Gaslight News January 2008 vol. XXXVIII, no. 1 (#130 )

Founded 1970 Historical Society of Riverton, NJ Incorporated 1978 Popular postcard program reprised The lessons for his students at Riverton Public Historical School. Since then, a great number of Society of generous individuals have graciously Riverton allowed their originals to be scanned and will meet reproduced and it is those images which on now make up the bulk of his expanding Monday, ―virtual‖ collection. January 28th, Rare images from Schopp 2008, at Collection to be seen 7:30 pm In addition, highly respected professional for its historian Paul W. Schopp has kindly first loaned some of the choicest images from Recently acquired vintage general his extensive collection only for this one view of Main Street meeting and program of the new year to night‘s showing. They will be shown as reprise one of its most heavily attended ―bonus material‖ at the end of the programs — A Riverton Pictorial: presentation. Images and Postcards held last January Inside this issue 2007 on vintage images of Riverton. How- “...this may be the only place to ever, presenter John McCormick promises PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE see this many different vintage A VIEW FROM THE that he has put ―new‖ vintage images into TREE HOUSE the mix. views of the area in one place for BY PRISCILLA TAYLOR some time.” A MAJOR FEATURE A capacity crowd last January - John McCormick ARTICLE, COMPLETE Mr. McCormick recalls that the last show IN THIS ISSUE was well attended and that the SRO crowd Of course, having your own original is best, MARY FITLER: RIVERTON AUTHOR was ―quite animated and very forthcoming‖ but this may be the only place to see this BY GERALD WEABER, JR. with their recollections, reminisces, and many different vintage views of the area in

HSR THANKS SAM’S varying, sometimes opposing, ideas on one place for some time. CAMERAS BOUGHT ―how things were.‖ He aims for a repeat Attendees invited to leave WITH GRANT performance. BY JOHN MCCORMICK items to be scanned

NEXT ISSUE Last year there were New Era articles, area Unlike last year, anyone bringing items to A NEW FEATURE maps, photos and postcards, plus images scan will be asked to leave them so that ARTICLE ON MARY from Dreer‘s Garden Books. This year‘s they can be properly archived. Confessed MAPES DODGE, ST. presentation will include the same catego- Mr. McCormick, ―We were just swamped NICHOLAS MAGAZINE EDITOR AND THE ries with new items added in the past year.‖ last year and unequipped to handle the “PANSY CLUB”, A amount of worthwhile items which were Mr. McCormick started collecting vintage VERY SUCCESSFUL offered. I would prefer to scan the items READING CLUB MADE images of Riverton several years ago when at home and return the items to the UP OF LITTLE GIRLS he needed a way to illustrate local history . owners when finished.‖ –JM BY GERALD WEABER, JR.

② THE HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF RIVERTON Mary Biddle Fitler, Riverton Author, 1879-1966

Local author used town as rich imagery backdrop for four novels of the Mary Biddle Fitler was born in Riverton on stories. The March 19, 1879 to Henry Canby Biddle publisher, After years of rejections, and Anna Mary McIIvain. She would live Harper & sales soon broke records eighty-seven years and made a lasting Brothers, contribution to children‘s literature with touted the her series of four children‘s books using Reddy books the town of Riverton and its surroundings as the as backdrop for her novels. ‗modern Huck Finn‘. The place names Illustration from common to Anna Mary, A Girl of the Nineties residents of The publisher, Riverton were adapted throughout the Harper & Reddy series. The Riverton Yacht Club was dubbed the Riverton Wharf or Yacht Brothers, touted Club House, the Riverton Country Club the Reddy books was referred to as the golf club. as the „modern “Reddy” Reginald McManus on the right, in Mary Charming stories are set in Huck Finn‟. Biddle Fitler‟s first children‟s book was based on the combined characteristics of her three sons who grew Riverton’s earlier times up in Riverton. The stories are set during the era when Starting with Reddy in 1929 Mrs. Biddle horse drawn wagons and an electric trolley Fitler related the stories of Reginald existed side-by-side in Riverton. Reddy McManus, known as Reddy, the leader of earned 25¢ to 35¢ a day delivering orders all boys in town and their club, known as for the Acme Tea Store and common ex- the Red Lions of Riverton. The adventures pressions included ―by jumping Jupiter‖. of the Red Lions revolved around their While these books are works of fiction rivalry with the Gray Grizzlies of Tacony they often provided glimpses of daily life in who lived across the Delaware River from Riverton. Mary Biddle Fitler described Riverton. The Red Lions and the Reddy as the ‗combined characteristics‘ of Reddy earned 25¢ to 35¢ a Gray Grizzlies competed each Fourth of her three sons Nathan, Jr., Biddle (Henry) day delivering orders for the and Ralston. Acme Tea Store in Riverton. July in rowing races. The Nellie Bly Ice Cream Mary Biddle Fitler‘s first book was Store stands there today. Generous illustrations of familiar described by Riverton Historian, According to historian places and rich imagery make Paul W. Schopp, if you were Mrs. Betty B. Hahle, as having been to pull away the wooden Reddy an engaging read written some years before 1929, the manu- planters from the Williams Mr. Michael Robinson, Director of the script was rejected, then lay waiting. When and Wright Bldg., you would Riverton Free Library regards Reddy as the Harper & Brothers, the New York pub- find “ASCO” on the ventila- most engaging of the four Fitler books. tor plates set into the wall. lisher, printed Reddy its sales soon broke The book is generously illustrated with records, and readers clamored for more. drawings by Zach Hogg which add to the See AUTHOR on 4

