Editing Brielle, New Jersey (section)

==History==
[[Archaeological excavation]]s along what is now Birch Drive reveal temporary [[Lenape]] [[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]] settlements. The Lenape practiced farming in other parts of Monmouth County much of the year, and they visited the wooded areas in what is now Brielle for hunting and fishing.

The area was originally part of [[Shrewsbury Township, New Jersey|Shrewsbury Township]] and the first settlers were primarily farmers, and the area became known as '''Union Landing'''. In colonial times, salt was an important preservative, and before the [[American Revolutionary War]], most of it was imported from [[Great Britain]]. The Union Salt Works opened around the outbreak of the war, and on April 5, 1778, several British [[Loyalist (American Revolution)|Loyalists]] attacked and burned the salt works and other buildings. A year later, the salt works reopened and continued to operate through the duration of the war.<ref name=History>[https://www.briellenj.gov/history/pages/history-brielle History], Borough of Brielle. Accessed January 23, 2025.</ref><ref>Delancey, Karen Hammerdorfer. [https://www.proquest.com/docview/437531332 "This day's invasion of Brielle welcome"], ''[[Asbury Park Press]]'', September 8, 2002. Accessed October 16, 2013. "During the Revolutionary War, Brielle was attacked by some 200 British soldiers who burned down the Union Salt Works and many other buildings."</ref>

Early in the 19th century, Shrewsbury Township was divided, and the area became part of [[Howell Township, New Jersey|Howell Township]] which was further divided in 1851, when the area became part of [[Wall Township, New Jersey|Wall Township]]. On July 7, 1881, a group of businessmen purchased several acres of land and formed the Brielle Land Association with the intention of building vacation homes. The quaint riverside charm of the area reminded one of the developers of another pastoral town on a river which he had visited, [[Brielle]], in the [[Netherlands]].<ref>Martin, Patti. [https://www.newspapers.com/article/asbury-park-press-profile-of-brielle-ne/163791534/ "Brielle: Community spirit shines through"], ''[[Asbury Park Press]]'', November 28, 2003. Accessed January 23, 2025, via [[Newspapers.com]]. "On July 7, 1881 a group of businessman formed the Brielle Land Association and purchased 150 acres of farm land. They named the parcel 'Brielle' because a businessman had visited Brielle, Holland, a year before and thought the new Brielle resembled the countryside and coastal towns that dot Europe's lowlands on the North Sea and English Channel."</ref>

Author [[Robert Louis Stevenson]] vacationed in Brielle for most of May 1888. During his stay he wrote a portion of his book ''[[The Master of Ballantrae]]'' and gave Osborn Island the nickname "[[Treasure Island]]" which was the title of one of his previous books.<ref name=History/><ref>Staff. [https://www.nytimes.com/1913/07/27/archives/jersey-resort-rich-in-memories-of-robert-louis-stevenson-famous.html "Jersey Resort Rich In Memories Of Robert Louis Stevenson; Famous Author Spent a Month at Brielle 25 Years Ago and the Souvenirs He Left There Are Carefully Treasured -- News from Other Popular Summer Centres."], ''[[The New York Times]]'', July 27, 1913. Accessed October 12, 2015.</ref>