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Stephen Lister

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Denise

Jerry

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John Allebach Sr.

Robin Green (Mourning her husband)

Nicholas Cellini (Serious Motorcycle Accident)

Paul Cowan

Dave Dixon (Parkinson's Disease)

Baby James William (Heading home from NICU)

Hayley needs prayer

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Melodee Ashby

The Family of Hans Mueller

Sandra Allebach

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Cathy Carber

Darlene

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Prayer for every and all the Young Adults in Our Hearts

Kaitlin DeLucca (US AIR FORCE)

Tiernan James (US COAST GUARD)

Max Lister (US ARMY)

Riley James (US MARINES)

Billy Cheatham (US MARINES)

Our President & Military

The Wharton Family pictured outside the mansion, circa 1888

NICHOLAS MUSCELLA - Historical Interpreter at Batsto Village, New Jersey

The Batsto Mansion (1784-Today)

When one visits Batsto Historic Village in the Pine Barrens, the most defining structure is the 32 room mansion with its symbolic tower. But what is the full history of the mansion? Who built it? Why is it here? Today, I hope to be able to answer these questions.

The Batsto Mansion was built in stages throughout a period of about 100 years, the earliest part of the mansion dates to 1784-85 when William Richards established a farmhouse on the site. Now compared to the grand style that we know it as today, this farmhome would be a very simple and modern structure. Similar to the Elijah Clark Mansion located down the road in Pleasant Mills. This structure would have been the main residence of William Richards and his family from 1785-1809.

In 1809, management of Batsto passed to his son, Jesse Richards, who had plans for his fathers home. From a period between 1816-1835, Jesse Richards added two wings onto his fathers structure, a caretaker wing, and a residential wing. The residential wing was very similar to the Atsion Mansion, built by Jesse’s older brother, Samuel, in 1826. There would have been two parlour rooms for the entertaining of guests, and two master bedrooms situated above. Not much is known about the rest of the layout of the Jesse Richards mansion, as the blueprints have been lost to time. Jesse Richards died in his mansion in 1854, leaving the town and mansion in the care of his son, Thomas H. Richards, who would take residence in the mansion, but only seasonally. Eventually, the town and mansion were purchased by Joseph Wharton in 1876.

In 1876, Joseph Wharton purchased the village of Batsto for $14,000 ($400,000 today) and made plans for the village, especially for the mansion. Joseph Wharton hired Samuel Sloan, a well known architect from Philadelphia, to draw up plans to renovate and expand the Jesse Richards mansion. By 1877, construction began on the soon to be Wharton Mansion.

Between 1877-1880, Joseph Wharton added on an extra floor to each section of the home, added a northern wing which would hold the dining room and master bedroom, and most notably the 110 foot tower. The tower had two main uses, it held a 1200 gallon water tank that provided the home with running water, which was filled by a pump from the Grist Mill. The tower was also used as a fire lookout station, Whartons main fear was forest fires that could devastate his holdings in New Jersey. The total renovations cost him around $40,000 ($1.1million today) the Wharton Family began using the mansion as their spring and fall residence beginning in 1881-82. The Whartons would host guests in the parlor rooms where Wharton had placed in pocket doors, one side being used as the Tea Room for the ladies, and the other side being used as a Smoking Room. The home was decorated in all different types of wood, from oak, walnut, butternut, spruce, mahogoney, and birch. Gas fixtures had been installed, with gas lamps and gas chandeliers, but Batsto never received the proper infrastructure. The mansion would remain with the Whartons from 1876-1954.

When Wharton passed away in 1909, he left his estate to his three daughters and wife. The families of the three daughters would continue to use Batsto as a spring residence, enclosing the tower in 1919 and adding electricity in 1923. By the time the State of New Jersey purchased the property in 1954, the mansion had largely sat vacant.

The Batsto Mansion began opening for tours in 1958, and has continued to host tours up to this day. Over the years, the Batsto Mansion has become the defining feature of the Batsto Village, and symbolizes the wealth and prosperity that Batsto went through under 4 owners.

Reminder:

I LOVE LOCAL HISTORY!

...MULLICA ...SWEETWATER ...NESCO ...GREEN BANK ...ELWOOD ...LOWER BANK

Please share your OLD pictures. I'll digitize them and return them unharmed!

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