Preservers of History Honored

The Burlington County Freeholders Wednesday presented four awards for outstanding work in preserving Burlington County’s history, including C.C. “Clint” Alexander, historian of Medford Lakes’ Log Cabin community. “It is the dedicated efforts of local activists and organizations such as those awarded today that have helped to preserve and celebrate Burlington County’s unique history and heritage,” said Freeholder William S. Haines, Jr. “Not only does historic preservation save landmarks and landscapes; it also revitalizes towns and neighborhoods, such as Clint Alexander’s work for the Medford Lakes log cabin community,” Haines said.

Alexander was a winner in the County’s new “History Recognition” program, Achievement and Leadership category this year. The History Recognition awards encourage individual stewardship and new approaches to understanding historical issues. A resident of Medford Lakes for 55 years, Alexander is co-founder of the Medford Lakes Colony Club Museum, founded the Save the Cabins group and was instrumental in having several community structures placed on the National Register of Historic Places, such as Oaks Hall.

The winner of the History Recognition, Education category was a group of six artists, called “Hanging Together,” who have worked together for 30 years. The artists are: Marlene Craig, Joyce McAfee and Pamela Wallenhurst of Medford, Ellie Mink of Mount Laurel, Connie Schlosser of Southampton and Irvane Spracklin of Mount Holly.

The group produced an art exhibit of 60 pieces depicting landscapes, people and places in South Jersey including paintings that document local buildings being destroyed or altered such as Settlers’ Inn in Medford and the Shinn Barn in Burlington Township, both destroyed by fire.

Farmer’s Hall in Mount Laurel, operated by the Mount Laurel Historical Society, won an award in the “Preservation or Restoration Project” category. The two-story Greek Revival building was constructed in 1866 for the Farmers’ Club of Burlington County, and was donated to the Township in 1904. Mount Laurel used it as the Town Hall until 1969. After that, the Mount Laurel Historical Society and other groups used the building for exhibits and programs. In 1975, the building was closed until the restoration was completed in 2002.

The Southampton Historical Society won an award in the “Published History” category for creating the full-color “Southampton Historical Society Brochure” which portrays four historic buildings in the Village of Vincentown. These are: the Telephone Museum, a one-room schoolhouse, Old Town Hall/History Museum and the Lock-Up.

Each winner received a commemorative plaque and certificate.

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Author: Press Release-Burlington County Freeholders