The Robin's Nest Restaurant is on 2 Washinton Street, Mount Holly. Drive by and turn the corner and in a block yhou will find a parking lot. In the parking lot there is an antique store called FINDERS KEEPERS. It is charming and historic. It is the "oldest in its original location" in the very old town. It was built in 1744. The front door, on the street side, is original. The back door on the parking lot side is open and you should go in.
My favorite thing there was a double clerk desk!
My lunch at the Robin's Nest was delicious. I had a salad, as usual, but it was topped with breaded and pan seared goat cheese. The soup was heavenly. It was sweet potato soup and I have never tasted a better soup anywhere.
The decor at the Robin's Nest is delightful and it is a favorite lunch spot for me and all my friends. Unfortunaetley, I stopped to look at the bakery items as my friend was taking half a dozen cookies home to her father. So I HAD to have an oatmeal cookie and a chocolate chip cherry cookie - it is unfortunate because I'm trying to 'slim' as the old term goes. This week they had a St. Patrick's day parade in town, which I missed due to a prior engagement for lunch and a movie. I also missed the Battle of Iron Works Hill which was in December and it is a favorite historic event for me as a Revolutionary War = gosh I don't know what to call myself - I guess a 'student' as it seems frivolous to say a 'fan' of something as horrible as war, glorious though the result may have been.
Lots of things going on in Historic Mount Holly and a great brochure to all the historic buildings and events available in most shops.
Hope you get a chance to go there and enjoy!
Happy Trails,
Jo Ann
ps. Tomorrow, I'll post some pics
Friday, February 28, 2014
Wednesday, February 26, 2014
Heritage Sundays at the James and Ann Whitall House
As you may know from other posts, if you are a regular visitor, I've been a volunteer on Heritage Sundays at the Whitall House since I retired. Actually, I took a full year off before I volunteered, so I've been there 7 years. The new schedule for this year has just been posted, so here is your early bird peek:
For more information or to volunteer, you can reach -
Jennifer Janofsky, Ph.D.
Curator, Whitall House and Giordano Fellow in Public History, Rowan University
(856)853-5120
Sunday May 18th-Hear a Hessian Soldiers' Story. Find out if you lived to tell the tale of Red Bank!
Sunday June 8--Exhibit opening, "Oh Freedom: African American Soldiers in the Revolutionary War." Featuring a living history demonstration by historian/re-enactor, Joe Becton.
Sunday June 22--Rutgers Master Garden Program Flower Show
Sunday July 20th-The Whitalls and War: Find out how the war impacted this quiet Quaker homestead!
Sunday September 21-Military Encampment: Come out and meet the members of the West Jersey Artillery Company and the First Delaware Regiment who will offer artillery demonstrations, a military encampment and living history demonstrations.
Sunday June 8--Exhibit opening, "Oh Freedom: African American Soldiers in the Revolutionary War." Featuring a living history demonstration by historian/re-enactor, Joe Becton.
Sunday June 22--Rutgers Master Garden Program Flower Show
Sunday July 20th-The Whitalls and War: Find out how the war impacted this quiet Quaker homestead!
Sunday September 21-Military Encampment: Come out and meet the members of the West Jersey Artillery Company and the First Delaware Regiment who will offer artillery demonstrations, a military encampment and living history demonstrations.
For more information or to volunteer, you can reach -
Jennifer Janofsky, Ph.D.
Curator, Whitall House and Giordano Fellow in Public History, Rowan University
(856)853-5120
Sunday, February 23, 2014
Giant Jackrabbits and Giant Vegetables
When I was a fifth grader at the D. N. Fels School on Oregon Avenue in Philadelphia, our regular teacher, a mean lady, was absent and we had a substitute, a 'poor soul' as my grandmother used to call them, the hapless peculiar people you run across from time to time. He was very old, dragged out of retirement for the shortage of teachers due to the baby boom. He didn't know what he was doing, but he taught us how to write checks so that no one could trick us and change the amount. We werent' going to have checks for another ten years or so, but when we did.....And he brought us these amazing postcards of cowboys riding giant jackrabbits and huge vegetables on farm wagons and train cars. I forget most of whatever else I was taught at that time, but I never forgot those postcards. Something reminded me of it tonight and I looked up the images. I would have bought some cards but amazon.com didn't have any to sell.
Two Upcoming Events for March
Hello! Weather still keeping me close to home. It's been lunch and movies instead of exploring for the past month, but I have seen every movie up for an Oscar!
Anyhow two events came to my attention today - one from the Sunday Courier:
The German-American Cultural Society of South Jersey will meet Tuesday, March 4, at 7 p.m. in St. Stephen’s Meetingroom, 230 Evergreen Ave., Woodbury. Meeting, program and refreshments. Contact Debbie at 856-468-9525, or email: gacsofsj@yahoo.com.
The German-American Cultural Society of South Jersey is of particular interest to me because I have German ancestors who came to this country in the early 1800's about 1830. The two names of those branches, which come down to me via my grandmother and great-grandmother on my father's side are Sandman and Young. Although I had some trouble finding the Youngs until I realized they had Americanized their name from Jung. I got some help on that from ancestry.com where I met another distant relative on the Young family side and she shared some research she had commissioned from a professional genealogist who was able to find the citizenship paers for Adam Young from Darmstadt who later married Catherine Sandman and became the father of Mabel, my very beloved grandmother.
As it happens, through sheer good fortune and coincidence, I have visited every country from which my ancestors came: Scotland, Ireland, England and Germany. I lived in Germany for two years in a small town called Heilbronn Am Neckar (which means on the Neckar River) and I think I may have posted on that previously. Ich Kann ein bissient Deutsch sprechen - though I never could spell having learned from talking rather than from reading or school.
It is my hope and amibtion to renew my family history research this year.
When I was searching the net for the location of the Germany-Am. meeting since I had already let the newspaper go without copying the information, I also ran into this interesting upcoming event:
"The Gloucester County Chapter of The Archaeological Society of New Jersey will meet Wednesday, March 5, at 7 p.m. at West Deptford Public Library, 420 Crown Point Road, Thorofare. The program, “A Different Look at The Native Americans of West Deptford,” will be presented by Archaeologist Jesse Walker of Richard Grubb & Associates Inc. All are welcome to share interest in this educational evening and learn the local prehistory of this area."
By the way, I did hike at Parvin on Saturday and it was dry and beautiful - no snow, no ice, no mush. We had expected at least to run into mud and water from the melted snow, but it was perfect trails from start to finish.
Auf Wiedersehen! Jo Ann
Anyhow two events came to my attention today - one from the Sunday Courier:
The German-American Cultural Society of South Jersey will meet Tuesday, March 4, at 7 p.m. in St. Stephen’s Meetingroom, 230 Evergreen Ave., Woodbury. Meeting, program and refreshments. Contact Debbie at 856-468-9525, or email: gacsofsj@yahoo.com.
The German-American Cultural Society of South Jersey is of particular interest to me because I have German ancestors who came to this country in the early 1800's about 1830. The two names of those branches, which come down to me via my grandmother and great-grandmother on my father's side are Sandman and Young. Although I had some trouble finding the Youngs until I realized they had Americanized their name from Jung. I got some help on that from ancestry.com where I met another distant relative on the Young family side and she shared some research she had commissioned from a professional genealogist who was able to find the citizenship paers for Adam Young from Darmstadt who later married Catherine Sandman and became the father of Mabel, my very beloved grandmother.
As it happens, through sheer good fortune and coincidence, I have visited every country from which my ancestors came: Scotland, Ireland, England and Germany. I lived in Germany for two years in a small town called Heilbronn Am Neckar (which means on the Neckar River) and I think I may have posted on that previously. Ich Kann ein bissient Deutsch sprechen - though I never could spell having learned from talking rather than from reading or school.
It is my hope and amibtion to renew my family history research this year.
When I was searching the net for the location of the Germany-Am. meeting since I had already let the newspaper go without copying the information, I also ran into this interesting upcoming event:
"The Gloucester County Chapter of The Archaeological Society of New Jersey will meet Wednesday, March 5, at 7 p.m. at West Deptford Public Library, 420 Crown Point Road, Thorofare. The program, “A Different Look at The Native Americans of West Deptford,” will be presented by Archaeologist Jesse Walker of Richard Grubb & Associates Inc. All are welcome to share interest in this educational evening and learn the local prehistory of this area."
By the way, I did hike at Parvin on Saturday and it was dry and beautiful - no snow, no ice, no mush. We had expected at least to run into mud and water from the melted snow, but it was perfect trails from start to finish.
Auf Wiedersehen! Jo Ann
Sunday, February 16, 2014
Another blog
Some months back a fellow attendee at the monthly Burlington County Roundtable mentioned a "history girl" blog for New Jersey and told me to check it out, I'd love it. I did. And it is very good. Fortunately for my blog, she is mainly interested in North and Central New Jersey, not South Jersey, though I'd be glad to welcome bloggers who could show me more places to go and things to do. Anyhow here is her blog just in case you wander up around that way! Also, I enjoyed seeing how she does her blog. It is beautiful!
http://www.thehistorygirl.com/
http://www.thehistorygirl.com/
Mullica Hill for Valentines
Well, neither snow nor sleet nor hail could keep me indoors one more day. With a guilty nod to my dog, I headed out to Mullica Hill with a friend of mine. We had lunch at the Blue Plate, which I love and which features a number of good vegetarian selections. My friend, Gail, had quiche with a nice salad, and I jumped the healthy eating ship and went for the pmpkin crumble pancakes. The weather made me do it. It is such a cozy and friendly place to eat.
The Red Mill Antique Center
I like to play the favorites game at places like antique stores because I'm trying to avoid buying more stuff. So whoever I'm with and I pick our favorite stuff, not necessarily to buy. My favorite stuff was the array of media, radios, record players and such. But I did buy something anyhow, an adorable, if every so slightly damaged fat cat cookie jar. First, it looks like a fat cat who lives with me, and second, I just liked the shape of it and even the damage, that showed it was used and loved. After the years are passed over us, we all have some cracks and dings.
Just as we left charming Mullica Hill, the sleet and snow were starting up again. But it was delightful to get out of the house, even though I had to face the disappointed dog when I got home. In a few minutes I'll be making it up to her by taking her on a hike with my hiking pal, Barb Specto, at a local place where she lives. I can't give you a location, because it is in the back of a houing development called Hunter's Glen, I think. It is a bike trail that leads for more than a dozen miles. The woods are just too slushy and the thick crusted snow with frozen layers make it too hard to walk even for my dog. So we are opting for this bike trail which I am told is clear.
Happy Trails!
The Red Mill Antique Center
I like to play the favorites game at places like antique stores because I'm trying to avoid buying more stuff. So whoever I'm with and I pick our favorite stuff, not necessarily to buy. My favorite stuff was the array of media, radios, record players and such. But I did buy something anyhow, an adorable, if every so slightly damaged fat cat cookie jar. First, it looks like a fat cat who lives with me, and second, I just liked the shape of it and even the damage, that showed it was used and loved. After the years are passed over us, we all have some cracks and dings.
Just as we left charming Mullica Hill, the sleet and snow were starting up again. But it was delightful to get out of the house, even though I had to face the disappointed dog when I got home. In a few minutes I'll be making it up to her by taking her on a hike with my hiking pal, Barb Specto, at a local place where she lives. I can't give you a location, because it is in the back of a houing development called Hunter's Glen, I think. It is a bike trail that leads for more than a dozen miles. The woods are just too slushy and the thick crusted snow with frozen layers make it too hard to walk even for my dog. So we are opting for this bike trail which I am told is clear.
Happy Trails!
Friday, February 14, 2014
Vegetarian Events for this year 2014
Since I am a member of the Vegetarian Society, I get their e-mai of upcoming events. If you are interested and would like to get to know them, here are some events you may like to attend:
Vegetarian Society of South Jersey
Vegetarian Society of South Jersey
Feb 13 at 12:44 PM
MEMBER POTLUCK* & GAME NIGHT,
Sat Feb 22, 4pm (Snowdate: Sun Feb 23, 4pm), Lorraine & Steve's
house, Pemberton Borough NJ 08068. VSSJ members only; no fee for this
potluck. The hosts are respectfully requesting that children under 12
not be included in this event. Space is limited, so RSVP by Feb 20: thevssj@gmail.com or 609-848-VEG1(8341). After the 20th, call to see if space is available.
VSSJ /VEGETARIAN NEIGHBORS POTLUCK* DINNER, Sun March 2, 4-6pm, This potluck is at Linda Shimmel’s home, Vineland NJ. RSVP/info: Gayle at 413-522-8258 or gemd4100@yahoo.com.
VSSJ POTLUCK* DINNER & VEGAN BAKE SALE,
Sat March 15, 6:30pm, Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, 61 East Rt 70,
Marlton NJ 08053. Vegan bake sale benefits Animal Friends Furever (http://aff.petfinder.com).
