Vineland is 150 years old

In 1861, a Philadelphia lawyer named Charles K. Landis decided to build a new type of planned community in the New Jersey Pine Barrens. The 28-year-old attorney had very specific ideas for his town: there would be no alcohol, every property would have trees, and both business and the arts would be given a place to thrive. The result was Vineland, a one-square mile town that welcomed feminists, spiritualists and other freethinkers along with farmers and tradesmen, and later grew to be the largest town in square miles in the Garden State.

Three years after Landis created his community, the Vineland Historical and Antiquarian Society was formed to collect artifacts and records reflecting the diversity of life in the town. The members gathered as many objects as they could and in 1876, the Society inherited what would become the core of its research library after the Vineland Library Association disbanded. Shortly afterward, two local philanthropists, D.F. Morrill and J.S. Shepherd, donated land on South Seventh Street and a museum was constructed to serve as the Society’s home. In 1910, the current home of the Society replaced the earlier building. In the years that followed, the two-story brick museum was added onto twice to accommodate the continuing influx of donations to the permanent collections.

Today, the museum houses Native American arrowheads, elegant art glass, household implements and equipment, and Civil War memorabilia. Vineland was considered a cultural mecca in the 19th century, which welcomed musicians, actors and nationally-recognized guest speakers who lectured on inflammatory topics such as abolition and women’s rights. The museum houses broadsides, pictures, and artifacts from the 1868 presidential election when the women on Vineland voted even though they were not legally allowed to cast a ballot. Their actions sparked a movement that quickly spread to other towns throughout the United States.

In addition, there are artifacts related to Dr. Thomas Welch’s development of what would later become Welch’s Grape Juice, initially created as a non-alcoholic alternative to wine. The museum also contains a research library of more than 6,000 volumes on genealogy and local history.

Creating a Non-Profit for Historical Preservation

As the oldest local historical society in New Jersey, the private, non-profit organization is governed by an eight-person board of trustees. Like many small organizations, the Society has been plagued over the years by its share of financial concerns. Situated in one of New Jersey’s poorest counties, the Society currently receives no government support. The board is hoping that will change soon, however, with applications that have started going out earlier this year to different funding agencies.

“We also want to develop a support network within Vineland’s corporate community,” said Frank Amari, Jr., a ten-year member who serves as president of the board of trustees. “The town is celebrating its 150th anniversary this year and, as a result, a lot of attention is being paid to local history.”

The Society is currently planning new educational programs for the elementary schools that will shed a brighter light on Vineland’s past and encourage the students to take an interest in local history. The organization also wants to document the location and condition of some of the town’s more historic structures so that they—like so many other buildings—won’t be lost to future generations. The board is pleased that almost a dozen new members have joined the organization since the beginning of the year and many of them have expressed interest in serving as volunteers.

Vital Volunteers at the Radnor Historical Society

Volunteers play at integral role at the Radnor Historical Society, which was founded in 1947. According to Ted Pollard, who serves as president of the 18-member board of trustees, the organization depends entirely on its volunteer staff to function. However, Pollard, who has been affiliated with the Society since 1993, is also concerned about attracting younger members into the fold—a topic familiar to many historical societies.

Radnor Township was first settled by European immigrants in the mid-seventeenth century, when 40 Welsh Quakers moved onto 5,000 acres purchased from William Penn. The town of Radnorville developed around a Quaker meetinghouse erected at the heart of the property in 1717. By the 19th century, Radnor grew to be one of the most affluent townships just outside of Philadelphia, where many wealthy families built elegant mansions as country estates – also known as one of the core neighborhoods of the greater Main Line.

The private, non-profit organization has been headquartered since 1948 at the historic Finley House in Wayne, Pennsylvania, the former home of Revolutionary War veteran Captain John Pugh. The two-story farmhouse dates from the late eighteenth century, and was renovated several times during the nineteenth century. On the first floor, a Museum Room contains a variety of artifacts including Lenni Lenape arrowheads and tools, William Penn memorabilia, and records of the early days of the Radnor High School.

The Back Parlor serves as a research library and features a collection of objects belonging to the Finley family. The Herbert S. Henderson File/Workroom contains a large collection of photographs, maps, letters, diaries, and blueprints relating to Radnor history. On the second floor, a Victorian-era master bedroom retains architectural features and furnishings of the 1840s. In addition, the organization owns and operates the Theodore Boreham Brooks Memorial Wagon House, which is also located in Wayne. Built in 1964, the structure houses an assortment of early vehicles, including an original Conestoga Wagon.

Financial Survival Equals Donations

Although Radnor Township is much more affluent than Vineland, both societies depend primarily on membership fees and donations for their financial survival. However, Radnor has organized some new fund-raising programs designed to promote interest in the township’s colonial and Victorian-era heritage. There is a historical marker program for property owners, who can apply for a cast bronze plaque that will identify their structure as historically significant. The Society also hosts trips to local sites such as the Isle Field Mansion, built in 1911 by Horace Trumbauer as a country home for the Darlington family.

“We want to enlighten people about Radnor’s history and to help them be proud of their neighborhoods,” Pollard said.

The Vineland Historical and Antiquarian Society is located at 108 S. Seventh Street (mailing address is PO Box 35), Vineland, New Jersey 08362. The museum is open from Tuesdays through Saturdays from 1 to 4 p.m. For further information, call 856-691-1111 or e-mail vinelandhistory@gmail.com. The Radnor Historical Society is located at 113 West Beechtree Lane in Wayne, Pennsylvania. The house is open to the public Tuesdays and Saturdays from 2 to 4 p.m. For further information, call 610-688-2668 or visit the web site at www.radnorhistory.org.