War Footing and the Need for a Drink

Chalres Hinchman passed away as Sea Girt began the process of preparing to become a municipality. Lawyer Frank Durand discussed with the officers of the Sea Girt Company what it would take to break away from Wall Township.

As the Great War stalemated in Europe, the US was reluctant to get involved. The New Jersey National Guard was called up to muster at Sea Girt. There were no shooting contests, parties, or the feeling of a camping trip. The mood was deadly serious.

"Hon. James F. Fielder, Governor of New Jersey, Sea Girt, N. J.: "Having in view the possibility of further aggression upon the territory American states and the necessity for the proper protection of that frontier, the president has thought proper to exercise the authority vested in him by the constitution and the laws and call out the organized militia and the National guard necessary for that purpose, I am in consequence instructed the president to call into the service of the United States forthwith, through you, following units of the organized militia and the National Guard of the State of New Jersey which the president directs shall be assembled at the state mobilization point, Sea Girt, or at the place to be designated to you by commanding general, Eastern department, for muster into the service of the United States.”

Germany sent a secret diplomatic telegram to Mexico urging them to join the war against the United States. In the Zimmermann telegram, Germany promised to help Mexico regain its lost territories of California, Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona taken by Commodore Robert F. Stockton in the last century.

Pancho Villa, a Mexican revolutionary leader, helped to overthrow the Mexican government in 1911. By 1915 he was fighting with Venustiano Carranza a former ally. The US backed Carranza with support and Villa’s army was defeated.

Angered by the interference, Villa attacked the town of Columbus, New Mexico, resulting in the deaths of 16 Americans.

Pancho Villa, revolutionary, governor, and outlaw

In response, President Woodrow Wilson ordered the Punitive Expedition led by General John J. Pershing to capture Villa and prevent further raids. This expedition involved around 12,000 U.S. soldiers and penetrated deep into Mexican territory. Villa proved elusive. The US was careful not to trigger war with Mexico and Pershing ultimately failed to capture Villa, although a young Lt. George Patton shot and killed a Villista soldier and scattered their units.

Wilson accepted the nomination of his party at Sea Girt. He gave a sober speech, noting reasons he should be re-elected. He had accomplished much and kept big business interests out of politics. He fought the causes of unjust child labor, and kept us out of war, despite the fact that war seemed inevitable.

The President called up 130,000 National Guard troops and the boys from three New Jersey National Guard Units left from Sea Girt to guard against Mexican incursion in Arizona. By March 1917, the entire guard would be converted to regular army units as the US declared war against Germany.

Autos of the day were open and dangerous even in low speed accidents

Sea Girt had its first fatal traffic accident. A Jitney driver Arthur Goddard t-boned a car on Second and Stockton owned by Leon Harvey. Harvey had a full car, returning to Spring Lake. Next to him in the front seat was a young woman Miss Gertrude Pettitt holding the 14-month-old baby of Mrs. Lawler who was in the back seat. Gertrude and the baby, John T. Lawler were thrown from the auto. Gertrude, the baby, and his mother were rushed to Ann May Hospital on Vroom Ave in Spring Lake, but the baby died of its injuries. Goddard was charged with manslaughter but later cleared as the speed of both cars was called into question.

Thousands of Soldiers would need a drink.

Clayton had a sponsorship of a beer company in Brooklyn. This did not sit well when he came to the Shore

Frank F. Clayton was the former owner of the Pabst Loop Hotel on Surf Avenue in Coney Island. The Pabst, with its roller rink, ballroom and veranda overlooking the sea was in an ideal location at the beach terminus of two trolleys from Brooklyn.

Clayton, an entertainer and hotel manager secured the sponsorship of the great Milwaukee brewery in 1900, and Clayton’s hotel next to the amusements thrived until it burned to the ground in 1908, pushing Clayton into bankruptcy.

Fortunately for Clayton, the Whites's charming farm on the southern side of Wreck Pond in Wall Township and its well-regarded roadhouse on their property called the Wreck Pond Inn on the highway became available when Mrs. White died in 1910. It fell into the hands of Clayton.

Clayton used the Wreck Pond Inn name for two seasons. He spent thousands to landscape the property to make it into a picnic grounds. When he first applied for a liquor license he was denied, and the judge told him to operate for a few seasons without trouble. His Coney Island reputation preceded him. He changed the name in 1915 to Clayton’s Electric Pleasure Grounds.

Clayton held group outings and hosted a number of firemen’s carnivals which got out of control. Neighbors testified gambling was rampant. He also attracted a traveling circus and later admitted, “I regretted some of the entertainments at the circus”.

Unfortunately for Clayton, the women of Manasquan banded with the small population of Sea Girt. They wanted temperance and protested the liquor license, accusing Clayton of already selling beer and spirits without the license.

In 1916, Clayton took on a partner, Spring Lake cottage owner, John A. Biggett who was friendly with NJ Governor Fielder. He finally got a temporary summer license, as the judge ruled that the area population was much higher in the summertime, and licenses should be proportional to the summer population. They hoped to capture the soldiers from the nearby Army Camp.

Clayton was ready to slake their thirst. As the US entered World War I, the number of soldiers at Sea Girt exploded. But the Summer receipts did not allow Clayton to meet his debts, (He owned another electric park over by Clarks Landing in Point Pleasant). He was bankrupted again. His partner Biggett covered the shortfall and took over. "Biggett’s Park, and Sea Girt Inn" was a hit. The soldiers and political meetings mixed with an orchestra and dining. Biggett was quite successful and remained open all year.