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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
Right on this road is MIDDLETOWN, 0.6 mile (125 alt., 9,209 pop.), a village
dating from the seventeenth century. Houses along the main street, mostly old and
some with gardens of rare loveliness, stand well back, shaded by old elms and oaks.
MARLPIT HALL (open Tues., Sat., Sun. 11-5, adm. 10 cents; Thurs. 11-5, free), Kings
Highway opp. the railroad bridge, is a museum maintained by the Monmouth
County Historical Association. This long, wide-shingled Dutch type structure of a
story and one-half was built c. 1684 by Edward Taylor. Its windows, including
three tiny dormers, have heavy paneled shutters. Oval, bull's-eye glass is used in the
top panels of the wide Dutch door. Furnished in Colonial style as a livable home,
Marlpit Hall does not give the impression of a museum. Especially noteworthy are
the pilastered fireplace and carved, shell-top corner cupboard in the dignified drawing room. The kitchen fireplace is large enough to roast an ox. CHRIST CHURCH.
King's Highway at the SW. cor. of the first crossroad (R) about l00 yds. from
Marlpit Hall was built in 1836 on the site of a 1744 church. It is a plain, white
frame building with a square belfry on the gable directly above the doorway. The
church is still supported by pirate gold--the income from "conscience money" left
to this church and another in Shrewsbury by William Leeds, aide to Captain Kidd
(see SHREWSBURY, below). Middletown was originally a Baptist settlement, the
first Baptist church in the State having been organized here in 1668. The present
BAPTIST CHURCH, on King's Highway almost opposite Christ Church, was erected
1832. It is a small, severe white structure with two tall classic columns on the
small recessed portico of its plain front. The RICHARD HARTSHORNE HOMESTEAD
(not open), cor. King's Highway and New Monmouth Rd., was built in 1670 by a
London upholsterer and the owner of much land. The plain little dwelling is the
oldest building in Middletown. William Penn and George Fox were entertained in
it by Hartshorne, a devout Quaker.
At 12.1 miles is the junction with a dirt road.
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