Contributions for bake sale welcome! Please bring a non-dessert
contribution for potluck. VSSJ members: $2; $4 family; Non-members: $5;
$10 family (to cover hall rental). Attendees
park in front of building; enter at steeple. VOLUNTEERS NEEDED: setup,
cleanup, & baking. To Volunteer, RSVP, or for more Info: thevssj@gmail.com or 609-848-VEG1(8341).
SAVE THE ANIMALS FOUNDATION’S (STAF) BUCKET AUCTION, Thurs March 20,
Doors
open: 6:30pm, Drawings: 8pm, Washington Twp High School,
Hurffville-Crosskeys Rd, Sewell NJ in 9-10 Cafeteria. Admission $10.
LOTS of terrific prizes, vegetarian/vegan refreshments. ALL proceeds
benefit local animals. For more info: mkoplow@comcast.net or 856-853-1847. VSSJ NEEDS VOLUNTEERS to bake for Vegan Bake Sale at this event: thevssj@gmail.com or 609-848-VEG1(8341).
VSSJ FREE LECTURE SERIES, Wed April 2, 7pm, Woodbury Public Library, 33 Delaware St, Woodbury, NJ 08096, 856-845-2611.
“Spring Into Health - Easy Ways to Increase Your Energy with Diet,
Activity, and Lifestyle Changes” by Jim Ronga, DC. Healthy snacks &
vegetarian starter kits! To Volunteer, RSVP, or for more Info: thevssj@gmail.com or 609-848-VEG1(8341).
VSSJ ANNUAL SPRING POTLUCK*,
Sun April 13, 2pm, Moorestown Community House, 16 East Main St,
Moorestown NJ 08057. Raffle and/or 50/50. VSSJ members: $2; $4 family;
Non-members: $5; $10 family (to cover hall rental). VOLUNTEERS NEEDED:
setup, cleanup, and baking. To Volunteer, RSVP, or for more Info: thevssj@gmail.com or 609-848-VEG1(8341).
FULL MOON BANQUET DINNER,
Mon April 14 & Tues April 15, 6:30pm, Careme’s at the Academy of
Culinary Arts, Atlantic Cape Community College, 5100 Black Horse Pk (Rt
322), Mays Landing NJ 08330 (in Bldg M). RSVP/Info: American Vegan
Society, 856-694-2887, www.americanvegan.org.
VSSJ FREE LECTURE SERIES, Thurs April 24, 7pm, Cherry Hill Public Library, Conference Ctr, 1100 Kings Highway North, Cherry Hill, NJ 08034, 856-667-0300.
Dr. Janet Erickson, President of VSSJ, celebrates her 30th year being
vegetarian with her talk “Benefits of a Plant-Based Diet 101”.
Vegetarian starter kits & food samples will be available. To Volunteer, RSVP, or for more Info: thevssj@gmail.com or 609-848-VEG1(8341).
VSSJ TABLING at Cherry Hill Earth Festival,
Sat. April 26, 10am-2pm (rain or shine), Croft Farm, 100 Bortons Mill
Rd, Cherry Hill, NJ 08034. VOLUNTEERS NEEDED: setup of VSSJ's table,
distributing literature, cleanup. Volunteer/Info: thevssj@gmail.com or 609-848-VEG1(8341).
VSSJ/CJVG DINNER* at KAYA'S KITCHEN, Date TBD (May), 1000 Main St, Belmar NJ 07719, kayaskitchenbelmar.com. Join VSSJ and Central Jersey Vegetarian Group (CJVG) for trip to an all-veg restaurant. RSVP by TBD to VSSJ: thevssj@gmail.com or 609-848-VEG1(8341) or to CJVG: 908-281-6388.
VSSJ POTLUCK* DINNER,
Sat May 17, 6:30pm, Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, 61 East Rt 70,
Marlton NJ 08053. VSSJ members: $2; $4 family; Non-members: $5; $10
family (to cover hall rental). Attendees park in front of building and
enter at steeple. VOLUNTEERS NEEDED: setup & cleanup. To Volunteer,
RSVP, or for more Info: thevssj@gmail.com or 609-848-VEG1(8341).
AMERICAN VEGAN GARDEN PARTY,
Sun May 25, Noon: Lunch • 2-6pm: Program, 56 & 72 Dinshah Lane,
Malaga NJ. Speakers: Fran Costigan and John Pierre, Live Music, and Book
Room. RSVP by May 20 to American Vegan Society, 856-694-2887, www.americanvegan.org. Visit website for further details.
VSSJ POTLUCK* PICNIC,
Sun June 8, 1 pm (rain or shine in covered pavilion), Smithville Park,
803 Smithville Rd, Eastampton, NJ 08060. Park has many miles of hiking
trails plus historic buildings. VSSJ members: FREE; Non-members: $2,
$5 family (to cover pavilion reservation fee) To Volunteer, RSVP, or
for more Info: thevssj@gmail.com or 609-848-VEG1(8341).
*VSSJ GUIDELINES*
For all VSSJ EVENTS: Everyone is welcome! VSSJ events are open to the public, except when noted as “members-only”.
Please check your email on day of event for possibility of cancellation. If you're not on our Yahoo email list, please visit www.vssj.com and click on "Mailing List" link on left to add your name. Please contact VSSJ at thevssj@gmail.com or 609-848-VEG1 to RSVP, for additional info, directions, or to volunteer.
*For all VSSJ POTLUCKS:
Each individual in your party (with exception of children under 12)
brings vegetarian* dish to share that will feed at least 6 people
(vegan** dishes preferred so all types of vegetarians may enjoy food),
with recipe or list of ingredients. Please bring at least as much as
your family is going to eat.
VSSJ
provides beverages, so please provide a food contribution. To promote
recycling, VSSJ encourages you to bring your own plate, cup, &
utensils if possible. Due to safety issues, children under 12 must be
under parental
supervision at all times. Check in at door when you arrive.
Vegetarian = No Meat, Fish, or Gelatin.
Vegan = No Meat, Fish, Dairy, Eggs, Gelatin, or Honey.
Not
sure what to bring? Easy options include: garden salad, fruit salad,
hummus with chips or crudités. For a list of recipe sites, visit http://recipes.njveg.com.
For all VSSJ RESTAURANT TRIPS:
Reservations must be placed with VSSJ at least 24 hours before the
event. Out of fairness to the restaurant, cancellations are requested
at least 24 hours in advance. Please plan to pay in cash. When we dine
at non-vegetarian restaurants, only vegetarian dishes may be ordered.
March Event
Just received this ntoice from my Whitall Hosue e-mail group. It looks interesting to me -
The Gloucester County Chapter of The Archaeological Society of New Jersey will meet, March 5th, Wednesday 7:00 P.M. at The West Deptford Public Library, 420 Crown Point Road,
The Gloucester County Chapter of The Archaeological Society of New Jersey will meet, March 5th, Wednesday 7:00 P.M. at The West Deptford Public Library, 420 Crown Point Road,
Thorofare, New Jersey.
Our program title , "A Different Look at The Native
Americans of West Deptford", will be presented
by Archaeologist Jesse Walker of Richard Grubb & Associates Inc. All are welcome to share interest in this educational evening and learn the local prehistory of this area.
Soon, soon, the world will be coming out from being buried in the white blanket and we will all be finding fun things to do on the backroads and hidden history pockets of South Jersey, Meanwhile
HAPPY VALENTINES DAY
JO ANN
Thursday, February 13, 2014
Snow, Feb. 13, 2014
Well, I was lucky today, I had mentioned to one of my best friends that if anyone came around to shovel, please give them my address and she did.
As you may know from my bio, I was a teacher in Gloucester City for 32 years, that's a lot of kids. One of them was doing Dorothy's shoveling and when she mentioned me, he said I had been his Art teacher. Turned out he was one of the good ones. So those fellows came over and dug me out, just in time for the next storm, I guess.
If you need shoveling or any kind of home repair:
856-281-4335 Will Tool Construction
So many of my friends are at an age now where shoveling is back for the back, or the heart, or the hands or wrist or any of a number of other parts, not to forget knees that it is a good thing to have a list of number to call. Their business card says they are certified and insured. They were very reasonable for my job. For the steps, drive, sidewalk and car clean off, it was $60 (but that may have been the 'friends and family discount' and 'my old teacher' discount, too.
As you may know from my bio, I was a teacher in Gloucester City for 32 years, that's a lot of kids. One of them was doing Dorothy's shoveling and when she mentioned me, he said I had been his Art teacher. Turned out he was one of the good ones. So those fellows came over and dug me out, just in time for the next storm, I guess.
If you need shoveling or any kind of home repair:
856-281-4335 Will Tool Construction
So many of my friends are at an age now where shoveling is back for the back, or the heart, or the hands or wrist or any of a number of other parts, not to forget knees that it is a good thing to have a list of number to call. Their business card says they are certified and insured. They were very reasonable for my job. For the steps, drive, sidewalk and car clean off, it was $60 (but that may have been the 'friends and family discount' and 'my old teacher' discount, too.
Wednesday, February 12, 2014
My Last presentation - on the CCC in SJ
Last night, Tuesday 2/11/14, I gave my final presentation on the Civilian Conservation Corps, in South Jersey at the Friends Village in Woodstown for the Salem County Genealogy Society. A nicer group of people couldn't be found which is why, although I am retired from public speaking now, I decided to give one more lecture. I wanted to do something nice for this group of kind and dedicated people and especially their young president, Bonnie Beth Elwell, a charming and devoted historian and genealogist.
It gave me such a warm feeling to look out and see all the courteous and smiling support in that audience. The people were helpful, interested, interactive - all you might wish of an audience. It was a great venue for a 'swan song.'
There are numerous reasons why I can't do public speaking any longer, most having to do with a plethora of minor but contributing health concerns. For many many years, I hauled around heavy boxes and bags of materials across snowy parking lots, up long staircases in public schools and auditoreums, after long drives, and fought the eternal battle of the electronics. I presented for Crayola Binney & Smith and innumerable other organizations over my 32 year career span in education. Then after I retired, I did it all again for Camden County Historical Society, in the suitcase history program for the schools, and with various other organizations on Colonial Living and the Underground Railroad. When I left each of these jobs, I left a good person in my place to take up the baton.
Dorothy Stanaitis at 856-456-2485, is a professional storyteller and she took the Camden County Historical Society job when I left. She also took the Philadelphia tour guide job, and she has developed wonderful programs for Colonial Living, Underground Railroad and Philadelphia history, along with her continuing Storytelling business. I gave her phone number because she is currently active in her own business and can perform for your group, should you wish to hire her.
We had developed a couple of good programs that I will be sorry to see reitred - RED, WHITE AND BLUEBERRIES was my favorite, on Clara Barton and the Red Cross and Elizabeth White and the blueberry. Well, to use a metaphor appropriate to the Olympic games. There comes a time when you have to hang up your skates.
To carry the flame for the Civilian Conservation Corps, there is Wes Hughes. He is an organizer for the Batsto volunteers group and he is contracted to write a book on the Civilian Conservation Corps in South Jersey. He and I will be in touch and I will pass on some resources to him. He attended the lecture last night.
Last night I was most fortunate in having a friend who was willing to pick me up and drive me to the Friends Village, and help me carry the bags, AND man the table to sell my novel: White Horse, Black Horse. Harry Schaeffer, is a dedicated volunteer at the James and Ann Whitall House in Red Bank Battlefield. He introduced me to the Salem group, which I have since joined. People in the historical community seem to be more gracious than the people of many other kinds of groups that I have met.
It appears a respect for local history, family history, and history in general, may perhaps be related to respect for all things and people.
I am retired from public speaking but hope to return to the Gloucester County Historical Society Library in Woodbury in the spring and I will continue at the James and Ann Whitall House as a docent. AND, when this weather finally progresses into spring, I hope to resume my wandering over the backroads, woods and beaches of South Jersey.
Meanwhile, I am still walking my dog Trixie at the Timber Creek Dog Park, most days, and I can report that as long as you have TRAX, a good walking stick, and dress in warm clothes, you'll be okay. My vet said it isn't wise to walk a dog when the temperature drops below 20 (depending on the breed I assume), so we have missed a couple of days each week this month, but we were there yesterday and we'll see what tomorrow brings. The report threatens 6 more inches of snow, so I may be in all day reading a great history book.
Currently I'm reading the history of the folk music revival of the 1960's - (just now I'm reading Woody Guthrie's life story) more on that tomorrow!
Happy Trails!
Jo Ann
It gave me such a warm feeling to look out and see all the courteous and smiling support in that audience. The people were helpful, interested, interactive - all you might wish of an audience. It was a great venue for a 'swan song.'
There are numerous reasons why I can't do public speaking any longer, most having to do with a plethora of minor but contributing health concerns. For many many years, I hauled around heavy boxes and bags of materials across snowy parking lots, up long staircases in public schools and auditoreums, after long drives, and fought the eternal battle of the electronics. I presented for Crayola Binney & Smith and innumerable other organizations over my 32 year career span in education. Then after I retired, I did it all again for Camden County Historical Society, in the suitcase history program for the schools, and with various other organizations on Colonial Living and the Underground Railroad. When I left each of these jobs, I left a good person in my place to take up the baton.