THE HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF RIVERTON ③ PRESIDENT’S A View from the Tree House MESSAGE 140 year old Biddle gown worn at nine weddings viewed at Porch Club The HSR had a very successful turnout to its exhibit at the Porch Club on Sat- Photo credit: Mrs. Betsy Rendall urday, December Left to right: Aggie Kennedy, 8th during the Riverton Library‘s Candle- couple in the solarium of their home on Priscilla Taylor; Center: light House Tour. For the first time, the Bank Avenue. Mrs. Laura Biddle Rendall, general public viewed the 1868 wedding granddaughter of Hannah The Historical Society again extends its McIlvain Biddle, with her gown donated to the HSR by descendents appreciation and sincerest thanks to the son and daughter; of Hannah McIlvain Biddle (see Gaslight for allowing Hannah‘s dress C. Miller Biddle with his News, 11/2007 and the Burlington County grandson; Pat Brunker, to come home to Riverton. It is a remark- Mrs. Betty Hahle Times, 12/6/2007). able addition to the Society‘s archives. The gown was beautifully displayed on the Porch Club stage. Considering the gown‘s Two popular programs in store age of 140 years, and the fact that nine Please join us for our January program on Biddle women have worn it for their wed- Monday, the 28th at Riverton School. dings through the generations, it has Board member John McCormick is pre- weathered the times well. senting his very popular slide show of old Riverton views. Please bring your Riverton Exquisite lace, silk, and ribbon pictures, memories, and questions. We will details are remarkable scan items to add to our archives and re- Those of us involved in handling the dress turn the originals to you later. had the lucky, close-up view. We marveled Mark your calendars now, and get your at the fine silk ribbon (original to the dress) green wardrobe ready -- the Irish will be that laces the bodice from the back and, out in Riverton full force on Monday, Hannah and Charles Biddle oh, the tiniest of buttonholes to pass the March 17! Back by popular demand, the in the solarium of their home ribbon through! The lace collar framing Irish folk band McDermott‘s Handy will on Bank Avenue the neckline is a gorgeous floral pattern entertain during the HSR program - to be with two-three layers of raised, lacy held at the Porch Club. Dancing is highly flower petals. recommended. This special free program Sincere thanks to Biddle family is our St. Patrick‘s Day treat to you. To help ―unveil‖ the dress, several mem- From the Board of the bers of the Biddle family were present, Historical Society, I wish including Hannah‘s great-granddaughter, everyone a happy, healthy, Laura Biddle Rendall. Another highlight and historical New Year! of our display, on loan and courtesy of C. Miller Biddle of Moorestown, were Priscilla Taylor Hannah and Charles Biddle‘s Quaker Biddle hand-lettered President Quaker wedding wedding certificate and a photo of the certificate

④ THE HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF RIVERTON Reddy series by Fitler endearing classics with local appeal

AUTHOR from 2 would outlive her daughter Faith and Three other books in the series son Henry Canby. The books Kid, Anna Mary, A Girl of the Fitler an active supporter of Nineties, and The Big Wharf followed in World War I effort; member of successive years. Mrs. Hahle related in a

