Welcome to another Wooden Boat Wednesday!

This week, we turn the clock back to 1976 with a New York Times feature that profiled shore boatbuilder Dave Beaton and the quirks and culture of his locally-famous boatyard, still in operation today.

CLICK HERE for Artistry in Wood: The Beaton Path - New York Times, March 21st, 1976
The full text is available to the public; subscribers to the New York Times can see the original digitized newsprint pages.

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(often 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)

Moonlit evenings.
Full moon tomorrow.
First week of school.
Farmers want more rain.
Primary a week from Tuesday.
It rained the first day of school.
Freeholders meet again next Tuesday.
Dry weather has caused many leaves to drop while green.
Election boards made their house to house canvass this week.
Cranberry men are rushing the crop off the bogs, fearing cold snaps.
A son was born last week to Mr. and Mrs. James R. Hensler of Water street.
Sweet corn and lima beans seem about the only prolific vegetables of the summer.
The farmers will get enough out of their potatoes to pay for what they put in the crop.
Grapes are high priced—not enough to eat, let alone for the fellows who want to put up a little grape juice.
The new poultry packing house is shipping eggs daily except Saturday for the present. Later it is expected to ship three days a week.
Last Saturday was as fine bathing as there had been all summer—the water in the ocean has been warmer in September than it was in mid-summer; though that is not unusual.
Miss Annie Allen yesterday took over the newsstand next the postoffice, and Miss Lula H. Robbins retired from active business. It is the only newsstand and stationary store in the village, and has a large clientele.
Huddy Park is losing its wealth of summer flowers.
The Gypsies have spent the summer on the Miller Chamberlain lot in Berkeley.
Mars and Venus are both morning stars now, and Jupiter will be after September 22.
Sun rises tomorrow at 5.42 and sets at 6.07, standard time, or 6.42 and 7.07, daylight time.
One week more of summer according to the calendar, autumn beginning next Friday.
A week from today is the autumnal equinox, when the sun crosses the line and the days and nights are about equal length.
There is no shortage of work for those who want it in this section. Building keeps up and the building mechanics are busy.
A.P. Greim is building a house of cement block at Birdville, which will be a big addition to his property there. He already has a big shop of cement blocks.
Rumor says that the State Board of Health has had agents here inspecting the houseboat colony and sand spit squatters situation from a sanitary point of view.
Have you seen the wildflowers in the fields and along the roads? Goldenrod blooms in great profusion; purple asters, yellow asters, and tiny white asters, add their brightness; there is still much butterfly weed, with its gay orange coloring; on the cranberry bogs a yellow daisy like flower gives a sheen of yellow at a distance, old field balsam overruns fallow grounds on the uplands; water lilies still bloom in ponds and streams.
First day of court is a sad and sorry imitation of the first day that the oldtimers knew. Now a few lawyers, judges and grand jurors meet. In the old times, it was an event, and everybody of importance in the county would be on hand, especially on the first day of September court, which was the best time to get a line of political happenings. But alas, the glory of the first day of court has departed. The lawyers have captured the court completely.
Capt. Lambert made a trip to Atlantic City last week in the Ariella.
The clock is expected to turn back to standard time on Sunday, September 25.
Mrs. Xydias has bought from Charles R. Berrien the house he owned on the south side of Dover street.
The Toms River Amusement Company has started its sixth house on Irons street, near West Water street.
The Pennsy is to change its train schedule, dropping summer trains, on September 25. Some folks expect it to drop daylight schedule at that time, but no announcement has been made as yet.
George Wolf of this place bought a Ford car on Monday, and on Tuesday evening, when he went to crank it, broke the big bone in his right wrist. He will be unable to use the wrist for six weeks.

A FAVORED REGION
The Ocean County Shore is a favored region. The past summer has been the best it has ever known in a good many ways. Not everybody has got rich and not everybody has made a big summer's money, but it seems that at least everybody has made a living. And the average business man in the average shore town—seashore or bayshore—has had better business this past summer than in the average season. In fact, take it as a whole it is by far the best summer the shore ever had, ranking with last year, and in some respects surpassing 1920.
This is a favored region, anyway. There is less real want, less dire poverty here than any other section I ever visited; and there is more independence of thought and action, as well as more independence economically. It is true that we have no big industries, but that has its compensations, for our people either work for themselves or for neighbors, which is mightily different from working for a big corporation. If you know of any place where the average working man lives as well as on our shore, I have not found that place, that's all.

SEASIDE PARK HELD RACES SATURDAY IN 3 CLASSES
Last Saturday Seaside Park Yacht club held races in the sloop, catboat and sneakbox classes, as a windup of the season. It was a neighborly race, a club affair, only Seaside Park Yacht club boats entering. The result (corrected time) was as follows:

Ardo Won in Sloop Class
Ardo, the smallest of the sloop fleet, with a big time allowance, won in the sloop class.
Ardo, Walling – 1:43:07
Sonoma, Elverson – 1:43:45
Wanda, Davis – 1:50:32

Thacher's Romp a Winner
The oldtime cupwinner Romp gave the other catboats a drubbing in the race for single-stickers.
Romp, Thacher – 1:43:21
Dorothy, Larkin – 1:45:37
Mouser, Atkins – 1:46:28

Townsend Took Sneakbox Honors
In the sneakbox class the honors of the day went to Townsend, one of the new type, built by Capt. Eli Townsend, and named after her builder.
Townsend, Pennock – 1:04:01
Windlass, Thacher – 1:04:25
Mower, Lloyd – 1:07:00
Loop, Trumpy – 1:26:18
There was a strong southeast wind blowing and making a fairly heavy sea in the mouth of the river. The course was from Seaside Park dock to Coates Point.
​
BAY HEAD YACHT CLUB
Bay Head Yacht Club has elected officers for the coming year...
The club expects next year to have a new catboat to rival the newer boats in the Island Heights and Seaside Park fleets; also two or more of the twenty foot sneakbox class. Bay Head Yacht Club members agree thoroughly with the suggestion made this summer in the Courier that the 20 footer should be kept a working boat and that freak craft should not be allowed to creep in and take all the prizes, and drive out the real boats.

ISLAND HEIGHTS WILL FIGHT ABANDONMENT OF R.R. BRIDGE
Property owners at Island Heights are up in arms, and will fight to a finish, so they assert, any attempt on the part of the Pennsylvania Railroad to abandon either its bridge or its train service across Toms River to Island Heights. This proposed abandonment it is alleged, was being quietly nursed along by the Pennsylvania Railroad officials, who were letting Pine Beach property owners, in their fight to retain a station the year around, get ready to put before the Utility Board the fact that the Island Heights bridge and spur train service combined are a costly item to the railroad. Then if the Utility Board could be induced to order the abandonment of the bridge, because it did not pay, the railroad officials might not have appeared in the matter at all as being the parties wanting to stop running trains into Island Heights. But, unfortunately for the working out of this well laid plan, it is alleged that a news story in the Courier 3 weeks ago “spilled the beans,” or “let the cat out of the bag...” as it has been differently charged by various interested and irate people, who are demanding to know how the Courier got this carefully covered up information.
But whatever the intentions of the railroad officials, Island Heights people will fight any abandonment of railroad service. The railroad officials are alleged to have offered to Island Heights residents, who immediately went to the front on reading the Courier story, the bridge, as an automobile bridge, saying that the county could have it, so the story goes...
Old residents of Island Heights and Toms River will recall when the bridge was built. The yacht owners of Toms River vehemently opposed it and went into court to prevent its construction, but lost out. The bridge was built by the Island Heights Railroad Company, composed of men interested in the Island Heights Association. This was about 38 years ago, shortly after the railroad had been extended from Whitings to Seaside Park. When the extension was planned, both Toms River and Island Heights people thought it would run on the north side of Toms River, thus going through both villages, and then up the bay shore to Point Pleasant; but George M. Dorrance, at that time realty man for the officials of the Pennsylvania Railroad, quietly bought up large tracts of beach land, and the route was run on its present line, south of Toms River and across to the beach. This left Island Heights out in the cold, and brought about the demand for the spur and bridge.
When the Island Heights people built the bridge, they leased it to the railroad company, it is alleged, for 99 years, for the consideration of one dollar and the agreement of the railroad company to furnish service over it for that length of time. This is the story as told by oldtimers who were actors in those days of shore development. It is alleged that the Island Heights men also got the right of way and graded the spur, but the Pennsy laid the ties and the rails on spur and bridge, and built the draw...

Having read the account of the Pennsylvania Railroad attempting to abandon its Island Heights spur, which today has been a reality so long it only exists in awareness with historical accounts, we dove back into Ocean County Library System archives and pulled this account published on the front page of the Lakewood Times and Journal on Saturday, August 6th, 1881, over 140 years from where we stand now in time.

Special Correspondence of the Philadelphia Press
CITIES BY THE SEA.
Time was when those who went down to the sea in ships had a monopoly of the going, but later on the railroads began to strike out for the shore, and now they carry more people to the sea in three months than sailing vessels carry on its bosom in as many years. So rapidly has the summer population of the New Jersey coast increased within the past decade that where the then pine forests and sand dunes were unmolested by humanity prosperous towns and villages are now seen; and there is at this writing hardly an acre of land on the coast which has not been purchased by some company or individual and given prominence by a name having generally a local significance. There is hardly a prominent point which is not accessible to the cities by rail...
[The article goes on to describe the rise of interest in summer resorts and residences with the railroads providing new service, and begins a firsthand account of riding the rails from the Camden depot to Seaside Park, continued below as it leaves Pemberton for Toms River:]
...Leaving Pemberton we soon reach a stretch of open country known as the New Jersey Plains. The land is nearly level for the next eighteen miles. Whortleberries [similar to blueberries] grow by the roadside with pine and shrub oaks, and occupy almost all the intervening space on the “Plains,” where thirty years ago were deer and other game in abundance, and where an occasional buck or doe is still seen browsing miles in the distance. The airbrakes again hiss and we are at Whitings Station, where there is a junction with the New Jersey Southern Railroad and the Tuckerton Railroad. Two or three cars are dropped from our train and taken up by the last-named road, over which passengers seek the sea in Beach Haven... [We continue our] journey over the new road proper and glide at surprising speed over rails only laid a few weeks ago. But the road-bed is level, the irons are new throughout, and the route is an air-line. We glance at the engineer and wonder if he is not outrunning his time table. But he keeps steadily on.
TRACES OF THE ABORIGINES.
We have hardly time to note that the face of the country is unchanged, when a glance toward the northeast reminds us that Toms River is almost within hailing distance.
Toms River, the county-seat of Ocean County, is located on the north side of the river of the same name. It has the usual Indian tradition, and, as many believe, takes its name from one of the aborigines known as “Old Tom.” An occasional long-buried hatchet or bit of indescribable pottery is still turned up in the fields and serves to keep the Indian memory green. It is an old village, much modernized by the enterprise of a few speculative New Englanders who came to view the land, bought it, and induced their friends to follow them. About every third man in the place is called “Captain;” all speak, more or less, the sea vernacular, and native boys in knee-pants sail yachts upon the river. A fleet of the finest yachts, aside from those of New York or Philadelphia, is found at Toms River, and the annual regatta is an event anxiously looked for and reluctantly left in the distance. Just east of Toms River is Money Island, which derives its name from another tradition to the effect that the tiresome Captain Kydd buried a heap of his treasure there. What with an aborigine and a pirate of their own, the inhabitants have something to exchange romances about when the topics of weather and crop—the county has never had a case of capital punishment—are exhausted.
The railroad continues its course on the south side of the river, and the next station is known as and is opposite to Island Heights. This is, indeed, an attractive spot. Along the river front is a levee, back of which, on gradually ascending ground, is the village. Broad and well-kept avenues run down to the levee, at which yachts float and swing with the wind and tide. Three years ago this place was an unbroken forest; now there are many pretty cottages erected, streets are regularly laid out and the store and the restaurant flourish. The auditorium, which is a natural amphitheatre, has echoed in camp-meeting times  the stentorian tones of the fiery Corbitt and the eloquent discourse of the late Bishop Simpson has been wafted by gentle breezes over the heads of hundreds and into the hearts of many...

​Onward we speed, and the sea breeze, which met us several miles back, grows fresher and stronger. Soon we are at the bridge which united either shore of Barnegat Bay. This bridge is a mile and three-eights in length and is as solid and firm as need be. At the draw we see the little steamer Hessie, which plies between the bridge and the incipient Barnegat City. Passengers alight and their baggage follow them, while their eyes dilate as the passengers who have just disembarked board the train with several handsome sheepshead, the product of the famous fishing grounds at the inlet and the outcome of a day there with rod and reel. Where may not a man do as well if not in the open country sixty miles from the dust and noise of the city.
Over the [bay], a slight detour northward a few hundred feet, and we are at Seaside Park. Engineer Wilkinson looks at his watch, and, including the run over the spur to Island Heights and the turning of the engine there, we are on time at 5:25, having made the sixty miles in less than two hours. At Seaside Park there are two large hotels and a number of cottages, all of which are filling up with people. The beach is one fo the best for bathing along the entire coast, and what is now a village in embryo promises soon to be a popular and populous resort. We may go a few miles toward Point Pleasant City by rail, but as the route is not yet open to travel we secure a room at the Berkeley and settle down to enjoy the seabreeze, preparatory to a good night's rest.

PINE BEACH FIGHTS SHUT DOWN OF P.R.R. STATION
Pine Beach is fighting its hardest to prevent the shutting down of the Pennsylvania Railroad station at that point during the winter months. The reason given for this proposed action on the part of the railroad officials is that the Island Heights-Pine Beach spur does not pay for itself. The Pine Beach residents come back with the assertion that they are on the main line and that their station amply pays for itself in traffic the winter through...

BIG SUMMER AT TOMS RIVER
This has been the biggest summer for a good many Toms River business places, that they ever had. The hotels were overflowed again over the last week end, and had to put people out in private houses to lodge. The new Marion inn has had a fine business this summer, and it is also true that the Ocean house and Central house have had a big summer. Deposits in the First National Bank on Tuesday reached the high water mark of $1,465,000, while at the Trust Company in round figure deposits were $950.000.

OCEAN COUNTY BOYS SHOW WIRELESS AT SPRINGFIELD, MASS
The Ocean County Wireless club, the first in the U.S., has the distinction of setting up and exhibiting a wireless outfit at the gathering of club members from all the northern and eastern states this week at Springfield, Mass. This station, to be erected by the Ocean county lads at the expense of the government, will be made permanent. Three boys leave today, Friday, for Springfield, to set up and operate the station: Melton Cranmer, Lakehurst; Richard Huggard, Lakewood; and E.R. O'Connell of Lakehurst, who takes the place of Stewart Newman of Toms River, whose untimely death a fortnight ago cut short a promising future.

TO THE TAXPAYERS OF ISLAND HEIGHTS
In November I worked 18 days burning leaves and cleaning gutters. Up to May 1 during 14 days a month doing same, I visited the town at least three times a week and found windows, doors and shutters open which I secured. I also looked after washouts in the streets and placed as many as five lights a night on them. Up to the 1st of January, 1920, I received at the rate of $2-per day; from Jan. 1 to July 1, rate of $1.35 per day, which the borough would have to pay the rate of $4 per day.
PETER NEWMAN, Marshall

BRANT GOT POLHEMUS PLACE
The Clarence Polhemus property on the north side of town was sold Tuesday by Sheriff Chafey, under judgment secured by the A.A. Brant Lumber Co. Henry L. Brant, owner of the company, bid in the property at $500. Polhemus, as contractor and builder, put up a number of houses at Beachwood, buying his supplies of the Brant Co. There was a dispute in the settlement and they secured judgment for the amount owed them. While this matter was in dispute, Polhemus deeded his property to Will Riley Applegate, who the same day deeded it to Polhemus's wife. The Chancery Court set these deeds aside and the property was sold under judgment.

POULTRY MEETING AT WHITES
A meeting of the poultrymen in the Whitesville section was held on Wednesday of this week at that place. M.R. Hecht, manager of the Poultry Producers shipping plant at Toms River, explained the business methods of that organization and instructed the egg producers how to pack their eggs to avoid breakage and loss in getting them to the packing house here.