Dorothy Stanaitis at 856-456-2485, is a professional storyteller and she took the Camden County Historical Society job when I left. She also took the Philadelphia tour guide job, and she has developed wonderful programs for Colonial Living, Underground Railroad and Philadelphia history, along with her continuing Storytelling business. I gave her phone number because she is currently active in her own business and can perform for your group, should you wish to hire her.
We had developed a couple of good programs that I will be sorry to see reitred - RED, WHITE AND BLUEBERRIES was my favorite, on Clara Barton and the Red Cross and Elizabeth White and the blueberry. Well, to use a metaphor appropriate to the Olympic games. There comes a time when you have to hang up your skates.
To carry the flame for the Civilian Conservation Corps, there is Wes Hughes. He is an organizer for the Batsto volunteers group and he is contracted to write a book on the Civilian Conservation Corps in South Jersey. He and I will be in touch and I will pass on some resources to him. He attended the lecture last night.
Last night I was most fortunate in having a friend who was willing to pick me up and drive me to the Friends Village, and help me carry the bags, AND man the table to sell my novel: White Horse, Black Horse. Harry Schaeffer, is a dedicated volunteer at the James and Ann Whitall House in Red Bank Battlefield. He introduced me to the Salem group, which I have since joined. People in the historical community seem to be more gracious than the people of many other kinds of groups that I have met.
It appears a respect for local history, family history, and history in general, may perhaps be related to respect for all things and people.
I am retired from public speaking but hope to return to the Gloucester County Historical Society Library in Woodbury in the spring and I will continue at the James and Ann Whitall House as a docent. AND, when this weather finally progresses into spring, I hope to resume my wandering over the backroads, woods and beaches of South Jersey.
Meanwhile, I am still walking my dog Trixie at the Timber Creek Dog Park, most days, and I can report that as long as you have TRAX, a good walking stick, and dress in warm clothes, you'll be okay. My vet said it isn't wise to walk a dog when the temperature drops below 20 (depending on the breed I assume), so we have missed a couple of days each week this month, but we were there yesterday and we'll see what tomorrow brings. The report threatens 6 more inches of snow, so I may be in all day reading a great history book.
Currently I'm reading the history of the folk music revival of the 1960's - (just now I'm reading Woody Guthrie's life story) more on that tomorrow!
Happy Trails!
Jo Ann
Thursday, February 6, 2014
East Point LightHouse
Sorry, this isn't a brand new photo on my opening blog page. The frozen hiking paths have kept me and my dog Trixie, in for the past few days. Nonetheless, I don't want to look at Christmas Trains in February! So, I changed the photo for an old one that I liked but I couldn't figure out how to make it smaller. My daughter will help when she comes home again.
I have been to the East Point Lighthouse many times and it is a beauty. I may even have a post on it somewhere in the archive.
I am a big Olympics fan and I look forward to the start tonight although for some reason the Opening Ceremony won't be until tomorrow night.
Happy Trails! Jo Ann
I have been to the East Point Lighthouse many times and it is a beauty. I may even have a post on it somewhere in the archive.
I am a big Olympics fan and I look forward to the start tonight although for some reason the Opening Ceremony won't be until tomorrow night.
Happy Trails! Jo Ann
Sunday, February 2, 2014
A Perfect Day in Cape May
South Cape May Meadows - Cape May Migratory Bird Refuge
Yesterday a friend, Gail, and I drove to visit my cousin who lives in the Villas. Gail and my cousin Patty, lived near each other in our early childhood in South Philadelphia. I always take my dog when we go to Cape May, and we always plan to have a walk when we get there before we go to lunch. You may have read the post on Cox's Creek before, from another such trip.
This time, my cousin directed us to the South Cape May Meadows, another of the New Jersey Conservancy sites, located off Sunset Blvd. look for the sign to the trail. It was PERFCECT! After the long days of below '20 degree weather, we had a balmy 40 and the trail was a raised sandy pebbled surface free of most of the snow and perhaps a 1/4 of a mile long (maybe even 1/2 mile). I love the seashore in the winter - when it is free of crowds and not blazing hot. Not a fan of high temperatures, this was perfect hiking weather for me and my dog. The view over the grassy dunes was lovely with the blue sky overhead and then, the view of the beach and the water!
If you make this a day trip, I recommend the Bella Vida Cafe for lunch. They have many vegan and vegetarian selections. I had a veggie burger on focaccia bread, toasted, cole slaw and a cup of quinoa and vegetable soup - delicious! My friend and cousin had the veggie reuben, which I plan to get next time.
The Bella Vida is open all year and is located at 406 N. Broadway in West Cape May.
Happy Trails! Jo Ann
Yesterday a friend, Gail, and I drove to visit my cousin who lives in the Villas. Gail and my cousin Patty, lived near each other in our early childhood in South Philadelphia. I always take my dog when we go to Cape May, and we always plan to have a walk when we get there before we go to lunch. You may have read the post on Cox's Creek before, from another such trip.
This time, my cousin directed us to the South Cape May Meadows, another of the New Jersey Conservancy sites, located off Sunset Blvd. look for the sign to the trail. It was PERFCECT! After the long days of below '20 degree weather, we had a balmy 40 and the trail was a raised sandy pebbled surface free of most of the snow and perhaps a 1/4 of a mile long (maybe even 1/2 mile). I love the seashore in the winter - when it is free of crowds and not blazing hot. Not a fan of high temperatures, this was perfect hiking weather for me and my dog. The view over the grassy dunes was lovely with the blue sky overhead and then, the view of the beach and the water!
If you make this a day trip, I recommend the Bella Vida Cafe for lunch. They have many vegan and vegetarian selections. I had a veggie burger on focaccia bread, toasted, cole slaw and a cup of quinoa and vegetable soup - delicious! My friend and cousin had the veggie reuben, which I plan to get next time.
The Bella Vida is open all year and is located at 406 N. Broadway in West Cape May.
Happy Trails! Jo Ann
Thursday, January 30, 2014
Jo Ann Wright, brief biography
Hello, not much to write about lately so I thought I'd do a brief biography so you'd know something about the woman writing this blog. Also, I googled my name at a friend's suggestion and found lots of Jo Ann Wrights - none of them me and none of them directing to this blog, so here we go:
Like many another New Jersey resident, I was born in Philadelphia. We lived there until I was about 12, then moved to Maple Shade, New Jersey. That turned out to be a lucky move because at the time, Maple Shade students went to Merchantville High School, a very fine educational institution which probably changed my life.
Books have always been at the center of my life and it was the same in my early childhood in Philadelphia. My grandmother Lyons had several bookcases in the basement that I was permitted to borrow from and there I met Edgar Rice Burroughs, Guy de-Maupassant, Dickens and Twain, among many others. All the books weren't for adults, I also borrowed and LOVED Outdoor Girls on a Hike, a series of books from the 1920's about plucky hiking and canoeing girls who also solved mysteries.
After graduating from Merchantville High School, I worked at W. B. Saunders Publishing Company until I married and moved overseas. My boyfriend had been drafted and when he found out he was being sent to Germany, he asked me to marry him. We traveled for a year after his discharge, another wonderful adventure that shaped my life.
Back in the states, I went to college while I worked at a series of ordinary clerical jobs to pay the tuition. First I took a degree from Glassboro in English, then another in Art at Rutgers and finally, I graduated from the University of the Arts in Phila. with a masters in Art Education.
During all of that, I raised my wonderful daughter, Lavinia, who is a filmmaker and journalist in New York.
For thirty two years, I taught different grade levels in two schools in Gloucester City and as an adjunct professor at the Univ. of Arts in Philly. When I retired 7 years ago, I pursued my interest in history and the outdoors as a volunteer, hiker, and blogger. So there you have it! (added detail - I wrote two books after I retired and self-published them both, though I prefer the modern term 'independent publishing.' One is a historical fiction account of WPA workers in New Jersey, a photographer and a writer who is working on the State Guides.)
Latest outings: A hike at Parvin State Park (where I go on a nearly weekly basis) and a hike around Pakim Pond at Brendan Byrne forest a few days ago before the temperatures dropped again. So that's it for the past couple of weeks. I was hiking every day at Timber Creek but my vet, Dr. Sheehen in FAirview (whom I most warmly and strongly recommend. He is a great Vet and a true animal lover) suggested that anything under 20 degrees was too cold to walk a dog. So we've been housebound ever since. Hopefully it will warm up in the next few days.
Happy Trails! Hope you are staying warm! Jo Ann
Like many another New Jersey resident, I was born in Philadelphia. We lived there until I was about 12, then moved to Maple Shade, New Jersey. That turned out to be a lucky move because at the time, Maple Shade students went to Merchantville High School, a very fine educational institution which probably changed my life.
Books have always been at the center of my life and it was the same in my early childhood in Philadelphia. My grandmother Lyons had several bookcases in the basement that I was permitted to borrow from and there I met Edgar Rice Burroughs, Guy de-Maupassant, Dickens and Twain, among many others. All the books weren't for adults, I also borrowed and LOVED Outdoor Girls on a Hike, a series of books from the 1920's about plucky hiking and canoeing girls who also solved mysteries.
After graduating from Merchantville High School, I worked at W. B. Saunders Publishing Company until I married and moved overseas. My boyfriend had been drafted and when he found out he was being sent to Germany, he asked me to marry him. We traveled for a year after his discharge, another wonderful adventure that shaped my life.
Back in the states, I went to college while I worked at a series of ordinary clerical jobs to pay the tuition. First I took a degree from Glassboro in English, then another in Art at Rutgers and finally, I graduated from the University of the Arts in Phila. with a masters in Art Education.
During all of that, I raised my wonderful daughter, Lavinia, who is a filmmaker and journalist in New York.
For thirty two years, I taught different grade levels in two schools in Gloucester City and as an adjunct professor at the Univ. of Arts in Philly. When I retired 7 years ago, I pursued my interest in history and the outdoors as a volunteer, hiker, and blogger. So there you have it! (added detail - I wrote two books after I retired and self-published them both, though I prefer the modern term 'independent publishing.' One is a historical fiction account of WPA workers in New Jersey, a photographer and a writer who is working on the State Guides.)
Latest outings: A hike at Parvin State Park (where I go on a nearly weekly basis) and a hike around Pakim Pond at Brendan Byrne forest a few days ago before the temperatures dropped again. So that's it for the past couple of weeks. I was hiking every day at Timber Creek but my vet, Dr. Sheehen in FAirview (whom I most warmly and strongly recommend. He is a great Vet and a true animal lover) suggested that anything under 20 degrees was too cold to walk a dog. So we've been housebound ever since. Hopefully it will warm up in the next few days.
Happy Trails! Hope you are staying warm! Jo Ann
Saturday, January 18, 2014
A Perfect Day in Millville
On Thursday, January 16th two friends and I went to Millville and had a perfect day! We had lunch at Wildflowers, a vegan, vegetarian restaurant (all three of us are vegetarians bordering on veganism). Then we hiked the Maurice River Bluffs. We did the blue trail up over the bluffs, up and down to the floating dock, beneath the towering pines and over the little bridge, beyond the mysterious ruins. Then, when we got back to the car, my dog, Trixie, wanted to stay, so we did the orange trail which gives a nice view over the estuary part of the river. There was a huge flock of some kind of bird we couldn't correctly identify, chattering away in the tree tops. Nice to hear birds singing in January. My two friends are 'birders' and one has an app for bird identification, but as we had no binoculars, we couldn't see the birds very well. She thought they might be grackles.
After our walk, we headed back to town, to enjoy a coffee at Bogart's Book Store and pick up some books. One of my friends is a frequent visitor and had dropped off a couple of boxes of books, so she had a book credit due which paid for her brother's birthday gift. He likes true crime thrillers. Bogart's will accept books and dvd's and credit you for them. Barb Spector (the book credit holder) and I also took them up on their excellent prices for used dvd's and I bought a biography of Agatha Christie and another movie called "The Reading Room." We enjoyed a hot 'cuppa' mine was hazlenut decaf, my friends had tea, and we enjoyed conversing with some of the locals. A fellow in a red shirt was sitting at the counter when I was waiting for my coffee and he reminded me that the Maurice River is prnounced "Morris" not with the French pronunciation I use when I forget where I am and call it "Maur eeece" and he told me it was named for Prince Mauritz, a Dutch name. He also showed me the window cabinet of local history books that they have at Bogarts, many of which are also in my collection from my time as a volunteer at Bivalve. I've written about Margaret Mintz, local historian from Salem County, now deceased.
By then, it was late afternoon and we headed home. What a perfect day! I picked up a bunch of brochures and a local paper while I was there and the paper had a cover story about Marianne Lods, who you might remember, wrote a book about her parents experience in Europe during World War II. More on the brochures and the novel later. The title was "It's Been a Long, Long Time. And I had bought it and read it some time ago. A very good read.
Happy Trails! Jo Ann
I'm off to the movies and lunch with friends amidst the snow flurries this morning, Saturday, January 18.
