Rancocas Nature Center

For decades, Mary Weston, her son, Guy, and other volunteers have worked to research, preserve and teach about Timbuctoo, an early 19th-century settlement of free black people near the Rancocas in Westampton Township.

“We have a common interest in the history and archaeology of the area … [and] we’ve discussed common research projects,” says Guy, who gave a presentation during Sunday’s event.

Circulating through the party and embracing well-wishers were Karl Anderson and Liz Anderson. Long divorced, they were the center’s founding family.

They worked for New Jersey Audubon and were raising three three children when they were assigned to oversee the center in 1977. They traveled in a VW bug and the kids slept in the back (ah, the ‘70s).

“It was hard in the beginning. The house was a total disaster; I was afraid the upstairs bathtub would come through the ceiling,” says Karl, 80, of Woodbury.

“But I was up for anything. Somebody gave us a goat named Georgette, who had two kids and ended up standing on the roof of a car. Somebody else gave us some chickens. I thought it would be nice, having sort of a farm atmosphere,” he adds.

“Someone gave us a parrot, and it had a … ‘distress call’ you can’t put in the paper, says Liz, 83, of Medford.

Although animal stories, such as one about squirrels that’s also off the record, are entertaining and memorable, Liz points out that the relationships the center has built over the years with the community “are what made it such a marvelous, marvelous place.”

It still is.