LAKEWOOD, NJ — Lakewood residents don't have to travel far to find reminders of the township's past — some are still places they can visit today.
One is Ocean County Park, at 659 Ocean Avenue. The 323-acre park was originally part of financier John D. Rockefeller's vacation estate, according to the Ocean County Department of Parks and Recreation. White pine, Norway spruce, hemlock and other specimen trees imported by Rockefeller from around the country have since matured throughout the park.
The park continues to offer plenty for visitors beyond its historic significance. Visitors can use tennis and pickleball courts, open play fields, a driving range and playgrounds, all without a charge for casual use. After snowfall, the county also highlights the park as a spot for cross-country skiing.
Another piece of Lakewood history remains at Georgian Court University, located at 900 Lakewood Avenue. The property was formerly the winter home of George Jay Gould, the millionaire son of railroad tycoon Jay Gould. George Gould purchased 200 acres in 1896 and hired architect Bruce Price to transform the property into a country estate resembling an English estate of the Georgian period, which inspired the name Georgian Court.
Price also designed three of the property's four major historic gardens, all created before 1910: the Italian Garden, Sunken Garden, also known as the Lagoon, and Formal Garden. Garden designer Takeo Shiota designed the Japanese Garden.
The grounds have continued to evolve. A Wellness Garden was added in 2008, while visitors can also find smaller gardens featuring flowering perennials, including the New Jersey Native Plant Garden, Lopez Garden and Chapel Garden. The Sisters of Mercy of New Jersey purchased the estate in 1924.
Today, visitors can explore the university's Sister Mary Grace Burns Arboretum on free, self-guided tours from 8 a.m. until dusk.
Downtown, The Strand, located at 400 Clifton Avenue, offers another connection to Lakewood's past. Theater architect Thomas Lamb was commissioned by the Ferber Amusement Company to design the venue, which opened in 1922 with a vision of attracting Broadway producers looking for a place to try out shows before taking them to Broadway. Its first event featured Mae Murray in the silent film "Peacock Alley," followed by five vaudeville acts. Within a week, the theater hosted a pre-Broadway run of "The Devine Crook," starring Florence Reed.
Over the years, performers including Ray Bolger, Milton Berle, Ruby Keeler and the comedy team Burns and Allen appeared at The Strand. The theater later became primarily a movie house before preservation efforts gave it a new chapter. It was conveyed to the Ocean County Center for the Arts in 1981, added to the New Jersey Register of Historical Places that year and entered in the National Register of Historical Places in 1982. The Strand reopened with a gala performance by Pearl Bailey in 1984.
Today, The Strand continues to host concerts, plays, dinner shows and other programming. Those interested in experiencing the historic theater for themselves can view upcoming events and purchase tickets through The Strand's website.
Together, the sites offer residents a chance to encounter pieces of Lakewood history that remain part of the community today.
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