IN 1923, A WEALTHY MOORESTOWN RESIDENT NAMED ELDRIDGE REEVES JOHNSON was approach ed by a member of th e local Woman’s Club wh o was looking for financing to build a community center in the middle of town. Generously, Joh nson agreed to donate the money necessary for the p roject but only if th e people of the town would show their interest by creating a maintenance fund for building operations. Within eigh t months, the community, eager to have such an amenity, raised more than $106,000.
Today, that community center is known as the Community House, a place where people still come to gather, to celebrate and to connect with others.
“We’re really lucky to h ave this architectu ral treasure right here in the heart of our town,” Caryn Lynch , executive director of the nonprofit, says. “There’s no other town in New Jersey th at has a community center like this.”
Beautifully designed and kempt, the Community House is two-and-a-half stories with usha ped symmetrical wings, projecting bay windows and a slate tile roof th at is original to the structure. It is a combination of English Manor and Colonial style and was built to be sustainable for th e long term.
Inside this unique historical building, you’ll find a number of distinct spaces including a grand ballroom, a kitchen, a board room and two multifunctional rooms known as the Clubroom and the Gard en room. The west wing of the house, home to th e original Moorestown Library, has recently been renovated into a breathtaking event spac e, appropriately named “Th e Library.”
As a part of its mission to serve the civic, social and recreational needs of the town, the Comm unity House provides meeting and event space to local nonprofits and organizations at deeply discounted rates.
Th e Community House is an independent nonprofit organization not part of th e township. It does not receive any financial assistance from the local, county, stat e or federal government. Instead, it subsists on rental fees and donations.
“If you give to the Community House, you are in turn suppo rting many organizations that do good work for the community,” Lynch says, adding that the Community House has served nearly 100 local or ganizations in th e past year.
With 25,000 square feet of versatile space, the house is ideal for all types of functions from weddings to corporate events, nonprofit meetings and fundraisers, lunch eons, receptions, birthday parties and more.
Beyond being host to these eve nts, the Community House also puts on its own celebrations for residents to enjoy, including its annual Tree Lighting and Holiday Celeb ration, which will occur on Dec. 3, and th e Children’s Holiday Shop that runs from Nov. 30 to Dec. 2 and allows children to discover the joy of giving by h aving the opportunity to buy inexpensive items for friends and family with the help and guidance of volunteers.
This holiday season consider supporting the Community House by choosing it as the location for your next event or by including the house in your charitable giving with a tax-deductible donation.
Community House of Moorestown
16 E. Main Street | Moorestown
(856) 235-0326 | TheCommunityHouse.com
Published (and copyrighted) in Suburban Family Magazine, Volume 9, Issue 9 (November 2018).
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