Bradevelt, New Jersey

Last updated

Bradevelt, New Jersey
Bradevelt, NJ.jpg
Looking east along CR 520
Location map of Monmouth County, New Jersey.svg
Red pog.svg
Bradevelt
Location in Monmouth County (Inset: Monmouth County in New Jersey)
USA New Jersey location map.svg
Red pog.svg
Bradevelt
Bradevelt (New Jersey)
Usa edcp location map.svg
Red pog.svg
Bradevelt
Bradevelt (the United States)
Coordinates: 40°20′04″N74°14′22″W / 40.33444°N 74.23944°W / 40.33444; -74.23944
Country Flag of the United States.svg  United States
State Flag of New Jersey.svg  New Jersey
County Monmouth
Township Marlboro
Elevation
161 ft (49 m)
ZIP Code
07746
GNIS feature ID0874884 [1]

Bradevelt is an unincorporated community located within the Morganville section of Marlboro Township, in Monmouth County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. [2] [3] County Route 520 travels through Bradevelt, while Route 79 is located west of the community. The area consists of a mix of businesses along the two main roads, farmland, and the remains of the Marlboro Psychiatric Hospital which is being converted to Big Brook Park. [4] The former Monmouth County Agricultural Railroad (a portion of which is now part of the Henry Hudson Trail) runs north and south through Bradevelt. [5] Early to mid 1800s the area was called Hulsetown. [6]

Contents

Agriculture

Produce was shipped to many locations nationally. [7] The New York Times describes a harvest time observation that at one point, as many as 100 wagons and horses were in line waiting to unload at the train station. [8] However, the area was also known for Rome, Paragon and Stark apples, which won awards [9] [10] [11] as well as peaches, corn [12] [13] and amber wheat. [14] In 1908, "the largest ear of corn ever grown in New Jersey... was picked"—it contained twenty-six rows of large corn on it. [15]

In addition to farming produce, the area also hosted most other livestock commonly found on a farm. At various times, the area was known for turkey production [16] and other poultry, [17] boar, [18] Berkshire pigs, calves, cows, Khedive Bulls, horses and ads to sell them were common in local livestock magazines. [19]

Some years were bad for the farmers, Army worm were heavily infesting the farms in the area in 1924 [20] and then in 1925, the area was heavily infested with Japanese beetle. The infestation was so bad that the township of Marlboro, and specifically Bradevelt was placed under a Quarantine. All produce sold had to be certified by the state lab in Riverton where it had to be inspected free of Japanese Beetles. [21] This had a dramatic negative effect on selling produce that year.

Structures

School

There was a two-story red school house [22] on Route 520 in Bradevelt re-purposed from a house in 1810, [23] which was torn down in 1913 and replaced for 1914 school year. [24] In this school, future U.S. Vice President Garret Hobart as well as his father Addison Hobart and future Assemblyman John D. Honce were teachers. [25] Frank Dugan came from this school and later became important to the educational system in Marlboro; a school is named after him.

Psychiatric hospital

In 1928, construction of a Marlboro Psychiatric Hospital was begun. The main entrance to the hospital was on route 520 in Bradevelt. The hospital transferred 500 patients from Graystone Hospital in 1931 when it opened. [26]

The 509 acres purchased by the state for the hospital grounds were purchased for $76,000. It was reported that the houses and farms which were obtained in 1928 were considered "very old". Some of the structured destroyed were built before the Revolutionary War. [27]

Post office

Bradevelt had a post office. In 1865, the mail was handled by Patrick Carton who lost an arm in the Civil War. [28] Mail delivery started as twice a day. In 1929, it was changed to once daily in the evening; then changed to morning delivery. [29] However, the population did not support a separate dispatch and the Post Office was closed in February 1932. Mail for the area was sent to the main Marlboro office. [30]

