Tinton Falls is planning to celebrate the anniversary of the founding of our modern borough in September of this year. In 1950, the area that is now Tinton Falls separated from the larger Shrewsbury Township and formed New Shrewsbury as an independent borough. In 1975, we changed our name to be “Tinton Falls”. Though the roots of our community go back to Lewis Morris’s 17th century iron works, these events formed the town that we recognize today.
Students in our schools will be exploring this history, and we hope the information and images on this page will be helpful to them. Most of this information comes from primary sources, which means they were recorded by people who were present at the time the events occurred. Many of the resources students are familiar with are secondary sources (like encyclopedias or textbooks), created by historians or authors.
Newspaper articles
These are articles from local newspapers, which we have organized by date. Reading them in chronological order will give an understanding of what happened. Note: This is just a selection from the extensive newspaper coverage at the time, obtained through newspapers.com.
1950: Creation of New Shrewsbury
- 3/9/1950 – ‘New’ Shrewsbury plan approved – The Daily Register
The initial suggestion for the new township was to call it “Old Shrewsbury” - 7/17/1950 – Vote Scheduled in Shrewsbury – Asbury Park Press
The referendum is scheduled for July 18, 1950 - 7/20/1950 – Borough of New Shrewsbury created by 136 vote majority – The Daily Register
Reporting on the vote results - 7/21/1950 – A new municipality – Asbury Park Press
Opposing sides on the issue want to work together - 8/22/1950 – New borough’s first mayor – The Daily Record
Photo of Mayor Kenneth Fields being sworn in as mayor - 8/24/1950 – New Shrewsbury’s new leaders – The Daily Register
Photo of the new borough council at their first meeting - 9/14/1950 – Council may order 2 new fire trucks – The Daily Register
The new borough holds its first meeting and creates needed laws
1975: Name Change to Tinton Falls
- 3/19/1975 – Tinton Falls seeks identity – Asbury Park Press
This map excerpt illustrates the proposed name change. - 3/19/1975 – New Shrewsbury vote on new name asked – The Daily Register
Talks about the vote which will take place, and what it will mean if successful. - 3/23/1975 – Tinton Falls urged for New Shrewsbury
A cartoon image from the above article. - 4/3/1975 – New Shrewsbury’s name – The Daily Register
Background on the identity issues facing the borough. - 4/11/1975 – Name change move debated – Asbury Park Press
A poem is excerpted from the above article. - 8/18/1975 – New Shrewsbury’s identity – Asbury Park Press
Reasons for the proposed name change - 11/5/1975 – New Shrewsbury will be Tinton Falls – The Daily Register
This article reports on New Shrewsbury’s new name. - 11/5/1975 – Tinton Falls put on the map – Star Ledger
Reporting on the name change, and why it will end confusion. - 11/7/1975 – 2 generations witnessed name changes – The Daily Register
The article describes how a mother and son, both borough clerks, shared town milestones. - Images and a poem, from the Asbury Park Press, spring of 1975
- 1/12/2004 – Sprawling municipality now tiny – Asbury Park Press
This article describes how the original Shrewsbury township shrank over time. - Monmouth County family tree – This image shows how the large township was reduced by the formation of new townships over time. New Shrewsbury was the last one to break off, at the very top of the tree.
Photographs
We are indebted to Randall Gabrielan for allowing us to use material from his book Tinton Falls in the Twentieth Century, as well as to Monmouth University’s Guggenheim Library for providing access to the Dorn’s archival photo collection. Thanks also to Jonathan Cohen, local photographer, for sharing some of his images with us for this project.
Before 1950
Tinton Avenue, view #1
Tinton Avenue looking west, ca 1890’s.
Tinton Avenue, view #2
Another view of Tinton Avenue looking west, also ca 1890’s. How is this photo different?
Falls and Dam
Notice the saw mill on the far side of the dam.
Crawford House ca 1900
Our earliest image of the Crawford House
Mill Pond and Bridge
This ca 1905 postcard shows the mill pond, which was central to the village for most of its history. The building on the right is now Gargiulo’s restaurant.
Crawford House 1925
The Crawford House with family members on the porch, ca 1925. How has the house changed since 1900?
Old Mill
This is a view of the Old Mill ca 1939.
After 1950
New Shrewsbury fire trucks, 1950
After separating from Shrewsbury Township in 1950, New Shrewsbury purchased new fire trucks for the new Borough.
Sycamore Avenue, 1951
Young bikers on Sycamore Avenue in 1951.
Bike riders at the mill, 1951
A group of bike riders at the Old Mill, 1951.
Tinton Falls Fire Company #1 , 1952
The original fire house for Tinton Falls Fire Company #1, incorporated in 1934. The bell is now installed nearby at ground level.
Linehan’s Store, 1952
Linehan’s store, on the corner of Tinton Ave and Water St, in 1952. Note the gas pumps – the property is now a gas station.
Intersection, with Chris’s Tavern, 1952
Tinton Avenue looking west in 1952. The house you see across the bridge, on the Crawford property, burned down in 1976.
Sycamore School, 1954
Sycamore School was built in 1954, containing 6 classrooms. It has been expanded over the years, and is now Mahala F. Atchison School.
New Shrewsbury garbage truck, 1956
New Shrewsbury dignitaries seem proud of this new garbage truck in 1956.
Tinton Falls School, 1957
This 1957 view of Tinton Falls School is from the rear, showing new classrooms that were added.
Swimming River School, 1950
Swimming River School was expanded in 1960 to contain 12 classrooms.
Tinton Falls Middle School, pre-1961
This view of the Tinton Falls Middle School still shows the Methodist Church next door, which was torn down c1961 to allow for school expansion.
Reeveytown Service Center, 1960’s
The service center was run by the Thomas family from the 1930’s until 2014. This photo is from the 1960’s.
Intersection of Sycamore and Tinton, 1960’s
Tinton Avenue looking west in the 1960’s.
Borough Hall, 1960’s
Our old Borough Hall was an 1894 farm house, adapted for the town’s use. Seen here in the 1960’s.
Library at Borough Hall, 1960’s
Here we see volunteers moving books into the library’s new location at Borough Hall (1960’s).
Airport Inn, 1963
The Airport Inn was located on Shrewsbury Ave, just north of Apple St, near the former Red Bank airport. It is now a restaurant.
New Name Signing, 1975
Mayor Gabe Spector is signing the resolution that officially changed the town’s name to Tinton Falls in 1975.
Bil Canfield Sketch, 1975
When residents voted to change the town’s name to Tinton Falls, local artist Bil Canfield sketched a symbol of the new borough. Pictured (L to R) are administrator Jerry Reed, tax collector Ann Ervin, and Mayor Gabe Spector (1975).
Police Car, 1975
This police car was the first with the new Tinton Falls logo, ca 1975.
New Shrewsbury Municipal Center Sign, 1975
This sign was outside of Borough Hall (the name hasn’t been updated yet!).
Falls from below, 1976
This 1976 view of the falls clearly shows pieces of an earlier dam.
Tinton Falls Fire Company #1, 1976
Tinton Falls Library, 1978
William Placek sold his house to the borough in 1976 for use as a library. This photo is from 1978.
Mahala Field Atchison, 1983
Mahala Field Atchison in 1983, when a portrait in her honor was hung in Sycamore School (later renamed for her).
School History Information
These articles were taken from a school district calendar compiled by Kathleen DeAngelo, a former Board of Education employee.