An op shop in the sugarcane town of Babinda surprisingly yielded the above highly illustrated three books , one signed by author Paul Sniffen , all printed in Great Britain. They are packed with early photographs, advertisements , some cartoons, concise information which makes for a pleasing , informative read on many subjects. Some highlights -
TOWNSHIP OF OCEANS
One of the many points of interest is a house resembling that of the Addams Family which had belonged to the actor Edwin Booth , brother of John Wilkes Booth who assassinated Abraham Lincoln . A resident had been a roller skate fan, still skating for exercise each day at 87, who brought over an overseas champ to promote the sport .
The biggest names in entertainment , including Sophie Tucker, Helen Morgan , Lillian Russell and Irish tenor John McCormack, passed through the nightspot on Lake Wanamassa known as Ross Fenton Farm .
The editor of the Washington Post and the New York World , Colonel George Harvey , had also lived in the area ; later became the ambassador to Great Britain . During the l920s there was house on an estate which was said to be a luxury speakeasy and gambling joint that catered for the well heeled ; later on , the land was subdivided , the mansion became a synagogue .
There is a section covering locals who served in various wars ,including a WWl roll of honour .
There is a section covering locals who served in various wars ,including a WWl roll of honour .
ASBURY PARK
There is good coverage of early firemen and their rigs ; front and interior views of shops, showing a wide variety of goods for sale . The first electric trolley car, the second in America, ran there in 1891. A 1912 interior of a bank shows the special department set aside for women customers , with several baskets of flowers, under the control of a female vice president .
Religious faiths and churches are extensively covered . Mention is made of the popularity of bicycles, enabling women to get about . The maker of go-carts, chairs for invalids and baby carriages converted wheelchairs into rolling chairs for able bodied vacationers, couples , who could be pushed up and down boardwalks. Mineral waters were all the go to relieve rheumatism and other ailments .
Displayed is the popular modest swimsuit called the "Bradley Bag" made from heavy blue flannel , with long sleeves , pants down to the ankles, which enabled ladies to cavort about in the water . The Toffee King dealt in famous English sweetmeats.
There is good coverage of early firemen and their rigs ; front and interior views of shops, showing a wide variety of goods for sale . The first electric trolley car, the second in America, ran there in 1891. A 1912 interior of a bank shows the special department set aside for women customers , with several baskets of flowers, under the control of a female vice president .
Religious faiths and churches are extensively covered . Mention is made of the popularity of bicycles, enabling women to get about . The maker of go-carts, chairs for invalids and baby carriages converted wheelchairs into rolling chairs for able bodied vacationers, couples , who could be pushed up and down boardwalks. Mineral waters were all the go to relieve rheumatism and other ailments .
Displayed is the popular modest swimsuit called the "Bradley Bag" made from heavy blue flannel , with long sleeves , pants down to the ankles, which enabled ladies to cavort about in the water . The Toffee King dealt in famous English sweetmeats.
LONG BRANCH
There are many photographs of mansions , a section dealing with the actors and actresses who passed through , a 1907 shot of the cast for the Merry Widow and another view which could either be a naval vessel used to promote HMS Pinafore or a mock up of the ship .
The Vanderbilts are featured along with Sir Thomas Lipton of America's Cup fame and Lillian Russell , the obviously very popular first pin up girl in those days . General Ulysses S. Grant , in top hat , not looking the best, is shown three days before he died . He is of particular interest as the book hunt also produced the Personal Memoirs of U. S. Grant .
There is a fullplate photo of President William McKinley and a view of the statue of James Abram Garfield, 20th US president , who died at Long Branch . "Mrs Abraham Lincoln" spent a summer in the city . All three books published by Arcadia Publishing , an imprint of Chalford Publishing, New Hampshire .
There is a fullplate photo of President William McKinley and a view of the statue of James Abram Garfield, 20th US president , who died at Long Branch . "Mrs Abraham Lincoln" spent a summer in the city . All three books published by Arcadia Publishing , an imprint of Chalford Publishing, New Hampshire .