Historic churches

Two historic churches serve Bradevelt. Both Located on Route 520, the first is St. Gabriel's Chappel. Built by Fr. Frederick Kivelitz in 1878, the church served the community until a larger church was built in Marlboro. St. Gabriel's Church is known for an annual carnival. In 1949, the carnival featured the Yankees baseball team featuring Phil Rizzuto and Snuffy Stirnweiss. [31] The second church was started in 1709, as the "First Reformed Church of Freehold", but in 1931 changed its name to "Old Brick Reformed Church". In 1826, the church reconstructed the building and erected the present edifice. [32]

Train station

One of seven railroad station stops along the twelve mile railroad line from Matawan to Freehold was located by Route 520 in Bradevelt. Potatoes & Marl were a main crop and product for the area. In 1914, 225,000 barrels of potatoes were shipped from the Bradevelt station. The depot burned down in May 1926. [33] Following the fire, a rail car was used for the station agent and ticket sales. [34]

Other features

Illegal alcohol stills were very common in the Bradevelt area during the prohibition. [35] In some cases, the stills would explode causing barn and house fires. [36]

Found in a Marl pit in Bradevelt was evidence that New Jersey had chestnuts growing 60 million years ago. This was after a well preserved specimen was found and identified by the Yale Forest School. [37]

The area was known for good fishing on the Hop Brook. Trout, Pike, pickerel and perch were known to be caught on this stream. [38]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Monmouth County, New Jersey</span> County in New Jersey, United States

Monmouth County is a county located in the central portion of the U.S. state of New Jersey. It is bordered to its west by Mercer and Middlesex Counties, to its south by Ocean County, to its east by the Atlantic Ocean, and to its north by the Raritan Bay. Monmouth County's geographic area comprises 30% water. The county is part of the Jersey Shore region of the state. It has also been categorized under the Central Jersey region, though it was not among the four counties explicitly listed as included in Central Jersey as part of legislation signed into law in 2023.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Freehold Borough, New Jersey</span> Borough in Monmouth County, New Jersey, US

Freehold is a borough in and the county seat of Monmouth County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. Known for its Victorian era homes and extensive colonial history, the borough is located in the Raritan Valley region within the New York Metropolitan Area, located about 33 miles (53 km) from Manhattan and 17 miles (27 km) from Staten Island. The borough has grown to become a commuter town of New York City. As of the 2020 United States census, the borough's population was 12,538, its highest decennial count ever and an increase of 486 (+4.0%) from the 12,052 recorded at the 2010 census, which in turn reflected an increase of 1,076 (+9.8%) from the 10,976 counted in the 2000 census.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Freehold Township, New Jersey</span> Township in Monmouth County, New Jersey, US

Freehold Township is a township in western Monmouth County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. Crisscrossed by several major highways, the township is a commercial hub for Central New Jersey and is a suburban bedroom community of New York City, located within the Raritan Valley region of the much larger New York Metropolitan Area. The township is located roughly 38 miles (61 km) away from Manhattan and about 20 miles (32 km) away from Staten Island. As of the 2020 United States census, the township's population was 35,369, a decrease of 815 (−2.3%) from the 36,184 recorded at the 2010 census, which in turn reflected an increase of 4,647 (+14.7%) from the 31,537 counted in the 2000 census.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Marlboro Township, New Jersey</span> Township in Monmouth County, New Jersey, US

Marlboro Township is a township in Monmouth County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. The township is located within the Raritan Valley region and is a part of the New York Metropolitan Area. As of the 2020 United States census, the township's population was 41,502, an increase of 1,311 (+3.3%) from the 2010 census count of 40,191, which in turn reflected an increase of 5,449 (+16.3%) from the 33,423 counted in the 2000 census.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">New Jersey Route 79</span> State highway in Monmouth County, New Jersey, US

Route 79 is a state highway located in Monmouth County in the U.S. state of New Jersey. It runs 12.13 mi (19.52 km) from an intersection with U.S. Route 9 (US 9) in Freehold Township north to an intersection with Route 34 and Main Street in Matawan. The route is a mostly two-lane undivided road that passes through a mixture of suburban residential, urban commercial, and open rural areas. The route intersects with Route 33 in Freehold Township, Business Route 33 and CR 537 in Freehold, Route 18 and CR 520 in Marlboro, and CR 516 in Matawan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">North Jersey Coast Line</span> Commuter rail line in New Jersey

