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Gloucester County Historical Society

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Woodbury, NJ
Gloucester County Historical Society

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Since 1903, GCHS has preserved & shared South Jersey's history. Our Museum houses over 30k items.

10/31/2026

👹 A Jersey Devil Sighting in Gloucester County?

Sixteen years after a wave of panic swept through South Jersey and Philadelphia, when thousands reported sightings of the mysterious Jersey Devil, another strange creature was making headlines!

On December 15, 1925, the Woodbury Daily Times published a story titled “Woodbury’s Scary Beast,” recounting a bizarre encounter on a Greenwich farm.

According to the article, farmer William Hyman was awakened around 4 a.m. by a commotion in his chicken coop. Armed with a gun, he spotted an unfamiliar animal escaping with one of his chickens. After a second encounter, Hyman pursued the creature into a nearby meadow, where it reportedly turned and attacked him. Hyman fired, bringing the animal down.

But what exactly had he encountered?

The creature was described as being about the size of a grown Airedale, with unusual black fur, bright yellow eyes, webbed hind feet, and a peculiar hopping gait resembling a kangaroo!

News of the strange animal spread quickly. Hundreds of curious visitors came to see it, and many even photographed the mysterious beast. Yet, despite all the attention, no one could positively identify what it was.

Some speculated it was a dog-wolf hybrid, while others wondered if it was a starving animal reverting to a more primitive state.

The story even claimed that children in the area were afraid to walk to school alone!

Was it an unusual animal, a case of mistaken identity, or something a little more mysterious? 👀

What do you think William Hyman encountered in Greenwich in 1925?

📰 Source: Woodbury Daily Times, December 15, 1925

10/31/2026

🔎 A MYSTERY HIDDEN IN THE HISTORY OF OUR HOUSE…

The Gloucester County Historical Society has a mystery that, to this day, remains unanswered.

During the 1970s, skeletal remains were unexpectedly discovered during foundation work on the south side of our historic house. The discovery raised questions that, decades later, we still cannot answer.

In the 1990s, the remains were sent to forensic experts for examination. Their findings revealed that the bones belonged to a young woman of European descent, estimated to have been between 14 and 16 years old.

But here’s where the mystery deepens…

Who was she? How did she come to be buried on the property? Why was she laid to rest in this particular location? And perhaps most puzzling of all, why is there no surviving record of her burial?

Decades have passed, yet her identity and the circumstances surrounding her burial remain unknown.

Some stories are preserved in history books. Others are buried beneath our feet.

What do you think happened? 👀

10/27/2026

🖤 A Victorian keepsake woven with love, loss, and family history.

Created in 1863 by Louisa Dilks Campbell Stanger of Glassboro, New Jersey, this remarkable mourning hair wreath holds the hair of three generations of the Stanger family — and even includes hair from a beloved family horse. 🐎

During the Victorian era, hairwork was a deeply personal way to remember loved ones and keep a part of them close. Each strand in this wreath tells a story, preserving connections between generations in an extraordinary work of art.

More than 160 years later, this beautiful piece offers a rare and intimate glimpse into the lives, loves, and traditions of a South Jersey family.

✨ Imagine the stories held in every strand.

🏛️Visit the GCHS Museum and get a closer look at this beautiful, intercate piece of Victorian mourning culture!

10/22/2026

⚓249 YEARS AGO TODAY: THE BATTLE OF RED BANK

On October 22nd, 1777, the Battle of Red Bank was fought at Fort Mercer along the Delaware River in what is now National Park, NJ. American defenders, led by Col. Christopher Greene and the Rhode Island Regiment, successfully repelled a Hessian assault, marking a significant victory during the American Revolution.

But the story of Red Bank extends beyond the battlefield itself.

Pictured here is a remarkable artifact in our collection: a bench made from wood from the HMS Augusta, the British warship that ran aground during the fighting and exploded the following day, October 23rd, 1777.⛵

This artifact is a tangible connection to one of the most dramatic moments in Gloucester County's Revolutionary War history. Nearly 250 years later, it allows us to connect with the people, events, and sacrifices that shaped our nation's past.

Want to learn more about the battle and the HMS Augusta? Come to the GCHS Museum during our hours of operation for a tour and explore Gloucester County's revolutionary past!

10/21/2026

📢 IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT: NEW HOURS & MUSEUM ADMISSION UPDATE

The Gloucester County Historical Society is updating its hours for the Library and Museum. Please review the changes below before planning your next visit!

