North Beach Haven History
After Beach Haven was established in 1874, many wished to copy the success of the small seaside resort. William Hewitt built the Waverly House and began to sell parcels of land just to the north of Beach Haven. He named the area Waverly Beach.
Hoping to attract more people to his area, Hewitt also played a role in influencing the railroad to come to Long Beach Island. Hewitt's friend, William Ringgold, built a second hotel in the area called the Dolphin Inn. When Waverly Beach did not see the success that Beach Haven earned, Ringgold started his own development of Spray Beach just to the North.
Although the name Waverly Beach did not remain, the influence of Hewitt's endeavor is still memorialized by Waverly Avenue, the section of Delaware Avenue that runs through North Beach Haven.
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