- June 13, 2026
- Maria Boyes
The Worden House, the oldest remaining home in Ocean County’s Lacey Township, was built circa 1850 by one of the area’s prominent families and is now in danger of being razed. Predating the formal 1871 township incorporation, this homestead was constructed by local shipbuilder, farmer, and postmaster Jacob Vaughn. In fact, recognizing its historic significance, Lacey Township relocated the structure to its present location in 1982, listing it in the New Jersey Historic Sites Inventory.
The home’s namesake comes from the second owner, Benjamin Burd Worden. Worden worked as the telegraph operator and station master at the Central Railroad station in Forked River for 50 years, acting as a vital communication link for the local community during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. He and his wife lived in the home for most of their adult lives.
The two-and-a-half story wood clapboard dwelling retains many historic architectural features, which include original chimneys, six-over-six double-hung windows, stucco over lath interior walls, and decorative porch spindlework. Over the years, the house has served as a chamber of commerce, the recreation department, and most recently VetWorks, a nonprofit organization whose mission and purpose is to meet the needs of lower income veterans.
Today, although still owned by the Township, the current governing body have other plans for the historic site. Three years ago, the nonprofit group VetWorks was asked to vacate the premises so the property and structure could be sold to a developer. Proposed plans call for demolition of the historic structure to make room for a QuickChek and gas station.
Beyond its architectural value, the Worden House carries remarkable historic significance through its connection to the Civil War. Jacob Vaughn’s sons served in the Union Army and survived imprisonment at the notorious Andersonville prison camp in Georgia, one of the deadliest and most infamous Civil War prisons where more than 12,000 Union soldiers died. Following their release in 1865, the brothers returned to live with the family, making the Worden House one of the last surviving homesteads associated with Andersonville survivors in New Jersey.
Longtime Lacey Township resident, Barry Bendar, puts it simply: “They’re destroying my town.” Bendar has run for a seat on the Township Committee several times and is now involved in the fight to Save the Worden House. “To me,” he says, “preserving the building preserves the history because when the building is gone, the history is gone.”
Carol Mittelsdorf, a resident of Lacey and daughter of two veterans, agrees. She was alerted to the Township’s plans when contacted by the veteran group about their relocation. She sees a number of possible uses for this property, which is close to the library and part of a larger potential historic district. “The Worden House would be a perfect hub for historical tourism,” she says pointing out it’s right next to the library and the center of town.
Local residents and preservation advocates have initiated litigation to delay the sale and continue efforts to protect the property, arguing that demolition of the township’s oldest historic structure would represent an irreplaceable loss of local and national history. Although the structure is considered eligible for historic designation and an application to the New Jersey Register of Historic Places is pending, it currently lacks formal legal protection from demolition. According to advocates, township officials have neglected the building, allowing damage from leaking pipes and failing to maintain the property. Despite these conditions, engineering evaluations have confirmed that the structure remains sound and capable of being safely relocated again if preservation alternatives are pursued.
For more information, visit: Save the Worden House
