July 21, 1917
Harry Houdini Brings a Crowd of Magicians to Keansburg – But He Does Not Perform
On Saturday, July 21, 1917, legendary escape artist and entertainer Harry Houdini returned to Monmouth County, accompanied by his wife, Bess, his brother Theodore “Hardeen” Weiss, and a group of fellow magicians from New York City, to visit a colleague
December 21, 1944
Medal of Honor: Horace Marvin “Buddy” Thorne
On December 21, 1944, Horace Marvin “Buddy” Thorne died from wounds he received while displaying incredible courage during the Ardennes Counteroffensive, better known as “the Battle of the Bulge,” in Belgium, during World War II. Thorne would later be posthumously
February 4, 1946
The WWII War Brides of Monmouth County
On February 4, 1946, the USS Argentina steamed into New York City after an absolutely brutal nine-day voyage from England. A luxury passenger liner converted into a U.S. military troop ship, she sailed into the teeth of two terrible storms
November 11, 1950
The Amazing Monument Men of Monmouth County
Timeline story by Rick Burton On November 11, 1950, Armistice Day (now Veterans Day), Major General Francis H. Lanahan, commanding officer of Fort Monmouth, delivered the principal address at dedication ceremonies marking the official unveiling of the monument to the
June 2, 1953
Servais LeRoy, Keansburg’s Monarch of Magic
By John R. Barrows On June 2, 1953, Servais LeRoy died in Keansburg, and was buried in Middletown. Few people took notice, the old man had long become just another retiree living along the Raritan Bayshore. Even his neighbors