After our walk, we headed back to town, to enjoy a coffee at Bogart's Book Store and pick up some books. One of my friends is a frequent visitor and had dropped off a couple of boxes of books, so she had a book credit due which paid for her brother's birthday gift. He likes true crime thrillers. Bogart's will accept books and dvd's and credit you for them. Barb Spector (the book credit holder) and I also took them up on their excellent prices for used dvd's and I bought a biography of Agatha Christie and another movie called "The Reading Room." We enjoyed a hot 'cuppa' mine was hazlenut decaf, my friends had tea, and we enjoyed conversing with some of the locals. A fellow in a red shirt was sitting at the counter when I was waiting for my coffee and he reminded me that the Maurice River is prnounced "Morris" not with the French pronunciation I use when I forget where I am and call it "Maur eeece" and he told me it was named for Prince Mauritz, a Dutch name. He also showed me the window cabinet of local history books that they have at Bogarts, many of which are also in my collection from my time as a volunteer at Bivalve. I've written about Margaret Mintz, local historian from Salem County, now deceased.
By then, it was late afternoon and we headed home. What a perfect day! I picked up a bunch of brochures and a local paper while I was there and the paper had a cover story about Marianne Lods, who you might remember, wrote a book about her parents experience in Europe during World War II. More on the brochures and the novel later. The title was "It's Been a Long, Long Time. And I had bought it and read it some time ago. A very good read.
Happy Trails! Jo Ann
I'm off to the movies and lunch with friends amidst the snow flurries this morning, Saturday, January 18.
Saturday, January 11, 2014
Big Timber Creek Dog Park in January (2014)
This morning I was standing on a hill overlooking Timber Creek which is thawing out after the freeze. My dog was quietly exploring the ridge above where I was standing. A bird began to sing and the church bells began to ring (I don't know why as today is Saturday) But the whole effect was so beautiful and comforting.
Walking my dog who is 4 years old today, according to her chart when I adopted her, is one of the most pleasurable things in my life. She goes exploring alongside the trail and today I noticed her coat is exactly the same color as the dampened tree trunks in winter. She is a mixed Labrador Retriever and Weimaraner (a German retriever breed). She came from Animal Orphanage on Cooper Rd in, I think, Voorhees. If you are a walker, as I am, and a woods person, there is no better friend than a dog.
The dog park area, fenced it - was all mud and giant puddles, so we kept to the bridle trails (left over from the Slimm's Horse Back Riding Ranch days) in the woods. We didn't run into any other hikers today.
Sorry I haven't visited any other interesting places recently or have any other 'history' news at present, but I thought it might be nice to talk about Timber Creek Park which is so important to my daily life.
Happy Trails,
Jo Ann
Walking my dog who is 4 years old today, according to her chart when I adopted her, is one of the most pleasurable things in my life. She goes exploring alongside the trail and today I noticed her coat is exactly the same color as the dampened tree trunks in winter. She is a mixed Labrador Retriever and Weimaraner (a German retriever breed). She came from Animal Orphanage on Cooper Rd in, I think, Voorhees. If you are a walker, as I am, and a woods person, there is no better friend than a dog.
The dog park area, fenced it - was all mud and giant puddles, so we kept to the bridle trails (left over from the Slimm's Horse Back Riding Ranch days) in the woods. We didn't run into any other hikers today.
Sorry I haven't visited any other interesting places recently or have any other 'history' news at present, but I thought it might be nice to talk about Timber Creek Park which is so important to my daily life.
Happy Trails,
Jo Ann
Sunday, January 5, 2014
"Oh the humanity" the Hindenburg
Lounging around the house due to the weather day before yesterday, I happened to catch the classic movie, The Hindenburg (1975) starring George C. Scott. The TCM commentator mentioned that although it was nominated for several awards and seemed to be popular, it did not reach popular aclaim as a film. I thought it was excellent and also very modern. It strikes me that succeeded documentaries pretty much discount the bomb theory and go with the torn skin flap explanation of the crash and burn. The movie seemed to lean heavily on the bomb theory.
It reminded me of driving out to the pines, in my teens, to see the wreckage when I was a teen in the 1960's. I wasn't sure if it was a true memory or a made-up one (which I can get from time to time) so I asked my sister and she told me she, too, had been out to see the wreckage when she was a child with our father and mother! She is only 49, so I guess it WAS still there.
Even on a day at home, if you are in New Jersey, there is history all around you. I also saw the film American Hustle, which was set in New Jersey and built around the Abscam scandal which many of us remember, if not in detail, certainly in the names of the participants, in particular, Mayor Ericchetti. It is an excellent film and I recommend it, although the amoral nature of the characters made me feel as though I had an oily film over my soul from contact with them.
Happy Trails!
ps. I did get out to the woods today, to Big Timber Creek Dog Park which was nearly deserted, but I met another dog person and we had a great conversation and 4 laps around the park. If you have a dog and want the dog to be happy and healthy, you've got to get those walks whenever you can, and before teh weather turns on you. It was very pleasant in the park, I even had to take off my hat, mittens and scarf, it was so warm.
pss. Does anyone remember The 2nd Fret? wrightj45@yahoo.com
It reminded me of driving out to the pines, in my teens, to see the wreckage when I was a teen in the 1960's. I wasn't sure if it was a true memory or a made-up one (which I can get from time to time) so I asked my sister and she told me she, too, had been out to see the wreckage when she was a child with our father and mother! She is only 49, so I guess it WAS still there.
Even on a day at home, if you are in New Jersey, there is history all around you. I also saw the film American Hustle, which was set in New Jersey and built around the Abscam scandal which many of us remember, if not in detail, certainly in the names of the participants, in particular, Mayor Ericchetti. It is an excellent film and I recommend it, although the amoral nature of the characters made me feel as though I had an oily film over my soul from contact with them.
Happy Trails!
ps. I did get out to the woods today, to Big Timber Creek Dog Park which was nearly deserted, but I met another dog person and we had a great conversation and 4 laps around the park. If you have a dog and want the dog to be happy and healthy, you've got to get those walks whenever you can, and before teh weather turns on you. It was very pleasant in the park, I even had to take off my hat, mittens and scarf, it was so warm.
pss. Does anyone remember The 2nd Fret? wrightj45@yahoo.com
Friday, January 3, 2014
Another good blog to visit
Someone at the last Burlington County Historians Roundtable recommended this blog to me. It looks good! You may wish to check it out. We are all in this together and I'm glad to be sharing news and information with as many people as possible to keep history alive for us all! She has some information on things this month.
http://www.thehistorygirl.com/
Happy Trails! Jo Ann
http://www.thehistorygirl.com/
Happy Trails! Jo Ann
Post-New Year's Day Freeze
You may be hardy travelers and perhaps you are visiting some interesting place today, but I am home, hibernating in this newest snow storm and not even attempting Timber Creek Dog Park (my daily walk) with my dog, Trixie. I would, perhaps, have gone on the walk because my dog gets into mischief if she doesn't have her walk, but among the chores I'm trying to do today is the laundry with my long underwear in it. Without the long underwear, I can't imagine hazarding that walk, so, tomorrow I'll give it a go.
For today, I am doing the aforementioned laundry, and taking down the Christmas decorations. Each one is wrapped in memory. There is the green stone star from my trip to Ireland with my daughter two decades ago, my ornaments from Germany 1969 to 1971, the Nuremburg Christmas Faire, ornaments made by friends from the Gloucester City Library the year my daughter was born, and ornaments she made for me when she was growing up. One is a plastic 'stained glass' chapel that my sister, Maryann who resides in West Virginia, painted for me one year when she was a child. She bought the paint stained glass kits for her granddaughters this year to make tree ornaments. Naturally it makes me kind of sad to look at them and think of the years gone by and the people who have passed out of my life.
I will hate to take down the lights because, as was intended, they do help to keep away the dark of the 'deep mid-winter drear.' Nonetheless, it is best to start the new year off fresh and with the old holiday tucked safely away for the future, when, because it was away, it will be special all over again.
Because I have been both busy with Christmas and family visits and gifts, and stuck indoors for weather, I haven't got any news for you about places to go or things to do, however, there is one lecture at the Lyceum in Burlington County that I'll be attending January 15th, on the payroll robbery and shooting at Atsion Mansion in the heyday of the ironworks. I don't have any further info on that but you could look it up under Burlcohistorian.com or some variation on that. I'm sure that link is in another posting of mine from the burlington County Roundtable, but the ornaments beckon and I must get back to work.
Happy New Year again! Jo Ann
For today, I am doing the aforementioned laundry, and taking down the Christmas decorations. Each one is wrapped in memory. There is the green stone star from my trip to Ireland with my daughter two decades ago, my ornaments from Germany 1969 to 1971, the Nuremburg Christmas Faire, ornaments made by friends from the Gloucester City Library the year my daughter was born, and ornaments she made for me when she was growing up. One is a plastic 'stained glass' chapel that my sister, Maryann who resides in West Virginia, painted for me one year when she was a child. She bought the paint stained glass kits for her granddaughters this year to make tree ornaments. Naturally it makes me kind of sad to look at them and think of the years gone by and the people who have passed out of my life.
I will hate to take down the lights because, as was intended, they do help to keep away the dark of the 'deep mid-winter drear.' Nonetheless, it is best to start the new year off fresh and with the old holiday tucked safely away for the future, when, because it was away, it will be special all over again.
Because I have been both busy with Christmas and family visits and gifts, and stuck indoors for weather, I haven't got any news for you about places to go or things to do, however, there is one lecture at the Lyceum in Burlington County that I'll be attending January 15th, on the payroll robbery and shooting at Atsion Mansion in the heyday of the ironworks. I don't have any further info on that but you could look it up under Burlcohistorian.com or some variation on that. I'm sure that link is in another posting of mine from the burlington County Roundtable, but the ornaments beckon and I must get back to work.
Happy New Year again! Jo Ann
Tuesday, December 31, 2013
Happy New Year! 2014!
To all my friends and fellow fans of South Jersey history and Places to Go and Things To Do - Thanks for visiting with me this year. I hope I'll have even more interesting places to share with you next year! I wish all of you an safe, healthy, and happy New Year!
Happy Trails, Jo Ann
Happy Trails, Jo Ann
Monday, December 30, 2013
Shop Locally Movement
Just this past couple of weeks, I had the opportunity to shop locally five times. I live in a place rich with small and local shopping venues and I wanted to mention some of them.
First of all, anyone who loves history, is no doubt, also hopeful and supportive of keeping our small towns alive. We have all seen the strangulation of small town shops by shopping malls and super cheap places like Wal-Mart and I'm not saying that we should not shop in malls or at Wal-Mart, certainly there are good reasons for going to all those places and I do. I shop at Boscovs and Target and many other big stores,
However, that said, there are opportunities to support small family owned businesses as well, and keeping our minds and eyes open to that is a good way to support keeping our small towns viable.
My favorite immediate go-to hardware store is and always has been 1.Carr's Hardware on Broadway in Gloucester City. They not only have everything I'm looking for in my, admittedly amateur repair efforts, they also have advice and they will order what you need if they don't have it. In addition, they will recommend workmen who can do those things beyond my ability. They are a very nice family and it is a pleasure to shop there and visit with them.
Once, a year ago, I had something wrong with my car. It stalled in the middle of driving, at red lights, under an assortment of situations that made it dangerous and mind-boggling. I took it to my former mechanic, to the Ford Dealer, and finally, my daughter was so worried she got in touch with a mechanic friend with whom she had gone to high school. He was partner in what was then a new shop. I took it to them and they resolved the situation immediately and at half the cost of one garage, and one third the cost of my fruitless visit to the Ford dealer. 2.Innovative Automotive on the corner of Market Street and Kings Highway, is a reliable and honest repair shop. I have been to them a few times since for various problems and I wanted to recommend them to everyone I know who has a car. (by the way, it was a crack in the black rubber intake L pipe.)
I had already spent over $2000 by the time I took it to them and was considering getting a new car. They fixed it for under $400.
As recently as last summer, I would drive almost an hour to South Jersey farm stands to buy my local honey which, as all honey users know, is the most healthful honey to buy. You want local bees and not adulterated or processed honey. After all that driving (which I did enjoy in terms of lovely landscape) I discovered that all the honey I bought at the farm markets down there, was also carried by 3.Vercchio's on the Brooklawn Circle (Route 130 in Brooklawn). That produce market is the picture of American BOUNTY! I love to go there and see all the brightly colored fruits and vegetables and find new and mysterious fruits to try (like persimmons). And they have local honey in a variety of flavors - Cranberry, Blueberry, Wild Flower to name my favorites. They are also famous for their prices. This year I was also able to buy Claxton's fruit cake, which may be a joke to the wider public, but it is a life-long favorite holiday treat to me.
