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By Brian Bovasso: Over a long period of time, Brian Bovasso developed an interest in the Ortley family and the Cranberry Inlet. While writing his first two local history books, he realized what a dramatic influence the Cranberry Inlet and the Ortley family had on the history of this section of the barrier island. This 148 page, illustrated book provides answers to many questions about this area of the barrier island of Ocean County. -
By Robert A. DeSando: South Lakewood Park was an exclusive enclave for socialites and scientists forgotten by history. A deadly pandemic, financial panic, a catastrophic fire, and a devastating tornado combined to extinguish this planned community unlike any other in New Jersey to burning embers. -
By Janis Gibson: This is an account of a particular branch of the Giberson family, the Gibersons of Old Dover. It is a compilation of biographical and genealogical facts, the end product of a quest to identify all the Gibersons associated with Dover between 1775-1830 and to understand how they fit together. -
By Samuel Vaughn Merrick: A combination of Sam Merrick’s biography of F, Slade Dale and Dale’s own writings about his nautical exploits throughout his life. An unusual gentleman, Dale developed his love of boats in the waters of Ocean County. -
Compiled by William A. King, Jr. and Adolph Wooley: Late 19th century and early 20th century downtown Toms River is depicted in 56 pages of many photos never before published. Photos include Washington Street, Water Street, Main Street and various other locations. -
By Vivian Zinkin: This book is a comprehensive study of place name origins in Ocean County. Place Names of Ocean County sheds light on how various names came to exist. An 1849 Robert E. Horner map of Ocean County is included. -
Compiled by E. P. Groot: The material in this book contains the contents of thirty-nine reports from the U.S. Life-Saving Service from 1876 to 1914. Of particular interest are descriptions of the individual stations, their personnel, and their activities. There are narratives describing the services provided by crewmen. Another section is devoted entirely to accidents. Find out about rescues and/or salvage of a particular ship and/or its crew and passengers as well as the many miscellaneous services that were provided. -
Compiled by E. P. Groot: The material in this book contains the contents of thirty-nine reports from the U.S. Life-Saving Service from 1876 to 1914. Of particular interest are descriptions of the individual stations, their personnel, and their activities. There are narratives describing the services provided by crewmen. Another section is devoted entirely to accidents. Find out about rescues and/or salvage of a particular ship and/or its crew and passengers as well as the many miscellaneous services that were provided. -
By Captain Robert F. Bennett—U.S. Coast Guard, Retired: This book contains two works. The first is a reprint of Surfboats, Rockets, and Carronades. It was originally published by the United States Coast Guard in 1976 and was long out of print. The second part is a researched chronological presentation of official correspondence and documents relating to the funding and creation of the early life-saving stations. Information is included about the tools and equipment provided by the federal government as well as the early station-keepers. Also referenced are some of the notable shipwrecks of the period from 1848 to 1871. -
By Ocean County Historical Society: This reprint of an 1888 brochure contains pictures of the shoreline, the bluff, the railroad bridge. as well as many homes that still exist in the town. The Borough of Island Heights was founded in 1886. It describes the 1888 summer Camp Meeting. Included are a sample program from the meeting along with interesting and amusing advertisements from period merchants and real estate brokers. -
By Patricia H. Burke: The Barnegat Bay area from 1880 to 1920 was home to numerous local decoy carvers. Pictures of the local carvers and their decoys as well as the known gunning clubs in the Barnegat Bay area are included. -
By William Mill Butler: Would you like to live in a beautiful summer resort in the great New Jersey pine belt? Find out about the Who’s Who that helped to develop Beachwood Borough. With a subscription to The New York Tribune subscribers were given the opportunity to “secure a lot at Beautiful Beachwood”. -
By William S. Dewey: “Bergen Iron Works” can refer both to the nineteenth century manufacturing concern of that name and to the hamlet in which it was situated. It is the story of the bog iron industry and forges and furnaces. The tokens associated with Bergen Iron Works store are a part of the popular series know to numismatists as “Hard Times” tokens or “Jackson Cents”. -
