New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-01-08
1AKEWOOD'S WINTER BEAUTY
GROWTH OF THE FAMOUS RESORT FROM
MANUFACTURING VILLAGE.
>,n,n HOTELS THAT HAVE ATTRACTED
GUESTS FROM NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
NOD ONT OF-pooR ADJUSTMENTS.

vNn,n HOTELS THAT HAVE ATTRACTED
c,,rsrs FROM ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
FOR o1,r-oF-DooR AMUsEMENTs
Among the rapidly increasing class OF those VINO
laave the inclination and the means 10 spena .'e
various seasons OF the year where they Will N"".
xvood NAV be termed a "househoio "oIo' anu
.xaugh ,ts record has been made through score
=, wears OF improvement and development II 10
chiefly within the last haf-dozen years 'ha' II ""'
,aLen a leading position among the oest-hno"" WIN
-. resorts of the country And to-day the frequent
az. Of the worlds best hotels, from the Gun 10 'e
C,a.r Gate and throughout Europe and the CON
t,nent are interlardng their greetings 10 happ''
mot friends with illusions to other lriehuS "''0
they last met In Lakewood.
Iavewood OF the present is the embodiment OF
.,.rearned and deserved success. 1t mas reacheu
a.. o,,, ~ euinence not through the booming
.hoae which have so frequently marked Drlel II
,a.eorc specuative ventures. but rather oy the ue
tarmined slow. undscouraged iolo"ihs vi P'a''s
made many years ago by men with an ioea ti'a'
,ocation and climate were here comoineu III sus-
restion for the founding or resort TOT "eai'i'
classes during the fall. spring and winter months
The historian AYERS that original conditions WITH
IN the territory now covered by Lakewood were ou-
h,ous and unpromsing. A tract OF land incluolhg
.sor..nds unon thousands OF acres covered with
c,re and tangled thicket extended from the coast
OF Jersey for miles into the Interior ory ana
sardv soil with here and there bit Of land which
uould repay cultivation. was about all that couid
no claimed for 1t under the head Of natural ad-
vantages by the casual observer. AND IN TINS par
,,cuar portion of the pine-land tract the Metede-
onv piver wandered down TO the sea. finding Its
outlet at Barnegat Bay.
Washington Furnace was the name given 10 'he
locality during the early part or the present cen'S
.rd until 1892 And from that time until 1863 the
Mace was known Bergen Iron WorKs ohoer
either OF these ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS OF the
.,argor and din OF hammer upon anvil. the
glare OF furnaces and the beching CLOUDS OF
heavy smoke. there was no dream OF the beauty
and peace Of later days. and no suggestion OF the
noss,bility that the same stage would one day be
cha scene OF luxurious ideness and restuness with
MON who made a business of sport; with charming
women at 5 O'Clock teas. and with avenues ana
streets full Of spirited horses and the most stylish
OF equipages.
The first step in the process OF evolution OF
Lakewood from the old natural conditions was
taken in 1855 when the Bergen Iron Works passed
away and Bricksburg took its place The char-
acteristics of the place changed with us name
and with a legislative grant OF charter 10 the
Bricksburg Land and Improvement Company the
,,u,e honored industries languished and died Few
streets and avenues laid out. and the souno
of the carpenters hammer and saw accompanied
the work Of a development. Real estate was
advertised for sale under sensible. carcfui resric-
tons the healthfu conditions OF the iocai'y were
recocnized and new home makers came IN grea'
numbers The cultivation Of land for small fruits
.nd orchard products prosecuted by new SET
,lers and the village grew rapidly for a time
Reyerses came with 1874. and for period OF nVe
years there was inertness ana niue OF no advances
unon the groundwork already laid. But the ad-
vantages Of the place had in the mean Tune at
tracted the attention Of new men, who were not de-
terred by a setback which they believed to be tenn
porary and with the courage OF their CONVICTIONS
they went promptly and systematically ABOUT the
ACQUISITION Of the old companys property ana
ths initiation Of a broad and liberal system OF
,mnroyement In December Of 1879 the Lakewood
Hotel and Land Association assumed the anairS
OF the old company the first officers being the FOL
lowing: Charles H. Kmball. well-known broker
of New-York president; Samuel D. Davis. also
New-York broker treasurer: Captain Albert NJ
Bradshaw whose belief in and effort for the future
OF Lakewood had monopozed his thoush' io'
years secretary.
Tho new company opened the Laurel House 70
public patronage IN April. 1880. and took UP the
worx Of laying out avenues running from north 20