History - United States Lifesaving Association Monmouth County Chapter

A Historical Perspective of Ocean Lifeguarding in
Monmouth County, New Jersey
by:Michael “Spike” Fowler, Lifeguard Supervisor, Monmouth County Park System

The Graveyard of the Atlantic. That was how New Jersey was described in the Nineteenth Century as its shoreline became host to an estimated 5,000 shipwrecks. The real story of ocean rescue begins in New Jersey in 1849 with the establishment of the United States Lifesaving Service – precursor to all lifeguarding efforts. However, these lifesavers did not swim to rescue victims nor did they sit watch over bathers from lifeguard stands during the summer months. But they did establish a record of safety and success and this was instrumental in developing the concept of “life guards”.

During the 1800’s people flocked to the shore by horse, wagon, rail, foot, and later by automobile, to enjoy the ocean and its benefits. Ocean bathing became highly fashionable and the surf offered ready escape from the heat, insects, and dust commonly found inland. There were no lifeguards in the early years and unfortunate victims were pulled out by the rip currents and drowned - their heavy woolen bathing suits made swimming difficult, if not impossible.

By the mid-1800’s, the time had come to protect the throngs of bathers. Thus life guarding was born in New Jersey, and emerges in three distinct eras.

Era I – Foundations: 1855 to 1904
If they were to attract vacationers, resort hotels recognized the need for protecting their guests. It was a way to promote their business and even the railroads advertised ocean safety, all in an attempt to entice passengers to travel from the city to the shore.

The earliest lifeguards in New Jersey were Constables of the Surf in Atlantic City, dating back to 1855. They were regular police officers who would change into beach gear for the bathing hours, 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM after which they would return to regular police duty.

Many of the early bather protection devices (circa 1865) were simply poles placed through the surf line and strung with ropes between them. Bathers during this era were particularly fond of hanging on to the seaweed covered ropes and “fanny dunking”. Ropes strung across the back poles, set parallel to the shore were designed to box bathers in and prevent them from being swept offshore.

In 1868, the New Excursion Hotel in Atlantic City advertised a contrivance known as Street’s Patented Lifelines for Safety and Amusement. It consisted simply of vertical lines hanging down from ropes stretched between the poles – bathers would dangle from the ropes in relative safety.

Both Ocean Grove and Atlantic City claim 1872 as the beginning of their lifeguard service. It is believed the early guards, or Bathing Masters, were volunteers rather than paid crews. They walked the beach on rough surf days, often with a life ring slung around their neck, working for tips. Legend has it one volunteer returned 48 cents to a man after heroically rescuing him. Upset by his mere 50 cent tip, the guard proclaimed he “could not accept more than a life was worth”.

Advertising continued to entice people to the shore. An 1877 ad by a New Jersey railroad line boasted, Life-lines, as a matter of course are entirely unnecessary and unknown, and the life-boats, which ride beyond the surf during the hours devoted to bathing seem to represent a useless precaution. Not withstanding this, the vigilance of their crews while thus hovering outside the multitude disporting in the breakers, presents a sense of security which their watchful care induces, and is at once inviting and reassuring to the weaker or more timid of the bathers in the surf.

Lifeguard crews in the southern shore area became paid services in the early 1890’s and the first full-time guards were hired in Atlantic City in 1892. Other cities soon followed and Asbury Park had lifeguarded beaches by 1896.

Era II - Development: 1900 to 1965
Shortly after the turn of the century, lifeguarding in New Jersey was well established with crews in Ocean Grove, Asbury Park, Atlantic City, Ocean City, the Wildwoods, and Cape May. Aside from patrol and rescue duties, lifeguards also played a role in offering medical assistance at the beach. Rising as the most popular seaside resort on the east coast, Atlantic City’s medical beach tents were established in 1904. Erected above large wooden platforms, guards and medical assistants tended to the masses. Some crews, like Cape May kept a full-time registered nurse on duty as an adjunct to the lifeguards.

Medical services didn’t help in 1916 as veteran Spring Lake lifeguards hauled a shark attack victim into their surfboat after he was fatally attacked off the Essex and Sussex Hotel beach. The continued shark attacks along the New Jersey Coast became one of the most newsworthy stories ever in the history of ocean bathing.

Lifeguards in this era became “crews” and took pride in their service. Competitions began and included contests in swimming and rowing. Equipment was refined and bathing rings transformed into rescue cans, cylinder shaped devices with cone “torpedo” end caps, and strung with ropes. The rescuer could now tow the float to the victim and swim them in. Their shape and construction, however, made them dangerous missiles in the water with their pointy ends and were known even to attract lightning.

Diamond cans developed as a safer lifeguard rescue device. Named for their shape, they were constructed from cork or balsa wood and covered with canvas. Rope strung around the perimeter gave the victim something to grab on to.

