medicine for the soul - Atlantic County Historical Society

Volume 11,Issue 2
14
Newsletter of the Atlantic County Historical Society
SUMMER 2013
MEDICINE FOR THE SOUL
Inscription over the door at the Library of Thebes
Dear Gentle Reader,
If you were not present at the Atlantic County Historical Society, Monday, April 29th, 7:00 PM as we
hosted MEET THE AUTHORS night, let me gently inform you that your 2013 reading schedule is now
seriously compromised.
Over sixty guests enjoyed the presentations of nine local writers who have authored books
incorporating the Atlantic County area as the back drop for their literary creations. From the beginning of our
alphabetical list, Dawn Price Brown spoke about her cartoon type story of her father, Harold Price’s, baseball
career. Whispers through the audience confirmed that he was a known name in Egg Harbor Township.
At the end of the alphabet was Steven Young from Atlantic City who has written several books but on
this evening highlighted, The Women of all Seasons. Seated next to Steven was Sandy Warren, also from Atlantic
City who discussed her cook book titled, Art Blakley Cookin’ and Jammin’ Recipes. Again, the audience came up
with remembrances of hearing Art Blakley in the apex of his career.
Judy Courter of Galloway Township became fascinated with the stories she heard about Ethel and Fred
Noyes fourteen years ago and did extensive research into their lives and how they founded the Historic
Smithville Inn and Village. Her book, Fred and Ethel Noyes of Smithville, New Jersey, takes locals a step back into
history of which many of us recall and lived through.
D.C. Stone, a former Playboy Bunny from Galloway Township wrote, Shadow of Darkness, a dark fantasy
growing from her active mind. She is presently working on two more books. A gentleman familiar to many
South Jerseyians is, Lee Ireland, who has written a book called, Place Names of the Jersey Shore If you ever
wondered how our towns and streets got their names they are revealed in his book. A book title that caught
much attention was A Way to A Woman’s Heart, was written by Atlantic City resident Michael Stevenson who is
currently the Chef for the Redskins. His recipes and gentle and loving advice is worth heeding.
Frank Ferry, Esq., a Trustee on the Board of the Atlantic County Historical Society has written of the
true life of Enoch Johnson, political leader of the Republican Party in his book, Nucky, the Real Story of the
Atlantic City Boardwalk Boss. Frank praised his fellow authors on this Meet the Authors panel for their love and
dedication to Atlantic County. His second biography will be that of Senator Frank S. Farley.
The sole poet presenting was Nancy Steelman from Vineland who brought with her several delightful
members from the Vineland Historical Society. She read two of her poems from her book, Country Friend.
They were succinct, gentle and thought provoking.
Events and Happenings
And so, Dear Gentle Reader, may I gently tell you that if you were not in attendance that you missed a
truly enlightening evening.
See photos of the evening on page 6
Atlantic Heritage 1
Program Logistics
Risley Homestead
Program Description
8 Virginia Avenue
(near 400 block of Shore Road)
Northfield, NJ
Each Saturday 11:00am – 4:00pm
Each Sunday 1:00pm – 4:00pm
Free Admission –Donations Appreciated
ATLANTIC COUNTY
HISTORICAL SOCIETY

The Risley Homestead is one of two 18th century houses in Atlantic County
individually listed on the National Register of Historic Places and was home to
many generations of Risley oystermen. The ACHS received the Homestead and
its furnishings by bequest from Virginia Risley Stout in 1989. Open weekends
from May through October. The Homestead is open for individual and small
group guided tours. Closed on major holidays.
100th ANNIVERSARY COOKBOOK
Our 100th Anniversary cookbook, entitled Recipes Through The Years, is now available at
the ACHS. Cost is $20. Look for details on our website about our Cookbook luncheon this
fall at ACIT Café on Main Street which will feature recipes from the Cookbook.
907 Shore Road,
Somers Point, NJ

ANTIQUES ROAD SHOW DITCHED!
