while it has been an eye sore for some time now, why not come up with a plan to clean up RT 88 first. interestingly I drive by Traders Cove and see the County seems done with their portion of the site, but the rest remains a dump...our tax dollars at work. if they're really thinking of laying off anyone, why not start with the family friend that works down there and sits in the office all day ... doing ?

It is what I always refer to it as I drive past as a beautiful eye sore. Herberrtsville Rd. has been developed so much it is the way most people go to 70 and our beautiful beaches. It is a shame people coming here and living here see that as part of our beautiful town. I love this town and every year we
see it become cleaner and better taken care of, hope the same happens to Godfrey Lake.

I remember swimming there with my grandmother. I also went ice skating there every winter.

My neighbor gave me an aerial photograph of Herbertsville, pre-1920. It was just a tiny stream then. Gene Donetello has a copy. The dam at Herbertsville road is what holds the water back, other wise it would be a tidal stream.
One time a famous local (R.F.) threw one of his fathers hand grenades in and blew the boards out of the dam. It drained and stayed drained until the boards were replaced. It was practice for the HLA.

wonder why this came up now ? two words come to mind...eminent domain. if so, fortunately these past election results, threw a monkey wrench into any plans in the works.

I remember there was a healthy population of freshwater shiners there. I also remember when Mr. Streaser saved a kid who fell through the ice.

"No matter what, we have to find these heirs," Cipriani said.

For that search to take place, there could be a "significant cost," she added.

Everything that Gilmore & Monahan touch has significant cost

Blame the County of Ocean! It is their Dam, their Culvert, and their road (Herbertsville Road) that holds the water back to create the Lake. Take out the dam and it's a stream.

One old map calls it "Deep Brook Creek".

Check out this link on Eutrophication. It what has happened to the Mill Pond, and is happening to Godfrey Lake. http://www.scienceclarified.com/El-Ex/Eutrophication.html

Very interesting Mark Story Jenks. I only came to brick in the eighties but I would love to see godfrey flowing in its original state. Maybe the town should do like point beach did to lake of the lilies. They did a great job at cleaning and dredging the lake and reopened its natural springs that were covered in silt and trash. That is a key area of bricks history and should be treated as such.

I happen to know a dredge operator. (My Brother Jimmy) and a guy with a dredge who might give Brick or Ocean County a good price.

Who was the HLA? what does it stand for?

I would be very surprised if these heirs came forward with the threat of having to pay years of unpaid property taxes!

Mark, Heres a pretty cool site to look at histroic arials back to the 1930's, show Herbertsville pretty well

http://www.historicaerials.com/

Gloria, I do not support condemnation. I support cleanup. Tax the County for the Lake. The town will never get a cent towards taxes, that's absurd. But the lake is there at the blessing of the County.

Boland's lake. When my family moved to Herbertsville in 1957, this is one lake we swam in (the other being Lake Howard which is on South lake Drive). Anyway, Joe Boland and his wife (they lived on 5th Ave) I believe ran the concession stand there. it was always crowded and the raft (the 7 stakes which are still there) was always lots of fun. I will post pictures of kids on the raft later. The big deal was always if you could swim across the lake (but don't touch bottom cause you don't know what's there)! Great memories.

The only logical way to help the lake would be to drain it long enough to clean it out with excavators. Draining it is very easy. Ask R. F.

The whole ownership issue came about because there is a beaver problem in that lake. They have dammed up the lake and blocked the drainage systems. If we get a good soaking rain in the near future, the lake could run over. Before all you animal lovers go on the attack, you should know that beavers cut BIG trees, and they WILL end up in the lake. If the cat fighting continues, everyone will have a free lakefront view!

I am not a long time resident here but I love walking around the lake every evening. All the people around here have a connection to the lake. Every spring the neighbors get together & clean up around & yes we do it with out billing the township for our time, we do it to care for our neighborhood. Wouldnt it be nice if local government tried something new and actually helped its neighbors? Nobody has been concerned for the taxes on that lake for many years but I bet many many children caught their first fish there, I am sure many parents taught their kids about swans, fish & the oldays when they spent time out side in the summer talking to people.
I am sure there would be enough neighborhood volenteers to help. Repairing the dirt bridge in the middle can be a great boy scout project I am sure there are enough elements to earn several young men egal badges.Land laws, engineering, ecology, responsibility. Godfrey Lake only needs the first caring politician to organize things & lead the way . . . the rest of us neighbors will sure help . . I'm in!!!

