Fort Mercer - National Park, NJ
Posted by: Groundspeak Premium Member ODragon
N 39° 52.143 W 075° 11.375
18S E 483786 N 4413240
An old historic fort.
Waymark Code: WM5VRD
Location: New Jersey, United States
Date Posted: 02/17/2009
Published By:Groundspeak Premium Member The Blue Quasar
Views: 11

From (visit link) :

The James & Ann Whitall House is an 18th century historic house, located on the Delaware River. In addition to the home, there is a kitchen/herb garden located near the kitchen door with herbs grown and cared for by a group of talented volunteers. The 44 plus acres park provides a passive recreational area, riverside walking paths, playground equipment and picnic pavilions. This is the historic site of Fort Mercer, one of the twin military installations which guarded the Philadelphia harbor and all communities north of Philadelphia along the Delaware River during the American Revolution. Across the river, on the Pennsylvania side, was Fort Mifflin.

The Gloucester County Historical Society was formed here in 1903 by local citizens acting to preserve the site. In 1905-06 the State of New Jersey called public attention to the action at Fort Mercer by building a 75-foot-tall commemorative monument. The Fort Mercer site is the northern section of the Red Bank Battlefield Park. The Park itself is focused on the James and Ann Whitall House (1748), which served as a military hospital after the Battle of Red Bank. Returning to their 400-acre farm here in April 1778, the Whitall family restored the place to prosperity, with orchards, livestock, grist mill, ferry across the Delaware, smoke house and shad fishery. Four generations of the Whitall family lived here until 1862. In 1972 this park was added to the National Register of Historic Places. The U.S. Government owns the 44-acre Park site, which is administered by the Gloucester County Board of Chosen Freeholders. Gloucester County administers the Whitall House except for two rooms in the charge of the Ann Whitall Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution. The grounds around the Whitall House include a kitchen garden and a small orchard. Illustrated signage offer visitors self-guided tour information. The park is open year-round from dawn to dusk.
The year the "Fort" was constructed or started.: 1775

Name of "Country" or "Nation" that constructed this "Fort": United States

Was this "Fort" involved in any armed conflicts?: Yes it was

What was the primary purpose of this "Historic Fort"?: Used for defence of a border or land claim.

Current condition: There isn't anything of the force

This site is administered by ----: by the Gloucester County Board of Chosen Freeholders.

Open to the public?: Open or unrestricted access.

Official or advertised web-page: [Web Link]

If admission is charged -: Not Listed

Link to web-site that best describes this "Historic Fort": Not listed

Link if this "Fort" is registered on your Countries/ State "Registry of Historical Sites or Buildi: Not listed

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    Recent Visits/Logs:
    Date Logged Log User Rating  
    94RedRover visited Fort Mercer - National Park, NJ 06/20/2009 94RedRover visited it
    ODragon visited Fort Mercer - National Park, NJ 01/01/2009 ODragon visited it

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