The ACHS Program Committee regretfully reports that for various and sundry foggy reasons,
the planned Antiques Road Show type program scheduled for June has hit a bump in the road
and was thrown into a ditch until next year.
ATLANTIC COUNTY
HISTORICAL SOCIETY
907 Shore Road,
Somers Point, NJ
July 27, 2013

HAPPY 100TH BIRTHDAY!!
Join us for our Birthday Party complete with balloons, cake and lemonade. Library and
Museum Tours guides will be available to show you around and answer questions. Pick up a
copy of our latest Newsletter and consider becoming a member or volunteer. See how good
“100” can look!
Time: 11:00am – 3:00pm
ATLANTIC COUNTY
HISTORICAL SOCIETY
907 Shore Road,
Somers Point, NJ
September 7, 2013
Time: 6:00pm (Inside, 2nd Floor)
Free and open to the public
HARBOR PINES
COUNTRY CLUB
EVENING OF BLUE GRASS - BACK BY POPULAR DEMAND!
By popular demand, this fall sees the return of the Bennetts and Claytons for an Evening of
Bluegrass. This much loved local group will once again delight us with their mixed bag of
Bluegrass, gospel songs, patriotic renditions and some of their own down home compositions.
This event will coincide with Somers Point’s annual Good Old Days Festival. What a perfect
way to wind down your day of browsing and playing through the Festival! For more
information please call the Atlantic County Historical Society at 609-927-5218.
2013 ACHS ANNUAL LUNCHEON & 100th BIRTHDAY PARTY
Ocean Heights Ave.
Egg Harbor Twp.
Saturday, October 19th
11:30 A.M.
Reservation Required. Fee: $30.
The Atlantic County Historical Society’s 2013 annual meeting and luncheon will be especially
jubilant this year as we also celebrate our 100 th birthday with favors, balloons, birthday napkins
and birthday cake for dessert.
Following the installation of the nominees to the 2013-2014 governing Board, “The “Bringing
History to Life Award” recipients will be honored with a special presentation by Assistant
Librarian, Diane Miller and former Librarian, Dale Lonkart, who spent months researching and
putting together a power point presentation about the Society’s past history.
Members, volunteers and the public are graciously invited to attend our 100 th birthday party.
OUR LADY IN RED
Along with the Atlantic County Historical Society, our “Lady in Red”, Betty Deery Steelman,
affectionately known as “Betty”, celebrates a milestone birthday this year. This ever cheerful and vibrant
lady turned 90 years old in May and celebrated by hosting a birthday party for herself at the Crab Trap
Restaurant in Somers Point for ninety of her “best friends.” To illustrate how sharp a mind this youthful
woman has, she picked out the one person in the room she did not know; a guest that was invited along at
the last minute when her intended partner became ill.
Betty has a long and interesting history, having served in the U.S. Waves during World War II, as
an office worker in the Navy Bureau of Personnel, in Arlington, Virginia, and becoming a member of many
organizations and historical societies. Over the years she extensively researched her late husband John’s
genealogy that can be traced back to the 17th Century.
Betty’s secret to youth is staying interested in things, remaining active, maintaining an upbeat
attitude and most important; always wear red! 
Atlantic Heritage 2
1913, or TWTYTW
Our birthday. Our nativity. TWTYTW.
That Was The Year That Was. A play on the mid‘60's TV satirical comedy program starring David
Frost and called That Was The Week That Was, or
TW3, which highlighted the week’s events of interest
and importance. That program lasted about one
year. We, however, have made it to the century
mark.......100 years old!!
What else happened in 1913? The following
were born: Vivian Leigh, Burt Lancaster, Danny
Kaye, Red Skelton, Richard Nixon, Albert Camus,
Jesse Owens, Jimmy Hoffa, Woody Herman, Vince
Lombardi. Our population was 97,335,000 and
postage was 2 cents. The 16th Amendment was
ratified establishing the federal income tax, the first
prizes were placed in Cracker Jacks boxes, Mary
Phelps Jacobs patented the modern elastic brassiere,
Ebbets Field opened for the Brooklyn Dodgers,
Swedish engineer Gideon Sundback of Hoboken, NJ
patented the all-purpose zipper and Tiny Broadwick
was the first woman to parachute from an airplane.
