December 8, 2016
The December meeting was held on the above date at the Franzen Home. A formal business meeting was not held. The President gave a synopsis of the Historical Society events of the past year.
As is our tradition, there will be no meetings in January and February.
The next meeting will be on Thursday, March 16 at 7:30. There will be a presentation by Rick Franzen on The History of the Knight-Pepper House Through Census Records
Respectfully submitted,
Ann Franzen
Secretary & Vice President
November 10, 2016
The November meeting was held on the above date at the Community Center. The President called the meeting to order at 7:40 PM followed by the flag salute and moment of silence. There were 15 members present: Ann Franzen, Mary Ann Silvers, Peggy Pitney, Harry Silvers, Sue Shannon, Dee Collins, Rita Moonsammy, Eileen Chesla, Meg Ellis, Carol Touchton, Eileen Haines, Rickey Haines, Edna Seebode, Midge Hangley and Jackie Krantz. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and approved. The Treasurer’s report showed a beginning balance of $16,128.40. Deposits totaled $79.09, while debits were $114.25. The ending balance was $16,093.24.
OLD BUSINESS
The Budget for 2017 was presented to the membership and was approved by unanimous voice vote. There was a discussion of insurance coverage for the officers of THS. A vote was tabled pending quotes from the insurance company. Also under discussion was the THS Scholarship to a graduating Seneca senior. Many opinions were offered from increasing the amount of the scholarship to discontinuing it. Rita Moonsammy suggested that we connect an essay contest to the award. Mary Ann Silvers wanted the scholarship to go to a student who will study education in college while Edna Seebode thought that the scholarship should go to a student with high grades in History. No final action was taken
The President reported on the work being done on the cemetery buildings. The new roof was finished on November 3. The contractor is Mike Jentsch, and Joe Barton had the shingles donated. Joe also paid the required state fee. The renovations on the right building will begin in a few weeks.
Roofing materials were also donated for the Friendship School through Joe Barton. We had hoped to have the building painted by the Boy Scouts or Cub Scouts, but we may need to hire a professional painter instead.
Research is underway for the History Book project.
We are hoping to have a “Haunting in the Cemetery” event in the fall. Judy Argentine will chair the project.
Bakers are needed for the upcoming Tree Lighting. We will have a table of items for sale and displays. Peggy Pitney volunteered to man the table. The Santa mailbox will be at the tree lighting, and will also be available in the Town Hall from December 1 to December 23.
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NEW BUSINESS
A Holiday House Tour is under consideration as a possible fund-raiser. Midge Hangley will chair the event. It was suggested that we could coordinate the tour with the Methodist Church Cookie Walk.
Member Rita Moonsammy donated Pinelands Folklife, a book she co-wrote to the Society. The book has been used to help protect traditional lifestyles and enterprises from proposed restrictions in the Pine Barrens Preservation Act.
The next meeting will be a Holiday Social on December 8 at the home of Ann and Rick Franzen at 7:30. Members are asked to bring either a sweet or a savory dish.
The meeting was adjourned at 8:15 PM. Refreshments and a reminiscence period followed.
Respectfully submitted,
Ann Franzen
Secretary & Vice President
November 10, 2016
The November meeting was held on the above date at the Community Center. The President called the meeting to order at 7:40 PM followed by the flag salute and moment of silence. There were 15 members present: Ann Franzen, Mary Ann Silvers, Peggy Pitney, Harry Silvers, Sue Shannon, Dee Collins, Rita Moonsammy, Eileen Chesla, Meg Ellis, Carol Touchton, Eileen Haines, Rickey Haines, Edna Seebode, Midge Hangley and Jackie Krantz. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and approved. The Treasurer’s report showed a beginning balance of $16,128.40. Deposits totaled $79.09, while debits were $114.25. The ending balance was $16,093.24.
OLD BUSINESS
The Budget for 2017 was presented to the membership and was approved by unanimous voice vote. There was a discussion of insurance coverage for the officers of THS. A vote was tabled pending quotes from the insurance company. Also under discussion was the THS Scholarship to a graduating Seneca senior. Many opinions were offered from increasing the amount of the scholarship to discontinuing it. Rita Moonsammy suggested that we connect an essay contest to the award. Mary Ann Silvers wanted the scholarship to go to a student who will study education in college while Edna Seebode thought that the scholarship should go to a student with high grades in History. No final action was taken
The President reported on the work being done on the cemetery buildings. The new roof was finished on November 3. The contractor is Mike Jentsch, and Joe Barton had the shingles donated. Joe also paid the required state fee. The renovations on the right building will begin in a few weeks.
