Bradley Beach Historical Society
BBHS was founded as a nonprofit 501(c)3 organization for the purpose of collecting and preserving local historical data and artifacts for the education and enjoyment of present and future generations.
Sunday, June 14, 2020
BBHS Explores
Origins of Bradley Police Department
Robert Flood, whose Bradley Beach roots pre-date the founding of the Borough, will talk about the history of the Police Department during a live online lecture on Sunday, June 14 at 3 PM. Descended directly from the second Marshal, Flood will explore the early years of the local force from 1893 – 1918. BBHS will not be issuing “tickets” for this special program, but advance registration is required.
Click here to register and to read more bout the event.
Stay Up To Date
BBHS Events
Living History: Capture Life in the Time of Corona
BBHS invites you to chronicle a day in your life by sharing a page from your journal, sketch book or photo album that captures every day life in Bradley Beach during this unprecedented time.
Congregating on The Front Porch
Before the tv room and air conditioning, there was the front porch, a special space between indoors and out where folks of all ages gathered. Drop by our virtual porch on July 19 for stories and sweet memories.
Online Story Hour: Virgil’s- Bradley Beach Treasures
Local author and summer resident Bette Blum, read “Virgil’s from her book entitled Bradley Beach Treasures: Reflections of the Jersey Shore at BBHS’ Online Story Hour. Watch the recorded video.
PLEASE NOTE
Important Update
In light of recent developments regarding the Coronavirus, the Bradley Beach Historical Society has postponed all events including the Salute to The Bradley Beach Police Department scheduled to open on March 24, 2020. The Bradley Beach Historical Museum will also be closed to the public until further notice.
Bradley Beach, NJ
Celebrating the heritage of Bradley Beach by keeping its history a part of daily life.
Welcome to the Bradley Beach Historical Society (BBHS) web site. Here you can find out about events (past and future) as well as exhibitions hosted at our Museum, which is located in the Carmen Biase Center, 719 Main Street next to Borough Hall. If you want to learn fascinating facts about our coastal town, you will be able to search through our collection as our online archives expand.
Our Story
Captain Kidd’s Treasure
The earliest accounts of Bradley Beach can be traced back to 1679 when it is said that Captain William Kidd anchored his vessel off Duck Creek, now known as Sylvan Lake. By 1927, Bradley Beach had become a popular resort town.
Explore
Learn about the history of Bradley Beach, how it got its name and how the BBHS is collecting and preserving local historical data and artifacts for future generations.
Events
See what’s happening in and around Bradley Beach and add our events to your calendar. View photos and reviews of our past events.
Love Stories
“Under the Boardwalk,
Over the Moon”
The history of Bradley is full of sweet, salty, and sentimental stories of young love.
Gallery
See a visual history of New Jersey shore images; from vintage postcards to current day photos.
Membership
Join & Give
Join BBHS to ensure that all our cherished stories and those of early day-trippers, weekenders and seasonal residents are passed on to future generations.
Shop
BBHS Memorabilia
If you love Bradley Beach, you will want to add some of these fine items to your collection!
Don’t Miss
Bradley Love Stories
Lou & Sherry’s Love Story
Lou and I spent days sunbathing on the Brinley Avenue beach that was packed with teens. We would sing along with friends playing guitars or listen to a transistor radio.
A Love Story – Twice
We realized that we could always get to the city if we had to but it would be difficult to sell our Bradley Beach house full of memories and try to rent every summer. So here we are.
Helping Love Bloom in Bradley
The 50s were an idyllic romance with boys we loved for a week or so before one or the other of us moved on to the someone sitting on the next blanket.