Earlier this month, Rev. John R. “Jack” Bowering, pastor emeritus of the Pine Beach Chapel and longtime former resident and ardent supporter of the borough, passed away following a long battle with cancer.

This past summer, the Riverside Signal had the opportunity to sit down with “Rev. Jack” and record his memories of growing up in Pine Beach during the summers of the late 1930s through the 1950s.

This oral history interview, taken on August 19th, has been transcribed and formatted for print below for the benefit of his family, borough residents and our readers.

We first came to Pine Beach from Belvedere in 1939, when I was six years old.

It was a fabulous little town: there were blueberry bushes all over the place, it was all wooded, hardly any houses around. There was the big log cabin on New Jersey and Riverside – we’re right next to it. My dad bought the property [and] paid a dollar a running foot, so he paid $103 on one side, $98 the other side, $40 across the front and $40 across the back. My Uncle Stanley bought the property next to my dad – he was a Methodist minister from Port Murray, up near Washington [and] Hackensack.

They dug the foundations by hand, they laid their block and my Uncle Stanley – both my parents came from Newfoundland – had connections in Brooklyn, New York with a lot of builders and that [were] quasi-related, and they came down and in two years, [his] house was up, but my dad was 13 years before he finished his house. So, from ’39 to now, 71 years and the front door of my dad’s house is the original front door, and the original lock, and I have the original key.

[We were] on Buhler, right next to the log cabin, then came my Uncle Stanley’s, then a Mr. and Mrs. Jones that had the house, then there was an empty lot, and then there was Reverend [Francis] Powell [Jr., Pine Beach Chapel Pastor from 1934 until 1945]. My sister and I, we played with his girls, and my cousin, Louise, she played with them, too. And then there were two or three other houses, and then on the end of Buhler Avenue, facing the academy [Admiral Farragut Academy, which purchased the former Pine Beach Hotel, stood from 1933 until shuttering in 1994 due to financial problems] on Hillside was Captain Bobo, who was an instructor at the academy, and across the street was Mayor [Fred R.] Church, he was mayor of the town [from 1944 until 1951, he was just the second mayor of the borough], and then there was a corner house – I forget Bob’s last name, they were from Philadelphia – but the property across from everybody’s house on Buhler Avenue was just an empty wooded lot.

We were all summer residents all those years. We’d drive down from Belvedere in an old Hudson Terraplane, pick up ice in South Toms River for the icebox, and go down. We’d go down weekends: Daddy would drive down, he’d drive back for church up in Belvedere, and my Uncle Stanley would go to Port Murray, and then they’d be up there for two or three days, calling, and then they’d come down early, like Thursday, Friday, Saturday, [and] Sunday. When we were in school, as soon as we got out of school, we’d go right down to Pine Beach and it was like a paradise down there. Most everybody was friendly except that woman in that log cabin. She had these big sheepdogs, I mean, big ones, and she used to sic them on us if we went through the woods there. She was nasty. And there was Mr. Heatley, he was the plumber in the town and also a mayor [from 1956 until 1959], and my brother dated his daughter, Gloria, and I dated Mrs. [Evelyn] Benedict’s daughter, Shirley, and my brother hung out with Mrs. Benedict’s son, Jack, and there was Whitey Slyth, and the Bradley boys, and Pete Hottenstein, and the Sotomen girls [spellings for these names could not be confirmed at press time].

On the banks of Pine Beach, Riverside Drive, [were] black and red raspberries, big bushes, and we used to go out in the morning and pick raspberries, or pick blueberries, in the back yard and that, and my mother would make blueberry muffins, we’d have blueberries on our cereal, we’d have raspberries for dessert at lunchtime or suppertime, all stuff we got down there. There were two stores in town – Zender’s and… I can’t think of the other name right now, but anyway, that store had ice cream and stuff like that, and Bill the cop [William Hutchingson, a “one-man police department” of the era], he used to go in there, and there was an Englishman there [according to Pine Beach Clerk Charlene Carney, this store was called Halligan’s and was established in the front porch of the residence of its owner]. He had a Newfoundland dog and a parrot, and he and his wife lived there, and when you got ice cream, they’d scoop out scoops and you’d put it in your glass bowl, and then you’d go like crazy back to your house so it wouldn’t melt.

Then the other place was Zender’s, and that was where the post office was, and then the railroad train used to go through, go across over to Island Heights, turn around on the turntable, and come back. I remember as a kid, I used to put pennies on the track and the train would flatten them out. [At] the firehouse, Mrs. Benedict used to drive the fire truck because so many of the men worked, and she’d drive [and] wherever there might be men home, she would ride down that road and pick them up and they’d go to the fire. They didn’t have a siren then, they had this big, round piece of iron, and somebody right next to it would clang that thing and they had two, one down on the edge of town going in toward Ocean Gate, and then they had the one, I think it was on Midland, that was the other one, and they might have had another one down on Motor Road. I remember two for sure.

