In twelve seconds that changed the world in 1903, Wilbur and Orville Wright achieved the first successful powered airplane flight and soon seized the public’s imagination with the new technology that gave birth to the Age of Aviation.
“The decade after the Wright brothers flew at Kitty Hawk in 1903 witnessed a wide range of reactions to the new technology… The airplane had meaning for everyone—from popular enthusiasm for the pilots and their aerial exhibitions, to the commercial and military potential of aviation, to the broad cultural implications of flight, to the artistic expression it inspired.”
Why, even St. Nick would soon eschew his traditional sleigh with its eight flying reindeer and embrace the new powered flying machine as depicted on these early 20th century postcards. The mechanical powered flight by the two bicycle mechanics from Ohio inspired a public fascination with aviation, flight, and modern technologies which postcard artists of the era exploited to appeal to buyers.
John Winsch designed Joyful Christmas postcard 1913
Suddenly, postcard artists mixed the technological marvels of the day – dirigibles, hot-air balloons, and aeroplanes – with traditional holiday iconography and Santa’s transportation choice received an instant upgrade.
On December 17, 1903, Wilbur and Orville Wright successfully flew their powered aircraft for 12 seconds above the sand dunes of Kitty Hawk, NC. IMAGE CREDIT: nasa.gov
Come back next week to see more vintage Santa postcards with an aeronautical theme courtesy of collector, Harlan Radford, Jr.
The Borough of Riverton will hold a Veteran’s Day ceremony at the Riverton War Memorial on Sunday, November 11, 2012, at 11 a.m.
The Riverton Military & Veterans Affairs Committee will addthe following names of veterans to the memorial: Elton Catoe, Donald D’Amato, Alfred W. DeVece, Paul M. Hoad, William Ulrich, Anthony R. Wellens and George J.Mack.
The Historical Society of Riverton thanks all veterans for their service and is proud to exhibit the Riverton Veterans Honor Roll Album, a 55-page virtual scrapbook full of veterans’ service photos, news clippings from the hometown New Era newspaper, period advertisements, wartime posters, ration stamps, etc. We ask for the help of our readers in getting more photos of veterans for this online tribute to our hometown heroes.
This poster comes from the extensive website of the United States Department of Veterans Affairs. Have your kids ever asked you what the difference is between Veterans Day and Memorial Day? Or how either one started? Do they get mixed up about the different conflicts in which America has been involved – WWI, WWII, Korean War, Vietnam, Gulf War, Global War on Terror?
screenshots of various pages from the USDVA Teacher Resource
Do not assume that this USDVA Teacher Resource Guide is only for schools. There is plenty in it that may help a parent explain the legacy of Veterans Day, why we celebrate it, and how to properly thank our Nation’s servicemen and women for their sacrifices. Over twenty Student Resource pages include topics about flag etiquette, America’s wars, essay contests and scholarships, and for younger children, a play, coloring pages, and a maze.
There is probably some material in there for which we adults might learn or perhaps need some refreshing as well. The Veterans History Project on page 11 which features oral histories of veterans intrigued me.
Anyone interested in learning more about the Riverton Military & Veterans Affairs Committee should contact Mayor Wm. C. Brown, Jr. or Robert E. Smyth through contact info you can find on the Riverton Borough webpage. Visit our Riverton Veterans page for past posts about our veterans.
We hope to see you on Sunday. Is there any doubt whatsoever that the freedom we enjoy today is the direct result of the sacrifice of generations of veterans throughout our Nation’s history? – John McCormick, Gaslight News editor
This Clapsaddle card of a scared little boy that was reading ghost stories was postmarked on Halloween of 1912.
The century old postcard at left, courtesy of Moore’s Postcard Museum, is one reminder of how children of 1912 viewed All Hallows’ Eve and its still relatively new tradition of knocking on doors and asking for food or money that became known as “trick or treating.”
Kids of today will remember 2012, if for nothing else, as the year that Hurricane Sandy hijacked Halloween. Or at least, derailed it for a couple of days.
Governor Chris Christie signed an executive order on Wednesday, October 31, postponing Halloween until Monday, November 5.
