Email: Information@BurlcoHistorian.com
 
  Mission Statement
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NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL HISTORY
  Introducing Joe Laufer
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Preservation Awards

Preservation Rsources

 

 

This website is not sponsored by Burlington County, the Burlington County Freeholders nor any of its agencies. It was created independently by Joseph M. Laufer, Burlington County Historian and he alone is responsible for its contents.

What's New?

  • SELF-GUIDED QUAKER MEETING HOUSE DRIVING TOUR: We have posted a self-guided tour of the 21 Quaker Meeting Houses of Burlington County. We recommend doing the tour over two days in order complete it at a reasonable pace. Click here for the tour.
  • QUAKER MEETING HOUSE SERIES : On the first Satureday of each month in the Burlington County Times "AT HOME" supplement, a different Burlington County Quaker Meeting House was highlighted from March, 2006 through June, 2007. Joe was the consultant on this series. The June article consisted of a series summary and a self-driving tour of all 21 Quaker Meeting Houses in Burlington County. Copies of the self-guided tour are available for the asking.
  • NEW VIEWS VII (2008) VENUES SELECTED! Members of the Cultural and Heritage Advisory Board selected the theme: "Literary Burlington County " for the 2008 New Views VII project. The venues include historic libraries and lyceums as well as homes of Burlington County authors and publicists. Joe will present a Power Point presentation on these sites at the Burlington County Library on May 1, 2008 at 7:00 p.m. and will conduct a tour of the sites on Saturday, May 10, 2008.
  • Click here to go directly to the New Views VII page.
  • TEN THINGS YOU MIGHT NOT KNOW ABOUT BURLINGTON COUNTY! Recently, Joe Laufer was interviewed by Erin Roop of the Central Record about his role as Burlington County Historian. Erin asked Joe to list ten things that make Burlington County unique. Click here to see Joe's "top ten" list.

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Welcome to the web site of Joe Laufer, Burlington County Historian

 

There are forty independent communities in Burlington County. Click HERE for a map which identifies each community.

In June, 2003, Joe Laufer was appointed official Burlington County Historian by the Burlington County Board of Chosen Freeholders.

 

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!

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 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.

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Joe's Speaking Events Calendar   County News

2008 SCHEDULE

(Completed programs printed in grey)

Saturday, July 26, 2008 - Tour of Pemberton Borough as part of "Paddle, Talk and Walk" program - 11:30 a.m.

Saturday, August 9, 2008 - Tour of Smithville Park as part of "Paddle, Talk and Walk" program - 11:30 a.m.

Saturday, August 30, 2008 - Tour of Mt. Holly as part of the "Paddle, Talk and Walk" program - 11:30 a.m.

Wednesday, September 17, 2008 - "The Rancocas Creek, Waterway to Burlington County History." - Smithville Lyceum Series - Smithville Mansion - 7:00 p.m.

Saturday, October 4, 2008 - "Burlington County: Crossroads of the American Revolution" - Mayflower Society - Carlucci's Restaurant, Mt. Laurel - 1:00 p.m.

Wednesday, October 15, 2008 - "Hezekiah B. Smith: Relationships, Politics and Impact." - Smithville Lyceum Series - Smithville Mansion - 7:00 p.m.

Monday, October 20, 2008 - "Historic One Room School Houses of Burlington County" - Indian Mills Historical Society - Shamong Municipal Building. 7:30 p.m.

Wednesday, November 19, 2008 - "William Penn and the Quaker Imprint on West Jersey." - Smithville Lyceum Series - Smithville Mansion - 7:00 p.m.

Monday, December 1, 2008 - Topic to be announced - Women's Club of Moorestown, Moorestown Community Center - 1:30 p.m.

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2009 SCHEDULE

Wednesday, March 18, 2009 - "Notable Women of Burlington County." - AAUW of Willingboro. - Burlington County Library - 7 p.m.

