*Gloucester City St. Patrick\’s Parade, Sunday, March 1

GLOUCESTER CITY, NJ– The NJ Irish Society presents events and initiatives year-round as part of paying tribute to our strong history of tradition. Based in the heart of Gloucester City, NJ Irish Society was formally founded in 2019 after serving the community as a whole for decades, with our event roster featuring the sensational

“can’t miss” Irish Parade

and growing series of cultural programming and festivities.

The New Jersey Irish Society is vested in sustaining a vibrant community with excellent quality of life for the residents and visitors. Gloucester City has a rich history of Irish heritage dating back to the 1600’s when Irish Quakers first settled in the Town of Gloucester, now known as Gloucester City. That tradition continues today with the City ranking 9th in the nation for Irish American population.

The New Jersey Irish Society is working closely with the City of Gloucester, Camden County, area businesses, community groups and residents to keep these traditions alive in our community. \”We began in 2016 with our inaugural St. Patrick’s Day parade, which brought thousands to the City and its businesses to celebrate the holiday. We are thrilled to be celebrating our 5th Anniversary as South Jersey’s not-to-be-missed parade extravaganza, featuring the best in entertainment!\”

This year\’s parade is being held on Sunday, March 1, 2020 starting at 1PM. The parade route begins at Martin\’s Lake, Johnson Blvd and Baynes Avenue to the end of Monmouth Street ending at King Street.

The Irish of Gloucester City Celebrate The 100th Anniversary of Irish Independence

Sunday, March 06, 2016

UPDATE SEE MORE PHOTOS Photo (s) Credit CNBNews Staff The Most Reverend Dennis J. Sullivan, Bishop of the Camden Diocese, (center) and Monsignor William Hodge, (left) Pastor of St. Mary\’s Parish, Gloucester City lead the…

‘With malice toward none; with charity for all …’

Written by Carl Peters/

Diocese of Camden

After years of civil war, Abraham Lincoln was under pressure to drop the abolition of slavery as a condition for peace with the confederate forces. He refused, saying, “The world shall know that I will keep my faith to friends and enemies, come what may.”

“When Lincoln said this, he fully expected to lose the election in November,” the Civil War historian James M. McPherson noted. But a couple of major military victories helped sweep him to victory. (New Jersey was one of only three Union states he did not carry.) He took the oath of office for his second term as president on March 4, 1865.

Lincoln was never a member of a church, so political opponents had often accused him of being an atheist. In the election of 1860, when he was first elected president, 21 of the 24 ministers in Springfield — his home — voted against him “in large part because they considered him an infidel,” noted Stephen B. Oates, one of his biographers.

Yet Lincoln knew the Bible well, and he was convinced both of God’s existence and of humanity’s inability to fully comprehend or explain divine providence. He avoided the pious theatrics of Andrew Johnson — his vice president, a political compromise candidate — who waved a Bible in the air at his own swearing in and then gave it a passionate kiss, but Lincoln’s second inaugural was deeply religious.

People are seen visiting the Lincoln Memorial in Washington Dec. 15, 2019. Dedicated in 1922, the monument honors Abraham Lincoln, the 16th president of the United States. Presidents Day, a federal holiday celebrating all U.S. presidents, is observed Feb. 17 in 2020. (CNS photo/Gregory A. Shemitz)

The speech was also different – strikingly so — from what Americans now expect to hear from a politician. With the end of the war in sight, the president did not claim vindication for his leadership or for his party. Instead, he acknowledged that neither side expected the war to last as long as it had, or for the fighting to be as intense as it was.

At a time when the country was more fractured than ever before or since — when regional and political differences had the most serious consequences for the country’s citizens — he noted that both sides “read the same Bible, and pray to the same God.”

“The prayers of both could not be answered; that of neither has been answered fully. The Almighty has his own purposes,” he said.

In addition to the Bible, Lincoln knew a great deal of Shakespeare. A man who was aware of his own driving political ambition, his favorite play was “Macbeth,” the story of a nobleman who believes he is destined to be king.

Yet Lincoln was utterly unlike Macbeth, who becomes increasingly ruthless in trying to hold on to his own political power and prestige. “For my own good, all causes shall give way,” the king declares.

In contrast, and despite political pressure, Lincoln held fast to the causes he believed were worth fighting for — the preservation of the Union and, when it became a realistic goal, the total abolition of slavery. He also held fast to his concern for all people of the United States, including his many opponents and those who lived in this country but were not citizens and thus did not have the right to vote.

Refusing to exploit the divisions that were continuing to tear the country apart, Lincoln began his second term in office with humility, expressing concerns that sound like they could have been voiced by Isaiah, Martin Luther King, Jr., or Pope Francis:

“With malice toward none; with charity for all; with firmness in the right, as God gives us to see the right, let us strive on to finish the work we are in; to bind up the nation’s wounds; to care for him who shall have borne the battle, and for his widow, and his orphan — to do all which may achieve and cherish a just and a lasting peace, among ourselves, and with all nations.”

Afterward, Lincoln asked Frederick Douglass, the former slave and abolitionist, what he thought of the speech. “There is no man in the country whose opinion I value more than yours,” Lincoln said to him.

“Mr. Lincoln, that was a sacred effort,” Douglass answered.

Carl Peters is managing editor of the Catholic Star Herald.

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Long-Time Gloucester City Resident and Vietnam War Veteran Needs Our Help

By CNBNews Staff

GLOUCESTER CITY, NJ (February 11, 2020)(CNBNewsnet)

—Bob Kotter, who was born and raised in Gloucester City, needs some help from his friends and residents of the community. Bob is battling stage 4 prostate cancer. A U.S. Marine, Bob fought in the Vietnam War. He believes his cancer was caused by Agent Orange which was dropped on the jungles of Vietnam by U.S. planes and helicopters to kill the heavy vegetation.

Bob Kotter (2018 CNBNews photo)

Recently his chemotherapy was increased to four times a week as cancer has spread to his bones.

For a decade or more Bob lived in the family home in the 400 block of Market Street taking care of his elderly parents. He cooked their meals, kept them and the house cleaned, and made sure they got to the doctors and received their medications. After his mother died the house was sold and he was left without a roof over his head.

