What’s Left in Monmouth Beach …
For housing good or ill, Monmouth Beach has become a tear-down community. If you grew up in the town — say 25 years ago — it might be hard to recognize some sections today. Preserving certain borough houses, let alone neighborhoods, has become elusive. Change is here to stay.
Certainly some — perhaps much — of the borough’s 1970s housing stock needed replacing. Too many unappealing boxy, Cape Cod-type homes. Besides, many of the new Monmouth Beach homes are in keeping with fine brough architecture. And while some homes that are gone make me very sad, that’s more about my own nostalgia than these houses being so worthwhile. I have my own theories about dwelling in Monmouth Beach, after all, I grew up in an old seashore mansion.
Besides, homeowners have a reasonable expectation of developing their property as they see fit. Some Monmouth Beach real estate must be protected, however. The community can’t let go of what it still has — these structures being more in the public property space. Only a few historic public buildings remain in Monmouth Beach portfolio. Let’s try and keep them around. Those being:
US Life Saving Station — (History Link)
Monmouth Beach Borough Hall — (History Link)
Church of the Precious Blood — (History Link)
Monmouth Beach Fire Company firehouse — (History Link)
Monmouth Beach Club — (History Link)
Beach Road business building
Boyle’s Tavern — (History Link)
Monmouth Beach Kiosk — (History Link)
Monmouth Beach corner store building — (History Link)
Monmouth Beach gas station
Mihm’s Boat Works — (History Link)
Parish Center of Precious Blood Church — (History Link)
Monmouth Bathing Pavilion — (History Link)
Monmouth Sailing Center — (History Link)
Monmouth Beach Library — (History Link)
Channel Club — (History Link)
Monmouth Beach Bank
Monmouth Beach First Aid building — (History Link)
Pieces of history …
Monmouth Beach School — (History Link)