On Sunday, May 7, the Pennsauken Historical Society will host “Colonial Earth Day” at historic Burrough-Dover House, located at 9201 Burrough-Dover Lane, right off of Haddonfield Rd. near the Wyndam Rd. traffic light, to look at historic aspects of the human relationship with the environment.
Special guests from the Churchville Nature Center in Lower Bucks County, Pa, will demonstrate how the lives of the native people of New Jersey, the Lenape, were closely tied to the natural world, its seasons and its resources. Home life, agriculture, hunting and gathering, and many other facets of Lenape life were adapted to their environment; their adaptability was further tested when European colonists arrived and occupied the land. Interpreters from Churchville Nature Center will also demonstrate some of the fun of Lenape life through a program of Native American games and recreation for all to participate.
Freedom Center for Wildlife, a local wildlife rehabilitation organization, will bring education animals and help us to understand the habitat that we share with furred and feathered creatures yesterday and today.
Demonstrations and exhibits by the volunteers of the Pennsauken Historical Society will illustrate the dual nature of colonial life in a natural environment, both adapting to and attempting to conquer nature. See how natural resources were used and how European lifestyles and values impacted the eco-systems of colonial New Jersey. The nature trail on the grounds of Burrough-Dover House will help visitors imagine those days long past and illustrate the modern realities of our environment.
Historic Griffith Morgan House, located at 243 Griffith Morgan Lane, off River Rd. between Delair and Route 73, will also be open for this “First Sunday” in May. Free tours of the house, which was built in 1693 and added to the National Register of Historic Places on January 25, 1973, run from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. Historic hospitality is included, free of charge.
Both the historic houses of Pennsauken offer lots of opportunity for fun on a fine spring day on May 7. Plenty of free parking is available at both houses.
Visit the Griffith Morgan House and Pennsauken Historical Society pages or the group “Pennsauken History Forum” on Facebook for more details or directions. You can also call (856) 486-9561 and leave a message for more information or e-mail to pennsaukenhistoricalsociety@gmail.com. In addition, both Burrough-Dover House and Griffith Morgan House are also open for tours and research by appointment. Don’t forget to inquire about volunteer opportunities – you too can be part of history!
