Dan Cirucci: A Visit To Historic Smithville Near Mt. Holly, NJ

Sunday, May 8, 2011

A Visit To Historic Smithville Near Mt. Holly, NJ

The Mansion, Smithville.

The Arbor, leading to mansion.

Roots of a fallen tree.

Spring's bright, fresh greens in the May sunlight.

No question about it -- this has been a beautiful spring day here in the Philadelphia reagion.
So, we wanted to get out enjoy nature.
And we decided to visit historic Smithville here in Burlington County, South Jersey,
Historic Smithville Park is the centerpiece of the Burlington County Parks System.
As the Smithville Historic District, the village is listed on the National and New Jersey Registers of Historic Places. Smithville grew from a typical, small mill operation on the Rancocas Creek to a major industrial plant employing hundreds of workers in its shops and yards from the 1860s to the 1920s.
Known for its high-quality woodworking machinery, the Smithville-Mt. Holly Bicycle Railroad, and the Star high-wheeled bicycle, Smithville was also well ahead of its time in town planning, sustainability, and workers' rights and welfare. Within its borders, it offered its residents and workers a variety of recreational, artistic and educational opportunities. Smithville was, in just about every way, a model industrial town.
In addition to its intriguing past, this 312-acre park features a diverse collection of habitats and terrain. With upland forests and meadows, freshwater streams and wetlands, creek shoreline and the 22-acre Smithville Lake , visitors can enjoy hiking, biking, fishing, canoeing and picnicking in an idyllic, natural setting.
The park offers beautiful river vistas and wildlife observation opportunities. Overlook and observation areas are sited to capture stunning views of the waterways and habitats throughout the park. While hiking the trails, visitors might see white-tailed deer, wild turkey, red fox, beaver, cottontail rabbits, red-tailed hawks, great blue herons, and a wide variety of waterfowl.
This is a place that is truly worth a visit.
Here are some of the activities, facilities and attractions available:

Hiking, biking trails
Limited equestrian trails
600-foot floating trail on Smithville Lake
Historic Smithville Mansion, gardens and village.
Picnic areas with playground and group pavilions
Drinking fountains
Rustic gazebo in a wooded setting
0.5 mile interpretive Ravine Nature Trail
Canoe and fishing access to the Rancocas Creek and Smithville Lake
Restroom facilities
Historic district and museum
Butterfly Garden at Smith's Woods

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About Dan Cirucci

He's been cited by the late Rush Limbaugh, quoted in the New York Times, featured at Real Clear Politics and Lucianne.com and interviewed across all media.

He's Dan Cirucci, the founder and editor-in chief of the Dan Cirucci Blog, a Save Jersey blog columnist, frequent guest on the Matt Rooney radio show and one of the most widely honored public relations professionals in his field. He's also been a public relations consultant to numerous organizations and individuals and hosted The Advocates on RVN-TV.

Inducted into the Philadelphia Public Relations Hall of Fame, for many years he served as a Lecturer in Corporate Communication at Penn State University. A former President of the Philadelphia Public Relations Association (PPRA) he has lectured at Rowan University, Temple University, The College of New Jersey and Arcadia University. He has conducted workshops on public relations for thousands of participants throughout the nation and has taught countless others the art of public speaking. He has also advised numerous lawyers, judges, public officials and political candidates.

Cirucci is a prolific writer and his op-ed pieces have appeared in the Philadelphia Daily News, Philadelphia Inquirer, Courier-Post, Broad and Liberty and other print and online platforms.

A native of Camden NJ, Cirucci is a former President of the Philadelphia chapter of the International Association of Business Communicators. Cirucci served as Associate Executive Director of the Philadelphia Bar Association for nearly 30 years. He served as Chair of Penn State University's Professional Advisory Board for the Corporate Communication major at Penn State Abington and on the Pennsylvania Bar Association's Judicial Selection Commission.

He received his MA degree from Rowan University and his BA from Villanova University. He has been named a Distinguished Alumnus of Rowan's public relations program and received the E. A. "Wally" Richter Leadership Award, the highest honor from the National Association of Bar Executives' Communications Section. He has also been honored by numerous other local, state and national groups.

In his hometown of Camden, Cirucci taught fifth grade at the Ulysses Wiggins Elementary School named for the founder of the Camden NAACP. There he was one of the first teachers in the country to teach African-American history to inner city students. He later served as editor of a local weekly newspaper, as Assistant to the Township Manager of Cherry Hill Township and as Associate Director of Communications at the New Jersey State Bar Association.

Cirucci's passions include all things Italian, politics, the popular culture, books and authors, art, communication, music, theatre, movies, dining and travel.

He and his wife Carole have two grown children and seven grandchildren.

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