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To add a new posting, send an email to me at bassriverhistory@gmail.com with a comment, question, story, photo, observation, etc. It will be posted below, shortly after the email is received. To comment on an existing posting, click on the "comments" command below the posting and type your comment. Your comment will show up immediately.   Pete Stemmer

Tuesday, June 30, 2009

The White Oak Inn

Last Saturday, we listed telephone numbers from a 1956 New Gretna telephone directory that brought back many memories of New Gretna old timers who are no longer with us. One of the telephone numbers, for the Oak Lawn Country Club on New York Road, presently Rt. 9, was a puzzlement to me, and I asked if anyone could help me identify the establishment. I got one Blog comment and an email from Don Maxwell. Both said that they thought the Oak Lawn Country Club was the old White Oak Inn.

I believe that they are correct; however, it would be nice to see some documentation regarding the building's use as the Oak Lawn Country Club. And what type of establishment was it? I suspect that was just a fancy name for a local watering hole. Hopefully, someone out in the Blog-O-Sphere may recall stopping in for a libation and maybe even remember who ran the place. If so, I'd love to hear from you.

The old Inn likely functioned as a speak easy during prohibition in the 1920's. I know that rum runners were prevalent in the area, according to some of our local baymen who may have also dabbled in the nefarious practice and always seemed to keep their boats just a little faster than the revenuers. There never seemed to be a scarcity of booze in New Gretna during prohibition. That's for sure!

Unfortunately, I don't know much about the origin of the old building. I've been told that the original structure was the farmhouse of old Sea Captain Dellwyn P. Crowley who was the grandfather of Delilah Crowley Cramer. My only recollection regarding Captain Crowley was his donation of the bell to the New Gretna School in the late 1800's as documented by the bell and accompanying plaque on exhibit in the school's foyer. It is likely the bell was placed in the school when it was built in 1899.

Capt. Dellwyn Crowley's old ship and farm bell is on display in the foyer of the Bass River Elementary School. (January 22, 2009 photo by Pete Stemmer.)



Sometime after the turn of the century the old Crowley farmhouse became the White Oak Inn. I haven't a clue as to how and when this transformation occurred.


The White Oak Inn, circa 1929, was originally the farmhouse of Captain Dellwyn P. Crowley. (Photo courtesy of Franklin W. Gray.)
When I first moved to town in the early 1970's some older locals told me that "some years ago" the White Oak Inn building belonged to Father Divine, a black missionary preacher from Philadelphia. They called it one of his Heavens which was a boarding house where his teachings were practiced and where his followers could obtain food and shelter as well as spiritual and physical healing. During the Depression residents of the Heavens paid the minimal fee of 15 cents for meals and a dollar per week to sleep.

No one specifically told me when Father Divine was involved in New Gretna; however, I got the impression that it may have been in the late 1930's or early 1940's when he was living in Philadelphia. I am uncertain as to whether Father Divine ever personally visited New Gretna, but it is likely that he had due to its proximity to Atlantic City.


It is uncertain if George Baker, aka Father Divine, ever made a personal visit to his Heaven in New Gretna. (Photo from Google Images.)

My only experience with the old White Oak Inn was remembering it as an apartment house, on the north-east corner of Route 9 and East Greenbush Road, in the late 1980's through 2004.


The old White Oak Inn building in 1983. It functioned as an apartment house through the fall of 2004. (Photo courtesy of Sara Mathis Guertler.)

In September, 2004 the old White Oak Inn building was demolished. Following are some photos taken on September 9, 2004, just before it was torn down. A few of the photos show some interesting architectual accents. It must have been something to see in it's hayday!


Ready to rumble.


Front view.


Back view.


Attic window.


Gingerbread and a tin rain spout.


Closeup of tin rain spout.


Today, the lot where the Crowley farmhouse, later the old White Oak Inn, stood is empty. Nothing remains to indicate that a part of New Gretna history once stood here.


The empty lot where the old white Oak Inn once stood. Perhaps we can get my history buddy, John Yates, to stop by with his GPS and record its exact location for posterity. (Map from Google Maps.)


