The key intersection of Main Street and Asbury Avenue was the location of many stores in Farmingdale for almost 200 years. We have a very early reference indicating that a Charles McLane ran a store near this site in 1794, although we know very little else about him or what products he sold there. Likely he was involved in selling locally-grown crops for farmers in exchange for the hard to get necessities they needed. Henry Remsen owned and operated the first long term store at the one-acre property, on the southeast corner, from 1817 to 1824. He bought it from Halsted Wainright who ran the post office on adjoining land on Main Street.
By 1827, Joseph Goodenough II had purchased and was living in the store shown in the first picture; although it is unlikely it was the same building as Remsen’s. His son William B. Goodenough took over in 1868, and ran a pharmacy there. William’s brother, Joseph III, was the town doctor, so the Goodenough’s were very important to the health and well-being of all residents.
Jacob Lutz, a German immigrant, and his wife Verena bought the store from William Goodenough in April 1879. They built their home, today’s Joshua House, right next door. The second (postcard) picture looks south along Main Street at its intersection with Asbury Avenue - the J. Lutz & Son General Merchandise store is on the far left. The Lutz family operated the store for many years and employed many Farmingdale people. The third close-up picture is from the 1890s and shows the renovations Jacob Lutz made over the years. When Jacob died in 1915, his son William ran the store for a while, but the building was eventually demolished as newer businesses opened along Main Street.
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At William’s death, his Last Will & Testament bequeathed the corner land to the Borough of Farmingdale. He had lived for many years in the old family home. Farmingdale took ownership in 1966 and thereafter dedicated what is now called Lutz Park (shown in the last picture) which is virtually the Town Center and site of many events such as the annual Christmas Tree Lighting.
Rick Geffken is a Trustee of the Farmingdale Historical Society. Their website is http://www.fhs-nj.org/
