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Clay built Sayreville. In the 1850s James R. Sayre Jr. and Peter Fisher began digging the rich clay banks along the Raritan and South rivers, and their Sayre and Fisher brickworks grew into one of the largest in the country, shipping bricks by barge to the cities of the Northeast. The borough, incorporated in 1919 and named for Sayre, now has about 45,000 residents in Middlesex County.
Industry left deep marks. In October 1918 the T. A. Gillespie shell loading plant in the Morgan section exploded in a series of blasts that burned for days, one of the worst industrial disasters in New Jersey history. Old clay pits became ponds and the riverfront slowly turned from factories to parks and walkways. Sayreville is also the hometown of Jon Bon Jovi.
Today visitors come for loud nights at the Starland Ballroom, river views beside the Victory Bridge and the trails of nearby Cheesequake State Park. The Garden State Parkway crosses the Raritan here on the Driscoll Bridge, putting the Jersey Shore and New York City within easy reach.
A standing-room concert hall that books punk, metal, rock and hip-hop tours, plus tribute bands and comedy, and has become a fixture of the New Jersey music scene since opening in 2003. Shows often sell out, so buy tickets ahead and arrive early for a spot near the stage.
A waterfront park beside the Raritan River with a paved walkway, benches and wide views of the Victory Bridge and passing boats. It is a quiet place for a stroll or to watch the sunset over the water. Bring binoculars, as herons and ospreys hunt along the shoreline.
Run by local volunteers, this small museum gathers photographs, tools and stories from the Sayre and Fisher brickworks, the river trades and the 1918 Morgan explosion, along with the borough's first school bell. Opening hours are limited, so check the society's schedule before you go.
Route 35 crosses the Raritan River between Sayreville and Perth Amboy on the Victory Bridge, a tall concrete span that replaced a 1926 swing bridge in 2005. Its sidewalk gives walkers and cyclists broad views over the river mouth, the rail bridge and Raritan Bay. Bring a jacket, as it is windy.
The Garden State Parkway crosses the Raritan River here on one of the widest and busiest motor vehicle bridges in the world, with 15 travel lanes over the water. You see it best from the riverbanks below or from the Route 9 Edison Bridge alongside, especially when the Parkway is lit at night.
Just south of Sayreville, this state park sits where salt marsh meets pine barrens and hardwood forest. Color-coded trails and boardwalks lead through cedar swamp and wetlands, and there is a swimming lake, a nature center and a campground. Expect a summer parking fee and bring bug spray.
Next door in South Amboy, this park has a long promenade, a fishing pier, a small beach and playgrounds facing Raritan Bay, with Staten Island across the water. Swimming is not the draw; come for the breeze, a picnic and the sunset, and bring a rod if you like to fish.
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