ENEMY SUBMARINES BROUGHT WAR TO MONMOUTH-OCEAN DOORSTEP
BATTLE OF MONMOUTH TOLL EXCEEDED OFFSHORE

May 7th, 1945 - Asbury Park Press

Located strategically in one of the hubs of democracy's arsenal, the North Jersey coast became at once a huge fortress and battleground for World War II.

Geography was on the side of Monmouth and Ocean counties insofar as combat was concerned. In the great conflict which has been won, the towns and countryside did not ring to the clash of arms. The battle of Monmouth this time was waged offshore. There, the toll was fierce.

It was the submarine that brought the war to New Jersey's doorstep. AT least four merchantmen lost battles to the undersea raiders and sank beneath the waves off Shore beaches. One American naval vessel and a coast guard ship were also lost in northern New Jersey coastal waters, victims of yet unexplained disasters. Three naval blimp crashes at the Shore were also due to wartime errands.

In all, it would be conservative to say that 200 fighting men lost their lives here. That's more than four times the Continental army's death toll in the Battle of Monmouth.

War Always in Mind
When not roused by the conflict in the waters nearby, Shore residents had other constant reminders that we were at war.

The Shore's two great forts, the sub-posts, that ever-growing naval air station at Lakehurst and the new Earle naval depot, with all their thousands of armed personnel, created a military pattern that gave this section great importance.

Added to these installations, was the creation in the heart of Asbury Park of a United States navy receiving barracks. The city's two largest beachfront hotels became first a "ship" of the Royal navy, christened H.M.S. Asbury [2025 editor's trivia: British actor Sir Alec Guinness, famous for many roles but not least of which Star Wars' Obi-Wan Kenobi, was stationed there at that time] and housing thousands of Allied sailors who were here for rest or to await assignment to new, repaired or refueled ships.

H.M.S. Asbury hauled down the Union Jack after a year and a half and the receiving barracks became a pre-midshipmen's school for the United States navy's V-12 enrollees. Thousands of American bluejackets, many of them veterans of some of the big naval engagements of the war, came here for midshipmen training.

Khaki and navy blue were as much in evidence as civilian garb on the streets and in the business places of Shore towns and cities. It was like living on one great garrison.

Submarine Menace Offshore
It was during the gloomy first six months after Pearl Harbor that all the Shore was alerted by the constant submarine menace. Four times, U-boats sneaked up within firing distance of the coastline to attack and sink merchant ships plying in nearby waters. Frozen, oil-soaked bodies, along with the litter of broken ships, drifted to the beaches of Monmouth and Ocean counties.

A vengeful team of United States surface and air craft swooped over the same waters and drove the U-boat away in the months of mid-1942. They never came back. One submarine that sneaked too close to New York harbor defenses probably lies at the bottom of the sea off Sandy Hook today. There may be other destroyed undersea raiders in Atlantic graves nearby. The clap and rumble of more than one depth bomb from an American craft set windows rattling in local homes before the U-boat was driven away.

The familiar blimp from Lakehurst, with its deceptive lazy flight, was drafted in the anti-submarine campaign. Blimp maneuvers brought three tragic crashes that took a total of 30 lives during the war.

The other major military losses in this area were the explosion which wrecked the destroyer Turner off Sandy Hook Jan. 3, 1944, and the blast which disintegrated a coast guard craft off Manasquan inlet in 1942. The full story of these catastrophes has never been told. Many men were lost in both. It is believed that loose mines, either our own or those sowed by U-boats, were responsible for the explosions.

The first torpedo attack here occurred early in the morning of Feb. 27, 1942. The tank R.P. Resor, of Standard Oil company of New Jersey registry, was northbound up the coast off Belmar when the missile struck. An orange blossom of flame went up from the fuel-laden ship and she was swept by flames from stem to stern. Two of a crew of 38 were rescued. Thousands maintained a night-long vigil on the shores of Belmar, watching the glowing ship stand out on the horizon. For two days or more, the smoking hull drifted off here.

The war had been delivered to the Shore by Hitler. Mounds of sticky tar that piled up on bathing strands were evidence.

Less than two weeks later, the Hun moved in closer to the beach. His explosive charge sent another tanker to the bottom, this time the Gulf Oil company's Gulftrade. The comparatively few aboard who survived were still near the wrecked ship, three and one-half miles from Barnegat light, when coast guard cutters picked them up. The toll was 19.

