Ocean Grove is New Jersey's most interesting and curious town. Founded in 1869 as a religious Utopian Society it is now a 21st century beach-side resort that attracts thousands every year. " Forgotten Ocean Grove" unearths many of the curiosities that have been lost to time. This is not an ordinary history book. It contains 147 mini-stories from the past to the present. It is also an excellent guide for a walking tour of the Grove. If you are a visitor, new resident or your family has been here for generations you will love what you learn about our tiny hamlet at the Jersey shore called "God's Squire Mile"

In 1869, a group of ministers and religious faithful established a permanent Methodist camp meeting community on the North Jersey shore. A state charter was issued one year later, and the community of Ocean Grove was born. Following the example set by other camp meetings, Ocean Grove became a center for religious revivals. The town continued to flourish as railroad and steamship lines transported passengers eager to escape the nearby crowded cities. For more than one hundred years, Ocean Grove has provided a retreat to those wishing to return to a life of religious renewal and recreation. Ocean Grove is a detailed look at the growth of this unique seaside community. Home to the largest aggregate of Victorian and early-twentieth-century structures in America, Ocean Grove continues to provide its visitors with a glimpse into the past. Ocean Grove has maintained its custom of holding summer camp meetings for over one hundred-thirty years. These annual revivals have attracted such notable speakers and guests as William Jennings Bryan, Booker T. Washington, and Presidents Grant and Roosevelt to the Great Auditorium. Since its conception, Ocean Grove has been home to an uncommon history, making Ocean Grove a treasure.

Displayed in over 275 precious views of hand-tinted and sepia-toned postcards from the late 1800s through more modern times, Ocean Grove's history comes alive.Travel within its three natural water borders, the Atlantic Ocean, Wesley Lake, and Fletcher Lake to view the Asbury Park boardwalk alive with visitors, the first railroad station, rare views of the magnificent Auditorium and other spectacular images.