Spring Lake Heights
RECORD GROUP: Municipalities
RECORD SERIES #: 8600.14
SERIES: Spring Lake Heights
DATES: 1927-1990
VOLUME: 176 volumes and two folders
The following historical narrative about Spring Lake Heights is adapted from an essay by Mary Beth McKnight, Borough Councilwoman, for the book, Town by Town: Impressions of Monmouth County (Freehold: Office of the Monmouth County Clerk, 2002):
Even with the myriad of beloved Spring Lake Heights memories, it was a simple decision as to which town event elevated itself to historical prominence. On May 3, 1927, two small coastal communities, Lake Como and Villa Park, merged to form the Borough of Spring Lake Heights.
Residents of Lake Como and Villa Park, then the 4th voting district of Wall Township, met on October 28, 1926, in Brown’s Garage on the corner of Ludlow Avenue and 4N Highway, which is now Highway 71. These residents formed the Spring Lake Heights Improvement Association and elected William Senkel as president. This association was solely interested in seceding from Wall Township. The Spring Lake Heights Improvement Association’s first fundraiser was a barn dance at Brown’s Garage where $83.65 was collected. This was followed by our first Christmas sing in December 1926, which closed out the organizational year with high hopes of secession from Wall Township looming on the horizon.
A newspaper at the time reported:
The territory of this proposed borough has an assessed valuation, greater than that of South Belmar and considerably greater than that of any other borough that previously seceded from Wall Township, at the time of its incorporation. No other borough that has left the township is anxious to return to the township government; on the other hand, all seem to be very much pleased with the improvements that resulted there from.
The 4th Election District of Wall has 8 ½ miles of roads, 3 of which are already paved, and with the opportunity of 196 miles of roads. It is the only proposed borough that can boast of two golf courses. In the registration last Tuesday, over 650 voters registered.
The Newark House, now the Evergreen Inn Bed and Breakfast, located on the corner of Ocean Road and Highway 4N (now Highway 71), hosted spring meetings to inform townspeople of the scheduled election that would determine our status as a new borough.
On Tuesday, May 3, 1927, the residents of the 4th Election District of Wall Township voted to decide that this section of Wall Township was to become the Borough of Spring Lake Heights. Of 532 votes cast, 280 were in favor, 235 against, and 14 ballots rejected. This election took place at the Newark House.
From this moment, we have moved forward as a community, yet our community remains spirited and although change is ever present, the topics of discussion from these early years have a very familiar tone.
Spring Lake Heights’ second elected Mayor, William Senkel, stated, “The success of our administration depends on the cooperative spirit; for cooperation draws people together, and the only serious difficulty about it is, it means work. Cooperation with one another will help us do our work better, more efficiently, more economically and more satisfactorily. The integrity of our council depends on cooperation. There is a great deal to be accomplished in our borough; not losing sight of the fact that we are spending the taxpayers’ money.” — and this remains true today.
The records consist of 176 volumes and two folders, summarized as follows:
- Governing Body Minutes, 1927-1990
- Board of Health Minutes, 1927-1941
- Ordinances, 1927-1990
- Resolutions, 1948, 1959-1990
- Tax Duplicate Books (48 books), 1927-1974
- Sales Tax Book, 1930-1938
- Cash Disbursement Books (4 books), 1928-1939
- Cash Book (Collector/Treasurer), 1934-1935
- Cash Book (Water & Sewer Taxes, Capital), 1938-1963
- Tax Disbursement book (Water & Sewer Taxes, etc.), 1954-1957
- Tax Receipts book, 1936-1939
- Tax Assessment book, 1934-1944
The two folders pertain to ordinances from 1959 to 1968 and to some extent overlap with the volumes. It is possible that the ordinances for this period are incomplete, as there is no book for the years 1966-1968.
Spring Lake Heights Shelf List
I. Boxes
Box 1. Governing Body Minutes, 1927-1941
Box 2. Governing Body Minutes, 1942-1951
Box 3. Governing Body Minutes, 1952-1960
Board of Health Minutes, 1927-1941
Box 4. Governing Body Minutes, 1961-1970
Box 5. Governing Body Minutes, 1971-1978
Box 6. Governing Body Minutes, 1979-1985
Box 7. Governing Body Minutes, 1986-1990
Box 8. Ordinances, 1927-1977
Box 9. Ordinances, 1978-1990
Box 10. Resolutions, 1948-1977
Box 11. Resolutions, 1978-1987
Box 12. Resolutions, 1988-1990
II. Volumes on Shelves
Tax Duplicate Books (48 books), 1927-1974
Sales Tax Book, 1930-1938
Cash Disbursement Books (4 books), 1928-1939
Cash Book (Collector/Treasurer), 1934-1935
Cash Book (Water & Sewer Taxes, Capital), 1938-1963
Tax Disbursement book (Water & Sewer Taxes, etc.), 1954-1957
Tax Receipts book, 1936-1939
Tax Assessment book, 1934-1944
GDS
2/23/2009; rev. 5/11/2010