(Mari)Time-Warp! 1892: Founding of Lanoka Harbor

Welcome to a new feature by the Toms River Seaport Society, the (Mari)Time-Warp, taking our supporters back through the nautical history of the Barnegat Bay and Toms River watershed areas!

This week, a peek into the founding of Lanoka Harbor (part of Lacey Township today) by George M. Lane, as covered by the Daily Press of Asbury Park on August 22nd, 1892 and rediscovered thanks to Newspapers.com.

​THE FOUNDING OF A NEW TOWN

BEAUTIFUL LANOKA.

The founder or projector of a city, village, hamlet, or resort, is always among the first who are entitled to a place upon the honor-roll that is kept in the mind of the public, as well as upon the pages of books and newspapers.

This, for the very reason that the projector or founder is always a developer, a creator of the scores of enterprises that invariably of necessity follow in the train of new or growing settlements. This preface is justly called for as an introduction to a gentleman who has been one of Asbury Park's most valuable citizens so far as his public service is concerned, (as the ensuing history of his life will show,) while he ias at present in the midst of the work of founding a new community.

Reference is made to Mr. George M. Lane, the projector of the beautiful locality known as Lanoka, in Ocean County, and formerly known as Cedar Creek.

The past career of this gentleman is so favorably and well known that it is but necessary to state that he came to Asbury Park in 1880, since which time he has always taken an active part in business affairs. Mr. Lane was the organizer of the Asbury Park Electric Light Works and acted as Secretary and Superintendent of the Company until about July, when, finding that the routine of business was undermining his health, he decided to resign from his duties as an active officer. However, Mr. Lane retains his interest as a stockholder and director.

In addition to his financial interests, he is the owner of a number of valuable patents which he will now have an opportunity to develop. Among these inventions may be mentioned a station indicator designed to do away with the present annoying process used to inform passengers of their destinations; a self-regulating arc lamp; a telegraph key and sounder; insulating joints for electrical fixtures; and a carbon so constructed that it will burn all night in a single lamp, thus dispensing with the complicated mechanism required in the ordinary all-night lamp, etc.

Added to Mr. Lane's recent ventures is the purchase of a splendid plot of land at Lanoka which he has laid out in building lots and is now offering to the public.

​The locality of Lanoka is well known to people who frequent Barnegat Bay for fishing, sailing and other recreative benefits, and it is the object of the projector of this new resort to give residence to those who seek these diversions directly at the place they are found. The popular fishing banks of Barnegat Bay are abreast of Cedar Creek, or Lanoka, and a desirable but unsettled portion is now proposed to be opened up for new people and summer cottages, while the shores of Cedar Creek and the bay form favorite sites for club houses.

Lanoka is situated on the main shore road, six miles from Toms River, and but three miles from Forked River, a resort attracting hundreds of people annually for the excellent fishing and other natural advantages this bay district affords.

Lanoka is reached by railroad from New York and Philadelphia; has a good hotel, school, stores, and is situated in the midst of oak groves overlooking Barnegat Bay and the beach. Cedar Creek, from which the original village took its name, is an ever-flowing stream fed by numerous tributaries in a vast stretch of back farm-land country and empties itself into Barnegat Bay. The conditions surrounding Lanoka are exceptionally favorable for the development of this section of seashore.

It is proposed to establish a canning factory at Lanoka, and for natural advantages it would be impossible to select a more favorable location; inasmuch as it is surrounded by some of the finest trucking land in the state of New Jersey. The surrounding country is rich in the growth of berries of every description, which may be purchased at an exceedingly low price. However, this is but one of the manifold advantages to be derived from a residence at Lanoka.

​Geographically speaking, its proximity to Barnegat Bay would enable the canning factory to run the entire year, as the canning of oysters, terrapin, clams, etc., with which the Bay abounds, could be carried on during the winter months.

Mr. Lane's business experience alone speaks for the exceptionally advantageous features of Lanoka; for hs is by great odds too level-headed and far-observing to be induced to take upon his shoulders a venture in which he could not see his way clearly, or that he did not deem absolutely worthy of all the time and attention that he bestowed upon it.

Mr. Lane's past business career gives ample proof that he never makes a business move without first consulting its merits, after which he pushes it for all that there is in it, but in such a way and upon principles that are wholly within keeping of the operations of an honorable business man.

There is no doubt but Mr. Lane has a worthy and profitable venture in Lanoka; and it is but a question of time before it will be one of the most popular and frequented resorts along the eastern coast of the state.

A feature of Lanoka which should not be overlooked is the fact that new towns are springing up along Barnegat Bay. The facilities afforded for sailing and steam yachts between Lanoka and these cities of the future will open up numerous pleasure jaunts, that will go far toward giving that variety which is the spice of life, even in pleasure making as well as the soberer moments of existence.

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