In 1816, a Quaker farmer named Joseph Thorn completed construction of a farmhouse on a plot of land near what is today known as the Barclay and Kingston neighborhoods of Cherry Hill Township. The deed was issued to the property on Jan. 29, 1816.
Today, in a town with more than 70,000 residents and abundance of development, the farmhouse, now known as Barclay Farmstead, still stands at the end of Barclay Lane, with open fields, a community garden and woods surrounding it.
This year, Friends of Barclay Farmstead and Cherry Hill Township are teaming for a huge, yearlong celebration of the farmstead’s 200th anniversary. The bicentennial celebration kicked off at last Monday’s council meeting. Mayor Chuck Cahn and council issued a proclamation to Friends in honor of the farmstead’s anniversary.
Representatives from the township and Friends of Barclay Farmstead both spoke of making this year’s celebration the biggest in the history of the site. The township owns and operates the property, while Friends is a nonprofit running much of the programming at the farmhouse. The organization also partners with the township in supporting the preservation of the site.
“It’s such a unique interaction between a publicly-owned property and a private support group that has a long history of cooperation,” said Beth Beatty, president of Friends of Barclay Farmstead. “I think it’s something township residents are not really aware about. It’s a great opportunity for the township and the Friends group to call attention to this very positive relationship.”
Along with Croft Farm, Barclay Farmstead is listed in the National Register of Historic Places. Cahn emphasized the importance of preserving and promoting the town’s two historic sites.
“What makes us unique from many other towns is we have a history that actually lives right in Cherry Hill,” Cahn said. “It’s not just about malls and shopping centers.”
One of the biggest goals for both the township and Friends this year is to get residents to make the trip to the farmstead. A number of new initiatives are being done to help achieve this goal.
This year, residents have the opportunity to get a Barclay 200 Past-Port at farmstead events. Each month, there will be at least one event highlighting a different aspect of the farmstead. Residents who bring a past-port to each farmstead event can have it stamped. Residents who get their past-port stamped 12 times will receive a commemorative prize. Some residents got their first stamps at last week’s kickoff celebration.
Residents also have a chance to collect four commemorative postcards, each that features one of four photos of the farmstead. The photos were chosen as winners in a photo contest held late last year. The four postcards will be released about every three months through the end of the year.
Barclay’s bicentennial celebration is more than just collecting postcards and stamps. Beatty said there will be a myriad of new and old activities for residents to enjoy at the farmstead during each of its first Sunday tours, which will kick off on March 6 and run through November.
“Each Sunday, we will showcase a different activity and give people a chance to put their hands on history and participate,” Beatty said. “Not just come and see it, but come and try it.”
As has been tradition for many years, fifth-grade students in Cherry Hill Public Schools will make a field trip to the farmstead to learn about the history of the property this year. Beatty said Friends is planning to have the school program be a featured activity for one of the First Sunday tours in the spring.
Cahn and his wife Stephanie have participated in Friends for a number of years. He commended the organization for keeping the farmstead active and alive for the last few decades.
“I’m so proud of the work they have done,” Cahn said ”This year, my wife was fortunate to decorate an entire room for the holiday season. We were very active in participating. It’s so important to show the next generation the farmstead and our history.”
Beyond tours of the farmstead, there will be numerous other Barclay 200 events around town. One will take place at the Cherry Hill Public Library on Feb. 25, when the Cherry Hill Historical Commission will host a program called “The Underground Railroad from Slavery to Freedom: Stories True and Fanciful.”
Residents are encouraged to visit www.cherryhill-nj.com/Barclay for more information on Barclay 200. Resident can also follow Barclay Farmstead Museum’s Facebook page,www.facebook.com/Barclay-Farmstead-Museum-194906327325322 or on Twitter @HistoricBarclay for more information.