Roofing materials were also donated for the Friendship School through Joe Barton. We had hoped to have the building painted by the Boy Scouts or Cub Scouts, but we may need to hire a professional painter instead.
Research is underway for the History Book project.
We are hoping to have a “Haunting in the Cemetery” event in the fall. Judy Argentine will chair the project.
Bakers are needed for the upcoming Tree Lighting. We will have a table of items for sale and displays. Peggy Pitney volunteered to man the table. The Santa mailbox will be at the tree lighting, and will also be available in the Town Hall from December 1 to December 23.
NEW BUSINESS
A Holiday House Tour is under consideration as a possible fund-raiser. Midge Hangley will chair the event. It was suggested that we could coordinate the tour with the Methodist Church Cookie Walk.
Member Rita Moonsammy donated Pinelands Folklife, a book she co-wrote to the Society. The book has been used to help protect traditional lifestyles and enterprises from proposed restrictions in the Pine Barrens Preservation Act.
The next meeting will be a Holiday Social on December 8 at the home of Ann and Rick Franzen at 7:30. Members are asked to bring either a sweet or a savory dish.
The meeting was adjourned at 8:15 PM. Refreshments and a reminiscence period followed.
Respectfully submitted,
Ann Franzen
October 13, 2016
The October meeting was held on the above date at the Community Center. The President called the meeting to order at 7:35 PM followed by the flag salute and moment of silence. There were 13 members present: Ann Franzen, Mary Ann Silvers, Peggy Pitney, Harry Silvers, Sue Shannon, Ralph Shrom, Dee Collins, Betty Orme, Eileen Chesla, Harry Worrell, Flossy Worrell, Carolyn Cuviello and Judy Witowski-Argentine. There were also five guests – Meg Ellis, Carol Touchton, Donna Tatum, Allan Rowles and Pat Horan.
The minutes of the previous meeting were read and approved. The Treasurer’s report showed a beginning balance of $15,234.61. Deposits totaled $893.79, while debits were $0. The ending balance was $16,128.40.
OLD BUSINESS
Mike Jentsch of Artist Construction will be starting the renovations on the right side of the cemetery building soon. Joe Barton facilitated a roofing permit for the construction and had the materials donated to us. The materials have been delivered and are ready for use.
The Jr. ROTC from Seneca trimmed the bushes in front of the cemetery buildings to allow the construction and exterminating work to be done. Ray Gromley has volunteered to do the exterminating work for us at no cost.
Joe Barton got a waiver for the roofing work on the Friendship School. He expects to begin the roofing in November.
Golf shirts with the THS logo are for sale at $25. There are 6 shirts left, and we will order more as needed.
A Luncheon/Tea was held at the Silvers home on Wed., Sept. 21. We served 25 guests and made $625. Special thanks to Mary Ann Silvers, Carolyn Cuviello, Eileen Chesla, Ann Franzen, Midge Hangley, Peggy Hohenstein, Carol Touchton and Bobbie Brittain.
The Building and Grounds Committee will consist of Harry Silvers, Joe Barton and Rick Franzen.
Mary Ann and Ann met with Tom Kinsella and Paul Schopp of Stockton College, Oct. 11 to discuss how they can assist us in publishing a new history book of Tabernacle. The History Writing Committee will meet on Oct. 18 to discuss how to begin this project.
Oral Histories will be taken soon by Rita Moonsammy, a folklorist. She will interview some of our older residents and transcribe their memories of the past in our town.
Eric Schubert, a 15 year old from Medford, is interested in working with us in genealogical research tracking some of our long time families.
NEW BUSINESS
We received a check from the Tabernacle Rescue Squad for $210, representing donations received at the door of the Chicken Barbecue.
The Pine Barrens Tribune incorrectly reported that the Tabernacle Township Committee was renovating the cemetery buildings. We have requested a correction acknowledging that THS is responsible for the repairs.
The President requested that someone volunteer to serve on the Budget Committee along with the President and Treasurer. Sue Shannon accepted the position.
The Community Fall Festival will take place on Sunday, October 23. Mary Ann will set up, Peg Pitney and Judy Argentine will also man the table throughout the event.
