Still time to send the best – and easiest! – Riverton Christmas present.
One of our books should be on every coffee table in town. What do you give those grown kids who’ve flown the nest? Or the siblings now living far away who miss Klipple’s bakery?
You send them memories of home, of course!
It’s 128 pages, packed with over 150 historic images with carefully researched captions.
A trip in a time machine in your favorite town that’s changed so much — and hardly at all!
Click and buy – from:
OR – the Riverton CVS has a display of them back next to the prescription counter. Save on shipping!
Compiled by: Pat Brunker, Iris Gaughan and Eileen DellaPenna
T. Robins “Robin” Brown of Riverton, New Jersey, passed away peacefully on September 27, 2024. She was a valued Historical Society member who took on the years’ long task of organizing the Society’s extensive artifact collection.
Robin was born in Norfolk, Virginia, the daughter of Raymond and Elizabeth Brown and sister of Randy, Ray Jr., and Ceci. She grew up in rural Gloucester County, VA and spent days swimming, crabbing, and exploring the Ware River and nearby forests and marshes. Robin learned curiosity and compassion from her father and determination and a love of gardening from her mother. She attended St. Catherine’s School and Mount Holyoke College. There, she cultivated a love of architectural history and made many cherished lifelong friends.
Robin went on to become one of the first women to get a Master’s degree in Architectural History at the University of Virginia. Upon seeing or walking into a historic house, Robin would start describing specific architectural features with staggering enthusiasm and detail. If a tour guide at a historic house made a factual error, Robin would correct it in the nicest way possible, then would share many more facts and observations.
Robin met Kieran Quinn, her future husband, at a party hosted by mutual friends. Kieran was nearly a foot taller than Robin and was twice as broad, but their shared intellectual curiosity and love of the outdoors brought them together. They married in 1975, moved to Nyack, NY in 1977, and welcomed sons Thaddeus (Thad) in 1978 and Edward (Ted) in 1981.
Robin juggled work, parenthood, hobbies, and civic engagement with boundless energy. She worked as a consultant in architectural history, as a development officer for several environmental nonprofits, and as Executive Director of The Hermitage in Ho-Ho-Kus, NJ. The Hermitage, a National Historic Landmark, was purchased by Ann Bartow DeVisme in 1767 who moved to Ho-Ho-Kus from Manhattan with five children. Among the visitors to the house during the Revolution were James Monroe, William Paterson, the Marquis de Lafayette, Alexander Hamilton, Lord Sterling, Peggy Shippen Arnold and Aaron Burr. In 1847, Elijah Rosencrantz, Jr. commissioned the well-known architect William Ranlett to construct a romantic Victorian residence which would incorporate the historic Colonial house. Robin was in charge of the now fourteen-room Gothic Revival house museum.
Robin’s family loved camping, paddling, and sailing together. Kieran became Commodore of the yacht club where they lived. Robin was a passionate gardener, finding joy in growing and sharing bulbs, seeds, and saplings. She volunteered for architectural review boards, historical societies, and planning committees and canvassed for local and national politicians. She and Kieran were adventurers and traveled the world. Robin explored places far and near, from a honeymoon in Peru and Bolivia to a 6,000 mile road trip in 2022 through the South and Southwest.
Robin and Kieran moved to Riverton, NJ in 2019 to be close to their grandchildren. They were attracted by living in a historic town, full of numerous architectural styles, and one with a Yacht Club. Robin started a new garden, became active in the Porch Club and Historical Society of Riverton, and was an active member of five book clubs.
Robin’s contribution to the Historical Society was immense. She had a passion for history. She was a meticulous cataloger and did extensive research on every item she came across, treating everything like it was her own. She collected and proudly displayed the artifacts for two recent HSR programs – “The History of the Riverton Yacht Club” and “Growing up in Riverton.” The presence of the artifacts at these programs added a great deal of factual depth to the presentations.
Handkerchief belonging to Hetty Lippincott (1869-1955), who grew up at 303 Bank Avenue (today the Riverview Estates)
Robin knew how to – or found out how to – preserve every object in the collection, storing things in archival boxes. She would also clean objects for display and preservation if necessary and appropriate. Robin was tenacious, had a depth of knowledge, and did a heroic amount of work for the society. She developed a cataloging system for the items and placed the data on a computer in the archives for easy retrieval.
