During the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries,

the Keyport neighborhoods of Browns Point,

Lockport, and Mechanicsville had distinct commercial

and industrial districts that have all but disappeared

today. Timothy E. Regan’s new book on Keyport offers

a glimpse into the lives of these early businesses and

the citizens who created them, along with a look at the

remarkable architecture of this bayside town.

This fascinating overview of life in Keyport from

1860 through the 1970s also includes an in-depth

look at the men and machines of the Keyport Fire

Department, one of the oldest and proudest fire

departments in New Jersey. Dedicated civil servants

like the firemen have worked together with skilled

tradespeople and entrepreneurs over the years to make

Keyport a wonderfully dynamic and vibrant place to

live, and Mr. Regan’s book honors the commitment and

the memory of these people.