BULLETIN

HISTORIC

PreservationIn this Issue:

Neon and Angles and:

Motels of the Wildwoods....1

Roadside Cabins....................6

Minding the Shore................8

Doo Wop Motels

Endangered...........................11

SUMMER 2006

• New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection •

• Natural & Historic Resources • Historic Preservation Office •

Neon and Angles:Motels of the

Wildwoodshe Jersey Shore evokes many images: sand and

surf, sun and fun, family and friends among them.For many, the Shore brings to mind the grand painted

ladies of Victorian Cape May. However, just north ofCape May lies the neighboring communities of North

Wildwood, Wildwood and Wildwood Crest that draw praisefor their own unique exuberant architecture.

The Wildwoods’ wide sandy beach and theamusement-packed boardwalk are well known, but thestriking, flamboyant, mid-20th century motels attract visitorsto the Wildwoods every year. The architecture of the motels,called Googie on the West Coast, MiMo in north beach Miamior, more generically, Populuxe, is not known to exist outsidethe Wildwoods in an equivalent density.

This expressive architectural style common in the ’50sand ’60s incorporated modern, sweeping angles, angular walland roof styles, vibrant colors, starbursts and evenboomerang shapes and merits its own special attention inaddition to the standard Jersey Shore fun. Indeed, theWildwoods are a wildly popular summer spot, not only withlocal Shore visitors from the Mid-Atlantic, but also withvacationers from Quebec, Canada and beyond.

The Wildwoods began developing as a resort in the lastdecade of the 19th century with steady growth to the early20th century. The boom began in the 1950s, due partially tothe construction and completion of the Garden State Parkwayand the enthusiastic, tail-finned motorists it delivered. With

Page 6

Page 8

T

2

Asymmetry found in the Ocean View Motel, Wildwood Crest

summer tourists driving tothe Wildwoods, the newlyconstructed motels needed tomeet their needs as motorists.While the automobile playedan important role in the formand function of the motels,the post-World War IIoptimism, confidence andeconomic prosperitysweeping the nation in the’50s also held large influencein the design and themes.

Take a drive downSurf, Ocean and Atlanticavenues and one will notice astriking similarity among themotels. The architecture,locally named Doo-Wop inhonor of the musical genre ofthe period, implementedimportant designprinciples. Commonelements include:assymetry, L- or U-shaped form, theincorporation of atheme, overhangs, pools,and parking. For touristsarriving in the large carsof the era, parking wasessential, and all themotels providedperimeter parking, withsome spots shelteredunder raised sundecks.

The form of each of themotels was relatively simple.Constructed of poured,reinforced concrete, themotels were two or morestories and generally L- or U-shaped. The L plan was asolid line of rooms; theshorter leg could be a lobby,raised sundeck with parkingunderneath or even moreguestrooms. In keeping withthe motorist trend and tominimize noise and maximizeocean views, the motels wereonly one room deep with anopen-air, common walkwayfor guestroom access. Alsoessential to the form of themotels were the flat roofs thatextended well beyond the

Jon S. Corzine

GovernorState of New Jersey

Lisa P. Jackson, Commissioner

Department of Environmental

Protection

Mission

The Department of EnvironmentalProtection, Historic Preservation Officeis committed to enhancing the qualityof life for the residents of New Jersey

through preservation and appreciationof our collective past.

Our mission is to assist the residents ofNew Jersey in identifying, preserving,protecting and sustaining our historicand archaeological resources throughimplementation of the state's historic

preservation program.

We provide assistance through our annual conference, consultation with

professionals, training workshops,co-sponsorship of history and historic

preservation related activities, theHistoric Preservation Bulletin and other

free publications.

HHiissttoorriicc

PPrreesseerrvvaattiioonn OOffffiiccee

P.O. Box 404, Trenton,

New Jersey 08625-0404

TEL: (609) 292-2023

FAX: (609) 984-0578

www.nj.gov/dep/hpo

This publication has been financed in part with federalfunds from the National Park Service, U.S. Department ofthe Interior, and administered by the New JerseyDepartment of Environmental Protection, HistoricPreservation Office. The contents and opinions do notnecessarily reflect the views or policies of the U.S.Department of the Interior. This program receives federalfinancial assistance for the identification and protection ofhistoric properties. Under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of1964 and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, theU.S. Department of the Interior prohibits discrimination onthe basis of race, color, national origin, or handicap in itsfederally assisted programs. If you believe that you havebeen discriminated against in any program, activity, orfacility as described above, or if you desire furtherinformation, please write to: Office of Equal Opportunity,National Park Service, 1849 C. Street NW (NC200),Washington, D.C. 20240