Robin also served on the Architectural Review Committee in Riverton, utilizing her depth of knowledge of architecture and preservation.
Help support our good friends at the Riverton Free Library!
HSR supporters love Riverton homes – and all will like to know the biennial House Tour is coming, your opportunity to get a glimpse of a variety of then, decorated for the season.
Several are vintage homes, including one built by a Riverton founding family and one built by the co-founder of the 4th of July Parade!
Click here for info on the homes you’ll see and read about their proud owners:
Here’s a quick look:
412 Lippincott Avenue, built 1888 by the man who later co-founded the Riverton 4th of July Children’s Parade.
503 Bank Avenue, built 1851 by Riverton founders Caleb Clothier and his wife Hannah Hallowell Clothier.
400 Linden Avenue, 1920 American Foursquare.
209A Linden Avenue, 2006 Modern Classic.
105 Bank Avenue, 2023 Modern European-style farmhouse.
1954 Mid-Century Ranch, expanded 2018.
The following will also be open and welcoming visitors:
Riverton Free Library (306 Main Street) ticket sales The Porch Club (4th & Howard Streets) refreshments and rest rooms Mt. Zion AME Church (3rd and Penn Streets) Calvary Presbyterian Church (300 4th Street) Christ Episcopal Church (305 Main Street) Riverview Estates (305 Bank Avenue) refreshments and rest rooms until 8 pm
Private citizens organize successful effort to protect their community’s history
Historical Society of Riverton (NJ) board members John Laverty (l) and Roger Prichard (r) installing the historical marker for the Riverton Free Library, housed in an 1853 cottage designed by A.J. Downing.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 18, 2024
RIVERTON, NEW JERSEY – Rivertonians Roger T. Prichard and John M. Laverty, Jr., have been awarded an “Honorable Mention for Preservation Stewardship,” one of the 2024 New Jersey Historic Preservation Awards given by Preservation New Jersey, a statewide non-profit historic preservation organization.
Each year, Preservation New Jersey reviews organizations and individuals who have contributed in memorable and significant ways to historic preservation or sustained contributions to the understanding and promotion of New Jersey’s rich history.
The Award is presented to Prichard and Laverty for their work as independent citizens to form a community roundtable that generated consensus towards and the writing of a new Historic Preservation Ordinance.
The historic charm of Riverton’s National Register Historic District faces growing losses from teardown and modern renovation projects. Until 2023, Riverton lacked the zoning protections that other historic New Jersey towns have used for years to preserve the historic character their citizens love.
Riverton (NJ) riverbank home built 1905-1907 for C.C. Fitler. Photo: Historical Society of Riverton
The award nominator recognized these long-time board members of the Historical Society of Riverton, saying “… Prichard and Laverty convened a citizens’ Preservation Roundtable to build consensus among many disparate Riverton constituencies, including business owners, landlords, local volunteer organizations, and elected leaders.”
“Roger and John brought to the table as many stakeholders as possible, distilling a town-wide understanding of ‘no more teardowns,’” said Faith Endicott, President of the Historical Society of Riverton. “It was important to recognize the risk of destroying what makes our town special. Our historic character is worth defending from further harm.” 2
“We put everyone in the same room as equals and let them listen to each other,” said Laverty, who served as Moderator.
Riverton (NJ) c. 1855 home of Daniel Leeds Miller Jr., a Philadelphia abolitionist and petroleum merchant. Photo: Historical Society of Riverton
Prichard observed, “We all agreed that everyone loves the appearance of this little Victorian town on the bank of the Delaware River and any work must follow the old rule: ‘first, do no harm.’”
“Riverton has a culture of respect for their vintage homes. Homeowners invest more for pride than for profit, whether long-time residents or newcomers,” he added.
Borough Council then unanimously created a first-in-Riverton Historic Preservation Commission, which elected Laverty as its founding Chair. “Yes, we need to defend our history – and – at least as important, we need to have a focus on ‘customer service,’ to help our property owners find good, affordable choices,” Laverty said.
