Jamesburg High School

Jamesburg High School was a public high school that operated in Jamesburg, Middlesex County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey, as the lone secondary school of the Jamesburg Public Schools until its closure at the end of the 1978–79 school year.

Prior to opening its own high school, students from Jamesburg would attend either Freehold High School or New Brunswick High School.^[1]

The borough's first high school opened in 1906, with seven students in the district's elementary school sharing a common teacher with the eighth grade.^[1] In its early years, the school served students from the surrounding Middlesex and Monmouth county communities of Cranbury, East Brunswick, Englishtown, Helmetta, Manalapan Township, Monroe Township, Old Bridge Township and Spotswood. The high school relocated in 1912.^[2]

After multiple votes to create a new high school facility had failed, construction of a building to meet the expanding demand began in 1931 and the school opened in September 1932.^[3] Constructed at a cost of $165,000, the facility included 17 classrooms, an auditorium and a gymnasium.^[2]

Students from South Brunswick had attended the district until 1960, when South Brunswick High School was opened as the Jamesburg district would no longer accept students from the township after the 1959–60 school year.^[4]

The New Jersey Board of Education voted in May 1979 to shut down the high school, which with an enrollment of 182 students was the smallest in the state. Starting with the 1979–80 school year, Jamesburg began sending students to Monroe Township High School as part of a sending/receiving relationship with the Monroe Township School District.^[5] Students from Helmetta had been attending Jamesburg High School under a sending/receiving agreement, and switched its students to Spotswood High School.^[6] By the time the school closed, there were 4,100 graduates.^[2]

The first building to house the high school was eventually demolished and replaced by the current Grace M. Breckwedel Middle School building. The second building that housed the high school was turned into an office complex, which is still there today and known as Forsgate Commons.^[7] It is located on the intersection of Forsgate Drive and Davison Ave, right behind the district's John F. Kennedy Elementary School.

Athletics

The baseball team won the Central Jersey Group I state sectional title in 1960 and 1961.^[8]

The boys' soccer team was won the Group I championship playoffs in 1961 (defeating Blairstown High School in the tournament final), 1962 (vs. Blairstown), 1963 (declared as state champion), 1966 (as co-champion with Harrison High School), 1971 (vs. Harrison), 1972 (as co-champion with Harrison) and 1973 (vs. Chatham Borough High School).^[9] A 2–1 overtime win against Blairstown in the Group I final gave the team a 14–2 record for the season.^[10] The team ran their record to 11–1 after winning the 1962 Group I state title with a 2–1 overtime win against Blairstown in the championship game played at Pingry School.^[11] The 1966 team finished the season at 12–0–4 after coming back to tie Harrison 1–1 in the Group I championship game.^[12] The 1972 team finished the season with a 15–0–1 record after being declared as the Group I title co-champion with Harrison following a 1–1 tie after double overtime in the tournament final played at Fairleigh Dickinson University.^[13]

Notable alumni

Reed Gusciora (born 1960, class of 1978), politician who previously served in the General Assembly from 1996 to 2018 representing the 15th Legislative District and is currently the mayor of Trenton.^[14]

