SEPTEMBER 2012 BULLETIN

www.haddonfieldhistory.org

“Dedicated to the study and preservation of Haddonfield History”

Historical Society of Haddonfield

The Bulletin

T wo years ago a major threat to Boxwood

Hall, the historic home in Haddonfield

associated with Samuel Nicholson Rhoads and

his family, resulted in an interdisciplinary

journey that has brought together a unique

assemblage of partners. Kim Custer, a volunteer

with the Historical Society of Haddonfield

Library, while researching Boxwood Hall,

learned about Haddonfield's most prominent

naturalist, Samuel Nicholson Rhoads (1862-

1952) whose journals and papers were part of

the library’s collections.

Kim and Society Librarian, Kathy Tassini,

continued their Rhoads research with a visit to

the Library of The Academy of Natural Sciences

of Drexel University where they met archivist

Clare Flemming and ornithologist, Dr. Nate

Rice. The Academy housed thousands of

specimens, collected locally and abroad, that

were donated by Rhoads. When the Academy

learned of the Historical Society’s extensive

collections of Rhoads papers from throughout

his life, it was decided that bringing together the

specimens and the journals could reveal the

details of his scientific pursuits, the historical

details of his travels and a personal perspective

of the life of an early 20th century naturalist in a

way never before accomplished.

Through Kim Custer, who also worked with the

Environmental Science Club at Haddonfield

Memorial High School, Ron Smith, the

Environmental Science teacher at HMHS and a

number of his students became involved in the

project. Rosy Tucker worked on a comparative

study of land use in the town of Haddonfield –

from the late 1800s to modern day as well as a

variety of investigations into the details of

Rhoads’ travels and nature studies. Other

students have produced bird lists from modern

surveys of some of Samuel’s favorite haunts and

the continued research of Rhoads’ specimens

and writings will produce new projects and

exciting discoveries going forward.

Using the works of Rhoads we also are able to

bring to light the details and comparisons of

modern Academy Ornithologists and field

expeditions. This presentation is only the

beginning of a long term commitment of the

Academy of Natural Science of Drexel

By Kim Custer

Volume 56, No.3

SEPT/OCT 2012

President’s Message from Lee Albright

2

HSH - Fall Festival 2

Collections Update 3

Moving Houses Around & About XVI

4

HSH Research Library News

8

Volunteer Honor Roll 2011-2012

8

From The Museum Cellars

9

Membership News 10

With Collections:

We Can; Should We?

11

343 KINGS HIGHWAY EAST

HADDONFIELD, NJ 08033

856-429-7375

INSIDE:

General Membership Meeting: September 26th, 7:30 p.m.

LEGACY IN THE MAKING: Past, Present & Future of Ornithology at the Academy of Natural Sciences - the Rhoads Project

Cont’d on page 8

Upcoming

HSH Events

Sept. 26th General Membership

Meeting Greenfield Hall

7:30 p.m.

Oct. 19, 20, 26, 27 Haunted Tours

7:00 p.m.

October 21st Garden Dedication

Haunted Mansion October 27th

Greenfield Hall 6:00 - 9:00 p.m.

AND October 30th

Greenfield Hall After the Parade

Dec. 7th AND 8th Holiday Shop

Greenfield Hall 12:00/10:00

Samuel Nicholson Rhoads

E-mail: [email protected]

Page 2 Th e Bu l le t in

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

Lee Albright

S ince this is the season of polls, I have one

of my own. Ok, how many out there have

been surprised at the quality of our archives in

the Research Library and then amazed at the

ability of the staff to magically produce the very

information you needed? Raise your hands.

So. . . how many out there have been fortunate

enough to work with or be helped by Kathy

Tassini, who in addition to being the Director of

our Library for 30 years, is also the Town

historian? Raise your hands again. Wow, that

IS a lot of people.

Well, I have unfortunate news. Kathy, the

person responsible for the miracle that is our

Research Library, has submitted a letter of

resignation as of Dec 31, 2012. You can

certainly understand why the Board tried to

reject her letter of resignation – we did our best

- but she could not be swayed. Returning to her

first love which is historical research, she has

promised to remain active as a volunteer in the

Library, to train her replacement and to advise

the New Library Building Committee. Thank

goodness for that!

So September, as a time of new beginnings, has

a special significance to us this year because of

her announcement. Despite what Kathy says

about no one being irreplaceable, it sure doesn’t

feel that way right now. Filling her shoes seems

like a huge challenge but fill them we must. But

a challenge from another perspective could be

considered an opportunity. So, reluctantly, a

search committee has been formed to find a

part-time Director to assist us as we plan the

upgrade of the storage, conservation and

availability of our archives (our mission in a

nutshell) to meet the demands of the 21st

century. This should be interesting. Stay

tuned!

