Stafford Township Historical Society

Stafford Township: 1749 - present

Stafford Township was chartered on March 3, 1749. Up until then, the land had been part of Shrewsbury Township, Monmouth County. Stafford included all land now belonging to Waretown, Barnegat and much of the area south of present day Stafford, including Eagleswood. Also included was a large part of Long Beach Island.

Meetings

Our regular meetings are held at 7pm at the Train Station in Heritage Park on the 3rd wednesday of every month unless otherwise noted.
These are the meetings for 2012

Jan 18	May 16	Sept 19
Feb 15	Jun 20	Oct 17
Mar 21	Jul 18	Nov 21
Apr 18	Aug 15	Dec 19

Yearly Events

Summer Concert Series will be held every Monday, from July 25, 2011 to Aug 29, 2011, at the St Mary's Parish Center on McKinley Ave in Manahawkin. Concerts start at 7 PM and go until 9 PM. Concerts are free but a $1.00 donation is encouraged.

Veterans Day - Nov 11, 2011 at 10:30am. Ceremonies will take place at the Historical Baptist Church (Cultural Center) on Rt 9 including guided walking tours of Stafford historic sites and the ringing of the church bell at 11 am.

229th Anniversary of the Skirmish at Cedar Bridge - Dec 27, 2011 @ 2pm - come see an interpretation of the last battle of the American Revolutionary war on location at Cedar Bridge Tavern in Barnegat.

Cedar Bridge Tavern Location
View Larger Map

Recent Happenings

2011 STHS brochure
(JPG images)

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Stafford Township Historical Society
to Dedicate Railroad Car
What was for a time an “eyesore”, an environmental concern, and then the victim of vandalism is now ready for dedication. On August 6th, the Stafford Township Historical Society will dedicate the 1922 passenger railroad car located at the Tuckerton Manahawken Railroad Station in Heritage Park.
Once a part of the Central Railroad of New Jersey, passenger car #929, similar to those used on the Tuckerton Railroad, also served to convey American service personnel to ships headed to the Vietnam War and as a clubhouse for sea cadets at the Earle Naval Weapons Depot . It was delivered to its location in Heritage Park in August, 2006. After being totally enclosed in blue plastic while asbestos was being removed, it was then refurbished inside with new paint, carpeting and several reupholstered seats. In fall of 2008, vandals started a fire that destroyed the new interior.
Today, it is again in pristine condition, in preparation for its use as a Society meeting place, a classroom and tour stop for our school students.
On Saturday, August 6th, at 10 am, the passenger car will be dedicated.
As a special feature of this event, the Stafford Township Historical Society is asking our citizens to bring any photos they have that can bolster the Society’s archive of local history. Look into your attics, old trunks and garages and allow us to reproduce them. Please provide us with information about persons in the photo, location where taken and date, as well. We don’t’ want our past to disappear unacknowledged.

Products for Sale

Train Seats

We are soon to be selling Train Seats on the new 1922 train car. To help pay for the cost of reupholstering the old train seats, you can buy a seat which will have a brass plaque attached to it with your name on it. Email here if you are interested.

Afghan of Stafford Township historic sites.
"Stafford Chronicles" a history of Stafford Township in pictures and stories.

We welcome questions, comments or suggestions about this sight.
Simply e-mail us.
All constructive, positive ideas are welcome.

The Stafford Township Historical Society received an operating support grant this year (July 2010 to June 2011) from the New Jersey Historical Commission, a division of Cultural Affairs in the Department of State, administered by the Ocean County Cultural & Heritage Commission.

This Site is maintained for the Stafford Historical Society by: TeleCottage, Inc.
55 North Lakeshore Dr, Manahawkin, NJ 08050
phone: 609-978-0617

This Site was slightly Updated: April 20, 2012

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