History: Charles Heyl, Matawan Baker (1939)

Charles Heyl (1922)

The 5 Jan 1939 edition of The Matawan Journal reported the impending retirement of Charles Heyl, a long-time baker in Matawan. The piece was on the front page with a banner headline, but Charles was surprised at the coverage, saying he hadn't told anyone about his plans. There seem to be a few errors in the timeline, based on my research, which I've provided below. I was unable to find reporting on Charles' death, which seems to have occurred between 1943 and 1950.

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Charles was born 17 Dec 1870 in Aschuffenburg, Germany to Peter Heyl, according to his passport application in 1922. His naturalization papers in 1895 say he was born 17 May 1870. His 1900 Census record showed his birth in Dec 1869.

Charles sailed for America from Antwerp in Jun 1887, according to his passport application in 1922.  His naturalization papers in 1895 say he arrived on 27 Apr 1887.

The 1892 New York State Census showed Frank Heyl (55 Germany) and wife Mary (52 Germany) with children Charles (20 Germany), John (18 Germany), August (12 US), and Edwin (10 US) living in Brooklyn, Kings County, NY. Frank was listed as as engineer.

Charles was naturalized on 16 May 1895 in New York County, NY. At the time, he was living at 2459 Eighth Avenue in Manhattan. He was a baker. A neighbor, Charles Linder, merchant, served as witness.

Charles married about 1897 to a German woman named Frances, who emigrated to the US in 1892 or 1893.
The 1900 Federal Census showed Charles (30 Germany - Dec 1869) and wife Fanny (25 Germany - Sep 1874) living on Eighth Avenue in Manhattan, along with daughter Mary J (8 mos Germany - .Sep 1899). Charles was listed as a baker.

The 1905 New York State Census showed Charles (35 Germany) and Fannie (30 Germany) with daughter Theresa (5 Germany) living at 2463 Eighth Avenue in Manhattan, NY. Charles was listed as a baker.

Charles moved to Matawan and established a new bakery on the "Gehlhaus Block," where Charles Gehlhaus had operated a bakery for many years. Frederick "Fred" Meyr became his partner in the operation of Heyl & Meyer Bakery, which opened on 13 Jun 1908.

The 1910 Federal Census showed Charles (40 Germany) living on Main Street in Matawan, along with his wife Frances (35 Germany) and their daughter Theresa (10 Germany). Also in the household is Frederick Meyer (35 NJ NJ NJ), Charles' business partner, and August Ludwig (18 Germany), also a baker. August emigrated to the US in 1909 and remained an alien.

The 10 Aug 1911 edition of The Matawan Journal reported the visit of Mrs Heyl's sister and niece, Mrs Rossback and Lena, respectively, of New York. Her nephew, Charles Rossback, stayed with the Heyls for several weeks.

The 1920 Federal Census showed the widowed Charles (49 Germany) living on Holmdel Road in Matawan Township, along with his daughter Theresa Heyl (20 NJ Germany Germany). Also in the household was his business partner, Fred Meyer (43 NJ NJ NJ). Both Charles and Fred were listed as bakers. 

Charles filed a US passport application in 1922 for an upcoming voyage to Germany. His application said he was domiciled on Main Street in Matawan and was working as a baker.

Charles remarried about 1922 to a German woman named Elise, nicknamed Ella, who emigrated to the US in 1922. UPDATE: She was Ella Schwab, daughter of Franz and Kunigunde (Hornbacker) Schwab, according to her obituary.

Charles put an addition on his home on Valley Drive and resumed his baking.

The 1930 Federal Census showed Charles (59 Germany) living on Valley Drive in Matawan, along with his second wife, Ella (38 Germany) and a boarder, Emma Wilson (17 NJ NJ NJ). Charles was listed as a baker with his own business. Ella remained an alien.

Charles and his wife Elise (40 Wuerzburg, Germany), of Matawan, sailed from Hamburg aboard the S S Deutschland on 19 Mar 1931.

Two months after the headline (at top) saying he planned to retire, Charles was rushed to Perth Amboy Hospital, as reported in the 30 Mar 1939 edition of The Matawan Journal. He and his wife had returned a week earlier from a vacation in Florida.

The 1940 Federal Census showed Charles (69 Germany) and Ella (48 Germany) living in Matawan Township.

The 23 Dec 1943 edition of The Matawan Journal reported a recent dinner honoring Mr and Mrs Charles Heyl.

The 2 Nov 1950 edition of The Matawan Journal reported that Mrs Charles Heyl would be sailing to Germany to spend four months visiting relatives.

UPDATE: Ella S Heyl, resident of Valley Drive in Matawan, died 7 Oct 1955 at Monmouth Memorial Hospital in Long Branch, according to her obituary in the 13 Oct 1955 edition of The Matawan Journal. She was buried as Ella Schwab Heyl at St Joseph's Cemetery in Keyport. Her gravestone says she was born in 1892, according to Find A Grave. Her obituary said Ella had lived in Matawan for 35 years and was survived by her daughter, Theresa Diggin, of Matawan, and three sisters in Germany.

Fred Meyer died on 12 Jun 1958, according to his obituary in the 19 Jun 1958 edition of The Matawan Journal..

History: Joseph Rose (1809 - 1877)

Joseph Rose, a prominent businessman and Democratic New York City revenue official, relocated to the Cliffwood section of Matawan Township in 1860 after an infirmity brought an early end to his hectic city life. He had purchased a farm in Cliffwood about 1832 and owned a large home on County Road, so he and his family were well acquainted with the Bayshore. He is recognized in New York City history for playing a role in the purchase of Central Park. Local history in Matawan recognizes him for selling the land used in the development of Rose Hill Cemetery. He served one term as a Monmouth County Freeholder representing Matawan Township.

Below are some research notes on Joseph Rose and his wife and children:

Joseph Rose was born 25 Oct 1809 in Manhattan, New York, son of Joseph Rose, who was born in 1768 in Manhattan, New York and died on 21 Nov 1852 in Matawan, according to notes at Find-A-Grave.

The 1820 Federal Census includes a Joseph Rose in the 10th Ward of New York, NY with a male less than 10 (Joseph Jr), a male 26-44 (Joseph?), and a female 26-44 (Joseph's wife).

He married Frances Stanton Willet on 23 Oct 1827, according to notes at Find-a-Grave.

The 1830 Federal Census includes a Joseph Rose, Jr in New Barbadoes, Bergen County, NJ with 1 male 20-29 (Joseph), 1 male 30-39 (?), and 1 male 60-69 (Joseph Sr?), 1 female less than 5 (?), and 1 female 20-39 (Frances). 

The 1840 Federal Census includes a Joseph Rose in the 17th Ward of New York, NY with 2 males under 5 (sons Joseph and George), 2 males 15-19 (laborers?), 1 male 20-29 (Joseph), 1 female under 5 (daughter?), 1 female 20-29 (Frances). There were 3 persons in manufacture and trade (Joseph and two laborers).

The 1850 Federal Census lists Joseph Rose, Jr (40 NY), a gun smith in the 4th Ward of Manhattan, NY with $8,000 in real property, with wife Frances S Rose (42 MA), sons Joseph Rose (15 NY), George Rose (13 NY) , William Rose (10 NY) and Cordelia Rose (5 NY). Also in the household was Mary Curran, of Ireland.

