"Trails & Tales of Wharton" is a new monthly publication of nature and history related articles written by Wharton State Forest's nature and history interpretive staff.

A Nature Note: How to Help Our Turtles

If you’ve explored any of our parks, forests, or historic sites you may have encounter turtles basking on rocks and logs, crawling through fields, or trying to cross our roads! We want to remind our visitors that the best way to help an uninjured turtle cross the road is to place it on the side of the road that it was heading. When you pick up a turtle, make sure you grab the rear end of its shell with both hands. If you can’t figure out what side of the road the turtle was walking towards, move it to the side with the most suitable habitat. 

DO NOT move a turtle away from where you found it. Turtles often live their lives in a small area. When you move them to a new location, they will try to make their way back to their home and will likely need to cross more roads and be harmed in the process. Please note that baby turtles are not raised by their parents and should also not be moved from their habitat.  

If you find an injured turtle, please call your nearest New Jersey Wildlife Rehabilitator. You can check this list for New Jersey Wildlife Rehabilitators. If you think you have encountered a rare or endangered turtle species, you can report the wildlife siting to NJ Fish and Wildlife here.  

Visit the NJ Fish and Wildlife website to find out more about our wildlife and other ways you can help! 

A History Highlight: Profits Versus Pacifism Splits Revolutionary Atsion

Founded by Charles Read about a decade before the start of the Revolutionary War, Atsion Forge originally refined Batsto pig iron into bar iron. The early forge at Atsion was an immediate success, producing an impressive amount of high-quality bar iron from its two forge hammers. Read, however, could not translate industrial success to financial success and quickly found himself deep in debt.   

By 1773, Atsion Forge had new owners: Henry Drinker, Abel James, and Lawrence Salter. By 1774, the new business partners completed construction of a blast furnace, allowing Atsion to produce its own pig iron and operate independently from Batsto. 

As business boomed in the new blast furnace and revitalized forge, the Revolutionary War brought additional challenges to Atsion. While countless other South Jersey iron manufacturers benefitted from the increased demand for wartime supplies and munitions, Atsion’s owners were divided in how they wanted to approach this emerging iron market. James and Salter saw the war as an opportunity to both support the cause for independence and make a lot of money in the process. Drinker, however, was both a Quaker and a pacifist and objected to profiting from war. 

Atsion’s owners eventually came to a clever compromise: Drinker would be named manager of the furnace while Salter would be named manager of the forge. Drinker’s furnace could go out of blast, appeasing his Quaker sensibilities and reluctance to make money directly from the war. Salter’s forge, though, was kept in operation, supplying iron to the Pennsylvania Navy! By splitting Atsion’s industries, Drinker could rightly claim that he was not involved in wartime iron production while Salter and James could continue to pursue lucrative wartime production contracts. 

From the Archives: Visitors and Residents and Campers... OH MY!

This month we're highlighting pages from three different ledgers. Each one offers a glimpse into the experiences of people that lived in or visited Wharton State Forest over 65 years ago. 

The photo above is a page from a ledger titled “Batsto Mansion Visitors.” This book contains visitor records spanning from September 20, 1959, to June 9, 1963. Totaling 497 pages, it includes the names and hometowns of the visitors who took some of the first tours offered in Batsto Mansion! The page scanned here covers from July 5-7, 1960.  It would appear that Elvis Presley was in the building on July 6… (or, more likely, someone was having a bit of fun signing the guest log before their tour!). 

Here we can see who lived in Batsto, as well as the other small towns that dotted Wharton State Forest in January 1958. This ledger provides us records from

March 1952 to January 1958. Notably, Percy Adams and Maymie Etheridge appear on this page! Percy’s wife, Vera, was the last resident of Batsto, finally moving

from the village in 1989. Maymie Etheridge may be familiar to those more familiar with Atsion—she ran the General Store there from 1925 to 1951. 

The last photo (with “95” printed at the top-right corner of the page) documents the hardy souls who camped in Wharton State Forest in April and May 1958… just before the start of mosquito season! Nightly campsite rates ranged between $1.25 and $1.65. There is one exception, however, when 351 visitors descended upon Harrisville, each paying $0.10 per person. 

As you look through the names included in the photos, see if you can find anyone you know. Perhaps you are related to someone who lived in or visited Wharton State Forest all those years ago. You may even find yourself in the ledgers!  

Today, tours of Batsto Mansion are offered year-round, Wednesday through Sunday. Campsites range from primitive sites at places like Bodine Field and Hawkins Bridge to furnished cabins at Atsion. For more information about either mansion tours or camping reservations, please call the Batsto Visitor Center at 609-561-0024. 

About Wharton State Forest

Located in the Pine Barrens of New Jersey, Wharton State Forest is New Jersey's largest state forest. It encompasses approximately 125,000 acres covering parts of

Atlantic, Burlington and Camden counties providing a variety of recreational activities including hiking, biking, swimming and horseback riding. It is home to historic Batsto

Village, Batsto and Atsion Mansions, and the Atsion Recreation Area. You can find more information about Wharton State Forest and other New Jersey state parks on our

website at https://dep.nj.gov/wharton.

Due to potentially wet conditions Sunday July 27th, the wagon rides portion of the event has been canceled.

Here's What Happening in Wharton Sate Forest in July!

July 12: 98th Annual Captain Emilio Carranza Memorial Service

Join us Saturday, July 12th at 1 PM. as Wharton State Forest honors and celebrates the legacy of Captain Emilio Carranza, a storied aviator and enduring symbol of cooperation between Mexico and the United States. 