A Chilean freighter went down in the same area in that same week. She was the Tolten, a New York-bound ship with a crew of 27. One man escaped with his life.

Citizens of the Shore were submarine-conscious now. Every stick floating offshore was a periscope. Every loud noise at night was an exploding torpedo.

One other merchantman is known to have been torpedoed in local waters. She was a United Nations or neutral vessel still unidentified by naval officials. A torpedo caught her about 18 miles due east of Asbury Park.

Blimps were coming to the fore as weapons of war when the first big catastrophe in their branch of service occurred. Two of the non-rigid craft were maneuvering off Manasquan inlet on an experimental mission the night of June 8, 1942, when they collided and fell into the sea. Five scientists and seven navy men were lost. One navy man was saved.

There was another blimp collision Oct. 16, 1943. This time, two of the Lakehurst ships were sailing in the fog off Island Beach when they came together and one fell into the water, carrying eight officers and men to their deaths.

On May 16, 1944, a training blimp struck the top of the main hangar at Lakehurst, crippling itself and plunging 258 feet to a concrete runway. Ten men aboard died.

The navy has announced at various times the losses of other blimps, including one shot down by a U-boat in the summer of 1943. Though it has never been told officially that these other war victims were based at Lakehurst, it would be reasonable to assume that their crews were trained there before chains of blimp bases were created along both coasts.

As we sail into another exciting season of fun on the water and along our shores, we invite you to renew your Barnegat Bay Maritime Museum membership to strengthen and preserve our rich local maritime heritage. Your support maintains our exhibits and important historic watercraft, expands educational outreach, and keeps the culture of river and bay activities alive for generations to come.

Not a member yet? There’s never been a better time to join!

We also welcome volunteers who want to share their time and talents—whether it's helping with boat restoration, leading tours, assisting at events or conducting research into our shared past, there’s a place for everyone at Barnegat Bay Maritime Museum!

Renew or join today by clicking here and be part of a community that values history, craftsmanship, and the beauty of the Toms River and Barnegat Bay.

Thank you to those who have already renewed and our Life members for your continuing support.

Wishing you fair winds and following seas in 2025!

INQUIRER AWARDS HANDSOME PRIZES; THOUSANDS CHEER

Philadelphia Inquirer
7 Aug. 1910

Many Entries - Club Fleet Parade a Unique Feature

From a Staff Correspondent

ISLAND HEIGHTS, N.J., Aug. 6.--If the old-time racing fiends of thirty years ago, when the sandtubbers were in their hey-dey and three boats formed a record-breaking field for a race, could have had a glimpse of Barnegat Bay today while the second annual Philadelphia Inquirer regatta was in progress, they would have realized how little they know about the sport and how wonderful its popularity has become.

Between a line of more than 200 flag-bedecked pleasure boats, bearing a crowd of more than 1000 persons, 53 racing craft, the fleetest power and sailboats combed from Island Heights, Sea Side Park, Toms River, Lavallette, Mantoloking, Bay Head, Corinthian, Barnegat City and Cedar Yacht Clubs, and representing an outlay of many thousand dollars, clashed today for the Inquirer trophies and championships of the North Jersey coast.

Greatest Regatta Ever Held

No regatta equal to that of today from any standpoint has ever been pulled off by the Barnegat Bay tars and knights of the engine. Even last year's premier race, when the yachtsmen whose boats dart over Toms River and the bay made their debut into the big yachting competition held by The Inquirer, was eclipsed. The oldest citizen had to scratch his head in wild despair to think of any previous event that could be magnified a score of times and then be compared favorably to the big yachtfest of today.

"Just corking," jubilantly said John C. McAvoy, president of the Barnegat Bay Yacht Racing Association, under whose control the regatta was run, to the other members of the organization at the Island Heights Yacht Club tonight, and this is the opinion of everyone along the North Jersey coast.

The regatta is just the kind of stunt that has long been needed to add more zest to racing here. The racing bugs after the race sat late about the clubs, spinning stories about the thrilling finishes of the various events and going over the racing sheet and figuring out what boat would have gone if the engine had not been missing fire or if the wind had been blowing just a little bit harder.

