Back to the past solves space issue for Harrison Twp. Historical Society
HARRISON TWP. — As no philosopher ever said, but should have, those who study history are doomed to repeated issues with storage space.
As curator of local history, the Harrison Township Historical Society has been around for more than a half-century and ran out of storage space years ago. Soon though, it will have a site able to tuck in really large artifacts as well as smaller goods.
“We’ve been trying to figure out how to resolve this issue for quite a while,” society Trustee James Turk said on Friday. “Fortunately, we’ve had generous members and supporters that provided off-site storage for us. But that can’t go on long term.”
Who is running for office?: It's election season. Here's what you need to know about major races in South Jersey
New plans needed: Logan warehouse idea for farmland sent back to drawing board
Township planners have approved the society to put up a two-story pole barn at its historic Richwood Academy property at Lambs Road and Route 322. Construction is to start sometime this year.
Barn will hold scattered historical collection
The building will allow consolidation of items scattered around Harrison, said Turk, who testified at the Sept. 21 Joint Land Use Board hearing. Those scattered items generally are large pieces of antique equipment from local farms, he said.
“We have a `shelving wagon’ from around 1900 from a farm in Ewan,” Turk said. “That was the equivalent of present-day trucks. They’re not around anymore. This is a rare survivor.”
The Historical Society uses the former Richwood Academy, circa 1870, for public programs like lectures.
But it's based in Old Town Hall, circa 1871, on South Main Street in Mullica Hill. The society was formed in 1971 with the task of preserving the building and giving it a new purpose.
The old municipal building opens for its fall show season on Oct. 7.
It has multiple exhibitions with changing collections on the first floor and longer-term ones on the upper floor.
Harrison Township once was a much larger community. Parts were split off to form South Harrison and Elk.
Turk said the society concentrates on history, people, and culture in the original township area. “And that defines what we collect,” he said.
“And it ultimately comes down to the issue of space, doesn’t it?” Turk said. “So, therefore, if we’re going to collect something and it’s going to take up space, it needs to meet our collecting priorities. It may be a great object, but it may be more appropriate in another collection, not ours.”
This year, the American Association for State and Local History gave its Albert B. Corey Award to the society.
It was honored for documenting the impact of a 2021 tornado, both in terms of the storm's devastation and the community's recovery.
Turk said it is the first historical organization in New Jersey to receive the award.
The Corey Award recognizes "a primarily volunteer-operated organization that best displays the qualities of vigor, scholarship, and imagination" according to the society's website.
Joe Smith is a N.E. Philly native transplanted to South Jersey 36 years ago, keeping an eye now on government in South Jersey. He is a former editor and current senior staff writer for The Daily Journal in Vineland, Courier-Post in Cherry Hill, and the Burlington County Times.
Have a tip? Reach out at jsmith@thedailyjournal.com. Support local journalism with a subscription.
This article originally appeared on Cherry Hill Courier-Post: Quest for place to store Harrison artifacts turns to Richwood Academy
