Burlington Review

The Burlington County Commissioners have approved the distribution of $19,150 in local history grants to three organizations dedicated to preserving and promoting the county’s historical sites. The recipients of these grants are the Bordentown Historical Society, the National Society of the Colonial Dames of America in the State of New Jersey based in Westampton, and the Pemberton Township Historic Trust.

These awards follow an earlier round where $58,711 was distributed among nine Burlington County organizations. "Burlington County’s history is vitally important to us now and to future generations to come and these grants will aid organizations that are actively working to preserve historic sites and educate residents and visitors about their significance," said Burlington County Commissioner Director Felicia Hopson. "The first and second round of funding amount to more than $77,000 in support for these organizations. It’s an investment in their work but also in Burlington County’s quality of life and the history that makes our county special."

The grants are funded by the New Jersey Historical Commission's County History Partnership Program, which supports both existing and emerging local history organizations as well as other nonprofits. The funds can be used for various purposes including general operations, museum exhibit development, and specific history projects.

The Bordentown Historical Society plans to use its $6,510 grant for restoring and displaying an 1856 Thomas Hurley map of Bordentown City. The National Society of Colonial Dames will receive $2,640 for publishing an updated brochure booklet series on Henry Burr and his heirs who owned Peachfield estate in Westampton for over 200 years before it was bequeathed to the New Jersey society. This series will also cover John Skene, a Scottish Quaker who founded Peachfield estate, and Old Schoolhouse in Mount Holly built in 1759.

The Pemberton Township Historic Trust will utilize its $10,000 grant for preservation efforts including hiring a part-time archivist and preserving an 1851 survey map of Jonathan R. Smith’s plantation in Birmingham section of Pemberton Township.

"This funding amounts to record support that will help these organizations advance important preservation projects," said Burlington County Commissioner Allison Eckel, liaison to the Department of Resource Conservation and Parks. "We’re proud to work with these groups to ensure Burlington County history is preserved for everyone to learn and become enriched by."