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Old City Hall Restoration Committee

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Old City Hall Restoration Committee

The Old City Hall Restoration Committee was formed in 2008 .

06/10/2026

🏛️ Wednesday Stories

While the Old City Hall Restoration Committee takes a Summer break from events until September, we’d like to try something new.

Each Wednesday, we’ll invite Bordentown residents to share a memory, story, photograph, or piece of local history that helps tell the story of our community.

We’ll begin with Old City Hall.

What is your favorite—or oldest—memory of Old City Hall?

Did you attend a meeting, cast a vote, perform on stage, celebrate a special occasion, or simply visit the building as a child? CYO? Coffee? Pool tables?

Share your story in the comments. The history of Old City Hall is more than bricks and mortar—it’s the memories of the people who have passed through its doors.

05/24/2026

In the back of Old City Hall sits the former Bordentown City jail.

The space is small, stark, and unsettling even today to think of spending any time in these cells - iron bars, rough plaster walls, a narrow rear window, and fading remnants of jailhouse artwork scratched and written onto the walls over decades.

Newspaper accounts from the 1920s describe two separate escapes from these cells, including prisoners removing a bar from the rear window to get out. Around 1933, the jail cells reportedly underwent updates and repairs.

The history here was not always minor offenses and overnight stays. While many prisoners likely spent only a night in custody for drunkenness or disorderly conduct, others faced far more serious charges, including assault and murder.

One tragic account describes a prisoner attempting su***de by first breaking a milk bottle in his cell to cut his throat before later hanging himself.

Different times. Different safeguards.
But the walls still remain.

05/09/2026

Just because Old City Hall closes its doors for events during the summer and winter holidays doesn’t mean all is quiet inside.

In many ways, our “off-season” is when some of the most important work begins. After all — we are a restoration committee.

These quieter months allow us time to focus on the planning, preservation, research, and hands-on work needed to care for one of Bordentown City’s most treasured landmarks.

This summer we are:

• Awaiting the final inspection report on the historic clockworks and bell as we plan the next phase of restoring the Old City Hall clock
• Exploring a new electronic lock and access system to better protect and manage the building
• Searching for a sheet metal artisan (“Tin Smith”) to help restore the decorative pilasters at the front entrance - looking for a professional?
- The hardwood flooring in the courtroom needs a good cleaning - looking for a professional??
• Hoping to complete additional interior maintenance and preservation work while programming is paused

There is always more happening behind the scenes than most people realize — and often more work ahead than behind us.

Thank you to everyone who continues to support the preservation of Old City Hall. Enjoy your summer, and we look forward to welcoming everyone back in the fall.

05/06/2026

I truly didn’t know what to expect from our most recent guest author at Sunday Soirée at Old City Hall — but by the end of the afternoon, I found myself completely intrigued.

Princeton University professor and author D. Vance Smith guided us through just a small portion of his book, Atlas’s Bones: The African Foundations of Europe, yet it was enough to open the door to a history and perspective I realized I knew very little about. A history shaped, interpreted, and at times rewritten over centuries.

What made the afternoon especially memorable was not only the subject itself, but the way Professor Smith brought it to life — thoughtful, engaging, and deeply human. It was the kind of program that stays with you after you leave the room and makes you want to keep reading and learning more.

A sincere thank you to Professor Smith for taking the time to visit us at Old City Hall and be part of our Sunday Soirée Series.

For anyone interested in learning more about Atlas’s Bones, follow the Amazon link below.

https://www.amazon.com/Atlass-Bones-African-Foundations-Europe/dp/0226830306

04/27/2026

Weekend finished - Thank you all for a wonderful start to our American Revolution 250th celebration.

04/26/2026

First day of Bordentown & the Art of Revolution was a success—great to see so many residents and out-of-town visitors!

In the video below, enjoy a small sampling of the music and sound of 1776, along with Ryan Lafferty reading a portion of The Battle of the Kegs by Francis Hopkinson in 1778.

Thank you to everyone who came out. Join us today for Part II at Old City Hall at 2 PM.

04/25/2026

𝐂𝐥𝐨𝐮𝐝𝐲 𝐬𝐤𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐚 𝐟𝐞𝐰 𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐭𝐨𝐝𝐚𝐲—𝐛𝐮𝐭 𝐰𝐞’𝐫𝐞 𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞 𝐚𝐭 𝐎𝐥𝐝 𝐂𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐇𝐚𝐥𝐥, 𝐬𝐨 𝐢𝐭’𝐬 𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐠𝐨𝐨𝐝.

We know some outdoor events had to cancel, and while last-minute plans are popping up around town, this event at Old City Hall was put in place months ago -𝗵𝗼𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗼 𝗯𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗻 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗰𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗯𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝟮𝟱𝟬𝘁𝗵 𝗔𝗺𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗥𝗲𝘃𝗼𝗹𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗼 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗵𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗰 𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝘀𝗾𝘂𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗺𝗶𝗹𝗲.

𝑺𝒐 𝒍𝒆𝒂𝒏 𝒊𝒏𝒕𝒐 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒎𝒐𝒐𝒅 -𝒍𝒆𝒕’𝒔 𝒄𝒂𝒍𝒍 𝒊𝒕 “𝒈𝒓𝒂𝒑𝒉𝒊𝒕𝒆 𝒅𝒂𝒚 𝒘𝒆𝒂𝒓” 𝒅𝒂𝒚, if you want—soft grays, layered comfort, and a perfect excuse to step out for an experience of the sounds of Bordentown City in 1776.

𝗡𝗼𝘁 𝗴𝗼𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗼 𝗹𝗶𝗲—𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗿𝘁 𝗼𝗻 𝗦𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗱𝗮𝘆, 𝗔𝗽𝗿𝗶𝗹 𝟮𝟱𝘁𝗵 𝗮𝘁 𝟮 𝗣𝗠 𝗶s a big moment for our small committee and a meaningful step toward making Old City Hall a true gathering place for Bordentown City.

𝗪𝗲 𝗯𝗼𝗼𝗸𝗲𝗱 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗣𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗠𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗰𝗸 𝗯𝗮𝗰𝗸 𝗶𝗻 𝗢𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟱—a true leap of faith. We made the commitment and said yes.

“𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗜𝗻𝗴𝗲𝗻𝗶𝗼𝘂𝘀 𝗠𝗿. 𝗛𝗼𝗽𝗸𝗶𝗻𝘀𝗼𝗻: 𝗔 𝗟𝗶𝗳𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗱𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗠𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗰” isn’t just a concert—it’s an experience. It brings the sound and spirit of the 1776 to life with authentic period instruments.

𝗙𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗶𝘀 𝗛𝗼𝗽𝗸𝗶𝗻𝘀𝗼𝗻—𝗮 𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗻𝗲𝗿 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗗𝗲𝗰𝗹𝗮𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗳 𝗜𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗽𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗲𝗿 𝗕𝗼𝗿𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗼𝘄𝗻 𝗖𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁—was one of our local patriots, making this a rare opportunity to connect with his world.

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗣𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗲𝘁𝗼𝗻-𝗯𝗮𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝗣𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗠𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗰𝗸 regularly perform at venues like Morven Museum & Garden, Princeton University, Old Barracks Museum, Philadelphia, and Walnford. $10 suggested donation.

Hope to see you today as we kick off this 250th American Revolution celebration.

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Bordentown, NJ
08505

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