BRICK – After years of petitioning, the Brick Historical Society has finally gained ownership of the historic weathervane that sat atop of the former Laurelton School on Route 88 in Brick.
The weathervane was an original facet of the Laurelton School, built in 1934. An addition was built onto the school in 1953, creating the building as it stands today. The weathervane depicts a little girl being led to school by a Pied Piper type figure.
Once the school closed its doors, members of the Brick Historical Society realized that, with the future sale of the building, the weathervane might become a lost piece of township history. In an effort to prevent this, society members wrote letters over the years requesting ownership of the weathervane to display it at the Havens Homestead Museum.
Just a few short months ago, the society was finally heard on this matter. While discussing the matter of the weathervane with Deborah Murphy, secretary to Brick Township Mayor John C. Ducey, Brick Historical Society president Ed Mangold of Whiting was able to secure help from the township.
According to the society, Mayor Ducey aided in talks with the Brick School Board Business Administrator, James Edwards.
While the school district could not donate the weathervane directly to the society, they gave it to the township which in turn sold it to the society. Recently the township introduced a resolution to sell the weathervane for $1 to Brick Historical Society.
“Thank you to all the people who aided in procuring the weathervane,” said Mangold.
With the help of Laurelton Fire Company Station 23, the weathervane was removed from the school on July 13 and delivered to the Havens Homestead Museum by members of the Public Works Department.
According to Mangold, the Society is planning to install it on a cupola on the roof of a red barn on the property. The barn houses many historic displays inside, and when the weathervane sits above it, it will now have an extra special feature.
For more information about the historical society, visit bricktownshiphistoricalsociety.com or call 732-785-2500.
