SJ Towns: Haddonfield

A Quaker immigrant out of England by the name of Francis Collins settled the town of Haddonfield in 1862. The town's namesake, Elizabeth Haddon was just 21 years old when she arrived. Sent from England by her father in 1701, Elizabeth was to maintain and settle the 500 acres owned by her father along the Cooper Creek. Elizabeth married a Quaker minister by the name of John Estaugh in 1713, and together they built "New Haddonfield" what is now the oldest standing house in the borough. The house is located at what is now known as 201 Wood Lane.

Given it’s access to waterways which were ideal for transportation, power and mills, original Haddonfield was a farming community, but buy the time of the Revolutionary War, the town had become the largest village and trade center in what is now known as Camden county.

The arrival of the railroad in 1853 brought with it tradesmen, professionals and wealthy businessmen from Philadelphia and the surrounding areas. In 1875, the town was incorporated as a borough.

At one point the town of Haddonfield boasted five local taverns, one of which, the Indian King Tavern has been turned into a state museum open to the public. In 1873, the Quakers were convinced that liquor was evil, and the taverns were shut down and the town went dry and has been so ever since.

So what does Haddonfield have to offer today? Well the tree lined streets of this town offer up over 200 retail stores some 400 offices and other business. Most of the retail shops are located downtown on the main street (Kings Highway) with a few scattered about on Tanner, Mechanic and Haddon Ave. A vast majority of the quaint shops are located in historic buildings and offer up everything from antique shops to Starbucks.

Haddonfield is also known for some pretty historic events as well. Here are just a few:

As battles between British and Continental armies raged across the northern half of New Jersey in 1777, the legislature abandoned Trenton and fled south to safer haven in the village of Haddonfield. There, they reconvened in the second-floor assembly room of the Indian King Tavern and continued to conduct the newly independent state's legal affairs and war efforts. The Great Seal of New Jersey adopted during those sessions was designed by Francis Hopkinson, a Bordentown attorney.

In 1838, a man by the name of John E. Hopkins made a magnificent discovery. He was digging on his farm near Haddonfield and unearthed a large black bone. This discovery was the first complete skeleton of a dinosaur in the United States. It also dispelled the theory that all Dinosaurs walked on all fours. This Hadrosaurus had hind limbs that were much larger than the front. When it was assembled, the creature stood on its hind legs. A replica of the Hadrosaurus is still displayed at the Academy of Natural Science.

In 1874, the HADDONFIELD BASKET, Haddonfield's first newspaper made its debut.

For more South Jersey Town information, visit our SJ Town News page.

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Author: Steve Kelly - Editor, SouthJersey.com