In 1928, Captain Carranza was chosen to undertake a goodwill flight from Mexico City to New York. Mirroring Charles Lindburgh’s 1927 flight from New York City to Mexico City, Carranza’s journey was meant to represent the strong, friendly relationship between the neighboring nations. When he successfully arrived in New York, Carranza was welcomed as an international hero. Tragedy struck on July 12, 1928, however, shortly after embarking on the return flight home. While passing over the New Jersey Pine Barrens, a lightning storm damaged Carranza’s plane, The Mexico-Excelsior. Sadly, the famed aviator did not survive the resulting crash, and his body was recovered the next day by members of the American Legion Mount Holly Post 11. 

Located in the northeast section of Wharton State Forest, the Carranza Memorial now marks the site of the crash and stands as a testament to Carranza’s legacy of goodwill between the United States and Mexico. The stone monument depicts a falling eagle, inspired by Aztec and indigenous Mexican art. Each year, members of the American Legion Mount Holly Post 11, representatives from the Mexican government and military, Carranza’s descendants, and people from across New Jersey gather to remember and commemorate the heroic aviator and his mission of international friendship. 

Carranza Memorial is located at 39°46'40.0"N 74°37'59.0"W on Carranza Road in Tabernacle, NJ 08088.  

For more information on the Carranza Memorial, please visit: https://www.nj.gov/dep/parksandforests/historic/carranzamemorial.html 

For more information please call the Batsto Visitor Center at 609-561-0024. 

July 19: The Second Pennsylvania Regiment Visits Batsto! 

The rattle of musketry and thunder of cannon will mix with the sounds of fife and drum as The Second Pennsylvania Regiment of the Continental Line opens a window to the past and presents a vivid and exciting look at the soldier of the American Revolution at Batsto Village Historic Site on Saturday, July 19 from 11 AM. to 4 PM.

The Second Pennsylvania Regiment is a colorful and authentic recreation of an actual patriot military unit that fought in the War for Independence.  Founded in 1966, the organization is made up of history buffs from six states who have dedicated themselves to show the true appearance and tactics of the 18th Century soldier.

This respected living history group will provide a lively and accurate look at the typical infantry company of the period as the men perform the drill taught by Baron Von Steuben to Washington's troops at Valley Forge as they stand and fire smoky volleys from their flintlock muskets. At the end of the demonstration, which includes an enthusiastic bayonet charge, the audience will be invited onto the field to talk with the members and see their uniforms and gear firsthand. Several demonstrations are scheduled throughout the day.

Adding a touch of music to the event, the popular Greater Pinelands Dulcimer Society will be playing period music on the Batsto Mansion porch from Noon to 3:30 PM.

For more information, please call the Batsto Visitor Center at 609-561-0024.

July 27: Dog days of Summer at Batsto Village

Join the Pinelands Retriever Club and the Seashore Dog Training Club of South Jersey for entertaining demonstrations of retrieving skills and some schooling of man's best friend!

Come join us down by the sawmill from 10 AM - 2 PM.....and 

Our popular wagon rides will be operating from 12 noon - 3 PM for a very small fee

( children under 12 ride free ).

Rides start behind the Batsto Visitor Center.

July 19: Public Star Watch & Batsto Village Evening Walking Tours 

You’re invited to a Free Public Star Watch at Batsto, organized by the West Jersey Astronomical Society (WAS). Members of the Society will have telescopes available for the public to view objects in the night sky. The event is weather permitting, and visitors are encouraged to check the WAS website (https://www.wasociety.us) after 1 PM. the day of the event to confirm it is still happening should there be cloudy skies. 

Photo Caption: The Dumbbell Nebula is a Planetary Nebula found in the constellation Vulpecula which resides in the Summer Triangle asterism. Photo Credit: Howard Schneck.

The Star Watch Begins at 8:00 PM. At 8:30 PM in the Batsto Visitor Center Auditorium there will be a Comet Demonstration and at 9:30 PM there will be a Laser-Guided Constellation Tour in the telescope observation field. 

For this month’s star watch, the galactic Center of the Milky Way is visible at the southern horizon. This area of the night sky is packed with star clusters and nebulae including the Lagoon and Trifid nebulae. Also the Summer Triangle asterism is high in the sky bounded by the stars Vega, Deneb and Altair. The smoke ring appearance of the Ring Nebula (M57) makes for an intriguing view in the eyepiece. The Great Hercules Cluster in the constellation Hercules is a splendid Globular Cluster containing several hundred thousand stars and can been seen with the unaided eye under dark skies.

Happening throughout July

Swimming at Atsion Recreation Area

Dip in the fresh, cool cedar water of Atsion Lake this summer. Lifeguarded swimming is open Wednesday through Sunday, 10 AM to 5:30 PM, until Labor Day. Atsion Recreation Area is open 9 AM to 8 PM., 7 days per week. 

Swimming is only permitted when lifeguards are on duty; parents must supervise children in the water at all times.

Plan Ahead 

Arrive early, arrive together! If arriving before the park opens at 9 AM, park at Atsion Office located across the street at 744 Route 206, Shamong, NJ. 

During periods of high visitation, when a park's capacity is reached, the park will be closed and traffic will be turned away from the park entrance. When that occurs, NO additional vehicles/visitors will be allowed to enter the park, including those with members of their party who may already be in the park. If you are not traveling in the same vehicle with others in your party, we suggest that you all arrive at the same time. 

Call the Atsion Office 609-268-0444 or check the NJ State Park Status Map at https://nj.gov/dep/parksandforests/parkstatus/ to see if park is “Open” or “Filled to Capacity”. 