On an exciting note, we do have many

fundraising events planned for the Fall. (We will

have to pay for the new Director somehow!)

October is packed with events: a table at the

Fall Festival, Haunted Haddonfield walking

tours with Bill Meehan, two (!) Haunted

Mansions and the dedication of the Gardens.

November brings a General Meeting with a

fabulous speaker and in December our new

Holiday Shop, which was such a success last

year, we added an extra day for 2012! (Lots of

items sold out quickly, so shop early.)

Information about all these events and more are

in this issue of the Bulletin. Please come out and

support us, in addition taking the opportunity

to have some holiday fun.

I hope to see you at our events!

VOLUNTEERS!VOLUNTEERS!VOLUNTEERS!

We need your help!

HSH is forever in need of your assistance.

Currently, volunteers are especially needed in the fol-

lowing areas:

Library

Collections

Hospitality

Graphic Design

Contact Kathryn

[email protected]

-OR-

856-685-7310

to offer your special

talents.

Visit the HSH TABLE at the

HADDONFIELD FALL FESTIVAL

T he Historical Society will be taking it to the

streets once again and greeting the

multitudes at the Haddonfield Fall Festival and

Craft Show on Saturday, October 13th.

Stop by our table and see a display of historic

tools from the Society's collection. You'll also

get a chance to get a jump on your holiday

shopping as a ready-made library of

Haddonfield historical works, including Lost

Haddonfield, Haunted Haddonfield and

Elizabeth French Gill, will be available to

purchase as a set for only $25 - a $16 saving off

the regular price.

Know any young Indiana Jones types or

aspiring Arnold Toynbees? Kids under ten can

participate in the Junior Historian contest,

using clues to spot and learn about historical

landmarks around town. Every contestant will

receive a button and a chance to win a $25

Haddonfield gift certificate. Convincing them to

use it to purchase the set of historical works

instead of blowing it on jelly beans at the Candy

Buffet will be up to you, though.

We'd love to have you come on out and say

hello, and if you'd like to linger Dave Stavetski

Cont’d on page 3

mailto:[email protected]


C orinne Brandt, our volunteer intern, has

made great progress again this year

with entering artifact details from the treasured

HSH Acquisitions Book into our Past Perfect

Database program. She has reached

the 1970’s! (Her entries started in the

early ‘20’s) Last year Corrine gave HSH about

57 volunteer hours; this summer her hours have

well surpassed that number.

A hearty Thank You to Corinne for doing this

tedious work! Her diligent effort will allow us

the capability to evaluate, list, sort, search and

create reports about the extensive HSH

Collection, which heretofore was impossible.

Corrine found the detail work very interesting

and sometimes gave us a chuckle! One day she

discovered an artifact donated to the Society by

a “Mr. Harry Potter”!

Wednesday, July 18 was “Corinne Appreciation

Day”. We gave a small luncheon in Corinne’s

honor and enjoyed hearing a little about her

next endeavor - a two year graduate program in

Decorative Arts, Design History and Material

Culture at The Bard Graduate Center in New

York City. Best wishes to Corinne for a very

exciting, rewarding and satisfying adventure!

Added to our Textile Collections are a sports

jacket and a football jersey from David

Marshall. He wore them when the YMCA had

teams in Haddonfield in the 1950s. There were

two teams named Tigers and Warriors.

David played for the Tigers. He played

center on offense and defensive back.

As well, we have received a lovely wedding

gown dated 1964 from Carol Smith when

she married Christopher Glennon.

Please realize this is a different Carol Smith

from our Vice President, Carol Smith!

We continue to monitor for insects and are

relieved to report that our traps have captured

less pesky and destructive moths than last year.

By using the downstairs air conditioners,

since our summer has been so hot and humid,

all of the Collections have benefitted. Yes,

it is hot on the third floor; perhaps that is

keeping down the insect population.

The dormer roofs have been repaired. Jim

Hansen checked for new leaks after the last

downpour and found none. Thus the humidity

is lower up there.


COLLECTIONS UPDATE Great Progress, New Additions

By Dianne Snodgrass

“Corinne Appreciation Day”

Carol Smith, Lee Albright, Dianne Snodgrass and our wonderful intern, Corinne Brandt

HOSPITALITY HOSPITALITY HOSPITALITY

HELP WANTED!