Riverton’s new Historic Preservation Commission hopes to attract, cultivate, and champion projects which respect the surviving good work of long-ago craftspeople, protecting the property values of the many owners who have already restored and maintained their vintage properties.
Riverton (NJ) 1880 clubhouse of the Riverton Yacht Club, oldest sailing club on the Delaware River, built on the town’s 1851 steamboat landing pier. Photo: Historical Society of Riverton
Hundreds of resident voters stood in line for as long as 4 hours to cast their votes in the 2024 presidential and local election on Tuesday, November 5.
In my section of the line, the mood was peaceful and reserved. Small talk won the day and people seemed to be happy to be a part of the experience.
The weather was perfect all day and into the night and good-natured humor passed through the lines as time wore on.
Fortunately, in this town you are bound to catch a familiar name or face and enjoy a chat about an agreeable theme.
From time to time various generous souls provided multiple boxes of pizza from Milanese to make the experience seem shorter and definitely more enjoyable. Thank you!
We can only hope these connections take root and help us all remember from this personal experience that we have more in common than not. Right now, we ALL agree that this could have been done better!
With many technical bottlenecks, Burlington County Superior Court extended the time and 9:00 pm became the deadline to join the line, which by then (below) stretched down Howard to 4th and more than halfway along 4th toward Cinnaminson St.
We particularly like this photo, showing super-dedicated voters queued across from the Porch Club of Riverton, whose members worked tirelessly for decades more than a century ago to expand the right to vote to all. Photo at 9:05 pm by Roger Prichard
There were many hundreds in line, still remarkably patient and dedicated, at 9:00 when new voters could no longer join the line.
The last voter finished and walked out at 12:53 a.m. on Wednesday morning. In all, 994 Rivertonians voted, a turnout of about 65% of registered voters.
Out deepest thanks to our local volunteers and municipal employees who remained cheerful while coping with problems not of their own making — and to our great Rivertonians who persevered to exercise their power.
Mark your calendars: Monday October 28, 2024. HSR is happy once again to partner with our good friends at The Porch Club of Riverton in their beautiful historic hall and take a time machine trip of reminiscences from the 1940s onward.
The Wright family is one of the most extensive and fascinating extended families in Riverton’s history. Remember the Showell family we profiled in our last blog post? Yep – the two families were joined by marriage in 1910!
The Wrights first settled here in 1887 when Philadelphia entrepreneur Charles A. Wright saw a Riverton house advertised for sale in a Philly paper. Having always admired Riverton as he passed on business trips on the steamboat, he grabbed at the opportunity. It was the house at 305 Bank Avenue (later moved to 102 Penn Street, where it still stands). He produced a large and energetic family here, who lived in various homes around town.
Our program will be presented by three great-grandchildren (yes, you read that right) of that man, Charles A. Wright:
Barbara Flach (Knight) Meyer
Lenore Wright (Showell) Layton, and
Doris Ellen (Showell) MacKenzie
We hope you can join us! No admission, just walk in. Refreshments will be served.
And it’s a house with many family connections all the way up to Riverton’s recent years.
It’s August of 1924 and a young mother took her toddler on a stroller excursion to the riverbank. It’s a classic Riverton image that was happening every summer day since long before this snapshot and still happens all the time.
But we challenge today’s stroller dealers to match the elegance of this wicker beauty! (Even our 2024 top of the line models with cupholders and Bluetooth and what all have nothing on this charmer.)
Will was downloading the screen image from eBay at the same time as one of our board members was buying the original snapshot from the dealer to donate to HSR’s archives.
Scanned in hi-res, it cleans up pretty well with some “darkroom” work, considering it wasn’t a fine quality print – and it’s TINY (the image is just 2-1/4” wide).
Yes, exactly 100 years ago last month.
The handwritten notes on the back (which misunderstand this to be Palmyra) indicate that this is “Mrs. Emma Kies and her daughter Janet”. The dealer said that it is from an album by a family in Merchantville. Since the 1930 Census does have a matching family in Merchantville, exploring the Kies story is a project for someone else.
But here in Riverton we might ask …
What is that house in the background?
It’s not what we all might think!
At first (and second) glance, that imposing house appears to be the C.C. Fitler house “The Anchorage” which still stands at 11 Bank.