Read the January 1st – 13th edition of the Riverside Signal for the second half of Rev. Jack’s memories of Pine Beach, including his interaction with Admiral Farragut Academy’s founder and the social life of the Pine Beach Yacht Club in the late 1940s and 1950s.

by Erik Weber

Prior to his death, Rev. Jack recalled summers spent growing up along the shores of the Toms River in Pine Beach, where he was an avid beachgoer and sailor.

PINE BEACH – Earlier this month, Reverend John R. “Jack” Bowering, pastor emeritus of the Pine Beach Chapel, longtime former resident, and ardent supporter of the borough, passed away following a long battle with cancer.

His death on Monday evening, December 13th was “a great loss,” said his sister, Buhler Avenue resident Arlene Westling.

“He was bigger than life,” she stated. “He was just a wonderful person and I couldn’t have asked for a better brother.”

“He was so good to so many, and that’s kind of how he wanted it, really,” Mrs. Westling added.

Russell W. Whitman, Jr., a borough resident whose family has “four generations” of connections with the late reverend, remembered him as participating in various functions of the borough, yacht club, and Pine Beach Chapel over the years. This included sailing in races on the Toms River in the 1950s on a Lightning Class sailboat with his mother, Dolly, on a Lightning Class sailboat.

Pine Beach Mayor Christopher Boyle said that Rev. Bowering “made a mark on our town that will last forever.”

“The passing of Reverend Bowering is a great loss to not only all of his friends and admirers, but for all the residents of Pine Beach,” he stated. “Jack held Pine Beach dear to his heart, and decades ago coined the phrase, “The Pearl of the Toms River,” to describe his beloved town.”

“We will miss him terribly,” the mayor added.

“Reverend Bowering served as my Christian mentor for 20 years,” said Pine Beach Chapel Board President and Borough Councilman-Elect Barry Wieck. “Because of his care and leadership, I was ordained a Methodist Lay Speaker in 1992.”

“I was always able to ask for advice,” he noted. “He will be dearly missed.”

Earlier this year, Rev. Bowering granted the Riverside Signal permission to interview him for the Pine Beach Chapel’s 100th Anniversary, at which time he also recalled his summers spent growing up in the borough. In the wake of his death, this oral history interview has been transcribed and is being printed here for the first time.

The following report was submitted by Pine Beach Police Chief John M. Sgro to the borough council during their December 8th regular council meeting and accepted by motion as part of the monthly reports.

- For the month of November 2010 the police department responded to 280 calls for service.

- On November 1, I attended a meeting at police headquarters with Frank Rogers from the Rogers Group regarding department accreditation. Rogers Group is a private company that can assist a police agency with obtaining state accreditation. One of the main benefits of becoming an accredited department is reduction in the municipality’s liability premiums as well as a reduced susceptibility to lawsuits. They also offer products for the tracking of personnel training, as well as state-approved lesson plans for training of police personnel on the multiple areas of mandatory training that is required annually. Both of these are critical to reduce liability to the town.

- On November 5th, our records clerk, Lynn Hargrove, attended an annual training seminar on uniformed crime reporting. Every police department is required to report certain types of crime to the state, who in turn is responsible for reporting these statistics to the F.B.I. This is how the F.B.I. is able to release uniform crime statistics for the entire nation on an annual basis. This year’s training covered the new method of reporting these statistics electronically, which has now become mandatory.

- Early on Thanksgiving morning, November 25th, the Ocean Gate Police Department lost one of its officers to a horrific motor vehicle crash. Officer Jason Marles, a nine-year veteran, was killed when his vehicle was struck from behind by a drunken driver and forced off of the Garden State Parkway. Ironically, Officer Marles had just completed a special D.W.I. enforcement shift in Ocean Gate and was on his way home to his wife and two young children. Our department came together with the neighboring Berkeley Township Police Department to assist Ocean Gate by providing police coverage to their town during the two days of services for their fallen officer. Please keep Officer Marles’ family and the officers of Ocean Gate in your prayers.

- With the holiday season and all of its parties upon us and winter fast approaching, please remember to drive carefully and never drink and drive. On behalf of the entire police department, I would like to wish everyone a happy and healthy holiday season.

PINE BEACH – Last weekend, the Pine Beach Yacht Club (PBYC) held its first arts and craft fair at their clubhouse, located on Riverside Drive at Midland Avenue, here.

Run by PBYC member Tom Herman with help from committee members Pat and Larry Nulle, Donna and Jerry Barnett (who also ran the catering) and the Social Committee, the fair was bustling with well over 100 people attending throughout the afternoon, reported Carolyn M. Runyon, a PBYC member and editor of the club’s newsletter, The Raft Up.