At this time

Hospitality Help

is needed for the

September 26, 2012

HSH General Meeting.

Items desired include

iced tea and cider

(sugar free varieties also)

baked goods, paper products

and plastic cups.

Please step up!

Contact Kathryn

[email protected]

-OR-

856-685-7310

to offer your help with

Hospitality

is still looking for volunteers to help staff the

staff the table for portions of the afternoon. He

can be contacted at [email protected] or

give a call to the Historical Society Office

(856) 429-7375. See you there!

Fall Festival from page 2



By Helen Mountney


Moving Houses Around and About - XVI

THE MANY MOVES OF THE PEYTON/HILLMAN FAMILY

A round the time of the turn of the

Twentieth Century, Charles and Jane

(Peyton) Hillman were planning their move

from the home they had built in the early 1880’s

at 326 Kings Highway East to the site of the

home of Mrs. Hillman’s parents at 247 Kings

Highway East (known as the Hendry-Peyton

House). Mrs. Hillman’s father, Jesse E. Peyton,

had recently died and the Hillmans wanted to

open and develop a new street along the west

side of her parents’ property.

Next to the Peyton

property on Kings

Highway East (at the

present intersection

of Colonial Avenue)

were two frame

buildings. One, a

three-story building,

was used for the Odd

Fellows Hall on the

third floor, a barber

shop and living

quarters on the first

and second floors on

the west side of the

building and a

cobbler shop and

living quarters on

the east side of the

building. In 1889, there was an oyster house

and an ice cream shop in the basement and part

of the second floor was the local post office. To

the east of this building was a small two-story

building which was used as Mr. John Garrett’s

shoe store. Mr. Garrett lived across the street at

260 Kings Highway East, the eastern end of the

“Guard Houses”. In the late 1800’s, these two

buildings were demolished for the opening and

development of Colonial Avenue.

After the new street, Colonial Avenue, was

opened, it was the Hillman’s plan literally to cut

the Hendry-Peyton House into two almost

equally sized homes and move the sections

down Colonial Avenue. The first half consisted

of what had been the left half of the house. It

was to be turned a half-turn clockwise on the

East side of the street to become 33 Colonial

(even though it actually faced what was then

Maple Avenue, now Willits Avenue). The other

half was to be turned a quarter-turn clockwise

to become 27 Colonial Avenue (also on the East

side of Colonial Avenue). This move appears to

be a unique one in Haddonfield in which one

house was made into two separate, livable

houses, and moving each by horse power about

a block away!

It is believed that both of these houses were

moved by means of rolling logs—as each log

moved to the back, it was pulled out and put up

in the front as horses or mules pulled the house

along. It was quite an undertaking to do this for

two houses, one right after the other!

Once the houses were moved off the original lot

and onto their respective foundations, the

Hillmans had a large, center-foyer colonial

home built for themselves--becoming, of course,

the new 247 Kings Highway East. The Peytons

remained in that house for many years. The

1908 Sanborn map of the area clearly shows

that the two houses had by then been moved

down Colonial Avenue and the Hillman’s new

house had been completed.

No record has been found indicating that Mr.

and Mrs. Hillman had any children.

The newer house at 247 Kings Highway East is

now the offices of Henry D. Bean & Sons.

Mr. Henry D. Bean, Sr., purchased this

property for business purposes in 1945.

Cont’d on page 5

Odd Fellows Hall and shops torn down to open Colonial Avenue in early 20th century.

The Hendry-Peyton House at 247 Kings Highway East

before it was divided and moved



The original house at 247 Kings Highway East

was built by Joseph Bates, about 1792, and soon

thereafter it was purchased by Dr. Bowman

Hendry who had recently moved into

Haddonfield and received a warm welcome

because two of the local doctors, Dr. Benjamin

H. Tallman and Dr. Evan Clement, had recently

died and Dr. John Blackwood had moved to Mt.

Holly.

Dr. Bowman Hendry, son of Dr. Thomas and

Elizabeth (Bowman) Hendry of Woodbury,

bought the original house on Main Street (later,

numbered “247 Kings Highway East”) in 1794 to

use for his home and his medical practice. Mrs.

Bowman Hendry (Elizabeth) was the daughter

of Dr Charles Duffield of Philadelphia.

By appointment, Dr. Hendry was an assistant

surgeon for the Troop that was actively involved

in the Whiskey Insurrection when a group

rebelled against the excise tax assessed on the

grain sold by farmers in the form of whiskey

which began in 1791 in western Pennsylvania.

