BELMAR 
Located in Monmouth County , New Jersey, w hat is now known as the Borough of Belmar was originally incorporated as Ocean Beach borough by an Act of the New Jersey Legislature on April 9, 18 85 , from portions of Wall Township . On April 16, 18 89 , it became the City of Elcho borough, which lasted for a few weeks until the name was changed to the City of Belmar Borough as of May 14, 18 89 . The city acquired its current name, Borough of Belmar, on November 20, 18 90
Recreation
Belmar beach (as well as the towns to the south, such as Manasquan and Point Pleasant ) is among the most popular surf spots on the East Coast. Belmar frequently hosts surfing events and competitions.
The Jersey Shore Basketball League, a competitive summer basketball league, takes place at St. Rose High School every summer. Government In July 1990, the voters of Belmar overwhelmingly passed a referendum changing Belmar's form of government from a three-person, non-partisan Commission form of government under the Walsh Act to the Small Municipality Plan form of government under the Faulkner Act. This referendum followed nine months of research and hearings by a Charter Study Commission elected by the residents at a referendum that occurred in November 1989.
Under the version of the Small Municipality Plan form applicable to Belmar, the Council consists of four members who are elected for staggered, three-year terms at partisan elections each November, and the Mayor, who is directly elected by the voters for a four-year term. The Mayor serves as the chief executive officer of the municipality, and oversees the day-to-day operations of the Borough. The Mayor sits as a member of the Council, and chairs Council meetings. He is able to vote as a Councilmember, but has no veto over the Council's actions.
Belmar is in the Sixth Congressional District and is part of New Jersey 's 11th Legislative District. Monmouth County is governed by a five-member Board of Chosen Freeholders. Education 
Belmar Elementary School consists of a single school that provides a comprehensive educational program for the 620 public school students in preschool through eighth grade from Belmar, as well as those from Lake Como who attend as part of a sending/receiving relationship. The school was constructed in 1909 and has had additions built in 1929, 1949, 1969 and 1993. There are 65 certified staff members. This includes administrators, teachers, nurses and child study team personnel. Thirty non-certified staff members support them. The single school is two schools in one, a primary school for grades preschool through fifth and a middle school organization plan for grades six through eight. Students attending public high school are assigned based on sending/receiving relationships to either Manasquan High School or Asbury Park High School. Students may also attend Red Bank Regional High School, Marine Academy of Science and Technology, Academy of Allied Health & Science, Academy Charter School, High Technology High School, Communications High School or Biotechnology High School. Belmar is also the home of St. Rose High School .
Annual Events 
• Belmar 5k Run
• New Jersey Seafood Festival
• New Jersey Sand Castle Contest
• St. Patrick's Day Parade
Notable current and former residents of Belmar include:
• Brian Lynch, American-Italian professional Basketball player and former standout at Villanova University who currently plays for the Belgian team Euphony Bree. Lynch is married to former World No. 1-ranked tennis star Kim Clijsters.
• Balls Mahoney, WWE Superstar.
• David Sancious (1953-), early member of the E Street Band.
External links
Belmar NJ Official Homepage
Encyclopedia on Belmar
Fisherman's Den
Belmar Web Cam's
The Coast Star News Paper
Neptune City
Neptune Township
Wall Township
Monmouth County Parks
THE BEGINNING
No one really knows what white man first saw the coastline of Belmar or entered the Inlet to Shark River. It is believed that Henry Hudson, an Englishman employed by the Dutch East India Co. sailing the ship the "Half Moon," was the first to drop anchor on the shores of Monmouth County. His ship‘s log made note of an inlet with high hills in the distance. As there were no other inlets in the area it is assurned it was Shark River Inlet.
Henry Hudson, claimed all this territory for the Dutch when he returned home. Thus New Jersey was owned and settled by the Dutch before coming under English rule.
In the year 1664 King Charles II executed a charter which granted to the Duke of New York the whole region from the Western Bank of the Connecticut River to the Eastern Shore of the Delaware. The Duke then gave the entire tract of land known as The State of New Jersey to Lord Berkley and Sir George Carteret.
However, early that same spring Charles II had Col. Richard Nichols seize New Amsterdam for the British. This was in 1665. Nichols became the first governor, and the first Indian Purchase was made by deed on January 25th, 1665. The original record is in Albany.
It must have been a curious sight, the acknowledgement of these deeds. Sixteen Indians and Thirteen White men, the Governor and his Executives. The Indians in their primitive dress and the whites in the dull drab of Quakers, Puritans, and Long Island Dutch and the Governor and his men in the uniform of their rank.
No land in the state was actually seized from the original owners, however the amounts paid to the Indians for their land were pitifully low, and in most cases the Indians were not aware that they had given up all rights to their land forever. When they found out it was too late.
