History
We hope that by helping to tell the stories of Springwood Avenue, we can bring attention to the importance of preserving its legacy and celebrating its importance to the city of Asbury Park, New Jersey.
The pages of this site, as well as our Videos, Blog, and Digital Museum, celebrate the People and Places of Springwood Avenue, particularly the extraordinary musical culture that developed there over the years.
The Story of Springwood Avenue
Springwood Avenue has been called the 'Main Street' of Asbury Park's west side community.
Springwood Avenue’s rich musical history dates back to the turn of the twentieth century. Framed within the popular genres of gospel, jazz, and rhythm and blues, Springwood thrived as an enclave of African-American musical expression.
Throughout the streets on any given night, from one of the many famous clubs that dotted its strip, listeners could hear the musical sounds of not only icons such as Billie Holiday, Ella Fitzgerald, Duke Ellington, and Count Basie. But these clubs were only the start of a larger musical springboard that expanded throughout the entire West Side, with local musicians serenading the rest of the town from their backyard to their front porch.
Although clubs like the Orchid Lounge and the Turf Club have long closed their doors, the music of Springwood and the impact of its cultural narrative still permeate the music scene.
Through a collection of oral histories, photographs, and sound recordings, visitors can continue to enjoy the rich history and the contributions of the African-American community as they created a unique musical space within Asbury Park.
