TOWN SPOTLIGHT
Mount Holly Where Old Meets New BY ERIN McFEETERS
T
he melodic sound of church bells fills the air as you enter the historic township of Mount Holly. This 2.81 square mile town is home to over 9,500 residents, according to the 2019 U.S. Census population estimates. Even though the township is small, Mount Holly is routed and rich in history. “It’s a really great area to be in,” said Melo Smith, owner of Kitchen 87, an Americana restaurant most known for its daily specials and unique twists on American classics. “I wouldn’t have wanted our kids to grow up anywhere else.”
During the Revolutionary War, the Battle of Iron Works Hill happed in Mount Holly. The rebels lost the battle, but it played a strategic role as it diverted British Troops so General Washington and his men could successfully cross the Delaware River. The town honors the battle and the town’s history by putting on a reenactment each year. Mount Holly held a Salem-style witch trial in October of 1730, and it put them on the map, according to the Founders Online National Archives. In the article, originally published by The
Pennsylvania Gazette, “300 People were gathered together to see an Experiment or two tried on some Persons accused of Witchcraft.” Today, the Mill Race Village in Mount Holly hosts an annual Witches Ball, but due to a lack of planning time, the next Witches Ball will be in 2022. The township has come a long way since its iconic witch trial. Now, amongst the town are small businesses that work together to put the town’s best foot forward. Some local shops even give homage to the town’s metaphysical past. NEW JERSEY REALTOR® | September/October 2021 | 17
