Welcome to the Matawan Historical Society

Pride in Our Past & Present

Settled by a group of Scottish Presbyterians beginning in the 1680’s, Matawan was first called New Aberdeen, and then Mount Pleasant. Today, Matawan’s historic town core retains its appeal as a place to live, work, and shop.

Burrowes Mansion 300th Anniversary

Burrowes Mansion Raid 2023On June 3rd and June 4th 2023, the Matawan Historical Society held a historic event honoring the Burrowes Mansion and its 300 years of history.  The festivities included a reenactment of the 1778 Mansion raid by the British (see video here), a self-guided walking tour of the Matawan historic district, tours of the Mansion, and many other activities.  The anniversary was featured in the Asbury Park Press on June 3rd.

Upcoming Events

Upcoming Events

Facebook News

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The final vote to approve a 24/7 Liberty gas station and convenience store on the corner of Main Street and 516 will be heard at the 4/1/24 meeting of the Matawan Planning/Zoning Board (7 pm, Borough Hall, 201 Broad St.).

The applicant is seeking approval for major site variances that would change part of the property from residential to commercial for this fueling station to be built the corner on 516 and Main.

Unfortunately, no more public comment will be taken before the vote. However, there is still one way to let the Matawan Planning Board hear your feelings on this application. Residents are encouraged to write emails/letters to the Board with any concerns and reasons why residents feel this project should/should not be allowed to proceed. All correspondence must be received by this week at the latest. Please send all emails to the Matawan Borough Clerk, Karen Wynne who can be reached at:
Karen.Wynne@matawanborough.com

Once received by the clerk, emails/letters will be distributed to all voting members of the Planning & Zoning Board.

Letters can also be mailed directly to:
Matawan Borough PZ Board
C/o Karen Wynne
201 Broad St.,
Matawan, NJ 07747

At previous meetings numerous residents spoke against the approval due to:
-Major traffic concerns
-historic concerns regarding the neighboring Mount Pleasant cemetery, site of a Revolutionary War Skirmish
-quality of life issues for residents living on 516 and Main Street
-the direct next door neighbor will have lights and noise 24/7 next to his residence
-the fact that there are 7 other fueling stations within 2 miles
-overall this project does not fit with many residents interpretation of the master plan and what should go on our historic Main Street

The 4/1/24 Matawan Planning/Zoning Meeting starts at 7 pm and is open to the public. 201 Broad St, Matawan, NJ

Further backstory:
A new 24/7 Liberty brand fuel station and convenience store is on the agenda for the upcoming Borough Planning & Zoning Board meeting. The new project is at the intersection of Route 516 and Main Street, a small lot that has remained unoccupied for several years.

The new prospective project will also border the Mount Pleasant Cemetery, one of the Borough‘s most historic properties, which was the site of a British Raid during the American War for Independence. There are numerous graves, including Veterans, directly up along the proposed project’s fence line. The applicant is seeking major site variances that would change part of the property from residential to commercial to allow this fueling station to be jammed onto the corner on 516 and Main.
... See MoreSee Less

1 day ago
The final vote to approve a 24/7 Liberty gas station and convenience store on the corner of Main Street and 516 will be heard at  the 4/1/24 meeting of the Matawan Planning/Zoning Board (7 pm, Borough Hall, 201 Broad St.). 

The applicant is seeking approval for major site variances that would change part of the property from residential to commercial for this fueling station to be built the corner on 516 and Main. 

Unfortunately, no more public comment will be taken before the vote. However, there is still one way to let the Matawan Planning Board hear your feelings on this application. Residents are encouraged to write emails/letters to the Board with any concerns and reasons why residents feel this project should/should not be allowed to proceed.  All correspondence must be received by this week at the latest. Please send all emails to the Matawan Borough Clerk, Karen Wynne who can be reached at:
Karen.Wynne@matawanborough.com

Once received by the clerk, emails/letters will be distributed to all voting members of the Planning & Zoning Board.

Letters can also be mailed directly to:
Matawan Borough PZ Board
C/o Karen Wynne
201 Broad St.,
Matawan, NJ 07747

At previous meetings numerous residents spoke against the approval due to:
-Major traffic concerns
-historic concerns regarding the neighboring Mount Pleasant cemetery, site of a Revolutionary War Skirmish
-quality of life issues for residents living on 516 and Main Street
-the direct next door neighbor will have lights and noise 24/7 next to his residence
-the fact that there are 7 other fueling stations within 2 miles
-overall this project does not fit with many residents interpretation of the master plan and what should go on our historic Main Street

The 4/1/24 Matawan Planning/Zoning Meeting starts at 7 pm and is open to the public. 201 Broad St, Matawan, NJ

Further backstory:
A new 24/7 Liberty brand fuel station and convenience store is on the agenda for the upcoming Borough Planning & Zoning Board meeting.  The new project is at the intersection of Route 516 and Main Street, a small lot that has remained unoccupied for several years. 

The new prospective project will also border the Mount Pleasant Cemetery, one of the Borough‘s most historic properties, which was the site of a British Raid during the American War for Independence. There are numerous graves, including Veterans, directly up along the proposed project’s fence line. The applicant is seeking major site variances that would change part of the property from residential to commercial to allow this fueling station to be jammed onto the corner on 516 and Main.Image attachment

How's your cursive? Transcribing handwriting is an essential skill for historical and genealogical research. It's not taught in many schools anymore. What are the implications of that? ... See MoreSee Less

1 day ago
Hows your cursive? Transcribing handwriting is an essential skill for historical and genealogical research. Its not taught in many schools anymore. What are the implications of that?

13 CommentsComment on Facebook

In my own field, AI can read medieval scripts in half the time it takes me. I’m sure research will be fine. If people take an interest in this specific kind of research, then they can learn. Like I had to.

I learned cursive by the Palmer Method. Taught myself to read older cursive forms, such as that used in 17th century English. That made the task of deciphering German church and civil records much easier when researching that side of my family, as the Germans used that type of cursive into the 20th century. While many schools have stopped teaching it, here in Pennsylvania there is legislation pending (not sure of the present status) which would require teaching cursive in public schools. A shame that even has to be a thing, but it's part of literacy. The first name on the registry list pictured is Harry Churchman. A native of England, he lived in the Freneau section before later moving to Spring Street in the Borough. In 1897 he was elected Constable for Matawan Township, replacing borough resident Richard Van Brakle, who could no longer serve due to the separation of the borough from the township. Churchman would serve until 1900, when he was replaced by Patrick Hagan.

Sadly, predictably, the ability to read and understand historical documents like this will fade to extinction. Small pockets of individuals might persevere, and continue to read and write in cursive. When I retired from teaching fourth grade in 2017, cursive learning was not a requirement, but something for early finishers-an “extra.” The programs we used were Palmer, followed by Zaner-Bloser, and then Handwriting Without Tears at the end of my career. HWT is essentially manuscript letters joined by lines…nothing like the flowery cursive of our ancestors.

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