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.
America’s 250th Birthday celeBRATION
The Borough of Matawan has adopted the 250-Resolution formally announcing Matawan’s participation in the upcoming 250th birthday celebration of the United States of America.
Special Announcement: The Matawan Historical Society is pleased to announce that it is collaborating with the Keyport Historical Society on a series of special events celebrating the 250th Anniversary of the American Revolution. This includes co-sponsoring related lectures in our regular monthly meeting series, as well as partnering on special events commemorating the local fight for independence in the Bayshore area. Both Matawan and Keyport are proud partners in the RevolutionNJ and MonmouthNJ 250 programs.
Matawan and Keyport’s first collaborative event will be John Schneider’s lecture “The Deadly Divide: America’s First Civil War During the American Revolution” on January 26, 2026. A complete list of our upcoming events will be published soon.
Burrowes Mansion History
The new edition of The Burrowes Mansion of Matawan New Jersey: and Notations on the History of Monmouth County, Second Edition (2023) by Mary Lou Diecker and Barry C. Orr is now available! The Burrowes Mansion, constructed in 1723, celebrated its 300th Birthday in 2023, and this newly expanded edition of the book commemorates that anniversary. Please visit our “Shop” page to order your copy.
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🪶 PHILIP FRENEAU DAY 2026 - Poet of the American Revolution 🇺🇸
The Matawan Historical Society and the Monmouth County Park System invite you to a full day of history, literature, and Revolutionary New Jersey — honoring the man they called the Poet of the American Revolution.
📅 Saturday, October 10, 2026
🕐 1:00 PM – 9:00 PM
📍 Freneau Woods Park Visitor Center
360 Monastery Lane, Aberdeen, NJ 07747
🎟️ FREE ADMISSION - refreshments available
FEATURED PRESENTATIONS
⭐ Barry Orr - Welcome & Introduction to Philip Freneau
⭐ Kurtis Roinestad - Freneau at Princeton: Witherspoon and the Revolutionary Spirit
⭐ Jared Weeks - Freneau Documentary Screening
⭐ Mike Chartier - Freneau’s Home in Matawan
⭐ Dan Weeks - Transitory or Traditional: The Poetic Reputation of Philip Freneau
⭐ Panel Discussion & Closing Remarks
EVENING PROGRAM - 7:00 PM to 8:30 PM
🎭 Joseph Smith presents “Philip Freneau: Poet of the American Revolution” - a living portrayal, followed by an audience Q&A and reception.
Philip Freneau (1752–1832) was a poet, a patriot, and a journalist whose words helped shape a nation - and he lived, wrote, and is buried right here in our own backyard off Poets Drive. Come spend the day with the neighbor who gave the Revolution its voice.
Bring a friend, bring the family, and help us celebrate as Monmouth County marks America’s 250th. 🌟
ℹ️ For information: matawanhistoricalsociety.org
★★★ Honoring a Voice That Helped Shape a Nation ★★★
#PhilipFreneau #FreneauDay2026 #MatawanHistoricalSociety #MonmouthCountyParks #AberdeenNJ #MatawanNJ #Monmouth250 #America250 #FreedomsBattleground #RevolutionaryNewJersey #NJHistory #PoetOfTheRevolution #FreneauWoodsPark #LocalHistory #JerseyHistory #FreeEvent
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Please join our friends at the Matawan Masonic Lodge 192 this Saturday, 9/12, from 8 am-12 for one of Matawan’s favorite traditions - the famous All-You-Can-Eat $10 Pancake Breakfast. Each meal also includes scrambled eggs, sausage, orange juice, and coffee.
They are also collecting food and toiletry items at the door to donate to local food pantries.
All proceeds go towards supporting their lodge and repairs to historic Oddfellows Hall. Bring friends and family for a great meal and experience eating in one of the most unique historic buildings in Monmouth County (which is usually closed to the public). All are welcome!
Address:
192 Main Street
Matawan, NJ
8 am-12 noon
For more information please contact
Matawan Lodge No 192
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