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 | Mission Statement |
| Coopertown Meeting House |
| Postcards |
| Donations |
| Scheduled Meetings |
| Upcoming Events |
| Press Releases |
| Beverly's Nelson Fish |
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News Saturday December 5th is the Holiday House Tour featuring 6 decorated homes, the Red Dragon Canoe Club, St. Stephen's Chapel and Coopertown Meeting House Tour hours 3 - 7PM reserve your tickets at $8, call 609-387-4975 leave name & # of tickets $15 day of tour THE COOPERTOWN MEETING HOUSE IS OPEN BY APPOINTMENT TO INTERESTED GROUPS. CALL THERESA TO SET UP A DAY & TIME------------------------- MARK YOUR CALENDERS FOR THE FREE OPEN HOUSE ON SATURDAY DECEMBER 5TH 1 TO 7 PM FREE SEE THE BEVERLY BEE FOR MORE INFORMATION OR CALL THERESA 609-387-1079 |
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Members List:
Links Section
President:
Dennis Rogers
Vice President:
Karl Burrows
Secretary/Treasurer:
Theresa Lowden
ST. STEPHEN'S EPISCOPAL CHURCH BURLINGTON COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY NJ CIVIL WAR-23 RD REGIMENT/YAHOOS WEBSITE
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Welcome to the Riverfront Historical Society
We have designed this site to inform you of our history, our recent events and our upcoming events. The Riverfront Historical Society studies and collects the history of the tri-town area known as Beverly, Delanco and Edgewater Park. These three towns are linked historically and geographically. Riverfront Historical Society was formed in 1976 as a continuation of the three town’s bicentennial committees. Their first project was the restoration of the Coopertown Meeting House that had fallen into serious disrepair. After years of fundraising and hard work, the restoration work was completed.
Through the years, the Riverfront Historical Society has hosted school tours of the meeting house, given awards to grade school history scholars, donated books to the Beverly Library and hosted various speakers, programs and holiday house tours. We continue to support various charities and programs in our area.
In 2002 we reorganized and have stepped up efforts to add to our artifacts collection preserving our history for future historians. Donations of items pertaining to our 3 towns are always welcome and may be donated in another family member's name. ALL DONATIONS ARE GREATLY APPRECIATED! Riverfront Historical Society is a 501-C3 non profit organization.
REVOLUTIONARY WAR HISTORY: During the War for Independence, Dunks Ferry played a part in the Battle of Trenton in 1776. General Washington sent troops over to Dunks Ferry but due to thick river ice, the horses and cannons couldn’t be brought to land. The troops were called back to Pennsylvania in the morning. The ferry crossing was a strategic crossing during the war used by the patriots extensively. It was said Washington himself spent time in Dunk’s Ferry avoiding Tory spies and British troops. During the War of 1812, Stephen Girard hid his fleet of ships in the Rancocas Creek near Delanco.
CIVIL WAR HISTORY: During the Civil War, Beverly City had a Union Army training camp from 1861 to 1863. Five regiments mustered in and trained there including the Burlington County 23rd Regiment known as “the Yahoos.” They were a nine month regiment with area farmers filling their ranks. They participated in the Battle of Fredricksburg and Salem Church In 1864, the camp and buildings were turned into a Union convalescent hospital. The soldiers who didn’t make it were interred into what became the Beverly National Cemetery. The camp and hospital was enthusiastically supported by the people of Beverly City and Beverly Township. Fresh fruit, vegetables, blankets, bibles and moral support came from the people of the Beverly, Delanco and Edgewater Park area. Their support of the troops made our area successful and attractive to investors. Later the federal government erected a statue at the Beverly National Cemetery in gratitude for our area and Burlington County's help.
POST CIVIL WAR: When steamboat travel increased, Beverly’s prominence as a business center flourished. Farmers and businesses shipped their goods down river, loading their products on at Beverly’s docks. The Delanco area became a popular tourist stop for many Philadelphia residents and Edgewater Park produced excellent produce and farm goods.
1900'S: In the next century, Beverly’s businesses adjusted to manufacturing goods that later supported both world wars. Beaunit Mills and Wall Rope Works were two companies whose products supported the war effort. The children of the area remember well the troops passing by in the railroad cars on their way to Europe or the Pacific. After World War Two came the building boom as farmland disappeared in favor of housing developments for young families. The face of our area changed from growing crops to growing families. Our three town area still contributed to the county, state and our nation making our little area of New Jersey, proud and prosperous.