The 1860 Federal Census lists Joseph Rose (50 NY), a farmer in Matawan with $30,000 in real property and $6,000 in personal property, with wife Frances S Rose (50 MA) and daughter Cordelia Rose (15 NY). Also in the household were Thomas and Margaret Martin, farm laborer and servant, respectively, of Ireland. Also in the household weree Jacob Seal of Wirtemburg, farm laborer, and Mary Rose (18 NY), possibly another daughter.

The 1870 Federal Census lists Joseph Rose (60 NY), a farmer in Matawan with $35,000 in real property and $30,000 in personal property, with wife Frances S Rose (50 CT). Also in the household were three farm laborers and an elderly man named Clark Phelee (74 NY).

Joseph Rose died 4 Dec 1877 in Matawan, according to notes at Find-a-Grave.

His obituary appeared in the 8 Dec 1877 edition of The Matawan Journal. The text (as much as I could read) is found below:

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OBITUARY - MR JOSEPH ROSE

     ---, one of the oldest residents of this township. For two or three days it had been reported that he was very ill; but so vigorous had he always seemed that few anticipated a fatal result. He had been complaining for two or three weeks, but was not confined to his bed until Friday last, and from that time he seemed to fall into a frequent stupor and unconsciousness, and died on Tuesday morning, 4th inst, at 9 o'clock. The cause of his sudden death was Bright's disease of the kidneys, and the rapid degeneration of these organs produced a condition of anemia which hastened his end.

     Mr Rose was a gentleman of intelligence, integrity of moral character, sociability and possessed of a very warm and benevolent nature. He began business in New York city in very early life, was married before he was nineteen, and growing up with the growth of the city he won to him very many friends by the close adherence to business, promptness in all his business engagements and strict honesty in all his dealings.

     While a resident of New York, he represented the city in the Legislature for one term and refused renomination. He was a Democrat in politics and a warm partisan. He served for two terms as Collector of City Revenue under Comptroller Flagg, and his integrity was held so high that on the election of Comptroller Haws, though politically an opponent, he was urged to remain in his position, and he continued as Collector of the Revenue until compelled by vertigo to resign. He, as occupying the above place, had much to do with negotiating the purchase of Central Park.

     He was an officer in the old City Guards and an intimate associate of Hon John Kelly, Judge Chas P Daley and other prominent men of New York.

     About 45 years ago he purchased a farm at Cliffwood and has ever since been the owner of the same. He owned the site of Rose Hill Cemetery and sold it to the cemetery corporation. That place is honored with his name, and in it is his family plot where his remains will be interred. For several years prior to his permanent removal to New Jersey his family spent their summers at Cliffwood. Shortly after the severe attack of vertigo that compelled him to give up a lucrative position and a profitable business besides, he removed in 1860 to his farm and has for the past 17 years resided among us, endearing himself to this community, and during the time represented the township for one term to the Board of Freeholders.

     On the 23rd of October last, only about six weeks ago, a merry company gathered at his residential home to join with him and his wife in celebration : their golden wedding. We referred then to the miniature sheaf of wheat overhanging their bed, less a symbol of ripening years. ---------- it becomes also the symbol of his having been gathered in by the great harvester, Death.

     Mr Rose will be missed not alone by his widow and large family of children, grandchildren and great grandchildren, but the whole community, and in his benevolence his loss will be keenly felt by many living in the immediate vicinity of his home.

     The funeral will take place on Monday next, 10th inst, at 1:30 pm, the long delay being occasioned that the youngest son, from Colorado, might be present at the funeral.

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See also the 8 Sep 2013 article of the blog From Maine to Kentucky, which contains a rendering of the above obituary, along with images of the original text.

In 1853, the State of New York authorized the purchase of 700 acres of Manhattan for the establishment of Central Park. See Central Park History.

The 28 Oct 1893 edition of The New York Times carried the obituary of Frances Stanton Rose, widow of Joseph Rose. She died suddenly at Morristown, NJ in the 87th year of her age. Her funeral was to be held at the First Presbyterian Church of Matawan on 28 October at 11 am. Directions to take the train from New York were provided.

History: Colonial Matawan House (1937 - 1938)

Between July 1937 and February 1938, there were references in local newspapers to a rooming house in Matawan called the Colonial Matawan House. For less than a year, the activities of guests at this location made the society pages of The Matawan Journal and the Red Bank Register.

The 15 Jul 1937 edition of The Red Bank Register reported that Mrs John H Miller and daughter Joan of Watertown, Mass had been guests for the past week of the Colonial Matawan House.

The 22 Jul 1937 edition of The Red Bank Register reported that Mr. and Mrs. John Patino of New York were spending their vacation at the Colonial Matawan House.

The 27 Jan 1938 edition of The Matawan Journal reported that Miss Lillian Hutchinson, supervising boro nurse, would soon be moving from the Colonial Matawan House to an apartment in the Spafford W Schanck house on Jackson Street.

The 3 Feb 1938 edition of The Matawan Journal described the birthday party George Thomsen threw for himself and 16 of his friends at the Colonial Matawan House. There was dancing and "late in the evening refreshments were served." 

The 10 Feb 1938 edition of The Matawan Journal reported that Miss Lillian Henderson was given a housewarming party by friends who lived and dined at the Colonial Matawan House.

The 17 Feb 1938 edition of The Matawan Journal indicated that Mrs John H Miller of Boston and her daughter Joan would be visiting Mrs Miller's mother, Mrs John P Lloyd, who lived at the Colonial Matawan House. Joan would also visit Mrs John Tourine, the former Miss Ann Erickson.

The 24 Feb 1938 edition of The Matawan Journal reported that Mrs John H Miller of Boston, while vacation for the week at the Colonial Matawan House, was the dinner guest of Mr and Mrs Phillip L Neidlinger at the home of Mrs James E Voorhees. She was subsequently the guest of Lt Col and Mrs George Lane VanDeusen at Fort Monmouth.

History: Green Tree Inn, Freneau (1934)

The 31 Aug 1934 edition of The Matawan Journal announced the opening on 1 Sep 1934 of the Green Tree Inn at the corner of upper Main Street and Mill Road in Freneau, in the location once occupied by the Monmouth Inn and Green Pump Inn. (Thomas Welstead's leasing of the Monmouth Inn to be operated as the Green Tree Inn was mentioned briefly in The Matawan Journal of 24 Aug 1934.)

Thomas Welstead Takes Over Monmouth Inn

Thomas Welstead, commander of Matawan Post 176 of the American Legion, has taken over the Monmouth Inn on upper Main Street in the Borough of Matawan and it will be known as the Green Tree Inn.

Mr Welstead has completely redecorated the interior and has arranged all plans for a gala opening tomorrow night. A special steak dinner will be served; the widely-known Penn's Pennsylvanians have been engaged to furnish the dance music and entertainment. There will be no cover or minimum charge and the management is prepared to take care of a large crowd. (pg 1 col 3)

Another Retail Liquor License Granted Here by Boro Council

Another alcoholic beverage license was granted Tuesday night at the regular meeting of the Mayor and Council of the Borough of Matawan in Borough Hall. Thomas G Welstead, proprietor of the Arrowhead Garage, Main Street near Valley Drive, by unanimous action was voted a license to sell for consumption on the premises at the Green Tree Inn, formerly known as Farry's Monmouth Inn and the Green Pump Inn, corner Main Street and Mill Road in the Freneau section. . . .  (pg 1 col 6)

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I did some research on the ownership of the property at the corner of Mill Road and Route 79 and was able to trace its names back almost 135 years. There are some loose ends, which I hope to sort out over time. For now, here is a reverse chronological listing of the names I've found and some evidence from The Matawan Journal.