Popomoro, Chief of the Nevsink Indians, his brother Mischacoing, Manavendo, Emerdesolsee, Checawsen, Shenhemun, Cramanscum, Winegermeen, Mecca, Taplawappamund, Mattarmaluckanick, Zawpochammund, Kackenhaw, Cattahoh, Norchcon, and Qurrmeck, were the sixteen Indians who sold the land to James Hubbard, John Browne, John Tilton Jr., Richard Stout, William Goulding, Samuel Spicer, Richard Gibbons, James Grover, Walter Clarke, William Reaps, Nathaniel Sylvester, Obadish Holmes and Nicholas Davis. With the exception of James Hubbard these were the men mentioned as the first proprietors in The Monmouth Patent.
THE ORIGINAL PEOPLE
The Indians of Shark River were The Lenni Lenape Nation with Traditions that showed they came from the Hudson Bay Area. They were of The Algonquin Race and the tribe‘s name was the "UNAMI" or "TURTLE CLAN." Lenni Lenape when translated means Original People. The Lenni Lenape family was distinguished for its gentleness, its inate spirituality and its reverance for nature. They wore very little clothing and it was made from animal skins. The furside was worn out in the summer and turned in, in the winter. The squaws * sometimes wore skirts made from Turkey feathers. They wrote on birch bark in what was a pictorial shorthand. They did no weaving or decorative pottery work.
The Indian chieftain was Wanamassoa. The records show he sold land to Galvin (Gowan) Drummond in 1687.
The names of the permanent Indian Camping Grounds back of the hill and the summer campsite in Belmar are no longer known.
The tribes dwellings were long, low arched structures called wickams. During times of famine, the natives ate snakes, eagles, and skunks. The usual food however was fish, wild game and bread made from corn meal and water. This was made into a thick mush and hung in a skin bag. This was later made into a little cake when needed. These cakes were later used by the early settlers on their long journeys and who called them "Journey Cakes." Later the name became Johnny Cake according to our grandparents.
Migratory Indians descended on Belmar every Spring and stayed until Fall, thus it was a summer resort long before the advent of Columbus. It is not strange that the Indians chose this as their campsite. Because of its geographical position the Indians in their periodical wanderings, between the Great Lakes and the Coast crossed New Jersey by a direct route from Pennsylvania to the Raritan Bay and from there they just wandered down the coast.
The only permanent village site in the Shark River District in 1722 so far as the records show was a farm owned by a Hurley, located on Shark River. This was the home of Indian Will who died in 1800. What is now the section of Belmar along the river was at that time used as a temporary village and campsite.
A map of 1881 shows but three farms on the land directly south of Shark River. One belonged to Dick Newman, one to Dennis Newman and the third to Peter White. However, in May 1872 when Wm. L. Heyniger came to this district he recalled four farmers, the three mentioned and a fourth, Joseph Newman. All this land was purchased in 1820 from Andrew Bell. This same land was later sold to the Ocean Beach Association. Peter White one of the original owners of more than half of the Belmar Area died in 1884.
It is to be noted that as late as 1887 Indians under chief Masta were encamped at 9th Avenue doing basket weaving and fortune telling.
A TOWN IS BORN
In 1872 a group of twenty-five men decided they would like a summer community of their own. They chose the southern shore of Shark River because of its cool ocean breezes, good fishing and the type of isolation that would keep its original charm.
Early in the year Mr. Abram Bitner Jr. was appointed purchasing agent for the new group. He first bought fifty-eight acres of land from various men who had settled and whose locations do not appear on early maps.
The twenty-five original members grew so rapidly to the forty-one who bought the first sixty shares of stock at $500 each, that their names have since been lost.
The first agreement which led to the organization of the Ocean Beach Association was dated August 31st, 1872 by forty-one persons. The town was then "Ocean Beach."
Most of the land had been purchased and was held under articles of agreement and covered an area of 3937 6/100 acres. It cost $101,508.70. The greater portion of the land had been occupied since 1701 when it was deeded to William West and Robert Drummond by the Board of Proprietors of Eastern Division of New Jersey. The first distribution of land was made April 29th, 1873 to the original shareholders who paid $30,000 into the treasury for 161 lots.
The second distribution was made August 17th, 1874, also to the shareholders who paid an additional $30,000 for 166 lots. This constituted the capital stock of the corporation.
By an Act of The New Jersey Legislature the Association was incorporated on March 13th, 1873.
Ocean Beach, now Belmar, was originally laid out on a very liberal scale with a great regard for the health and comfort of those who occupied it during the summer months. The twelve main streets had this peculiar feature, each one begins at the Ocean and ends at Shark River.
