SHIP BUILDING—BY FAR KEY PORT'S MOST IMPORTANT INDUSTRY

Boats have been important in Raritan Bay as long as there have been people here! No one knows when the Indians and canoes first came, but as long as this land has been known as the key port of Monmouth County, boats of all sorts have been built in its shipyards.

Recently two Monmouth County men have studied this area and each has produced an excellent book about boats. George H. Moss, Jr., produced one, "Steamboat To The Shore", and a new one is just out, by Leon Reussille, called "Steam Vessels . . .", full of information not only of boats built here in Key Port, but information of important people in Key Port.

On November 20, 1862, an important business was begun, titled "THE KEY PORT AND MIDDLETOWN POINT (now called Matawan) STEAMBOAT COMPANY". It was founded partly by the Farmers and Merchants Bank, and the active Treasurer was Henry H. Seabrook, one of Key Port's most alert businessmen, and one with a great knowledge of the bay having been born at Shoal Harbor. He signed the printed "paper money" before it was used, which has been exhibited in the Key Port schools.

Photo Caption: Key Port Steamboat Landing.