References

^ ^a ^b The Proud History of Jamesburg High School, Jamesburg.net. Accessed November 26, 2017. "In 1905, a group of interested Jamesburg citizens assembled to discuss their children’s continuing education. Although the Borough of Jamesburg had a fine elementary school, students wishing to pursue a secondary education had to board a train and travel to either Freehold or New Brunswick to attend high school. After much discussion and thoughtful reflection, it was decided that Jamesburg would open its own high school."
^ ^a ^b ^c Petersen, Tara. "Jamesburg to mark old high school site 25 years after it was closed, alumni are still singing its praises", Sentinel-EBS News, June 10, 2004. Accessed November 26, 2017. "The school first opened in 1906 as the first high school in southern Middlesex County, and drew students from surrounding communities including Monroe, Spotswood, Cranbury, Old Bridge, East Brunswick, Helmetta, Englishtown, Madison and Manalapan. It was a single classroom at that time. The school moved across the street in 1912, then to its final location on Forsgate Drive in 1932."
^ Katerba, John D. Monroe Township and Jamesburg, p. 96. Accessed November 26, 2017. "The Jamesburg High School.... Construction began on the school in 1931, but the class of 1932 did not attend the high school. However, it was able to have its graduation exercise there."
^ "Need for High School Told To Former Board Members", Daily Home News, January 24, 1958. Accessed April 22, 2021, via Newspapers.com. "South Brunswick-The need for a junior-senior high school here and the Board of Education's proposal for building it were outlined for a group of former board members last night at a meeting at the Dayton School. The high school, with an initial capacity of 600 but planned for ultimate expansion to 1,000, and a $1,800,000 bond issue to pay for it must be approved by the voters Feb. 11. Board presidents Rudolf Priepke told the group the school must be built because Jamesburg High School will not accept new pupils from South Brunswick in 1959 and others thereafter."
^ Waldron, Martin. "New Jersey Journal", The New York Times, May 13, 1979. Accessed November 26, 2017. "The state's smallest high school, at Jamesburg in Middlesex County, is being closed. The 40-year-old school has 182 students this year. The State Board of Education voted to send the school's students to nearby Monroe after July 1."
^ Reports of cases argued and determined in the Superior Court, Appellate Division, Chancery Division, Law Division, and in the County Courts of the State of New Jersey, Volume 169, p. 332. New Jersey Superior Court. Accessed November 26, 2017. "In a prior related appeal, Docket No. A-3257-78, we upheld a determination of the state board ordering the closing of Jamesburg High School, effective June 30, 1979, and designating pupils of Jamesburg in the 9th through the 12th grades as tuition pupils at Monroe Township High School, effective July 1, 1979. The closing of Jamesburg High School displaced students from Helmetta Borough who had been attending that high school. However, Helmetta and Spotswood have entered into a sending-receiving relationship which will permit those pupils to attend high school in Spotswood."
^ Jamesburg High School History Jamesburg.net. Accessed August 7, 2019.
^ Baseball Championship History: 1959–2024, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association, updated June 2024. Accessed September 1, 2024.
^ NJSIAA History of Boys Soccer, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed May 1, 2023. As of date accessed, the source incorrectly lists Riverside as the Group I winner in 1961.
^ "Jamesburg Booters Win Group I Title", Home News Tribune, November 24, 1961. Accessed March 2, 2021, via Newspapers.com. "Rich DiStefano's goal in the first overtime period gained Jamesburg High's soccer team a state championship yesterday. DiStefano's goal broke a tie as the Indians shaded Blairstown, 2-1, in the NJSIAA Group I championship game played on the West Morris Regional High School field. The win was the 14th in 16 games for Coach Dick Matteo's team."
^ "Jamesburg Nips Blairstown 2-1 In State Group I Soccer Final", Home News, November 16, 1962. Accessed March 2, 2021. "History repeated itself yesterday when Jamesburg High School annexed its second straight State Group I soccer championship, 2-1, at the expense of Blairstown in a well-played, overtime game at the Pingry School field. In the 1961 final between the same teams the score was identical and the game required an overtime period before a decision was reached. Dick Matteo's Indians, 11-1 this season and 26-3 record-wise the past two campaigns, had to come from behind to win and they did it in spectacular fashion."
^ "Jamesburg, Harrison Tie; Share State Title", Daily Home News, November 21, 1966. Accessed March 14, 2021, via Newspapers.com. "The Jamesburg High School soccer team and Harrison played to a 1-1 tie Saturday on the Rider College Field in Lawrenceville and the two schools were named State Group I soccer co-champions. Harrison scored first with four minutes left in the first quarter on a goal by Ed Ciloscyck from eight yards out on a pass from Bob Thompson. Jamesburg came back in the second quarter and at the 11-minute mark tied the score on a goal by Willie Kendrick on a pass from Rich Matteo.... Harrison wound up its season with a 12-1-4 record and Jamesburg, unbeaten, won 12 and tied four."
^ "Jamesburg Shares Title; Brick Loses", Asbury Park Press, November 26, 1972. Accessed November 15, 2021, via Newspapers.com. "Area high schools made It three of four championships yesterday as Jamesburg tied Harrison, 1-1, after two overtimes in Group I and Brick Township dropped a 2-1 decision to Livingston in Group IV in the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association soccer finals at Fairleigh Dickinson University.... The co-championship for Jamesburg was veteran coach Dick Matteo's sixth state title since 1961. Yesterday's title game was a repeat of last year when Jamesburg edged Harrison 1-0.... The tie dimmed the Jamesburg record but they still finished undefeated with a 15-0-1 record."
^ Manual of the Legislature of New Jersey: 2004 Edition, p. 265. Lawyers Diary and Manual, LLC. ISBN 9781577411871. Accessed November 26, 2017. "Assemblyman Gusciora was born March 27, 1960, in Passaic. He attended public schools in Jamesburg and graduated from Jamesburg High School in 1978."

40°20′51″N 74°26′26″W / 40.34757°N 74.44058°W / 40.34757; -74.44058

[JHSAA-1] The Proud History of Jamesburg High School, Jamesburg.net. Accessed November 26, 2017. "In 1905, a group of interested Jamesburg citizens assembled to discuss their children’s continuing education. Although the Borough of Jamesburg had a fine elementary school, students wishing to pursue a secondary education had to board a train and travel to either Freehold or New Brunswick to attend high school. After much discussion and thoughtful reflection, it was decided that Jamesburg would open its own high school."

[GMNews2004-2] Petersen, Tara. "Jamesburg to mark old high school site 25 years after it was closed, alumni are still singing its praises", Sentinel-EBS News, June 10, 2004. Accessed November 26, 2017. "The school first opened in 1906 as the first high school in southern Middlesex County, and drew students from surrounding communities including Monroe, Spotswood, Cranbury, Old Bridge, East Brunswick, Helmetta, Englishtown, Madison and Manalapan. It was a single classroom at that time. The school moved across the street in 1912, then to its final location on Forsgate Drive in 1932."

