Dear Editor:
I am writing to you on behalf of a consortium of historical societies/historical entities in regard to an early 19th century stone barn at the intersection of Route 130 and Union Landing Rd in Cinnaminson, NJ. The barn is on the property recently purchased by Wawa from the former Riverton Garden Center and is slated to be demolished to make way for the new Wawa complex.
The stone barn “Hunter’s Barn” is a significant witness of Burlington County’s agricultural history. In fact, it is the oldest extant stone barn in the tri-boro area and certainly the oldest barn on the heavily developed Route 130 corridor. The barn is important to the local community as a testament to the County’s rich farming tradition, which included the farming community of Cinnaminson, but as of today has all but been erased by development. The barn has great potential to be a teaching tool of local history for students in the surrounding community.
We are asking Wawa to consider saving the barn and using it in the plans for the new Wawa complex. This act of preservation would not only be an act of “goodwill” to the community but send a message that Wawa cares about the people who live in their new areas of development. We understand that the history of Wawa itself is linked to farming and the American agricultural tradition with its values of hard work, perseverance, and resilience. This barn could be an important historical symbol of these values for the customers who will buy their products.
We believe strongly that it is important for people to understand where they came from in order to shape the future. We urge Wawa not to tear down the barn but to feature it in the new complex.
Lisa Fox-Pfeiffer, Executive Director, Burl Co Hist Soc.
