Covenhoven House, Oakley Farm House Part of Weekend in Old Monmouth Tour

Historical sites throughout the county will open their doors on Saturday and Sunday for the fourth annual “Weekend in Old Monmouth.”

“The tour includes 45 sites and each illustrates a piece of local history,” Randall Gabrielan, executive director of the Historical Commission, said in a press release issued by the county.

Hours for most sites are from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, May 4 and from noon to 5 p.m. Sunday, May 5.

Freehold sites on the tour include Covenhoven House, Oakley Farm House, the Jewish Heritage Museum of Monmouth County, the Monmouth Battlefield Monument at the Monmouth County Courthouse, the Monmouth County Historical Association Museum and West Freehold School Museum.

According to the release, the 2013 tour includes six new locations: Keyport Fire Museum in Keyport, Monmouth Battle Monument at the Monmouth County Courthouse in Freehold, Old Yellow Meeting House in Upper Freehold, Red Bank Woman’s Club in Red Bank, the Borough of Roosevelt and Wilson Hall at Monmouth University in West Long Branch.

“Despite Superstorm Sandy’s best efforts, all but one of the sites from last year’s tour are back,” Freeholder Lillian G. Burry said in the release. “We are thrilled that all the sites came through the storm and are enthusiastically getting ready for this year’s Weekend in Old Monmouth.”

The tours also represent several historic themes:

• Shore: While the tour includes sites on the north, (Sandy Hook), central (Ocean Grove) and southern shores (National Guard Militia Museum), the drive along the shore is one of the best ways to feel and appreciate Monmouth County’s relationship to the Ocean.
• Faith: Architectural gems of each of the last three centuries, 18th century Christ Church in Shrewsbury, 19th century All Saints Memorial in Middletown and 20th century St. Catharine’s in Spring Lake. In addition, Old Tennent Church in Manalapan is closely tied to the Battle of Monmouth and the Friends Meeting House in Shrewsbury represents one of the oldest worship traditions in Monmouth County.
• The Revolutionary War: The Revolution is visited here, not only the major sites in the Monmouth Battlefield area, but in lesser known places such as the Burrowes Mansion in Matawan, Marlpit Hall and the Murray Farm, both in Middletown.
• Military: There is Fort Hancock at Sandy Hook, the most heavily fortified installation on the East Coast for much of the 20th century, the National Historic Landmark Monmouth Battlefield in Manalapan and one of the more fascinating, but lesser known museums, the New Jersey National Guard Militia Museum in Sea Girt with museum exhibits and fighter aircraft and tanks.
• Preservation: Marlpit Hall in Middletown was the first restored house museum in the region, dating from its 1930s opening.

“The outlined tours help put the pieces together thematically or geographically. Many previous tour visitors have elected to see the places in an order of their own selection. The proposed starting points are just suggestions for those who may be seeking guidance,” Gabrielan said in the release.

Other elements on the tour also include lighthouses, Victorian homes, agriculture, industry, education and science.

The following sites are included on the tour:

Roosevelt Borough

More information about Weekend in Old Monmouth is available on the county’s website at visitmonmouth.com.