Monmouth Beach Club — 100 Years of Images
MB Club Logo.
The Monmouth Beach Bath & Tennis Club (known popularly as “The Club”) rests along Ocean Avenue. This fabulous Atlantic coast building is the definitive piece of Monmouth Beach architecture. May it stand forever.
According to my research the facility first opened in July 1910 amidst much celebration. The guy who conceived of the building and started construction would lose the property to scandal and back taxes. In June 1923 — that’s 100 years ago — the borough acquired the property (paying owner Bernard Winfield $40,000) and tried to make it work for years (generally without success). Around that time Mayor A.O. Johnson ordered the facility to be painted white with a green roof — just as it is today.
A group of wise members — who already loved the spot and envisioned a magnificent privacy — acquired control (for just $50,000 paid over 5 years) a couple years after World War II ended. Today, generations of families still enjoy the spot. Here is a photo collection of “The Club” through the years. Enjoy:
• Monmouth Beach Club History — HERE
Back Then — Monmouth Beach Club rules the road — Ocean Avenue looking north, late 1910s.
Big Dipper — Monmouth Beach Club pool aera, Summer 1910.
Boro Landmark — Monmouth Beach Club, 2010s.
Bird’s Eye — Monmouth Beach Club (r) set on the Atlantic coast, Fall 2022.
Summer Glory — Monmouth Beach Club aerial image, late 1940s. Borough mayors have played a meaningful role in the club’s development. There from the day one was Bill Heitzman — the first mayor of Monmouth Beach — who built the Ocean Avenue facility in 1909-10 (with a 60-man crew). Jim McConville — the club’s longest serving manager from 1989 to 2014 – served two terms as borough mayor during those times. In between them was Mayor A.O. Johnson — the club’s first manager (unpaid) in 1924 — who was elected to four mayoral terms from 1917 to 1945.
“Beach Club” painting by Judy Stach from Jersey Shore Magazine (Spring 2024) — MORE INFO.
Cool Breeze — “The Baths at Monmouth Beach, NJ” 1910s. Bill Heitzman, the first mayor of Monmouth Beach, built the Ocean Avenue facility.
An Ace — Monmouth Beach Club tennis courts, September 2023. The club’s first two tennis courts were opened for Summer 1930; clay courts were added in 1937. Edgar B. Mooney, Jr. of Rumson was the club’s tennis committee chairman for many years — growing it from a “dead sport” to 200+ active players by Summer 1967. His “energy made tennis king at the club,” according to the Red Bank Daily Register, and played a big part in the club’s adding “tennis” to its title in 1966. He also owned the Little Silver Racquet Club before dying in 1993.
Monmouth Beach Club at dusk, August 2023. Jersey Shore Magazine, Spring 2024 — MORE INFO.
Rich Road — Large summer cottages and the club along Ocean Avenue looking north, 1910s.
Monmouth Beach Club, 1940s.
MB Club, 2008.
Monmouth Beach Club surrounded by wildfire smoke — down from Canada, June 2023 (Jayne Marie Kelly Photo).
Monmouth Beach Club pool area, 1911.
MB Club, 2000s (Adrienne Imbimbo Photo). In 1978 the town permitted the club to sell alcoholic beverages after it agreed to drop a property tax assessment appeal, according to the Red Bank Daily Record. It was awarded a club liquor license in March 1981.
“Pool Court — The Baths at Monmouth Beach, NJ” Summer 1910.
Happy Fourth of July at the Monmouth Beach Club, 2023 (Kelly Schulz Photo).
100 Years of Sun & Fun — The MB Club on Ocean Avenue, May 2023. First acquired by the borough in 1923, it went private in 1947 and still operates today.
Monmouth Beach Club — “Green Roof” by Gregory Lewis.
Not Just Fun — Monmouth Beach Club aerial image, 1934. The borough consistently struggled with its ownership of the property. In January 1928, Mayor George Van Brunt called the club and swimming pool a” white elephant,” according the Long Branch Daily Record.
Monmouth Beach Club, 1930. A large ballroom with ocean-view was added to the club’s east tower in 1923.
End-to-End — Monmouth Beach Club, 2017.
“The Baths” — Monmouth Beach Club pool area, 1944.
Reflections — Monmouth Beach Club pool area, 2010s. The club’s first swim team was formed in 1935. Beginning in 1946, Frank Wells was the club’s devoted swimming and diving coach — serving for three decades. An accomplished gymnast and former Olympic coach, he died in 2005.
Monmouth Beach Club on Ocean Avenue, 2013.
Monmouth Beach Club aerial image, 2018 (Frank Snead Photo).
