Beach Haven, the “Queen City” of Long Beach Island, is celebrating the 125th anniversary of its founding with special events throughout the summer season. Its anniversary Open House, on Saturday, May 9, will give interested participants a firsthand look inside many of the area’s historic sites.
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| Photo via Google The Beach Haven Fire Company is the oldest volunteer fire department in Ocean County. |
The Beach Haven firehouse, which houses the oldest fire company in Ocean County, will be one of the first stops. Those who visit the firehouse, located at 100 South Bay Ave., will get the opportunity to interact with some of the first responders who played a vital role in the events surrounding Superstorm Sandy. The department operates a fleet of fire, flood and water rescue trucks that are utilized year ’round.
Tour-goers who stop by the Beach Haven First Aid Squad building, at 321 Engleside Ave., will have the chance to meet the hometown heroes who work behind the scenes to help people in emergencies. Visitors will get to see the up-to-date equipment the squad utilizes on a daily basis.
The Long Beach Island Historical Museum, also located on Engleside Avenue, will have special photo exhibits of Beach Haven from the 1890s. Docents will be available for questions, and drinks will also be provided.
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| Photo via The SandPaper The NJ Maritime Museum has the largest collection of maritime history in the state. |
ReClam the Bay, which currently has over 10,000 juvenile shellfish growing in an upweller to be planted in Barnegat Bay, will have live shellfish-growing demonstrations at the old Coast Guard facility, currently being used as the Beach Haven municipal building, on Pelham Avenue.
Beach Haven’s bicentennial quilt, which was first showcased on May 27, 1976, will be on display at the Beach Haven Free Public Library, at 247 North Beach Ave. Each patch symbolizes an aspect of the town history. An informal discussion will recognize the women who embroidered the quilt, and allow visitors to ask questions. The quilt is expected to be hung inside the town’s new borough hall once it is built. The current Sandy-damaged building is slated for demolition in June, Taggart Davis said.
In addition to the old borough hall, the police station will not be open during the open house due to “very poor conditions” from Superstorm Sandy, Taggart Davis said.
“They just feel that it might not be a safe place for people to be wandering around,” she noted.
The firehouse, first aid building, maritime museum and library will be open to visitors from 1 to 3 p.m. The LBI museum and ReClam the Bay exhibit will be available for viewing between noon and 4 p.m.
Other upcoming anniversary events include an Ole Time Baseball Game on May 24, Bay Bash and Pig Roast on June 20, Stand-up Paddle Board Race and Bay Bash on Aug. 29, Boat Parade and Bay Bash on Sept. 19, Octoberfest on Oct. 24, and a gala and time capsule event on Nov. 14.
For the first time, the borough will also offer free beach admittance as well as free tennis and boat passes throughout the summer on Fun Wednesdays. If all goes well, it will continue in the future, Taggart Davis said.
“It should be fun. There’s a whole lot of events throughout the summer, and the 125th anniversary will culminate in a fancy dinner and banquet,” she added.
Taggart Davis thanked borough employees Sherry Mason, Lauren Liquori and Darcy Kolodziej for their enthusiasm and for putting “a huge amount of work” into event planning.
For more information, visit beachhaven-nj.gov or call 609-492-0111.
— Kelley Anne Essinger
This article was published in The SandPaper.
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