'Plan of the Town of Hammonton' (1856) - Artifact Restoration Project
The “Plan of the Town of Hammonton” restoration project helps preserve our town's rich history.
Overview & Historical Significance
The Historical Society of Hammonton has a rare historical artifact - the "Plan of the Town of Hammonton," dating back to the mid 1850's. This artifact predates the town’s incorporation. It provides a fascinating glimpse into the early ideas for the layout and development of our community and serves as a link to our shared heritage.
This document was used in the 1850s, when Charles Landis and Richard Byrnes launched an advertising campaign to attract settlers to Hammonton from New England, New York, Philadelphia, and beyond. They highlighted the area's fertile land and abundant water. The "Plan of the Town of Hammonton," shows land for sale at prices ranging from $25 to $100 per lot, with larger parcels near the lakefront. The map also includes plans for homes, churches, and a town center, which laid the foundation for modern Hammonton.
Our goal was to restore this artifact and display it, along with a plaque recognizing the sponsors who made the restoration possible, in a location where more people can view it. Due to the limited hours of our museum, we wanted to display this amazing piece of history in a more accessible public space, with the Town Hall selected as the optimal location.
The Restoration Process
The Historical Society of Hammonton’s rare 1856 “Plan of the Town of Hammonton” spent over a year at the Conservation Center for Art & Historic Artifacts (CCAHA) in Philadelphia during its restoration process.
The restoration began with detailed before-treatment photography to document the plan’s fragile condition. Conservators then detached the it from its wooden supports and began an extensive cleaning process to address the heavy surface grime, two layers of varnish, and an unexpected water-sensitive coating that lay beneath. These steps dramatically brightened the plan and revealed watercolor details that had long been hidden.
The project included surface cleaning, removal of yellowed varnish, repair of the original paper, and creation of a sealed archival frame. Beneath two discolored layers of varnish and grime, they uncovered a surprisingly vibrant watercolor. The plan is now both brighter and far more stable.
To stabilize the artifact, the deteriorated cloth backing was removed and replaced with a mulberry paper and wheat-starch lining. Then it was digitally captured in high resolution and float-mounted onto custom archival rag board. The final housing and framing steps, including sealing the map in a specialized protective package and installing it in a custom black ash frame. These treatments not only improve the map’s appearance but also remove damaging contaminants, ensuring its preservation for future generations.
The restored Plan of the Town of Hammonton has been permanently installed in Town Hall alongside a recognition plaque honoring all who made the project possible. An unveiling event was held on March 4, 2026, for contributors to celebrate the completion of the restoration.
Why This Project Matters
Hammonton has a rich history, and this item is one of the few surviving artifacts from the town’s formative years. In fact, it’s one of the community’s oldest surviving documents.
Restoring and displaying it is not just about preserving an artifact, but about keeping our community connected to its roots and ensuring that this important piece of history is not lost.
A Community Effort
We could not have done this without widespread support throughout the community. In fact, the project was supported entirely through community sponsorships. We thank you tremendously for your support!
Our Gold Sponsors are Cape Atlantic Urgent Care, the Hammonton Education Association, and Truist Bank.
In addition to the gold sponsors, the Society gratefully acknowledges the generosity of our Silver Sponsors: an Anonymous Donor, Bethany Associates, Crowley and Carr Real Estate, Duke & Diane Bates, In Honor of John E. Jacobs, Sr., Hammonton Historic Preservation Commission, Joseph & Rose Arena, Life Mission Training Center, Louis & JoAnn Pantalone, NJM Insurance Group, and the Our Lady of Mount Carmel Society.
We also acknowledge the support of an additional 35 bronze sponsors.
The restored Plan of the Town of Hammonton is on permanent loan installed in Town Hall alongside a recognition plaque honoring all who made the project possible.
An unveiling event was held for contributors to celebrate the completion of the restoration. For more information, contact us.
Check out these ‘before and after’ photos:
Before:
After:
