Contact Candace to learn more about The Dance Lab Difference!!

2011-2012 Executive Committee of the Board of Trustees

President -Lisa Hammell
First Vice President-Stephanie Herz
Second V.P. - Ann Condon
Treasurer - Harry Koons
Recording Secretary - Lynne Brill
Corresponding Secretary - Lynne Japka
Immediate Past President - Ann Langerhans

The Swede Run Fields barn on Westfield Road needs our help. This Jersey sandstone farm outbuilding dates as far back as the 18th or 19th century. It is a beloved local landmark and is one of the few remaining vestiges of Moorestown’s rich farming heritage.

Check donations to help restore the building can be made out to "The Historical Society of Moorestown" with " Barn restoration" on the memo line. Please mail donations to:
Julie Maravich
660 Chester Avenue
Moorestown, NJ 08057

To aid in the fund-raising effort, Moorestown photographer Jan Daniels has created a beautiful 34-page book of images of the Swedes Run barn and has generously offered to donate the profits from the sales of his books online at http://www.blurb.com/bookstore/detail/2669916. These lovely images are also available as greeting cards and photographic prints online, at the website:  http://jan-daniels.artistwebsites.com/art/all/swede+run+barn+in+moorestown+nj/all .

Both the book and the greeting cards are also available in the Historical Society gift shop during our regular open hours.

Our Sacred Honor: Moorestonians in Time of War DVD

Our Sacred Honor: Moorestonians in Time of War DVD's for sale! This DVD is one small town's history of courage, sacrifice and honor. Inspired by The Historical Society of Moorestown's 2007 exhibit of the same name, the film traces the town's residents who have fought and in some cases paid the ultimate sacrifice, from the American Revolution to the present day. They can be purchased at the Smith-Cadbury Mansion Gift Shop, Moorestown Hardware or email Lenny Wagner at lwagner559@comcast.net

A brick walk leads the visitor to the rear patio which is dedicated to the memory of May Borton.

Membership is open to all who are interested

~Membership Renewal: May 1, 2010 - April 30, 2011

By purchasing the very old Cadbury house in 1970, our founding members not only insured the preservation of the Smith-Cadbury Mansion (circa 1738), but laid the groundwork for the collecting of artifacts, furniture, oral histories and other ephemera of the community. As we have inherited the legacy of these dedicated men and women, we hope to pay tribute to their efforts by forging new friendships, by being good stewards of the property, by managing the archives and historical artifacts of Moorestown and by growing with the town as it expands.

We are a totally volunteer and not-for-profit 501-3 ( c ) organization. The Society governs with long established by-laws and a Board of Trustees, led by an Executive Committee. Financial support comes from membership dues, fund-raising activities and donations. Members are welcomed and encouraged (but not required) to volunteer. The membership has an Annual Meeting in April and a Fall General Meeting, both usually held at the Moorestown Community House, located just a block away from the Smith- Cadbury mansion.

Expansion of our Collections, a community resource, is made possible only through fundraising efforts and donations. Our library offers research material on family and house genealogies, local history, Quaker patterns of life, maps of the area, newspapers (old and new), school yearbooks, city directories, etc., eventually accessible through our Past Perfect Library software. The continually growing collections of local furniture, clocks, accessories, silhouettes, samplers and period clothing are on display.

Objectives

To cultivate friendship among its members: to collect and preserve data and to engage in historical research touching the history of Moorestown Township, Burlington County, New Jersey and the surrounding area.

To collect and preserve articles, specimens, modes, habits, and history of the times in said Moorestown Township and surrounding area.

To perpetuate the memory of those who by their labors and heroism contributed to make the history of said municipality and the surrounding area.

Standing Committees

Members are invited to join our all-volunteer staff on the following committees: Docent/Hostess, House and Grounds, Activities/Special Events, Finance and Grants, Gift Shop, Textile/Costume, Library/Research, Acquisitions.

Events include inviting speakers to our membership gatherings, exhibits in the mansion curated by members of the community about the community, historic home showcases, a contemporary gift shop, historically based crafting for K-6 on 2nd Saturdays. Membership in the Historical Society offers many varied volunteer and donation opportunities for both new and long-time residents of the area.

We welcome new members and appreciate the continued support of present members. We look forward to seeing you at Smith-Cadbury. The Trustees of the Historical Society are pleased to share the history of this important house and its surrounding town with future generations.

Let us know if there are friends or neighbors that might be interested in becoming a member of the Historical Society of Moorestown.

Contact our Membership Chair, Lynne Japka at (609)315-6515.

Gift Shop

The Gift Shop Committee stocks a variety of lovely gifts such as fine jewelry, pottery, handmade baby gifts, note cards, framed original artwork, photo reproductions from the archives, cookbooks, aprons, blankets and local history pamphlets.

The committee decks out the shop for certain holidays and brings in items of interest pertaining to that holiday. This is not your average museum store.

Watch for announcements of our next 'Gift Shop Open House,' usually on a couple of late afternoons that stretch into early evening during the holidays and/or in the Spring.