If you would like to receive a text message or e-mail when Atsion Recreation Area closes/reopens, please follow this link and complete the form: https://forms.office.com/g/qq3xyZE3QW 

Atsion Recreation Area is located at 715 Route 206, Shamong, NJ.  

For more information, please call the Atsion Office at 609-268-0444. 

Batsto Post Office Open Wednesdays and Sundays in July

Did you know that the Batsto Post Office can still send mail? First opened by Jesse Richards in 1852, the Batsto Post Office is one of the four oldest post offices currently operating in the United States!

The Batsto Post Office will be open each Wednesday and Sunday afternoon (10 to 2 PM) in July. Bring your pre-stamped postcards and letters to the village to receive a unique Batsto postal cancellation. Stamped postcards are also available for purchase. While you are in the Post Office, be sure to spend some time in the attached Glass Museum! Containing examples of nineteenth and twentieth-century glass, as well as historic artifacts found throughout Batsto, the Glass Museum is the perfect complement to a mansion tour and stroll through the village.

For more information, please call the Batsto Visitor Center at 609-561-0024.

Atsion Mansion Tours

Have you ever wanted to see inside the Atsion Mansion? Guided tours are available each weekend in July! Come see one of the most significant examples of Greek Revival architecture in South Jersey. Never “modernized” with plumbing or electricity, the house stands largely as it did when it was constructed in 1826.

Tours of Atsion Mansion are offered on Saturdays and Sundays, beginning at 1 and 2 PM. Each tour is approximately 45-55 minutes long and begin outside, between the mansion and office. 

Tour tickets can be purchased at the Atsion Office and are $3 for visitors over the age of 12, $1 for visitors ages 5-11 and free for visitors under 5-years-old.

Atsion Mansion is located at 744 US 206, Shamong, NJ 08088. 

For more information or to confirm Atsion Mansion Tour availability, please call the Atsion Office at 609-268-0444. 

Batsto Mansion Tours

Enjoy the summer breeze this July on Batsto Mansion’s porch and then step inside for a guided tour! Originally built in the eighteenth century as a small ironmaster’s house, the mansion now stands as it appeared after Joseph Wharton renovated the home in 1878. Serving as a vacation home for his family, the Batsto Mansion is an excellent example of the Italianate and Eastlake styles, both popular with the Victorian upper-class.

Tours of Batsto Mansion are offered at the following times throughout July:

• Wednesday through Friday: 11 AM, 1 and 2 PM

• Saturday and Sunday: 10 and 11 AM; 1, 2 and 3 PM

Tours are approximately 45-55 minutes long and begin on the mansion porch. Scheduled events and public programming may impact Batsto Mansion’s tour schedule, so visitors are encouraged to call ahead on the day of their visit to confirm tour times and availability.

Tickets can be purchased at the Batsto Visitor Center and are $3 for visitors over the age of 12, $1 for visitors ages 5-11 and free for visitors under 5-years-old.

Batsto Mansion is located at 31 Batsto Road, Hammonton, NJ 08037 in Historic Batsto Village.

For more information or to confirm Batsto Mansion Tour availability, please call the Batsto Visitor Center at 609-561-0024

Shopping at Wharton State Forest

Summer brings a new flock of Audubon Birds to the Batsto Museum Shop. Just landing are the purple martins and barn swallows. The house finch and the piping plover chick will make a great addition to your collection of these colorful and realistic birds. Each bird has authentic sounds as recorded by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. The wild turkey is just waiting to be taken home!

Bird lovers can also find stickers and notecards in the shop that feature not only birds native to New Jersey, but also native to the Pine Barrens. If you’re an aspiring birder, several books are available to help identify the species of birds and even other animals that live in the forest around Batsto.

Batsto Museum Shop is located at 31 Batsto Road, Hammonton, NJ 08037 in Historic Batsto Village.

The Atsion General Store is located at 744 US 206, Shamong, NJ 08088.

For more information or to confirm inventory availability, please call the Atsion General Store at 609-268-0444 or the Batsto Museum Shop at 609-561-0024

Camping & Cabins

Camping in Wharton State Forest is available year-round!  

Camping is permitted in developed campgrounds with a permit at Atsion Family, Batona, Bodine Field, Buttonwood Hill, Godfreys Bridge, Goshen Pond, Hawkins Bridge, Lower Forge and Mullica River.  

Atsion Cabins are open! It’s time to plan a 2025 trip and reserve your cabin! Availability is limited.  

Come join us for some fun and informative exhibitions by the Pinelands Retriever Club and the Seashore Dog Training Club on Sunday July 27th from 10AM - 2PM in the lower village.

This is a free event ( there is an entrance fee to the park between Memorial Day and Labor Day of $5.00 / car ).    

Take a tour of the mansion and visit the post office and take a walk through the Visitor Center Museum and gift shop.  

Colonial Regiment Brings History Alive!

The rattle of musketry and thunder of cannon will mix with the sounds of fife and drum as The Second Pennsylvania Regiment of the Continental Line opens a window to the past and presents a vivid and exciting look at the soldier of the American Revolution in Batsto Village on Saturday, July 19 from 11AM - 4PM.

The Second Pennsylvania Regiment is a colorful and authentic recreation of an actual patriot military unit that fought in the War for Independence.  Founded in 1966, the organization is made up of history buffs from six states who have dedicated themselves to show the true appearance and tactics of the 18th Century soldier.