Brass Rail Bar and Grill  (2009 - )

The Brass Rail is located at 89 Main Street, variation 89 Freneau Avenue, variation 89 Route 79, in Freneau or Matawan, NJ.

Comeback Inn featuring the Dugout Bar (2007)

The 6 Jun 2007 edition of The Independent has a story about the bar's reopening.

Poet's Inn (1961 - ?)

The grand opening of the Poet's Inn took place on 28 Dec 1961.

Charlie's Matawan Inn (1948 - 1961)

Charlie Messina held the grand opening of Charlie's Matawan Inn under new management on 2 Jul 1948, according to the above ad in the 1 Jul 1948 edition of The Matawan Journal.

 The 5 May 1949 edition of The Matawan Journal included the above ad for Charlie's Matawan Inn.

Charles Messina applied for a liquor license for Charlie's Matawan Inn, according to a public notice in the 22 Jun 1950 edition of The Matawan Journal.

Charles Messina applied for renewal of his liquor license for Charlie's Matawan Inn, according to a public notice in the 16 Jun 1960 edition of The Matawan Journal.

Closed? (1939 - 1948)

Matawan Inn (c 1936 - 1939)

The 19 Jan 1939 edition of The Matawan Journal announced that the Matawan Inn had suspended operations and was now closed. The liquor license had been issued to Christopher Daly but the establishment had been operated by his brother, a former Staten Island resident.

Green Tree Inn (c 1934 - 1936)

The Green Tree Inn was mentioned in The Matawan Journal from 1934 to 1936.

A connection between Green Tree and Mrs Rosa Bergen, a prominent socialite and member of Democratic Women in the borough and the county, appeared in 1935. She died in 1958.

 The 30 Aug 1935 edition of The Matawan Journal included the above ad for Rosa Bergen's Food Shop at the Green Tree Inn.

The 8 Nov 1935 edition of The Matawan Journal included an ad for Rosa Bergen's Food Shop at the Green Tree Inn encouraging patrons to secure their Thanksgiving reservations.

The 14 Feb 1936 edition of The Matawan Journal (pg 6 col 2) mentioned an event held at the Green Tree Inn.

The 30 Jul 1936 edition of The Matawan Journal reported that Thomas Welstead was refused a liquor license for a new location for several reasons - petitions received from local residents, lack of precedent for having a licensed tavern in that vicinity, and the danger to the driving public of having a tavern located on Route 34 at Route 4/Route 9.

Monmouth Inn (1926 - c 1932)

I found mentions of the Monmouth Inn in The Matawan Journal from 1926 to 1932.

The 3 Dec 1926 edition of The Matawan Journal reported that John Farry, formerly of Matawan but currently of New York, had purchased the Green Pump Inn. Farry would winter in Florida and take possession of the restaurant on 1 March 1927. 

The proprietor of the Monmouth Inn was identified as John H Farry in the 17 Jun 1927 edition.

Green Pump Inn (c 1923 - 1926)

The earliest mention I could find of the Green Pump Inn was in the 23 Nov 1923 edition of The Matawan Journal.

The 6 Nov 1925 edition contained the above advertisement for the Dickson Green Pump Inn, a tea and chop shop. A society page piece reported that the Green Pump Inn's owner, James Dickson, was enjoying a visit from his father, Frederick W Dickson, of Brooklyn.

The 18 Jun 1926 edition of The Matawan Journal contained the obituary of Mrs Helen Potts-Hall. The obituary reported that she had purchased the Mount Pleasant Hotel (presumably the Freneau Hotel?). She renovated it as a tea house and opened it under the name Green Pump Inn. She found the work too arduous for her liking, so about 1925 she sold it on contract (presumably to James Dickson), but that contract has since been forfeited. She lived much of her life with her brother, Frank G Potts.

The above ad appeared in the 23 Jul 1926 edition of The Matawan Journal.

Freneau Hotel (1921)

"Around Matawan and Aberdeen" mentioned that the location of the Poet's Inn served as a hotel under various names: Matawan Inn, Freneau Hotel, Mount Pleasant Hotel and Applegate's Hotel among them.

The 13 Jan 1921 edition of The Matawan Journal mentions the Freneau Hotel several times.

Applegate's Hotel (c 1907 - c 1920)

"Around Matawan and Aberdeen" mentioned that the location of the Poet's Inn served as a hotel under various names: Matawan Inn, Freneau Hotel, Mount Pleasant Hotel and Applegate's Hotel among them.

The 22 Nov 1917 edition of The Matawan Journal announced that taxes would be collected at J E Applegate's Hotel in Freneau on 17 December.

The 1920 Federal Census showed Jacob E Applegate, 49 NJ, to be the owner and keeper of a hotel enumerated on Freehold Turnpike in Matawan Township. Jacob was living in the household of his widowed mother-in-law, Lou Hartenstein, 60 NJ. Also in the household was Jacob's wife, Lou Hartenstein's daughter,  Elizabeth (Hartenstein) Applegate, 37 NJ; and Jacob and Elizabeth's children John Applegate, 11 NJ, and Elizabeth Applegate, 7 NJ. Also in the household was Sarah Applegate, 34 NJ, but I couldn't read the relationship.

The 1910 Federal Census showed Elmer Applegate, 39 NJ, to be running a hotel on Freehold Road in Matawan. Also in the household were his wife of 4 years, Elizabeth Applegate, 25 NJ; their son John Applegate, 2 NJ, and widowed boarders Loie Hartenstein, 48 NJ, and Mary Applegait, 88 NJ. (Elmer is obviously Jacob E Applegate's middle name.)

The 1900 Federal Census showed Jacob Applegate, 30 NJ, to be running a hotel in Matawan Township. He was enumerated with his wife of 8 years, Nona Applegate, 25 NJ. She had borne one child that did not survive. Two boarders were enumerated in the household, one being a bartender.

Mount Pleasant Hotel (c 1880 - c 1907)

"Around Matawan and Aberdeen" mentioned that the location of the Poet's Inn served as a hotel under various names: Matawan Inn, Freneau Hotel, Mount Pleasant Hotel and Applegate's Hotel among them.

The 31 Jan 1880 edition of The Matawan Journal (pg 1 col 2) carried the above ad offering the Mt Pleasant Hotel for sale or lease.

An 1892 edition of The Matawan Journal reported that an ox roast and jollification had taken place at the Mt Pleasant Hotel on Tuesday afternoon and was well attended. Food was free; drink was not. I found this article memorialized in the 9 Dec 1932 edition of The Matawan Journal, reporting what had been in the paper 40 years earlier.

The 1900 Federal Census showed Loie Hartenstein, 42 NJ, living in Montclair, NJ with husband Edward Hartenstein, 42 CT, operator of a hotel. In their household was niece Sarah Applegate, 12 NJ.

The 30 Jan 1902 edition of The Matawan Journal reported that pigeon shooting contests were in vogue at the Mount Pleasant Hotel.

"Shooting at Pigeons - Interest in pigeon shooting is being revived in this vicinity and several matches have recently been shot at the Mt. Pleasant Hotel. Last Thursday Dr. Bogardus outshot H L Bennett, both of Keyport, the score being l 9-14. A team match between Werner and Johnson and Abe Morris and Richard Gill was won by the former, 6-5. . . . "

The 16 May 1907 edition of The Matawan Journal announced that Mrs Loie Hartenstein had been granted a renewal of her license for the Mt Pleasant Hotel. Note: Loie Hartenstein's relationship to the hotel in Freneau in 1907 was as the owner's mother-in-law. She obviously had some management responsibilities, perhaps because of her previous experience in hostelry from Montclair. Her daughter Elizabeth married Jacob Applegate about 1906. Jacob likely was widowed when he remarried.

