a Philadelphia hospital. She had gone to Philadelphia about a week before her death, and underwent an operation for the removal of a tumor, it is reported, on Thursday of last week. The body was taken to Townsend, Del., and buried yesterday. The Hutchinsons were from Delaware. They were among the early comers at Pine Beach, and have many friends in all this locality, where she was highly esteemed. Beside her husband she leaves two daughters, one married. Edwin Stott Edwin Stott, who for a generation had lived in this vicinity, died at his home on the Lakehurst road, on March 2, aged 73 years. Funeral services were held on Monday at the home; burial at Riverside Cemetery. He was a native of Pennsylvania. For a long time he lived on the large farm which afterward was sold to Mrs. Janet John. Having sold his farm he built a home on part of the tract he reserved. He was a familiar figure about the village, peddling vegetables and delicacies. Goldson Test Goldson Test, who some years ago made his home at Toms River, died on Saturday last, March 10, at Merchantville, in his 83d year. The life of his father, combined with his own, had covered every presidential administration in the United States, as his father was born in the time of George Washington... DEATH HITS HARD AT THE BOROUGH OF TUCKERTON Death hit hard at the Borough of Tuckerton the past week. Five well-known residents died in the last few days, and another, who died in Atlantic City, was brought to Tuckerton for burial. The list includes: Thomas Speck, one of the Speck Bros., well-known oyster planters, and the father of former Mayor T. Wilmer Speck, aged 78 years. Charles M. Berry, for many years one of the leading men of the town, aged 81 years. Michael H. Gale, better known as “Bennett” Gale, aged 84, and a life-long resident of Tuckerton. Mrs. Mary Gaskill, a sister to Freeholder William H. Butler, of Beach Haven, and Mrs. Sarah Layton, spoken about in our Tuckerton letter this week. Also Thomas Riley, a former Tuckerton boy, son of the late Jacob Riley, who died at Atlantic City, aged 70 and was buried here. Dr. Leon Goble Dr. Leon Goble, for many years a practicing dentist at Toms River, and also at Pemberton, who retired from active practice the latter part of 1921, died at his home on Main Street, Toms River, Tuesday morning, April 3. He passed away without a struggle, not waking up from his sleep. He had been failing for the past few years, but on Monday last he was in excellent spirits, happy and cheerful, and had been feeling well physically... Dr. Goble was a good citizen, a man of thought and action both, and had made his influence felt for good in the three communities where he spent the most of his life—Pemberton, where he lived and practiced part of the week for some forty years; Island Heights, where he had a summer home, and took an active part in yachting; and Toms River, where he was brought up, where he practiced dentistry half the week for a generation or more, and to which place he moved last fall to end his days. He was always on the side of morality, right and justice in every discussion and in every crisis. Dr. Goble was the son of James and Sarah Wardell Goble, prominent in the life of this village for many years, his mother, after the death of her husband, keeping the Union house on Main street... He leaves a widow, who was Mary Elizabeth Southwick of Pemberton, and five grownup children... He would have been 71 years of age on April 21, next. As a dentist, as a citizen, and as a neighbor, he was held in high esteem. In his younger days he was a school teacher. Lucien B. Gravatt Lucien B. Gravatt, for a lifetime a well-known resident of Toms River, and for several terms Assessor of Dover Township, died at his home, on lower Main Street, Monday morning, April 2. He had been failing for some time past, and on Sunday afternoon had a stroke of apoplexy which hastened the end. Mr. Gravatt was the son of the late Sheriff and Mrs. George Gravatt, and came with them from Jackson Township to Toms River, when Mr. Gravatt, Sr., was elected Sheriff for a second time in 1868. He married Miss Woodward, of Toms River, and they spent their married life in the house on lower Main street, where he died on Monday. Mr. Gravatt was a salesman most of his life, in the retail grocery line, and also on the road for many years with a wholesale grocery house. In his later years he opened a cigar and tobacco store in the dwelling on Main Street, which he conducted up till his death... TOWN LIFEBARNEGAT J. Howard Perrine and J. Howard Gaskill attended the Motor Boat Show in New York last week. J. Howard Perrine had a fine display of his boats at the Motor Boat Show in New York. He is considered here to be the best boat builder along the shore and is right up to the standard in all of