Eddie Simms and Zable's Folly

I remember all the local talk, sometime around the late 1970's, when Ed Sims, from Brigantine, purchased the old Headley-Bush farm on Route 9 in New Gretna. There was a lot of local speculation as to just what his plans for the old farm were.

I was cutting firewood on the adjacent property owned by Sarah Guertler one winter afternoon when I was startled by a stranger standing over me. I turned off the chain saw and looked up. He asked if I had permission to be cutting wood on the property. After I assured him that I did have the land owner's permission, he proceeded to introduce himself as Eddie Sims from Brigantine. He told me that he had just purchased the Bush farm and was going to restore the old farm house.

The Bush farm on Rt. 9 in 1974. (Photo courtesy of John Headley, the great grand son of Benjamin Franklin Headley who owned the farm in the mid to late 1800's before it passed on to the Bush family.)

I was happy to hear of his plans. Being interested in history, I thought it a worthy plan. It's about time that we started restoring our old buildings, like they do in Europe, instead of tearing them down. We should be proud of our heritage!

The Bush farm house, circa 1929. (Photo courtesy of Franklin W. Gray.)

Well, as time unfolded, and Eddie began construction, I was surprised by the result. Seems Eddie owned some rather worthless property in Brigatine for some years. Then, along came legalized gambling in the Atlantic City area and, wallah, Eddie sells the hitherto worthless land for a few million bucks, or so, to Harrahs. All that money must have been burning a hole in Eddie's pocket, as his "farm house restoration" project took shape.

The end result of Eddie Sims farm house restoration project on Rt. 9 in New Gretna (March 4, 2009 photo by Pete Stemmer.)

What evolved was nothing like the restored farm house that I had envisioned, but rather a cross between a Greek diner and the Playboy mansion. Minnie Bush and her son, Cliff, must be rolling over in their graves. I can't think of anything else that would be more out of character with tiny, rural New Gretna . . . That is, until I recently read the following newspaper clipping referring to a June 10, 1926 Tuckerton Beacon story.

Wow, this project makes Eddie Sims appear to be a bush leaguer. Newport was known for its plethora of mansions for the ultra rich (including the VanderBilts, Carnegies, and Rockefellers) and the America's Cup Yacht races. Deauville, France with its racecourse, harbor, international film festival, marinas, conference centre, villas, Grand Casino and sumptuous hotels was regarded as the "queen of the Norman beaches". Since the 19th-century, it has been a fashionable holiday resort for the international upper class. These were clearly people who would never wear their white shoes past Labor Day. And New Gretna was to be their rival.

I can't explain what happened to Abe Zable's plans but, obviously, things never worked out for him and his New York millionaire friends. I guess it's just as well. I never really enjoyed drinking tea with my pinkie held high.

Pete S.

PS- I want to thank Mary Lou Mathis for giving me the news clipping about Abe Zable and his development plans for New Gretna.

Jaws and Tuckerton's Gigantic Steinhaurer Tooth

One of my all time favorite suspense movies was the 1975 hit, Jaws, which was based on Peter Benchy's novel and directed by Steven Spielberg. I still shiver when I think of the shark attack scenes with that creepy music.

Click on the video below to see a brief trailer of Jaws with its terrifying attack music.

Those scary shark scenes flashed before my mind when I came across a June 18, 1978 article from the Atlantic City Press. The photo of Paul Steinhaurer holding a gigantic prehistoric shark's tooth from the Jurassic Age caught my attention, as Paul is a Tuckerton native. I couldn't help wondering if Tuckerton had its own "Jaws" way back in prehistoric times.

Pete S

Rena Corlis, from Sims Place, gave the shark's tooth

to her nephew, Paul Steinhaurer.

(Photo courtesy of Gary & Pat Steinhaurer.)

June 18, 1978 Atlantic City Press

PS- Following is a photo of the New Gretna version of Jaws that was caught by Otto Kalm (below). Not as large as the Steinhauer version but daunting none-the-less. I would hate to meet him while treading in the bay.

New Gretna's Rt. 9 Mansion

Not a month goes by that I don't get 3 or 4 emails asking me for information on the Rt. 9 walled mansion that is constantly evolving with a collection of interesting statues and sayings painted on the wall. 

Unfortunately, I didn't know much more than the inquisitive emailers. That is until my men's breakfast buddy, Carl Joorman, a former New Gretna resident presently living at the Four Seasons at Harbor Bay in Little Egg Harbor, gave me a copy of the Harbor Bay Breeze, a monthly newsletter published by the adult community.

The July, 2012 edition of the Breeze contained an article and photos of the New Gretna mansion. It seems that John Ways and Arnold Scharfstein, who collaborate on a monthly story and photo column, were getting repeated questions from Harbor Bay residents concerning the mansion. The dynamic duo decided that a story on the mansion was in order.