Wow! We’re in pretty good company, eh?
If you’d like to help us survive in difficult times and
continue to grow our resources and save to expand
our building, we hope you’ll use the enclosed
envelope to make us, and you, feel good. Thanks in
advance for your generosity. 
In Memoriam
The Atlantic County Historical Society
is pleased to welcome and
thank our newest members:
Joseph Harness, Little Egg Harbor, NJ
Lisa Besser, Tabernacle, NJ
Bob & Pat Stebbins, Barnegat, NJ
Dirk Smith, Hollis, NH
Dennis Niceler, Pomona, NJ (prior member)
Gabe Coia, Galloway, NJ
Edwin & Barbara Kroger, Mays Landing, NJ
(prior members)
Fred & Carol Dodd, Egg Harbor Twp., NJ
Thomas Arnold, Lawrence, KS
AS ALWAYS, THANK YOU!
Our thanks to the following friends and members for
their generosity and continuing support:
FRIEND: $1-$49
Jim Davidson and Felix Amador, Charles and Marilyn
Gallagher, Eugene and Shirley Somers
Sheryl Collins, In Honor Of Betty Steelman
Phyllis Morris, In Honor Of Betty Steelman
In Memory of Lou Tilton Soloff
Mary A. Schulz, Robert and Eleanor Webb,
Samuel and Stella Ann Borenstein
San Angelo (TX) Association of Realtors
PATRON: $50-$249
Barbara Westergaard
Joseph and Geraldine Rosen,
In Honor Of Betty Steelman
Lou Tilton Soloff
Life Member
In Memory of Lou Tilton Soloff
Samuel and Sherill Barbary,David and Donna Bozarth,
Bob and Lynne Warner, Donna Keppel,
Kevin and Rita Donohoe, Thomas Enstice, Christopher
Miele and Daniel Sedlock, Court and Diane Soloff
Atlantic County Historical Society Governing Board
President: Richard Squires
Vice-President: Sid Parker, Jr.
Recording Secy: Barbara Perry-Silva
Treasurer: Charlene Canale
Asst. Treasurer: Pat Parker
Financial Secretary: Kevin Little
Librarian: Freda Heintz
Assistant Librarian: Diane Miller
Curator:
Assistant Curator:
Allen “Boo” Pergament
Chaplain: Rev. Norman Goos
Trustees: Jerry Bell, Skip Bellino,
Frank Ferry, Helen Walsh, James
Mason,V, Richlyn Goddard, Ruth
Taylor, Ellen Hyatt, Ruth Faust,
Alex Marino, Donald Perry, Sheryl
Collins.
Atlantic Heritage 3
Volunteer of the Quarter
This is one way to pay tribute to our many volunteers, for as a
volunteer-run organization, we could not exist without their dedication
and enthusiasm. If you think that you would like to join our volunteers,
you are welcome to contact us.
Ruth Taylor may as well
change her home address to the
Society building. On any given day
Ruth might be found at her
“station”.....a library table with her
laptop open in front of her. If
she’s not on volunteer duty (a
couple times each monthcouupl
or filling in for someone else), she’s
frequently there doing her own research or research for a
friend. She is also one of two volunteers, Mary Beth
Ortzman being the other, who handle the bulk of
genealogical research queries from members or folks who
find us online. It even appears at times that if a name is
mentioned, she’ll know it or she can find it in her own
database because it’s a relative.
Ruth first joined the Society in the late 1960's or
early 1970's and has been a volunteer off and on for the
majority of those years. She is also a member of the
Northfield, Hamilton Township and Greate Egg Harbour
Township historical societies. Her research has been
extensive enough to gain her admission into the D.A.R.
through her patriot, Jeremiah Risley. Not content enough
having joined that elite group, she has now set her sights on
the Society of Mayflower Descendants.