Approximately 500 yachtsmen represented in the Barnegat Bay Yachting Association were interested in the regatta, together with the population of the various places, always good-natured sportsmen, they engaged in heated, though friendly, rivalry over the prowess of the respective racers. "Watch the boats floating the red, white and blue colors," boastingly shouted the enthusiastic onlookers hailing from Island Heights. "We will duplicate last year's string of victories easily." "Nothing to it," hotly retorted the enthusiasts from the other other places. "We will surely lower your colors this time." And so the shouts of defiance continued throughout the regatta.

Island Heights Wins Regatta

But, despite the cheers and the best seamanship on the part of the rival crews, Island Heights again came out first in the matter of capturing first and second places in the various events. However, this is easily explained, the other yachtsmen claim, for the Island Heights Club is the oldest organization and has the largest and most varied fleet of boats.

The number of points won by each club follow:
Island Heights, 6 firsts and 5 seconds.
Bay Head, 1 first and 1 second.
Mantoloking, 1 first.
Corinthian Yacht and Gun Club of Beach Haven, 1 second.
Barnegat City Yacht Club, 1 second.

Mantoloking captured the speed boat event, Murray Earle's Broad Bill winning over the Jersey Devil, owned by S.J. Gaskill, of the Barnegat City Yacht Club. Island Heights made a clean sweep in the class for open launches. F.T. Benjamin's Nautilus flashed across the line first with the Leroy, flying the colors of John Drumm, coming in second.

There were two classes for cruising power boats, those rating above forty and the other rating under that mark. In the higher division there was a thrilling struggle for the first honors. Commodore A.W. Atkinson's Mycelma, flying the burgee of the Island Heights Club, downing the Bettina, the scratch boat, on time allowance. The Bettina is owned by Vice Commodore George S. Hier, of the Corinthian Yacht and Gun Club, of Beach Haven.

The other division, after a plucky fight that brought the spectators to their feet, was captured by J.W. Wright's Elecktra. She is also an Island Heights boat. The Larkspur, owned by Vice Commodore J.A. Tuceym, of the same club, finished second. In this event the Nally Surprise, owned by W. Mercer Baird, secretary of the Corinthian Club, was the scratch boat, and put up a classy struggle, but was downed on time allowance. The Virginia won the cat boat class by two minutes and 28 seconds over the Lulu, which finished second. Each boat is of the Island Heights fleet.

Island Heights added to the total number of points by the Quakeress and the Yankee coming in first and second, the owners, respectively, are A.D. Edson and Ray M. Vanderherschen.

Bay Head Wins Sneak Box Event

In the sneak box event Bay Headites had their inning, the Arrow, owned by O.G. Dale, coming in first, and the Miss Cat, owned by J.V.A. Cattus, second. The Ashumet, owned by Dr. Charles Ill, of Island Heights, won the cruising sloop race. Gerhard Leiper's Marguerite flashed in second, a loser by a fraction less than six minutes.

No fairer day for races, suitable for both canvas-bearing craft and power boats, could have dawned. The course in the lower part of the bay, below the Pennsylvania Railroad bridge, at Barnegat Bay and stretching off Cedar Creek to off Waretown, was ideally smooth, and this is something of a marvel, for that portion of the bay is almost always dotted with white caps, making the going all right for the sail boats but treacherous for those propelled by motors.

Throughout the places interested in the regatta, there was a bustle of excitement as the boats began to get ready to leave for the racing field, the racing fever had first begun to manifest itself at the beginning of the week. From then on the fever spread, the excitement and enthusiasm becoming keener each day as the time for the regatta neared and the boat owners redoubled their eagerness to get their racers trimmed for the struggles.

All this time Mr. McAvoy, who was commodore of the Island Heights Club last year, and the members of the Barnegat Bay Yacht Racing Association, were strenuously working to class the entries and get the boats measured and distribute racing instructions.

The river front at all of the places were dotted with scores of persons ready to bundle themselves off for the races. By 1 o'clock the mouth of the bay off Sea Side Park was dotted with boats, sail and power craft, each loaded to the gunwales with crowds of merry makers in the meantime. From the lower part of the bay another bevy of boats was coming, and by 10 o'clock what is declared to have been the greatest fleet of boats of every type ever assembled on the bay was anchored ready for the cannon on board the Elizabeth, the committee boat, to boom out the preparatory signal.