This respected living history group will provide a lively and accurate look at the typical infantry company of the period as the men perform the drill taught by Baron Von Steuben to Washington's troops at Valley Forge as they stand and fire smoky volleys from their flintlock muskets. The unit is supported by blasts from one of the finest reproduction colonial field guns in existence. At the end of the demonstration, which includes an enthusiastic bayonet charge, the audience will be invited onto the field to talk with the members and see their uniforms and gear firsthand. Several firing demonstrations are scheduled throughout the day

Each man has dressed and equipped himself as a soldier of the original Second Pennsylvania appeared when it fought the British more than two centuries ago as part of Gen. "Mad Anthony" Wayne's division. All the items worn and carried by the individuals are painstakingly hand-crafted from existing specimens in museums and private collections--from the black cocked hats down to the buttons on the blue and red wool regimental coats.

The men are joined by a number of camp followers dressed in 18th Century garb who will demonstrate various camp skills used by the many women who accompanied their husbands on the long campaigns.

At other times the versatile unit portrays an actual British battalion: the 43rd Regiment of Foot. Renowned for its authenticity, the organization has appeared in films, television programs and major commemorations at historic sites in both North America and Europe. Information about becoming a member of the organization will also be available at the event.

Note: This is a free event, but there is a vehicle charge to enter the park from Memorial Day through Labor Day.

Start the summer off by visiting Wharton State Forest! Take a hike on National Trails Day, attend the Batsto Mansion “open house” on Father’s Day or stop by the museum shop to purchase the new Batsto Soda!  

June 7: National Trails Day Hike - "How To Hike" the 1808 Trail

Have you hiked the 1808 Trail yet? Celebrate National Trails Day with a hike out to the wildly popular 1808 Trail! The 1808 Trail is a 1.7-mile-long trail (one way) that travels through towering Atlantic White Cedar Swamp and follows the path of road dating back to the year 1808.

Join Wharton State Forest’s naturalist for a moderately paced hike out to the 1808 Trail. The naturalist will lead a group out onto the trail and then give participants the option to either continue on the 1808 trail themselves or return back to Batsto Village with her. She’ll provide trail maps at the stopping point and show participants various routes you can take to complete a hike on the 1808 Trail. We will hike at a moderate pace with minimal to no interpretive stops. Participants should be prepared to travel at least two miles but the other routes participants can take back could be longer. There is very little elevation change on this hike, but participants should be prepared to walk across multiple, uneven wood bridges, step over shallow roots and some fallen trees.

The hike will begin in front of the Batsto Visitor Center at 10 AM. Please wear appropriate clothes and shoes and bring plenty of water and bug spray. This hike is not ADA accessible and will be canceled if there are thunderstorms or heavy rain in the area.

The hike is free and for all ages! Please note that we will be walking at a moderate pace and we do not recommend bringing strollers. Registration is required and will close once we reach capacity. For more information, please call the Batsto Visitor Center at 609-561-0024.

June 13: Hidden History Tours of Batsto Village and Mansion

Spend your Friday the 13th exploring the “secret” spaces and little-known corners of Batsto Village Historic Site! Guided through the mansion and village by

one of Wharton State Forest’s interpretive staff, visitors will have access to “behind-the-scenes” areas in places including the Workers’ Cottages, General

Store, and Mansion. Guests will see spaces not ordinarily open to the public, view odd and interesting objects from Batsto’s archival collection, and separate

fact from fiction in Pine Barrens history. Tours are approximately 90-120 minutes and begin in the Batsto Visitor Center promptly at 10 AM and 2 PM. Tickets

are $10 per person and can be purchased in the Visitor Center or over the phone. Space is limited and interested visitors are highly encouraged to purchase

their tickets in advance to secure a spot!  Visitors attending the Hidden History Tours are strongly encouraged to wear comfortable shoes for walking and

climbing multiple staircases. Guests are advised that portions of this tour will take place in tight spaces or with low clearance.  For more information, please

call the Batsto Visitor Center at 609-561-0024. 

June 15: Father's Day Open House at Batsto Mansion

Enjoy free “open house” access to Batsto Mansion on Fathers’ Day, Sunday, June 15th! Wharton State Forest’s historic interpreters will be on-hand to answer

questions as visitors explore the first and second floors of the nineteenth-century home. Batsto Mansion will be open from 10 AM to 3 PM and reservations/tickets

are not required for entry. For more information, please call the Batsto Visitor Center at 609-561-0024.

June 28: Public Star Watch & Batsto Village Evening Walking Tours 

Star Watch 

You’re invited to a Free Public Star Watch at Batsto, organized by the West Jersey Astronomical Society (WAS). Members of the Society will have telescopes available for the public to view objects in the night sky. The event is weather permitting, and visitors are encouraged to check the WAS website (https://www.wasociety.us) after 1 PM. the day of the event to confirm it is still happening should there be cloudy skies. 

The Star Watch Begins at 8:00 PM. At 8:30 PM in the Batsto Visitor Center Auditorium there will be a Comet Demonstration and at 9:30 PM there will be a Laser-Guided Constellation Tour in the telescope observation field. 

During this month’s star watch, enjoy the 15% illuminated waxing crescent Moon in the western portion of the sky. Moving eastward from the Moon one can find the bright star Rigel at the bottom of the Sickle asterism in the constellation Leo. Also, in Leo’s Sickle one can find the double star Algieba (Gamma Leonis). A little farther eastward find the rust-colored planet Mars.  