By Carolyn M. Campbell, M. Peryl King, Martha T. Smith: The story of one-room schools moves from the mid 1800’s, when schools were in such disrepair that chickarees (squirrels) nested in the walls, to 1943 when the last one-room school was closed. Over 100 photos and maps, interviews with teachers and pupils, and quotations from the time emphasize the changes that have occurred in education during this century. Specific information about the county’s 76 one-room and 8 multiroom schools is given in the directory. -
By Ocean County Historical Society: A compilation of facts and personal quotes and remembrances of Elizabeth Sculthorpe Force. She grew up in the house that is now Ocean County Historical Society’s residence. The home is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and the New Jersey Register of Historic Places. -
By Vivian Zinkin: This book is a comprehensive study of place name origins in Ocean County. Place Names of Ocean County sheds light on how various names came to exist. An 1849 Robert E. Horner map of Ocean County is included. -
Compiled by Thomas M. Williams: The U.S. Navy’s Lighter-Than-Air Program tells the history of the various dirigibles that were built, repaired, and stored at various times during their sometimes-brief lives, at Naval Air Station, Lakehurst, New Jersey. The second half of this pictorial contains detailed information about the blimps, the non-rigid airships, which patrolled our Atlantic Coast during World War II. -
By Brian Bovasso: Author Brian Bovasso remembers seeing the Westmont Shores sign on Route 35 when he drove by it during the 1960s and early 1970s. It was only six blocks long, so, as the expression goes, “if you blinked, your eyes, you’d miss it.” It was part of Lavallette, and by 2001 all mention of Westmont Shores was long forgotten. While visiting the Ocean County Historical Society in 2014, the author discovered site development plans for the area called Westmont Shores and his journey began. Explore with the author the unique history of this area of current day Lavallette. -
By The Thursday Group: Cranberry growing was a major industry in Ocean County. The history of cranberries begins with the Native Americans and progresses to the more recent growers and families of cranberry farmers. Learn about what a bog is and how to maintain a bog, the families and the locations of their farms as well as how World Wars and the Garden State Parkway effected the growth of the Cranberry industry in Ocean County. -
Compiled by the Ocean Conty Principal’s Council: Written by school pupils over a nine-year period and published by the Ocean County Principal’s Council in 1940, the book has a wealth of information about many of the communities in Ocean County, Its style is simple, direct, and concise. One hundred pictures enhance the narrative descriptions of people, places, and events in Ocean County. The book contains an index that will help the reader to locate specific information. -
By Congregation B’nai Israel of Toms River: The egg farming industry owes much of its development in Toms River to the Jewish community. Jewish families share the stories of their immigration from various locations in the United States and Europe to the town of Toms River. Their many contributions added to the growth of the area. -
Compiled by Ocean County Junior Historical Society: Under the direction and guidance of retired educator, Barbara Moreau, the Ocean County Junior Historical Society traveled throughout Ocean County to photograph and document over 157 monuments and memorials that they discovered within the County. This booklet will help you to learn about and remember the people and events that these monuments and memorials honored. -
By Brian Bovasso: Once a mosquito-infested marshland lying fifty-five feet west of the Lavallette mainland, West Point Island is now one of the most desirable locations on the Jersey Shore. Marketing the island is a realtor’s delight. You can own “your own piece of paradise”, in this “exclusive West Point Island Beach community”, enjoying “breathtaking views of Barnegat Bay”, in a “tranquil Bayfront setting”. The purpose of the book is to describe the people and events that made West Point Island’s history so different from that of its neighboring sedge islands. -
By Robert Camp: During the years from 1933 to 1968 Toms River High School had many winning sports teams and was known as a sport powerhouse. Learn the names of the stars of those winning teams and the challenges that they faced during their games.
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