NOT TO ENFORCE LAW IS ANARCHY, STATES JUSTICE
Not to enforce law, or the refusal of the minority to abide by the decision of the majority, is a reversal of the principles of our system of government, said Justice James F. Minturn in charging the September grand jury on Tuesday, 13th inst. Justice Minturn was talking openly about the situation in this state in regard to prohibition enforcement, when he told the grand jury that not to enforce the law, whether the law suits us individually or not, will overthrow law and order, and supplant the rule of law with anarchy and chaos.
Justice Minturn charged the grand jury in the absence of Justice Samuel Kalisch, who is in Europe taking the baths, because of his ill health. The Justice, notice the presence on the grand jury of several women, said that because of tehse new members, who might not be so well acquainted with the growth of our judicial and court system, he would tell them at length the duties and responsibilities of the grand jury.
He then took up the matter of the enforcement of the liquor law. He said that he might have had a different view of the need of the prohibition law than that entertained by the lawmakers of the state and nation, and the individual grand juror might also entertain different view, but that made no difference. The lawmakers of the nation and of the state, representing the majority of the voters, had, in order to protect society from the evils of drink, outlawed the sale of alcoholic drinks. The bootlegger or whoever sold liquor contrary to those federal and state laws, was a criminal, and they must so consider him. To allow the individual to nullify any law he chose, meant anarchy and chaos, and subversion of the principle of the rule of the majority, on which our government is based...

LAST GAME OF 1921
What was said to be the last game of 1921 was played yesterday afternoon, ((Thursday) with the Brooklyn Royal Giants, claimed to be the best and foremost colored team on the coast. Score was: Brooklyn 6—Toms River 3.

MATERIAL FOR ZR-1 COMES
Several carloads of material for the big airship ZR-1, which is to be assembled at the naval air station, Lakehurst, arrived there last week from League Island Navy Yard, Philadelphia, where the duraluminum frame has been fashioned, ready to put together.

RAILROAD CO. NOT TO BLAME FOR TWO DEATHS AT CROSSING
The double tragedy on Labor day, 1919, when Charles Jones of Tottenville, Staten Island, a cottager at Beachwood, and his apprentice boy, Ralph Knudson, had their lives almost instantly wiped out at the Main street crossing of the Central railroad, just at the station in Toms River, was rehearsed again in our courts this week, on Wednesday and Thursday. Lizzie Jones, widow of Charles Jones, and William Knudson, father of the boy, brought suits against the Central Railroad for damages for these deaths, and the cases were tried together. Owing to the fact that the railroads were in government control when the accident happened, the suits were against the Director General of Railroads. Prosecutor Joseph E. Stricker of Middlesex county, represented the plaintiffs; DeVoe Tomlinson of the Central railroad legal staff, with former Prosecutor T.J.R. Brown and Mr. Thomas, represented the road.
The jury, after hearing the evidence and the summing up by the lawyers, brought in a verdict that the railroad was not to blame, and giving no damages to the relatives of the victims...
One result of this tragedy was the order of the State Utility Board that the crossing should be guarded with gates, which very likely has saved similar accidents in the past summer.

CAPT. JOHN HULSE
After an illness of about ten days Capt. John Hulse died at his home in Osbornville on Tuesday afternoon, August 30. He would have been 81 years of age had he lived until the 17th inst. Capt. Hulse was a civil war veteran, having enlisted in the 28th N.J. Vols., served the required time, re-enlisted again in a New York regiment with which he fought until the close of the war. He participated in some of the hardest battles of the war, among them being Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville and Gettysburg. He was wounded twice but not seriously.
For 23 years he was attached to the coastguard station at Chadwick and when he was retired a few years ago because of physical disability, there was not a black mark against his long and faithful service. Since his retirement he had spent considerable time duck shooting and most every duck hunter who is in the habit of enjoying this rare sport on Barnegat Bay, was familiar with the name of Capt. John Hulse, who was one of the best wing shots in the state. The civil war veterans are now few in number; they are fast passing away. It will only be a short time before they will all be summoned to answer the final roll call and, like Capt. Hulse, join their comrades on the other side...

PERSONAL
President Harding [yes, the actual president – anybody traveling from New York City/northern New Jersey and Atlantic City had to use the most direct land route before the Garden State Parkway was installed in the early 1950s – which went right through downtown Toms River] and party drove through town on Monday afternoon, en route from Atlantic City to New York. Their only stop in Toms River was at Main and Washington streets, when the driver of the leading car slowed down enough to ask directions for the road.
Congressman T. Frank Appleby of Asbury Park, was in town Monday. He is spending part of the Congressional recess circulating about the district to learn if he can what his constituents are thinking about and what they want done. This is a pretty good idea, but one that is rather a new plan in this district. Mr. Appleby said that he was now at work on the Barnegat light matter, trying to convince Commissioner Putnam that the jetties needed there could be built for much less than the $175,000 estimated by government engineers. He believes the work can be done for perhaps $50,000.
Mrs. H.G. Flint and son Richard have returned to Niagara Falls, N.Y., for the winter, after spending the summer at their home on the Main Shore road in Berkeley [later, South Toms River, where H.G. Flint would become its first mayor and give his name to Flint Road, where he lived, and which was the original highway before what is today's Route 9 followed closer to the river]. Mr. Flint is manager of the Shredded Wheat company which has its factories at Niagara Falls.
Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Schwarz and Mr. and Mrs. Wm. B. Pierce, who went down to Long Beach on a camping trip last week, made a short stay. They took a violent antipathy to the warm welcome that the Long Beach mosquitos had prepared for them, it seems, and came home.
Latest reports from Mt. Holly say that Philip S. Irons, formerly of Toms River, and one of those very ill from typhoid, following the church supper at Jacobstown, is now improving, and if he continues without setbacks, will recover. This is very good news for “Sherd's” many friends in Ocean county.

FISH AND GAME
Partyboatmen at the shore towns along the bay say that this was one of the best summers they ever had. Forked River boat captains had an especially good summer. With some fo them during the latter part of the summer, when the city sportsmen found fish often bit better at night than in the day, many boatmen took out two parties every twenty-four hours, one at night and one by day, and they were almost dead for want of sleep when this last week gave them a little letup.
Fish have been biting at nights, the baymen say, except when the water was full of phosphorous. At such times the fish apparently would not bite except at dusk or in the early dawn.
From every section of New Jersey come reports that rabbits are unusually plentiful this season. Farmers and sportsmen agree that it has been many years since the cottontails were so numerous. The reports also indicate there is a bountiful supply of pheasants and quail this year. A dry summer is usually credited with insuring a big crop of young game, and every farmer can testify to the thoroughness of the drought during the last few months. Other factors that had added to the game increase have been the liberal restocking with birds by the Fish and Game Commission and the increased efficiency in the enforcement of game conservation laws...
Reports from Waretown, Forked River, Tuckerton, Seaside Park, Beach Haven and other points on Barnegat bay late last week were that immediately after the northeast blow that began a week before had subsided the fish began to bite both inside and outside of the bay. Big weakfish, some as heavy as eight and nine pounds apiece, weer caught by many boat parties, from eight to thirty fish to a boat being reported.

PLEASANT PLAINS
The state road is some road all right. It makes some folks seasick to ride over it. By the way, the township roads are in bad shape also. Maybe not so wavy so as to get seasick but very uncomfortable to drive over.
Wilmer Clayton has a fine patch of watermelons.

OCEAN GATE
The graveled streets through Ocean Gate were so much in use this summer, and the improvement so much appreciated, that it is hoped more can be improved next spring. As it is you can drive a car within east distance of almost any residence in the borough. The new approach to Ocean Gate via Pine Beach has been much used by motorists this summer, since it was opened to travel, and is well liked.
The tightness of money has prevented considerable building that had been contemplated here this summer. However the outlook is good for the winter and spring in the building line, particularly so if costs drop a little and the money market loosens up a trifle.
Hotel Keisel has had a very successful summer, so Mrs. Keisel reports, with guests from every part of the country, Main to Texas, and Canada to Florida. Instead of going to Florida this winter, the Keisels plan to remain in Ocean Gate and keep the hotel open for guests through the winter, which will be a great convenience for week end auto parties.

BEACHWOOD
The long heralded Beachwood movies taken with the picture outfit owned by Mr. and Mrs. Butler, had their first presentation at the yacht club on Saturday evening. The place was crowded and many of those present had the pleasure of seeing themselves on the screen for the first time. Wm. A. Stephan had charge of the projector and R.B. Smith, with previous experience with professional movies, explained the pictures and made witty comments which drew roars of laughter. In his serious moods he explained the modus operandi of taking and showing the amateur movies as compared to those of a professional nature. In the latter the actors are made up for the occasion and have a field twice as large in which to move about. In spit of their limitations the Beachwood movies were a big success and many of those appearing in them showed genuine talent. Who knows, this may be the beginning of some Mary Pickford's career, or of some Charlie Chaplin. The community spirit was reflected in the pictures also, as for example in the handling of the newly-purchased fire apparatus at a supposed fire. The net proceeds of the showing of the films go towards pine and fire protection funds. New features are constantly being added and it is expected that another entertainment will be given at the yacht club next Saturday evening with vocal selections and recitations between the waits.
The summer is nearly over here, though numerous bungalows are still open, and it is expected that week end parties will be plentiful till the snow flies.
The Polyhue Yacht Club expects to see several more colored sails on the river next year. The 15-footer class seems to have put on Barnegat Bay to stay by means of this club, and the other clubs on the bay will have racing fleets to compete in interclub races next year.
Mrs. Wanda Lohr [owner of the Japanese-style pagoda house that still stands today at Capstan and Brigantine] will keep her home here open till cold weather. Mayor and Mrs. Senior are planning to stay here till about the middle of November, and then will take apartments in a New York hotel.
Wm. Mill Butler showed the famous Beachwood Days motion pictures at the yacht clubhouse on Saturday evening. The pictures were half the size of the commercial photographs, but showed many Beachwood scenes and Beachwood notables, making a great deal of fun. There was about 700 feet of film. More is being developed in Rochester, N.Y.
Rev. Dr. Martin Luther Stimson, who spent last winter and spring in Japan and China, visiting his old mission station and Fenchow, is expected here soon at his handsome bungalow.

BARNEGAT
Freight trucking is making great inroads in the steam roads' traffic. Well perhaps if the public kept up the railroad tracks they might do the same. The steam roads must pay the highest wages in the country, maintain depots, keep up their roads, furnish commodious coaches with softest cushions, ice water and sanitary cups, pay out millions yearly for freight damaged by these high salaried men who are paid to safely transport goods; agents and clerks to keep account of their business, scores of high salaried officers who ride around in special cars, at whose expense? Huge sums for repair shops and coal; these and many other expenses are what compels the roads to exact such rates to bring us a little stuff from the cities.
On the other hand what does it cost to a big truck to run from New York or Philadelphia to anywhere along our shore? Who keeps up the road, what are their expenses? Size up both sides and one can readily see why. But it's a great blessing to the public and the time will soon be when one can take a fast auto bus and go to Philadelphia and back much less than the steam roads can take you.
Labor day has passed, our summer visitors have gone, school is open, fall is here and before we know it Thanksgiving will be here.

HIGH POINT [a section of what is now Harvey Cedars]
Wesley and Horace Hellman and Wallace Sloan expect to sail the northern waters of Barnegat Bay in their sneakboxes “The Dark Hoss,” and the “Dam Slo.” They contemplate visiting all the towns on the way to Bay Head.

SEASIDE PARK
Quite a number of our summer people are still here and have enjoyed the fine September days.
The borough school opened Monday with B.M. Gould as principal and Mrs. Mangold as primary teacher.
Holmes VanNote, steward of the yacht club, will keep the clubhouse open till October 1. The tennis courts as well as the yachting have been very popular with the younger members this season, and match plays were frequently held on the club courts.

LAVALLETTE
At our last council meeting there was a petition for water signed by some of our property owners, asking a committee be appointed to see what could be done towards getting water in the town.
There are several families going to remain all winter in Lavallette, which will increase the winter population.
New houses are going up and we hear several more are to be erected very shortly.
The merchants have had a good season, as there have been more summer people here than ever before.
Gene Piard, has had a very good season with his large powerboat, taking parties out fishing and on pleasure trips. Anyone who wishes to take a trip, he is always on hand.

ISLAND HEIGHTS
Frank W. Henry and family have returned to their home in Merchantville, having spent the summer here. Mr. Henry is the standby in all the yacht races of the B.B.Y.R.A. Being a wizard at figures, in time and figuring out the position of the various contestants.
Never has the public dock been better utilized by more people than this summer. It has been a community center, a social center, a resort for cool breezes in hot weather, almost anything that was needed could be be'd there.
The ladies of the M.E. church cleared the sum of $60 at the rummage sale which was held on Thursday, Sept. 8.
Leo Mampe, our lone fisherman, is still on the job. We think that it would take seven bushel baskets to hold the perch caught this summer.
We are glad to state that Harry Hendricks will keep the Riverview hotel open all winter principally for the accommodation of sportsmen.

MONEY ISLAND
Another big meeting of the Improvement Association was held at the yacht club on the 4th. Mr. Brooks, the president, presided. The general welfare of the Island was discussed and Mrs. Hakspacher, chairman of the committee to visit the residents, turned in the names of a large number of new members... Plans were outlined for a number of improvements for the year 1922. Among the things discussed were the new pier, speed signs, large sign marked Money Island placed on the Main road, improvements to the roads, more lights, collection of garbage and a number of minor matters.
Mr. and Mrs. Wm. Donnelly and Miss Marion and Gordon Donnelly closed their handsome cottage and returned to Phila., on the 7th. This early departure was caused by the opening of the schools. The Donnelly cottage was the scene of much festivity during the season. Mrs. Faulkner, mother of Mrs. Donnelly, came to the Island in very poor health, returning very much benefited.
Whispering Pines, the bungalow of Mr. and Mrs. W.B. McNulty will close about September 15. Mr. and Mrs. Earle T. Ellis will return to Philadelphia at that time.
Mr. and Mrs. Theo. Siefert will keep Audubon Lodge open until the middle of the month.
The season was so enjoyable at Audubon Lodge that it was decided to form a boosters' social to repeat the pleasures of the season just closed during the summer of 1922 and for social enjoyment during the fall, winter and spring. Mr. Leon Siefert was elected president and his estimable wife, who is a charming hostess, was selected as secretary. One of the objects would be to advertise the attractions of the Island. The members of this newly formed Association certainly had a red letter season of pleasure and enjoyment, embracing yachting, fishing, crabbing, bathing and auto trips and in the evenings, moving picture shows, vocal and instrumental music, dancing and refreshments. No better time could have been enjoyed in any other place. This social, congenial body of residents enjoyed an ideal summer.

The Last Days of a Blue-Collar Resort
by Nancy Lyon for the New York Times
Sept. 16, 1973

MONEY ISLAND, N.J.—Soon the little strip of coarse beach will be deserted, Popsicle season will be over and the white enamel chairs at Laura's Candy Store will be turned over the tables. Another summer will become a memory for the folks and kids for whom Money Island, a four‐square‐block area of cottages on the Toms River in Ocean County, N. J., is paradise.

This tiny family resort community, a blue‐collar Fire Island, is paradise to the people who summer here because it is the only vacation style they have known, have been able to afford. Not because it is a paradise. Its backyards are strung with laundry, overgrown with weeds and cluttered with old mattresses and broken refrigerators. Front porches of the cottages serve as extra bedrooms or repositories of broken furniture, inner tubes and old newspapers. Living rooms are furnished with lawn chairs, carpeted with bathroom rugs, and plastic curtains cover the windows. Most of the dwellings lack the air‐conditioning needed to temper the sticky Jersey air. But the unjaded people who vacation here are grateful for the little strip of beach (never mind that the river is polluted) and the willows, mimosas, golden rain trees, spruce and elms thickly shading the streets. If you haven't slept in the Canadian woods or lolled in the Mediterranean, it is beautiful here.

