SOMERS POINT — A cold wind blew steadily across the grounds of Somers Mansion on Dec. 7 as shoppers looked for hand-made crafts and gifts during Christmas at the Mansion.
Vendors manned booths throughout the grounds, selling gifts, decorations and food as people strolled around looking for bargains and unique items.
Dave and Jen Juliano were out for the day with their three daughters — Ava, 7, Lucy, 4, and Josie, 3. The Egg Harbor Township family made their first visit to the mansion.
City founder Richard Somers built it between 1720 and 1726 at what is now the junction of Shore Road, MacArthur Boulevard/Route 52 and Somers Point-Mays Landing Road, and the mansion remained in the Somers family until 1937 when it was deeded to the Atlantic County Historical Society. It later was transferred to the state in 1941. The home now is recognized as a State Historic Site and the State Park Service is charged with its upkeep and operation.
The market is hosted by the group Patriots for the Somers Mansion, which us working to restore and maintain the site.
“My undergrad was in history, so it was really cool to show the girls things and ask them what they think it was used for,” Dave Juliano said. “It’s always fun for me to try to date things when they occurred because some things look old and really are only 100 years old.”
He said he was aware of the mansion but had never before stopped to see it.
Around the corner, Kim Garthwaite and daughter Melanie Garthwaite were operating a booth selling handmade wood items, such as tree wedges and ornaments made from wood discs.
It was their first time at the market and they felt it was a great venue.
Somers Point residents Erin Deely and Danielle Don were busy shopping for jewelry.
“It’s a nice little holiday day out, not too cold, and trying to find anything I like for people or myself,” Deely said.
“We come here all summer for the farmers market, so it was fun to have this pop up for the holidays and see if I find anything and hopefully get a hot chocolate or something,” Don said.
Asked if they were far along in their holiday shopping, Don said she had just begun.
“I always shop late and I love finding deals and there are a lot of great deals here so this is fun,” she said.
“We love shopping local,” Deely said.
Noelle Ambrose, 3, of Galloway Township, got to sit on Santa’s lap and posed for pictures with Cece Venello of Pedricktown, Salem County.
Laura Beningo, owner of HG Workshop in Northfield, was selling children’s crafts made from multi-colored granulated soy wax layered like sand art, but at the end a wick was inserted to turn it into a candle.
“It’s like sand art only at the end you add your fragrance, you add a wick and it becomes a candle,” Beningo said. “It’s fun and functional.”
It was her first time as a vendor at the market.
“I think it’s amazing,” she said. “A lot of people I recognize from the community.”
Her business at 950 Tilton Road, behind AK Nails, offers classes in multiple media.
“I think that’s the beauty of it for me is that I can invite people that are passionate about stuff and they can share what they love with the community,” Beningo said.
George Castle and Gina Incollingo sell cheese and other dairy products made from sheep at Misty Meadows Sheep Dairy Farm in the Petersburg section of Upper Township.
The business changed hands in October and the new owner hopes to keep the farm profitable. It sells cheeses, lamb meat, soap with sheep milk and other products, as well as offering educational tours and classes. They also sell products made from the wool.
– STORY and PHOTOS by CRAIG D. SCHENCK/Sentinel staff