his works. When you buy a boat from him you know that you are getting something that is well built and equipped in every way, and he is a good man to do business with. Those who have electric lights in their homes may be thankful, for on Sunday night there was no gas. Both churches had to use lamps and you can imagine the light you would get from a few lamps in a large building. Augustus H. Tolbert has the contract to build the new Tuckerton Bank. He will also build William Ireland's new bungalow here. He has just finished the front of his brother Harry's store, which makes a fine appearance to the business section with the large plate glass windows. It is one of the finest store fronts in town. The debate was held last Friday night in the Opera House, which was packed and jammed. It was late when they got started, having to wait for one of the judges who came in on the late train. The songs and cheers by the Toms River pupils were very good and some of their arguments were also good, but nevertheless Barnegat won, and I will say that they are hard to beat. Their songs and cheers were also very good. Barnegat will soon debate with another team, to be held at Lakewood. BAYVILLE The new house of William Harvey, at Mott's Corner, will be ready for the summer. Rumor says it will be a restaurant. B.F. Butler has taken a contract to load a lot of clay at Crossley for the Crossley Mining Company. Ben furnishes men and trucks for the job. BEACH HAVEN After spending several summers here, Mr. and Mrs. Richards have finally moved here for their all-year residence, and have been in their cottage at the southern end of the boardwalk for several months past. George Sprague last week finished his enlistment in the Coast Guard Service and is home feeling like a free man again. J.W. Berry's men are working on Tommy Jones' new house on Center Street, west of Bay Avenue, near the dock. This artistic bungalow will be a great addition to that part of town. Leonard Cody says his flock of fifteen hens laid two hundred and eighty-five eggs during the month of February. Miss Beatrice Pharo and Mrs. Ella Cummings spent part of last week visiting friends in Mount Holly and Camden and had a shopping trip to Philadelphia. At the Borough Council meeting on Monday night several bids were received for building the jetty as proposed, but all were rejected because not in the proper form, and the Council declared they would be ready to receive another lot of bids at the next meeting. The jetty at the Inlet is practically completed, and it is hoped it will do the work predicted for it and prevent further washing away of the beach. This destruction has been going on all winter, so visitors to the Inlet say, and many yards of road and sand hills have dropped into the sea. A highly respected citizen dropped dead in church on Sunday morning. He was George Lamson, for years a member of the official board and prominent in church work. Mr. Lamson was 69... That broad smile Ed Parker is wearing is caused by the new baby boy the stork left at his home last week. Mrs. Charles McCoy and son were recent guests with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Lane, after spending some time with Capt. McCoy at Little Beach Coast Guard Station. Mrs. Potter is having her newsstand enlarged to meet increasing business and add convenience for the summer trade. Edgar Hayes and Tom Tuberville, of North Carolina, have been in Beach Haven, for several months, and seem to like the place very much, and the girls, especially, by the way they are vamping them. For further information ask the gentlemen; perhaps they will tell. The new tea room and apartment building which is nearing completion on the Boardwalk and is to be conducted by Mrs. Shingloff, is an attractive building and will, doubtless, be quite a convenience to the summer visitors. The borough has purchased a tractor to keep the streets in order... A fire alarm came in last Tuesday afternoon and the engine was soon on the job. It proved to be that a brush fire near Mayberry's cottage on Beach and Chatsworth Avenues had spread to the fence and the cottage was threatened, but the boys soon made everything around there safe and came home. Another alarm came in Saturday evening, this time from Spray Beach, where the train had ignited some dry grass which soon made a big blaze in the high wind. But the engine soon put it out. Nearly all of the cottagers who expected to be down on Easter sent word ahead and had the water turned onto their houses, and the cold snap, which came last week, froze most of the pipes and made quite a rush for the plumbers for a few days, and considerable inconvenience for those cottagers who had come. The jetty at Beach Haven Inlet is said to have built up the sand for more than 150 feet from the former shore