In September of 1872, Abram Bitner Jr. bought among other properties the farm houses of Stephen Bennett, John Brown and Isaac Newman but allowed Peter White to occupy his homestead until his death in 1884. All these farms were set back on the Manasquan Road now "F" street. The Peter White house still stands at 703 7th avenue and was in the White family since 1800. The house was a regular stop for the circuit riding of Bishop Asbury.
The John Brown house is also still standing at 504 13th avenue. It was moved from Adelphia by oxen and flat boat down Shark River in 1840.
One of the Newman farmhouses, a little one story house, built about 1819 stands in the rear of 500 11th avenue at the corner of "D" street.
The Stephen Bennett homestead built in 1829 stood at the corner of "D" street. It burned in 1907.
With only these few houses to consider, the Ocean Beach Association found it simple to plan and lay out its community. They built a bridge across Shark River and the Manasquan Road. This was a sandy, heavily wooded lonely passage, which had a toll turnpike with a white gate just north of Shark River (In Avon). An old lady came out to collect the ten cents per horse and carriage before she would open the gate. A similar gate stood berween Ocean Beach and what is now Spring lake.
Strawberry Hill a Map of 1873 for Ocean Beach shows Strawberry Hill as the land vicinity of 12th avenue between Shark River and the Railroad.
Yards addition was the area of 12th thru 16th avenue and 15th avenue east of "F" street to "H" street. This tract still marks part of the South West boundary along 16th avenue and Shark River and is the line between Belmar and the extensions of Rhode Island Point.
EARLY HOUSING
Many people built their own homes and bungalows. Winter work was not always certain nor plentiful. Some conceived the idea of employing their spare time by joining together and building. These houses could then be rented in the summer for income to cover the winter. This however left them with no place to live while their houses were rented. They solved the problem by building bungalows on the rear lots or else by building apartments over the stables. This enabled them to own their houses and use them rent free for eight months of the year.
By 1926 there was an influx of Boarding Houses, and by 1939 they were located in nearly every block. About 1939 Belmar began developing a migratory group of Commercial Activities.
In 1915 Paul T. Zizinia, whose family were summer residents bought all the low lands along Shark River from Ocean to "F" street. The land was filled in and a residential restricted development was laid out. The homes built there were expensive. It was known as Inlet Terrace. The Inlet Terrace Club was built and it was the center of social activities. The club is now a private home and the Terrace is a row of Brick City Houses.
HOTELS
The first hotel, The Ocean Beach House, was built in the summer of 1873. It was on the south east corner of "F" street and Fifth avenue, just south of the Shark River Bridge. It was a large three story structure and was built by the association. In May 1891 the house was called the Maple Shade and lasted a few years after which it was relocated at 207 13th avenue and became the Kensington Home of Rest, the vacation home of the Salvation Army. it is now a private home.
More than seventeen hotels were in operation before 1890 and thirteen were established favorites before 1885. Six of these hotels were originally part of the Philadelphia Centennial Exposition Fair of 1876. There is no record before 1885 or the following four. The "Windsor" on the southeast corner of fourth avenue and "A" street, The "Woodbine" at third avenue and "B" street, The "Girard" at seventh avenue and "F" street and The "Buenavista" on second avenue between Ocean and "A".
The "Columbia" became the most fashionable and drew the most spenders. The "Atlantic" which took up the entire block between 15th and 16th avenues was Machinery Hall at the Expo before being brought to Belmar. As the Atlantic Hotel it catered to a literary and cultural class. In later years it became the Hotel McCann and then The Silver Edge. It burned to the ground in February 1972.
The Crystal Building, which displayed the latest styles of pressed glass and french mirrors, became the Crystal Cottage a small building on 14th and Ocean.
The Delaware House so named because it was the old Delaware State Building. This small house stood on the northwest corner of Thirteenth and Ocean avenues. It was renamed the Marlborough and for several years displayed Delaware‘s State Coat-of-Arms above its front porch. It appealed to the landed gentry and attracted mostly aristocrats.
Two other state buildings brought to Belmar from the Expo were the Kansas and the Colorado. They were joined together and became the one hundred room Colorado Hotel, this hotel covered the entire block from Fourteenth to Fifteenth and Ocean Avenues.
The Bankers Pavilion opened as a hotel under its own name and accommodated thirty-five people. It was operated by W.S.B. Shields and was on the north side of Sixth avenue beween "D" and "E" streets.
The Spanish Building, bought by Henry H. Yard, was put on the north side of Fifth avenue between Ocean and "A" street. He rented it to A. A. Tatem who ran it as the Brunswick, a forty-room hotel.
Of all the hotels to be mentioned, the most fashionable was the Columbia House. Opened in 1878, it was built in the most approved style of architecture. Loccated on the corner of 3rd and Ocean avenues, it had the capacity to accommodate about two hundred and fifty people. It became very popular and drew the most spenders.