Batsto Village Evening Walking Tours 

Historic Interpreters will also be on hand to lead evening walking tours through the village. Tours are open to all ages and are free of charge. Visitors interested in walking the village should meet behind the Visitor Center (near the Ore Boat). Tours are 45-55 minutes and are offered at 7 PM and 8 PM. 

For more information on both these events, please call the Batsto Visitor Center at 609-561-0024. 

Batsto Village Historic Site is located at 31 Batsto Road, Hammonton, NJ 08037. 

Happening Throughout June

Batsto Post Office Open Wednesdays in June

Did you know that the Batsto Post Office can still send mail? First opened by Jesse Richards in 1852, the Batsto Post Office is one of the four oldest post offices

currently operating in the United States! The Batsto Post Office will be open each Wednesday afternoon (12 to 3 PM) in June. Bring your pre-stamped postcards and

letters to the village to receive a unique Batsto postal cancellation. Stamped postcards are also available for purchase. While you are in the Post Office, be sure to

spend some time in the attached Glass Museum! Containing examples of nineteenth and twentieth-century glass, as well as historic artifacts found throughout

Batsto, the Glass Museum is the perfect complement to a mansion tour and stroll through the village.

For more information, please call the Batsto Visitor Center at 609-561-0024.

Atsion Mansion Tours

Have you ever wanted to see inside the Atsion Mansion? Guided tours are available each weekend in June! Come see one of the most significant examples of Greek Revival architecture in South Jersey. Never “modernized” with plumbing or electricity, the house stands largely as it did when it was constructed in 1826.

Tours of Atsion Mansion are offered on Saturdays and Sundays, beginning at 1 and 2 PM. Each tour is approximately 45-55 minutes long and begin outside, between the mansion and office. 

Tour tickets can be purchased at the Atsion Office and are $3 for visitors over the age of 12, $1 for visitors ages 5-11 and free for visitors under 5-years-old. 

Atsion Mansion is located at 744 US 206, Shamong, NJ 08088. 

For more information or to confirm Atsion Mansion Tour availability, please call the Atsion Office at 609-268-0444. 

Batsto Mansion Tours

Enjoy the summer breeze this June on Batsto Mansion’s porch and then step inside for a guided tour! Originally built in the eighteenth century as a small ironmaster’s house, the mansion now stands as it appeared after Joseph Wharton renovated the home in 1878. Serving as a vacation home for his family, the

Batsto Mansion is an excellent example of the Italianate and Eastlake styles, both popular with the Victorian upper-class.

Tours of Batsto Mansion are offered at the following times throughout June:

• Wednesday through Friday: 11 AM, 1 and 2 PM

• Saturday and Sunday: 10 and 11 AM; 1, 2 and 3 PM

Tours are approximately 45-55 minutes long and begin on the mansion porch. Scheduled events and public programming may impact Batsto Mansion’s tour

schedule, so visitors are encouraged to call ahead on the day of their visit to confirm tour times and availability.

Tickets can be purchased at the Batsto Visitor Center and are $3 for visitors over the age of 12, $1 for visitors ages 5-11 and free for visitors under 5-years-old.

Batsto Mansion is located at 31 Batsto Road, Hammonton, NJ 08037 in Historic Batsto Village.

For more information or to confirm Batsto Mansion Tour availability, please call the Batsto Visitor Center at 609-561-0024

Shopping at Wharton State Forest

Celebrate Father's Day with the gift of artwork by David Williams. Mr. Williams, a local woodworker, has carved a special selection of the fish that live in Batsto

Lake.  These unique pieces can be displayed on the wall or tabletop. Before cellphones, and even before photography, fish models were used to

commemorate and celebrate a great catch.  David Williams has captured that spirit, but added a modern look to his carvings. The pieces are artistically

rendered with layered paint, carved with anatomical realism, and available for purchase in the Batsto Museum Shop.

The Batsto Museum Shop is pleased to announce that Batsto Village now has their own soda! The Jersey Shore Soda Company has produced, for Batsto Village, a Black Cherry Souvenir Soda. The soda comes in a bottle with some important village buildings on the label. The Atsion Mansion is included on the label too! This is a truly unique addition to the Batsto Museum shop and a great take home souvenir of your trip to Batsto. The flavor is similar to cola, but with a cherry flavor this satisfies your taste for both sweet and fruity. The new Batsto Soda is a great addition and goes well with the other unique and unusual local sodas in the shop. Stop in after your tour of the village and grab a Batsto Soda or any of the other 18 varieties of local landmark sodas. Batsto Museum Shop is located at 31 Batsto Road, Hammonton, NJ 08037 in Historic Batsto Village. The Atsion General Store is located at 744 US 206, Shamong, NJ 08088. For more information or to confirm inventory availability, please call the Atsion General Store at 609-268-0444 or the Batsto Museum Shop at 609-561-0024.

Camping & Cabins

Camping in Wharton State Forest is available year-round!  

Camping is permitted in developed campgrounds with a permit at Atsion Family, Batona, Bodine Field, Buttonwood Hill, Godfreys Bridge, Goshen Pond,

Hawkins Bridge, Lower Forge and Mullica River.  Atsion Cabins are open! It’s time to plan a 2025 trip and reserve your cabin! Availability is limited.  

Introducing "Trails & Tales of Wharton", a new monthly publication of nature and history related articles written by Wharton State Forest's nature and history interpretive staff! 

A Nature Note: "You Lookin' At Me?"

