Gloucester County Historical Society

08/19/2026

A STORY WORTH REMEMBERING

What connects a Civil War training camp in Woodbury, a group of local Union soldiers, and today’s 12th New Jersey Infantry reenactors?

The Answer is Camp Stockton!

Learn how Woodbury’s Camp Stockton Monument came to be, the story behind the nearly 1,000 local soldiers who trained there, and how reenactors continue to gather at the monument today to honor their service and sacrifice.

📖 Read the story:
https://www.gchsnj.org/a-vist-to-woodburys-civil-war-camp-stockton-monument/

07/29/2026

Did you know one of the world's most celebrated ocean explorers got her start right here in Gloucester County? Long before she became internationally known as "Her Deepness," Dr. Sylvia Earle was a curious young girl growing up in Gibbstown, where her lifelong fascination with the natural world first took root. Discover the remarkable story of the pioneering marine biologist, deep-sea explorer, and ocean conservation champion whose achievements have inspired generations. Dive into this fascinating local history from the Gloucester County Historical Society!

Read the full story:

Deep Sea Diving Pioneer and One of the Most Respected Marine Scientists of the Modern Era

07/22/2026

CARVED IVORY TRIPTYCH

This carved statuette has long been a museum mystery, coming to us with no provenance. Not your everyday decorative piece, his hinged chest folds out to capture in three panels what may be an important moment in history -- the British Surrender of Yorktown to the French and Americans on October 19, 1781.

Queries to museums (including the Smithsonian and France’s Military Museum) went nowhere. But after studying the smallest details, we now think this may be Lieutenant General Rochambeau, commander-in-chief of the French Expeditionary Force in America during the American Revolution.

From the 17th-19th century, Dieppe was a major center for carved ivory. To the guilds of French carvers, he was the most historically logical and visually accurate choice for what we now think is a French-made commemorative piece.

Epaulettes, wide lapels, and lace cuffs mark his aristocratic and military rank. Tall, spurred cavalry boots befit a commander who rode horseback throughout the American campaigns. In his right hand is a scroll representing the “Articles of Capitulation,” ending the last major land battle and effectively securing American independence.

Open his chest, and the panel on his right shows two soldiers -- one in epaulettes, the other in a tricorn hat, sword at his side, perhaps on a scouting mission or overlooking the battlefield.

On the left stand French Hussars in their iconic conical, plumed headgear. One wears epaulettes, carrying a musket with fixed bayonet while a curious drummer boy peeks around him.

The center depicts the official surrender. Cornwallis claimed illness, sending General Charles O’Hara, his second-in command; so, Washington properly directed General Benjamin Lincoln, his second-in-command, to accept the British sword. Behind them stand two American aides-de-camp in tricorns, with a French Hussar in his plumed cap.

Based on our research and plenty of discussion, that’s what we’ve come up with. But the thing about mysteries is you can just never be sure. What do you think?

07/17/2026

ANNOUNCEMENT:

The GCHS Museum will be closing earlier today at 3 pm. The museum will also be closed to the public this weekend, but the library will still be operating under our third weekend of the month hours from 12 pm-4 pm. Thank you for your understanding at this time.

07/03/2026

Looking for another way to celebrate America's 250th anniversary?

You're in luck! Did you know that Paulsboro, New Jersey was the site of the United States' first federal land purchase?

Join the celebration of this remarkable milestone in American history with exciting events, educational programs, and a live reenactment of the historic deed signing.

To learn more and stay up to date on all the festivities, visit the Paulsboro Revolution 250 page.

Come celebrate our nation's revolutionary past and support your local history! ❤️🤍💙

07/02/2026

HOLIDAY CLOSURE NOTICE

The Gloucester County Historical Society Library & Museum will be closed on Friday, July 3rd in observance of the Independence Day holiday weekend.

We will resume our regular hours after the holiday and look forward to welcoming you back soon!

Wishing everyone a safe and happy Fourth of July! 🎆

06/25/2026

WROUGHT IRON BOOT SCRAPER from GLOUCESTER COUNTY’S ORIGINAL COURTHOUSE

Long before paved roads, people used boot scrapers to remove caked mud, soil, horse manure, and street gunk (the sticky, messy reality of historical urban waste), from the soles of their shoes before entering a building.

