National Park’s Beach Hill …..

In the early 1900s the Beach Hill area of National Park was known as “Little Atlantic City” by many of the Philadelphians who vacationed here.

This recreational beach was owned by the National Park Amusement Company. This area is up river on the Woodbury Creek where the National Park Boat Club was eventually incorporated.

In the 1900's people arrived on a paddle wheel steamer boat known as The Appledore in National Park, NJ to relax, swim ,and frolic at Beach Hill. This paddle boat took people from the National Park Pier at Beach Hill back to Camden or Philadelphia. The Appledore could hold at least three hundred fifty passengers. The ride on the Appledore cost ten cents for a one way ride. Mass transit changed all that with cars, planes and trains in route to the Jersey Shore.

The actual boat name was not The National Park nor was it The Appledore . As many of the steamer paddle boats were made in Appledore Maine – it is likely the reason why it was called so.

The picture below of the people swimming was taken at Beach Hill in 1905.

The picture of the steam paddle wheel is not a true copy of the original. Someone altered it to say 'National Park' below the wheel.

The historian said that there was not a paddle wheel boat given that name. He is looking for the original so I can scan it again and also the date and true name. I will send it as soon as I get it.

I hope these pictures and information are helpful to your site.

Yours in Boating Safely,

Mayor Patricia M. Koloski

National Park , NJ