SEA GIRT INN
As rumor would have it, the Sea Girt Inn was named after Sea Girt, New Jersey, where Woodrow Wilson grew up. It is not so surprising when one considers the fact that a world traveler and former show-girl owned it, along with other members of her family.
Ida Van-Austin Kirk and her brother, LeRoy F. Scott, managed it after the death of their mother. Mr. Scott died in 1959 and Ida sold the holdings except for a small cottage which she called "The Rest". It was next to the Inn and was on the shore of Orchard Lake.
In its hey-day, the Sea Girt Inn was the most popular place for dancing, picnics, fishing, swimming and many other activities. It could boast of many fine orchestras on Saturday and Sunday nights and attracted people from several counties. Cedric Adams, of radio news casting fame, began his early career as a musician there, playing the drums.
In 1904, Ida Van Austin Kirk had gone to Europe and dance her way to fame in London, Paris and on the Riviera. Later she became a well known model. In 1914 she was persuaded to put her money into a company which later manufactured the Lewis Machine Gun. "I never knew there was so much money and it calling to me," she recalled.
Mrs. Kirk suffered financial reverses later and when her mother became ill, she returned to Minneapolis in 1930.
Ida Kirk was a flower in full bloom at one time and was so once was the Sea Girt Inn Resort. She died in 1967 almost unknown to any but a few close friends.
June Dille