New Jersey History

Hoffman’s Marina in Brielle was once the location of the Union Salt Works, which produced salt for the Continental Army during the Revolutionary War. Salt was an important commodity back then, used to preserve food before refrigeration was invented. Before the War, salt was imported from the Caribbean. During the war, the Americans could no longer buy imported salt because of the British naval blockade, so the solution was to produce it domestically. The Union Salt Works, along with several others on the Jersey Shore, met this need. Salt was produced by boiling sea water until only the salt was left. Loyalists and British troops tried to burn the Salt Works down in April 1778. It was damaged, but was repaired and reopened.