A Pictorial History of the Great Borough of Seaside Heights, New Jersey
1913-present

The Promenade of the World-Famous Seaside Heights Boardwalk in winter. In 92 years, this 3/4 of a mile section of New Jersey barrier island has gone from just dunes to the international icon of fun at the Jersey Shore thanks to the cameras of MTV in 1998 and 2002.


Before the Borough was formally incorporated, it was only sand dunes.



An advertisement for Seaside Heights, a few years before its incorporation as a Borough in 1913. The lots were sold by the Manhasset Realty Co. of Philadelphia.


At first, there wasn't anything at all.


But soon, a hotel popped-up at Sumner Avenue and the Boulevard.

And stores began to be built in the downtown as well.

Bathhouses catered to day-trippers.

The first boardwalk was soon constructed.


Seaside Heights was always a spot to meet ladies.


Parking in the Borough was a problem since day one.


The Freeman Carousel at Dupont Avenue and the Boardwalk was a huge attraction.


Children delighted in the Salt-Air.


This is another view of the Freeman Carousel building, destroyed by fire in 1955.


At first only a few streets had a boardwalk...


but Mayor-For-Life J. Stanley Tunney (1939-1964) envisioned a commercialized boardwalk for all of Seaside Heights.


By the late 1940's, a commericalized boardwalk would extend from one end of the Borough to another.


Seaside Heights always had a Beach Patrol.


This fishing pier was destroyed by the Great Atlantic Hurricane of 1944.


Amusements and houses began to spring up all over Seaside Heights.


Danceland was located at Porter Avenue and the Boardwalk and was also destroyed by the 1955 fire.


Seaside Heights became so popular, it had a very busy Bus Terminal.


Rooming houses, like this one at Sheridan and the Boulevard, were popular. This historic building was raised in the early 80's for some ugly condos.


This restaurant was on the location of where the outside bars of the Bamboo Bar are today at Franklin Avenue and the Boulevard. This building was also destroyed in the 1980's.


Barney's at Dupont and the Boulevard was the place to go. The original building still exists.


The Casino Pool was a cooling off spot for summer bathes from the 1930's-1980's


An aerial view of the Casino Pier and Pool.


This was the sign that appeared at the end of the wooden bridge that came into Hamilton Avenue.


The modern steel and stone Thomas Mathis bridge was built in 1950.


The Mathis bridge now serves as the eastbound only bridge into Seaside Heights.


The First National Bank of Toms River opened its first-ever branch in Seaside Heights.


Our original school was located at Sherman Avenue and Ocean Terrace.


By the 1960's, the Water Tower and the Seaside Heights Municipal Complex were completed and still stand today.


The buidling of the Causeway joining Route 35 and Route 37 filled in the original Seaside Heights Bayfront. It was a mistake, some say to put a highway in between the Borough itself and the Bay Beaches.


The Seaside Heights Beach Patrol modernized with the times.


Motels sprouted up like weeds.


This Carousel, which replaced the one destroyed at Dupont Avenue and the Boardwalk in 1955, was eventually auctioned-off piece meal, and replaced with a fiberglass carousel.


By the 1970's the Seaside Heights Boardwalk was completed in the form will still recognize today.


Could J. Stanley Tunney have known his envisioned boardwalk would remain intact not just into the 1970's, but well past the turn of the millennium?  Could he have known that it would be made World Famous when images of Seaside Heights were beamed all over the globe via satellite on MTV?