Peninsula House: Shore Splendor at Sea Bright
Known by locals as the “P House” — the iconic seashore structure dates back to Sea Bright’s late 19th century resort glory days. The grand Peninsula House hotel was constructed in 1881 by Mifflin Paul, the unofficial founder of Sea Bright, for his daughter, Martha Dederer. And as late as August 1972, the Asbury Park Press called the P House “a reminder of bygone elegance and grandeur.”
Paul built the sprawling wooden hotel along the Shrewsbury River to entertain the rich and famous who came to Sea Bright at the turn of the century. Moved east across Ocean Avenue in November 1884 by H.W. Newry of Asbury Park. It remained there until burning to the ground in October 1986.
Several other buildings were added over the years around the original five-story structure. A North Annex with 36 rooms was added in 1916 and a South Annex with 57 rooms came in 1917. All are long gone.
In September 1915, Martha Dederer sold the Peninsula House hotel and property to a New York syndicate headed by W.W. Wyckoff for $8,500. She died in January 1933. Mifflin Paul died in April 1890. Other Peninsula House owners included John Connelly and Ed Murphy. After years of decline, restoration expert Mary Weir acquired the property in February 1980 for about $650,000 and returned much of the Victorian charm to the P House. She sold the landmark property in 1983 to seek other business opportunities.
The last owner, James Yacenda, had received borough adjustment board approval to turn the facility into an all-year hotel when a fire deemed “suspicious” by the SBFD took the building. The borough ultimately acquired the vacant property for beach parking.
Famous guest through the years included actor Bert Lahr, musician Clarence Clemons and Frank Sinatra and his parents. Plus, generations of Sea Bright residents, families, and out-of-town members, who loved the P House and recall it as summertime paradise.

Peninsula House along Ocean Avenue, 1968. The hotel’s public beach club component was added for Summer 1960 by owners Ed Murphy and Tom McDarby.

Peninsula House, 1905. The hotel was “loved” by Frank Sinatra’s parents (Marty and Dolly), according to a 1972 APP profile on the P House. And Frank visited too.

Peninsula House, 1903. One hotel floor was called “Rum Row” — for all the bachelors who stayed there for the summer.

Peninsula House on Ocean Avenue, 1910. Martha Stevens was a P House regular, summering here until her death in 1899. She endowed the Stevens Institute of Technology in Hoboken in 1870 and is credited with giving Sea Bright its name. She ran in the same circles as the town’s first developers: Mifflin Paul, W.W. Shippen, and Samuel Dod. One of the rejected names was “St.-Paul-on-the-Shrewsbury.”

Architect’s rendering for the new P House, Red Bank Register, May 1980. The design plan was by Robert DeSantis of Red Bank.

The P House North Wing is demolished, January 1973. The section was over 70 years old. The owners said space was needed for additional beach parking.

Peninsula House, 1903. “Last of the great structures to survive on the barrier beach” burned in 1986.

P House smoldering remains, October 1986. Eight local fire companies and 200+ firefighters fought the blaze for over 8 hours.