Harlan’s History: “THE CHARLES A. FARNUM COTTAGE” 9123 First Avenue Stone Harbor, N. J.

Harlan’s History: “THE CHARLES A. FARNUM COTTAGE” 9123 First Avenue Stone Harbor, N. J.

“THE CHARLES A. FARNUM COTTAGE” 9123 First Avenue Stone Harbor, N. J.

 

Large three-story cottage with gambrel roof under construction, framed and sided with roofing shingles partially installed. Open framing for a porch is visible on the left, with brick foundation piers and construction materials on the ground.Here is another one of the very early and lovely cottages under construction at First Avenue and 91st Street. The property was built and originally owned by Charles A. Farnum, who was a Philadelphia attorney-at-law who happened to work for the South Jersey Realty Company. Mr. Farnum, being a member of the so-called “Founders’ Syndicate,” was incentivized to purchase bonds when he was given absolutely free the very lot that his house was being built on. This large 3-story cottage, as you can see in its early stage of construction, has been framed, sided and has much of the roofing shingles installed. This view shows the front entrance on the left facing eastward toward the beach, and the right side of the structure is actually facing north. An area in the making has been provided for what will become a wrap-around screened open-air porch, and openings have also been provided for the installation of a multitude of windows and doors. My guess is that the interior work is not far off on the construction calendar.

Distant view across open sandy land of Stone Harbor, NJ showing several buildings along a street, including a large gambrel-roofed cottage on the far left, a Mediterranean-style stucco house with a garage, and additional homes and larger buildings receding into the distance.This next image shows that some more work has continued on the Farnum cottage (see the structure on the far left) including the installation of all the wooden shingles on the outer walls as well as the placement of all the windows and doors. Proceeding northward along First Avenue in the direction toward Avalon, we can see and identify the following buildings: the distinctive Clarence Hall Mediterranean style “stucco house” with unattached garage, the G. Franklin Davis property and further off in the distance are Reese Risley’s “Hydrangea,” followed by the 5-story Harbor Inn and finally the bathing pavilion with prominent cupola and pier on the ocean front.
Completed three-story shingled cottage with gambrel roof, porch railings and spindles, shuttered windows with awnings, and a smaller building visible to the right. The image is somewhat faded and low in contrast.

Presented here is a somewhat less distinct photo image, but nevertheless showing the completion of the porch railings and spindles, a prominent chimney on the roof in the rear of the house, and there is also the lovely added touch of awnings and shutters on the first and second story windows from what we can see. This very house is representative of what has been referred to as the Colonial Revival style of architecture that was quite popular in the United States between the 1880s and 1940s. Such houses were generally characterized by gambrel roofs or with a side-gabled roof, symmetrical design, double-hung windows accented with shutters and more elaborate entrances. Such homes were typically found in abundance in the Northeast.

Black-and-white photograph looking north along a wide graveled avenue lined with electric poles and wires. A large completed shingled cottage stands on the left, with additional homes and a stucco building visible along the street and an automobile in the distance.This fourth image, also derived from the Stone Harbor Museum archives, indicates that construction of the cottage has been pretty much completed. You should be able to see the nice bay windows protruding on the south-facing side. First Avenue, as you can see, is taking on the appearance of an established roadway lined with sidewalks and electric power poles for street lighting. The Juergens and Herbort cottages can also now be seen on the right side of First Avenue. Adding to the charm of this somewhat nostalgic photo is a vintage automobile that can be seen headed southward in our direction.

Color picture postcard titled "First Ave. looking North, Stone Harbor, N. J." showing a wide avenue with a large shingled cottage on the left, several homes along the street, electric poles, and a woman with a parasol and a child on the sidewalk at lower left.

This final image really makes quite an impression. It is that of a vintage color picture postcard showing the ongoing development of First Avenue. In fact, this scene is the very same one that we just presented in black and white. The only difference is that the postcard publisher decided to add just a few very subtle touches to enhance the photo for greater eye appeal. Look carefully and you just might see a woman holding a parasol as well as her daughter’s hand while walking south toward us along the sidewalk in the lower left portion of this card. Taking even a deeper dive into examining this postcard with magnification, I was able to ascertain 3 more females who have also been added to this scene: one is seen in front of the Farnum house and a pair in dark clothing appear further up the street. When the Risleys’ promotional materials advertised the graveling of wide streets in Stone Harbor, they sure were not kidding as we can see of this majestic and broad view of First Avenue looking northward.

In closing, please be informed that this cottage built by Charles Farnum no longer exists, and a completely new house has been built on that same lot.