High Tide — Powerful storm waves pound Monmouth Beach Club beach, 1930s.
Monmouth Beach Bath & Tennis Club on Ocean Avenue, 2008.
Monmouth Beach Club wedding on the sand, 2019.
Monmouth Beach Club Club (r) set along Ocean Avenue, 1940s.
Before the Club — Ocean Avenue looking north, 1905.
North DeGray cottage on Ocean Avenue north of the MB Club, 1914. Richard DeGray died there in 1909 and the property was sold in June 1914 for $5,400.
Monmouth Beach Club aerial image, 2022 (Dave Booth Photo).
MB Club main pool, 1920s.
Monmouth Beach Club pool area, 1930s.
Why was the first pool built in Monmouth Beach? Brooklyn Daily Eagle, May 1912.
Monmouth Beach Club pool diving, 1920s.
Today — Monmouth Beach Club viewed from Beach Road looking east, 2018.
A Century earlier — Monmouth Beach Club viewed from Beach Road looking east, 1920s.
Postcard Worthy — Monmouth Beach Club aerial image, 1960s.
Monmouth Beach Club, 1930s.
Monmouth Beach Club aerial image, 1940s.
MB Club cabanas, 2000s.
Monmouth Beach Club along the borough coast, 1940.
“Monmouth Beach Baths” on Ocean Avenue, 1920s.
Getting In — Monmouth Beach Club entrance on Ocean Avenue, 1930s.
MB Club pool area, 1920s.
Monmouth Beach Club, 1940s. The summer of ’46 before it was sold, the club had turned a $4,800 profit (about $80,000+ today).
The MB Club beach area, 1974. Behind it on Ocean Avenue is the infamous “Skeleton” tower. It would become The Admiralty high rise when finished in 1982.
Monmouth Beach Club aerial image, 1950s.
MB Club on Ocean Avenue, 1920s.
Drive By — MB Club seen from a car, 2018 (Chris Clarity Photo).
MB Club, 2020s.
“Club House on Ocean Boulevard,” 1920s. After years of salt-air decay and storm damage, the club’s east towers were removed in 1948.
Monmouth Beach Club drone image, August 2022 (David Booth Photo).
Monmouth Beach Club with large tent for Shea Stevenson wedding, September 2019 (Regina Stevenson Photo).
Monmouth Beach Club aerial image during Shea Stevenson wedding, September 2019. (Regina Stevenson Photo).
Monmouth Beach Club aerial image, 1924. The borough owned the property then.
Monmouth Beach Club Board of Trustees, Summer 1938.
Monmouth Beach Club ocean side, 1930s.
MB Club seen from the MB Clubhouse Hotel roof, late 1910s. Note the five seashore mansions still standing on the east side of Ocean Avenue north of the club.
MB Club and coast aerial image, 1980s.
MB Club basks in a summer sunset, July 2022 (Anthony Biondi Photo).
Monmouth Beach Club on Ocean Avenue, 1910s. The 35- x 140-foot pool cost $50,000. It was “one of the finest and largest in the East,” according to the Long Branch Daily Record in 1910.
Monmouth Beach Club under major renovations. In 2007, the membership completed work on a large $3 million renovation project.
Monmouth Beach Club under major renovations, 2006. The entire facility received major structural upgrades, new siding and roofing, and the south pavilion was refurbished.
Monmouth Beach Club at the Ocean Avenue-Beach Road intersection, 1970s.
MB Club and coast aerial image, 2014.
Monmouth Beach Club aerial image, 2000s.
MB Club pool area, 1920s.
MB Club aerial image, 2017.
MB Club looking north, 2001.
MB Club and coast aerial image, 2016.
MB Club pool area, 1920s. The structure was “finished in ancient Roman architecture.”
MB Club inside, 2015.
MB Club young tennis players, 1944.
MB Club, 1916.
MB Club after Superstorm Sandy, October 2012.
Shore walk near the MB Club, 2021.
MB Club new addition, 2021.
Sale of the Century — MB Club Sold. Red Bank Register, June 1947.
A Jersey Shore classic — #1 Image. Monmouth County Historic Sites Inventory, 2020.
“New Attraction” — Long Branch Daily Record, July 1910.
MB Club matchbook sketch, 1930s.
Tribute to Coach Frank Wells and son. Long Branch Daily Record, June 1967.
MB Club area aerial image, 1934.
MB Club on the side, 2020.
MB Club under construction on Ocean Avenue, 1909.
MB Club, 1923. Note the unusual front entrance, it was closed and moved to the north side after the borough assumed control of the facility in 1924.
