Bordentown Historical Society

Did you know that Clara Barton started teaching in Bordentown in an election year?

In 1852, Franklin Pierce was elected 14th President of the United States, as voters hoped to usher in an era of peace and prosperity. Unfortunately, the breakdown of the Union soon followed, hastened in part by some of his policies.

During the 1852 election almost all adult white males were able to vote, with property ownership and tax requirements having been eliminated.

An advocate of civil rights, it will come as no surprise that Clara Barton was a supporter of women’s right to vote. However, unlike many of her fellow suffragists, did not want to see women’s suffrage added to the 15th Amendment, fearing that trying to address voting rights for African American men at the same time as voting rights for women would lead to failure.

In the end, while the 15th Amendment was passed in 1870, protecting the voting rights of adult male citizens of any race, it wasn’t until 1920 that the 19th Amendment guaranteed women’s suffrage, 8 years after Clara’s death.

As millions of votes head to the polls today, here’s a throwback photo to when author Nancy B Kennedy brought her suffragette quartet to the Clara Barton schoolhouse - we always love learning more about the rich life Clara lived outside the walls of her schoolhouse!

While we have been making history, with our record breaking Historic House Tour successfully taking place on Saturday, we have missed a few historic dates relevant to the history of our storied city.

For example, October 31, was the birthday of Joseph Bonaparte’s younger daughter, Charlotte. Born in our twin city, Mortefontaine, in 1802, Charlotte, or Lolotte as she was known to her family, spent her childhood on the Mortefontaine estate and in the family’s Paris home.

Not yet 13 when her father Joseph escaped to America, Charlotte, her mother and older sister, Zénaïde, spent their exile in Europe, including in Brussels, where Charlotte studied under Jacques-Louis David, one of the best painters of the time.

In fact, it was Jacques-Louis Davis who was responsible for the painting of Charlotte and her sister, reading a letter their father had sent from Philadelphia.

In December 1821, aged just 19, Charlotte docked in Philadelphia, having sailed across the Atlantic to join her father in Bordentown. For three years she enjoyed life in Bordentown.

With Point Breeze rapidly becoming a center for French art and culture, Charlotte continued to develop her art, exhibiting landscape drawings and paintings and delighting friends with watercolor portraits of them.

However, after just 3 years in America, Charlotte headed back to Europe to enter a politically motivated marriage with her cousin Napoleon-Louis.

While the focus of our exhibit is Joseph Bonaparte, the art of Charlotte can be found across the region, with a self portrait recently acquired by Princeton University Art Museum, and other works held by Athenæum of Philadelphia and the Historical Society of Pennsylvania. In addition, several of Charlotte’s drawings are part of the New York public library’s digital collection - including a view of Point Breeze.

It really is true - all roads lead back to Bordentown - even when it comes to European royalty!

The Fall House Tour is today from 1-5pm.

Visit the Friends Meeting House at 302 Farnsworth Avenue to collect your map and tickets and tag us in your photos!

This is going to be good!

It’s Halloween night and the one time of the year we’re willing to countenance chat about the ghosts and ghouls reported to walk the streets of our historic city.

Perhaps our most famous horrid creature is the Jersey Devil, declared the Official State Demon of New Jersey in 1929, and continuing to be “spotted” across the state today.

Even Joseph Bonaparte is reported to have seen the Jersey Devil while out hunting in woods near his estate.

But what are the origins of this persistent and pervasive myth? Is the Jersey Devil the love child of a British soldier and a young girl? The 13th child of “Mother Leeds” - a Quaker who gave birth during a thunderstorm? Or an unwanted baby born in the heart of Bordentown to an otherwise respectable family?

In reality, there are no contemporary historic records that tell of the Jersey Devil. Even stories of Joseph Bonaparte’s brush with this mythical creature appear long after the event.

Far more likely is that the Jersey Devil owes its origins to a feud between Benjamin Franklin and the Leeds family, over the publication of almanacs, a lucrative market in the early 1700s.