📚 GCHS LIBRARY HOURS

Tuesdays: 5:00 PM – 8:00 PM
Wednesdays–Fridays: 12:00 PM – 4:00 PM
Third weekend of each month: By appointment only

🏛️ GCHS MUSEUM HOURS — EFFECTIVE NOVEMBER 2026

Tuesday evenings: No longer open
Wednesdays–Fridays: 12:00 PM – 4:00 PM
Last tour offered: 3:30 PM
Third weekend of each month: By appointment only

🎟️ MUSEUM ADMISSION UPDATE

Museum admission for non-GCHS members is now $10 per person, increased from the previous $5 admission fee. We appreciate your understanding and continued support!

📅 VISITING DURING THE THIRD WEEKEND OF THE MONTH?

Appointments are required for both the Library and Museum during the third weekend of each month. To schedule your visit, please use the contact form on our website (link located in our bio).

We kindly ask that you contact us in advance so our staff can be prepared for your visit and provide the best possible experience.

Thank you for your continued support of the Gloucester County Historical Society! We look forward to welcoming you and sharing the rich history of Gloucester County with you. ❤️

10/20/2026

Join Gloucester County Historical Society President Todd Boyer and learn more about the GCHS Museum & Library and all they have to offer! From fascinating local stories to historical treasures, there’s so much to discover about the rich history right here in your own backyard.

Come learn, explore, and connect with the history that makes Gloucester County special! 🏛️

10/16/2026

👻 BACK BY POPULAR DEMAND! BECOME A PARANORMAL DETECTIVE FOR A NIGHT PT 2! 🔦

Are you ready to explore the unexplained? 🕯️

The Gloucester County Historical Society invites you to join South Jersey Ghost Research for a late-night paranormal field investigation! Step into the world of ghost hunting, investigate the unknown, and see what mysteries the night might hold. 👀

Think you have what it takes to be a paranormal detective? Come find out!

📅 Friday, November 6

⏰ 8:00 PM – 12:00 AM

🎟️ $25 per person: https://www.gchsnj.org/shop/be-a-paranormal-detective-for-a-night-in-woodbury/

📋 Registration required

⚠️ Limited space available!

Don’t miss your chance to experience an unforgettable night of paranormal investigation with us!

📩 Reserve your spot today before spaces disappear!

10/14/2026

👻 Want to really get into the Halloween and spooky spirit? Well look no further and come hear a telling of Ghost Stories from the Battle of Gettysburg, told by 12th NJ Regiment Civil War reenactor Vince Dicicco! Tickets are still up for grabs on our website! The event will be taking place tomorrow night! We assure you it will be hauntingly good time! 👻

🎟Tickets are $15: https://www.gchsnj.org/shop/vince-dicicco/

📍Location: Gloucester County Historical Society Museum
58 N. Broad Street, Woodbury, NJ

⏰7 PM- 8 PM

🚙Parking is available in the GCHS lots on Hunter Street or in the Gloucester County Justice Complex Parking Garage.

09/26/2026

Revolutionary War History Comes to Woodbury!

Join historian Patrick Ward for:

“British General Lord Cornwallis Marches to Woodbury and Gloucester County in November 1777”

📅 Saturday, October 17 | 1 PM
📍 Woodbury Friends Meetinghouse
124 North Broad Street, Woodbury
🎟️ FREE & OPEN TO THE PUBLIC

Learn how British and Hessian forces under Lord Cornwallis marched through Gloucester County in November 1777 as they advanced toward Fort Mercer at Red Bank. Ward’s presentation will feature period maps, military details, personal accounts, and the American response.

💬 Informal discussion will follow the presentation.

📖 Learn more: https://www.gchsnj.org/shop/presentation-when-british-general-charles-cornwallis-occupied-gloucester-county/

🅿️ Free parking available.

Presented by the Gloucester County Historical Society and Woodbury Friends Meeting.

08/19/2026

A STORY WORTH REMEMBERING

What connects a Civil War training camp in Woodbury, a group of local Union soldiers, and today’s 12th New Jersey Infantry reenactors?

The Answer is Camp Stockton!

Learn how Woodbury’s Camp Stockton Monument came to be, the story behind the nearly 1,000 local soldiers who trained there, and how reenactors continue to gather at the monument today to honor their service and sacrifice.

📖 Read the story:
https://www.gchsnj.org/a-vist-to-woodburys-civil-war-camp-stockton-monument/

Address

17 Hunter Street
Woodbury, NJ
08096

Opening Hours

Tuesday	6pm - 9pm
Wednesday	12pm - 4pm
Thursday	12pm - 4pm
Friday	12pm - 4pm

Telephone

(856) 848-8531 (856) 845-4771

Website

http://www.gchsnj.org/

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