Allison Kramer-Mills JAMESBURG — Jamesburg teenager Allison Kramer-Mills is making an impact on her hometown’s past, present and future.
Kramer-Mills, a senior at Monroe Township High School, is writing a children’s history book titled “Legacy: A Look Inside Lakeview,” which focuses on the history of Jamesburg. Kramer-Mills is writing the book as her project to earn a Gold Award — the highest honor in Girl Scouts and the equivalent of the Eagle Scout rank in the Boy Scouts.
“The project for the Gold Award has to be something that helps the community,” Kramer-Mills said. “It also has to be a lasting project.”
With help from the Jamesburg Historical Association, Kramer-Mills, a member of Girl Scout Troop 80519 in Jamesburg, is researching significant moments in Jamesburg history for the children’s story.
“Every month, I go to their meeting, and they give me feedback on my book and help me through the process,” Kramer-Mills said. “They will also help me find a publisher when it’s done.”
Kramer-Mills’ book will be told through the eyes of the town’s founder, James Buckelew, and his house, Lakeview, which currently houses the Jamesburg Historical Association.
“Originally, there was only one room in the house,” Kramer-Mills said. “When Buckelew came in the 1800s, he expanded it to two floors.”
Buckelew was involved in the railroad industry and in agriculture, but was particularly known for building his own school in 1847 to accommodate African-American students.
“He created a school just so an African- American boy could go to school,” Kramer- Mills said.
That school, the James B. School, brought about the name “Jamesburg” for the borough.
After Buckelew’s death in 1869, his wife tended to the Buckelew mansion and added a third story, where she lived until her death.
“In the 1900s, the property was given to the Jamesburg Historical Association,” Kramer-Mills said.
Kramer-Mills’ book will be translated into Spanish with the help of Monroe Township High School Spanish teacher Anthony Carannante. Monroe Township High School student Taylor Lavan is creating handdrawn illustrations to accompany the book.
“The biggest challenge is making history interesting for kids,” Kramer-Mills said. “I hope that I make it interesting.”
When the book is complete — it must be finished by the end of June in order to earn the Gold Award — Kramer-Mills will visit Jamesburg elementary schools to read it to classes.
She also plans to showcase the work she has completed thus far on her book at the New Jersey State Historical Fair on May 11.
Contact Stella Morrison at [email protected].