Money Island is special because it represents a vanishing vacation style. Most of the houses here were bought generations ago when the land and building materials were still cheap, and now they are visited by the grandchildren and their families, Every summer they all come back. Everyone knows everyone else. Life is kept as simple as it can be. But one of these years Money Island will be devoured by the cloverleaf Americana on its fringe— strips of Colonel Sanders, gas stations and Ho Jo Inns only 50 feet from some of its cottages. It won't go the way of Lordship Point, a row of flim‐flam vacation cottages on Stafford Point, Conn., that were so decrepit they were condemned two years ago. Instead, Money Island's lots will be grabbed up by realtors offering a fancy price and turned into upper‐middle‐class recreational land, which will force the people of Money Island to more expensive vacation alternatives, or none at all. Ocean County, only 60 miles from New York City, is one of the fastest‐growing counties in the country and every year more and more Philadelphians and New York people pack the motels along the highways in the town of Toms River and adjacent seaside communities. The asphalt strip is closing in on Money Island, and the first sign is the controversy over a muffler shop some builders are trying to locate in the neighborhood. Money Island's residents, organized by Tom Jobson, managing editor of The Asbury Park Press, are protesting the building of the shop, saying that it violates the local residential zoning laws. If the muffler shop people win the case, the residential zoning laws will become meaningless and other commercial builders can intrude.

But for now, Money Island, with a year‐round population of 200 that swells to 1,000 on the busiest of summer weekends, is in striking contrast to its neighboring communities—Point of Woods with its modern split‐level houses; Island Heights with its turn of‐the‐century turreted, bay‐windowed frame homes; Breton Harbors with its clean cottages with gardens; the tawdry Seaside Heights boardwalk world; the Lakehurst Military Base with its Fitzgeraldian white military balls and Blue Angels demonstrations; the Toms River Yacht Club with its Sunday dinners and sailing fanatics. How Money Island is remote from these other vacation communities, and why it has remained so, are what made spending a long week end knocking on its doors an enlightening experience, one that won't be so possible in a year or so.

Mailbox names here: McCloskey, Weber, Pohlig, Murphy, Harrigan, Fuller, Becker, Feretti, Steele, Hart, Kovach, Legradi, Bradley. There are some Irish in Money Island, many Italians, some Polish, but no Jews. Not that the neighborhood is anti‐Semitic. People stick too close to themselves and their families to care about who moves in next door. And the fact is that people in this community rarely move. In years past, only when old people died and there were no children to keep up the house was it sold.

Money Island men are security guards, bartenders, janitors, surveyors, house painters, sales clerks and construction workers And the wives work, too—not because they are liberated, but because the family's summer vacation in Money Island wouldn't be possible if they didn't. So they are school bus drivers, sales clerks and secretaries.

In contrast to its tacky houses and weedy yards, the streets of this tiny community are solemnly named after literary figures—Keats, Poe, Longfellow, Tennyson, Burns, Whittier, Bryant, though no one knows why. And why is it called Money Island? A realtor for the area didn't know, but one of cluster of kids on the street said, “Oh, because Captain Kidd was supposed to have buried his treasure here.”

Some say that the treasure was buried on the bluff under a dead pine tree, others that it might have been buried in the creek, now mostly dried up, that makes the area technically an island. But since 1712, when the area's name was changed from Goose Creek to Money Island, the legend has prompted many a child, especially ones spending their first summers here; to dig up their backyards in search of the loot. Tom Jobson, who has one of the handful of middle‐class homes in the otherwise blue‐collar area, says he and his wife saved up for their swimming pool, party because he loves swimming, but partly out of a frail fantasy that the excavation might uncover the treasure.

Marguerite de Angeli, who summered on Money Island with her family for many years, in 1947 wrote “Jared's Island,” a children's book about a Scottish boy who is shipwrecked, rescued by an American sea captain and taken to Money Island. While Jared is secretly planning to run away from his adopted parents to look for the treasure, which he and his brother Colin had heard of before they left for America, he is told: If it's Captain Kidd thee thinks of, it's nearly seventy years since he was hereabouts. It is now 1760 and he was here in the late nineties. Besides, he roamed the coasts for hundreds of miles, from the Spaniard's Florida to the Massachusetts Colony. Set thy mind on treasures in heaven, lad, and stick to working for thy money.

Jared runs away from home to look for the treasure, winters with some Indians, finally gives up his pursuit and, like the prodigal son, returns home. While digging for fishing worms (right in his own backyard, of course), he accidentally digs up the treasure chest and finds a faded parchment stating:

TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN:
This chest of gold is truly mine and none other's. It is not pirate gold, but earned by me in honest toil in service of His Majesty King George. No man knows of it save me, for it is none of theirs. Whoever it be that finds it may keep it for his own.
Captain Kidd
1695

The legend lends a little excitement to this quiet, conservative community, but the real treasure of Money Island is its remoteness from 1973. Its remoteness from upward‐mobility vacations, fractured families, Hamptons sophistication, drug frenzies and Future Shock. Children still marry the boy or girl next door right out of high school or junior college and settle in the same or a neighboring town. Crewcuts are still popular. The casserole, now flourished with a little Hamburger Helper, is still the diet staple. Parents brag that there is no vandalism or drug abuse here. All the husbands wear wedding rings. Ministers take the place of psychiatrists.

The only commercial enterprise on. Money Island is Laura's Candy Store, a penny candy store in which jaw breakers (now 2 cents), baseball cards, ice cream and soda are sold over musty ancient counters. Money Island's teenagers hang out there day and night in the summer, playing the pinball machines, listening to songs like “Monster Mash” on the jukebox, cutting up and flirting to survive their adolescence, while Laura Lynch, a quiet Christian Scientist in her sixties, supervises them. Her little store is in a paint‐peeled house only 30 feet from the beach, and parents call her during the day to check up on their kids, or to relay messages to them. She closes the place down responsibly every night at 10, and the kids walk home, or if they have cars, stop along the way to park.

Laura's father opened the store in 1920, before Money Island's commercial zoning regulations were drawn up. “I'm selling the store this fall,” she says quietly, almost confidentially, “I'm getting old, and there's no real profit on penny candy and ice cream any more, you know. I'll be pulling up all my roots. I'll be sad. I don't even know if the kids know about it yet.”

The last summer for Laura's. The last picture show.

This particular afternoon at Laura's is like any other. The boys are at their jobs as amusement game operators at Seaside Heights, or in construction, or as electricians or plumbers’ assistants, while the girls wait for them during the day, bloating themselves with Coke, slamming the pinball machines, swapping gossip and confidences. Since the girls have to be 18 to work, and they aren't, they are bored. They don't spend their days curled under willows reading novels because their parents never did. They pursue their identities within this small group through the safely identical summer afternoons. They love Laura's because it is the only hang out they have, and most of them have been coming to her place since they could ride bikes.

Teen‐age Spokesman
“Some of the parents won't let their kids come here,” says one girl in halter top and jeans. “Some of us smoke, and there is some bad language, but no bad intentions. We just love getting together with our friends. We even look out for some of the younger children on the beach when their parents aren't around.”

After 5 P.M. the fellows start to drift in. A long‐haired boy wearing a “cannabis sativa” tee shirt drops a quarter into the juke box. “Rock and Roll Part I,” Gary Glitter; “Hot ‘N Nasty,” Humble Pie. As the cast gathers, sexual innuendos appear, the gum‐popping coquettes are recognizable now, wearing their careless‐but‐catch‐me looks. The girls are more attractive than the gawky peach‐fuzzy boys, but they are the only boys around, and so they pair off. They try to look sophisticatedly indifferent as they flirt, yet there is candid camaraderie within the group that is refreshing.

They all seem to love Money Island and have a crude awareness about that many of their parents don't have: that it's fun, but not a paradise. “Toms River smells like a dead catfish,” snickers one shiny‐faced fellow. “Man, you can't wear a white or light‐colored bathing suit because it'll turn reddish brown on you. It's the cedar in the water. And when you go home you have to wash the stuff off you and your suit, and it leaves a scum around your tub. We get the red tide here too some times, and it causes a lot of infections.”

They are squeamish when asked if there are drugs around. One girl says, with incongruous levity, “I believe that drugs will never solve or help you with your problems.” There is some talk about a pusher who comes in from Seaside Heights, the local Atlantic City, looking for business, but if these kids were interested in experimenting with drugs, the smallness of the community and fear of their parents would be enough to keep them from it.

The most ambitious of them will go to the local junior college, Ocean County College, which they derisively refer to as “Hooper High” because it's on Hooper Avenue in Toms River. “It's just a different building than the one you went to last year, and you go around with the same high school cliques,” explains one teen‐ager. But these kids don't have the incentive to escape their class, don't care about earning money to go to a better school. Summer job money will go for jalopies and motorcycles. Life is a simple formula—job, marriage, kids—and happiness an accident.

Not all the kids spend their days at Laura's. The pre‐adolescents have their own projects: selling Kool‐Aid on the corner, riding bikes, playing badminton or cards. Because they aren't entertained all day by their parents, summer camp, country clubs, fancy boats or tennis courts, they create their own inexpensive adventures. Brothers Ricky and Mike Folino caught 27 pigeons in one day in downtown Toms River under the Main Street bridge and have spent the summer training them as pets. The one perched at the moment on Ricky's shoulder is Egor the Second. (So that explains the number of backyard birdcages containing pigeons in the neighborhood.) But what about the strange abundance of bird feathers and droppings dusting the streets and yards of Money Island? That is something. else, Ricky says: For the last three years the area has been horridly invaded by thousands of starlings, and every night before dusk as they approach their eerie shrills can be heard. By dawn they disappear, leaving the siege of their feathers behind.

Somewhere on the island rock music blasts from one house, raping the silence of the willows. Inside, in a stuffy living room choked with cigarette smoke, sit three shirtless boys of college age and two slightly younger looking girls. They are down to escape “the city”—Bayonne. The house is being rented by the brother of one of the girls, who makes his money from odd construction jobs. The girls spent one year at Hooper High and left be cause it was “boring.” Yet out of school they are bored, directionless. This is the most severe boredom (the middle class would say ennui) I've seen on Money Island. Most everyone else shares a curious excitement about being here.

At another home, a 50‐year‐old tar paper cottage tilting precariously to one side, its residents, still dripping from their swim, sit on the porch in front of a weedy yard, seemingly admiring it. The cottage is unwinterized and its only amenities are cold running water and toilet. Its Austrian‐Hungarian owners, the Roths, bought it for $3,000 with a sister‐in‐law 19 years ago (now the land alone is worth $10,000) and have been driving the 78 miles from Philadelphia with their six children to be here for two weeks every summer, and on weekends through October. Though Mr. Roth is a carpenter, it doesn't look as if he's tried to fix up his place. He says it can't be winterized because it would be too expensive. For the moment, the Roths’ goal is to make enough money to rent a boat for one of their weeks in Money Island.

Mrs. Roth eagerly asks me what think of the island. She presumes I would love to have a house here, being so close to a nice beach and so many other families.

Because the Roths live in downtown Philadelphia, their children have a broader exposure to the world than the children who live here year‐round. That perhaps explains the ambition of the young Roth girl, who some day wants to be “either a medical technician or an airline stewardess.”

EGGS STRICTLY FRESH
AT RIGHT PRICES
Because of the difficulties in shipping checked eggs (eggs that have their shells cracked, but are otherwise good as the best for immediate use), we will sell these eggs at prices that will please you.
Packing House
N.J. POULTRY PRODUCERS
ASSOCIATION CO-OPERATIVE, Inc.
Opp. C.R. Depot – TOMS RIVER, N.J.
================================
YACHTS FOR SALE
Ten launches and two sailboats (one with power) for sale. James Chamberlain, Toms River, N.J.
For Sale: Crosby cat-boat 26 ft. new sail in excellent condition. Also a 24 ft. raised deck cruiser. M.A. Pyott, Camp Walk, Island Heights, N.J.
For Sale: Tuckerton garvey, 27 ft., 7 1-2 hp. Mianus engine. Boat now in use, excellent condition, tax paid. W.W. Payne, 125 Washington st., Town.
================================
PUBLIC SALE:
Engleside, Beach Haven, N.J.
Hotel Furnishings: Bedstands, springs, mattresses, washstands, chairs, sofas, carpet, dishes, glassware, silver, gas fixtures, baggage wagon, hardness, etc. etc. Tuesday, September 20, at 2.00 p.m. daylight saving time—Adv.

Welcome to another Wooden Boat Wednesday!

Today we share with you a video rediscovered - a 28-minute NJN-produced special on the Sea Bright Skiff, from 1991! Featuring master boatbuilder Charles E. Hankins at work and the history of the craft, from pound fishing to lifesaving, with archival early-to-mid 20th century film footage, it's sure to be a treat.

CLICK HERE TO WATCH ON FOLKSTREAMS

It has been twenty years since the terror attacks on New York, Washington, D.C. and Pennsylvania, but for many who lived through that period, it is always only yesterday.

The Toms River Seaport Society remembers those who lost their lives then and in the years that followed - through wars, crippling illness from the dust at the World Trade Center, and grief.

Above, Island Heights photographer and Seaport Society member, Frank Parisi, poses with a print of his image that capture the A-Cat fleet with American flags at half mast.

He says, "This photograph was taken on September 11th a few years ago as the A-cat Fleet was at its regular mooring field near Stump Creek. To me, the photograph is an appropriate and patriotic tribute by the entire fleet to remember and honor the thousands of innocent men and women who lost their lives on that horrible day. God Bless America."

It now hangs above the original A-Cat SPY at our Maritime Museum.

This week, the Star-Ledger newspaper published an extensive feature on the water rescue of 400,000 people from the tip of lower Manhattan on the day of the attacks. It is a dramatic account that shines a light on the dedication and commitment by our maritime community, and can be read here.

(often 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)​

Labor day is over.
Court next Tuesday.
Summer season ending.
Moonlit evenings now.
Cranberry harvest is on.
Leaves fall here and there.
Full moon Saturday a week.
A few ducks seen in the bay.
Found any beachplums yet?
Folks going home to the city.
Vacation season is about over.
Auto tests today at courthouse.
Acorns are beginning to drop.
Freeholders met last Tuesday.
Summer yacht racing has ended.
Cranberry pickers are in demand.
Gaily colored leaves in the swamps.
Fall wild flowers along the roadsides.
Grapes are ripening—what new there are.
School begins next Monday, September 12.
The hot days last week made the corn jump.
September gave us some warm weather as a starter.
The next general holiday will be Thanksgiving day.
Bathing on the beach should be good for a fortnight yet.
Fallow fields are greenish white with oldfield balsam.
September is the best of all months for saltwater fishing.
Labor day crowds were the largest of the summer on the shore.
Those hot days will be remembered real pleasantly next January.
Time for the frost on the katydid schedule; the rest of us are in no hurry.
Mrs. Edward Crabbe returned last week from two months at her camp in the Thousand Islands.
The Double Trouble Co. started picking cranberries on Wednesday. Mr. Crabbe reports berries better colored than usual at this season.
Mr. and Mrs. Steel of New York have been getting ready to pick the Dover cranberry bog, in which he was interested with his father-in-law, the late James Applegate. Harry Holloway represents the Applegate estate in picking these bogs. Work was begun last Friday. There is a crop of perhaps 2500 bushels, as the frost hit the bogs hard last June.
This looks like a good black walnut year, all the trees seem to bear nuts.
William T. Giberson has about completed two of the five bungalows he will build in Berkeley.
The county put a chemical binder on Washington street to hold the dust down, but unless the township sprinkles that street, the dust is worse (dirtier) than plain gravel, though not so much of it.
The Oldsmobile Co. of South Jersey have opened their show room in the new Traco building. By an ingenious device, the show window was opened and tow cars placed in the showroom the latter part of last week.
Purple, yellow and white asters grow in profusion along the roadsides.
Goldenrod is now at its best and gayest.
Saturday evening, about seven o'clock, a fire alarm called out the firemen, up Lakehurst road. The boys never did find the fire, which was said to have been in the grass, and headed toward the Hensler lumber yard, hence the alarm.
George H. Holman began picking his cranberries on September 1.
Thomas I. Grant is picking a fine lot of late raspberries, equal to any early summer berries in size, color and flavor.
A son was born September 6 to Mr. and Mrs. Raymond Clayton and has been named Lloyd Raymond; a son was born recently to Mr. and Mrs. Frank Combi, and a daughter to Mr. and Mrs. David McGhie; also a daughter to Mr. and Mrs. Luker of Giberson street, Berkeley.

