One other person on this site probably has more input than myself on this so I'll not give too much information that may be innacurate as I hate to do so. Anyone out there have some good additional information if inclined or even correct me on some of the material I wrote, feel free. I await to be humbled, one reason I kept low on details I could not at least 90% feel good about putting in print.
Thanks for reading. G.
George:
Thank you for the story and you did just fine with the facts as you know them.
The first known person to establish a tavern at the Blue Anchor site was John Hider, who erected a cedar log cabin in 1740, obtained a tavern license, and began dispensing libations to weary travelers. Subsequent tavern keepers included Richard Fry (prior to 1752), John Briant, and Richard Mattocks or Mattox (1762). The last-named host devised the establishment to his son-in-law, Josiah Albertson. Reportedly Albertson erected the well-known hostelry in 1812 which stood into the twentieth century. You are correct: the building was quite large! When Josiah lost interest in tending the tavern himself, he leased the stand out to others, including Uziel Barford, John A. Duble, and John I. Brick. As you note, your great grandfather was the last tavern keeper for this place.
Josiah Albertson died in Evesham Township at the age of 89 on 4 October 1859, so you might want to double-check that gravemarker.
The Historic American Building Survey folks recorded the Blue Anchor Inn and the information can be found here:
http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/hhh.nj0391
Other activities at Blue Anchor and Ancora included a Spiritualist community.
Here is the story:
In July 1866, Dr. George Haskell of Rockford, Illinois and his associates, Thomas W. Taylor, Josiah W. Spaulding, William and Timothy B. White, Teazon O. English, George W. Robbins Christopher Wilson, Betsy Savery, A.C. Stiles and Milo A. Townsend the last-named from New Brighton, Pennsylvania) formed the Blue Anchor Land Improvement Company. They purchased part or all (this unclear at this point in time) of the so-called "Blue Anchor Tract," which its owner, Josiah Albertson, proprietor of the Blue Anchor Inn previously sold to Levi Dickson. Dickson paid $4,500 for the land, but sold it to Haskell and his associates for $13,000. The land was divided into small and large building lots; up behind the Blue Anchor Inn was an area called "The Farm," but most of building lots actually sold were located in the "Anchora" section of Winslow Township. The improvement company sought to create "the seat of a Spiritualistic community, and with the purpose of building up a village after the pattern of Vineland" (Prowell 1886:697).
Milo Townsend, who served as the company's treasurer, wrote a prospectus for the new community:
[beginning of quote]
A Progressive Settlement is now forming on that superior tract of land long known as Blue Anchor, twenty-five miles from Philadelphia, fronting on the Camden and Atlantic Railroad in Camden Co., New Jersey.
It is the purpose of the founders of this village and settlement, and of those thus far cooperating, not to repeat the old system of things that exists in the towns and cities of the world based on antagonism, speculation and fraud, whence result poverty, want and misery on the one side and monopoly, affluence and extravagance on the other with happiness on neither; as soon as practicable to institute Attractive Cooperative Industry in all
the various branches of Agriculture, Horticulture, Manufacturing, Mechanics and the Arts. Here then is a golden opportunity for Philanthropists and the Friends of Progress to realize--in the proper development of this splendid domain of four thousand acres--a higher, a nobler and a more harmonious state of society and to found institutions worthy of the age and in response to the deep yearnings and aspirations of universal humanity.
One of the specific objects sought by the projectors of this movement is the establishment of a self-sustaining Industrial College, incorporating therein, on a large scale, the essential elements of the Children's Progressive Lyceum as inaugurated by Andrew Jackson Davis. For this purpose three hundred acres of and are held in reserve. A unitary Palace, Model Homes, a Cooperative Store, a Hygienic Institute, a Lecturers' Retreat, and Children's Play Grounds are also contemplated. These are some of the features distinguishing this Settlement from Hammonton, Vineland and other places.
Persons could now engage to advantage upon the grounds in such branches of industry as manufacturing Shoes, Baskets, Kegs, Barrels, Boxes, Clothing, Earthen Ware, Brick, Pocket Books, &c, &c. A large Steam Mill is now in successful operation; also an extensive Greenhouse and several private residences of unique design are being erected on Central Avenue.
The lands are furnished at lower rates than any of similar quality and eligibility in the State. Those wishing further information are earnestly requested to visit the place rather than rely upon the meager knowledge to be obtained through correspondence. Those to whom this is, at the present impracticable, may address the undersigned at Blue Anchor, Camden Co., New Jersey. The route from Philadelphia is from the foot of Vine Street to Winslow Station, which is two miles from Blue Anchor village. March 29, 1867 Milo A. Townsend.
[end of quote]
New residents began arriving from such places as Wheeling, West Virginia; Millbury, Massachusetts; New Brighton, Pennsylvania; and Quincy, Illinois. Spiritualist reformists tenets included physiological reform, which included being ardent temperance followers, abstaining from all alcohol; the emancipation of Women; Theological and Ecclesiastical reform; and social reform. During the antebellum period, Spiritualists were very active in the abolitionist movement and after the Civil War supported equal treatment of African-American.
Townsend became disillusioned with the community and, I perceive, George Haskell, within about a year and returned to New Brighton. Haskell evidently did not permanently relocate to "Anchora" until the early 1870s. However, the Industrial College spoken of by Townsend did become a reality, probably during 1868; it was built along the White Horse Pike very close to the Blue Anchor Inn. By 1877, the school was still going strong under the control of Philadelphia Spiritualist A.E. Newton. It is unknown at this time when the school actually closed. The Spiritualist community fell apart after Haskell's death in the late 1870s. Regarding the "private residences of unique design" referred to in Townsend's prospectus, there is a tantalizing source that indicates these houses may have been octagonal in shape.
Blue Anchor or Anchora (as the Spiritualists named it; now Ancora) was not the only Spiritualist utopian community in this area--similar developments occurred in North Hammonton (now Elm), begun by New England Spiritualists; Atco; Hammonton, where there was a very active Spiritualist "church"; and also in several other South Jersey communities.
Sorry, everyone, for my absence from these forums, but work has been crushing lately. For those of you who have PM'd me, I have not forgotten your questions and comments and I will respond as time permits.
Best regards,
Jerseyman
They now mostly cater to the local stumble bums who hang in the woods behind there. Before they changed hands there was a large woman and a small skinny guy that were always working there. I thought that's where the name came from. LOL But have since found out that place has had the same name some 35+ years.
