Monmouth County Historical Association to honor Mary Lou Strong

Monday, 22 June 2009 19:05

Newsbrief - Monmouth County

FREEHOLD, NJ - The Monmouth County Historical Association will honor Mary Lou Strong, former President of the Board, at its 34^th Annual Garden Party on Sunday, July 19, 2009.

Mrs. Strong served as President of the Monmouth County Historical Association's Board of Trustees from 1981 to 1986.  She holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Art History from Wellesley College, Wellesley, Massachusetts and a Certificate in Historic Preservation from Drew University, Madison, NJ.

In addition to her dedication to the MCHA, Mary Lou was appointed to Monmouth County Historical Commission in 1989 by the Monmouth County Board of Chosen Freeholders.  She is a member of the Middletown Landmarks Commission, All Saints' Memorial Church in Navesink where she began her preservation activism with a campaign to "Save Our Shed."  She is a Trustee of Preservation New Jersey, and Vice President and Club Historian of Sea Bight Lawn Tennis and Cricket Club.  She successfully nominated the Sea Bright Lawn Tennis and Cricket club, and the Water Witch (Monmouth Hills) Club to the National Register of Historic Place.  She was an active member of the SARAH Committee to restore and open Allen House in Shrewsbury to the public.  In 1989 Mrs. Strong was awarded "The Jane G. Clayton Award" by the Board of Chosen Freeholders, "for outstanding efforts to preserve Monmouth County History."

This year's Garden Party is being chaired by MCHA Trustees Karen M. Rafiqi of Ocean, and Kara D. Short of Rumson.  Mr. & Mrs. John J. Duffy have graciously offered their home, "Greenlea" for the Garden Party.  Their Locust home offers a relaxing vista of the Navesink River which will provide a pleasant relaxing afternoon with friends enjoying cocktails and hors d'ouevres.

The event will feature a silent auction and the drawing of the MCHA's annual 50/50 raffle.  A souvenir journal, right sized for a garden party featuring congratulatory messages to the honoree or promoting business will be distributed to the guests.  Businesses interested in being included in the journal may contact Jim McMahon at 732-462-1466 ext. 20.

The Monmouth County Historical Association's Museum and Library is located at 70 Court Street, Freehold, New Jersey.  The MCHA is a private not-for-profit organization.  Museum hours are: Tuesday - Saturday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.  The Library is open Wednesday through Saturday.  For membership or admission fees and further information, please call (732) 462-1466 or visit our web site at www.monmouthhistory.org.

The Monmouth County Historical Association received an operating support grant from the New Jersey Historical Commission, a division of the Department of State.