Historic Places in South Jersey

Historic Places in South Jersey - Places to Go and Things to Do

A discussion of things to do and places to go, with the purpose
of sharing, and encouraging exploration of South Jersey.

Thursday, October 29, 2015

Thompson Street, Bordentown, NJ for a Halloween Treat

Lunch at the Robin's Nest in Mt. Holly followed by a short drive over to Bordentown to see the specteacular Thompson Street, a winner in the Best Decorated Street Contest, most deservedly!  You'll be charmed.  It is a TREAT!  Don't miss it.  I won't tell you the theme this year.  Last year it was Wizard of Oz, but I will say this year, a clue is T E A.
Happy Trails! 
Also, catch the peak of the season, if it isn't already to late, by driving route 70 to the 72 circle and hiking around Pakim Pond, O R, hike at Atsion, where I was a couple of days ago - just as pretty!  I've got 52 of my 70 miles.  Gotta get moving, only 3 weeks left!

Tuesday, October 20, 2015

The New Pitman - What a Surprise!!

There is a NEW Pitman full of charm and interest.

I always liked Pitman even in its shabby old days.  Once I even put in a bid on a house in the GROVE!!  My father looked at it and said "NO!"  He told me it was a summer house with no insulation and very old windows and plumbing and so on.  I really wanted that house until I talked to a neighbor.  When I told her I had a little girl, she told me not to move there.  She was moving out.  At the time, she told me the Grove was full of drugs and crime.  Now it is full of decorations and charm! 

We used to go to the old Pitman Theater in the Summer Enrichment Program in the school where I taught.  Wow, next year will be 12 years since I retired.  At the time, the theater was musty but, to a history buff like me, a mysterious and wonderful old place.

I had hints that things had changed.  Friends of mine go regularly to the new Pitman theater for musicals and they enjoy them very much.  One of those friends was here on Saturday and we decided to take a ride over to Pitman so I could see all the new goings-on. 

First we hiked around the Grove which was delightful.  The home-owners had decorated charmingly and the Grove is a very appealing place on its own.  The houses were all lovingly restored and it almost felt like a movie set for an old movie.

We had lunch at Sweet Lula's (reservations 856-589-2400) and bought dessert at Just Cookies, 30 S. Broadway, Pitman (856-256-2441).  They  have 70 varieties of cookies.  We stopped in a thrift store, and I think there were more than 40 of them.  I bought a cloth pumpkin - Chic but Cheap Thrift Store 17 S. Broadway (856-341-0431) and enjoyed browsling at Larkspur Interiors which had numerous beautiful hand-crafted decorations for the season among the furniture items. 

So my advice to you is _ GO TO PITMAN!  Check out the stores, enjoy the treats and try those cream puffs (I wanted to buy some at the cream puff store but I'm on a perpetual diet and I had already eaten two cookies).  ENJOY!!

ANOTHER EVENT:

PAWS & CLAWS Burlington SPCA Thursday, October 22, 6 - 8 p.m. - hors d-oevres, dinner and drinks at the Robin's Nest, all tips benefit the urlinton County SPCA Police to help in the prevention of cruielto in Burlington County.  There will be a Silent Auction, 50/50 and a Meet and Greet with White House Chefs Michael Raber and Guy Mitchell!
By the Way, October 16 was Feral Cat Day and in honor of it and the memory of my two recently departed family members, I'll be adopting Thursday evening from my local Vet, Dr. Sheehen, in Fairview, who is the most compassionate and talentented veterinarian imaginable.  I'm so fortunate to have met him!  I took my dog to see him for an ear infection and met three kittens who were dropped off in a box.  It is my new volunteer work to give them a home.  The rewards they give me in love and affection and funny antics are more than worth the money and upkeep it takes to keep them.  We'll just have to wait and see how the older fellows adapt to this new infusion of kitten mayhem.

Happy Halloween! 
By the Way, I have 50 of my 70 miles for my birthday in November.  The weather has been very helpful and even though my hiking has reduced from 5 or 6 miles to 2 or 3, I'm making miles steadily.

Happy Trails, Jo Ann

Thursday, October 8, 2015

Lavinia Jones Wright at the Mutter Museum - a Halloween TREAT!

On Monday 5th, I drove to Philadelphia to hear Lavinia's presentation on DEATH BALLADS at the Mutter Museum, which is at 19 S. 22nd Street.  There are plenty of parking garages nearby.  I think I paid $12, one block away.  It was a multi-day event, but I only went for the one lecture, DEATH BALLADS. Lavinia's power point presentation was informative without being dry, and very witty!  In case you are wondering wat Death Ballads are, people of my generation would be most familiar with Stacker Lee, also know as Stagger Lee (You know Stagger Lee shot Billy). 

She talked about how they evolved from their ancestor, broadsheets, sung by traveling troubedors when people were mostly illerate and there were not newspapers available to village people.  They were brought here from Europe with the immigrants, and then evolved, incorporating our own stories of murder, betrayal, deceit, hauntings and wrongful capital punishment.  Along with the lecture, she had a band, Vandavere.  They sange 4 more ballads to a thrilled and appreciative audience.

After lectures on everything including medical books covered with the skin of used up cadavers, thi was a bright and cheering departure.

This gave me an opportunity to tour the museum, which I have always wanted to do but never got around to.  My favorite thing in the museum was the wall of glass cases housing God-only-knows how many skulls, a whole wall of skulls, all the same until you look closely and see the subtle differences in shapes and sizes and facial arrangement. 

Also interesting to me was the comparison of a normal woman's skeleton with that of a woman deformed by corset.  A long time opponent of high heeled shoes, once again, I was astonished that so many women are willing to deform themselves to fit some foolish notion of 'sexy' or beautiful.  Nature is best!

It was a wonderful evening, informative and entertaining and I advise you to go on over the bridge and visit the Mutter Museum and see medicine in the 1800's, you won't complain about medicine in the 21st century after you see this!

Happy Trails and Happy Halloween!
Jo Ann