close menu
This website uses cookies to store your accessibility preferences. No personal / identifying information is stored. More info.

Museum



NEW WEYMOUTH MUSEUM HISTORY BY DOUGLAS YEARSLEY

WEYMOUTH TOWNSHIP NEW JERSEY

ANYONE WHO KNOWS THE HISTORY OF OUR ANCIENT TOWNSHIP ALSO KNOWS THAT MOST OF OUR HISTORY LIES OUTSIDE ITS CURRENT 1950s BOUNDARIES. ORIGINALLY ENCOMPASSING ALL OF ATLANTIC COUNTY, WEYMOUTH TOWNSHIP WAS CREATED AS A CONSTABLE. WICK BY THE QUAKERS OF GLOUCESTER COUNTY IN 1694. A YEAR LATER IT BECAME A TOWNSHIP AND IS REFERRED TO IN 17th CENTURY RECORDS AS "THE NEW WAYMOUTH TOWNSHIP".

OVER THE CENTURIES OTHER TOWNSHIPS WERE INCORPORATED IN THIS LARGE AREA WHICH BECAME ATLANTIC COUNTY IN 1837. AS LATE AS 1923-25 WEYMOUTH TOWNSHIP INCLUDED ESTELL MANOR AND CORBIN CITY. TODAY THE TINY TOWNSHIP WITH ITS ODD BOUNDARIES IS ALL THAT IS LEFT OF THE LAND NAMED FOR AN ENGLISH SEAPORT 300 YEARS AGO.

THIS MUSEUM WAS FOUNDED TO TELL THE STORY OF WEYMOUTH TOWNSHIP AND ITS PEOPLE AS WELL AS HOUSE AND PROTECT ARTIFACTS OF OUR PAST INTO THE FUTURE. THE BUILDING WAS OPENED AS A METHODIST CHURCH IN 1915, BUT SERVED ALL NONDENOMINATIONAL PROTESTANTS AS "EVERYBODYS MISSION" UNTIL IT FELL INTO DISUSE IN THE 1970s. IT WAS MOVED HERE IN 1993 AND NAMED FOR GRANDMOM SEELMAN, A GREAT LADY. IN 2002 THE TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE ESTABLISHED THIS MUSEUM.

AS YOU TOUR THE EXHIBITS, LET THEM TELL THE STORY OF REAL PEOPLE JUST LIKE US AND REMEMBER THAT THE VIEWS. FROM THE WINDOWS ARE EXHIBITS TOO. ENJOY YOUR VISIT TO THE PAST WHERE WE SHALL ALL MEET SOMEDAY.

THERE TIMES ARE GONE. THE PEOPLE ARE GONE. ONLY THE STUFF REMAINS TO TELL US THE WHO, WHY, WHERE AND WHEN OF THE GREAT RIVER OF HUMANITY THAT STRETCHES OUT BEHIND US INTO THE MISTY PAST. AMONG THE RUSTED JUNK AND NAMELESS PHOTOGRAPHS COMES ANOCCASIONAL JEWEL OF INFORMATION AND EVEN BEAUTY. A DELFT CLOCK, A LEAD BULLET, A DOLLS LEG LEAD US INTO DIM YESTERDAYS AND ALLOW THE DEAD TO TOUCH US ACROSS THE YEARS. WE MAY PITY THEM FOR THEIR DRUDGERY, THEIR POVERTY, THEIR IGNORANCE. DO NOT WASTE YOUR PITY. IN MANY WAYS THEY WERE OUR SUPERIORS/ FOR WE STAND ON THE SHOULDERS OF GIANTS.

 


DY
Weymouth Township historian Douglas Yearsley describes the museum and contents on opening night
Kitchen Display
Kitchen Display
   
Wash Stand
Washstand display
Pallor Display with Vitrola
Pallor display with victrola

Faith Display
Different faiths of Weymouth Township display
 
Generl Store Display
General store display

teh early 1800's
1800's display
   
   
Egg Display
Weymouth Township chicken farming display
Railroad Display
The rail road in Weymouth Township display


Early History Display
Early History of Weymouth Township
   

THE WEYMOUTH TOWNSHIP HISTORICAL MUSEUM IS UNDER THE DIRECT CONTROL OF THE TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE OF THE TOWNSHIP OF WEYMOUTH IN ATLANTIC COUNTY NEW JERSEY. INFORMATION IS AVAILABLE AT THE WEYMOUTH TOWNSHIP MUNICIPAL BUILDING DOROTHY, NEW JERSEY 08317, 609-476-2633 SPECIAL PROGRAMS FOR SCHOOLS AND GROUPS ARE AVAILABLE.

 
Donations for Exhibits are sought and appreciated either on Loan or as as Gifts