Historian

Welcome to the Board of Island Manager’s Website.

My name is Michael E. Zalot. I have been the Board Historian for the last 12 years or so. Altogether I have been on the Board for 32 years. I am pleased to be able to share with you some important information about the Board.

About 38 years ago when I first learned about the organization called the Board of Island Managers, only ten, yes, ten people voted in the Board’s election. Now many hundreds vote with elections sometimes heavily contested.

Thanks to the late Dr. Bisbee, the chief historian of Burlington’s history for many decades, I first became interest in the Island. I learned that the Board of Island Managers is the oldest continuous educational Board in the US. Established in 1682, the Board is now celebrating its 325th year of operation.

Robert Stacy, a local resident and real estate investor, approached Governor Andros of New York for title to the Island. Governor Andros was in charge of all properties in and along the Delaware River. having been appointed by the Crown.

After he obtained title, Stacy discovered that two men, Peter Jegou and Henry Jacobse had already staked claims on the island. In a moment of generosity and good sense, Stacy devised a way to donate the Island to the people of Burlington with any monies to be used to educate youth in the City. All monies and rentals from the Island were to have education goals.

In 1852, the newest charter was written. The citizens of Burlington City voted to sell off ? of the Island. That money was loaned to St. Mary’s Hall. The other half of the island was kept by the Board with a Mr. Hancock being a long time renter.

The Board of Island Managers holds its election on the first Monday of April between the hours of 2-5PM., although anyone can vote via absentee ballot. When the hours were set Burlington held its Farmer’s market on High and Broad Street during those hours and nearly everyone was in town . This April the Board will again hold its election at the Daniel Keegan Center located on Wood Street from 3-9PM and absentee ballots are
available.

The Board history is long and interesting. Hopefully, more material will be presented to you later through this website.