Long Beach Island: Those Who by Strive Joseph John Mezlo

The two books in this epic tale span the four-hundred-year saga of life on Long Beach Island, from its Native American roots to the COVID pandemic. Multi-generational family stories are blended with national, worldwide, and storm events that shape the destiny of those living on this fragile barrier island. Throughout the story, the reader is introduced to Indians, whalers, patriots, murderers, thieves, entrepreneurs, rum-runners, suffragettes, politicians, scoundrels, and visionaries.

Long Beach Island: Those Who Strive is the follow-on book to Long Beach Island: Those Who Dare. Those Who Strive starts in the early nineteen hundreds after two centuries of steadily increasing human presence on the island have seen the demise of the native Lenape population, the rise and fall of a shore whaling enterprise, an influx of new residents, and the nascent development of Long Beach Island as a vacation destination and sportsman’s paradise. Two World Wars, economic disasters, hurricanes, disease, and shark attacks present challenges to the island’s residents.

 Gradually, younger members of the core families begin to leave the island to seek better opportunities. They keep in touch with those remaining on the island and visit frequently. A rebirth of interest in the island is blunted as, once again, residents deal with a devastating storm and a pandemic.