Wednesday, April 8, 2009 - "Notable Women of Burlington County." - Haddonfield DAR - Springdale Farms, Springdale Road, Cherry Hill - 12:30 p.m.

Thursday, April 9, 2009 - "Quaker Meeting Houses of Burlington County." Haddonfield Questers - Private Home - 12:00 p.m.

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The Burlington County Office of Tourism has just published three leaflets based on three of Joe's most popular lectures. Joe served as a consultant for the projects.

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"Quaker Meetinhouses of Burlington County" is a 12 page multi-flold which highlights the location of 10 active Friend's Meetings and 7 former Meetinghouses.

"Notable Women of Burlington County" provides an overview of 15 prominent women of Burlington County whose lives influenced world events far beyond the confines of Burlington County.

"One Room Schoolhouses in Burlington County" lists, illustrates and describes 17 Burlington County One-Room Schoolhouses scattered throughout Burlington County

A fourth leaflet, "Tour Guide of African American Historic Sites of Burlington County", created by Black History expert Giles Wright, is also available through the Office of Cultural Affairs and Tourism.

 

STEAMBOATS ON THE DELAWARE

Between June 2, 2007 and August 26, 2007, the Office of Cultural Affairs and Tourism conducted 14 Riverboat tours on the Delaware River, attracting 1,179 passengers. The original idea was to conduct only two tours. However, once the word got out, telephone calls requesting tickets became overwhelming, to the point that many who desired tickets were unable to get them. The boat held only 100 people. The tour started at the Oneida Boad House on the Promenade in The City of Burlington, and proceeded south on the Delaware to "Andalusia", the Biddle Mansion on the Pennsylvania shore across from Delanco. Paul Schopp and Joe Laufer shared the narration, pointing out the historic sites and mansions along the way. The tour lasted approximately 2 hours. Discussions are underway to determine whether the tours should be scheduled again in the summer of 2008.

NOMINATIONS SOUGHT FOR PRESERVATION AWARDS - 2008

Once again we are looking for nominations for the annual Preservation awards in a variety of categories. Click here to view the categories and criteria for the awards, presented each year during National Historic Preservation Month (May) by the Burlington County Freeholders.

2008 DEADLINE FOR NOMINATIONS:

MARCH 24, 2008

Request application forms by calling 609-265-5068 or

email: Information@BurlcoHistorian.com

BORDENTOWN CITY: 325 YEARS OLD IN '07

The historic city of Bordentown will celebrate its 325th anniversary next year. One of Burlington County's most historic towns, Bordentown has a number of historic sites and has maintained its sense of history through preservation and proactive efforts to promote its heritage. A series of events are planned for a two-week period in September of 2007. Larry Denny is president of the anniversary committee and can be reached at 609-298-1892.

Click here for related BC Times Article - 3/23/06

COUNTY BELL CAST 250 YEARS AGO

We are fortunate in Burlington County to have the "County Bell", which hangs in the tower of the historic Court House on High Street in Mount Holly, as one of our historic keepsakes, both because of its symbolism and its direct connection with significant county events.  It relates directly to two of our most historic towns, Burlington and Mt. Holly; it is our link with our country’s struggle for independence, and has always been associated with our court system, which champions the basic rights of our citizens.  Therefore, for Burlington Countians, it is as significant as the Liberty Bell is for all Americans.

The "County Bell" was cast in England in 1755 (only four years after the "Liberty Bell" was commissioned by the Pennsylvania Legislature to celebrate the 50th anniversary of William Penn's Charter of Privileges for Pennsylvania*). The Burlington County Bell was first used at the early court house in Burlingtron City, and while there, in 1776, rang the news of our contry's independence. It was in 1797 that the bell was transferred to the belfry of the Court House at Mount Holly, where it remains till this day.

*After its arrival in Philadelphia from England, the Liberty Bell was melted down and recast twice, and the final version wasn't hung and used until June, 1753 -- which makes the Liberty Bell only about 2 years older than the County Bell.

See article on the County Bell in the Courier Post, Friday, December 31, 2005


     
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