The Elizabeth is Mr. McAvoy's boat. On board it were the officials, composed of Guy A. Lubury and Thellwell R. Coggeshall, of Island Heights; Edgar P. Earle, of Mantoloking; Dr. E.E. Pennington, of Seaside Park; C.C. Eankson, of Lavallette; Charles M. Smith, of Barnegat City, and C.A. Horterm, of Cedar Y.C.

Starting Gun Fired

It was shortly before noon when the preliminary gun was fired. Grouped about the committee boat, forming a long line around the starting line, were the pleasure boats, each a mass of multi-colored bunting. "Now for the race," shouted the onlookers.

Then the rival yachtsmen over their respective boats began. Boom went the cannon again and the speed boats, with automobile engines snorting, were off. Broadbill, the Mantoloking entry, caught the water at the crack of the gun and was off, leaving a creamy trail behind.

Like a streak the Irma followed, the spray leaping high above her black-colored sides. Right after she darted the Jersey Devil, painted a glaring red. Scout, sailed by Joe B. Neville, was unable to flash across the line, the engine breaking down shortly after the preliminary gun was fired.

The Muriel, Black Devil and the Inquirer, other speed boats entered, also were disabled and could not start. The distance for the speed boats was 10 miles. The Broadbill was the scratch boat. She gave the Irma II an allowance of 3 minutes and 6 seconds, and 1 minute and 57 seconds to the Jersey Devil.

On actual time the Broadbill was never threatened, finishing in 44.40 squares ahead of her rivals. The Jersey Devil, while rounding the buoy off Waretown, developed engine trouble and had to stop for five minutes.

Cruisers Started

Five minutes after the speed boats, the cruisers were started. There were seven in the class rating above 40 to speed over the line when the gun sounded at 12:10. The second class cruisers, also seven in number, started at the same time. Mr. Baird's Surprise, after clever maneuvering was within a few minutes of the line when the signal was given and secured a flying start. Closely hanging to her were the Elecktra and the Ernestine.

A half-second later and there was a cheer from the Beach Haven contingent, led by Thomas H. Sherborne, who came from that resort in a tiny mosquito boat, a distance of thirty-five miles, to see the race. As the Bettina crossed the line, at close intervals the distance for the cruisers to travel was twenty miles, which was two laps of the course.

Commodore Atkinson's Mycelma was late in starting. The commodore was host for a big party, including the commodores of the other clubs. Fully five minutes had elapsed when the Mycelma got under way, but the commodore was game.

​Thanks for all who supported us in purchasing this special limited run - we’re almost sold out! Last chance for our limited stock by clicking here.

Area news site, Shorebeat, reports this week that the former Lavallette home to renowned area boatbuilder Charlie Hankins is likely to be demolished following an application by its current owners. Included in the article was a brief history of the Hankins family’s boatbuilding operations, here.

More can be learned of Mr. Hankins and his legacy through the National Endowment of the Arts biography page here  and a 2003 profile by Don Bennett and Ocean County here.

A program showcasing Mr. Hankins and his work as produced by NJN in 1991 can be watched in its entirety through Folkstreams, here.

SPEEDY BOATS TO CLASH IN THE INQUIRER’S REGATTA

Philadelphia Inquirer
6 Aug. 1910

Largest Fleet of Racing Craft Ever Assembled in Lower Egg Harbor Bay Entered for Today's Races

From a Staff Correspondent

ISLAND HEIGHTS, N.J., Aug. 5.--By 10 o'clock tomorrow morning the greatest fleet of racing and pleasure craft ever assembled in local waters, bearing hundreds of persons, each anxious to see their favorite boat win, will anchor off Cedar Creek, in lower Egg Harbor Bay, to witness the Inquirer Regatta, to be raced under the control of the Barnegat Bay Yacht Racing Association.

Tonight, after a strenuous twenty-four hours of final planning for the regatta, the 500 odd yachtsmen represented in the central racing association went off to bed, knowing fully that tomorrow will dawn on the most important racing event ever held along the north Jersey coast. Easily, it will be the premier contest of its kind ever attempted in these waters, and for its success the popularity of The Inquirer Regatta is held responsible.

