Chronology of Lakehurst History
| Circa 1789 | Federal Forge in operation supplying cannonballs for the
Continental Army. First forge in Ocean County. |
| Circa 1850 | Village of Manchester founded by William Torrey along with the
Raritan and Delaware Bay Railroad. Early industrial center. |
| Circa 1860's | Raritan and Delaware Bay Railroad was named as carrier for Union
troops and supplies by Secretary of War. Torrey/Larrabee Store opened using
local script as money. |
| Circa 1870's | Red Men's Lodge Hall constructed. Present home of Fleet Reserve Association Branch 124. |
| 1874 | First Mass celebrated in Old St. John's Church. Oldest Roman
Catholic Church in Ocean County. Present home of the Lakehurst Historical
Society Museum. |
| 1884 | Rogers Hotel constructed on Union Avenue. Owned by Charles
Rogers, it was the site of much political activity in the Lakehurst/Manchester
area. |
| 1897 | Lakehurst Post Office founded. Name "Lakehurst" in regular
use. |
| 1898 | Pine-Tree Inn, large winter resort opens on Union
Avenue. |
| Circa 1900 | Largest Central Railroad of New Jersey shops and roundhouse in
operation. Many small businesses and local industries line the tree-lined Union
Avenue. |
| 1911 | Second largest industry, Rope Factory, burned to the ground.
Manchester Volunteer Fire Company No. 1 formed. Became Lakehurst Volunteer fire
Company in 1918. |
| 1912 | Austin Miles authors the famous hymn "In the Garden" after
receiving inspiration from his mother's rose garden on Pine
Street. |
| 1921 | Lakehurst Incorporated on April 7, 1921. Lakehurst Naval Air
Station established. Construction started in Hanger One on ZR-1
Shenandoah |
| 1928 | First International Airport in the United States at NAS
Lakehurst. Graf Zeppelin started round the world flight at
Lakehurst. |
| 1936 | German Zeppelin Hindenburg made 10 flights here. |
| May 6, 1937 | Hindenburg explodes and burns near mooring mast. |
| Circa 1940's | Railroad shops declining. Pine-Tree Inn razed. |
| 1940's - 1960's | Birthplace of helicopters in U.S. Navy |
| 1962 | Last flight of U.S. Navy Blimps |
| 1993 | Historical Society Museum opened. |