Secrets of the Memorial Vase

Welcome to "The Book Of Historical Secrets." I am a life long resident of Ocean Grove and I have a deep interest in Ocean Grove history. Throughout my childhood I would often walk through the streets of Ocean Grove and wander through Founders Park. I was always curious about the urn in Founders Park and had a lot of questions about it. I would ask people what they knew about its history and read the available Ocean Grove history books at the time. This is what I heard and read on the subject: The urn was erected in 1875 and was to mark the spot of the first religious service in Ocean Grove.

The years went by, I grew up and the Internet became more available to me. More and more historical books and documents became accessible to everyone online. I was surprised about what I found to say the least. I found that something wasn't right as I delved into the first annual reports of the President of the Ocean Grove Camp-Meeting Association and local newspapers of that time period.

In order to clarify, we need to start at the beginning with a brief history of the first business office of the Ocean Grove Camp Meeting Association.

In the Ocean Grove Record on April 2nd, 1881, it was written... "In the beginning we had no place of our own in which to hold our business meetings. As an association we had but small means and few friends. One of our executive meetings was held in the woods at the foot of a pine tree near the present site of Prof. Sanders' cottage. Everything seemed to be against us yet we bowed, and wept, and prayed and God sent us help. In 1870 the small building now occupied as the post office,  16x34 feet, one story and a half high, was erected where the Bishop Janes Memorial Tabernacle now stands northwest corner of Pilgrim Pathway and Mt. Carmel Way."

"This building served the double purpose of Association office and post office until the spring of 1873 when it was removed to the northeast corner of Pilgrim Pathway and Main Avenue. By this time the business had so increased that additional room was needed and a new frame building 20 feet square, two full stories 9 1/2 and 12 1/2 feet high, with dome cupola was added to the old building."

                                             -E. H. Stokes D. D.

In the fourth annual report it states:
"The post-office has been removed, the buildings enlarged, and the whole surroundings improved."

-E. H. Stokes D. D.

It is clear from the above that the building was moved to the corner of Pilgrim Pathway and Main Avenue and the grounds improved. In the 5th annual report, Stokes suggested that the grounds be further improved by putting a park next to the Association office.

"5th, Park at the office - the removal of sand-banks at the office, and the laying out of the grounds into a park, will greatly beautify that place, which is all-important from the fact that it is the place where the multitudes, first land and from which they depart and the first and last impressions should be pleasant. I recommend this to your attention."

-E. H. Stokes D. D.

In the 6th annual report, which was in 1875, it tells us that the park was laid out that year and the name was given as Memorial Park or Memorial Square, as it was also called.

"Memorial Park - The first to which I call your attention is the removal of the sand-drift, leveling, soiling, seeding, in grass, and planting trees, on the plot of ground immediately adjoining the Association office, which we have named, for reasons which will appear, "Memorial Park." This, from being unsightly and repulsive to the eyes of persons as they stepped from the stages to the platform, has become a place of beauty and attraction."

-E. H. Stokes D. D.

This brings us to the subject of this blog post... the Memorial Vase, as it is properly called.

A Memorial Vase was placed in Memorial Park and was unveiled on the 31st of July, 1875. This was Anniversary Day, later known as Founders Day. 

The purpose of this Memorial Vase was to commemorate the first religious service and also a memorial for the original Camp Meeting Trustees. It is not to be confused with the 1883 Anniversary Vase, which was erected on the exact spot in Thompson Park, (now known as Founders Park) where the first religious service was held.

In the sixth annual report in 1875 it states:
"On the 31st of July, at the Sixth Anniversary of the first religious meeting held upon these grounds, there was erected, as commemorative of that event, in connection with the anniversary exercises, in Memorial Park, a “Memorial Vase,” at a cost of a little over $100. The vase is of iron, and stands about eight feet high. It is designed, not simply as commemorative of the first religious meeting held upon these grounds, but as the members of the Association die, their names will be inscribed upon the marble panels found upon the several sides.
The panel facing Main Avenue has inscribed upon it:

OCEAN GROVE

 CAMP-MEETING ASSOCIATION 

OF THE 

METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH.

ORGANIZED DEC. 22, 1869.

"HOLINESS UNTO THE LORD.” 

EREC'TED JULY 31st, 1875.

On the panel facing West, is inscribed:

IN MEMORIAM:

ALFRED COOKMAN. 

RULIFF V. LAWRENCE. 

 GEORGE FRANKLIN."

-E. H. Stokes D. D.

Here is another account of the vase unveiling from the Ocean Grove Record:

Memorial Square

"Here, where an unseemly sand-hill stood in the rear of the Association buildings, appears a lovely square covered with a rich carpet of grass. In the centre stood a tent, which after singing was suddenly removed, revealing a mammoth vase built on a pedestal, and filled with gorgeous flowers. In addition to the facts and dates inscribed on the panels of this beautiful structure, will be placed the names of Cookman, Lawrence, and Franklin, deceased members of the band who first united in the act of incorporation to make Ocean Grove, what the public find it to be in this year of grace, 1875. Pach, the photographer, whose fine gallery adjoins the square, with his artistic corps, took a number of views, while the multitude remained around the enclosure."

-Ocean Grove Record 8/7/1875

Pach, the photographer took the above photograph. We owe much to him for his many photographs of Ocean Grove's early years. 

"Pach, the photographer is putting up a beautiful gallery, next to the Association office, fronting on Main Ave, where he will be able to carry on his business in all its branches."

                                                                                                                -Ocean Grove Record 6/5/1875

He also had celebrated galleries in New York City and Long Branch.

There arose a need for a larger, more substantial office for the Association as time went on. In 1880, plans were approved for the new Association office building. The existing buildings on the corner of Main Avenue and Pilgrim Pathway were moved and construction was started. The building was built on the site of Memorial Park, so the Memorial Vase was moved around on the premises. The work was completed on the new building in 1881 and still stands in this location, although the business offices for the Association were moved to a more modern building on Pitman Avenue in the 1970's.

After the vase was moved, there was mention in the Ocean Grove Record in 1884, of it being in front of the Association building.

"The names of deceased members of the Ocean Grove Association are cherished and perpetuated by being engraved on a marble slab on the memorial vase in front of the Association building and further, by a portrait to hang on the wall of the main business room. To the portraits of Franklin Stockton and Cookman is now to be added that of the late Rev. J. S. Inskip in uniform style with the others."

 -Ocean Grove Record 5/17/1884

Sometime after this the Memorial Vase was removed to its present site in Founders Park. The author doesn't know the exact time it was moved, but has found reference in the Ocean Grove Times (01/13/1939) to it being placed in Founders Park. It said it had been moved many years ago from that time. 

I hope you have enjoyed and found this blog post interesting. I would love your comments. If you like or disagree with any of the above, please leave your comment below. I will be more then happy to respond. Please keep your eyes open for my future blog posts. I have found much more to write about which will surprise you. Stay tuned.