But not so. Compare …
Fooled us, too, for a bit. Look closely and you’ll see that many details match, but the whole shape of it is wrong – and 11 Bank is much larger.
Our snapshot house is much rarer – and it’s a house that didn’t last long (probably less than 40 years). Few pictures exist. Here’s the only other picture we have of it, a postcard from 1907 or later:
It was located up Bank Avenue in the next block, between Linden and Thomas, at number 105. It was built in 1896 and gone by WWII.
The site was later occupied until 2022 by a distinctive mid-Century Modern house with a memorable blooming garden …
… and then by the modern white brick home which stands there today.
The Showells
The 1896 home was built by Edward Bredell “Eddie” Showell Jr. (1863-1916) and his wife Gertrude Batchelor Showell (1863-1932).
The Showell family came from deep colonial roots in the Eastern shore of Maryland (where there is still a little town named Showell in Worcester County).
According to Edward’s 1916 obituary, they named the house “Mapleton”.
Edward B. Showell Jr. (1863-1916) married Gertrude Batchelor (1863-1932) in Philadelphia in 1886.
Why Riverton?
They likely learned about Riverton through his cousin Nannie Heiskell Myers (1857-1906), who married Edwin Henry Fitler Jr. (1853-1901), the son of the Mayor of Philadelphia. Nannie and Edwin renovated the house in Riverton at 407 Bank Avenue (on the downriver corner of Main) as their summer home in 1882.
Like the Fitlers, Edward Jr. and Gertrude also began spending summers in Riverton and then they moved here year-round in about 1892, according to the Philadelphia directories.
We know that the Showells lived at first in the grand Mansard stone home then at 301 Bank (upriver corner of Lippincott), built in the 1860s by Edward Lippincott next door to his brother Ezra. Sadly, that home also no longer survives, also lost in the 1930s.
Edward was a very successful wholesaler and retailer of groceries – and notably liquor – in Philadelphia, with a handsome store at 1327 Market St. on the corner of East Penn Square across from City Hall. It was a partnership also known as “Showell & Fryer”. Bottles and other memorabilia can still be found by Googling those names.
Edward and Gertrude broke ground on their beautiful new shingled Riverton house in 1896. The Philadelphia Inquirer for December 20th says they were already “domiciled” in their new house on the Delaware.
Edward and Gertrude Showell’s Family
Edward and Gertrude raised six children in this grand house on the riverbank. The 1900 Census showed 12 residents, including four female servants (two born in Ireland and two whose parents were Irish).
Edward was an active sailor at the Riverton Yacht Club and was the Commodore in 1905 and 1906. In addition to his sailboat he also had a steam launch – with a hired man to be its “engineer”.
Possibly the best known of their six children was the oldest son, Rex Showell (George Rexamer Showell 1887-1951). Nine years old when they moved into this house, he was very well-liked. Later a popular sailboat racer at RYC, he married a Riverton girl who also grew up on the riverbank, Lenore Wright, one of the daughters of Charles A. Wright, the builder of the Tacony-Palmyra Bridge. Here Rex holds their son Dewees (“Dewey”), circa 1913 in a family snapshot coll. Richard A. Flach.
As his father’s health began to fail in the 1910s, Rex and his uncle began taking over more and more of the thriving grocery and liquor wholesale business.
Ironically, Rex’s father Edward Sr. died of cirrhosis of the liver in 1916. He was just 52 years old. Liquor continued to cast a shadow on the family: in 1919 the 18th Amendment created Prohibition, devastating their profitable business of alcohol imports and sales.
By the 1920 Census, just four years before our idyllic snapshot, hard times forced Rex and Lenore to rent out their own house, at 209 Howard Street, which had been a wedding present from Lenore’s father. They and five of their own children moved back to this big, almost empty house to rejoin his widowed mother and his brother.
Rex and his family probably were living in this house you see in August 1924 when our little snapshot was taken.
As it turns out, this newly-found 1924 snapshot is nearly the most recent record we have of this house. A Sanborn insurance map from 8 months later shows its outlines. (From the collection of Paul Schopp.)