[3] Katerba, John D. Monroe Township and Jamesburg, p. 96. Accessed November 26, 2017. "The Jamesburg High School.... Construction began on the school in 1931, but the class of 1932 did not attend the high school. However, it was able to have its graduation exercise there."

[4] "Need for High School Told To Former Board Members", Daily Home News, January 24, 1958. Accessed April 22, 2021, via Newspapers.com. "South Brunswick-The need for a junior-senior high school here and the Board of Education's proposal for building it were outlined for a group of former board members last night at a meeting at the Dayton School. The high school, with an initial capacity of 600 but planned for ultimate expansion to 1,000, and a $1,800,000 bond issue to pay for it must be approved by the voters Feb. 11. Board presidents Rudolf Priepke told the group the school must be built because Jamesburg High School will not accept new pupils from South Brunswick in 1959 and others thereafter."

[5] Waldron, Martin. "New Jersey Journal", The New York Times, May 13, 1979. Accessed November 26, 2017. "The state's smallest high school, at Jamesburg in Middlesex County, is being closed. The 40-year-old school has 182 students this year. The State Board of Education voted to send the school's students to nearby Monroe after July 1."

[6] Reports of cases argued and determined in the Superior Court, Appellate Division, Chancery Division, Law Division, and in the County Courts of the State of New Jersey, Volume 169, p. 332. New Jersey Superior Court. Accessed November 26, 2017. "In a prior related appeal, Docket No. A-3257-78, we upheld a determination of the state board ordering the closing of Jamesburg High School, effective June 30, 1979, and designating pupils of Jamesburg in the 9th through the 12th grades as tuition pupils at Monroe Township High School, effective July 1, 1979. The closing of Jamesburg High School displaced students from Helmetta Borough who had been attending that high school. However, Helmetta and Spotswood have entered into a sending-receiving relationship which will permit those pupils to attend high school in Spotswood."

[7] Jamesburg High School History Jamesburg.net. Accessed August 7, 2019.

[NJSIAABaseball-8] Baseball Championship History: 1959–2024, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association, updated June 2024. Accessed September 1, 2024.

[NJSIAAsoccerB-9] NJSIAA History of Boys Soccer, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed May 1, 2023. As of date accessed, the source incorrectly lists Riverside as the Group I winner in 1961.

[10] "Jamesburg Booters Win Group I Title", Home News Tribune, November 24, 1961. Accessed March 2, 2021, via Newspapers.com. "Rich DiStefano's goal in the first overtime period gained Jamesburg High's soccer team a state championship yesterday. DiStefano's goal broke a tie as the Indians shaded Blairstown, 2-1, in the NJSIAA Group I championship game played on the West Morris Regional High School field. The win was the 14th in 16 games for Coach Dick Matteo's team."

[11] "Jamesburg Nips Blairstown 2-1 In State Group I Soccer Final", Home News, November 16, 1962. Accessed March 2, 2021. "History repeated itself yesterday when Jamesburg High School annexed its second straight State Group I soccer championship, 2-1, at the expense of Blairstown in a well-played, overtime game at the Pingry School field. In the 1961 final between the same teams the score was identical and the game required an overtime period before a decision was reached. Dick Matteo's Indians, 11-1 this season and 26-3 record-wise the past two campaigns, had to come from behind to win and they did it in spectacular fashion."

[12] "Jamesburg, Harrison Tie; Share State Title", Daily Home News, November 21, 1966. Accessed March 14, 2021, via Newspapers.com. "The Jamesburg High School soccer team and Harrison played to a 1-1 tie Saturday on the Rider College Field in Lawrenceville and the two schools were named State Group I soccer co-champions. Harrison scored first with four minutes left in the first quarter on a goal by Ed Ciloscyck from eight yards out on a pass from Bob Thompson. Jamesburg came back in the second quarter and at the 11-minute mark tied the score on a goal by Willie Kendrick on a pass from Rich Matteo.... Harrison wound up its season with a 12-1-4 record and Jamesburg, unbeaten, won 12 and tied four."

[13] "Jamesburg Shares Title; Brick Loses", Asbury Park Press, November 26, 1972. Accessed November 15, 2021, via Newspapers.com. "Area high schools made It three of four championships yesterday as Jamesburg tied Harrison, 1-1, after two overtimes in Group I and Brick Township dropped a 2-1 decision to Livingston in Group IV in the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association soccer finals at Fairleigh Dickinson University.... The co-championship for Jamesburg was veteran coach Dick Matteo's sixth state title since 1961. Yesterday's title game was a repeat of last year when Jamesburg edged Harrison 1-0.... The tie dimmed the Jamesburg record but they still finished undefeated with a 15-0-1 record."

[14] Manual of the Legislature of New Jersey: 2004 Edition, p. 265. Lawyers Diary and Manual, LLC. ISBN 9781577411871. Accessed November 26, 2017. "Assemblyman Gusciora was born March 27, 1960, in Passaic. He attended public schools in Jamesburg and graduated from Jamesburg High School in 1978."

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