I met John and Arnold the other day for lunch to get the skinny on how they got their story and photos. They graciously shared their adventure at the mansion with me. 

One day they decided to stop at the mansion and take photos of the statuary. As Arnold was poking the telephoto lens of his Nikon through the iron gate, Adalid Gomez, the caretaker of the property, walked up to them and asked what they were doing. After hearing their explanation, he invited them onto the property and introduced them to the property's owner, Byung Taek Kim.

Mr. Kim proved a friendly, hospitable host and took John and Arnold on a tour of the property. The following story and photos evolved from that tour.

The Wonderful Homestead on Route 9

Written by John Ways. Photos by Arnold Scharfstein.

Many of you have driven up or down Route 9 on your way to or from the Garden State Parkway and you saw an amazing sight. Near mile marker 58.5, you probably saw dinosaurs on a long wall with canons on each pillar and super hero transformer action figures in front of its gates. Mr. Byung Taek Kim, owner of this 60 acre homestead, was very kind to invite Arnold and myself into his facility for a walking tour along with Adalid Gomez, his property caretaker.

The author, John Ways, standing by the steam engine

at one of the gates to the property

We learned that this property was once a farm owned by Benjamin Franklin Headley in the mid to late 1800's and later owned by the Bush family. Then in 1970 it was purchased by Eddie Sims of Brigantine who decided to restore the farmhouse and enjoy the property for his own use. It seems that Eddie owned some worthless bay property in Brigantine which Harrah's Casino decided to buy. With his new found wealth, Eddie purchased the farm and started renovations in 1970.

The property was abandoned some 15 years ago so Mr. Kim, of Fort Lee, NJ, purchased it in September of 2010 to provide a fun summer home for his family. Mr. Kim, Chairman of the Taekwondo Association of Greater New York said that "He purchased the property for the sole enjoyment of himself and his family and not for any commercial venture." For the past year, Mr. Kim has been renovating and remodeling the buildings, redoing the landscaping, and adding many new features that add to the fun nature of the property. He said it would probably take another year or so to complete all of the renovations and additions that he has in mind; he will keep his gates closed until completion.

Byung Taek Kim

Our tour started in the rear of the house on the north side where we saw a large raised, covered wooden dog run approximately 100 feet for a collie and a German shepherd. It included a large dog bed with brass header and footer and other amenities for the dogs. On our right was an amazing 75 foot replica of the famed Korean Turtle Ship built by Admiral Yi Sun-sin during the Japanese invasion of Korea in 1592 and used successfully to defeat the Japanese Navy. It features a dragon head, iron plating, guns on all sides, and spikes on the curved upper deck to prevent the Japanese from boarding it.

Turtle Ship

A little farther toward the rear we entered a large enclosed area that included numerous chickens. Although the chickens were roaming outdoors, there were two new large hen houses with glass doors and a pond within this enclosure. We think the chickens were of the Araucanas or Ameraucanas breeds because they were laying blue eggs. Our last stop at the rear of the property was a lake with clear blue water, a dock with a ladder and a large covered but open cabana with seating facing the lake. Although this lake was stocked with bass, there were others stocked with goldfish and koi.

On the north side of the property was the barn which housed Batman, a black stallion who had a large fenced in pasture in which to run and play. Mr. Kim enjoys riding and he rides Batman around the property on his riding path.

Batman

Near the main house, which has completed renovations, is a large swimming pool with a wooden bridge spanning across the middle of it. On one side of the pool is a three story castle-like building with place for pool furniture storage and other items. Along the side of this structure is a waterfall that straddles the left side of the structure. On the top are two bright metallic knights and in between is an elephant head.

The three story main house on the south side of the property was built in three phases and has been renovated to Mr. Kim's specifications. Around the back there are various sculptures sitting atop the pillars of the rear fence. On one side is a vegetable garden; on the other a fully lighted tennis court. In front of the house is a bright red dragon accompanied by two stone angels. On one side is a 20 foot giraffe along with four smaller ones.

In front of the house and in its garage are 400 year old sculptures including pagodas, Buddhas in stone and brass, and Christian sculptures of Christ and angels, 15 foot black stallions, and colored dragons that are awaiting placement. These sculptures come from Korea, Texas and local South Jersey artists.

Arnold and I thoroughly enjoyed our tour and are so grateful for Mr. Kim's hospitality.

Reprinted with permission from the Harbor Bay Breeze.

I hear various opinions from local residents regarding Mr. Kim's whimsical endeavor. As for me, I think he is a welcomed addition to our community. I always smile when I pass the mansion, and I look forward to what the future might bring.

Well, that's the scoop on the mansion. Perhaps, now, I won't be getting any more email inquiries.

Pete S

PS- Click on the photo of the mansion below to read a previous Blog post that provides some background information on the mansion property.

Following are a few photos that I took today.