Keen to stoke publicity, Franklin used astrological techniques to predict that his established rival Titan Leeds would die on October 17, 1733. It is safe to say the Leeds family was not impressed.

Already accused of being “evil” for supporting anti-Quaker figures, and converting to Anglicanism, the Leeds family crest contained a creature not unlike later descriptions of the Jersey Devil.

It seems that from within all this the legend of the Jersey Devil was born. We’ll let you draw your own conclusions on what that means!

But if you prefer your history to be accurate, rather than salacious, don’t forget we have plenty of corroborated stories about Joseph Bonaparte and you can visit our exhibit at the Friends Meeting House to learn all about them (we will next be open on Saturday during the Fall Historic House tour!).

Until then, happy haunting!

On this day in 1938, mass panic spread across the US when listeners tuned into CBS radio and heard the young Orson Welles’ radio play “The War of the Worlds”.

Playing at the same time as a very popular NBC show, the “Chase and Sanborn Hour”, listener figures started low and only picked up when a musical interlude had people reaching for the radio dial, meaning they joined the CBS broadcast more than 10 minutes in.

Presented as a series of radio news bulletins, complete with moments of dead air, affiliate station cut ins, and increasing hysteria from announcers, listeners who missed the disclaimer at the start it was fiction believed they were hearing a Martian invasion unfolding in real time.

Not only that, but the locations described would have been very familiar to New Jerseyans as they included Grovers Mill (a farm outside Plainsboro), Princeton, Morristown, Basking Ridge, and Newark.

Some panicked listeners even headed outdoors and shot at a water tower thinking that it was a Martian landing craft with three legs.

While Bordentown was not on the location list, it did have its own set of UFO sightings as recently as spring of 2021.

While looking to the skies hasn’t yet led us to spot any alien visitors, it is possible that with the return of the Fall Historic House tour, after a 5 year hiatus, this Saturday that they may be keen to visit. Just in case, we’ll be sure to leave the lights on!

And if you’re a terrestrial being interested in seeing 11 private historic homes and visiting 3 historic sites, don’t forget tickets are on sale now online or in person from Icon Boutique.

We always love to host educational groups at the Clara Barton Schoolhouse and last Wednesday Co-President Bonnie Goldman met 14 Bordentown Regional High School students at the Schoolhouse.

Aged 14-18 they are all students in an English as a second language course and hailed from across the globe with students from Guatemala and Ukraine among the group.

Bonnie enjoyed chatting with them all about how Clara Barton founded the American Red Cross, her legacy as an amazing American Icon and the humanitarian work she undertook.

While not in her full Clara Barton dress, Bonnie couldn’t resist the opportunity to wear a Red Cross volunteer cap from 1945, kindly donated by Charles Brakeley Jr., grandson of Pauline Brakeley who received the pictured certificate of thanks signed by President Harry Truman!

We have also had a new informational sign installed at the schoolhouse, with a more appropriate picture of Clara Barton looking youthful!

If you also want to see the inside of the schoolhouse don’t forget that it will be one of the historical sites open as part of the Fall Historic House tour this Saturday! Advance sales continue so be sure to save your spot!

Today is the day for Bordentown city’s Halloween parade and we hope you’re excited as we are!

Three years ago, co-President Bonnie Goldman reprised her role as Clara Barton and traveled the city streets in a replica Clara Barton schoolhouse.

This year, we’re hoping to impress as members of the historical society, and friends, march in colonial and revolutionary era garb to highlight the upcoming celebrations for the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution.

But who remembers when former Monkee, Peter Tork, rode in the parade back in 2011?

The bass guitarist and keyboardist of the Monkees, and co-star of the NBC television series of the same name, Peter Tork was a familiar face to a whole generation. After his time with the popular American “Beatles” group, he continued to pursue a career in music and played in Bordentown several times with his own band, Blue Suede Shoes.

The parade starts at 2pm and we look forward to seeing you all along the route! Please do tag us in any photos of our marchers….the trouble with the 1700s is that cameras weren’t invented yet!

Yesterday saw the birthday of Ida Waugh, daughter of Samuel Bell Waugh, and sister of Frederick Waugh.