By the 1930 Census, this house at 105 Bank does not appear (which means it was either empty or gone). Mother Gertrude (then 65) was living in a rented house a couple of blocks upriver at 405 Bank Avenue along with her divorced daughter (also named Gertrude, Edward Jr.’s sister) and two grandsons. Rent was just $100 per month. (#405 also no longer exists, being torn down a few years later.)
Our subject house was definitely gone by the time the 1942 update of the Sanborn map was created.
All was not doom and gloom, though. The family worked hard and persevered. They were back in their own house at 209 Howard by 1930. To pay the bills, Rex was working as a laborer, according to the Census of that year.
Rex and Lenore Showell’s house at 209 Howard, with their snappy 1919 Dodge coupe. Coll. R.A. Flach.
However, in 1934 a newspaper ad for a distillery in Camden appears to be employing him, saying “just ask for Mr. Rex Showell, a connoisseur of fine wines and Liquors”. Their kids all went out to work as soon as they were old enough, boys and girls alike. The family made it through the Great Depression without losing their Howard Street home and it stayed in the family through 2022.
Many Showells stayed in Riverton and made their own lives and families. Quite a few of today’s residents will remember children and grandchildren of Rex and Lenore.
Daughter Lenore, nicknamed “Sister”, married Gus Probsting and the two were energetically involved in many Riverton activities.
Their son Bill Probsting just passed away in 2021, having served as the devoted Headmaster at Westfield Friends School for decades. Bill lived most of his life at 209 Howard, the same house his grandfather Rex was obliged to rent out in the 1920s but was able to hang on to.
Rex and Lenore’s daughter Elsie Wright Showell married Art Waters and they were quite a pair. Art was very involved with the Riverton Fire Company and Elsie Waters did countless projects in Riverton. She passed away in 2018, just four months shy of her 100th birthday, sharp and full of stories.
Rex and Lenore’s grand-daughter Lenore Layton (so many Lenores!) lives today in Cinnaminson and is much appreciated as a strong supporter of the Historical Society of Riverton.
Finally, George Rex Showell is remembered at the Riverton Yacht Club every year with the sailing of a special race to award the perpetual trophy named the “Rex Showell Cup”, donated to the club by his family after his death in 1951. Originally a 4th of July race, it was sailed on May 18th this year (2024).
So a little snapshot on eBay, erroneously labeled “Palmyra”, of a mother and child with no connection to Riverton, turns out to be a window into many dramas in many lives.
An appreciation of our oldest member, by Faith Copper Endicott, President of the Historical Society of Riverton.
Celebrating the art of living to 100 with cake, a crowd of friends and many stories!
There are few who have reached the rare milestone of living a life of 100 years. Fewer still have done it with grace and style. Bill Hall is one of those rare few and he is still making his mark on many of us.
Holding court, as befits Riverton royalty, at his home on August 10, many of his friends and family joined in celebration of this centennial triumph. A time of reflection at these milestones is par for the course, and this time was no exception.
Everyone was able to speak familiarly of his lifetime accomplishments, his love for his dear late wife, Nancy Hall, and their family. A love nearly equal to his compassion for his community. And nearly everyone heard some story for the first time.
People chatted about his vast leisure pursuits, which he would call ‘just living life’. He easily could have retold stories of his experiences with sailing, beekeeping, biking, teaching, and hiking the Alps, to only name a few, but he seemed very content to simply greet the stream of guests stopping by to hug him warm wishes and eat birthday cake.
A story. Each one of us has a story, which we partly write ourselves. This is the part that largely helps define us to the world. The part that is most often severely judged. How we have overcome life’s challenges, reached for the stars despite the night, the strength of our resolve to follow the truth for truth’s sake…but there may be more to it than that. I fear not doing justice to Bill Hall by retelling his story in my words by way of expanding on his work and pastimes or trying to describe his attitudes on life. As if they wholly defined the man.
If there is a secret to getting the most from life, no matter what number you reach, Bill seems to have found it. He has generously shared his story with many of us in a way that helps shape our own. I have a new love for bees that is largely influenced by my talks with him…and I can’t help thinking of Bill’s encouragement every time I am out near the hives. His is a positive spirit that sticks with you, one that he always enjoys paying forward.
If great art is a result of much practice and dedication, let us take this to heart. The art of living to 100 years might just be one of the finest masterpieces of all. Thanks to you, Bill, for sharing it with so many of us. Looking forward to our next visit and another thing to smile about.
