'Weekend in Old Monmouth' features tour of historic sites
Monmouth County's first "Weekend in Old Monmouth" historic tour will open the doors of 32 local historic sites all at the same time - from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on May 3 and from noon to 5 p.m. on May 4.

"Independent and local historic sites are generally operated independently of one another," said Monmouth County Freeholder Director Lillian G. Burry, who is also the liaison to theMonmouth County Historic Commission. "This special tour project has coordinated the hours of operation so that history buffs can walk or drive to many of our richest historic places and enjoy them in the spring."

"The tour has many options," said Randall Gabrielan, executive director of the Monmouth County Historical Commission. "The outlined tours (North, Central and South) place what are often widely separated sites in some semblance of order. Visitors may see the places in any other, or no order, or reverse the sequence from the proposed starting points. A detailed tour book andmap will be available at tour locations."

The tours also represent several historic themes:

• The Revolutionary War: The Revolution visited here, not only themajor sites in the Battle of Monmouth area (Manalapan and Freehold), 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 LandmarkMonmouth Battlefield inManalapan and one of the more fascinating, but lesser knownmuseums, the New Jersey National Guard Militia Museum in Sea Girt with museumexhibits and fighter aircraft on the ground, and tanks.

• Preservation: Marlpit Hall in Middletown was the first restored house museum in the region, dating from its 1930s opening.

• 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.

• Shore: While the tour includes sites on the north, (Sandy Hook), central (Ocean Grove) and southern (National Guard Militia Museum) shores, the drive along the shore is one of the best ways to feel and appreciate Monmouth County's relationship to the shore.

Other elements on the tour include lighthouses, Victorian homes, agriculture, industry, education and science.According to a press release from the county, all of the sites contributed to the importance of preservation and history throughoutMonmouth County. The county and the historical commission have been in the fore of the preservation movement by having made preservation grants to most of the tour's nongovernment buildings.

2008 marks the 325th anniversary of a March 1683 Act by the provincial General Assembly that established the County of Monmouth.

Asite list and map are available on the county's Internet Web site at www.visitmonmouth. com.