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CLINTON PEARSON HEATH (1852-1936)
The Man and Co-Founder for whom Clinton Chapel is Named.
Clinton Heath
was born the son of slaves in 1852 in North Carolina. After slavery, as a young man, Clinton became known for his skill with
farm animals. His chance meeting with a prosperous visiting New Jersey farmer offered him an opportunity to migrate to Middletown,
New Jersey as a tenant farmer.
Clinton worked hard on the Edwin Beekman Farm, saved his money and soon bought land
for his own home and farm. He was later to be mentioned in the book, THE STORY OF MIDDLETOWN by E.W. Mandeville.
Clinton
landed a section-hand job with the New York and Long Branch Railroad Company, which led to a promotion as gate keeper at the
Middletown Crossing; a job he held over 40 years.
First as a Tenant Farmer and later as a Railroad man, Clinton
made many trips back to North Carolina to bring other friends and relatives to New Jersey for Employment.
Throughout
the settlement and struggle in Middletown, Clinton and his brother Calvin (who would become the first minister) shared a dream
for a Methodist church. In 1890, a small group of followers first met in a wooded grove to hold their worship services.
Their collective faith brought forth an indoor meeting place and gave rise to a new church building in 1910. It was destroyed
by an arson fire in 1966, but was rebuilt with the help of the Middletown community.
Clinton's inherent love of
church, home and community was to blossom in many dimensions. The citizens of Monmouth County and his youngest daughter,
Bertha Clara Heath, made possible the construction and dedication of a new park activity building in 1981. The building serves
as a popular Monmouth County location for annual Black History Celebrations, a permanent location for Heath Family artifacts
and exhibits, and is named after both Clinton P. and Mary E. Heath.
The Clinton Chapel Tribute, which is featured
on the left of this text, was designed by Walter S. and Susie M. Spradley.
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