2024 Riverton History writing prize winner Cadence Anderson with Historical Society of Riverton President Faith Endicott.
We are delighted to announce that Riverton resident Cadence Anderson, Palmyra High School Class of 2024, has earned our annual writing award, which comes with a $500 prize!
HSR President Faith Endicott congratulated Cadence on July 4th during the festive events of the day at Memorial Park with a certificate and check.
Cadence’s articulate and engaging entry is reproduced in its entirety below – we think you’ll enjoy reading it!
She just graduated from Palmyra High as her class valedictorian with a 4.0 GPA and plans to attend Elizabethtown College with her eye on Pre-Med. In addition to her academic and writing excellence, Cadence is a stand-out basketball player, scoring over 1,000 points this season.
Our challenge to students from Riverton this year was to submit a 1,000 word essay that best answers the question “What did Rivertonians do for fun 100 years ago?” All submissions were required to adhere to the MLA (Modern Language Association) guidelines for published works.
Have a look at what Cadence wrote … and be prepared to have fun in the Riverton of 1924!
o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o
Together, We Have Fun
In the grand scheme of American history, the prosperity during the Roaring 20s is unprecedented. Business boomed, ground-breaking changes occurred, and luxuries that only the upper class enjoyed in the past became far more accessible to the working class. As a result, extravagances in the form of possessions and experiences were sought out by Americans everywhere. The small, square mile town of Riverton was no exception. With the gift of time and money to invest in areas other than their work lives, the citizens of Riverton fostered a tightly knit community through their activism, enjoyment of athletics, and love for a good outing that would lay the groundwork for much of the town’s present-day recreation.
The Porch Club—which is still prominent in Riverton today—was a safe haven of sorts for all different kinds of activities outside of the typical work day, particularly for women. Although it was more of a serious undertaking rather than a fun pastime, many of the ladies would get together here for suffrage meetings at the start of the 1920s (Bowen 2), as the 19th amendment wasn’t in effect quite yet. This wasn’t unique to the locals. Participation in these movements were encouraged all over the country in order to push for granting women the right to vote after centuries of waiting. It was more difficult than ever to deny the enfranchisement of women, as their growing involvement in society became even more pivotal in maintaining America’s stability than before. As opposed to when women were strictly confined to their role of being mothers and wives, the 1920s finally gave them an opportunity to begin living for themselves. With many American men participating in the Great War, women would leave their homes to provide employment for the jobs left behind, opening doors for them to escape from the responsibilities often forced upon them at the time. Efforts such as the suffrage meetings in the Porch Club amounted to the eventual ratification of the 19th amendment in the August of 1920, which would lead to the continued collaboration of Riverton’s women in their commitment to citizenship. They established their own Women’s League of Voters (Bowen 6), demonstrating their enthusiasm for participation in politics and the solidarity formed from working to overcome societal barriers together. In addition to its historical significance for women, the Porch Club also offered a wonderful venue to host events such as townwide concerts (Bowen 14), parties, luncheons (Bowen 6) and the YWCA’s gymnastics lessons (Bowen 10) that all of Riverton’s citizens would enjoy.
Riverton and its neighboring communities never fell short in the department of entertainment, especially with its diversity of spectator friendly sports year-round. In the springtime, citizens could flock to Palmyra High School to watch their own children and other aspiring athletes compete in track and field events or see their own baseball team (Bowen 21). The summer months provided tennis tournaments from the Country Club (Bowen 15), plus sailing and swimming races from the Yacht Club that just about anyone could appreciate (Bowen 10). Autumn and winter certainly weren’t devoid of excitement, as these seasons arguably held the most opportunities for Rivertonians hoping to catch a good competition: sailing, swimming, rowing, tilting, football, hockey, trapshooting, and basketball. The town’s love for athletics was so expansive that it allowed female competitors in hockey and swimming. Despite the 1920s introducing a number of changes that allowed women more freedom and engagement in society, there were still many limitations and conditions to these liberties. It would take several decades more for the aim of these reforms to become customary. In this sense, Riverton was far ahead of its time, as they permitted women to enjoy the thrill of competing far before the passing of Title IX, even though their choices were restricted. Not only did sports offer amusement for Riverton’s citizens, but an opportunity for them to test the limits of their bodies and minds.
