A photo of Delran Historical Society’s display in the lobby of the township municipal building.
If you walk in the lobby of the township municipal building, you’ll see snippets of Delran history displayed through photos and artifacts.
The town was originally part of Chester Township, then Cinnaminson Township. Delran was formally established on Feb. 12, 1880, and its history on the township website was written by Lloyd Griscom. Ten sites were identified with historical markers in 2016.
It’s all thanks to the vision of Malcolm Anderson and his wife Nancy, who were honored with proclamations for their efforts at a March 10 council meeting. Mayor Barnes Hutchins read and presented each document.
Malcom Anderson is well known in the township “as one of the good ol’ boys from Bridgeboro,” his proclamation began.
“His legacy started in the mid-1800s with his grandfather, William Howard Anderson, who was one of the founding members of the Delran Fire Company No. 1,” Hutchins read, noting that after Malcolm enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1966 and was honorably discharged after four years, he followed in his grandfather’s footsteps by serving his community.
Malcolm began serving on the Delran Fire Company No. 1 in 1971, quickly rising to rank of chief in 1976. He “displayed a great passion and dedication to the history of Delran Township,” the proclamation added. “(He) was a tremendous asset in helping organize the Delran Historical Society in 2008, making it an official nonprofit in 2009.”
The mission of the society was to collect and preserve history and artifacts, while assisting the township in its stewardship of historic preservation.” Malcolm was society president from 2011 to 2025 and remains a trustee. He recognized the importance of personal interviews and continued to locate and conduct interviews of residents and family members to preserve their histories.
“During his time as president, he organized numerous fundraisers, found a home at the Delran municipal building for the society’s historical artifacts and created an amazing historical presentation in the lobby of the (municipal) building (for all to enjoy),” the proclamation continued.
Hutchins said he loves and enjoys the township display every time he walks into the lobby. Malcolm professed his love for Delran and noted that every council and administration he has worked with over the years has been courteous and open minded.
“That doesn’t go unnoticed,” he pointed out. “We’re trying to do the same thing back for Delran.”
Nancy Anderson was a treasurer of the society, as noted in her proclamation.
“I never realized how much I loved Delran history until I became treasurer,” she noted, while acknowledging that she wasn’t always a history buff. Nancy became one after eighth grade, and loves genealogy.
“Mal and I actually took a trip to Germany and visited relatives we never met before,” she recalled.
For more information about the Delran Historical Society, visit https://delranhistoricalsociety.org
