The Haddon Heights Historical Society was pleased to welcome a standing-room-only crowd to its April 2005 meeting, the subject of which was a presentation given by Richard Magee, of the West Jersey chapter of the National Railway Historical Society, about the Trains and Trolleys of South Jersey. For better than an hour, Mr. Magee spoke about the trains that bore people and cargo through the towns of South Jersey. The audience learned about the long-gone tracks, the passenger stations that have gone on to other uses, and about the corporate wheelings and dealings of the railroad companies. We even learned about how Clementon Park was created less as a money making venture in and of itself and more as a way to get people to follow the local line to its Clementon terminus.
Not only did the audience hear that exhaustive rememberance by Mr. Magee, but they also were on hand to witness no fewer than three additional presentations, all given before Mr. Magee took the floor. After President Peter Hill led us through Society business, he presented two representatives of the Haddon Heights Fire Department with a donation in honor of long-time Society member and volunteer fireman Tom Conway. Immediately thereafter, Peter presented the Haddon Heights Library--our gracious host for many years--with a donation that was substantially higher than the one we usually make. These funds will go a long way toward covering the cost of a new portable public address system for the library (partially because it seems only Bob Hunter can prevent the current system from going mute or emitting raspberries at random).
The final presentation before Mr. Magee's talk was one that was very special to the assembled members. Our Society, and, indeed, the borough of Haddon Heights, has for many years been lucky to have a person who embodied the best attributes of citizenship and town pride. Her dedication to the town and its history is remarkable in its knowledge, enthusiasm, and--perhaps best of all--humor. Thus, it was out of great appreciation that the Haddon Heights Historical Society presented Alice Smith Brown with an award honoring her not only as former President of the Society but also as a truly unique source of historical knowledge and inspiration.
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