MB Club pool area, 1920s. A $5,000 upgrade to the pool filtering system was made for the Summer of 1919.
MB Club pool area, 1920s.
MB Club pool opening, July 1911.
“Monmouth Beach Club” main entrance, 2018.
MB Club evening party (Roey Yohai Photo), 2020.
MB Club front, 1980s.
MB Club purchase and re-opening story. Long Branch Daily Record, June 1924.
MB Club front door, 2016.
“Monmouth Beach Bath and Tennis Club Pool” painting by R. Kirk Moore — MORE INFO.
MB Club aerial image, 2020.
MB Club aerial image, 2020.
MB Club aerial image, 2019.
MB Club aerial image, 2018.
MB Club pool area in the morning 2019.
MB Club pool area at night, 2019.
MB Club pool area at dusk, 2019.
MB Club addition, 2020.
MB Club pool area, 2019.
MB Club beach wedding, 2019.
MB Club pool area, 2019.
MB Club tennis courts at sunset, 2019.
MB Club sunset glow, 2018.
MB Club dune walking, 2016.
MB Club undergoing large renovations, 2006.
MB Club northern bathhouses/cabanas leveled by Hurricane Sandy, 2012.
MB Club damage from a major Nor’easter. November 1953.
MB Club on Ocean Avenue, 1920s.
MB Club south addition, December 2019.
MB Club south addition, December 2019.
MB Club pool area, 1930s.
MB Club beach, 1974. The infamous “skeleton” is to the south. Later to be The Admiralty high rise when finished in 1982.
Painters spruce up the MB Club for the summer season, 1988.
MB Club, 1935.
MB Club, 1935.
MB Club, 1932.
MB Club, 1928.
MB Club, 1910s.
MB Club, 1910s.
Sketch proposal for new beach club south of the MB Club to be built by John Chimento, 1964. It never went forward.
MB Club, 1928.
MB Club, 1930s.
MB Club, 1930s.
MB Club, 1940s.
MB Club, 1930s.
MB Club renovations, 2006.
MB Club renovations, 2006.
MB Club renovations, 2006.
MB Club renovations, 2006.
MB Club postcard, 1930s.
MB Club renovations, 2006.
MB Club renovations, 2006.
MB Club renovations, 2006.
MB Club, 2000s.
MB Club painting, 1980s.
MB Club, 1940s.
MB Club, 1930s.
MB Club members, 1930s.
MB Club interior, 1970s.
MB Club sketch, 2000s.
MB Club wedding, 2010s.
MB Club, 2018.
MB Club image from July 24, 1910 New York Tribune.
MB Club parking lot after storm, 1953.
MB Club after Hurricane Sandy, 2012.
MB Club painting, 2018.
Dr. Charles Kelly after a storm near the MB Club, 1950s.
MB Club pool area, 1930s.
MB Club pool, early 1930s.
MB Club coast, 1936.
MB Club under repair, 2005.
MB Club, 2007.
MB Club matchbook, 1930s.
Setting sun and the MB Club, 2017.
MB Club swim meet, 2010s.
MB Club storm surge, 2009.
MB Club storm damage, 1953.
MB Club storm damage, 1953.
MB Club storm damage, 1953.
MB Club pool area, 1930s.
MB Club pool area, 1940s.
MB Club architectural designs, 2000s.
MB Club, 2018.
MB Club, 2018.
MB Club painting, 2010s.
MB Club, 2017.
Sand erosion at the MB Club, 2010s.
MB Club, 2018.
MB Club aerial image, 1960s.
MB Club, 1990s.
MB Club, 1950s.
MB Club pool area, 1930s.
MB Club entrance, 1940s.
MB Club in winter, 2017.
New York Tribune ad, June 1914.
Aerial view of Monmouth Beach along Ocean Avenue, 1940s.
Ocean Avenue looking north to the MB Club, early 1900s.
View from the seawall on Ocean Avenue looking south, 2017.
MB Club, 2010s.
Governor Al Smith of New York visits the Club, July 1925. (Getty Images)
Monmouth Beach Club, 1920s.
MB Club, 2010s.
MB Club entrance, 2010s.
MB Club seen from the ocean, 2010s.
MB Club, 1950s.
Beach Road-Ocean Avenue intersection, 2018.
MB coast, 1970s.
MB Club pool area, 2010s.
MB Club under restoration, 2000s.
MB Club inside, 2010s.
Aerial image of MB Club looking north, 2017.
A Monmouth Beach Club wedding, 2010s.
Storm surge at Monmouth Beach Club, 2000s.
Lawn party near Monmouth Beach Club, 1920s.
Monmouth Beach Club Opening Day, June 1924.