The 12 Dec 1907 edition of The Matawan Journal announced that the Matawan Township tax collector would be meeting tax payers at Harvey Stillwaggon's Hotel in Cliffwood on 10 December; the Mt Pleasant Hotel in Freneau on 11 December; the Aberdeen Hotel in Matawan on 12 December; P Sullivan's Hotel in Oak Shades on 13 December; and Township Hall on 20 December.

Applegate's Hotel (1874)

The 20 Jun 1874 edition of The Matawan Journal mentioned Applegate's Hotel but didn't provide a location. This may not have been in Freneau.

Marvin the Accidental Entrepreneur

A Matawan businessman's successful transition a few years ago from fired employee to thriving entrepreneur is the basis for this American Bankers Association Banking Journal (ABABJ) community banking story. Good for Marvin.

History: Henry W Fagan (1849 - 1913), Matawan Grocer

As part of my mini-marathon of Fagan research, I looked into George H Fagan's son Henry, who was a grocer in Matawan for at least a few years in the late 1870s.

The 9 Feb 1878 edition of The Matawan Journal (pg 3) contained the above advertisement for Murphy and Fagan grocery store, operated by William H Murphy and Henry W Fagan. They also called themselves The Great Matawan Butter Depot, apparently for the benefit of former customers of that company. The same ad appeared in the 3 Nov 1877 edition.

George H Fagan's son, Henry W Fagan (10 NY), was living with his father in Matawan in the 1860 Federal Census. He lived with his father and brothers James and George in Manhattan in the 1870 census. They were all listed as shades manufacturers in 1870. James did well in gold mining in Colorado in the mid- to late 1870s.


Henry's grocery store business partner was likely identical with William H Murphy (15 NJ), printer's apprentice, who was living in the Matawan household of Daniel M Bell, printer, in the 1870 census. This was likely a duplicate enumeration, as a teenaged boy with the same name and approximate age appeared in the 1870 census with his parents in nearby Raritan, showing the occupation "learning a trade." William H Murphy (14 NJ) was in the household of John W Murphy (57 NJ), who was in the trucking business. Ten years earlier, William Murphy (4 NJ) appeared in the 1860 Federal Census as one of the numerous children of John W Murphy (48 NJ), merchant, and his wife Elizabeth L Murphy (41 NJ).

The 25 May 1878 edition of The Matawan Journal contained an advertisement (right) for Henry W Fagan's Matawan grocery. His grocery was advertised in the Journal through the end of 1878.

Henry W Fagan was a member of the Matawan Hook and Ladder Company, according to the 14 Dec 1878 edition of The Matawan Journal. The article detailed how Henry, Joel A Walling, Henry Fisher, Nathaniel Dean (?) and James VanSchoick formed a committee to travel to Hoboken to exchange pleasantries with the Hoboken Hook and Ladder Company there, with whom they had a social relationship. Henry delivered a speech and there was dancing, music and  food.

The 4 Jan 1879 edition of The Matawan Journal (pg 2 col 4) contained this announcement: "Mr W Kramer Harris, son of A H Harris, Esq, has purchased the grocery business of H W Fagan, at the stand next to Scheck's meat market. He presented his compliance to the public on the 1st of January by means of a circular, in which he extended a happy new year's greeting."

I've been unable to locate Henry Fagan in the 1880 Federal Census, nor have I found him in the 1881 Canada Census. I have found no records showing him crossing the US border into or out of Canada.

Henry married about 1883 to a woman born in Canada. They had a son named Arthur in November 1883 in New Jersey, based on the 1900 Federal Census. At some point between 1879 and 1885, Henry and wife relocated to New Haven, CT. Between 1885 and 1900 they moved to Chicago, IL.

The 1 Aug 1885 edition of The Matawan Journal announced "Mr and Mrs Henry W Fagan and child, now of New Haven, Conn, have been spending the past week as guests of Mr Fagan's parents in Matawan."

H W Fagan, born Dec 1849 (50 NY East Indies NJ) was a solicitor enumerated in Chicago, Cook County, IL in the 1900 Federal Census. His wife, indexed as Mirrian was born in Mar 1860 in Canada to a father born in France and a mother born in Canada. They had been married 17 years. Their son Arthur Fagan was born in Nov 1883 in New Jersey.

I found a birth record for an unnamed infant 12 Nov 1883 in Hudson County, NJ to Harry W Fagan, age 30, and unnamed female, age 26, both parents born in the US. Harry and Hank are both possible nicknames. The ages don't match for Henry and Mirian, and Mirian was born in Canada, not the US, but this is a promising lead.  I was unable to locate matching parents in the 1880 census.

Henry W Fagan (58 IL Ireland Ireland) was an insurance agent living at 742 East 46th Street in Chicago, Cook County, IL in the 1910 Federal Census. He lived with his wife Mirian (52 Canada Canada Ireland) and a divorced salesman from Ohio who boarded with them.

Henry died 22 Aug 1913 in Chicago, Cook Co, IL, according to Ancestry's Cook County Death Index.

History: Monmouth Consolidated Gold Mining Company, Gilpin County, Colorado (1876)

Image of Quartz Hill and Nevadaville, Colorado in the Denver Public Library Digital Collections. The Monmouth and Fagan-Kansas mines appear towards the right side of the image.

The 29 Apr 1876 edition of The Matawan Journal has this interesting piece to add to my recent post about the old Fagan homestead.

"The Monmouth Democrat this week has an editorial notice of the Monmouth Gold Mine, in Colorado, owned by a stock company. Mr James Fagan, to whom reference is made in the article, is a son of George H (not James) Fagan of our town. One-half the stock is owned by citizens of Matawan and vicinity, and the other half by Mr James Fagan, by whom the mine is operated. But this is only one of Mr Fagan's enterprises. He has several other shafts, more valuable even than the Monmouth alone, and has also formed a partnership with a gentleman named Metcalf, and under the firm of Metcalf & Fagan these gentlemen have established a Bureau of Mines and Mining in the new building corner of Broadway and Fulton St, NY."

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The Monmouth-Kansas Mine was located in Nevada Gulch, Nevadaville, Gilpin County, Colorado in 1880. The area had been so rich in gold since 1859 that the county was known in Colorado as "Old Reliable." The Monmouth Company hit a dry spell in 1878-79 and the Kansas Consolidated Mining Company purchased their Monmouth and Fagan properties in the spring of 1880 , according to Colorado, Its Gold and Silver Mines: Farms and Stock Ranges and Health and Pleasure Resorts (1880), by Frank Fosset.

See a map of the Fagan and Monmouth-Kansas Mine, in Colorado (1875-1885), at the Portal to Texas History.

The Burroughs (Quartz Hill), Camp Grove (Quartz Hill), Fagan-Gunnell (Gunnell Hill), Monmouth-Kansas (Quartz Hill) and Monmouth-Kansas Mill (Nevada Gulch) mines were all operated by the Monmouth Consolidated Gold Mining Company, New York, according to the Colorado Directory of Mines (1879).

The Monmouth operations are mentioned in The Engineering and Mining Journal, no 25, 23 Mar 1878.

