Monmouth County Historical Association

10/16/2026

Early autumn's chilly evenings have us thinking of warm and stylish fashions! This walking suit was owned and worn by lifelong Freehold resident Lillian Brown Anderson. Lillian was born in 1867. In 1892, she married attorney Frederick E. Anderson. Although Anderson maintained his law office on Broadway in New York City, the couple raised their two children, daughter Lillian and son Edward, in their East Main Street residence. Lillie was active in both New York and Freehold society events. The Andersons also traveled extensively, their trips noted in the local papers. Frederick Anderson died in 1937, her daughter Lillian in 1954. Lillie Brown Anderson died at the age of 99 in 1965. Although this walking suit is not marked, it is quite possible that owner Lillie Brown Anderson had the garment made in New York City, where her husband maintained his law offices. The suit, while appearing relatively simple, is elegantly fitted and constructed. The subtle details, including panels of brown velvet alternating with panels of metallic fabric woven in muted shades of brown, tan, green, and pink, are expertly incorporated into the jacket's overall design. Extensive brown soutache trim flows in freeform coils, from the front of the dress to the back. The construction, details, and sophistication of the suit all point to an expert dressmaking establishment within a large city center.

10/14/2026

Sometime around 1860 or so, sisters Elizabeth and Ellen Enright sat for their photograph. Elizabeth, about sixteen, and Ellen, about thirteen, wore gowns made from the same fabric, with crisp white collars around their necks. The photographer highlighted their oval brooches with gold, echoing the bright gilt frame around the ambrotype image. There's a lot behind this sisterly image - famine, sorrow, hope, and success are all rolled into this small glass rectangle no bigger than the palm of a hand. Margaret Geary (1820-1886) and her husband John Enright (1819-1889) welcomed their second child and first daughter Elizabeth in 1845 - the same year that a mysterious blight spread over the Irish farm fields. Between 1845 and 1852, more than a million Irish men, women, and children died of starvation. Two million others - including the Enright family - emigrated to America. Margaret and John, with their children James and Elizabeth, landed in Baltimore, Maryland, in February of 1849. In December of that year, the Enright family welcomed their first American-born child, daughter Ellen. The couple welcomed four more children, including son John (1852-1926), who would go on to become New Jersey Commissioner of Education. John Enright supported his wife and seven children successfully as a farmer in the Colts Neck area. Enright was so respected by his friends and neighbors that the local businesses all closed on the day of his funeral out of respect. His obituary, which appeared in the Monmouth Democrat, noted that Enright was "a man well informed on current topics, both at home and abroad."

10/12/2026

Columbus Day has us thinking of sailing ships! Although the name of this scrimshaw artist is unknown, he produced a relatively sophisticated and elaborate scene on this s***m whale's tooth. The addition of small areas of red pigmented highlights elevates this scene, providing contrast. While some sailors parlayed their artistic talents into full-time scrimshaw artistry, most sailors etched their scenes on whale teeth, bones, walrus and narwhal tusks, and other marine ivory simply as a way to pass the time during extended sea voyages. Pieces such as this one were often made for loved ones at home as souvenirs. The use of the American shield identifies the piece as being made by a sailor aboard an American vessel. The donor, Josephine Mabel Brown, was born in Keyport, Monmouth County, on 13 August 1858, a daughter of Cornelius H. Brown (1830 - 1905) and Emaline F. Strong (1829 - 1888). Her father was the leading builder and contractor in Keyport, erecting many of the churches and commercial buildings that still stand today. Miss Brown lived all her life in the house where she was born at 162 Broadway. After graduating from the Keyport Graded School, she taught for several years before working in the law offices of George W. Brown and Henry E. Ackerson. For many years she served as librarian at the Keyport Free Public Library. Josie, as she was called, was an avid student of genealogy and local history. . Miss Brown was a member of the Historical Association for more than fifty years, and a generous donor to its museum and library collections. She died on 23 August 1951, having just turned ninety-three. Interment took place in the family plot at Green Grove Cemetery in Keyport. Her niece, Miss J. Mabel Brown (1885 - 1980), who made her home with her aunt, served as a trustee of the Association from 1944 to 1972, and as President from 1948 to 1950. Given Keyport's long-standing history as a bustling marine town, it is possible that Miss Brown acquired the scrimshaw tooth from a local resident or collector.

10/09/2026

We love the rarities in our historic clothing collection! And this royal blue padded silk winter bonnet is certainly one of them. Made in the mid 1820s, the bonnet was owned and worn by a member of the Lott family in Monmouth County. The unknown, yet stylish, wearer would have welcomed the soft wool batting nestled between the layers of silk, satin, and stiffened buckram. Extra-wide ivory satin ribbons formed a lovely face-framing bow beneath her chin. Be sure to visit our eMuseum website to enjoy more than 170 additional women's fashions!

10/07/2026

New Year's Eve of 1914 ended dramatically for the old Steinbach building in Asbury Park. A fire broke out in the basement of Rock Granelli's fruit store, one of the many businesses within the two-story structure at Cookman and Main. The fire took hold quickly and was "one of the worst and most stubborn the local fire department has ever been called upon to cope with." Multiple Asbury Park fire companies along with Ocean Grove and other local companies ended up using more than 800,000 gallons of water to put out the blaze. Lauer's Drug store, the United Cigar Company, the Imperial Barber shop, an eye doctor, and a dentist's office were all destroyed. The Steinbach Department Store, once located in the building, had relocated to a new and bigger building on Cookman Avenue and Emory Street. Crowds gathered, then gasped when the heavy roof caved in. A photographer captured the damage a day or two after the destruction.

