On a bright and sunny Fourth of July residents gathered along Kings Highway with their chairs and blankets – many dressed in colorful red, white and blue outfits – to celebrate Independence Day and freedom from England 249 years ago.
The parade kicked off at noon at the from the John D. West senior complex, led by the Mount Ephraim Fire Department Honor Guard and members marching solemnly up the old colonial road where two battles were fought during the Revolutionary War.
Upon reaching the memorial near the railroad tracks and Mary Bray School, the firefighters honored and remembered three fallen heroes – Fire Chief James Sylvester, County Fire Marshall and MEFD member John West Sr. and Gloucester City Firefighter Thomas Stewart III.
These three brave men perished while trying to save three girls – five year-old Alexandra and three-year-old twins Collette and Claudia Slack – who also died during the terrible house fire on July 4, 2002, in Gloucester City.
After the touching solemn ceremony, the crowd watching the annual Mount Ephraim Fourth of July Parade were entertained by the Audubon High School Band and Color Guard while Elvis belted out some soulful tunes with members of the Rotary Club throwing candy to the children.
A big highlight was all the baseball players on the Mount Ephraim 2025 District 14 Minors Interleague Championship team proudly holding up their championship trophy while riding on a pick-up truck and waving to the crowd.
“What a great parade. It is sunny and less humid,” said Mike Reader, who was enjoying the festivities with his wife, Rosemary, and Brittany and John Kerper and their nine-month-old Lainey Kerper enjoying her first Independence Day parade in the stroller.
Across the street Scott Broadhurst and Diarra Keebler were handing out free hot dogs and water to everyone outside of the S&M Mechanical headquarters. “We are giving back to the community that have given a lot to us,” Broadhurst said.
A popular gathering place for many residents was the Spread Eagle, a holiday tradition where they watch the parade on the sidewalk and venture into the crowded, but cool, tavern where four bartenders hustled to keep everyone fed and watered.
During the Revolutionary War, Kings Highway was also a busy place. The Lenni Lenape tribe first populated South Jersey some 15 millennia ago, and European settlers arrived in the 17th century. Mount Ephraim was than part of Gloucestertown, which also included Bellmawr, Gloucester City, Haddon Township, and Mount Ephraim.
Members of the Revolutionary War militia battled Hessian solders, mercenaries hired by England, who were defending a bridge at the intersection of Kings Highway and Haddon Lake Park. They also battled the English Army soldiers during the Battle of Gloucester at the current site of Gloucester City High School. Led by Captain William Harrison and General Marquis de Lafayette, the Gloucestertown militia stopped the advance of the British, who had marched down Kings Highway from Haddonfield and through Mount Ephraim.
Next year the famous road will make history again, as the borough is already planning for the 250th anniversary of the United States of America and a spectacular Fourth of July parade.