The North Jersey Coast Line is a commuter rail line running from Rahway to Bay Head, New Jersey, traversing through the Jersey Shore region. Operated by New Jersey Transit, the line is electrified as far south as Long Branch. On rail system maps it is colored light blue, and its symbol is a sailboat. The line runs along the former New York & Long Branch Railroad, which was co-owned by the Central Railroad of New Jersey and the Pennsylvania Railroad.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Henry Hudson Trail</span> Rail trail in Monmouth County, New Jersey

The Henry Hudson Trail is a rail trail in western and northern Monmouth County, New Jersey. The trail is named for Henry Hudson, who explored the harbor at Atlantic Highlands and the Raritan Bayshore coastline in the early 1600s. The 24-mile-long (39 km), 10-foot-wide (3.0 m) paved multi-use trail is part of the Monmouth County Park System. The rail trail traverses the Raritan Bayshore region from Highlands and connects inland to Freehold Borough using the former rights-of-way of several rail lines. Although trees line much of the trail, it affords some views of surrounding wetlands, streams, woodlands and fields. It traverses through the municipalities of Freehold Township, Marlboro Township, Matawan, Aberdeen Township, Keyport, Union Beach, Hazlet, Keansburg, Middletown Township, and Atlantic Highlands.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Allaire Village</span> United States historic place

Allaire Village is a living history museum located within New Jersey's Allaire State Park in Wall Township, Monmouth County, New Jersey. The property was initially an Indian ceremonial ground prior to 1650, by 1750 a sawmill had been established on the property by Issac Palmer. The village was later established as a bog iron furnace originally known as Williamsburg Forge 'Monmouth Furnace' was then renamed the Howell Works by Benjamin B. Howell. In 1822, it was then purchased by philanthropist James P. Allaire, who endeavoured to turn into a self-contained community. The wood burning furnace business collapsed in 1846 and the village closed. During its height, the town supported about 500 people. Following his death, the property passed through a number of family members before being used by the Boy Scouts who started to restore the buildings for use as a summer camp. Losing the lease, the property then passed to the State of New Jersey. Allaire Village and its existing buildings are now operated by a non-profit organization - Allaire Village, Inc. Historic interpreters work using period tools and equipment in the blacksmith, tinsmith, and carpentry shops, while the old bakery sells cookies, and general store serves as a museum gift-shop styled store. The church building is frequently used for weddings. The site is also host to community events such as community band concerts, antique sales, weekly flea markets and square dance competitions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wickatunk, New Jersey</span> Populated place in Marlboro County, New Jersey, US

Wickatunk is an unincorporated community located within Marlboro Township in Monmouth County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. Elevation above sea level is 180 feet (55 m). It was founded in 1695 by three Scottish servants from the community of Toponemus. Originally surveyed by George Keith, in a letter he states:

"After some time I may give thee a particular account of all thy land I have surveyed for thee and what I reckon dew for it. John Laing and his family are well and lyke to do well, and so John Sym and his family. Also thou hast thy share laid out at Wickington (Wickatunk).

The Freehold and Jamesburg Agricultural Railroad was a short-line railroad in New Jersey. The railroad traversed through the communities of Freehold Borough, Freehold Township, Manalapan Township, Englishtown Borough, Monroe Township, and Jamesburg Borough, en route to Monmouth Junction in South Brunswick Township.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Aberdeen–Matawan station</span> NJ Transit rail station

Aberdeen–Matawan is a station on NJ Transit's North Jersey Coast Line, located in Aberdeen and Matawan, Monmouth County, New Jersey, United States. This station, convenient to Route 35 and the PNC Bank Arts Center, is popular with both commuters and concertgoers, and is the busiest station on the line between Bay Head and Rahway.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Elmer H. Geran</span> American politician

Elmer Hendrickson Geran was an American Democratic Party politician who represented New Jersey's 3rd congressional district from 1923 to 1925.