line. In fact, from the present condition of the inlet some folks are predicting that it will probably close again. BEACHWOOD Irwin Reinhart, of the Naval Air Station, met with a very painful accident at his work the other day. He was employed in the carpenter shop and was sawing some quarter round wood on a fast revolving saw. Somehow the piece of wood rebounded and pierced his side, making an ugly gash. Medical attention was given, and Mr. Reinhart was removed to his home here. The Commissioner of Streets of this Borough has ordered a Ford truck with a steel dump body for road work. The borough will use this to cart gravel instead of hiring teams. There are no new houses to start just now but a number that are planned to go up in the spring, unless the recent jump in lumber scares off those who intend building. Work on the new Fire House and Borough Hall was started on Monday of this week. Herman Fuhr, of Toms River, has the contract. J.H. Payne is planning to build a fine new bungalow. Mr. Payne is one of the Naval Air Station force, who has made his home at Beachwood for some time. The corner-stone of the new borough hall and fire house will be laid next Sunday with appropriate ceremonies. The American Legion Orchestra from Toms River will furnish music for the occasion. The corner stone of Beachwood's new borough hall and fire house was laid Sunday afternoon [March 18th]. It is expected that the building will be ready for use during the early part of April. The appropriate ceremonies attending the laying of the corner stone were opened by the raising of the flag over the structure and the playing of the “Star Spangled Banner” by the American Legion orchestra of Toms River. About one hundred residents of Beachwood stood with uncovered heads as the flag was hung to the breeze. Rev. R.S. Nichols, rector of Christ Episcopal Church, Toms River, offered prayer and delivered an address before the corner stone was put into place by Mr. Russo, the contractor. The stone bore the inscription, “Borough Hall and Fire House, 1923.” Before the stone was sealed in, a copper box donated by Mr. Frank Goodrich, was placed inside. In the box was a brief history of Beachwood written by Wm. H. Jeffrey, the borough solicitor, and papers of the various civic and social organizations of the borough. Commissioner John Nolze, director of public property, read aloud the contents of the box, and then introduced the mayor, Edwin D. Collins, who spoke of the high hopes and ambitions of the present borough government for a greater Beachwood. Wanda Lohr, who is recognized in Beachwood as the original exponent of fire protection, made a brief address. The new building is of concrete block with asbestos shingle roof. It is 25x40 feet and two stories high. The ground floor will be used to house the fire apparatus and the upper floor will accommodate the various borough officials... Considerable building going on here and much more is being planned—provided the high prices of labor and material do not scare off the ones who have been planning. Mr. Waite, county agricultural agent, held a pruning demonstration at the Widmeier place. Mrs. Widmaier invited a number of Beachwood residents to attend the demonstration. FORKED RIVER The chimney of Capt. E.L. Holmes' house caught fire on Sunday and communicated to some of the woodwork, house was saved. Capt. and Mrs. Holmes had been spending the winter with their son, Major Grant Holmes, U.S. Army, in Maryland, and only returned home last week. The above fire shows our people the need of a water supply. The Forked River stream would furnish power to supply the town with water easily. The old Potter farm, at Murray Grove has a new tractor and other farm machinery. Capt. Joe Smires attended the Motor Boat Show in New York Tuesday. Mrs. Smires has also returned from a visit away from home. Keeper Nelson Rogers, of Bonds Coast Guard Station, with his wife, came here to see Mr. and Mrs. Randolph Williams. Mrs. Rogers staid here to care for her mother, who was sick, but is now better. William Wilbert is busy at his boatshop these spring days. Report says that some of the fishermen, whose nets were frozen in the ice, lost them when the bay opened up. Shotwell Frazee, who had for a long time been working at Atlantic City, is home for awhile and will build a place for bottling soft drinks. Capt. Joseph Holmes had a party of four out one day recently and caught 200 flounders. The Girl Scouts took a hike to Barnegat on Saturday last. HIGH POINT [section of Harvey Cedars, on Long Beach Island] Soft coal, from the schooner recently ashore at Ship's Bottom, is washing up along the shore of Long Beach. Folks who are out of coal get a little to stand them through the cold weather in this way. ISLAND HEIGHTS Harry W. Applegate, of Merchantville, a