Riding out Hurricane Sandy – Monday, 10/29/12 at 3 pm
After hearing from friends in Riverton and trading stories about how we weathered the storm, I post the following images, more for the benefit of those expatriated Rivertonians who wonder how their old hometown fared.
The image at right, from Riverton Yacht Club’s website, shows white-capped waves slamming against the dock leading to the historic Club House on the Delaware River. Note the debris on the grass above the river wall. If any reader knows the greatest water level that Sandy caused here, please advise. It must be historic.
View from the RYC Club House by Mark HorgerMark Horger: This is when I was leaving, Harry and I were upstairs for an hour. 10/29/2012 3:51PMView from upper level of RYC by Mark Horger
RYC member, Mark Horger, took some remarkable photos and posted them on facebook as the storm bore down on the riverbank, eliciting several “likes” and one expression of being lucky to have come out of it well.
According nj.com, the state climatologist at Rutgers University, David Robinson, called Sandy the worst storm New Jersey has seen.
We welcome any sailor’s observations or comments on the effects of the storm on Riverton in general, or specifically on the Yacht Club and the boat fleet.
Paul May on Cedar Street 10-30-2012 by Susan DechnikThe treees missed the cars and our house! – Susan Dechnikuprooted trees at riverbank by Susan Dechnikaftermath of Sandy by Susan Dechniknear Tenth and Main by Susan Dechniknear Tenth and Main by Susan DechnikSandy’s aftermath by Susan Dechnikuprooted tree by Susan Dechnik
Judging by these images sent in by Mrs. Susan Dechnik, Sandy diminished Riverton’s 2,474 tree census figure a bit.
She reported that a large tree fell near Tenth and Main and she lost a favorite weeping cherry tree in her own back yard on Cedar Street.
She counts herself lucky that it fell away from the house and downed trees on Cedar missed her parked cars.
All told, that is enough scariness for 2012. If this week simply goes down in history as the week that Halloween got postponed, then we can surely can count ourselves fortunate.
Trees can be replaced, broken roofs and windshields repaired, but keep mindful of the many who have suffered devastating losses to homes, business, and lives as a result of this history making storm. The hurricane that some called Frankenstorm turned out to be quite a monster, indeed.
The American Red Cross has a huge relief response underway to Sandy, providing thousands of people across several states with shelter, food, and comfort during this difficult time. You can make a financial donation by visiting www.redcross.org, by calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or by texting the word REDCROSS to 90999 to make a $10 donation.
We welcome your observations and comments and appreciate any note of an error made here.
My friend, former teaching partner at Riverton School, and current stringer for the Gaslight News, Mrs. Susan Dechnik, sends us these recently snapped photos of Riverton just in case some of you out there forget how magnificent your favorite Tree City looks in the fall.
Retired now, but ever the creative writer, she includes this rhyme:
Fall comes to Riverton
wearing autumn’s hues.
The lens of a camera
offers up these views.
Here is an even dozen photos which may have to substitute for your Fall Foliage Tour of Riverton since it seems that Hurricane Sandy is going to keep us housebound for a couple of days.
The National Arbor Day Foundation has recognized Riverton as a “TREE CITY USA” for the past 24 years. Visit the Shade Tree Commission’s page on the Borough website to find out about the work of Chairman, Mr. Barry Emens, and the Shade Tree Commission.
If for no other reason, Hurricane Sandy should prove memorable (shall I say historic?) for the school age children of Riverton since classes have been already cancelled for Monday and Tuesday “due to inclement weather conditions.”
After a few days of being housebound, the kids will be ready to riot if there is no Halloween. The Palmyra Halloween Parade facebook page reports that the parade scheduled for Tuesday, October 30 (Halloween Eve), has been postponed until Thursday, November 1st.
Surely the Riverton parents’ phone lines will be busy tomorrow planning what to do and when to do it for Halloween.
When Hurricane Irene struck here in August 2011, I posted a column with some photos supplied by Susan and Ivrie Myhre of cinnaminson.patch.com. I can pass along any photos or reports on how Riverton weathers the approaching Frankenstorm as long as my Comcast Cable and electricity hold out here in Delran.
