Editing West Freehold, New Jersey (section)

==History==
New Jersey became a colony of [[Kingdom of England|England]] on June 24, 1664, after the Duke of York granted a patent to [[George Carteret|Sir George Carteret]] and [[John Berkeley, 1st Baron Berkeley of Stratton|Lord John Berkely]] for what is now New Jersey.

West Freehold (also historically known as "Mount's Corner") was settled as early as the late seventeenth century primarily by English and Scottish [[Presbyterians]], [[Baptists]], and [[Quakers]] escaping religious persecution from [[Scotland]] and nearby [[New England]].<ref>[https://twp.freehold.nj.us/freehold-history "Freehold History"], Freehold Township Heritage Society. Accessed September 9, 2020.</ref><ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=XqchvDnzm0wC&q=Salter%E2%80%99s+History+of+Monmouth+and+Ocean+Counties+New+Jersey ''Salter's History of Monmouth and Ocean Counties New Jersey: The First Legislative Assembly in New Jersey.''], Accessed September 9, 2020.</ref> A major transportation artery that was located in West Freehold was the Burlington Path, a [[stagecoach]] route that connected [[Burlington, New Jersey|Burlington]], which was at the time the capital of [[West Jersey]], and [[Perth Amboy, New Jersey|Perth Amboy]], which was at the time the capital of [[East Jersey]].<ref>[https://twp.freehold.nj.us/history-of-the-burlington-path History of the Burlington Path] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200609151154/https://twp.freehold.nj.us/history-of-the-burlington-path |date=June 9, 2020 }}, Freehold Township Heritage Society. Accessed September 9, 2020.</ref> Much of modern-day Monmouth Road/West Main Street ([[County Route 537 (New Jersey)|County Route 537]]) coincides in general direction and trajectory with this historic stagecoach route. Many colonial-era structures are still standing in the West Freehold Village Historic District, near the intersection of West Main Street and Stillwells Corner Road/Wemrock Road.<ref name=Tours/>

The [[Battle of Monmouth]] during the [[American Revolutionary War]] was fought in countryside less than {{convert|2|mi|0}} northwest of West Freehold.

[[File:Escondido_Restaraunt.jpg|thumb|left|Escondido Restaurant in the historic district of West Freehold, located next to Moore's Tavern & Restaurant]]

===Mount's Tavern===
Today known as Moore's Tavern & Restaurant, this tavern at the corner of Main Street and Stillwells Corner Road is one of the most well-known historic structures in Freehold Township. As a stagecoach stop for the Burlington Path, there is documentation of the tavern's license being renewed from 1787, suggesting that the tavern was in use prior to that. Moses Mount, a [[private (rank)|private]] during the [[American Revolutionary War|Revolutionary War]] and aide to [[George Washington]], was the inn's first keeper.<ref name=Tours/><ref>[https://www.moorestavern.com/history.php History], Moores Tavern and Restaurant. Accessed September 9, 2020.</ref>

[[File:Moore's_Tavern.jpg|thumb|left|Moore's Tavern in the historic district of West Freehold since 1787]]

[[File:West_Freehold_schoolhouse.png|thumb|left|West Freehold schoolhouse]]

===Levi Solomon Farmstead===
[[File:Mount's_Corner_Plaza.jpg|thumb|right|Mount's Corner Historic Plaza with the Jewish Heritage Museum in the background]]
Freehold Township in its early days was a place of refuge for persecuted religious groups, such as [[Presbyterians]], [[Baptists]], and [[Quakers]]. The Solomon family were some of New Jersey's earliest [[Jewish]] settlers. They settled on a large piece of farmland, roughly where much of the present Mount's Corner Shopping Center is located, as early as 1720.<ref name=JHMOMC>[https://www.jhmomc.org/about-us "About Us"], Jewish Heritage Museum. Accessed September 9, 2020.</ref> During the [[Battle of Monmouth]], their dwelling suffered significant damage from invading British troops. Luckily, matriarch Hannah Solomon, who was widowed, and her two sons were able to save their house after it was set on fire.<ref name=Tours/> The original barn that was built on the farm in the 1800s is now the location of the [[Monmouth County Jewish Heritage Museum]], "dedicated to the promotion of public awareness of the county's Jewish heritage for the education and enjoyment of both children and adults."<ref name=JHMOMC/>

===West Freehold Schoolhouse===
Located at what is now Wemrock Road, adjacent to West Main Street, this schoolhouse was built in 1848 and educated the children that lived within the community until 1937. The property was part of the Rulif R. Schanck Farmstead, which is now the Elizabeth Oakley Farm (Museum).<ref name=Tours/>

===Walker, Combs, Hartshorne, Oakley Farmstead===
[[File:Oakley_Farmstead_in_Autumn_2021.jpg|thumb|right|The Oakley Farmhouse in autumn]]
Operated for centuries, this property is the earliest remaining farmstead in Freehold and is one of the oldest preserved structures in [[Monmouth County, New Jersey|Monmouth County]]. Settled in 1686, the property was situated on {{convert|110|acres}} of land, owned by East Jersey proprietors [[John Barclay (New Jersey politician)|John Barclay]], [[Robert Barclay]], John Reid and [[John Bowne]].<ref name=WalkerCombs>[https://twp.freehold.nj.us/history-of-walker-combs-hartshorne-oakley-farm "History Of Walker Combs Hartshorne (Oakley) Farm."], Freehold Township. Accessed September 9, 2020.</ref> Since then, the farmstead had been transferred/sold by multiple families, including Barclay, Reid, Bowne, Clark, Walker, Combs, Schanck, Hartshorne, and Oakley.<ref name=Tours/>

By 1981, the farmstead was the largest operating farm in Monmouth County.<ref name=OakleyFarm>[https://revolutionarynj.org/map-location/oakley-farm-museum/?mpfy-pin=29101 Oakley Farm Museum], Crossroads of the American Revolution: National Heritage Area. Accessed September 9, 2020.</ref> At that time, Elizabeth Oakley was the last to inhabit the structure and was fascinated in the home's rich history. She worked hard to preserve it, having accomplished her life's goal in having the farm added to the [[National Register of Historic Places]] in 1990.<ref name=WalkerCombs/><ref name=OakleyFarm/>

===Toll House===
[[File:Toll_House_on_Oakley_Farm.jpg|thumb|right|[[Toll house]] on the Oakley Farm]]
The Toll House located on the property of the Walker, Combs, Hartshorne, Oakley Farmstead is one of only two remaining [[toll house]]s in New Jersey.<ref name=TollHouse>[https://twp.freehold.nj.us/history-of-the-toll-house-located-at-oakley-museum "History Of The Toll House Located At Oakley Museum."], Freehold Township. Accessed September 9, 2020.</ref> Built in ca. 1850, it was owned and operated by a group of farmers living along the Burlington Path. The toll separated two sides of the two-lane stagecoach route: the side heading southwest towards [[Smithburg, New Jersey|Smithburg]], known as the Freehold-Smithburg Turnpike, and the side heading northeast towards "Elk's Point" (what is now [[Freehold Borough, New Jersey|Freehold Borough]]).<ref name=TollHouse/>