\”A community activist,

I first met Bob in 2006-07 when he was trying to get the City of Gloucester City to clean up their parking lot at Fifth and Powell Street,\” said Bill Cleary Sr., editor of CNBNews. \”The lot was being used by junkies to shoot up. Empty needles and glassine bags were thrown around the lot in plain view. It was also an eyesore as a result of the trash and broken down cars on the lot.\”

From the 2007 article:

The city property was once the site of the Quaker Food store and the former Sand Bar. The City tore down the properties in the 1980s, paved it with asphalt, and put up an 8-foot high cyclone fence.

Kotter said during the interview,“that was the last time we saw the City. The fence has been decaying for the past several years. People used the vacant property to store their unlicensed vehicles and for changing the oil in their cars.”

Gloucester City Public Parking Lot is an Eyesore & \”Drug Den\”

In 2016 Bob fought against the terrible odor that was coming from the Blueknight Energy Partners asphalt plant on Water Street, home to eight million barrels of asphalt. Kotter told the Philadelphia Inquirer, \”Sometimes the fumes burn your eyes,\” he said. \”My elderly parents who lived four blocks from the plant have been putting up with it for years. But nobody does anything about it even though I have complained to numerous environmental agencies.\”

Gloucester City Residents are Fuming Over Fumes

Bob loved to walk through the city. He wore a wide brim light green hat with a US Marine emblem. You could tell by his walk he was military. He would start from his parent\’s home on Market Street head west to the riverfront and cover the entire city ending back at Market and Powell Streets. When he saw that the old GAF power plant was being demolished he was concerned that the property wasn\’t properly sealed, and, was worried the asbestos inside would spread to the nearby residential neighborhood.

\”As a result of his tip, we discovered some interesting history about the GAF power plant that we and the public would never have known if it wasn\’t for him,\” said Cleary.

Demolition Work on the 111-Year-Old GAF Power Plant

He loved Gloucester City and it upset him to see what was happening to certain neighborhoods in the community. He was quick to point out faults in the hopes by doing so improvements would be made. Take for example in 2018 when he wrote a letter to CNBNews about the condition of the entrance to the city on South Broadway, along with the pot holes on Jersey Avenue, two main highways coming in and out of the city.

\”I have attached some photos showing the deplorable road conditions on South Broadway when you enter Gloucester City from Brooklawn and the pot holes on Jersey Avenue from South Broadway to King Street,\” said Kotter.

\”These streets are so bad that if you hit some of the bumps doing the speed limit it will throw you right out of your vehicle\’s seat. I can\’t imagine what it does to the front end of your car/truck. Year in and year out these conditions have been allowed to exist. It is a disgrace. I give the person a thumbs up for the nice job he/she did in painting the new yellow lines on the street. However, painting dividing lines in the street before you repair the potholes is just plain stupid. \”

Deplorable Streets Need to be Repaired

\”Bob\’s heart was always in the right place\”, said Cleary.

\”He had no ulterior motive. He wasn\’t running for any political office. Nor did he have an ax to grind. If he saw something wrong he tried his best to fix it because of his love for Gloucester City. Please keep him in your prayers as he needs our help now both spiritually and financially.\”

Send your check to Runnemede VFW,

℅ Tim Salamatin, 13 East Sixth Street, Runnemede, NJ 08087. Make the check payable to Bob Kotter.

You can also send a Get Well card to Bob at the same address.

(published Feb. 11, 2020) https://www.gloucestercitynews.net

)

Men/Women who Have Forged the Character, Spirit of the City of Gloucester City

GLOUCESTER CITY, NJ (February 3, 2020)–(Gloucestercitynews.net)–The First Settlement on the Delaware, a history of Gloucester City, was written by Louisa W. Llewellyn and released in 1976. For those interested the book has been digitized and can be found on the Gloucester City Library website here. Below is an excerpt from the book

Dr. William C. Mulford, Gloucester\’s first physician, came to

CNBNews graphic files

Over 16,000 Artifacts of Gloucester City\’s History in Storage at the NJ State Museum

Gloucester in 1945 and contributed many years of service to the community. He operated the first postal service from a one-story frame building he owned on the southeast corner of King and Market Streets. From 1847 he was active in the administration of the school system, first as treasurer and later as acting superintendent. Dr. Mulford was an incorporator of the first building and loan association and Cedar Grove Cemetery and an organizer of the First Presbyterian Church, Cloud Lodge, and Arwames Lodge of Odd Fellows.

James L. Hines, one of the town\’s most highly respected citizens, was a well-known businessman and politician. He served as justice of the peace and mayor of Gloucester and was a member of the state legislature for two terms. Mr. Hines was an incorporator of the Mutual Building and Loan Association and Cedar Grove Cemetery. He was also very active in the First Methodist Church.

John Butts, handyman on William Thompson\’s estate, was a well-liked and respected Negro member of the city. The same young people who kept other Negroes out of the town would spend hours with him. Social workers came to Gloucester looking for poor blacks to help. They finally located John and asked him where the Negroes were. Mr. Butts very politely answered, \”Here I is!,\”

William D. Antrim, inventor, who lived at 920 Gaunt Street, was awarded patents on an oven door hinge and on an oven for gas ranges by the United States Patent Office in 1931.

John Owens, born in Gloucester in 1857, began building the model boats for the Memorial Day ceremonies in 1901. He continued this service until he was 92 and had constructed 48 boats for the celebration.

Henry S. Holmes, Gloucester\’s Indian fighter, served in three wars. He enlisted during the Indian Wars of 1890-92, was part of the Rough Riders during the Spanish American War, and fought in Mexico under Pershing. He was fond of telling stories about the days when Gloucester had about 150 farms.

The Rt. Rev. Msgr. M.E. Bric was the guiding light of St. Mary\’s parish from 1913 until his death. Under his administration of the parish the educational system was developed from an elementary school to a complete system known for high academic standards.

John A. Lynch dedicated 40 years of his time, effort, and concern to the public school system as a member of the Board of Education. Twenty-one of those years, he was president of the board. Mr. Lynch was also very active in the First Methodist Church and Cloud Lodge.