former resident here for many years, was low bidder and will construct the rest room on Central Avenue, which it is expected will be ready by June 1. His bid was $4351.40. The Island Heights Fire Company have purchased an electric siren fire alarm and hope to have it in operation the coming week. Beginning with Friday evening, March 9, they expect to try out this siren each Friday at 7:30 P.M., by blowing one long blast. The fire alarm signals have been arranged as follows: Two blasts means fire is in the centre of the borough, between Maple Avenue on the west and Laurel Avenue on the east; three blasts means the fire is west of Maple Avenue; four blasts means the fire is east of Laurel Avenue; five blasts means fire in Windsor Park; six blasts means the fire is outside the borough limits; one short blast is recall of the Fire Company. Some of the fishermen are getting ready for the spring fishing. Of course the ice has been in the bay, but about the end of the third week in March almost always finds some of the herring in our bay. Harry Hendricks' radio has at last arrived and it has already given much pleasure and enjoyment to his numerous friends. He reports wonderful results from the Pittsburgh station. They listened to a most wonderful concert and other interesting features equally good. Our town was plunged in grief and sorrow when it was learned that Howard VanSchoick, the youngest son of the late postmaster and Mrs. Mary E. VanSchoick had passed out [died], taking the long, long trail on Saturday evening. He had been very desperately ill with pneumonia and having been gassed [by the Germans in the World War], it was hard to combat it. He was genial, courteous and well-liked, had done service on the other side with a great deal of credit and now to have him go in the flower of his young manhood is heartrending. We extend our sincere sympathy to the family and to his dear mother. The Island Heights Fire Company tried out their new siren at 7.30 P.M., last Friday evening, and it is understood that it will be blown each Friday evening at that hour. The Borough of Island Heights has engaged Harry J. Sherman as engineer to draw plans for a new boardwalk, running from the P.R.R. depot east to Simpson Avenue. The borough has also made application for the riparian rights along this strip of waterfront, and has been offered title thereto for the sum of $4000 by the state. It is asserted that the borough, in putting down its boardwalk and docks has been a squatter on state lands in the past. They tell us they hear the new siren fire alarm as far as Toms River and farther. Mr. Siddons will open his movie hall on Saturday, the 31st, with Irene Castle, in “French Heels.” Charles J. Webb, the first commodore of the Island Heights Yacht Club, and for a number of summers a resident here, last week gave Philadelphia a pleasant shock by contributing $100,000 [about $1.8 million in 2023 dollars] toward an endowment fund for the Salvation Army in that city. Another man, interested in Island Heights, the late John Wanamaker, in his lifetime used to be called “the best friend the Salvation Army ever had” in that city. Now that he is gone, another is raised up to help. The city will endeavor to collect a large endowment for this work. Joseph P. Truitt and sons, Robert and Birnie, are at Mrs. Peto's. Dr. A.L. Mulford was a week-end visitor, and was much interested in the stories about those new racing catboats. LAKEHURST The petty officers' club at the Naval Air Station gave a dance on Thursday night of last week at the Lakewood armory. A model of the ZR-1 [later to be christened the U.S.S. Shenandoah] was floated above the heads of the dancers from the ceiling. The music was from the Bellevue-Stratford, Philadelphia. It is stated that Lieutenant Commander C. Kline, U.S. Navy, has been picked to command the ZR-1 when she is completed and ready for flying. One of the rumors afloat here now is that if the ZR-1 proves that she can fly successfully and safely, a much larger ship will at once be started next fall for the navy, built at this place [it crashed inn Ohio in 1925]. Lakehurst is feeling pretty good over the fact that the Mathis bill to add the Lakehurst-Brown's Mills road to the state highway system has passed the Senate. The Pine Tree Inn has been having an excellent season, with a large number of guests. There has been good skating on the lake here this past week, the ice being reported as ten inches thick. Employees of the Pine Tree Inn cut and put in ice the latter part of the week. Edwin Allen''s bungalow on Pine Street, is about complete and nearly ready for occupancy. David Giberson, aged about 92 years, Lakehurst's oldest resident, passed out early Thursday morning of last week. Services were held at the house Saturday afternoon and