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NJCF assists in preservation of historic Cedar Bridge Tavern

BARNEGAT TWP., Dec. 27, 2007 - Ocean County’s most significant historic site, a colonial-era tavern where the last battle of the American Revolution was fought, is being preserved due in part to the foresight and generosity of the New Jersey Conservation Foundation (NJCF).

In 1977, NJCF preserved 211 acres of forested land in Barnegat Township and transferred it to the state to add to the Stafford Forge Wildlife Management Area. The property surrounded but didn’t include the Cedar Bridge Tavern, which was built in the 1740s or earlier.

In order to ensure the tavern’s ultimate preservation, NJCF acquired the right to buy the building and five surrounding acres for $35,000. Under the terms of the option agreement, NJCF could purchase the property only when the owner, Rudolph Koenig, decided to sell.

More than 25 years later, Ocean County officials became interested in preserving the tavern because of its significance as the site of the last skirmish of the American Revolution in December 1782. NJCF agreed to give up its rights to the property in support of the county’s historic preservation efforts.

“By waiving our purchase option, we are contributing about $200,000 of property value to this preservation project,” said Michele S. Byers, NJCF’s executive director. “We’re very pleased to know that Ocean County is committed to preserving this historic landmark so future generations can learn about its role in the American Revolution.”

The county celebrated the preservation of the tavern at a dedication ceremony on Thursday, Dec. 27, timed to coincide with the 225th anniversary of the Battle of Cedar Bridge. Chris Jage, NJCF’s assistant director for southern New Jersey, was among the officials who attended the ceremonies.

Helping preserve the state’s historic sites is nothing new for NJCF. In 1987, when a Camden row house on the block where poet Walt Whitman once lived came up for sale, NJCF bought it. The non-profit foundation completed needed repairs and restoration and subsequently sold it to the state to become part of the Walt Whitman Historical Complex.

More recently, NJCF preserved the historic John Prall House in Stockton, establishing a regional office there. The circa 1796 stone building sits at the gateway to the scenic Wickecheoke Creek Greenway and is adjacent to the Delaware & Raritan Canal and the Prallsville Mills historic complex.