10/05/2026

We're celebrating International Teachers Day today! In the spring of 1845, Professor Amos Richardson and his wife Ruth Freeman Richardson opened what would quickly become one of the most celebrated female educational academies along the eastern seaboard. Girls from as far north as Maine and as far south as the Carolinas learned astronomy, geometry and calculus, art, music, literature, German and French, and much else alongside local Monmouth girls. Graduates went on to attend ivy league colleges such as Vassar. Many were energetic suffragettes, helping to secure women's voting rights. Director of Collections Bernadette Rogoff will present "We Are Present and Future Women: The Freehold Young Ladies Seminary" this Thursday at 1 p.m. at the Manalapan Branch of the Monmouth County Library. You can also access the presentation on our YouTube channel!

10/05/2026

We are thrilled to celebrate our very own Bernadette Rogoff, recipient of the Monmouth County Clerk’s 2026 𝗝𝗮𝗻𝗲 𝗚. 𝗖𝗹𝗮𝘆𝘁𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱 for her outstanding contributions to the preservation of Monmouth County history!

As many of you know, Bernadette is MCHA’s Director of Collections, dedicating more than three decades to MCHA. During her remarkable career, she has researched and presented more than 50 exhibitions on Monmouth County history and has shared her expertise at local, state, and national conferences and institutions, including Colonial Williamsburg & the American Association for State and Local History. Additionally, Bernadette is an 18th & 19th-century textile expert, a master hearth cook, and routinely conducts 18th-century spinning and weaving demonstrations across the state. She is also responsible for the outstanding MCHA social media posts enjoyed weekly by over 13,000 history lovers!

“Her efforts over the last 30-plus years have led to significant public engagement with historical themes, events, and objects, and have promoted further understanding of the County’s fascinating history,” said Clerk Hanlon.

We are incredibly proud of Bernadette not only for her extraordinary contributions to the museum and history fields, but for the brilliant, kind, and generous person she is. She reminds us every day why museums matter, why history matters, and why sharing our past with the public is important. Congratulations, Bernadette, and thank you for more than 30 years of making Monmouth County history come alive! ❤️

Please join us to celebrate! The award will be presented at Archives & History Day on Sat, Oct. 10th, taking place from 9 am to 1:30 pm at the Robert J. Collins Arena at Brookdale Community College. The award presentations will begin at 12:30. This year’s theme and featured exhibit, “Creative Heritage: Arts & Culture in Monmouth County,” will showcase people, places and events that have shaped the arts and culture of Monmouth County history. For more information, visit MonmouthCountyArchives.com or contact the Monmouth County Archives at 732-308-3771, ext. 3772.

10/03/2026

🥂 TONIGHT'S THE NIGHT! 🎉

After weeks of counting down, the day is finally here!

We’re looking forward to welcoming everyone tonight for an evening filled with great food, music, and laughter!

Most importantly, we’re excited to come together to celebrate and support the work of the Monmouth County Historical Association. ❤️

Need your last-minute tickets? Click the link below:
https://www.simpletix.com/e/farm-to-fork-2026-tickets-286223

Get ready for a great night!

🌾 See you tonight! 🎶🥂

10/02/2026

The museum will be closed this afternoon. Our hard-working staff and volunteers are putting the finishing touches on Farm To Fork, the Association's big fall fundraising event! Tickets are still available for this fun, friendly party on our website. We hope to see you tomorrow night, Saturday October 3rd! It's an important way to help support all we do here at MCHA.

10/02/2026

October 2026…

250 years ago this month, patriot leaders stumbled in their attempts to bring order to Monmouth County’s unruly shoreline. With the local militia unreliable, the state of New Jersey ordered militia from Burlington County to the Monmouth County shore to interdict trade between disaffected shore neighborhoods and British-held Sandy Hook; a few arrests were made but the illegal trade continued. Meanwhile, the Boston merchant ship, Betsy, ran aground at Long Branch, where it was taken by Monmouth County’s senior militia colonel, George Taylor. However, Taylor soon turned Loyalist; Betsy and its cargo fell victim to a sordid chain of events that ended badly for the vessel’s owners. Read about these interesting events in articles #34 and #35 of Michael Adelberg’s 250 for the 250th compendium, exclusively on the MCHA website at Monmouthhistory.org/250-for-the-250th.

And coincidentally, George Taylor's relative - confirmed 𝑷𝒂𝒕𝒓𝒊𝒐𝒕 Tom Taylor - is being honored alongside his better half, Tracey Gdanitz , for their incredible dedication to the preservation of Monmouth County history. Monmouth roots still run deep! 𝐇𝐞𝐥𝐩 𝐮𝐬 𝐜𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐛𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐚𝐦𝐚𝐳𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐩𝐥𝐞 at our popular Farm to Fork event this year. The event is tomorrow evening, October 3rd, so visit our homepage now for details and tickets!

This collection is the most complete history of the American Revolution in Monmouth County ever assembled.