The Tabernacle HSA Community Night will be held on Friday, Nov. 18 from 6 to 9 PM at Olson Middle School. Help is needed to man the tables.
The 3rd Annual Community Tree Lighting Event will take place on Friday, Dec. 2, at Town Hall. Volunteers are needed to help with the decorating of the tree and gazebo, baking goodies and manning our table.
Allan Rowles asked whether there was any signage at the cemetery marking it as Indian Ann’s final resting place. He was told that there is a granite marker at her grave, but there was confusion about whether the historic marker outside the graveyard mentioned her.
The next meeting will be held on November 10 at the Community Center. The meeting was adjourned at 8:00 PM.
A program followed on the History of Presidential Campaign Buttons given by Ann Franzen.
Respectfully submitted,
Ann Franzen
Secretary & Vice President
September 8, 2016
The September meeting was held on the above date at the Community Center. The President called the meeting to order at 7:35 PM followed by the flag salute and moment of silence. There were 13 members present: Ann Franzen, Mary Ann Silvers, Peggy Pitney, Harry Silvers, Sue Shannon, Ralph Shrom, Dee Collins, Betty Orme, Keith Zane, Joe Barton, Eileen Chesla, Jackie Krantz and Judy Witowski- Argentine. There were also three guests – Amy Fitzpatrick, Brody Fitzpatrick and Rita Moonsammy.
The minutes of the previous meeting were read and approved. The Treasurer’s report showed a beginning balance of $13,564.28. Deposits totaled $2,111.40, while debits were $441.07. The ending balance was $15,234.61. Joe Barton said that he wanted to clarify the donation attributed to Rick Franzen. He stated that the money came from the Committee to Re-Elect Barton and Franzen and was donated without his knowledge. Mary Ann asked if he wanted the money returned to him, and Joe said that he did not. He approved of the donation, but was not consulted about it.
OLD BUSINESS
New Officers were sworn in: Mary Ann Silvers as President, Ann Franzen as Vice-President and Secretary and Harry Silvers as Treasurer. There was also a presentation of flowers and a certificate of appreciation given to the out-going Treasurer, Peggy Pitney who has served the Historical Society well and will continue as a valuable and active member.
The President announced that Arpan Baghat had successfully completed his Eagle Scout project on improvements to the Friendship School landscaping. Another student, Brody Fitzpatrick was present at the meeting and honored for his work at the Friendship School on weed prevention in the front of the school property.
It was announced that Tyler McCormack was the 2016 recipient of the THS Scholarship.
The Chicken Barbecue final accounting showed a profit of $1434.25 plus an additional $130 in donations.
The History Book Committee met on August 4 to look at various photos and scrapbooks in our collection. It was agreed that we would begin to investigate ways to publish a new book on our history.
On September 13 a meeting will be held by the county to review grant application procedures. This grant would not be for capital improvements, but possibly for future publications. Ralph Shrom and Mary Ann Silvers will try to attend.
Two bank accounts were opened (one savings, one checking) to receive checks from the Haineses. This is money we will manage in order to renovate and maintain the cemetery property. Mike Jentsch of Artist Construction Co. will be reconstructing the right side building. He will begin in the Fall. Joe Barton asked that the cost of the shingles for the roof be separated out in the estimate. He may be able to get the shingles donated.
Joe will also begin to replace the shingles on the Friendship School. Keith Zane and the scouts will perform the scraping, sanding, priming and staining on the building.
There are 6 golf shirts for sale in ladies sizes large and extra-large. They will be available for $25 each with about $2 of that to be a donation to the Society.
A four-poster bed that was given to us by Denise Baranowski has been restored by Harry Silvers and taken to the Pepper House.
There will be a Luncheon Tea presented as a fundraiser for the Society on September 21st at the Silvers’ home. Everything will be donated, and 24 tickets will be sold at $20 each.
Other possible fundraiser ideas were discussed: A Haunting at the Cemetery, Family Photos and the sale of schoolhouse tree ornaments. No action was taken at this time.
The President sought volunteers for various committees. The following volunteers stepped forward: Harry Silvers and Joe Barton, Buildings and Grounds; Ann Franzen and Claire Hamilton, Historian; Judy Witowski-Argentine, Historic Sites; Mary Ann Silvers and Claire Hamilton, Library; Ann Franzen and Mary Ann Silvers, Museum; Sue Shannon, Programs and Ralph Shrom, Ann Franzen and Judy Witowski-Argentine, Publications.