internment was in Roadside Cemetery. He is survived by one son and six daughters and a number of grandchildren. Mr. Giberson was a veteran of the Civil War, and was a member of Company B, Twelfth Regiment, New Jersey Volunteers, under Capt. Charles Lippincott and Col. John Williams. He was assigned to the Third Brigade, Second Division and to the Second Army Corps of the Army of the Potomac. He participated in the battles of Chancellorsvilla, Va.; Gettysburg, Falling Waters, Spotsylvania, Mine Run, Cold Harbor, Petersburgh and many others. He was honorably discharged at the close of the war. He was a member of Reno Post, No. 84, G.A.R., of Lakewood. Rev. S.H. Magee officiated at the funeral in the absence of Rev. William Moore, who was sick. Several persons attended the funeral of Clifford Campbell, at Toms River last week. Mr. Campbell was a former ticket agent here. The $1000 reward, which was alleged to have been promised to the finder of Mrs. Massee and her little daughter, who wandered from the Pine Tree Inn some three weeks ago, was considerably exaggerated. It is now stated Mrs. Massee's father, Dr. Chas. McGraw, sent a check to the Lakehurst Fire Department for $100; that Thomas and William Folkes received $50 between them, and Fred Hornberger $30. LAVALLETTE Our new Fire Company is getting along nicely. Seven more new members were added to the roll call last Saturday night. There is quite some talk here of opening a new coal yard in the near future. Zach Gaunt has bought the lot adjoining their home on the east, and expects to build another house. They have rented their new home for the summer to a family from Germantown, Pa. The first excursion train on Sunday brought about forty people down. The new Fire Company has taken option on a lot for a fire house on Reese Avenue, between Grand Central and the Railroad. MANAHAWKIN While getting gas at McAnney's garage on Saturday the Ford sedan of Samuel Johnson caught on fire and the inside was totally wrecked. Mr. and Mrs. Johnson and baby, who were in the car, luckily escaped with only a few slight burns. OCEAN GATE The borough had a few men Monday last chopping the ice from around the piling at the Wildwood avenue pier. Council room was filled with interested bidders and taxpayers on Saturday night, when bids for building the comfort station and for carting gravel to rebuild most of the streets in the borough were opened... Bids for the comfort station at Wildwood Avenue and River front were much higher than had been estimated [$2,600 to $2,900]. All these were Ocean Gate bidders... The amount estimated and appropriated for the job was about $1200, and the whole matter had to be laid over for further deliberation. Councilman Page reported the electric light situation as follows: Poles have been shipped from Idaho, and are expected to reach here any day; on their arrival the Electric Company will at once put on a gang of men to set them, and string wires; the Company promises current not later than June 9. Instead of mailing out contract forms to the possible users, those wishing to use the current will make application at the Company Office, in Toms River. A charge of $1 will be made for installing meter, and when the current is turned off in the fall, for summer residences, a charge of $1 will be made for that. The minimum rate for the year will be $10. The improvement committee reported that the large Ocean Gate signs [spelling out the name of the town inside large arrows with reflective circles at the border and seen for many years on the highway entrances after which enticed numerous families to discover and settle Ocean Gate], for which Jacob Vogler has the contract, will soon be put up. It was a busy meeting of Borough Council last Saturday evening, with Borough Solicitor W.H. Jeffrey present from Toms River, and a full house of interested spectators. A deed was received from the Great Eastern Building corporation for a strip of land at Angelsea Avenue and the river front, so that the borough can apply for the riparian grant in order to build the Angelsea Avenue pier. The riparian lease is to be granted the borough for fifteen years, at a rate of $2 per foot. The dock is to be 300 feet long, which means that if the borough buys the grant, it will cost $600; if it instead leases, the cost will be seven per cent of that sum yearly. For the present the land will be leased, but the borough has the privilege of buying for several years yet. Bids for building the pier are advertised in this issue of The Courier, to be received at the meeting of Council on May 14. The ordinance accepting the land from the company is also in this issue of The Courier, and a hearing will be given by Council on this ordinance at the same time. Contract for building the comfort station was given to Herman Fuhr, of