Living in Avon-by-the-Sea

Avon-by-The-Sea History

In 1878, Edward Batchelor, a successful tobacco manufacturer from Philadelphia, purchased 300 acres of land called “New Branch” on the north shore of the Shark River. He paid T.W. Finn $45,000. He hired a surveyor named Robert Love and an engineer named F.G. Harrison to help him develop the land. He wanted to make it the new center for his tobacco firm, but the two persuaded Mr. Batchelor to look instead to its real estate potential. Taking their advice, he renamed the land “Key East,” and set about creating a beautiful seaside resort community in an area growing in popularity with wealthy visitors from New York and Pennsylvania.

Mr. Batchelor invested in the development of the necessary infrastructure to support a resort community, surveying the area and dividing it into lots. They constructed a sewer system and roadways. They built the Pavilion on Norwood and Ocean Avenue, and opened the Avon Inn 1883. Private homeowners bought properties, and a town was born.

The name “Avon-by-the-Sea” came about when the town incorporated on March 23, 1900. Sadly, the Avon Inn, for which the town was believed to have been named, was destroyed by a fire in 1978.

Still Alive and Kicking

Several early structures remain in town. Saint Elizabeth Roman Catholic Church, at Lincoln and Fifth Avenues, emerged in 1908 on property donated by Mr. Batchelor. Although it was heavily damaged by a fire in 1986, construction workers rebuilt it, and it remains in use today.

Originally named The Berwick Hotel, Mr. Batchelor built The Columns Restaurant in 1883. It remains a popular dining and entertainment venue, offering stunning views and sea breezes from its home on Ocean Avenue across from the Pavilion.

The Avon Baptist Church, on Sylvania and Fifth Avenues, was also an original part of the new town when it was called Taylor Memorial Baptist Church.

AVON-BY-THE-SEA HOMES FOR SALE

Avon-By-The-Sea offers a fine array of real estate options. Whether you are looking for a large seashore colonial or a condo up on the oceanfront, the agents at The Connolly Agency have the local knowledge and the experience to help you find the home of your dreams.

AVON-BY-THE-SEA AREA SCHOOLS

The Avon-By-The-Sea School District consists of one very highly rated public school, Avon Elementary School, for grades K-8, enrolling approximately 160 students per year. For high school, public school students attend either Manasquan High School or Asbury Park High School. In addition, Avon-by-the-Sea students can attend Red Bank Regional High School, or one of the five nationally-ranked schools in the Monmouth County Vocational School District. There are also a variety of private and parochial schools at both the elementary and high school levels in the immediate area.