county_historian

YOUR ONE-STOP LOCAL HISTORY RESOURCE

This web site has been created as a one-stop resource for historical information about Burlington County. Perhaps its greatest value is in the many links to web resourses created by local historians, historical societies and organizations dedicated to our rich history. Wherever we refer to a historic person, place or thing, if we are aware of a website which expands on that topic, we will link to it. The link page at the end of this web site is a veritable encyclopedia of local historical information about each of the 40 communities of Burlington County. If there are multiple web sites on the subject, we have linked to each of them. Anyone doing research on the history of any topic or location in Burlington County should be able to quickly link to the information they are seeking. We welcome you and invite you to explore the site -- and start now with a jump to the Link page by clicking HERE!

TIME-SENSITIVE INFORMATION NOW POSTED FOR "NEW VIEWS" and PRESERVATION AWARDS

1. NEW VIEWS. The theme of the 2010 New Views project (the blending of art and history, in celebration of National Preservation Month in May) is "Unique Stained Glass Windows of Burlington County." In 2010 there will not be an art component to the event, but rather only a tour of selected sites containing unique stained glass windows. The bus tour of the venues will be held on Saturday, May 15, 2010. Click here for more information.

2. PRESERVATION AWARDS . The call for nominations for the 2010 Preservation Awards is posted under the tab "Preservation Awards." Criteria and Application Forms are posted there. The deadline for Applications is March 31, 2010. The awards will be presented at a regular meeting of the Board of Chosen Freeholders in May. Click here to go directly to the site.

ANNIVERSARIES - 2010

1. TUESDAY, JANUARY 19 - 100th Anniversary of Riverton Public School, 600 Fifth St., Cinnaminson, NJ (1910)

2. MONDAY, FEBRUARY 8 . 100th Anniversary of the founding of The Boy Scouts of America, founded in Washington DC in 1910.

3. SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 14. Richard Allen, the founder and first Bishop of the African Methodist Episcopal Church, was born a slave on February 14, 1760 in Pennsylvania. He died on March 26, 1831. 250th Anniversary of his birth. . Click here for his biography.

4. SUNDAY, MARCH 14 - 150th Anniversary (Sesquicentennial) of the establishment of Lumberton Township in 1860.

5. MONDAY, MARCH 15 - 150th Anniversary (Sesquicentennial) of the establishment of Cinnaminson Township in 1860.

6. TUESDAY, APRIL 21 . 100th Anniversary of the death of Mark Twain in 1910. Twain was born on November 30, 1835 while Halley's Comet was traversing the skies. In 1909 he – Well attended – filled Township Meeting Room. is quoted as saying "I came in with Halley's Comet in 1835. It is coming again next year, and I expect to go out with it. It will be the greatest disappointment of my life if I don't go out with Halley's Comet." His wish was granted! Incidentally, 2010 is also the 25th anniversary of the last return of Halley's Comet in 1985. It returns again aprroximately 50 years from now in 2061. We will celebrate this dual event with a talk at the Mt. Holly Library on March 2nd, 2010. See information elsewhere on this site.

7. WEDNESDAY, APRIL 22 - 40th Anniversary of the first Earth Day in 1970.

8. MAY - 40th Commencement - Burlington County College (1970).

ANNIVERSARIES - 2010

1. SESQUICENTENNIAL (150 YEARS) OF THE CIVIL WAR - The New Jersey Civil War 150th Anniversary Committee plays a preeminent role in our state’s observation and commemoration of New Jersey’s part in the Civil War. Through the committee’s service there will be increased awareness (both current and future) and accurate recognition of the sacrifices and contributions of the people of New Jersey during this defining time in American History - Here is a link to the Commission's Official web site: New Jersey's Official Civil War Sesquicentennial Committee.

Decades of growing strife between North and South erupted in civil war on April 12, 1861, when Confederate artillery opened fire on this Federal fort in Charleston Harbor. Fort Sumter surrendered 34 hours later. Union forces would try for nearly four years to take it back.

ABOUT JOE LAUFER

Over the past thirty years Joe has delivered hundreds of lectures to local, regional and even national groups. He has been a member of the National Speakers Association, the Liberty Bell Speakers Association and the International Platform Association and is listed in Who's Who in Professional Speaking. Most of his lectures deal with historical subjects.

Mr. Laufer is also President of the H.B. Smith Industrial Village Conservancy and has served as a member of the Board of Directors of the Jack Allen Memorial Country Living Museum of Southampton and the Roebling Main Gate Museum. He is a past president of the Southampton Historical Society and has served on the Board of Trustees of the Burlington County Historical Society.

He is a strong advocate for the expansion of tourism in Burlington County, having been a founding member of the Historic Rancocas Valley Tourism Association, which was a precursor to the establisment of a Department of Tourism in Burlington County. He is a part-time staff member of the Division of Cultural Affairs and Tourism of the county.

As County Historian, Joe is actively involved in the selection of recipients of annual Burlington County Preservation Awards, and in the selection of venues for the popular "New Views" art and tour projects of the Burlington County Cultural and Heritage Department.

SJ MAGAZINE SPOTLIGHTS JOE LAUFER: The January, 2009 issue of SJ Magazine contains a feature by Mary Lou Sheffield about Joe Laufer's role as Burlington County Historian. Click for PDF version of the article.