The annual two-day event, “Weekend in
Old Monmouth” returns with a list of
historic sites throughout the County
that will be opening their doors to the
public and to people interested in the local history
of the county. The tour dates for this year will be
Saturday, April 30th and Sunday, May 1st. The
time of the tours will be Saturday 10-5 and Sunday
12-5.
Freeholder, Lillian G. Burry, liaison to the
County’s Historical Commission, is the coordinator
for the weekend event. “It’s a wonderful event for
anyone interested in our rich history and unique
architecture,” Ms. Burry stated.
All of last year’s tour sites will be on the list
so if you want to get a head start in previewing
the tour sites, go to the County’s website at www.
visitmonmouth.com. Sometime during mid
April new information and details of the touring
sites will be posted and available on the County’s
website at the above email address. Each stop will
also have maps and booklets available.
The tour includes 46 sites, all of which illustrates
a piece of local history. It also represents several
historic themes. Here are a few of the sites you can
visit on tour.
Shore- The tour includes sites on the north
(Sandy Hook), central (Ocean Grove) and southern
shores (National Guard Militia Museum).
Faith- 18th century Christ church in Shrewsbury,
19th century All Saints Memorial in Middletown,
and a 20th century St. Catharine’s Church in
Spring Lake, Old Tennent Church in Manalapan,
Friends Meeting House in Shrewsbury, and Yellow
Meeting House Church in Upper Freehold.
Revolutionary War- Monmouth Battlefield
in Manalapan, Burrowes Mansion in Matawan,
Marlpit Hall and Murray Farm in Middletown.
Military- Fort Hancock at Sandy Hook, National
Historic Landmark Monmouth Battlefield in
Manalapan, New Jersey National Guard Militia in
Sea Girt, which has museum exhibits and fighter
aircraft and tanks.
Other aspects of the tour include lighthouses,
Victorian homes, agriculture, industry, education
and science.
Sites closer to our area include: The Covenhoven
House in Freehold, The Jewish Heritage Museum
in Freehold Township, The Monmouth County
Historical Association Museum in Freehold,
The Oakley Farmhouse in Freehold Township,
Old Yellow Meeting House in Upper Freehold,
Roosevelt Borough, the Old Tennent Church
in Manalapan, The Village Inn, Englishtown,
Historic Walnford in Upper Freehold, The West
Freehold School Museum in Freehold Township
and newly added, the Historic Thomas Baird
Homestead, which will include a tour of the Baird
home, the barn and blacksmith shop. The Thomas
Baird Home is located at 24 Baird Road, Millstone
Township, NJ.
The Baird family was a prominent family
that can date its roots back to the 1700’s in the
township. The Baird Home was built in the 1830’s
by Thomas Baird. It was built on over a 500-acre
tract of land owned by the family with the original
Baird Homestead a mile or so down the road. The
family can trace its roots back to Scotland to John
Baird. John Baird had a son David, who had a son,
David Baird, who fought in the Revolutionary
War. He was enlisted as Captain of the Militia in
1777. Captain Baird had eighteen children. He
was married three times. His son, Thomas Baird,
built the current Baird House. To read more about
the Baird history go to: The “Friends” of Millstone
Township Historic Registered Properties
(MTHRP) http://www.mtfriendsofhistory.org/
Make sure you save some time to visit the
Historic Baird House