NEW BUSINESS
The Tabernacle Community Fall Festival will be held on October 23 with a rain date of October 30. Mary Ann, Peggy and Judy all volunteered to man our table.
The Community Tree Lighting will be on December 2nd this year. We will be looking for donations of lights and baked goods. Volunteers will be needed before and during the event.
Ann will be making a new calendar for 2016-17. It was decided that we will hold no meetings in January, February and August.
Guest Rita Moonoammy introduced herself and said that she was a folklorist interested in working on some oral histories. Judy Argentine reported that she
had been contacted by a teenager named Eric from Medford who would like to volunteer with us.
The next meeting will be held on October 13 at the Community Center. Ann Franzen will give a presentation on the history anf campaign buttons in presidential campaigns. Betty Orme has volunteered to provide the refreshments.
The meeting was adjourned at 8:35 PM.
July 14, 2016
The July meeting was held on the above date at the Community Center. The President called the meeting to order at 7:40 PM followed by the flag salute and moment of silence. There were 13 members present: Ann Franzen, Mary Ann Silvers, Peggy Pitney, Harry Silvers, Carolyn Cuviello, Sue Shannon, Ralph Shrom, Dee Collins, Harry Worrell, Florence Worrell, Rick Franzen, Betty Orme and Judy Argentine-Witowski.
The minutes of the previous meeting were read and approved. The Treasurer’s report showed a beginning balance of $12,756.05. Deposits totaled $1100.23, while debits were $292.00. The ending balance was $13,564.28
OLD BUSINESS
The President reported that the Strawberry Social held last month was a success. Profit was $535. In addition we received a check from former member Bob Boer in the amount of $200. A motion was made by Judy Argentine-Witowski to open a separate account for the Tabernacle Cemetery Fund. The motion was seconded by Sue Shannon and approved by voice vote. Another motion was made by Ann Franzen and seconded by Ralph Shrom to put the donation from Bob Boer into this account. This motion was also approved.
The President announced that Tyler McCormick was the 2016 recipient of our scholarship. He will be studying civil engineering at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. She also reported that Arpan Bagat finished his Eagle Scout project at
the Friendship School. He wants to place a plaque at the site. The wording of the plaque was discussed but no consensus was reached.
The Chicken Barbecue will be held on July 16th this year. We will be partnering with the Tabernacle Rescue Squad, and the event will be at the Community Center. Society members are asked to provide potato salad and some desserts and to volunteer to help on the day of the barbecue.
Ann Franzen ordered 8 golf shirts with a THS logo. Betty Orme made a motion to reimburse Ann the $183.92 she spent. The shirts are available for purchase at $25 each. This will give the Society a profit of $2.01 for each shirt.
Brodie Fitzpatrick will do a project at Friendship School working towards making the front of the school weed-free. Mary Ann will be checking with Joe Barton and Keith Zane on the timetables for their projects at the school.
NEW BUSINESS
Several possible fund raising ideas were discussed: a luncheon/tea, a dramatic presentation at the Cemetery, a family photo night and a schoolhouse Christmas tree ornament. The luncheon/tea will be held at the Silvers’ home on September 21. Volunteers will be needed to bake and to serve on the day of the event. Tickets will be $25, and only 20 will be sold.
The resignation of Donald Gerber was announced. This necessitated a special election to fill the vacancy in the office of Vice President. In order to be able to install the new officers at the September meeting a motion was made by Ralph Shrom to suspend the by-laws’ requirement of 48 hours’ notice before an election. The motion was seconded by Betty Orme and passed by the members. The floor was opened for nominations. Mary Ann Silvers nominated Ann Franzen, and this was seconded by Ralph Shrom. No other nominations were offered from the floor. The nominations were then closed and a vote was taken that approved Ann for the office. A discussion was then held on who would assume the office of Secretary. No volunteers were forthcoming, so it was decided that Ann would continue in that role as well.
The next meeting will be held on September 8 at the Community Center. Sue Shannon has volunteered to provide the refreshments.
The meeting was adjourned at 9:05 PM.
June 9, 2016
The June meeting was held on the above date at the Tabernacle Town Hall. The President called the meeting to order at 7:35 PM followed by the flag salute and moment of silence. There were 9 members present: Ann Franzen, Donald Gerber, Mary Ann Silvers, Peggy Pitney, Harry Silvers, Carolyn Cuviello, Eileen Chesla, Sue Shannon and Keith Zane. Also attending was a guest, Ralph Shrom.
