(1850) 118 Washington Street
Built from borrowed* plans used to construct the Hudson County Courthouse, this two-story red brick building was designed in a neo-classical Greek revival style with six Doric columns. Joseph Coward was so delighted that the Freeholders selected his cornfield for location of the courthouse that not only did he donate the land but also 6,000 bricks shipped from Haverstraw, New York to launch construction of the building.
The main courtroom, known as Historic Courtroom One located on the second floor, has been used for trials, Freeholder Board meetings, other public assemblies, and mustering local Union soldiers during the Civil War (1861-1865). This historic courtroom has been refurbished many times and was completely restored in 2002. The original courthouse site included the construction of the Sheriff’s House, located on the northwest side of the courthouse, and its attached jail with several cells. Construction of both structures was completed by 1851. Because there was no need for more jail cells until the 1920s, the two buildings remained functional until the population increased and more jail cells were added in a new larger building constructed behind the courthouse. The major population explosion that occurred during the 1950s – 1980s made it necessary to provide more jail space and move the sheriff and staff to offices away from downtown to a less congested site. As the county’s population grew after World Wars I and II, it became necessary to make additions to the courthouse. The Hall of Records was added in 1926 on the east side but demolished in 1950 to build four new courtrooms. Two additions were made on the west side in 1974. These included the County Clerk’s Office, the Surrogate’s Court, and the Small Claims Court. In 1985, still more space was needed for trials, judges’ chambers, record keeping, courtrooms, and more jail cells. To accommodate this expansion, the Ocean County Justice Complex was constructed on the northeast side of the original courthouse.
On the front lawn of the courthouse, a Revolutionary War cannon is displayed. After the vicious attack on the Toms River Blockhouse in March of 1782, the British and their Loyalist allies disabled the weapon and dumped it into the Toms River. It remained there until it was recovered and placed on the courthouse lawn in 1903. Memorial markers for nineteen Ocean County soldiers, sailors, and marines killed in action (1941-2007) are mounted along the north side of Washington Street and along the east side of Courthouse Lane.