Finally, after walking the dog at Big Timber Creek a couple of days ago, while my daughter was home visiting me from New York, we were headed to Collingswood to go to lunch and we drove along Atlantic Avenue in Audubon. We passed a charming corner cafe' called 4.Simply Soup and decided to eat there instead. We had the 1/2 sandwich and soup special lunch offer at $7.95. We had a delicious white bean and escarole soup, homemade, and white albacore tuna salad sandwich on rye. One of my chief small grumbles at eating out is TOO MUCH FOOD. I'm trying to watch my weight and, too often, I'm watching it go up! The half sandwich and cup of soup was perfect - just enough to leave you full and satisfied but not so much that you had to bag it or stuff yourself. I highly recommend this little cafe, and I may add it was very popular with the locals, as I saw both times that I went there. I liked it so much when I went with my daughter, that I returned with friends. They also have take-out and platters and desserts and an atm machine. You can call 856-546-3939 for more information or to order in quantity. Simply Soups, 301 E. Atlantic Ave., Audubon, NJ
Hope you had a happy Holiday so far, and I look forward to sharing tips for places to go and things to do in South Jersey in the New Year!! If you have a place you want to add, e-mail me at wrightj45@yahoo.com and I'll gladly pass along your recommendation.
In fact, a writer friend of mine recently had her book of poems printed and bound at 5.Belia's Copy Center in Woodbury on Broadway and she wanted it known that they did a wonderful job and were very helpful and patient with her in the process. I have had a great deal of work done there myself and also recommend them. They are, also, a family run local business.
Happy Trails, and SHOP LOCALLY!! Jo Ann
First of all, anyone who loves history, is no doubt, also hopeful and supportive of keeping our small towns alive. We have all seen the strangulation of small town shops by shopping malls and super cheap places like Wal-Mart and I'm not saying that we should not shop in malls or at Wal-Mart, certainly there are good reasons for going to all those places and I do. I shop at Boscovs and Target and many other big stores,
However, that said, there are opportunities to support small family owned businesses as well, and keeping our minds and eyes open to that is a good way to support keeping our small towns viable.
My favorite immediate go-to hardware store is and always has been 1.Carr's Hardware on Broadway in Gloucester City. They not only have everything I'm looking for in my, admittedly amateur repair efforts, they also have advice and they will order what you need if they don't have it. In addition, they will recommend workmen who can do those things beyond my ability. They are a very nice family and it is a pleasure to shop there and visit with them.
Once, a year ago, I had something wrong with my car. It stalled in the middle of driving, at red lights, under an assortment of situations that made it dangerous and mind-boggling. I took it to my former mechanic, to the Ford Dealer, and finally, my daughter was so worried she got in touch with a mechanic friend with whom she had gone to high school. He was partner in what was then a new shop. I took it to them and they resolved the situation immediately and at half the cost of one garage, and one third the cost of my fruitless visit to the Ford dealer. 2.Innovative Automotive on the corner of Market Street and Kings Highway, is a reliable and honest repair shop. I have been to them a few times since for various problems and I wanted to recommend them to everyone I know who has a car. (by the way, it was a crack in the black rubber intake L pipe.)
I had already spent over $2000 by the time I took it to them and was considering getting a new car. They fixed it for under $400.
As recently as last summer, I would drive almost an hour to South Jersey farm stands to buy my local honey which, as all honey users know, is the most healthful honey to buy. You want local bees and not adulterated or processed honey. After all that driving (which I did enjoy in terms of lovely landscape) I discovered that all the honey I bought at the farm markets down there, was also carried by 3.Vercchio's on the Brooklawn Circle (Route 130 in Brooklawn). That produce market is the picture of American BOUNTY! I love to go there and see all the brightly colored fruits and vegetables and find new and mysterious fruits to try (like persimmons). And they have local honey in a variety of flavors - Cranberry, Blueberry, Wild Flower to name my favorites. They are also famous for their prices. This year I was also able to buy Claxton's fruit cake, which may be a joke to the wider public, but it is a life-long favorite holiday treat to me.
Finally, after walking the dog at Big Timber Creek a couple of days ago, while my daughter was home visiting me from New York, we were headed to Collingswood to go to lunch and we drove along Atlantic Avenue in Audubon. We passed a charming corner cafe' called 4.Simply Soup and decided to eat there instead. We had the 1/2 sandwich and soup special lunch offer at $7.95. We had a delicious white bean and escarole soup, homemade, and white albacore tuna salad sandwich on rye. One of my chief small grumbles at eating out is TOO MUCH FOOD. I'm trying to watch my weight and, too often, I'm watching it go up! The half sandwich and cup of soup was perfect - just enough to leave you full and satisfied but not so much that you had to bag it or stuff yourself. I highly recommend this little cafe, and I may add it was very popular with the locals, as I saw both times that I went there. I liked it so much when I went with my daughter, that I returned with friends. They also have take-out and platters and desserts and an atm machine. You can call 856-546-3939 for more information or to order in quantity. Simply Soups, 301 E. Atlantic Ave., Audubon, NJ
Hope you had a happy Holiday so far, and I look forward to sharing tips for places to go and things to do in South Jersey in the New Year!! If you have a place you want to add, e-mail me at wrightj45@yahoo.com and I'll gladly pass along your recommendation.
In fact, a writer friend of mine recently had her book of poems printed and bound at 5.Belia's Copy Center in Woodbury on Broadway and she wanted it known that they did a wonderful job and were very helpful and patient with her in the process. I have had a great deal of work done there myself and also recommend them. They are, also, a family run local business.
Happy Trails, and SHOP LOCALLY!! Jo Ann
Monday, December 23, 2013
Contact
I'm admittedly remiss in responding to comments in a timely matter, so if you wish to reach me for discussion of posts or events, best to use my e-mail wrightj45@yahoo.com THANKS and Merry Christmas!
Jam-Packed December 2013
So sorry, I let my readers down on things to do the first 3 weeks of this month. That's because I was so busy putting up lights, decorating the tree, cleaning the house for guests, buying the gifts, then wrapping the gifts, then cleaning again, that I didn't get to do any of my usual candlelight tours (or my cards!). And as always, every day I am Big Timber Creek Dog Park walking my pal, Trixie. Actually, though, I volunteered at one candlelight event - as usual, I did an evening as a docent at the James and Ann Whitall House for their candlelight weekend, themed, 'A Soldier's Life' and enjoyed very much listening to our re-enactor soldier in Ann's Parlor. Wonderful Event!
Therefore, I apologise because I missed the Battle of Iron Works Hill, among many other things I enjoy. BUT there are still some places to go and things to see this month:
Smithville still has Victorian Christmas Candlelight Tours on December 27th and 29th. My daughter will be here with me for a week and maybe she and I will be able to go to that.
Historic Smithville Park, 803 Smithville Rd., Eastampton
and for tea dates call (856) 767-3159
One of the things I missed telling you about closer to the day that I actually attended was the Burlington County Historians' Roundtable which is a 'don't miss' event for those interested in South Jersey History. Run by Burlington County Historian, Joe Laufer, (with ehelp from Paul Schopp) it is a supreme model of what counties should do to promote their resources. This month the meeting was held at the Lyceum of History and Natural Science (formerly Mt. Holly Library) at 307 High St., Mount Holly, NJ. (Call for info.609-265-5858)
They have some things coming up worth noting. As you know my interests overlap in nature and history.
At the Lyceum, lecture series: Jan. 8 and 9 Migratory Waterfowl
Sat.,Jan 11, 9:30 a.m. Smithville Park - hike and tour Winter Ecology Happy Trails, Rails and Tails! Jo Ann
Therefore, I apologise because I missed the Battle of Iron Works Hill, among many other things I enjoy. BUT there are still some places to go and things to see this month:
Smithville still has Victorian Christmas Candlelight Tours on December 27th and 29th. My daughter will be here with me for a week and maybe she and I will be able to go to that.
Historic Smithville Park, 803 Smithville Rd., Eastampton
and for tea dates call (856) 767-3159
One of the things I missed telling you about closer to the day that I actually attended was the Burlington County Historians' Roundtable which is a 'don't miss' event for those interested in South Jersey History. Run by Burlington County Historian, Joe Laufer, (with ehelp from Paul Schopp) it is a supreme model of what counties should do to promote their resources. This month the meeting was held at the Lyceum of History and Natural Science (formerly Mt. Holly Library) at 307 High St., Mount Holly, NJ. (Call for info.609-265-5858)
They have some things coming up worth noting. As you know my interests overlap in nature and history.
At the Lyceum, lecture series: Jan. 8 and 9 Migratory Waterfowl
Sat.,Jan 11, 9:30 a.m. Smithville Park - hike and tour Winter Ecology Happy Trails, Rails and Tails! Jo Ann
Thursday, December 12, 2013
Book Review - It's Been a Long, Long Time, Marianne Lods
On one of my many enjoyable trips to Millville, I stopped, with a friend, in Bogart's Book Store and bought a book by a local author. The cover was appealing because it featured old black and white family photographs and I am a great fan of family history.
Today I finished the book and I can tell you I couldn't put the book down once I began to read it. Here is my review:
Just finished this book which I bought at Bogart's Book Store in Millville. The cover caught my eye as I, too, love family history and the images were intriguing. While reading this book, I found myself crying and hoping for the best for these people through all the adversity they had to face. My father served in the navy in WWII and it brought back memories of my parents' lives and memories of that period. I've promised to lend the book to a freind with realtives in the South Jersey area of the poultry farms of the Jewish families who left NYC for better opportunities. What a great story. We rarely hear about the ordinary people in the places where the big events of the War took place. I really wanted to know what happened when the family came to New Jersey!
As it turns out, after doing research, I found out that the author is a director of the administering board of the Glasstown Arts District. Here is information about that -http://www.glasstownartsdistrict.com/index.php
One of the best aspects to this reading adventure is to find out the story behind a family in an area I have explored so often and learned about from other sources. In aprticulary, I have read in Utopia, New Jersey, by Perdita Buchan, about the beginning of the poultry business for Jewish families in South Jersey in the towns such as Norma, Brotmanville, and Alliance. In fact, I attended a fascinating lecture by Ms. Buchan one summer at the Samuel Assiz Museum in a small synagog there.
Happy Trails, Happy Rails, and Happy Tales - Jo Ann
Today I finished the book and I can tell you I couldn't put the book down once I began to read it. Here is my review:
Just finished this book which I bought at Bogart's Book Store in Millville. The cover caught my eye as I, too, love family history and the images were intriguing. While reading this book, I found myself crying and hoping for the best for these people through all the adversity they had to face. My father served in the navy in WWII and it brought back memories of my parents' lives and memories of that period. I've promised to lend the book to a freind with realtives in the South Jersey area of the poultry farms of the Jewish families who left NYC for better opportunities. What a great story. We rarely hear about the ordinary people in the places where the big events of the War took place. I really wanted to know what happened when the family came to New Jersey!
As it turns out, after doing research, I found out that the author is a director of the administering board of the Glasstown Arts District. Here is information about that -http://www.glasstownartsdistrict.com/index.php
One of the best aspects to this reading adventure is to find out the story behind a family in an area I have explored so often and learned about from other sources. In aprticulary, I have read in Utopia, New Jersey, by Perdita Buchan, about the beginning of the poultry business for Jewish families in South Jersey in the towns such as Norma, Brotmanville, and Alliance. In fact, I attended a fascinating lecture by Ms. Buchan one summer at the Samuel Assiz Museum in a small synagog there.
Happy Trails, Happy Rails, and Happy Tales - Jo Ann
Tuesday, December 10, 2013
Presentation on the Civilian Conservation Corps in SJ cancelled tonight
As you may remember, I posted some time back that I would be doing a presentation on teh CCC in South Jersey for the Salem County Genealogical Society tonight at Friends' Village in Woodstown. It has been cancelled due to dangerous conditions later in the evening. Although the snow has stopped, forecasters are calling for low temperatures and frozen roads after dark, so President Bonnie Beth Elswell decided to postpone the presentation until February or March.
Be careful, be safe, and if you don't have to travel, stay home and do those Christmas Cards (or put up the train platform)!
Safe Travels - Jo Ann
Be careful, be safe, and if you don't have to travel, stay home and do those Christmas Cards (or put up the train platform)!
Safe Travels - Jo Ann
Albert Horner Phography Exhibit
Albert Horner's photographs of the New Jersey Pinelands are on display right now:
Pinelands Exhibit
Event Dates: 12/1/2013 - 12/31/2013
Reception: 12/7/2013 2PM to 4PM
Location: Burlington County Library
609-267-9660
5 Pioneer Blvd
Westhampton NJ 08060
I am an artist and I worked at the University of the Arts for 22 years. All my life I have visited galleries and viewed painting, ceramic, sculpture and photography exhibits. These photographs by Albert Horner are the most beautiful I have ever seen. If you can possibly get ther to see them, you should. They are large, gorgeous, subtle and profoundly evocative of the soul of the pines.
Monday, December 9, 2013
The Old City Hall, Bordentown, NJ
Sorry for such a delay between postings, so many places to go, so many things to see - especially this time of year with the Historic House Tours and luncheons and dinners for us volunteers.
Today, I was supposed to go to a luncheon at the Gloucester County Historical Society Library, but my car on the fritz and, fortunately, the dinner for volunteers at the James and Ann Whitall House, Red Bank Battlefield, National Park, was postponed, or I would have had to cancel out of that as well.
