Gloucester County Guide
Explore Revolutionary War landmarks, colonial meeting houses, early inns, historic districts, South Jersey schoolhouses, and preserved buildings across Gloucester County.
County History
Gloucester County, founded in 1686, once included the land that later became Atlantic and Camden Counties. The original NJTGO page describes the county as an agricultural, industrial, and residential area, with farming, fruit, vegetables, poultry, dairy, livestock, canneries, and nearby markets helping make it one of New Jersey’s food-producing sections.
This historic guide keeps the original NJTGO directory intact while making it easier to browse by area and theme.
Many historic properties are active churches, privately owned buildings, museums, public parks, or campus buildings. Always confirm hours, access, parking, tour availability, and photography rules before visiting. Red Bank Battlefield and the Whitall House have seasonal tours, while Gloucester County Historical Society provides museum, library, and research resources.
Historic Places
17 Hunter Street, Woodbury, NJ 08096
The original NJTGO source lists Gloucester County Historical Society as a key historic resource at 17 Hunter Street in Woodbury. Use it as a starting point for Gloucester County artifacts, local records, museum exhibits, library research, and South Jersey history.
Photo by Bill Coughlin, courtesy of HMdb.org
Hessian Road, National Park, NJ 08063
James Whitall, a wealthy Quaker farmer and merchant, and his wife Ann Cooper built the main brick section in 1748.
On April 16, 1777, the Pennsylvania militia commandeered the farm and built Fort Mercer in the northern apple orchard. Job Whitall noted in his diary that the Americans turned the family out of the kitchen, largest upstairs room, and shop, and took hay to feed the horses. Colonel Christopher Greene later used a portion of the house as military headquarters.
The battle was a key victory and morale builder; however, news of a second siege caused the Americans to destroy the fort and leave the property on November 24, 1777.
Photo courtesy of Wikipedia.org
Whitney Avenue on the campus of Rowan University, Glassboro, NJ
Built in 1849 and also known as Hollybush, the historic home was used as the Rowan University President’s Residence until 1998. The original NJTGO text notes that Rowan University later restored the mansion and used it as a meeting place and museum.
In 1967, the mansion hosted the Glassboro Summit Conference between United States President Lyndon B. Johnson and Soviet Union Premier Alexei Kosygin.
Photo courtesy of Wikipedia.org
Swedesboro-Paulsboro Road, Gibbstown, NJ
One of the oldest surviving log houses in the United States. The oldest part of the house was built sometime between 1638 and 1643 by Finnish or Swedish settlers in the New Sweden colony, and Scandinavian ironware from the 1590s remained around the fireplace. The fireplace was likely built of bricks brought to North America as ship ballast and placed asymmetrically in a corner of the cabin.
Historic Places
Photo by Bill Coughlin, courtesy of HMdb.org
North Broad Street, Woodbury, NJ 08096
Captain James Lawrence was a naval hero in the War of 1812. His greatest victory was the capture and sinking of H.M.S. Peacock while he commanded the sloop of war U.S.S. Hornet.
He died in action on June 1, 1813 during an engagement between U.S.S. Chesapeake and H.M.S. Shannon, remembered for the words “Don’t give up the ship.”
General Cornwallis made his headquarters in this house. Today it serves as headquarters of the Woodbury Historical Society.
Photo courtesy of Wikipedia.org
Lafayette Avenue and Colonial Avenue, Woodbury, NJ 08096
John Ladd, a surveyor who helped William Penn plan Philadelphia, built this house in 1688. The original name was Candor Hall.
Photo courtesy of Wikipedia.org
Woodbury, NJ
A rare antebellum survivor, the Old Carpenter Street School may be New Jersey’s oldest existing schoolhouse built for African-Americans. It is also the oldest surviving structure associated with the Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Woodbury, a congregation founded in 1817. Built by Joseph Tatum in 1840 in vernacular Gothic Revival style, the frame building became a public school in 1881 and later a parish house.
Photo courtesy of Wikipedia.org
108 S. Broad Street, Woodbury, NJ
This historic three-story building occupies much of a city block on South Broad Street and was erected more than a century ago.
Photo courtesy of Wikipedia.org
Woodbury, NJ
The house was built in 1892 and is also known as Thompson’s Grocery Store.
Photo courtesy of Wikipedia.org
120 N. Broad Street, Woodbury, NJ
A historic Quaker meeting house built in 1715.
Photo courtesy of Wikipedia.org
Woodbury-Glassboro Road, Deptford, NJ
This was the original Benjamin Clark farm. The west section of the brick home is the oldest portion, built in the late 18th century; the east section includes a stone insert dated 1804. Benjamin Clark was a Revolutionary soldier, and his home was raided by the British several times because of his patriotic activities.
Historic Places
Photo courtesy of Wikipedia.org
Oak Grove and Meeting House Road, Swedesboro, NJ
Built in 1793 by local farmers for the Methodist religion, the church is said to be the oldest Methodist church in South Jersey. Also known as Adams Meeting House or Oak Grove Church, it was built in the Adams neighborhood on a corner of the Joseph and Elizabeth Adams farm. The Adams family later gave adjoining land for a burial ground.
