Take a Driving Tour of Old Matawan

An article I wrote for Patch on historic sites in Matawan, NJ was published on their website today.  You can check out the article by clicking on the below link:

Take a Driving Tour of Old Matawan by Matthew Ward

A Piece of Matawan History is for Sale

An article I wrote for Patch on the Philip Freneau House in Matawan, NJ was published on their website this morning.

You can check out the article by clicking on the below link:

A Piece of Matawan History is for Sale by Matthew Ward

Article - Glenwood Institute

An article I wrote for Atlas Obscura on the history of Glenwood Institute in Matawan, NJ was published on their website this morning.

You can check out the article by clicking on the below link:

Glenwood Institute by Matthew H. Ward

Upcoming Event - Korean War Program

Al Savolaine, Commander of American Legion Matawan Post 176, will present the third annual American Legion historical program on “Korea, America’s Forgotten War”. This United Nations Police Action, which cost more than 30,000 American lives, from 1950-1953, was our first “limited war”.  Several US military deployments in later years followed this same frustrating pattern.  The program will be on Sunday, November 13th at 2:00 PM at the Burrowes Mansion. Light refreshments will follow the program. Come and honor our veterans.

Burrowes Mansion 
94 Main St.
Matawan, NJ 07747

Upcoming Event - 6th Annual Rose Hill Cemetery Tour

6th Annual Rose Hill Cemetery Tour in Matawan, New Jersey 

Sunday, October 16, 2016 at 2:00 PM

Please join us for our annual walking cemetery tour, this year featuring more ghost stories about what is widely considered to be New Jersey's most haunted cemetery!

As we carefully weave our way around ancient tombs and headstones, you will hear fascinating stories about:
• The great Matawan fire of 1901
• A gruesome murder in 1896
• Prohibition violence
• The lawmen of Matawan
• Trouble at the Mausoleums
• Actual paranormal sightings at Rose Hill Cemetery revealed!

TICKETS: PRICE TBA. Tickets are only available at the event.

YOUR GUIDE: Al Savolaine, Matawan Town Historian, Rose Hill Cemetery Historian, and author of “Stanley Fisher: Shark Attack Hero of a Bygone Age.” (Books will be available for purchase and signing.)

LOCATION: Matawan’s Rose Hill Cemetery on Ravine Drive, near the intersection of Ravine and Middlesex Road.

PARKING: Limited parking is available at the cemetery. If you park in the cemetery, do not block the roads as it is an active cemetery. Additional parking is available at the Ravine Drive Elementary School, less than 300 yards from Rosehill's entrance.

THIS IS A CHARITY FUNDRAISING EVENT. All proceeds will benefit Rose Hill Cemetery preservation. All participants are volunteers donating their time and efforts.

This event is sponsored by the Matawan Historical Society and Rose Hill Cemetery.

https://www.facebook.com/historicrosehillcemetery/?fref=ts&ref=br_tf

Upcoming Event - Ghost Walk of Historic Matawan

Ghost Walk Tours of Historic Matawan

Saturday, October 29, 2016 at 7:00 PM and 8:30 PM. 

Please join us as we take a walk back in time, revisiting the chilling stories about some of the businesses and private homes along Main Street.

The evening will begin with a short presentation at Burrowes Mansion, which will include stories about the ghosts of the mansion. Then we will continue with a walk along Main Street with more stories about the ghosts haunting our town. All of our ghost stories are true!

The tour includes a stop inside Bedel Funeral Home, where attendees will have the unique opportunity to view antique funeral items that have never before been on display. A representative of Bedel Funeral Home will be on hand to answer questions!

The entire tour will cover approximately one mile (round-trip ) and last about two hours.

Light refreshments will be served.

The tours will be held rain or shine! In the event of severe weather, the tours will be canceled.

For more information and to purchase tickets please visit the following website:

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/ghost-walk-of-historic-matawan-tickets-27163154727?aff=es2

Glenwood Institute

Glenwood Institute 
10 Church Street
Matawan, NJ 07747

Glenwood Institute opened in 1834 as Middletown Point Academy. The school was originally located across the street from its present location in a smaller building until 1857, when the current three story Italianate style structure was completed. The school was later enlarged and renamed as the Glenwood Institute in 1874. The building also housed the Collegiate Institute of Middletown Point and Matawan Military Academy over the course of its history. The building ceased operations as a school in 1915, and was later converted into an apartment building. A condo in the building went on the market in 2013.

