"God's Square Mile" is a name given to Ocean Grove, New Jersey and it is one of my favorite places on the Jersey Shore.
"Ocean Grove was founded in 1869 as an outgrowth of the camp meeting movement in the United States, when a group of Methodist clergymen, led by William B. Osborn and Ellwood H. Stokes, formed the Ocean Grove Camp Meeting Association to develop and operate a summer camp meeting site on the New Jersey seashore. By the early 20th century, the popular Christian meeting ground became known as the "Queen of Religious Resorts." The community's land is still owned by the camp meeting association and leased to individual homeowners and businesses. Ocean Grove remains the longest-active camp meeting site in the United States." (from Wikipedia -
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ocean_Grove,_New_Jersey)
My earliest memories of Ocean Grove are from the 1960's and the big iron gate at the entrance to Main Avenue. The gate was locked on Sunday due to the prohibition of cars (in earlier days horse-drawn carriages) and this ban remained in place until a New Jersey Supreme Court ruling in 1979 - the prohibition was permanently lifted in June of that year but the beaches are closed on Sunday until 12:30 PM when church services end.
There are many things to see and do in Ocean Grove but my favorite activities are simple - I like to walk around or simply sit on the boardwalk and watch. I watch to waves crash on the beach, seagulls searching for their next meal, surfers, fisherman, etc... I think my favorite time of day to be there is sunrise and it is typically my destination when I decide to venture out in the pre-dawn hours to shoot.
If you are more adventurous there are plenty of shops to explore and beautiful Victorian architecture to see. Many of the old homes are now being used as a bed & breakfast so you can spend a few days (or more) and take a leisurely stroll to the beach to experience your own sunrise. There are a wide variety of restaurants and a couple ice cream parlors that you absolutely must go to when you are in town.
I will leave you with a few more of my favorite Ocean Grove images.
All photos are copyright Joseph S. Valencia All Rights Reserved They may not be used in any way without express written permission of the photographer. If you wish to use any of the photos you may contact the photographer at valencia32photo@gmail.com
"Ocean Grove was founded in 1869 as an outgrowth of the camp meeting movement in the United States, when a group of Methodist clergymen, led by William B. Osborn and Ellwood H. Stokes, formed the Ocean Grove Camp Meeting Association to develop and operate a summer camp meeting site on the New Jersey seashore. By the early 20th century, the popular Christian meeting ground became known as the "Queen of Religious Resorts." The community's land is still owned by the camp meeting association and leased to individual homeowners and businesses. Ocean Grove remains the longest-active camp meeting site in the United States." (from Wikipedia - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ocean_Grove,_New_Jersey)
I will leave you with a few more of my favorite Ocean Grove images.
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