Fiercely territorial, if the blue-gray gnatcatcher could talk he might say something close to a Robert De Niro line. These small, constantly fluttering blue/gray

birds are common in Wharton State Forest in the spring, summer and fall. Breeding males are easy to identify by their eyebrows! No they’re not true eyebrows... but

a black “V” that goes over both of their eyes. You might see them in the low/outer branches of our trees and shrubs, flicking their tails back and forth to stir up bugs to

eat. They seem to be calling constantly and moving quickly from branch to branch so snatching this photo was not easy! 

Gil Mika

If you’ve visited the Annie Carter Nature Center, you’ve probably had the pleasure of talking to Gilbert (Gil) Mika. It’s with great sadness that we share that Gil

passed away last month. Gil served as the naturalist at the Annie Carter Nature Center in Batsto Village from the mid-1990s until his retirement in 2020. Through

his passion for the outdoors and dedication to interpretation, Gil inspired countless school children and hundreds of thousands of visitors to develop a greater

appreciation for Batsto and the New Jersey Pinelands. His impact continues to be felt today—through the wayside exhibits he created, the trails he developed

and maintained, and the brochures that are still in production.

Registration is open for the Sand and Water Trail Nature Hike!

Join Wharton State Forest’s Naturalist for a hike on the Sand and Water Trail. Participants will walk about 1.7 miles, at a moderate pace, through sandy uplands and

some mixed Atlantic White cedar swamp habitat, stopping periodically to talk about different habitats in the Pine Barrens and some of the species that live there. Very little

elevation change and sandy soil makes this an easy hike, but participants should be prepared to walk across multiple, uneven wood bridges, step over shallow roots and

some fallen trees.  The hike will begin behind the Batsto Visitor Center at 10 AM. Please wear appropriate clothes and shoes and bring plenty of water. This hike is not

ADA accessible and will be canceled if there are thunderstorms or heavy rain in the area.  This hike is free and open to the public, but it is recommended for adults and

children over the age of 12. Registration is required. Registration will close once we reach

capacity. 

For more information, please call the Batsto Visitor Center at 609-561-0024. 

Batsto Village Historic Site is located at 31 Batsto Road, Hammonton, NJ 08037.

A History Highlight: Batsto Glass

Batsto Village’s diverse history spans from its founding as an eighteenth-century iron furnace, to its revival as a nineteenth-century gentleman’s farm, to

its preservation as an open-air museum in the twentieth century. While it stands today as a beloved

slice of South Jersey culture, Batsto was at serious risk of becoming a ghost town in the mid

nineteenth century—a fate that befell many other Pine Barrens industrial towns.  In the 1840s, as

inexpensive, high-quality iron from Pennsylvania threatened to put many New Jersey furnaces out of

blast, Batsto’s owners wisely chose to transition the village’s material output from iron to glass. The

region’s sandy soil was perfect for glass making, and Batsto quickly joined a booming industry. In fact,

according to the National Park Service, almost one-third of the glass produced in the United States

from 1840 to 1860 was manufactured in New Jersey!  Jesse Richards, along with his son Thomas H. Richards, established Batsto Glass Works in 1846.

Just a few hundred feet from the site of Batsto’s declining iron furnace, the Glass Works remained open until 1867. Here, panes of glass were primarily produced for

windows and gaslight streetlamps. For example, Batsto Glass Works was part of a massive project in 1852, supplying glass panes for thousands of streetlights used to illuminate the city of Camden.  Workers

at Batsto produced glass using the “cylinder method.” Molten glass was gathered at the end of a long blowpipe and swung back and forth in huge swing-pits dug into the ground.  

Budd Wilson

From the Archives: One of Batsto’s Villagers 

 If you have spent time at Batsto, you have probably seen the Miller family name throughout the village! Pictured in the photo above is Augustus “Gus” Miller, who once

called Batsto Village his home. The caption on the back of the photo reads: “Batsto Mansion / Taken March 1907 / Augustus Miller son of John Wesley Miller + Ellen

Downs Ford Miller. Born at Batsto May 2, 1872 / Died Dec 1, 1949 at his sister’s in Penbryn. Buried Batsto-Pleasant Mills Cemetery. Never Married. Great uncle to Theda

Ashton” The United States Census provides historians key insights. On the 1910 US Census, recorded just three years after the photograph was taken, Gus was listed as

living with his widowed mother in Batsto Village. He was employed as a “teamster,” in charge of driving the team of horses pictured with him. Gus continued to live in

Batsto (recorded as Washington Township) through the 1940 US Census and, according to his obituary, was a lifelong resident of the village “except for three years at his

sister’s home.”  The Miller family’s roots run deep in Batsto history. Gus’s father, John Wesley Miller, appeared on the 1850 US Census as a nine-year-old, living in

Washington Township with his parents and eight siblings. Although the census does not individually specify Batsto as his place of residence, one can suspect that the

Millers were in fact living in the village, as Jesse Richards and his family are listed just three pages later, residing within Batsto Mansion! 

The Batsto Citizens Committee, Inc. is pleased to once again present its annual Spring Antique Glass and Bottle Show on Sunday May 18^th.

The popular Antique Glass and Bottle Show; held both in the spring and fall, will welcome shoppers beginning at 9AM and continue on until 3 PM. Bottles, glass items, antiques and collectibles will be available from a variety of vendor

Food and beverages will be available throughout day.

Glass was an important part of Batsto history.

For more than thirty-five years, people from far and wide have brought their old glass and bottles to display and sell at the place where glass was once made in the  mid 19^th century.

There is no admission charge to enter the park for this event, and they are brought to you by the Batsto Citizens Committee, Inc.; the Officially Recognized Friends Organization that provides support for historic Batsto Village

The historic thirty-six room Batsto mansion will be open from 10AM until 3PM for guided tours. There is a $3.00 / person charge to tour the mansion.