They had planned a march on Lancaster, but in

1793, a United States Marshal served writs on

the distillers that had not paid their tax bills

and arms were raised by 500 men to attack the

home of the Tax Inspector, General John

Neville. President Washington responded by

sending peace commissioners to Lancaster, and

before the Army arrived, the 500 protestors

went home and this rebellion was all over by

1794.

In early 1802, The Haddonfield Library

Company was organized by a group of nineteen

men (all members of the Society of Friends).

Each of the founders in this group bought 32

shares (at $8.00 per share) of the original stock

issued. Soon afterward, Dr. Hendry joined the

group called “The Subscribers”, who helped by

subscribing for additional shares as well as

purchasing and maintaining the location of the

books, which changed frequently since they did

not have permanent housing for their

collection.

About 1820, Dr. Hendry became a trustee of the

Grove School, the first public school in

Haddonfield.

He was active at St. Mary’s Protestant Episcopal

Church in Colestown (now part of Cherry Hill)

and was one of the originators of St. Paul’s

Protestant Episcopal Church in Camden which

held its first meeting in March of 1830 in the

then Camden City Hall.

Dr. Bowman Hendry’s son, Dr. Charles Duffield

Hendry, who married Maria Mickle, in

Woodbury, New Jersey, in 1834, and followed

his father’s medical footsteps, (however, he

studied medicine and graduated in 1846 from

Jefferson Medical College), moved to

Haddonfield and for a short time, practiced

with his father. Charles then bought the house

next door, 255 Kings Highway East, and opened

his own practice and became quite active in the

civic life of the community. He was on the list

of the active medical doctors in the Army during

part of the Civil War. Dr. Charles Hendry also

was on the managing committee for The

Dispensary at 3rd and Market Streets in

Camden, New Jersey, when it began operation

in 1867.

Dr. Bowman Hendry’s other son, Dr. Bowman

Hendry, Jr., also followed the Hendry medical

tradition and studied medicine, like his father,

at the University of Pennsylvania, and like his

brother, he was quite active in the Civil War.

At various times, both of the Hendry sons and

Dr. Bowman Hendry served as President of the

Camden County Medical Society for its normal

one-year term.

Dr. Bowman Hendry, Sr., died in 1838.

The next owner of 247 Kings Highway East was

Jesse E. Peyton who was born on November 10,

1815, on a small farm outside of Lexington,

Kentucky, and was the son of Stephen Peyton.

In 1841, when Jesse Peyton was in his late 20’s,

he and his father found positions in

Philadelphia and the family came to

Haddonfield to live.

In the mid-1800’s, as a prominent and self-

proclaimed Haddonfield resident, Mr. Peyton

proudly strolled around the Main Street

shopping area almost daily sporting a frock

coat! Jesse Peyton had been appointed a

Kentucky Colonel, a title which he took very

seriously, and his attire was apparently the

accepted attire for those holding that title.

Today, if we saw a man strolling around

downtown Haddonfield in a frock coat, we

Cont’d on page 6

MOVING HOUSES from page 4

Haunted Haddonfield Tours

October 19th & 20th October 26th & 27th

Tour Originates at The Historical Society’s

Greenfield Hall 343 Kings Highway East

Adults $10 Children (3-12) $5

Tickets Available at:

The Historical Society The Public Library The Visitor Center



would think that someone had just left a stage

production, was on the way to a costume party,

or was promoting something unusual.

However, he was a Kentucky Colonel and it was

said that they were usually people who

were a bit different--quite proud,

optimistic, and often flamboyant.

Colonel Peyton certainly lived according

to those traditions.

The title “Kentucky Colonel” originated

in 1813 after the Kentucky Militia

returned from the War of 1812 and

Kentucky’s first Governor, Isaac Shelby

asked Charles S. Todd, one of the Militia

officers, to remain in the Capitol and

serve as an Aid-de-Camp on the

Governor’s staff with the rank of

Colonel. Later, this became a more

honorary title and finally, in 1931, this

became the “Honorable Order of

Kentucky Colonels”. They have always

been appointed by the then sitting

governor of Kentucky—to an over-

eighteen year old who has shown

leadership, dedication for the welfare of

others, and strength of character. It has

become a national organization which

runs huge fund raising campaigns for

large nationally-known and worthwhile

projects. The largest social event for

Kentucky Colonels is held annually in

May, and not surprisingly at Churchill

Downs in conjunction with the

Kentucky Derby.