Photo courtesy of Wikipedia.org
Swedesboro-Sharptown Road, Woolwich Township, NJ
The original NJTGO source lists the church as built in 1786. Gloucester County Historical Society notes the Moravian Church at Oldman’s Creek remains a major historic property.
Photo courtesy of Wikipedia.org
172 Garwin Road, Woolwich, NJ
Built in 1799. According to the sign in front of the church, the cemetery is an Underground Railroad site.
Photo courtesy of Wikipedia.org
Swedesboro, NJ
The school was built in 1931.
Photo courtesy of Wikipedia.org
428 Kings Highway, Swedesboro, NJ
The building was built in 1881.
Photo courtesy of Wikipedia.org
Swedesboro, NJ
The congregation was founded about 1700 as a Swedish Lutheran Church with services in Swedish. It later became Anglican, then Episcopal, with the church built in 1786.
Photo courtesy of Wikipedia.org
Woolwich Township, NJ
The house was built in 1791. It was the home of Governor Charles C. Stratton, the first New Jersey governor to be elected by popular vote.
Photo courtesy of Wikipedia.org
Mickleton, NJ
On December 13, 1756, permission was granted by Haddonfield Monthly Meeting for Friends near Raccoon Creek to hold an indulged meeting for worship at Solomon Lippincott’s home. The meeting became known as Solomon’s Meeting.
The present Friends Meeting House was completed in 1799 on a two-acre plot donated by Samuel Mickle and Samuel Tonkin. The bricks were burned on the farm of William Batten near Clarksboro.
Historic image from original NJTGO source
Kings Highway, Mickleton, NJ
Dr. Bodo Otto, originally from Luneburg in Prussia, came to America in 1752. In 1772, his son Bodo Otto, Jr. purchased land at Mickleton. Dr. Bodo Otto, Jr. served as a surgeon in Washington’s Army at Valley Forge and lived here. During a Tory invasion in 1777, the place was partially burned. The original property dates back to 1688.
Photo courtesy of Wikipedia.org
Kings Highway, Clarksboro, NJ
St. Peter’s Protestant Episcopal Church was founded on November 9, 1770 and incorporated April 28, 1835. It was a colonial parish and the last Anglican church founded in New Jersey before the Revolutionary War.
Historic Places
Photo courtesy of Wikipedia.org
Main and Focer Streets, Glassboro, NJ
Built in 1846.
Photo courtesy of Wikipedia.org
Pitman, NJ
Pitman Grove developed from a summer camp meeting at the turn of the century. The Camp Meeting Auditorium, built in 1882 and later renovated by the Borough, was once a center of Methodist worship. Revival meetings began there in 1871.
The Grove’s 12 avenues, named for the disciples of Christ, radiate from the auditorium like spokes on a wheel. Small cottages were eventually built along the avenues, helping lead to the origin of Pitman. In 1905, Pitman Grove became the Borough of Pitman.
Photo courtesy of Wikipedia.org
Mullica Hill, NJ
The district covers much of historic Mullica Hill, including Main Street from Mullica Hill-Bridgeport Road to the junction of Commissioners Road and Bridgeton Pike in Harrison Township. The original NJTGO text notes St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church and the district’s National Register history.
Photo courtesy of Wikipedia.org
Elmer Road, Harrison Township, NJ
On May 22, 1860, the Mount Pleasant Methodist Episcopal Church was organized in a community once known by several names, including White Horse, Campbell’s Cross Roads, Mount Pleasant, Five Points, Richwood, and “Hell Town.” Early meetings were held at Clems Run School House and later at Richwood Academy before the congregation resolved to build a new church.
Photo courtesy of Wikipedia.org
2226 Fries Mills Road, Monroe Township, NJ
A school was built here in 1871 and was later taken over by the church, expanded, destroyed by fire, and rebuilt. The sign in front calls it “The little church with the big welcome.”
Photo courtesy of Wikipedia.org
Hall Street, Monroe Township, NJ
The school was built in 1887.
Photo courtesy of Wikipedia.org
405 South Main Street, Williamstown, NJ
The library building was built in 1878.
Historic image from original NJTGO source
2526 Delsea Drive, Franklinville, NJ 08322
This old hostelry was once a well-known stagecoach stop in Little Ease, now Franklinville. It was standing before 1826, when Phebe Cake petitioned to have the license continued. The site once included a large cook house, smoke house, wagon sheds, and water trough for horses.
Photo courtesy of Wikipedia.org
Mantua-Sewell Road, Sewell, NJ
Jesse Chew was a Methodist preacher, and his home was spared from British raids. The Jersey sandstone house, built in 1772, retains original details including hand-hewn rafters, a corner fireplace, iron door hinges, and finger latches.
Historic Places
Photo courtesy of Wikipedia.org
Pitman and Sewell Road, Barnsboro, NJ
The original section of this old hotel was built of cedar logs twelve by sixteen inches squared and was standing as early as 1720, then owned by John Budd. John Barnes, from whom Barnsboro takes its name, was issued the first license for an inn on March 19, 1778.
Historic image from original NJTGO source
Old Kings Highway, Mount Royal, NJ
Built in the early 1700s, the inn was a rendezvous for the Gloucester Fox Hunting Club, active from 1766 to 1818 and described as the first such hunt club in America. During the Revolution, it was used for recruiting and as a military headquarters.
Nearby Town Pages