The empty lot on the north-east corner of Route 9 and East Greenbush Road where the White Oak Inn once stood. (June 29, 2009 photo by Pete Stemmer.)

That's about all I know about the old White Oak Inn. It sure is a project that needs more research. Hopefully, we'll be revisiting it in the future as more information surfaces.

Pete S

PS- Click on the links below to read more about Father Divine.


Saturday, June 27, 2009

The Twilight Zone Comes to New Gretna

I pick up the mail for Ben and Elaine Allen and drop it off at their Adams Avenue home a few times a week. One of the many benefits I receive is the opportunity to speak with them about their memories of old time New Gretna. Ben was born in New Gretna a little over 90 years ago and has spent all of his life here with the exception of serving in the Pacific during World War II. His body is getting frail, but his memory is as sharp as a tack. He and Elaine are my most reliable source of verifying New Gretna history. Each of my visits with them is precious and like having my personal New Gretna History Encyclopedia.

Like other New Gretna old timers, Ben and Elaine cling to many of the old New Gretna ways. I'm often reminded of this when we're talking in the living room and the telephone rings. They still have the old black, clunky rotary phone from the 1950's. No modern push button phones for them! I marvel every time I see Elaine pick up the receiver. It looks like it weighs more than she does.



The other day when I was visiting with Ben and Elaine, the phone rang, I got to thinking about that old phone and one of my favorite old television shows, the Twilight Zone. If we could combined the two, we would have some great plots where Ben and Elaine are stuck in a telephone time warp. They are only able to make and receive calls to telephone numbers listed in an old 1950's New Gretna telephone book.

Those telephone numbers, taken from a April 15, 1956 Telephone Directory on exhibit at the Tuckerton Historical Society, are listed below. In our Blog Telephone Twilight Zone, suppose they are the only people Ben and Elaine can reach back in time and talk with on that old black phone.

Many of the names should be familiar to our regular Blog readers. If you were visiting with me in Ben and Elaine's living room and had the chance to use their old black phone, who on the list would you like to make a call to? Think of the possibilities. If Jim McAnney were to call his father, Ruby, and Jim McAnney from 1956 answered the phone, could Jim talk to himself? Rod Serling would be proud!