Angled walls of the Ebb Tide Motel, WildwoodCrest. The first motel built on the island. Nowdemolished. Photo courtesy of HABS

walls. These wide, roofoverhangs offered protectionto the guests on the opencorridors but also provided adesign element specific to thepopular culture of the time.The same wide overhangswere also often found on thelobbies of the buildings. Mostwere flat, but, dependingupon the theme of the motel,the overhangs could be flaredor accordion style.

Asymmetry and strongangles were also essential tothe lines of a motel in theWildwoods. This was seenmost dramatically in the nowdemolished Ebb Tide. One ofthe first motels built in 1952,the Ebb Tide had a slopingfacade, with the first floorleaning away from theparking lot while the secondand third floors leanedtoward the motorists. These

angles werethen toppedwith anoverhangingroof andcontrasted withthe flatelevation of thetwo-story office.All thiscombined togive the motel afeeling ofmovement.

Asymmetry wasalso often foundin the lobbies.The lobby ofthe Ocean View,with its longsloping roofs,had one sidedramaticallylonger than the other. Largediamond-paned windowsaugmented the asymmetrical

effect. This lobbyroof served a dualpurpose by alsoproviding somecovered parking.The angles wereoften incorporatedin the theme ofsome motels. TheCasa Bahama,taking on aCaribbean theme,had the basic L-shaped form thatincorporated manypeaked rooflinesalong the opencorridors. Thesepeaks rose from thesidewalk at the firstfloor andculminated in asteep peak abovethe second storyroof mimicking

side-by-side cabanas.

While a building’s formand wide overhangs wereimportant, themes wereestablished to capture theattention of the tourist. Eachmotel had an essentialdesignated theme, whichcreated an ambience for themotel and lured potentialguests as they drove aroundlooking for accommodations.Common themes reflected inthe architecture include exoticlocations as found at theTangiers, the Pyramid and theCaribbean motels; luxury atthe Imperial 500 and theDiamond Crest; spaceexploration at the Astronaut;historic interpretations at theCarriage Stop and theCrusader; and the oceanic atthe Blue Marlin, Gulf Streamand Sea Gull. The themeswere reflective of the era:expanded contact with new

3

Stylized entrance of the Attaché Motel, Wildwood Crest.

The cabana-like appearance of the former Casa Bahamacreates a Caribbean flare. Also note the palm trees onthe doors. Now demolished.

and exotic locations throughtravel and the movies, thenewly established spaceprogram.

The theme of eachmotel was echoed throughoutthe building. Large neon signswere mounted on roofs,attached to the side of abuilding or mounted near thecurb, each competing with itsneighbor in bright neon. Oftenthe name of the motel waspainted on a wall surfacealong with an imagerepresenting the theme. TheGondolier, for example, hadan entire wall surface paintedwith an image of a gondolierin Venice, and the Olympicfeatures a man throwing adiscus.

The expression of thetheme could also be carriedout in the building materials.The three-story Brittanyfeatured false half-timbering,giving it a Tudor appearance.The Singapore had multiple-hipped roofs, which give theimpression of a pagoda. TheCarriage Stop was faced inred brick with white columns,reminding people of colonialroots.

Just as parking wascritical to the motoringtourists, so were pools. Evenwith the beach just a fewsteps away, few motels werewithout pools. The pools wereoften just as dramatic as thethemes themselves, and allwere meant to help attractand, most importantly, keepthe tourist. The Chateau Bleupool was heart-shaped, whilethe pool of the exuberantCaribbean was crescent-shaped. Other motels featuredkidney-shaped, standard oval

4

Oc

to

ber

27,

200

6

Purpose:Hone your expertise, expedite your projects,better serve your clients, and earn a certificate ofachievement by attending this training providedby the New Jersey Historic Preservation Office

Who Should Attend:Historic Preservation Consultants who preparesurveys, nominations, and historic propertydocumentation. Basic knowledge culturalresource practices required.

