http://www.haddontwphistoricalsociety.org/

Haddon Township Historical Society, 143 E. Ormond Avenue (Display and Programs only--not a research facility), Haddon, NJ (2026)

Q: What is the address?

143 E. Ormond Avenue (Display And Programs Only--not A Research Facility)

08/29/2026

An 1800s Look at Westmont Schoolchildren & Their Schoolhouse
As Haddon Township children get ready to return to school, here’s a look at local children in an 1894 class photo, their school (built in 1872, with annex at the back built in 1901), and a sample of their curriculum (dated 1899). In 1872 the village was known as Rowandtown; the name Westmont came along in 1886.
In 1872 school officials raised funds via bonds and hired William Hoopes of Haddonfield to build a new 28’ x 36’, two-story frame building for $2,900 on the corner of Haddon and Reeve Ave., replacing a deteriorating, one-room schoolhouse built about 1825. Along with the new building, $400 was spent on the purchase of new desks, coal stoves, and maps, while $50 went toward new books in the school library. The structure measured 28’ x 36’. It had eleven foot high ceilings, slate blackboards and raised platforms in the classrooms for the teachers. There was also a privy built outside with two sides, one for boys and one for girls. The school could accommodate 100 students. (The small annex building seen in the schoolhouse photo to the rear of the building was constructed by Esterbrook Reeve in 1901.) The Westmont school served the township until 1907 when a modern brick schoolhouse was built on the same site. The 1872 schoolhouse was moved to Center Street, and was used for a while as the First Methodist Mission church, and was later converted to private residences. It still stands at 22-24 Center Street. The small annex built by Esterbrook Reeve now serves as township municipal offices located on Reeve Ave.
These facts and more information on the 19th century history of Haddon Township are available in the book “Down A Country Lane” by Dennis G. Raible, Camden County Historical Society Publication, 1999.

08/22/2026

May 19, 1920 - Corporal Allen Irvin Morgan Funeral

These extraordinary photos from 1920 show not only Corporal Allen Irvin Morgan’s funeral, but also provide us with a glimpse of the faces, clothing, and houses of average Haddon Township residents from over 100 years ago.
Corporal Allen Irvin Morgan of Haddon Township was the first of Camden County's war dead to be returned from France after the end of World War One. On May 19, 1920, his funeral cortege, led by the Third Regiment, began at the Westmont Fire Hall on the corner of Center Street and Highland Avenue in Haddon Township, and proceeded down Haddon Avenue toward its final destination of Harleigh Cemetery in Camden. At Harleigh Cemetery, mourners witnessed roses being dropped from an airplane piloted by British Royal Flying Corp's Lt. Krouse. Final taps salute was played by the Third Regiment band, and a gun salute was performed by American Legion band members. (Haddon Township’s Allen Irvin Morgan American Legion Post No. 230 was formally instituted in January 1920.)
Corporal Morgan, born May 1889 in Pennsylvania, was the son of Morris K. and Sallie C. Griffith Morgan. The family moved to Haddon Township sometime after 1896. Morgan enlisted in the U.S. Army on December 22, 1915. He served with Troop G of the 15th Calvary Regiment. His service included time on the Mexican border and 18 months in the Philippines. At age 28, Corporal Morgan died on a transport en route to France and was initially buried in Brest, France. It is reported that while ill on the transport Morgan refused medical attention for fear of being put ashore and labeled a slacker by his fellow troop members. (NOTE: it is estimated that influenza and related pneumonia killed roughly 45,000 American soldiers, and tens of thousands of European troops, during World War One. Crowded transport ships carried the virus across the ocean. (Source: National Institute of Health)
Photo of Allen Irvin Morgan in the Comments section. Funeral photos courtesy of William McKenna.

08/15/2026

Early Train Service in Haddon Township

Since 1853 rail service has connected Haddon Township residents to industries and employment in Camden and Philadelphia, thus playing a major role in transforming our town into a suburban community. The Camden and Atlantic Railway began service between Coopers Point, Camden and Haddonfield through old Newton Township (Haddon Township) in September 1853. After opening to Berlin in April 1854, service began to Atlantic City in June 1854. The residential, agricultural, and industrial growth of line-side communities, such as Rowandtown (Westmont), and the birth of Atlantic City, was the direct result of the 58.7-mile long railroad. In 1875 Haddon Township residents could travel to Camden for 25 cents, which included the nickel Philadelphia ferry transfer.