Marlboro Psychiatric Hospital was a public hospital in Marlboro Township, Monmouth County, New Jersey, United States, which was operated by the State of New Jersey. Construction of the hospital began in 1929. It first opened in early 1931, with Dr. J.B. Gordon as medical director. According to the site plan, the hospital's campus was on 468 acres (189 ha). A perimeter fence completely enclosed the property. The land was mostly a rural environment. When it closed, the hospital was on 594 acres (240 ha), having enlarged the grounds over the years. It opened with a capacity to accommodate 500-800 patients. The grounds construction continued after opening and when completed, the hospital was expected to have a capacity of 2,000 patients. However, in 1995, the hospital served an average of 780 adults per day with a staff of 1,157 employees and a total budget of $55.5 million. The budget in 1998 was $68 million. The facility was closed July 1, 1998. The hospital finished complete demolition of the structures, tunnels, roads and other infrastructure in early 2015.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Scobeyville, New Jersey</span> Populated place in Monmouth County, New Jersey, US

Scobeyville is an unincorporated community located within Colts Neck Township in Monmouth County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. The settlement is named for the Scobey family which has inhabited the township since the 1700s. The site housed a one-room schoolhouse, a post office, and a general store. It was known for good fishing on the Yellow Brook which has its basin in Scobyville.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pleasant Valley, Monmouth County, New Jersey</span> Populated place in Monmouth County, New Jersey, US

Pleasant Valley is an unincorporated community located within Marlboro Township in Monmouth County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. The area reportedly received its name from George Washington after he went through the area in 1777. The area is hilly and forested and is dotted by medium to large-sized residences. Pleasant Valley Road and Reids Hill Road are main roads that pass through the area connecting to Routes 34, 79, and 520. A large part of land which makes up Pleasant Valley was originally granted by the King of England in 1665 to the Rev. Obadiah Holmes. In 1690, the area was settled by people of Dutch heritage and the original dominant language in the area was Low Dutch.

Marlboro Township, New Jersey has a number of historic sites. The Monmouth County Historic Site Inventory (HSI) was started in 1980 by the directors of both the Monmouth County Historical Association and the Monmouth County Park System. This inventory project provided an inventory number to all historic properties in Monmouth County, New Jersey. In addition to property details, this listing provides reference numbers for easy identification. In addition to the park system inventory, the Marlboro Township Historic Commission provides a listing of Historic Commission Landmarks (HCL). These are physical signs placed in historically significant locations. There was also a list presented by the NJ Department of Environmental Protection - Historic Preservation Office (HPO).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Old Scots Burying Ground</span> Historic site in Monmouth County, New Jersey

The Old Scots Burying Ground is a historic cemetery located on Gordon's Corner Road in the Wickatunk section of Marlboro Township, in Monmouth County, New Jersey. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places on August 15, 2001, for its significance in history and religion. The Old Scots Burying Ground is about an acre in size, about 195 feet above sea level and dates back to 1685. The total number of burials at the cemetery is not precisely known, suggested by Symms, "There are a large number of graves in Old Scots yard without any inscribed stones". Some reports place the number as at least 100 known graves with most headstones of brown sandstone. However, more recent research using ground penetrating radar reported by the Old Tennent Church in 2001 has put the number of confirmed sites at about 122 graves with a possible 140 more unmarked; placing the number at about 262 total graves in the cemetery. In 1945, in an attempt to clean out the site of vegetation and over-growth, a bulldozer was used on the property and as a result some headstones were dislodged and broken stones removed. The defining structure in the cemetery is a tall monument to Rev. John Boyd, created by the J&R Lamb Company. Built to commemorate the first recorded Presbyterian ordination of Rev. John Boyd. The monument is currently owned by the Synod of the Northeast who holds the property deed but it is maintained by the Old Tennent Church. The last identified burial was in 1977.