SONOMA, SCAT, MULL AND VANITIE BARNEGAT CHAMPIONS
Saturday last closed the point races in the Barnegat Bay Yacht Racing Association series for all classes but catboats, which latter class was ended by the Middleton cup race on Monday.
The result is that Sonoma has the bay championship for 1921 in sloops, Scat II in catboats, Mull in men's sneakbox races,Vanitie in girls' sneakbox races. This gives all the championships to Island Heights, except in the sloop class, and two of the championship craft, Scatt II and Mull, belong to one man, Edwin J. Schoettle of Island Heights. Island Heights club also won the three big catboat prizes this summer: Haddon's Zulietta took the Morgan cup; Scat II won the Sewell cup and Middleton cup.

RACING ASSOCIATION MAY INCLUDE 15 FOOTERS IN '22
It is thought likely that the Barnegat Bay Yacht Racing Association will add to its schedule next summer interclub point races in the 15 foot class, such as have been raced successfully this summer by the Polyhue club at Beachwood and the Bay Head and Mantoloking clubs. The aim of this is to encourage the younger boys and girls of the various clubs in the sport of sailboat racing. Seaside Park has placed an order with J. Howard Perrine of Barnegat, builder of the Beachwood, Bay Head and Mantoloking one design sneakboxes, for a fleet of 15 to 20 craft, that are to be ready next June. Beachwood expects to add several to its fleet, and up the bay clubs are looked to do the same. If there is glory to be won, Island Heights and Lavallette will never consent to be left out of the game. So the outlook for fifteen footers for 1922 is good.

BEACHWOOD FLEET WON FROM SEASIDE HEIGHTS YACHTS
The Polyhue Yacht Club of Beachwood took its tiny fleet of many-colored sail to Seaside Heights on Saturday last, September 3, and raced their fifteen footers against the twenty footers of the Seaside Heights yachtsmen. On time allowance every one of the Beachwood fleet distanced the Seaside Heights craft, and on an even race, Comet, Mrs. Clinton H. Hoard, defeated the bigger boxes. Time was announced as follows:
Comet, Mrs. Hoard, PYC – 51:49
Hobbleboggle, Garrigues, PYC – 53:50
Vamp, Miss Senior, PYC – 53:56
Polly, Jussen, PYC – 54:03
Pampero II, Robinson, PYC – 55:28
Tweet-Tweet, Young, PYC – 55:47
Helen Irene, Butler, PYC – 56:45
Redwing, Wemple, PYC – 57:18
Gee Whizz, Zucker, PYC – 1:00:40
Lydia, Forsythe, PYC – 1:00:40
Dr. G.G. Lawyer, SHYC – 1:09:17
Dr. D.H. McCreight – SHYC – 1:09:59
Mrs. Hoard's boat was sailed by Junior Wemple and Homer Dennis. E.D. Collins also won a novelty race from Seaside Heights yacht club contestants in his motorboat Edna.

OCEAN GATE RACES HELD
Ocean Gate had motorboat races on Saturday last, and also on Labor day, of the bang and go back variety. Commodore George S. Lubker won Saturday in his Ruth L., II. Monday the winner was Everett Dilks in Happiness; second, Capt. Heine in Gypsy Queen.

MANY DEATHS FOLLOW CHURCH SUPPER AT JACOBSTOWN [near New Egypt]
In the past ten days there have been many deaths as the result, so far as the human mind can trace it, of illness originating at a supper held by the Jacobstown M.E. Church a month ago. The story of this outbreak of disease in Jacobstown and vicinity sounds like the stories of cholera, yellow fever and smallpox epidemics a century or two ago. Every home in the little village of Jacobstown has had from two to six people ill, depending on the size of the family. The church hall, where the supper was held, was at once turned into a hospital in charge of health officials, and Dr. Fitz-Randolph of the state health department and his assistants have been concentrating every effort to stop the spread of the epidemic. Trained nurses have been secured for every home where the sick could not be taken to some hospital. The stricken area spreads out from Jacobstown in every direction. Deaths have occurred from the disease in New Egypt, Mt. Holly, Trenton, Moorestown and other smaller places.
The automobile in the past few years has made the church supper a much bigger affair than ever before. Jacobstown had a reputation for serving a tasty chicken supper. People drove there for miles around, and former Jacobstown boys and girls came from long distances. It is said that several cases of illness have been found in New York city among people who were at the supper...
One story in regard to the supper is that the chickens were cooked on Monday and the salad made on Tuesday, for the supper on Wednesday; but that it stormed Wednesday and the supper was held Thursday. It is believed that the length of time the food had been cooked may habe had something to do with the illness that resulted.

BELIEVE AMERICA SHOULD BUILD ITS OWN AIR CRAFT
Washington, D.C.—Despite the loss of the ZR-2 before actually becoming naval property, officers of the naval bureau of aeronautics confidently hope the navy will be permitted to continue its rigid airship program. They point out that America already has a gigantic hangar at Lakehurst, N.J., completed at the cost of $2,000,000 and capable of housing two ships of the size of the ZR-2 as well as other complete facilities... 

TWO GAMES NEXT WEEK
Toms River will have two ball games next week; on Tuesday, September 13, the Beverly all stars will be here; on Thursday, September 15, the Brooklyn Giants, who are seaid to have beaten the Cuban stars and the Bacharach Giants.

UNDER THE VAN NESS ACT
Before Judge Jeffrey on Wednesday Charles J. Hiering of Sseaside Heights pleaded non vult to having sold liquor to one of Prosecutor Plumer's men. He was represented by W.H. Jayne, who insisted it was a single offence, and Hiering was not in the business of selling liquor, but just got this to oblige the man. Prosecutor Plumer would not agree to the truth of this statement, and the sentence went over till next Wednesday, in order that the detective, who had missed his train, might tell his story...

MAY INTRODUCE SCALLOPS IN THE BAYS OF OCEAN COUNTY
That the scallop, the shell fish beloved by the Brooklyn resident, and found at its prime in the waters of Long Island Sound, may soon be a profitable product of the bays of this county, is the prediction made by State Shellfish Director George A. Mott and State Shellfish Commissioner Frank R. Austin, two Tuckerton men who have done much to develop the oyster industry in this county. They have been investigating the culture of the scallop in Long Island waters, and are told by the baymen on Long Island that thousands of acres in Barnegat, Tuckerton and Great Bays, unfit for the culture of oysters or clams, could be used to grow scallops. The scallop is highly prized as a food delicacy in New York city, and brings a good price. It is planned soon to make experiments in scallop culture in our bays.

TWO MEN HURT, CAR BURNT
Two men received severe cuts and bruises last night when a Dodge sedan bound for Atlantic City, was traveling too fast to make the turn at Mott's corner, Bayville... The car burnt up.

EGG PACKING PLANT AT WORK
The Toms River packing, grading and shipping station of the State Poultry Producers' Association, Cooperative, Inc., opened for business on Tuesday in the Boulevard Terrace building. To the astonishment of the manager, M.R. Hecht, there were 76 cases of eggs came in the first day, though no notice of the opening had been sent out to the poultrymen. The egg-producers are enthusiastic over the plan, and believe that it will solve their marketing troubles.

INTERFERE WITH NAVIGATION
Capt. Ira C. Lambert reports that a large number of planks, with spikes or big nails at their ends, are floating about the bay, as if the old plank replaced with new on the state bridge, had been heaved overboard. They make dangerous snags for small boats. Com. W.A. Maupay of Atlantic City, while up Toms River last Thursday and Saturday discovered by seeing boats run up on them, that there are several stumps in the channel near Anthony Irons boathouse. He suggests that the township should remove them as somebody is likely to come to grief.
One yachtsman reports striking a floating timber off Cedar Creek last week, fetching his boat up all standing, and flinging people to the deck. Luckily his stem hit the middle of the timber, as an end-on blow would have stove his craft in.

RECENT DEATHS
Stewart Newman
Stewart, the son of Mr. and Mrs. George Newman of Clifton avenue, Toms River, died at Kimball hospital, Lakewood, Sunday, September 4, where he had been taken suffering with appendicitis, two days previous. Stewart was born here and had always lived here. He was a high school student and much interested in the school activities. He was one of the organizers of the county radio club, and last spring traveled about the county addressing schools and securing memberships in that club. He was 17 years old. Rev. W.W. Payne conducted funeral services at the home, on Tuesday, at 3 p.m., burial at Riverside cemetery.

FISH AND GAME
The Labor Day week end brought scores of surf fishermen along the strand—especially at Barnegat, New and the newest inlet. All of Long Beach resorts had their share of them, and the beach from Seaside Park to the inlet was fished by a score or more.
There will be plenty of deer to shoot next December, notwithstanding the hundreds killed last winter, say the cranberry men who are now in the pines, picking or getting ready to pick their bogs. Harry Holloway of West Creek says that at Dover, where he is picking the Applegate and Steel bogs, it is not uncommon to see five or six deer at a time, and that they have just about eaten up all that Nate Austin grew this summer. From Chatsworth to Barnegat, and all the villages in the pine, come reports of many deer. The bucks have grown their horns for the winter and their rutting season is coming on, and they can be heard coughing and calling.
Young blackduck, raised this summer in the fishponds about the bay, and in interior ponds, are beginning to fly about the bay, trying out their wings. Woodduck, now protected by law, are increasing, it is said, and are seen flying about at dusk and in the early morning.
The little perch can now be caught in any quantity if you happen to locate a school of them and keep throwing your hook over. Hundreds are caught at a time.
Great baskets of crabs are being caught daily. This is one of the never failing delights for women and children and many men. Whenever there is a dock or other structure, out into the bay, such as the Pennsy railroad bridge, the bay wagon bridge, there have been scores of crabbers this past week end. The beauty of crabbing is that everybody catches them who tries. And then they are a highly prized delicacy to boot. If you know how to cook them, the hard crab surpasses the celebrated soft crab as an epicurean feast.
Coveys of quail are seen about in the fields and there seem to be as many rabbits as usual in the woods. There should be average sport next November.
All the party boats at all the bay and beach resorts were rented out over Labor day, the last big week end of the summer. There were fishing parties galore, both day and night trips.
Many fishing parties have been going outside Barnegat Inlet and catching big weakfish and croakers. Bluefish squids are often used outside, for weakfish and the bigger kind, trolling as if for blues...

BARNEGAT
One often hears it remarked how little good the health laws are toward stamping out contagious diseases. Not many years ago our Southern ports at certain times raged with yellow fever. Then we had smallpox, scarlet fever, diphtheria and such diseases spread from family to family and whole towns would become infested with them. Many would die and it was with great difficulty that the diseases were gotten under control. Today our ships from Southern ports are seldom found with any sickness. If by chance a contagious disease is found in a town or city it never spreads but is kept in the family and in most cases the patient is brought around again. There is no argument about it, the health laws have surely been a great aid to humanity in getting people to observe the rules and laws of sanitation which are conducive to good health.
The death of Capt. Lem Dothiday recently removed another of our retired sea captains. There are but very few left in this town of the large number who sailed from here a few years ago. R.M. Collins is the oldest, he being past 85. John King, Frank Harris, Wright Predmore, Henry Smith, Sam Sprague, Dan VanCleaf, Lorin Bugbee, Capt. Garrett Lippincott is another one of our old retired sea captains, he being 85, but for several years he has been an inmate of Saug Harbor, James Soper, Henry Soper, are about all we can recall.

SEASIDE PARK
Lieutenant Colonel Charles S. Gaskill, a former summer resident at Seaside Park, who performed distinguished service on the other side during the war, and has since been in Poland as a trusted advisor to the new government on matters of railroading, has been visiting his father, Judge Joseph H. Gaskill, at Moorestown, and has been spending some time this past fortnight at Seaside Park.
Labor day was a big day at Seaside Park, which has had a big but quiet season. For everyone says the season has been quiet, though every house has been taken and the hotels have had one of the best years ever known. Labor day brought the catboat race for the A.C. Middleton cup, a handsome trophy of solid silver, costing $1000, and it was also the occasion of the yearly water sports at the clubhouse.
[Events included:] pigheaded canoe race, apple race, boys and girls swimming races, girls diving and underwater swimming races, tub race for children, greased pole climbing, tilting, and an exhibition game of water polo.
Monday was like an old home day at the Seaside Park Yacht Club, when one saw faces of those who were prominent there in former years, such as Mayor John Weaver, Charles and Logan Gaskill, Herman Muller, Chas. J. Maxwell, Thomas T. Nelson, Geo. S. Gandy, Charles J. Schaefer and others from Seaside Park; James Nieukirk, Dr. A. L. Mulford, Frank Henry, Benj. Adams of Island Heights.
A good many cottagers packed up and left for the city on Labor day, but through the pleasant weather of the next two months many week end parties will come to the cottages.

FORKED RIVER
George Morehouse, who works at the Naval Air Station, took advantage of the week end holiday for one of his famous sight-seeing hikes. He took in the deserted iron foundry village at Allaire, visited Elon Garthwait of Como, formerly of Forked River; attended Ocean Grove campmeeting, and was royally entertained by Uncle Sam's coastguards at stations 102 and 103, whom he called on.

BEACHWOOD
The Labor day week end proved the glorious ending of a pleasureable summer for most of the Beachwood residents. Many will stay on, but perhaps the larger part, because of schools opening, are taking their children home this week.
The Labor day week end began with the Saturday evening dance, which had a record attendance. Sunday evening, the Beachwood Religious Association held its sacred concert in the borough hall with an attendance of 228 people, the biggest attendance ever known at these meetings...
Monday was the occasion of the Labor day sports, with Borough Councilman C.H. Haring in charge. The land sports were in the afternoon. In the evening at the borough hall, Mr. Haring awarded the prizes won in these sports. At the close of this. O. Fred Rost made a public acknowledgment of the debt of the borough to Mr. Haring in taking care of these sports for the six years of the resort's history, winding up with three cheers and a tiger for Mr. Haring, given with a will by the large gathering.
Monday evening Mr. Rost also presented to Mrs. George Siffert, representing the Woman's club, as its president, a silver cup, which he had promised to the organization with the booth that should make the largest profit at the recent Beachwood fair. The evening ended with a dance by young and old.
During the day the fire apparatus, recently bought by the proceeds of the fair, was presented to the borough by O.F. Rost, president of the Property Owners Association, and was received on behalf of the Borough by Mayor J.H. Senior.
[Labor Day games included:]peanut scrambles, sack races, 50- and 100-yard dashes, three-legged races, 50-yard swim races, diving contests, and canoe races.
Mr. and Mrs. John Baker of Maplewood were here for the week end. Mrs. Baker is a sister to the late B.C. Mayo.
William Mill Butler has taken a number of Beachwood scenes with [a] motion picture camera, to reproduce at Beachwood functions. The camera rolls are in Rochester, N.Y., for development, and enough has been printed off to show that some fine pictures were obtained.

OCEAN GATE
The Ocean Gate season ended on Labor day with one of the biggest days in the records of the resort. Fully 2500 people watched the land and water sports on Monday morning and afternoon. The day was a full one, the land sports at Ocean Gate avenue in the morning, water sports at the east side of the public dock, so that they could be seen by the crowds from the boardwalk and from the autos standing near the shore, and from the crowded dock as well. In the evening came the masquerade dance at the yacht club house.
A three mile marathon race and the 100 yard dash were both won by Mr. Cannon of Philadelphia, who made a remarkable showing. There were all kinds of funny races and stunts at the land sports. Perhaps the most laughable was when Chairman Hartman called for entries for a novelty race, and twelve lined up; then he produced twelve bottles of milk, telling them the one who sucked the bottle dry first, got the prize.
[Water sports included:] swimming races, rowboat races and canoe races.