The list of things I want to mention today are:
The Whitall House Candlelight Tour
Bordentown Model Railroad Show and the Old City Hall Restoration Project
The Burlington County Historians Roundetble at the Lyceum in Mount Holly
The First Snow - Timber Creek Dog Park
On Friday, December 6, I was a docent in the room usually known as Ann's Parlor. Our new director, Jennifer Janovsky has not only opened two upstairs rooms this year, but she has launched a number of interesting new events and themes. This year for the Candlelight tour, our theme was A Soldier's Life
and I was fortunate enough to share the room, not only with Patty Kehler, DAR member and docent, but with a guest, Tracy Fallon, a Re-enactor, not only for the Revolution, but also WWII. He was so knowledgeable and he and Patty offered historical details on the house, the War for Independence, George Washington, and numerous other interesting subjects. The hours flew by.
This must be the year of the model railroad, because displays have been held all over the place. So far I visited the Burlinton City Railroad Days display and the Bordentown exhibition at the Old City Hall, a wonderful building to visit in its own right. There were two floors of wonderful exhibitions of model railroad platforms. One woman model engineer reminded me to mention the John Bull in my blog. I think that platform was hers.
The John Bull was a British-built steam locamotive operated for the first time on September 15, 1831. It became the oldest operable steam locomotive in the world when the Smithsonian operated it in 1981. The John Bull was initially purchased by and operated for the The Camden and Amboy Railroad the first railroad in New Jersey where it was used extensively from 1833 until 1866.
My father, when he was a younger Ironworker, was part of the team that moved a locomotive to its site in the Smithsonian and we often visited it there and he talked about that historic job. I wonder now if it was the John Bull.
Anyhow, there was also a display called "Remembering Seaside" which is noteworthy for its unuusual display of ferris wheel, other rides and sandy platform. Everyone there was friendly, informative and the whole experience was enchanting.
In a side room where sweatshirts, tea shirts and train whistles (I wish I had bought one) were being sold, I met two volunteers in the Restoration Project for the building which is located at 11 Crosswicks Street in Bordentown. How I admire volunteers in the history community. Where would we be without their selfless devotion to rescuing and maintaining our cultural history. The Old City Hall boasts a Seth Thomas clock tower also in need of financial assistance. The clock is neighbor to a bell which has tolled continuously on the hour since the 1880's. There is a marvelous brochure on the Old City Hall available if you visit the model train exhibition, which I heartily recommend that you do!
This entry is long enough, so I'll save the rest for tomorrow!
Happy Trails! Happy Rails! Jo Ann
Today, I was supposed to go to a luncheon at the Gloucester County Historical Society Library, but my car on the fritz and, fortunately, the dinner for volunteers at the James and Ann Whitall House, Red Bank Battlefield, National Park, was postponed, or I would have had to cancel out of that as well.
The list of things I want to mention today are:
The Whitall House Candlelight Tour
Bordentown Model Railroad Show and the Old City Hall Restoration Project
The Burlington County Historians Roundetble at the Lyceum in Mount Holly
The First Snow - Timber Creek Dog Park
On Friday, December 6, I was a docent in the room usually known as Ann's Parlor. Our new director, Jennifer Janovsky has not only opened two upstairs rooms this year, but she has launched a number of interesting new events and themes. This year for the Candlelight tour, our theme was A Soldier's Life
and I was fortunate enough to share the room, not only with Patty Kehler, DAR member and docent, but with a guest, Tracy Fallon, a Re-enactor, not only for the Revolution, but also WWII. He was so knowledgeable and he and Patty offered historical details on the house, the War for Independence, George Washington, and numerous other interesting subjects. The hours flew by.
This must be the year of the model railroad, because displays have been held all over the place. So far I visited the Burlinton City Railroad Days display and the Bordentown exhibition at the Old City Hall, a wonderful building to visit in its own right. There were two floors of wonderful exhibitions of model railroad platforms. One woman model engineer reminded me to mention the John Bull in my blog. I think that platform was hers.
The John Bull was a British-built steam locamotive operated for the first time on September 15, 1831. It became the oldest operable steam locomotive in the world when the Smithsonian operated it in 1981. The John Bull was initially purchased by and operated for the The Camden and Amboy Railroad the first railroad in New Jersey where it was used extensively from 1833 until 1866.
My father, when he was a younger Ironworker, was part of the team that moved a locomotive to its site in the Smithsonian and we often visited it there and he talked about that historic job. I wonder now if it was the John Bull.
Anyhow, there was also a display called "Remembering Seaside" which is noteworthy for its unuusual display of ferris wheel, other rides and sandy platform. Everyone there was friendly, informative and the whole experience was enchanting.
In a side room where sweatshirts, tea shirts and train whistles (I wish I had bought one) were being sold, I met two volunteers in the Restoration Project for the building which is located at 11 Crosswicks Street in Bordentown. How I admire volunteers in the history community. Where would we be without their selfless devotion to rescuing and maintaining our cultural history. The Old City Hall boasts a Seth Thomas clock tower also in need of financial assistance. The clock is neighbor to a bell which has tolled continuously on the hour since the 1880's. There is a marvelous brochure on the Old City Hall available if you visit the model train exhibition, which I heartily recommend that you do!
This entry is long enough, so I'll save the rest for tomorrow!
Happy Trails! Happy Rails! Jo Ann
Wednesday, December 4, 2013
Franklin Parker Preserve, Burlington County - Great Hiking!
The Chatsworth Lake entrance to Franklin Parker Preserve is off 532, however I'm attaching the web address of the NJ Conservance so you can get better directions if you don't have a gps in your car or on your phone. As I didn't drive there myself, but was a passenger in my hiking buddy's car, I can't give you directions from my own experience. Here is the web address to find directions
http://www.njconservation.org/franklinparkerpreserve.htm
The hiking that we did, Barb Solem, Barb Spector and I, a couple of days ago, was all along the cranberry bogs and blueberry fields at the Parker Preserve. We started off with lunch at the Tabernacle Inn which I cannot praise highly enough. The food, every time I have been there, has been excellent and the service is warm, friendly and accommodating. Their buternut squash soup is the best I have ever tasted.
Hiking he Prserve is easy, there are flat, well maintained sandy roads bordered by the bogs which I believe are no longer in use and have been allowed to begin their return to their natural state. I understand there are owls to be seen but I didn't see any. This was strictly a dog and buddy hiking expedition, though both of the Barbaras are avid bird watchers and did recently see a Snowy Owl at 50 yards at the Forsythe.
We hiked for a good 2 hours or maybe 6 miles that day and tried two different entrances to the park. We were looking for beaver lodges which we heard from a wildlife photographer friend of Bab Solem's, could be seen there.
There are no end of preserves and aprks in which to hike in South Jersey, another thing I love about whre I live. As always if you want to talk to me via e-mail you can reach me at wrightj45@yahoo.com. Here is a list of other preserves from the web site above: I never knew about them before. Learn something new every single day! (Happy Trails! Jo Ann)
http://www.njconservation.org/franklinparkerpreserve.htm
The hiking that we did, Barb Solem, Barb Spector and I, a couple of days ago, was all along the cranberry bogs and blueberry fields at the Parker Preserve. We started off with lunch at the Tabernacle Inn which I cannot praise highly enough. The food, every time I have been there, has been excellent and the service is warm, friendly and accommodating. Their buternut squash soup is the best I have ever tasted.
Hiking he Prserve is easy, there are flat, well maintained sandy roads bordered by the bogs which I believe are no longer in use and have been allowed to begin their return to their natural state. I understand there are owls to be seen but I didn't see any. This was strictly a dog and buddy hiking expedition, though both of the Barbaras are avid bird watchers and did recently see a Snowy Owl at 50 yards at the Forsythe.
We hiked for a good 2 hours or maybe 6 miles that day and tried two different entrances to the park. We were looking for beaver lodges which we heard from a wildlife photographer friend of Bab Solem's, could be seen there.
There are no end of preserves and aprks in which to hike in South Jersey, another thing I love about whre I live. As always if you want to talk to me via e-mail you can reach me at wrightj45@yahoo.com. Here is a list of other preserves from the web site above: I never knew about them before. Learn something new every single day! (Happy Trails! Jo Ann)
- Apshawa Preserve
- Bear Creek Preserve
- Burden Hill Preserve
- Candace McKee Ashmun Preserve at Forked River Mtn
- Daniels Preserve
- Dorothy Preserve
- Drakestown Preserve
- Evert Trail Preserve
- Franklin Parker Preserve
- Lakes Bay Preserve
- Metedeconk Preserve
- Michael Huber Prairie Warbler Preserve
- Skyline Preserve
Friday, November 29, 2013
Thanksgiving Dinner at Tthe Olde Centerton Inn
It was delicious! It was like eating at Grandma's house, a traditional Thanksgiving dinner of turkey, stuffing, baked sweet potatoes, mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce, succotash, and a tray of desserts including sample size pieces of pumpkin pie, cheesecake, brownie, and raspberry filled cookies . It was peaceful and the staff couldn't have been more hospitable and atentive. The Thanksgiving Feast (and it was!) cost only $22 per person plust tax and tip. It was worth every penny. And I must say it was evocative to be sitting and eating in a historic tavern that has fed the weary traveller for nearly 300 years right here in our own South Jersey. The Inn was built in 1732 and it is said that such Revolutionary War luminaries as the Marquis de Lafayette visited this old stagecoach inn.
Since we had arrived so early, my friend and I drove around the winter beautiful countryside and were pleased and surprised to find that Parvin State Park was right down the road which suggests to me an excellent day trip. You could hike at Parvin, the usual trail I take with hiking buddy Barb Spector, takes about an hour, so it is approximately 3 miles around Thundergust Lake, which will give you an appetitie for lunch at The Old Centerton Inn. Lunch is only served on Wednesday and Friday, so plan accordingly. For more information, here is the contact info from the business card (which lists the establishment date as 1706!!):
1136 Alm,ond Road, Pittsgrove, Nj 08318, 856-358-3201, 222.centertoninn.com
The innkeepers are Brian and Joanne oode
Happy Trails and Bon appetit! Jo Ann
ps. I used the city of Elmer for my gps, don't know if Pittsgrove works.
As always if you have questions or want to talk about any of this, contact me at
wrightj45@yahoo.com
Since we had arrived so early, my friend and I drove around the winter beautiful countryside and were pleased and surprised to find that Parvin State Park was right down the road which suggests to me an excellent day trip. You could hike at Parvin, the usual trail I take with hiking buddy Barb Spector, takes about an hour, so it is approximately 3 miles around Thundergust Lake, which will give you an appetitie for lunch at The Old Centerton Inn. Lunch is only served on Wednesday and Friday, so plan accordingly. For more information, here is the contact info from the business card (which lists the establishment date as 1706!!):
1136 Alm,ond Road, Pittsgrove, Nj 08318, 856-358-3201, 222.centertoninn.com
The innkeepers are Brian and Joanne oode
Happy Trails and Bon appetit! Jo Ann
ps. I used the city of Elmer for my gps, don't know if Pittsgrove works.
As always if you have questions or want to talk about any of this, contact me at
wrightj45@yahoo.com
Tuesday, November 26, 2013
Model Railroad Update & more
Two items for today - I finished my model railroad set-up for this year. It is wacky and no serious model railroader would be able to look at it without a sneer. I must have 5 different sizes of soldiers, houses, animals and multiple periods from wood to plastic but it gives me a great deal of pleasure. Next I have to cover my oatmeal box tunnel with some rock paper that I wil print out off the computer.
My houses, people and soldiers are mostly from Germany circa 1970, bought when I lived there at Heilbronn Am Neckar, the wife of a then-soldier. I bought them at the Nurnburg Christmas Fair. I wanted to wish everyone a Merry Christmas in German but I realized I no longer remmeber how to spell Christmas in German: Frolihe Weinachten?
If you want to respond with proper German spelling, wrightj45@yahoo.com
Note: the Barrington Coffee House on Clements Bridge Rd. in Barrington, is open again under new management. I was just there last week on an unexpected additional Birthday celebration with an old yoga pal. We used to go to the Barrington Coffee House after our work-outs and yoga classes at the Royal Court Gym, but I am no longer at member of the gym and, for a time, the coffee house was closed. I wish them the best of luck for the future - it is a charming coffee shop and they had a delightful Christmas decoration with a village and train set in the window!!
I know, there is still Thanksgiving coming and I'm stepping on the toes of that holiday with Christmas talk- so be safe and happy on your holiday travels and check back in for a review of Thanksgiving at the Centerton Inn in Elmer, where I have reservations fo rmyself and a pal. I am a vegetarian but I'm sure I can find enough to eat on the side and if I get a turkey dinner, I'll bring home the turkey for my meat eating dog and most wonderful animal companion, Trixie the Labaraner.
