For My Readers …

Our area, 1896

As I continue to develop my website — lately though the addition of many local photos — I’ve reached beyond Monmouth Beach. Not too far though.

To close neighbors — Sea Bright to the north and Long Branch to the south. Border buddies and contiguous cousins. Three historic beach towns bound together. Now and forever.

Seeing a great old local photograph is one thing — getting its details is quite another. During my deep dives for more recorded historic facts (names, dates and places) I continue to use Newspapers.com — a terrific online resource.

I’ve found plenty of plausible news and info amidst the archived pages of the Asbury Park Press, Long Branch Daily Record, and Red Bank Daily Register (and to a lesser degree the New York Times and Brooklyn Daily Eagle). All mostly well preserved in digital form (old news print photos can be tricky though). Recorded details on local events and people going back some 350 years in total is available. The APP, started in 1879, continues to publish daily. The LBDR circulated from 1883 to 1975. The RBDR printed from 1878 to 1991.

“To understand today, you must search yesterday.”
—Pearl Buck

As a seasoned journalist I know that newspapers are imperfect. At their best, they provide a “first rough draft of history.” Still, sometimes when I find a fact after much digging and it all jells, I’m in awe of the reach of journalism.

In my own fact gathering, however, I sometimes find conflicting information in all the local publications back then. In the usual news biz pitfall, the misspelled name, of course. But also, lots of differing dates and in numbers generally. So, to offer a more complete report of the pictures posted, I’ve done some supposing of my own. Even as I keep digging for more facts.

In closing, I ask my readers to help me keep things honest. If you see something you know to be untrue or inaccurate, please, reach out. I’m never above making a change when presented with the better facts. Indeed, I welcome the interaction.

Monmouth Beach Life Photo Collection — HERE

My thanks to all for reading,

Greg Kelly

MonmouthBeachLife.com
Publisher
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