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Save the Hugg-Harrison House Event Oct. 23

The Camden County Historical Society is taking its “Save the Hugg-Harrison House” campaign to Fort Mercer Field Day at National Park.

Sunday, October 23, is Field Day at Red Bank Battlefield and there will be tours of the Whitall House and craft demonstrations. At 11:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m., Hessian, British, and Loyalist re-enactors will attack the Continental Forces defending Fort Mercer.

Members of the Camden County Historical Society will also be present as they continue to advocate for the preservation of the mid-18th century home of Captain William Harrison. Captain Harrison was a Revolutionary War commander of the Gloucestertown Township militia, which is now the area of Bellmawr, Gloucester City, Haddon Heights, and Mount Ephraim.

On October 22, 1777, as the Hessians marched to attack Fort Mercer, they learned that the militia had taken up the King’s Highway bridge over Big Timber Creek. Back-tracking, they crossed Little Timber Creek on Captain William Harrison’s mill dam, marched to Clement’s Bridge over Big Timber Creek, and then proceeded to Fort Mercer.

Part of an anonymous “Sketch of the Roads,” probably early November 1777. The dashed line shows the Hessian march route crossing Little Timber Creek through Captain Harrison’s property. (Photo: Library of Congress)
Part of an anonymous “Sketch of the Roads,” probably early November 1777. The dashed line shows the Hessian march route crossing Little Timber Creek through Captain Harrison’s property. (Photo: Library of Congress)

In November 1777, Harrison fought in the Battle of Gloucester under the Marquis de Lafayette, a battle fought, in part, on Harrison’s property.

The New Jersey Department of Transporation (NJDOT) plans to demolish the house for improvements to I-295/I-76/Route 42, but the Camden County Historical society is trying to save this piece of local history by having it moved.

For additional information, contact Garry Stone at 856-745-6627.