With increased accessibility to Henry Ford’s model-T car taking the nation by storm, Rivertonians were no longer limited to activities within a walkable or horse and carriage distance from their homes. Purchasing a vehicle meant that they could adventure to surrounding communities more efficiently and participate in their fun without having to worry about using up the entire day. Whether this entailed a visit to the Maple Shade Fire Company’s carnival (Bowen 10), sending their children to Daily Vacation Bible school (Bowen 1) so they could have a few moments to themselves, or traveling to see the summer horse races in Mt. Holly (Bowen 6), the possession of an automobile meant an expanded range of entertainment on a day to day basis. Cars also enhanced the festivities at home, as they added another layer to Riverton’s Fourth of July celebrations. An automobile decorating contest would eventually join the town’s parade, yacht races, canoe and swimming events, music, and fireworks (Bowen 2). It’s safe to say that all Rivertonians found this quite fun, as many of the present-day transitions mirror that of Independence Day in the 1920s!
Although cars were revolutionary for the time period, they certainly weren’t essential for the Rivertonians to have a good time. The fun that took place within the Riverton community came from the time and effort that its citizens put towards making each other happy. These efforts weren’t reserved for the young students and families that would benefit from the PTA’s annual Christmas parties (Bowen 11), but also for the people exploring the path of life without children, who more than likely enjoyed the adult dress up competitions during the Knights of Columbus Halloween Frolic and Bal Masque (Bowen 5). There were no regulations on who could or couldn’t have fun in Riverton, all because of the strong bonds formed between its community members. It didn’t matter where they happened to be or when. Being in each others’ company was enough. The real question is, what didn’t Rivertonians do for fun?
Works Cited
Bowen, Walter L. “Bal Masque Brilliant: K. of C. Hallowe’en Frolic Proves Most Colorful Event”. The New Era, vol. 33, no. 44, 3 November 1922, pp. 5. New Jersey State Library Archives.
Bowen, Walter L. “Charter Luncheon at Porch Club”. The New Era, vol. 33, no. 19, 12 May 1922, pp. 6. New Jersey State Library Archives.
Bowen, Walter L. “Everybody Went to the Christmas Party”. The New Era, vol. 31, no. 51, 17 December 1920, pp. 11. New Jersey State Library Archives.
Bowen, Walter L. “League of Women Voters”. The New Era, vol. 33, no. 44, 3 November 1922, pp. 6. New Jersey State Library Archives.
Bowen, Walter L. “Porch Club”. The New Era, vol. 31, no. 10, 5 March 1920, pp. 2. New Jersey State Library Archives.
Bowen, Walter L. “Porch Club News”, The New Era, vol. 33, no. 44, 17 November 1922, pp. 14. New Jersey State Library Archives.
Bowen, Walter L. “Summer Horse Racing at Mt. Holly”. The New Era, vol. 31, no. 24, 11 June 1920, pp. 6. New Jersey State Library Archives.
Bowen, Walter L. “Swimming Carnival”. The New Era, vol. 31, no. 25, 18 June 1920, pp. 10. New Jersey State Library Archives.
Bowen, Walter L. “Tennis”. The New Era, vol. 31, no. 26, 25 June 1920, pp. 15. New Jersey State Library Archives
Bowen, Walter L. “The Fourth in Riverton”. The New Era, vol. 32, no. 26, 1 July 1921, pp. 2. New Jersey State Library Archives.
Bowen, Walter L. The New Era, vol. 32, no. 16, 22 April 1921, pp. 21. New Jersey State Library Archives.
Bowen, Walter L. “Vacation School Big Success”. The New Era, vol. 33, no. 31, 4 August 1922, pp. 1. New Jersey State Library Archives.
Bowen, Walter L. “Weekly News Budget for Riverton and Vicinity”. The New Era, vol. 31, no. 25, 18 June 1920, pp. 10. New Jersey State Library Archives.
Bowen, Walter L. “Y.W.C.A.”. The New Era, vol. 33, no. 7, 17 February 1922, pp. 10. New Jersey State Library Archives.
