As one of New Jersey’s oldest counties, Burlington went big on June 14.
Numerous historical re-enactors, displays and interactive activities related to our nation came to Mount Holly’s High Street with live music, food trucks, a beer garden, craft demonstrations, trolley rides and more topping it all off.
“The 250th anniversary festival is an opportunity for us to celebrate the history that can be found here, along with the ideas our country was born from and built upon,” said Burlington County Commissioner Deputy Director and Chair of the Burlington County 250th Anniversary Planning Committee Allison Eckel.
“From Bordentown City to Batsto village, Burlington County is full of amazing history, art and culture, and we are excited to use this moment to showcase the many diverse aspects of Burlington County history and heritage, and the influence we had on the American Revolution,” added Commissioner Randy Brolo.
One of the festivities was a bell ceremony at the Historic Olde Courthouse, where county officials rang the courthouse bell that rang for liberty after the Declaration of Independence was signed 250 years ago.
At the time, the bell was in the county’s original courthouse located in Burlington City, which served as the seat of Burlington County’s government from its incorporation in 1694 until 1793 when Mount Holly took over that designation. The bell was moved to the Mount Holly courthouse, now known as the Historic Olde Courthouse, in 1796 after the building was constructed.
The courthouse was designed by architect Samuel Lewis and was modeled after Congress Hall and Old City Hall, the two structures that flank Independence Hall in Philadelphia. The building continues to be used for judicial proceedings, making it one of the nation’s oldest courthouses still in use.
More than 100 historic organizations participated in the celebration with tables and exhibits to show off their towns and historic sites, including the 3rd New Jersey Regiment – Jersey Greys, an organization that strives to accurately represent the life and times of the brave soldiers in Capt. Joseph Bloomfield’s company of the 3rd New Jersey Regiment in 1776.
Will Krakower, state historian for Princeton Battlefield State Park, has been a member of the Jersey Greys for years. All the unit’s re-enactments are at the top of the game, Krakower explained, but that also gives him the best of both worlds – having the chance to live out his hobby of re-creating that time period and bringing that to his work at the park.
“The American Revolution and the 18th century into the early 19th century at large really resonates with me,” Krakower said. “The American Revolution is near and dear to my heart, but so is a lot of the action that (was) occurring in Europe on the other side of the world … The Revolution basically marks the end of the Old World and the beginning of the new one, at least in my mind.”
Baltimore resident Sean Lowman has participated in re-enactments for different time periods but when he wanted to dive into the 18th century, he started asking around to see who would be the most authentic group but who would also be willing to do the most insane stuff such as 12-mile walks, camping without tents and walking through rivers.
“I was interested in doing the physical activities that would have been recreating what people in the 18th century would have been doing,” Lowman said.
The Burlington County Celebrates America Festival was a fun day for all in Mount Holly on June 14 with numerous historical re-enactors, interactive activities, craft demonstrations, trolley rides, a beer garden and more.