Born 24th October, 1846, Ida was born into a family of artists and is often overshadowed by her father and brother, though both Ida and her step mother, Mary Eliza Young Waugh, were artists in their own right.

As a portrait painter, Samuel Waugh is best known for painting Abraham Lincoln, who sat for him.

Frederick focused on seascapes, while his mother Eliza was a miniaturist.

A talented artist, Ida’s first teacher was her father, though she went on to study in Paris. She was also was a student in the first “Ladies Life Class” at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts in 1868, a class that opened up life classes to women artists in America, who were finally being recognized as professional artists and not just hobbyists.

As well as publishing a small library of children’s books with her friend and partner Amy Blanchard, for which Ida provided the illustrations, Ida was an award winning painting and some of her works were even made into postcards.

The family was no stranger to Bordentown, with Samuel owning a summer house on Bank Street, and Frederick born in the city. Photos of the home taken by John Moran around 1863, and digitized by the Library Company of Philadelphia, likely show Ida and Amy on the lawn of the home - which sadly no longer stands.

Built in the Italianate style, we do have a similar era and design of home on the Fall House Tour next week so make sure you get your ticket so that you can explore a home where the artistic Waugh may have also once visited!

Advance tickets are available online or in person from Icon Boutique.

Another exciting update!

After launching our Historic House Plaque Program earlier this year, we can now share that our first historic home owner has received their deed history, historical notes and beautiful hand crafted plaque - which is now hanging proudly outside.

If you also have a Bordentown home that is over 80 years old, you too can take advantage of this program being offered via our talented team of volunteer researchers.

For details and pricing contact our program lead Karen Brisson at: [email protected] or by phone at 609-456-1926

And if you don’t have a home in beautiful Bordentown just yet, don’t forget about the Fall House Tour coming up on November 2nd. It will be a unique chance to see behind the front doors of 11 historic homes in the city and tickets are on sale now!

Thank you to everyone who turned out on Saturday to hear Laura Poll, former Trentoniana archivist, talk about her work to confirm the identity of some of Joseph Bonaparte’s paintings that hung at Point Breeze and are now owned by the Trenton Public Library and St. Michael’s Episcopal Church.

It was very interesting to hear about the hunt for the 6 paintings owned by the Trenton library and 2 new finds thought to have hung at Point Breeze!

Sad to have missed out? All members receive email reminders of upcoming events, otherwise find the full list on our website or make sure you’re following us on social media!

Only one of these homes will be on the Fall House Tour on November 2….can you guess which one?

Don’t forget tickets are available now online from our website or in person at Icon Boutique.

https://bordentownhistory.org/ongoing-events/

njhistoricalsociety

Did you know that part of our mission at Bordentown Historical Society is to teach and inspire curiosity about the history of our city?

As such, we work hard to find a range of guests to present to us throughout the year. Today we have Laura Poll, former Trentoniana archivist, visiting the Friends Meeting House from 3-4pm to share the fascinating story of how 5 out of 6 paintings that once belonged to Joseph Bonaparte were relocated by Trenton Free Public Library.

And early next year, we will be welcoming Abby Readlinger (pictured), a sophomore at Princeton University majoring in Political Science, to talk about her efforts to teach young adults about our Constitution in plain language through her book series The Young Federalists.

Having written her first book in high school, Abby has just finished her second book. You may have seen her at the Bordentown Farmer’s Market last Sunday at our table and we hope that you’ll plan to brave the weather on January 4 to hear her speak!

Bordentown is bursting with history so this Halloween why not dress up as one of your favorite Bordentown residents of old?

If you need to get some ideas, take a walk through Hilltop park and check out these skeletons representing some of our most famous residents!

And if that inspires you, don’t forget we’re still looking for marchers in Colonial or Revolutionary outfits to join us in the Halloween parade on Sunday October 27!

Remember history isn’t just names and dates, it’s lots of fun too!

A little update on the amazing progress being made on our city history mural by local artist

And a reminder of just how far we have come!

