Feltville Becomes Glenside Park: An Introduction

FELTVILLE BECOMES A RESORT CALLED GLENSIDE PARK: AN INTRODUCTION

Except for the interviews of Tim and Dan Bernier and the de la Selva breaking news, my posts to date have all centered on the time between when David Felt—creator of the mill village of Feltville—abandoned his creation and the time that Warren Ackerman bought it. Whatever the actual population of the village during this time—1860 to 1882—this is the period when the village became firmly planted in public imagination as “the Deserted Village,” a site depicted in tourist photos and artistic sketches. Informally, it also became a a site for tourist rambling and picnic parties, neither of which activities was probably welcomed by the owners.

When Warren Ackerman bought the entire village in 1882 at auction at the bargain basement price of $11,400, it was an event momentous enough to be reported in a New York Times article entitled “A Deserted Village Sold,” which ran on August 10, 1882. The article suggest that the idea of turning it into a destination for vacationers was already in Warren’s mind:

[Warren Ackerman] lives in Plainfield. He said to The Times reporter that he bought the property because he has land adjoining it, and he proposed expending considerable money in improving both properties. He said there was no prettier place in New-Jersey for a Summer residence, but it would take much money to make it as attractive as he intended.

Perhaps this idea was also in the minds of local people, as a local farmer (apparently also obsessed with how much money could be made from the water rights) was quoted:

“…the water rights is worth a fortune. Plainfield must get water from that stream up there at Feltville in time, and Ackerman now owns the whole thing. It will make a rattlin’ place for city folks to live in Summer. But the old place has been deserted for so long that the young folks don’t go nigh it now for fear of ghosts.”

Warren Ackerman did go on to convert the place into a summer resort, with the fortuitous help of a woman named Ella King Adams. For both Warren and Ella, the transformation of the village into a resort was momentous enough to be included as a personal achievement in each of their obituaries.

This post starts a series of posts on that transformation, and how the creation of this tiny resort flowed out of massive cultural and technological changes on every front in the nineteenth century. The series will also explore how the individual players in the creation and successful operation of a resort over more than two decades may have reflected and diverged from those cultural and technological changes.

The aptly named work entitled Working at Play by Cindy Aron describes how and why leisure and vacationing became acceptable and more affordable for the God-fearing workaholic Americans of the nineteenth century. Cindy Aronson sees her study as encompassing two separate historic storylines:

One concerns how, when, and why vacationing came to be part of American life, charting this cultural and social institution as it grew from the custom of a small elite in the early nineteenth century to a mass phenomenon by the eve of World War II. It is, in part, a history of the United States—the transformation of an agricultural into an urban-industrial nation, the growth of a transportation network, the creation of a large middle class, the increase in prosperity and free time. Such changes allowed both vacation places and a vacationing public to develop and take shape. …The other story concerns American cultural anxieties about vacations. It records extraordinarily little change. Indeed, what is compelling about the history of vacations is the constancy with which Americans have struggled with the notion of taking time off from work.

As the last sentence suggests, most Americans had to be taught to vacation, to take time off. They were struggling with a resurgence of religious zeal that was, in part, reflected in what some contemporaries called the “Gospel of Work.” In its place, prominent figures began to advocate a “Gospel of Leisure.” Americans had to feel sanctioned in taking time off, and here, they looked to others of their class or above, including those like Andrew Carnegie and John Stuart Mills explicitly preaching this Gospel of Leisure, but even more, they looked to the model and exhortations coming from their religious leaders, their medical professionals, and media reports.

Researching and writing and editing Feltville’s history by taking one aspect or person at a time has allowed me to come to a deeper understanding of history and Feltville/Glenside Park’s role in it. This series, then, will explore the factors behind the rise in recreation and resorts, and then look at the individuals involved in Glenside Park—what we can glean from whatever they have left behind.

As you will see in future posts, many of the guests at Glenside Park, the resort, were fashionable people from the equally fashionable City of Newark, New Jersey, and neighboring New Jersey municipalities. So it seems appropriate to bring both you the reader and me the writer into the momentous topic of making resorts safe for status conscious people by looking at a snapshot in time provided by articles which appeared on Saturday, June 14, 1884 in the Newark Evening News. This publication, then about a year old, went on to be what Old Newark calls “the paper of record” for New Jersey.¹ As a publication created by Wallace McIlvane Scudder, who had been educated as a mechanical engineer and practiced law before becoming a journalist, and who was the son of a NJ State Supreme Court Justice and grandson of another, and husband to Ida V. Quinby, the daughter of a Newark Mayor ,² it was very likely a publication that had influence from its earliest days.

