In the early days of what is now Aberdeen Township, New Jersey, Matawan Township business was conducted wherever space to meet could be found. No town hall was built for over sixty years.
In the 1870s, meetings of the Township Committee were held at hotels operated by John H Farry or Richard Worrell. Since the same venues were used for Democratic Party functions, a citizens group raised partisanship complaints. The group held a so-called People’s meeting at the Washington Street firehouse (known then as the truck house) in March 1884 to select a ballot of candidates of their own. By March 1888, meetings were being held in that firehouse. (1)
At a meeting in April 1889, the Township Committee invited the public to decide whether to build a town hall. The increase in taxes that would be required prompted a quick No vote on construction. In March 1891, the Committee decided instead to rent Matawan Borough’s town hall. An annual fee of $25.00 was paid for over ten years. (2)
The Township Committee finally decided to erect a building of their own within the bounds of the township. A central location was selected, land purchased and construction was begun. (3)
93 ATLANTIC AVENUE
A town hall was constructed about 1904 by the then Township Committee of Michael Halleran, L H Stemler, and Ten Eyck Conover. $500 was appropriated for purchase of the lot and erection of the building. (3)
Once the deed for the newly purchased lot on Atlantic Avenue was received, the Committee met to arrange the construction of their new township building. [Note that numbering of the streets did not begin for a decade or more, so the location was simply Atlantic Avenue.] (4)
A review of Sanborn Fire Maps 1908, 1914 and 1923 did not reveal a 93 Atlantic or a Township Hall. The properties were marked simply Office. They were roughly in front of the Anderson Basket Factory, which was situated along the railroad line to Freehold. (5)
Democratic primary voting was conducted at the new Township Hall on Atlantic Street in March 1904. (6, 7)
The Township Committee also met in the new Township Hall in March 1904. (8)
Surveyor Osborn surveyed the Township Hall lot in 1915 and “found it as described in the deed, from the starting point given in the deed. A tree near the railroad is the original monument, which was not known at the time and the survey was not proven up. Mr Osborn is expected to come again and when he does the four stakes will be placed on the corners of the lot.” (9)
Town Hall was nearly destroyed by fire in the early hours of Friday 2 September 1932, only hours after the monthly meeting of the Township Committee. Early indications suggested the cause of the fire was a carelessly tossed cigar or cigarette in a rear room or closet. Election booths, ballot boxes and other fixtures were destroyed. Doors and windows were shattered. The building’s wooden construction fueled the fire. (3)
The Township Committee awarded a contract to rebuild Township Hall, which was “riddled by fire over a year ago”. “Work is to start immediately and it is expected the new building will be completed in two or three weeks.” The front will remain 16 feet wide, but the depth will be increased to 40 feet, adding a 16 by 16 foot space for storage of records and a conference room. The old sheds in the back will be torn down, built to house the horses of those who attended meetings at the hall. The old barroom stove will be replaced by gas radiators. The old building was insured, so the reconstruction, the new heating system, and replacement furniture are covered. (10)
“The new Township Hall was reported near completion in March 1934 and ready to be placed in service “in the very near future.” (11)
Arguments ensued at a Township Committee meeting in March 1947 when the issue of replacing the heating system at the Township Hall was raised. The 
building was antiquated and should be replaced, according to the President of the Cliffwood Beach Civic Association. The chairman of the Township Committee argued that the building was centrally located within the township. He also noted that the Township had other higher priorities. (12)
References to the 93 Atlantic Avenue address began in The Matawan Journal in January 1947. Before that time, the street number was not used.
“Present Matawan Township Hall (left), at 93 Atlantic Avenue, was built in 1905 and is used by the township for municipal meetings and offices and houses the police department. This small wooden building has proven far too small for the business of the township today.” (13)
“Plans for a new municipal building (below) have been approved by the Township Committee, and the proposed structure will be built at the corner of Suydam Place and Lower Main Street. It will provide space for a meeting hall, police headquarters, jail cells and other municipal offices. Robert C Edwards, Fair Haven, is the architect for the new building.” (13)
The Township received bids on 10 July 1957 for construction of the new township hall and would award contracts at a special meeting on 29 July. (14)
“Work on the new Matawan Township municipal hall, Lower Main St, is nearing completion,” according to an April 1958 article. “The new building, which will house a main meeting room and municipal court, along with offices for the police department, township clerk and collector as well as a clerical room, should be ready for occupancy by mid-May.” (15)
147 LOWER MAIN STREET
The Tax Collector’s office opened at the new township hall on 22 May 1958. The address of the new town hall was provided by Tax Collector Charles J Kelly. (16)
1 ABERDEEN SQUARE
“The new Aberdeen Township Hall on Church Street, which opened [11 December 1979], has about two-thirds more space than the old building on Lower Main Street. The new one-story building cost almost $2 million.”
“The new Township Hall contains a 96-seat paneled council and court room auditorium, which is quite a change from the former location in the small basement of the old building. Carpeting and lighting for the auditorium is expected to be completed next week.
The complex also contains two caucus rooms, one of which may be used for community group meetings. The council held its caucus sessions in a trailer at the old complex.
The police department headquarters includes a console room containing television monitors, records room, offices, a squad room and an exercise room.
Four cells are adjacent to the courtroom and a “sallyport,” which is an enclosed garage, are automatically operated so prisoners can be secured. (17)
Aberdeen’s municipal building is located at 1 Aberdeen Square, which is off Church Street.
SOURCES
1- Matawan Journal, 24 Feb 1872, 7 Mar 1874, 15 Nov 1879, 15 Mar 1884, 24 Mar 1888.
2 – Matawan Journal, 27 Apr 1889, 21 Mar 1891, 12 Dec 1891, 21 Jan 1893, 20 Mar 1902.
3 – Matawan Journal, 2 Sep 1932
4- Matawan Journal, 21 Jan 1904
5 – Sanborn Maps of 1908, 1914 and 1923
6- Matawan Journal, 25 Feb 1904, 3 Mar 1904
7 – Matawan Journal, 10 Mar 1904
8 – Matawan Journal, 17 Mar 1904
9 – Matawan Journal, 3 Jun 1915
10 – Matawan Journal, 10 Nov 1933
11 – Matawan Journal, 23 Mar 1934
12 – Matawan Journal, 6 Mar 1947
13 – Matawan Journal, 27 Jun 1957
14 – Matawan Journal, 25 Jul 1957
15 – Matawan Journal, 24 Apr 1958
16 – Matawan Journal, 22 May 1958
17 – Asbury Park Press, 12 Dec 1979
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