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Kirby's Mill, 275 Church Rd Medford NJ 08055 >View Larger Map

Annual Members Lasagna Dinner The Best Lasagna and Rolls will be provided by L.E. Roselli's Food Specialties Please bring your favorite Salad or Dessert to share and the Medford Historical Society will provide beverages. MHS MEMBERS ANNUAL LASAGNA DINNER March 5, 2026 6:00 PM @ Medford Friends Meeting House (14 Union Street) All Members Welcome!

Local History Local History Local History Local History Preserving Medford’s Past for Future Generations The Medford Historical Society is dedicated to preserving and sharing the stories that have shaped our community. Through the care and stewardship of our historic properties, we invite visitors to explore Medford’s rich heritage—from early industry and education to the families and traditions that built our town. Each site offers a unique window into the past and helps connect present and future generations to Medford’s history. Kirbys Mill A restored 18th-century gristmill that reflects Medford’s early agricultural and industrial history. Haines/Tomlinson House A historic home (the oldest home in Medford Village!) that offers insight into early domestic life and the families who helped shape Medford. Cross Keys School A one-room schoolhouse preserving the story of early education in the Medford community. Kirbys Mill A restored 18th-century gristmill that reflects Medford’s early agricultural and industrial history. 1/3

Upcoming Open Houses Come stop in at the Tomlinson House for some Hot Chocolate and a tour of the oldest house in Medford during the annual Medford Dickens Festival! December 6, 2025 Open House from 5-8pm The Full Story Haines/Tomlinson House In August of 2023, the Medford Historical Society made its first acquisition in decades with the help of Medford Township: the Haines-Tomlinson House at 51 Union Street. Known to many as the "Haines House" for its original owner Jonathan Haines, or the "Tomlinson House" for the late Eph Tomlinson and his family who lived there. This house is the oldest in Medford Village and serves as a unique example of period architecture that is featured in the Library of Congress. Further, both Haines and Tomlinson were important leaders and visionaries of Medford, adding to the home’s importance as a unique link to Medford’s history. This acquisition and preservation of this home was made possible with the help of Medford Township and includes a deed restriction that will ensure the home’s preservation and use for historic and cultural purposes. History 51 Union Street, originally a farmhouse, is one of many houses built by the Haines family in this area that are still standing today. The Haines, for the most part, were a Quaker practicing family who owned substantial land in Burlington County, New Jersey and as such were instrumental in shaping early prosperity in the area through their development of mills, communities, farms, and forest use occupations. This history is still visible today as historic homes, routes, and place names that continue to persist to this day. Many of the Haines endeavors brought early prosperity, employment, and resources to the Burlington County section of the Pine Barrens. The first section of the Haines farmhouse at 51 Union Street was erected in 1760 by one of many Jonathon Haines. According to the Haines family tree, this Jonathon Haines was the Jonanthon III, and grandson of Jonathon Haines I who owned the Jonathon Haine’s farmstead on Fostertown Road and built what is currently Medford’s oldest home there (where). The original part of the home on Union Street is the portion facing Union Street and features the Flemish-bond style brick façade. John III had many children, including sons 1) Isaac Haines, with whom he and Samuel Phillips (another prominent landowner of the area) built the original portion of Kirby’s Mill, and 2) Nehemiah Haines who built the brick “Miller’s House” across from Kirby’s and would eventually fully own the mill. In 1820, a descendant, also named Jonathon Haines made a large addition to the rear of the Haines/Tomlinson House. Jonathon III and many of his descendants were also among the original members of the Quaker Meeting House on Union St. and helped develop early education in Medford. The house remained in the Haines family until 1917. In 1950, Ephraim Tomlinson II and his wife Alice purchased the home to raise their young family. Eph was a key leader and giving friend to the community as many still recall. A prominent attorney, bookkeeper, and advisor to many in the community, as well as township solicitor for 19 years and mayor for 15, the home was warmly frequented by much of the community from the 1950s through the early 2000s. Many long-time residents who grew up in Medford in the 1960s, 70s, and 80s also fondly remember the Tomlinsons, with their yard being freely available for recreation and Alice ready to offer up a glass of water or lemonade. Among many contributions, Eph is credited with acquiring a portion of the park in the center of town, volunteering in the Burlington County Council of Boy Scouts of America and personally constructing many improvements of former Boy Scout Camp Lenape, and having a vision for significant development and open-space preservation in Medford. This vision culminated with Ian McHarg’s renowned landscape architecture study and ecological plan for Medford, published in 1974 ahead of the major development pushes of the 1970s, 80s, and 90s. That plan, which is considered a masterpiece of its kind and continues to be used in landscape architecture classes around the world today, guided policy and the preservation of Medford’s forest areas through substantial building in Medford and still has much relevance today. Future of the Haines-Tomlinson House The Medford Historical Society is currently working to open this historic home into a public space for all to enjoy and learn from. Michael Gallagher, a Vice President of the historical society, is serving as project leader and is developing a museum plan for the property with a Tomlinson House Committee. While the plan is still in development stages, some current ideas include a display dedicated to the Medford’s interesting history as a frontrunner in organized structure and wildland firefighting in the United States, an interpretive section dedicated to the Rancocas Watershed’s significance in Medford and the surrounding area, a “family room” for rotating displays of local families Medford artifacts, and a display on the significant community leadership and volunteerism of Eph Tomlinson. The committee is also assessing repairs needed to restore the structure, provide improved accessibility, and prevent degradation. The Medford Historical Society welcomes financial donations toward the repair of the Tomlinson House, as well as items specific to Medford’s history or local art depicting Medford through time. We look forward to updating you on our progress!