1992 edition of the Gaslight News, ―These Bryn Mawr society, DAR are charming stories of growing up in During the First World War, Mary Biddle Riverton of an earlier time.‖ Fitler founded the Navy League Service which was a women‘s auxiliary to the Navy According to a League, and led Liberty Bond drives to May 17th, 1966, raise much needed funds for the war effort New York Times in Europe. article on Mrs. Fitler‘s first The family moved from Riverton to Bryn book, Reddy made Mawr, before 1930. At the the rounds of time of her death in Bryn Mawr, Pennsyl- publishers for vania on May 16th, 1966, Mary Biddle seventeen years Fitler had eight grandchildren and eight before Harper great-grandchildren. She was survived by Illustration from brought it out in 1929. It enjoyed steady two of her sons Nathan Myers, Jr. and Anna Mary, A Girl of the Ralston. Nineties sales for many years. Riverton Yacht Club was A native Rivertonian, Mary Biddle (Fitler), Mary Biddle Fitler was a member of the dubbed the Riverton Wharf, was born in 1879 and lived at 201 Bank Daughters of the American Revolution, a or Yacht Club House. Other board member of Bryn Mawr Hospital, story backdrops included Avenue with her parents Henry Canby the Riverton Country Club, Biddle and Anna Mary McIlvain. Mary and chairman of the Devon Horse Show which was referred to as the Biddle had three brothers—Hugh McIlvain for three years. golf club, and local born 1877, Henry Canby born 1880, and businesses like the Acme. Riverton Biddles descended Robert Ralston born 1885 and a sister–

Lilian born 1881. Mary‘s father died when from distinguished roots he was 41 years of age and she was only Mary Biddle Fitler was born into a seven years old. distinguished New Jersey family whose roots can be traced to the first settlers Mary Biddle (Fitler) was educated at in West New Jersey in the late 1930 Kid Friends Select School. In 1902 she married seventeenth century. dedication page: Nathan Myers Fitler. The couple raised Mary Biddle was a fourth generation “To Faith… four children at 109 Bank Avenue in Riverton. Mrs. Biddle Fitler‘s first child was descendant of Owen Biddle, a member of My Daughter… Nathan Myers, Jr. born in 1903 followed the Pennsylvania Constitutional Conven- My Chum… by her two sons, Henry in 1905 and Ral- tion. Owen Biddle was a birthright Quaker My Inspiration.” ston in 1909. Her only daughter, Faith, was born in 1737. Owen was the great- born in 1911 to whom Mrs. Fitler dedi- grandson of William and Sarah (Kempe) cated her book Kid in 1930 with the in- Biddle. William Biddle was one of the pro- scription, ―To Faith… My Daughter… My prietors of West New Jersey. He received Chum… My Inspiration.‖ Sadly, Mrs. Fitler the first deed granted by William Penn, for land in New Jersey, on January 23rd, 1676.