The Saturday, June 14, 1884, issue of the Newark Evening News carried a front-page article entitled “WHERE THE MINISTERS WILL GO,” under a subject heading of “REST AND RECREATION.” The sub-headline for the article was “Clergymen Arranging for Their Summer Vacations—Objective Points of the Prominent Preachers of Newark, To the Mountains and Seashore.”

The author opens the article by stating:

The approach of the summer season has reminded the ministers of the Newark churches that vacation time is nearing, and they are already planning for their “time off.” Several of the clergymen will remain in Newark during the summer, but the greater number will be away most of the time during July and August and a portion of September.

The article then quotes one of the ministers:

“We do not neglect our charges by taking our vacations,” said a popular preacher this morning. “During the vacation season a great many of those who are regular attendants at the churches go to the mountains and seashore, and the majority of those who stay at home will not attend during the heat of summer. Besides this we will have an opportunity to recuperate, which some of us need badly, and come back to our work in the fall better able to perform our labors.”

This “popular preacher” has apparently chosen to remain anonymous, while justifying his own—and by extension the reader’s—right, or even more, need to vacation.

Although the article’s sub headline suggests that the ministers will be heading off mostly to the mountains or the seashore (not “the beach”), the author chooses to lead the listing of destinations with the pastors who are going off to Europe, including one who had just left town on the morning of the article.

Bishop Starkey, of the Northern Episcopal Diocese of New Jersey, sailed at nine o’clock this morning on the Germania, for England. He occupied a stateroom, adjoining that of A. Q. Keasbey, who is also outward bound. Bishop Starkey will be abroad all summer, and will represent the American branch of the church at the centennial anniversary of the consecration³ of the first American bishop.

Presumably this, then, is at least a partially working vacation for the Bishop. He is the only minister whose travel arrangements are described in such detail—a stateroom on the Germania, adjoining that of prominent Newark attorney, Anthony Quinton Keasbey, then near the end of a distinguished 25-year term as United States Attorney for the District of New Jersey.⁴

The article then notes that Reverend G. M. Christian, also an Episcopalian minister, will sail soon for a two-month stay in Europe.

Next we hear about a pastor who has the option of going to Europe:

Although tempting offers have been held out to Dean Stansbury, of Christ Church, to make a European trip, and his arduous labors would seem to invite rest, the reverend gentleman has determined to forego the pleasure. He will, however, spend the summer in the favorite spot of his—Newark among his people.

The author breaks off to talk about destinations other than Europe, but there are mentions of other pastors also going there sprinkled throughout the rest of the article. Under a section heading entitled “Traveling by Tricycle,” we hear of another working vacation in Europe: “The pastor of the Baptist church of East Orange, the Rev. W.F. Taylor, is an enthusiastic tricyclist.⁵ He will make a tour through England and contribute a series of articles for the Manhattan Monthly.”

Both a minister from the First Congregational Church and the pastor of the Church of the Messiah are either planning or thinking about European trips. One other minister, R. J. B. Messiah, of St. Philips Episcopal Church, is planning an international destination, the British West Indies, where he will spend about 6 weeks; he won’t leave his congregation for the trip until October.

After the first European travelers, the author lists two ministers traveling to the Catskills—the mountains the headline promised us. These are Father Goodwin, of the House of Prayer, and Rev. A. L. Wood, of St. John’s Episcopal Church. Rev. T. E. Vassar, pastor of the South Baptist Church, will spend his August vacation at Kingston on the Hudson, on the edge of the Catskills. He is one of the few whose family is mentioned, and notably, they are leaving July 1, a full month or more before Rev. Vassar. One pastor is going to Lake George, in the Adirondacks. Another mountain vacationer is Rev. Dr. Few-Smith, who feels compelled to explain:

“The organization of the Second Presbyterian church have made arrangements with the congregation of the North Reformed church to worship with them during the month of August. . . . I shall spend my vacation in the Catskill regions.”

What about the seashore?