Pete S


NEW GRETNA TELEPHONE DIRECTORY
APRIL, 1956

Adams, Bertsall Mrs. Old NY Rd New Gretna: AXtel 6-5343

Adams, Russell Mpl Av New Gretna: AXtel 6-5912

Adams, Margaret C NY Rd New Gretna: AXtel 6-5554

Allen, Benj Adams Av New Gretna: AXtel 6-5916

Allen, Chester Capt Amasa Ldg Rd New Gretna:AXtel 6-3483

Allen, Clifton E NY Rd New Gretna: AXtel 6-3252

Allen Geo E Adams Av New Gretna: AXtel 6-5917

Allen, Leslie Capt Adams La New Gretna: AXtel 6-5910

Allen, R Allentown Rd New Gretna: AXtel 6-5783

Allen, Woodrow N Maple Av New Gretna: AXtel 6-5785

Altscher, Saml N Maple Av New Gretna: AXtel 6-5710

Archer, Frank N Mapl Av New Gretna: AXtel 6-3096

Arnold, Wm Leektown Rd New Gretna: AXtel 6-5732

Atl Plmbg Supls N Maple Av New Gretna: AXtel 6-2930

Baker, W C NY Rd New Gretna: AXtel 6-5006

Barnes, John New Gretna: AXtel 6-5902

Belk, Wm NY Rd New Gretna: AXtel 6-2414

Bourguignon, L Frenchs La New Gretna: AXtel 6-3752

Bourguignon, R T NY Rd New Gretna: AXtel 6-3756

Bowers, Isaac R NY Rd New Gretna: AXtel 6-3013

Bozarth, D N Maple Av New Gretna: AXtel 6-3112

Bozarth, H A Leektown Rd New Gretna: AXtel 6-5736

BRIGGS REFRIGERATION N Maple Av New Gretna: AXtel 6-5091

Briggs, Saml D N Maple Av New Gretna: AXtel 6-5738

Broome, Benj Maple Av New Gretna: AXtel 6-5913

Brown, C W Greenbush Rd: AXtel 6-5907

Brown, Edw W Grnbsh Rd New Gretna: AXtel 6-5908

Carty, Owen NY Rd New Gretna: AXtel 6-3489

Chernetsky, G West Rd New Gretna: AXtel 6-5717

Chips Folly Chips Folly Rd Wadng River: AXtel 6-3785

Cook, F W Hamontn Rd New Gretna: AXtel 6-5976

Cotterell, E H French’s La New Gretna: AXtel 6-3753

Cramer, Arnold & Co Oysters Amasas Landing Dock

New Gretna: AXtel 6-5296

Cramer D N Mpl Av New Gretna: AXtel 6-5786

Cramer, Geo W S Mpl Av New Gretna: AXtel 6-5942

Cramer, Mabel R Mrs N Mpl Av New Gretna: AXtel 6-3111

Cramer, N W Hamontn Rd New Gretna: AXtel 6-3786

Cramer, P Mrs RN N Mpl Av New Gretna: AXtel 6-3113

Cramer, Pratt Shore Rd New Gretna: AXtel 6-5298

Cramer, Theora NY Rd New Gretna: AXtel 6-5557

Cramer, Viola NY Rd New Gretna: AXtel 6-5555

Cranmer, Earl C Main New Gretna: AXtel 6-3488

Crate, M D Mrs NY Rd New Gretna: AXtel 6-5558

Cutts, Ross Chatwth Rd New Gretna: AXtel 6-3782

Cutts, W H City Hill Av New Gretna: AXtel 6-3115

Doughty, W J Hamontn Rd New Gretna: AXtel 6-5169

Downs, D French’s La New Gretna: AXtel 6-3754

Downs, L Jr Capt NY Rd New Gretna: AXtel 6-5113

Downs, Winfield Hamontn Rd New Gretna: AXtel 6-5519

Eddie’s Lnchnet NY Rd New Gretna: AXtel 6-3891

Elberson, H N N Maple Av New Gretna: AXtel 6-3091

Falkinburg, A Hamontn Rd New Gretna: AXtel 6-5512

Flagg, Camile Mrs Amasa Landing Rd

New Gretna: AXtel 6-5294

Fleming, Mervin E Grnbsh Rd New Gretna: AXtel 6-3347

Frantz, Isaac E Lt Old NY Rd New Gretna: AXtel 6-3788

French, JE NY Rd New Gretna: AXtel 6-5110

Garden State Parkway Bass River Sta: AXtel 6-2031

If no answer call KEyprt 7-4150