They reached their height of popularity in the late 18th century, when strolling became a fashionable pastime for the upper classes. it was the invention of tarmac (tar-bound pavement) in 1902, coupled with our shift from horse-drawn carriages to motorized vehicles, that sounded the death knell for the utilitarian boot scraper.

But this boot scraper is special. Gloucester County’s original county seat was in Gloucester Town until legislators moved it to Woodbury, where they built a new courthouse in 1787. Later declared unsafe and condemned, it set the stage for today’s courthouse – a Victorian-Romanesque structure capped with a magnificent clock tower that still anchors downtown Woodbury. The city fathers allowed the 1787 building to stand alongside the new one long just enough for it to celebrate its centennial in 1887.

But in February 1887, the old building was deconstructed and auctioned off. Philadelphia produce merchant and Woodbury resident Benajah Andrews placed the winning bid of $225, salvaging the lumber and stone for his personal use.

A second auction was later held for the building’s furniture and architectural elements – some of which remain scattered throughout Woodbury. One of them is this wrought iron boot scraper that sits, embedded in stone, outside an unused side door to the Society’s Museum.

06/18/2026

GENTLEMEN’S HAT BOX

This gentleman’s hat box, clearly showing its age, has held its shape remarkably well. It once belonged to J. Ogden of Woodbury. The outside is covered with what appears to be either a decorative paper or wallpaper. The inside is fully lined with pages from the Paralipomenon – an archaic name for the Books of Chronicles, meaning “things omitted” or “supplementary” in an example of repurposing “book waste” -- using unwanted, damaged or outdated printed material for practical purposes.

Paper was expensive in the 19th century, so outdated religious texts like this were often repurposed to reinforce boxes and bookbindings. Printed on thick, sturdy paper or vellum, they were perfect for strengthening the weak, lightweight cardboard of hat boxes, offering structural support while, at the same time, providing against dust and insects.

But just who was J. Ogden of Woodbury? We believe he was Joseph Ogden, great-grandfather of long-time GCHS resident curator Sybil Tatum Jones. Her ancestor, also named Sybil (nee Tatum) married Joseph Ogden in Gloucester in 1801; their marriage is noted in Frank Stewart’s Notes on Old Gloucester County, Vol. 1. Of interest is the fact that curator Sybil Tatum Jones’ great uncle, David C. Ogden, once owned the building in which she lived that houses our Museum -- the Hunter-Lawrence-Jessup House.

06/11/2026

WHITE BEAVER TOP HAT

Once upon a time, “White Gold” referred to the soft, fine underfur of the American beaver. The most valuable commodity in the North American fur trade from the 17th to early 19th centuries, it was prized for making top-quality felt top hats.

Tiny barbs on the fur were perfect for felting, making it naturally water-resistant and durable, while the inner fur remained soft. The fur was then treated with a solution of mercury and nitric acid that, combined with the steam used to shape the hats, produced highly-toxic vapors that, over time, caused the terrible physical and neurological symptoms characteristic of mercury poisoning.

Affected workers developed irritability, mood swings and explosive losses of temper; uncontrollable muscle twitching and stumbling; slurred speech, and what became known as “hatter’s shakes” that mimicked intoxication. They also exhibited drooling and blackened gums, along with the loss of memory, teeth, hair and nails. Their appearance and behavior gave rise to the phrase “Mad as a Hatter.”

It would not be until the early 1940s that the use of mercury in the US hat-making industry was completely banned.

Today the term Mad Hatter conjures Lewis Carroll’s Alice in Wonderland. But his Mad Hatter had nothing to do with hat-making. Theophilus Carter was Carroll’s inspiration – an eccentric furniture maker known for his quirky behavior, he always wore a top hat cocked on the back of his head.

06/10/2026

WOODBURY RAISES JUNETEENTH FLAG AT CITY HALL

Yesterday, Woodbury proudly raised the Juneteenth flag at City Hall, honoring freedom, citizenship, and the enduring legacy of Juneteenth. Community leaders, residents, educators, and students gathered to reflect on the history and significance of this important day. Learn more and see pictures of the ceremony on our website

https://www.gchsnj.org/woodbury-raises-juneteenth-flag-at-city-hall/