For past Newsletters click here
Current Newsletter: December 2025
View From the Porch
History was in full swing this fall in Moorestown. In cooperation with Saving Historical Moorestown, activities started at quick speed on September 27th when Annie McCormick from Channel 6 Action News sounded the start of the Hessian Fun Run. Over 100 participants, some in their finest feathers, trotted down King’s Highway to “return” all those provisions purloined by Hessian troops almost 250 years ago! Potatoes, carrots, coins, wood and (rubber) chickens were dropped off at Witness Houses along the route. The morning run finished at the oval of Moorestown Friends School which began educating our children 240 years ago.
Within an hour of the final rubber chicken being returned to the Smith- Cadbury Mansion, the Historic House Tour of Witness houses began. Local houses that were standing during the American Revolution were toured by over 300 visitors. In addition, the Cowperthwaite House at the corner of Lenola and Kings Highway was transformed into a Museum- for-a-Day with exhibits pertaining to Moorestown at the time of the Revolution. Matt Skic, Director of Collections and Exhibitions at Philadelphia’s Museum of the American Revolution spent the day there talking about the patterned brick architecture of homes in South Jersey. Both the Moorestown and Mount Laurel Meeting houses were also part of the tour, as well as a 5-story wooden barn behind the Heulings house on Bridgeboro Road.
In October, history was conjured up through the spirit of the Living History & Ghost Tours. Over three weekends, sold-out crowds walked the streets of Moorestown and enjoyed visits from historical figures like the Reverend Thomas Ustick (preaching from the original front porch of Smith-Cadbury), Peggy Shippen, John Woolman, and Suffragists, to name a few. A special performance by the Historical Interpreter Dr. Daisy Century enthralled listeners with stories of Harriet Tubman and Sojourner Truth (see page 3 for some photos).
On Halloween night Smith-Cadbury hosted a special Open House where families enjoyed spirits and surprises at the decorated house. Many of the 3rd graders who took the annual school tour last spring brought their parents to see the house!
None of these events could have happened without the hard work and dedication of volunteers and sponsors. Our volunteers were not just the Board of Trustees who put in countless hours throughout the year, but also so many people from Moorestown and neighboring communities that gave up their weekends to make all of these events happen. Not only do we enrich the community by remembering and sharing our history, we also create a bridge of friendship. People came as far away as Ohio to attend the Witness House tour and from far and wide to see the Living History & Ghost Tours.
We send a big “thank you” to all of you who supported us at these incredible events. They would not happen without you.
We have planned so much for the upcoming year. We hope that you will attend and spread the word. It is going to be a great celebration of the 250th Anniversary of the American Revolution and the history of Moorestown!
Linda Vizi, President
moorestownhistory@comcast.net
To view a color PDF of this December 2025 Newsletter click here.
Top right: Model of Smith-Cadbury Mansion, built by Bill Rose. Image shows north side of the house with the restored side porch.