Topics:HPO Survey Form System Historic ResourceAnalysis Impact Assessment InformationManagement And more…

Location:Rutgers EcoComplex Environmental Researchand Extension Center1200 Florence-Columbus RoadBordentown, NJ 08505-4200

Price: $75.00

For more information, contact:Genny Guzman at (609) 984-0543 orGenny.Guzman@dep.state.nj.uswww.state.nj.us/dep/hpo

Sav

e t

he

Dat

e!Best Practices

WOrkshop

or rectangular pools. Pooldecks were invariably dottedwith non-native, fabricatedpalm trees, again lending tothe fanciful themes foundthroughout the Wildwoods.

While architecture andtheme were essential to theWildwoods’ motels, they werenot complete without a fewfinal details. Large, plate-glass windows in lobbies andguestrooms, railings andcolors were added tocomplete the image. Railingsoften complemented a themeor lent additional appeal tothe motel. The railing typeswere as varied as the themesthemselves: outward andinward curving, asymmetricaland even geometric designswere incorporated into the

railings. Soliddoors wereoften paintedcolors to matchthe themes.Room numberswereemphasizedwith a decalthat representedthe theme of themotel. The PinkChampagnemotel features achampagneglass filled withpink

champagne on each guestroom door. Many motels alsofeatured louvered doors,which, when the inner doorwas left open, allowed for aircirculation, an attractive yetfunctional feature to thesebuildings.

Located side-by-sidefor blocks and blocks, themotels create a fascinatingscene, unparalleled on theJersey Shore. The dramaticlobbies, flashy signs andexuberant themes of themotels remain a tangible,priceless link to the popularculture of post-World War IIAmerica, allowing one to takea step back in time to the ’50sand ’60s. The Jersey Shorefeatures miles of fine sandy

beaches and excitingboardwalks, but none exceptthe Wildwoods can boastabout its exuberant, mid-20thcentury architecture.

5

The Lollipop Motel in North Wildwood has many essentialelements: U-shape, second floor sun deck with parkingunderneath, bright colors, large sign, swimming pool andperimeter parking.

Little details, such as a railing embellished with the motel’s name, all help to attract attention and create an atmosphere. Wildwood Crest.

�

Sara André is a HistoricPreservation Specialist with theHistoric Preservation Office

New JerseyWomen’s

Heritage Trail

Please make check payable to:

Treasurer, State of New Jerseyand mail to:

NJ Historic Preservation Office

Attn: Genny Guzman501 E. State Street

P.O. Box 404Trenton, NJ 08625-0404

The Cost of the publication is

$10.00 which includes shipping

and handling.

6

Campgrounds firstbecame popular duringthe 1920s, when car travelenabled families to takeadvantage of inexpensivegetaways. As camppopularity declined in thelate 1920s, however,tourist cabins became themost popular form ofovernight accommodation.Enterprising campgroundowners began to build

tiny cabins, charging ahigher fee for their use thancamping, and cabins caughton quickly. Cabin campingwas informal compared tohotels, but providedadequate comforts for manytravelers. Eventually, manyowners of cabin campseliminated tent camping

altogether.

The earliest cabinsprovided only the mostbasic amenities – sanitaryfacilities were usuallylocated in a separatebuilding. In rural areas,cabins could be widelyspaced for privacy and

...tourist cabins became the most popular

form of overnight accommodation. Enterprising campground

owners began to build tiny cabins...

Cannon CourtAtlantic County, Egg Harbor Township

RoadsideCabins

opularized duringthe GreatDepression,roadside cabinsillustrate an

important step in thedevelopment of the motel.Once common along NewJersey roads leading to theshore, roadside cabins are arapidly disappearingresource type that illustratesan episode in America’sinfatuation with road traveland inexpensive accom-modataion.

P

camps became isolatedfrom the tourist flow andunable to survivefinancially. A number ofearly motels and roadsidecabins remain along NewJersey’s state highways,but most are post-WorldWar II buildings. Theearliest roadside cabins,dating to the 1920s and1930s, have largely becomean obsolete architecturalform and are rapidlydisappearing.

aesthetic effect, but in moredensely-built areas, highproperty valuesnecessitated a tighterarrangement of cabins,eventually turning into the

L- or U-shaped “cabincourt,” “motor court,”and finally, “motel.”Cabins added moreamenities through the1930s: bathrooms,comfortable beds, soap,and linens. By the 1940s,there was little todistinguish a “cabin”from a hotel room exceptfor convenience, privacy,and affordability.

