The Gibbon House, Greenwich, New Jersey

The Gibbon House is located in Greenwich, Cumberland County, New Jersey. It was built about 1730 by Leonard Gibbon and is a two and one-half brick house.

The plaque on the gable of the south elevation bears the date 1730. It was occupied by Nicholas Gibbon from 1730 to 1740, and then he moved to what is known as the Alexander Grant House in Salem NJ. The bricks are laid in checker pattern.

The red bricks are said to be imported from England, and the lighter colored ones were made from clay found on the grounds where the house sits.

Additional data and drawings of the house can be found at "American Memory." The house is open to the public during posted months and hours.

Burlington County Prison, Mt. Holly, New Jersey

The Burlington County Prison, located in Mt. Holly, Burlington County, New Jersey, was erected (completed) in 1810. The architect was Rober Mills, one of America's first native-born and trained architect, of Philadelphia.

The builders were Caleb Newbold, George Hancock and John Bispham - commissioners in charge of building for the County Freeholders. The land was purchased from Zachariah Rossell and adjoined the county court house property.

The original building recommendations included a basement or office story to consist of a kitchen, washing room, felons eating room, ten factory or work shops and other shops. The principal or ground level story to consist of keeper's office, sitting and lodging rooms, debtors common hall and 8 cells. The second story was to include 4 debtors rooms, and 8 cells together with a dungeon which is placed directly over the keeper's office. The windows of the hall and debtors chambers were to be secured with iron bars.
The toal cost of the building was $24,201.15

The prison is a National Historic Landmark, and is open to the public.

Additional photographs, drawings and data pages are available on "American Memory."

Some say it is haunted.

The Indian King Tavern, Haddonfield New Jersey

The Indian King Tavern is located at 223 Kings Highway East, in Haddonfield, Camden County, New Jersey. It was believed to have been built about 1750 by Matthias Aspden, a merchant and ship owner.

It is a three-story structure, with a stone foundation inside brick chimneys, and 24 rooms with five cellars. The Indian King was not the first tavern in Haddonfield, and there was at least one other building in Haddonfield that was used as a tavern before the American Revolution.

Colonel Timothy Matlack, a Free Quaker and Commisary General of the Army, and Master of the Rolls of Pennsylvania was born on the site of the present building. Some historians give Timothy Matlack credit for building the tavern, called the American House, and that he sold it soon after to Matthias Aspden.

The first assembly of the State of New Jersey was held here from January 29, 1777 to March 18, 1777 and several other times in 1777. On March 15, 1777 the Council of Safety for the State of New Jersey was created by the Legislature while it was in session here. The Council itself met in this tavern.

In 1902 the Legislature appointed a committee to purchase this property, and an appropriation was made in 1908 to restore the building.

See how this building looks today and take a virtual tour.

SEE "American Memory" for more information, drawings and photographs of this house.

Tavern Museum Visiting House.

Walt Whitman House, Camden, New Jersey

It is "Poetic Injustice"... that in 2004 there were few if any visitors to this lovely house at 328 [now 330] Mickle Boulevard in Camden, New Jersey. A more recent report in 2007 indicates the house receives on average 3,000 visitors annually (according to Dana Loschiavo, a spokeswoman for the N.J. Division of Parks & Forestry, which oversees the house).

According to American Memory, "The little house on Mickle Street, Camden, with "W. Whitman' on a brass plate on the door, was a source of pride to the aging poet. It was the only house he ever owned.

He used to sit in a front window and visit with the children on their way to school. His upstairs study, which he called his den or cabin was just as he wanted it--filled with books and pictures, with a luxurious litter of his own bold manuscript..."

"In the following summer (1885) Whitman had a slight sunstroke which rendered walking much more difficult. For months he was a good deal confined to his little house, but his friends promptly came to the rescue with a horse and a light American wagon. He was overcome with gratitude for the gift--driving, as we have seen, was one of his delights--and he promptly began to make full use of his new toy..."

This house was erected before 1884, but there is no record of the architect. It stands 2 stories high, made of wood, with a cellar. Walt Whitman bought this house for $1,750 in 1884. He invited Mary O. Davis, the widow of a sea captain to become his housekeeper, and she did so until his death. Walt Whitman referred to Mrs. Davis also as his friend.

Whitman is quoted as saying,"Camden was originally an accident, but I shall never be sorry I was left over in Camden. It has brought me blessed returns." While living there some of this country's most prominent literary figures visited him there, including Charles Dickens, Willaim M. Thackeray, and Oscar Wilde.

A tablet at the house reads:"Here lived the 'Good Gray Poet', Walt Whitman, from 1884 to the date of his death, March 26, 1892. This house is now owned and dedicated by the city of Camden to the memory of its famous citizen."

