Lydia Wikoff, the Manalapan Township Historian, has retired from her position after 35 years of service since she has recently moved to Freehold Township.
Wikoff, a lover of history and genealogy, moved with her family at 2-years-old to the Stilwell homestead farm at Gordon’s Corner and lived there until she was married. She and her husband have lived on a farm in Manalapan since 1952.
Manalapan Mayor Susan Cohen and the Township Committee presented Wikoff, 88, with an official proclamation at Town Hall last week to thank Wikoff for her enormous contributions.
“Her memory and understanding of the town’s history and the genealogy of it’s inhabitants has been integral to preserving our past,” Cohen said.
Over the years, Wikoff has written, performed, and directed a Manalapan documentary about a brief history of Manalapan Township which details historical locations and events through oral history, locations, and documents.
Wikoff presented the Township Committee with an original map of Manalapan Township from 1889; farmer’s names sprinkle the map along with all of Manalapan’s mills and brooks.
“I really enjoyed [being the Township historian],” Wikoff said to a room full of applause.
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