There are numerous references to Fagan and Medcalfe (sic) and their gold mines in Colorado: A Historical, Descriptive and Statistical Work on the Rocky Mountain Gold and Silver Mining Region (1878), by Frank Fosset.

History: Old Fagan Homestead Destroyed by Fire (1932)

The 12 Feb 1932 edition of The Matawan Journal (pg 1 col 2) carried this story about a house fire in Freneau.

OLD FAGAN HOMESTEAD DESTROYED BY FIRE

Without Water Firemen Could Not Cope with the Blaze

The house known as the old Fagan Homestead, an old landmark in the Freneau section of Matawan Township, was destroyed by fire Wednesday morning. The several fire companies of the township and borough were called out at about 4:30 for the blaze, but could do little to fight the fire with chemicals and without water could but watch the complete destruction of the building.

The house of two and a half story frame construction was built about 50 years ago by George Fagan for his grandson, George Fay. The building was owned and occupied by Frank Tiernan. Mrs. George Deitz was a former owner. It is thought the fire originated from the furnace. The estimated loss is about $15,000.

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The Fagan Household

The newspaper said George Fagan built the "old Fagan homestead" for his grandson, George Fay, but I suspect he built it for himself and his family when he was flush with cash in the 1870s or earlier. His grandson was too young circa 1882 to have a house built for him. The 1880, 1895 and 1900 censuses all showed the Fagans and Fays living together, so there was likely only one "old Fagan homestead."

The house likely passed from George Fagan to his daughter Stephanie between 1895 and 1900 and then to grandson George Fay. The grandson evidently sold it to George and Anna Dietz before he moved to Vermont. Since Anna F Dietz and Frank Tiernan lived on Wilson Avenue in the 1930 census, that was presumably where the Fagan house was located.

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The records below provide a rough outline of the likely inhabitants of the Fagan homestead in the last half of the 19th century and the early 20th century. The Fagan and Fay ownerships are blended in the documentation. They are followed by the Dietz and Tiernan occupancies.

In the 1850 Federal Census, George Fagan (30 East Indies) was a painter living in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, NY. Also in the household were his wife, Lydia (28 NJ), daughter Eliza (9 NY) and sons James (8 NY), George (5 NY), Elias (4 NY) and a newborn son (1/12 NY). (Eliza appeared in 1860 as Fanny and in 1870 and later censuses as Stephanie and Stephanie E.)

In the 1860 Federal Census, George H Fagan (44 East Indies) was an artist living in Matawan. Also in the household were his wife, Lydia A Fagan (43 NJ), daughters Fanny (19 NY) and Lydia A (4 NJ), and sons James (18 NY) , George (15 NY), Elias (13 NY), and Henry (10 NY).

In the 1870 Federal Census, James C Fagan (28 NY) was a shades manufacturer living in Manhattan (14th District, 19th Ward, New York County, NY) with wife Isabella and son William. Also in the household were his father, George H Fagan (56 East Indies) and brothers George H (25 NY) and Henry (19 NY), all also noted as shades manufacturers. James had real property worth $30,000 and personal property worth $5,500. The father had real property worth $10,000 and personal property worth $3,000.

The 9 Jul 1870 edition of The Matawan Journal carried the above ad (pg 3) and this interesting piece (pg 2) about George H Fagan:
"We call attention to the advertisement of G H Fagan and Son, in another column. The senior member of this firm has perhaps seen more of the vicissitudes of human life than any other man in this vicinity. In his youth he enjoyed the luxuries that British wealth can give, and the benefits of British and French Universities. He came
to this country and has enjoyed affluence since his residence here, but a number of years since he lost everything and was compelled to seek a home wherever he could get it at a moderate rent. This brought him, with his family, to Matawan about twelve yeas ago. Since his residence here, he has been treated friendly by some, but unfriendly by others. Now, fortune seems to be smiling upon him again, and we wish him abundent success."

There was a separate listing in the 1870 census for a George H Fagan (53 England) who was a manufacturer living in Matawan with a wife Lydia (47 NJ) and a daughter Lydia (15 NJ). He had personal property worth $6,420 and real property worth $10,000. This could be a distinct person or a second enumeration.

Luther C Fay (27 VT), grocer, was enumerated in Matawan with wife Stephany E (28 NY) and daughter Jennie M (1 NJ) in the 1870 Federal Census.

The 3 Oct 1874 edition of The Matawan Journal referred to George H Fagan, of Mount Pleasant, who had "a field of the largest corn we have seen this season. . . ."

The 2 Oct 1875 edition of The Matawan Journal reported that Edward Schuberth & Co, New York, published a new piece titled "Gleaming Threads of Silver Hue Shade Through Your Curls of Gold," words and music by George H Fagan, of Matawan.  (Image above from the Library of Congress)

The 29 Apr 1876 edition of The Matawan Journal spoke of James C Fagan, son of George H Fagan. James was successful in the gold mining industry in Colorado.

The 5 Oct 1878 edition of The Matawan Journal brought news of the unexpected death of George's son, Elias P Fagan, who was working James Fagan's mines in Bald Mountain, Colorado.

"One of the saddest records of death that we have been called to chronicle is that of Mr Elias P Fagan, at Bald Mountain, Colorado, on Saturday morning, Sept 21st. In April last he was married in Matawan to Miss Libbie Roberts, and with his bride started to for new house in Colorado. He was prospering, and letters from himself and his wife were full of bright anticipations. But suddenly he was taken ill, and the telegram received on the 21st ult. announced his death after only three days of sickness. He was the son of Geo. H Fagan, Esq, of Matawan, and was the first child Mr and Mrs Fagan ever lost. He was employed at the time of his death in connection with his brother's gold mines on Bald Mountain. The blow comes with great severity to the family here, and to the desolate widow in that far-off country."

The 26 Jul 1879 edition of The Matawan Journal had an amazing snakes story that happened to mention George H Fagan's property as adjoining Charles Layton's property, which was on the road leading to Henry Henninger's mill. The mill clue suggests Mill Road, but the Willson name also suggests Wilson Avenue.

All three men appear on the same page of the 1880 Federal Census.  Here are Layton's and Henninger's details:

• Charles Layton (62 NJ), farmer and wife Abby (59 MD England MA)
• Henry Henninger (34 Germany), miller, wife Odelia (30 Germany) son Henry (6 NY) and daughters Emma (4 NJ) and Odelia (1 NJ).

"... Mr. Charles Layton lives on the road toward Heninger's mill (formerly Willson's), his property adjoining that of Mr. Geo. H. Fagan on the west. On Thursday afternoon he was turning over some peat on the meadow at the back part of the property, when he opened up a nest of snakes, among them a black
snake about five feet long, with a body as large as an ordinary wrist, and two yellow snakes of some species, one of which also was five feet long and of equal size of body. Besides these there were a number of young snakes that came 'snaking' out of the throats of the maternal serpents, much to the consternation of the young man who was standing near. Mr. Layton, with true courage, took the spade that he held in his hand aud killed every one of them, big and little. As true as George Washington cut the cherry tree, so true is this
snake story."

In the 1880 Federal Census, George H Fagan (66 East Indies Ireland France) was a retired merchant living in Matawan. Also in the household were his wife, Lydia A Fagan (64 NJ NJ NJ), son George (27 NY East Indies NJ), daughter Lydia (24 NJ East Indies NJ), and widowed daughter Stephanie Fay (38 NY East Indies NJ) with George's granddaughter Jennie Fay (11 NJ VT NY) and grandson George Fay (9 NJ VT NY).

