During this--the 250th-year celebration of the American Revolution, CHABA's special mission is to remember and celebrate Bridgeton's and South Jersey's stellar role in that world-historical effort to create American democracy, and to make it last.
At CHABA, we believe preserving our past in general--and
Bridgeton's past in particular--is a critical foundation for a vibrant and
sustainable future. We honor Bridgeton’s evolving historic identity
over three centuries, and work to foster a community
united by both cultural persistence and cultural change.
For a remarkably good AI version of Bridgeton's role in Revolutionary politics, see https://share.google/aimode/GpHBUVBXv7Yy1Kt9N
For the Cumberland Co Historical Society's additional information on local patriots,
see their recent newslatter https://cchistsoc.org/newsletters/
Need help repairing or restoring an historic house? Call US First! 856.221.3280 Leave a message. Someone will get back to you FAST
With the help of a restoration grant from the New Jersey Historic Trust, CHABA is assisting the City of Bridgeton
in preserving the 'Nail House'--surviving home of the former Cumberland Nail & Iron Works.
Set directly at the entrance to Bridgeton City Park, it represents one of theearliest industrial ventures in South Jersey, and indeed in the entire state!
This humble remnant of Bridgeton's former industrial might is in fact one of the region's most storied places.
Its remarkable relationship to the green resource of the park tells that quintessential American story of the transformation of the Eden-like American landscape from a "garden" into a "machine."But ours is the story of how the "machine"
was transformed back into a garden again!
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It is a story of industrialization, followed by a story
of "greening," and it is critical for us now
as well as for the future of this and other American cities.
In addition to restoration support from City, County and State, our project has enjoyed the ongoing personal contributions of the people of Bridgeton and surrounding communities.
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We promote the Nail House's educational use, providing tours for school children of every grade,and support for history and environmental programs at the college level.
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Our nearly-completed repairs have enabled this little building to be a hub of social and cultural activity again,and return to life as the ceremonial entrance to one of
the largest urban parks in the state.
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Look for our heavily-illustrated intergenerational children's book, "This little building is huge."
A State-award-winning local classic, it tells the 200-year "grunge to green" story of the Nail House in colorful down-to-earth language and pictures,
and is available in both English and Spanish!
"CHABA brings people together and makes our community stronger AND more beautiful!
I'm proud to support their mission" - Nadia Albizu
Bridgeton is named for the tiny bridge that has straddled the Cohansey River here since 1716.
The town has been the seat of New Jersey’s rural Cumberland County and the hub of its commercial activity since before the Revolution.
Steeped in a marinade of pre-colonial, colonial, and postcolonial histories and cultures, layer on layer, its variegated culture has flavored the
South Jersey region for centuries.
A premier example of an Arts & Crafts home on Bridgeton's west side.
Scenic view of the Cohansey River flowing through Bridgeton, NJ.
The large historic district, with over 2,000 individual properties spanning
three centuries, has an
encyclopedic architectural range --from cabin to castle, high Victorian to classical revival to modernist.
It also includes an amazing number of
individual architectural gems, many designed by noted architects.
CHABA has been collaborating with the City of Bridgeton and the New Jersey Historic Trust to make essential repairs to the 1815 first home to the Cumberland Nail & Iron Works, a 'founder site' that helped launch Bridgeton as an industrial powerhouse. Now--In this post-industrial era, we are not only making it accessible and usable again, but telling its stories--of ironmasters and ironworkers, of course--but also of its 'grunge to green' transformation in the 20th century into a resource for recreation and culture at the very entrance to Bridgeton City Park.
We know we can reclaim and 'adaptively reuse' historic places in the social and cultural life of our communities, and not just keep them alive but make them beacons of environmental practice for the future.
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A flyer for a 'maker' event at the Nail House.
The Nail House is conveniently located on the edge of the Downtown AND at the entrance to Bridgeton City Park--
both popular community destinations