Emma Burns, organizer of a women\’s club in the city, was instrumental in starting the Gloucester Public Library. She was also involved in the activities of the D.A.R.

Grace A. Demarest devoted many years of service as a volunteer with the American Red cross. She also was active in promoting the Gloucester Library. Mrs. Demarest worked in canteens for servicemen during both world wars.

Miss Priscilla Redfield taught in the public schools from 1850 to 1903 and Miss Rose McBride taught from 1896 to 1949. Each contributed 53 years of service

to the children of Gloucester City.

Mary Ethel Costello, for whom a school has been named, dedicated her life to the children of the city. She inspired many others, including her sister Margaret, to become teachers. Miss Costello\’s high academic and personal standards were guidelines for many.

Sister Agnes De Lourdes put many children on the road to knowledge in the 50 years she devoted to the students of St. Mary\’s Grammar School.

Judith Unger Scott, former resident and graduate of Gloucester High School, became a well-known author of books for teens. Two of the books were Lessons in Loveliness and Manners for Moderns.

(Hundreds of others, male and female, have made Gloucester the fine place to live that it is. Those described above are simply examples of the many. Perhaps someday a biographical dictionary will be written-a Who\’s Who of Gloucester.)

***

Contributors

Artists

Janine Hill is a graduate of Gloucester High School and the Philadelphia College of Art. She does some freelance illustrating, painting, and drawing but is interested in designing as a commercial artist for a publisher. Janine is presently doing sales and display work at the Living History Center in Philadelphia.

Henry Karpinski was born in Sugar Notch, Pa., and has lived in Gloucester for 23 years. He graduated from the Philadelphia College of Art and began to teach in Gloucester City. Mr. Karpinski has taught here for 25 years, the last 13 in the high school. He had the first one-man art show in the new city library.

Glynneth Llewellyn graduated from Gloucester High School in 1975 and is presently an anthropology major at the University of Vermont. Glynneth enjoys working in several art media but does this basically as a hobby. Most of her artistic efforts are done for members of the family or friends. Glynneth\’s logo design is a familiar sight around town.

Frank Morrow attended the Academy of Fine Arts in Philadelphia after graduation from Gloucester High School. Frank has a studio in his home where he works in oils and water color. He has sold a number of paintings, including his first award winning painting of St. Paul. Frank has just enlisted in the Navy.

Earl Nazar is a lifelong resident of Gloucester City and a graduate of Gloucester High School. The Nazar home on Baynes Avenue is frequently admired by passersby. As a commercial artist for R.C.A., Mr. Nazar is kept very busy and even designs the company\’s Christmas card. He also has a studio in his home.

Raymond Stanaitis holds a supervisory position at the Delaware County Daily Times where he began as an apprentice immediately after graduation from Chester High School, Pa. As the Bicentennial Town Crier he collected 300 signatures on the Declaration of Independence. Ray also did the centerpieces for the Bicentennial Ball.

Thomas Williams began painting after retiring from his job as a carpenter. After a few lessons at the Haddonfield Arts and Crafts School, he designed and painted his own Christmas cards. Most of his paintings are of historic landmarks copied from photographs. Mr. Williams is now 82 and lives in Florida because of his health.

Writers

Ronald Baile is a graduate of Gloucester City High School and a veteran of the U.S. Army. Ron has always been interested in the history of Gloucester and is an active member of the Historical Society. Ron has a very special interest which manifests itself in his membership in the Gateway Model Railroad Club.\”

Albert Corcoran (deceased) was both interested and involved in Gloucester\’s history. He wrote a column in the Gateway News under the name Roy Noble and stimulated considerable interest in the history of the area. Mr. Corcoran was chairman of the 100th anniversary celebration of Gloucester\’s incorporation as a

city.

John Corcoran is a man who wears many hats. He is a member of the speech department at Glassboro State College, a volunteer fireman, president of the Gloucester City School Board, and chairman of the Bicentennial Committee. Using a file left by his father, Dr. Corcoran persuaded the city council to become

involved in the Bicentennial celebration.

Harry Demarest is a former Gloucester High School history teacher who has maintained an interest in local history throughout his lifetime. Mr. Demarest has been active with with Historical Society and the Bicentennial Committee but another major interest is with the VFW. Almost singlehandedly he has kept the traditional Veterans Day alive.

Harry Green is probably better known in Gloucester City as Mr. History. His love for Gloucester and his knowledge of local history has become known throughout the state. As honorary chairman of the Bicentennial and as a member of the Camden County Cultural and Heritage Commission, Mr. Green is kept on the move.

David Munn is a former resident and a graduate of Gloucester High School who is considered an expert on the history of Fort Nassau and the life of David Brown. Mr. Munn is a graduate Rutgers-South and Drexel University and is president of the Camden County Historical Society. He works at the State Library in the Archives History Department in Trenton.

Frank Stetser is president of the Gloucester City Historical Society, having been a member of that organization for many years. For a number of years, Mr. Stetser was the owner-publisher of the Gateway News, a weekly newspaper printed in Westville. He has retired from the newspaper business.

Drawings, Maps, Photographs

Stanley and Michael Ashmen are a father-son artist team who have done work for the Bicentennial Committee. Each did only one drawing included in this book.

Cheryl Karpinski was the official photographer for the Bicentennial. A graduate of Glassboro State College, Cheryl plans to be an art teacher.

Mark Llewellyn a senior at Gloucester High School is better known as an athlete. He did a few drawings and maps and also some typing during deadline rushes.

Gerry and Thomas McGrath are a fine brother team of photographers. These young men did most of the photography for Chapters 6 and 7. They do their own printing and developing in a basement dark room.

Hollis Veley was the map maker for the book. The complete map on the back end sheets plus three major maps in the book were drawn by him and took about 300 hours of work. Hollis will soon graduate from Rutgers-South where he majored in math. He plans to continue drawing maps to publish and sell since his first was so successful and has sold over 1000 copies.

Photographs and maps courtesy of Ed Anyzek, the Corcorans, Essie and Harry Green, Barbara Hillman, Charles Walmsley (S.M.A.),and Marie Williams (corrected from addendum).

