Bruce Goodman, founder of Goodman Properties, and Julie Maravich, president of Saving Historic Moorestown, cut the ribbon on Dec. 4 to celebrate Saving Historic Moorestown’s acquisition of the house.
Saving Historic Moorestown has successfully acquired the Revolutionary War-era Cowperthwaite House at 85 Kings Highway for preservation.
The landmark acquisition – secured through a charitable gift from leading commercial real estate developer Goodman Properties – is critically timed as the township prepares to celebrate America’s 250th anniversary next year.
Partner organizations of the acquisition besides Goodman and Saving Historic Moorestown include the Historical Society of Moorestown. Mayor Quinton Law; Deputy Mayor Sue Mammarella; Oliva Chaudhury, historic preservation specialist for the New Jersey Historic Trust; Burlington County Commissioner Deputy Director Allison Eckel; and more were on hand for a ribbon cutting at the Cowperthwaite House on Dec. 4.
“I’m a real estate developer and normally, I’m knocking buildings down,” said Bruce Goodman, founder of Goodman Properties, who was presented with a historic preservation award by Julie Maravich, president of Saving Historic Moorestown.
“I’m thrilled to be here, and I’m thrilled to give this gift.”
The Cowperthwaite house dates back to 1742 and is one of Moorestown’s few remaining structures of the Revolutionary War era. Its preservation as a local Witness House – meaning a structure that “witnessed” a significant event in history – is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to honor New Jerseyans who fought during the war as America celebrates its anniversary.
The house was strategically located on Kings Highway and was one of the first structures British troops encountered during the withdrawal from Philadelphia, when 7,700 British and Hessian troops marched into Moorestown.
The house – built by Thomas Cowperthwaite on what was originally a 250-acre plantation – was home to Anne Cowperthwaite, who exercised her right to vote in 1807 under New Jersey’s original 1776 state constitution, which briefly allowed free property owners, male or female, Black or white, to vote.
The structure also figured into early-American civic life: Local tradition holds that school was conducted in a second-floor room of the home prior to the construction of the township’s first school building in 1785. The house is also noted for its mixed common and Flemish bond brickwork.
Maravich praised the acquisition.
“The Cowperthwaite House is one of Moorestown’s few remaining Revolutionary War structures, and its saving is an essential contribution to the town’s celebration of America’s 250th birthday,” she noted. “The charitable gift of this property is a monumental act of preservation philanthropy that ensures this site – which touches on everything from early-American education and the fight for independence to pioneering voting rights – is protected.
“We want the entire community to be involved in all aspects of its preservation, making this project truly a collective effort.”
“This property is a Moorestown icon,” Mammarella explained. “Although a lot of people in town don’t know the name of Cowperthwaite, they will now … It’s long been on our minds, it’s long been on everyone’s minds in town, and now it’s here.
“And it’s almost too good to be true.”
“Inside these walls is an incredible story of civic life and history in our country and our town, but outside these walls, this building stands as a gateway to our community,” Law observed of the acquisition. “By preserving this building, we are sending a clear message about who we are.
“Moorestown is a vibrant community that values our historic charm, protects our character and understands that progress and preservation can go hand in hand.”
Saving Historic Moorestown is a nonprofit established to support and provide financial investment for the preservation and enhancement of Moorestown’s unique history and historic assets. Earlier this year, it received a grant for $57,188 for the Cowperthwaite House from the New Jersey Historic Preservation Fund.
The ribbon cutting served as the public launch of the preservation campaign and the first opportunity for residents to learn how they can get involved in saving the historic house. The immediate first step will be a comprehensive phase one archeological survey on the property grounds initiated and sponsored by the Historical Society of Moorestown.
The findings will be essential to inform the multi-year restoration and will serve as the basis for the subsequent goal of nominating the Cowperthwaite House for placement on the state and national Registers of Historic Places, securing its long-term recognition and protection.
Saving Historic Moorestown will then launch a capital campaign to fund the restoration. Donations to the Cowperthwaite Preservation Fund can be made at www.savinghistoricmoorestown.org/donate.
