LACEY – If you’re heading down Route 9 in Forked River, you might drive right past one of Lacey Township’s greatest treasures without even realizing it. But tucked inside an old schoolhouse built in 1860, the Lacey Historical Society Museum holds more than artifacts – it holds the soul of the town.
The building itself – restored in 1996 – is one of the few remaining historical structures in Lacey. Originally a one-room schoolhouse, the site later expanded to include a second room, now filled with carefully curated glimpses into Lacey’s past.
“It started as a one-room schoolhouse in the north room,” said Derek Lazok, 38, president of the Lacey Historical Society. “The south room was added later. It’s one of the only historic buildings left in town.”
The Lacey Museum is located at 126 S. Main Street in Forked River (Photo by Stephanie Faughnan)
A Walk Through Time
Visitors stepping into the museum are greeted by a thoughtful timeline of the township’s development since its founding in 1871. The township’s namesake, General John Lacey – a Revolutionary War hero known as the “Quaker General” – is honored, along with other residents who shaped the community.
Inside the museum, the past is told not through textbooks but through tangible connections: military uniforms, antique tools, Victorian lace, hand-sewn quilts, and decades-old photographs. Child-sized desks in the schoolhouse corner might remind some of the simplicity – and challenges – of education generations ago. The desks themselves weren’t part of the original schoolhouse but were added to the display. However, other remnants of days past were blended in to add to the authenticity.
Plenty of tools are on display. (Photo by Stephanie Faughnan)
“We found a piece of chalk up in the attic,” said Historical Society trustee Liz McGrath with a laugh. “All the woodwork is original. Even the window beams are just like the ones you’d find in the old houses around here.”
McGrath also shared how a bell from the original school was salvaged, restored, and now sits outside the building. “It didn’t ring anymore and had no cradle,” she explained. “I found a restoration company, and now kids can come and ring it again.”
History As A Family Affair
For Derek, the museum is personal. He’s spent his whole life in Lacey – and he’s now passing his passion for history on to his daughter, Madison, a 12-year-old student at Lacey Township Middle School.
“It’s important to save these things for future generations,” he said. “Like my daughter, who loves the history of our town.”
Madison spoke with the ease of someone twice her age. “It has a history,” she said. “And learning about its artifacts and the people in this town is important to know about. It’s a big impact on my life.”
Her favorite exhibit? A hand-embroidered sampler from 1845, made by Mary Anne Williams. The display includes a portrait of Williams, painted by former Historical Society president R.B. Nelson, along with a mannequin dressed in period clothing that mirrors the style of the woman in the painting. The level of detail in both the painting and the exhibit makes it easy to imagine life in a quieter, more deliberate time.
The museum has collections of old tools, paintings, and more. (Photo by Stephanie Faughnan)
Layers Of Local Life
Every corner of the museum tells a different story. A case filled with military memorabilia honors Lacey’s veterans. There are canteens, photographs, and a folded flag dedicated to a local service member. Nearby, a spinning wheel and butter churn evoke daily life in early America.
One display titled “When The Engines Were Horses” highlights a time when horsepower wasn’t a metaphor. Real horse tack, metal hames, and Victorian keepsakes are arranged beside a mannequin wearing 19th-century fashion.
“The Golden Eagle group helped people during wartime with money, food, and clothes,” said McGrath, pointing to another exhibit. “There’s so much people don’t know unless they come in and see it.”
Trophies dating back to 1906 from races on Barnegat Bay and the Toms River sit in another case. Woven baskets used for clamming and farming share space with depression glass and duck decoys. Each item, no matter how small, has a connection to someone who once lived – and worked – right in Lacey.
A vintage spinning wheel is on display. (Photo by Stephanie Faughnan)
Memories At Risk
While the museum celebrates what has been preserved, there’s an undercurrent of urgency among the Historical Society’s members. Two other historic buildings – the Worden House and the Charles A. Smith Community Center – are at risk.
They consider the Worden House, originally built in 1850 and moved to Route 9 in 1982, as especially significant. It once belonged to Adolphus Gustavus Vaughn, a Civil War veteran who survived the Andersonville prison camp and died in 1898. The Smith Center, built in 1924, holds its own civic importance.
Photo by Stephanie Faughnan
Both buildings are on the chopping block, sold to make room for a new QuickChek. Members of the society are fighting to stop the demolition – and have even taken legal action.
“Overdevelopment is a real concern,” Lazok said. “We’re losing these pieces of who we are.”
A Community’s Roots, Preserved
The museum isn’t just about what’s old – it’s about what matters. Exhibits range from Victorian baby carriages and apothecary jars to steins, firefighter helmets, and Singer sewing machines. A photograph of a soldier next to an old baseball hints at a story yet untold.
There’s no need to be a historian to enjoy what’s inside. You just need to care about where you live – and how it came to be.
There are plenty of trophies on display. (Photo by Stephanie Faughnan)
Even during the COVID shutdowns, members of the Historical Society found ways to make things better. They rearranged artifacts to tell clearer stories. They connected displays with themes. They turned a small space into something alive.
“We want people to come in and not just see the items,” said McGrath. “We want them to feel the stories behind them.”
The Lacey Historical Society Museum is located at 126 S. Main Street in Forked River. Admission is free, though donations help preserve this special slice of the township’s heritage.
The post Preserving Lacey’s Past: Inside The Museum That Tells The Story appeared first on Jersey Shore Online.