Gerew, H N Mpl Av New Gretna: AXtel 6-3118

Gerew, Lewis NY Rd New Gretna: AXtel 6-5552

Gray, F A NY Shore Rd New Gretna: AXtel 6-5751

Green, Carrie NY Rd New Gretna: AXtel 6-5342

Hickman, Gerald S Mpl Av New Gretna: AXtel 6-5618

Higgins, Jos E Grnbsh Rd New Gretna: AXtel 6-3343

Houck, Harvey E NY Rd New Gretna: AXtel 6-5619

Inman, A NY Rd New Gretna: AXtel 6-3256

Jacot, Harry A N Mpl Av New Gretna: AXtel 6-3094

Jarvis, O Hilsd Av New Gretna: AXtel 6-5511

Johnson, Margaret S Mrs N Mpl Av New Gretna: AXtel 6-5715

Jones & Steinman Associates consltg engrs

S Mpl Av New Gretna: AXtel 6-2565

Kalm, Otto F N Mapl Av New Gretna: AXtel 6-5784

Kauflin, Chas S Mpl Av New Gretna: AXtel 6-5613

Kauflin, M R S Mpl Av New Gretna: AXtel 6-5944

Kaufman, Geo A NY Rd New Gretna: AXtel 6-3481

Kendall H Mpl Av New Gretna: AXtel 6-3014

Kirkbride, P Miss NY Rd New Gretna: AXtel 6-5558

Knoxton, W A NY Rd New Gretna: AXtel 6-5495

Kovacs, Frank G New Gretna: AXtel 6-5165

Kruse, W Mrs NY Rd New Gretna: AXtel 6-5307

Lamson, F S N Mpl Av New Gretna: AXtel 6-3116

Lamson, F S boats Great Bay Blvd Tuckerton: AXtel 6-3056

Lang, Chas Grnbsh Rd New Gretna: AXtel 6-5904

Loveland DT Hamontn Rd New Gretna: AXtel 6-5164

Loveland, Russell NYHwy New Gretna: AXtel 6-3255

Loveland, Walter D NY Rd New Gretna: AXtel 6-5493

Marcy Fredk A W Bank Rd New Gretna: AXtel 6-3348

Marion Rod & Gun Club Chatwth Rd New Gretna AXtel 6-5734

Martin, Agnes A Mrs N Alntwn Rd New Gretna: AXtel 6-3092

Martin, John 220-S Mpl Av New Gretna : AXtel 6-5114

Mathis, Bessie M NY Rd New Gretna: AXtel 6-5553

Mathis, C G S Mpl Av New Gretna: AXtel 6-5616

Mathis, Caroline Mrs Mpl Av New Gretna: AXtel 6-3095

Mathis, Eugene French’s Ln New Gretna: AXtel 6-3755

Mathis, Jack R Mathis Ln New Gretna: AXtel 6-5117

Mathis Jos K Capt New Gretna: AXtel 6-3561

Mathis, Marvin Mrs NY Rd New Gretna: AXtel 6-3485

Mathis, N G S Mpl Av New Gretna: AXtel 6-3019

Mathis, Sara Mrs ins N Mpl Av New Gretna: AXtel 6-5919

Mathis, W L N Mpl Av New Gretna: AXtel 6-5782

Maxwell, C NY Rd New Gretna: AXtel 6-5755

Maxwell, D G N Mpl Av New Gretna: AXtel 6-5788

Maxwell, John R Loveland La New Gretna: AXtel 6-5517

McAnney R A boats New Gretna: AXtel 6-5973

McCann, John New Gretna: AXtel 6-5975

McFarkand, D 9 N Mpl Av New Gretna: AXtel 6-3117

McLaughlin, M A E Grnbsh Rd New Gretna: AXtel 6-3341

McNeil, Edw W Main New Gretna: AXtel 6-5610

Miller, H W Dr NY Hwy New Gretna: AXtel 6-3250

Miller, L K Mrs Millers La New Gretna: AXtel 6-3562

Mizelle, L Mrs NY Rd New Gretna: AXtel 6-5757

Mizelle, LaRue Capt Mpl Av New Gretna: AXtel 6-3017

Morris, A C West Rd New Gretna: AXtel 6-5712

Nairn, V A Hamontn Rd New Gretna: AXtel 6-3789

New Gretna Esso Serv Sta New Gretna: AXtel 6-2094

New Gretna House New Gretna: AXtel 6-2086

NJ Ste of- Look Our Station- Bass River

Allen Rd New Gretna: AXtel 6-2532

Oak Lawn Country Club NY Rd New Gretna: AXtel 6-3342

