INTRODUCTION:  We are most fortunate to have 3 of our primary photos for this article derived from the Stone Harbor Museum archives.  Several other images including some vintage post cards reside in this writer’s personal collection.  It is indeed a pleasure to share this array of interesting images and a related written account with you at this time.  So sit back and relax as we once more are about to step back in time!

PART I

Shown immediately above is a view of one of the early business enterprises in Stone Harbor.  Built, owned and operated by Miss Marie L. Van Thuyne, this general store was located at 85th Street and Second Avenue, fronting on the broad Pennsylvania Railroad Station Plaza.  We know that Miss Van Thuyne of 425 Vine Street, Philadelphia acquired her land free under the Stone Harbor Bond Plan and that her store pictured here was built and completed in 1910.  She is about to embark upon a plan that will help Stone Harbor grow.  By so doing, Miss Van Thuyne is going to develop a strong vested interest in the future of both Stone Harbor and Avalon.  Our story continues…

This second photo, discovered in the Stone Harbor Museum archives, was apparently taken on July 4, 1912. We know that this Van Thuyne General Store advertised and provided meats, provisions, groceries and what were then called “gents furnishings”.  This latter phrase refers to the selling of men’s clothing including overcoats, trousers, shirts, hats, gloves, shoes, valises, trunks and the like.  Remember, at this time in the early 1900s, there were many men living and working in Stone Harbor specifically hired and engaged in the construction trades building new homes, businesses as well as providing the necessary infrastructural components – roads, sewers, water and electric lines – for the new and emerging community.

Some additional information can be gleaned from examining the large sign on the front side of this store. It states: “STOP / SPEND A PLEASANT HOUR / Stone Harbor Amusement Center / POOL and REFRESHMENTS / TABLES FOR LADIES”.  It is evident that the store has been decorated with a good number of American Flags and red, white and blue bunting as well as patriotic banners fluttering in the breeze.  Perhaps among the persons who are on the front porch, this photo may very well include the store owner Marie Van Thuyne shown wearing a white dress.

I would further point out that close examination of the roof vaguely shows indications of what were large white painted letters spelling out just two words.  Take a good look at the roof in this photo.  While indistinguishable and unclear, we do know that there were 12 letters across the roof specifically stating “GENE / RAL / STORE”.  You will see two gabled dormer windows on the 3rd floor roof that physically interrupt the flow of the words “GENERAL STORE”.  The next 2 images will distinctly show you views of the same store with the painted letters on the roof completely visible. 

The image presented immediately above is a photo looking east toward the ocean and depicts numerous early buildings in the 81st to 85th Street area of Stone Harbor.  In all probability this view shows the South Basin in the foreground.  This area depicted was the so-called early center or point of origin of the “new” Stone Harbor.  This very image was derived from a real photo post card that was mailed and postmarked at Stone Harbor in June of 1917.

Before proceeding, I would like to tell you more about the photo and what it actually shows as well as tell you about an interesting but simple hand-written message that was written on the reverse side of this post card.  In fact, the message speaks indirectly to the need for stores that sell things like hardware, paints, etc.  For the sake of identifying some of the buildings depicted in this image, I would like to indicate just what we know starting from the left and moving to the right side of this photo.  Here is what we see as we sweep across the scene: Rummel’s Store and site of the first Post Office in Stone Harbor; the structure with the pronounced cupola atop the roof of a large set of buildings was the first stationary bathhouse with many wooden changing cabins for visitors to use for changing into swimming attire on the beach; next and just partially visible is a 5-story building in the distance that has a protruding turret room or small circular tower in the middle and is the preeminent Harbor Inn (formerly known as the Abbotsford Inn built in 1892); that large building that is obstructing our view of the Harbor Inn is as you can see a “Hardware and Paint Store” that most likely also has some apartments for rent on the 2nd floor; the building on the very far right is of course the Van Thuyne “General Store” on 85th Street and Second Avenue; and just behind the Van Thuyne General Store is the rounded turret of what was known as “Hydrangea” or the beachfront villa of Reese Risley built in 1909.

Another interesting element related to this post card image has to do with what is contained on the reverse or message/address side.  Messages can often be interesting and I think the hand-written message on the back of this card warrants attention.  The sender addressed the post card in the following manner:   “Gustave Mahlek / Grassland / Delaware County / near Phila. Penna”.  In very legible brown ink, the sender wrote the following message:  “Stone Harbor, N. J. / June 13 – 17 / I arrived at Stone Harbor today and found that the postmaster has returned the paint.  So I have to get paint here as I wish to have the boat running by next Sunday.  Wish best wishes to you all.  Yours, A. Krebs”.This card was mailed and bears a Stone Harbor, N. J.  postmark or inked hand-cancellation over the 1-cent postage stamp and showing “JUN 14 1917 7AM”.         

