Bye Bye Miss American Pie

The idealism and optimism of the 60s gave way to a more pessimistic 70s. The youth movement was still strong, but Vietnam was grinding on, and protests did not end it. The Kennedy and MLK assassinations shocked the nation, as did the Charles Manson murders. Then, the deaths of popular rockers Janice Joplin, Jim Morrison, and Jimmy Hendrix hit young people hard, as was the breakup of the Beatles, the most popular act of the previous decade. Attempts to recapture the magic of Woodstock were failures. Don Mclean’s folk anthem to lost innocence, American Pie was a huge hit.

American Pie cover (United Artists Records)

A campaign by Keep America Beautiful showed a crying Native American reacting to littering. Paid for by container companies, the ad inspired people to try and do something about littering.

In Sea Girt, the town was fully developed. There were few empty lots, and the debate became about the remaining open space. A litter ordinance was passed, making fines for people carelessly discarding garbage. But John Wells at 114 The Terrace complained that the town was dumping the town’s sweeping machine across from his home on the shoreline of Wreck Pond. Superintendent Clarence Cornelius responded he had nowhere else to dump in town. There were also complaints of concrete and building materials being dumped there by builders.

Storms bring trash in streams and storm sewers onto the beach

This was the result of homes being torn down and multiple homes replacing them. This raised a debate in the community that resonates today.

Mayor Black noted, “Because of high prices, more and more lots are going to be sold.” He was referring to the subdivision of 150-foot and 100-foot lots into 2 or 3 homesites. The Board of Adjustment granted Mrs. Charles Benter, 408 Beacon, permission to subdivide her lot into two homesites against the objection of the neighbors. Her existing house was already over newly drawn setback lines, so a variance was needed. Neighbor Mrs. Stewart at 411 Beacon noted if this were to be the practice, “There would be many new homes built in town”. Another neighbor, John Gavin at 407 Beacon, noted, “The benefit of the town cannot be served by the actions” of the adjustment panel. He added, “The well being of the town must be dealt with”. Mayor Black noted that, “A lot of us think the same way”, noting that the adjustment board was independent and could not deny reasonable accommodations. He promised to continue the conversation to find ways to deal with the problem.

Demolition of a house became common practice for 100 and 150 foot lots.

The Governor’s mansion was slated to be demolished. Governor Cahill wanted to end the $7,000 annual maintenance for the Little White House at the Guard Camp. When the decision was made, a group of women in Sea Girt fought to keep the relic from the 1904 St. Louis Exposiiton. The home enjoyed the residence of the Governor during summers until 1941, was the location of many Presidential speeches and was an important part of the history of Sea Girt. Saint Mark’s held their Carnation Ball fundraiser there each year. The building, while in need of significant disrepair, was large enough to hold big events.

The Women’s Club members rallied to save the house. Joan Kreveling of Allenhurst took up the cause. She had been on the Board at Allaire Village, and her husband had helped preserve and restore many of the buildings there. She knew how homes could be restored for less, and she thought the state estimates for repair were significantly overinflated.

Mrs. David Poveman led a group of Sea Girt women to Trenton with some of their kids. They could raise the money to fix the house. But the legislators pointed to the Department of Defense, and the Governor wanted no part of the politics of the house. The house fell to the wrecking ball, and an important part of Sea Girt’s history was gone.