Atsion, Batsto, Smithville, Whitesbog and Roebling

1. COMPANY TOWNS Of Burlington County Atsion, Batsto, Smithville, Whitesbog and Roebling

3. Sixteen Tons….Tennessee Ernie Ford – 1955 Chorus: You load sixteen tons, what do you get? Another day older and deeper in debt St. Peter don’t you call me ‘cause I can’t go I owe my soul to the company store!

4. Company town n. A town whose residents are dependent on the economic support of a single firm for maintenance of retail stores, schools, hospitals and housing. A company town is a town or city in which all or almost all real estate, buildings (both residential and commercial), utilities, hospitals, small businesses such as grocery stores and gas stations, and other necessities or luxuries of life within its borders are owned by a single company. Traditional settings for company towns are transcontinental railroads, extractive industries -- coal, metal mines, corporate timber -- and dam sites, war-industry camps. Typically, a company town will be isolated from neighbors and centered around a large production factory and the citizens of the town will either work in the factory, work in one of the smaller businesses, or be a family member of someone who does. The company may also operate parks, host cultural events such as concerts, and so on. Needless to say, when the owning company cuts back or goes out of business, the economic effect on the company town is devastating, and often fatal.

5. Random thoughts (a)… • Company towns existed to better the company, rather than the residents • Company towns were often divided along class, ethnic and racial lines • Housing possessed an architectural simplicity • Some early housing examples exhibited a repetition of form as row housing or cottages with small lots • Owners established company towns as a means of managing their workforce

6. Random thoughts (b)… • Employee control is affected by the manipulation of tangible public and private spaces • Paternalistic company owners intended to develop loyalty and to maintain a healthy workforce through housing and other community services • Owners, in exercising their power over the environment of company towns, sometimes abused this power • Company townscapes exhibited a uniform appearance. The absence of visual interest was the rule, a result from repeated building designs • In many models, enterprising private merchants located on company town outskirts to sell goods.

7. COMPANY TOWNS OF BURLINGTON COUNTY

11. Batsto Grist Mill Sawmill Batsto Mansion Worker’s Cottage Blacksmith Shop Joseph Wharton

12. Charles Read, William Richards, Joseph Wharton

13. A Short History of Batsto Village Historic Batsto Village, a nationally recognized historic site, has changed and survived during several different periods of American history. Archeological investigations have discovered evidence of Prehistoric life in the Batsto area. Evidence shows land use dating back several thousand years. Early Iron Years: Charles Read is credited with building the Batsto Iron Works along the Batsto River in 1766. Batsto had the natural resources necessary for making iron. There was bog ore which was "mined" from the banks of the streams and rivers, wood from the forests became the charcoal for fuel, and water became the power for manufacturing. John Cox, a Philadelphia business man, became part owner in 1770 and full owner by 1773. The Iron Works produced household items such as cooking pots and kettles. During the Revolutionary War years, Batsto manufactured supplies for the Continental Army. Manager Joseph Ball became owner of Batsto Iron Works in 1779. 74 mi.

14. The Batsto Post Office The is one of the four oldest post offices currently operating in the US. Opened in 1852 by Jesse Richards, it closed in 1870 when the local economy failed. It re-opened in the 1880s. closed again in 1911, and was re-opened in 1966. As a historical structure, it was never assigned a zip code. All stamps are hand-canceled.  The General Store During the 1800s, the store was usually open six days a week. Here, workers from the Village could purchase a variety of goods, ranging from fruits and vegetables to guns and farm equipment.

16. Richards Years: In 1784, William Richards, uncle of Joseph Ball, became a major owner of The Iron Works, beginning an era which would last for 92 years. William was ironmaster until he retired in 1809. Son Jesse was in charge until his death in 1854; and he was followed by his son Thomas H. By the mid 1800’s, iron production declined and Batsto became a glassmaking community known for its window glass. Soon the glass business was also finished, and Batsto was in receivership.

17. Wharton Years: Joseph Wharton, a Philadelphia businessman, purchased Batsto in 1876 at a Masters Sale. Wharton continued to purchase property in the area surrounding Batsto. He made improvements on the mansion, and on many of the village buildings. He was also involved in a variety of forestry and agricultural endeavors (including the cultivation of peanuts). The New Jersey legislature thwarted his efforts to pipe Pinelands water for use in Philadelphia. Joseph Wharton died in 1909. From his death until 1954, the Wharton properties in the Pine Barrens were managed by the Girard Trust Company in Philadelphia.

18. 74 mi. State Ownership: New Jersey purchased the Wharton properties in the mid 1950’s. The state began planning for the use and development of the property. The few people still living in the Village houses remained as long as they wanted. It was in 1989 that the last house was vacated. Today Batsto Village is a New Jersey Historic site and is listed on the New Jersey and National Registers of Historic Places.

21. Shamong Township SitesAtsion

23. Joseph Wharton inspecting peanut crop at Atsion. Note corner of church in background. Cemetery is hidden by weeds.

35. Hezekiah B. Smith1816-1887

39. PARK AVENUE STREETSCAPE PROJECT $3 million project; $750,000 from NJ Historic Trust Ghost-framing of Conservatory; Footprints of Mechanics Hall; Bandstand; Gas Lights; railings; iron stairs; signs

47. Mechanics Hall: Boarding House/Opera House Complex Living Quarters Opera House Dining Hall Billiard Room Company Store Barber Shop Butcher Shop Produce Inside the Opera House

48. Mechanics Hall from the corner of Park Avenue Postcard from the Collection of Paul W. Schopp