Next Book Club Meeting To Be Held September 25

There’s still time to read the Historical Society’s Book Club summer reading selection before our next meeting, scheduled for Tuesday September 25 at 7 pm at Greenfield Hall.

We’ll be discussing Grant, by Ron Chernow, a captivating biography of Ulysses S. Grant. Grant was named one of the best books of 2017 by Goodreads, the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal and others. Chernow “delivers a deeply researched, everything-you-ever-wanted-to-know biography, but few readers will regret the experience,” according to Kirkus Reviews.

As always, all are welcome at our discussion on September 25, even if you haven’t read the book. Light refreshments will be served.

If you’re planning your fall reading, the Book Club will then meet on Tuesday November 27 to discuss It Ended Badly: Thirteen of the Worst Breakups in History, by Jennifer Wright.

Historical Society Closed to Public During August

Just a reminder that the Historical Society closes to the public for the month of August each year. We will also not be holding our usual “First Sunday” hours on Sunday September 2 due to the holiday weekend.

Our last summer hours for Greenfield Hall will be Monday July 30 from 1-4 pm, and our last research hours at the archives center in the Mickle House will be Tuesday July 31 from 9:30-11:30 am.

If you miss us in July, you can still reach out by phone or email, but please be patient if we are slower to respond. We will return to regular public hours after Labor Day. Enjoy the rest of your summer!

Historical Society Holds Groundbreaking Ceremony for New Archives Center Building

The Historical Society of Haddonfield held a groundbreaking ceremony on August 1 for its new, state-of-the-art archives center building to be built on its property on Kings Highway East in Haddonfield.

The Society has raised more than $817,000 in gifts and pledges for the new building and expects to begin construction later this month. The planned facility will nearly triple the storage space for archival collections while incorporating up-to-date temperature and humidity controls and fire suppression system in an ADA-compliant building. Space in the new building will also be reserved for Haddon Township Historical Society archival collections, thanks to a generous gift earlier this year from the William G. Rohrer Charitable Foundation.

“We are so appreciative of all of the community support we have received for this project so far,” said Doug Rauschenberger, president of the Historical Society of Haddonfield. “This new facility will be so important for preserving these significant archival collections for generations to come.”

Other speakers at the groundbreaking ceremony included Haddonfield Mayor Neal Rochford and Haddonfield architect Eduardo Guzman, president of DCM Architecture and Engineering, who designed the planned new building.

An ongoing challenge grant in honor of past Historical Society president Pat Lennon has brought in an additional $94,000 in gifts and pledges so far this summer. All gifts made in Pat’s honor are being matched dollar-for-dollar by a generous donor who worked with her at the Historical Society and admires her greatly.

Donations can be mailed to the Historical Society, and gifts can also be made online. Donors who wish to have their gifts matched must designate that they are giving in Pat’s honor.

Eduardo Guzman of DCM Architecture and Engineering and Historical Society of Haddonfield Board President Doug Rauschenberger speak to the crowd at the groundbreaking.

Left to right: Eduardo Guzman, Carol Smith, Doug Rauschenberger, Mayor Neal Rochford, Tish Colombi, Bill Reynolds, Tim Alles, Bob Marshall.

Historical Society Launches Street-Sign Fundraiser

The Historical Society is pleased to launch a unique fundraiser with a selection of old Haddonfield street signs. These are full-size vintage signs that would look great on a wall, on a shelf, or otherwise on display.

We are asking for a minimum donation of $100 per sign, and all proceeds benefit the Historical Society.

Streets and quantities are limited. If you’re interested, please contact Society trustee Karynna Baresel at kbaresel@mac.com.

UPDATE #5: Available street signs as of August 6:

Birdwood Ave. – reserved
Centre St. – reserved
Clinton Ave. – reserved
E. Cottage Ave. – reserved
E. Summit Ave.– reserved
Ellis Street – reserved
Estaugh Ave.– reserved
Farragut Ave. – reserved
Fowler Ave.
Hickory Lane – reserved
Lakeview Ave.– reserved
Lincoln Ave. – reserved
Narberth Ave. – reserved
Nicholson Lane– reserved
Oak Ave.– reserved
Prospect Rd. – reserved
Somerset Ave.
Springfield Terr.
Spruce St. – reserved
Stiles Ave.
W. Summit– reserved
Walnut St. – reserved
Washington Ave.– reserved
Wayne Ave.– reserved
Wellington Ave. – reserved
Windsor Ave.– reserved
Wood Lane – reserved
Woodland Ave. – reserved

Society Partnering with Haddonfield Public Library for Summer Story Times

The Historical Society is pleased to be partnering with the Haddonfield Public Library for two children’s story times for ages 5-9 this July: “History for Dessert! Story Time with the Historical Society.”

The first story time will be held on Friday July 13 from 1:30 – 2 pm at Greenfield Hall, 343 Kings Highway East, Haddonfield. Jordan Bilodeau, the children’s librarian at the Public Library, will be leading us and sharing stories and a fun activity. Reserve a space for your child here.

The second story time will be held on Monday July 23 from 11 – 11:30 am in the Children’s Program Room at the Haddonfield Public Library, 60 Haddon Ave., Haddonfield. Ms. Jordan will again be sharing stories and a fun activity. Reserve a space for your child at this second story time here.

Both events are free, but reservations are requested because space is limited. Please note that the first event will be held at the Historical Society and the second will be held at the Public Library!

Questions? Contact the Historical Society at info@haddonfieldhistory.org or email Ms. Jordan at the Public Library at jbilodeau@haddonfieldlibrary.org.