“Greetings to One and All” Christmas postcard designed by Ellen Clapsaddle, 1909, scan provided by Harlan Radford, Jr.
To a historian, getting another vintage postcard scan and seeing these photographs of old Riverton is like getting an early Christmas present.
A frequent contributor of many classic postcard scans to our virtual museum here at rivertonhistory.com, Mr. Harlan Radford, Jr. wired a handful of these holiday confections over the miles to us, and we will share one or two with you each week as we countdown toward the Yuletide season.
Last March, Henry Parrish Hackett, a website visitor in North Carolina wrote:
“Hi. I just discovered the Riverton History blog and I’ve been having a ball going through it finding family photos.”
Thanks to his incredible memory, he even advised us of an error we made in identifying a person in an old family photo belonging to Mrs. Nancy Hall. The man that she thought was her grandfather, Ezra Lippincott, was actually Ezra’s father-in-law. See the photo here with the corrected caption.
When Henry was in this area on business in July, he visited his cousin Mrs. Nancy Hall (their grandmothers were daughters of Ezra Lippincott), at the home in Riverton she shares with husband Bill. Henry had offered that I meet with them to discuss some photos that he sent ahead to me by mail so that I could scan them for the Society.
Henry, or Hank as he is known by family and friends, carefully chronicled the people, places, and things in each photo, often elaborating with an anecdote or a family tale that gave context to these century old images.
“The Chocolate Cake” – address unknown
Hank’s grandparents, Bertha Lippincott Parrish and Henry C. Parrish, started married life in this house they called “The Chocolate Cake.” Hank doesn’t know the address. Can someone help?
901 Thomas Avenue, corner of Shrewsbury
Ezra Lippincott built the house at 901 Thomas Avenue for them in 1904, and it was there that Bertha gave birth to three of their four children. Their first child, Dillwyn, was born at her father’s on the river bank.
The photos below include captions that came from Hank’s memories of his Riverton ancestors and relatives.
Best friends at Swarthmore
Hank’s grandfather is pictured in this old metal tintype. The caption on the envelope in which it was stored reads, “Best friends at Swarthmore” Walter Clothier, (L); Henry Parrish, (R). wearing boaters
Front porch of 901 Thomas, 1914Bertha Lippincott Parrish, Henry C. Parrish, and daughter, Alice Parrish (Hank’s mother), on front porch at 901 Thomas Avenue, Sept. 1914.
Gathered around the Halls’ dining room table inspecting the photos that summer afternoon, we were all wondering about that item with the big cross on it.
Hank confirmed that the family was indeed devoutly Quaker and we wondered if they were involved in a war relief effort. They may well have been, but we cannot confirm it from this photo.
Red Cross Ad – The Westfield Leader, Weds Sept 16, 1914, p9
A subsequent google search of the phrase,”Neutrality in War – Humanity in Suffering” resulted in my conclusion that the item on the table is probably a newspaper advertisement with the headline,”Wanamaker Store is Closed Today – Labor Day” above the logo for the Red Cross with the slogan, apparently coined by John Wanamaker, used to appeal to the American people to contribute humanitarian aid for war ravaged Europe.
In 1914, America was still three years away from a formal declaration of war on Germany, but Philadelphia merchant John Wanamaker launched bold plans to help secure subscriptions and supplies from the public at official stations in his stores. The title of the publication on the table in the photo cannot be determined, but here is a similar ad that appeared in the September 16, 1914 issue of The Westfield Leader.
FOR SALE – 15 rms w/ river view – 303 Bank – Ezra Lippincott residence – note structures at rear of home that are not there today
Ezra Lippincott gave homes to each of his children in Riverton. His own home at 303 Banklater became the Baptist Home, or Riverview Estates, as it is known today.
Hank supplied this rare photo of his great-grandfather’s home when it was put up for sale after Ezra’s death in 1908. On the back it enumerated a long list of the estate’s features.
huge property which extended all the way back to Second Street
15 large rooms
two bathrooms
butler’s pantry
3 porches
conservatory
stables
tenant house
garden, fruit trees
beautiful outlook over Delaware River
Baptist Home, undated chrome postcard
The Baptist Home, now Riverview Estates, as depicted on a an undated chrome postcard.