ISLAND HEIGHTS
Labor day was a big day at Island Heights with sports and games and races. While the bad weather perhaps interfered a little with the plans for the evening, it had no effect whatever on the gala day affairs. [Events included:] 50- and 100-yard dashes, potato races, sack races, long distance run, catboat sailing races (under and over 20 feet, separately), open sneakbox races, open sail and motorboat races, three-legged races, horseraces, grasshopper races, rooster crowing contest, pie-eating contest, running board jump, standing broad jump, tug of war, 50-yard swim, canoe and rowboat races.
Joseph Hamilton and family of California, who spent the summer here, leave this week for two weeks in New York, will enter their son in Princeton University, and then return to California. Mr. Hamilton's parents used to go to Toms River from Philadelphia in the eighties [1880s] each summer, and when Island Heights was started, were among the first to have a tent and then a cottage here. The Hamiltons and their relatives, the Richardsons, were many years every summer visitors...
I have been informed that the Island Heights Yacht club have sold the famous cup winning yacht I.H.Y.C. It will be too bad if she has to leave the Heights for which she has gained so much glory.

SEASIDE HEIGHTS
Our hotels boast of a large season, their buildings being filled all summer.
The Sumner hotel is to be enlarged before another summer. Mr. Endres has bought property adjoining the hotel.
Mr. Otto Thoren of the Norway built an addition last year to his hotel and was filled to overflowing and will continue to keep open well into the fall months.
The contract for completing the boardwalk was given to O.J. Melee of Long Branch.

HIGH POINT [part of what is now Harvey Cedars on Long Beach Island]
A damper was cast over the holiday season by the unfortunate death fo James Eagleson of Camden, age 7. A rowboat in which three little tots were playing started to drift out on the bay. The frightened screams of the children attracted the attention of some people on the bay shore who immediately went to their assistance. Before any one could reach them the terror stricken children jumped overboard. One paddled to shore unaided and little Jimmy Carels, age 5, was picked up unconscious. He has recovered from the ill effects of his adventure due to Dr. Ramsdell's quick action. Little James Eagleson had a weak heart and succumbed from fright evidently, as merely a teaspoonful of water was in his lungs, though his body was in the water nearly half an hour. A false cry that he had been found safely at home drew the searchers from the spot for a short time. This is the first fatality of the kind that ever happened in High Point.
The summer is over and only the enthusiastic fishermen remain.
The yacht races ended Labor day with Ben Ridgway of the Harvey Cedars coastguard station, winner.

PINE BEACH
The Dutch supper at the yacht club last Thursday was voted a great success. Nearly everybody in Pine Beach came to the clubhouse for their supper and to meet everybody else...
The township committee of Berkeley met at the yacht club on Thursday evening and were served with the Dutch supper as guests of Mr. John Mergenthaler, president of the Lot Owners' Association.
The yacht club gave a masked ball at the clubhouse as its closing event for the season. There weer many interesting and original costumes...
Mrs. McNabb who was in a serious automobile accident is rapidly recovering and spent the week end here. Mr. and Mrs. McNabb were coming to Pine Beach a few weeks ago when on the road from Browns Mills to Lakehurst they ran into a load of gravel that had been dumped there to be spread the next day. It was after dark and the car ran into it and partly turned over at the edge of the cranberry bog. Another car came along and helped them out. A passing automobile brought Mrs. McNabb to Pine Beach while Mr. McNabb worked at the car and finally got it in operation and followed shortly after. The wind shield was gone and some damage done to the car.
An arrest was made here for selling alcoholic liquors. A woman detective from Toms River, posing as a customer, made arrangements with the seller to deliver the goods over at the railroad. When the man handed over the bottle the officers came out of their hiding place and arrested him. He was released on $1000 bond. Who will be the next?
Every bungalow was filled to capacity over this week end and there was a demand for more bungalows.
Pine Villa had 38 guests.
Dixie Bungalow had 13 guests and others were just as crowded.

BEACH HAVEN
The Unequaled Seashore Family Resort
SIX MILES AT SEA – NO LAND BREEZES
A RARE OPPORTUNITY
Scores of men in this vicinity KNOW Beach Haven, New Jersey. They will tell you it is a veritable “Sportsman's Paradise,” where sailing, fishing and duck-hunting are unexcelled. Its fleet of fishing boats, for hire, is the largest of all similar resorts along the Jersey coast. It is also an idea summer resort for children—indeed, for the whole family. Situated on an island six miles at sea, it has to “land breezes,” no objectionable features.
The two-mile bridge across Tuckerton Bay connecting the Ocean Boulevard with Long Beach has just been made toll-free by the State. This, with the wonderful Jersey roads, makes a resort easily reached by motor down the beautiful Island Auto Boulevard—none better in the state. This Island Boulevard runs from Barnegat Light to the Inlet. Direct train connections over the Pennsylvania Railroad via Market Street Ferries. The hotels available for accommodation are the Engleside, Ocean House, Beach Haven House, “The Breakers,” St. Rita and Acme. Cottages are leased early in the season at top-notch prices, and the present demand far exceeds the supply.
Here is YOUR Chance
to become a property owner. The holdings of the old Beach Haven Realty Company, involving a tract of many hundreds of desirable lots, within the Borough of Beach Haven, will be disposed of by the Beck Company, present sole owners, at prices far below those prevailing under former ownership, affording an opportunity for permanent investment. Millions have been spent in developing the charm and individuality of Beach Haven and enhancing its many natural advantages, which far excel those of any other resort along the New Jersey Coast.
Many of the lots in the Beck Company holdings are on gravel streets from 100 to 60 feet wide, with cement sidewalks. All are title guaranteed, and ready for immediate building operations. There is a wide choice, and you may be sure of desirable neighbors. AND REMEMBER, by State law, tax exemption for five years if building is completed prior to October, 1922.
A relatively small payment to insure good faith, and, if necessary, periodic payments may be arranged. This is not a “Land Proposition,” a development scheme or a dollar-down bait. We want the right kind of people in Beach Haven.
Come and SEE the lots. Once you realize what an unusual offer this is WE KNOW mutually satisfactory arrangements can be made.
BECK COMPANY, Owners
Phone 22 R 1-1     Beach Haven, New Jersey
Gas and Water   Wide Avenues   3 Churches   Fire Department   Boardwalk   Cement Sidewalks   Movies   2 Yacht Clubs   Sewerage   Cold Storage Plant   National Bank   Modern Stores   100-Car Public Garage
================================
WANTED
EXPERIENCED SEWERS
to make
PAJAMAS AND NIGHT SHIRTS
apply
STEINER & SON
Toms River. N.J.
Use Robbins Street Entrance
================================
FARMS WANTED
I am Agent for the E.A. Strout Farm Agency
LIST YOUR FARMS WITH ME
and I will Sell them Quickly—if Bargains
W.S. CRANMER
CEDAR RUN, N.J     LAKEWOOD N.J.
================================
On Sept. 12, 13, 15, 17, 19, 20 the Ariella will be open for charter parties. Adv. Ira C. Lambert, Toms River

It's Wooden Boat Wednesday!

This week we again bring you an archival NJN video, "In the Barnegat Bay Tradition," from 1982, featuring sneakbox-building and decoy-carving, plus music by Merce Ridgway.

IN THE BARNEGAT BAY TRADITION (NJN VIDEO LINK on FOLKSTREAMS)

From the site Folkstreams: "A half-hour documentary about decoy carving and sneakbox (wooden duck-hunting boats) building along the New Jersey Shore, featuring National Heritage Award winning decoy carver Harry V. Shourds and boatbuilder Sam Hunt. The program shows the structure of sneakboxes by depicting how they are made, the traditional use of both decoys and sneakboxes in duck hunting, the difference between handmade and factory decoys, and how decoys have become folk art for display rather than use. There are on-camera interviews with folklorists Mary Hufford and Bernard Herman, historical archaeologist David Orr, and the late duck hunter and decoy collector John A. Hillman. This documentary originally was distributed by New Jersey Network."

As supplemental materials, we also have profiles on both artisans thanks to the New York Times and National Endowment for the Arts.

​Take a look back to another era in the Toms River area's past, one century ago this week!

Let your mind wander as you consider life around August 26th, 1921, courtesy the New Jersey Courier weekly newspaper and Ocean County Library archives, and peppered with items of maritime interest (around a 15 minute read).

(often 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)​

​September.
Ninth month.
Foggy nights.
New moon yesterday.
Holiday next Monday.
Court begins September 13.
School begins September 12.
Summer ends September 23.
Huckleberry season is over.
September started off warm.
Equinox is three weeks away.
September juries in this issue.
Fruit is very scarce and high.
Leaves are falling from many trees.
Roads are rather rough and worn.
Cranberry picking begins next Monday.
Looks like a big Labor day on the shore.
Grapes are almost as scarce as peaches.
Oyster shipping will soon begin down shore.
Peaches have commanded hothouse prices this summer.
Chautauqua week is over. Fine program, good turnouts.
Watermelons are tasty, glad there's something in the fruit line.
September is the first oyster month—the first month with an “r.”
The egg-packing station is being got ready in Berkeley for local egg-shippers.
The summer rush ends next Monday, when the tide of travel will set cityward.
After a week or two of cool weather, August 30 was a scorcher, and it has been pretty warm since.
The gum trees in the swamps are colored gaily, and the sassafras and sumacs begin to show that fall is at hand.
Few beach plums this year, and what there were, somebody got before they were ripe, to get them ahead of other folks.
The Township Committee are trying to solve the problem of a building line on Main street in the business section.
We had a “dry no'theaster” the past week.
This is the last week end of the summer season.
School teachers are getting ready to return to work.
Edward Crabbe is remodeling the big barn on his property.
Richard Applegate is living in his handsome new bungalow on South Main street.
Wm. T. Giberson is building a block of five bungalows on the riverfront in Berkeley.
George Alsheimer is carting topsoil to Beachwood to make a lawn for both Judge Butler and Mr. Taub; and George says it is a fine job, too.
A cake sale on Saturday at Payne's cleared $30 plus [about $458 in 2021 dollars], to help Miss Bergen, the child welfare nurse, keep her car in shape. The Girl Scouts put it over.
Tomorrow there will be just 13 hours of sunlight. Days are losing fast at each end, and in three more weeks the day will have twelve hours of sunshine.
George Applegate of Dayton avenue has a seeding peach tree that this year bore a crop of remarkably fine peaches. The largest was over a foot around it, and four inches and 3-16 through it.
Dr. Leon Goble last Friday lost his pocketbook containing nearly $200 beside his 100 trip railroad ticket and other valuables. Luckily it got in the hands of an honest man, who returned it to the loser.
The new church hall at Cedar Grove is enclosed and roofed. It stands just back of the M.E. Church, and will be used for various kinds of community gatherings. The lumber cost $500, and labor was given all but about $125 worth. The hall will be opened with a church supper on September 6.
Monday of last week, John McCarthy of Lanoka brought to the Courier office a leather traveling bag that he had picked up along the road. Shortly after a Newark advertising agency phoned in a lost advertisement that hit the bag; they were told that there was no need of the advertisement, as the bag was in this office. Saturday the owner, Martin V. Dager of Newark, a public accountant, stopped and got his property. It was a gift from his son, Major Dager, while the latter was with the A.E.F. In France, and accordingly was highly prized by the owner. Mr. Dager spends his week ends at Surf City. He says Toms River is the prettiest town between Newark and Surf City, and that he always stops here to do the shopping for provisions needed over the week end at Surf City.
Corn seems to be growing finely, if fall holds off till it is ripe.
George H. Holman has completed a ten car garage on Sheriff street.
Vanderveer Post, American Legion, cleared $300 by their chicken supper last week, and are planning to make it an annual event.
The A.B. Newbury Company are replacing the sheds that were burned in July with larger sheds of metal roof, with heavy concrete foundations. The big shed is on the driveway on the south line of the property, and will have the mill, built of hollow tile, on the east of it, on the South Main street front, with the stables and wagon houses west of it, and next the river. The sheds that escaped the fire will be torn down and rebuilt. The company says it lost practically no business because of the fire, as its August business shows up well with previous months of the year, which is the biggest ever known.
What will traffic on our streets be like if they keep on building automobiles for years to come, and the same proportion of them come this way?

REMEASUREMENT COST WANDA VICTORY IN SLOOP RACE
A protest at the measurement of the sloop Wanda, of Seaside Park, cost her the victory in her class in the races at Cedar Creek Point, conducted by the Bay Head Yacht Club, last Saturday, August 27. The remeasurement increased her rating from 24 to 28, and reduced her time allowance so that Sonoma, owned by J. C. Elverson of Toms River, sailing under teh Seaside Park Yacht Club flag, was the winner. The original figures on Saturday for this race were as follows, corrected time given:
Wanda, Pennock, SPYC - 1:23:59
Sonoma, Elverson, SPYC - 1:24:59
Viking, Schofield, IHYC - 1:31:57
Ardo, Walling, SPYC - 1:32:07
Lotus, Truitt, IHYC - 1:33:34
Amazon, C.B. Miller, BHYC - 1:38:03
Portia, K. Barnaby, BHYC - 1:43:15
Remeasurement increased the sailing length of Wanda enough to put her second, and Sonoma first. The remeasurement also reduced the length of Viking and increased that of Sonoma, but not enough to change their positions.

Scat II Again Wins Catboat Race
Edwin J. Schoettle's boats at Island Heights seem to have the winning habit. His Scat II again won the catboat race at Cedar Creek Point, and his sneakbox Mull came in the winner in that class. There were nine yachts in the catboat race, the corrected time being:
Scat II, Schoettle, IHYC - 1:31:36
Mouser, Atkin, SPYC - 1:32:30
Dorothy, Larkin, SPYC - 1:32:48
Romp, Wheelock, SPYC - 1:35:15
Virginia, Warrington, IHYC - 1:35:56
Peerless II, Ill, IHYC - 1:36:24
Dryad, Bailey, BHYC - 1:40:05
Scat I, Schoettle, IHYC - 1:43:59
Zulietta, Haddon, IHYC - 1:44:04
There was an east wind in these races, an easy full sail breeze, that died out and came up again. Though the races were in the lower bay, there was a smooth sea.

Only Five Boxes Raced
Only five sneakboxes entered the races on Saturday at Cedar Creek Point, and Capt. Ill again put the Mull over the line the winner, the corrected time being as follows:
Mull, Ill, IHYC - 1:39:48
Ripple, Hance, BHYC - 1:40:48
Allure, Kean, LYC - 1:44:12
Me Too, Bailey, BHYC - 1:44:42
Wishbone, Dyke, LYC - 1:46:38

Races Saturday and Labor Day
The Barnegat Yacht Racing Association has two more races for this summer. On Saturday (tomorrow) at Island Heights there will be point races for ladies in sneakbox class at 10:30 a.m., and for sloops at the same hour; at 1:30 p.m., point races for men in sneakbox class, closing the point races for the summer in these three classes; at the same hour, point race for catboats.
Labor day, 1:30 p.m., at Seaside Park, the race for the Middleton cup will be the last point race for the season in the catboat class. Bay Head club will have open races Monday for both men and women in sneakbox class.

Picking Point Race Winners
Everybody in the racing game is now picking point race winners for the summer's championship. In the men's sneakbox class, E.J. Schoettle's Mull, sailed by young Ill, has no competitors, and cannot be touched in the one remaining race. In the sloop class, Wanda, Sonoma and Viking are all where they might win the championship by winning the race tomorrow. There being two more catboat races, Scat II, with 160 points, Zulietta, with 110, and Virginia, with 98, might either win the championship if lucky enough to win two races straight. Scat II is probably the winner, should she get either of these two races. All these boats belong to the Island Heights club.
Vanitie, Miss Ill, 230 points, and Frog, Miss Hall, 220 points, are the two leaders in the girls sneakbox races, and one of them will be the winner of the championship tomorrow. The summer has had the finest racing in many years, and the most interest, too.