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Armstrong, Edward. \”The History and Location of Fort Nassau Upon the Delaware.\” (a paper read before the New Jersey Historical Society). January 20, 1953.

Barber, John W., assisted by Henry Howe. Historical Collections of New Jersey: Past and Present (New Jersey Heritage Series). New Haven, Conn.: John W.. Barber, 1868.

Barber, John W. and Henry Howe. Historical Collections of the State of New Jersey. Newark, N.J.: Benjamin Olds for Justice Bradley, 1860.

Baker, William Spohn. Itinerary of George Washington from June 15, 1775 to December 23, 1783. Lambertville, N.Y.: Hunterdon House, 1892.

Bebout, John E. and Ronald J. Grele. Where cities Meet: the Urbanization of New Jersey. Princeton, N.J.: D. Van Nostrand Co., Inc., 1964.

Bill, Alfred Hoyt. New Jersey and the Revolutionary War. Princeton, N.J.: D. Van Nostrand C., Inc. 1964.

Boyer, Charles S. Old Inns and Taverns in West Jersey. Camden, N.J.: Camden County Historical Society, 1962.

Bulletin of the Gloucester County Historical society. Woodbury, N.J.

Callahan, Charles W. Know Your City: Gloucester City, New Jersey, 1956.

Camden County History Society Scrapbooks, Volumes 1,3,6,7, and 8 (collections of newspaper clippings)

Carpenter, Allan. Enchantment of America: New Jersey. Chicago, Ill.: Children\’s Press, 1965.

Clement, John. Sketches of the First Emigrant Settlers of Newton township, Old Gloucester County, New Jersey. Camden N.J.: Sinnickson Chew, 1877.

Cook, Fred J. The New Jersey Colony. London: Crowell-Collier Press, 1969.

Copeland, Peter. Everyday Dress of the American Revolution Coloring Book. New York: Dover Publications, Inc., 1975.

Corcoran, Albert J. The First White Settlement on the Delaware River. Gloucester City, N.J.: The Historical Society of Gloucester City.

Corcoran, Albert J. and Harry F. Green. Gloucester City History.

History of Gloucester City: 1623-1964. Gloucester City, N.J., 1964. 1964. Gloucester City, N.J. 1964.

Corotis, A. Charles. The Story of Gloucester, the City. 1949.

Corotis, A. Charles and James M. O\’Neill. Camden County Centennial. Camden, N.J.: Hutzinger Co., Inc., 1944.

Cunningham, John T. New Jersey: America\’s Main road. Garden City, N.Y.: Doubleday and Company, Inc., 1966.

This is New Jersey. New Brunswick, N.J.: Rutgers University Press, 1968.

Cushing, Thomas and Charles E. Sheppard. History of the Counties of Gloucester, Salem, and Cumberland Counties New Jersey, with Biographical Sketches of their Prominent Citizens. Philadelphia, Pa.: Everts and Peck, 1883 reprinted June 1974.

Cross, Dorothy. Archaeology of New Jersey. The Archaeological Society Publishers of New Jersey and the New Jersey State Museum.

DeCou, George. History of Camden County, N.J.

Fernow, B. (Keeper of the Historical Records). New York Documents: Dutch and Swedish Settlements on the Delaware Vol. 12. Albany, N.Y.: Argus Company, 1877.

Gloucester City Historical Society. The Point.

Gloucester City News (collection from 1800\’s and 1931-1961)

Godfrey, Dr. Carlos E. County and Municipal Incorporations of the State of New Jersey. Trenton, N.J.: Public Record Office, 1934.

Gordon, Thomas F. The History of New Jersey from Its Discovery by Europeans to the Adoption of the Federal Constitution. Philadelphia, Pa.: Daniel Fenton, 1834.

Green, Harry F. \”Historical Facts,\” Gloucester City news. Gloucester City, N.J.: Publishers, Inc.

Hagaman, Adaline P. Early New Jersey. New York, N.Y.: The University Publishing Company, 1963.

Historical Society of Haddonfield. This Is Haddonfield. 1963.

History of the Colony of Nova-Caesaria, or New Jersey

Honeyman, A. Van Doren, ed. Archives of the State of New jersey Vol. I. Somerville, N.J.: The Unionist Gazette Association, 1923. New Jersey Archives, First Series, Vol. II and III, Abstracts of Wills.

Iconography of Manhattan Island, the Vol. 4. Arno Press, 1967.

Jamison, William M. Religion in New Jersey: A Brief History. Princeton, N.J.: D. Van Nostrand, 1964.

Lee, Francis Baily. New Jersey as a Colony and as a State: One of the Original Thirteen, Volumes I-IV. New York, N.Y.: The Publishing Society of New Jersey, 1902.

Leiby, Adrian C. The Early Dutch and Swedish Settlers of New Jersey. Princeton, N.J.: D. Van Nostrand, 1964.

Lindestrom, Peter Martensson. Geographia Americae.

McCormick, Richard P. New Jersey from Colony to State–1609-1789. Princeton, N.J.: D. Van Nostrand, 1964.

McMahon, William. South Jersey Towns: History and Legend. New Brunswick, N.J.: Rutgers University Press, 1973.

Mickle, Isaac. Reminiscences of Old Gloucester or Incidents in the History of the Counties of Gloucester, Atlantic, and Camden, New Jersey. Philadelphia, Pa.: Townsend Ward, 1945.

Miers, Earl Schenck. Crossroads of Freedom. New Brunswick, N.J.: Rutgers University Press, 1917.

Minutes of Union Township, Camden County 1855-1867.

Morgan, John D. F. and Samuel Richards. \”Early Activities in the Upper Four Tenths,\” Camden County Historical Society Publications Vol. 3 #1 Camden, N.J.

Nelson, William., ed. Documents Relating to the Colonial History of the State of New Jersey Vol XI and XXI. Paterson, N.J.: The Press Printing and Publishing Co., 1894.

New Jersey Archives Vol III Abstracts of Wills Vol II; Vol. XXXIV Abstracts of Wills Vol V; Second Series Vol 1 Newspaper Extracts Vol 1, 1777; Second Series Vol II Newspaper Extracts Vol 11, 1778; Second Series Vol III Newspaper Extracts Vol 111, 1779.

O\’Callaghan, E. B. New York Colonial Documents Vol 1 and 2. New York, N.Y.: Weed, Parsons and Co., 1861.

O\’Keefe, Stephen M. \”They Took Political Feuds Seriously In 17th Century Gloucester,\” Courier-Post. Camden, N.J., October 21, 1970.

Pomfret, John E. New Jersey Proprietors and Their Lands. Princeton, N.J.: D. Van Nostrand Co., Inc., 1964.

Province of West Jersey 1609-1702. Princeton, N.J.: Princeton University Press, 1956.

Proceedings of the New Jersey Historical Society. Vol. 15, No. 4. October, 1930.

Prowell, George R. The History of Camden County New Jersey. Philadelphia, Pa.: L. J. Richards and Co., 1886.

Roy Noble (Albert J. Corcoran). \”Chip R Git,\” Gateway News. Westville, N.J.

Simpson, Hazel B., ed. Under Four Flags: Old Gloucester County 1686-1964. Camden, N.J.: Sinnickson Chew and Sons, Co., 1965.

Spaulding, M.C. Historical Handbook of New Jersey. 1895.

Stewart, Frank H. Gloucester County Under the Proprietors. Indians of Southern New Jersey. Port Washington, N.Y.: Kennikat Press, 1932. Notes on Old Gloucester County, New Jersey.

Story of Gloucester City: 1868

Studley, Miriam V. Historic New Jersey Through Visitors Eyes. Princeton, New Jersey: D. Van Nostrand, 1964.

Vecoli, Rudolph. The People of New Jersey. Princeton, N.J.: D. Van Nostrand, 1965.

Weiss, Harry B. Life in Early New Jersey.

Weslager, C. A. in collaboration with A. R. Dunlap. Dutch Explorers, Traders and Settlers in the Delaware Valley 1609-1664. Philadelphia, Pa.: University of Pennsylvania Press, 1961.

Weslager, C. A. The English on the Delaware 1610-1682. New Brunswick, N.J.: Rutgers University Press, 1967.

West, Ruth and Willis M. Story of Our Country.

Wheeler, Edward C. Scheyichbi and the Strand.

EARLY HISTORY OF THE BOROUGH OF WESTVILLE

WESTVILLE, NJ–Long before the first European colonists arrived in this area, native American Indians of the Leni Lenape tribe had areas of settlement along the Delaware River and its tributaries. Big Timber Creek was no exception. Indian artifacts have been found here in Westville indicating that the Delaware tribe inhabited the area.

In 1624, the Dutch built a fort in our vicinity. Historians have argued for years about the possible location of Fort Nassau. Its’ site has been thought to be in Gloucester City, West Deptford, or even the “Newbold” area of Westville. A 1656 Dutch map indicates that Fort Nassau was located on the south bank of Big Timber Creek where it empties into the Delaware River, which means it probably was within our boundaries.

After the Dutch lost control of the area, the Swedes (along with a few Finns) took over.

In the late 1600’s William Penn purchased a large portion of the Delaware Valley. He employed John Ladd (a Quaker) to survey and layout the City of Philadelphia. When Ladd was finished, William Penn was so pleased that he offered John Ladd one city block in what is now downtown Philadelphia. Ladd refused and requested to be paid in sterling silver. With this money, he moved to New Jersey and by the late 1680’s he purchased a “plantation” stretching from what is now North Woodbury to Big Timber Creek. His home, “Candor Hall”, was built about 1690 and still stands on Lafayette Avenue in Colonial Manor.

John Ladd married and became the father of five children. One of his sons, Samuel, owned the shad fisheries on Big Timber Creek. He married and also had five children. One of his daughters, Deborah, married a young man from Philadelphia named Thomas West. Thomas West and his wife built the old “West” house located on River Drive and raised a family of three children. His son, Charles West, in 1776 donated 40 logs for the cheavaux-de-frize, an underwater fortification lodged in the river channel between New Jersey and Pennsylvania, used to impede British shipping on the Delaware River and to prevent the British from attacking Philadelphia. These fifty-foot logs came from trees cut down on his property (which included present-day “Newbold”).

Also, during the Revolution, when our troops were starving at Valley Forge, General Washington sent out troops to gather cattle for our soldiers to eat. One group was sent to Salem County and a great cattle drive was conducted up the old “King’s” Highway, which ran from Salem to Burlington. From Woodbury, it followed Old Broadway through the Westville Oaks area and then wandered over to the stream which feeds into this park. From here, it went along the high bank above our pond and then meandered over to Willow Run and up Broadway, past our Boro Hall, and then veered over towards “Timber Park”, before crossing Big Timber Creek and continuing on towards the present bowling alley. Along this dirt road came hundreds of cattle and soldiers, including General “Mad” Anthony Wayne, and Captain John Barry. Because of the foraging activities, our soldiers were able to survive the harsh winter at Valley Forge in 1778. This same road was used a year earlier, when a young man named Jonas Cat tell ran from Haddonfield to National Park to warn our troops that the British and Hessians were coming. Because of his efforts, the Battle of Fort Mercer was won by our troops.

During the 1790’s, Stephen Decatur lived in Westville at the home of Charles West. It is said that he walked along old “King’s” Highway three miles each way daily, to attend the Woodbury Academy, the first Naval Academy in the United States. This is where he got his naval training which he used in the “War with the Barbery Pirates” and the War of 1812.

One of John Ladd’s daughters, Katherine, married John Howell. Her grandson, Joshua Howell also fought in the Revolutionary War, as well as the Pennsylvania Insurrection (known as the Whiskey Rebellion) and the War of 1812. He lived at “Fancy Hill”, a home located where the ‘Coastal tank farm or County incinerator is and his property extended into the “Victoria” section of Westville. His son, Brigadier General Joshua Blackwood Howell fought in the Civil War and died of injuries received during the War at Petersburg, Virginia. It has often been said that the old “Thomas West” house was used as a stopping-off place for the underground railroad, which was used during the Civil War for helping the blacks to escape to the North. There were tunnels which led from the Creek bank to the basement of the house.

Westville was originally a good-sized Indian Village. The Unalachtigo branch of the Leni-Lenape Indian tribe inhabited the Gloucester County area. The headquarters of the tribe was within the original county at a place called Armewaxes, which the first white settlers shortened to Arwamas, now known as Gloucester Point across the Big Timber Creek at the mouth of the Delaware across from Westville.

Timber Creek was called Sassackon by the Indians who lived by its banks. Indian arrow heads and other remains of this past culture can still be found along the banks of the creek. Many Westville residents have Indian artifacts which were uncovered when their homes were built.

Early New Jersey records show that Henry Hudson, and Englishman exploring for the Dutch East India Company, sailed into the Delaware Bay on August 28, 1609 and claimed the Delaware Bay area for the Dutch. Robert Juet, an English officer on the “Half Moon” kept a very accurate journal of this, the third voyage of Hudson: His words tell of discovery of Delaware Bay, as well a s the river:

“The eight and twentieth, faire and hot weather, the wind at South South-west. In morning at six of the clock we weighed and steered away North twelve leagues till noon, and came to the Point of Land (Cape Henlopen)”

Just then indicated that the ship had difficulty entering the bay because of shallow water. Once over the sand bar, he recorded:

“Then we found the Land to trend away Northwest with a Great Bay (Delaware Bay) and Rivers. But the Bay we found should; and in the offering we had ten fathoms and had sight of Beaches and drie’ Sand.”

Because of the shallow waters, Hudson weighted anchor and sailed north to discover the river which today bears his name.

The next visitor to what we know as the Delaware River was Captain Cornelius Jacobus Mey who headed an expedition into the Delaware River area in 1613. Crude maps of that period listed the river as south River (from Dutch word Zuydt meaning South) to differentiate from the Hudson River known as the North River. Mey was much impressed with the Eastern shore of the river. His reports so interested the new Dutch West India Company, successor to the New Netherlands Company, that he agreed to plant a colony for it in the new world.

By March 1624, Mey was enroute to the Hudson River with some 30 families aboard the ship, “Nieu Nederlandt”. Sixteen of them were brought to the Delaware Valley by Captain Mey between the months of May and October 1624.

While Mey was exploring the waterways, another Dutchman, Cornelius Hendrick, skipper of the “Onrust” (Restless) was also exploring the Delaware River. He probably sailed further up the Delaware River than and previous Dutchman. He noted on August 19, 1616 that he had discovered “certain lands, a bay and three rivers situated between 38 and 40 degrees.” He was making reference, no doubt to Oldman’s, Mantua, and Racoon Creeks. Hendrickson is recognized as the first man to set foot on the shores of the Delaware Valley and he was surely the first man to sail up the river to about the Philadelphia stands today. He was the first to chart the course of the river after his visit to these shores in the summer of 1614. His famous map also included the Schuylkill River and added the names of the Indians living along the rivers.

After Cornelius Mey established the first white settlement on Burlington Island, he established Fort Nassau in 1623. The site of Fort Nassau has been a subject of much controversy. The Hon. Frank H. Stewart, president of the Gloucester County Historical Society has set the site as back of what is now Brooklawn, at the mouth of Timber Creek, just west of where Big Timber Creek, Little Timber Creek and the Delaware join.

Records show that the Dutch trading post was “about fifteen leagues up the river on the eastern shore. The Dutch had built two strongholds or forts, largest about 16 miles up the river on the eastern shore, called Nassau”.

In 1631, Peter Loursenson, a Dutch sailor sent to the Delaware, commented that Fort Nassau consisted of a trading house with ten or 12 servants belonging to it. Records further show that in 1651, Fort Nassau was abandoned. Its cannon and other weapons were installed at Fort Casisnir (at New Castle). Its last trading commissioner Andries Hudde, served in the same capacity in the new fort.

The abandoned fort remained a landmark for many years. In 1750, Acrelius, pastor of the Old Swede Church, Philadelphia, wrote in his diary, “Nassau is still standing two and a half miles north of Mantas Hook (Mantaes hoeck).”

History shows that the Dutch, Swedes, and English vied for possession of the settlement along the Delaware. Eventually the Swedes submitted to the rule of the Dutch and the Dutch submitted to the rule of the English. With each change of ruler the Delaware was renamed having the following names before it finally received the name it still has: Zudt river, Nassau River, Prince Hendrick River, Charles River and the De La Warr.

When the English gained control of this new land, King Charles II gave the title of title of New Jersey to his friends, Lord Berkley and Sir George Carteret. In 1674, Berkley sold his interest to two Quakers who, in turn in 1676, sold part of the land to William Penn. From here on, that part known as West Jersey became the original Gloucester City. At that time, Gloucester County extended from the river to the ocean and included parts of what are now Camden, Gloucester, and Atlantic Counties, Gloucester County became separated from Camden County in 1844.

Historic for years have recounted the fact that New Jersey was the real crossroads between Fort Nassau and New Amsterdam and later between New Stockholm and New Amsterdam. This resulted in the building of a road from the Ocean across New Jersey and then south through Gloucester County.

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Gloucester Catholic Principal Ed Beckett Selected as Grand Marshal For St. Patrick\’s Day Parade!

Gloucester Catholic Principal Ed Beckett has been selected as the Grand Marshal for the Fifth Annual St. Mary\’s Parish and Gloucester City St. Patrick\’s Day

Parade. The parade will be held on Sunday, March 1 starting at 1:00 pm.

Mr. Beckett will receive his Grand Marshal sash from Bishop Sullivan at the 9:30 am Irish Mass at St. Mary\’s Church..

Mr. Beckett has served as Gloucester Catholic\’s Principal since August 2013 and is highly regarded for his work with youth and his devotion to the Catholic Community. Mr. Beckett also served the school as Assistant Principal for Spiritual Formation for 8 years. An alumnus of the Gloucester Catholic Class of 1978, he previously taught at St. Joseph\’s Preparatory School and served as an administrator at Boston College High School.

