Harvey Cedars Bible Conference
Encyclopedia
Harvey Cedars Bible Conference is a building complex of the Presbyterian denomination, in Harvey Cedars, New Jersey
, including a hotel
, a dock
and sport
facilities.
since the early 1940s (although it was first called Harvey Cedars Presbyterian Bible Conference).
Presbyterian minister Jack Murray purchased the old hotel, which was abandoned for around 10 years, and converted it into Harvey Cedars Presbyterian Bible Conference. After around 10 years of directing the conference, Jack left the operations to Al Oldham. The name was changed to Harvey Cedars Bible Conference by 1949 while Jack Murray was still involved, and was run by Al until the mid-90's when the director position was passed on to his son, Jon Oldham.
Originally a small one story hotel started in the 1830s for fishermen and hunters, it was expanded throughout the 19th century to a two story. A large renovation, completed in 1903, led to the three-story structure which was kept rather similar until the late 1990s when sections of it were gutted and rebuilt, out of style with the original Victorian architecture
.
In 1949/1950, a separate chapel was built on the property. Stained glass
windows purchased from the Engleside Hotel
in Beach Haven
(built in the 1870s, and torn down during World War II
) were used in the new chapel. These windows were, with the exception of two sashes, completely removed years later after years of damage from the high winds. Two of the old sashes remained in the bookstore, off the chapel, until around 2003 when they were also removed.
The HCBC complex also contains a modern hotel, a 1960s motel-style building, separate dining hall, a dock and elevated bayside deck, tennis courts, an indoor heated swimming pool, an indoor hot tub, a gymnasium, volleyball court, and soccer fields.
The summers feature week long Family Weeks and Teen Weeks. The rest of the year is filled with weekend retreats for different organizations, including at least one retreat which brings in hundreds from other countries.
The former bar, (which during the first days of Harvey Cedars Bible Presbyterian Conference served as a lounge, and during the 1980s and 1990s served as the staff lounge, was rebuilt as office space containing 4 rooms around 1996/1997 (several years later the porch on the north end of the former bar was also altered for further office space). The decorative steel ceiling may have been removed—it was at least covered by a drop ceiling. This bar originally contained one of a set of matching decorative fireplaces completed in 1903 after the major renovation.
The matching decorative fireplace in the former South Lounge was removed around 2004 when the South Lounge was completely remodeled. The decorative, functional south porches were also removed, on the first floor to extend former South lounge into needed meeting rooms. On the 2nd and 3rd floor, the former porches were replaced mostly by a concrete block fire-proof stairwell.
The former dining room (which has served as the main lounge since the 1940s) has been kept mostly original. All the exterior old windows were replaced, but the decorative embossed-steel walls and ceiling are still present. This room originally had gas light fixtures which were removed long ago. The pocket doors on the south side were covered, but are still in the walls.
Also on the first floor, the former "Woman's Lounge" during the Hotel days (which served as the "Game Room" during the early Harvey Cedar's Bible (Presbyterian) Conference days, followed by living quarters for staff in the 1990s) was gutted and converted into modern bathrooms around 2004.
On the North side of the hotel the old back stairway which extended from the first floor (former kitchen) to the attic was removed. A concrete block fire-proof stairwell was added to the north and south side to adhere to New Jersey fire code.
On the 2nd floor, many guest rooms were gutted and renovated. Some restrooms were also gutted and renovated.
All other historic hotels of the same size located on the island have long since been destroyed.
For more old photographs of the old hotel, see Harvey Cedars Hotel
and Camp Whelen
as they occupied the same building during different eras.
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
, including a hotel
Hotel
A hotel is an establishment that provides paid lodging on a short-term basis. The provision of basic accommodation, in times past, consisting only of a room with a bed, a cupboard, a small table and a washstand has largely been replaced by rooms with modern facilities, including en-suite bathrooms...
, a dock
Dock (maritime)
A dock is a human-made structure or group of structures involved in the handling of boats or ships, usually on or close to a shore.However, the exact meaning varies among different variants of the English language...
and sport
Sport
A Sport is all forms of physical activity which, through casual or organised participation, aim to use, maintain or improve physical fitness and provide entertainment to participants. Sport may be competitive, where a winner or winners can be identified by objective means, and may require a degree...
facilities.
History
Harvey Cedars Bible Conference has occupied the former, historic Harvey Cedars HotelHarvey Cedars Hotel
Harvey Cedars Hotel is the last remaining historic hotel of its size located on Long Beach Island, NJ in the town of Harvey Cedars . It was begun in the 1830s as a fishing and hunting hotel on the then, scarcely-inhabited Long Beach Island.Originally a small hotel, it was built expanded in the...
since the early 1940s (although it was first called Harvey Cedars Presbyterian Bible Conference).