The Rev. E. G. Taylor, of the First Baptist Church, will remain in town. It has been his custom to go to Martha’s Vineyard, but owing to sad memories clinging around that place, his two sons having recently died there, Mr. Taylor will not visit it this summer. His family will rusticate for a month or two at Asbury Park.

Rev. William H. Gleason, of the First Reformed Church, together with his family will spend a few weeks at Sag Harbor.

The author, perhaps running out of ways to make his listings of where pastors will be going interesting, waxes a bit flowery:

The Rev. William Eakins, of Wesley Chapel, will spend a portion of his time during the hot weather at Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts.

There is one rabbi identified in the article, Rabbi Joseph Leucht, of Washington Street Temple, and he is going to Ocean Beach—which could be any of several locations, one apparently being in New Jersey.

Another minister is going to Ocean Grove—which is both “the seashore” and also part of its own category of vacation destinations, the camp meeting, developed chiefly by the Methodists as places of both religious revival and (chaste) recreation. This pastor, Rev. Jacob Todd, of St. Paul’s M. E. Church will be spending the month of July in the camp meeting at Ocean Grove, then going on to visit various other unspecified camp meetings afterwards.

These other unnamed camp meetings may include another one in New Jersey, Mt. Tabor, to which several Methodist or ME—Methodist Episcopal—clergymen are planning to go. Mt. Tabor was established in 1869 as a Methodist Summer Camp Meeting ground. Three pastors are going during the time camp meeting services are being held, apparently in August. In describing accommodations, the article indicates that one will “go to the camp ground at Camp Tabor for health and recreation.” Another will “occupy his cottage.”

Then there are those who are soldiering on in Newark. You have already read of Dean Stansbury, who will be in his favorite place: “Newark among his people.” Another pastor, Rev. S. T. Graham, “is reluctant to leave his charge, but will probably go to Europe for a vacation during the summer months.” The pastor whose young sons died in Martha’s Vineyard, Rev. E. G. Taylor, also mentioned above, is apparently staying in town, while his family “rusticates” in Asbury Park.

One pastor’s summer plans are described in a somewhat curious way:

The Rev. J. H. Smith, of the Emmanual Reformed Episcopal Church, will pass most of the summer solstice in Newark. He was in Europe year before last and in the Rocky Mountains last year.

Another pastor The Rev. W.J. Ruberts, of St. Paul’s Church, has not make any plans for the summer yet, but “will rest at intervals.”

There will be apparently almost no rest for the area’s Catholic priests, who go unnamed:

“The clergy of the diocese are allowed only one Sunday vacation,” said Monsignor Doane. “They go for a week only, which is scarcely worth speaking of. Our churches are never closed. The retreat of the clergy will commence at Seton Hall June 23.”

Then there is the matter of coverage at the churches whose clergy are heading off on vacation. One pastor has been quoted above with regard to the arrangements made for his church to worship together with member of another church in his absence.

Our anonymous pastor, with whose quote the article opens, states that most people won’t be attending church in hot weather anyway, suggesting there is no coverage needed. The South Baptist Church and at least one other will be closed for some period of time.

The article ends with some of the pastors who have not yet completed arrangements. One seems rather unconcerned about it:

“I do not know what arrangements have been made for closing the church,” said the Rev. Dr. McIlvaine, of the High Street Presbyterian Church. “I shall leave about the last of this month, and spend my vacation in Maine, as usual.”

The Central Presbyterian Church has also not yet made arrangements, but the article suggests that an unspecified number of the pastors listed in the article may have also not yet completed arrangements.

As interesting as where and when pastors will be going, is a consideration of where they are not going, and who is left out. Although as we will see, New Jersey had many fashionable resorts and hotels, almost no pastor is vacationing in the state. Moreover, there is, not surprisingly, not one woman on the list—the closest there is to a mention of women is the reference to family for two or three of the pastors.

But we see here many of the then-acceptable aims of vacationing represented: 1) rest from labor, to return refreshed and better able to serve (our anonymous opening pastor’s quote), 2) going on vacation with either work aims (e.g. the cross Europe tricyclist) or the aim of deepening faith (pastors going to camp meetings) or both (the Episcopalian Bishop representing the American branch of the church at a centennial) or 3) going for health and recreation (one of our Camp Tabor bound pastors).

