www.aboutnewjersey.com - by Betty Fleming - May 2008
Spring Lake - the Irish Riviera' - “Everyone is Irish in their heart” or so I have heard. Bearing this in mind, it didn’t take much effort on the part of this Polish princess to picture herself quite at home in Spring Lake, or as it is called, ‘The Irish Riviera.’ So much so, that upon awakening in one of the many sumptuous B&B’s in Spring Lake and having been pampered royally by my hostess, I was more than ready to start my adventure in this magical place by the sea.
Spring Lake makes you believe in the unbelievable. The lovely Victorian homes, the ocean views, the spring-fed lakes and parks--all conspire to make your romantic expectations a real possibility. On a particularly picture-perfect spring day when flowering trees line the walking paths and picturesque wooden bridges cross the lake, a lone fisherman sits idle, waiting in complete silence for that first bite. The serenity of the moment allows me to focus on my own journey of discovery. I need to know more about this place I have come to and what better way to take that first bite than at the local history museum.
The Historical Society Museum sits in the center of town, in a building that once was Spring Lake’s first public school (circa 1897). The museum transports one through the history of the first settlers, the Lenni-Lenape Indians, through the Victorian Era and into the 21st Century. The Society’s collection of historic artifacts, photographs, and ‘Postcards from the Edge of the Sea’ lends credence to the belief of all those who traveled by train to Spring Lake beginning in the 1870’s that this was indeed a place of pure magic. Those same sentiments were evidently shared by Martin Maloney, entrepreneur and philanthropist, who built Ballingary, one of the great homes of the Eastern Seaboard in 1897 as a summer retreat for his wife and three daughters.
The museum offers a glimpse of the Victorian Era and the grand hotels that once lined the beach. The Monmouth House, once considered the cornerstone of the Spring Lake Beach resort, burned to the ground in 1900 taking with it many of the town’s businesses, homes, and cottages along Ocean Avenue. Of the original oceanfront hotels, the Essex-Sussex House remains, not as a hotel, but as private residences/condominiums. The Wilburton, built in the 1800’s, was renamed The Breakers in 1905 and currently operates as a full-service beachfront hotel. Bed & Breakfast (B&B) establishments, charming inns and hotels with landmark gourmet restaurants--all manage to retain the same architectural style and seashore feel, keeping Victoriana alive and well in the Spring Lake community.
For more specific information and accommodations, go to www.HistoricInnsOfSpringLake.com -
Spring Lake Memorial Community House
Once a summer colony that catered exclusively to the rich and famous, estates have been sold off in smaller parcels, subdivided and developed, and Spring Lake now boasts a year-round population of approximately 4,500 residents. Recreation is still is a vital part of the community, supported in a large part by the Memorial Community House, currently celebrating its 85th anniversary. Dedicated on July 4, 1923 by Oliver Brown, Spring Lake’s former Mayor and New Jersey State Senator, the Community House was built for the “moral, social, literary, religious, educations and charitable purposes and community betterment.” Today, this cultural center offers a 350-seat theatre, a children’s theatre workshop and dance school, and a community library. Renowned performers such as Helen Hayes and Paul Newman have once graced the theatre stage.
For the season’s performances and ticket information, go to www.springlaketheatre.com or call (732) 449-4530 for reservations. Season subscription plans are also available.
Saint Catharine Church -
The beauty of Spring Lake enchants you and pulls you in, compelling you to experience not just its natural beauty but its spiritual side as well. That spirituality and reverence is glorified in the edifice of Saint Catharine Church (circa 1905), which reflects the architecture of both the Roman Renaissance and Baroque Eras. It was the desire of Martin Maloney to dedicate the Church in the memory of his 17-year old daughter, Catharine, who died of tuberculosis shortly after the completion of his summer retreat, Ballingarry. The tragic loss of his daughter inspired a true labor of love in which he commissioned works of art for the Church over a period of 27 years. Mr. Maloney brought Gonippo Raggi, a foremost religious artist, from Rome in 1904 to execute the paintings for Saint Catharine’s. A series of murals with Irish themes encircle the interior of the Church and represent a collaborative effort between Professor Raggi and Celtic artist, Thomas A. O’Shaughnessy.
Looking up at the impressive dome, one can’t help but feel awed by its’ majesty and the meticulous artwork and historical details in the murals overhead. In several paintings, it is believed the image of Catharine has been depicted in intricate detail, particularly The Burial of Saint Catharine that hangs above the Sacred Heart Chapel. This chapel was built following the death of his beloved wife in 1923. As in a true romantic tragedy, in a crypt below the chapel, Catharine and her parents are entombed for eternity.
Saint Catharine Church solidifies the style, the architecture and the romantic history that captures your soul and leads you to believe in this fairytale setting.
Spring Lake – The Sweetheart of the Jersey Shore - Where would this self-proclaimed princess end her oddessy? Would it be shopping in the picturesque downtown area that offers more than sixty fine shops and boutiques? Or would it be a walk on the commercial free two-mile boardwalk, bordered by the Atlantic Ocean and its grassy sand dunes? Perhaps another choice would be to take a short drive to check out the Sea Girt Lighthouse, the last live-in lighthouse built in the United States? Decisions, decisions…
Listening to the idyllic sounds of breaking waves, the bleating of the seagulls, the smell of salt in the air, and the shouts of children on the beach—what else for this beach girl is there? My quest fulfilled, I truly believe the splendor, the history, and yes, the romance makes Spring Lake the Sweetheart of the Jersey Shore.
With that premise in mind, while taking a final stroll on the boardwalk I fully expected Prince Charming to come riding up on his Swinn. Alas, it didn’t happen, but this tale does have a happy ending. I will be back, already preparing for my return trip to Spring Lake in the very near future.
Prince Charming or not, I look forward to the Authors & Inns Tour on June 8, 2008 hosted by the Historic Inns of Spring Lake. Having won the Governor’s Award for Excellence at the 2008 New Jersey Governor’s Tourism Awards Ceremony for their signature event in 2007, the Historic Inns of Spring Lake are hosting their 2nd annual AUTHORS & INNS TOUR on Sunday afternoon June 8, 2008 from 1:00-5:00pm.
The tour of 9 historic inns features 12 award-wining Romance Authors with a link to New Jersey. Nine inns/hotels will open their doors to tour goers, sharing their distinctive properties for a glimpse into the historic and romantic style of Spring Lake. At the same time, prominent romance-genre authors will be at each inn meeting fans, selling and signing their most recently published books. The stories feature many of the most popular themes today from ‘international political thriller’ and ‘romantic novel set in India’ to ‘dangerous passion set in Ireland’ and ‘looking for love in the wilds of suburbia’.
|
|
|
|
|
If you have any
questions or would like more information, please contact us
904.806.3613,
email
us, or use our online request form. |
|
