The following is a list of publications available from the Ocean County Historical Society. We’re proud that many of the titles available were created and published here. You can either order online, download our book order form and mail your order, or phone us at 732-341-1880. Visa and MasterCard are accepted. All prices are subject to a 6.625% NJ sales tax. Postage and handling on mail orders is $7 for the first item plus $3 for each additional item. Members, please place your order by phone to receive your 10% discount. You can choose books published by O.C.H.S., books published by other publishers, historical maps, and various other items available..
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By Michael S. Adelberg: On the Jersey Shore, the Revolutionary War was more than a contest between the Continental and British Armies. In this neglected region, locals divided into pro- and anti-independence camps that fought a tumultuous six-year war only intermittently tied to the larger conflict. This war brought unprecedented economic opportunity to the Jersey Shore’s formerly poor and secluded villages, as locals risked their savings on speculative salt-making ventures and risked their lives in privateer vessels. British ships bound for New York were hunted by smaller vessels lurking in shore inlets. Local leaders sought to find and punish stealthy “London Traders” smuggling provisions behind British lines, and militia battled so-called Pine Robber gangs that frequently bested them. Richly documenting and vividly narrating these events and others, award-winning historian Michael Adelberg explores the shore’s roll in America’s war for independence. -
By Rick Geffken: After the Battle of Monmouth Court House, in June 1778, the Revolutionary War in Monmouth County devolved into skirmishes between local militias and British Loyalists. Chief among these warring factions were revered rebel hero Captain Joshua Huddy and his fierce rival, a runaway enslaved Black man called Colonel Tye, who fought for the British. Attempting to bring the captured Huddy to prison, Tye was killed in battle, and when Loyalists murdered Huddy without benefit of trial two years later, the resulting international outrage jeopardized Benjamin Franklin’s Paris peace treaty negotiations. Only when Marie Antoinette pleaded with George Washington to stop the retaliatory hanging of a young British lieutenant did the peace talks resume. Rick Geffken reveals the stories of these two obscure enemies who died and rose to fame for their beliefs in independence. -
By Don Colgan: Crippling winter storms are locked in the memories of millions of New Jerseyans. On December 26, 1947, an unpredicted storm buried Newark in twenty-six inches of snow. A record-setting nor’easter on January 22, 2016, unleashed sixty-mile-per-hour wind gusts, six-foot drifts and snowfall depths of thirty inches in Bernards Township and Long Valley. But no storm was more infamous than the so-called Great White Hurricane. Coming when the science of meteorology was in its infancy, the blizzard of 1888 left tens of millions at the mercy of a vicious three-day nightmare with tragic loss of life and property that no one saw coming. Don Colgan tells the stories of winter’s fury and of those who lived through the most extraordinary winter storms in New Jersey history. -
Jeffrey Otis Brown is an Ocean County native and descendant of some of the earliest European settlers. He took an interest in his ancestors at a young age and through many years of research developed a deep passion for local history. Jeff has produced numerous genealogical works and historical sketches over the years. In this book you will learn about the rich history of Ocean County and the many interesting characters and sites that contributed to the County's legacy. -
Once Upon A Time in Tuckerton An Historical Novel By Kathleen Cortese: Preserving local history is the reason Kathleen Cortese gives for writing Once Upon a Time in Tuckerton. She was hooked on the town from the moment she heard “Tucker’s Island was the first summer resort at the Jersey Shore”, and that in the late eighteenth century, Tuckerton, New Jersey was one of the largest shipbuilding towns in America. It was not until she heard whispers surrounding the mysterious activities going on at the German-built wireless radio station on Hickory Island, that she decided to write about the era from 1912 to 1925 in Tuckerton’s rich history. This novel contains information and photos about actual locations and residents who lived in Tuckerton during the mysterious activities at the German-built wireless radio tower. -
