The Atlantic Highlands Historical Society recently added a 19th century sitting chair to its collection of historic items, thanks to the generosity of descendants of a well-known family from the area from the 1800s.
David Springsteen of Ohio and his sister, Suzanne Springsteen of Coatesville, Pa., presented the wooden and woven seated chair to the Society in brief ceremonies Sunday. Accepting the chair for the Society were Joanne Dellosso and Patty McBurnie-Bickauskas
The Springsteen siblings have many family connections in the area, and spent the day visiting and learning more about some of their heritage.
At the Strauss House, they explained that the chair was once in the house at 55 Ave D., currently in use as the Saint Agnes Thrift Shop.
The house was built by Captain James and Emma Leonard, whose daughter Mary, married Jonathan T. Stout, a well-known landscape contractor in Monmouth County, responsible for laying out numerous gardens in the area. They are the grandparents of the present day donors.
In addition to the Ave D. house connection, the Springsteen’s also told society members the story of their mother Suzanne and her sister Bessie, whose father was a wireless operator at the Twin Lights. The girls were twins sisters and there were stories in local newspapers about the twins who lived at the Twin Lights when they lived at the telegraph building on the property.
Another part of the Springsteens lineage gives them several connections in Freehold, where Pvt. James Fallon was a Medal of Honor recipient after the Civil War. In the 21st century, that makes these siblings relatives of Bruce Springsteen as well as Glenn Cashion, a local author and members of the Monmouth County Historical Commission.
While in Atlantic Highlands for the presentation, the Springsteeens also met with the Rev. Jarlath Quinn of Sts. Agnes Church and toured the former family home, now the Thrift Shop, as well as meeting with Nick Wood, the historian at the Twin Lights who shared additional information with them.