Notable students of the private boy’s school included political figure Henry Stafford Little and 24th Vice President of the United States Garrett Hobart.

Below are a few links with more information on Glenwood Institute, along with some photos that I took of the building:

http://matawanhistoricalsociety.org/middletown-point-academy-glenwood-institute/

http://patch.com/new-jersey/matawan-aberdeen/five-things-you-never-knew-about-matawan-and-aberdeen

http://patch.com/new-jersey/matawan-aberdeen/condo-in-historic-matawan-building-for-sale 

MW

The Matt Ward History Experience Podcast - Episode #8

Check out the eighth edition of The Matt Ward History Experience Podcast!

SoundCloud:  https://soundcloud.com/matt-ward-427598454/the-matt-ward-history-experience-podcast-episode-8

iTunes:  https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/matt-ward-history-experience/id1178237076

Episode #8 contains the following segment:

1. Let's Talk History - Interview with author, historian and fellow American Legion Post 176 member Al Savolaine. 

You can check out Al Savolaine and his new book Stanley Fisher: Shark Attack Hero of a Bygone Age online via the following websites:

Stanley Fisher: Shark Attack Hero of a Bygone Age - http://www.48hrbooks.com/Book/EyVKaMjR

Matawan Historical Society Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/Matawan-Historical-Society-NJ-278556882255492/

Matawan Historical Society Website - matawanhistoricalsociety.org

1916 Matawan Shark Attacks Commemoration Events Schedule - http://www.app.com/story/news/local/culture/2016/05/23/schedule-set-matawan-shark-attack-centennial/84764416/

Below are two photos of Al Savolaine and his book Stanley Fisher: Shark Attack Hero of a Bygone Age:

Below is the official flyer for the Matawan Shark Attacks of 1916 Centennial Commemoration:

First and foremost I would like to thank my guest Al Savolaine for sitting down in Matawan to talk history with me.

This episode would not have been possible if it had not been for the technical support of my good friend Peter Lloyd of One Stone Recording and Mastering. Pete mixed and cleaned up the original recordings into the great episode that you can stream on SoundCloud.

Last but certainly not least, I would like to thank all of my readers and listeners - Especially those who submitted questions for this month's segment of Let's Talk History.

The Matt Ward History Experience is brought to you by One Stone Recording and Mastering in New Brunswick, NJ. Check out One Stone Recording and Mastering for all of you mixing and mastering needs. Go to onestonerecording.com/mwhistory and receive 10% off your first session!

One Stone Recording and Mastering:

http://onestonerecording.com/mwhistory

http://onestonerecording.com

MW

Upcoming Event - Al Savolaine Interview

The Matt Ward History Experience will travel back to the Burrowes Mansion in Matawan, NJ on June 25, 2016 for a second interview with Matawan town historian Al Savolaine. This interview will be part of an upcoming episode of the blog's podcast. In this interview, we will discuss the 1916 Matawan Shark Attacks and Al's new book Stanley Fisher: Shark Attack Hero of a Bygone Age.

If you have any questions that you would like answered by Al, please post them in the comments of this blog entry, send them to me via Twitter @RevWarBuff23 or via Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/mwhistoryexperience

For more information on Al Savolaine and the 1916 Matawan Shark Attacks, please visit the following websites:

Stanley Fisher: Shark Attack Hero of a Bygone Age - http://www.48hrbooks.com/Book/EyVKaMjR

Matawan Historical Society Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/Matawan-Historical-Society-NJ-278556882255492/

Matawan Historical Society Website - matawanhistoricalsociety.org

1916 Matawan Shark Attacks Commemoration Events Schedule - http://www.app.com/story/news/local/culture/2016/05/23/schedule-set-matawan-shark-attack-centennial/84764416/

MW

The Matt Ward History Experience Podcast - Episode #2

Check out the second edition of The Matt Ward History Experience Podcast!

