Karen and Josh Ruza, Delran Historical Society members researched the history of Lake Lonnie and presented the information at a Delran Historical Society Meeting. Construction on Lake Lonnie at the end of Fifth Street began during World War II. In its heyday, it was the place to go on the weekends, and many teenagers worked there for the summer. Want to know more, check out their presentation.
Category: Local History (Page 2 of 3)
Sue Hueskin, Delran Historical Society member has co-authored a book entitled Colonial Burlington County Cookery, a Book of Receipts. Sue will be discussing her book which focuses on Polly Burling and her receipts (or recipes) from 1770. The program is being held on Saturday July 13th at the Mount Holly Friends Meeting House located at 81 High Street in Mount Holly starting at 1pm. This event is free and open to the public.
Traces of the Trade: A Story From the Deep North
A film by Katrina Browne
The Riverfront Historical Society and St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church continue their collaboration with their eighth annual commemoration of Juneteenth. This year’s program will include a film screening of the Sundance Film Festival and Emmy-nominated, PBS documentary film Traces of the Trade: A Story from the Deep North, followed by an audience discussion moderated by Elizabeth Sturges Llerena and The Reverend Jayne J. Oasin. The program, scheduled for Saturday, June 17th, from 1-3 PM at St. Stephen’s Church, 158 Warren Street, Beverly, is free and open to the public.
“Traces of the Trade documents how filmmaker Katrina Browne made a troubling discovery—her New England ancestors, The DeWolfs, were the largest slave-trading family in U.S. history. The DeWolfs conducted the trade over three generations, beginning in 1769, and well after it had been banned in the United States in 1808. The DeWolf family brought over 10,000 African slaves to the Americas. Up to half a million of these Africans’ descendants are alive today. Katrina Browne and nine fellow descendants set off to retrace the Triangle Trade: from their old hometown in Rhode Island to slave forts in Ghana to sugar plantation ruins in Cuba. Step by step, they uncover the vast extent of Northern complicity in slavery while also stumbling through the minefield of contemporary race relations. Traces of the Trade offers powerful new perspectives on the black/white divide….The issues the DeWolf descendants are confronted with dramatize questions that apply to the nation as a whole: What, concretely, is the legacy of slavery—for diverse whites, for diverse blacks, for diverse others? Who owes whom what for the sins of the fathers of this country? What history do we inherit as individuals and as citizens? How does Northern complicity change the equation? What would repair -spiritual and material – look like and what would it take?”
Riverside Park is one of Delran’s oldest neighborhoods. Diane Dudek, Delran Historical Society Trustee shared this photo likely taken in the 1930’s at the corner of Stewart Avenue and Roland Street. The Riverside Park neighborhood had brick pylons with neighborhood street signs. Today only 2 two of these classy street signs remain. They are located at North Chester and Frederick Street and North Chester and Roland Avenue. Do you know who installed these brick pylons and when? Were pylons located on every corner? If so, what happened to them? What else can you tell us about the history of Riverside Park?
Delran Historical Society Member Dee Wells is searching for photographs of Delran Mayors since our beginnings in 1880. There are still 10 mayors we have not yet located a photograph, including Abram Conrow who served as our mayor from 1890 to 1893. We have documented Abram Conrow to preserve his memory before it is erased much like his grave marker located in Westfield Friends Cemetery in Cinnaminson.
1980 was the year Delran celebrated its 100th birthday. The committee planned Lots of events. In April, Robert Socci was crowned Miss Delran. While it started as a joke, Robert Socci accepted his title from Centennial Committee chairman Ron McNally. A total of 25 Delran High School students submitted an essay on why I want to be Miss Delran. His essay won him the title. Mr. Socci wrote a poem – Incident at a Local Fast-Food Restaurant. Mr. Socci received a $1,000 scholarship. The first runner up was senior Diane Marie Crossland. Second runner up was freshman Lisa Houston. Third runner up was junior Denise Horton and the fourth runner up was sophomore Cindy Reynolds. Here’s a link to Robert’s poem Incident at a local fast food restaurant.
The Delran Historical Society would like a photo of Robert and the runner ups. If you have a photo could you share it with us?
Don’t forget, Saturday April 29 at 11am we will be reburying the time capsule that the 1980 Centennial Committee buried at the site of the old Municipal Building. The 1980 time capsule will be reburied in front to the Municipal Building near the mail boxes. Come out and share your memories. Mr. Chinicci and Florence Anderson, members of the 1980 Centennial Committee will be there.
