Burlington County’s plans to preserve more of historic Smithville is getting some help from the New Jersey Historic Trust.
The Historic Trust recently announced its recommendations for Preserve New Jersey grant awards, and its list includes a $750,000 capital grant for Burlington County to stabilize and repair several buildings in Smithville, a former 19th century industrial village that is now a Burlington County park.
“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, the 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’s history
Located along the Rancocas Creek in Eastampton, the village was originally known as Shreveville before industrialist Hezekiah B. Smith purchased it in 1865 and transformed the sleepy mill town into a thriving industrial center that manufactured cutting-edge woodworking machines and the famed American Star bicycles for shipment across the country.
The village thrived through the late 1800s and the H.B. Smith Machine Company factory continued to operate until the 1950s. By 1975, it was practically a ghost town when Burlington County purchased the village, including Smith’s mansion, the workers houses, and the remains of the factory for a little over $595,000.
Since 1975, Burlington County has invested more than $17.5 million to preserve and restore Smithville mansion and other historic buildings in the park, as well as make other enhancements and additions, including Smith’s Woods Park, the floating trail across Smithville Lake, fishing docks, multiple pavilions, and a playground.
The park is now the permanent home of two art galleries located in the Smithville Mansion Annex and a restored worker’s house. The Underground Railroad Museum of Burlington County is also housed in a former worker’s cottage in the park.
Additional restoration work
Burlington County plans to use the recommended Preservation New Jersey grant to stabilize and repair fourteen structures and the wall surrounding Smithville Mansion. Work will include repairs to the Thomas Merritt House (the Pike farmhouse), which was first built in 1786 and is the oldest property in Smithville. The property is believed to have once been the site of a Lenape village, and it was also the home of a grist mill that operated during the American Revolution.
The grant for Smithville restoration work is one of 67 recommended by the Historic Trust, which is an affiliate of the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs. The grants amount to $13.8 million towards historic preservation across the state.
Among the other recommended grants for historic preservation projects in Burlington County are:
- Roebling Museum, Florence: $19,500 historic site management grant for Main Gate of Historic Roebling Steel Factory, and $74,887 capital grant for the same site;
- Whitesbog Preservation Trust, Pemberton Township: $21,712 historic site management grant for village of Whitesbog;
- Willingboro Township: $39,465 historic site management grant for City Federal Savings and Loan Space Bank Futuro site;
- Saving Historic Moorestown: $57,188 historic site management grant for Thomas Cowperthwaite House;
- The National Society of The Colonial Dames of America in the State of New Jersey: $40,722 capital grant preservation work at the Old Schoolhouse in Mount Holly;
- Community House of Moorestown: $49,500 capital grant.
Funding for the preservation grants come from a portion of New Jersey’s corporate business tax revenues that are dedicated to open space, farmland and historic preservation. While the recommendations from the Historic Trust mark a significant step, the grant awards must still be approved by the New Jersey Legislature and Governor through the normal appropriations process.
New Jersey legislators said the grants were important investments that benefit Burlington County’s communities and economy.
“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.”