Wagon rides (for a small fee) will also be available from noon until 3PM.

Bring the little ones

May is an exciting month in Wharton State Forest! You can attend the Spring Antique, Glass and Bottle Show, take an extended tour of the Batsto mansion, join a nature hike or stop by the Batsto Store for some exciting new merchandise!

May 2, 9, 16, 23 & 30: Mansion Mysteries in May – Extended Tours of Batsto Mansion 

Even if you’ve already taken a tour of Batsto Mansion, there is still more to discover! Each Friday in May, join Wharton State Forest’s interpretive staff on an extended guided tour of the impressive South Jersey home. Explore more of Batsto Mansion, including rarely seen “behind-the-scenes” areas! Once inside, visitors will dig into the hidden histories of the house and learn how historians piece together the clues that help us understand how people lived and worked in the past.

Tours are approximately 90 minutes and are available each Friday in May. Tours begin promptly at 2 PM on the mansion porch and are $5 per person. Tickets can be purchased in the Visitor Center or over the phone. Space is limited and interested visitors are encouraged to buy their tickets in advance to secure a spot!

For more information, please call the Batsto Visitor Center at 609-561-0024.

Batsto Village Historic Site is located at 31 Batsto Road, Hammonton, NJ 08037. 

May 17: The Sand and Water Trail Nature Hike 

Join Wharton State Forest’s Naturalist for a hike on the Sand and Water Trail. Participants will walk about 1.7 miles, at a moderate pace, through sandy uplands and some mixed Atlantic White cedar swamp habitat, stopping periodically to talk about different habitats in the Pine Barrens and some of the species that live there. Very little elevation change and sandy soil makes this an easy hike, but participants should be prepared to walk across multiple, uneven wood bridges, step over shallow roots and some fallen trees.

The hike will begin behind the Batsto Visitor Center at 10 AM. Please wear appropriate clothes and shoes and bring plenty of water. This hike is not ADA accessible and will be canceled if there are thunderstorms or heavy rain in the area.

This hike is free and open to the public, but it is recommended for adults and children over the age of 12. Registration is required and opens at 10 AM on May 7. Registration will close once we reach capacity.

Microsoft Forms

For more information, please call the Batsto Visitor Center at 609-561-0024.

Batsto Village Historic Site is located at 31 Batsto Road, Hammonton, NJ 08037

May 17: Public Star Watch & Batsto Village Evening Walking Tours 

Star Watch 

You’re invited to a Free Public Star Watch at Batsto, organized by the West Jersey Astronomical Society (WAS). Members of the Society will have telescopes available for the public to view objects in the night sky. The event is weather permitting, and visitors are encouraged to check the WAS website (https://www.wasociety.us) after 1 PM the day of the event to confirm it is still happening should there be cloudy skies. 

The Star Watch Begins at 8:00 PM. At 8:30 PM in the Batsto Visitor Center Auditorium there will be a Comet Demonstration and at 9:30 PM there will be a Laser-Guided Constellation Tour in the telescope observation field. 

For this month’s star watch, Mars shinning in the constellation Cancer will be the planet to see. Take a look at the asteroid Vesta currently in the constellation Virgo through one of the telescopes. The Big Dipper asterism of Ursa Major (the Big Bear) can be found upside down above Polaris the North Star as well! 

Batsto Village Evening Walking Tours 

Historic Interpreters will also be on hand to lead evening walking tours through the village. Tours are open to all ages and are free of charge. Visitors interested in walking the village should meet behind the Visitor Center (near the Ore Boat). Tours are 45-55 minutes and are offered at 7 PM and 8 PM.

For more information on both these events, please call the Batsto Visitor Center at 609-561-0024. 

Batsto Village Historic Site is located at 31 Batsto Road, Hammonton, NJ 08037. 

May 18: Spring Antique, Glass and Bottle Show at Batsto 

Visit Batsto Village Historic Site on May 18 and join us for our annual Spring Antique, Glass and Bottle Show presented by the Batsto Citizens Committee, Inc. View Pine Barrens treasures, search for that rare find to add to your own collection, or simply take a stroll through historic Batsto Village!

The Spring Antique, Glass and Bottle Show takes place from 9 AM to 3:30 PM, rain or shine.

While in the village, be sure to stop by Batsto Mansion for “open house” entry to the home. The first and second floors will be open to the public from 10 AM to 3 PM. Wharton State Forest staff will be on hand to answer questions and guide visitors through the history of the house. The Batsto Post Office will also be open from 10 AM to 3 PM to send post cards and letters, hand canceled in the historic building!

For more information, please call the Batsto Visitor Center at 609-561-0024.

Batsto Village Historic Site is located at 31 Batsto Road, Hammonton, NJ 08037

May 24, 25 & 26: Memorial Day Weekend Walking Tours 

Historic Interpreters will be on hand to lead walking tours through the Batsto Village this Memorial Day Weekend (Saturday, Sunday, and Monday). Tours are open to all ages and are free of charge. Visitors interested in walking the village should meet behind the Visitor Center (near the Ore Boat). Tours are 45-55 minutes long and are offered at 10 AM and 2 PM

For more information, please call the Batsto Visitor Center at 609-561-0024.

Batsto Village Historic Site is located at 31 Batsto Road, Hammonton, NJ 08037

Happening Throughout May

Atsion Mansion Tours

Have you ever wanted to see inside the Atsion Mansion? Guided tours are available each weekend in May! Come see one of the most significant examples of Greek Revival architecture in South Jersey. Never “modernized” with plumbing or electricity, the house stands largely as it did when it was constructed in 1826. 