Happy Trails and Rails - Jo Ann
My houses, people and soldiers are mostly from Germany circa 1970, bought when I lived there at Heilbronn Am Neckar, the wife of a then-soldier. I bought them at the Nurnburg Christmas Fair. I wanted to wish everyone a Merry Christmas in German but I realized I no longer remmeber how to spell Christmas in German: Frolihe Weinachten?
If you want to respond with proper German spelling, wrightj45@yahoo.com
Note: the Barrington Coffee House on Clements Bridge Rd. in Barrington, is open again under new management. I was just there last week on an unexpected additional Birthday celebration with an old yoga pal. We used to go to the Barrington Coffee House after our work-outs and yoga classes at the Royal Court Gym, but I am no longer at member of the gym and, for a time, the coffee house was closed. I wish them the best of luck for the future - it is a charming coffee shop and they had a delightful Christmas decoration with a village and train set in the window!!
I know, there is still Thanksgiving coming and I'm stepping on the toes of that holiday with Christmas talk- so be safe and happy on your holiday travels and check back in for a review of Thanksgiving at the Centerton Inn in Elmer, where I have reservations fo rmyself and a pal. I am a vegetarian but I'm sure I can find enough to eat on the side and if I get a turkey dinner, I'll bring home the turkey for my meat eating dog and most wonderful animal companion, Trixie the Labaraner.
Happy Trails and Rails - Jo Ann
Friday, November 22, 2013
I hit the 30,000 Mark Today!!!! Hip Hip Hooray!!!!
I am thrilled. Today I hit 30,000 viewers! Wow. I can hardly believe the power of the blog, but I do know it is fun. Thanks to everyone who visited and I hope I can always post items of interest and use! And thanks to BlogSpot for providing such a simple and practical format. Jo Ann
Christmas Shopping in Collingswood
Today, I was treated to what I presume will be the last of this year's birthday lunches! My friend Isabelle came over and we walked around Newton Creek Park, then Knight's Park, to get a good appetite for lunch at SaladWorks, Haddon Ave. in Collingswood, where, I am pleased to announce, Butternut Squash soup is back on the menu. It is the best butternut squash soup I have ever tasted and I've tasted dozens, in restaurants, home-made, canned and from specialty stores. Theirs is delectable and all my friends who've tried it agree on that.
Then we strolled down the avenue and checked out some shops we have missed. We haven't been to Collingwood much recently. I spend a lot of time at Timber Creek instead of walking Newton or Knight's because I like to let Trixie, my 'Labaraner' (half Lab half Weimaraner) off the leash. Several stores have opened up and two I want to mention especially are:
1. Frugal thrift & vintage. One of the things that used to draw me to Collingswood besides the parks, was a thrift store I LOVED: A Friend in Need. They closed and I did a clear-out/de-clutter at my house and mended my buying ways, so I haven't been back. Isabelle, however, had no such restrictions and she bought several clever and charming Christmas gifts: A Christmas tree candle, a great European puzzle, and some other things; I stopped paying attention to what she was buying because I saw so many things I wanted!
2. Next, we stopped at The Candy Jar, and Isabelle bought chocolates for her Thanksgiving Day Dinner (a dessert offering) and we were invited to try several other chocolate treats - my favorite was a white chocolate with crushed peppermint stick candy in it - it was teh very taste of Christmas morning. The shops were warm and inviting and had the feel of Christmas, as Collingswood does - that old quaint main street feeling, with people strolling cheerfully and the lights on, decorations in the windows and dusk falling on a gray November Day. And those chocolates - What a tasty treat to drop in a stocking, or bring as a hostess gift.
It was a delightful way to spend a day - you can't go wrong in Collingswood for places to visit and things to eat!
Happy Trails - Jo Ann
Oh yes:
The Candy Jar, 742 Haddon Ave. 856-833-1010, www.thecandyjarnj.com
Frugal Thrift & Vintage
740 Haddon Ave., Collingswood, NJ 08108 856-858-0700, info@frugalresale.com
www.FrugalResale.com
I really support re-cycle and re-sale and on that subject don't forget CamTech Computers for the best deal in refurbished laptops! I have been buying from them for years and have no complaints, only praise. I saw splendid laptops in their window for $199!!! What a great gift idea! And they stand behind what they sell. I've directed half a dozen people to them for laptops and all of them have been satisfied.
If you want to ask about the computer store, you can contact me by e-mail at: wrightj45@yahoo.com
Then we strolled down the avenue and checked out some shops we have missed. We haven't been to Collingwood much recently. I spend a lot of time at Timber Creek instead of walking Newton or Knight's because I like to let Trixie, my 'Labaraner' (half Lab half Weimaraner) off the leash. Several stores have opened up and two I want to mention especially are:
1. Frugal thrift & vintage. One of the things that used to draw me to Collingswood besides the parks, was a thrift store I LOVED: A Friend in Need. They closed and I did a clear-out/de-clutter at my house and mended my buying ways, so I haven't been back. Isabelle, however, had no such restrictions and she bought several clever and charming Christmas gifts: A Christmas tree candle, a great European puzzle, and some other things; I stopped paying attention to what she was buying because I saw so many things I wanted!
2. Next, we stopped at The Candy Jar, and Isabelle bought chocolates for her Thanksgiving Day Dinner (a dessert offering) and we were invited to try several other chocolate treats - my favorite was a white chocolate with crushed peppermint stick candy in it - it was teh very taste of Christmas morning. The shops were warm and inviting and had the feel of Christmas, as Collingswood does - that old quaint main street feeling, with people strolling cheerfully and the lights on, decorations in the windows and dusk falling on a gray November Day. And those chocolates - What a tasty treat to drop in a stocking, or bring as a hostess gift.
It was a delightful way to spend a day - you can't go wrong in Collingswood for places to visit and things to eat!
Happy Trails - Jo Ann
Oh yes:
The Candy Jar, 742 Haddon Ave. 856-833-1010, www.thecandyjarnj.com
Frugal Thrift & Vintage
740 Haddon Ave., Collingswood, NJ 08108 856-858-0700, info@frugalresale.com
www.FrugalResale.com
I really support re-cycle and re-sale and on that subject don't forget CamTech Computers for the best deal in refurbished laptops! I have been buying from them for years and have no complaints, only praise. I saw splendid laptops in their window for $199!!! What a great gift idea! And they stand behind what they sell. I've directed half a dozen people to them for laptops and all of them have been satisfied.
If you want to ask about the computer store, you can contact me by e-mail at: wrightj45@yahoo.com
Model Railroad News
The Patcong Valley Model Railroad Club will have its 29th Annual Open House through many dates in December, 2013 and January 2014. They are running them now, in November too, but the only date left this month is November 30th.
the location is Route 40 and Fir Avenue (1308 Harding Hwy) Richland, NJ. and they have website and email contacts at
www.patcongvalley.com
patcongrr@comcast.net
I've enver visited them before but will certainly do so now that I'm am working on my own 'N' gauge model platform
Their dates and times are 10 a.m. to 4pm November 30, Dec. 1,7,8,14,15and Jan. 4, 5, 11, 12, 18, 19 2014. There is no admission charge. The flyer says they are about 10 miles west of Mays Landing so that should help you figure out how far away they are. There flyer also says they have a coal country scenery display featuring 6 to 8 trains! I'm so excited to go and see them!
Happy Rails! Jo Ann
the location is Route 40 and Fir Avenue (1308 Harding Hwy) Richland, NJ. and they have website and email contacts at
www.patcongvalley.com
patcongrr@comcast.net
I've enver visited them before but will certainly do so now that I'm am working on my own 'N' gauge model platform
Their dates and times are 10 a.m. to 4pm November 30, Dec. 1,7,8,14,15and Jan. 4, 5, 11, 12, 18, 19 2014. There is no admission charge. The flyer says they are about 10 miles west of Mays Landing so that should help you figure out how far away they are. There flyer also says they have a coal country scenery display featuring 6 to 8 trains! I'm so excited to go and see them!
Happy Rails! Jo Ann
Monday, November 18, 2013
Upper Pittsgrove, Elmer, and Pittsgrove
Those towns and their founders were the subject of Bonnie Beth Elwell's talk at the last Salem County Genealogy Meeting at Friends Village in Woodstown. It was also a book signing for the Arcadia book Bonnie has written of the same name. There is an interesting write-up and some good photographs of the The Old Centerton Inn.
Many of you have no doubt passed the Centerton Inn on your ramblings throughout the South of New Jersey. I've eaten there a few times but it was years ago. After attending Bonnie's lecture, and discussing Thanksgiving plans with a friend, we decided to make reservations at the Centerton for dinner that day.
It was a toss up between the Centerton Inn and the Sugar Hill Inn, another historic house favorite in Mays Landing. The Thanksgiving holiday dinner is $22 and reservations are almost filled up. We had to take the 1:30 slot which is a bit early but that's okay. We might wander around Mullica Hill afterwards.
No doubt I'll be posting before Thanksgiving, but it's a good time to start listing things to be grateful for, health, friends, family, the good fortune to live in America and in this wonderful part of New Jersey, and to live in a time with so many technological and other kinds of innovations. I'm grateful for my car and the my washer and dryer to name just a few - let's not forget electricity and the new LED Christmas Lights - my sister forced me into a turn over away from my big bulb strands and into the new world of LED! And as it is going to get colder again starting tomorrow, I'm grateful for my heater!
Get your reservations if you are eating on your own this Thanksgiving (and not with family) and consider either of those two excellent restaurants if you are looking for a place!
Happy Trails, Rails and Meals, Jo Ann
Many of you have no doubt passed the Centerton Inn on your ramblings throughout the South of New Jersey. I've eaten there a few times but it was years ago. After attending Bonnie's lecture, and discussing Thanksgiving plans with a friend, we decided to make reservations at the Centerton for dinner that day.
It was a toss up between the Centerton Inn and the Sugar Hill Inn, another historic house favorite in Mays Landing. The Thanksgiving holiday dinner is $22 and reservations are almost filled up. We had to take the 1:30 slot which is a bit early but that's okay. We might wander around Mullica Hill afterwards.
No doubt I'll be posting before Thanksgiving, but it's a good time to start listing things to be grateful for, health, friends, family, the good fortune to live in America and in this wonderful part of New Jersey, and to live in a time with so many technological and other kinds of innovations. I'm grateful for my car and the my washer and dryer to name just a few - let's not forget electricity and the new LED Christmas Lights - my sister forced me into a turn over away from my big bulb strands and into the new world of LED! And as it is going to get colder again starting tomorrow, I'm grateful for my heater!
Get your reservations if you are eating on your own this Thanksgiving (and not with family) and consider either of those two excellent restaurants if you are looking for a place!
Happy Trails, Rails and Meals, Jo Ann
Sunday, November 17, 2013
Murphy's Book Loft is no more!
Yesterday, on a birthday lunch in Mullica Hill, I was showing my oldest friend (we've been pals since junior high school) my favoirite places in Mullica Hill. We visited the Red Mill Antiques and did some Christmas shopping, then had lunch at the Blue Plate - very good! They had many seasonal goodies to offer there. It was crowded, popular, and warm and cosy. Finally, on our way out of town, we dropped by Murphy's Book Loft only to find it closed, sold and empty. I had so much affection for that old book barn. For many years it was my first place to go when I was looking for a book. They had tried new management, but the new owner said it was mostly "a transition period." It is too hard for old book stores to compete in a market with Barnes and Nobles and amazon.com. I suppose if they do a brisk and clever on-line sales, they can keep their heads above water, but what do I know about business!
Anyhow, on a happier note, if you, too, love Mullica Hill, you may be interested in their 39th Annual Christmas House Tour which will be held Saturday, December 14th from 2:00 to 7:00 pm. It features historic houses and churches. Tikets are $8 in advance, $10 day of the tour. for more info go to www.mullicahill.com or call 856-223-5440. There will be carolers and live music all through town.
Happy Trails! Jo Ann
Anyhow, on a happier note, if you, too, love Mullica Hill, you may be interested in their 39th Annual Christmas House Tour which will be held Saturday, December 14th from 2:00 to 7:00 pm. It features historic houses and churches. Tikets are $8 in advance, $10 day of the tour. for more info go to www.mullicahill.com or call 856-223-5440. There will be carolers and live music all through town.
Happy Trails! Jo Ann
Wednesday, November 13, 2013
Bonnie Beth Elwell Lecture on Pittsgrove, Elmer founding families
It was a treat to hear Bonnie Beth Elwell give a lecture on the founding families of the above named towns, Upper Pittsgrove, Elmer, and Pittsgrove. She is an astonishing young woman. She is president of the Salem County Genealogy Society and is now also Historian for Pittsgrove. Bonnie is in her twenties, but she has great maturity and a sincere appreciation for the experience and knowledge of the elders in her sphere.
Among the many families whose history and lineage she described were the Dares (of Daretown), Nelsons, Johnsons, Woods, and a dozen others. She also talked about how the names evolved over time as in Nelson from Nel's Son, a Scandinavian naming practice.
On sale at the lecture was the new Arcadia book on the above named towns, authored by Bonnie. Although I don't have family history in this area, mine are from the Big Timber Creek area, I always enjoy reading the work of a talented local historian and I look forward to reading this one. It is a birthday present I bought for myself - Today is my birthday, November 13, 2013.