By Steven M. Gillon: The exhilarating, inspiring story of Len Lomell, an Army Ranger who, on D-Day, almost single-handedly knocked out the big German guns before they could fire on the American invasion force, and whose later exploits spanned the most dramatic battles of World War II. In this stirring, action-packed book, Steven Gillon details the incredibly heroic actions on D-Day—and throughout World War II—that ultimately won Len Lomell the Distinguished Service Cross, a Silver Star, and a Bronze Star. Lomell was later praised by Stephen Ambrose as the single most important person in the success of D-Day after General Eisenhower. -
By Marcia Dente: This beloved shore town of Seaside Heights was battered by Superstorm Sandy in October 2012, and one year later, in 2013, it suffered a major fire that destroyed the south end of the boardwalk. Notwithstanding these challenges, recovery is strong and the future of Seaside Heights grows brighter as each day passes. The boardwalk was re-built stronger than the one that Sandy splintered and rises slowly from the ashes of the horrific fire. After Governor Chris Christie visited the site of the destruction, he said, “We’ll rebuild it.” However, for those who recall the way things were, it won’t be the same, as many iconic structures that made it what it was are now gone and washed in the ocean. With characteristic resilience and strength, Seaside Heights did rebuild, and came back stronger. “Confronting a storm is like fighting God. All the powers in the universe seem to be against you and in an extraordinary way, your irrelevance is at the same time both humbling and exalting.”—Francoise LeGrande, The Quotable Sailor. -
By William J. Lewis: Deep within the heart of the New Jersey Pine Barrens, the Piney people have built a vibrant culture and industry from working the natural landscape around them. Foraging skills learned from the local Lenapes were passed down through generations of Piney families who gathered many of the same wild floral products that became staples of the Philadelphia and New York dried flower markets. Important figures, such as John Richardson, have sought to lift the Pineys from rural poverty by recording and marketing their craftsmanship. As the state government sought to preserve the Pine Barrens and develop the region, Piney culture was frequently threatened and stigmatized. Author and advocate William J. Lewis charts the history of the Pineys, what being a Piney means today and their legacy among the beauty of the Pine Barrens. -
By Jersey Shore Folklife Center—Tuckerton Seaport & Baymen’s Museum: The Tradition from a Woman’s Hand exhibit was a display at the Tuckerton Seaport from May 2010 to September 2011. What binds these women together is a love of nature, of wood, and a traditional art that both connects them to the past and allows each of them to express her own unique creativity. Through their work they have created a community of carvers among themselves and connected to the larger community of those who carve, paint, collect, and love decoys. This catalogue represents artists from the original exhibit and is by no means an exhaustive list of women carvers from New Jersey and surrounding areas. -
By David Turton: The book covers the Ocean County barrier island towns of Seaside Heights, Ortley Beach, Lavallette, Normandy Beach, Mantoloking, Bay Head, and Point Pleasant Beach. The original, never before published photographs preserve not only the aftereffects of the Superstorm in this region but also describe David Turton’s personal journey through his beloved and now destroyed Jersey Shore. With more than 200 historic photographs, this important book records and preserves what happened to this region for future generations lest they forget the unfathomable power of the sea. -
By Corinne G. Ruff: Island Child, LBI features contributions from those who have loved and lived on Long Beach Island. Children of all ages, from all shores, its life lessons are inspired by individual, experiences and iconic LBI features—creating a sandy, salty blend of philosophy and local charm. -
By Frank Finale: Join acclaimed author and poet, Frank Finale on a journey through the past and present as he once again captures life along the shore while exploring universal themes that touch us all. These graceful personal essays and poems elicit an emotional response and lingering memory. They are also perfect for reading aloud throughout the year. The essays and poems are organized from north to south taking places in all four seasons in many towns and regions along the coast. This second volume contains over 180 pages of text and 144 full-color paintings by more than forty area artists. -