The Parade begins at Martin\’s Lake (Baynes Ave and Johnson Blvd) and continues down Monmouth Street, and will feature String Bands, Bagpipes, Irish Dancers, Irish Music. Memorabilia, and Community Organizations.

Gloucester Catholic alumni are encouraged to attend the parade, and are invited to march with the school\’s contingent as we salute

Mr. Beckett as well as celebrate Irish Pride and the great city of Gloucester!

Local parade officials also announced that Mr. Beckett will receive the First Community Impact Award on Friday, March 6, at Elizabeth Ballroom in Gloucester City. Doors will open for the event beginning at 6:30 pm. Tickets are $25 and may be purchased by calling the Rectory at (856) 456-0052.

Link to St. Patrick\’s Day Parade Festivities

For further information please contact St. Mary Rectory at (856) 456-0052. You may also click on the link below for general information and a sponsorship registration form!

General Information on St. Patrick\’s Day Parade and Activities

Thank You from St. Mary\’s Parish and Gloucester Catholic

The Renewal of GLOUCESTER\’S GAME (Rams v Lions)….plus Videos of previous Contests

The excerpt below is from the

Renewal of Friendship

booklet which was released in 1993 when the annual Thanksgiving Day football game between Gloucester High and Gloucester Catholic was resumed.

Two and One-Half-Hours

The football teams from the two schools will meet tomorrow (Thursday) at the John Lynch Field at Gloucester High School, Rt. 130 and Market Street.

The Rams won last year\’s contest 30 to 14. Gloucester Catholic\’s junior running back Dashaun Harris finished that game with 222 yards on 23 carries and three total touchdowns in front of an estimated crowd of 400.

Thursday\’s Kickoff is 10:30AM. The Rams lead the series, 22-21-1.

BY G.J. FERGUSON

(CNBNewsnet)(Gloucester City NJ)(Nov. 27, 2019)–It has been nearly three decades since the last City-Series game was played in 1965. At times, it seems like it was only yesterday. But, sadly it wasn\’t. With the final whistle, on that sunny autumn day, the

City-Series passed into memory. Memories that have endured over the years. They have lived in the hearts and minds of those who remember the series and attached a special meaning to it.

Gloucester Catholic 1963 football team

It is with those in mind, that the idea for this program began. It started out as a history of the series, but a true history would require a book of several hundreds pages. What we have instead is more like a memoir of the City-Series. I hope that as you read the game stories and look at the old pictures, it will bring back the memories. Not just of the games themselves, but of old friends, old teammates, and a different time.

In the old industrial city on the

Delaware

, the year 1948 marked the beginning of the annual football games between Gloucester High and Gloucester Catholic. It was a time when semi-pro and town teams were still popular and attracting good-sized crowds. However, the largest and most loyal following was reserved for

high school football

. Across the country, in rural towns, in cities large and small, people filled the bleachers by the thousands to cheer their local school teams.

In some areas of the country, the games drew crowds of 25,000 to 30,000 or more. Closer to home, the

Collingswood

, and Camden High game used to attract 15,000 to 20,000 spectators. The City-Series games never approached numbers like these, but the crowds of 4,000 or more were common. For a small city of 15,000 people, it was a tremendous show of support.

If measured in length, it was not a long series. In

South Jersey

, many of the football series began in the 1920\’s or before. Vineland and

Millville

began their rivalry in the 1890\’s. In comparison, the City-Series was only played from 1948 to 1965. Nevertheless, for those eighteen years the people of Gloucester had a game that somehow, seemed to touch the very soul of their proud, old city.

In a

small town

like Gloucester, everybody seems to know everybody else. This familiarity made the games much more personal. Playing against a school located miles away; the opposing players were only numbers. In the City-Series games, that \”number\” had a name, and you better not forger it! If not brother against brother, surely there were cousins facing each other. Childhood friend’s kids from around the corner and down the street battling each other for 48 minutes. It was a neighborhood rivalry in the truest sense of the word:

Like the town it was played in, the games themselves were rough and tumble affairs. It was a hard-nosed and smash-mouth football. This was literally true before the facemask came into use. They were emotional games, played in a charged atmosphere before large, fanatical crowds.

Given all this, the remarkable thing is, the emotions never really got out of hand. Not on the field, nor in the stands. For the most part, the games were cleanly played. The hard hits came before the whistle, not after. This is not to say the games were perfect, they weren\’t. Nevertheless, the minor disputes that did occur were soon forgotten.

The very nature of the series made this possible. All of the ingredients that made this a fiercely contested game worked in reverse as soon ass it ended. It was high school football the way it was meant to be.

The first five years of the series belonged to Gloucester High. The Raiders (or \”Paiseleymen\”, as they were also called at the time) won the initial game in 1948 by a close score of 18-12. Matters only became worse for the Irish/Ramblers over the next four years! From 1949 to 1952, the Raiders completely dominated the series, winning by 21-2, 56-7, 19-6, and 25-7.

In 1953, Gloucester Catholic, tired of being a doormat for their city rival, recorded there first win of the series, winning by a score of 12-7. The Ramblers must have found the victory to their linking, as they set out on a winning streak of their own. The next four years found the Maroon and Gold on top by 20-13, 52-7, 26-0, and 12-7.

With the series tied at five games apiece, the Raiders pulled ahead by winning the 1958 game 18-7. However, there were to be no more long winning streaks in the series. The following year, the Rams triumphed over the newly named Lions by 19-0. 1960 was more of the same as a powerful Catholic Eleven rolled over the Lions 34-0 to take their first lead in the series.

A Preview of Gloucester Catholic & Gloucester High 2019 Gridiron Teams

Rams vs Lions Turkey Game

–Nov. 2009–With a few minutes left in the first half the Lions came back and tied the game at 14-14 but the Rams came back and scored again. As the half ended the score 22-14.

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RAMS V LIONS TURKEY GAME 2010-

What an exciting Thanksgiving Day football game this year between cross town rivalries Gloucester City High School and Gloucester Catholic High. Nearing the end of the fourth quarter Gloucester High was winning 27-20. With 19 seconds left Gloucester Catholic got a TD, making the score 27-26. Instead of kicking a field goal Catholic went for two but was stopped by the Lions defense.

