Jeanette Lloyd, Beach Haven’s town historian, was obviously warmed by the borough council’s surprise dedication to her and her late husband, John Bailey Lloyd – a local legend famous for writing Long Beach Island history books. The engraved stone dedication was presented by Councilman James White during the unveiling of the town’s first historical plaque, held on a frigid afternoon at Veterans Bicentennial Park Thursday, Jan. 29.
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| Photo by Ryan Morrill HPAC members Jeanette Lloyd (left) and June MacFarlane help Councilman James White unveil the new plaque in Veteran's Bicentennial Park. |
“I’m speechless for once in my life,” Lloyd said, standing before a crowd of local officials, friends and family, including her son, David, who owns Beach Haven Catering. “Thank you, everyone. I love Beach Haven, and I love all of you,” she quickly added, eliciting cheers and applause from the group.
White, who claimed he became interested in history only after speaking with Lloyd, said that after viewing historical plaques all over the country, he thought Beach Haven, “a town that’s so rich and so steeped in history,” really deserved a plaque of its own.
“I thought we should have these markers for ourselves and our posterity so people that come down and learn about Beach Haven know that we’ve been around since the 1800s,” White told The SandPaper.
The plaque, manufactured by The Southwell Co. in Texas, is made completely of cast aluminum, “which does not rust like bronze,” White said. He did not reveal the cost but simply said, “It wasn’t cheap.”
Although he claimed he was not thinking about the plaque’s time frame when he began working on it months ago, White acknowledged it was “perfect timing” considering the town is celebrating its 125th anniversary this year.
Lauren Liquori, deputy borough clerk, who has been working on setting up various events around town that incorporate the municipality’s “unique history” in honor of the anniversary, urged the crowd to participate by learning more about the town’s history, which “Jeanette and everyone has so graciously given us to share with our visitors and our residents.”
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| Photo by Ryan Morrill John Lloyd is the author of many LBI history books. |
Lloyd and June MacFarlane, both members of the town's Historic Preservation Advisory Committee, were instrumental in writing the plaque history. It includes information from 1850 to 1890, when Beach Haven became the first Long Beach Island town to officially incorporate.
“It was a work of love, and I’m very proud of this,” Lloyd said, motioning toward the plaque. “I’m very impressed with how it looks. … We appreciate this, and we think it’s very apropos since we’re celebrating 125 years.”
According to the plaque, in 1850 Archelaus R. Pharo, the founder of Beach Haven and a Tuckerton businessman, met with a group of rich, Philadelphia sportsmen and duck hunters at Bond’s Hotel on the south end of LBI. These men became the major investors in Beach Haven. In 1867, Pharo bought 666 acres of undeveloped land, located 2.5 miles north of Bond’s. In 1873, he transferred the land to the Tuckerton and Long Beach Building, Land and Improvement Association.
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| Photo by Ryan Morrill The plaque is made of cast aluminum, which does not rust. |
Development of Beach Haven began in 1874. By 1876, the town included the historic Parry House and Beach Haven House, as well as the Engleside Hotel. The Hotel Baldwin was developed in 1883, along with many cottages, baymen bungalows, boarding houses, a church, fire company, school, yacht club and public wharf. In 1886, the Tuckerton/Pennsylvania Railroad arrived in town, doubling the number of visitors. The town was incorporated as a borough four years later, and William L. Butler was elected as the first mayor.
Just before pulling off the plaque’s veil, White turned to Lloyd and MacFarlane to thank them for “not only this sign, but the constant input and the preservation and the care that you have put into the town to preserve our history.
“There’s a lot of effort going into this, and that’s not seen,” he added. “I hope this is a precursor of what this town can show off to keep this history going, and be proud of our historic district and all the work all the people of the historic (preservation advisory committee) put in.”
White later acknowledged the public works employees for their part.
“They did so much work there with the cement and mounting the stone and everything,” he told The SandPaper.
The plaque, which stands at the corner opposite the Long Beach Island Historical Museum and Surflight Theatre, was planned to be installed in December. However, that was delayed a month due to production issues with the manufacturer, White said.
The borough council hopes to install more plaques around town and incorporate them in a walking tour. Lloyd, who is especially fond of the idea, told the crowd she has already mapped out 23 of them, which she hopes to have set up at various historical sites, such as the Engleside.
“I feel overwhelmed and excited for the future of Beach Haven,” Lloyd said. “We were the first town incorporated (on LBI), and we’re the first and only one with an historic district. We’re a true community.”
— Kelley Anne Essinger
This article was published in The SandPaper.
This article was published in The SandPaper.
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