(POST CARD IMAGE/PHOTO: circa late 1880s-1900, Westmont train station stop located near Crystal Lake Avenue, looking south toward Stoy Avenue with train approaching from Haddonfield. (While Haddon Township was incorporated in 1865, the village of Westmont received its name in 1885. Prior to 1885, the village was called Glenwood, and, earlier, Rowandtown.)

08/08/2026

Westmont's First Tailor
Isaac Glezerman (b. 1884; d. 1959)
150-152 Haddon Avenue

According to a Tri-City Sun newspaper article (May 21, 1925) highlighting local Haddon Township business leaders, Isaac Glezerman was Westmont’s FIRST TAILOR. Mr. Glezerman brought his tailoring skills, which he learned at age 12, from his homeland in Russia. After working for about 10 years in Russia, Glezerman joined the Russian army, serving for 3 years. He returned to civilian life with a desire to travel to America. Mr. Glezerman’s naturalization papers, filed June 30, 1919 in Camden, show that he emigrated from the port of Odessa, Russia on the ship Campania, and arrived at the port of New York on December 3, 1910. The Tri-City Sun newspaper article notes that his tailoring skills allowed him to secure work quickly. After spending just two months in New York City, Glezerman moved to Shamokin, PA where he remained for about 2 years, then traveled to Philadelphia in 1912, and married Dora Tennenbaum/Tenenbaum that same year. Soon after their marriage, Mr. Glezerman met a man who had a small shop to rent in Westmont (162 Haddon Ave.) where Glezerman could set up his own tailor shop. After that shop proved too small, Glezerman moved to 150-152 Haddon Avenue in Westmont. The Tri-City Sun article describes Glezerman’s shop as being divided into two large rooms: a showroom and a pressing/fitting room. The family, which included 2 sons, Benjamin and Samuel, lived at the same address, probably above the store. Dora Glezerman died in 1953. Isaac Glezerman married Anna Rose in 1954. Mr. Glezerman continued to work and live at 150-152 Haddon Avenue until his death on October 29, 1959.
It appears that 150 Haddon Avenue was occupied as separate dwellings in the 1940 census, with Mr. Glezerman occupying the 2nd floor, and Nahum Epstein running a delicatessen/grocery store on the first floor of this corner property. In the 1940 census, 152 Haddon Avenue was occupied by baker Eugene Schelling. Nahum Epstein died in 1953. Coincidentally, by 1962 another tailor, Mr. Altobrando Rubini, occupied 152 Haddon Avenue. Mr. Rubini’s 1991 obituary states that he was a designer of custom-made suits for many notable clients, including heavyweight boxer Muhammad Ali. Mr. Rubini worked in his Westmont tailor shop until one month before his death. In recent years, 150 Haddon Avenue has been home to Jersey Kebab, and now Kebapora, while 152 Haddon Ave. is currently occupied by BCW Computers.

08/07/2026

Summer 2026 marks the 100th anniversary of library service in Haddon Township (Schools were early drop off points receiving book deliveries beginning in 1921, but a building with staffing (volunteers) and some services first came to Haddon Township in 1926.) To mark the anniversary there is a pop-up history exhibit at the William G. Rohrer Memorial Library featuring images and items from 100 years of library service in Haddon Township. Some of the images and history have been posted on our page previously. Check out the exhibit for more. Now until the end of August.

