Gilbert Hedden
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Gilbert D. Hedden of Chatham, New Jersey, achieved the most remarkable progress towards solving the Oak Island treasure mystery. Hedden was born in 1897, and became, in 1919, Vice-President and General Manager of the Hedden Iron Construction Company, Hillside, New Jersey, fabricators and erectors of structural steel. On the sale in 1931 of the business to Bethlehem Steel Company, he became plant manager of the "Hedden" works.
In his public life, he served as mayor of Chatham, N.J. from 1934 to 1938. On May 8, 1928 he read an article on Oak Island in the Sunday magazine section of the New York Times. Hedden was fascinated by the story and determined to purchase the island and search for the treasure. Perhaps, $250,000.00, altogether was spent to try and solve the mystery. Other treasure hunters followed Hedden, but he is the most notable due to his large investment, engineering background, and early discoveries.
See also: Hedden Construction Company