George H Fagan was listed as a 1881 tax delinquent by Matawan Township, according to the 18 Feb 1882 edition of The Matawan Journal. At $21.88, his tax debt was the fourth highest in the township.

George H Fagan, his son George H Fagan, Jr, and George C Fay and his sister Jeannie Fay were enumerated together in Matawan in the 1895 New Jersey State Census.

In the 1900 Federal Census, George Fagan was a boarder in his widowed daughter's home in Matawan Township. Much of the following information from this enumeration is incorrect. Stephanie Faye was born in Feb 1841 (59 years old) in New York to parents from NJ and NY. Her son George Faye was born in May 1873 (27 years old) in NJ to parents from NY. George Fagan was born in Nov 1850 (49 years old) in NY to parents from England and NJ. George Faye was a salesman and George Fagan was a farmer. George Fagan would have been between 74 and 86 years old, according to earlier censuses, a full 24 to 36 years older than this enumerator recorded.

George Calvin Fay was born 4 Aug 1870 in Matawan Township to Luther C and Stephanie Fay, according to the NJ Births and Christenings Index at Ancestry. He was living with wife Emma in Matawan in Matawan in the 1910 Federal Census, after which he was enumerated in Sharon, Vermont in 1920, 1930 and 1940. George Fay he died 17 Nov 1951 in Hartford, Vermont, according to Vermont Death Records at Ancestry. The death record provided his dob as 14 Aug 1870.

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George A Dietz, 52 years old and born in Pennsylvania, was a wholesale druggist who lived on Mill Road in Freneau in the 1920 Federal Census. Also in the household were wife Anna F (50 NY NY NY) and five children ages 10 to 17, all born in NY.

In the 1930 Federal Census, the widow Anna F Dietz and family were enumerated on Wilson Avenue in Freneau just above Frank Tiernan, 41 years old and born in NJ, and his wife Katherine (36 Irish Free State).

UPDATE: There is a George Hickson Fagan (18 Aug 1810 - 23 Nov 1876) who is listed in The Peerage. He served in the Bengal Engineers. He's not a match to our George but you wonder how many George H Fagans there could have been in the East Indies.

George H Fagan was a First Lieutenant in the 28th Regiment Native Infantry, Bengal, India as of June 1818, and was a member of the Asiatic Society, according to the East India Register and Directory, by W H Allen (London, 1819), pp 94, 122.

George H Fagan was a First Lieutenant in the Bengal Corps of Engineers from 30 May 1839 until 12 Jun 1844, according to the East India Register and Army List, by F Clark of East India House, London (London: 1845), pg 76

George H Fagan was a Brevet Captain in the engineers assigned at the Bombay establishment of Britain's East India military service. He arrived overland in England in December 1844, according to the Asiatic Journal and Monthly Miscellany, Nov 1844 - Apr 1845, pg 204. He, his wife and child were to be enroute from Southampton to Alexandria. pg 334.

George H Fagan was a Captain in the Corps of Engineers at the Headquarters at Meerut. His season of appointment was 1829. He received his rank in corps as of 5 Dec 1848, and rank in army as of 12 Jun 1844, according to East India Register and Army List (London, 1855), pg 85.

UPDATE: There was a James P Fagan (49 Great Britain), gentleman, who arrived at the Port of New York from London aboard the Ship Quebec on 3 May 1837 with wife Stephania (42), son George (23) and daughters Stephania (20) and Mary (19).

This could be James Patrick Fagan (17 Mar 1788 Cork, Ireland -16 Apr 1863 St Servan, Brittany, France) who had wife Stephanie LeMere (about 1785 France - 16 Jan 1873 St Servan, Brittany, France). James earned the Army of India medal and served in the East Indies. The family tree I found online at Ancestry showed this family with several children but no George. Perhaps the family traveled to the US but all but George returned to Europe? I've written to the owner of the family tree involved and am awaiting a response.

History: Restaurant Operators in Keyport in 1910 Census

In my quest for further information about Ye Cottage Inn's early days, I searched the 1910 Federal Census for restaurant operators enumerated in Keyport and found three: Henry Denison, Yancey Anderson and Thomas B Rowser.

1) Henry Denison operated a successful restaurant on First Street, according to the History of Monmouth County, New Jersey (1664 - 1920), Vol 3, pg 346. Since his restaurant was not on Front Street, I've ruled him out as an early operator of Ye Cottage Inn.

2) Yancey Anderson operated a restauran, perhaps in Matawan, until 1892, when he relocated to West Front Street at Main Street in Keyport. According to the History of Monmouth County, pg 646, Anderson sold his restaurant in 1913 to Burtis A Aumack, who operated it and a hotel until 1918, when Aumack sold them both to become involved in the successful West Furniture Co business. (See my Burtinia Place article elsewhere in this blog for further details about Burtis Aumack.) Anderson's restaurant would have been closer to where Keyport Pizza is situated today, so I'm ruling it out, too.

3) I found little about Thomas B Rowser's restaurant, but since it wasn't operating in 1892 and wasn't on First Street, it seems to be the only viable candidate to be the earliest iteration of Ye Cottage Inn -- that is if the restaurant began operations in 1906 as it said on its signs. Thoughts?

Here is what I've collected on Anderson and Rowser:

Yancey Anderson

The 2 Jul 1892 edition of The Matawan Journal (pg 2 col 5) included this advertisement announcing that Yancey Anderson's restaurant would be relocating to Front Street opposite Main Street in Keyport. (The same ad appeared in many of the 1892 editions.)

NOTICE!

Yancey Anderson

- HAS -

Removed his Restaurant

to the floor under E H Conover's gents' fur-

nishing store and K Van Brakle's ladies'

and gents' shoe store, where you will

Find Him Catering to the Public.

---------

Yancey Anderson

is the Only Caterer that caters for Weddings, Par-

ties and Private Dinners. He is the only one that

makes it a specialty.

He will continue keeping his fine flavors of

ICE CREAM,

and also everything else in his line of business, first

class and strictly pure.

                                            Thanking You for past patronage

                                                  Remain Yours Very Respectfully

                                                     YANCEY ANDERSON

                                        Front Street, opposite Main, Keyport, NJ

The 5 Sep 1900 edition of The Red Bank Register (pg 4 col 5) contained an advertisement for Keyport's Restaurant, operated by Yancey Anderson. "When you are in Keyport, go to Yancey Anderson's restaurant for your needs. Caterer for weddings and parties."

The 17 Feb 1938 edition of The Red Bank Register (pg 7 col 5) carried this summary of a news item from 25 years earlier (1913) in its Items of Yesteryears from Register Files series. "Yancey Anderson, who had been in the restaurant business at Keyport for 30 years and who also had a restaurant at Sea Bright, sold his business at Keyport to Burtis A Aumack, one of his former employees."

Census research showed Yancey as a 27 year old waiter in Cooperstown, Otsego Co, NY in 1880.

Yancey was a 46 year old restaurant keeper in Raritan, Monmouth Co, NJ in the 1900 census. He was born in Oct 1853 in South Carolina ; his parents were both born in South Carolina as well. His 44 year old wife Sarah J Anderson, was born in May 1856 in New Jersey; her father was born in NJ and her mother in New York. Sarah was employed at her husband's restaurant. They had daughters Stella (born Jul 1873 in NJ) and Leslie (born Oct 1874 NJ) living at home.

