South Jersey residents don’t have to cross the Ben Franklin Bridge into Center City Philadelphia to get a history lesson on the area’s role in the Revolutionary War. Washington Township residents don’t even need to leave the municipality to see firsthand what the community was like in the 18th and 19th centuries.
The Olde Stone House Village, located on Egg Harbor Road, is a six-and-a-half acre property that includes the Olde Stone House, the Quay House, the Turnersville Post Office and Blackwood Train Station.
Chair of the historic preservation commission Nick Appice said three families lived on the property: The Morgan family, the Turner family, for whom Turnersville is named, and the Atkinson family, to whom the area is dedicated, and the decommissioned Bunker Hill Presbyterian Church building. The Quay House, post office and train station were donated by Charles Quay, a farmer and history buff, according to Appice. He added the property was once as large as 300 acres.
As far as the Olde Stone House, Appice said the families believe the house dates back between 1730 to 1736 despite some research saying it could have been built closer to to the 1770s.
“I stick with the families,” Appice said.
While the house was surely functioning during the Revolutionary War, there is no official proof that the house was used as a hospital like other historical houses in the area, such as Gabriel Daveis Tavern in Glendora or the Whitall House in National Park. Appice said there’s a rumor a colonial solider fell and died in the stairwell, but said it could have been a family folk tale.
Having multiple historic sites from different eras in one location is great for the township, in Appice’s opinion. The Quay House dates to 1825, the church to 1849, the post office to 1864 and the train station to 1891.
“Unfortunately, Washington Township doesn’t have a historic district, it was all farmland,” he said. “There is no historic district like a ‘Main Street.’ What we have goes from the 1730s through 1891, you can see each era in one location at each building. It’s important we keep it going that way with restoration and funds. This is our last gem.”
To promote the site, the historic commission is beginning tours of the village on the second Saturday of each month from 1 to 3 p.m. meeting at the train station. Tours of the village are free, but donations are always accepted.
Appice added the historic commission hasn’t had tours like this in a few years but is excited to share the site with the community.
“It’s going to be a tour with the history of buildings, see the rooms, see artifacts and learn about family stories,” he said. “If we get a good enough response, we might bring back demonstrations like cooking and soap-making.”
In addition to the historic sites, the property includes a lake with picnic tables, benches and a gazebo, making it an ideal place to spend an afternoon and possibly picnic after a tour of the village.
“It’s a great place to get families free and low-cost events for a day out,” Appice said. “You don’t have to break the bank to have some fun and learn a little bit.”
For more information on the Olde Stone House Village, visit its Facebook page “Olde Stone House Historic Village – Washington Twp., Gloucester Co., NJ.” Donations can be made by mailing cash or check to the municipal building at 523 Egg Harbor Road in care of “Olde Stone House Village.”