Fifteen vendors participated, with offerings ranging from hand-crafted Christmas ornaments by IDESIGN4YOU and holiday decor items by Handcrafted with Love, to children’s bows and headbands by Katerina’s Closet and hand-painted glassware by Karen’s Colorful Corner. Gourmet gifts were available by Tastefully Simple.

PBYC member Nadia Herman displayed her hand-crafted jewelry and commented that the response from the customers to the event was very positive.

“People loved shopping the beautifully renovated club with extravagant views of the Toms River,” added Mrs. Runyon.

Light refreshments, including cheese, crackers, fruit and summer sausages, were also served.

For more information on the Pine Beach Yacht Club, including membership inquiries, please visit http://pbycnj.com.

If this is your first visit, and if you’re here because you received a copy of our “Issue Zero” mini-edition of the Signal on your front door recently, welcome!

The Riverside Signal is your new source for REAL local news, and all things Pine Beach! Town meetings, events, history and culture, around town scenes and more – we’re there. Beginning this January, you’ll see our first twice-monthly full print edition free at area locations (an exact list will come soon), where you’ll be able to get all the REAL borough goings-on, with added coverage here at RiversideSignal.com.

Thanks for reading, and enjoy!

PINE BEACH – The Pine Beach Yacht Club is hosting an Arts and Craft Fair on Sunday, November 28th from 1 to 5 pm at the yacht club, located on Riverside Drive at Midland Avenue. Local artists, crafters and vendors will be presenting handmade Swarovski crystal jewelry, hand-crafted home décor items, spa gifts, flameless candles, hand-crafted Christmas ornaments, homemade jams and jellies, handbags, scarves and accessories, Tastefully Simple gourmet food and more. A $10 entrance fee covers light refreshments and an exciting assortment of door prizes.

Tickets can be purchased at the door and are available at the PBYC this Friday evening between 5 and 8 pm. For additional information, please contact Pat Nulle at 732-244-6350 or maemeee@msn.com.

by Erik Weber

PINE BEACH – Facing the same perfect storm of economic trials as most other municipalities in New Jersey, officials here must now figure out how to add one more large expense: the replacement of an entire groundwater well.

Last month, public works staff discovered that the older of their two wells – dating back to the Kennedy presidency – had begun pumping sand.

“The sand is a definite indication that something let go in the well,” said Pine Beach Utility Superintendent Bruce Carney at the October 25th meeting of the borough council, noting that the well equipment had been entirely rebuilt less than a year ago by a company that then stated the well was reaching the end of its life expectancy. He added that the loss of the second well would not impact the regular usage of the borough, but would mean a loss of a backup source should the first well go down or require maintenance as well.

“I figured we’d get another 10 years out of it, but apparently I was wrong,” the superintendent stated. An unofficial quote he’d received on replacing the well could run as high as $60,000, he noted.

Borough officials requested more information as to the possibility of repairing the damage rather than replacing it to save money.

Continuing the discussion at the borough’s November 8th council work session, Borough Chief Financial Officer Mary Jane Steib questioned the logic of spending money to investigate whether the well could be repaired, let alone handling the actual repairs, on a well that was a half-century old and would require a replacement in the near future anyway.

Council President Lawrence Cuneo stated that the borough should ask Jack Mallon, the borough engineer, to look at the well and draw up a cost estimate as to whether it were even possible to repair the well.

“That’s what we’re going to do,” agreed Mayor Christopher Boyle.

“Even if there’s a way to put a new liner in it or something less expensive than going all new,” said Mr. Cuneo.

Ms. Steib added that the borough would currently be looking at a timeline to have the well either repaired or replaced in time for June and the summer season, when a backup well was a more emergent need with the increased summer population.

The next meeting of the borough council is a work session Monday, November 22nd at 7:30 pm in borough hall on Pennsylvania Avenue.

CANDIDATE: Andrew Keczkemethy

BOROUGH: Pine Beach

POLITICAL AFFILIATION: Republican Party

RESIDENT OF: Monmouth Avenue, for 12 years, though he adds, “my high school years were spent in Pine Beach as I am an Admiral Farragut [Academy] alumnus, and my wife is a Pine Beach native.

MARITAL STATUS: Married, to wife Nancy.

CHILDREN: Son Zachery, age 16, daughter Emma, age 14, and son Graham, age 11.

EMPLOYMENT: Owner and manager of Abbott Appliance Parts, celebrating 27 years at 811 Main Street in Toms River.

CLUBS, ORGANIZATIONS & CHARITIES, NON-GOVERNMENTAL: Support and aid to Boy Scout Troop 70, 2004 – present.

GOVERNMENT SERVICE: Member, Pine Beach Fourth of July Committee and Race Coordinator, 2008 – present.

