John King and the Highlands Historical Society
The Highlands Historical Society has a busy September ahead and is inviting all persons interested in local history or wanting to learn more about the historic Hartshorne Family to join them at either or both events.
On Sunday, September 24, from 2pm to 4:30 pm local author John King will present his newest book, Curious Tales of Highlands, NJ, a collection of facts and legends he gathered while living in the borough for more than ten years. King describes each of the stories as “weird,” hard to believe” and Ttue, although some have never been proven.
King is presenting his newest book for the first time at the Historical Society meeting, and will offer them for sale at that time, with all proceeds going to the Historical Society.
The meeting will be held in the Highlands Historical Museum in the Twin Lights Auditorium, located at the base of the South Tower at the Twin Lights. The meeting begins at 7 p.m. and there are no fees to attend.
On Thursday, September 28 at 4:30 p.m., the Historic Society invites all for A Private Tour of Historic Portland Place, conducted by the Monmouth County Parks and Recreation Committee. The Hartshorne Family home was newly added to the Monmouth County Park System.
The site is located in Hartshorne Woods Park, 200 Hartshorne Road, Locust. Access is by a left turn at The Old Stone Church and the entry drive to the home is on the right about a mile in from the Church. Watch for signs at the Church and available parking.
King. a retired teacher of Latin and French at Red Bank Regional High School, and his wife Helen, operated the Water Witch House as a B&B, a Route 36 facility that was once a historic home and former hospital. Since then he has been researching and writing about all aspects of Highlands, is a member and former president of the Historical Society.
He has also sent several stories on history to the Asbury Park Press, and recently wrote “Clam Chowder and Other Highland Stories for Children.”
Currently he is seeking a publisher for a new work, “A Hundred Stories of Murder and Mayhem in the Ancient World” and previously wrote a book on the subject limited to Highlands murder and Mayhem. He has written a number of books on Highlands for Arcadia and History Press as well as other publishers.
King can be contacted at ka2fwb2hdj@gmail.com. Or 732-206-6692 for further information on his works. He and his wife now live in Lin Brick township.
The author predicts that the limited stock of his first printing of the book being unveiled at the historical society meeting will be sold out that night, in which all the proceeds are benefiting the society. Future copies will be available by request to his e-mail, continuing all profits going to the Society.