Kate McLyndon, Lippincot family cookHank explained that Ezra Lippincott built a cottage built on his property for Kate McLyndon, the household cook, and her husband, the coachman for the estate. A couple of family tales survive about the colorful Irish domestic. Mrs. Nancy Hall recounted one about Kate and some faulty Strike Anywhere Matches in the March 2010 Gaslight News.
Hank told us another about how Kate admonished the local priest who came to visit because he hooked his heels over the rungs of her brand new wood settee.
A caption on the back reads: “Kate McLindon, Cook at Ezra Lippincott’s family from around 1878? until 1902 or even longer as I don’t know year she came. BLP”
This gathering of possibly preteen girls with their doll babies took place on the porch of Ezra Lippincott’s home at 303 Bank Avenue. Left to right: Edith Coale, Alice Lippincott (Booth), Mary Lippincott (Griscom), Nannie Biddle, Anna Lippincott
Riverton Tea Party – Elsie Biddle, Frishmuth Twins, Bertha Lippincott
Hank guessed that this playhouse was probably located either at Ezra Lippincott’s, Frishmuth’s, or Biddle’s. Can any reader confirm?
Icebergs on the Delaware – Feb. 1900 – Bertha Lippincott, her dog Bevis, and her nieces Anna and Betty Miller
Few people today can recall seeing the Delaware River frozen over to the extent shown in this photo, captioned, “Icebergs on the Delaware.”
Chickens on 901 Thomas Avenue, Alice and Henry Parrish
Speaking of things of which today’s children might be skeptical, here is a photo showing chickens being raised at 901 Thomas Avenue with young Alice and Henry Parrish looking on.
901 Thomas Avenue901 Thomas Ave. as photographed August 1936 by utility company
Two more pics of the Parrish homestead.
Finally, here are some more “recent” photos from 1945.
July 4, 1945 – Main Street ParadeJuly 4, 1945 Children at the riverbankJuly 4, 1945 – Jimmy Hackett is in the sailor suit
A Merry Christmas – by H.I. Robbins, 1907
Like I said, it was like getting a Christmas present in July. Thank you, Henry Parrish Hackett, for this peek into your family photo album and the glimpses into Riverton’s past. And thank you to postcard collector Harlan Radford for these first two vintage Christmas postcard images in our weekly Countdown to Christmas.
As families gather and reminisce during the days ahead, see if your own family albums don’t have some views of old Riverton to share with your neighbors here at rivertonhistory.com.
As always, we welcome reader submissions, contributions, and appreciate receiving corrections to anything that we have posted in error.
Here is a 7 minute: 48 sec. highlight video of Riverton’s Fourth of July Parade. It is a big WMV file download and will take several minutes to download even with a hi-speed connection.
Note to self: Figure out how to provide streaming video for these big files.
I did not make it to the Raft Race or other activities in the park, but if you send me any stills or video, l will try to post them. – John McCormick, Gaslight News editor
Franny Cole, Riverton’s 2012 July Fourth Children’s Parade Grand Marshal
We received the sad news recently from his lifelong friend, Mr. Carl McDermott, that Francis (Franny) Cole the subject of a Society oral history interview and the Grand Marshal of the 2012 July Fourth Parade passed away Friday, July 20. Franny was 91 and Carl had known him since he was eight years old.
I had known him for a fraction of that time, but was always touched by the warm personality, joy, and optimism of this extraordinary gentleman.
The obituary as printed in the Burlington County Times can be found here.
We reprise below references to Mr. Cole as found in the Gaslight News and this website.
Gaslight News – February 2011 “Cole Dairy oral history video & Rivertonhistory.com – Mr. Francis Cole’s 31 min. video and hands-on tour of refurbished HSR website on next agenda”
Here is the oral history we videotaped with Franny in 2010 in three parts, about 30 minutes total. Mr. Francis Cole Remembers Cole DairyPart 1, Part 2, Part 3.
