Once some years ago, I took a trolley tour from Camden County Historical Society location at Pomona Hall and one of the stops was the Stafford Farm House. There was (possibly still is) a natural spring that was said to promote health.
It is interesting to think back to the 1800's when people believed in 'healing waters' and it reminds me of the serpentine walking water canal at Egg Harbor where people would walk up to their necks in water for the 'cure.' Natural springs were very popular in that time, and water cures continued to be popular in Europe into the 0th century.
My first experience with Walt Whitman in New Jersey was in visiting his house in Camden and listening to the tour guide. I went there a few times with library groups as part of a job I had in the 80's. Then I did some research on his poetry in the many early editions of his works, including Leaves of Grass, held in the collection in the Library of Camden County Historical Society. Walt Whitman was always one of my most beloved poets beginning with high school English classes, because of his warmth and accessibility and his love of humanity. He was so expansive and so modern.
Thinking about all this makes me want to read his work again!
The historical sign marks the summer home of poet Walt Whitman (from 1876 to 1882), at 315 E. Maple Avenue. At that time, the home was called the Stafford Farm House. The name has since been changed to the Whitman-Stafford House.
Historical place in Laurel Springs, New Jersey
No comments:
Post a Comment