Ruth has worked at the old Boardwalk National
Bank in the Arcade Building, at Tennessee Ave. and the
Boardwalk, Atlantic City Medical Center and finished up
with 21 years cooking at Harrah’s Casino. With 13
grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren, we’re thankful for
any of her time! 
OLIVE RUNDSTROM AWARD
APPLICATIONS AVAILABLE
JULY 1,2013
Applications for the annual Olive Rundstrom
History Award will be available at the ACHS beginning
July 1st. All completed applications must be submitted
on the official form and returned to the ACHS by the
end of business (3:30) September 28th, 2013
This award named in honor of Olive
Rundstrom, long time ACHS historian, officer and
volunteer, is available annually to assist a local student,
historian, researcher or organization complete work on
a local history project. The award, up to $500., funds a
portion of the project and applicants need to secure the
balance of needed funding from other sources. For
more information call the ACHS at 927-5218. 
Spotlight on
the Shelves
a treasure hiding in plain sight…
We are on the hunt for some more books to fill
an information void. If you have done some spring
cleaning and felt the urge to throw out some old school
yearbooks please contact the ACHS library at 609-9275218.
Check with us before you give them a heavequite a bit of information in the books can fill in some
blank spots in family lore or history. Who went to school
with whom- I didn’t know they lived in that place- look at
that outfit or hair- look at that team.
Yearbooks open a time window and give a
glimpse into the world and eras of the past. So please help
both yourself and the Historical Society by recycling your
old school yearbooks. 
2013 YEARBOOK ERRATA:
Yearbook Volume 17, Number 1
Available at the ACHS
for $20 per copy.
Pick up one for yourself and
one for that hard-to-buy-for
friend or relative!
Corrections to “History of the Pleasantville Meadows,
Part I Prehistory to 1850”:
 p. 40, line 9: Change footnote “1” to
footnote “64.”
 p. 53, last line (in footnotes): Change “See
footnote 61” to “See footnote 24.”
 p. 54, line26: Change footnote “73” to
footnote “136.”
Atlantic Heritage 4
150th Anniversary of The Civil War
By Skip Bellino
UPDATE ON THE WAR: APRIL 1863 – JUNE 1863
April 1863 finds General Ambrose Burnside, after the disastrous defeat at Fredericksburg, Va., has been relieved
of command of the Army of the Potomac and re-assigned to the Western theater. His replacement is General Joseph
“Fighting Joe” Hooker. Most of April is taken up with skirmishes between the Union and Confederate forces in the
Virginia and West Virginia areas. There are victories on both sides but nothing monumental.
In the Western theater, General U. S. Grant is maneuvering his troops with his sights set on Vicksburg,
Mississippi. This would prove to be one of the most difficult undertakings that Grant would face in his military career.
Vicksburg is especially important in that a Union victory here would open up the entire length of the Mississippi River to
the Union Navy vessels. The matter complicates considering the geographical features of Vicksburg. Set high up on
cliffs, the city gets the nickname of the “Gibraltar of the West”. Grant will eventually lay siege to the city and the ordeal
will drag out for two months with no decision.
Meanwhile in the East, Hooker is maneuvering his troops along the Rappahannock River with the intention to
give battle to General Robert E. Lee. Hooker has under his command 70,000 troops with another 30,000 troops in
reserve near Fredericksburg under the command of General John Sedgwick.
On April 27th the Army of the Potomac crosses the Rappahannock River and threatens Lee’s Confederates. On
May Hooker pulls his forces back to take an offensive position. General Thomas “Stonewall” Jackson leads a
devastating attack on the Union forces right flank. On May 2nd the fighting continues with Jackson on Hooker’s right
and Lee on the Federal right. That evening, while conducting a reconnaissance, General Jackson and several of his staff
strayed past the Confederate lines. When returning they are mistakenly identified as Union soldiers and are fired upon
by their own men. Jackson is wounded and carried from the field. He will lose his left arm and will contract pneumonia.
