Clergy speaks out against Shore’s segregated beaches: From the Asbury Park Press archives

Wednesday, July 6, 1887 — 138 Years Ago

Clergy in Asbury Park and New York rebuke Asbury Park founder James A. Bradley, the city’s principal landowner at this time, over his decision to prohibit non-white people from its beachfront. Ocean Grove’s boardwalk gets partially electrified. The Pennsylvania Railroad expands seasonal service to Asbury Park from Philadelphia.

Men of Color Protest

NEW YORK — People of color are in sympathy with their brethren in Asbury Park after an indignation meeting at St. Mark’s Church, 35th Street, last evening.

This meeting was called to protest against the action of Mr. Bradley, in excluding people of color from the beach.

Late 19th century mass transit at the Jersey Shore, as advertised in the Asbury Park Press on Wednesday, July 6, 1887.

A number of men of color from Asbury Park were present, among whom were The Rev. John Francis Robinson, pastor of A.M.E. Zion Church, West Park.

Speeches were made, nearly all in opposition to Mr. Bradley’s course. The Rev. H.A. Munroe, pastor of the 35th Street church, first addressed the audience.

As a Northerner, Munroe said, he felt a sense of shame that such a state of affairs should exist in a Northern town.

In the name of God, who had made the white man and black man, he said, he protested against this sweeping insult on his people.

Artist renderings of various hotels in coastal Monmouth County were the standard method of advertising before photos could be published in newspapers. These ads were published in the July 6, 1887 edition of the Asbury Park Press.

“This meeting was not called to condemn Mr. Bradley individually, but to protest against the principle. They have resurrected the old Ku Klux Klan idea in the North,” Munroe said. “And there ought to be as much indignation against it as when it was south of the Mason and Dixon’s line.”

He alluded to years gone by when ministers of the gospel — black and white alike — preached the cause from banner-draped pulpits and he pointed to the example of the white abolitionist Henry Ward Beecher, who died in March at age 73.

The Rev. John Francis Robinson did take issue with some of the New York papers, which have reported that policemen stood ready with clubs to drive from the boardwalk any person of color — man or woman.

“That is a lie,” Robinson said.

He observed that some of the white people who come to Asbury Park are worse than people of color and their presence on the ocean plaza more objectionable. He referred to the white “mashers,” who are always on the lookout for a flirtation with young girls.

“Mr. Bradley might just as well try to hang his handkerchief on the horns of the moon as to keep out the black man from the beach,” Robinson said. “We fought for liberty and the salvation of this Union, and we are going to enjoy the peace of it.”

The Grove is Lighted

Last evening the electric light company had all wires strung and everything in readiness to illuminate Ocean Grove’s waterfront.

Eleven poles held the lights along the walk and the pavilions had three. None are lit within the place yet.

An advertisement for Gowdy’s Carriage Repository on Main Street in Asbury Park, published in the Asbury Park Press on Wednesday, July 6, 1887.

Excursions from Philadelphia

The regular summer excursions on the Pennsylvania Railroad from Philadelphia to Asbury Park commence today. There will be three excursions per week during the season. On Wednesdays, the train will run via Trenton; on Thursdays, via Bordentown, and on Fridays, via Seaside Park.

Fined for Assault

ASBURY PARK — Peter Quinn and a man named “Helmire” were intoxicated on Sunday and assaulted the members of the band who play on the beach.

Mr. Bradley heard about it on Monday. Yesterday, he had Justice Holmes issue warrants for the arrests of the men.

Officer Rogers arrested Quinn and took him before the justice, where he pleaded guilty and was fined $3.50. Helmire has not been found.

This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Clergy speaks out against Shore’s segregated beaches: From the Asbury Park Press archives