ANOTHER DIRIGIBLE, BOUND FOR LAKEHURST, IS BURNED
Dirigibles bound for the big hangar at the Naval Air Station, Lakehurst, seem to be bad insurance risks just now, as following the tragedy of the ZR-2 at Hull, England, last week, dirigible D-6, was destroyed by fire on Wednesday, August 31, when the naval air station at Rockaway Point, Long Island, was destroyed.  This was the dirigible that was due in Lakehurst on Monday of last week, and with which the air station sailors were to practice, so as to know how to dock the ZR-2 when she reached there from England. D-6 was 198 feet long, carried a crew of four, and had a speed of 60 miles an hour. She was used as a coast patrol, and is probably the same craft that had often been seen on the coast, during the war. The craft was of the non-rigid type. Blimp H-1 and kite balloon A-P were also burnt up, in the fire, which started from gasoline.

TYPHOID EPIDEMIC SERIOUS IN NEW EGYPT SECTION
The typhoid epidemic which centers at Jacobstown, and laps over into Ocean county in New Egypt, is very serious. Mrs. George C. Reynolds, wife of the New Egypt Methodist pastor, died on Monday; Senator and Mrs. George L. Shinn and many others are seriously ill. The state health department is in charge and has sent many nurses there to instruct people how to nurse the sick, and neighbors who can spare the time are giving their services to care for the sick, who must otherwise die, if left without care.

TOTAL CRANBERRY YIELD LESS THAN LAST YEAR'S
The general agreement of three or four sources of figures as presented at the meeting of the American Cranberry Growers' Association, held at Toms River, on Saturday last, August 27, was that the total cranberry crop of the country would be a little less than that of last year. It is figured with a small shortage of cranberries, and an almost entire absence of fruit for canning this summer, the big shortage in apples will give the cranberry grower a chance to dispose of his berries at a fair price this winter.
The New Jersey crop, according to the average figures presented will be about 175,000 bushels; Wisconsin is looked to supply 23,000 barrels, and Massachusetts 230,000; Long Island will have about 5000 barrels. H. B. Scammell of Toms River, secretary of the association, from figures sent by members, estimated 168,000 barrels for New Jersey...
The new half barrel box was on exhibition. Railroads are allowing a lesser rate on berries shipped in this box. It is materially different from the old time 28 quart crate of the Jersey cranberry grower, with its double compartment and thin slats of Jersey pine. This box is built of at least half inch boards, and is re-enforced at the corners, the corner cleats making it easy to handle the box. These boxes store more berries in a car than can be done in barrels. Sample boxes made at Double Trouble, were exhibited.
Most of the visitors brought their lunches, and sat in the boathouse, or on the banks of the river nearby to eat dinner...

BERRY PICKER SHORTAGE
Around New Egypt, growers are advertising for cranberry pickers.

ISLAND HEIGHTS TO FIGHT IF P.R.R. ABANDONS BRIDGE
Island Heights people, property owners and renters, summer folks and all year folks, are organizing to fight any attempt on the part of the P.R.R. To abandon the railroad bridge or train service via the bridge to Island Heights. A.E. Freeman states he would carry the matter to the highest courts and has many offers of aid.

NO MOTION PICTURE STUDIO AT PINE BEACH AFTER ALL
As told in the Courier's Beachwood letter last week, the story of a motion picture studio at the Burnett place, Pine Beach, when traced down, seems to have been founded on the motion picture camera brought to Beachwood by Wm. Mill Butler, to take Beachwood pictures. The Courier has a letter from Clyde Phillips, the theatrical man, who is the present owner of the Burnett place, and who says he has not sold and has no intention of selling his property, but intends to have a fruit and berry farm there. The point, he writes, belongs to Mr. and Mrs. Al Nicholas of Brooklyn, who will shortly erect a year-round home there, beside three bungalows. [The Burnett place referred to here is the still-standing Buhler mansion now surrounded by mid-20th century ranch-style homes on what was once a large property]

WILL TAKE ANOTHER BITE FOR THE MANASQUAN CANAL
The state department of Commerce and Navigation is advertising for bids for another bite at the Manasquan canal. The canal is started from the Barnegat Bay end, and is now almost to where route number 4 of the state highway system will intersect it. Bids will be received October 4, at the statehouse in Trenton, and $50,000 is available.

OPEN EGG PACKING HOUSE AT TOMS RIVER THIS WEEK
Preliminary arrangements for opening the egg packing, grading and shipping house at Toms River for the New Jersey Poultry Producers Association, Co-operative, Inc. have been completed. The receiving of eggs will follow soon. It had been expected to have the shipping plant ready by September 1, but the losing in transit from Ohio to Toms River of a carload of shipping crates delayed the opening...

POULTRY DEMONSTRATION
A demonstration will be given at the farm of Wm. P. Flint, Clifton avenue, Toms River, showing how to inoculate pullets for the control of chicken pox, at 9 a.m. standard time, Saturday morning, Sept. 3. Mr. Flint's farm is near the farm of George Newman and George Hitt.

NEW FIRE ENGINE SAVED SEVERAL TUCKERTON HOUSES
A new fire engine, which is able to pump direct, by putting its suction hose in Tuckerton creek, and sending a heavy stream against the fire, saved several other bungalows from burning on August 25, when the John P. Crozer boathouse and the Anderson bungalow were burnt. The fire presumably started from a gasoline explosion, which blew Capt. Smith, who sails the Crozer boats, from the boathouse into the creek. Crozer lost one of his handsome yachts, the Lady Betty; the Rainbow, belonging to Mr. Latta of Burlington, also was lost. Bungalows belonging to George W. Jones, H.E. Markland and A.J. Durand were saved by the hardest kind of fire-fighting.

DOUBLE HEADER WITH CHIEF BENDER'S SEMINOLES MONDAY
Toms River is promised some big baseball on Monday, when a double header will be played with Big Chief Bender's Seminoles, morning and afternoon. Chief Bender is one of the classic heroes of the baseball diamond, and was one of the pitchers who laid the foundation for Connie Mack's great machine of world champions. Being a holiday, the Seminoles will probably be given a warm reception.

CUBANS 5, TOMS RIVER 3
Thursday afternoon the Cuban Stars took a second game from Toms River; score 5 to 3.

IRONS-CLAYTON
Edward B. Irons of Toms River and Miss Mabel Clayton, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Ulysses Clayton of Lakewood, were married August 14, and made their honeymoon trip to Washington, D.C. The groom is employed as trainman on the C.R.R.

WOMAN CLAIMS SHE WAS HELD UP AND ROBBED IN BERKELEY
Mrs. Edna Worth, wife of Everett Worth of Seaside Park, claims that she was held up by a strange man and robbed of $132 in cash [about $2,000 in 2021 dollars] in the Bushwick section of Berkeley township on August 21. The money she had withdrawn from the First National bank but a short time before. The man is described by her as being not over 20 years old, wearing khaki trousers and shirt, dark coat, checkered cap and being light complected.
Mrs. Worth came over on the ten o'clock train from the beach Wednesday morning and drew the sum from the bank. She said she was going back on the two train, and was going to the station, via the Cranberry Bog road, when this man jumped from the bushes, seized her by the throat, choked her till she could resist no longer, and ran off with her money. Sheriff Chafey and a posse searched the entire neighborhood that afternoon and sent out a description in all directions, but have not got the man.

JOLLY PICNIC DREW FARMERS FROM ALL PARTS OF COUNTY
All parts of the county were represented by farmers and their families at the farmers picnic held in Beachwood on Wednesday, August 30. There were some fine exhibits of fruits, flowers, and vegetables, in spit of its being a poor year. The boys and girls were well represented with their exhibits of garden stuff, fruits, sewing and by their wireless outfit.

AUTO ACCIDENTS ENOUGH
There seemed to be plenty of automobile accidents for the week end just past. At Lanoka, just north of Cedar Creek bridge, a car overturned several times, spinning like a ball. A car took the rail off the little bridge just this side of Lakehurst. Another went through the railing on the bay meadows just east of the bay bridge to Seaside Heights. A heavy car at high speed on the Mantoloking draw nearly wrecked that draw Saturday, after it had just been rebuilt.

FISH AND GAME
A man will go into the wilds and fish a brook for trout all day, day after day, for two or three fish a day, and think he has sport. Let the same angler come to salt water, and he want sto fill the boat in one day, and is likely to be a little peeved, if he gets no more of weakfish than he would expect to get of trout. That is the trouble of having a reputation—the salt water has a reputation for plenty of fish, and when it fails to live up to that reputation, folks are displeased.
Night fishing in surf and in the bay continues to be the best fishing there is in bay or ocean.
Big catches are looked forward to in September. The big drum are due on their way south for the surf fishing contingent to try for; the bigger weakfish school for their migration south; bigger striped bass begin to come in the inlets; and so the anglers look to September to fill out a rather erratic season of fishing.
Word came over from the beach that bluefish were in the surf at Joe Reed's, south of Seaside Park, last Thursday and Friday in great schools, and were caught in every conceivable way.

MONEY ISLAND
The yacht Belle G., with Mrs. Leon Siefert at the wheel, took a party of friends down the bay on a crabbing trip, last Saturday. The party caught 541 crabs.
Delightful days and nights at the Island.
One of the largest and most enthusiastic meetings ever held on the Island took place at the Money Island yacht club on August 28, under the auspices of the Money Island Improvement Association... Many public improvements were discussed and the welfare committee was directed to take up the matter of securing the same.

TUCKERTON
The Atlantic City Electric Company has offered to run a line to Tuckerton borough and supply this place with current, if our people will take enough stock to supply the capital needed for the extension. The company already supplies current for the huge radio plant four miles down shore. The Public Utilities Board has approved the extension to Tuckerton.

SEASIDE HEIGHTS
The activities of the yacht club prove that organization is a flourishing one, at least it seems to have a corps of wide-awake members. Public dancing has been held every Friday and Saturday evening since the erection of the new dance floor.
The yacht races and water sports, held annually, are set for Labor day as usual.

ISLAND HEIGHTS
Labor day will be a big day here with games and other amusements on land and water, also boat races for both sail and motorboats. In the morning there will be races for catboats and sloops... There will be a masquerade ball on Labor day evening at the yacht club.
The recent Summer Frolic at the yacht club cleared $350. The advertisements in the program paid for the printing and made $200 of this amount.
I wish to correct a mistake I made in last week's paper. Milton Johnson Jr. received the first prize as the fattest baby at Seaside Heights, not the second, as reported.
The annual rummage sale by the ladies of the M.E. Church will be held in the store next to the postoffice on Thursday, Sept. 8.
The first prize in the boys' yacht race last Saturday went to Bay Head. Bob and Seth Hetherington of Island Heights carrying off 2d, and 3d prizes. Another race will be held on Friday.

NEW EGYPT
Foulks Brothers opened their new motion picture theatre at New Egypt last Saturday, August 27. It has been named "The Isis," is built of brick, and is a fine theatre for a town of that size to have.
New Egypt school board must this year pay the Borough of Pemberton $75 for each high school pupil.
The kite balloon that hangs over the Naval Air Station at Lakehurst can be seen in Whitings.

BARNEGAT
There is a great need of small boats at our bay but no one seems inclined to have them. Of course after awhile some one from way back in the woods or from West Jersey farms will come down, take in the situation and get right on the job, and then we will hear that old cry of outsiders coming here and taking the lead in such things. Why not? We won't do anything ourselves.
J.H. Perrine is putting an addition to his boat shop for installing his sawing department which he removed to make room for a planer.

BEACH HAVEN
One more week end and the big end of the summer will be over. Beach Haven expects to have a good hotel patronage during much of September however, for the hay fever sufferers come to find relief and the fishermen come for the fall fishing.
One of the finest catches of bluefish on record in recent years was made by a party from Avon, N.J. Who were out one day last week with Capt. John Cranmer, and brought back 40 big blues, ranging in weight from three to eight pounds.
The Engleside hotel has been well filled with guests this month, and will have a large crowd over the Labor day week end.
The Beck Company has been organized by Charles Beck to take over the lands formerly belonging to the Beach Haven Realty Company, which he recently bought. Mr. Beck is a hustler at business, and it is generally expected that he will put his ability back of the sale of these lots and development of the resort.
Constable Sprague raided a cottage here on Saturday night, finding evidences that are claimed will substantiate a charge of disorderly house [a charge of causing a nuisance to the neighborhood; often, a brothel].

SEASIDE PARK
The carnival and dance held on Friday and Saturday evenings was a fine success and the firemen netted a neat sum toward the payment on the new fire truck which was delivered in time to be on exhibition for the purpose of showing the people what their money was to be invested in.
Mr. Turner, proprietor of the Manhassett hotel gave the use of the ballroom and hotel orchestra and booths were built along the boardwalk where soft drinks, cakes and hot dogs were on sale and dolls and trinkets were handed out to the lucky winners.
Tests and demonstrations on the [fire] truck have been made daily and it has proven very satisfactory in every way.
The fire company held a business meeting on Monday evening and the machine was accepted. As there is still a considerable amount of money to be paid before the debt on the apparatus is cleared it was thought a good plan to hold another fair and dance at the Manhassett on Saturday evening next, Sept. 3.
Mrs. Edward Mangold has been spending the past week with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Emory of Brooklyn, to help in the preparations and be present at the wedding on August 30 of her sister, Miss Bessie Emery, who is popular here with the young folks and teacher of the Seaside Heights public school. The groom is equally well known and is an employee of that borough.
James Wolcott Newman, the fish pound owner, whose pounds lie below this place, at his death left a will that has been probated in Freehold, leaving his estate to his widow, Ida E. Newman, who is made executrix and guardian of their son, Karl P. Newman, who inherits at her death.

BEACHWOOD
It is reported that the Mayo interests are planning a campaign to sell their lot holdings here, consisting chiefly of valuable and finely located lots between the Atlantic boulevard and the river. It is hoped that these lots will get in the hands of people who will build homes.
The figures from the Beachwood fair are made public as follows: Total receipts, $2170.17; cash donations, $137; total, $2307.17. Expenses, $331.30; net receipts, $1975.87. The fire apparatus cost $1645.99 [$25,103 in 2021 dollars], leaving a balance of $329.88. It is proposed by O. Fred Rost, president of the Property Owners' Association, that this balance, with the fire apparatus fund previously raised by the association, be used to buy additional apparatus to be stationed at Beachwood Heights [Beachwood Heights was the short-lived name for the part of town to the south of the crisscrossing railroad lines of the Pennsylvania and Central Jersey]
The week end yacht race was won by Capt. Wemple of the red sail; second, Mayor Senior, of the purple sail. The Polyhue yacht club [predates Beachwood Yacht Club, named for the different-colored sails of sneakboxes races by members] has decided that hereafter its races will be on Saturday afternoons. The club has been making improvements at the yacht club house, screening in the porch, building a kitchen, etc., and this week end the ladies of the club served a luncheon.

LANOKA
Auto campers are quite common at Lanoka.
Postmaster S.R. Rogers has bought the Jeffrey store and will have it moved on his property in a few days.
Almont Grant of No. 110 coastguard station came home on Friday last being liberty day.

PINE BEACH
The yacht club gave a country fair which was well attended. Hams, tongues, bacon, watermelons, watermelons, potatoes, tobacco, cigars, cigarettes, tomatoes, aluminum cooking utensils, Indian blankets, fancy baskets, cakes, candy, pies, Sweetie dolls were all on display and disposed of before the evening was over. People from Mill Creek and Money Island attended the fair. Commodore Reitheimer, Dr. Earle Rice, Roy Hutchinson, Carl Bordt, Henry Kurtz and others helped to make it a success. The usual Saturday evening dance followed.
The Berkeley township committee held a meeting in the yacht club on Thursday night to take measures to stop the proposed closing of Pine Beach station by the railroad. Judge Berry was engaged to act, representing Pine Beach and the township committee, whose solicitor, Harold Brinley, will also assist. The Public Utilities commission gave him a hearing on this matter on September 13 in Trenton at 11 a.m. Daylight saving.
The Lot Owners' Association, Mr. John Mergenthaler, president, holds a meeting on Thursday night in the yacht club to arouse all concerned by the proposed closing of the station to take action.
Mr. Thomas Sheeran was kind enough to present a diving board to Pine Beach. Some boys who never give a helping hand to benefit Pine Beach, tried to break the spring board by jumping up and down on it, but it remained for a crowd of boys from Money Island, who came over on Saturday afternoon, to finish its destruction. They bounced up and down on it until it broke in the middle and hung down over the water until removed.
Some of these fine days the speed maniacs who go through Pine Beach like a streak of lightning on Springfield avenue, will find means have been taken to get their license numbers to take steps to punish them and stop this dangerous practice. There have been several narrow escapes from running over children, several near collisions and the other night a dog was struck and its back broken. The poor beast was left to suffer several hours until it was put out of its misery.

