Asbury Park: A Century of Change

As the 20th century got under way, Asbury Park was booming. Real estate advertisements promoted a residential resort “where country meets the sea.” The nearly one-square-mile gridded municipality attracted individuals who saw opportunities, from architects and artists to entrepreneurs and people looking for employment. But with the death of its founder and leading benefactor, James A. Bradley, and the rise of machine politics under Mayor Clarence E.F. Hetrick, Asbury Park’s civic and econom...