Current Photo Display at Cultural Center
St. Peter’s Church of Galilee
Faith & Fish -- The St. Peter’s Church of Galilee was an Episcopal house of worship dedicated in August 1873. This classic image of the majestic structure and fishermen doing their trade in the sandy beach foreground is iconic Monmouth Beach. Frequently under assault from major storms -- a bolt of lightning struck the steeple during an August 1902 service -- for protection the large wooden Gothic church was moved to the westside of Ocean Avenue (north of today’s Cultural Center) in May 1933. Closed as a church in 1941, the borough rejected a plan by Broadway theatrical man, Clinton P. King, to use the building as a summer theater in August 1949. It all burned to the ground in a spectacular May 1955 fire, as strong east winds from the ocean fed the flames.
Bathing Belles
Bathing Belles – MBBP members enjoy the breeze. From left: Leona Woolley McConville, May Peterson Mass, Betty Talmadge Kahle, Pat Ryan Zweig, Helen Schumacher Butts, Marian Ryan Tuttle, Rosa McDaniel Green, Irene Saller West and Betty Smith, Summer 1943
MB Police Kiosk
Police Presence -- The first official borough police department building was a small kiosk constructed at the intersection of Beach Road and Ocean Avenue. Completed for Summer 1922, it remained until 1927. First moved to the Galilee section of town, by the 1930s the structure had become the office for Sheridan’s Garage and later an outhouse for Pete’s Inn (now Boyle’s Tavern). It sat at private home on Valentine Street for many years. Saved and restored by the Monmouth Beach Business Association in the early 2000s, today it stands on Beach Road on the old bank property.
Church of the Precious Blood
God’s Territory -- The Church of the Precious Blood on Riverdale Avenue, 1940s. The Roman Catholic house of worship was opened in 1891; John Burke of Asbury Park was the builder (he also built Rumson’s Church of the Holy Cross in 1885). First a mission of Star of the Sea, it officially became its own parish in 1910, with a comprised local congregation (Monmouth Beach, the Port-au-Peck area in Oceanport, and North Long Branch). The all-wood structure — it’s known to sway in strong winds — is noted for its fascinating interior architecture (a gabled ceiling). In 2006, the parish completed a large $500,000+ rehabilitation project. Restrooms were added, all stained-glass windows were restored, and new roof and siding were added. New pews were installed later.
Monmouth Beach EMS
Today’s Monmouth Beach EMS – The Monmouth Beach First Aid Squad building on Beach Road, May 1973. Founded in 1958, after space-sharing with the fire company, the squad obtained neighboring property in 1969 for its own building. The membership, brimming with able craftsman, did much of the construction work. The new $50,000 complex was dedicated in May 1973 with a “gala celebration.” The 2,800-square-foot, brick facility included a two-bay garage, meeting room and kitchen. One year later, Jay W. Ross — the borough’s ultimate philanthropist — paid-off the squad’s $40,000 mortgage. The building was subsequently dedicated in honor of his mother, Margaret (born in Brooklyn, she died in June 1967).
Monmouth Beach Fire Company
Early Service – Monmouth Beach firehouse on Beach Road, 1910s.Organized in 1905, MBFC service actually predates the borough by a year. In January 1906, Abraham Francis (a North Long Branch builder) was awarded a contract to build a new firehouse -- at the corner of Beach Road and Borden Street. That original structure was moved east in 1919 to its present location next to Borough Hall. Despite several alterations through the years (big ones in the late-1950s and 1980s), much of the original frame structure endures as part of the new facility. Badly damaged in Superstorm Sandy in 2012; a new $1.5 million firefighting complex was constructed and opened in 2024. The modern facility ensures the survival and integrity of municipal volunteer service — a cornerstone of what makes Monmouth Beach such an exceptional community.
Griffin Park
Monmouth Beach-American Bicentennial Celebration “3 Legged Race” July 1976
Playing Fields -- Griffin Park during MB-USA Bicentennial celebration, July 1976. For nearly 75 years, this borough park on Griffin Street along the banks of Manahasset Creek has been the town’s recreational heartbeat. The 8-acre grounds have hosted multitudes of athletic and recreational events over the decades. The idea of a playground for students was first discussed by borough commissioners in the early 1930s. A school board plan to purchase several lots on the south side of Griffin Street was approved by 1 vote in February 1949. The price was $3,500. The school installed a baseball field, basketball court, and playground equipment and the spot quickly became a beehive of activity. In October 1969, the school board deeded the property to the borough’s Recreation Commission. In June 1972, the baseball field at Griffin Park was dedicated in honor of Captain James R. Heimbold, the only borough resident to be killed in action in the Vietnam War (1970). According to borough legend both the park and the street are named after the Griffin family — well-connected Hudson County politicians who summered in town. Prone to flooding even during mild weather and wanting an upgrade, the borough re-developed its only major park in 2024. The $900,000+ project (backed with $400,000+ in state funds) has been a hit with residents and locals. The project was guided by longtime borough engineer, T&M Associates — which has already won several awards for its past work at Griffin Park.