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RAMS V LIONS TURKEY GAME Nov. 2011–

The video contains some snippets of plays from the first half of the game. Ben Boyer carried 42 times for 294 yards and scored four touchdowns to lead Gloucester City to a 34-14 victory over Gloucester Catholic yesterday in Gloucester City. Boyer finished the season with 1,841 rushing yards, 168 shy of the school-record 2,009 yards accumulated by Mike Blankenship in 2001. Boyer had touchdown runs of 28, 73, 3 and 8 yards for Gloucester City (5-5). With the victory, Gloucester City tied the all-time Thanksgiving Week series between the two schools at 18-18 (there has been one tie). Elliott McCummings had two touchdown runs of 6 and 80 yards for Gloucester Catholic (3-7). Score Lions 34 Rams 14

CNBNews Tips/Snippets: Growing Up Gloucester; White Supremacist a Fireman; Graffiti Problem in City

William E. Cleary Sr. | CNBNews

GROWING UP GLOUCESTER-

-Back in the day, everyone knew everyone in Gloucester City. In those days it wouldn\’t be unusual if you even knew some members of the outlaw Pagan\’s MC, who had one of the first chapters in the state located in Gloucester City. The head of that chapter was a childhood friend of my wife Connie. He went through the local school system and graduated with her and other members of the GHS Class of \’62.

New Jersey Crime Investigators Say Pagan\’s MC Expanding Into State

After we got married we lived in one of the row homes in the 700 block of Powell Street. This one particular day in 1967, Connie was sitting outside on the front step

with two of our kids who were no more than babies at the time. A roar of motorcycles come riding up Powell Street heading east towards Broadway. There were 20 or more guys dressed in dungaree jackets with Pagan etc written on the back.

It was a scary sight.

At the head of the pack was this guy with shades on with a goat tee and a fu man mustache wearing a Viking helmet with two horns. He had pythons for biceps and his arms were decorated with tats from his shoulders down to his wrists. He and some of the

others drive pass Connie when the guy in the front, apparently the leader, suddenly raises his hand signaling everyone to stop.

Fond Memories of Growing Up in Gloucester City/South Jersey Area and The Geator

The leader turns his big Harley around and drives up on the sidewalk stopping in front of Connie and the kids. The guy with the Viking helmet jumps off the cycle gives her a hug and a kiss on the cheek. She didn’t realize who it was until he removed his helmet; it was her childhood friend and classmate.

GROWING UP GLOUCESTER–The Cleary Family celebrating Christmas in the 1950s

In the meantime, traffic is backed up on the street in both directions as the members remained on their cycles. None of the neighbors came outside. Instead, you could see them peeking out their blinds no doubt wondering what was happening. After five minutes or so the leader of the pack jumps on his Harley and drives to the front of the line signaling everyone to follow him. You could hear their Harleys roar all the way to Broadway and beyond.

Related: Gloucester City History

Finding a parking spot on Powell Street in front of your house was a daily challenge but after that day we never had a problem. The spot was always open for our car. I always wondered if that day we had the leader of the local Pagans visit our family had anything to do with it.

GROWING UP GLOUCESTER–from left to right, Billy Hampton, Marie Connoley, Trudy Bodenschatz, Tom Ferry and Ed Ferry. Location 8th and Division Streets. Check out the shorts the two Ferry boys are wearing? Sixty plus years ago if you were a kid your underwear could also be worn for your summer shorts. And nobody cared. Of course, if your Dad or Grandpop tried to get away with running outside in their underwear, there was a good chance they would go to jail.

WHITE SUPREMACIST WAS A FIREMAN-

–

Brooklawn resident Richard Tobin who was arrested last week for allegedly conspiring with a hate group against the rights of minorities and Jewish people, was a member of the local

volunteer fire department, according to several news outlets including

NJ.com

Brooklawn Fire Chief John McKinney told the media that Tobin had been a fireman for less than a year.

Federal authorities said Tobin expressed a desire to attack African-Americans. He is accused of telling people to vandalize Midwest synagogues.

Tobin was originally part of the fire company’s “Fire Service Explorers” program, a Boy Scouts of America program that introduces adolescents to a firefighting career, the chief said. A March 2018 Brooklawn fire company Facebook post congratulated Tobin on completing the Camden County College Fire Academy Junior Firefighter course. The chief said that he never had any issues with the 18-year-old.

Tobin told investigators that he was thinking about going to a North Jersey mall and attack African Americans with a machete. He blamed his hatred on all the turmoil in the United States.

McKinney said there was never an issue with Tobin. The chief declined further comment. On Monday, Tobin was still listed on the borough’s website as a member of the exploring program, but his name was removed by Tuesday.

Brooklawn Police Chief Shamus Ellis echoed those remarks, \”Prior to this investigation, I don\’t believe we have had any negative encounters with Tobin.\”

Alleged White Supremacist from Brooklawn Charged with Wanting to Kill Blacks, Jews, and Gays

According to the criminal complaint, Tobin allegedly directed members of a “white racially motivated violent extremist group\” to vandalize minority-owned properties through online platforms and encrypted messaging applications. The complaint did not identify the group but described it as a far-right group that has “proclaimed war against minority communities within the United States and abroad.\”

The Philadelphia Inquirer reported

that Tobin was acting as a member of The Base, a neo-Nazi group that “trains members in violence at ‘hate camps,’”

according to The Daily Beast

Tobin allegedly directed the group’s \”Great Lakes Cell” from his Brooklawn home, ordering an “Operation

Kristallnacht,” a reference to Nov. 9 to 10, 1938

, when Nazis in Germany burned down synagogues, vandalized Jewish homes and businesses and killed about 100 Jewish people.

GRAFFITI PROBLEM IN CITY

–A Gloucester City community activist, who wants to remain anonymous, submitted several photos of unsightly graffiti on Nicholson Road under the 676 overpass. The individual believes by bringing attention to the graffiti someone in the highway department or some other department will remove it.

If you have a Tip or story idea send it to CNBNews1@gmail.com. Your name will not be published if you request to remain anonymous.

Graffiti in Gloucester City