The Devitte Military Academy was an American military academy founded in 1918 by Major Leopold Devitte and Suzanne Jacques DeVitte. It started as the "Devitte School" but changed its name in 1927. It closed in 1979.

Asher Holmes was an American politician and veteran of the American Revolution.

References

  1. "Bradevelt". Geographic Names Information System . United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior . Retrieved September 25, 2012.
  2. U.S. Geological Survey (1893). Bulletin of the United States Geological Survey, Volume 22 . Retrieved July 15, 2011.
  3. Locality Search, State of New Jersey. Accessed February 17, 2015.
  4. https://co.monmouth.nj.us/documents/130/BigBrook8x11.pdf Big Brook Park Overview Map
  5. Google (September 13, 2016). "Aerial view of Bradevelt" (Map). Google Maps . Google. Retrieved September 13, 2016.
  6. John Melville, The Freehold Transcript, 25 Mar 1898, Page 5
  7. Traffic World, Chicago Ill, Volume 9, Part 2, January 6, 1912, Page 17
  8. "Monmouth Farmers Have a Banner Year", Asbury Park Press, September 24, 1914, Page 2
  9. New Jersey State Horticultural Society, Proceedings of the State Horticultural Society at Its Annual 41st Session, Freehold NJ, December 1, 1915, 180-182
  10. New Jersey State Horticultural Society, Proceedings of the State Horticultural Society at Its Annual 40th Session, Freehold NJ, December 9, 1914, Pages 192
  11. Asbury Park Press, November 15, 1915, Page 1
  12. The Rural New-Yorker, Volume 72, January 4, 1913, page 934
  13. "Won Seed Corn Prize", Red Bank Register, June 10, 1925, Page 4
  14. The Cultivator & Country Gentleman, Volume 50, 1885, page 732
  15. "News of State Cut Short for Rapid Reading", Courier News, October 23, 1908, Page 2
  16. "Prize Winning Turkeys", Red Bank Register, October 23, 1929, Page 18
  17. "Poultry Convention", Red Bank Register, October 21, 1925, Page 1
  18. National Chester White Record, Volume 2, Louisville, Ky, 1888, page 40
  19. The Cultivator & Country Gentleman, Volume 50, 1885, page 248-390
  20. "Army Worm Invasion", Red Bank Register, July 9, 1924, Page 12
  21. "The Beetle Quarantine", Red Bank Register, June 10, 1925, Page 5
  22. "50 years ago", Matawan Journal, January 29, 1959, Page 4
  23. Randall Gabrielan, Marlboro Township, c. 1999, Page 70
  24. Randall Gabrielan, Marlboro Township, c. 1999, Page 70
  25. "Abandon School Used Over Century", Asbury Park Press, February 9, 1914, Page 4
  26. State Freeholders Visit New Bradevelt Hospital, Asbury Park Press, July 14, 1931, Page 15
  27. "Hospital Built At Bradevelt", Red Bank Register, December 26, 1928, Page 1
  28. Ceres, Gerald: Holmdel and Pleasant Valley, 1996, Page 50
  29. "Mail Delivery changed from Evening to Morning", Red Bank Register, March 21, 1928, Page 20
  30. Marlboro Happenings, The Matawan Journal, February 19, 1932, page 5
  31. "Yanks to Star at Bradevelt Fair", Asbury Park Press, July 27, 1949, Page 2
  32. 250th Anniversary of Church at Bradevelt to be Marked, Asbury Park Press, October 7, 1949, Page 1
  33. Marlboro Happenings, Asbury Park Press, May 25, 1926, page 12
  34. "Passenger Car as Station", Red Bank Register, June 9, 1926, Page 1
  35. "Officials Raid Still in Woods", Asbury Park Press, July 31, 1923, Page 2
  36. "Exploding Still Impede Firemen, Asbury Park Press, June 27, 1928, Page 1
  37. "Chestnut Trees in Jersey 60 Million Years Ago, New York Times, July 23, 1929
  38. "Some Good Fishing Spots", Asbury Park Press, March 9, 1914, Page 10