SoundCloud:  https://soundcloud.com/matt-ward-427598454/the-matt-ward-history-experience-podcast-episode-2

iTunes:  https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/matt-ward-history-experience/id1178237076

The following segments and topics are covered in Episode #2:

1. Let's Talk History - Interview with New Jersey Boxing Hall of Fame president and historian Henry Hascup
2. Upcoming Events  

The New Jersey Boxing Hall of Fame is located in Lodi, New Jersey. Below is a link the official New Jersey Boxing Hall of Fame Official website:

http://www.njboxinghof.org/

First and foremost I would like to thank Henry Hascup for sitting down at the New Jersey Boxing Hall of Fame to talk history with me. On Thursday evening, November 12, 2015, the New Jersey Boxing Hall of Fame will hold its 46th Annual Dinner and Induction Ceremonies at the beautiful Venetian, located at 546 River Drive, Garfield, New Jersey starting at 7:00p.m. Tickets are priced at ONLY $85.00 per person. This year's induction class consists of fourteen of Boxing’s finest to include Micky Ward, Donald Trump, Curtis Parker, John Brown and George Hill.

This episode would not have been possible if it had not been for the technical support of my good friend Peter Lloyd of One Stone Recording. Pete mixed and cleaned up the original recordings into the great episode that you can stream above.

Last but certainly not least, I would like to thank all of my readers and listeners - Especially those who submitted questions for this month's segment of Let's Talk History.

This episode is brought to you by my friends in the band Dystrophy. Check out Dystrophy's new album "Wretched Host". "Wretched Host" is available for purchase at the following link:

http://dystrophyband.com/

Episode Notes:  In our interview, Henry stated that Adrian Bailey founded the New Jersey Boxing Hall of Fame with the assistance of Scoop Gallello. Henry emailed me after our interview to let me know that Babe Orlando was the individual who helped Adrian Bailey in starting up the New Jersey Boxing Hall of Fame.

MW



Upcoming Event - Rose Hill Cemetery Tours

Rose Hill Cemetery

Ravine Drive

Matawan, NJ 07747

 

The 5th Annual Rose Hill Cemetery tours have been scheduled for 2015! They will be on Saturday, October 17th at 2-4 PM and Sunday, October 18th from 2-4 PM. Please note there are no morning tours this year. Your tour guide will again be Al Savolaine, the Rose Hill Cemetery Historian, and Matawan Town Historian. Al has included several new features to the 2015 tours. If you have been on the tour be...fore, join us again as there is always something new to learn about Matawan and its inhabitants. If this is your first tour-you are in for a treat!!

The tours are $10 for adults, children are free. Tickets can be purchased on the days of the tours at a table set up near the front of the cemetery. Parking is available in the cemetery, on Ravine Drive, and at the Ravine Drive school lot.

 

Upcoming Event - The Homefront: Matawan During World War II

MATAWAN AMERICAN LEGION HISTORICAL PROGRAM

On Sunday, November 8th at 2:00 P.M. at the Woman’s Club of Matawan building, 199 Jackson Street, the American Legion, Matawan Post 176 will present its second annual historical program honoring veterans in the area. The topic will be

“The Homefront: Matawan During World War II”

The speaker will be Al Savolaine, the Commander of Post 176 and the Matawan Town Historian. 

The focus of the presentation will be what “Total War” was like for those who were left behind in town when others went off to fight in distant parts of the world to defend our way of life. Over 14 million Americans wore the uniforms of our various military services, but everyone in the United States was involved in different ways. Women played a major role in the war effort, and even children were actively involved. Rationing, victory gardens, raw material collections, bond drives, air raid wardens, submarine spotters, and Red Cross workers played a part on the home front in our area during these turbulent years. 

This program will help younger generations understand what their parents, grandparents, and great-grandparents lived through during the 1941-1945 total war effort. Unfortunately, the schools do not deal with this aspect of history. The American Legion, as an organization founded in 1919 after WW I, promotes this type of understanding of the lessons of history, so that we can learn from the past and appreciate the service of our veterans to our country.

