Do you know her?
Celebrate Women’s History Month with the women of HSOG
Women's History Month: Historical Icons
In observance of Women's History Month, we spoke to the women who play pivotal roles behind the scenes at The Historical Society of Ocean Grove. When asked about their historical icons, a few standout figures were mentioned:
Elizabeth and A. Ellen Worley Fahs
Maria Crossett
Sarah Jane Corson Downs
Matilda Bull
In the late nineteenth century, as Ocean Grove grew from a few tents in the woods to the “Jewel of the Camp Meetings,” entrepreneurial women played a large role in that success. During Women’s History Month, we celebrate and honor the contributions of some of those women.
Elizabeth and A. Ellen Worley Fahs
Elizabeth (1843 – 1911) and A. Ellen Worley Fahs (1841 – 1940) grew up in York Pennsylvania where their mother and step-father owned a trimming store. In 1885, the two women came to Ocean Grove and opened their own “Fancy Goods & Notions” store on Pilgrim Pathway. Their venture must have been very successful since the following year they expanded their business and opened “The Ladies Store” on Main Street where they sold goods ranging from curtains and table linens to gloves and underwear. Elizabeth and Ellen owned and operated this store for nine years. During the early 1900s, their mother died and Elizabeth became ill, yet Ellen opened another shop, the Women’s Exchange, at 52 Main Street. Here she carried “a complete line of articles dear to the feminine heart.” The Fahs sisters also owned The Fahs Cottage in Asbury Park which they rented to individuals and families during the summer months.
Maria Crossett
Maria Crossett (1855 – 1913) was born in Ireland and came to America in 1871. After living in New York City for a few years, she moved to Ocean Grove in 1875, bought four adjacent lots on the corner of Beach and Main and made arrangements for a cottage to erected on the lots. By the following summer, the Main Avenue House, with 20 guest rooms, was open for business. Mary was creative in the manner in which she ran her business, within a few years, it was open twelve months of the year and she offered numerous choices to her many customers – they could rent a room for the season, a week or even for a single day. Mary was one of the first to offer individual meals to day visitors in the town, they could purchase breakfast, supper or dinner without being a guest at the hotel. Over the years, she continued to make additions and improvements to her hotel and by 1902 was offering rooms for permanent residency. She operated this popular and thriving business for thirty-four years, the funeral services at her death were held in the hotel.
Sarah Jane Corson Downs
Sarah Jane Corson Downs (1822 – 1891) was born in Philadelphia to Methodist parents who imparted the value of both character and education. She was educated as a child in Professor Hyde’s Female Seminary and was in the first graduating class at Pennington Female Institute, the first Methodist institute for the education of women. Sarah was a teacher in New Egypt when she met her husband, Rev Charles Downs, a Methodist minister and widower with two children. Sadly he died at a young age and Sarah was left to support their family. She taught in public schools and wrote for the local Toms River newspaper before moving to Ocean Grove in 1876. Here she opened her home, Downs Cottage, as a boarding house and became involved with the Women’s Christian Temperance Union. Here her executive and leadership skills came to fruition, at the age of 59 she was elected president of the New Jersey WCTU. The year she took this position, the organization raised $1443 and had 26 members. By the time she retired after 10 years of service, the NJ WCTU raised $42,371 and had 6732 members! Sarah opened the White Ribbon Cottage on Ocean Pathway as Ocean Grove became the center of the state organization during her presidency. Her advice to young women was “Oh what you girls can make of your lives! Learn, learn everything!”
Matilda Bull
Matilda Bull stands out as a remarkable example of women business owners in Ocean Grove. She was drawn to the town due to her brother’s affiliation as a Methodist minister and his high regard for OG. Matilda initially operated as a hotel proprietor, leasing a hotel for the season and taking charge of its operations. Over time, she seized the opportunity to establish her own establishment, the renowned Aurora Hotel, which she successfully managed for numerous years. Assisted by her sister, Matilda expanded her family by adopting two children following the passing of another sister. These adopted sons eventually played pivotal roles in the hotel's operations, with one eventually assuming ownership and steering it to further success. Matilda's unwavering dedication is evident in her venture to also run a hotel in Dunedin, FL during the winter months, reflecting her strong work ethic. Her transition from toiling in a Newark factory to owning and managing a hotel symbolizes a significant shift, highlighting the industrious nature of Ocean Grove's women entrepreneurs. The relentless work put in by these women brought not just long days, but also a profound sense of autonomy and empowerment.
We invite you to join us this summer and meet these women during out Women’s Walking tours. The modern-day women of the HSOG portray the lives and contributions of women & more from early Ocean Grove. It is a captivating tour that truly shines a light on the often-overlooked contributions of women throughout history, fostering a deep appreciation for our town's rich heritage and the vibrant community that thrives here today.
