‘Treasures’ calendar turns 20

By Vanessa S. Holt, Managing Editor
   While Bordentown City has celebrated its 325th anniversary all year, there is one more milestone to mark. The Northern Burlington Regional Chamber of Commerce’s annual calendar salutes 20 years of “Hidden Treasures” as we move into 2008.
   The annual calendar gathers black and white artwork by local artists, highlighting noted and historic houses and landmarks in the area – some still here, some long-vanished from the landscape.
   It is available for free from area businesses and raises money for two art scholarships through the sale of ads on the calendar pages. For the year 2007, $1,000 scholarships were given to Bordentown Regional High School student Caitlin Hopkins and Northern Burlington Regional County High School student Kristin Bell.
   The artwork featured in this year’s calendar includes:
   January: Patty Parker depicts the George Black House in Columbus, a 12-room Victorian named after the Black family of Mansfield. The Black family also lent its name to Black’s Creek and Black Horse (the original name of Columbus). The current owners, the Pribells, are the fifth family to own the house since 1868.
   February: Micky Quinn’s artwork shows the Irick House in Jacksonville. Built in 1761, John Irick donated land for the first public school in Burlington County. The house is on the state and national Register for Historic Homes. The present owners, the Dunkers, have lived there for 36 years.
   March: Louis Borbi illustrated the Roebling Recreation Center on Hornberger Avenue, which was on the site of the present Florence Township Library. In the 1920s the recreation center had four bowling lanes, six pool tables and shuffleboard courts.
   April: Don Poinsett’s contribution shows the Bordentown Library on East Union Street. Recently renovated and expanded to triple its original size, it was constructed in 1940. An 1856 map of Bordentown hangs in the main room.
   May: Bonnie Burbank depicts the Julius Ewan House in Juliustown, the home of one of the original settlers of Springfield Township. It was built in 1830 by John Ewan for his son, Julius, for whom the town was named.
   June: Barbara Moore’s artwork shows the Record Collector building on Farnsworth Avenue in Bordentown. The 1930s building was originally a bowling alley with 13 lanes. Owners John and Sue Chrambanis restored the façade to its Art Deco appearance and the building now houses their vintage record store.
   July: Lydia Congiu’s contribution is the Hungarian Reformed Church on Norman Avenue in Roebling. Established in 1913, it served many Roebling Steel Mill employees. The steel girders used to build the church were donated by Charles Roebling. Services were conducted in Hungarian until the 1940s.
   August: Claudia Teal’s illustration depicts the Union Fire Company in Crosswicks. The brick building was the Crosswicks Public School in 1904, with a new section added to the front in 1930. The Union Fire Company has used the building since 1968. The company was formed in 1822 and previously occupied the building now used as library on Main Street.
   September: Kathy Shumway-Tunney’s artwork shows the building at 19 Farnsworth Ave., Bordentown. A Federal-style house built in 1819, it was used by Joseph Hopkinson, author of “Hail Columbia.” He was the son of Francis Hopkinson, a signer of the Declaration of Independence, and Ann Borden, daughter of Col. Joseph Borden. The intricate wrought-iron fence and front gate were manufactured by the Wood & Perot Ironworks in Philadelphia.
   October: Nancy Gilbert depicts the Commodore Stewart House in Bordentown Township. Commodore Stewart, captain of the USS Constitution, once lived in this building. The structure also served as part of the Edward Johnstone Training School established by the Rev. W. A. Rice.
   November: Bob Malloy’s artwork shows the Foolstown House in Georgetown. The 1765 brick house is said to be named for a citizen who mortgaged everything he owned to build the house. The town was named Foolstown in his honor, but was renamed Georgetown for George Sykes, a congressman.
   December: Judy Wilkinson’s contribution is the Patience Lovell Wright House, 100 Farnsworth Ave. in Bordentown. America’s first sculptress lived in a cottage on this site before moving to Great Britain in 1772. She hid secrets in wax figures, which were shipped overseas from the Colonies. She married a farmer, Joseph Wright, and her son, Joseph, was a noted painter.
   Cover: Bob Allard’s artwork depicts 11 Buttonwood St. in Crosswicks. The house was built in 1793, and a Victorian-style porch and two-story bay window were added.