The minutes of the previous meeting were read and approved. The Treasurer’s report showed a beginning balance of $13,150.26. Deposits totaled $63.29, while debits were $457.50. The ending balance was $12,756.05
OLD BUSINESS
The President reported that the officers elected at the last meeting will be inducted at the September meeting. She also said that our 501 (c)(3) status has been approved. We will need to file tax returns for the past 3 years.
Ann Franzen reported that the recent 3rd Grade Tour was a success and volunteers were thanked for their participation. Donald Gerber suggested that we hand out a brochure about the Society to each child.
Plans were finalized for the Strawberry Social on June 11. Ann Franzen suggested that we hold the Social indoors at the Methodist Church instead of outdoors at the Town Hall because of perennial problems with the weather and because there would be less work involved if we move indoors. The motion was seconded by Sue Shannon and passed by voice vote.
Keith Zane said that the Boy Scouts will be camping at the Pine Tree Camp, and may want to buy our leftover desserts. Various members volunteered to bake cakes, prepare strawberries, buy whipped cream and work on June 11. Betty Orme said she would donate 10 lbs. of hot dogs.
Joe Barton will put a new roof on the Friendship School with shingles donated by a friend of his. Keith Zane promised that the boy scouts would scrape and paint the school.
Judy Argentine has been working on transcribing our oral histories.
NEW BUSINESS
Mary Ann Silvers reported that she attended a meeting of Tabernacle Community Organizations. The groups promised to share dates and scheduling information for our various events to encourage cooperation and help avoid conflicts.
The Chicken Barbecue will be held on August 7 at the Methodist Church. There will be a picnic/meeting at Donald Gerber’s house on July 14 to finalize plans.
There was a discussion about switching our meetings to the Community Center instead of the Town Hall. Peggy Pitney reported that the Church of Christ also has a meeting room that could be made available to us. We will investigate both of these options.
The next meeting will be the dinner at Donald Gerber’s House at 6 PM on July 14. Members are asked to bring a covered dish.
The meeting was adjourned at 8:40 PM.
May 12, 2016
The May meeting was held on the above date at the Tabernacle Town Hall. The President called the meeting to order at 7:35 PM followed by the flag salute and moment of silence. There were 17 members present: Ann Franzen, Donald Gerber, Mary Ann Silvers, Peggy Pitney, Betty Orme, Harry Silvers, Jackie Krantz, Dee Collins, Eileen Chesla, Beverly Gibson, Barbara Toms, Edna Seebode, Carolyn Cuviello, James Cuviello, Sue Shannon, Keith Zane and , Steven Lee. Also present was a guest, Patrick Lee.
The minutes of the previous meeting were read and approved. The Treasurer’s report showed a beginning balance of $13,258.99. Deposits totaled $178.27, while debits were $287.00. The ending balance was $13,150.26
OLD BUSINESS
The Election Chairman, Edna Seebode, presented the list of nominees for THS offices for the next three years. They were: Mary Ann Silvers – President, Donald Gerber – Vice-President, Harry Silvers – Treasurer and Ann Franzen – Secretary. There were no nominations from the floor, and the election was conducted as a voice vote with unanimous approval for all nominees.
The recent Dine and Donate night held at Upper Crust, was a big success. It raised $175.
Ann Franzen reported that she and her husband took the Conte sign apart in the field where it had fallen over. They cleaned the pieces and stored them in one of the cemetery buildings.
Mary Ann Silvers and Ann met with Ricky and Eileen Haines. We learned that the Haineses never had any legal responsibility for the cemetery. They voluntarily kept the records for the cemetery and maintained the grounds. We agreed to take over the historic records of the cemetery to organize and preserve them. We are already taking responsibility for the buildings and arch. A check with our insurance company revealed that our insurance cost will not rise with this change.
The President told us that she has been working on the application for state grant money through Burlington County. We are hoping to get a grant to help with the cost of repairing the cemetery buildings. We have an estimate of $11,585.00 from Artist Construction. To help us apply for this (and other) grants, we have applied for 501©93) status. Mary Ann paid the $400 application fee. Betty Orme moved to reimburse her for this amount. Edna Seebode seconded the motion and it carried by voice vote. As part of the non-profit status we will need regular audits. Edna Seebode will research the names of potential auditors.
