The “Little White House” at Sea Girt, NJ. National Guard Militia Museum of NJ n the years following New Jersey’s 1885 selection of Sea Girt as its National Guard Itraining area, the site became the summer center of the state’s political universe as well. Beginning with Governor Leon Abbett, New Jersey chief executives spent an increasing amount of time away from the heat of Trenton and enjoying the summer breezes at Sea Girt... by Joseph G. Bilby Governor Leon Abbett (second from left, seated) and his military staff at Sea Girt. National Guard Militia Museum of NJ Abbett kicked off the Sea with the carnival-like festivities had escaped from Confederate Girt summer of 1885 with a “along the main avenue, where captivity in South Carolina and, grand review of Brigadier fakirs and others had erected aided by slaves, succeeded in General William Sewell’s stands, giving more the making a several-hundred-mile National Guard division fol- appearance of a country fair overland trek to the safety of lowed by a military ball, held than a military encampment.”1 Union lines in Knoxville, at the Beach House hotel on While two-term governor Tennessee. Deeply involved in August 21 — which was Abbett was the most interest- Republican party politics, accounted the most impressive ing political personage to fre- Drake had persuaded the New Jersey Shore affair of the sea- quent nineteenth-century Sea Jersey legislature to make him son. It was remembered as a Girt, the town and camp saw a brevet (honorary) brigadier “brilliant event” to which “invi- their share of other colorful general, and he led his tations numbering nearly 2,000 and somewhat eccentric politi- “Veteran Zouave” drill team had been issued, distinguished cal personalities as well. One and marching society across men and women from various of the most notable of these the parade ground at the parts of the country lending was National Guard officer and camp, adding a good bit of their presence to the festivi- newspaperman James Madison color to the festivities.2 ties.” Less distinguished visitors Drake, a Civil War veteran and Serious political business to the camp had to make do Medal of Honor awardee who was conducted by the sea as Sea Girt: NJ’s Summer Capital Joseph G. Bilby GardenStateLegacy.com Issue 8 June 2010 First Little White House, in the 1890s. National Guard Militia Museum of NJ well, however. Governor cabinet meetings on the Abbett established his summer campgrounds. Cabinet government headquarters in officers and other officials Sea Girt and the custom either moved to summer endured, with cabinet mem- residences in nearby bers, politicians, upper-level towns, including Belmar bureaucrats and judges in and Long Branch, or “took town for meetings. The news- up rooms” at one of the papers dubbed Sea Girt New Sea Girt or Spring Lake Jersey’s “summer capital by hotels.3 the sea.” As a new century As the years went by the brought international President Theodore Roosevelt governors’ sojourns length- prominence and world- ened. In 1893, Governor wide responsibilities for Republican Franklin Murphy. George T. Werts and his family the United States, Sea Girt Roosevelt landed at Highlands had already been living in the assumed a new eminence in from his yacht and proceeded white frame farmhouse on the New Jersey’s political and mili- south by train, with cheering, state property for several tary affairs. The little town flag waving “[s]ummer-clad” weeks, “enjoying the fine air hosted its first presidential visit crowds greeting him at stations and beautiful environment,” and mass political event when along the way. People placed when the first National Guard Theodore Roosevelt came to coins on the tracks to be flat- Troops arrived. As the Guard the National Guard Camp on tened by the president’s car took over the camp, Werts July 24, 1902, to attend a and then used them for watch moved his family to the reception and troop review fob souvenirs. The wildly pop- Monmouth Hotel in Spring hosted by New jersey ular “TR” was warmly wel- Lake, but continued to hold Governor and fellow comed at Sea Girt as a crowd Sea Girt: NJ’s Summer Capital Joseph G. Bilby GardenStateLegacy.com Issue 8 June 2010 "Neoclassical architecture in the Government Building at the Louisiana Purchase Exposition," from: David R. Francis, The Universal Exposition of 1904 (1905, p. 91.) www.Wikipedia.com of “10,000 persons assembled rifle marksmanship.4 grander in the way of a resi- along the parade field and Roosevelt’s visit graphically dence for receiving dignitaries prominent society folks from demonstrated, however, that was needed—and state offi- the resorts along the coast the National Guard camp facil- cials found it in the New Jersey drove down in wagons, which ities for entertaining and Exhibit Hall at the 1904 lined the