Smithville Conservancy Committee, Friends of the Mansion at Smithville - (609) 265-5068

In late 2013 the Smithville Conservancy became a sub-committee of the Friends of Mansion at Smithville (FOMAS) - unofficial facebook page

Located in Eastampton, NJ, the "Historic Smithville Park is the centerpiece of the Burlington County Parks System. As the Smithville Historic District, the village is listed on the National and New Jersey Registers of Historic Places. Smithville grew from a typical, small mill operation on the Rancocas Creek to a major industrial plant employing hundreds of workers in its shops and yards from the 1860s to the 1920s. Known for its high-quality woodworking machinery, the Smithville-Mt. Holly Bicycle Railroad, and the Star high-wheeled bicycle, Smithville was also well ahead of its time in town planning, sustainability, and workers' rights and welfare. Within its borders, it offered its residents and workers a variety of recreational, artistic and educational opportunities. Smithville was, in just about every way, a model industrial town." (from the Burlington County Parks website)

300+ acre park, industrial village ruins, Smith mansion, farm complex, man-made lake with viewing platforms and floating boardwalk, rails-to-trails, Smith's Woods pavillion, hiking trails, kayak/canoe portage around Rancocas Creek dam, picnic grove, gazaebo, county parks office, cultural & heritage office.

2012 SPECIAL EVENTS AT SMITHVILLE PARK

Sunday, April 22 - Earth Day - 10 am - 3pm (rain or shine however, heavy rain may cancel some activities) Celebrate Earth Day in a Burlington County Park. Visit one or all parks and learn about our parks and what you can do to protect our parks.

Sunday, May 20 - Victorian Games - Noon - 4pm (rain or shine)
Travel back in time and join The Friends of the Mansion at Smithville for an afternoon of Victorian games in the park. Gather in the park to play a variety of games that Hezehiah B. Smith and his wife Agnes Gilderon Smith may have enjoyed while resideing at smithville in the 1800's. See first-hand a typical Victorian Wedding. Entertainment, games, lessons in tea etiquette, and games of croquet are all free. Nominal fee to tour the mansion.

Sunday, June 24 - Earth Fair - 10:30 - 4pm (rain or shine)
Burlington County's Annual Earth Fair returns to Historic Smithville Park featuring vendors, entertainment for all ages,and kids' activites with an environmental twist. This family event focuses on ways to protect and enjoy our environment. Find out which Burlington County municipalities are going green. Children's activities include "trash" sculpting, papermaking, storytelling, environmental vaudeville and facepainting to mention a few. Environmental organizations and businesses are invited to participate.

Sunday, August 26 - NEW - A Day on the Water - 10am - 5pm (rain or shine) Rent canoes or kayaks and paddle the Canoe Trail in the Burlington County Parks. There are three locations to rent canoes: Burlington County College, Clarks Canoes, and Historic Smithville Park. Food, Fun and Activites will be at each of the locations. Don't want to canoe? You don't have to canoe to enjoy the fun. You can drive to each location and enjoy the festivites.

Sunday, September 23 - Arts in the Park - 10:30 - 4pm (rain or shine)
Enjoy entertainment on three stages featuring music, dance, theater and storytelling. The Smithville Annex Gallery will host the 36th Annual Juried Art Exhibit. The exhibit will include watercolors, oil and acrylic paintings mixed media and sculpture. Guests are encouraged to engage in free interactive activities, such as Chalk the Walk, Paint the Mural project and a Clothesline Art Workshop will enable artists of all levels to showcase their skills.

Sunday, Oct. 28 - Fall Float Festival - Launching canoes and kayaks from 9am - 2pm - Festival until 4pm (inclement weather could cancel some activities)
Canoe on the Rancocas Creek and see the Fall Foiliage as you float along the Rancocas Creek. Launch from Smithville Park. There will be a nominal fee to rent canoes and kayaks. Paddlers will be shuttled back to Historic Smithville Park for food, entertainment and activites. ages.

Sunday Dec. 2 - Victorian Holiday Celebration - Noon - 4pm (rain or shine)
Join us to kick off the Holiday Season at Historic Smithville Park complete with a visit from St. Nick, who will arrive by horse and carriage at 1pm. Visitors can expect horse & carriage rides, ice carving demonstrations, tours of the Holiday decorated Smithville Mansion, entertainment, kids activities, and a holiday market place where you can purchase that unique gift.

In 1980, Historian William C. Bolger wrote "Smithville, The Result of Enterprise" for the Burlington County Cultural and Heritage Commission under the auspices of the Burlington County Board of Chosen Freeholders. We have attempted to digest many of the highlights of this landmark book in order to provide a snapshot of the history of what is now Smithville Park.

Tags: Historical Place,Park,Outdoor Recreation