NEW BUSINESS
Our insurance company informed us that an appraiser had viewed our properties and determined that they were in disrepair and also that their valuation was too low. An extra assessment of $287 was charged. We received an extension on the time limit for repairs and also requested that the Township speed up promised improvements at the Pepper House.
The Memorial Day Parade will be May 28. The President asked for volunteers to create a float for the Society. There were none. She will present a wreath in our name. Mayor Steven Lee invited all of us to the dedication of the new Refreshment Stand at Patty Bowker Field following the parade.
The Strawberry Social will be held on June 11. Ann made a motion to move the event indoors at the Tabernacle Methodist Church. Sue Shannon seconded, and the motion carried after a short discussion. Members volunteered to bake cakes, cut up strawberries and provide topping. Judy Argentine will bring a canopy for outside eating and a Victrola for entertainment.
The Friendship School is in need of repairs to its roof and chimney. In addition, the paint is peeling. We got an estimate to scrape, sand and paint the siding and trim. Keith Zane said he would present the painting project to the Boy Scouts to see if it is something they would be able to do for us.
The annual Historic Tour for the 3rd Graders will be held on May 31. Peggy Pitney, Beverly Gibson, Mary Ann Silvers, Carolyn Cuviello, Barbara Toms, Brenda Locke and Ann Franzen will serve as guides for the tour.
The next meeting will be held on June 9, 2016. Ann Franzen volunteered to provide refreshments.
The meeting was adjourned at 9:00 PM.
April 14, 2016
The April meeting was held on the above date at the Tabernacle Town Hall. The President called the meeting to order at 7:40 PM followed by the flag salute and moment of silence. There were 10 members present: Ann Franzen, Donald Gerber, Mary Ann Silvers, Bob Boer, Peggy Pitney, Betty Orme, Harry Silvers, Jackie Krantz, Dee Collins and Sue Shannon. Also present were three guests: Barbara Jeranek, Elaine Reickenbach and Hal Pschunder.
The meeting was then suspended until after the presentation of a program and the sharing of refreshments. The program was given by Hal Pschunder on the topic of the Assassination of Abraham Lincoln.
The President resumed the meeting at 9:55 .The minutes of the previous meeting were read and approved. The Treasurer’s report showed a beginning balance of $13,509.36. Deposits totaled $6.56, while debits were $256.92 .The ending balance was $13,258.99.
OLD BUSINESS
Bob Boer and Betty Orme , the Nominations Committee, presented the slate of nominees for the offices of the Tabernacle Historical Society. They are: President – Mary Ann Silvers, Vice President – Donald Gerber, Secretary – Ann Franzen and Treasurer – Harry Silvers. There were no further nominations from the floor. The election will be held at the May meeting.
Conte’s sign is being saved by the Society for historical purposes. We have permission from the family to remove and keep it in our possession.
Mary Ann spoke to Doug Cramer about the Pepper House roof. She asked for a close collaboration on future work projects. The choice of a metal roof had been made by Doug and Committeeman Joe Yates without our input.
Seneca High School has been authorized to use the unclaimed money from our 2015 scholarship for the 2016 award.
There was discussion about the possibility of exhibiting our woven basket which has been attributed to Indian Ann at the Pinelands Commission Museum. It was decided that we will consider the matter after the museum has been built.
NEW BUSINESS
Ann Franzen reported that the annual Historic Tour of Tabernacle we host for the 3rd graders will take place on May 31st with a raindate of June 2. Volunteers will be needed for those dates and also for cleaning the Pepper House and the Schoolhouse.
A Dine and Donate Night has been scheduled for April 25th at Upper Crust. Members were asked to take coupons for the event.
Arpan Bhagat from Troop 439 proposed an Eagle Scout project involving the landscaping and weed removal at the schoolhouse. He will do the work in May or June. A motion to approve the project was made by Betty Orme, seconded by Jackie Krantz and carried by voice vote.
Ricky and Eileen Haines want to turn over the responsibility for the Tabernacle Cemetery to the Society. The officers will meet on April 18 to discuss the issue.
A needs survey was completed and returned to the County regarding some possible grant money coming from the state. We are hoping to get a grant to repair the cemetery buildings.
The idea of live music at the Strawberry Social was discussed and discarded as being too expensive.
