Burlington County has been recommended to receive a $750,000 grant from the New Jersey Historic Trust for preservation work at Smithville, a historic 19th-century industrial village now managed as a county park. The grant is part of the Preserve New Jersey program and will be used to stabilize and repair several buildings in Smithville.
“Burlington County’s historic sites are precious assets and Smithville is unquestionably one of the most important,” said Burlington County Commissioner Deputy Director Allison Eckel, who serves as liaison to the County Department of Resource Conservation and Parks. “This year marks the 50th anniversary of the County’s purchase of Smithville to make it into the first County park. It was a visionary decision in 1975, and decades later, the park is still the crown jewel of our expanded park system. Our board is proud of Smithville and we continue to support investments to protect and restore more of its history for people to visit and experience.”
Smithville is located along Rancocas Creek in Eastampton. Originally known as Shreveville, it was purchased by industrialist Hezekiah B. Smith in 1865. Under his ownership, it became an industrial center producing woodworking machines and American Star bicycles until operations ceased in the 1950s. Burlington County acquired the site in 1975 for just over $595,000.
Since then, more than $17.5 million has been invested by Burlington County to preserve historic structures like Smithville Mansion and other buildings within what is now Historic Smithville Park, which covers 312 acres with forests, meadows, streams, and wetlands. Enhancements have included new recreational facilities such as trails across Smithville Lake, fishing docks, pavilions, playgrounds, art galleries housed in restored buildings, and the Underground Railroad Museum located on-site.
The new grant funding will go toward stabilizing fourteen structures around Smithville Mansion—including repairs at Thomas Merritt House (the Pike farmhouse), built in 1786—believed also to have once hosted a Lenape village and operated as a grist mill during the American Revolution.
The $750,000 grant is among 67 recommendations made by the Historic Trust this year totaling $13.8 million statewide for preservation projects. Other recommended grants within Burlington County include funds for Roebling Museum ($19,500 management grant; $74,887 capital grant), Whitesbog Preservation Trust ($21,712 management grant), Willingboro Township ($39,465 management grant), Saving Historic Moorestown ($57,188 management grant), The National Society of The Colonial Dames of America in New Jersey ($40,722 capital grant), and Community House of Moorestown ($49,500 capital grant).
Funding comes from New Jersey’s corporate business tax revenues dedicated to open space and historic preservation initiatives. Final approval must still come from state legislators and the governor through standard appropriations processes.
“These grants are important state investments that allow current and future generations to better understand and appreciate our history and learn from it,” said State Senator Troy Singleton. “Those benefits alone make these grants worthwhile, but we also know these projects will create jobs, draw visitors and promote business activity in our communities.”
“Just as preserving New Jersey’s remaining farmland is essential for the future of agriculture, preserving and protecting New Jersey’s historic sites is critical,” added Assemblywoman Andrea Katz. “Anyone who has visited Smithville, Mount Holly, Whitesbog, Medford village or countless other historical locations know how important historical preservation is for our local communities. By protecting our history we help keep these communities strong and vibrant.”
Burlington County encompasses 827 square miles—the largest county by area in New Jersey—and operates under a Board of County Commissioners with five at-large members. According to official information, there are three cities among its forty political subdivisions.