THE HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF RIVERTON ⑤ Owen Biddle was an ardent supporter of Robert Biddle, 2nd, the youngest son of Mr. Gerald Weaber is a the American Revolution and inspired the Charles Miller Biddle. past vice president of Society of Friends to establish Westtown the Historical Society of Riverton, a past editor Boarding School. He purchased the subur- The Biddle family wedding dress was do- nated to the Historical Society of Riverton the Gaslight News, the ban estate of Peel Hall in 1779 from Rich- webmaster of our ard Penn. Today the Peel Hall property is in 2007 by Betsy Rendall who was given website, and a valued now the site of Girard College in Philadel- the dress by her mother-in-law Laura contributor to these phia. Due to debts incurred during and Biddle Rendall. The wedding dress was on pages. after the revolution Owen Biddle turned display last December at the Porch Club over Peel Hall to his creditors and it was during the 2007 Candlelight House Tour. later acquired by Stephen Girard. Kin of Riverton Fitlers successful Other descendants in the Owen Biddle in business and politics line included Samuel Biddle who was born Mary Biddle Fitler‘s husband, Nathan in 1844. He was in the silversmith business Myers Fitler was the grandson of Edwin H. for thirty-three years with the firms of Fitler who served as ‘s mayor Robins, Clark & Biddle; Clark & Biddle; from 1887-1891. Edwin H. Fitler was the and Bailey, Banks & Biddle where he tenth President of the Union League and managed the financial department until owner of the Edwin H. Fitler Co. his retirement in 1894. (Philadelphia Cordage Works), a success- ful rope and cord manufacturer in Mary Biddle Fitler‘s father, Henry Canby Philadelphia. Biddle was brother to Charles Miller Biddle who was born in 1844 and lived at Visit the web site of the Historical Society 207 Bank Avenue in Riverton. Charles of Riverton web for the research refer- owned what is popularly know today as the ences for this article. — Gerald Weaber ‗Biddle Mansion‘ at Lippincott and Bank Avenues. He was owner of the R. & W.C. HSR Thanks Sam’s Biddle & Company and later chairman of WalMart Stores, headquartered in the Suplee-Biddle Hardware Company. Bentonville, AR, has awarded the Society He was also President of the Riverton & with a $500 cash grant in order to help Palmyra Water Company and the purchase equipment to better accomplish Riverton Iron Pier Co. and a member of its mission to the community. the Riverton Country Club and the Riverton Yacht Club. In his application, Mr. McCormick stated, ―We serve as advocates to preserve Charles Miller Biddle and his wife had six Riverton history, architecture and culture, Olympus SP-550OUZ children, two of whom were twins, Han- and promote education on local history nah McIlvain and her twin brother Charles issues to our members and residents of Miller Biddle, Jr. born in 1878. Their first Riverton and the public of the surrounding son, Robert Biddle, 2nd was born in 1880. area.‖ An Olympus SP-550OUZ digital Mary Biddle Fitler was the younger cousin zoom camera and a FLIP camera were and neighbor of Hannah McIlvain Biddle purchased at the Cinnaminson Sam‘s Club. who was born August 14, 1878. Mr. McCormick looks forward to using the The Historical Society of Riverton recently cameras with his eighth grade Riverton received the donation of a wedding dress School students as they begin work on oral FLIP video camera c.1868 worn by Hannah, her mother and history interviews of community members. other women in the extended Biddle They will also be used to document family. The dress was passed down to various activities of the organization. He Laura Biddle Rendall, the daughter of thanked both the home office and the Cinnaminson Store by letter. –JM THE HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF RIVERTON Post Office Box # 112 Riverton, NJ 08077 856-786-6961

Palmyra carp fishermen c. 1900—detail from a larger photo provided by Kes Reidenbaker through HSR member Jeff Cole who has provided several images.

⑥ Readers: Do you remember Or sledding down And getting up the nerve Do you have any pre-1950 photos, postcards, dancing around the Field Double Bunkers and one frigid day to touch Day May Pole at the Elm Ave. on your the Philly side by crossing maps, ephemera, etc. which you would allow park? Flexible Flier? the frozen Delaware? to be highlighted in an upcoming issue or a And lingering one And shopping for Or catching lizards on future program? Please bring them with you summer evening at the almost anything on Main Apple Lane, frogs at the on Jan. 28th or contact Mr. McCormick pavilion by the creek after Street or Broad that you Golf Course, and butter- directly in order to make other arrangements. dark? could possibly desire? flies in the field? Or sipping your cherry Do you remember And test-driving a new 856-764-1551 [email protected] Coke at Keating‘s glass- going with the family to Dodge or Plymouth or a topped table and coveting Freeman-Hunter‘s to pick Hydramatic Oldsmobile? the little trinkets? out a sofa and chair? Do you remember that Gaslight News And peering at cavorting in the coal bin is a publication of the Historical Society of Coddington‘s counters at Collin‘s Lumber Yard stocked with Sky might leave you with Riverton, and is published five times per year. Bars, Dubble much to explain?  Bubble, and And being served the THE HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF RIVERTON candy Lunch Special by Post Office Box # 112 cigarettes? Hannah the waitress at Riverton, NJ 08077 Do you the Sharon Shoppe on 856-786-6961 remember Main? greeting the What else do you Priscilla Taylor President ice man, the remember? Drop us Pat Brunker Vice President rag man, bread some lines in prose or in man, and milkman at verse, Nancy Washington Secretary your door? Paul Daly Treasurer For, compared to these And buying your school humble rhymes, you Bob Bednarek Membership supplies at the Riverton could not do any worse. Gerald Weaber, Jr. Website Five and Ten-Cent Store? John McCormick Editor Photo courtesy of Mr. and Mrs. William E-mail: [email protected] www.gaslightnews.homestead.com Hall of Cedar Street c.1930s