The mission of the Medford Historical Society is to research, preserve, and promote the general history of Medford NJ and Medford Historical Society holdings, making them available to the community, schools, and other organizations. Welcome to The Medford Historical Society The MHS is a non-profit organization that supports and promotes Medford, New Jersey's rich history, now for over 60 years. We invite you to take some time to look around our site, find out about us, our events and activities, and consider joining us !

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Click here to visit the Archive Our Digital Archive Several years ago we started slowly moving our collection of photos, clippings, documents into a digital archive. We are painstakingly scanning, editing, captioning and keywording our collection to be searchable online. Currently we have more than 800 items in the archive with 1000's more to go. Today we continue to work on adding to the collection, there is much work to be done on our existing collection of ephemera. If you would like to contribute something to the archive, digitally, retaining possession of the item, please feel free to contact us about having it added to the collection. Meanwhile we continue the work and would welcome assistance. Let’s Work Together Get in touch so we can start working together. First Name Last Name Email Message Send Thanks for submitting!

Newsletters 2025 Winter Annual Member's Dinner, and Upcoming Events Summer ... August MHS Election Results, Speaker Series Flea Market, Apple Festival and Milling Days Spring Country Day, Car & Craft Show, Milling Days, Quilt Show Weekend Fall ... November Recap of the Year Annual Holiday Concert What's to Come ARCHIVED NEWSLETTERS 2024 & 2023 February, 2024 Summer, 2024 March, 2023 August, 2023 coming soon Spring, 2024 Fall, 2024 May, 2023 November 2023 Coming Soon ... ARCHIVED NEWSLETTERS 2022 - 1967 March 2022 September 2022 April 2021 November 2021 April/May 2020 November 2020 April 2019 Coming soon... July 2019 October 2019 December 2019 November 2018 August 1988 Coming Soon ... Coming soon... April 1970 May 1968 October 1967 Coming Soon ... August 2022 December 2022 September 2021 June 2022 September 2020 March 2019 May 2019 June 2019 August 2019 November 2019 October 2018 May 1989 1987 Winter Coming soon. Coming soon... 1969 January 1968 Coming Soon ... Coming Soon ...

Crafters Country Day, Art Show & Apple Festival Country Day - 1st Sunday in May - we are looking for crafts and crafters who are skilled in an area appropriate to the time the Mill was built - 1785! Basket weavers, soap makers, gardeners, leather workers, wood workers, etc. At this time, there is no fee to participate for this event. You do need to meet the requirement above. The only thing we ask, is if you have a "good" day, please make a donation inside the Mill or later by check. We appreciate all our craftsman and we hope you appreciate an event in which you can share your skill and educate others about your craft. If you would like to participate please contact via the button below. Thank you CARS & CRAFTS - New event - 3rd Sunday in May Come out for family fun, car show, crafts, history, milling and blacksmithing demonstrations. All museum spaces will be open to the public. Food vendors will be on site with snack, beverages and lunch for purchase. Free to the attending public. V endors information coming soon - open to crafters, product representatives, local businesses - spaces are 10 x 10 for a donation of $50. While this will not be a juried event, we will be hand picking our vendors to ensure a wide variety. Check back later in March for additional information. Apple Festival - 2nd Saturday in October - we are looking for skilled crafters to participate in our juried craft show. This is a popular event - apply early (by mid June), popular crafting categories fill up early. Invoicing will begin end of June beginning of July - we expect the following categories will be full once invoicing in complete. Country Day - Contact Us about your craft APPLE FESTIVAL - CRAFTERS APPLICATION Click here for application History of Apple Festival 1979 The Apple Festival is born 30 Crafters, live demonstrations, apple butter made on site. Today Apple Festival consists of more than 120 skilled crafters, live music, fresh made on site cider donuts, apple butter and cider (hot and cold), milling, blacksmithing and basket weaving demonstrations, kids activities, and history on display in our two museums. 2012 The Apple Festival has 80 crafters, live music, baked goods, blacksmithing demonstrations and kids activities. 2015 The Apple Festival expands into the back field expanding to more than 120 crafters. 2018 The Mill is open for visitors during Apple Festival. The Mill is once again grinding corn - through the hard work of our volunteers the ability to grind has been restored. Get in Touch 609-654-7767 contactus@medfordhistory.org

Open Houses Cross Keys School House Summer 2025 Open Houses July 20, August 3rd September 21st Hours 1 - 3 pm S chool House is locate d on Mill Street in front of Medford Memorial Middle School. Step back in time to 1857 Visit our fully furnished school house. Learn what education was like in a bygone era from our schoolmarms and docents. ______ __ Kirby's Mill is open 1st & 3rd Sunday afternoons, 1-4pm in April through 1st Sunday in November

HOLIDAY HAPPENINGS Santa at the Schoolhouse Saturday, December 6th Noon - 3pm Once a year, we have a very special guest, he arrives in a red suit with a well groomed beard. That guest is due to arrive soon - Saturday, December 6th from noon - 3pm. Old and young are welcome to stop in for a visit with ST. NICHOLAS !! Warm cider, cookies and a pot bellied stove will set the scene for your own portrait with Santa. Please bring your own camera for your very own photos with Santa. Thursday, December 11th 7pm - 9pm Location - Medford Friends Meeting House 14 Union Street, Medford, NJ 08055