Paddleboards came from Hawaii to New Jersey in the 1930’s and a classic 1937 photo of the Cape May Beach Patrol pictures them with their 14’+ boards. Surfboats were especially popular patrol and rescue vessels and early postcard views confirm their popularity.

Canvas and leather belts with brass hardware became standard in this era. Worn loosely about the waist, they were used to tow rescue gear to victims. Rescue lines were often attached to the can so the rescuer and victim could be quickly pulled to shore. By the time the 1930’s rolled around most shore municipalities had lifeguard crews in place.

One New Jersey lifeguarding oddity was the practice of pole sitting. Lifeguards, most likely rookies were required to sit on top of the poles defining the bathing area. Youthful beach patrons were particularly adept at jumping on the ropes causing the poles to swing in attempts to dislodge the guard.

Era III - Modern Time: 1965 to Present
The third era is marked by significant improvements to lifeguarding standards of operation. Tourism had become such an important industry in Monmouth County that municipalities relied on quality lifeguard services to support the influx of visitors. It was bad public relations to have beachfront accidents. Crews became professional with standards of hiring and training as the United States Lifesaving Association took over certification from the American Red Cross. CPR and first aid certifications were added to the list of requirements for ocean lifeguards in Monmouth County. Hiring tests help assure government officials, patrons and beach managers their crews are competent swimmers and athletes.

Equipment became better, safer and faster. Bathing poles, last used in Ocean Grove in 1964, were replaced with foam line floats, precluding the large number of head and neck injuries, not to mention countless cuts and scrapes from the barnacle encrusted poles. Short lived manila ropes were replaced with bright colored polypropylene bathing lines.

Paddleboards, popularized in Monmouth County in the 1960’s, enabled skilled lifeguards to quickly reach offshore victims. Lightweight, inexpensive surf kayaks began to replace boats as favored exercise, patrol and rescue vessels. Metal, cork, and balsa rescue cans were replaced with bright colored and efficient rescue flotation devices (RFD’s) with molded handles and slings. Canvas and leather belts were replaced by low maintenance, ready-to-use slings.

Technology made inroads into the lifeguarding profession. From mechanized rescue jet skis to inflatable rescue boats (IRB’s), Monmouth County lifeguards are radio dispatched and often transported to emergencies by 4 wheel drive rescue trucks or all terrain vehicles. Crew’s are managed administratively with computer databases and budget spreadsheets.

Today, the USLA proactively promotes public education, beach safety, lifeguard certifications and professionalism. It provides its members with information on critical lifeguard issues such as skin cancer and health issues. Local, regional and national lifeguard competitions motivate crews to showcase their rescue skills.

Of course, no mention of lifeguarding in Monmouth County would be complete without tribute to Howard Rowland. Certainly the most legendary of all Monmouth County lifeguards, Rowland established his legacy from the 1930’s through his death in 1988, receiving dozens of citations during his career. While working as a fireman in Asbury Park and lifeguard in Belmar, he was credited with saving the lives of an estimated 6,000 victims. He made his first rescue at age 12 and was one of the first rescuers to the Morro Castle whose flaming hull came to rest off Convention Hall in Asbury Park. He single handedly rescued 19 victims in one storm and eventually made Ripley’s Believe it or Not as the oldest working lifeguard in America. Many lifeguard vets from Monmouth County well remember the respect, and sometimes fear Howard Rowland would strike when he came to “test your lifeguard skills”.

The Monmouth County Chapter of the United States Lifesaving Association has maintained an outstanding legacy of service to the public and has compiled a remarkable and enviable safety record. Our chapter takes pride in employing some of the finest lifeguards in the United States.

Monmouth County, New Jersey Lifeguard and Beach Facts:

There are an estimated 2,450 ocean lifeguards along the 127 miles of coastline in New Jersey.

Gateway National Recreation Area lifeguards at Sandy Hook are the only crew in Monmouth County to maintain the tradition of canvas and leather belts.

Monmouth County lifeguards are the only lifeguards in the United States that regularly use the “stand-up”, boating style of rowing surfboats.

The average hourly wage for a rookie lifeguard in 2003 in New Jersey was $8.06.

The term “bathing suit” comes from when early beach-goers wore their oldest “street” clothes for ocean swimming.

Most early bathing suits were made from wool. They were replaced in the 1940’s with rubber and nylon suits.

Hotels and bathhouses used to rent bathing suits.

Saltwater baths and bathing were and still are considered medicinal and beneficial; patrons often left the salt on their skin rather than shower.

Cape May Beach Patrol lifeguards were the last crew in New Jersey requiring uniform suit tops for men. The practice ended in the 1960’s.

Lifeguards in the Wildwoods patrolled their beaches on motorcycles with sidecars through the 1940’s.

Until the development of fiberglass “self-bailer” lifeguard boats, the basic design of the surfboat remained unchanged for about 100 years.

Finally, despite our high technology world, it is still possible to get rookie lifeguards to search for lengths of shoreline and keys to the oarlocks.

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