Batsto's 'jewel' opens doors again after 22-month closure
By*PAUL LEAKAN
Burlington County Times
http://www.phillyburbs.com/pb-dyn/news/112-11012004-393182.html
WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP - The "crown jewel" of historic Batsto Village reopened for weekend tours earlier this month after being closed for nearly two years.
The first floor of the Batsto Mansion off Route 542 reopened to the public on Oct. 17.
"That is probably one of the main reasons people visit Batsto," said Flor-ence McNelly, superintendent of the Wharton State Forest. "At least on a dozen occasions a day, I heard people say, 'When is the mansion going to be open?' There was huge public demand.
"It's our crown jewel of our village. It sits on the hill. It's so grand. It's so beautiful."
The 32-room mansion has been closed since January 2003.
During that time, village workers and volunteers completed a mold-abatement project and assessed the building's walls and foundation for future restoration.
"It is slated for complete interior and exterior restoration," McNelly said. "It's just a matter of when the funding will come through."
Volunteers also catalogued every historical object in the building, including beds, chairs, couches, chandeliers and other items, McNelly said.
"The cataloguing is extremely important because it gives us the documentation of every piece we have in our collection," she said. "It gives us a good record of what we have and what condition it's in. It's all there for research purposes."
Batsto is offering half-hour guided tours on the first floor of the mansion at 11 a.m., 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays, giving visitors an opportunity to see two parlors, a dining room, a warming kitchen and a library.
The free tours are limited to 15 people.
Batsto is a former bog-iron and glass-manufacturing plant that dates to 1766. The mansion served as a residence for generations of iron masters.
Philadelphia industrialist Joseph Wharton renovated the building after purchasing the village in 1876.
McNelly said the second floor of the mansion should be open for tours by Thanksgiving.
Batsto is part of Wharton State Forest, which is owned and operated by the state Department of Environmental Protection's State Park Service. It is listed on the New Jersey and National registers of His-toric Places.
The Pine Barrens village consists of 33 historic buildings and structures, including the mansion, a gristmill, a sawmill, a general store, workers' homes and a post office.
People interested in touring the mansion should call Batsto at (609) 561-3262.
By*PAUL LEAKAN
Burlington County Times
http://www.phillyburbs.com/pb-dyn/news/112-11012004-393182.html
WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP - The "crown jewel" of historic Batsto Village reopened for weekend tours earlier this month after being closed for nearly two years.
The first floor of the Batsto Mansion off Route 542 reopened to the public on Oct. 17.
"That is probably one of the main reasons people visit Batsto," said Flor-ence McNelly, superintendent of the Wharton State Forest. "At least on a dozen occasions a day, I heard people say, 'When is the mansion going to be open?' There was huge public demand.
"It's our crown jewel of our village. It sits on the hill. It's so grand. It's so beautiful."
The 32-room mansion has been closed since January 2003.
During that time, village workers and volunteers completed a mold-abatement project and assessed the building's walls and foundation for future restoration.
"It is slated for complete interior and exterior restoration," McNelly said. "It's just a matter of when the funding will come through."
Volunteers also catalogued every historical object in the building, including beds, chairs, couches, chandeliers and other items, McNelly said.
"The cataloguing is extremely important because it gives us the documentation of every piece we have in our collection," she said. "It gives us a good record of what we have and what condition it's in. It's all there for research purposes."
Batsto is offering half-hour guided tours on the first floor of the mansion at 11 a.m., 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays, giving visitors an opportunity to see two parlors, a dining room, a warming kitchen and a library.
The free tours are limited to 15 people.
Batsto is a former bog-iron and glass-manufacturing plant that dates to 1766. The mansion served as a residence for generations of iron masters.
Philadelphia industrialist Joseph Wharton renovated the building after purchasing the village in 1876.
McNelly said the second floor of the mansion should be open for tours by Thanksgiving.
Batsto is part of Wharton State Forest, which is owned and operated by the state Department of Environmental Protection's State Park Service. It is listed on the New Jersey and National registers of His-toric Places.
The Pine Barrens village consists of 33 historic buildings and structures, including the mansion, a gristmill, a sawmill, a general store, workers' homes and a post office.
People interested in touring the mansion should call Batsto at (609) 561-3262.