More entries have been made than for any other races, and that is "going some," for the Barnegat Bay tars are old hands at the racing game and pride themselves in the large number of boats to clash at their race meets. Boat owners simply swamped Chairman John C. McAvoy and the other members of the Racing Committee with entries.

More Entries Than Ever

"Wow!" said Mr. McAvoy to Commodore A.W. Atkinson, of the Island Heights Yacht Club, during the afternoon. "Last year's record of 55 starters in The Inquirer Regatta is beaten now and I have a batch of letters containing entries that stacks up on my desk nearly an inch high."

Meanwhile that portion of Toms River in the vicinity of the club house was dotted with racing craft, waiting for The Inquirer's official measurer to tape them and compute their racing handicaps. It was a continuous procession of boats yesterday, the majority of the boats flying the colors of Island Heights Yacht Club were measured. Today the racers of the other fleets had their inning. From Sea Side Park, Bay Head, Toms River, Mantoloking, Barnegat City, Forked River, Cedar and Lavallette swarmed here.

Tonight the Island Heights anchorage is the rendezvous of a fleet of more than 100 boats, mainly from the other clubs, which will head for the racing field early in the morning. Moreover, by train this afternoon and tonight scores of persons came from Philadelphia and New York for the race, and they will be taken down the bay on the boats of friends to whoop it up for the racers they want to see flash across the line winners.

The race will be the first big test of the value of the Barnegat Bay Racing Association. This organization was formed by Mr. McAvoy, who was last year commodore of the Island Heights Yacht Club, and a few kindred racing enthusiasts. The object is to control all racing on Barnegat Bay, thereby paving the way for better races and equitable rules. On the racing committee of the association, besides Mr. McAvoy, are Herman Muller, of the Sea Side Park Yacht Club; Guy A. Luburg, of the Island Heights Yacht Club; C.A. Horter, of the Cedar Yacht Club; C.C. Eankson of the Lavallette Yacht Club; C.E. Smith, of the Barnegat City Yacht Club, and Edgar P. Earle, of the Mantoloking Yacht Club. By having a representative at each of the clubs the plans for the regatta held under the auspices of the association can be carried on with unison. This has been done in the preparation of The Inquirer Regatta with much success. Besides this, the commodores and officers of the various clubs have been working hand-in-hand with the Racing Committee.

First Race at 11 A.M.
The first race is scheduled to be started at 11 o'clock. Two hours before this time, however, the picturesque resorts that fringe Barnegat Bay and Toms River will be emptied of the summer and yachting contingent, for the exodus to the course will be in keeping with the proportions of the regatta. There will be seven classes, and each event, unless weather conditions should cause the officials to make a shift in the instructions, will be twice over the course from off Cedar Creek to Waretown. Each lap will be ten miles. The classes, together with the time of starting, follow:

Power Boats
11.05 A.M. - Open launches.
11.10 A.M. - Speed boats.
11.15 A.M. - Cruisers, two divisions.

Sail Boats
1.35 P.M. - Sneak-boxes.
1.40 P.M. - Cat-boats.
1.45 P.M. - Cruising sloops.
1.50 P.M. - Auxiliary boats.

"I guess a program like that should satisfy the most exacting yachtsman," said Commodore Atkinson after he had read the list of events.
In fact, there is a class for nearly every type of boat on Barnegat Bay, excepting the open sloops. The boats of this type, the "I.H.Y.C.," of the local club, and the Manhasset, of Sea Side Park, together with the Adventuress, of the Corinthian Yacht and Gun Club, of Beach Haven, the trio that raced last year, are not in commission.

Speedy Craft Entered
In every class there are many entries, the best and speediest boats of the respective types being entered. Yachtsmen, who turned their backs on sail-bearing craft as soon as the motor engine came into vogue, say the best part of the regatta will be in the morning.
One of the most thrilling races of the day is bound to be the struggle of the cat-boats. Two boats, the Virginia, owned by John Norris and sailed by "Doc" Leslie Mulford, and the Lulu, owned by Walter Bell and sailed by Lash Hyres, are expected to furnish the race. The Virginia has been selected to defend Barnegat Bay in the inter-bay catboat races off Narragansett Pier week after next. Lulu was the defender last year. So far the Lulu and the Virginia have not yet met, and the Island Heights bunch is on edge to get a line on the speed of the Virginia.
The sneak-box race will also be a thriller. This is a popular type of boat on the bay. Last year this was a corking race, and it will be better on Saturday, because there are more races.
Reed Kilpatrick, captain of next year's Yale football team, and now training at Pelham Manor to represent the New York Athletic Club at the all-round champion competition at Chicago, arrived here tonight to sail his Billiken.
With the Island Heights members the race for the auxiliary boats will be interesting. There are numerous sail craft here in which engines have or are being installed. Tomorrow, therefore, will show how fast these auxiliaries will scud along under sail and power.