BAYVILLE
The weakfish in Barnegat Bay have been biting unusually well during the past week. Phineas Potter and party have caught a great many averaging 5 pounds each. The largest catch of the week, was that of Samuel Stetler of East Stroudsburg, Pa., who caught one weighing over 10 pounds.

SADDLE HORSES FOR HIRE
at the PINE BEACH STABLES
PINE BEACH
NEW JERSEY

LOST AND FOUND
Found: A sneakbox on Barnegat Bay. Owner may recover same by applying to G.I. Ellsworth, Mantoloking, N.J.

W. HOWARD JEFFREY
Attorney-At-Law
Veeder Building, TOMS RIVER N.J.
Collections, Commissioner of Deeds, Searches and Legal Papers Promptly attended to

SUCCESS
IS BASED
ON FITNESS
Why should you prefer to draw only a part of the salary you can receive if you are properly trained?
Why should you forego the benefits of a responsible position just for lack of adequate preparation?
Rider College knows what is expected of you, and will train you to fit into the most exacting position.
57th YEAR BEGINS SEPT. 1 SEND FOR CATALOGUE.
RIDER COLLEGE
TRENTON, N.J.

We Have the Agency for
PURINA FEEDS
This is Demonstration Week. When the demonstrators call at your home ask them to show you how a balanced ration will produce more eggs.
We also have the agency for
SWIFT'S BEEF SCRAPS
and have in stock a full line of HAY, GRAIN and FEED.
Come in and convince yourself that we have better Feeds.
Our Motto—Prices RIGHT, Quality the BEST
THE OCEAN COUNTY FEED CO., INC.
Tel 39-M TOMS RIVER, N.J.

Though its origin is a bit lost to the mists of time, as WoodenBoat Magazine admitted in its Sept/Oct 2004 feature, the Melonseed Skiff was “developed to suit the needs of market gunners in the vicinity of Barnegat Bay... at a time when hunting was still more of a profession than a sport. They were designed to carry a single man, his gun, and decoys out onto the open water in pursuit of waterfowl.”

Often built in Little Egg Harbor and Parkertown – the latter resulting in the Melonseed sometimes being referred to as a “Parkertown Skiff” - they range in size from 12' to 15'6” and are considered a “cousin” to the better known and more widely used sneakbox. It is unknown which predated the other, but the Melonseed is more of an open-water craft boasting v-shaped forward sections, a true stem and more refined entry while the sneakbox is used for marshes and has a more shallow entry. Melonseeds, WoodenBoat Magazine continues, “were given a strongly raked transom, which would tend to soften the blow from a following sea, lifting the boat over it. Amidships the builders put a harder turn to the bilges, thereby stiffening the boat. (The midsection of the sneakbox is a shallow arc.) This allowed it to carry sail with greater authority in rough weather and added a small amount of freeboard (the sneakbox had almost none)."

​Unfortunately, the Melonseed Skiff's more complex construction nearly doubled its price when compared to that of the sneakbox, and as the gunning market declined from an everyday economic-driven profession into a weekender's sport, their viability was all but eliminated. By 1951, the boat was considered “extinct,” while sneakboxes continued in production and use.

For more on the Melonseed Skiff, including greater detail in its development and the history of its saving from total extinction by groups of interested backyard builders and maritime organizations, visit the Toms River Seaport Society's Maritime Museum during open hours of Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays from 10 am to 2 pm. Or, click the link here to purchase the digital edition of WoodenBoat Magazine #180 online.

Photos of the Melonseed Skiff in this post are from Windfall Woodworks of Huntington, VT. Melonseed lines courtesy the Smithsonian Institution.

Take a look back to another era in the Toms River area's past, one century ago this week!

Let your mind wander as you consider life around August 26th, 1921, courtesy the New Jersey Courier weekly newspaper and Ocean County Library archives, and peppered with items of maritime interest (around a 15 minute read).

(often 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)​

Fine weather.
Chautauqua week.
Five days left in August.
Late garden truck is fine.
Like September this week.
Labor day a week from Monday.
Folks all looking forward to fall.
Picnic season will soon be over.
New moon next Thursday, Sept. 1.
One more week left of 1921 season.
Cranberry picking begins next week.
Some jam on Main street on busy days.
In ten days more the cityward rush begins.
Jersey watermelons in market—oo-oo-oo-a-a-ah!
Don't hurry home. Glad to have you stay with us.
Some of the wildflowers that were touched by the late frost, or hurt by the dry weather of June, are now blooming again. I picked two magnolias on Saturday last, and saw several more. The orange butterfly weed is as plentiful as it usually is in July, though it flowered in June, a month ahead of its usual time. Another crop of “black-eyed Susans” are blooming in the fields. Wild carrot is more plentiful than ever.
Huddy Parkl never looked finer than this year with its brave array of bright flowers.
Toms River hotels seem to have had a very busy summer, if you judge by the auto parties that stop at their doors.
Boys and men have been catching a fine lot of pike from the flats on the south side of the river, back of the sandpile.
A number of new houses are going up in various parts of town.
These mornings feel like cranberry time, eh?
The new Traco building is being finished up.
Vanderveer Post, American Legion, held a chicken supper on Tuesday evening, serving meals to about three hundred. The chickens, potatoes, corn on cob, and other eatables were cooked in three field ranges, brought down from Lakehurst proving ground, the Marion Inn loaning the chef to do the cooking. The men in the Legion were busy in preparing and serving the supper, and the ladies of the Auxiliary served as waiters. There was a good deal of food left over to be auctioned off. About $250 was cleared [about $3,813 in 2021 dollars]. It is planned to have a supper every summer and next year it will be more widely advertised and preparations to feed more people will be made.

HUGE DIRIGIBLE NEVER GOT TO LAKEHURST HANGAR AFTER ALL
ZR-2 WRECKED IN TRYOUT; 17 AMERICANS AMONG KILLED
ZR-2, the big British-built airship, bought by the U.S. Navy Department, and for which the big hangar at the Naval Air Station, Lakehurst, had been prepared, was wrecked over the city of Hull, England, while on a trial trip, Wednesday, August 24. Most of her crew, the American crew of seventeen [included], and a few who had been allowed to sail in her on her trial trip, were killed.
The big air craft had been from time to time scheduled to sail to Lakehurst from Howden, England, where she was built, since early in the spring, but each time some reason was given for the delay...
Among the men reported lost is Lieut. Charles G. Little of Nerburyport, Mass., who married the daughter of Senator Bright of Cape May county. Mrs. Little had rented the Wilkinson bungalow on Horner street, Toms River, and was expected here next Monday to move in, and await the coming of her husband overseas in the airship...

ZR-1 WILL BE BUILT AT LAKEHURST AIR STATION
That the big dirigible balloon, ZR-1, is to be put together at the Naval Air Station, Lakehurst, was the announcement made on Monday by Commander R.D. Weyerbacher, executive officers of the air station, and connected with the Bureau of Construction of the Navy Department. Commander Weyerbacher is the naval officer who has had charge of building the huge hangar at Lakehurst. He is at present living at Toms River.
That he will have a personnel of about fifty skilled men, perhaps thirty of whom will be family men and need small houses, and that he would like to locate them at Toms River, if homes can be obtained for them, is the next interesting item in Commander Weyerbacher's statement. Seeing that such houses cannot be found at present in Toms River village, the Commander has put the proposition up to the business men of the town, whether or not they would think it worth while building these houses in order to secure this addition to the town's population. The job will last eighteen months at least, he says, and the probabilities are that there will be enough work continuously for a long time to come to keep a good number of men at the Air station, who would probably want to live at Toms River.
Toms River as a place of residence, says the commander, would be just the kind of town to appeal to these men. Lakewood rents they could not afford and Lakehurst is filled up already, and has no houses for them. Toms River he says would be just the place they would like, and he would gamble that nearly every man of them would have a boat of some kind, to go fishing and gunning, if they could be located here...

​PIPING BREEZE MADE SAILS REEF IN SATURDAY'S RACE
“A wet sheet and a flowing sea, and wind that follows fast, my boys,” was the song for last Saturday's races at the Mantoloking course. It was the first of the Barnegat Bay Yacht Racing Association races this summer when there was more than a capful of wind, and when every boat in the races had to some time or other reef her canvas. A number of craft were compelled to withdraw from the various races because of too much wind, or too much duck, and the Zulietta, one of the crack catboats of the Island Heights fleet, carried away her mast at the deck, and it went by the board with all her canvas.
There were four races sailed: in the morning a sloop race, won by Wanda of Seaside Park, and a girls' sneakbox race, won by Vanitie, Miss Ill, of Island Heights; in the afternoon, a catboat race, won by Scat II of Island Heights and a men's sneakbox race, won by Mull of Island Heights.
The races Saturday were over the Mantoloking course, starting and finishing at the Mantoloking Yacht Club dock. The wind was a strong souther, meaning a beat down the bay and a run home. On this run home some of the crews shook out their reefs and gave their crafts all they could stagger under.

Scat II Cleaned Up Catboats
Scat II, Edwin J. Schoettle's new cabin cat, built by Eli Townsend at the Seaside Park yards of Wm. D. Stanger, repeated her Sewell cup feat, and won in the catboat race by a good margin.
Scat II, Schoettle, IHYC – 2:28:58
Virginia, Warrington, IHYC – 2:29:28
Mouser, Atkins, SPYC – 2:31:09
Dorothy, Larkin, SPYC – 2:33:55
Falcon, Storer, BHYC – 2:38:54
Romp, Wheelock, SPYC – 2:48:23
It was in this race that Zulietta was dismasted; she was owned and sailed by Charles Haddon Jr. of Island Heights. Yola, Thomas, entered but did not start.

Mull Again Heads Box Fleet
Mull, sailed by Capt. Ill of Island Heights, again distanced the rest of the catboat fleet in the men's sneakbox race, something that has become almost a habit with that boat and that captain this summer. Ripple, however, was but three seconds behind on corrected time.
Mull, Ill, IHYC – 2:32:10
Ripple, Hance, BHYC – 2:32:13
Arran, Dale, BHYC – 2:32:54
Resolute, Brooks, UHYC – 2:40:54
Frog, Colie, MYC – 2:41:04
Vanitie, Scott, IHYC – 2:46:22
Allure, Kean, LYC – 2:47:18
In the gale of the wind three of the sneakbox fleet fouled a buoy, Mower, Windlass and Townsend; Wishbone and MeToo, did not finish the race.

Wanda Surprised Sloop Racers
The sloop Wanda of Seaside Park surprised the captains of the racing sloops by carrying off the honors in the morning sloop race.
Wanda, VanRoden, SPYC – 2:04:53
Viking, Schofield, IHYC – 2:13:11
Lotus, Truitt, IHYC – 2:13:20
Restless, Osborn, MYC – 2:13:26
Sonoma, Elverson, SPYC – 2:23:38
It will be noted that the second, third and fourth boat all three finished inside of fifteen seconds, making for them, a close race.

Vanitie Won Girls' Race
The girls' race in the morning was won by Vanitie of Island Heights, sailed by Miss Ill.
Vanitie, Miss Ill, IHYC – 1:31:37
Frog, Miss Hall, MYC – 1:26:03
Resolute, IHYC – 1:34:38

Mull Clinched Championship
By winning in last Saturday's race Mull of Island Heights cinched her championship in the men's sneakbox races for the summer. She has three firsts and two seconds in her score, and her total number of points is 260. The next high craft is Resolute of Island Heights with 91 points.
In the girls' races the championship lies between Vanitie, Miss Ill, of Island Heights, and Frog, Miss Hall of Mantoloking.

T.R. LOST TO CUBAN STARS AND SHUT OUT NEW EGYPT
Thursday of last sweek, August 18, Toms River lost its second game of the season, its record to date being 14 won and two lost. The winners were the Cuban Stars, the score being 6-1. It was a tight-played game, but the visitors had just a little the better of it. A high wind made two home runs for them out of two flies that might under ordinary circumstances, have been fielded. The record crowd of the summer, a full thousand people, watched the game. This team will return for another bout.

New Egypt Lost Series
Tuesday, August 23, Toms River took the second game of the series of three from New Egypt, that team being the only other nine, beside the Cubans, to win from Toms River this season. This time New Egypt was shut out, 7-0.

Cuban Stars Come Back
The Cuban Stars will play here again next Thursday, September 1, a return engagement. It will be a battle for blood.

CRANBERRY PROSPECTS WAX AS HARVEST DRAWS NEAR
Prospects for the cranberry yield in New Jersey seem to increase as the harvest draws near, while the prospects on Cape Cod and in Wisconsin diminish. It now looks as if New Jersey will have almost as large a yield as Massachusetts. Three weeks ago prominent growers in this section basing their estimate on what had happened in their own neighborhoods, figured a crop slightly under last year, today it is thought the Jersey crop as a whole will be an increase over last year's. More accurate reports will be received tomorrow at the meeting of the American Cranberry Growers' Association, to be held at Edward Crabbe's boathouse on the riverfront, Toms River...

FARMERS WILL HAVE PICNIC AT BEACHWOOD AUGUST 31
The farmers of Ocean county are planning their fifth annual picnic to be given at Beachwood on Wednesday of next week, August 31, all day. The morning, as in previous years, will be given over to bathing and fun, with sports and games for the younger folks. In the afternoon, following a visit to the lunch baskets, wil be the speaking. Among those who are expected to speak are J.F. Langner of California, the lawyer who has been in New Jersey this spring and summer, organizing the producers on the farms into selling organizations, who will talk on co-operative selling; H.E. Taylor, president of the State Federation of County Boards of Agriculture, who will talk on organized farm effort on other lines; L.A. Clinton, director of extension work at the State College, New Brunswick, and E.H. Waite, County Agent, who will tell of the work in experimental farming done in this county.
The boys and girls clubs wil be well represented. The wireless club expects to have a receiving and sending station, and the members of the clubs who have staid home from the picnic for that purpose will receive messages from the Beachwood station, so that picnic visitors can send wireless messages home.
There will be exhibits for farm and garden products, with first and second prizes of $3.00 and $1.00 in each class; also a prize of $2.00 for the best fruit and vegetable canning exhibit. The girls canning clubs will have exhibits and there will be a showing of work done by the boys and girls in gardening and other forms of productive work.

TWO BOOTLEGGERS CAUGHT
Tuesday night two men were brought from Lakehurst on a bootlegging charge: Sam Jigger, in whose possession it was alleged two gallons of rum were found, and John Bolton. Judge Jeffrey remanded them to jail Wednesday, reserving decision.

GOOD SAMARITAN IN HARD LUCK
Archie Estell of Lakewood lost a Ford sedan last Friday night, through striking a match to see to drain gas from his tank, to loan it to a neighbor who was stuck along the road with no gas.

BORING FOR OIL AT DOVER
William Austin and his uncle, Nathan Austin, are boring a trial well to see if oil is to be found in the Jersey Pines, at their Dover property in Berkeley township. The boring has been going on for some time, but it has been kept quiet.