Toms River, low bidder, for $2273. He is to start work this week or the first of next week, and has sixty days in which to finish the job. The Boardwalk Committee was instructed to have the boardwalk repaired for summer use. The borough order that lots must be cleared of underbrush is resulting in parts of the borough being greatly improved in appearance, and the danger from forest fires being greatly lessened. The spring is about here, when these fires are always to be feared. A meeting of the Ocean Gate Yacht Club was held at the home of Mrs. Hudson, 5211 Locust street, Philadelphia, on the evening of March 22. A resolution was passed to buy the lots at the corner of Ocean Gate avenue and the Riviera, on the western side, and it is planned some time in the future to move the clubhouse, which now stands on pilings over the water, to these lots... The first shipment of the electric light poles arrived this week. The work on the Comfort Station was started on Monday last. PINE BEACH Mr. Thole, a prominent Philadelphia lawyer, has been down to arrange for building his bungalow on the river front. We have quite a store here, for it is possible to buy fresh meats now. Such a store has been needed here for a long time for it is a great convenience. Work on the new dock is to commence this month. While no one has any desire to hurt Island Heights in any way, yet the abandonment of the railroad and the converting of the railroad bridge into an automobile and foot bridge would benefit the whole section of the country. How many people realize that the Toms River bridge at the bank is like the neck of a bottle through which all north and south bound auto traffic in this section from New York and Philadelphia and points between must pass to reach Pine Beach, Ocean Gate, and all points down to Atlantic City. With Main Street, in Toms River, blocked, as it has been since before Thanksgiving, so that only one car can pass, all this section of territory has just that narrow space for auto traffic to go through. With an auto bridge across from Pine Beach to Island Heights there would be another outlet for north and south auto traffic. For cars coming up from Atlantic City, whose owners wish to journey near the ocean it would not be necessary to go all the way to Toms River and back again. It would be possible to cut through Ocean Gate, Pine Beach and Island Heights to the bridge and the ocean. People in Island Heights have complained during the summer that the shuttle bus has annoyed them by its noise going back and forth all day and keeping up steam as it waited in between times. Besides, many times that train has gone back and forth without a single passenger. Another great advantage to an automobile bridge between Pine Beach and Island Heights is that it will eliminate three grade crossings for automobiles going to Pine Beach, Ocean Gate and other places along the state road. Cars can come in the Brown's Mill-Lakehurst road through Toms River, on Washington Street, to Island Heights over to Pine Beach and on down the state road. This would cut out three dangerous grade crossings where accidents have occurred frequently. Many Island Heights people have to take an auto at the station as it is and ride to their homes. The disadvantage to Pine Beach is that it would bring too much traffic through here and Pine Beach would lose its charm to many of the people who came just because it was off the beaten path and in the heart of the forest. The Yacht Club plans to install a radio during the summer. PLEASANT PLAINS Harvey McKelvey has moved from his home to a small bungalow in the rear of Wilmer Clayton's place. He will build a new home later. Alonzo Applegate is building a chicken house for C. Herflicker, also a garage for W. Herflicker. Tom Perri has a radio set. He is just enjoying himself, hearing so much good music and lectures. We think perhaps he is going to give us an evening with it in church (in the near future). POINT PLEASANT The Riviera Theatre at Point Pleasant has been discontinued and is being remodeled into stores with apartments overhead. Freeman Stines will build two more bungalows in the inlet section at Point Pleasant Beach. Last year he built several there. Earl Limroth has just built a garage in that neighborhood to house forty-two cars. SEASIDE HEIGHTS The three stores to be built on the boardwalk by Mr. and Mrs. Charles Williamson have been started. Rumor has it one is to be occupied by the A. and P. Co. We will hope they have plenty of sugar to sell at a fair price. SEASIDE PARK Three new bungalows are being built on the Venice Park tract, which was filled out into the bay. Joseph Lamson is working on the Bayview Inn, to have it ready for the summer trade. Some improvements are being made by Mr. and Mrs. John Hill on their restaurant