Colonel Jesse Peyton’s autobiography,

“Reminiscences Of The Past”, not

published until 1895, only a short time

before Peyton’s death, clearly shows the

extensive traveling he was able to

undertake—to almost all of the then states,

despite the travel hardships of the time. This

must have been quite a feat, but it did not seem

to deter him. Mr. Peyton apparently kept in

contact with men of all walks of life, but

particularly those prominent in politics and in

the military, especially when he was actively

promoting the Centennial celebrated in 1876 in

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

As a born promoter, one of the many projects

Mr. Peyton promoted in Haddonfield was

Hendry Hall. This was a meeting hall on Potter

Street, just behind the Haddon House (now the

office building at 300 Kings Highway East),

where they held, among other things, concerts,

theatricals, and children’s recitals. Mr. Peyton’s

friend and neighbor, Mr. Charles Shinn, then

living on Kings Highway East, at the northwest

corner of Grove Street (now known as 265

Kings Highway East), had a barn moved from

the back of his property to become part of the

Hendry Hall building. After being in operation

for a number of years, Hendry Hall closed

permanently. The front part of this building

was moved to become a part of several new

homes on Kings Highway! What was left of the

Hall was made into a home for Mr. and Mrs.

Samuel C. Albertson Clement. Mr. Clement was

the son of Aaron and Mary (Albertson) Clement,

and Mrs. Clement was Anna (Garrison) Shinn,

daughter of William Coffin and Louisa J.

(Mitchell) Shinn. .

Jesse Peyton also was instrumental in having oil

lamps installed at street corners, and in the fall

of 1886, he arranged for several marching clubs

to participate in a torchlight parade as part of a

lively political campaign.

The Haddonfield Land & Improvement

Company was formed about 1854 by Walter D.

Bell, William W. Fleming, and Samuel Richards,

all of Philadelphia, and William Coffin, of

Newton Township. This company bought the

old “Mountwell” property that had been built by

Francis Collins, in 1682, the first European

settler in this area. They had had high hopes of

developing this as a residential area, but after

failing to sell many lots, they sold the property

to Mr. Peyton and Mr. Charles Shinn, who

named it “The Pleasuring Ground”. They

operated this as a recreational-type business

there for only a short time, but unfortunately, it

did not succeed. After a long and involved

litigation process, the property was sold several

times, finally coming into the possession of

Henry Allen in January of 1870. Mr. Allen sold

it to Rev. Maxwell Reilly who wished to move

his Episcopal Boys Military School, St. John’s

Academy, to Haddonfield from its location in

Burlington, New Jersey. This school was in

operation here until the 1890’s.

Jesse Peyton died in April of 1897 and was

buried in Laurel Hill Cemetery in Philadelphia,

Pennsylvania. His wife, Jennie, was buried


33 Colonial Avenue, at the corner of Colonial Avenue and Willits Avenue in 1958.

27 Colonial Avenue in 1958.



HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF HADDONFIELD

Dianne Snodgrass

Sophie Dubiel

Officers

President Lee Albright

Vice President Carol Smith

Treasurer Mike McMullen

Recording Secretary Barbara Hilgen

Corresponding

Secretary

Immediate Past

President

Legal Counsel John Reisner

Bulletin Editor Dave Stavetski

Trustees

Term expires Pamela Chase

2013 Kim Custer

Open Position

Dave Stavetski

Term expires Elizabeth Albert

2014 Charlene Kelly Creed

Rob Kugler

Kathryn Raiczyk

Term expires Jim Hansen

2015 Kenneth Kramer

Sue Maslowski

Pat Peacock

Committee Chairs

Buildings Charles Chelotti Grounds Robert Marshall - -

Collections - General Dianne Snodgrass Library Kathy Tassini - -

Curator of Dolls Shirley Raynor Long Range Planning Kim Custer and

Charlene Kelly Creed - -

Community Outreach Open Position Membership Barbara Hilgen - -

Curator of Tools Don Wallace Publications Doug Rauschenberger - -

Education Pamela Chase Publicity/Newsletter Dave Stavetski - -

Exhibits Liz Albert Rentals Lee Albright - -

Finance Mike McMullen Volunteer Management Kathryn Raiczyk - -

Fundraising Carol Smith Webmaster Ronald Creed - -

HAUNTED

MANSION

2012

October 27th

Greenfield Hall

6-9 p.m.

A N D

October 30th

Greenfield Hall

After the Parade

Children $2

Adults $3

there following her death in 1904.

The house at 33 Colonial Avenue has been

owned for many years by Mrs. Carol Smith, a

life-long resident of this area. When the front

porch of this house was removed in 1971, the

neighbors at 20 Colonial Avenue quickly took

possession of the porch pillars used them in the

remodeling work of their porch where they

remain to this day.