By Michael Grisi: A work of fiction based on actual historic facts. This book gives a realistic description of the prison ships that existed during the American Revolution. The Jersey, which was anchored in New York harbor and the inhumane treatment of prisoners is described. Although historians cannot agree on a number, it is estimated that as many as 11,000 men died on board the Jersey in a three-year span. This is more than the 7,200 men that died in battle during the seven-year conflict. You’ll read about the privateers who helped destroy British commerce along the coast. The murder of Joshua Huddy of Toms River, a real person, resulted in the first international incident involving the United State. -
By Patricia B. Mitchell: Get a taste of tea history in the first section of this book. The second section gives information about the kinds of tea. In the final section you have many recipes that will tempt you. The author has, also, included notes for you to learn even more about tea. -
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By Gail and Roni Goodhart: A delightful children’s book about the adventures of Double Trouble, the tree frog who hates trees. He searches for a new home among his animal friends without success. Learn which of the animals saves the day for Double Trouble. Photos and text are the work of the authors. -
By Margaret Thomas Buchholz: Island Album depicts the island and its people from the late 1800s to the present. It includes many images that disappeared into attics generations ago have never been seen before by the public. Both an oral and pictorial history of the 18-mile sandbar at the center of the Jersey Shore, the book is an ode to a pioneering way of life that vanished long ago. -
1878 Communities of Ocean County from Atlas of Historical and Biographical New Jersey Coast by Woolman and Rose -
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By John Bailey Lloyd: Rediscover Tucker’s Island and the lost resort of Sea Haven; ride the Tuckerton and Long Beach railroads to the new resort of Beach Haven and stroll along its elegant boardwalk. Experience the fear of the famous 1916 shark attacks, visit the early gunning and yacht clubs. Read about whalers, watch the pound fisherman haul in boats brimming with fish caught just off the beach. This is the book that resurrected Island history. -
By Gretchen F. Coyle and Deborah C. Whitcraft: It was the great disaster of the 1930s, a horrific experience for all those aboard the ill-fated liner sailing to New York from exotic, anything-goes Cuba. The luxurious ship was filled with passengers finding escape from the Great Depression but, the night before arrival, the ship was a scene of panic as a raging fire quickly spread, killing 137 and sending many overboard. The aftermath floated onto the beach at Asbury Park, where the Jersey Shore resort town filled with rescuers, press, and curiosity-seekers. The smoldering ship became a macabre tourist attraction, and the dramatic story filled front pages for week. Controversy surrounded the tragedy and much of the mystery of the Morro Castle fire has endured. -
By Christopher J. Vaz: Seaside Heights tells the history of a timeless seashore resort community located on a barrier island nestled between the Atlantic Ocean and Barnegat Bay. The 224-acre town was settled by residents of Philadelphia and Camden, who purchased white-sand lots to escape city life for the brisk ocean breezes and tranquility that Seaside Heights offered prior to World War II. Seaside Heights uses the scenes captured in vintage postcards, some of them very rare, as a study of the changes that have occurred in the town since its incorporation in 1913. -
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By Joseph G. Bilby, James M. Madden, & Harry Ziegler: Explore the lesser-known stories that make up New Jersey's compelling hidden history. Uncover the meaning of "Jersey Blues", celebrate some of the state's bravest Revolutionary and Civil War soldiers and investigate Jersey City's most infamous ghost. From the inferno that engulfed Asbury Park, to the benevolent side of Frank Hague, to the equestrienne who plunged forty feet into a pool of water on horseback in Atlantic City, rediscover these and many other events from New Jersey's storied past. -
By Ronald Edward Negra: Agnes Joan Negra played a role during World War II that helped families to learn the fate of their relatives missing in action. Read the numerous post cards and letters that Mrs. Negra received from numerous loved ones. -
By John Calu & Dave Hart: A fictionalized story about Emilio Carranza, nicknamed the “Lindberg of Mexico” died tragically in 1928. His plane crashed deep in the heart of the New Jersey Pine Barrens while returning home from his celebrated goodwill flight to the United States.