Pick up your copy of 'Moorestown Old and New, A Local Sketch' by James C. Purdy, recently reprinted by the Society.

This lovely shop helps to raise funds for the Historical Society so stop by and do your part.

A Glance at Moorestown's History

Today, as one walks along Main Street from the Friends School west past the old Town Hall, it is hard to believe that the ridge that the road (formerly The King's Highway) follows was once occupied with the wigwams of the Lenni Lenape Indians. Two fine springs, one to the west (off Main Street before reaching the Perkins Center for the Arts) and one to the east (off North Stanwick Road) were attractive to Indians and traders alike.

Although there were property owners as early as 1680 in the present township location, (formerly known as Chester Township), the Village of was 'founded' in 1682 when the first owners built homes and actually lived here. Thomas Hooton and son acquired 600 acres in 1682 and the Roberts family also set up their farmstead in the area. In May of 1686, when Philadelphia was about 3 years old, John Rodman bought 500 acres on the west side of Chester Township, and Thomas Rodman bought 533 acres additional in the same area, where the area soon became known as the Village of Rodmantown. The growing area around the eastern spring was known as the Village of Chestertown.

In 1700, the first Society of Friends Meeting House, built of logs, was erected on The King's Highway. Originally known as 'Meeting House Lane,' Chester Avenue was laid out in 1720. The Village at that time probably consisted of a few farmhouses along The King's Highway from Stanwick Road to Locust Street.

Former location of the Coles Hotel is denoted by this marker and Town Clock. In the background, you will find the Friends Burial Grounds.

Thomas Moore and his wife Elizabeth settled here in 1722 and in 1732, Moore purchased 33 acres of land on the north side of The King's Highway. The land ran from the west side of the Friends' graveyard on the northwest corner of The King's Highway and Meeting House Lane on the east and west to Locust Street on the western boundary of his property and north to Second Street. Mr. Moore set up a hotel and tavern on the northwest corner of The King's Highway and Union Streets (currently, a bank). With so much land eventually being owned by Thomas Moore, the name Moorestown gradually replaced Chester informally in what is now the center of town. Finally, Moorestown formerly split off from Chester and became a Township.

The Coles Hotel, east of the corner of Main and Chester, was the scene of great activity prior to the building of the railroad in 1867. Before this time, the stagecoach was the only public conveyance between Moorestown and Philadelphia, and the hotel was a stagecoach stop.

Cowperthwaite House HAB Survey (Library of Congress) Nathaniel R. Ewan, Photographer April 12, 1938 EXTERIOR - SW elevation

Another landmark on Main Street, east of Chester Avenue, is now the present home of the New Jersey Bell Telephone Company. In 1745 John Cox erected a tavern there that was to become famous in the early history of Moorestown. Town Meetings were held in the tavern prior to 1812 when 'Old Town Hall' was then erected.

The home now standing on the northwest corner of Main and Schooley Streets, then the home of Joshua Bispham, was commandeered by Hessian officers during the Revolutionary War as they retreated from Philadelphia in 1778.

The old homestead on the northeast corner of King's Highway and Lenola Road was constructed in 1742 by John Cowperthwaite. Because of its excellent example of an 18th century home, record of its construction was made in 1937 by the U.S. Department of Interior and is now recorded in the Library of Congress.

Incorporation of Moorestown (formerly Chester Township), New Jersey

Although Moorestown is over 300 years old, it was incorporated by an act of the NJ State Legislature approved on March 11, 1922. That is from Chapter 68 of the Laws of 1922 published in the 'Acts of the One Hundred and Forty-seventh Legislature of the State of New Jersey and Seventy-ninth Under the New Constitution' MacCrellish & Quigley Co., State Printers, Trenton,N.J., 1923.

Chester Township was a large expanse of land which included what is now known as Delran, Cinaminson, Maple Shade and part of Mount Laurel.

The Methodist Church will be celebrating Scout Sunday and Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts will be participating in the 9:30am and 11:00am services. Contact David Madara, Scout Chartered Organization Representative for further details.

Soup for the Soul is one of Moorestown High School Interact Club's largest fundraising events. We serve bread and soup from local restaurants and community members in a buffet style. In addition to the soup buffet, guests may participate in a silent auction of items donated by local businesses and enjoy performances by various local musical groups. All proceeds from the event benefit the Food Bank of South Jersey.


Tickets can be purchased at the door or in the main lobby of MHS from Tuesday Feb. 21st to Friday Feb 24th.

Hope to see you all there!

CareOne of Moorestown

Spring Egg Hunt

Pony Rides, Mr Bunny

Egg Painting Contest

Refreshments

A one-time only needed training course - Basic Outleader Leader Orientation (BALOO) - so the Pack can be taken by a leader on overnight camping. Contact Monmouth Council, BSA for location and details.

A one-time only needed introduction to Basic Outdoor Leader Orientation (BALOO) which is needed to qualify as a leader to take the Pack overnight camping. Offered by Southern NJ Council at Camp Pine Hill, 12AWatsontown-New Freedom Rd., Berlin, NJ.