- Indian Trails - The Minisink Trail, one of the five main Indian trails crossing New
Jersey, passed through Matawan on what is known as today’s Wilson Avenue on the west and Mill Road on the east.
- Town Names - Matawan was first known as Warne’s Neck, then New Aberdeen, Middletown Point, Matavan and finally,
in 1882 – Matawan.
- On April 13, 1885, Matawan was organized as a borough.
The population was 1,437.
- Matawan Firsts:
1. First Postmaster 1795 - Middletown Point’s first postmaster
was Jonathan Forman who was appointed April 1, 1795.
2. First newspaper in Monmouth County 1795 – the “Jersey
Chronicle” was started on May 2, 1795 by Philip Freneau in Matawan (Middletown Point).
3. First financial institution 1830 – The Farmers and Merchants
Bank of Middletown Point (now Matawan) was chartered in 1830 and remained the only financial institution in town for 34 years.
4. First Railroad Station 1875 - December 15, 1875, the Matawan
railroad station is opened. It continues to operate and is the oldest station in continuous use on the
NY and LB RR line.
5.
First Department 1869 - the
first Monmouth County volunteer fire company (bucket brigades excepted) was organized in Matawan when Washington Engine Company
was formed.
6.
First Matawan newspaper 1869 –
“The Journal and Matawan Advertiser” was founded in 1869 by David A. Bell. It was later purchased
in 1890 by Benjamin F.S. Brown and the name was changed to “The Matawan Journal”.
7. First Gas Lights 1870 – Gas lights were installed on Main Street in 1870.
8. A New Jersey Governor – on January 19, 1875, Joseph D.
Bedle, a native of Matawan was inaugurated as governor of New Jersey.
9. First Library 1903 – The Matawan Public Library was instituted
in 1903 and was only the second library in Monmouth County.
10. First Football Team 1934 – Matawan High School forms our first football team.
11. First NYC Commuter Bus 1959 – the first commuter bus to New York City left Matawan on March 2, 1959.
- The Burrowes Mansion - at 94 Main Street was built in 1723.
- Oldest Matawan Home - the Hawkins House on Mill Road, the oldest house in Matawan – was built prior to 1700.
- About 1842, the Burrowes Mansion was known as “The Steamboat Hotel”.
- Matawan
Creek’s
1.
Dangers – In 1831 Captain Bent
steered the first Steamboat up Matawan Creek. Boats traveling between Matawan and New York City often were
frozen in the ice and had to be chopped out. According to a 19th century diary, the steamboat
“Ocean Wave was frozen up in 1856 for 79 days.
2. Matawan Produce Exporting – at one time, farmers shipped produce to New York
City by boats which docked near Lower Main Street.
3. Ocean-going sailing vessels came up Matawan Creek as far as Hyer’s Farm –
what is known as today’s Buttonwood Manor.
4. Matawan Creek was dammed at Ravine Drive and Lake Lefferts water overflowed the dam
in October 1929.
- Matawan will be 322 years old on September 30,
2008
Thank you to Joan Roum for her kind contribution of these facts.