Mantua Township Historical Commission

06/04/2026

Last evening, the Mantua Township Historical Commission was pleased to once again participate in Mantua Township's annual Big Night Out.

From 5:00 to 8:00 PM, members of the Commission met with residents, shared information about our organization, and discussed the many projects and programs dedicated to preserving our community's history.

The event was well attended and provided a wonderful opportunity to reconnect with old friends while making many new ones. With beautiful weather and an atmosphere filled with community spirit, it was truly a perfect evening.

We were especially honored to welcome Mayor Bob Zimmerman and Deputy Mayor Eileen Lukens to our table. Their continued support of our organization and local history efforts is sincerely appreciated.

A special thank you to the Mantua Township School District for organizing and hosting this event. We are grateful for the opportunity to participate and look forward to seeing everyone again next year.

Thank you to everyone who stopped by to visit with us!

05/19/2026

As we share this special Memorial Day Issue of the Mantua Township Historical Commission Bulletin, we are reminded that Memorial Day is far more than the unofficial beginning of summer or a long holiday weekend.

It is a day set aside by our nation to honor and remember the men and women of the United States Armed Forces who gave their lives in service to our country — including those lost in combat, those who later died from the wounds and hardships of war, and those who died while faithfully serving in uniform, even outside the battlefield.

Behind every name etched on a memorial or carved into a gravestone was a real person with dreams, plans, loved ones, and a future forever changed by sacrifice.

Through this special bulletin, we hope to preserve and share the stories of several local servicemen connected to Mantua Township whose sacrifices and service must never be forgotten.

May we all pause to remember the true meaning of this day and the tremendous human cost of the freedoms we enjoy.

You can find prior issues of our bulletin here: https://mantuatownship.com/our-history/

Please share this post with others.

05/08/2026

We featured an old recipe for molasses crumb cake in the MTHC Spring Bulletin. Since that time, commission member Debbie Gellenthin decided to put it to the test — and the results were absolutely delicious.

During our May meeting last evening, members were treated to a slice or two and enjoyed a sweet taste of the past.

Thank you, Debbie, for taking the time to bring a bit of history back to life and remind us of a simpler time, when homemade treats and desserts were wholesome, hearty, and made with care.

You can find each of our quarterly bulletins on the Mantua Township website, where you can explore more stories, photographs, memories, and pieces of local history that help keep the past alive: https://mantuatownship.com/public-records/by-category/historical-commission/

04/18/2026

This week, we welcomed 8 fifth-grade classes, totaling 183 students from J. Mason Tomlin School to the Union Center for our annual museum and graveyard visit.

Despite the warmer spring temperatures, spirits remained high as students and teachers walked to the Union Center, where they explored artifacts, heard stories of Mantua Township’s past, and even learned how to create gravestone rubbings—a hands-on way to connect with local history.

This year also marked the debut of someone new—Manny the Mantis, officially introduced as our newest member and mascot of the Mantua Township Historical Commission—helping to bring local history to life in a fun and engaging way.

And the learning continues…

Each student will create a poster highlighting a person, place, object, or event from Mantua Township's history as part of our History Poster Contest. We’re excited to see their creativity and what inspired them most!

A sincere thank you to the teachers and school administration for their cooperation and support in helping make this event possible, and to our dedicated volunteers, family, and friends who continue to make this program a success year after year.

03/14/2026

Spring has arrived in Mantua Township — and so has our Spring 2026 Quarterly Bulletin!

We’re pleased to share the newest issue of the Mantua Township Historical Commission’s Quarterly Bulletin. Inside you’ll find local history, stories from our past, and a look at the people and places that helped shape our community.

Please feel free to share this post with family and friends, and help us spread the word about Mantua Township’s rich history.

If you would like to receive future issues by email, simply send a request to: [email protected]

You can also explore previous issues of our bulletin here:
https://mantuatownship.com/our-history/

Enjoy the issue, and thank you for supporting local history!

12/27/2025

Due to the icy conditions this morning, the museum and library will not be open today. We appreciate your understanding. If you are looking for some history today, please visit the following site to read our quarterly bulletins:

Mantua Township Historical Commission’s goal is to preserve the rich history of Mantua Township, New Jersey. The Mantua Township Museum (located at 145 Mantua Boulevard) is open to the public every Saturday from 10 am till noon. Admission is free.

12/21/2025

We are pleased to share with you the Winter 2025 issue of our Quarterly Bulletin.

Be sure to share this with your family and friends.

If you haven't, please email us your name, address, and a brief description of your connection to Mantua Township. We can then add you to our mailing list and email you a PDF copy of this and future communications from the MTHC. Our email address is: [email protected]

To read prior issues, please visit the Mantua Township website: https://mantuatownship.com/our-history/

We wish you a happy, healthy, and history-making Holiday Season.

12/12/2025

Tonight, the Mantua Township Historical Commission celebrated another great year of volunteering as the custodians of our local history. Thank you to each member of the commission for your dedication and hard work.

10/18/2025

We had a wonderful time during the 10th Annual Wenonah Cemetery Walk & Festival this afternoon. It was a perfect day to learn about some of the prominent (now deceased) residents of the area and to share local history with all who came out to this event. Thank you to the Wenonah Cemetery Association and the Wenonah Historical Society for inviting us to join in the fun.

09/16/2025

We are pleased to present the Fall 2025 issue of our Quarterly Bulletin.

If you are interested in prior issues, please visit the Mantua Township website: https://mantuatownship.com/our-history/

If you are not on our email list, please send us an email with your name, address, and a brief description of your connection to Mantua Township. We can then add you to the list and email you a PDF copy of this and future communications from the MTHC. Our email address is: [email protected]