By Rick GeffkenÂ
The Ninth Annual Weekend in Old Monmouth starts this Saturday, April 30, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and continues on Sunday, May 1, noon to 5 p.m. Forty-four historic sites in the county are open free of charge to the public all weekend. Five locations will welcome visitors on self-guided tours for the first time. In The Two River Times area, the new sites include Little Silver’s 350 year-old Parker House, and the Montrose Schoolhouse in Colts Neck.
Sponsored by the Monmouth County Board of Chosen Freeholders and the Monmouth County Historical Commission, the tours have become more popular every year as local residents and visitors recognize the heritage throughout the county. This year’s tour is organized into four segments of about 12 sites each, arranged geographically. However, participants can elect to visit as many sites as their time permits.
The Parker Family and its impact on the region’s history will be interpreted through the family homestead at 235 Rumson Road in Little Silver. The property is owned by the Borough of Little Silver and operated as a non-profit organization. The Parker Homestead was entered on the National Register of Historic Places in 2011.
Montrose Schoolhouse, circa 1812, is the last of Colt’s Neck Township’s six one-room schoolhouses. Situated at 13 Cedar Drive, on the corner of Cedar Drive and Montrose Road, the schoolhouse retains its original pumpkin pine floors, a potbelly wood burning stove, and a collection of period school desks.
For more detailed information about all 44 sites on the tour, go directly to the Monmouth County Clerk’s website: https://co.monmouth.nj.us
All Saints Memorial Church, Middletown
Allaire Historic Village, Wall
Allen House, Shrewsbury Boro
*Allentown Presbyterian Church, Allentown
*Baird House, Millstone Twp.
Battle of Monmouth Monument, Freehold Boro
Burrowes Mansion Museum, Matawan
Christ Church, Shrewsbury Boro
Covenhoven House, Freehold Boro
Craig House, Freehold Twp.
Dr. Cooke’s Medical Office, Holmdel
Eatontown Museum, Eatontown
First Presbyterian Church, Rumson
Friends Meeting House, Shrewsbury Boro
Great Auditorium, Ocean Grove, Neptune Twp.
Holmes-Hendrickson House, Holmdel
InfoAge Science Center (Camp Evans), Wall
Jewish Heritage Museum of Mon. Co., Freehold Twp.
Keyport Fire Museum, Keyport
Longstreet Farm (Historic), Holmdel
Marlpit Hall, Middletown
Monmouth County Historical Assn. Museum, Freehold Boro
*Montrose Schoolhouse, Colts Neck
Joseph Murray Farmhouse, Middletown
National Guard Militia Museum, Sea Girt
Oakley Farm House, Freehold
Ocean Grove Historical Museum, Ocean Grove, Neptune Twp.
Ocean Township Historical Museum
Old First Church, Middletown
Old Tennent Church, Manalapan
Old Wall Historical Society, Wall
Old Yellow Meeting House, Upper Freehold
*Parker Homestead, Little Silver
Roosevelt Borough (Jersey Homestead) Historic District
St. Catharine Church, Spring Lake
*St. Peter’s Church, Freehold Borough
Seabright Lawn Tennis & Cricket Club, Rumson
Seabrook-Wilson House, Middletown
Shrewsbury Historical Museum, Shrewsbury
Strauss Mansion Museum, Atlantic Highlands
Taylor-Butler House, Middletown
Village Inn, Englishtown
Walnford (Historic), Upper Freehold
West Freehold School Museum, Freehold Township
*New sites for 2016
