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Important Contacts
Town Hall / Municipal
301 Main Street
732-502-4510
Website
Tourism
601 Main Street
www.avonbytheseanj.com
Business Association
801 Main St
732776-7770
Post Office
Main Street
732-775-2709
Library
Garfield & 5th Avenue
732-502-4525
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Avon by the Sea
During the
Victorian era indicative of her growth, the land was officially
named New Branch around 1855, but according to what map you looked
at or to whom you talk to, the land also was known as the Swanton
Tract or the Lewis Greene Property.
In 1878 the Jersey Shore was in her infancy. Long Branch, Asbury
Park and Ocean Grove were very popular summer vacation spots for the
wealthy visitors from New York and Philadelphia.
One of these summer visitors to Ocean Grove was Edward
Batchelor, a very successful tobacco manufacturer from Philadelphia
who had come to Ocean Grove to relax and fish. One day Batchelor
decided to visit a local fishing spot called "Deep Hole" just south
of New Branch at Shark River. During the trip to "Deep Hole" he
passed through New Branch and was very impressed by the land. On the
return trip Batchelor spied signs advertising the land for sale. The
very next day Batchelor purchased 300 acres of land from T.W. Finn
for $45,000.00.
In 1897, Robert C. Love, surveyor and F.G. Harrison, an
engineer were contracted by Mr. Batchelor to look after his newly
acquired land and under the supervision of the two men the town
gradually took form. Originally Batchelor planned to use the land as
the new center for his tobacco firm. With this in mind he named the
land "Key East" presumably after a type of tobacco or cigar. A short
while later, however, on the advice of Love and Harrison, Batchelor
decided to develop Key East for its real estate potential.
Over the next decade, Batchelor provided the investment
needed to construct the basic facilities essential to a growing
resort community. The town was surveyed and divided into lots and
sold for premiums unheard of on the Jersey Shore. Roads were cut
through the dense woods, a sewer system was built, as was the
Pavilion on Norwood and Ocean Avenue. Most important of all was the
construction of the Avon Inn in 1883.
The town as "Avon-By-The-Sea" came into existence when it was
incorporated under an act of legislature as a borough on March
23,1900. Where the name Avon comes from is something that a good
many people wonder about, but it is easily enough understood when
one considers that even in the days of "Key East" that hotel at the
foot of Sylvania Avenue was known as the "Avon" Inn. It is not
logical then to believe that when the town was renamed they
patterned after the name and called the borough Avon-By-The-Sea.
There is little vacant or unused space in the community
today, yet it's growth is not, nor has it ever been unrestrained or
chaotic. Although there are commercial establishments on Main Street
and Ocean Avenue, they are surrounded by residential development so
that the basic character of the town has not been altered. After the
town became Avon-By-The Sea, vast improvements were made. A
boardwalk was laid and fire companies were organized. The present
public school was built in 1908 and the library was built in 1916.
Avon-By-The-Sea represents a conservative type of growth. While
there have been changes in Avon, they have been neither radical nor
inconsistent with past commitments.
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Avon by the Sea
Belmar
Bradley Beach
Brielle
Lake Como
Manasquan
Neptune City
Neptune Township
Ocean Grove
Sea Girt
Spring Lake
Spring Lake Heights
Wall Township
Avon by the Sea Members
PNC Bank Avon
320 Main Street
732-502-8013
Website
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