Twenty-seven Colonial Avenue has been owned

by Mr. and Mrs. David Kinney since May of

2001.

It is curious that the street was not named

“Hendry Avenue” in honor of the three

prominent and beloved Drs. Hendry, and for as

much as the Hillmans did for Haddonfield,

there is also no street in town bearing the name

“Hillman”.




LIBRARY NEWS

T he library and its volunteers have been

kept quite busy this summer with both a

larger number of researchers than usual and

preparations for both the Elizabeth Haddon

Estaugh Biography, which is well on its way,

and ramping up for the quickly approaching

Three Hundredth Anniversary of the Settlement

of Haddonfield in 2013. The recording of the

many donations we have received has

suffered as a result of these other activities,

but a complete list will appear in the next

issue of the Bulletin.

The end of the summer means a return to our

regular schedule of openings:

Tuesdays and Thursdays - 9:30 to 11:30 a.m.

First Sunday of the month - 1 to 3 p.m.

Other times by appointment.

By Kathy Tassini

Samuel Mickle House

Home of the

HSH Research Library

University, the Historical Society of

Haddonfield and the Haddonfield School

District to bring together our collections, staffs,

research and knowledge to inspire a new

generation of young scientists and historians.

Come and join us for this encore presentation

by Kim Custer and The Rhoads Team!

Wednesday evening, September 26th

Greenfield Hall at 7:30 p.m.

Legacy in the Making from page 1

Liz Albert

Lee Albright

Isabella Azar

Helen Boyle

Rebecca Bryan

Corrine Brandt

Cliff Brunker

Lauren Carl

Pam Chase

Charles Chelotti

Charlene Creed

Ron Creed

Rich Cunliff

Claire Custer

Kim Custer

Dorothy Daly

Anthony DiSantis

Sophie Dubiel

Kevin Durkin

Charlesanna Fallstick

Tiernan Goodfellow

Jean Gutsmuth

Janet Hallahan

Debbie Hansen

Jim Hansen

Stuart Harding

Max Haubrich

Robert Hawkes

Barbara Hilgen

Bob Hilgen

Elizabeth Hilgen

Kate Hilgen

Roseanna Kosenski

Ken Kramer

Rob Kugler

Pat Lennon

Greg Lawes

Jean Lawes

Wyatt Lawes

Marcia Lugger

Katie M

Carol Malcarney

Bob Marshall

Marsha Marshall

Sue Maslowski

Nancy Mattis

Bernadette May

Connie McCaffrey

Dolores McMullen

Mike McMullen

Bill Meehan

Debbe Mervine

Michele Miano

David Moore

Scott Moore

Helen Mountney

Linda Nussey

Pat Peacock

Bill Pizzie

Kathryn Raiczyk

Doug Rauschenberger

Shirley Raynor

Connie Reeves

Sue Reintzel

Warren Reintzel

John Reisner

Brian Smith

Carol Smith

Dianne Snodgrass

Steve Snodgrass

Nicholas Spencer

Dave Stavetski

David Stewart

Kathy Tassini

Dinny Traver

Rosy Tucker

Don Wallace

Karen Weaver

Don Webb

Gus Winder

Helene Zimmer-Loew

The Historical Society of Haddonfield

VOL UNTE ER HO NO R ROLL 2 01 1 - 20 12

Three cheers to the staff of the

HSH research library for

donating 90 hours of their

energy and muscles to help

take our Rhoads Project on the

road to the Academy of Natural

Sciences for the June Bird

Weekend. See the front article

for more details. Thanks go to

Kathy Tassini, Rosy Tucker,

Helen Moutney, Nancy Mattis,

Jean Gutsmuth and Katie M.


Th e Bu l le t in

By Don Wallace

From The Museum Cellars

HISTORY DID NOT STOP IN 1950

T he arbitrary end date for our collections in

the Museum Cellars is 1950. Stuff after

that began to look too modern. Our beginning

date goes back at least 7000 years, or more,

with native- American artifacts from the

Woodland period and later periods. They were

organized and categorized by an archeologist

for us some six, eight or ten years ago.

We continue to add to our stone age points,

axes, and pestles collection with paleoanthropic

and other scientific articles from magazines and

newspapers about discoveries and

developments since the beginning of life on this

planet…and now even before that. Our most

recent article is about the discovery and proof of

the Higgs particle. It was the spark that

inspired the Big Bang Theory, not the TV show

by that name which redefines and corrupts the

scientific theory…hilariously!

