Cumberland County Historical Society (NJ) Gift Offer

Emails between Joshua Loper and Britanny Ingersoll/Warren Q. Adams

Important! This has been posted as we have been asked to do so. Several members of the Cumberland County Historical Society and Cumberland County Citizens were very upset the free gift of a George Washington Tree with documentation, installation, a historical marker, and a presentation ceremony (if they wanted) was continually tabled and then rejected by the Cumberland County Historical Society. These emails were sent between March 17th to November 19th, 2022. They do not include the telephone conversations, and in person meetings. All personal email and phone numbers have been redacted. The purpose of this post is not to shame anyone, or cause any trouble/discomfort. The CCHS has the right to refuse gifts. This is to record the offering of this gift. Mr. Joshua Peter Loper (who was the last life membership issued in the CCHS in 1989, and grew up in Greenwich, Cumberland County, not even a mile from the Historical Society) was very sad they did not accept this free gift. Disclaimer: Joshua did not want us to post this, but he was outvoted by the majority.

March 20th, 2022-First email contact after several phone calls. This was after the Elmer Times article on the George Washington Witness Tree was published.

March 23th, 2022-The CCHS promises to talk about the gift of the George Washington Witness Tree at the Trustees Meeting on April 20th, 2022. This was sent to Mr. Joshua Loper, but addressed to his father, George.

April 3rd, 2022-Responding to a phone call from the CCHS about the questions they had from Board Members of the CCHS. The attachments for documentation have not been included in this transcript.

April 23rd, 2022-The CCHS emails to inform the topic was tabled. One person on the CCHS Trustees (who wishes to remain anonymous) said: "They did not even want to talk about it. As soon as it was brought up in the general meeting it was immediate tabled. Someone torpedoed it before it even had a chance." The CCHS emailed to ask for more information. Another person in the CCHS (who also wishes to remain anonymous) claimed "This was actually the second time they immediately tabled the topic."

April 23rd, 2022-Responding to a phone call from the CCHS and not being informed that the donation had been tabled.

April 24th, 2022-Responding to CCHS phone calls and emails with more questions (almost all were previously answered) the CCHS is informed they waited too long continually tabling the GW Tree gift. Important: After this in November Mr. Loper contacted the CCHS and said that he had managed to nurse a last tree cutting (expected to die) back to health. Again, offering this last tree as a gift to the Cumberland County Historical Society. The gift again was: a "George Washington Tree with documentation, installation, a historical marker, and a presentation ceremony (if they wanted) at no cost. "

November 19th, 2022-The CCHS, upon hearing that a final cutting has been saved and it being again offered to them, immediately informs the Lopers they will not accept the donation. No reason was ever given in person, over the phone, or in writing.

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