BRICK – Ed Mangold, president of the Brick Historical Society, sat in a folding chair on the grounds of the Havens Homestead on a recent Saturday signing up new members for the organization during their annual yard sale.
The fundraiser is hosted by the society, who set up tables displaying items that had been donated by the membership.
Mangold, who was an attorney in Brick for 20 years, said the society has about 105 members, and his push for this year is to increase the membership to 200 so the organization becomes eligible for nonprofit status for their mailings.
“It costs $20 to join, and that gets you five public meetings with featured speakers, first chance to attend teas and trips – which fill quickly – and lots of requests to work,” Mangold joked.
According to four-time past president Jane Fabach, the yard sale began years ago during Octoberfest when the Historical Society had a white elephant table.
“We made $200, and then the next year we made $300,” Fabach recalled. “Then we moved to it spring and just made it a giant yard sale.” Profits are now in the four figures, she said.
The membership starts collecting items in June for the following year.
“We want household items, collectables, toys, lamps, and accent furniture,” she said. “We don’t want mugs, plastics, clothes or piles and piles of books.”
Historical Society members can contribute to a baked goods table at the yard sale, which resulted in four tables laden with breads, pies, cookies, pastries and more.
Society member Patty Wilder of Lake Riviera brought her sister-in-law Anne Emerson to the yard sale.
“I love it. It’s a beautiful day and the baked goods are fantastic,” said Emerson, who bought a Historical Society t-shirt. “It’s always interesting,” she added.
Township Historian Gene Donatello was giving tours of the Havens Homestead and was telling the history of Brick to yard sale attendees.
Donatello said the organization got its start when the township formed a Bicentennial Committee in 1976, which morphed into the Historical Society. Donatello was appointed Township Historian by then-Mayor Joseph Scarpelli.
“I have no duties. I’m a volunteer who promotes the history of the town,” Donatello said between museum tours. “It took a long time to become an expert,” he said.
Donatello is on the township Preservation Committee, which recently hosted a sold-out bus tour that featured two historical stops in Brick. One was a historical log cabin off Mantoloking Road, and the second stop was the Old Woolley Cemetery (AKA the Gravely Graveyard) off Princeton Ave.
The Brick Township Historical Society will be sponsoring the 61st New York Regiment at the Havens Homestead property for a Civil War Encampment on the first weekend in August.
The soldiers wear wool uniforms and demonstrate what life was like in camp. They cook their meals on a fire pit, march, fire guns and invite the public to share experiences with them. Admission is free but donations are welcome to help defray expenses, Fabach said.
Visiting hours for the encampment will be 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 3 and from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 4.
The Havens Homestead Museum, located at 521 Herbertsville Road, will be open for tours during the encampment. There will also be a large bake sale in the building. The Lizzie Herbert Gift Shop will feature specials, including Civil War hankie dolls.
For more information visit bricktownshiphistoricalsociety.com, or call 732-785-2500.
