Above is the Cassville Tavern. This landmark is probably going to be torn down soon, which is why I thought it was important to get a photo of it before that happens. To read more about it skip to the end of this page of click here.
For news items concerning Cassville from old area newspapers, click here.
Cassville is an unincorporated town in the township of Jackson, in Ocean County.
Cranberry cultivation in New Jersey is believed to have begun In 1840. The State Board of Agriculture report of 1874 states that in 1840 a man by the
name of John Webb established a cranberry bog in Ocean County near Cassville, and it is reported that he received $50.00 per barrel for his cranberries.
I found a farmer named John Webb on the 1860 Census in Cassville, when he was 50 years old. If this is the same man, then he lived with the following
people in 1860:
Elizabeth Webb, 25
Edward Webb, 6
David Webb, 4
Angela Webb, 1
Letitia Lane, 57
In 1870, the family was still in Jackson; John gave his occupation as "fruit grower". Elizabeth was now only 33, confusingly only 8 years older than
she was in 1860. Edward now spelled his name "Edwin"; David and Angelina were still there. They were joined by new family members:
Mary J. Webb, 10
John Webb, 7
Elizabeth Webb, 5
Ellen Webb, 3
"no name" Webb, a 1 month old boy
Ivins Reynolds, age 22. (Letitia Lane is gone, but Ivins has taken her place. The relationship of both these people to the Webbs isn't stated).
There is a full page history of its Fire Company to be found here
In 1880, the family is still found in Cassville. John was by then 68 years old--and the census mentions that he has a wooden leg!
(According to one site,
"When it was discovered that consuming wild cranberries (by the crews on the long voyages of sailing ships) prevented the dreaded Beri-Beri disease,
John "Peg Leg" Webb, a retired seaman turned local schoolteacher, residing in the Bowman Road area east of Cassville, has been credited with initiating
the domestication of the wild cranberry and the development of unique cranberry bogs for maximum growth production in the early 1840's. At peak production
after the Civil War, more than 200 cranberry bogs were in production with the majority of the harvested crop being processed and shipped in crates and
barrels fabricated at the sawmills of Jackson, to Philadelphia, New York and even Boston, by the Holman family of Whitesville, the Allans of Cassville,
and the Poppes of Legler. )
In 1880, Elizabeth was only 45, and the eldest daughter is Jane Webb, 19, who for some reason is missing from the 1870 census. John Webb was now 16 and working
on the farm; Elizabeth and Ella were still there, and some new family members as well:
Andrew Webb, 10
Matilda Webb, 7
Harriet Webb, 4
It appears David Lane now was married and occupied the home immediately after his father's. He was married to a woman 3 years younger than he named Lydia. They had two children, Edmund, 3, and Carrie, 1.
By 1900, John Webb, Sr. was dead. Elizabeth lived in the home with only her son, John.
See this page for more details on this family.
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When John and Marilyn Fariello invested in a small little bar on Routes 571 and 528 in 1972, they never envisioned that 35 years later, the Cassville Tavern would be part of the heart and soul of western Jackson. But the tavern and the nine acres upon which it sits, which some believe dates back to the Civil War, are now up for sale. And that means � well, no one is quite sure what it means. Change, just new ownership? That depends on the buyer. Being in the bar and restaurant business was an easy decision for Marilyn, 57, and John, 65, with the Jackson natives saying it was in their roots. "I was born and raised in the bar business," she said. "It started with Gerfen's Tavern and Picnic Grove, which is now known as Just Plain Janes (on East Veteran's Highway)." The Fariellos worked several years together at the bar before seeking an establishment to call their own, leading to the Fariellos purchasing the Cassville Tavern from Stephen "Whitey" Lengyel and his wife, Grace, in 1972 for a little over $100,000. --Photos By Keith Hagarty At left, Cassville Tavern owner Marilyn Fariello stands with her son, A.J., behind the bar at the historic establishment, pictured above, which has been a mainstay on Routes 571 and 528 for centuries. "Stephen and Grace lived here," Marilyn said. "They were just ready to retire when we bought it from them � They lived upstairs. Over there was their living room, their dining room is now my office, we built through the walls so we could put the half of the bar in, and then put a wood stove in. We did a lot of work over the years." Now 35 years later, the Fariellos have come full circle as they now face retirement and are looking to finally unwind, travel and relax in their golden years. They have placed the historic restaurant and surrounding nine-acres of land up for sale. While the Fariellos don't have any documentation of validation, they believe the establishment dates back to at least the Civil War era, and possibly beyond, once used as a stop for stagecoaches and an inn. Shortly after opening their doors for business on May 1, 1972, the Fariellos soon saw a rapid influx of thirsty and hungry customers coming from the workers who were building a brand new amusement park in Jackson, Six Flags Great Adventure. What started out for the Fariellos in 1972 as a small nine-stool bar with living quarters overhead soon grew into a 4,000- square foot bar and restaurant courtesy of numerous expansion projects over the decades. The small front porch and old wooden planks for a small seating area outside were eventually converted into a full-scale indoor dining room and booths. "As more and more people came with our increase in business, we just needed more room and needed more space," she said. "But it wasn't too large where we me and my husband couldn't handle it." Having been a Jackson resident her whole life, Marilyn has seen the Cassville-section of town change with the times. "There are so many new homes that have gone up and all the construction and things being torn down," she said. "As far as the customers though, they really haven't changed. They're so nice. We've always had such a good, friendly group here." The Fariellos have seen it all in their 35 years, and have some fond memories of some of the more unusual traditions they've established over the years. "The snowstorms were fun, they were the best," she said. "When the electric would go out in the area, we just put our wood stove on and everybody comes over and keeps warm. They know we're usually open, and they'll come over here in their snowmobiles and quads. It's always fun for everyone." The Fariellos raised a family while owning the establishment. Their 33-year old son, Alex (or "A.J." as he's most commonly known around the bar), said when his parents eventually retire from the restaurant business, it will feel a bit strange passing by the tavern each day. "I usually come over here a lot, see people and talk to people, I've made so many friends here," he said. "We all hang out together and do stuff together. I know a lot of the customers, and I may wonder where I'm going to hang out." A.J. helped out at the restaurant for as long as he can remember, working as a jack-of-all-trades. As one of the only bars in the surrounding area, A.J. said it would be sad if the Cassville Tavern was no longer there. "There are really no bars in the area to hang out at," he said. "It's convenient and close and the people here are great ... It would just be a little life-changing." While she has no preference for what is eventually done to the site once they retire, Marilyn said it would be nice to see the Cassville Tavern still going strong for years to come. She offered some simple advice for any potential new owners. "You have to be young and have a lot of energy, because it's a lot of hours," she said. "But if you just treat your customers well, then they'll treat you well." applauded for her rendition of 'Nowadays" from the Broadway show Chicago. Gibson, dressed in royal blue sequins, was a model of poise. "We love the seniors," she said. "This is a great crowd. I am thrilled to be here."
A photo of the deli immediately behind the Cassville Tavern