Circa 1900, visitors and residents enjoying the Avon boardwalk with the Avon Inn in the background.
By DENISE HERSCHEL
To kick off the celebration of Avon’s 125th anniversary this year, the Avon Historical Society is featuring its 15th display, this one highlighting the borough’s beginnings
Dubbed Avon-by-the-Sea: The First Ten Years,” the display was installed at the Avon Post Office and will be there until the end of March.
“We decided to install this display to start off the celebration,” President Norah Magrini said. “We have more displays coming this year. We look forward to the townwide celebration of our anniversary. We have many exciting events planned and will have a newsletter to be delivered to all residents with all the dates . The newsletter will be out the end of February.”
Avon was incorporated as a borough by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on March 23, 1900. It is uncertain why the borough was named Avon.
“In 1905, there were 323 residents and in 1910 there were 426 residents. This is according to the US Census,” Magrini said.
Avon held its first election on April 19, 1900 with Alexander Mullen elected as mayor. There was a six member council and committee chairman. Elections were held annually with the mayor serving the two years and the council for one year.
In 1901, John Thomson was elected in the second election. Notable happenings in the town included trying to create an Avon school district and separation from Neptune City and the fire department wanting to maintain AFD for the next 50 years as Active Fire Company No. 1.
In 1902, Ed Batchelor, founder of Avon, planned to bulkhead Shark River to the Main Street Bridge .
“In 1903, bonds to buy our own sewer and water were approved,” Magrini said. “Also the fire alarm was officially the St. John’s Church bell. Thomson was still the mayor and Ed Batchelor wrote of his concerns of Shark River bulkheads.”
In 1904, horse races were held on Sylvania Avenue and the borough was still trying to separate from the Neptune City school district. In 1905, with with the population at 323 people, the Avon pool opened and was leased to the Avon Beach Company for 10 years. There were 225 bath houses and the cost was $15,000 to build it.
In 1906 Thomas Tompkins was the mayor with council meetings held once a month.
“In 1907, the new Avon Fire Department building was built on Main Street. The Avon school district was officially created and a board was approved. High school students attended Neptune High School on Main Street in Neptune,” she said.
A year later, the Avon school was built and opened on April 1, 1908. Thomas Penna bought the Avon Inn and his family ran it until 1971.
Walter Harris was mayor in 1909 as the town celebrated the Avon Engine and Hose Company incorporated April 13, 1909. The town now had three churches, two garages, livery stables, a new engine house, a town hall and a new fire company.
At the end of the first 10 years, John Thomson was mayor in 1910 with a new hose wagon arriving, an addition planned for the fire house and ice cream wagons able to buy a license to sell treats on public streets.
Magrini said the artifacts for the display include public reports, blueprints for bulkheading the river and photos of the council members.
“I am always ready to accept any donations for the Historical Society displays,”she said. “Email us at avonhsnj@gmail.com.
