Wickatunk is an unincorporated community located within Marlboro Township in Monmouth County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey.Locality Search, State of New Jersey. Accessed March 13, 2015. Elevation above sea level is . It was founded in 1695 by three Scottish servants from the community of Topanemus (no longer in existence in Marlboro Township). Originally surveyed by George Keith, in a letter he states: After the initial settlement, the plan in the early 1700s called for a village center with small town lots surrounded by plantations. However, that plan was not workable as it did not allow for townspeople to have farming land.Scotland and its First American Colony 1683-1765, Ned C. Landsman, Princeton NJ, 1985, Pg 140 et al.

Research suggests the name derives from the Delaware (Algonquian) "wikwetung", meaning "the fishing place".Bright, William: Native American Place names of the United States, 2004. Page 566

Farming and produce

Known for the potato harvest from nearby farms,"Monmouth Farmers Have a Banner Year", Asbury Park Press, September 24, 1914, Page 2 in 1923 the town hosted Representatives from "all the potato seed raising sections of the country" and Canada."Potato Experts in County Tour", Asbury Park Press, June 20, 1923, Page 2 In addition to the potatoes, the area was also well known for Stayman and Rome apples - winning state awards"Wins Apple Award", Asbury Park Press, December 12, 1923, Page 2 and registered Holstein Friesian cattle.Holstein Heard-Breed, Holstein Breeders Association of America, Volume VIII, 1885, Page 88 Squab were also raised on farms in the area.Russian Farmhand discharged - Murders Three at Wickatunk, Asbury Park Press, May 16, 1908, Page 1 The area was also known for manufacturing liquor and many area farms were raided for violations of the Volstead Act in the late 1920s and early 30s."Held on Liquor Charge", Asbury Park Press, December 12, 1928, Page 3"Distilling Plant Seized and Five Arrested", Asbury Park Press, June 4, 1931, Page 1"2 Stills Seized by Federal Men", Asbury Park Press, July 6, 1933, Page 3

Transportation

Railroad

A central feature of the community for years was the Wickatunk shipping point, part of a single track railroad line from Matawan to Freehold, New Jersey.Schwieterman, Joseph - When the Railroad Leaves Town: American Communities in the Age of Rail Line, Page 190, 2001 Having been included on the list of most dangerous railroad crossings by the Automobile Club of America in 1908Staff. "MOTORISTS WARNED OF PERILS OF ROAD; Automobile Club Sends List of Dangerous Railroad Crossings to Members. TO MOVE FOR PROTECTION Club to Take Action to Compel Railroads to Do Away With or Safeguard Grade Crossings.", The New York Times, August 6, 1908. Accessed December 15, 2016. "Between Matawan and Freehold, at Wickatunk, on the Central Railroad of New Jersey." the station and crossing were demolished in the 1970s. The rail station was on tracks formally owned by the Central Railroad of New Jersey.New Jersey Encyclopedia 2008-2009 edition - Volume One, 2008, Page 384 Currently, the Henry Hudson Trail uses this right of way and passes through Wickatunk.

Roads and highways

The major state road passing through the center of Wickatunk is Route 79. County Routes 3 and 520 also serve as major roads around Wickatunk.

Points of interest

Old Scots Burying Ground On the list of historic places, the town has a burial ground dating back to 1685.Old Tennent Church cemetery dating back to 1685."Scottish Clans to Gather to Play Highland Games", Asbury Park Press, September 3, 1936, Page 21"Halloween Activity Ancient Pagan Rites", Asbury Park Press, October 30, 1983, Page 20 At that time the Presbyterians built the oldest Presbyterian church,"Middletown, Most Ancient of Settlements, was Cradle of Monmouth County History", Asbury Park Press, Nov 14 1948, Page 5 starting with a crude structure of logs in 1692. By 1705"Old Tennent to Celebrate 250th Year As Congregation with Ceremonies", Asbury Park Press, June 14, 1942, Page 11 a refined church was reconstructed and by 1730 the congregation had grown and the church was removed to Freehold Township."Historic old Tennent Church, Asbury Park Press, May 2, 1986, Page 93 Adjacent to the church was the Old Scots Burying Ground. The cemetery has at least 100 known graves."Work is Completed on Old Scots Cemetery", Asbury Park Press, March 12, 1951, Page 1 In 1895, seven hundred pilgrimages of the Presbyterian Synod came to the burial ground grave location of the first Pastor of the church (Rev. John Boyd) at Old Scots Cemetery to commemorate his life and the start of church at that location."Latter Day Pilgrimage", New York Times, June 5, 1895 A defining feature of the cemetery is the tall monument of Scottish and Vermont granite and Irish Graystone,"Old Scots Monument", New York Times, June 4, 1899 surrounded by Scottish thistle carved in the granite With a spire which was lost in the 1950s. The spire was refurbished in 2002."Historic Monument Honors Minister", Asbury Park Press, November 7, 2002, Page 48 The monument was erected in memory of Rev. John Boyd, the first pastor of the church."Little Known Today of History of Pre-Revolution Topanemus", Asbury Park Press, December 25, 1949, Page 5 In 1915, The Presbyterian Synod added John Tennent's name to the monument."Memorial Tablet For Rev. John Tennent", Asbury Park Press, February 25, 1915, Page 6

