Message from the Museum President

President Message from the Museum

Thank you to our generous Museum members, dedicated volunteers, and supportive community leaders for the first ten years in the Eden Woolley House. Together we’ve created a cultural landmark that’s preserved an ever increasing number of important local historical structures.

Our preservation work began in 1990 when we moved a child’s playhouse built in the early 1900’s from a Wanamassa estate to the property of the Board of Education Building on Monmouth Road (that then housed our Museum). We moved the Playhouse again in 2009 to its site along side the Woolley House. And with the help of two Eagle Scout projects from Troop #71, we’ve seen it restored and preserved.

Our efforts ramped up dramatically when we took on the rescue of the Woolley House, whose preservation remains our main mission. But we’ve added to our inventory three adjacent structures, once part of the Haupt family’s Stucile Farm.

The Stucile Farm Cow Barn and Water Tower are reminders of Ocean’s rural past. Its Pool House is a symbol of the Township’s many gentleman farms. With help of grants and volunteers we’ve repaired and painted all three buildings. We plan to open exhibit space in the Tower and Barn to illustrate the disappearing farming heritage of coastal Monmouth County.

In recent months, we’ve completed several important projects—including repainting the Playhouse and parts of the Woolley House as well as continued work on the Tower and Barn.

We couldn’t have imagined, back in 1990, the scope or impact of today’s preservation efforts. We’ve signed up for much responsibility—and work. Knowing we’re keeping local history alive for generations to come is what makes it all worth it.

Paul Edelson