The historic Grenville Hotel & Restaurant, affectionately known as the “Victorian Jewel of the Jersey Shore,” was honored on 4 October with my Leisa Collins Historic Preservation Award, recognizing the continued preservation and stewardship of one of Bay Head’s most distinctive architectural landmarks. I was honored to present the award to Grenville owners Harry and Maureen Typaldos for their commitment to maintaining this treasured piece of Bay Head history.
New Bay Head Painting Collection
The Grenville painting also marks the beginning of my collection of architectural portraits devoted to Bay Head. While in Bay Head, I began work to select subjects to be part of my collection highlighting its historic homes, buildings and distinctive streetscapes. Through these paintings, I plan to shine a broader spotlight on Bay Head’s architectural heritage and its historic prominence not only within New Jersey, but as part of America’s architectural story.
Bay Head has an extraordinary architectural identity that has been carefully preserved through generations and The Grenville seemed the perfect place to begin this new collection. My goal is to capture some of the buildings and scenes that make Bay Head so special and, through my paintings, help bring greater attention to the importance of preserving them.
My introduction to Bay Head was last July when I visited the borough to tour the L. Ron Hubbard House on East Avenue. I was extremely impressed with it’s meticulous restoration. While in the area I made a point of seeing the Grenville Hotel—the “Victorian Jewel of the Jersey Shore”—and was immediately struck by its distinctive architecture, vibrant character, and wonderful presence in the community,” she said.
Historic buildings are far more than beautiful structures. They tell the story of a community and connect us with the people and generations who came before us. The Grenville is such an important part of the character of Bay Head, and I wanted to recognize Harry and Maureen for their stewardship of this wonderful landmark.
The Grenville Hotel, located at 345 Main Avenue in Bay Head, is instantly recognizable for its colorful Victorian character and has long been an important part of the architectural identity of the borough. Bay Head itself is renowned for its remarkable collection of late 19th- and early 20th-century architecture.
History of The Grenville
The Grenville Hotel and Restaurant on Barnegat Island is situated on land purchased by Anna Nunemaker for $400 in 1886. The hotel dates back to 1890 and was built by Wycoff Applegate, the builder of the iconic Bay Head Yacht Club.
In 1922, the hotel was sold to Nellie Georgette who renamed it the Georgette Hotel until 1945 when it was sold to The Grenville Corporation. A fire destroyed the Grenville Arms located on the same block, and The Georgette was re-named The Grenville. In 1956, the Spurgat Family purchased the building. It continued its journey as a Summer Hotel, where many fond memories of summer vacations at The Grenville were created. In 1987, the building was given new life when purchased by Joseph P. Milza of the Renault Winery. It took a year to renovate it into a stunning hotel with twenty nine rooms, including five suites, private showers, central air and heat, and the only elevator in Bay Head.
In November of 2003, the current owners were looking for an ocean front beach house. They saw a photo of the building online and fell in love with it! On their first visit for lunch, they decided to purchase the Grenville. On April 7th, 2004, just a few days before Easter, they took over The Grenville. Numerous improvements and modern touches continue to be made for their guests comfort.
The Leisa Collins Historic Preservation Award was founded in 2013 as a way to recognize individuals and organizations throughout the United States who devote their time and resources to preserving historic buildings and protecting America’s architectural heritage. To date, 15 awards have been presented in communities across the country.
To learn more about the Leisa Collins Historic Preservation Award
See media article about the presentation in the Ocean Star Newspaper.