The 1910 census showed Yancey living in Key Port as the proprietor of a restaurant. He was 59 years old and born in SC, as were his parents. His wife Sarah J was 58 years old, born in NJ to parents born in NJ and NY. She had given birth to two children, both of whom were still alive. Their single daughter Stella, age 36, remained at home. They lived on Broad Street in Keyport.

Yancey is buried at Holmdel Cemetery. His stone reads that he was born in 1852 and died in 1920.

The 1880 census reported Yancey as black; the 1900 census reported Yancey, his wife and children as black; in 1910 he and his wife and child were listed as mulatto. The graduation from Keyport High School in the 1890s of Yancey's two colored daughters was mentioned in the 15 Jun 1911 edition of The Matawan Journal.

Thomas B Rowser

The graduation of Thomas B Rowser's colored son Kenny from Keyport HS was also highlighted in this article. Thomas was a Keyport restaurant owner at the time as well.

Thomas (52 VA VA VA) and his wife Maggie (51 VA VA VA) lived on Fulton Street in Keyport in the 1910 Federal Census. Thomas' occupation was listed simply as "restaurant".  They had a son Charles K (17 NJ). Their daughter Leodicia Dandridge (29 VA) lived in the household with her husband John M Dandridge (31 VA) and their three children. John was a laborer on a tender. A third child of Thomas and Maggie had died.

Thomas (Mar 1856 VA) was a cooper living on Waverly Street in Raritan with his wife Maggie and two children in the 1900 census.  Brothers William and John Dandridge of Virginia, who both worked at a brickyard, were boarders in the household.

Thomas was a worker in a cotton mill in Falmouth, Stafford Co, VA in the 1870 census.

Thomas was buried at the African-American Midway Green cemetery off Lloyd Road in Aberdeen. His stone says he was born in Mar 1854 and died in Nov 1915.

John Matthew Dandridge died at his Fulton Street home on 23 Feb 1950, age 70, predeceased by his wife, Leo Dicia (Rowser) Dandridge (sic). His obituary appeared in The Matawan Journal's 2 Mar 1950 edition.

History: Ye Cottage Inn, Keyport (1906 - 2012)

Ye Cottage Inn was a restaurant located at the mouth of Luppatatong Creek, aka Oyster Creek, at 149 West Front Street in Keyport. The restaurant was destroyed in Superstorm Sandy in late October 2012 and the building razed.

In later years, the restaurant boasted that it was established in 1906, and a local history dated the restaurant's origin at about 1915, but the earliest reference I could find in local newspapers was 1926. To be sure, the issues of The Matawan Journal for the second half of 1906 are not available and I haven't viewed issues of The Keyport Weekly from the time period, but why there are no references to Ye Cottage Inn in the twenty years between 1906 and 1926 is a big question.

Some locals have told me the last iteration of Ye Cottage Inn was actually a composite of several restaurants that used to be in separate, neighboring buildings. One of the buildings was said to have been the former Burlew's Restaurant.

William E Burlew (July 1904 - August 1989) was proprietor of Ye Cottage Inn in the mid-1920s, between a short stint running the Keyport Fishery (1918 - 192X) and nearly 40 years (1928 - 1966) operating Burlew's Restaurant, according to his obituary in the 23 Aug 1989 edition of The Middletown Independent. The photo (right) is of the Original Burlew's on West Front Street in Keyport.

The 24 Nov 1926 edition of The Red Bank Register announced that Emanual Einzinger, of the Keyport Dry Goods Company, treated his staff out to dinner at Ye Cottage Inn.

The 21 Dec 1928 edition of The Matawan Journal contained an advertisement (image, left) in which Burlew's Restaurant invited people to celebrate New Year's Eve at their establishment - music, dancing, fun for all, and a turkey dinner, all for $3.50.


The 19 Aug 1932 edition of The Matawan Journal (pg 1 col 2) reported that Jacob Rippen, proprietor of the Original Burlew's Restaurant on Front Street in Keyport, was appealing charges that he had punctured the tire of a patron of Ye Cottage Inn because the patron's car was parked on his lawn. A fine of $25 was in the offing.

The 19 Jun 1936 edition of The Matawan Journal said Jacob Rippen had applied to Matawan Township for a liquor license as Original Burlew's Inc.

By 1940, Arthur C Schultze and his wife, Virginia (Griffin) Schultze, co-owned Ye Cottage Inn.

Virginia D Griffin, age 6 NJ, lived at 109 Broadway in Keyport in the 1920 Federal Census and was enumerated in the household of her father, William L Griffin, 47 New York, a steam fitter at a chemical plant. Also in the household were her mother, Allie, 44 NY; her widowed grandmother, Isabella W Chipman, age 80 NY; and Virginia's older sister, Mabel D Griffin, age 17 NJ.

Virginia was born 29 August 1913 in Keyport, the daughter of Mr and Mrs William L Griffin of Broadway in Keyport. Virginia died on 27 June 1944 at Allenwood Hospital in Allentown after a six-month illness. (Source: Virginia's obituary in the 29 Jun 1944 edition of The Matawan Journal, pg 2 col 1)

The 1940 Federal Census showed Arthur C Schultze, age 35 Germany, living on Front Street in Keyport with his wife Virginia, age 26 New Jersey, and their daughter Virginia, age 4 NJ. Arthur and his wife were both listed as proprietors of a restaurant. Daughter Virginia attended Penn Hall Preparatory School in Chambersburg, PA, and the University of Miami in Miami, FL. She married Rex Crawford, according to the 10 Mar 1955 edition of The Matawan Journal.

According to the 18 Oct 1945 edition of The Matawan Journal, a former busboy and two of his associates, ages 14, 17 and 18, all of Keyport, allegedly attempted to hold up Ye Cottage Inn on 23 July 1945. Arthur's sister, Mrs Ella Kurica, of 727 Charles Street, Perth Amboy, was shot twice -- once in the neck and once in the back -- after she recognized one of the young men in a rear passageway of the restaurant. Arthur, proprietor of the restaurant, was shot in the head when he came to her aid. A cashier was severely beaten.

While all survived the ordeal, Ella was in the hospital for months recuperating and suffered paralysis in one leg due to her spinal injury. Doctors assessed she would remain crippled the rest of her life. The shooter was brought up on additional charges when he reached age of majority and was due to leave Rahway Reformatory, according to the 20 Feb 1947 edition of The Matawan Journal (pg 4 col 5).

Arthur's sister Ella Kurica, 34 Germany, lived in Perth Amboy in the 1940 Federal Census along with her husband, George Kurica, 36 NJ, a machinist in ship repair, and their children Charles, 15 Germany, and Julia, 11/12 NJ. Ella lived in Keyport in 1935 while George lived in Perth Amboy.

Ye Cottage Inn ran a Christmas advertisement in the 22 Dec 1949 edition of The Matawan Journal (pg 4 second section, or pg 10 of 12). Arthur C Schultze was listed as proprietor.

Ye Cottage Inn, under proprietor Arthur Schultze, was open to the public only two days after the devastation of Hurricane Donna, according to the 22 Sep 1960 edition of The Matawan Journal.

Tom Lucas was the proprietor of Ye Cottage Inn, according to the 16 Sep 1965 edition of The Matawan Journal (pg 9 first section, col 6).

The 20 Sep 1997 edition of The South Amboy-Sayreville Times (pg 3) featured Ye Cottage Inn as the Business of the Month.The article said the owners for the past eight years (c 1989) have been George Hilas, Mihal Hilas and George Vouloumanos. The manager was Denise Wolf.

