Help support our good friends at the Riverton Free Library!
HSR supporters love Riverton homes – and all will like to know the biennial House Tour is coming, your opportunity to get a glimpse of a variety of then, decorated for the season.
Several are vintage homes, including one built by a Riverton founding family and one built by the co-founder of the 4th of July Parade!
Click here for info on the homes you’ll see and read about their proud owners:
Here’s a quick look:
412 Lippincott Avenue, built 1888 by the man who later co-founded the Riverton 4th of July Children’s Parade.
503 Bank Avenue, built 1851 by Riverton founders Caleb Clothier and his wife Hannah Hallowell Clothier.
400 Linden Avenue, 1920 American Foursquare.
209A Linden Avenue, 2006 Modern Classic.
105 Bank Avenue, 2023 Modern European-style farmhouse.
1954 Mid-Century Ranch, expanded 2018.
The following will also be open and welcoming visitors:
Riverton Free Library (306 Main Street) ticket sales The Porch Club (4th & Howard Streets) refreshments and rest rooms Mt. Zion AME Church (3rd and Penn Streets) Calvary Presbyterian Church (300 4th Street) Christ Episcopal Church (305 Main Street) Riverview Estates (305 Bank Avenue) refreshments and rest rooms until 8 pm
Private citizens organize successful effort to protect their community’s history
Historical Society of Riverton (NJ) board members John Laverty (l) and Roger Prichard (r) installing the historical marker for the Riverton Free Library, housed in an 1853 cottage designed by A.J. Downing.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 18, 2024
RIVERTON, NEW JERSEY – Rivertonians Roger T. Prichard and John M. Laverty, Jr., have been awarded an “Honorable Mention for Preservation Stewardship,” one of the 2024 New Jersey Historic Preservation Awards given by Preservation New Jersey, a statewide non-profit historic preservation organization.
Each year, Preservation New Jersey reviews organizations and individuals who have contributed in memorable and significant ways to historic preservation or sustained contributions to the understanding and promotion of New Jersey’s rich history.
The Award is presented to Prichard and Laverty for their work as independent citizens to form a community roundtable that generated consensus towards and the writing of a new Historic Preservation Ordinance.
The historic charm of Riverton’s National Register Historic District faces growing losses from teardown and modern renovation projects. Until 2023, Riverton lacked the zoning protections that other historic New Jersey towns have used for years to preserve the historic character their citizens love.
Riverton (NJ) riverbank home built 1905-1907 for C.C. Fitler. Photo: Historical Society of Riverton
The award nominator recognized these long-time board members of the Historical Society of Riverton, saying “… Prichard and Laverty convened a citizens’ Preservation Roundtable to build consensus among many disparate Riverton constituencies, including business owners, landlords, local volunteer organizations, and elected leaders.”
“Roger and John brought to the table as many stakeholders as possible, distilling a town-wide understanding of ‘no more teardowns,’” said Faith Endicott, President of the Historical Society of Riverton. “It was important to recognize the risk of destroying what makes our town special. Our historic character is worth defending from further harm.” 2
“We put everyone in the same room as equals and let them listen to each other,” said Laverty, who served as Moderator.
Riverton (NJ) c. 1855 home of Daniel Leeds Miller Jr., a Philadelphia abolitionist and petroleum merchant. Photo: Historical Society of Riverton
Prichard observed, “We all agreed that everyone loves the appearance of this little Victorian town on the bank of the Delaware River and any work must follow the old rule: ‘first, do no harm.’”
“Riverton has a culture of respect for their vintage homes. Homeowners invest more for pride than for profit, whether long-time residents or newcomers,” he added.
Borough Council then unanimously created a first-in-Riverton Historic Preservation Commission, which elected Laverty as its founding Chair. “Yes, we need to defend our history – and – at least as important, we need to have a focus on ‘customer service,’ to help our property owners find good, affordable choices,” Laverty said.
Riverton’s new Historic Preservation Commission hopes to attract, cultivate, and champion projects which respect the surviving good work of long-ago craftspeople, protecting the property values of the many owners who have already restored and maintained their vintage properties.
Riverton (NJ) 1880 clubhouse of the Riverton Yacht Club, oldest sailing club on the Delaware River, built on the town’s 1851 steamboat landing pier. Photo: Historical Society of Riverton
Hundreds of resident voters stood in line for as long as 4 hours to cast their votes in the 2024 presidential and local election on Tuesday, November 5.
In my section of the line, the mood was peaceful and reserved. Small talk won the day and people seemed to be happy to be a part of the experience.
The weather was perfect all day and into the night and good-natured humor passed through the lines as time wore on.
Fortunately, in this town you are bound to catch a familiar name or face and enjoy a chat about an agreeable theme.
From time to time various generous souls provided multiple boxes of pizza from Milanese to make the experience seem shorter and definitely more enjoyable. Thank you!
We can only hope these connections take root and help us all remember from this personal experience that we have more in common than not. Right now, we ALL agree that this could have been done better!
With many technical bottlenecks, Burlington County Superior Court extended the time and 9:00 pm became the deadline to join the line, which by then (below) stretched down Howard to 4th and more than halfway along 4th toward Cinnaminson St.
We particularly like this photo, showing super-dedicated voters queued across from the Porch Club of Riverton, whose members worked tirelessly for decades more than a century ago to expand the right to vote to all. Photo at 9:05 pm by Roger Prichard
There were many hundreds in line, still remarkably patient and dedicated, at 9:00 when new voters could no longer join the line.
The last voter finished and walked out at 12:53 a.m. on Wednesday morning. In all, 994 Rivertonians voted, a turnout of about 65% of registered voters.
Out deepest thanks to our local volunteers and municipal employees who remained cheerful while coping with problems not of their own making — and to our great Rivertonians who persevered to exercise their power.
