Swedesboro, New Jersey’s Trinity Episcopal Church’s current building was constructed in 1784, replacing an earlier log church that was damaged during the Revolutionary War. Its minister, Reverend Nicholas Collin, kept a journal detailing the war’s impact on the church and the town, including his own capture by militia. Across the…
Category: US History
Celebration In The Front, Celebration In The Back
Delighted to become a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution last year, I ordered some merch: a Christmas ornament, pin, scarf and baseball hat. At the time, I took a photo of them all to accompany a future story. Inspiration did not come; I removed it from my…
Death Of The Fox Inn
The Death Of The Fox Inn was built in 1727 in Clarksboro, New Jersey. Its name came from what it did: provide drink and sustenance to members of the Gloucester Fox Hunting Club after their hunts. Founded in 1766 by a group of Philadelphia gentlemen as a coffeehouse, it was…
Mullica Hill, New Jersey 9/11 Memorial
Driving through the town of Mullica Hill, New Jersey, I noticed two structures of the same height side by side. With my visual impairment, I am not always sure what I am seeing. “Was that the Twin Towers?,” I asked my husband. “I didn’t see it,” he replied as he…
A German Doctor’s American Dream
Fourty-four year old Bodo Otto, Sr., his wife and children moved from Germany to the English Colonies in 1755, he ws 44. He opened a medical practice in Philadelphia; it quickly became prosperous due to the large German population in the city. Dr. Otto, Sr. believed in American liberty…
Garage Land
Our house was built in 1906 along with ten other identical dwellings spread across our block. We have a detached garage in the back, with an alley running behind it. Of the ten homes, ours is the only one with the original garage. Needing to replace the garage floor, we…
Paterson Great Falls National Historic Park
In 1792, Alexander Hamilton established Paterson, New Jersey as America’s first planned industrial city, centered around the Great Falls of the Passaic River. The mills there created industries that changed the face of the newly formed United States and Paterson became the national hub of manufacturing. I recently visited Great…
Dey Mansion
The Dey (pronounced “dye”) Mansion, located in Wayne, New Jersey, was built in the 1770s and was the home of Colonel Theunis Dey and his wife Hester. Twice it served as General George Washington’s headquarters during the American Revolution, once from July 1 through July 28, 1780 and again from…
Just Another Saturday Morning
The evening before Wreaths Across America Day, I was texting with my good friend, Donna, from my hotel room in Arlington, Virginia. She asked what time we had to head to Arlington National Cemetery the next morning. The above texts followed. Most Saturday mornings I am home checking the pantry…