The entries follow:

Open Launches
Boat - Owner

Little Quakeress - Howard Edson
Nautilus - F.T. Benjamin
Atlantic - A.L. Forbes
Leroy - John Drumm
Lloyd S. - Edward Miller
Harrigan - W.R. McGill
Betsy - Maguerite Webster
Ada S. - Joseph Smalley
Hiram - Edward Rowell
Mea II - Harry Lippincott
Fourth of July - S.D. Conwell
Coyote - Dr. G.H. Thatcher
Sylph - J.C. Morton

Speed Boats
Inquirer - Faunce Bros.
Scout - Geo. R. Roden
Black Devil - Edw. Stontenberg
Muriel - W.S. Snyder
Broadbill - Murray Earle
Connie Mack - Thos. E. Shibe

Cruisers
Mycehua - Com. A.W. Atkinson
Vonine - F.A. Nathan
Elizabeth - Jno. C. McAvoy
Bella G - Leon Seifert
Electra - J.W. Wright
Wren - F.R. Welsh
Vinnie II - Edwin Lloyd
Bummer - J.H. Gillingham
Swallow II - Joseph Neville, 3d.
Vesta - F.A. Downes
Dixie - J.A. Wood
Dorothy - F.M. Hoover
Donscha - A.E. Freeman
Alice - Wm. Schoettle
Mary - Ferd Schoettle
Elforene - Wm. Shetzline
Adrea - J.V. Piard
Berbob - George R. Seiffert
Filia - A.E. Buchanan
Josephine - Thos. S. Shibe
Curlew - C. Irving Merrill
Bettina - George S. Hier

Cruising Sloops
Margaret - Gerhard Leiper
Ashumet - Dr. Chas. Ill

Sneak Boxes
Break Down - Douglass B. Murphy
Arrow - O.G. Dale
Mystery - F.F. Bailey
Miss Cat - J.V. Cattus
Snag - Roy Porter
Goodnuff - L.F. Bailey
Frou Frou - B. Gerhardi
Widgeon - T.H. Burchill
Constance - R. Louder
Nerious - Dr. Charles Ill
Wildcat - J. Piard
Water Wagon - H.S. Tissot
Billiken - Reed Kilpatrick
Merry Widow - J.A. Brown
Frolic - J.R. Such
Quickstep - Captain Wilber
Owl - Reed Mills
Lemonade - George Bailey

Catboats
Virginia - John Norris
Peerless - Edmund Ill
Mary E. - Dr. Leon Gable
Thistle - Dr. D.R. Megreagor
Trolley - C.H. Harter
Martha - Howard Webb
Lou - Lash Hyres
Princess - Walter Haywood

Cabin Sloops
Yankee - R.M. Vanderherchen
Shawara - George Patterson
Quakeress - Allen Edson
Mabel - William Edson

To mark the special occasion of this winter sailing sport returning to the Toms River in 2025, the Barnegat Bay Maritime Museum is happy to release a limited run of shirts showing a DN-class iceboat zipping around between Pine Beach, Island Heights and Toms River on January 25th.
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Our online Ship’s Store can be reached by clicking here.

If demand proves greater than this initial limited run, we will restock and reopen ordering as soon as possible.
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If you find your chosen shirt is sold out, please email us at [email protected] with your size and quantity so we may gauge interest in a reorder. Thanks.

Fifty years is a special achievement worthy of review and celebration, and with the Barnegat Bay Maritime Museum (originally Toms River Seaport Society) now fast approaching that milestone in 2026, we begin here with the first installment of a new series.