Thank you to Erik for his time and talent, and to everyone who donated so that we could provide the supplies needed so that this version will last!

Bordentown - a little city with a lot of (he)art - and history!

A reminder that the Bordentown Historical Society house tour is coming up soon!

Advance tickets are on sale now from Icon Boutique in the city, or online via our website - join us 11-5 on Saturday November 2, in the heart of Bordentown city.

There will be 11 historic homes on show with a variety of styles, and 3 of our historic sites will be open to the public.

Keep following for some sneak peeks of which homes will be on the tour! And share or tag a friend to let them know too!

AI can produce some impressive artwork these days.

But although these computer generated line drawings of some of the homes on our upcoming Fall House Tour look great, we think nothing beats the real thing!

For one afternoon only, on November 2, you will have the opportunity to not just view 11 of Bordentown’s historic homes from the sidewalk, but to cross the thresholds and peek inside!

So leave AI to do the boring work, and use your free time to come a view something special!

(See flyer at the end of this post for full details - tickets on sale now online on our website or in person from Icon Boutique).

Sitting within hearing distance of the railroad running through Bordentown, it is appropriate that several graves in Christ Church cemetery belong to those who made their names in rail history.

For example, Colonel Joseph Warner Allen, father of Frederick Allen who we wrote about Wednesday, may have died serving in the Civil War, but spent most of his life as a railroad surveyor and civil engineer.

Born across the Delaware near Bristol, PA, in 1811, Joseph Allen matured during an age of significant railway expansion. In the 1840s he helped survey the trainline through areas of Bergen County and a depot on the line was called Allendale in his honor - meaning that the borough of Allendale, which grew up around it, is technically named for a Bordentonian!

To learn more about the central role of Bordentown and its people in the history of American railroads, be sure to attend “All Aboard the Bordentown Railroad” this Sunday, October 13, at 1pm for a presentation and walking tour by our very own Bordentown Historical Society Director, Pierre Lacombe.

Admission is free and the presentation will start at 1pm at Old City Hall.

Sometimes history repeats itself in all the best ways!

During the nearly 20 years that Joseph Bonaparte resided at Point Breeze Estate, his magnificent home and lands served as the epicenter of Franco-American relations in the United States.

In September of this year, Point Breeze Estate was once again host to dignitaries from France when Bordentown Historical Society was honored to welcome His Excellency Laurent Bili, the French Ambassador to the US, as well as Caroline Monvoison, the Consul General of France, and their staff.

These esteemed guests were given a tour of our flagship Joseph Bonaparte Exhibit at the Friends Meeting House in the heart of Bordentown City, and the Point Breeze Estate.

This is the third French Ambassador to visit Point Breeze over the years which highlights the significance that the Republic of France places on this historic site.

In addition to being Napoleon’s oldest brother and the former King of Naples and King of Spain, Joseph Bonaparte negotiated and signed, on September 30, 1800, the Treaty of Mortefontaine between the US and France.

This treaty prevented hostilities between France and the US and is one of the most important treaties ever signed between our two countries. The treaty is also one of the reasons that Bordentown, NJ entered into a Sister City relationship with Mortefontaine, France in 2022, a partnership we are enjoying seeing develop further.

If you weren’t one of the 270 people who visited the Joseph Bonaparte exhibit during the Cranberry Festival this weekend - what are you waiting for? You can see our now world famous exhibit free Saturdays in October from 11-4.

Photo (left to right): Steve Lederman and Bonnie Goldman, Co-Presidents of Bordentown Historical Society, Caroline Monvoison, Consul General of France, Peter Tucci, Bordentown Historical Society Director, Laurent Bili, French Ambassador to the US

Did you know we have an archives committee? Not only can you find the arifact(s) of the month on our website, but behind the scenes our dedicated volunteers are working hard to scan and catalog our many items.

For we wanted to take a moment to recall a pre-digital time with these receipts from our archives.

Spanning almost 40 years, these hand written sales slips offer an insight into the world of Bordentown florist John Adams Clair.

Born in August 1859, John Clair ran a florists in the heart of Bordentown city and lived until 1942.