Because the damage of the August 23rd, 24th, 1893 storm was so extensive, the hotel had to be rebuilt and an additional story was added. It continued to be the most fashionable for many years and in 1911 was advertised as "The House of Quality." It was completely rebuilt in 1917 and lasted until Oct. 22nd, 1939 when the entire New Columbia Hotel was destroyed by fire.
Among the other hotels there were The Neptune Hotel with seventy-five rooms. This stood at Sixteenth and Ocean. The European House at 9th and Railroad was built in 1880 and advertised as the cheapest and the quickest meals in town. The beautiful Belmar Hotel Motel now stands in this spot. There was the East Lynne at the southeast corner of "E" street and tenth avenue. The white beacon tower of this house was used as a direction finder and landmark by boat pilots. The New Irvington at Twelfth and Ocean still stands, but the Goldstein Carleton, 9th avenue near Ocean was razed in 1969. The Harbor Apts. occupy this area now. The Grandview Hotel at tenth and "D" street is now The Hotel Leon.
PAVILIONS
In 1893 James R. Warren opened a Ladies & Gents Ice Cream Parlor. By 1900 the place was run by eight local men who formed the Shark River Amusement Co. A Chute-the-Chutes was erected, Shooting Gallaries were opened and a large fleet of boats were rented by the hour. Bait and fishermen‘s supplies were for sale and crabbing was the most popular sport.
The Fifth Avenue Pavilion on the ocean front leased by James Gordon in 1881 was reopened in 1894 in the name of Wm. F. Gordon. By 1905 there were 305 Bath Houses and many stores included a Souvenir Shop, a Barber Shop and Photography Gallery.
The 10th Avenue Bath Houses built in 1879 were rented to Wm. H. Sanborn in 1903. He rebuilt the whole pavilion to include 198 Bath Houses and the same variety shops offered by Gordon ten years later.
Joseph Mower followed Sanborn as Mower pavilion, a second story dance hall was opened with three piece orchestra. In 1939 entirely new baths were built in this spot.
In 1902 T. J. Murphy bought the pavilion and built The Belmar Casino. Warrens place was moved around facing 5th avenue and it became a Bowling Alley.
On "F" street was the Famous Captain Kidd‘s Pavilion and Boathouse. John W. Kidd developed what was known as Fort Conduct Park and Pavilion. There were Refreshments, Row Boats, American Box Ball Alleys, a Carousal Shooting Galleries and other attractions. At an unknown date this amusement spot burned down and was replaced by the Haven‘s Fishery.
Buhlers Pavilion at the spot of 10th avenue and Shark River was a large pavilion with a grove for Picnickers, Boats for hire and a full line of fisherman‘s supplies. This later became Carpenter‘s Casino. It burned down and the borough took over the site. This is now the marina site.
The New 13th Ave. Pavilion opened on August 20th, 1929. Camp Kelty, a fine shore dinner place was at Rhode Island Point. This is where the Belmar Yacht Club is now. This Club formally opened in May 1929.
LAKES
Silver lake, wholly within the boundaries of Belmar, was once called West‘s Pond. So named for the family of "West" who owned the lake for generations. The name was changed when it was acquired by the Ocean Beach Association in 1872. The lake and the square at its head have been preserved from commercialization through the fighting spirit of some civic-minded men.
One of Belmar‘s leading attractions is the home of Swans, Geese and Ducks. The birds are cared for and fed by a Boro Caretaker. The Island in the middle of the lake was built as a winter home for the birds and to give an improved air to the municipal area.
The Belmar Swans gained a national reputation as the first flock bred In America. As a result the N. Y. Zoological Garden, Central Park, New York City, Central Park, Brooklyn and several other municipalities requested and were each given a pair of breeders by the Boro. The Duke estate in Northern N. J. purchased twelve pairs for research purposes. Many other requests for sale were received, but due to some unnatural disturbances the breeding fell off and the Boro has since refused to part with any more of the Swans.
The lake is fed by two fresh water streams, and occasionally at high tide, it receives the salt water from the ocean in sufficient quantities to keep it always highly impregnated with salt. It covers an area 2,500 feet long and 500 feet wide, and has a depth of about three feet.
The flower bed at the foot of Silver lake was the pride and joy of Carl Schroeder. His ideas for arrangements delighted and surprised local residents and visitors. The bed carried out the Red, White and Blue motif of the 1976 Belmar Bicentennial celebrations.
Lake Como separates South Belmar from Spring Lake and was once called Three-Cornered Pond from 1700 to 1800. Mr. H. H. Yard gave it its present name. It is mentioned by its old name in the deed of 1701 to Dawan Drummond.
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