Q&A

1. Why did you seek the nomination, and who nominated you?
I was approached by members of The Regular Republican Club of Pine Beach and asked to run for a council seat. I accepted the request as a unique opportunity to serve my community in a positive way.

2. What is your reaction to the nomination?
Excitement, anticipation to serve others, thankfulness at being looked upon as a worthy nominee.

3. What are some things you would like to do, if elected?
Address waterfront areas, achieve a sound fiscal budget in order to regain some of the town-wide services we have enjoyed in the past, attempt to actively involve fellow community members to realize communication and participation on town issues.

4. What are your top priorities, if elected?
A sound fiscal budget, a feasible waterfront plan, revamping of various lights and street signs, consideration of alternative energy generation.

5. Is there any theme you would give the borough Republican ticket?
I consider [running mate] Barry Wieck to be an honest, hardworking, selfless person who has given much to his community. He is a dedicated and devoted family man.

6. Optional additional comments:
I believe at some point in all of our lives one must give of oneself for the benefit of others.

CANDIDATE: Barry Wieck

BOROUGH: Pine Beach

POLITICAL AFFILIATION: Republican Party

RESIDENT OF: Station Avenue, for 54 years.

MARITAL STATUS: Married, to wife Rosemary

CHILDREN: Daughter, Bernadette, 35, and grandson, Edwin, 12.

EMPLOYMENT: Assistant Superintendent, Ocean County Consumer Affairs, Department of Weights and Measures, 12 years.

CLUBS, ORGANIZATIONS & CHARITIES, NON-GOVERNMENTAL: Deputy coordinator, Office of Emergency Management, 1985 – 1994; Secretary, Pine Beach Fire Company, 1991 – 1992; Treasurer, Pine Beach Fire Company, 1993 – 2002; President, Pine Beach Fire Company, 2003 – 2008; Probation site manager, 2000 – present; President, Pine Beach Civic Association, 1989 – 1991; Director of Christian Education, Pine Beach Chapel, 1975 – 1985; Trustee, Pine Beach Chapel, 1995 – 2005; Trustee President, Pine Beach Chapel, 2006 – present; Boy Scout Cubmaster, Pack 114, 2004 – present.

GOVERNMENT SERVICE: Member and chairman, Pine Beach Municipal Alliance Committee, 2004 – present; Member, Pine Beach Fourth of July Committee, 1985 – present; Member, Pine Beach Beach and Docks Committee, early 1990s.

Q&A

1. Why did you seek the nomination, and who nominated you?
I asked for this nomination in order to give back to future generations some of the many years of quality of life I have enjoyed here in Pine Beach. I was nominated by the Regular Republican Club of Pine Beach.

2. What is your reaction to the nomination?
My reaction to the nomination inspired thought mixed with joy, love of community, and anticipation of the opportunity to further serve my community.

3. What are some things you would like to do, if elected?
Proactively work on waterfront issues, encourage volunteerism toward borough projects and functions. I feel we must all give more of ourselves during these trying times.

4. What are your top priorities, if elected?
A fiscally responsible budget, a feasible waterfront plan, and consideration of park areas.

5. Is there any theme you would give the borough Republican ticket?
I have known Andrew Keczkemethy for several years. He is a saavy business man, a passionate family man, a progressive leader, and a fiscally responsible individual.

6. Optional additional comments:
There is no badge of glory connected to community service, just the satisfaction of a job well done.

CANDIDATE: Patrick Sheehan

BOROUGH: Pine Beach

POLITICAL AFFILIATION: Democratic Party

RESIDENT OF: Tudor Avenue, for 20 years.

MARITAL STATUS: Married, to wife Susan

CHILDREN: Two daughters, Kerry and Katie, both college students.

EMPLOYMENT: Self-employed attorney for the past 15 years.

CLUBS, ORGANIZATIONS & CHARITIES, NON-GOVERNMENTAL: Knights of Columbus #8603.

GOVERNMENT SERVICE: Member, Pine Beach Borough Council, 1998 – present.

Q&A

1. Why did you seek the nomination, and who nominated you? What is your reaction to the nomination? (combined answer below)
I am seeking re-election because Pine Beach is the nicest place in the world to live and I want to have a voice in keeping it that way. Since the year 2000, Pine Beach property taxes have remained among the lowest in the state, with increases less than the rate of inflation. Let’s keep it that way.

2. What are some things you would like to do, if elected? What are your top priorities? (combined answer below)
Keep taxes down as much as possible. I would like to see the Riverwalk completed. Beautification of the riverfront is always a priority. We need to identify funding sources for these projects without imposing a financial hardship on the taxpayers.

4. Optional additional comments:
My running mate, Barbara O’Brien, is an asset to the community. If I am not elected I hope Barbara is.

[Editor's Note - Mrs. O'Brien did not reply to the Riverside Signal's candidate profile and questionnaire at press time]