Borough service station at 100 …

When it comes to good locations for a gas station, it’s tough to beat the one in Monmouth Beach. Conveniently situated along a busy NJ state highway — the next closest stop for fuel is on Broadway in Long Branch about 2 miles away.

The auto service station at Ocean and Riverdale Avenues (near the Long Branch border) dates to October 1924 when property owner, J. William Jones, installed two 20,000-gallon above-ground gas tanks. Despite some big opposition to the plan, then Mayor A.O. Johnson did not object.

Although the area is zoned for business, the snooty Monmouth Beach Association fought the project so Jones obtained a NJ Superior Court order to operate. Jones was a savvy city politico. Having served 30+ years on the Long Branch Commission including two terms as mayor (1928-1932 and 1948-1952), he was used to getting his way. Born in Long Branch the son of school teachers, he died in December 1958.

Edward Wade owned the Getty Service Station franchise there in town beginning in 1960. The Newark native and 50-year Little Silver resident (where he served as borough fire chief) died in July 1995. Andy Zeim, a longtime head janitor at the Monmouth Beach School, was also an owner in the 1940s and 50s. Customers will recall the colorful gas pumper, Malcolm “Shorty” Kirby, who died in 1994 and the longtime auto mechanic, Arthur Jensen, who died in 1983. The station endured major gas rationing periods in the 1940s and 1970s.

Now a century since opening and the business still operates — recently renovated and reopened. Today, it’s a Liberty Petroleum fuel station. Open 7 days weeks from 6 am to 9 pm.

John’s Tydol service station on Ocean Avenue, 1943.

Monmouth Beach Gas Station on Ocean Avenue, 1946.

Monmouth Beach Gas Station, 1943. The business marks 100 years of service in 2024.

Monmouth Beach Gas Station, 2020.

Monmouth Beach Gas Station, 2021.

Zeim’s Tydol Service Station on Ocean Avenue, 1940s.

Civic-Minded — Andy Zeim. In addition to his business interests, Andy served on the borough school board from 1950 to 1959; then was school custodian from 1961 to 1973. He was also a PTA president in the 1950s. Born in Passaic, NJ, he and his wife Viola moved to town in 1942 and both died in 1979.

Autos wait on Ocean Avenue to enter gas station during WW II rationing, 1940s.

Monmouth Beach Gas Station, 2021. (Michael Booth Photo).

New Ocean Boulevard under construction looking north into Monmouth Beach, 1980s. Built by Stavola Contracting Company and designed by T&M Associates, it was finished in late 1983 for about $3 million. Note the Getty station at left.

Town Connection — At the Monmouth Beach-North Long Branch borderline, 1970s. (Marti Lewis Photo). Gas station to the right.

High Tide — Ocean Avenue flooding near the gas station, 1968.

Once familiar, now forgotten — looking south past the gas station on Ocean Avenue nearing the Monmouth Beach-North End border, 1966.