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The House That Took a Walk: The Survival of the Eden Woolley House

In the world of historic preservation, there is a common problem: there are too many old houses and not enough funding to keep them alive. Many become “velvet rope” museums—dusty, static, and rarely visited.

But the Eden Woolley House in Ocean Township is different. It is a success story of adaptive reuse, community willpower, and a massive engineering feat.

Saved from demolition to make way for a supermarket, this house was lifted off its foundation and driven through the woods to a new home. Today, it stands not as a shrine to a dead family, but as a living classroom for a modern community.

The First Families of Ocean

To understand the house, you have to understand the Woolleys. In 1667, Emmanuel Woolley purchased land shares in Monmouth County. While he never settled here, his sons established homesteads in the “Poplar” section of Shrewsbury Township (now Ocean Township).

Along with families like the Drummonds and Potters, the Woolleys were the backbone of the region.

The Original Structure (c. 1747): The house didn’t start as a mansion. The oldest section (now the east wing) was a modest, one-and-a-half-story farmhouse built by Thomas Woolley around 1747. It consisted of a “keeping room” with a large hearth and a sleeping loft—typical for early Jersey settlers.

The Greek Revival Upgrade

In 1835, the farm was purchased by Eden Woolley (1805–1892). Eden was a mover and a shaker—a farmer, surveyor, and one of the first five men elected to Ocean Township’s governing body when it incorporated in 1849.

To reflect his status, Eden expanded the house significantly.

• The Style: He added a large Greek Revival wing to the west.
• The Layout: This addition featured a center hall, high ceilings, and spacious rooms for entertaining.
• The Result: The house transformed from a simple farmhouse into a gentleman’s estate.

The Henderson Era: In 1939, the house changed hands again, bought by the William Henderson family. They modernized the home further, turning the working farm into a manicured estate with tennis courts and landscaping. They added dormers to the second floor and expanded the kitchen, creating the “Revival style” look the house retains today.

The Great Move of 2005

By 1999, the surrounding area had changed. The farm was sold to a developer to build a Stop & Shop supermarket and strip mall. The house was slated for demolition.

However, the Township of Ocean struck a deal: they would accept the house if the developer paid to move it.

The plan was ambitious. The town wanted to create a “cultural campus” by placing the historic home next to the new public library (located on the historic Terner tract).

• The Route: On March 29, 2005, the massive house was lifted onto a system of hydraulic dollies.
• The Journey: A temporary 50-foot-wide roadway was bulldozed through the woods parallel to Deal Road.
• The Arrival: The house traveled 1,100 feet to its new foundation without a single window breaking.

A Modern Museum

After the move, volunteers from the Township of Ocean Historical Museum spent four years restoring the interior. When it opened in 2009, they made a conscious choice to avoid the “velvet rope” trap.

Instead of freezing the house in 1835, the museum embraces its full history.

• Interactive Exhibits: The galleries feature changing exhibits and flat-screen displays.
• The Timeline: Visitors can walk from the 1747 hearth room into the 1835 parlor and through to the 1920s kitchen, physically stepping through three centuries of architectural history.

If You Visit

The Eden Woolley House sits directly in front of the Ocean Township Public Library, making it an easy stop for a day of culture and history.

• Location: 703 Deal Road, Ocean, NJ 07712.
• Hours: The museum is typically open on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday afternoons, and the first and second Sundays of the month.
• The “Cultural Campus”: After touring the house, visit the library next door to see the remaining grounds of the Terner estate.

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For More Information

Township of Ocean Historical Museum (www.oceanmuseum.org)