Union Landing Historical Society

Brielle, New Jersey: Saltworks to Suburb Union Landing Historical Society

In 1888, Robert Louis Stevenson christened Brielle's Manasquan River Island 'Treaure Island' ; however, the town remained relatively isolated until 1919. When the Manasquan inlet was created, it transformed the town into the preeminent hub for recreational fishing and a booming resort destination. The earliest European settlers first harvested salt at Union Landing, and later, resort developers found it reminiscent of their favorite Dutch seaside town and gave it its current moniker. From its Native American origins to the dubious rumrunning of the Prohibition era, the town has a rich and colorful history. Raymond F. Shea of the Union Landing Historical Society weaves a rich tapestry of facts, anecdotes and charming stories that displays the story of a town that exchanged its fledgling, farm-town status for a reputation as one of America's civic gems.