BY JESSICA SMITH
Correspondent
Matawan’s first annual SharkFest offered both history and fun for the crowd in attendance.
The July 15 event honored the 90-year anniversary of the shark attacks that claimed the lives of 12-year-old Lester Stillwell and 24-year-old Watson Stanley Fisher in Matawan Creek.
Relatives of the victims were present, including Monmouth County Freeholder Ted Narozanick, whose wife, the former Margaret Stillwell, is the niece of Lester Stillwell; Ann L. Schaefer, whose mother was Stillwell’s older sister.
The solemnity of the service was followed by the festivities of SharkFest, which took place at the Aberdeen-Matawan Train Station. Along with music, art and food, there were screenings of the TV movie “Twelve Days of Terror,” based on Dr. Richard Fernicola’s book of the same name, in the station’s 55-seat theater. Fernicola also sold signed copies of his book and gave tours of the Dock Street site of the attacks, which was opened to the public for the first time in 90 years.
Organizers of the event plan to continue it in years to come. This year, a portion of the vendors’ fees went toward a fund to construct a memorial for the victims. The memorial is slated to be placed at the site of the attacks on the 10th year of the festival, which will be the 100th anniversary.
“The idea is to make it bigger and better each year, to help with the revitalization of the town,” said John Cocozza, head of the Matawan/Aberdeen Chamber of Commerce.
Fernicola, a resident of Allenhurst, has been studying the attacks since the early 1980s. The movie “Jaws” was based on the attacks, although writer Peter Benchley changed the setting to Long Island for the film.
At the Matawan Creek site, those who attended the tour had their questions answered by Fernicola, who offered his insights on the attacks. One question yet to be answered, however, is what kind of shark it was that mysteriously surfaced in the creek that summer in 1916.
“This guy’s tour was unbelievable,” said Jim Shea, who came up with the idea for the festival.
It was sponsored by the Matawan Alliance, Matawan-Aberdeen Chamber of Commerce and FUSE Energy Drinks.
“I think it’s wonderful that the Matawan Alliance took it upon themselves to build a memorial, that the community of Matawan has come together to honor local individuals who came before us – one who died tragically, and one who died in a selfless act to save him,” said Matawan Councilman William Malley.