Presbyterian minister Jack Murray purchased the old hotel, which was abandoned for around 10 years, and converted it into Harvey Cedars Presbyterian Bible Conference. After around 10 years of directing the conference, Jack left the operations to Al Oldham. The name was changed to Harvey Cedars Bible Conference by 1949 while Jack Murray was still involved, and was run by Al until the mid-90's when the director position was passed on to his son, Jon Oldham.
Originally a small one story hotel started in the 1830s for fishermen and hunters, it was expanded throughout the 19th century to a two story. A large renovation, completed in 1903, led to the three-story structure which was kept rather similar until the late 1990s when sections of it were gutted and rebuilt, out of style with the original Victorian architecture
Victorian architecture
The term Victorian architecture refers collectively to several architectural styles employed predominantly during the middle and late 19th century. The period that it indicates may slightly overlap the actual reign, 20 June 1837 – 22 January 1901, of Queen Victoria. This represents the British and...
.
In 1949/1950, a separate chapel was built on the property. Stained glass
Stained glass
The term stained glass can refer to coloured glass as a material or to works produced from it. Throughout its thousand-year history, the term has been applied almost exclusively to the windows of churches and other significant buildings...
windows purchased from the Engleside Hotel
Engleside Hotel
Engleside Hotel was one of the most decorative and beautiful Victorian hotels that once stood on Engleside Avenue in Beach Haven , New Jersey...
in Beach Haven
Beach Haven, New Jersey
Beach Haven is a Borough in Ocean County, New Jersey in the United States. The borough is located on Long Beach Island and borders the Atlantic Ocean...
(built in the 1870s, and torn down during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
) were used in the new chapel. These windows were, with the exception of two sashes, completely removed years later after years of damage from the high winds. Two of the old sashes remained in the bookstore, off the chapel, until around 2003 when they were also removed.
The HCBC complex also contains a modern hotel, a 1960s motel-style building, separate dining hall, a dock and elevated bayside deck, tennis courts, an indoor heated swimming pool, an indoor hot tub, a gymnasium, volleyball court, and soccer fields.
Current Ministry
The Bible Conference has a long history of Biblically-oriented ministries and vacations for families and people of all ages and ethnicities.The summers feature week long Family Weeks and Teen Weeks. The rest of the year is filled with weekend retreats for different organizations, including at least one retreat which brings in hundreds from other countries.
Renovations
Changing times, expectations for improved accommodations and guest amenities led to decisions to renovate in the 1990s, up to the present time.The former bar, (which during the first days of Harvey Cedars Bible Presbyterian Conference served as a lounge, and during the 1980s and 1990s served as the staff lounge, was rebuilt as office space containing 4 rooms around 1996/1997 (several years later the porch on the north end of the former bar was also altered for further office space). The decorative steel ceiling may have been removed—it was at least covered by a drop ceiling. This bar originally contained one of a set of matching decorative fireplaces completed in 1903 after the major renovation.
The matching decorative fireplace in the former South Lounge was removed around 2004 when the South Lounge was completely remodeled. The decorative, functional south porches were also removed, on the first floor to extend former South lounge into needed meeting rooms. On the 2nd and 3rd floor, the former porches were replaced mostly by a concrete block fire-proof stairwell.
The former dining room (which has served as the main lounge since the 1940s) has been kept mostly original. All the exterior old windows were replaced, but the decorative embossed-steel walls and ceiling are still present. This room originally had gas light fixtures which were removed long ago. The pocket doors on the south side were covered, but are still in the walls.
Also on the first floor, the former "Woman's Lounge" during the Hotel days (which served as the "Game Room" during the early Harvey Cedar's Bible (Presbyterian) Conference days, followed by living quarters for staff in the 1990s) was gutted and converted into modern bathrooms around 2004.
On the North side of the hotel the old back stairway which extended from the first floor (former kitchen) to the attic was removed. A concrete block fire-proof stairwell was added to the north and south side to adhere to New Jersey fire code.
On the 2nd floor, many guest rooms were gutted and renovated. Some restrooms were also gutted and renovated.
All other historic hotels of the same size located on the island have long since been destroyed.
For more old photographs of the old hotel, see Harvey Cedars Hotel
Harvey Cedars Hotel
Harvey Cedars Hotel is the last remaining historic hotel of its size located on Long Beach Island, NJ in the town of Harvey Cedars . It was begun in the 1830s as a fishing and hunting hotel on the then, scarcely-inhabited Long Beach Island.Originally a small hotel, it was built expanded in the...
and Camp Whelen
Camp Whelen
Camp Whelen, a Christian summer camp for young girls, was founded in the early 1920s after the former Harvey Cedars Hotel was purchased by the Philadelphia YWCA....
as they occupied the same building during different eras.