Yummy’s Featured Town:
Woodstown, New Jersey
There comes a time when you stumble upon a little treasure of a town and your heart keeps beating faster. This enticing little Salem County town had me at hello. It’s lush and rural landscape, historical homes and darling downtown will melt your heart.
Today, our tour takes us to the lovely town of Woodstown here in South Jersey. It wouldn’t be “Woods Town,” without its founder, Jackanias Woods.
Jackanias Woods home
When Woods first arrived, at this beautiful oasis, he set up house on South Main and the home is still there today, hee haw! The oldest portion of the crib goes back to 1757 and was rebuilt after a fire destroyed much of the home in 1792. Woods’ designed it as a Flemish style brick baby architecture, that is popular in the South Jersey area. The porch is a later Victorian style addition.
When Jackanias “Jack-in-the-Box” settled in Woodstown, he owned a stud farm. He was so much a stud that his town flourished. Yeah, baby! Hey, just trying to keep you reading 🙂
First Baptist Church in Woodstown
Next, we’re heading across the street to the First Baptist Church. One of the oldest Baptist churches in the state and founded in 1811. Bow Chicka Wow Wow, she’s just a brick beauty, that’s letting it all hang out.
My travels led me down the road near Memorial Lake to a lovely tantalizing old Inn called, “The Glory Tavern.” It is now a home and called the David Bassett House. Obviously, she was built in 1755 as per her initials on the South corridor. It’s one of the oldest existing structures in Woodstown.
Oh those “Glory Days” at the Glory Days Tavern
Okay let’s go… You must keep up, we don’t have much daylight left! We’re heading into the main section of town…. Main Street. This is primarily the historic district of 50, yes… 50 refined structures in this neighborhood.
Lawson House, Woodstown, New Jersey
At 209 North Main Street, sits this Italianate style home. The rooftop belvedere gives it its classic form. It was built for James and the knockout, Mary Lawson, in 1869. The Lawson home is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It is one of the finest examples of Italianate design in the entire country. She’s truly hotness on a platter.
Thomas Davis house
Across the street, is the Thomas Davis House. Address is 108-112 North Main Street. Davis was a Quaker and built this lovely blue bombshell in 1770. She’s a medley of different styles added throughout the years.
The Clawson home in Woodstown
Another bad beauty is at 74 North Main Street. Built by Isaiah Clawson, it showcases decorative porch columns and “six over six” windows. The roof is made of metal and this is my favorite home in Woodstown, btw!
Last house, I can’t list them all, but if you want to check all of them out, the Woodstown historical society has a walking historic tour to download for your pulsating pleasure.
Such a fine red devil, isn’t she?
Another “oldie, but goodie” is this red dashing devil. Her address is 68 North Main Street and built-in 1750. She has a mighty fine entry that was probably added in the late 1800’s. I’m happy to see this baby in excellent condition.
Woodstown Friends Meeting House. Date of construction seen here in the brick!
Okay dokey, so we’re heading just around the corner to the Woodstown Friends Meetinghouse. This Flemish baby constructed in 1785 as marked on the side. Her address is 104 North Main Street and is still an active congregation today!
Woodstown’s flag, flying high.
And away we go… Head out to Route 40 to see the Woodstown High School one of the prettiest High Schools in South Jersey (Haddonfield’s is also up there on my list). The brick beauty was constructed in 1915 and still stands tall today!
Further down the road, (and in reality, Pilesgrove Township) kick back after an adventurous wandering day and enjoy the view at East Lake. She is located on East Lake Road for which she is aptly named. Bald Eagles call their home at this luscious lake.
East Lake.
Bald Eagle Territory, baby!
It’s always a welcoming day in Woodstown! The country air, the animals out to pasture, the historic homes and sprawling hillsides. It truly takes you back to how things use to be… and in my book, I like how things use to be.
Here’s the link for all the historical hotness in Woodstown…
http://www.historicwoodstown.org/historical/Walking%20Tour%20Woodstown%20Historic%20District.pdf.
Do you have a historic site or a beautiful place you would like to see featured? Drop Yummy a comment and let her know!
Until our next adventure, my friends! -Yummygal
South Jersey History & Adventures 
Thanks for featuring our lovely community of Woodstown. You mentioned the audio walking tour, but you might also be interested in our Woodstown by Candlelight tour. It is held the first Friday evening in December. It is a fundraiser for our Historical Society. Selected historic homes are open and decorated for the holidays. School choirs and other musical groups perform in various locations, including the front steps of our High School. Churches and businesses are open and decorated as well. If you are interested in this type of event, it is a nice way to spend the evening.
Definitely something a lot of readers and myself would be interested, Eileen. Thank you so much for sharing this information!
And don’t forget the soup and sandwich dinner at the Fire Hall…before the tour… nice way to start the tour…
I always wondered about the Glory tavern with the 1755 painted on the side. Thanks for the tour.
Thanks Phyllis! There is so much to see in this little town. A lot if history and well-kept historical homes.
Great tour! I love all of those old buildings!
don’t know if you have any thing on the lake on the south end of main street. I lived at 16 mills??? something like like that. The Elem. School is on that st. The lake was just behind where we lived. We rented it from Mr. Pauling. On the other side of the side of South main st. just over the bridge. Is where i and my brother and sister learned to swim. I remember a nice sandy beach, and a pier built out to the deeper end. would love to see some picture of that time. we also ice staked there.
Hi Ruth! Memorial Lake will be featured in a book I’m currently working on. Unfortunately, not too many photos of the lake back in its day. Thank you for sharing your memories!
That’s a real shame. There was some fun years there both summer and winter. Sandy beach. bon fires. Wish we weren’t so poor back there and had a camera. Would love to see what you write.
Enjoyed your commentary. I have drivewn to Cape May from Delaware fairly frequently over the last 30 years and have gotten to explore S Jersey. I like the small towns and farms, and the history. There is a book series called “Forgotten towns of South Jersey” that you might like. Fascinating stuff !
Great book, Ed and thank you!
This is my hometown! I don’t have any pictures of Woodstown and would live to show my teenagers where mommy went to high school, church and iceskated as a child 30 years ago.
It’s after 1am and can’t stop reading your blog!
Thank you for the memories!
Loved all of the great and beautiful old homes in Woodstown….
When my Grandparents were in their 60’s, they purchased a farm on Commissioners Pike ,Woodstown…about four to six miles above the little town of Alloway…
My Uncle Frank often treated my cousins and myself to a fishing excursion at an old feed (grain) mill in that town…and I wonder about any historical info that it may have…
I am now 81 yrs. old so the access to that fishing place may not be there anymore…
Thank you for all that you have made available about South Jersey…
Dorothy
I grew up in Woodstown leaving in 1989 to serve our country. I was wondering if they opened the swimming pool to the black people who live there now? I remember having to ride our bike to Salem to go swimming because we weren’t allowed to swim in the “White People” pool. Or swim in the lake. There was a very Nice woman who allowed the black kids to swim in her pool! I think her name was Mrs. Motts, she lived over by the high school baseball field. Wonderful woman!
My grandparents and father, aunt ,and uncles were supposed to have lived there in 1920s. My grandma die there in a fire . The last name is Valora, if you know anything about it, please let me heard about it.