Now I would ask you to direct your attention to the featured General Store located on the far right side of this scene.

This next image is an electronically cropped view that enlarges and focuses on specifically the very store you were asked earlier to locate and identify.  Now it should be more clearly evident the two words referenced earlier that appear painted on the roof.  We are looking eastward toward the ocean in this photo and recognizing the front of the general store with its broad steps that face the south and can be seen on the right of this building.

Here we have yet another rather remarkable photo from the Stone Harbor Museum archives depicting another imposing front view of the Van Thuyne General Store.  In fact we also see emblazoned on a very large sign the words “THE LEADING GENERAL STORE” across the entire building.  No doubt that is what is referred to as “Top billing” in the world of advertising.  It is also worth noting that this large building has some very interesting features that warrant our attention.  The stairs that span entirely across the front of the building make for most convenient access to any of the 4 doors located on the front porch of the first floor.  Perhaps the 2 center doors provided access to not only Van Thuyne’s store but perhaps another business since there are two very large but separate store-front picture windows for display purposes.  Please understand that the U. S. Post Office Department  had officially assigned two different numbers for this building’s 85th Street postal mailing address as “172” and “174”.  However, it should be noted that at this time, the Stone Harbor Post Office did not actually deliver mail to the intended addresses throughout the borough.  Instead, and still for some time to come, all mail was held for pick-up only at the Post Office by the recipients themselves.  Moreover, there are 2 more doors located on the first floor porch, one at each end of the porch that in all likelihood provided a stairway to 2 or possibly even 4 apartments for rent located on the second floor over the stores.  It is entirely possible that proprietress Marie Van Thuyne conveniently resided in one of the upstairs apartments.

Typical of many of the early seashore buildings and homes in Stone Harbor, this structure features those familiar and durable cedar shake shingles on all four sides.  The attractive and very useful awnings designed to provide shade from both the bright morning sun and hot afternoon sun also added a nice aesthetic touch to this important building.  Most assuredly there were rear entrances and somewhat smaller porches on the rear of this building as was also customary.  There were even a couple of smaller unattached buildings at the rear of this property that served for storage, including even the sale of gasoline.  Once again, one would have to think that among the 7 people (4 men, 1 woman, 2 children with bikes and 1 dog) assembled on the front steps, the woman in this particular scene just might be the owner,  Miss Van Thuyne herself.

As a brief side note and before proceeding, we know that when the first meeting of the newly elected and formed Borough council was held on May 18, 1914, Mayor Howard S. Risley made numerous appointments including that of widely known local store owner Miss M. L. Van Thuyne as “Overseer of the Poor” in Stone Harbor.

This next image is a post card that we at the Stone Harbor Museum believe was published sometime in the early 1930s.  According to the caption on this card, the building that we are highlighting was no longer a general store but had become repurposed and completely dedicated to being a spacious apartment house.  In keeping with this conversion, Marie Van Thuyne made some important modifications to the building in order to accommodate the needs of her renters.  You will notice the front steps have been narrowed or reduced upon becoming an apartment house.  In fact, both the downstairs and upstairs rear porches were also enclosed to provide for additional living space on each floor.  Finally, the caption on this post card indicates that the Van Thuyne Apartments also include garages at this location.  The building transformation actually occurred at a time when there was increased interest by people wishing to vacation in Stone Harbor.  Consequently more rental properties were needed to accommodate the flood of families looking to enjoy Stone Harbor during the summer season. 

Not only were the front steps narrowed or reduced upon becoming an apartment house, but the 3rd floor was enlarged and expanded for even more living space on both sides of the roof.  This was accomplished by adding the classic shed-dormer with 5 windows that can easily be seen in this post card image.  Truthfully, we are not sure just how many separate rental units became available as a result of these changes and renovations to the Van Thuyne property.   

PART II

PART II:  The caption on this vintage post card states: “SECOND AVE. AND TWENTY-SECOND ST., looking South, Avalon, N. J.”.  The signage associated with this large building further indicates: “M. L. VAN THUYNE / MEATS, GROCERIES / ——and—— /GENERAL GOODS”. Perhaps some of our readers/viewers may have or know some pertinent information about this particular Avalon business establishment owned by Miss Marie Van Thuyne.  If so, kindly place your remarks in the “Comments” portion accompanying this article on the “Stone Harbor Museum Group” Facebook/Meta page.  We thank you for your ongoing support and your contributions to the ongoing story about the History of Stone Harbor, New Jersey.