These proofs of purchase can give us insight into the merchants in the city, the products and services on offer, and of course costs!

For example - the box of cut flowers and loan of two Easter lilies may have *only* been a $1.75 in 1893, but today that equates to over $60. While the equivalent of $5 in 1930 is $94 in 2024.

Let us know what your thoughts are!

If you’ve read Vice President Doug Kiovsy’s interesting article, “Once Upon a Time Came Standard Time”, you’ll know that we have Bordentown resident William Frederick Allen to thank for the adoption of four standardized time zones across the USA, due to his lobbying of the railroad industry. (Do check out the article on our website: bordentownhistory.org).

But did you know that before he became a civil engineer, and secretary of the American Railway Association, William Allen joined the Union forces at the outbreak of the Civil War aged just 14?

Or that while serving, he exchanged letters with friends from home - including Bordentown’s very own Richard Watson Gilder?

Held by the Historical Society of Pennsylvania, these letters from “Watsy” and others offer an insight into the times - rather like peeking into someone’s email inbox today!

But it is William Allen’s achievements after the Civil War for which he will be remembered. Working for the railroads at a time of great expansion (the miles of track almost doubled to 93,000 1870s alone), the need for standardized time was not just a practical issue, but one of safety and it took the passion and insight of someone who grew up immersed in railroad culture to see such a monumental change come to pass.

And why are we remembering William Allen today? Well, not only is it his birthday tomorrow, October 9, (and we don’t want to be late!) but were he still alive we know that he would be attending our very own Pierre Lacombe’s presentation and walking tour this Sunday, October 13, on the Camden and Amboy railway!

If you have even a passing interest in railroad history you will want to join Pierre at this joint event with Old City Hall. Not only is Pierre incredibly knowledgeable, but his enthusiasm is infectious!

Join us at Bordentown Cranberry Festival this weekend and take a picture with a famous Bordentonian!

Who will you choose?

History themed gifts and Fall House Tour tickets also on sale - our table will be outside The Friends Meeting House at 302 Farnsworth Avenue Saturday and Sunday 11-5!

This weekend sees the Cranberry Festival take over Farnsworth Avenue as the city celebrates its art, food, music, and history.

Be sure to stop by and see us from 11-5 Saturday and Sunday at 302 Farnsworth Avenue. Our free Joseph Bonaparte exhibit will be open, we will have items associated with Clara Barton, Joseph Bonaparte, and the Marquis de Lafayette for sale, and, for the first time, we will have unique holiday ornaments natural items collected from the Pinelands.

Plus “meet” some of our most well known historic figures for photos, learn more about our plans to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution, and find out more about the Fall Historic House tour. Plus if you decide you want house tour tickets they will be on sale up the road at Shoppe 202!

We can’t wait to see you all!

October 2 marks the birthday of the talented Francis Hopkinson on the Gregorian calendar we use today.

Born in 1737 in Philadelphia, Francis’ talents were obvious as a young man. Aged 20, he was the first graduate of the Academy of Philadelphia (now the University of Pennsylvania) and he was already developing a firm friendship with the older Benjamin Franklin.

It was Franklin who persuaded Francis to forget his promising career serving the crown, and instead to embrace the Patriot cause in the mid-1770s.

Elected to the Second Continental Congress in June 1776, Francis became one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence and he served on the Continental Marine Committee before become the head of the Continental Navy in August 1776.

In fact, Francis held a range of public servant roles in the new administration before being appointed as a federal judge in 1789 by the president - George Washington.

But his talents extended far beyond politics and the law. A talented poet, writer, artist, inventor, musician, and composer, he invented the “Bellarmonic”, which used metal bells to create a unique sound (and intrigued Thomas Jefferson), he was the first American born composer of secular music, and, of course, he was responsible for the design of both the Great Seal and the Stars and Stripes.

Though the history books may not always give Francis credit, most historians do now agree that he was responsible for the flag as part of his role leading the Continental Navy - though he never got paid extra for his design.

And where did this influential and accomplished man live? Right here in Bordentown of course!