In the past year,CRCG identified four setsof historic roadside cabinsin Atlantic County. Theabandoned L’il Abnercomplex in GallowayTownship dates to c. 1930,and includes fourteen, one-story, front gabled, oneroom cabins, some woodframed and others of log

construction; a 1-story, sidegabled head house; agarage; and an irregularlyshaped bath house. TheCountry Motel, also inGalloway Township, dates

to c. 1930. Thecomplex, still in use,is comprised of four,one room, woodframed cabins and a1-story residence. Aset of abandoned,unnamed roadsidecabins were alsoidentified inGalloway Township,

consisting of six, oneroom, wood framedcottages and a 2-storywood framed headhouse. Cannon Court, inEgg Harbor Township, isstill in use, and featureseleven cabins withvarying forms and onehead house.

As improvedhighways bypassedolder routes and smallertowns, many cabins and

7

�

by Christine Miller, anArchitecturalConservator andArchitectural Historianwith the CulturalResource ConsultingGroup.

Abbott’s Modern Cabins.Atlantic County, Hamilton Township

8

Shore1916. But by 1969 the buildingthat had once made passingsailors cry “Elephant!” was adilapidated building nearingextinction, ironically due tothe same real estatedevelopment forces she hadbeen built to promote. Thanksto the efforts and long struggleof the Margate CivicAssociation, Lucy was savedand restored, along with agreat part of Jersey Shorehistory. Today this NationalHistoric Landmark stands as

One of the best knowncharacters in this coastallandscape is Lucy, the MargateElephant. She was built forthe real estate company ofJames V. Lafferty, as both anadvertisement and office,to help spurdevelopment at theshore. The 58-foottall elephantbuilding hasdrawn crowdsof amazedspectatorsever since itsopening (tothe tunes of abrass band) in1881. EvenPresidentWilson cameto visit her in

WWhile the Jersey Shoremight be better known for thesummer rituals that havecaptivated us for manygenerations, the fact is thatthe sands along this 127 mile-long coastline hold more thanjust sun, surf, and slotmachines. Along this coast, or“the Shore” as locals call it,lies a collection of culturalresources as varied as thevisitors that stroll itsboardwalks and beaches.From a four-legged historiclandmark in Margate City, toone of the world’s largestinterior spaces at the AtlanticCity Convention Hall, to theVictorian architecture ofOcean Grove and Cape May—the Jersey Shore is a culturallandscape like no other.

Lucy, the Margate Elephant fully restored.

Mindingthe

Lucy in her seriously deteriorated condition c. 1970.

America pageant. In 1998,after many years of use andbad renovations, ConventionHall began a series of efforts toreconstruct its majestic ceilingand restore some of thebuilding’s historic featuresthat had been deteriorating.

When all of thework wascompleted andthe Hall reopenedin October 2001 itwas received withmuch acclaim bythe architectural,engineering andpreservationcommunities,earning a total ofnine awardsincluding a 2003NationalPreservation

construct of the Shore.Orchestras, bowling,basketball, ice-skating,boxing and concerts aresome of the events thathave taken place in “TheWorld’s GreatestPlayground.” But theHall’s signatureevent from 1946to 2004 hadbeen theMiss

Award given by the NationalTrust for Historic Preservation.

But the New JerseyShore is not just lights,splendor, and enormity.Further north on the Jersey

9

the oldest functioning exampleof zoomorphic architecture inthe United States and serves asa historic site and museum ofits own history.

Another coastaltreasure is the Atlantic CityConvention Hall, registered asa National Historic Landmarkin 1987. “Boardwalk Hall,” asit is commonly called, wasbuilt between 1926 and 1929.At the time of its constructionit contained the largest roomwith an unobstructed view inthe history of architecture(Charleton, James H. NationalHistoric Landmark/NationalRegister Nomination: AtlanticConvention Hall, 02/27/87).Today the Great Hall is stillone of the world’s largestinterior spaces. In addition,the structure houses what it isarguably the largest organ inthe world, containing 33,000pipes in eight chambers. Butthe importance of this buildinggoes beyond its architectureand engineering prowess. Forover 75 years Atlantic City’sConvention Hall has playedhost to numerous events thathave helped to map the social

coast lies a Methodist CampMeeting town built to promotemental and physical healthand known as Ocean Grove.The town was founded on theMethodist religiousphilosophy of the 19th century.It incorporated town-planningpractices like setbacks andurban vistas that are normallyassociated with the 20thcentury. Now a State andNational Historic District,Ocean Grove is the oldest,largest, and most successfulcamp meeting town stillfunctioning in the UnitedStates. In addition, it containsthe largest aggregate ofVictorian and early 20thcentury structures in America.In fact, because so much of theoriginal fabric of its structuresand grounds still survives, the

Beach front view of the Atlantic City Convention Hall, 1982

Rendering of the Convention Hall’s main auditorium,c.1928.

summer to take part in someof the great things that theJersey Shore has to offer. Visit“the Shore” and learn about its

numerous and diverse historicsites, and in the process, youwill be helping to keep thisimportant part of our historyalive.

