Pioneer Settlers Map of Ocean Grove
Pioneer Ocean Grove
Establishing itself in 1870, Ocean Grove quickly grew from a temporary tent community into a permanent seaside retreat known as the "Jewel of the Methodist Camp Meetings." Attracting a diverse array of residents from the East Coast, the town was built by "Pioneer Settlers"—a mix of professionals and activists who sought a balance of social connection and religious experience. Today, the Historical Society of Ocean Grove preserves this legacy through an interactive map project that catalogs the lives, innovations, and occasional scandals of the original homeowners.
Key Highlights of the Pioneer Settlers
Rapid Growth: Between 1870 and 1874, nearly 600 lots were sold, with permanent cottages appearing on almost half of them.
Diverse Community: Residents included ministers, physicians, and bankers, as well as prominent leaders in the Temperance and Suffrage Movements.
The Pioneer Map Project: A collaboration with Kearny Bank that currently features over 250 completed lot profiles, including 1890s architectural drawings.
Notable Personal Stories:
Innovation: Thomas Perrins introduced the town's greenery by planting 50 Carolina Poplars.
Entrepreneurship: Mary Davison, a widow, successfully built and operated four hotels, including the massive Centennial.
Intrigue: Records include human interest stories ranging from the "secret midnight marriage" of socialite Florence Shrady to the financial misfortunes of banker Christopher Beekman.
Current Scope: The interactive exhibit is ongoing and currently focuses on the area north of Main Street and west of Central Avenue.
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80 Asbury Ave- Lot 150
81 Asbury Ave- Lot 157
81 Asbury Ave- Lot 159
82 Asbury Ave- Lot 148
83 Asbury Ave- Lot 158
84 Asbury Ave- Lot 146
86 Asbury Ave- Lot 144
91 Asbury Ave- Lot 91
93 Asbury Ave- Lot 89
96 Asbury Ave- Lot 88
97 Asbury Ave- Lot 87
99 Asbury Ave- Lot 85
101 Asbury Ave- Lot 81
103-105 Asbury Ave- Lot 31, 32, 33
106 Asbury Ave- Lot 20
108 Asbury Ave- Lot 27
108 Asbury Ave- Lot 18- Original Structure on the site
110 Asbury Ave- Lot 16
113 Asbury Ave- Lot 23-26, 28, 30
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80 Lake Ave- Lot 160
84 Lake Ave- Lot 156
85 Lake Ave- Lot 155
88 Lake Ave- Lot 153
88 Lake Ave- Lot 154
90 Lake Ave- Lot 151
90 Lake Ave- Lot 152
92 Lake Ave- Lot 92
94 Lake Ave- Lot 90
98 Lake Ave- Lot 100
100 Lake Ave- Lot 84
103-105 Lake Ave- Lot 31…
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63 Main Ave- Lot 173
65 Main Ave- Lot 175
67 Main Ave- Lot 177
69 Main Ave- Lot 171
71 Main Ave- Lot 167
73 Main Ave- Lot 169
75 Main Ave- Lot 165
77 Main Ave- Lot 163
79 Main Ave- Lot 103
81 Main Ave- Lot 101
83 Main Ave- Lot 99
85 Main Ave- Lot 97
87 Main Ave- Lot 95
89 Main Ave- Lot 93
91 Main Ave- Lot 43
91 Main Ave- Lot 45
97 Main Ave- Lot 39
99 Main Ave- Lot 37
101 Main Ave- Lot 35
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68 Mount Carmel Way- Lot 206
70 Mount Carmel Way- Lot 204
75 Mount Carmel Way- Lot 217
77 Mount Carmel Way- Lot 215
80 Mount Carmel Way- Lot 139
81 Mount Carmel Way- Lot 137
83 Mount Carmel Way- Lot 135
87 Mount Carmel Way- Lot 129
88 Mount Carmel Way- Lot 120
89 Mount Carmel Way- Lot 131
90 Mount Carmel Way- Lot 118
91 Mount Carmel Way- Lot 79
92 Mount Carmel Way- Lot 70
93 Mount Carmel Way- Lot 77
94 Mount Carmel Way- Lot 68
95 Mount Carmel Way- Lot 75
96 Mount Carmel Way- Lot 74
96 Mount Carmel Way- Lot 74
97 Mount Carmel Way- Lot 73
99 Mount Carmel Way- Lot 61
99 Mount Carmel Way- Lot 72
100 Mount Carmel Way- Lot 62
102 Mount Carmel Way- Lot 60
104 Mount Carmel Way- Lot 22
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63 Mount Hermon Way- Lot 197
64 Mount Hermon Way- Lot 178
65 Mount Hermon Way- Lot 176
66 Mount Hermon Way- Lot 176
67 Mount Hermon Way- Lot 193