On March 21, 2017 the Delran Historical Society invited members to bring something old of interest to them and tell the story behind the item at our first “Show and Tell”. Delran Historical Society Member Kathy Biluck brought a sampler to share with the group. Abigail R. Hubbs stitched this sampler in 1842 at the age of 8. It was quite common for young girls to create samplers as a way to learn embroidery stitches. In addition to improving their sewing technique, it was a great way from them to learn their alphabet. Abigail Hubbs was born in Bridgeboro in 1834 and is Kathy’s great great grandmother. This means Kathy’s family has been in Delran 200 years or more. Kathy and her husband Joe still live in Delran.
Do you have something interesting you’d like to share with the Delran Historical Society? Send us an email.
Join the Delran Historical Society in kicking off 2017 with a program about our historical marker trail. We dedicated the first 10 sites for our historical marker program in October of 2016. On January 17th, we have a program on the history of the sites that were marked in 2016 and the sites we are working on for 2017. Maybe you have a story or information about Trinity Church, Bridgeboro Grammar School, the World War II observation tower, New Riverside Cemetery, Cambridge School, the 1751 Conrow House, the Methodist Episcopal Church in Bridgeboro, the Bridgeboro Cemetery or Trinity Cemetery to share. Or you have information on one of the sites were investigating for listing in 2017. These are Chesterville School, Haines Mill, Odd Fellows Lodge, Fortnum Motors, Anderson’s Rainbow Meadow Farms, Ott’s Tavern, and the old Mill House at Swedes Run. The meeting starts at 7pm. Light refreshments will be served. You can join or renew your membership at the meeting.
Have you ever wondered about the little white church on the southbound side of Route 130 between Barlow and Holy Cross? This church is the location of our first historical marker. Join us on Sunday October 16 at 2pm when we unveil our first signs at Trinity Episcopal Church and the Christian Burying Grounds located behind the church.
The Delran Historical Society and Delran Township have installed historical markers at ten locations of historical significance. Some of our historic sites date back to our Chester Township days when Delran, Moorestown, Riverside and Cinnaminson were all part of Chester Township. Visit our website for information on all ten of the 2016 historic sites.
One of the wonderful tools used by genealogists is the United States Census records. Many details of an individual’s life can be traced using all census records during their lifetime. James Bramall was mayor of Delran in 1881. He is buried in Bridgeboro Methodist Cemetery having died in 1910 at the age of 85. Based on the census records for the years 1860 to 1910, we know the following about his life.
Starting with the 1860 census, James was born in Sheffield, England in 1825. He married his wife Sarah in England in 1849 and they immigrated to the United States the following year. James and Sarah initially settled somewhere in Pennsylvania as their son, Albert was born there in 1852. A few years later they moved to New Jersey. There is conflicting information where and when son James was born c 1855, some listings are New Jersey & others are Pennsylvania. Younger children – William, Matilda and Henry were born in New Jersey. The 1860 census showed James was a carpenter & owned his home in Cinnaminson Township with a value of $1500 and a personal worth of $200.
The 1870 census highlights one of the biggest frustrations for tracing individuals – misspelled names! James and his family are called Broomall but as the rest of the information matches the family, it is safe to assume an errant census taker. Like the previous 1860 census, there are no addresses noted, just Cinnaminson Township residents. While James is still listed as a carpenter, his real estate is now considered to be worth $2000 and personal estate $500. Children mentioned are Albert, William and Matilda.
By the 1880 census, the family is living in Bridgeboro, Delran Township. Of course, they could be in the same house as the 1860 and 1870 census records are not clear on addresses. Prior to the 1880 census, Delran was part of Cinnaminson Township. James continues to be listed as a carpenter but monetary values weren’t included for that year. The members of the household are James, wife Sarah, son William and daughter Matilda.
In 1885, the state of New Jersey conducted its own census. The town location is now listed as Delran. Besides James and Sarah in the house, Howard, Matilda and Clarence Rapp were also in residence. Howard Rapp was their daughter Matilda’s husband and Clarence was their son.
The next available records were in 1900. By this time James and Sarah are 75 yrs old and living by themselves. A new question asked how many children were born into the family and how many were living in 1900. According to the census records, Sarah had given birth to 8 children but only 3 were still surviving. In 1905, NJ again did a census, there is no change in previous information except age.
The 1910 census was taken in April as James is listed as 85 yrs old. He died in October 1910. They had lost another child as only 2 were recorded as alive in 1910. James listed his occupation as “own income.” He must have saved enough retirement income – no social security at that time!
More research needs to be done on the life of this early Delran carpenter, but the census records give a great start.
Research completed by Sue Hueskin, Delran Historical Society member
