Philadelphia Company House
Did you know that the southern tip of LBI, what is now Holgate, was home to one of the first hotels on the island?
A boarding hotel called the Philadelphia Company House was managed by Captain Joseph Horner. It was formerly Horner's own place. He was so well known that the entire end of the island was originally called Horner's Beach.
This article in the Beach Haven Times, published approximately 1998, by John Bailey Lloyd, local historian and author of many books about Long Beach Island and the surrounding area. Many of John Bailey Lloyd's books are available for purchase and research in the museum.
As early as the American Revolution, Philadelphians, and others were known to travel to both Tucker's and Long Beach during the summer months. At the south end of Long Beach, Joseph Horner took guests into his home as early as 1815. Seven years later, Horner sold his business to Philadelphia guests who formed the Philadelphia Company Boarding House. This resort was remodeled and turned into a first-class seaside hotel.
Excerpt from Long Beach Island - NJ.Gov
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Lloyd Jones later bought the Philadelphia Boarding House in 1847 and soon afterwards abandoned it for larger quarters he built nearby. Thomas Bond bought the expanded hotel in 1851 and renamed it the Long Beach House.
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In 1822, the same year the original Philadelphia House opened, the Mansion of Health was constructed at the present site of Surf City.
By 1823, Long Beach was firmly established as a seaside resort with two large hotels with many more to follow later in the century.
Excerpt fro Long Beach Island - NJ.Gov
For easier reading, click the link below for the transcribed article.
The original newspaper article, and many more, can be found in a binder in the museum with newspaper articles by John Bailey Lloyd showcasing the history of hotels on Long Beach Island.
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