This ephemera surrounds the physical displays

which are in three large old type drawers which

once held the large wooden type faces of

newspaper and poster headlines, “printer’s

drawers”, if you will. This was Haddonfield’s

history as well as the world.

Don Webb has recently reorganized this whole

back display area which is right up against our

new gas heater installed three years ago.

(Fantastic timing for that installation!)

Other displays back in that section of the

Museum Cellars next to the electrical circuit

panel includes the printer, the machinist,

the plumber, the electrician, and the

shipbuilder’s tools. Also the tools and

workbench of J. Frank DeChand, the

father-in-law of Joe Tatem, Scottie Tatem’s

Grandfather, are there. Scottie donated these

artifacts several years ago. Mr. DeChand

i d e n t i f i e d h i s h o u s e h o l d t o o l s

by painting their handles a teal blue color.

There are quite a few of them…

and very distinguishable.

At the front of Mr. DeChand’s old wooden

workbench is a row of square holes for attaching

bench tools. Here I have mounted an unrelated

tool…a bench brush cutter…for trimming the

hairs while making brushes. We also have a

tinsmith’s bench shears that would also fit in

one of these square bench holes, but I am

leaving that in the tinsmith’s display out in

the hallway. We will rig something out there to

hold it. (them?)

My old “pounding bench” now displays many

old vices which Don now has fastened down

tightly. Our Vaughn servicemen may need three

(3) guys to move it, should they need to get into

the heater. We are right up against it! But this

is great old stuff, and we need all the display

space we can get in this very full museum as it

continues to fill up with some other great, and

very recent donations.

Every cubic inch has a story to tell here in the

Museum Cellars. Mrs. Barbara Smith recently

donated a beautiful, old washer wringer which

used to mount onto a large galvanized steel

wash tub. It has advertising and instructions on

every wooden surface. Except for its wringers

and gears it is made primarily of wood. She also

donated a garden plow with many harrow

blades and a pair of perforated iron handles. It

is well-weathered! And while this may be the

fifth or sixth garden plow in our collection it is

significantly different and more charming than

the others. While we don’t need any more

“garden plows” now; I’m still on the lookout

for a plain, old, field plow. Two other plow look

-alikes are actually “drills” that have planters

built into them. But these demonstrate an early

drill and a more modern “Planet Jr.” version.

Both predate 1950.

A dandelion puller or plucker and other tools

were also recently donated by Caroline Lichter.

Some are being kept in the collection and

several will be sold off at the next yard-sale to

help raise funds for the Society. In that we

receive no Municipal, County, State, or Federal

funding; these gifts really help this

fund-raising organization, and we appreciate

such gifts.

Now my lawn that is dying to be green requires

my attention. Every “scattered shower” brings

it back a little bit from the dry toast of this

summer’s drought! With all these heavy

downpours from Hurricane Isaac in these early

days of September we should enjoy a

rejuvenation whose timing could not be better.

Keep the rain showers coming and also the

pre-1950 tools and artifacts!

Personalized

Tours of the

Museum Cellars

are available!

Call the office for

details!

(856) 429-7375



By Barbara Hilgen

MEMBERSHIP NEWS

Have a question about your Membership Type or Renewal Anniversary?

Feel free to contact the office at 429-7375 or send an e-mail inquiry to

[email protected]

W hen you think “HADDONFIELD” what

adjective comes to mind? “HISTORY”

is the answer to that question for most folks. In

fact, not many years ago Haddonfield’s motto

was “HISTORY, HOSPITALITY, SHOPPING.”

Our borough will celebrate its 300th birthday in

2013, and has accumulated a very rich history.

The Historical Society of Haddonfield, founded

in 1914, is the home of Haddonfield’s history

and archives. For almost one hundred years,

staffed primarily by volunteers, the Society, has

served the community of Haddonfield and

vicinity by providing educational programs for

children and adults, publishing books,

pamphlets, and the quarterly BULLETIN, and

maintaining two of Haddonfield’s most historic

buildings.

After many years of research, writing, editing,

rewriting, we look forward to publishing a

biography of Elizabeth Haddon Estaugh in

2013, our birthday gift to Haddonfield.

We could not accomplish our mission without

the support of our members. Indeed,

“membership is the foundation upon which we

stand.” We are proud to say that we receive no

borough, state, or federal funding.

If your membership is about to expire, or is

overdue, you soon will receive a renewal form

by snail mail. If you prefer, you can fill out and

return the form in this newsletter, or renew

electronically using Paypal, at

www.haddonfieldhistory.org. Call the office,

429-7375, if you’re unsure of when your

membership expires.

