Batsto Village is Rich With History

In 1766, Charles Read founded the Batsto Iron Works. The company made cooking pots and kettles and supplied its wares to the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War.

In 1784 William Richards became a major owner of the iron works and continued manufacturing.

Iron production fell into decline in the mid-1850’s and Joseph Wharton, a Philadelphia businessman, purchased Batsto in 1876, improved the mansion and other buildings on the property, and purchased a great deal of other property in the area. Wharton died in 1909 and the properties were managed from then until the mid-1950’s by the Girard Trust Company in Philadelphia.

The State of New Jersey acquired Batsto Village at that point. Today it is listed on the New Jersey and National Registers of Historic Places.

Galloway residents and their families who visit Batsto Village, located along Route 542 in the Wharton State Forest, Washington Township, in Burlington County, discover a complete village centered around the mansion and various buildings on the property.

Adults and children may take a self-guided tour beginning at the Visitor’s Center where a brochure is available to guide folks throughout the grounds.

Visitors may also go on guided tours, as well as guided mansion tours. In addition to the mansion, people will see the sawmill, gristmill, general store, blacksmith and wheelwright. There is also a museum and museum store, and one of the oldest post offices in America. Batsto Village also features a nature center, which is open Wednesday through Sunday from 9 a.m.-4 p.m.

There is plenty of parking available. On Fridays and Saturdays, there is a $5 admission fee per vehicle from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day. Admission is free the other days of the week.

The visitor’s center is open daily from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The sawmill operates on Saturdays, Sundays and holidays with demonstrations in the afternoon during warm weather, and the post office is open Wednesday through Sunday.

Batsto has various activities scheduled throughout the year, including monthly hikes, star gazing watches, hiking and biking groups, field trips, war reenactments, and car clubs. For information on these activities and other special events call 609-561-0024.

Those interested in camping in the Wharton State Forest may get information and register at the visitor’s center.

For information on volunteering call 609-704-1964. You can also email to info@batstovillage.org

The main telephone number is 609-561-0024, and the website is www.batstovillage.org.