Church of the Ascension, Atlantic City, New Jersey

The Church of the Ascension is located at 1601 Pacific Avenue (at the corner of Kentucky Avenue) in Atlantic City, Atlantic County, New Jersey.

This congregation organized in 1879 and incorporated as a parish in 1881. Initial construction of this church building was begun in 1893 and completed in 1900. Rev. J. Hardenbrook Townsend was rector of the church during its erection.

This unusual church's construction system includes materials such as stucco, terra cotta and brick. It was built in the Romanesque Style. This church was listed on the historic register on 24 July 1986.

This photograph is from the HABS Survey, located at American Memory, The Library of Congress.

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.

Jonathan Pitney House, Absecon, New Jersey

Located on Shore Road in Absecon, Atlantic County, New Jersey, along the New Jersey Coastal Heritage Trail is one of South Jersey's treasures.

Named after the doctor who lived here. In 1833 Jonathan Pitney purchased the house (it was probably built by Samuel Reed in 1799). In 1848 he built an Italianate style addition onto the house. Jonathan Pitney is sometimes called "The Father of Atlantic City."

This home is now a Bed & Breakfast, and is listed on the National Historic Register. In addition to providing rest for weary travellers, the house is also open for tours during the Christmas holidays.

See additional photographs, inside and out.

Photograph from American Memory

C.A. Nothnagle Log Cabin, Gibbstown, New Jersey

The C.A. Nothnagle Log Cabin, located in Gibbstown, Gloucester County, New Jersey was built about 1638, and is possibly the best existing example of early log cabin construction. In the back corner of the cabin is a brick fireplace believed to have been built of imported Swedish bricks by the original builder. The original earthen floor was covered with pine boards about 1730.

This structure is listed on the National Register of Historic Sites. The house is attached to a private home owned by Doris and Harry Rink, who will sometimes allow private tours. SEE HERE for additional information (scroll down).

Also see: Art & Architecture of New Jersey

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.

Capt. Isaac Peterson House, Mauricetown, New Jersey

An interesting vernacular Italianate wood-frame house can be found on Front Street in Mauricetown, Cumberland County, New Jersey.

Prior to the house being built here about 1865, the area was called Mattox's Landing, named after Luke Mattox a large landowner. The historic description of this home can be found at "American Memory" on the data pages.

Captain Isaac Peterson this home's original owner, was one of several sea captains that lived in the area. According to the Historical Register, Capt. Peterson was fond of the Caribbean, especially the island of Martinique. Many ships were built in this area, including one of the largest owned by Capt. Peterson called the "Harry B. Ritter."

More about the family who first lived in this house:
Isaac Peterson, mariner, and ship captain, born September 1832 in Cumberland County, New Jersey. He married 7 Sep 1852 in Newport, Downe Township, Cumberland County New Jersey to Sarah Ann Lore. [per Cumberland County New Jersey Marriages, by Stanley H. Craig, Merchantville NJ, 1900, page 185.] Sarah was born February 1834 in New Jersey.
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Census > U.S. Census > 1870 United States Federal Census > New Jersey > Cumberland > Downe
Peterson, Isaac 40 M W Mariner 5000/700 NJ [b abt 1830]
Peterson, Sarah 36 F W Keeping House NJ [b abt 1834]
Peterson, Beulah 10 F W NJ [b abt 1860]
Peterson, Wiliam 6 M W NJ
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Census > U.S. Census > 1880 United States Federal Census > New Jersey > Cumberland > Mauricetown > District 77
Peterson, Isaac W M 47 Sea Captain [b abt 1833]
Peterson, A. Sarah W F 46 wife Keeping House [b abt 1834]
Peterson, Beulah W F 18 dau at home [b abt 1862]
Peterson, William W M 15 son School
Peterson, Maud, W F 5 daughter at school
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U.S. Census > 1900 United States Federal Census > New Jersey > Cumberland > Commercial > District 126
Peterson, Isaac Head W M Sep 1832 67 married 46 yrs NJ NJ NJ Oysterman
Peterson, Sarah Wife W F Feb 1834 66 married 46 yrs NJ NJ NJ
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Children of Isaac & Sarah A. (Lore) Peterson:
1. Clarence Peterson, b. 3 Dec 1855 in Mauricetown, Downe Twp., Cumberland Co NJ; d. June 1857 in Mauricetown NJ
2. Alonzo Peterson, b. 19 May 1858 in Mauricetown, Downe Twp., Cumberland Co NJ, d. 10 Jan 1859 in Mauricetown NJ
3. Sarah Beulah Peterson, b. 8 Oct 1861 in Mauricetown NJ
4. William L. Peterson, b. 28 Oct 1864 in Mauricetown NJ; m. 5 Jan 1898 in Commercial Twp NJ to Jessie Pritchard, dau of Griffith & Rebecca (Bowen) Pritchard. She b. abt 1878
5. Maud Peterson, b. 1875 in Commercial Twp, Cumberland Co. NJ

This house is a private residence.

Photograph from: American Memory, Library of Congress; HABS, David Ames photographer, April 1992; nj/nj1400/nj1498/data

Chalfonte Hotel, Cape May, New Jersey

The Chalfonte Hotel, on the corner of Howard and Sewell Streets in Cape May, New Jersey was built in 1875-76 by Colonel Henry Sawyer.

Built in the Italianate style, the summer resort managed to survive the great fire in 1878 that burnt and destroyed many of the Cape May hotels of the same vintage.

It is listed on the National Historic Register.

The building is charming, and worth seeing.


J

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 ?