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Community Corner

2014 Weekend In Old Monmouth

FREEHOLD, NJ – The annual
“Weekend in Old Monmouth” event returns with 45 historic sites
throughout Monmouth County opening their doors to visitors interested
in local history. Hours for most sites are from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on
Saturday, May 3 and from noon to 5 p.m. Sunday,
May 4.



“Weekend in Old Monmouth
is a wonderful event for anyone interested in history and
architecture,” said Freeholder Director Lillian G. Burry, liaison
to the County’s Historical Commission, coordinator of the weekend
event. “The sites on the tour are generally operated independently
of one another, but this special tour project coordinates the hours
of operation at several locations so history buffs can travel by
foot, bicycle or car to enjoy and take in many of the county’s rich
historic places all in one weekend.”



“The tour includes 45
sites and each illustrates a piece of local history,” said John
Fabiano, executive director of the Historical Commission. “The
outlined tours help put the pieces together by theme or geography.
Tour visitors can see the places in any order of their own selection.
The proposed starting points are just suggestions for those who may
be seeking guidance.”

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You can start planning your
route by previewing the tour sites on the County’s website at
www.visitmonmouth.com.
After April 15, a detailed tour book and tour map will be available
on the Monmouth County website at www.visitmonmouth.com.
On the tour dates, each tour stop will also have maps and booklets
available.


The tours
also represent several historic themes:

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  • Shore: While the tour
    includes sites on the north, (Sandy Hook), central (Ocean Grove) and
    southern shores, (National Guard Militia Museum) the drive along the
    shore is one of the best ways to feel and appreciate Monmouth
    County’s relationship to the Ocean.


  • Faith: Architectural gems
    of each of the last three centuries, 18th century Christ Church in
    Shrewsbury, 19th century All Saints Memorial in Middletown and 20th
    century St. Catharine’s in Spring Lake. In addition, Old Tennent
    Church in Manalapan is closely tied to the Battle of Monmouth and
    the Friends Meeting House in Shrewsbury represents one of the oldest
    worship traditions in Monmouth County.


  • The Revolutionary War: The
    Revolution is visited here, not only the major sites in the Monmouth
    Battlefield area, but in lesser known places such as the Burrowes
    Mansion in Matawan, Marlpit Hall and the Murray Farm, both in
    Middletown.


  • Military: There is Fort
    Hancock at Sandy Hook, the most heavily fortified installation on
    the East Coast for much of the 20th century, the National Historic
    Landmark Monmouth Battlefield in Manalapan and one of the more
    fascinating, but lesser known museums, the New Jersey National Guard
    Militia Museum in Sea Girt with museum exhibits and fighter aircraft
    and tanks.


  • Preservation:
    Marlpit Hall in Middletown was the first restored house museum in
    the region, dating from its 1930s opening.



  • Other elements on the tour also
    include lighthouses, Victorian homes, agriculture, industry,
    education and science. All of the sites contributed to the importance
    of preservation and history throughout Monmouth County. The county
    supports the preservation movement annually by awarding preservation
    grants to historic sites. Many of the tour locations have received
    grants in the past.



    A site list and map are
    available on the County’s website at www.visitmonmouth.com.


    Tour Site,
    Municipality


    All Saints Memorial Church,
    Middletown
    Allaire Historic Village, Wall
    Allen House,
    Shrewsbury
    Ardena School Museum, Howell
    Burrowes Mansion
    Museum, Matawan
    Centennial Cottage, Ocean Grove, Neptune
    Christ
    Church, Shrewsbury
    Covenhoven House, Freehold
    Dr Cooke’s
    Medical Office, Holmdel
    Eatontown Museum, Eatontown
    Eden
    Woolley House, Ocean
    Old First Church, Middletown
    First
    Presbyterian Church, Rumson
    Friends Meeting House, Shrewsbury

    Great Auditorium, Ocean Grove
    Holmes-Hendrickson House,
    Holmdel
    InfoAge Science Center (Camp Evans), Wall
    Jewish
    Heritage Museum of Monmouth County, Freehold Township
    Keyport
    Fire Museum, Keyport
    Longstreet Farm, Historic, Holmdel

    MacKenzie House, Howell
    Marlpit Hall & Taylor-Butler
    House, Middletown
    Monmouth Battlefield Monument at the Monmouth
    County Courthouse, Freehold
    Monmouth Battlefield State Park,
    Manalapan
    Monmouth County Historical Association Museum, Freehold

    Joseph Murray Farmhouse, Middletown
    National Guard Militia
    Museum, Sea Girt
    Oakley Farm House, Freehold Township
    Ocean
    Grove Historical Museum, Ocean Grove
    Old Yellow Meeting House,
    Upper Freehold
    Red Bank Woman’s Club, Red Bank
    Roosevelt
    Borough
    St. Catharine’s Church, Spring Lake
    Sandy Hook
    Lighthouse, Middletown
    Seabright Lawn Tennis & Cricket Club,
    Rumson
    Seabrook-Wilson House, Middletown
    Shrewsbury
    Historical Museum, Shrewsbury
    Strauss Mansion Museum, Atlantic
    Highlands
    Old Tennent Church, Manalapan
    Twin Lights
    Lighthouse, Highlands
    Village Inn, Englishtown
    Old Wall
    Historical Society, Wall
    Walnford, Historic, Upper Freehold

    Wilson Hall at Monmouth University, West Long Branch
    West
    Freehold School Museum, Freehold Township

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