Jamesburg Historical Association
The Main Hallway at Lakeview Mansion
Fireplace in the Formal Dining Room
The Buckelew Bedroom
The Rear Parlor
A Trunk, circa 1890

      Welcome to Jamesburg, New Jersey and the home of the Jamesburg Historical Association. Jamesburg is a small community in central New Jersey containing a very rich and glorious past combined with strong cultural ties and traditions. Since before its beginnings in 1887 as the Borough of Jamesburg, the community has had a strong sense of history, as seen by the large Victorian houses and old storefronts lining East and West Railroad Avenues. The Jamesburg Historical Association has worked tirelessly since 1979 to preserve and educate the public about history of Jamesburg and the surrounding area. The famed Lakeview Mansion, the residence of Borough namesake James Buckelew, is the centerpiece of Buckelew Park, a 1.75 acre park across from Lake Manalapan. This mansion serves as the museum for Jamesburg history and the headquarters of the Jamesburg Historical Association. The mansion, built in various stages between 1685 and 1870, serves as a time capsule for Jamesburg, demonstrating not just different building styles and architecture but social patterns from its first residents in 1685 through its the last in 1978. To read a brief history of the structure via our historical marker, click here.

      Sadly, the efforts of the Jamesburg Historical Association members is not enough. The Association cannot reach every document, photograph, item, or oral history. Thus, in honor of the preservation of Jamesburg's history, this web site has been established as a means of conveying and collecting Jamesburg's history. The Association asks that any resident or visitor of Jamesburg, former or present, who has pictures to share or a story to tell, please contact the Jamesburg Historical Association. The stories and pictures can be personal or general. Pictures, postcards, and images of the mansions and stately homes that once adorned Jamesburg's streets, the shops that filled East and West Railroad Avenues, and lakefront images are just a sample of the many types of images being preserved, in addition to donations of memorabila from the greater Jamesburg area.

Overview of Jamesburg History

      The earliest documented settler in the Jamesburg area arrived in 1685 from Scotland. A mill was in operation along the Manalapan Brook as early as 1734. With the arrival of James Buckelew in 1829, the area, then part of South Amboy Township, began to slowly grow and become more populous. With the coming of the Camden & Amboy Railroad in 1831, the upper end of town began to develop. In 1853, the establishment of the Jamesburg & Freehold Agricultural Railroad caused Jamesburg to become a railroad hub. As you walk through town, streets in the older section bear the names of railroad pioneers (Gatzmer, Stockton, Stevens) or Civil War leaders (Hooker, Sherman, Lincoln). In 1887, Jamesburg separated from Monroe Township and became an independent borough. Today, Jamesburg is a primarily residential and commerical community with no industry within its nine-tenths of a square mile area.

Jamesburg Historical Association Resources

About the JHA
Construction UpdatesMembership Form Adobe Acrobat Required
WishlistNewsletters
Recent DonationsDriving Directions Adobe Acrobat Required
Monthly Meeting Agendas
Acquisition and Museum Policy Guide Adobe Acrobat Required

Jamesburg History OnDemand
Powered by Craig Schiavone Media

Introduction to Lakeview Mansion
Buckelew Day 2005 Video
The Ghosts of Lakeview Mansion
4th of July Fireworks in Thompson Park

Haunted Lakeview Mansion

Upcoming Events

10.7.2009 - Membership Meeting @ Jamesburg Presbyterian Church: 7:30 P.M.

Lakeview Mansion is currently CLOSED to for a large-scale preservation and restoration project. Meetings and events continue at alternate locations in Jamesburg and the surrounding area. Check here for updates.

The room where Jamesburg history began - the original 1685 kitchen.
    Orignal 1685 Kitchen, Lakeview Mansion, Buckelew Park
"A word for the future!
Keep careful records of everything
no matter how insignificant it may seem at the time.
This is what makes history!"


Louise Johnson Kerwin
Jamesburg Historical Association Historian, 1987


Jamesburg Historical Association Links

Jersey Central N-TRAK | History Related Resources and Links
CelebrateNJ Statewide Celebration
Jamesburg Historical Association Online Archive and Collection

Jamesburg History Resources

A History of Jamesburg
A Profile of Jamesburg's History
A Walking Tour of Jamesburg
Helmetta History
Help Save Lakeview Mansion
Jamesburg History Fact Sheet Adobe Acrobat Required
Progress vs. History
History of the Presbyterian Church of Jamesburg
The Year to Save History: 320 Years in the Making

Miss Margaret's Gift Boutique

Lakeview's Gift Shop Adobe Acrobat Required
I Love Jamesburg T-Shirt Adobe Acrobat Required

Jamesburg Historical Association Events

Buckelew Day 2006 Photo Recap
Historic Marker Dedication Photo Recap
Buckelew Day 2005 Photo Recap
Buckelew Day 2004 Photo Recap

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