Originally published in 1939
Some of this information may no longer be current and in that case is presented for historical interest only.
Edited by GET NJ, COPYRIGHT 2003

1. The COURTHOUSE, Main and Court Sts., stands in the center of Freehold, facing a maple-shaded lawn. Built in 1874 and remodeled after a fire in 1930, the stone structure is a conservative modern adaptation of Georgian Colonial design. There are two one-story porticoed entrances, and on the center of the roof ridge, a Georgian Colonial cupola with a clock. The building stands behind the site of the old courthouse, where General Clinton left more than 45 disabled men to be cared for by the Americans at the time of the Battle of Monmouth.

2. MONUMENT PARK, Court St., N. of the courthouse, a half-acre wedge of lawn, contains MONMOUTH BATTLE MONUMENT. The 94-foot shaft, capped with a statue of Liberty Triumphant, was designed by Emelin T. Littell and Douglas Smythe. Around the base are five bronze bas-reliefs by J. E. Kelly depicting battle scenes, including Molly Pitcher at her husband's gun (see Tour 18A). The cornerstone was laid in 1878 on the tooth anniversary of the battle; 6 years later the unveiling took place.

3. MONMOUTH COUNTY HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION BUILDING (open 11-5 daily except Mon.; 2-5 Sun.; adm. 250 on Thurs.), 70 Court St., is a graceful Georgian Colonial reproduction, a two-story brick building with pitched slate roof and white-painted woodwork. The entrance door is arched, with a well proportioned pediment above. Designed by J. Hallam Conover of Freehold, the building was opened in 1931. Housed in memorial rooms of authentic dignity are exhibits that include battle maps, the bell of the second courthouse, the writing desk of James Wilson, signer of the Declaration of Independence, mementoes of old racing days, and a fine collection of Colonial furniture. There is a LIBRARY (open 1-5 daily except Mon.; 2-5 Sun.) consisting of books, documents, church records, newspaper clippings, and paper money. In the unfinished attic is an assortment of household utensils, cradles and old chests.

4. ST. PETER'S EPISCOPAL CHURCH, 33 Throckmorton St., is considered the oldest church in use in New Jersey. Scottish and English Quakers built the original structure -- consisting of four walls and a roof but no floor -- in 1683 at Topanemus, 4 m. north of Freehold. Prominent in the meeting was George Keith, a Presbyterian Scot who came to America as a Quaker convert. A voyage to England changed Keith's mind and his faith once more; he returned as a Church of England missionary and converted all of the Topanemus Quakers. St. Peter's was moved south to Freehold, changing its denomination but not its congregation en route. The church was used as a hospital by the British at the Battle of Monmouth ; at other times the Americans used it as a barracks and ammunition station. The white-shingled, two-story structure has a small, graceful belfry above the front gable. It has been extensively altered.

5. FREEHOLD RACE TRACK (trotting races during summer; 1:30 Sat., adm. 500 for parking and grandstand; holidays, adm. 500 parking, 500 grandstand), NW. corner Park Ave. and W. Main St., was reopened 1937 after a number of years of idleness. The track has changed little since 1873 when it first drew crowds from miles around. From the glaring red and yellow barns grinning Negro stable boys lead blanketed horses for exercise, trainers drive their sulkies around the course, and race track frequenters, many in the traditional checked suits, watch from the rail. The track was once the main attraction of the county fairs.

6. HANKINSON MANSION or Moreau House (private), 15o W. Main St., was built by a member of the Hankinson family in 1755 and is the oldest residence in Freehold. Great shade trees and a broad expanse of lawn add to the cool stateliness of the white shingled green shuttered mansion. The back of the structure faces the street. The house was built by the same workmen who erected Tennent Church (see Tour 18A) three years earlier, and repeats the detail of the exterior cornice and several interior features of the church. A hallway r-r1/2 feet wide opens into spacious drawing rooms with fine mantels and paneled doors. A crude painting of a naval scene, above the fireplace in the great bedchamber, has been attributed to an unknown Hessian soldier. Clinton and his officers stayed here the night before the Battle of Monmouth, forcing the widow Conover to sleep in a chair in the milk-room, a lean-to still standing.

   William Forman, sea captain and happy bachelor, bought the house and lived here with his brothers and sisters. Capt. James Lawrence was entertained by Forman, whose sisters strewed the hero's path with roses while the guests drank his health with opalescent wine. To Forman were addressed the lines of Philip Freneau's poem, The Seafaring Bachelor:

   In all your rounds 'tis wondrous strange
   No fair one tempts you to a change
   Madness it is, you must agree,
   To lodge alone 'till forty-three.

   
   The captain died a bachelor.

7. A. AND H. KARAGHEUSIAN CARPET FACTORY (open by permission), Jackson and Center Sts., is the business that originated the trade name "Gulistan" or "American Oriental." The factory covers several blocks and employs 31,500 persons ; even larger plants are operated by the company in China and Persia.

   In the designing department a dozen artists seek usable patterns, borrowing material from museums and libraries, copying old or new Oriental rugs, or executing original designs. The artists have their choice of 3,500 colors and shades, all combinations of the primary red, blue, and yellow. The jacquard weaving of Wilton rugs is done with a series of perforated cards that pass over perforated cylinders connecting with needles, which in turn guide the weaving of the design-somewhat in the manner of a player-piano. Strands not in use are raised to different levels and hidden in the bosom of the carpet until needed. At the same time a short, thin blade attached to a wire cuts the yarn, making the pile. A loom 15 feet wide, largest for Wilton rugs in this country, is here. For Axminster rugs, the design is transferred to a series of spools; each is one row in the rug, being used but once each time the pattern is made. To set up a loom for a 12-ft. rug, 8 girls must work 10 days on 4 setting machines. Large rugs were made here for the Radio City Music Hall in New York and for the new United States Supreme Court Building.

Freneau Farm, 9.9 m. (see Tour 18); Molly Pitcher's Well, 1.4 m., Monmouth Battlefield and Tennent Church, 3.8 m. (see Tour 18A); Our House Tavern, 7.3 m. (see Tour 20).

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