Johnson, it has elaborate fretwork on its upper and lowerfront porches), the SevenSisters houses (seven identicalItalian Renaissance-stylecottages in a row), and theChalfonte Hotel (a long L-shaped building with first andsecond story verandas and alarge cupola on the roof) areexamples of Cape May’sstellar architecture.

It does not take long torealize that many generationshave contributed to ahistorical richness along theJersey coast that spans theentire spectrum of culturalresources. These sites andplaces are just waiting to bediscovered or rediscovered.While summer is certainly notthe only time of the year whenthe Shore exhibits its wonder,it is one of the best. Thehistoric fabric of the Jerseycoast finds its liveliestexpression under the hot sun,amid the childhood-likejubilation of visitors youngand old. But our places ofhistory are only as strong asthe number of people that visitthem. So take a few days this

10

town of Ocean Grove isvirtually an open-air museumworthy of recognition amongthe Shore’s most prizedcultural resources.

Down at the other endof the Shore, on thesouthernmost tip of NewJersey, lies the Cape MayHistoric District. Designatedas a National HistoricLandmark in 1976, this districtis known as “America’s OldestSeashore Resort.” Notablefigures such as AbrahamLincoln, James Buchanan, andUlysses S. Grant visited CapeMay in their time. Todaythousands of people continueto do so each year, lured by aunique Victorian atmospherecreated by a collection ofbuildings that rivals thatof Ocean Grove. A strollthrough Cape May’sstreets explains itslongstandingpopularity—and a walk isthe best way view itswonders. The streetscontain a seeminglyendless array of late 19thcentury buildings andprovide visitors with analmost surreal escape intime. Sites like the PinkHouse (built by Eldridge

�

Convention Hall’s Main auditoriumafter its 2001 reopening.

Pink House’s elaborate street frontfacade.

Sergio De Orbeta wasa ProgramAssociatewith the HistoricPreservation Office.

Row of Victorian cottages at Ocean Grove. Photograph courtesyof HAPBS

11

Rio Motel, prior to demolition.

Site of Rio Motel after demolition.

DooWop Motels Endangered

Demolition in progress at the Palm Beach.

Vacant lot with new condos.

National Trust forHistoric Preservationlists the Doo WopMotels as one of

America’s 11 most endangeredhistoric propertiesEach year since 1988 the NationalTrust for Historic Preservationissues its list of 11 sites mostendangered by “neglect,insufficient funds, inappropriatedevelopment, or insensitive publicpolicy.” This year the Doo WopMotels were listed due todevelopment pressures resultingin rapid increases in demolition.According to the National Trust

nearly 100 motels have beenrecently demolished often tofacilitate construction of market-rate condominiums.

New Jersey sites previouslyincluded in the Trust’s 11 MostEndangered List include: Thomas

Edison’s Invention Factory inWest Orange (1993) and theHackensack Water Works inOradell (2002).

For additional information aboutthe 11 Most Endangered list go tohttp://nthp.org/11Most/

NEW JERSEY’S HISTORIC SITESNEED YOUR HELP.

For far too long, a lack of reliable state funding has forced New Jersey’streasured parks, historic sites and wildlife areas to go without regularmaintenance or capital improvements. Today, those much-needed repairsand improvements will cost as much as $250 million.

You can help.

On Nov. 7, New Jersey voters will be asked to approve a constitutionalamendment that would provide a dedicated source of funding formaintenance and capital improvement at the state’s parks, historic sites andwildlife areas.

Without requiring any new taxes, the proposal would allow revenues fromthe existingCorporate Business Tax Fund to be used for repairs and restorations.A yes vote would guarantee a stable source of state fundingevery year for maintenance and capital improvements.

On November 7, New Jersey voters will decide.It’s up to youNovember 7❑✔