Jackson died on May 10, 1863. After being wounded, Lee said of Jackson, “He seems to have lost his left arm, and I
have lost my right.” General A. P. Hill would also be wounded at Chancellorsville. Yet another blow to Lee and the
Confederate Army.
1st
Meanwhile at Vicksburg, Grant continues to try to defeat the Confederate forces with several attempted attacks
being repulsed. General Joseph Johnston CSA is ordered to attack Grant and attempt to reverse the situation. Johnston
hesitates and loses the momentum to thwart Grant.
Robert E. Lee decides it is time for a Confederate invasion of the North. He begins to move his troops out of
the Fredericksburg area and begins a month long campaign which will lead to the Battle of Gettysburg, Pa. Lincoln
advises Hooker to maneuver in such a manner as to keep his
Army between Lee and Washington, the President still in fear of a Confederate attack on the Capital.
On June 27th, after discussion with General Henry Halleck, President Lincoln relieves General Hooker as
Commander of the Army of the Potomac and replaces him with General George Gordon Meade. In just a few days,
Meade will have his mettle tested at Gettysburg.
During the weeks leading up to Gettysburg, General J. E. B. Stuart, Commanding the Confederate Cavalry, will
conduct several successful raids against the Union Cavalry further frustrating the Army of the Potomac’s attempt to reorganize and conduct meaningful military operations.
During the next quarter of 1863 we will see Robert E. Lee once again slip the noose at Gettysburg in order to
fight another day, much to the consternation of President Lincoln.

Atlantic Heritage 5
Veteran’s History
Project Spotlight
OH
NO!
SAY IT
ISN’T SO!
Did you ever wonder what happens to each veteran’s
recorded interview once it leaves the Atlantic County
Historical Society? Well wonder no more, according to the
Library of Congress here are the steps they follow:
She just packed up and left us and moved to
Florida!!!! How could she do that?! Who, you ask?
Ruth Faust, long-time volunteer and former board
member.
1. ACHS Veteran’s History Project sends the
interview and other materials to the LOC by Fed
Ex.
2. The materials are accessioned, processed and
placed in archival housing at the LOC.
3. Information about each “collection” is entered into
the LOC database.
4. A web page is created for each veteran who shares
his or her story and submits materials.
5. Once the collection is processed materials are
housed in a safe, climate controlled environment at
the Library of Congress.
6. Information in the database can be accessed by
going to the LOC Home page, www.loc.gov/vets
When the search page comes up, choose Search by
Contributor and type in Atlantic County Historical
Society. This will bring up an alpha list of all the
interviews submitted by the ACHS and entered
into the database. As resources permit, the LOC is
digitizing interviews so that they will be available in
their entirety on the veteran’s web page.
7. Collections can be assessed by the public at the
American Folklife Center Reading Room. All
collections submitted by the ACHS are also
available at the ACHS Library during our regular
hours.
8. Collections are available for use by researchers,
educators, and family members and others.
Ruth’s many years in the insurance business
made her invaluable to us, especially after Hurricane/
Nor’easter Sandy knocked down our sign in front of
our building. Fortunately, a few years earlier Ruth had
advised us to insure the sign, mostly against vehicular
mishap but, as luck would have it, it was wind not
wheels, which shortened the lifespan of our sign. Our
new sign, with our new/old name on it, was almost
completely paid for with the insurance proceeds and is
back in place.
Now, if we could only talk Ruth into being
our long distance insurance advisor....... 
To date, 176 interviews that the ACHS Veteran’s History
Project has completed are available on the VHP web site.
Interviews were conducted at Meadowview Nursing home
with six WW 11 veterans in March and scheduling is now
taking place for interviews to be conducted on Wednesday
June 26th at the Zion Methodist Church. If you are
interested in participating call the ACHS and leave a
message for the VHP committee Chair Sheryl Collins and
someone will get back to you with details. 
