Smithville Mansion

     One of my favorite places is Smithville Park.  My favorite part of Smithville Park is the Mansion, former home of Hezekiah B. Smith.  Mr. Smith was "an inventor, politician, industrialist, and bigamist" (a quote from the Eastampton Township website). http://www.eastampton.com/content/77/default.aspx  Mr. Smith held over forty patents.  He was a one term United States Congressman, and he served two years as a New Jersey Senator.  He developed his property into a modern industrial village containing a school, shops, a factory, and a foundry.  There was a park and a picnic grove.  There were cultural events, even opera, to enrich the worker's lives.  Most notable men seem to have their quirks.  In Smith's case, he took up with his second wife without having legally divorced his first wife.  He also had a pet moose.  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hezekiah_Bradley_Smith 
     The Smithville Mansion is a work in progress.  The Friends of the Mansion work throughout the year raising funds for the ongoing restoration of the building.  Each year at Christmas time local garden clubs decide on a holiday theme, and they decorate the place to the nines.  Then the Mansion is open for the holiday season for tours and teas.  This year's theme is  'Twas the Night Before Christmas.  You can drop by on weekday afternoons.  Tour times are 1:00 p.m., 2:00 p.m.,
and 300 p.m.  Adult tickets cost $7.00 ($6.00 for seniors).  Check the schedule for weekend times, candlelight tours and tours that include tea.  http://www.smithvillemansion.org/
     Besides tour revenue, the Friends operate a holiday boutique.  They sell seasonal items and handmade crafts.  There are two raffles this year - one for a handmade quilt and the other for a Christmas angel figure.  I pull a few shifts at the boutique, so I can assure you that they have some lovely and unique items.

The quilt hanging on the wall (upper right side) could be yours for the price of a raffle ticket.