The Woman’s Club of Matawan will provide refreshments. Various items will be on display to illustrate points of interest concerning the topic. This event also commemorates the 70th anniversary of the end of WW II. Come and join us for this free event. All are welcome.

The Matt Ward History Experience Podcast - Episode #1

Check out the first edition of The Matt Ward History Experience Podcast!

SoundCloud:  https://soundcloud.com/matt-ward-427598454/the-matt-ward-history-experience-podcast-episode-1

iTunes:  https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/matt-ward-history-experience/id1178237076

The following segments and topics are covered in Episode #1:

1. Let's Talk History - Interview with the Matawan Borough Historian and docent of the Burrowes Mansion Museum, Al Savolaine
2. Genealogy
3. Book of the Month - Philadelphia Fighters:  The Golden Era of Greatness by Lew Freedman

The Burrowes Mansion Museum is located at 94 Main Street in historic Matawan, NJ. Below are links to the Burrowes Mansion Museum official website and Facebook page:

Burrowes Mansion Museum Official Website:

http://burrowesmansion.org/

Burrowes Mansion Museum Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/BurrowesMansion?fref=ts

Here are a few of my favorite photos from the interview and tour of the Burrowes Mansion Museum:

Matt Ward and Al Savolaine (Photo courtesy of the Burrowes Mansion Museum Facebook page)

Matt Ward and Al Savolaine (Photo courtesy of the Burrowes Mansion Museum Facebook page)

Matt Ward and Al Savolaine (Photo courtesy of the Burrowes Mansion Museum Facebook page)

Matt Ward and Al Savolaine (Photo courtesy of the Burrowes Mansion Museum Facebook page)

First and foremost I would like to thank Al Savolaine for sitting down at the Burrowes Mansion Museum to talk history with me. I would also like to thank the two other docents of the Burrowes Mansion Museum, Julius and Nancy, as well as Terri, who is a volunteer at the Burrowes Mansion Museum. If you ever find yourself in Matawan, please go check out the Burrowes Mansion Museum.

This month's Book of the Month is Philadelphia Fighters: The Golden Era of Greatness by Lew Freedman. Philadelphia Fighters: The Golden Era of Greatness can be purchased on Amazon.com:

http://www.amazon.com/Philadelphia-Fighters-The-Golden-Greatness/dp/1933822651

http://calltothepen.com/author/alison1/

This episode would not have been possible if it had not been for the technical support of my good friend Peter Lloyd of One Stone Recording. Pete mixed and cleaned up the original recordings into the great episode that you can stream above.

Last but certainly not least, I would like to thank all of my readers and listeners - Especially those who submitted questions for this month's segment of Let's Talk History.

This episode is brought to you by my friends in the band Dystrophy. Check out Dystrophy's new album "Wretched Host". "Wretched Host" is available for purchase at the following link:

http://dystrophyband.com/

MW

Upcoming Event - Burrowes Mansion Interview

The Matt Ward History Experience will travel to the Burrowes Mansion in Matawan, NJ on Sunday, July 19, 2015. This visit will be part of the launching of the blog's monthly podcast. Three Burrowes Mansion Museum docents will be interviewed. The interview will focus on the history of the Burrowes Mansion and the people who lived there. If you have any questions that you would like answered by the panel, please post them in the comments of this blog entry or send them to me via Twitter @RevWarBuff23.

The Burrowes Mansion is located at 94 Main Street in historic Matawan, NJ. The mansion will be open next weekend for tours from 2-4pm. For more information on the Burrowes Mansion, please visit the following links:

Burrowes Mansion Official Website:

http://burrowesmansion.org/

Matawan Historical Society Official Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Matawan-Historical-Society-NJ/278556882255492

Revolutionary War New Jersey:

http://www.revolutionarywarnewjersey.com/new_jersey_revolutionary_war_sites/towns/matawan_nj_revolutionary_war_sites.htm

MW

Philip Freneau's Grave

Philip Freneau's Grave
Poet Drive
Matawan, NJ 07747

Having grown up in Matawan, NJ, I am very familiar with the story of Philip Freneau. Freneau is known as the "Poet of the American Revolution." He wrote a number of poems during his lifetime, to include the History of the Prophet Jonah. He supported the Patriot cause as a militiaman and privateer. Freneau was a friend and supporter of Thomas Jefferson and James Madison. His work as a journalist following the American Revolution was partisan in nature and often attacked Federalist politicians to include George Washington and Alexander Hamilton. Washington in particular took a strong dislike to Freneau. Freneau froze to death at age 80 while trying to find his way home in a snow storm.

