Leonard bought lots 7 and 13 and had his own combination store and dwelling, on the south side of West Front Street, to the left of where the Atlantic Hotel was being built. Leonard was the only one of the three Commissioners who bought any property in the new town.

On the 4th of July, 1832, Leonard Walling (aged 36), and his second wife, Deborah, moved from Centerville to their new home with his two oldest children—Therese, a month less than 11, and George Washington, called "Wash", who was just 8. They were alert, outgoing youngsters with excellent memories and made friends easily. All their lives they were keenly interested in the progress and growth of the town and the exciting experience of being OLDER than the town!

For awhile the town was called by the Indian name, "Fishing Point", but before long Leonard remembered that many people further inland had always talked of the bay at this point as "the key port of Monmouth County", so finally the town became KEY PORT, used as two words for many years.

Another store was built in 1835, just next to Leonard's, by William and Joseph D. Hoff and Richard B. Walling, trading as Walling & Hoff. This is the only one of the original buildings not burned by either the 1877 or 1889 fires, saved by the winds changing, in both cases.

In 1839 Walling and Hoff sold out to Henry H. Seabrook, who carried a large assortment of goods. This store was also used as a Post Office, after the death of Leonard Walling, the first Post Master.

Photo Caption: The Pavilion Hotel, later named The Raritan Inn.