As we come to the end of 2024 and look forward to the new year, here’s a look back at the top stories in the Pinelands.
Civil War reenactor Steve Thomas plays an emotional and powerful version of the national anthem on his fife, while holding the flag behind him are members of the Seneca High School ROTC Color Guard at the Tabernacle Historical Society’s 50th anniversary celebration.
Living history
The Tabernacle Historical Society began celebrating its 50th anniversary celebration when it held “Civil War Veterans Speak From the Grave” at the cemetery, behind the Tabernacle in the Wilderness Church in October.
Members of New Jersey’s 8th Infantry Regiment, the Reenactors of Living History and members of American Legion Post 526 dressed in period costumes to honor those who fought in the war by gathering at every one of their graves and offering a biography for each.
Organizer Gail Corey of the historical society said the group plans more events for the anniversary celebration.
“The mission of the Tabernacle Historical society is to preserve, protect, promote and publish our local histories,” she explained. “We have been fortunate to receive grant money over the last two years that focused on preservation. Funding was received from the New Jersey Council for the Humanities and the Burlington County Historical Partnership Program.”
The Southampton Historical Society spent three months preparing for its anniversary celebration in September.
Fifty years
Members of the Southampton Historical Society wanted to do something different to celebrate its 50th anniversary.
Society members decided to hold open-house tours from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at three of their museum buildings – Old Town Hall, the Telephone Museum and a one-room schoolhouse. All of the buildings are within walking distance of each other.
The society spent three months preparing for its anniversary on Sept. 21, noted Robert Ritter, who spent about a decade as the society’s president and is now more like the historian of the group. Founded in 1974, the society is the repository of historical information about Southampton and the custodian of several historical museums in the township. It is also dedicated to preserving the history of Vincentown and disseminating information about the rich history of the community through its museums, publications and special events.
The girls of the Tabernacle Girl Scout Troop 23030 stand in front of the little library they helped build in front of the Tabernacle Municipal Building. The girls also built a little library at Camp Kettle Run at the “Her Story” building in Medford.
A little library
The girls of the Tabernacle Girl Scout Troop 23030 were all smiles as they braved the summer heat in August and filled the little library they helped build at the Tabernacle municipal building and at Camp Kettle Run at the Her Story building in Medford.
For their efforts, the 12 fourth- and fifth-grade Scouts – Annabelle Meister, Charlotte Dodaro, Ellie Lopez, Erin O’Hara, Estie Gager, Karly Fritz, Kate Ritter, Keira McNally, Lucy Grosser, Lucy Skare, Melynie Judy and Scarlett Weydig – earned their bronze Scout awards.
“First by earning a journey, they do a project before they do a bronze award, where they made bat houses,” explained Michelle Judy, “and then they decided to do ‘take a book, leave a book library.'”
All materials were donated by Carter’s Lumber and Spotts Hardware, both of Medford; Home Depot of Berlin; and the Cima Network of Pennsylvania. Books for both libraries were donated by all girls in the troop. Doug O’Hara guided the girls in construction safety and building the libraries, along with teaching how to paint them.
Seneca High graduate Alexander Sztajerwald is currently in his first year as an appointed cadet at the U.S. Military academy at West Point.
West Point proud
Seneca High School graduate Alexander Sztajerwald reported in July to the U.S. Military Academy at West Point as an appointed cadet for the class of 2028.
It’s a dream that began in eighth grade after Sztajerwald got a suggestion from his mom, Dagmara Kukuczka, who told him he could learn to become a leader at the academy. When he got to Seneca, Sztajerwald inquired about the school’s Air Force JROTC (Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps.) program.
At freshmen orientation, he met two people who’ve made an impact on him at Seneca: Air Force instructor Gregory Sevening and Master Sgt. John Brooks, both now retired.
“Alex has a can-do attitude, which not everyone has,” Sevening noted, adding it’s been humbling to watch Sztajerwald grow over the years. “I know what it takes as a retired Air Force veteran, and Alex has what it takes.”
Sztajerwald accepted an offer to become an appointed cadet in March, through a phone call from newly-elected U.S. Sen. Andy Kim, who nominated him after multiple interviews.
Sztajerwald served as the corps commander of Seneca’s AF JROTC. He is an Eagle Scout with Boy Scout Troop 47 and an American Legion Jersey Boy State attendee with numerous accolades. Sztajerwald also served as a member of the National Honor Society enrolled in AP classes and was offered a National Army ROTC scholarship before deciding to join West Point.
