2012 Holiday Lantern Tours Include Historic Shrewsbury Presbyterian Church

SHREWSBURY, NJ - Monmouth County Historical Association will again participate in the annual Holiday Lantern Tours of Shrewsbury’s Historic Four Corners, a National and State designated Historic District, on Friday evening, December 7. On this special evening, the historic buildings at the corners of Broad Street and Sycamore Avenue will be open to welcome the public. Tours begin at 6:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. and are by reservation only.
The tours will include four historic properties: Monmouth County Historical Association’s Allen House, which was built circa 1710; Christ Church (1769); the Presbyterian Church (1822); and Shrewsbury Friends Meeting House (1816).

At the Allen House, which served the community as a tavern in the mid-18th century, visitors will be greeted by the tavern keeper and his family who will illustrate tavern life through dramatic first-person storytelling. Live instrumental music and singing by Heather MacDonald will be followed by cookies and cider generously donated by Foodtown in Red Bank, and general merriment.

In Christ Church, the Rev. Harry Finch, who served as rector from 1830 - 1863, along with many of his notable 18th and 19th century parishioners, will be on hand to guide visitors through the church. Christ Church’s bazaar opens on the night of Lantern Tours for visitor shopping. Tours of the Presbyterian Church will also be offered; the second church building on that site constructed 22 years after their original church burned in 1800. Visitors will also have the opportunity to see the Shrewsbury Friends Meeting House, learn more about the Quakers’ unique style of worship, and be treated to light refreshments.

The cost of tickets is $15.00 for adults and $8.00 for children 12 and under. Tours leave from Christ Church located at 380 Sycamore Avenue. Please call Renee at 732-915-5862 to reserve a place on the tour.

Monmouth County Historical Association is a private non-profit organization that works to preserve history and provide educational opportunities since its founding in 1898. The Historical Association’s Museum and Library is located at 70 Court Street, Freehold, New Jersey. Museum hours are: Tuesday - Saturday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The Library is open Wednesday through Saturday. For membership or admission fees and further information, please call (732) 462-1466 or visit our web site at www.monmouthhistory.org.

Newsbrief written by Monmouth County Historical Association