This postcard, postmarked August 27, 1904 reads “This is the new bridge at Spring Lake. We took the trolley there”
In January 1902, renowned Asbury Park architect William C. Cottrell was selected to build a “Rustic Foot Bridge” across Spring Lake. His design was described: by the Monmouth Democrat, “The structure is to be 200 feet long, six feet wide, and will be about eight feet above the water at the highest point. It will be a decidedly artistic structure, crossing the lake about in front of the Maloney Memorial Catholic Chapel. The paneling between each span will be of a different design and the roofing of each span above the water will be arched. There will be a large double span in the centre.” Saint Catharine’s had not yet been finished, and the diocese had not yet approved the name change from Saint Ann’s. (The church was dedicated in May 1902).
Cottrell, a builder turned architect worked with his son Alfred and they had just completed the design for the new Asbury Park Casino. They were praised for the elaborate Rococo amusement and musical entertainment center, which was destroyed in a fire in 1928. The Cottrells also designed a number of commercial buildings in the resort city, including the Kinmonth Building on Mattison Ave., and the offices of the Steinbach department store, and they designed many seashore homes.
W.C. Cotrell’s casino building. The current abandoned Casino was built in 1929
William was also an inventor, earning significant royalties from his invention of nested trolley wheels with internal ball bearings.
1907 Postcard by Union News NY
When completed, the cedar bridge was a hit with locals and visitors. It was part of the rebirth of Spring Lake after the 1900 fire had damaged or destroyed 11 hotels and most of the original business district. With views of the new church and the rebuilt Monmouth Hotel, the span would be featured on many postcards over the decades.
The matching span to the north over Fourth Ave. was not proposed until 1912. When first requested by Mayor Brown in an executive session with the Council, there were many other pressing issues including Ocean Ave paving and sewer projects. Brown was undaunted. He had relocated the business district to Third Ave. and the second bridge would shorten the walk downtown for many. It took a petition from some influential citizens and business owners including Susan Urie, Tim Hurley, Mrs. Vanburen, and Alfred Hofmeister to convince the Boro to move on the second bridge, which copied the design of the Mercer Ave. structure, with subtle differences.
Postcard of FourthAve bridge printed for Hills Drugs Spring Lake from 1921.
1930s postcard by Star Stationery of Newark note the slight differences between the bridges
1950 view of St. Catharine’s and the Mercer Ave. bridge from the east side of lake publisher unknown
4th Ave bridge in 1955 postcard by Union Distributors
1907 Marriott Morris photograph courtesy of the Library Company of Philadelphia.
The cedar bridge decking and unique paneling have been replaced several times, with the bridges totally removed for new pilings in 1988 and 1994. The last major refurbishment to the bridges was in 2015, and the Boro and a community group, Friends of the Spring Lake Footbridges helped preserve the original rustic design.
Postcard from around 1910
The bridges are still charming and an easy way to cross town on foot.
William Cottrell’s trolley wheel.
Coast Star Jan 15,2015 p 21 “Committee: footbridges in need of restoration”
Red Bank Register p 13 Wed Jul 11, 1917 “Died of Indigestion William C. Cotrell Died Suddenly Friday”
Asbury Park Press p 2 May 07, 1912 : “To Improve Ocean Road Thru Boro”
Monmouth Democrat Jan 16 1902 p3: “To have a Rustic Food Bridge”