A description of the resorts in New Jersey at the time, and their status with regards to other potential vacation destinations will have to wait for subsequent posts. But we can look to the same edition of the newspaper for a snapshot of the reasoning it must have taken to make it acceptable for women to have some recreation or vacation. The article, entitled “Sea Bathing in Season,” has to be enjoyed in its entirety.

Sea Bathing in Season, Newark Evening News, June 14, 1884 Reprinted from Harper’s Weekly A Dip in the Surf Sometimes an Ounce of Prevention for Delicate Persons. Sea bathing is not a cure-all, yet there are few classes of people to whom it may not bring some benefit. For delicate constitutions and for many of the complaints of debility sea bathing is a powerful tonic; it is medicinal for many invalids. Of the many persons who are in need of a tonic and strengthening treatment there are but few who will not derive benefit from sea bathing, provided only that they will make haste slowly and bear in mind the necessary precaution.The question of the sea temperature is an important one for a safe beginning. The water must be warm enough. A chief source of benefit in sea or river bathing is indeed the coolness of the temperature and the consequent healthy glow of warmth caused by the rushing of blood to the skin on leaving the water and the stimulating influence on the viscera. But all this is too active treatment for the invalid at the beginning. One must be educated up to the tolerance of the cold bath.At some of the French seaside resorts, and recently at some of our own, as at Marblehead, the excellent plan is followed of giving preparatory baths of warm sea water indoors. It is a good beginning for some very delicate women, who find even the summer heat of the Mediterranean—75 degrees to 80 degrees Fahr., too cool at the outset. But whenever this initiation is practiced it should not be a long one. The artificial warmth of the bath should be lessened day by day, until after a moderate time it is reduced nearly to that of the sun6 and the patient is proven strong enough to cultivate a more intimate and invigorating acquaintance with old-ocean himself.For this purpose a calm, warm and sunny day should be chosen; a windy day should be particularly avoided, for the evaporation from the clothes and the body is then so rapid to chill the bather both on entering and leaving the water. Never go into a cold bath when you feel cold. This well applies to all bathers, whether strong or delicate. To make it effective, it is desirable to lose no time after beginning to undress in getting into the water. The best time of the day is two or three hours after eating, and preferably in the forenoon. It may be borne in mind that the beach and the waves themselves are generally cleaner during the ebb tide than during the flood, and it is desirable that the air should be warm as well as the sea. The sun being well out, the first bath from the beach may be taken, as it should be a very brief one, lasting no longer than is necessary to wet the body from head to foot. On leaving the water the bather should strip and be rubbed dry, and this immediately. Indolent bathers run more risk by lingering and shivering in their wet clothes than from any amount of swimming.

Women are mentioned in another front page article not on the topic of vacationing. A column under the subject heading “LONDON CABLE LETTER,” gives a snapshot into various topics being discussed in London in the Parliament, the first item describes views of “an Old Sea Dog” on the debates going on in England over Women’s Suffrage:

The most spirited discussion in Parliament this week has been that on the women’s suffrage clause in the franchise bill. It began on Thursday night. The ladies gallery was crowded. The effect of introducing ladies into politics, however, was practically illustrated by one of them being seized with a fainting fit in the middle of the discussion, and having to be removed by the ushers among considerable confusion. Vice-Admiral Maxte⁷ in a pamphlet on the subject points out that leading statesmen on both sides have repudiated the movement. Some of the Conservatives seem inclined to support a “lady-like suffrage,” that is a propertied single woman’s vote and such would undoubtedly increase conservative influence. The Admiral is not very gallant in his views as he thinks that a short experience of woman suffrage would lead to civil war and the abolition of the suffrage. He declares the movement reactionary—not progressive.

For a final bit of context and snapshot, other front page items were “DYNAMITE IN A DRAIN: How Nearly the Anarchists Blew Up Several Crowned Heads,” and under the subject heading “POINTS FROM PANAMA” a column of items with the headline “ABDUCTORS AFTER A PRESIDENT” and the sub-headlines: “A Scientist Cultivates Yellow Fever Germs—The Work on the Canal. Hundreds of Idle Men—The Situation Causing Apprehension.” Also front page news is an article on a train derailment on the Camden and Atlantic line, an article on the town council discussing ways to improve the city sewerage system, and an article on a gathering of veterans being feted with “six tables groaning with the weight of substantial eatables and polished plates.”

From this immersion into “the news” in 1884, we are primed to head into the details of the story of one nineteenth century resort. Until next month.