History – In the 1800s Little Silver consisted mostly of farms, woods, and saltwater marshes.  Towards the turn of the century, John T. Lovett opened his famous nursery, and resort hotels began to spring up on the scenic Little Silver Point peninsula.  In the 1890s, the construction of a dock for Patten Line steamboats at the end of the Point increased the volume of summer visitors. 

            Separated from Shrewsbury Township in 1923, Little Silver has remained a prosperous and vibrant community over the years.  The farms and nurseries have almost all been replaced by housing today, but residents find that their shrubs and backyard garden grow beautifully on the fertile land.  Over the years, many New York and northern New Jersey commuters have decided to make Little Silver their home, traveling by rail or auto to their jobs. 

            Today, Prospect Avenue is a true “Main Street” and it intersects with the charming shops in historic old houses that line Church Street.  Specialty restaurants are also abundant in the downtown area.    The location on the river makes Little Silver a popular destination for boaters and water sports enthusiasts with a public boat ramp at the Dominick F. Santelle Park off Riverview Avenue.   8% of the homes are on the Shrewsbury River, and another 35 % are along its stream corridors.  Little Silver is known for its outstanding school system, and the beautifully restored railroad station is a national landmark.

The Parker-Sickles Homestead is the oldest house in Little Silver.                             

  Here is a link to its website.  http://www.monmouth.com/~lsboe/bennett/                            

The Little Silver Post Office museum opened in a general store at the corner of Church Land and Church Street by Benjamin F. King, the first postmaster, in 1875.  Later it was moved to the Howland and Moriatt store, which was later know as Mechanic's Hall.  The building is still standing and is now the very busy Edie's Luncheonette on Rumson Road.  In the early 1900's, the Post Office was located at 56 Church Street and mail service was centered there until 1956 when the present day Post Office was built. 

With plans to preserve the building as a museum, the building was moved next to the Little Silver Library in 1973, where it remains today.  The museum houses postal artifacts and local memorabilia, including the 50th anniversary quilt which is comprised of 35 blocks which depict Little Silver's history.  The front section of the building is a recreation of the original Post Office with boxes bearing the names of the original owners.  Visiting hours 10-1 on the first Saturday of each month, and Dave W. Griffiths is the curator.

For more information on the history of Little Silver please see A Sketchbook of Little Silver History by June O. Kennedy.  Additional information and photos are available in the Images of America series, Little Silver Volumes 1 and 2, by Karen L. Schnitzspahn. 

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Borough of Little Silver 480 Prospect Avenue, Little Silver, NJ 07739 732-842-2400 phone      732-219-0581 fax