property for the coming season. Contractor Joseph Lamson is doing the work. Borough Council is planning to extend the Boardwalk and also Ocean Avenue two further blocks south, from Twelfth to Fourteenth Avenue, M Street from the Boulevard to Central Avenue, is to be graded, graveled, concrete sidewalks and curbs laid. Tenth Avenue is to have concrete sidewalks and curbs between the P.R.R. and Bayview Avenue; Sixth, Seventh Avenues and M Street, also from Bay View Avenue to West Central Avenue, 200 feet of water mains will be laid out on the Venice Park tract, where Cummings Bros. have built several small bungalows and sold them to Walter A. Anderson, George H. Hankins and Fred P. Hess. There is still about 13,000 feet of water main to be laid in the borough. There was a meeting of the Borough Council on Saturday... A suggestion was made that the Pennsylvania Railroad Company be interviewed for better train service for the commuters from Mt. Holly. It is gratifying to know that the bridge contractors are on the job and work has actually begun on the repairs of the bay bridge. It is thought the bridge will be completed by the middle of June. The car belonging to Anthony Stagerwald that was stolen Saturday evening last from in front of the parish house, was located at Belmar and has been returned, minus lights and a tire. SHIP BOTTOM The Coast Guards are very busy and have been for a month past. The telephone is forty-seven yeas old, they tell us. What would we do without it now? SILVERTON After the rising temperature last week, the temperature of auto drivers rose pretty high, too, especially when on the soft roads where numbers mired down and staid there till shoveled or pulled out. Tractors and scrapers were put on the roads in this section and smoothed them, making travel less rough—but since the snow and rain they will continue very soft for some time yet. About time for forest fires. But if every smoker would take the time to put out the fire of his cigar or cigarette butt or pipe ashes before casting to the roadside, there would be less forest fires. C.J. Hulse, of Mantoloking, and E.D. Townsend, of Asbury Park and Silverton, have bought the Albertson Hotel, at Mantoloking. Mr. Townsend is busy now at the hotel, having hot and cold running water installed in the guests' rooms and many interior changes. The house will be quite modern and up to date and will be called “The Breakers.” Mr. Townsend will manage the hotel with Mr. Hulse as assistant manager. Harry Beardslee has recently installed a radio set in his home and is getting marvelous results. WARETOWN The winter fishing seems about over and the baymen are thinking of overhauling their boats for the summer party season. Waretown is as nicely located as any place on the shore. It is just opposite the Inlet and out on the bay shore. It ought to be built up with summer homes. It would not take a great deal of enterprise and hustle to do it, if our people wanted to see the town grow. The only reason why we stand still is because most of our people want it as it is now. WEST CREEK William P. Rutter is having a power boat built for his business. Richard L. Johnson is the builder and predicts great things for the craft. G.G. Fenimore is having a handsome power boat built for his oyster business. The oystermen have been on an enforced vacation now for some time and are hoping to resume trade as soon as the uncertain March weather permits. Messrs. Harry Shinn and Frank Pharo now have their homes wired for electricity, our local electrician, Howard Shinn, Jr., doing the work. Miss Ruth Kelly of Leeds Point, N.J., spent the week-end here with her parents on Kelly avenue. Another of our schoolma'ams who feels that a day at home will better prepare them for another week's work. If there is another town of the same population in New Jersey that can produce more school teachers or young business people than this town has sent out, we would like to get in communication with it. MISSED AN ISSUE?Winter-Spring 1923 Winter 1922-23 December 8th, 1922 November 17th-December 1st, 1922 November 10th, 1922 November 3rd, 1922 Summer-Autumn 1922 Catchup May & June 1922 April 1922 March 1922 Part II March 1922 Part I February 17th, 1922 February 10th, 1922 February 3rd, 1922 January 27th, 1922 January 20th, 1922 January 13th, 1922 January 6th, 1922 December 30th, 1921 December 23rd, 1921 December 16th, 1921 December 9th, 1921 December 2nd, 1921 November 25th, 1921 November 18th, 1921 November 11th, 1921 November 4th, 1921 October 28th, 1921 October 21st, 1921 October 14th, 1921 October 7th, 1921 September 30th, 1921 September 23rd, 1921 September 16th, 1921 September 9th, 1921 Open Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays - 10 am to 2 pm
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