The President reported on some acquisitions that we have made for the Pepper House. She purchased three stenciled chairs and a hooded cradle, while a four poster bed was donated by Denise Baranowski. Mary Ann will also be making curtains for the upstairs front windows.
The next meeting will be held on May 12, 2016. Jackie Krantz volunteered to provide refreshments.
The meeting was adjourned at 10:35 PM.
March 10, 2016
The March meeting was held on the above date at the Tabernacle Town Hall. The President called the meeting to order at 7:40 PM followed by the flag salute and moment of silence. There were 9 members present: Ann Franzen, Donald Gerber, Mary Ann Silvers, Bob Boer, Peggy Pitney, Betty Orme, Harry Silvers, Barbara Toms, Betsy Piner and Sue Shannon. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and approved. The Treasurer’s report showed a beginning balance of $14,763.46. Deposits totaled $735.89, while debits were $989.99 .The ending balance was $13,509.36.
OLD BUSINESS
The By-Laws of the Historical Society having undergone extensive editing , discussion and review were put to a vote. A motion made by Barbara Toms and seconded by Bob Boer was unanimously approved by voice vote.
The President reported that a “Santa’s Mailbox” was purchased through a donation by Joe Barton. It will be used for the Tree Lighting Event.
The new roof construction on the Pepper House was brought up by Mary Ann Silvers. She explained that the Society thought it was going to be a shingled roof. We had never considered a metal roof and were surprised at the finished product. She added that the building belongs to the Township, and that the Township paid for and oversaw the construction. Although the metal roof was not our choice, it is a more expensive and longer lasting product. This discussion sparked a heated monologue by Donald Gerber in which he said that the Township had ruined the Pepper House and threw out all the hard work and thousands of dollars the Society invested in the building in the past. He also said that the Society should send a letter to the Township Committee complaining about the injustice, but that it wouldn’t because the Secretary has a conflict of interest because her husband is on the Township Committee. In order to defuse the tense situation, the President attempted to table the discussion and go on to other business. Donald Gerber then left the meeting.
Mary Ann reported on our application to become a 501 (c)(3) organization. The application has been rejected because we did not provide a valid EIN number. The previous number had expired at some point and we have applied for re-instatement. Our application fee was refunded and deposited into our account for later use.
The President told us about work that needs to be done on the buildings of the Tabernacle Cemetery. We have received permission from Ricky Haines to have this work performed, and we are looking for financing.
The large metal sign advertising the Tabernacle landmark Conte’s Farm has been donated to the Society for preservation. Details regarding its removal and storage are pending.
The meeting then returned to the issue of the Pepper House roof. Ann Franzen said that the Society is now enjoying a good relationship with the Township, partly due to the efforts of her husband. She said that she believes the roof choice was due to a misunderstanding, not a deliberate effort to harm the Society. Mary Ann pointed out that the metal roof costs more than the shingle roof would have, so that the Township spent more money than we asked for in order to give us a stronger roof. Ann also added that, although the Pepper House did not have a metal roof, this type of roof was widely used in the time period on similar houses. Various members said that we should approach the Township about the situation. Mary Ann said that she would address the issue with the Township Administrator.
NEW BUSINESS
The President appointed Bob Boer and Betty Orme to be the Nominating Committee. They will survey the membership and present a slate of nominees for election as the Society’s officers.
The Seneca Scholarship is due for re-funding. Mary Ann will check on whether 2015’s money has been claimed. If not, perhaps it can be used for 2016.
Betsy Piner explained about a proposed museum that is to be established by the Pinelands Commission. The Commission would like to display the basket owned by the Historical Society. When the time comes, we can decide whether to loan the basket to the Museum.
Ann Franzen and Mary Ann Silvers reported on the latest Historians’ Roundtable. Several upcoming events (Passport to History, State History Fair and Farm Fair) are of interest to us, but would require volunteers from the Society. After some discussion, there were no volunteers for the events, so our participation will be limited to brochures or exhibits.
Another Dine and Donate Night is planned for April at Upper Crust. The President asked for a volunteer to chair the event. No one volunteered.
Upcoming events were mentioned: a basketball game/fundraiser and a memorial honoring the late County Historian, Joe Laufer
The next meeting will be held on April14. Betty Orme volunteered to provide refreshments.
The meeting was adjourned at 9:10 PM.
Tabernacle Historical Society 