At this time there were 172 acres in the tract proper, 154 acres bought of Mrs. A. S. Brinley and 18 acres of the Westray estate. Work was commenced at once; underbrush removed from about ten acres; two avenues partly opened; a pavilion built; seats arranged for camp ground; thirty camp meeting cottages erected and a hotel commenced; a wharf erected, and yachts and hacks chartered to take visitors to and fro. In August a camp meeting was held; on the 20th of August one hundred lots were sold, bringing $10,000, all of which went for improvements.

The Pennsylvania Railroad built a branch from their main line from Camden to Seaside Park to Island Heights in the Summer of 1883.

Island Heights takes its name from two sources; it originally was an island and vessels once sailed through a channel which existed on the north side. It is situated by a steep bluff sixty feet above the river. It was originally known as Dr. Johnson's island, being included in the patent granted to him in 1680. The next century it was known as Dillon's island, so called before the Revolution, probably for James Dillon, a somewhat prominent man about Toms River. It came into possession of John Imlay of Allentown, who, in 1794, sold it to Isaac Gulick. In 1797 Isaac Gulick and wife Abigail sold it to Abraham and George Parker. In 1799 they sold it to Abel Middleton of Upper Freehold.

A saw-mill was built on the stream from Long swamp, which in 1760 and thereabouts, was known as Jacob Jacobs' saw-mill.

Tradition says that during the Revolution Indian Tom had his wigwam on what is now Island Heights.

At the time of the whites first coming to this part of New Jersey, the vicinity of Island Heights was a resort for the Indians and they left behind them a memento which was noted among the whites for perhaps a century. This was the resemblance of the face of some large creature on the south side of a huge whiteoak which was two feet in diameter, cut by the Indians; the tree was also marked on other sides. The location of this tree is thus described in a survey for 189 acres, to Ebenezer Applegate, made in 1750; his beginning corner is described as "one chain northeast from Dr. Johnson's Long Swamp, the stream whereof runs into Toms River at the end of Dr. Johnson's Island, beginning at a whiteoak near two feet through, marked in several places and on the south side with the resemblance of the face of some large creature, supposed to have been done formerly by the Indians."

This whiteoak must have stood near the north-west corner of the island. This tree is referred to as late as 1793, in a survey of Kenneth Hankinson and Matthew Howell.

If this curious face was made with reference to the religious belief and worship of the Indians, as it probably was, it is suggestive of the great contrast between the worship at Island Heights now and at the same place two centuries ago.

The capital of the Island Heights Association was increased in April, 1880, when $21,000 was added to the original amount.

The Island Heights Hotel Association was incorporated January 19, 1888. Capital $50,000. Incorporators, Thomas D. Dilkes, Mary Tudor, William F. Lodge, John F. Vogle, Jr., and Howard D. Vansant.

The corner-stone of the First Methodist Episcopal Church of Island Heights was laid August 29, 1882. The ceremonies were conducted by Rev. J. B. Graw, assisted by Revs. A. Lawrence, S. Thackera, J. O'Hara and John Simpson.

The church was dedicated August 17, 1884. Rev. W. W. Moffit, presiding elder, preached the sermon, Rev. Joseph Sawn was the pastor.

The edifice was thirty by fifty feet, surmounted by a cupola. It seated three hundred persons and the Sunday School room attached, seated one hundred.

It is probable that the pioneers of Methodism visited our county within a very few years after the principles of the society were first proclaimed in America, and that occasionally some preacher would hold forth in one of the free churches, in school houses or in private houses, possibly as early as 1774. Rev. William Watters, the first itinerant of American birth, was stationed in our State in 1774, and it is possible that he and the noted Capt. Thomas Webb, of Pemberton, (then New Mills,) may have visited this section. That zealous, self-sacrificing minister of the Gospel, Rev. Benjamin Abbott, is the first preacher who speaks positively of visiting this vicinity, though before his visit which was in 1778, it is probable that some if not all the following named, may have preached here, viz: Capt. Thomas Webb, Revs. Philip Gatch, Caleb B. Pedicord, Wm. Watters, John King, Daniel Ruff and Wm. Duke. From that time up to the year 1800, the names of preachers assigned to this part of the State is given in the "History of Methodism in New Jersey." During the first thirty years of the present century, among the most noted preachers in this section were Revs. Sylvester and Robert Hutchinson, Ezekiel Cooper, Charles Pitman and Geo. A. Raybold. Rev. William Watters, above mentioned as the first itinerant of American birth, who was located in our State in 1774, published in 1807 an account of his labors here and elsewhere.

The first Methodist Episcopal Church at Toms River was built in 1828, and dedicated in the month of November of that year. Revs. B. Weed and J. McLaurin were the preachers on the circuit, which was then a part of Pemberton circuit. The building was 24 by 30 feet, with one aisle and open back seats. It was never painted and had but one coat of plaster. It cost $740.78. It was free for anybody of orthodox Christians to worship in, when not occupied by the Methodists. The building was situated on Hooper Avenue, in the graveyard, opposite the present location of the church. After thirty years of service as a house of worship, it was moved to the north-west corner of Hooper Avenue and Water street, where it now stands, and is occupied as a dwelling.