Historic Homes Shine In Rumson Walking Tour

RUMSON, NJ — The Rumson Historic Preservation Commission is hosting a celebration of Rumson’s historic homes at Victory Park on Oct. 2, beginning at 1 p.m.

Also, this year’s annual restoration and preservation awards will be given out at the event along with a chance to mingle with other historic homes lovers and to learn more about the commission.

At 2 p.m., those in attendance will set off on a self-guided walking tour of the streets around Victory Park and Rogers Park, able to meander through the neighborhood, making exterior stops at 100-year-old plus homes marked on a printed map.

Here is the schedule:

• 1 p.m. – Refreshments – there will be a table with various printed information about the commission’s mission, home registry and plaque program. Commission members will be at the table to answer questions.
• 1:15 p.m. – Welcome remarks by Rumson Historic Preservation Commission Chair, Charley Shay
• 1:30 p.m. – Presentation of Historic Preservation Awards
• 1:45 p.m. – Self-guided walking tour background and instructions
• 2 p.m. – Self-guided walking tour throughout Rumson’s historic “Oceanic” neighborhood beginning from Victory Park and to view 15 to 20 homes' exteriors. Each home will have a participating lawn Borough of Rumson sign out front and some homeowners will be outside to tell folks about their historic homes.

The rain date is Sunday, Oct. 9.

The commission's website offers many interesting articles and photos about the history of the borough: "Historic Rumson was settled in 1665, as a result of a land purchase from native Americans. The Lenni-Lenapé,a tribe within the larger tribe of the Delawares, lived on the Peninsula and named it Navarumsunk. Throughout the years that name was shortened and changed to Rumson. Rumson was officially incorporated as a Borough in 1907."