Paist, Charlotte V Mrs NY Hwy New Gretna: AXtel 6-3482

Palmer Rlty Co NY Hwy New Gretna: AXtel 6-5901

Patten A W Greenbush Rd New Gretna: AXtel 6-5906

Perego, Marino NY Rd New Gretna: AXtel 6-5494

Petzak, Jos Jr N Mpl Av New Gretna: AXtel 6-5737

Pflaum, Olga M N Mpl Av New Gretna: AXtel 6-3564

Potter, S E Sooy La New Gretna: AXtel 6-5291

Reeb, M West Rd New Gretna: AXtel 6-5718

Rees, Carl Old NY Rd New Gretna: AXtel 6-5498

Reiss, Fred NY Hwy New Gretna: AXtel 6-5003

Robbins, Adelbert Main New Gretna: AXtel 6-3253

Roberts, W S Hamontn Rd & NY Hwy New Gretna: AXtel 6-5345

Robinson, A R Hamontn Rd New Gretna: AXtel 6-5518

Roe, Lester C West Rd New Gretna: AXtel 6-5718

Rose, C Loveland’s La New Gretna: AXtel 6-5974

Rustic Inn New Gretna: AXtel 6-2087

Rutter, E E S Mpl Av New Gretna: AXtel 6-3016

Sangree, John B Hamontn Rd New Gretna: AXtel 6-5510

Schlegel W N Mpl Av New Gretna: AXtel 6-3099

Schmacher, Geo Mpl Av New Gretna: AXtel 6-5911

Schurch, Ernest S Mpl Av New Gretna: AXtel 6-5943

Schutte, H E Mrs Mpl Av New Gretna: AXtel 6-3017

Sears, Edna Mrs Egg Harbor Rd New Gretna: AXtel 6-5348

Sears, Vera NY Rd New Gretna: AXtel 6-5111

Seville, Russell groc NY Hwy New Gretna: AXtel 6-5118

Sharp, Theo J Hamontn Rd New Gretna: AXtel 6-3783

Shoemaker, H Rev NY Rd New Gretna: AXtel 6-5551

Shropshire, F W N Mpl Av New Gretna: AXtel 6-5918

Silberman, M E Hamontn Rd New Gretna: AXtel 6-5513

Silkoch, Stephen Hamontn Rd New Gretna: AXtel 6-5166

Sinnig, Otto R Hamontn Rd New Gretna: AXtel 6-5340

Smith, Arthur L NY Rd New Gretna: AXtel 6-3254

Smith, Elsie Miss NY Rd New Gretna: AXtel 6-5116

Sorocco, C Mpl Av & NY Rd New Gretna: AXtel 6-5756

Steele, Bud NY Hwy New Gretna: AXtel 6-3257

Steele, Clarence Sr NY Hwy New Gretna: AXtel 6-5733

Storey Gladys H Mrs rl est NY Hwy New Gretna: AXtel 6-5901

Street, Clara NY Rd New Gretna: AXtel 6-5497

Sullivan, G C N Mpl Av New Gretna: AXtel 6-5787

Tozer, J T NY Rd New Gretna: AXtel 6-3486

Turner, S O York Rd New Gretna: AXtel 6-5491

Uncle, J E Rev NY Rd New Gretna: AXtel 6-5556

Updike, Henry A Mpl Av New Gretna: AXtel 6-5781

Voorhis, R J Hamontn Rd New Gretna: AXtel 6-5971

Voorhis, Roger Hamontn Rd New Gretna: AXtel 6-5516

Waldbuesser, F J Old NY Rd New Gretna: AXtel 6-5492

Warren, W C Amasa Ldg Rd New Gretna: AXtel 6-5292

Weber, Alice Mrs Hamontn Rd New Gretna: AXtel 6-3787

West, Floyd Mrs RN N Mpl Av New Gretna: AXtel 6-5713

Westby, C Alntwn Rd New Gretna: AXtel 6-3093

Wharmby, H O Mpl Av New Gretna: AXtel 6-5612

Williamson, Dorothy Mrs NY Rd New Gretna: AXtel 6-5349

Wilson, Calvin S Mpl Av New Gretna: AXtel 6-5615

Wiseman, J West Rd New Gretna: AXtel 6-3563

Wlauchin, Emil West Rd New Gretna: AXtel 6-5716

Woodward, Wm E Hamontn Rd New Gretna: AXtel 6-5163

Yike, Jane Mrs NY Rd New Gretna: AXtel 6-3251


PS- Anyone have any idea of what the Oak Lawn Country Club on NY Road was?