Happy Trails (of all kinds including the trails we follow tracking ancestors back through the forest of the years!) Jo Ann
ps. I wanted to mention how exceedingly encouraged I am by the Arcadia project. It will be an invaluable resource for the future, on the small towns of America in these times of dwindling history (in terms of attention and money devoted to archival effort which has been held afloat by the devotion of an aging but valiant group of local historians.)
Among the many families whose history and lineage she described were the Dares (of Daretown), Nelsons, Johnsons, Woods, and a dozen others. She also talked about how the names evolved over time as in Nelson from Nel's Son, a Scandinavian naming practice.
On sale at the lecture was the new Arcadia book on the above named towns, authored by Bonnie. Although I don't have family history in this area, mine are from the Big Timber Creek area, I always enjoy reading the work of a talented local historian and I look forward to reading this one. It is a birthday present I bought for myself - Today is my birthday, November 13, 2013.
Happy Trails (of all kinds including the trails we follow tracking ancestors back through the forest of the years!) Jo Ann
ps. I wanted to mention how exceedingly encouraged I am by the Arcadia project. It will be an invaluable resource for the future, on the small towns of America in these times of dwindling history (in terms of attention and money devoted to archival effort which has been held afloat by the devotion of an aging but valiant group of local historians.)
Tuesday, November 12, 2013
Railroad Days at Burlington City November 10, 2013
through a lucky accident, I put the wrong address in my gps and arrived at the Methodist Church on Farnsworth instead of the Episcopal Church on Prince Street. That gave me a visit with a LARGE scale train layout, very cheerful and full of holiday charm. The houses lit up and the train or the houses (I'm not sure which) played music box-like Christmas carols. There were quite a few people there, the women in the church kitchen setting up various foods which I would have loved to taste, but I was on a mission and didn't have time to linger.
As soon as I got straightened out on where the 'n' gauge train layou was, I got back in the car to drove to the Ep[iscopal church, Christ's Church, on Prince Street. At both church's perhaps a little more signage might have been helpful. I was wandering around both churches with other lost people trying to find the door to the displays amidst the many locked church doors.
It was worth the search, however, because the 'n' gauge display was IMPRESSIVE. The villages looked so real and the track layout was extensive, it filled half the church hall. Several sets of tracks were laid out and the engineers were busy setting their trains onto the tracks. I stayed long enough to see a few sets in motion which I must admit, gave my heart a little thrill! I spoke to one polite young man who told me he had been working on his trains since he was three years old! I convided that was getting my first 'n' gauge set for my birthday in a day or two. He wished me good luck.
The group presenting at Christ's Church were the New Jersey Southern, Inc. P.O.Box 41, Collingswood, NJ 08108
njsntrak@gmail.com
Whose members are: "dedicated to furthering the hobby of N-Scale model railroading through educational activities, community involvement and public displays. " They use "N-TRAK international standards of moduclar N scale model railroading."
Needless to say, my idea set-up won't be approved by most model railroad fans, as the houses I plan to use are German wooden village pieces I bought in Heilbronn, Germany in 1970 while I was married to a serviceman stationed there. Actually, I'm not sure if I bought them in the town where I lived or at the Nuremburg Christmas Fair, but anyhow, they are the houses, animals, soldiers and fences I plan to put on my train lay-out. They are, at least, tiny, and probably nearly the perfect scale.
I'm picking up my platform today at 3:00. This is Tuesday, November 12th and tomorrow is my birthday, so I hope to have the morning tomorrow to start the layout and the whole month to add to it. I'd like to paint the alps on a backboard. It will be a simple lay-out, of course.
I haven't given up on my list of things to do and places to go and will resume in a couple of blogs from now.
Meanwhile, I started with small towns, so let me just put a list starting with1. Burlington City, which is delightful to walk around and has an extensive antiques emporium, 2.Bordentown, (charming old book store), 3.Mullical Hill, my favorite Murphy's book Barn and an antique Mill also very extensive, 4.Collingswood for many parks lovely to walk in - Knight's Park and the Knight Collings House, Newton Creek and Cooper River, plus you can drive straight down Haddon ave, cross ounder 130 and go to the Camden County Historical Society behind the hospital. 5.Woodstown has a candle-light tour night and a couple small and charming restaurants and a Quaker Meeting house. 6.Chatsworth has Buzby's store which is still in operation thought up for sale, so hurry over for Christmas Shopping. 7.Greenwich is worth the long drive (an hour from me) and has a beautiful street of 18th century houses, a great historical society, a museum, and friendly people. 8.Woodbury has the museum and the historical Society Library right behind it. They also have a free brochure for a self-guided walking tour which I have done with friends. 9.Remember Millville and the Wildflower's vegetarian restaurant, the Arts District, the many hiking trails and river walk, 10.Haddonfield has a great coffee shop - Jersy Java, the historic Indian King Tavern, and a delightful main street to stroll and a quaint store that features products from the United Kingdom, always a good spot for Christmas shopping! That's all for now folks!
Happy Rails and Trails!
Jo Ann
As soon as I got straightened out on where the 'n' gauge train layou was, I got back in the car to drove to the Ep[iscopal church, Christ's Church, on Prince Street. At both church's perhaps a little more signage might have been helpful. I was wandering around both churches with other lost people trying to find the door to the displays amidst the many locked church doors.
It was worth the search, however, because the 'n' gauge display was IMPRESSIVE. The villages looked so real and the track layout was extensive, it filled half the church hall. Several sets of tracks were laid out and the engineers were busy setting their trains onto the tracks. I stayed long enough to see a few sets in motion which I must admit, gave my heart a little thrill! I spoke to one polite young man who told me he had been working on his trains since he was three years old! I convided that was getting my first 'n' gauge set for my birthday in a day or two. He wished me good luck.
The group presenting at Christ's Church were the New Jersey Southern, Inc. P.O.Box 41, Collingswood, NJ 08108
njsntrak@gmail.com
Whose members are: "dedicated to furthering the hobby of N-Scale model railroading through educational activities, community involvement and public displays. " They use "N-TRAK international standards of moduclar N scale model railroading."
Needless to say, my idea set-up won't be approved by most model railroad fans, as the houses I plan to use are German wooden village pieces I bought in Heilbronn, Germany in 1970 while I was married to a serviceman stationed there. Actually, I'm not sure if I bought them in the town where I lived or at the Nuremburg Christmas Fair, but anyhow, they are the houses, animals, soldiers and fences I plan to put on my train lay-out. They are, at least, tiny, and probably nearly the perfect scale.
I'm picking up my platform today at 3:00. This is Tuesday, November 12th and tomorrow is my birthday, so I hope to have the morning tomorrow to start the layout and the whole month to add to it. I'd like to paint the alps on a backboard. It will be a simple lay-out, of course.
I haven't given up on my list of things to do and places to go and will resume in a couple of blogs from now.
Meanwhile, I started with small towns, so let me just put a list starting with1. Burlington City, which is delightful to walk around and has an extensive antiques emporium, 2.Bordentown, (charming old book store), 3.Mullical Hill, my favorite Murphy's book Barn and an antique Mill also very extensive, 4.Collingswood for many parks lovely to walk in - Knight's Park and the Knight Collings House, Newton Creek and Cooper River, plus you can drive straight down Haddon ave, cross ounder 130 and go to the Camden County Historical Society behind the hospital. 5.Woodstown has a candle-light tour night and a couple small and charming restaurants and a Quaker Meeting house. 6.Chatsworth has Buzby's store which is still in operation thought up for sale, so hurry over for Christmas Shopping. 7.Greenwich is worth the long drive (an hour from me) and has a beautiful street of 18th century houses, a great historical society, a museum, and friendly people. 8.Woodbury has the museum and the historical Society Library right behind it. They also have a free brochure for a self-guided walking tour which I have done with friends. 9.Remember Millville and the Wildflower's vegetarian restaurant, the Arts District, the many hiking trails and river walk, 10.Haddonfield has a great coffee shop - Jersy Java, the historic Indian King Tavern, and a delightful main street to stroll and a quaint store that features products from the United Kingdom, always a good spot for Christmas shopping! That's all for now folks!
Happy Rails and Trails!
Jo Ann
Monday, November 11, 2013
Railroad Days in Bordentown
Yesterday, Sunday, November10th, I drove to Bordentown to see the train displays. First I visited the Methodist church on Farnsworth, where they had large trains on a charming display platform. There were lots of people and it was very cheerful. The giant trains ran around villages glittering with snow sparkles and lit from within and playing music box carols!
However, I had misread the notice about the Railroad Days in Bordentown and I thought it was going to be 'N' gauge which is the gauge of the set I am picking up today (hopefully) at Mac's Trains on Black Horse Pike for my birthday which is November 13th. I asked around and found out the 'N' gauge display was at Christ's Church, Episcopal, on Prince Street.
It was only a couple of blocks away, easily a walking distance, though I drove. Next year, I will plan to spend the day and have lunch in town and walk to all the display sites. Christ's Church was a beautiful church with a lovely old cemetery behind it, and, a ravine with a train rail beside it. There was a very extensive 'n' gauge set up there and some friendly young men, one in his late teens, I think, who told me he'd be working on trains since he was 3 years old! The church itself brought back memories of my childhood pent in Episcopal churches on both sides of the rive. My mother was a devout church woman and we were all often in the church kitchens setting up for functions.
I was both impressed and inspired by the train displays. Naturally I took some photos but my dog is agitating for her walk, so I'll post the pictures when I get back in a couple of hours. Railroad Days in Bordentown was an EXCELLENT idea and a charming marketing tool to bring visitors into an old historic town.
Happy RAILS! Jo Ann
However, I had misread the notice about the Railroad Days in Bordentown and I thought it was going to be 'N' gauge which is the gauge of the set I am picking up today (hopefully) at Mac's Trains on Black Horse Pike for my birthday which is November 13th. I asked around and found out the 'N' gauge display was at Christ's Church, Episcopal, on Prince Street.
It was only a couple of blocks away, easily a walking distance, though I drove. Next year, I will plan to spend the day and have lunch in town and walk to all the display sites. Christ's Church was a beautiful church with a lovely old cemetery behind it, and, a ravine with a train rail beside it. There was a very extensive 'n' gauge set up there and some friendly young men, one in his late teens, I think, who told me he'd be working on trains since he was 3 years old! The church itself brought back memories of my childhood pent in Episcopal churches on both sides of the rive. My mother was a devout church woman and we were all often in the church kitchens setting up for functions.
I was both impressed and inspired by the train displays. Naturally I took some photos but my dog is agitating for her walk, so I'll post the pictures when I get back in a couple of hours. Railroad Days in Bordentown was an EXCELLENT idea and a charming marketing tool to bring visitors into an old historic town.
Happy RAILS! Jo Ann
Friday, November 8, 2013
More Model Trains News!
Stopped by Mac's Trains today to check on my rail platform for my 'N' gauge railroad set up.
My rail platform will be ready on Monday, just in time for my birthday which is on Wednesday.
Meanwhile here is another event where you can see model railroads and the link below where you can find more information on SJ model railroad events.
My sister said something is happening in Swedesboro, too, but I haven't found that yet. When I do, I'll let you know!
Happy Rails! Jo Ann
MODEL TRAINS AT TWO LOCATIONS
FREE model train displays will be open to the public 10 am to 4 pm Saturday, November 9th, and 12 to 4 pm Sunday, November 10th, 2013. See model trains operating in realistically detailed scenery at the N scale NTRAK display by New Jersey Southern (NJS) at Christ Church of Bordentown (ccbtown.com) at 130 Prince Street, Bordentown. Catch the holiday spirit with large whimsical G gauge trains and decorations on display by South Eastern Pennsylvania Garden Railroad Society (SEPGRS) at First Presbyterian Church of Bordentown at 420 Farnsworth Avenue, Bordentown.
https://www.courierpostonline.com/article/20131031/GETPUBLISHED/310310306/
My rail platform will be ready on Monday, just in time for my birthday which is on Wednesday.
Meanwhile here is another event where you can see model railroads and the link below where you can find more information on SJ model railroad events.
My sister said something is happening in Swedesboro, too, but I haven't found that yet. When I do, I'll let you know!
Happy Rails! Jo Ann
MODEL TRAINS AT TWO LOCATIONS
FREE model train displays will be open to the public 10 am to 4 pm Saturday, November 9th, and 12 to 4 pm Sunday, November 10th, 2013. See model trains operating in realistically detailed scenery at the N scale NTRAK display by New Jersey Southern (NJS) at Christ Church of Bordentown (ccbtown.com) at 130 Prince Street, Bordentown. Catch the holiday spirit with large whimsical G gauge trains and decorations on display by South Eastern Pennsylvania Garden Railroad Society (SEPGRS) at First Presbyterian Church of Bordentown at 420 Farnsworth Avenue, Bordentown.
https://www.courierpostonline.com/article/20131031/GETPUBLISHED/310310306/
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