Top: (L-R) Judy Courter, Frank Ferry, Lee Ireland, Nancy
Steelman, Mike Stephenson, D.C. Stone, Sandy Warren &
Steven Young at Meet The Author’s Night.
Bottom : (L) Dawn Price Brown with photo of her father,
Harold Price; (R) Steven Young with A Woman of All Seasons.
Atlantic Heritage 6
Library Spotlight
Freda Heintz, Librarian
Asst. Librarian, Diane Miller
FOUNDING MOTHERS
FOLLOW-UP
ON THE ROAD AGAIN
We’d like to create an on-going 100th
anniversary story with the help of our readers.
Hoping that many have had the chance to read
the story of “Our Founding Mothers” which appeared
in the last issue of our Yearbook (2012-13), we now ask
if anyone has more information to add to that which
was written. Perhaps you are a descendant of one of
these eight ladies, and would like to share how you are
related. Perhaps you have a photo which might give us
a glimpse of how they looked in their younger or later
years – especially of the two women whose images we
were unable to find: Mrs. Mary Rebecca Mullhallon Fish
and Mrs. Melvetta Risley Rogers. Maybe you have a
story about them or their families which would help us
to know them a little better, or an object which
personally belonged to them – something that they
touched or created.
If you do – and it certainly doesn’t need to be
limited to the examples given – we would enjoy hearing
what you have to share. Feel free to contact us by
phone (609-927-5281) or email: achsinfo@comcast.net
with the subject line “Founding Mothers”. If coming to
visit in person works better, that would be welcome as
well. Our volunteers are usually present Wednesdays –
Thursdays from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Thank you! We hope to hear from you! 
Newsletter Editor, Layout & Graphics
Ellen Hyatt
Contributors to this Issue:
Sid Parker, Pat Parker, Freda Heintz,
Diane Miller, Sheryl Collins, Skip
Bellino, Helen Walsh & Dale Lonkart
The Atlantic County Historical Society
received an operating grant from the Atlantic
County Office of Cultural & Heritage Affairs
April 18 – Dale Lonkart and Diane Miller gave the
debut presentation of their ACHS 100th Anniversary
Power Point at a meeting of the Estell Manor
Historical Society. The program begins with a brief
biography of each of the Society’s founders. It then
gives an overview of the Society’s accomplishments
over the past 100 years, and how it has interacted with
the community since its founding. An audience of
about 20 people interacted comfortably with the
presenters throughout the program.
May 14 – Dale Lonkart and Diane Miller represented
the Atlantic County Historical Society at the first
meeting of the Somers Point Heritage Tourism meeting
held at the Somers Point Historical Society. A decision
was made to use available funds to update and print the
“Visit Our Museum” rack card currently available at
several locations. The revised card will feature the
Atlantic County Historical Society, Somers Mansion,
the Somers Point Historical Museum, and possibly
another Somers Point destination on the front. The
back will give a list of Somers Point restaurants. The
next meeting is scheduled for June 25. 
The Atlantic County Historical
Society will be closed:
July 4th
Need to Contact Us?
Phone: (609) 927-5218
Email: ACHSinfo@comcast.net
Website:
www.AtlanticCountyHistoricalSocietynj.org
Newsletter available online!
ACHS Hours: Wednesday – Saturday:
10:00am to 3:30pm
Parking and entrance at the
rear of our building
Atlantic Heritage 7
NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION
U.S. POSTAGE
PAID
PERMIT NO. 164
Pleasantville, NJ 08232
907 Shore Road
Post Office Box 301
Somers Point, New Jersey 08244-0301
ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED
Our Mission:

To collect and preserve historical materials exemplifying the events, places, and lifestyles of the people of Atlantic County
and southern New Jersey.

To encourage the study of history and genealogy.

To provide historical and genealogical information to our membership and the general public.
Atlantic Heritage 8