What Should Be Done with Historic Moorestown Home?

Township officials say the owner of one of Moorestown's most historic properties is interested in turning it into a commercial ratable.

According to township manager Scott Carew, the owner of the Thomas Cowperthwaite House—on the corner of South Lenola Road and Kings Highway—has expressed an interest in perhaps having the zoning of the property changed to allow a commercial use. The land is currently zoned R-3, for single-family residential.

Though the township presently has no stake in the property, Carew acknowledged that "some kind of commercial use of that corner would be beneficial to the township," adding that the details are still very vague.

"Commercial could mean a few different things," he said.

The other three corners of the intersection are all commercial—two gas stations and a bank—which limit the options for the 270-year-old structure, from a residential perspective, according to Carew.

If the township were to even consider a rezoning, he said, "We would have to make sure we did it right ... I would imagine there would be a public interest in somehow keeping that building intact, whether it's there or someplace else."

Community development director Thomas Ford said records indicate the owner of the property is Robert Whitcraft, of Whitcraft Holdings LLC. Ford said he is unsure what the property is currently being used for.

Attempts by Patch to contact Whitcraft were unsuccessful Monday. 

The home, built in 1742 by Thomas Cowperthwaite, may have been the first local Quaker school, though some of the details vary, according to information provided by local historian Lisa Knell.

Famous Philadelphia painter Thomas Cowperthwaite Eakins, one of Cowperthwaite's descendants, is also loosely connected to the property. 

Stephanie Herz, first vice president of the Historical Society, said the society has been aware of the interest surrounding the property for some time and has adopted a "kind of wait-and-see approach."

President Lenny Wagner credited Whitcraft with maintaining the structure and said the Historical Society likely wouldn't object if the home was converted—albeit in a manner that preserved its historical integrity—into a commercial property.

"We obviously would like to see the building preserved," Wagner said.

What do you think should be done with the property? Tell us in the comments below. 

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