The Historical Society of Moorestown hasn’t ceased to keep community celebrations for the nation’s 250th going.
“Gen. George Washington,” portrayed by John Koopman III, visited Percheron Park on the corner of Main and High streets on May 15 with his war horse Nelson, portrayed by Koopman’s horse Bear, who also happens to be part Percheron.
Following the brief visit, everyone headed down to Van Meter Hall for Cocktails and Carrots, a fundraiser for the historical society. The next day, the First Oval Office Project came to Locust Street Park, giving people a once-in-a lifetime chance to see a replica of the tent Washington used on the battlefield and in encampments during the Revolutionary War.
“Somebody took pictures of the crowd following (Washington) and just the smiles on people’s faces,” said Linda Vizi, historical society president.
The historical society’s upcoming fundraiser – The Dusty Road to the Declaration – will be held at the Double Nickel Brewing Company in Pennsauken on Thursday at 5:30 p.m.
In the summer of 1776 – while daily life carried on along Kings Highway – Moorestown native Timothy Matlack was in Philadelphia helping to shape the course of history. As secretary to the Continental Congress, he is widely recognized as the man who penned the final handwritten version of the Declaration of Independence.
The Dusty Road event will feature brief remarks by Chris Coelho, author of “Timothy Matlack: Scribe of the Declaration of Independence,” a celebration of the Matlack family legacy and the many branches of the family tree that spread far beyond Moorestown.
Included along with opportunities to connect with fellow descendants and history enthusiasts will be the famous Dusty Road sundae from Matlack’s Dairy Bar, formerly located on Kings Highway, and Washington’s Beer, specially brewed by Double Nickel in honor of the event.
One ticket will include light fare, one drink token and one ice cream token. Additional beverages and ice cream will be available for purchase. For more information or tickets, visit the historical society’s website.
The Double Nickel is situated along the Pennsauken Creek on land once connected to William Matlack’s original 17th-century property holdings.
“Descendants of (Matlack’s) had an ice cream parlor which was very famous for driving in and getting your food,” Vizi explained, “and the Dusty Road Sundae was a big favorite of everybody’s.”
As tradition continues, the township’s annual 4th of July parade will take place along Main Street, between Union Street and Chester Avenue, on Saturday. Along the parade route at Percheron Park will be a public reading of the declaration at 11:45 a.m. Residents are welcome to read a line from a large printing of the document, and there will be extra room at the bottom for people to sign their names.
To learn more, contact the historical society at (856) 235-0353 or moorestownhistory@comcast.net.
“We would love people from all different parts of Moorestown to read it,” Vizi noted of the declaration. “It would have been read to you when it was first written, and it was typed up like a newspaper, and that was the first version that people saw. It wasn’t until several weeks later that you saw the Timothy Matlack handwritten version. The first version (people) saw would have been posted in store windows.”
The party doesn’t stop after the parade. Presented by the historical society, Bethel AME Church in Moorestown and the Better Together Task Force, the West End Community Center block party will be held at Yancy Adams Park on Saturday, Sept. 19, at 2 p.m.
There will be interviews with local elders, intergenerational storytelling and other historical society archives.
The Historical Society of Moorestown will host a public reading of the Declaration of Independence at Percheron Park on Saturday at 11:45 a.m. Residents are welcome to read a line from a large printing of the document and sign their names to it.