WE NEED YOUR

FINANCIAL SUPPORT !

The type of membership desired is:

Senior Citizen $ 25.00

Contributing Member 35.00

Contributing Household 55.00

Patron Member 150.00

Patron Household 250.00

Founder’s Society 1,000.00

Founder’s Household 1,500.00

Contact Information:

Name

Address

E-mail

Address

Phone #

THE HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF HADDONFIELD 2012/13 MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION

YES! I (we) would like to JOIN The Historical Society!

Please make your check payable to:


Questions? Call the Office (856) 429-7375

Mail the Application & Check to :


343 Kings Highway East

Haddonfield, NJ 08033

THE BULLETIN Newsletter Preference ____ e-mail/electronic ______ “snail mail” copy



The Historical Society is happy to announce that we have entered the social media age. Our first stop –

facebook! Now we will be able to reach many more local residents quickly and effectively to promote our mission and our events.

If you are on facebook,

please be sure to “Like” us !

We are now providing information about upcoming events as well as providing interesting facts about Haddonfield and the local area. It is our goal to use social media as a vehicle to promote these things to a greater audience with the h o p e s o f i n cr e a s i n g membership and attendance at gatherings of the Historical Society.

If you are not on facebook

and would like information about how to create your

own facebook page, please c o n t a c t K e n a t [email protected]

HSH is on

With Collections:

WE CAN; SHOULD WE?

J ust because you legally can doesn’t mean

you ethically should. Here is what I

mean. It is an acquisition story.

A goodly number of years ago I received a call

from a local lady who said she had some items

she wished to donate to the Historical

Society. Among the items was a child’s pink

and white tea set. This lady knew me by my

married name and did not realize that I had

gone to school here with her daughter from K

through 12. Because I knew her daughter had

two daughters, I suggested she give the tea set

to her daughter. Immediately she said her

daughter had absolutely no interest in things

old and the granddaughters were way too little

to know what they would like as adults. I did go

over to her place and take a look at all the items

she had set aside for HSH. In the end I took a

few, but I was able to convince her to hang on to

this tea set for her daughter. Eventually this

lady died. I did not know what happened

to the tea set.

Recently I had lunch with this friend from grade

school, etc. Her daughters are adults now and

each has two daughters of their

own. Conversation came around to the

Historical Society, so I told her this story about

her mother. She got tears in her eyes. It seems

my friend did take the tea set. This spring of

2012 she was minding her 8 year old

granddaughter and they had tea using this very

tea set. Then I got tears in my eyes, too.

What a beautiful experience which would never

have happened if I had taken the tea set and

accessed it in to our collections. Grandmothers

m a k e l a s t i n g m e m o r i e s w i t h

granddaughters. The pink and white tea set in

now in a position to be passed down to another

generation and maybe more - to make

family memories. Such a good tradition,

wouldn’t you agree?

By Dianne Snodgrass

Want a SNEAK PEEKWant a SNEAK PEEK At The Historical Society’s

2012 Holiday Shop Artists? December 7th & 8th in Greenfield Hall

Susan Pillay - Hand painted children’s wearable art (cotton clothing)

Sew Cute Doll Clothing - Trendy to classic clothing that fits all 18” dolls, including Am. Girl Dolls

Seth Belson - South Jersey Bee Keeper and honey producer

JMG Creations - Handmade jewelry by Kathy Baier

Dianne Snodgrass - Hand loomed hats and scarves for men and women, combining unique

materials and patterns

Aurna Enterprises, Inc. - Original hand-formed etched brass garden and Christmas ornaments,

hand dipped in a patina to produce a verdigris finish

The Jersey Jerry Broomsquire - Handcrafted brooms of all shapes and sizes

Heartfelt - One of a kind children’s sweaters made as a collage of recycled woolen fabric,

embroidery and appliqué

Elizabeth A Design - Unique jewelry design for women crafted from a variety of materials

including 14k gold, gold vermeil, 14k gold fill, sterling silver, pearl, semi-

precious stones, crystal and hand-blown glass.

Historical Society of Haddonfield - Books, baked goods, holiday greens, jams and chutneys.




343 Kings Highway East Haddonfield, NJ 08033


Preserve our past. . . Leave a legacy for the future!

Addressee or Current Resident

Non-Profit Org.

U.S. Postage

PAID

Cherry Hill, NJ

Permit # 166

Phone: 856-429-7375 E-mail: [email protected]

SEPTEMBER 2012 BULLETIN

Documents