Historic Cedar Bridge Tavern Opening In Barnegat

BARNEGAT, N.J. — The Historic Cedar Bridge Tavern is about to reach another historic milestone. The restored historical showpiece will open at 1 p.m. Monday.

The tavern was placed on the prestigious National Register of Historic Places on Aug. 8, 2013. The restoration process has involved extensive architectural and archeological research. Beginning Monday, the Ocean County Board of Chosen Freeholders will welcome visitors to the site.

The Ocean County Parks department purchased the property at 200 Old Cedar Bridge Rd. on Dec. 27, 2007. The Cedar Bridge Tavern offers a unique historical perspective into the European experience in the New Jersey Pinelands.

From about 1749, a saw mill existed on a nearby branch of the Wading River. The town grew around the intersection of a major east/west thoroughfare and a southern route to reach Egg Harbor and Tuckerton, according to Ocean County. Maps from around 1750 show Pettit's or Cedar Bridge as a named place on state and regional maps.

In 1782m Captain Richard Shreve of Burlington County Light Horse and Captain Edward Thomas of the Mansfield militia stopped at a nearby tavern for refreshments. Captain John Bacon and his band of loyalists blocked their escape.

A party of locals then fired upon the militia, creating a distraction that allowed Bacon to escape. One Patriot was killed, and four were wounded. Four Loyalists were wounded, including Bacon.

Read more about Cedar Bridge Tavern.

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