A section of my hometown is named in his honor, and his final home still stands in Matawan. Freneau's grave is located in the middle of a quiet residential street called Poet Drive in the section of the town that bears his name. I have had the opportunity to visit Freneau's grave site on numerous occasions over the years. The below photos were taken during a January 2014 visit.

Along with my photos, I included a write up on Freneau from the Poetry Foundation website:

"Known as the poet of the American Revolution, Philip Freneau was influenced by both the political situation of his time and the full, active life he led. He attended Princeton University, where James Madison was his roommate, and planned to become a minister. However, at Princeton he became engaged in political debates with fellow students and pursued his interest in writing.

Freneau was torn between his involvement in the social turmoil of his times and the more solitary life of writing. After graduation, he wrote a series of anti-British satires. In 1776 Freneau travelled to the West Indies, where he studied navigation and wrote, largely about his surroundings. In 1778 he returned to New Jersey, joined the militia, and served as a ship’s captain. He was eventually captured by the British and spent six weeks on a prison ship. By 1790, Freneau had published two collections of poetry. Encouraged by James Madison and Thomas Jefferson, Freneau established a newspaper, the National Gazette, in Philadelphia, which promoted Jefferson’s principles. By the early 1800s, Freneau had retired to his farm to write essays and poetry.

As a journalist and poet, Freneau was prolific. His poetry covers a variety of subjects, including the political situation, American Indians, nature, the sea, and naval battles. His political poems are often satiric, but his nature poetry is marked by lyricism and close observation of the details of the American landscape. Freneau’s work displays some of the characteristics of Romanticism—especially in its close attention to, and feeling for, nature."  (http://www.poetryfoundation.org/bio/philip-freneau)

MW

Head of Navigation

Head of Navigation Marker
County Route 516
Old Bridge, NJ 08857
(Located near the Matawan - Old Bridge border)

Central New Jersey is an area that is full of early American history. Modern-day Matawan and Old Bridge are two areas that are particularly rich in this history. At the border of Matawan and Old Bridge is a marker showing where the head of navigation existed in colonial East Jersey. The marker reads:

"Head of Navigation - This site marks the head of commercial navigation during the 17th-19th centuries. It is part of the land that originally belonged to Thomas Warne, East Jersey proprietor, from 1683-1722."

Below is a write up on Thomas Warne from the Find a Grave website, along with some photos I took of the marker this week:

"Thomas Warne was born in Plymouth, Devonshire County, England in 1652. Sometime later, he emigrated to Dublin, Ireland where he worked as a merchant. He and his father Stephen Warne emigrated to America in March of 1683. Thomas Warne, in addition to his cargo, brought with him eleven indentuted servants. They were as follows: William Elleson, 3 yrs., John Kighin and Nora Rae, 5 yrs., Patrick Kemane, 7 yrs., Anthony Ashmore and Walter Newman, 9 yrs., also Abraham Smith, Jane Hankinson and her three children Thomas, Peter and Richard Hankinson.

Thomas Warne settled in Perth Amboy, NJ. On September 13, 1683, Thomas Warne purchased 400 acres in Matawan, Monmouth County, NJ. It is there where he established his plantation eventually expanding it to one thousand acres.

The purchase in 1683 was part of the original Twenty-Four Proprietors of East Jersey Purchase. The Twenty Four Lords Proprietors of East Jersey, Thomas Warne being one of them, established Perth Amboy, Middlesex County, NJ, as their capitol.

The original Warne Plantation, located between the Matawan and Gravel Creeks in present day Matawan, Monmouth County, NJ, is the site of the Thomas Warne Historical Museum and Library. The museum is located inside an 1820's schoolhouse.

