Bergerville Bungalow Colony - Howell, NJ 1930's through 1960's

Bergerville Bungalow Colony was run by Dr. Isidore Berger and his wife Augustus "Gussie" from the 1930's through the 1960's when their caretaker son, Arthur was killed in an automobile accident on the corner of US Route 9 and Bergerville Road in 1966. During it' hey over 100 families, mostly Jewish families from the NYC's five boroughs, escaped the heat of summer in the city and took a small bungalowfor less than $500 for the entire season. The resort consisted of bungalows of all shapes and sizes, a "commissary," where snacks and notions were available in addition to pinball machines and ping pong tables; a day camp with a main building and a separate arts and crafts building, a well as some ball fields; a "casino," or clubhouse where shows and other larger scale events were held; and a very large swimming pool - perhaps the largest in Monmouth and Ocean Counties, at that time.

This video was ripped from some 8mm home movies provided by the LeVine family of Monmouth County. The LeVines and several of their relatives spent their summers at Bergerville. Mr. and Mrs. Levine actually met there, both at age 15. They spent 62 years of marriage, before Erwin LeVine passed away in 2007. The video was placed here by their son, Marc D. LeVine. He lives in and is a Councilman in Freehold Borough, NJ. Please bear with the non-Bergerville scenes included here. To help you, here is a breakdown of each scene:

Scene 1 - Mother (Sally LeVine) and infant Sister (Desly) and maternal gradparents (Ben & Pearl Shapiro) at Bergerville during the summer of 1950.

Scene 2 - Infant Sister (Desly) an maternal grandfather (Ben Shapiro) at Bergerville in Summer of 1950.

Scene 3 - Mom, Dad (Ed - filming) and Sister (Desly) at Wiliamburg, Va. Circa 1960. I stayed home, sick, with grandparents.

Scene 4 - Radio City Music Hall in NYC. Circa 1960.

Scene 5 - 1965 Freehold Boro Memorial Da Parade. Sister (Desly) played Glockenspeil for FBHS Marching Band. Note Tank on Main Street. No longer is permitted.

Scene 6 - Sister (Desly) FBHS Prom circa 1966. Filmed at family home on Taylor's Mills Rd in Manalapan.

Scene 7 - Visiting paternal Aunt Fae in Queens, NY. Pictured are Mom, Dad (filmed), Desly, ME, our Dog (Foo-Foo) and paternal grandparents (Max & Sara Levine)

Scene 8 - BERGERVILLE. Showtime parade from camp grounds to Casino (clubhouse). This was a youth production of "Annie Get Your Gun." I am the little, skinny cowboy pointing the gun and also dancing on stage.

Scene 9 - Sturbridge Mass Family Trip. Mom, Desly, Dad (filmed) and me.

Scene 10 - BERGERVILLE. At Bergerville Day Camp, me playing ball with other campers, in the pool with Desly, Riding my Trike, sitting on Mom's lap and feeding the ducks!

Category:

People & Blogs

Tags:

• Bergerville
• Bungalow
• Bungalows
• Colony
• resort
• LeVine

[stffgpr2003]

The video opens with Sally & Desly LeVine (infant) and grandparents Ben & Pearl Shapiro. Towards the end are Bergerville Day Camp Parades and Marc LeVine as a child playing near family bungalow.

[stffgpr2003]

Join the Bergerville Facebook Group by typing Bergerville into the Search Box. Meet former summer residents and Berger family members!

[iBenddHD]

Hello, Just wanted to say thank you for sharing this great video. I've lived in Howell all my life and have trraveled all around the towns, some roads more than others. This was a nice trip down memory lane. Thanks again, :)

[pontiacgtoguy]

Thnx for posting the video. I am a recent resident of Howell and noticed the abaondoned bungalows on Bergerville road. I was always curious about them. I noticed and abaondoned grocery store on the property. I assume that was active when the colony was open. I noticed recently someone is rebuilding the old store. Also noticed there was an old Plymouth Baracuda on the property. Do you know who owns the property now?