Gale

A March Gale took out the north part of the beach. Over 5 high tides, waves ground under the Sea Girt Pavillion, and the building dropped 6 feet onto the sand. After inspection, the 1920s bathhouse and concession building needed to come down. The beach was a mess. Much of the boardwalk was intact, but the approaches were washed away, with most of Ocean Avenue.

The entire Shore was rocked by the Ash Wednesday storm. The only worse storm in living memory was the 1944 hurricane. Every low spot was flooded, and the barrier islands to the south were in terrible shape.

Aerial veiw of devastation on LBI in March 63

The Army Corps of Engineers and Birdsall reviewed the situation in Sea Girt. The estimated damage for the town was $440,000. Stockton Lake spread across the guard camp and flooded the southern part of town.

They slowly repaired the road, installed gravel and soil underneath and a barrier to keep it from washing out again, and suggested dunes be built. Sea Girt purchased sand from Belmar. 122,000 cubic feet at 30 cents per foot to replenish the beach.

The Stockton was also damaged, and Frank Palmieri pushed to get the rebuild of the Stockton started. Given the hostility after his purchase in 1957, he had offered the property to the Borough to purchase for their own use in 1961, but there was no appetite from the town.

His initial 1962 variance request was turned down by the Council, but they directed him to the Board of Adjustments. The Board, guided by attorney Dick Venino voted to approve the variance, but the Real Estate Owners Group immediately sued to NJ Superior Court. The litigation would drag on into 1963, and Frank would surely lose the 1964 season.

Attention to gardens was ramped up in 1963

With the beach a mess, the women took up an effort to beautify Sea Girt. The Community Club Women’s Divison, the Holly Club, the Real Estate Owner’s Group and the Fire Company Auxiliary all contributed members. Councilwoman Norma L. Howard was president, and Mrs. Herbert Wooley, a former editor for National Geographic Magazine, was elected secretary of the Sea Girt Beautification Committee.

The Hillman family donated an Azealia each year in Crescent Park for the memory of their son Gaylor Hillman. The azaelias were expanded again to honor Joseph Kearns and John Cialella, residents who died in Vietnam

Bulbs were planted all over town. Trees were trimmed and underbrush was cleared. Garden tours of members’ homes were planned as fundraisers for Sea Girt. Everyone worked to make the town beautiful despite the mess at the beach, which lingered until 1964.

In the regional Women’s Clubs flower show, three Sea Girt women, Kitty Berg (Seashore Class) and Mrs. John Blake (Green Acres Class) of the Sea Girt Club, and Mrs. Clyde Danceskin who was a member of the Manasquan Womans Club (Cities and Skyscrapers Class) won the top three prizes for their displays.

Much of the enthusiasm for gardening and beautifying public spaces in Sea Girt came out of the devastation of 1963.