P.R.R. MAY DROP PINE BEACH DEPOT OR HEIGHTS BRIDGE
The summer resort of Pine Beach, on the south side of the river, is up in arms over the announcement that the Pennsylvania railroad company expects to close down the railroad station there this winter. An appeal has been made to the Public Utility Board, and those interested will send a delegation to Trenton when the matter comes up, probably early in September. Judge Maja Leon Berry, representing Mr. Woods and the Kelly estate, and Harold L. Brinley, representing the Township of Berkeley, are fighting the case before the Utility Board. A meeting of summer and winter residents was held last night at the yacht club to protest against closing the station, and to form plans to carry on the fight.
There are people who think they see something farther than the closing of Pine Beach station in the mind of railroad officials. These folks shrewdly guess that what the railroad wants to get out of is the running of trains across the river to Island Heights. It is figured out that at the hearing, attorneys for Pine Beach will show that Pine Beach itself pays its way, and the loss on the Pine Beach-Island Heights spur is due entirely to the cost of upkeep of the bridge across the river, and the spur train that is kept there throughout the summer to take people to and from Island Heights. With this testimony before the Utility Commission, and put there by someone other than the railroad, it is suggested that the railroad officials might say that if allowed to abandon the bridge, they would keep up a station on the river bank or on the main line at Pine Beach. Also that the railroad would be in the position of not being the originators of the possible abandonment of the Island Heights spur and bridge.
It is further said that the railroad would be so well pleased to get out of the job of maintaining the Island Heights drawbridge and running trains over it, that they would take up their tracks and give the bridge to the county, were the county willing to turn it into an automobile and wagon bridge. According to the story, the railroad officials figure that Island Heights people could reach the main track at Pine Beach by automobile as easily as they do now by train. This all makes an interesting story, and the next moves will be watched with interest, to see if there is anything in it, or if it is all a dream.

INLET WAS ONCE WHERE NEW INLET BROKE THROUGH
Oldtimers along the lowerbays say that where the newest inlet now is, just below Beach Haven, is just about where the inlet stood in 1840. Robert F. Rutter of West Creek recalls that his father pointed out to him on one occasion a locality on the beach, and said that in his young manhood he had sailed in and out the inlet at that point. Mr. Rutter says the point his father located at that time is almost the location of the new inlet into Little Egg Harbor. The last time there was an inlet into Little Egg Harbor before was about 1880, closing about that year. This inlet was two miles south of the present inlet. About the time it closed New Inlet had opened into Great Bay.

FISH AND GAME
Last week was the best of the summer for fishing in Barnegat Bay. All the party boats were busy and all the parties caught fish, was the general report from Seaside Park, Bayville, Forked River, Waretown and Barnegat. The bay was full of weakfish and at times they seemed to swarm to the surface, and would bite at anything. Some fishermen left off bait and fished with small bluefish “squids,” which at times were snapped at as eagerly by the weakfish as shedder crab or shrimp. There were many fishermen down from the cities last week. Newark, which has always contributed a large share of the fishermen in these waters, has been represented more largely than ever before this year...

LAVALLETTE
Charles Hankins, the boat builder, is very busy building new boats and repairing others. He has a good location for this kind of work.
Wm. H. Nugent has had a good season renting out boats. This is a good place which has been needed for a long time. Visitors can be accomodated with boats to go crabbing and fishing.
The yacht club held an election on Saturday night for one year.
We would advise those who have cars not to let them stand on the streets at night, as several have lost their spare tires before morning.
It seems there are some of the young folks who take delight in doing some mischief to the lights on the boardwalk after the lights are put out for the night. Any information will be gladly received by the mayor or other officials of the borough.

BARNEGAT
One day last week Mrs. Mark Carr of New York who summers at Forked River came down in her car and took Capt. Wright Predmore and wife and Mrs. Helen Bunnell on a sight-seeing trip to Long Branch, Atlantic Highlands and other points of interest up the Jersey coast. Mrs. Carr was formerly Miss Kate Worden, whose mother was on board the sloop Adelaide that capsized off Barnegat inlet, Sept. 1846. The sloop drifted ashore bottom up and some men hearing a thumping cut a hole through and rescued her. The entire crew were drowned, but she being in the cabin survived by the air caught between the water and the bottom of the boat.

OCEAN GATE
Labor day will wind up the season here, and it has been about our biggest summer. New houses are going up in all parts of the borough. The new road from Pine Beach into Ocean Gate has made a new method of reaching here by autoes, and is in high favor with our drivers of cars. It also opens up the Mill Creek settlement and the Riverbank settlements west of us on the riverfront. We only hope it will be carried on into Beachwood.
Plans for Labor day include sports and games on water and land by the Yacht Club, and a tag day for the Fire Company.
About every house in Ocean Gate is occupied, and there are camping parties living in tents.
The borough pier and the newly graveled borough streets are a great improvement, as the summer people have been quick to learn.
Tuesday evening of this week the fire company had their sail down the bay. Both boats of the Lambert line, the Doriana and Ariella, were used, and also Commodore Lubker's yacht, Ruth L. II. Even then there was hardly room for all who wanted to go. Ocean Gate is willing to stay by its Fire Company every time.

BEACH HAVEN
This is the week of the big August rush to Beach Haven and the other fine resorts on Long Beach. All this week incoming trains have brought new throngs of vacation seekers and motor travel has been the heaviest of the summer. All the hotels and boarding houses have been filled throughout the week and there is every prospect for a continuance of the rush until well into September...

BEACHWOOD
Some Beachwood people have been having a little quiet laugh at the expense of the Courier. A few weeks ago William Mill Butler brought a camera man and a moving picture machine here to take some pictures of the bathing beach and other Beachwood scenes. Shortly after a story was in circulation that the Pathe people had bought property on the river front for a studio. No one can tell just where the Pathe story came from. But it was printed in the Courier. Mr. Butler's friends are wondering if his motion picture activity was responsible for the story.
There was great excitement in Beachwood Sunday morning when the new fire apparatus was called out to afford an opportunity for the taking of moving pictures with the outfit owned by Mr. Butler. A crowd of enthusiastic Beachwoodites manned the ropes and hurried the engine around borough hall to the clubhouse, and an imaginary fire was put out on the roof of the latter. Ladders were put up and the fire-fighters, both men and women, went up on the roof, making a most realistic picture. William Ashton Stephan had charge of the moving picture machine. The above and many other scenes will be thrown on the screen at the yacht club house as many times as possible during the present season for the benefit of the fire prevention, Polyhue and pines preservation funds.

SEASIDE PARK
The fire truck ordered by the Fire Co. to be delivered last week, failed to put in an appearance on schedule, but upon inquiry find the truck is at Philadelphia awaiting part of its equipment which had been overlooked at the factory. On the guarantee of delivery this week the firemen are arranging a dance and fair to be held at the Manhasset hotel on Friday and Saturday evenings of this week and a good sum of money will be realized through the venture.
H.M. Gould, the popular manager of the Manhassett hotel, was given a pleasant surprise on his birthday by the guests at the hotel. Tables were set in the ballroom and when everything was in readiness Mr. Gould was called in. Presents were showered on him and after dancing and a general entertainment was enjoyed.
The last end of the season, as Labor day draws near, gets more and more interesting. More people, more doing, and more proposed. Labor day will be a big day.

SEASIDE HEIGHTS
The annual baby parade held on Tuesday afternoon last, proceeds of which were for the benefit of the Union chapel, was the largest held here; there were many entries with very original and pretty ideas carried out. The parade which started on Sheridan avenue, came up the boardwalk to the carousel, headed by the girls from the Wanamaker camp at Island Heights, followed by Mayor Freeman and other borough officials.
A masque ball and dance was held last Thursday evening in Holland hall, proceeds for the benefit of the arch to be erected at the bay bridge on Hamilton ave. A large crowd gathered and several prizes were given.
The yacht club held their fair and supper in the carousel last Friday and Saturday evenings. A neat sum was made to help defray the expenses of the new dance hall. Several pretty articles were chanced off. The plush pillow and table runner were won by Mrs. C. wolff.

WEST CREEK
E.F. Potter and family have moved in their new home on S. Main st., a modern uptodate bungalow and adding much to the attractiveness of that portion of our town.
Harry Holloway and wife are spending two months in Toms River attending the harvesting of the cranberry crop on their bogs in that vicinity.
C.D. Kelly with friends enjoyed a day's outing on the bay and returned by moonlight on Friday last; and a moonlight party on Saturday evening composed of eligibles also took advantage of these beautiful nights on the water, where their minds, fancy free, could dwell only on the poetic and romantic. The result remains to be seen.

JOHN A. DORSETT
BOAT BUILDER
and
SAIL MAKER
Builder of Launches, Sail Boats, Row Boats and Sneak Boxes.
Sails, Boat Awnings and Launch Covers made to order.
Sail repairing done on short notice.
WEST POINT PLEASANT, N.J.

BEACHWOOD REAL ESTATE
A few choice building sites and new bungalows at reduced prices, if taken at once.
A.D. Nickerson, Beachwood, N.J.

EVERY WOMAN
in building a new home wants to have her own individual ideas incorporated in the house.
Consult
CLARENCE W. SMITH
Architect
Phone 524-J
Lakewood, N.J.

TO CLOSE AN ESTATE—A BARGAIN
AT LAVALLETTE, N.J.
21 desirable Building Plots, 50x100 each
ON OCEAN FRONT
On Shore line of Penn R.R.
For particulars, address
Chris. Schierloh, 779 9th Ave., N.Y. City

YACHTS FOR SALE
Ten launches and two sailboats (one with power) for sale. James Chamberlain, Toms River, N.J.
For Sale: Crosby cat-boat 20 ft. new sail in excellent condition. Also a 24 ft. raised deck cruiser. M.A. Pyott, Camp Walk, Island Heights, N.J.
For Sale: Boat, cruiser, 27 ft. long, electric lights. 52 hp. Engine, everything new. Joshua Shreve, Barnegat, N.J.
For Sale: Tuckerton garvey, 27 ft., 7 1-2 hp. Mianus engine. Boat now in use, excellent condition, tax paid. W. W. Payne, 126 Washington st, Town.

Named for and designed by Capt. Charles Hugh McLellan, an officer posted to the Toms River station for most of his U.S. Life-Saving Service career (the service predated the formation of the U.S. Coast Guard in 1915), the watercraft grew from the captain's life-long desire to develop and produce safer and more effective lifeboats in water rescue.

His 36' motor lifeboat first appears in Seaport Society files in a clipped July 25th, 1907 article by the New Jersey Courier, the weekly newspaper of Toms River:

THE LARGEST LIFEBOAT EVER KNOWN BUILDING AT BAYONNE

The largest lifeboat ever known is being put together at Bayonne under supervision and from the plans of Capt. C.H. McLellan, a retired officer of the Revenue service, who is well known at Toms River, where he spent so many years as inspector in the L.S.S. This lifeboat is to be 36 feet long and will have a forty horse power engine. It is being built for the Canadian government, and will be stationed at Vancouver Island, in the North Pacific, at the entrance to Puget Sound. The U.S. Government will build a companion boat for the Cape Flattery side of the entrance. These boats will be of the self-righting and self-bailing type, constructed by Capt. McLellan under the improved Beebe-McLellan lifeboat plans.
Capt. McLellan said the other day that when he first proposed power for lifeboats in 1899, he was laughed at everywhere by everybody connected with coast guard work. Now there are seventeen power life boats in the U.S. Life-saving Service, and 25 more are being fitted out. In a short time he said every station would probably have a power boat.

​Though not mentioned in the article, construction in Bayonne took place at the ELCO boatyard.

According to Tim Dring, author with the U.S. Coast Guard, “This boat actually became the first 36-foot motor lifeboat to be completed. The McLellan 36-foot lifeboat design continued the practice of double-diagonal hull planking as well as the installation of the motor and power train in the aft end air case, with a single 3-bladed propeller of 22-inch diameter and 24-inch pitch. [This first] Canadian 36-foot lifeboat was reported to have a top speed of 9.75 statute MPH at 650RPM. Self-righting and self-bailing capabilities were achieved by the same means used in the 34-foot lifeboat; i.e., high end air cases, air cases below deck, a heavy bronze keel of 1500lbs., and ten through-bottom relieving valves. Like the 34-foot lifeboat, the 36-foot version was also equipped for rowing and sailing as auxiliary forms of propulsion in the event the motor failed. Visually, the main difference between the 34-foot motor lifeboat and the 36-foot version is the length of the aft end air case, which was longer on the 36-foot model. Over the period 1907 to 1915 (the last year of construction for the 36-foot McLellan Type E design) a total of forty-six 36-foot motor lifeboats were built for the USLSS.

“Operational experience with the McLellan 36-foot motor lifeboat showed that it was a very rugged and seaworthy design, although crew and survivors were quite exposed to the elements during a rough weather rescue. In addition, the high quality of their construction resulted in a boat having very beautiful and graceful lines, including their original USLSS-era paint scheme with varnished woodwork. The wooden, double-diagonal planked hull, however, required careful maintenance and/or repairs.

“In July of 1910, the USLSS Board of Lifesaving Appliances tested one of the new 36-foot motor lifeboats, Victory, assigned to Station Wood End, Massachusetts, on the tip of Cape Cod. The results of these tests caused the Board to state in their report that:

“The Board is of the opinion that the 36-foot self-righting and self-bailing power lifeboat…is the highest type of power lifeboat as yet developed for the uses of the LifeSaving Service, and that it surpasses any type or plan of lifeboat so far submitted to or known by the Board…The introduction and rapid development within the last decade of mechanical propulsion in nearly all classes of undocumented vessels, has resulted in a corresponding increase in the scope, work and duties of the crews of life-saving stations to such an extent that the use of mechanical propulsion as an auxiliary power in many of the boats of the service is imperatively necessary to the growth and efficiency of the Lifesaving Service, and the Board therefore earnestly recommends that the type of lifeboat as exemplified in the model and fit out of the 36-foot self-righting and self-bailing power lifeboat …together with such changes and improvements [that] time and experience may develop and render advisable, be furnished as expeditiously as conditions and the funds … will permit…”

Full specifications of this boat, designed by Capt. McLellan, include:

General: Self-righting and self-bailing; 36ft. 0in. LOA, 8ft. 7.5in. beam, 4 ft. 2.5in. depth from skin to gunwale amidships, 7ft. 4in. length of end box inside stem rabbet, 9ft. 7in. length of end box inside stern post rabbet, 6ft. 7in. depth at rabbets of stem and stern post, 0ft. 4.5in. sheer of deck between end boxes, 3ft. 4.5in. distance between centers of thwarts, 2ft. 0in. station spacing; 8 tons displacement; single 6 cylinder, 4 cycle open base Holmes Automarine gasoline engine of 35-40HP (initially only 28HP) with two fuel tanks (125gal. main/25gal. aux.; gravity feed) and single, adjustable, 3-blade, 22in. diameter/24in. pitch prop; rudder control via steering rod coupled to pinion and quadrant ; maximum speed just under 10 statute MPH at 700RPM/40HP; Patterson wireless G-U-84 battery, jump spark ignition; engine controls located on forward bulkhead of aft air case; sailing rig consisted of two hollow spruce masts 5in. diameter at tack, 3.5in. at head, foresail 18sq.ft., mainsail 16.5sq.ft., rake 1.5in. to the foot with jib plus fore-and-aft lug sails; self-righting within approximately 30sec.; five thwarts for 10 oars rowed in doublebanked configuration; equipped with canvas spray cover which extended aft of forward air casing approximately half-way down the cockpit.

Construction: Double diagonal planked (45 degrees) wooden hull of 3/8in. Honduras mahogany with No. 10 canvas in-between, copper fastened and riveted, along with brass screws; frames of white oak sided 1.5in., molded 2in. at throat, and 1in. at ends; white oak upper keel and 1500lb. gunmetal lower keel plus bronze droppable metal centerboard ½in. thick; 112 air cases of 18 ounce copper located below deck and along sides; ten 7in. diameter copper relieving tubes from deck to bottom with self-acting balanced valves; Honduran mahogany watertight main deck double-planked; 34 watertight compartments, 70 air cases. 

FURTHER READING: Sand Pounders: An Interpretation of the History of the U.S. Life-Saving Service, Based on Its Annual Reports for the Years 1870 Through 1914
by Capt. Robert F. Bennett, USGC (Ret.)

Available free online here: https://books.google.com/books?id=7JR5rJvlGbcC