Thomas Warne was a bachelor until he was about fifty years old. He married Mary, the widow of Thomas Carhart. She was the daughter of sea captain Robert Lord who was born in London, England in 1627 and emigrated to America with his family on April 29, 1635 aboard the ship Elizabeth and Anne. Thomas Lord, the father of Capt. Robert Lord, was born in London about 1585. He married Dorothy and settled with their six children in Newtown, Long Island, NY, before settling in Cambridge, Maas. Capt. Robert Lord was 8 years old when his family left Emgland for the American Colonies.

Captain Robert Lord of Cambridge, Mass. married Rebecca Stanley. Their children were Robert Lord, Thomas Lord and Mary Lord (b.July 13, 1668).

Mary (Lord) Warne was born in Cambridge Massachussetts on July 13, 1668. She married Thomas Carhart in November of 1691 on Staten Island, NY. They moved to Woodbridge Twp., Middlesex County in 1695. she became a widow the next year. Between 1700-1702 Mary Carhart of Woodbridge married Thomas Warne of Perth Amboy.

Thomas Warne raised his three step-sons along with the children born to his union with his wife Mary.

Mary (Lord) Warne died about 1713, shortly after the birth of her last child George Warne. Thomas Warne, her husband and father of their children as well as step-father to her children with Thomas Carhart, granted 600 acres of land '...to be divided equally between my (his)three sons-in-law (step-sons).,' in 1714, about a year after the death of his wife.

Thomas Warne and Mary (Lord) Warne had six children. They were as follows: Stephen Warne,
Thomas Warne, Samuel Warne, Joshua Warne, Sarah Warne and George Warne, respectively.

Thomas Warne purchased and sold several thousand acres of land in Middlesex and Monmouth County New Jersey. He was a Justice of the Court of Common Right (Court of Chancery) and a Member of the Governor's Council from 1683-1699. He sold several of his lots in Perth Amboy so that the first government house could be built and a road leading to it could be paved. The Proprietary House, the home of the Royal Governor of New Jersey, which was erected in 1762, was built on one of his original lots." (http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=55705602)

MW

Burrowes Mansion

Burrowes Mansion
94 Main St.
Matawan, NJ 07747

One of the locations in this country that I largely accredit with developing my passion for history is the Burrowes Mansion in my hometown of Matawan, NJ. I still vividly recall hearing stories about the old home on Main Street from my relatives as a child. I have passed by this house thousands of times throughout my life, and to this day still take the time to gaze upon the house when I pass by.

The Burrowes Mansion played an important role in the local and state history of New Jersey. At the time of the American Revolution, the home was owned by the Burrowes family. The Burrowes family were patriots, and would pay the price for their allegiance to the American cause for independence.

Below is a write up from the "2014 Weekend in Old Monmouth Booklet", along with some photos that I took of the mansion in January 2014:

"The Burrowes Mansion, one of Monmouth County’s most important early Georgian buildings, is dated by stylistic evidence to the c.1750 introduction of the Georgian style to Monmouth County when the 2 ½ story main block was begun as a Georgian three bay side-hall plan. Inference suggests that John Burrowes, Sr. (1718-1785) may have acquired the property at the time of his 1749 marriage to Widow Hope Taylor Watson (1721-1792). An earlier date attribution stems from a 1722 property sale, but this house could not be as early as the c.1723 date cited elsewhere. Burrowes was a major grain and produce merchant who was nicknamed the Corn King. His property backed on Matawan Creek, once a waterway that handled oceangoing ships when the town was the Bayshore’s major port. In 1778 during the Revolution, loyalists attempted to capture Burrowes’ son, John, Jr., a Continental Army captain. He escaped, but his wife was injured and the father was captured, but soon released in a prisoner exchange.

The property was designated for John, Jr. in his father’s will, but documentary history over the next four decades is vague until the house and 15 acres were sold to Joseph H. and Holmes Van Mater in 1825. Later the mansion was a hotel, a dentist’s residence, a tea room and under the ownership of Benjamin F.S. Brown whose family retained the place until its 1974 sale to the Borough of Matawan. The Matawan Historical Society, founded in 1969, furnishes and operates the restored house, one that retains a strong character of its colonial roots."
(http://www.oceanmuseum.org/2014_WOM_Booklet_Web_-_Smaller.pdf)

MW