68 Mount Hermon Way- Lot 174
70 Mount Hermon Way- Lot 172
71 Mount Hermon Way- Lot 189
72 Mount Hermon Way- Lot 170
74 Mount Hermon Way- Lot 168
75 Mount Hermon Way- Lot 185
76 Mount Hermon Way- Lot 166
77 Mount Hermon Way- Lot 183
78 Mount Hermon Way- Lot 164
79 Mount Hermon Way- Lot 115
80 Mount Hermon Way- Lot 104
81 Mount Hermon Way- Lot 113
82 Mount Hermon Way- Lot 102
83 Mount Hermon Way- Lot 111
84 Mount Hermon Way- Lot 100
85 Mount Hermon Way- Lot 109
86 Mount Hermon Way- Lot 98
87 Mount Hermon Way- Lot 107
88 Mount Hermon Way- Lot 96
89 Mount Hermon Way- Lot 105
90 Mount Hermon Way- Lot 94
91 Mount Hermon Way- Lot 57
92 Mount Hermon Way- Lot 46
93 Mount Hermon Way- Lot 55
94 Mount Hermon Way- Lot 41
94 Mount Hermon Way- Lot 44
95 Mount Hermon Way- Lot 53
96 Mount Hermon Way- Lot 42
97 Mount Hermon Way- Lot 51
98 Mount Hermon Way- Lot 40
99 Mount Hermon Way- Lot 49
101 Mount Hermon Way- Lot 47
102 Mount Hermon Way- Lot 36&38
105 Mount Hermon Way- Lot 9&11
107 Mount Hermon Way- Lot 7
109 Mount Hermon Way- Lot 5
111 Mount Hermon Way- Lot 3
112 Mount Hermon Way- Lot 4
113 Mount Hermon Way- Lot 1
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64 Mount Tabor Way- Lot 198
66 Mount Tabor Way- Lot 196
67 Mount Tabor Way- Lot 205
68 Mount Tabor Way- Lot 194
69 Mount Tabor Way- Lot 191
70 Mount Tabor Way- Lot 192
76 Mount Tabor Way- Lot 186
78 Mount Tabor Way- Lot 184
80 Mount Tabor Way- Lot 116
82 Mount Tabor Way- Lot 114
83 Mount Tabor Way- Lot 123
84 Mount Tabor Way- Lot 116
85 Mount Tabor Way- Lot 121
86 Mount Tabor Way- Lot 121
87 Mount Tabor Way- Lot 119
88 Mount Tabor Way- Lot 108
89 Mount Tabor Way- Lot 117
90 Mount Tabor Way- Lot 106
91 Mount Tabor Way- Lot 69
92 Mount Tabor Way- Lot 58
93 Mount Tabor Way- Lot 67
94 Mount Tabor Way- Lot 56
95 Mount Tabor Way- Lot 65
96 Mount Tabor Way- Lot 54
97 Mount Tabor Way- Lot 63
98 Mount Tabor Way- Lot 52
98 Mount Tabor Way- Lot 64
100 Mount Tabor Way- Lot 50
101 Mount Tabor Way- Lot 59
102 Mount Tabor Way- Lot 48
103 Mount Tabor Way- Lot 21
104 Mount Tabor Way- Lot 12
105 Mount Tabor Way- Lot 19
106 Mount Tabor Way- Lot 10
107 Mount Tabor Way- Lot 17
108 Mount Tabor Way- Lot 8
109 Mount Tabor Way- Lot 15
110 Mount Tabor Way- Lot 6
111 Mount Tabor Way- Lot 14
114 Mount Tabor Way- Lot 2
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35 Pilgrim Pathway- Lot 202
37 Pilgrim Pathway- Lot 201
43 Pilgrim Pathway- Lot 182
47 Pilgrim Pathway- Lot 180
49 Pilgrim Pathway- Lot 179
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77 Mount Zion- Lot 235
78 Mount Zion- Lot 216
79 Mount Zion- Lot 149
80 Mount Zion- Lot 140
81 Mount Zion- Lot 147
82 Mount Zion- Lot 138
83 Mount Zion- Lot 145
84 Mount Zion- Lot 136
85 Mount Zion- Lot 143
86 Mount Zion- Lot 134
87 Mount Zion- Lot 142
88 Mount Zion- Lot 132
89 Mount Zion- Lot 141
90 Mount Zion- Lot 130
92 Mount Zion- Lot 80
94 Mount Zion- Lot 78
96 Mount Zion- Lot 76
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27 New York Ave- Lot 128
29 New York Ave- Lot 127
31 New York Ave- Lot 126
33 New York Ave- Lot
Research by Dell O’Hara
Drive by History: The Surprising Legacy of Ocean Grove (PBS 2025)
In with the Old (Magnolia Network 2024)
This Old House (Thirteen 2013)
About Dell O’Hara
Dell O’Hara is a historian, a university professor, and a scholar specializing in women’s history. She has been an active member and supporter of the Historical Society for over a decade. She gives Women’s History Tours each summer and loves sharing her love of Ocean Grove with others.
Research Process
Dell utilizes a number of sources, including the Sanborn Maps, the Ocean Grove Times newspaper archives, and several other local records and historical documents.
We are always looking for more stories to add to the collection. If you would like to submit your own history to our archives please contact us at info@historicalsocietyofoceangrove.org