08/01/2026

A History of Westmont Mail Service

The first record we found of a Westmont Postmaster appointment was Albert Eastburn on August 6, 1889. Postal services were provided in Eastburn’s general store located on Haddon Avenue in the building later occupied by Duffy’s Garden Center. For less than one year, Edward B. Paul served as Westmont’s postmaster beginning on March 22, 1901. On January 11, 1902, Daniel C. Kay was appointed Westmont’s Postmaster. Kay’s store/post office was located at Walnut & Haddon Avenue. Kay was postmaster until October 1904. In February 1906, Harry C. Greenfield was appointed Westmont Postmaster, followed by Morris Pike in December 1906. On April 8, 1907 Thomas L. Turton was appointed Westmont’s postmaster. Turton was also employed as a painter and paper hanger. He ran a post office from the left side of a twin house. Thomas Turton was the last postmaster of Westmont after which the Westmont office was declared a DPO (Dead Post Office) and the Westmont postmark ceased existing in 1916.
Being designated as a “Dead Post Office” didn’t stop Westmont from continuing to have a local post office sub-station for people to buy stamps, or to collect or drop off mail which was then picked up by a postal employee driver and taken to the nearest post office to be processed. It is NOT a main post office. These sub-stations were usually inside local businesses. They did not deliver mail. In 1916, free door-to-door mail delivery in Westmont began. The first mail carrier assigned to Westmont was George L. Smith. Even with free mail service, there were many people who lived beyond where the free service was provided, or there were people without mailboxes at their house. Also, many local residents still wanted a nearby place to buy stamps, and pick up or drop off their letters and packages to be picked up by U.S. Mail delivery. So, after Thomas Turton, Peter F. Dorn, handled the substation postal duties at his Haddon & Wynnewood confectionary/ice cream store. Dorn held the position for 3 years, until 1921 when Edward A. Trego, hardware merchant, took on the responsibilities. Trego lasted only 3 months in the position, and resigned due to ill health. Local pharmacist, Dr. Thomas Flack, was appointed Trego’s successor, but lasted only one month, at which time Dulaney J. Lambdon, a local barber, ran the postal sub station. He quit shortly thereafter, citing low pay (40 cents per day). During Lambdon’s time (1924), it was reported that about 50 local residents still had to go to the sub-station for their mail. Fred Tart, Wynnewood & Haddon, took on the office but sold his business later in 1924 and did not want to handle the post office duties. So, a search was on for his replacement, and finally, after a few months Warden Taylor was persuaded to take on the job. He was followed by George E. Anderson (156 Haddon Avenue) in 1925-26. As reported in the Courier Post in 1928, after a 2 month battle, George S. McGinley, a local printer and publisher of the weekly newspaper, “Haddon Township News,” won an increase in salary from $200./yr. To $300/yr. for his duties at the Westmont substation. His address was 218 Haddon Avenue. McGinley died unexpectedly in 1933.
After McGinley, we don’t see any mentions of a new Westmont postmaster until George R. Kunkle. We believe that Kunkle began his Westmont postal duties in 1933 after McGinley’s death. Located at 47 Haddon Avenue, variety store owners George and his wife Amelia (nee Davis) Quigley-Kunkel were responsible for postal duties until George’s death in 1963. In 1952, during the Kunkels’ stint running the Westmont substation, armed men robbed a U.S. Mail truck driver parked outside of 47 Haddon Avenue. The driver was making the rounds, collecting the daily post office receipts from neighboring towns and was at his last stop, which was Westmont. The receipts amounted to $580.
In her 1974 obituary it states that Amelia Kunkel was Westmont’s postmistress for 30 years, which means the Kunkels were in charge of the Westmont substation from around 1933 to 1963.
After George Kunkle’s death in 1963 the location of the Westmont substation moved to 49 Haddon Avenue in the Westmont Studio of Music. Does anyone know the name of the store’s owner?

07/25/2026

Crystal Lake Paint Works
John Willits and James Flinn (a former manager of Lucas & Brother's paint works in Gibbsboro) formed a partnership in 1874 after paying John Stoy $5,000 for 5.31acres across from Crystal Lake off Crystal Lake Rd. (then known as Stoy's Mill Rd.) in Haddon Township. Crystal Lake Paint Works manufactured a special green color -- they said their green was “the best in the U.S." as well as other colors and ready-mixed paints. After about one year, Willits transferred his interest in the business to James Flinn. Business boomed -- Crystal Lake supplied the water power for the paint works’ machinery turbines. Billboards advertised the paint works near the railroad tracks. The Paint Works had large smokestacks to carry off the fumes and smoke from the varnish making process. A smokestack can be seen in the photo. The Haddon Township location was chosen for the purity of the water flowing from Crystal Lake (Newton Creek), but the waste from paint-making -- lead, zinc, etc. -- may have been dumped into the creek. Fire destroyed the paint works in 1896. James Flinn died in 1900. He is buried in Harleigh Cemetery in Camden.
(You can read much more about the Crystal Lake Paint Works and other local 19th century industries in the book "Down A Country Lane" by Dennis G. Raible, 1998).

07/18/2026

[As mentioned in last week’s post, one of the Read brothers may have taken the photo of the McLaughlin family and friends. Here is more about them.]

