On Jan. 19 the Lakewood Heritage Museum will reveal the latest additions to its collection — two postmaster uniforms and the Civil War-era trunk in which they were stored— that were recently donated to the museum by Georgian Court University. LAKEWOOD — On Jan. 19 at 2:30 p.m., the Lakewood Heritage Museum will reveal the latest additions to its collection — two postmaster uniforms and the Civil War-era trunk in which they were stored — that were recently donated to the museum by Georgian Court University, Lakewood.
According to a press release from the university, Capt. Albert M. Bradshaw, known for many years as the “Father of Lakewood,” was the original owner of the uniforms, which date to the 1890s, and the trunk.
The Lakewood Heritage Museum, which is supported by the Lakewood Historical Society, has displays on the main and second floors of the Lakewood municipal building. The Bradshaw exhibit will be unveiled on the main floor.
“The donation is one of the most important to the Lakewood Heritage Museum,” said Stacey Spina, director of the Lakewood Heritage Museum and GCU library assistant. “The items, the Civil War trunk and the two postmaster uniforms, are rare items in themselves. Having been owned by Bradshaw makes them also historically significant and even rarer.”
Bradshaw (1838-1915) was a businessman, a real estate mogul, and resort promoter. He was born in Lakewood and enlisted as a private in the New York regiment during the Civil War, mustering out as a captain. According to his obituary in The New York Times, President Abraham Lincoln conferred that rank upon him for “gallant services.”
After the war he returned to Lakewood and dedicated his life to building up and improving the community.
According to the press release, it is said that Bradshaw did more for the development of Lakewood than any other person. He was appointed quartermaster by Lincoln. He was appointed postmaster twice. Under his direction, home delivery of mail came about in Lakewood.
He was responsible for the building of what is now Kennedy Boulevard, but at that time it was a racing straightaway called the speedway. He was the moving force behind Lakewood’s split from Brick Township, and he served as the Republican leader of Ocean County.
Through his significant political influence in Washington, D.C., Bradshaw also opened the First National Bank of Lakewood in a crockery store, thwarting several other businessmen who were seeking to open an independent bank.
The trunk and the two uniforms were originally donated to Georgian Court in 1985 by Peter Strohm, now a member of the GCU Board of Trustees. They were never displayed due to lack of space, and instead were stored for safekeeping for 25 years. InAugust 2009 the trunk was opened by GCU to determine the exact contents, with the intention of donating them to the museum. The items were donated in October 2009.
The uniforms, which were in need of some conservation, are gray wool, with a slightly bluish hue, and have braiding on the wrists. The buttons are ornate with a raised “P” for postal. The trunk is made of pine and has the words “Albert M. Bradshaw, Quartermaster” stenciled on the front.
“We will have the uniform in the best condition on display, along with the trunk,” said Spina, who added that the second uniform is preserved in archival material in a cool, climate-controlled environment. “The uniform will not be on permanent display. The light and general environmental conditions will damage the uniform, which is already fragile due to age.”
Spina said the uniform will be displayed for a period of time, then placed in a dark, dry, cool archival box to preserve the wool, which naturally degrades over time. The museum has not yet determined when the uniform will be taken off display.
According to the press release, most of Bradshaw’s surviving possessions were donated to the Alexander Library at Rutgers University by the son of his business partner, Arthur Smock.
However, the Lakewood Heritage Museum does have several other items. On display is Bradshaw’s photograph, a photograph of the building where the post office operated when he was postmaster, and a metal sign from the Bradshaw real estate business. The museum also has written information about Bradshaw and his involvement in the Grand Army of the Republic (G.A.R.), a large ceremonial shield from the G.A.R., and images of the building he built in 1902 for G.A.R. meetings.
It should be noted that Bradshaw also allowed the township to meet in the latter building, so it served as the town hall. The township later purchased the building from him, and it continued to serve as the town hall until 1925. It is now the NAPA building on Route 88, just east of the train tracks.