Photograph and some information from American Memory, Library of Congress, Historic American Buildings Survey. Nathaniel R. Ewan, Photographer, April 15, 1936, Card #NJ0399

JB

The Mansion at Smithville (Easthampton) Burlington County NJ

Historic Smithville Mansion sits amid a 250-acre park in Easthampton, Burlington County, New Jersey. If you get a chance to tour the inside of this home, the docents "tell of the rise and fall of H.B. Smith, inventor and entrepreneur, his extraordinary accomplishments clouded by personal controversy."

In 1975, the mansion and surrounding site were acquired by the Burlington County Board of Chosen Freeholders to develop as the first Burlington County park. The squarish house, covered by a log tip roof was refurbished to its 1865 appearance. The mansion complex remains the centerpiece of the park, and houses the Offices of the Cultural and Heritage Commission.

The tourist web site for Burlington County further states: "In H.B. Smith's old schoolhouse Smithville History Exhibit, 20 photo/narrative panels depict major aspects of the mill village and its colorful founder. Tourists visit Smith's "casino" annex, including card room, billiard room and bowling alley, then passes the site of Smith's zoo, through the grape arbors and rose garden courtyards. See the restoration work done to the exterior of the Mansion complex and gardener's cottage."

The mansion is located on Smithville Road in Eastampton, 3/4 mile off of Route 38, 2 miles east of Mount Holly. The house is open from early May through late October, Wednesday and Sunday 1, 2, & 3 PM.

ADMISSION: Adults $5.00 Seniors $4.00 Student $3.00Adults groups of 10 or more: $4.00 each with reservation Grade school groups (10 or more): $2.00 each with reservation

A Tea & Tour is held at Noon, the last Wednesday of the month By reservation only: $12.00/person (609) 261-0472

-More Smithville History-

J

Whitesbog Village, Browns Mills (Pemberton), NJ

Whitesbog is a cranberry company town of the turn of the 20th century. Cared for by the Whitesbog Preservation Trust, this village is what is left of the largest cranberry farm in New Jersey that thrived in the early 1900s.

Whitesbog is located in Browns Mills, in Pemberton, Burlington County, New Jersey.

The original founder of the farm, J.J. White was considered a leader in the cranberry industry. His daughter Elizabeth White worked with the USDA to produce a cultivated blueberry. It is very fitting then that the blueberry is also New Jersey's official state fruit.

Whitesbog Village has four-season educational programs, for people of all ages. The General Store (pictured here) is at the center of the Village. Tours, both guide-led and self-guided are available.

Whitesbog is seeking volunteers to help with a variety of programs and projects. Please contact them at (609) 893-4646 or by email to Whitesbog@hotmail.com.

Specific dates and times of events can be find on the Whitesbog Preservation Trust web site.

Emlen Physick Estate - Cape May, New Jersey

Emlen Physick was a physician (in name only, as he did not practice medicine) who lived in an 18-room estate mansion in Cape May, New Jersey with his mother and unmarried aunt.

The Physick House made news when it was built in 1879 because it was not like any other house in Cape May. Built in "Stick Style," it was in great contrast to the Gothic, Italianate, and Mansard styles of homes then in vogue. The architect is believed to have been Frank Furness.

The inside of the home is appropriately furnished, and you will find the guided tour quite fascinating (the cost is only $8). Right next door on the same property is Twining's Tearoom.

Address: 1048 Washington St., Cape May, NJ, USA
Telephone: 609/884-5404 or 800/275-4278

Head of the River Methodist Episcopal Church, Tuckahoe NJ

The "Head of the River" Methodist Episcopal Church is located in Tuckahoe, Atlantic County, New Jersey. This church's society was founded in 1780, while the church was built in 1792. A monument and several plaques can be found near the church.

One plaque states: "On 12 Oct 2003 a placque was placed by the New Jersey Sarah Soper Chapter of the National Society Colonial Dames XVII Century to recognize the historic significance of this site and its important to the community and its people."

JB

The Church is on the Historic Register.

Greetings from Tuckahoe NJ

How Do I Get to Tuckahoe NJ ?

"Summit House" of Glassboro NJ

The "Summit House" is an unusual structure (called Hollybush) located in Glassboro, Gloucester County, New Jersey.

This house was the location of the famous summit meeting between President Lyndon B. Johnson and Soviet Premier Alexei Kosygin in 1967.

It is owned by Rowan University, (it was the former home of the college president) and was recently opened for one day for public view. The college plans to hold additional open houses, but there are no regular viewing hours.

The Rowan University link about does, however, have a contact should you have more questions about this building and its history.

Why A Cup O'Jersey?

Some folks act as if South Jersey ends at Camden.

Fortunately if you drive just south of New Jersey's armpit, you will discover lovely towns, great forests, charming boardwalks and fantastic history.

This blog has been created to show what the real South Jersey looks like, and present its history.

The photograph was taken in the museum section of the Atlantic Heritage Center in Somers Point, Atlantic County, New Jersey.

JB