The American Colonial Ladies’ Association, based in Westernpton, New Jersey, is one of the organizations awarded a local history grant from Burlington County. The association will use the grant to publish the latest in its pamphlet booklet series about Henry Burr and his heirs, who owned the Peachfield estate in Westernpton for more than 200 years and later bequeathed it to the association. Pictured is an exterior view of Peachfield on Burr’s Road in Westernpton. (Courtesy of Burlington County)
MOUNT HOLLY – The Burlington County Board of Commissioners has approved the distribution of $19,150 in local history grants to three organizations that preserve and promote the county’s history and historic sites.
The Bordentown Historical Society, the Westernpton, N.J.-based National Association of American Colonial Women and the Pemberton Township Historical Society have been selected as grant recipients in the second round of the county’s History Grants Program.
These three grants are in addition to the $58,711 in funding awarded to nine Burlington County organizations in a first round of grants announced earlier this year.
“Burlington County’s history is vital to current and future generations, and these grants will support organizations that are actively working to preserve historic sites and educate residents and visitors about their importance,” said Burlington County Commissioner Felicia Hopson. “The first and second rounds of funding will provide more than $77,000 in support of these organizations. This is an investment in their work, as well as an investment in the quality of life in Burlington County and the history that makes our county special.”
The grants are provided by the New Jersey Historical Commission’s County History Partnership Program to support existing and emerging local history organizations and other nonprofits. Funds can be used for a variety of purposes, including general operations, developing museum exhibits and supporting specific history projects.
Among the second round of grant recipients, the Bordentown Historical Society will use a $6,510 grant to restore and display an 1856 Thomas Harley map of the city of Bordentown.
The National Association of Colonial Ladies will receive $2,640 to support the publication of an updated pamphlet/booklet series on the lives of Henry Barr and his heirs, who owned the Peachfield Estate in Westampton for more than 200 years and subsequently bequeathed it to the New Jersey Association; John Skene, the Scottish Quaker who founded the Peachfield Estate; and the Old Schoolhouse in Mount Holly, built in 1759 and believed to be the oldest surviving one-room schoolhouse in New Jersey.
The Pemberton Township Historical Foundation will receive $10,000 to help preserve and archive materials, including hiring a part-time archivist. The grant will also help preserve an 1851 ordnance survey map of Jonathan R. Smith’s plantation in the Birmingham section of Pemberton Township.
“This funding provides record support for these organizations to move forward with important preservation projects,” said Burlington County Commissioner Allison Eckel, liaison with the Department of Resource Conservation and Parks. “We are proud to work with these organizations to ensure Burlington County’s history is preserved for everyone to learn about and enrich.”
— Courtesy of Burlington County
