The "Friends of the Mansion at Smithville" (FOMAS) is a separate volunteer support organization, independent of the Smithville Conservancy. Mansion tours are provided by FOMAS from May to October on Wednesdays and Sundays. Tours begin at 1, 2, & 3 PM and admission can be paid at the door. Group tours of the Village or Mansion may be arranged by calling (609) 265-5068.
FOMAS also conducts special events that will be posted here at different times throughout the year.
Self-guided tour of Smithville Park using the 15 historical interpretative signs.
A. Area: Upper Village, via Main Entrance – 3-panel Kiosk
1.Title: Historic Smithville Park
a.Location: End of Meade Lane via Main Entrance to park
b.Contents:
Left Panel: Top: Map of Historic District; Bottom: Map of Park Complex today
Right Panel: Overview of areas: Village on the Creek; A Utopian Vision (H.B. Smith and Agnes Gilkerson Smith); Factory Complex; The Mansion; The Farm and Tower
Back Panel: Bulletin Board
B. Area: Upper Village to North bank of the Rancocas – 6 signs
2.Title: An Industrial Village
a. Location: Outside the West Wall of the Mansion Complex at end of staff parking area
b. Contents: Air view of Mansion complex; street scenes of upper village
3. Title: H.B.’s Exotic Collection
a. Location: Inside the wall of the Mansion complex in west garden at foot of the outside stairway to the bowling alley/art gallery
b. Contents: February the Moose; Conservatory
4. Title: H.B.’s Private Paradise
a. Location: Outside front Mansion wall on Park Ave., to left of Eagle Gate
b. Contents: Scenes in Mansion gardens, including one with H.B. reading andcanopied statue of Agnes in front garden
5. Title: The Village Farm (C. Area: Farm Complex on East side of Smithville Road, directly across from Mansion – 1 sign)
a. Location: Directly across from Mansion on Smithville Road
b. Contents: H.B. Smith’s Tower; Ruins of grist mill and dairy barn and sheds
6. Title: The Village Green
a. Location: Point at juncture of Park Ave. and River St. near Gazebo
b. Contents: Gazebo; H.B. Smith Military Band; Village green
7. Title: Park Avenue, Smithville
a. Location: End of Park Avenue at top of stairs leading down to River Road
b. Contents: Park Ave. Streetscape; Conservatory; Eagle Gate to Mansion
D.Area: Parking and Picnic area near the dam and canoe launch – 2 signs
8. Title: Downtown Smithville
a. Location: Picnic area across from dam
b. Contents: Company store, Mechanics Hall; Opera House
9. Title: The Bicycle Railway
a. Location: At top of ramp to canoe launch at end of Parking area
b. Contents: Bicycle Railway (1892-1898)
E. Area: Factory Complex off River Road. Factory ruins to Smithville Lake – 4 signs
10. Title: The Industrial Heart of the Village
a. Location: On left outside the fence
b. Contents: Factory scenes; woodworking machinery
11. Title: Working in the Factory
a. Location: On the left inside the fence
b. Contents: Worker pictures; The New Jersey Mechanic
12. Title: Harnessing the Landscape
a. Location: Over the footbridge leading to the lake-bank on the left
b. Contents: Scenes of the transition from Shreveville; dam and lake scenes
13. Title: An Inventor’s Village
a. Location: Midpoint on River St. between Factory Complex and Smithville Rd.
b. Contents: Focus on Star Bicycle and Agnes’ Hair Restorer
F. Area: Lower Village. Along the East side of Smithville Road - 2 signs
14. Title: The Train Station & Smith’s Forest
a. Location: at the South-east corner of Smithville Road and East Railroad Ave. along rail trail
b. Contents: Train Station; Railroad tower; Smith’s warehouse
15. Title: Smithville Lower Village
a. Location: at the north-east corner of Smithville Road and Forest Avenue
b. Contents: The Smithville School (now Eastampton Police Station). Homes onForest Ave.
A SLIDESHOW OF THE 15 SMITHVILLE INTERPRETATIVE SIGNS
IF YOU CLICK ON A PARTICULAR SIGN, YOU WILL BE TAKEN TO THE WEBSHOTS ALBUM FOR A SLIGHTLY LARGER STILL VIEW. EVENTUALLY WE WILL PROVIDE LARGER PICTURE WITH READABLE TEXT.