Robert Collier Estate

In 1901, Robert J. Collier built his summer home in Wickatunk, bought from State Assemblyman John D. Honce."Notables Attend the Honce Funeral", Asbury Park Press, November 24, 1915, Page 1 Used for many years as the location of personal parties and celebrations including the township Decoration Day celebrations,"Decoration Day Meet", Asbury Park Press, May 29, 1912, Page 12 it was later donated and eventually became the Collier High School. Spanning many farms and properties, the area was also widely used for an annual fox hunt of the "Monmouth County Hounds" which started in East Freehold and ended at the Collier Estate.Staff. "Robert J. Collier Comes a Cropper.", The New York Times, October 29, 1909. Accessed December 15, 2016."Three Tumble in Monmouth Hunt", Asbury Park Press, October 15, 1912, Page 4"Fox Eludes Hunters", Asbury Park Press, November 28, 1913, Page 2

General Store and Post Office

In the late 1920s, a general store and post office was constructed on Route 79. Passing through many hands since then it is currently a bike store.Images of America - Marlboro Township, 1990, Randall Gabrielan, Page 102 The Post Office obtained some notoriety when the Post mistress, Sadie S. Smock died in February 1928. Her husband "carried on the business for over a year" before an issue developed which brought a postal inspector who discovered the situation."Bare Situation and Government Acts", Asbury Park Press, May 31, 1929, Page 1 William T. Smock was later sentenced to 60 days in jail for embezzling postal funds."Smock Sentenced", Asbury Park Press, October 21, 1930, Page 3

Yellowstone Buffalo

In the early 1900s, a buffalo brought from Yellowstone National Park by Richard W. Herbert was kept on his farm for all to see."Brought Back Little Buffalo", Asbury Park Press, October 29, 1909, Page 11

Marlboro Psychiatric Hospital

Starting in 1928, were eventually purchased by the State of New Jersey. Some of the land was in Wickatunk for the construction of Marlboro Psychiatric Hospital.Hospital to be Built in County, Asbury Park Press, December 26, 1928, Page 1 The hospital's original working name was "Hillsdale asylum at Wickatunk"."County Backs Hoover Business Aid Plan", Asbury Park Press, November 25, 1929, Page 2 It was later known as "The Hilldale Development" before becoming known as "Marlboro Psychiatric Hospital"."New State Hospital", Red Bank Register, June 19, 1929, page 29

Notable people

People who were born in, residents of, or otherwise closely associated with Wickatunk include: Robert J. Collier (1876–1918), editor of Collier's Weekly who owned the publishing company P.F. Collier & Son"Follow Hunt In Air At Collier's Fete; Fliers Make Pictures of the Chase That Ends His Three-Day Housewarming.", The New York Times, October 15, 1911. Accessed May 4, 2025. "At the country place of Robert J. Collier, at Wickatunk, about 3,000 residents of Monmouth County gathered to-day to witness a hunting party, a polo game, and aeroplane flights arranged by Mr. Collier to be the climax of a house-warming that has been in progress since last Thursday." John Warne Herbert Jr. (1853–1934), lawyer and Rutgers football player in the first ever college football gameManual of the Legislature of New Jersey, p. 421. Thomas F. Fitzgerald, 1918. Accessed May 4, 2025. "John Warne Herbert Jr., Chairman, Helmetta. Mr. Herbert was born August 3d, 1853, at Wickatunk, Marlboro township, Monmouth county, son of Hon. John W. Herbert and Agnes D. Runyon Herbert."

John Warne Herbert Sr. (1820-1898), lawyer and politician

References