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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?

  • CROPWELL FRIENDS MEETING BICENTENNIAL: On Sunday, June 28, The Cropwell Friends Meeting House was 200 years old. The event was celebrated by the erection of a Memorial Peace Pole, a photo and artifact exhibit and remarks by Arthur Larrabee, General Secretary of the Philadelphia Yearly Meeting and Joe Laufer, Burlington County Historian. Click here for Joe's remarks.
  • ROEBLING MUSEUM OPENED: The weekend of June 26, 27 and 28 was filled with events hearlding the long awaited opening of the Roebling Main Gate Museum. While the planned museum exhibits are not yet in place, several temporary exhibits told the story of Roebling and a film consisting of the Roebling story and interviews with former employees was premiered. A moving flag raising ceremony was held at 1:00 pm on Saturday. The consensus was that the museum building exceeded all expectations and is a welcome addition to Burlington County's historical landmarks.
  • SMITHVILLE LYCEUM LECTURE SERIES: Beginning in September, a 3-lecture series will be presented at Smithville Mansion by County Historian Joe Laufer. The topics include "The People, Places and Stories of Historic Vincentown" (Sept. 9); "Burlington County's Still Family: A Story of Survival, Service and Success" (October 7); "Burlington County's Military Cemeteries, Memorials and Monuments" (November 4). For an explanation of the "Lyceum Series" and its historic roots at Smithville and for a complete description of each lecture, click here for the Lyceum Series.
  • 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 here for a link to the story.
  • UNDERGROUND R.R. MUSEUM CREATES WEB SITE : Executive Director Louise Calloway of the Underground Railroad Cafe, Art Gallery and Educational Center, 16-18 East Union St., Burlington, which boasts of an excellent Museum on the subject, has just launched a new website: http://ugrrburlington.webs.com

    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 Saturday 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.
  • ONE ROOM SCHOOLHOUSE TOUR. The County Cultural and Heritage Office, in cooperation with the Colonial Dames of New Jersey offered a tour of Burlington County's One Room School Houses on November 8. Joe Laufer created a self-guided driving tour of the schools. Contact him via e-mail if you would like a copy.
  • 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
 

CountyMap.htm

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!

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

1. NEW VIEWS. The theme of the 2009 New Views project (the blending of art and history, in celebration of National Preservation Month in May) is "Art Along the Rancocas." Information about the project, the Art Application Form, and pictures of suggested venues, along with maps Has been posted under the tab: "New Views Art & Tours." There will be a bus tour of the venues on Saturday, May 16, 2009. Click here to go directly to the site.

2. PRESERVATION AWARDS . The call for nominations for the 2009 Preservation Awards is posted under the tab "Preservation Awards." Criteria and Application Forms are posted there. The deadline for Applications is March 31, 2009. 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 - 2009

1. SATURDAY, JUNE 27 . 250th Anniversary of the Old School House, 35 Brainerd St., Mt. Holly. Est. 1759. Operated by the Colonial Dames.

2. SUNDAY, JUNE 28 - 200th Anniversary of opening of the Cropwell Quaker Meeting House, Evesham Twp. Est. 1786; Constructed in 1809. Event includes dedication of the Peace Pole.

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.

  

IN MEMORIAM - GILES WRIGHT 1936-2009

Story from the Burlington County Times - 2/8/09

Giles R. Wright Jr., a longtime Willingboro resident who headed the Afro-American History Program at the New Jersey Historical Commission for nearly 30 years, died Thursday at Virtua Memorial Hospital Burlington County in Mount Holly. He was 73.Wright, who retired last year after suffering a stroke, was known particularly for his expertise on African Americans in New Jersey and the Underground Railroad.

His book, “The History of African Americans in New Jersey,” made him an influential figure in the field of black history, said Marc Mappen, executive director of the historical commission.

Mappen described Wright as a very careful researcher who was not afraid to challenge myths and romantic notions that came into existence around such popular subjects as the underground railroad, the network of abolitionists and safe houses that helped slaves escape to freedom.

In his work with the historical commission, Wright also assisted in the preparation of a high school curriculum guide on New Jersey black history and wrote teachers’ guides for educational videos about important African American figures.

He earned a bachelor’s degree from Georgetown University, a master’s in African studies at Howard University, and pursued doctoral studies in comparative labor history at Rutgers University. He also taught labor studies and Afro-American history at Rutgers. His home in Willingboro was filled with artifacts and art Wright gathered during travels across America and Africa. Wright is survived by his wife Marjorie and a son, Giles R. Wright III.

Personal comment by Joe Laufer

I owe most of my knowledge about the African American History of Burlington County to Giles Wright. During my tenure at Burlington County College, I attended several of his lectures and I shared the stage with him on numerous occasions. He worked with me on the 1994 Burlington County Tercentenary project and we were occasional co-narrators on Burlington County tours. Burlington County owes much to Giles for his quiet and careful scholarship and his dedication to the Black History of Burlington County. It is ironic that he left us at the beginning of Black History Month -- since he made so many contributions to our knowledge of Black History through his lectures during the month of February in years past. His presence and his influence will be missed.

 
Joe's Speaking Events Calendar   County News

2009 SCHEDULE

SMITHVILLE LYCEUM SERIES

Click here for an explanation of the Lyceum Series and a full description of each of the 3 lectures in the series

Wednesday, September 9, 2009 - "The People, Places and Stories of Historic Vincentown." Smithville Lyceum Series. Billiard Room, Smithville Mansion. 7:30 p.m.

Wednesday, October 7, 2009 - "Burlington County's Still Family: A Story of Survival, Service and Success." Smithville Lyceum Series. Billiard Room, Smithville Mansion. 7:30 p.m.

Wednesday, November 4, 2009 - "Burlington County's Military Cemeteries, Memorials, and Monuments" Smithville Lyceum Series. Billiard Room, Smithville Mansion. 7:30 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.

 

"PARALLEL COMMUNITIES" - NEW BOOK BY DENNIS RIZZO ON THE UNDERGROUND RAILROAD IN SOUTHERN N.J.

Author Dennis Rizzo will speak and sign copies of his new book on the Underground Railroad in southern New Jersey Friday, February 6th, at 7 P.M. at the Mount Holly Library 307 High Street Mount Holly , N.J. For information call 609-267-7111 Copies for sale will be available. Proceeds benefit the Mount Holly Library.

Parallel Communities: The Underground Railroad in South Jersey
 Dennis Rizzo


For slaves escaping on the Underground Railroad, names like Springtown and Snow Hill promised sanctuary and salvation. Under the pressures of racial prejudice, free blacks, runaway slaves and even many Native Americans formed island communities on the periphery of South Jersey towns. Dennis Rizzo validates their role in the preservation of tradition, definition of extended family and creation of a social bond between diverse peoples; together they formed parallel communities based on, but independent of, the larger towns and villages familiar to us all.

NEW SMITHVILLE CONSERVANCY WEBSITE

There is a new website dedicated exclusively to the history of the H.B. Smith Industrial Village. It was created for the Smithville Conservancy and features very detailed historical data about this historic site.

Visit www.SmithvilleConservancy.org to experience this introduction to Burlington County's first public park steeped in history. There are lots of pictures there, too.

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. Currently, a private River Boat is docked at the Burlington City wharf -- partly a result of the success of the County tours of the summer of 2007.

NOMINATIONS SOUGHT FOR PRESERVATION AWARDS - 2009

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.

2010 DEADLINE FOR NOMINATIONS:

MARCH 31, 2010

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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