driveways.” With the housing the governor, his Louisiana Purchase Exposition, exception of brief scuffles entourage and distinguished popularly known as the Saint between National Guardsmen guests were severely limited, Louis World’s Fair. and secret service officers in and the quartermaster general The exposition, the most the press of people swarming concluded that “a new head- spectacular on record to that toward the president, the visit quarters house for the accom- date, included exhibits from went well. Roosevelt reviewed modation of the Governor and America’s new overseas and then addressed the assem- staff is urgently recommend- empire and served as a venue bled Guardsmen, promising ed.” The rambling two-story for the 1904 Olympic Games, federal assistance in moderniz- farmhouse that stood on the the first conducted in the ing their weapons and equip- property when the state United States. Less significant ment and, unsurprisingly, con- acquired it, dubbed the “Little exposition innovation claims sidering his reputation as a White House” by the press, included the introduction of soldier and outdoorsman, was clearly inadequate. There the ice cream cone and, some stressing the importance of was no doubt that something say, the first hot dog and ham- Sea Girt: NJ’s Summer Capital Joseph G. Bilby GardenStateLegacy.com Issue 8 June 2010 1906, for a month’s stay, sig- among the general public naling the beginning of a new would flock to the little era for Sea Girt. In succeeding Monmouth county town by the years the state’s governors sea in incredible numbers to would stretch their “Sea Girt see them. Sea Girt hotelier season” to an entire summer, Nora Stubbs promoted her full of political and personal Stockton Hotel’s proximity to entertaining and deal making. the “weekly receptions at the Theodore Roosevelt’s Governor’s Summer home . appearance proved the first of enjoyable functions which many Sea Girt national political bring to Sea Girt many of the celebrity sightings. Over the most prominent in the State’s next three decades, a parade political life.”6 of state and national leaders Sea Girt received another made Sea Girt a must-stop on dose of positive national pub- Gov. Edward C. Stokes the campaign trail, and for licity with the selection of New forty years after the Roosevelt Jersey Governor Woodrow burger sales, although the lat- visit, the loyal and the curious Wilson as the 1912 Democratic ter two “firsts” are considered somewhat suspect.5 With the end of the Saint Louis extravaganza, the New Jersey hall, modeled on the Ford Mansion, George Washington’s Morristown, NJ headquarters during the winter of 1779–1780, was disassem- bled and brought to Sea Girt by rail, where it was reassem- bled in 1906. Described by the press as a “Colonial cottage, a century and a half old in design,” the fifteen-room house was actually quite luxu- rious and modern on the inside, with three bathrooms, electric lighting and fancy fur- niture. It immediately inherited the “Little White House” nick- name of its humble predeces- sor. [See picture on title page] Republican Governor Edward C. Stokes, the first gubernatorial occupant of the Woodrow Wilson learns of his nomination at the Little White “cottage,” moved in on July 7, House, 1912. Library of Congress Sea Girt: NJ’s Summer Capital Joseph G. Bilby GardenStateLegacy.com Issue 8 June 2010 nominee for president. arrival of the State’s chief exec- Girt entertainment budget for Wilson’s nomination brought utive and his wife before the summer season. The House of Representatives declaring the summer season National Guard camp opened Speaker James Beauchamp open.” for training on June 6 as “Champ” Clark and 116 The first event on the busy “Camp Edwards,” after Democratic congressmen up Little White House social Democratic Governor Edward from Washington to Sea Girt agenda that year was a July 3 I. Edwards, following the prac- on July 20 to greet the candi- reception with an estimated tice of naming the training date. The visit made national attendance of 1,500 state venue for the presiding chief news, with an Illinois paper officials and politicians of executive in Trenton each year. claiming Clark’s pilgrimage both parties. Following the Edwards was “the first time in the histo- family’s arrival, the press ry of the United States that a announced that Mrs. Edwards body of congressmen had quit “will preside over the social their work to make a trip to activities which are being hail the party standard bearer.” planned for the season at the Lower ranking Democrats and executive mansion . [and] curious members of the public expressed her delight at the flocked to Sea Girt as well, by “Little White House,” which train, trolley and automobile, had been “decorated and to catch a glimpse of the can- refurnished.”9 didate.