Stone Pony Art Keepsake
If our assumptions are correct, and we hope they are, a big congratulations to the iconic Stone Pony in Asbury Park for becoming the 39th addition to the New Jersey Historic Wooden Village Keepsake collection. These wood-on-art keepsakes are limited edition productions made by the world-famous Cat’s Meow Village in Wooster, Ohio. An artist’s rendering will be on the front, and the venue’s history will be on the back. You put it on a shelf and stare at it all day! But we have an issue. What should be added to the two venue signs? Enter the contest to decide what makes the marquee. You might even win one of the keepsakes from the inaugural run.
Here’s how our artist rendering is coming along……. think it captures the essence of this iconic Jersey music venue? The front is a collection of historic performances and moments and the back will include the overall history of the Asbury Park icon. If successful, more Asbury Park collectible keepsakes may be in the works for the beloved “Asbury on the Shore!”
The Mr. Local History non-profit is promoting Asbury Park history and the Stone Pony venue via our MLH keepsake project, and we hope the community will strongly support interest in the area’s history. The idea was made possible as the site was nominated to the 501c3 non-profit Mr. Local History Project by Brooks Betz, a Trustee and one of our researchers who’s also a board member. The keepsakes bring awareness to historical icons across New Jersey as Betz hopes that this venue will be nominated to the State and National Registries of Historic Places (a complicated process). The group is a non-profit 501c that relies on fundraisers like this to expand our history programs, so every time you grow your collection, you’re supporting our non-profit efforts to recommend new historical icons to the collection.
The Stone Pony, located in Asbury Park, New Jersey, is one of the most iconic music venues in the United States. It opened its doors in 1974, during a period when Asbury Park was known for its vibrant nightlife and thriving local music scene synonymous with the “Asbury Sound,” a unique blend of rock, rhythm and blues, and soul that defined the local music culture.
Opened in 1974 by John P. “Jack” Roig and Robert “Butch” Pielka, the two transformed a failed restaurant called Mrs. Jay’s. Conceived as a bar and nightclub, the venue quickly became a haven for emerging talent and local musicians. The venue was supposedly named after a woman’s shirt with horses on it, said owner Jack Roig. The Stone Pony’s early days saw a mix of rock, blues, and other genres, creating a space that embraced the eclectic spirit of the Jersey Shore.
The Stone Pony gained widespread fame in the late 1970s and early 1980s as a launchpad for local artists who would achieve international success. Most notably, Bruce Springsteen, who was born and raised in Freehold, New Jersey, first played at The Stone Pony in 1974 and made frequent unannounced appearances at the venue, often performing with the E Street Band.
Over the decades, the Stone Pony has weathered various challenges, including economic downturns and threats of closure. Despite these hurdles, it has remained a cornerstone of Asbury Park’s cultural identity. Renovations and revitalization efforts in the 1990s and early 2000s helped preserve its legacy. Madison Marquette owned the Stone Pony for its 50th anniversary in 2024.
#39 in the New Jersey Historical Keepsake Village Collection
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