Preserve Historic Lower Township

03/18/2026

Diamond Beach, Lower Township named as one top 100 Beaches ranked for Sun, Savings, Setting, and More! Diamond Beach claimed #54 along with 4 other New Jersey Beaches including Monmouth Beach at No. 20, Point Pleasant Beach at No. 78 and Bradley Beach at No. 83. Hey, we'll take it!

See post from NJ.com
https://www.nj.com/entertainment/2026/03/5-nj-beaches-named-top-destinations-by-travel-site-is-it-summer-yet.html

The Jersey Shore spots were named on a ranked 100 best beaches in the country list.

10/15/2025

🚨 URGENT: SAVE HISTORY IN LOWER TOWNSHIP! 🚨

Join us to speak up at the Planning Board meeting on October 16th at 6 PM as they discuss the Fishing Creek property. Let's save the Woolson House!

The historic Woolson House at 2102 Bayshore Rd, Villas, built in 1872 by the family who brought Methodism to our community, is facing demolition.

The risk facing the beautiful Woolson House at 2102 Bayshore Rd, Villas, an architectural gem from 1872. The Woolson family, who owned much of the land along Fishing Creek Road, were pillars of the community, with Abraham Woolson bringing Methodism to our shores.

10/14/2025

I'm so excited to announce that our documentary, "Whispers from the Forgotten," is airing this Wednesday, October 15, at 8:30 PM on NJ PBS!
You can watch it live on NJ PBS or stream it directly on their website. I can't wait for you to see it.
https://www.njpbs.org/.../whispers-from-the-forgotten.../

This film is a passion project that uncovers the forgotten stories of the Union Bethel Civil War Cemetery in Cape May County. It highlights the incredible lives of African American heroes who fought for freedom and equality, with connections to the Civil War and the Underground Railroad.

I am honored that NJ PBS pick up this film for the next 2 years and will be played on various dates throughout the next 2 years. Please support NJ PBS and become a member as their funding has been cut.

05/29/2025

Lower Township Historic Preservation Commission honors Civil War Service Members at Union Bethel Cemetery. Clayton Palmer Reenacts a slave from the Pre Civil War Era. Slaves that were set free or who earned their freedom were often kidnapped back into slavery. Clayton reenacts the journey of a slave from that time period.

Lower Township Historic Preservation Commission honors Civil War Service Members at Union Bethel Cemetery. Clayton Palmer Reenacts a slave from the Pre Civi...

05/29/2025

05/22/2025

Urgent Appeal: Preserving Lower Township's Heritage at 129 Fishing Creek Rd! 🚨

The Historic Preservation Commission of Lower Township is facing a significant challenge, and we need your help to raise awareness! A developer is planning to demolish the beautiful Late Victorian Farmhouse at 129 Fishing Creek Rd, a property that embodies the rural cultural heritage of our beloved Lower Township.

While our Commission has limited power to directly prevent the demolition, we are actively appealing to the developer to reconsider their plans. We are urging them to consider an alternative approach: instead of subdividing the property into numerous small lots, we propose fewer, larger lots with homes that respectfully reflect the Late Victorian Farmhouse architectural style of the existing house. This approach would honor our community's unique character and historical roots.

The Historic Preservation Commission is dedicated to safeguarding Lower Township's architectural treasures and cultural legacy. We work tirelessly to identify, protect, and advocate for properties that tell the story of our past. This effort at 129 Fishing Creek Rd is just one example of our ongoing commitment.

What can you do?

While we don't have a direct "call to action" for individual followers to contact the developer at this moment, simply sharing this post helps tremendously! The more awareness we can generate about the importance of thoughtful development and historic preservation in Lower Township, the stronger our collective voice becomes.

Stay tuned for any updates, and thank you for your continued support in preserving the beauty and history of Lower Township!

04/21/2025

Exciting News! Whispers from the Forgotten the Documentary about the Union Bethel Civil War Cemetery is being featured at the Hammonton Film Festival along with 2 other films on Friday May 2, 2025, 7pm at the Hammonton Art Center (10 S 2nd St, Hammonton, NJ 08037). Tickets are free but seats are limited so reserve your tickets here while seats are available.
https://www.eventbrite.com/.../hammonton-arts-music...
The Documentary has also been selected in the New Jersey Shore Film Festival in July in Asbury Park, NJ!
Screenings are scheduled at the Cherry Hill Library on June 24th at 7pm (registration for free tickets available on Library Website) and the East Lynne Theater in Cape May, NJ on June 22 (check the Theater website for updates and tickets)

02/23/2025

First Screening of Whispers from the Forgotten a success in Cape May, NJ
The first screening of “Whispers from the Forgotten” was a great success at the Cape May Library in Cape May, New Jersey on February 15, 2025. The attendance was 84 people from all over and it was personally a dream come true. Not only did I feel a sense of accomplishment from completing my first documentary but to have it play in a city at the shore that has meant so much to me from my childhood was just magical. My assistant director Tom Coyle said that this was a friendly audience because it was a part of Cape May County history.

The new Cape May City Library is the original school for colored people back in the day when schools were segregated. All four of ladies that were featured in the film attended that school when they were children. The film was featured at the Library in the spirit of Black History Month.

We had a Q & A after the film that drew many questions from the audience about the Union Bethel Civil War Cemetery and about the ancestry of the ladies featured in the film. I did a quick survey of who had been to the cemetery and found most of the people in the audience had been there.

A big thank you to my wife Christine, who has been a amazing support and cheerleader for me, Tom Coyle my assistant director and Judy Gills, the production assistant, the Cape May County Library, the Lower Township Historic Preservation Commission, The Cape May Star and Wave, and all the people who participated in the documentary.

Upcoming Screenings
Lawnside Historic Preservation Commission – Thursday, April 10, 2025 @ 7:00 PM (Zoom Link)
Cherry Hill Public Library – Tuesday June 24, 2025 @ 7pm (Reserve seats at Library Website)
East Lynne Theater, Cape May, NJ – TBA
Jersey Shore Film Festival, Asbury Park, NJ – June 19 – July 6, 2025
New Jersey Documentary Film Festival, Sparta, NJ – July 12 -14, 2025

02/01/2025

Please Join Us for a FREE Screening at the Cape May Library on February 15th, 2025 at 1pm along with a discussion with some of the descendants and Playwright Steve Larsen.

Register on the Cape May County Library Events

Beneath the weathered headstones of Union Bethel Civil War Cemetery lies a rich tapestry of history, often overlooked and forgotten. This documentary takes viewers on a journey through time, exploring the lives of African American soldiers, families, and community members who called this cemetery their final resting place.

We'll uncover the stories of Civil War veterans who fought for the Union, the challenges faced by African Americans in the 19th century, and the enduring legacy of the Union Bethel community. Through firsthand accounts from descendants and historical research, we'll paint a vivid picture of a time long past.

This documentary will not only honor the memory of those buried at Union Bethel but also inspire future generations to appreciate and preserve our shared history.

01/28/2025

Registration for FREE Screening of Whispers from the Forgotten Saturday, February 15 at 1pm is available at the Cape May Library and link below: https://events.cmclibrary.org/event/12689064

Beneath the weathered headstones of Union Bethel Civil War Cemetery lies a rich tapestry of history, often overlooked and forgotten. This documentary takes viewers on a journey through time, exploring the lives of African American soldiers, families, and community members who called this cemetery their final resting place.

We'll uncover the stories of Civil War veterans who fought for the Union, the challenges faced by African Americans in the 19th century, and the enduring legacy of the Union Bethel community. Through firsthand accounts from descendants and historical research, we'll paint a vivid picture of a time long past.