See here about Muskrats. http://www.encyclopedia.com/topic/muskrat.aspx

I hope they find an heir, and do not give the property to the town nor do i wish for they themselves to turn around fill it with dirt and build houses on it. If the town gets a hold of this they will build more glorified projects in its place. The people of this neighborhood enjoy the serenity the lake brings, the quietness, the wildlife, the people, and most of all the privacy. Don't let this be lost.

I like Lonna remember swimmimg in the lake as a kid. . I still am in the neighborhood and enjoy walking around the lake with my dog.

Uh Oh somebody's interested in finding out who owns Godfrey's? Guess somebody wants to fill it in and build McMansions on it. Ya know the Brick thing to do.

My family live up on one end of the lake and they had 2 horses in their back yard for decades. The lake shold be cleaned up and dredged out. Every 50 years the clean up takes place in Lake Riviera. I agree, these are Brick's little Pinelands, lets help preserve them.

In my opinion, here is how to help the lake: 1. Raise lots of money. 2. Pull the boards and drain it. 3. Muck it out. 4. Put the boards back.
That is the only feasible way to really help the lake. I know the fish populations will have to start all over again, but somebody can figure out how to mitigate and/or hasten that process. Same for the frogs. Get rid of the Snapping Turtles, they eat baby ducks.

I didn't live in Brick then, but I remember the lake during the mid 70's, the sandy lakeside beach would be full of people, as well as a bunch of kids out on the platform enjoying the summer.

Sounds like a job for the HLA Corp of Engineers.
Step 1. Blow up dam
Step 2. Dig out spoils leaving a large and deep hole.
Step 3. Insert majority of Saw Mill population into said hole then cap, cover and flood.
Step 4. Turn waters over to HLA Navy for defense purposes.

"Cipriani said whomever owns the lake could be responsible for years of unpaid property taxes."
I'm surprised it wasn't just sold at a tax sale years ago, then.

Tax map sheet 66.03 shows block 1234 as 8.51 acres. Godfrey or Boland's Lake.

Mr. Jenks, I've been involved in beaver removal with Fish & wildlife for some time now. We've removed several beavers from problem areas in Ocean County this year. For you to state that there are no beavers around here proves your credibility; Out of 48 comments on this lake issue, 23 of them are yours.

Yeah, thats right. But I'm a man of my word. Meet me, show me, get the money.

Meez, there are plenty of people who will vouch for my credibility. If I'm wrong, I'll pay up. Heading there now.

Guess what, Meez. I spent a good deal of time there today. And I saw compelling evidence in your favor. No actual Beaver sited, but evidence none the less. And I still have the money on me, when you're ready.
I'm very sorry if you took it personally, It just sounded so absurd to me. We have never seen them here before.

Most assuredly! On me, of course.
Do you suppose they are going back and forth to the Mill Pond through the storm sewers?

Regarding someone's concern that the township is trying to condemn the lake. If the township "condemned" the lake doesn't that mean they can get title and then remedy the problem. I remember seeing people on the swim platform on the way to the beach in the 70's. With the recent grim reports regarding NJ's river's I wonder if dredging it would make a difference.

"Perhaps a non-political 'Friends of Godfrey Lake' entity should be formed to raise private donations, locate the heirs, get title to the property, and restore and maintain the property. Whatever government permits are required should be obtained, but government, politicians, and tax money should not be involved. Make it a 'People's Park' by offering memberships and soliciting donations and volunteer labor. It is something to consider."

To all the knuckel heads out there,who question Mark Story Jenks; ,he is an herbertsville historian,who,s family has lived here for generations.i grew up on lake Howard,1 of 2 lakes that feed into the back of boland lake.all the lakes were created by the county for the fire department,a water source in case of a fire.fire hydrants did not exist in brick before 1980.