Tours of Atsion Mansion are offered on Saturdays and Sundays, beginning at 1 and 2 PM. Each tour is approximately 45-55 minutes long and begin outside, between the mansion and office.    

Tour tickets can be purchased at the Atsion Office and are $3 for visitors over the age of 12, $1 for visitors ages 5-11 and free for visitors under 5-years-old. 

Atsion Mansion is located at 744 US 206, Shamong, NJ 08088.   

For more information or to confirm Atsion Mansion Tour availability, please call the Atsion Office at 609-268-0444. 

Batsto Mansion Tours

Enjoy the cool spring breeze this May on Batsto Mansion’s porch and then step inside for a guided tour! Originally built in the eighteenth century as a small ironmaster’s house, the mansion now stands as it appeared after Joseph Wharton renovated the home in 1878. Serving as a vacation home for his family, the Batsto Mansion is an excellent example of the Italianate and Eastlake styles, both popular with the Victorian upper class.

Tours of Batsto Mansion are offered at the following times throughout May:

• Wednesday through Friday: 11 AM, 1 and 2 PM

• Saturday and Sunday: 10 and 11 AM; 1, 2 and 3 PM

Tours are approximately 45-55 minutes long and begin on the mansion porch. Scheduled events and public programming may impact Batsto Mansion’s tour schedule, so visitors are encouraged to call ahead on the day of their visit to confirm tour times and availability.

Tickets can be purchased at the Batsto Visitor Center and are $3 for visitors over the age of 12, $1 for visitors ages 5-11 and free for visitors under 5-years-old.

Batsto Mansion is located at 31 Batsto Road, Hammonton, NJ 08037 in Historic Batsto Village.

For more information or to confirm Batsto Mansion Tour availability, please call the Batsto Visitor Center at 609-561-0024

Shopping at Wharton State Forest

This month, we’re thrilled to introduce a stunning new collection by local artist Lisa Dealy, whose handmade creations beautifully capture the spirit of the Pine Barrens. Born and raised in Indian Mills, New Jersey, Lisa’s deep connection to the natural world shines through in every piece. Lisa’s work tells a story—one of heritage, nature, and artistic devotion. A multiple time Best in Show winner at the Burlington County Farm Fair, her art speaks to the soul of South Jersey.  

Featured in Lisa Dealy’s Collection: 

Handmade Baskets crafted from locally sourced materials, each adorned with laser-cut nature scenes of the Pine Barrens and its wildlife. 

Pottery Trinket Trays that echo the same woodland elegance. Perfect for holding your favorite keepsakes. 

Wood and Pottery Charm Necklaces, handmade with natural elements like driftwood and antique findings, blending rustic beauty with whimsical charm. 

Our shelves are now filled with cuddly and educational stuffed animals from Wild Republic, representing some creatures native to the Pine Barrens! Stop by and check out our black bears, foxes, raccoons, coyotes, owls, turtles, snakes, chipmunks and more!

Plus, a special Audubon Society bird collection that look and sound like real bird species! These plush birds sing true-to-life songs and come with informative tags for curious minds. Come support local art, celebrate Pine Barrens wildlife, and enjoy the beauty of this season at the Batsto Museum Store!

Batsto Museum Shop is located at 31 Batsto Road, Hammonton, NJ 08037 in Historic Batsto Village.

The Atsion General Store is located at 744 US 206, Shamong, NJ 08088.

For more information or to confirm inventory availability, please call the Atsion General Store at 609-268-0444 or the Batsto Museum Shop at 609-561-0024.

Save the Date! The Batsto Snack Stand Reopens for Special Events 

On May 18, during the Spring Antique Glass & Bottle Show, stop by the Batsto Snack Stand at the General Store! Grab snacks, sodas, water, and

 merchandise inspired by Batsto and Wharton State Forest.

 You can purchase t-shirts, books, mugs, and more! The Batsto Snack Stand will be opened during special events throughout summer and fall.  

Camping & Cabins

Camping in Wharton State Forest is available year-round, but spring camping in the New Jersey Pine Barrens is filled will fascinating evening sounds.  

Camping is permitted in developed campgrounds with a permit at Atsion Family, Batona, Bodine Field, Buttonwood Hill, Godfreys Bridge, Goshen Pond,

Hawkins Bridge, Lower Forge and Mullica River. 

Atsion Cabins will reopen May 1, 2025! It’s time to plan a 2025 trip and reserve your cabin! Availability is limited. 

The Batsto Citizens Committee, Inc. is pleased to once again present its annual Spring Antique Glass and Bottle Show on Sunday May 18^th.

The popular Antique Glass and Bottle Show; held both in the spring and fall, will welcome shoppers beginning at 9AM and continue on until 3 PM. Bottles, glass items, antiques and collectibles will be available from a variety of vendor

Food and beverages will be available throughout day.

Glass was an important part of Batsto history.

For more than thirty-five years, people from far and wide have brought their old glass and bottles to display and sell at the place where glass was once made in the  mid 19^th century.

There is no admission charge to enter the park for this event, and they are brought to you by the Batsto Citizens Committee, Inc.; the Officially Recognized Friends Organization that provides support for historic Batsto Village

The historic thirty-six room Batsto mansion will be open from 10AM until 3PM for guided tours. There is a $3.00 / person charge to tour the mansion.

Wagon rides (for a small fee) will also be available from noon until 3PM.

Bring the little ones