Highlands – Long after the Lenni Lenape found it as their warm weather home for its multitude of fish and clams, long after Henry Hudson discovered it and called it a lovely land to see; years after Joshua Huddy was hung in retaliation for the killing of British soldier Peter White, years after the Twin Lights un-twin towers carried the brightest Fresnel lens across the water to aid seamen, and even years after the Hartshornes developed the land, Christian services were held in tents and Atlantic Highlands split from Middletown to become its own borough, the borough of Highlands was born.
It was March 22, 1900, that Highlands officially became a borough, also separating itself from Middletown Township and becoming an independent borough like Atlantic Highlands.
Because the two boroughs set their own municipal lines and separated from Middletown, Middletown continued to retain the rest, including the Sandy Hook peninsula from the borough of Sea Bright line to the tip of Sandy Hook, as well as the portion of the hill from Buttermilk Valley to the borough line in Navesink near where the Navesink mini mall is located. Eastpointe at the top of Mount Mitchill is the last building in Highlands, the east side of Route 36 is the boundary line in that area, with Kavookjian Field and Monmouth Hills and the lands west of Valley Avenue all still part of Middletown.
The former Air Force base now part of the Monmouth County Parks system is in Highlands but the rest of Hartshorne Woods is in Middletown. Below the hill, Popomora Park on Bayside Drive is the dividing line between Highlands and Atlantic Highlands.
David M. Miller, for whom Miller St. is named, was the first Mayor of the new Borough, serving from April 24 until March of 1902. He was followed y Mayor Charles Maison, who also served two years, Peter Cornwell, Harry Brown, and Allen Reid. Brown came back again in 1917 to serve for another year or so, and was followed by Fred Kieferdorf and Dr. John Opferman, who was recognized and admired more for his medical expertise and baby deliveries than his municipal leadership. He was followed by another beloved physician, Dr. James Rowland,
Neil Guiney became the borough’s longest serving mayor when he was elected in 1955 and served until 1965 and then again from 1974 to 1983.
Anna Little, now Judge Anna Little, became the borough’s first female mayor in 2008, then went on to become a Monmouth County Freeholder. Other mayors whose names are still known and whose families still live in the borough include Bahrs, Bedle, Dempsey, O’Neill, Nolan and Hall.
Carolyn Broullon is the borough’s current Mayor, having served since 2022 after serving as a council member. She is seeking election to another term in the November election.
Happy Birthday Highlands on 125 years of moving forward and retaining old world charm and beauty.