Today we open the archive on ourselves and the many volunteers and friends who answered the call, in that energetic national bicentennial year of 1976, to begin collecting and preserving for future generations the rich maritime heritage of our Toms River and Barnegat Bay.

RELEASE June 23, 1977
349-2506

The Toms River Seaport Museum will be open to the public for the first time at their Open House on June 26th, from 3 to 6 P.M. at their new headquarters at 117 E. Water Street, Toms River.

Nautical artifacts will be exhibited and in water and on land boats will be on exhibit.

Ships models of the Enterprise and the Ranger, two American Cup Yachts owned by Harold S. Vanderbilt, built by John F. Miller of Toms River about 40 years ago, have been loaned to the Museum by his grandsons, Glenn F. Miller of Buffalo, N.Y. and Philip H. Miller of Staunton, Va. These are scale models, 1/32 to an inch and stand about seven feet tall.

The Enterprise won the American Cup race in 1930 against Shamrock the 5th, the last race sailed by Sir Thomas Lipton of England.

The Ranger defeated the Endeavor II, owned by Thomas Sopwith, an Airplane manufacturer of England, in 1937 in four straight races.

Mr. William W. Halliday has donated his father's model of a steamer that Captain J.D. Halliday sailed out of San Francisco to the Orient. He also presented two models of clipper ships and Captain Halliday's Chinese sea chests, a marine sextant and ships logs. These were presented in memory of Captain J.D. Halliday and Mrs. Ellen Halliday.

Mr. Burton Dezendorf of Beachwood has given to the Society the James Rogers Marine Hydrometer which was used for years to measure the salt water in New Jersey and New York waters.

William Brady of Bayonne, N.J. donated a model of Kay Cory, a whaling brig, which was built in 1856 and sailed out of Westport, Mass.

Diane Beckett, of Suburban Drive, Toms River, will be in charge of the Museum.

A 17 foot Atlantic City sneakbox, presented by Henry Althouse of Ocean Gate, will remain an on land outdoor exhibit.

The "Storm Along," a 20 foot sneakbox built in 1921 by Mort Johnson of Bay Head, the first boat given to the Society by David Holland, will be in the water at the dock as well as the F. Slade Dale 25 foot Launch given by John Van Horn, Jr. and restored by Butch Miller. Charles Hankin, of the Hankin Boat Works in Lavallette, did some repair work on the Storm Along.

The "Shell Drake," the 12 foot sneakbox built in 1925 and sailed by F. Slade Dale from the Battery in New York to Miami that year, will also be on exhibit. This boat was also donated by John Van Horn, Jr. of Point Pleasant.

The Society has also been offered the "Anna," the last Pound Boat to sail out of Chadwick Fisheries at Chadwick Beach.

Edward Beckett, Acquisitions Chairman of the Society, will be glad to accept any other boats representative of Barnegat Bay, especially a Perrine Sneakbox or a Beaton Sneakbox.

The Toms River Seaport Society was founded in 1976 as a result of the study made by the Toms River Seaport Study Commission created by the Dover Township Committee.

Out of cellars and sheds and hideaways they arrived this past weekend: iceboats on the Toms River.

For almost a decade, conditions here proved too warm for this Brigadoon-like sport, making the white winter sails even more special to see from the shores of Pine Beach, Island Heights and Toms River.
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Among those enjoying the ice and wind were the Hess and Krajewski families and friends, seen in the photos and videos here.

To mark the special occasion of this winter sailing sport returning to the Toms River, the Barnegat Bay Maritime Museum is also going to release a limited run of shirts with a graphic created from the photo above, taken this past weekend.

If interested, send an email to [email protected] and let us know sizes and number of shirts to be added to a presale email list. Feel free to please forward this email to anyone else who may be interested as well!

Also on the ice this weekend was local drone videographer, Kevin Doherty, who put together a nice compilation of iceboating in his video found here on Facebook. Thanks, Kevin!

Island Heights resident Ted Nordheimer also snagged a "painterly" view of an iceboat and lone watcher from his perch at the northern river shoreline. Thanks, Ted!

HOLIDAY RUM RUNNING CUT
Matawan Journal
9 January 1925

Less Than 5,000 Cases Got by as Compared With 50,000 in 1923.