Theodore H. Read and Robert W. Read

Theodore Henry Read (1879-1952) and Robert Willmott Read (1881-1948), sons of Henry Read and Isabella Willmott-Read, were born in Bristol, Gloucestershire, England. By 1900 the family was living in Haddon Township, NJ, but by 1905 had moved to Stokes Avenue in Collingswood. The Read family were members of the Society of Friends (Quakers). Henry Read died in 1907 and is buried in Haddonfield Friends Cemetery. Robert attended Westtown College in West Chester, Pa. for 2 years. Theodore Read graduated from Westtown in June 1897. The Reads also had another son, Alexander, and a daughter Marianna.
Theodore H. Read married Anna Lovett on June 24, 1903. The couple moved to Merchantville, and sometime in the 1920s lived in Philadelphia. They had two sons, Theodore H. Read, Jr. and Robert L. Read. Robert W. Read married Westmont resident Lillian R. Atkinson in 1905. They resided in Collingswood, but by 1921 moved back to Westmont, first living on Glenwood Avenue, then moving into a newly constructed home at 13 Reeve Avenue. They had two daughters, Elizabeth (a former teacher at the Haddon Ave. and Edison schools in Westmont) and Dorothy, and a son, Rowland A. Read. Lillian died in 1936. Robert married his second wife Pauline Creasey in 1938 and continued to live at 13 Reeve Avenue.
The brothers Robert W. and Theodore H. Read had an interest in photography at a young age. In the 1900 U.S. Federal Census both Theodore (age 20) and Robert (age 18) list their occupations as “Photographer.” In 1920 the Read brothers, along with Albert Parrish, founded the Camden firm of Parrish & Read. By 1929 they owned their own building at 130 Federal Street in Camden. Parrish & Read supplied scientific instruments, engineering materials, blue printing, commercial photography and photostat printing, as well as artist supplies. Most of their equipment came from Germany. They supplied science lab equipment to colleges and institutions throughout the country. Theodore Read, who in his earlier years managed the book and supply store at the University of Pennsylvania, traveled with his wife by car throughout the U.S. for 2 months visiting colleges, universities, and scientific institutions, many which he was able to secure as customers for Parrish & Read. In the late 1920s, they were the sole Camden agents for Pathex motion picture equipment, movie equipment for home use. Theodore Read was also a published author of mystery stories contained in the book "Strange and Mysterious Crimes" (MacFadden Publishing, 1929). Theodore and his wife later lived in Cuba for many years, and eventually moved to New Mexico. Robert W. Read died in 1948. Theodore H. Read died in New Mexico in 1952.

07/11/2026

The James McLaughlin Family

There are a few “favorites” among the historical society’s photographs. One of them is this one, which features the McLaughlin family and their nearby neighbors. Someone (probably Marguerite Bennett) identified the people in the photograph as follows: (l - r) in the carriage are Miriam Rudderow, Mrs. Elizabeth McLaughlin, Halley Nolan, then (standing) Bessie Rudderow, Matilda (“Tillie”) McLaughlin, Clara Nolan (on horse), James McLaughlin, and Esterbrook Reeve (at horse’s head). It is interesting because it shows a Haddon Township family (circa 1900), the fashions of the day, and includes a horse and carriage (which was still part of everyday life). The photographer definitely had a “good eye” for staging the photo. It is possible that the photographer was one of the Read brothers, Theodore or Robert, who lived in Westmont, were friends with Esterbrook Reeve, and are known to have been interested in photography from an early age.
The McLaughlin’s house is identified in census records as 225 Haddon Avenue. According to research for the book “Down A Country Lane” by Dennis Raible, the Federal-style, two-story house with the address of 225 Haddon Avenue was built circa 1809 and owned in the late 19th century by Jacob P. Fowler, a Haddonfield hardware merchant, Justice of the Peace/Constable, and real estate agent. Fowler died in 1890. James McLaughlin and his family are first recorded in the 1895 New Jersey census in Haddon Township (house number not recorded).
James McLaughlin (b. 1859; d. 1919) was a smelter/metal manufacturer. He married Elizabeth Wagner (b. 1863; d. 1956) in 1885. Their only daughter, Matilda (“Tillie”), was born c. 1885-1887. James was an active member of the Westmont Fire Company, and the Elks and Masonic Lodges in Haddonfield. In 1919 Matilda married Ambrose MacDade, a salesman for a heating equipment manufacturer. After their marriage, they live with the widowed Elizabeth McLaughlin in the Haddon Avenue house. Elizabeth died in 1956. Matilda and Ambrose died just a few months apart in 1960. They had no children.
The Haddon Township Library occupied 225 Haddon Avenue from 1960-1962. By 1962, 225 Haddon Avenue was home to the B-Thrifty Shop, a thrift/resale business that benefited West Jersey Hospital and was staffed by the hospital’s auxiliary volunteers.

07/07/2026

An interesting presentation coming up later this month by another local historical society.

Haddon Township Historical Society

08/29/2026

08/22/2026

08/15/2026

08/08/2026

08/07/2026

08/01/2026

07/25/2026

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07/07/2026

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