Fran’s name is listed on slide #4 and a 1944 photo of him in US Army uniform is on slide #33. Click here to download the 51MB PowerPoint Slideshow of the Riverton Veterans Honor Roll Album. – John McCormick, Gaslight News editor
Bouquets of patriotic red, white, and blue decorations have burst into bloom this past week as Riverton readies for its 115th “Glorious Fourth.”
Patriotic displays have sprouted up all over town – Jim McQuaide, manager of Tristate HVAC, has decked out the landmark building for its first Independence Day under new ownership.Now if the predicted thunderstorms will just hold off, the shoreline (shown above on July 2) should be awash in a flood of spectators viewing the Sixth Annual Great Riverton Raft Race at about 5:30 p.m. tomorrow.
2012 July 4th Program – Click on image to download PDF file of entire bookletYou can see the entire schedule of events in the 2012 July 4th Program found here. Click here for the official website of the July 4th Committee.
The cover illustration from this year’s July Fourth Program shows an image of the famous “Riverton Nine” baseball team of 1872 taken from the baseball memorabilia collection of Bob Beishline of Palmyra.
Bob Beishline’s original photo of 1872 Riverton baseball teamIn 2002, Bob, Mike Robinson, Betty Hahle and a few others were among the first to help me start what has eventually grown into a huge virtual online collection of vintage images by kindly letting me scan their postcard collections.
Bill Hall’s Sporting Life clippingLater, Bill Hall provided me with a Sporting Life magazine clipping showing the same team. When I showed the photos during a presentation at a Society meeting, it was William Harris who explained the caption in the photo. FREDERICK K. MOORE CENTER simply meant that Moore was in the center.
“Frannie” Cole, 1938 Riverton Athletic Assn. baseball team
All of this concern about baseball is because Mr. Fran Cole, HSR member and lifetime resident of Riverton, who is Parade Marshall this year, used to be quite a baseball athlete and remains among the most fanatic of Phillies fans. He was even inducted into the Palmyra High School Sports Hall of Fame.
As a result of interviewing Mr. Cole about his memories as a young man working for his grandparents’ Cole Dairy during the 1930s, I had several photos of Fran from his baseball playing days. (See related 2010 Gaslight News story here and his oral history interview in three segments here: Mr. Francis Cole Remembers Cole Dairy Part 1, Part 2, Part 3. )
Fran Cole – photo by Bennett Landsman
So by an extraordinary amount of luck and best laid plans we here at the Society just happened to be able to help out July Fourth Committee Chairperson, Mrs. Tracy Hansen Foedisch, when she asked for a hand with supplying some images for this year’s program booklet. It’s nice when we can help reveal some part of Riverton’s past with what we have collected. In a past post I compared the task to completing a jigsaw puzzle.
It is an extraordinary privilege, and no small responsibility, to be able to curate the archives of the Historical Society of Riverton for the use of Rivertonians. As family and friends congregate during this July Fourth celebration, may I interrupt for a commercial message?
Please help preserve Riverton history by donating your Riverton related photos, collectibles, documents, and memorabilia, or at least send us a scan or photo. If you can help us in this endeavor, please contact us.
2012 July 4th Palm Card – both sides
During the parade HSR members Paul Daly, Gerald Weaber, and myself will be distributing this year’s edition of the Historical Society’s July 4th Palm Cards. The earliest one I have of these is from 1987. Former HSR President Dan Campbell may have started the tradition which seems to have continued through 2004 when it apparently stopped.
We resumed the tradition again last year when HSR Treasurer Paul Daly wondered out loud, ” How come we don’t give out those cards on July Fourth anymore?” (See more July 4th Palm Cards here.) If you have any cards for years not shown in this list, please send us a scan of both sides. July 4th Palm Cards: 1987-1990, 1993-1995, 1997, 1999, 2000-2004.
Tristate HVAC, a former post office, decked out for Independence DayIf you have some time to kill, type “July 4” or “July Fourth” in the search box at the top right of the home page. That should result in many hits for earlier posts and images related to the holiday.
Have a Glorious and Safe Fourth of July wherever you find yourself. Check back here later for more July Fourth posts. – John McCormick, Gaslight News editor