Less than 5,000 cases of holiday liquor were smuggled through the Coast Guard cordon along the Jersey coast as against approximately 50,000 cases smuggled during the holiday season of 1923, M.W. Rasmussen, superintendent of the Fifth Coast Guard District, declared at his office in Asbury Park this week. The fifth district embraces the entire Jersey coast from Sandy Hook to Cape May, but does not include the Atlantic City sectional base.

"Efforts to plug holiday leaks were excellent," declared Superintendent Rasmussen. "The ultimate doom of the shore rum-runner is coming very soon," he added.

According to the superintendent two large rum cargo boats succeeded in escaping the cordon near Asbury Park and two in New York Bay. A survey of rum row showed an average of seven ships anchored off shore each day during the holiday season as against forty during the holiday season of 1923, he added.

CHASED BY CUTTER, BATTERED BY GALE, OUT OF GAS, GUARDS SAVE RUM RUNNERS

Asbury Park Press
20 Nov. 1924

Chased thru a driving hail and sleet storm by a revenue cutter, forced to throw overboard a cargo of liquor, then after having eluded capture, lost at sea when his boat ran out of gasoline and oil, and drifting for several hours in the angry water, finally forced to call his arch enemies--the Coast Guard--to rescue him, is the harrowing experience of a local bootlegger whose eventual trip to rum row on Saturday was replete with thrills.

This prominent bootlegger and an unnamed companion, whose activities in the business have made them well known along the Jersey coast, made the trip Saturday afternoon and after the chase by the revenue cutter were buffeted about by the angry waters of a heavy storm for several hours.

​The bootlegger, who prefers to have his occupation classed as "lobster fisherman," in company with another man in the same business, left this vicinity Saturday afternoon in their high-powered auto for a hiding place below Belmar where their 100-horsepower armored speed boat is docked.

The fisherman who generally accompanies the head of the local ring attended the Asbury Park-Chattle football game Saturday and did not make the trip, thus missing the harrowing experience.

The pair pulled out late in the afternoon and made a rapid run to Rum Row. At least this is the story as repeated along the local "whisky curb" where the local "lobster" fishermen congregate at night to swap experiences preparatory to starting out on the business of the night.

While the two were on the supply ship laying a large stock in anticipation of "parking" it for higher holiday prices, a light rain began to fall, during which a low mist hung over the water. Little thinking that one of the coast guard revenue cutters would soon be upon them, the pair bid farewell to the large boat and shoved off.

They were clipping along at a rapid rate when suddenly out of the mist came a booming voice:

"Halt, or we'll fire!"

"Step on it!" was the mumbled command of the leader of the pair.

The steady "put-put" of the revenue boat was heard not many yards in the rear.

​Then began the chase. Riding in elusive circles, first far out to sea, then back to shore, the chase kept up for several hours, but always the runners could hear the steady humming of the motor of the government craft. Then their engine suddenly started to miss.

A quick look in the tank, to find that only a small quantity of gasoline remained.

"Dump the stuff, quick!" cried one.

Splash, splash, splash, over into the water went case after case.

Finally the sound of the revenue cutter was heard to grow fainter and fainter. Just when it seemed that the bootleg craft was about to fall into the hands of the revenue boat, the latter had apparently given up the chase.

Then with the pouring rain, driving sleet and howling wind, tossing them about the angry waters like a chip, the light craft was anchored. Worried by a dragging anchor, a torch was made, soaked in the remaining gasoline, and burned in the stern of the ship.

​The lookout at the Toms River station of the Coast Guard saw the light flickering thru the rain and hail and reported it. A boat was launched and a crew rowed out to ascertain the trouble.

The motorboat was about a half mile off shore and about four miles from the station. When the guards reached the side of the disabled boat and heard of the lack of gas, they again put off, rowing this time to Lavallette, where cans of oil and gas [were brought] back to the anchored motorboat. The gas was placed in the tank and the rowboat was towed to the guard station at Toms River by the bootleggers.

Fatigued from the strenuous trip, they beached their boat at the station for the night. They were chilled and cold from their long exposure to the elements and had nothing to warm them up. That is, the Coast Guards said that when they pulled up beside the disabled craft there wasn't any liquor on board.

In the meantime the "wire" had gone out to another bootlegger or "lobster fisherman" of Bradley Beach, who hastened to Toms River to bring his two friends back.

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