Lacey Historical Society
The Lacey Historical Society is a Non-Profit 501c3 organization with a mission to preserve the history of Lacey Township. The purpose of this society shall be the preservation of the artifacts, landmarks and lore of the region so that the public awareness of and appreciative concern for the town’s unique history may be fostered.
To achieve this purpose, the society shall maintain a museum in which to exhibit and store documents & artifacts and present programs to the public.
We welcome new members and volunteers to help preserve this historic site. Docents are needed during open hours and for tours. Volunteers are needed to help during our special events and organizational projects at the museum.
General Meetings – I st Monday, Monthly. 6:30PM at the Museum
If Holiday – following Monday. All members welcome to attend
History of Old Schoolhouse Museum
What was once the school for the children of the area, is now the Lacey Historical Society, which was formed in 1962. After the new Lacey Township Grade School was built on Lacey road, and the building was no longer used as a school, the township was contemplating a sale of the old schoolhouse. Hearing of this, three women got together, formed the Society and petitioned the township not sell the old schoolhouse but to turn it into a museum. The Township committee heeded their cry and gave the society use of the north room and rented out the south room. The south room was then used as the town library. When the library moved into what is now the LMUA building, the Society gained use of both rooms. So it is today – the Old Schoolhouse Museum owned by the township and maintained by the Society.
What was once the school for the children of the area, is now the Lacey Historical Society, which was formed in 1962. After the new Lacey Township Grade School was built on Lacey road, and the building was no longer used as a school, the township was contemplating a sale of the old schoolhouse. Hearing of this, three women got together, formed the Society and petitioned the township not sell the old schoolhouse but to turn it into a museum. The Township committee heeded their cry and gave the society use of the north room and rented out the south room. The south room was then used as the town library. When the library moved into what is now the LMUA building, the Society gained use of both rooms. So it is today – the Old Schoolhouse Museum owned by the township and maintained by the Society.
History of Lacey Township
Lacey Township was formed from portions of Union and Dover Townships in 1871. It was named after General John Lacey who, in the early 1800’s owned an Iron works (in what is now Bamber) called Ferrago Forge. He had a road built from the iron works to the upper dock of the Forked River to ship his product to refineries in the bigger cities. So it was fitting, when the new township was formed, to call it Lacey. Lacey Township is 80 sq. miles and consists of the three villages of Forked River, Lanoka Harbor and Bamber Lake. New Jersey’s Route 9 was improved in 1926, the Garden State Parkway interchange was open in July 1954 and the Oyster Creek Nuclear Generating Plant opened in 1969 but has since gone off-line as of 2018.
Upcoming Events
General Meeting at the Schoolhouse September 7, 2025 at 6:30PM
OCEAN COUNTY HISTORY DAY AT OCEAN COUNTY HISTORICAL, TOMS RIVER – SEPTEMBER 13 – 10AM TO 4PM