Historic Group Is Formed: Tuckerton Historical Society Thursday, October 26, 1972
Tuckerton - This borough, one of the first three ports of entry into the U.S. in Colonial times, finally has its own historic preservation group. The Tuckerton Historical Society has been organized by a group of residents anxious to prevent the demolition of any local buildings tied to the community's rich past as a
maritime center. Tuckerton was a haven for American privateers during the Revolutionary War. It was named by President Washington as the third port of entry after Philadelphia and New York in 1791. The Society at its meeting last night discussed plans for a town museum and then later a maritime museum on Tuckerton Creek, once a major shipbuilding center. Barbara Bolton, president, said, "Unfortunately, we are too late to save a number of historic buildings here which were razed in the name of progress. We are not against development as such, but we hope to take action when any other landmarks are threatened." She said the Society would like to preserve the Fannie Smith House, E. This is scheduled for demolition to make way for a Cumberland Farms store. "We plan to ask Cumberland Farms if they could move the house rather than raze it." She explained, "We also hope someone will donate land so we can place the house on the new site and then rent it as a source of income for future projects." The Smith house dates to the Victorian era and is not historic as a structure, she said, but Mrs. Smith, who lived there until her death in 1968 at the age of 102, was a distinguished local resident known for raising many foster children over the years. A Society committee is also studying the possibility of planting trees along Main street. The new organization has 30 members. The next meeting will be held 8 PM November 8 at the Fist Tales Restaurant, 100 S. Officers, in addition to Mrs. Bolton, are: Mrs. Florence O'Neill, vice president; Mrs. Sondra Spickard, recording secretary; Mrs. Joan Exel, corresponding secretary; Mrs. Lois Beranek, treasurer; Mrs. Shirley Whealton, historian; and Mrs. Lynn Tuttle, curator. Trustees are: Mrs. Jacobs, Elmer Mott, Leslie Whealton, E. Richard Parker, Joseph P. Tustin, Henry Tustin, James H. Mott, and Mrs. Freda Cranmer.
