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

1987 Gloucester County NJ Women Who Made A Difference

In 1987 the Gloucester County Shade Tree Commission, in conjunction with the Commission on Women, planted trees at the Red Bank Battlefield Park, in National Park New Jersey. The plaque honors women who have made a difference in Gloucester County.

They are: Helen Brown, Hazel Dale, Lydia Davis, Rose Downer, Kay A. Ferrell, Ph.D., Dolores M. Harris, Ed.D., Ella Harris, Edith Huston, Grace Holdcraft, Lorraine Kiefer, Plin Matthews, Margaret Mendoza, Jeannette McConnell, Mary McGinnis, Eleanora Munshower, Alberta Perry, Mary E. Robbins, Mary Sorbello, Erma Toughill, and Barbara Wallace.

Too bad the plaque does not mention WHY they were being recognized. If anyone knows any of these women and would like to post their accomplishments, please feel free to do so.

JB

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 ?

The Society of Cincinnati in New Jersey

In 1866 the Historical Society of Pennsylvania published the following list, and requested information regarding following-named officers and their descendants. These officers all held commissions in the New Jersey Line, Continental Army, and were original members of The Society of the Cincinnati in that State.

The notes given in connection with the names are taken from Saffell's Records of the Revolutionary War, Gardner's Army Dictionary, Hamersly's Army Register, and the Records of the Society.

1. Captain William Appleton. Practitioner of medicine. Died prior to 1808.
2. Surgeon William Barnet. Died about 1783. Represented in the Society by his won, Isaac Coxe Barnet, admitted 1822, who was United States Consul in France.
3. Captain William Barton. Died 1802. Represented in the Scoiety by his son, Gilbert Barton, admitted 1806, died 1812, and by his son, Joseph L. Barton, admitted 1812. Joseph L. Barton was appointed Captain United States Army, September, 1812.
4. Ensign John Bishop. Moved out of New Jersey prior to 1808.
5. Captain John Blair. Died out of New Jersey prior to 1808.
6. Major Nathaniel Bowman. Died 1788.
7. Captain Eden Burroughs. Died in Northampton County, Pennsylvnia, February 26, 1825. Represented in the Society by his son, Cassius Burroughs, admitted 1828.
8. Captain Samuel Conn. Died 1788.
9. Captain Ephraim Darby. Died prior to 1808.
10. Lieutenant Chilion Ford. Died out of New Jersey in 1801.
11. Ensign Peter Faulkner. Died in the District of Columbia, September 27, 1823
12. Captain James Heard. Died in Middlesex County, New Jersey, March 26, 1831
13. Major William Helms. Member of Congress from New Jersey 1801 to 1811. Major-General New Jersey Militia. Removed to Tennessee. Died 1813.
14. Captain John Holmes.
15. Captain Jonathan Holmes. Moved to State of New York.
16. Ensign John Hopper. Died in Bergen County, New Jersey, November 14, 1819.
17. Captain William Kersey. Major United States Army, June 30, 1794. Died March 21, 1800.
18. Ensign Francis Luce. Ensign United States Army, September 29, 1789. Resigned May 1, 1791.
19. Captain Absalom Martin.
20. Captain Giles Mead. Died out of New Jersey prior to 1808.
21. Captain Alexander Mitchell.
22. Captain Benajah Osman. Moved to Natchez Mississippi prior to 1808.
23. Captain John Peck. Died out of New Jersey prior to 1808.
24. Captain John Pemberton. Died 1788.
25. Major Samuel Reading. Moved out of New Jersey prior to 1808.
26. Captain John Read.
27. Captain Samuel Seeley. Brigadier-General of Militia, Pennsylvania. Died at Dingman's Ferry, Pike County, Pennsylvania.
28. Lieutenant Jonathan Snowden. Military Storekeeper at West Pint, 1810; ordnance ditto, 1821. Died 1824.
29. Captain Abraham Stout. Moved to Ohio prior to 1808.
30. Ensign Cornelius R. Suydam. Ensign United States Army, March 17, 1786.
31. Captain Abel Weyman. Died in Burlington County, New Jersey 1788.

Information is also desired concerning the two following officers and their descendants. They were both original members of the New York State Society, but by transfer connected themselves with the New Jersey State Society.
32. Lieutenant James Giles. Born in New York 1759. Died in Cumberland County, New Jersey 1825.
33. Lieutenant-Colonel Samuel Hay. Although an original member in New York, his military service had been in the Pennsylvania Line. Died 1803. Represented in the Society by his son, Rev. Philip Cortlandt Hay, D.D. who was born in Newark, New Jersey, July 25, 1793. He was pastor of the Second Presbyterian Church in Newark, where he died, December 27, 1860.

Posted by Herman Burgin, Assistant Treasurer, General Society Cincinnati, Germantown, Pennsylvania.

(Published 1886, Historical Society of Pennsylvania)

ALSO SEE

David Brearly / Brearley

"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.