--------------------------

I will continue to research Ye Cottage Inn's origins and will update this article as appropriate, but there is enough information at this point to warrant publishing my results to date. I welcome comments or emails with additional information, corrections, leads, references and/or photographs that could clarify the YCI story.

Sherburne M Graham Diary (1889)

Sherburne M Graham, the son of Methodist circuit rider Rev Charles Curtiss Graham, spent the summer in Keyport in 1889. I suspect that his step-mother was from the area and he was working a summer job.

Sheburne's diary is for sale at an antiquarian bookseller in Ontario, Canada for over $2,000.

A Kayak's View of the Matawan Shark Attacks

A few years ago, a kayaker made the two videos below on a stretch of Matawan Creek near Dock Street in Matawan. The site, which is circled in light blue on the map above, is behind Aby's Restaurant and Key Autobody, et al, which are just across Main Street from the big railroad parking lot where the flea markets are held.

The videos claim to show the place where Lester Stillwell and Stanley Fisher were killed in a vicious shark attack in July 1916. And they show the spot where they claim Lester's body was recovered.

The second video shows a lot of pilings in the creek at low tide. Most of those are what remains from the old railroad trestle fire of 1946. The land was built up to the north of Aberdeen Road to replace the trestle, leaving a small outlet through which Matawan Creek now flows.

Matavan (detail), Wolverton's Atlas (1889)

The other pilings shown in the second video are the remains of the old steamboat landing at Dock Street. The creek was more substantial before two dams were built, an earthen roadway was built to convey the railroads, and the Garden State Parkway came along. The creek was wide and deep enough for the propeller steamboat S S Wyckoff to convey passengers and goods between New York City and Matawan in the 19th century. Multiple brickyards were built along the creek to facilitate shipping of their goods.

The Scots Presbyterians landed at Matawan Creek in the 17th Century and established a number of churches in the area, including communities at Wickatunk, Old Tennent, and Mount Pleasant (the present day First Presbyterian Church of Matawan).

The original local articles about the attacks are available online. The 13 Jul 1916 edition of The Matawan Journal contains the breaking news and the local response. The 20 Jul 1916 edition has reporting on the funeral of Stanley Fisher and the discovery of Lester Stilwell's body.

See more details of old local maps from Wolverton's Atlas here.

Matawan Creek (1)

.

Matawan Creek (2)

History: Scotsman Marries Local Girl; Claims to be Oxford Grad and Play for Eagles (1935)

I came across an intriguing marriage announcement in the 5 Jul 1935 edition of The Matawan Journal. Mae Layton of Old Bridge, a grammar school graduate, would wed Neil O'Neil (sic), a Scot who had studied at Oxford. The son of Charles O'Neil (sic), Neil was a "professional soccer football player" working for the Philadelphia Eagles. I thought the whole thing curious, so I did some digging.

What I learned was that Neil O'Neill was born in Denny, Stirlingshire, Scotland on 3 March 1906, the son of John O'Neill. He emigrated to the US in early 1929 and made occasional trips back home to Scotland. I found a Neil O'Neill at the right age and birth place working as a factory machinist and boarding with a Scottish family in Detroit, MI in the 1930 Federal Census. By February 1935, Neil was a leather worker living with his Polish electrician friend, Frank Guscior, 101 South Walter Avenue, Trenton, NJ. The Scottish homestead between 1935 and 1960 was at 35 Rintoul Avenue, Blairhall, Fife, Scotland. By the 1950s, Neil had become a "fermenter operator." It must have been profitable work because he was took the kids (Maureen O'Neill DOB 21 Apr 1951 and John O'Neill DOB 12 Aug 1952) on the Queen Mary for a four-week stay in the United Kingdom.

-----------------------------

Neil O'Neill (33 Scotland) and his wife May (26 NJ) were in the 1940 Federal Census living in East Brunswick, NJ with children Neil Jr (4 NJ) and James (1 NJ). He was a cutter in a pocketbook factory. They both were living in Trenton, NJ five years earlier. She had completed 7th grade and he had completed four years of high school.

Mae Layton (5 6/12 NJ) was in the 1920 Federal Census living in East Brunswick, NJ in the household of her widowed father, Charles Layton, Jr (40 NJ). Her brother Charles (3 6/12 NJ) was also in the household. I found her father and brother in the 1930 Federal Census, but Mae wasn't in the household. Perhaps she was at boarding school?

Neil O'Neill (22 Scotland) was a miner from 32 Blairhall, East George, Fife when he sailed from Glasgow aboard the S S Cameronia on 23 Feb 1929. He was headed for New York and planned to reside in the US.

Neil O'Neill (28 Scotland) departed Glasgow, Scotland on 15 February 1935 aboard the S S Caledonia and arrived at New York on 27 February 1935. He was born in Denny, Scotland, the son of John O'Neill. Neil was a leather worker by profession and was being hosted by his friend, Frank Gusior (sic), 101 South Walter Avenue, Trenton, NJ.

-----------------------------

The only hint of European football, other than the marriage announcement, was when I looked up Denny in Wikipedia. Apparently the area has a team founded in 1888 called Dunipace Junior Football Club.  You can check out the club's history here.

So, if Neil played soccer in Scotland, he was very young, as he came to the US age 22, so he might have played a few years after high school. Whether or not he played professionally, I can't say. As a miner from Scotland with only four years of high school education, I doubt he attended Oxford. And making leather purses in Trenton, it seems unlikely he played professionally for the Eagles, but perhaps that was his hope. At 2 wins 9 losses, the Eagles had an abysmal 1935 NFL season, by the way.

If someone knows the back story on this, I'd be interested.

CORRECTION: I fixed the text to recognize that Maureen and John were children, not grandchildren, of Neil and Mae O'Neill. Thanks for the information.

Matawan Drugs - Early History (1932 - 1962)

Here's some early history of Matawan Drugs as found in The Matawan Journal between 1932 and 1962.

Matawan Drug Co rented space at 176 Main Street, according to advertisements in the 16 Sep 1932 edition and the 12 Jun 1947 edition of The Matawan Journal.

Robert F Letts died on 6 May 1954 at his home at 145 Main Street in Matawan, according to the 13 May 1954 edition of The Matawan Journal. Letts worked at Crossman Clay Co of South Amboy, according to his obituary. He was survived by his wife, Elizabeth.

Abraham M Kaminsky bought the Lett property in late 1954 for less than $10,000 and tore down the house, according to the 1 Sep 1955 edition of The Matawan Journal (pg 1).

Kaminsky had a brand new building erected on the vacant property and held its grand opening on Friday 2 Dec 1955. The 1 Dec 1955 edition of The Matawan Journal included a large ad page with supportive congratulations from local businesses, including those that had a hand in building or outfitting the new building.

The commercial space that the Matawan Drug Company vacated at 176 Main Street was finally leased, according to the 27 Mar 1958 edition of The Matawan Journal.

There was an ad for Matawan Drug Co in the 21 Mar 1957 edition of The Matawan Journal (pg 20).

Matawan Drug Co supported a local benefit by selling tickets to the Hunt Brothers Circus and Wild West Show, according to the 25 Jul 1957 edition of The Matawan Journal.

Matawan Drugs ran a joint ad with Sanford Pharmacy in the 5 Jul 1962 edition of The Matawan Journal (pg 5). The two stores would take turns staying open until 8 pm on Sundays and holidays.

Matawan Drugs offered free and prompt pick up and delivery in the 11 Oct 1962 edition of The Matawan Journal (pg 3).