According to Jack Cervetto's "A Brief History of Stafford Township," before
sailing from Staffordshire, England, James Haywood, Perry Paul and Luke
Courtney purchased the first tracts of land in what is now Stafford
Township in 1735. A few years, they sailed to the New World and settled
the Manahawkin area in 1743.
According to local lore, the name Manahawkin is a Native American word
from the Lenni Lanape meaning "good corn land. In 1749, Stafford ran
from Oyster Creek in the north to Little Egg Harbor in
the south, and from Long Beach Island in the east to Burlington County
in the west. Stafford's first government included two commissioners of
the highways, one overseer of the poor, one tax assessor, one collector
and one constable, all of whom were chosen annually by the populace.
The first water operated sawmills in the area were in Manahawkin,
Wells Mills and Cedar Bridge. Early commerce in the township also
included boat building, farming, oyster harvesting and clamming.
Stafford was home to the first house of worship in Ocean County, the First
Baptist Church Society that also served as Stafford's only school until
1800. Cranberry harvesting became an industry in Stafford in 1880, when
a man named Webb experimented with cranberry plants grown in patches
along the swamps. These "cranberry bogs" were flooded in winter to protect
the vines from freezing. One of the most famous early cranberry bogs, now
hidden in the forest at the end of Oxycocus Road, belonged to
historian/explorer/writer Nathaniel Holmes Bishop. It
was added to the Forsythe Wildlife Refuge earlier this year.
Today, Stafford Township includes Manahawkin, Cedar Run, Mayetta and
much of Warren Grove. With large residential sections like Ocean Acres,
Fawn Lakes, and Beach Haven West, it is southern Ocean County's fastest
growing community. Stafford also leads all of the other towns in the
county in environmental projects, including recycling and ordinances
that prevent pollution and overdevelopment.
Stafford is also home to Southern Ocean County Hospital (SOCH),
which has tripled in size since it first opened a little more than 20
years ago. The hospital now has two healthcare satellites in neighboring
Lacey and Little Egg Harbor townships In addition, it is now flanked by
a medical\professional zone of doctors' offices and laboratories, and
two fine nursing and convalescent homes are located nearby.
Stafford's active historical society has completed restoration of its
Railroad Museum in Heritage Park, and is busy collecting showcases and
displays. Its current focus is to put heating and air conditioning in
the Old Baptist Church Museum on Route 9. The historical society holds
several events during the year to raise funds for its projects, including
flea markets, a railroad festival and a Christmas tour. Each year in June, Stafford celebrates its heritage with Founders Day, which includes a dinner dance, parade, senior citizens luncheon, day-long picnic, entertainment and fireworks.
The Saturday of Labor Day Weekend, the town and the Times-Beacon Newspapers host Manahawkin Good Ol' Days. A day long celebration featuring a street market on Bay Avenue, along with children's games, food concessions, and entertainment by the lake at A. Paul King Park, topped off with a nighttime concert. The township also has a Halloween Parade and Christmas celebration. The township has many clubs and organizations. Among them are the Stafford Business Association, both an Elks and Moose lodge, and a chapter of the Disabled American Veterans. The Old Barney Amateur Radio Club, Ocean County's largest, also calls Stafford it's home.
For More Stafford Township History Visit Stafford Historical Society at
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