Exploring Haddonfield: A look into Haddonfield history
Haddonfield’s story starts in 1682. The first settler of the area was a Quaker named Francis Collins, who built a plantation named Mountwell. Shortly after, the plantation was bought by a different Quaker named John Haddon, who was notably a friend of William Penn’s. Haddon, a London businessman, was often discriminated against for his religion. The Haddon family was thus eager to establish a Quaker community in the New World for religious freedom. John Haddon sent his daughter, Elizabeth Haddon, to occupy and claim the plantation in 1701.
“She came as a 21-year-old… and she, with her father’s vision, is the one who establishes the town,” said accredited Haddonfield historian Doug Rauschenberger. Rauschenberger served two terms as the president of the Haddonfield Historical Society, and co-wrote two books called “Lost Haddonfield” (1999) and Arcadia-published “Haddonfield” (2008). He remains involved in the Society and currently acts as the Chair of the Archives Committee.
While Elizabeth Haddon was guided by her father, she also held his same beliefs. In 1721, with a deed for an acre of land given by her father, she built a log Quaker meetinghouse called the Friends Meeting. She was also a good businesswoman. She sold land and incentivized tradesmen to come to the town.
“She was probably the wealthiest woman in South Jersey when she died…in 1762,” said Rauschenberger, citing the perspective of Jeffery M. Dorwart, who co-authored an autobiography on Elizabeth Haddon.
It helped that Haddonfield was stationed between the old towns of Burlington and Salem, right where the Cooper River crosses King’s Highway– an ideal spot in South Jersey.
“It was inevitable that at that juncture, a town was going to form,” said Rauschenberger.
Hence, with this location and Elizabeth Haddon’s efforts, Haddonfield prospered and grew quickly. In 1750, a new meetinghouse was built that was larger and made of bricks, and in 1764, the Friendship Fire Company, now known as the Haddon Fire Company No. 1, was established. Transportation through the Cooper River facilitated the movement of goods before there were roads, and it was a bustling center of commerce that many farmers went to for essential goods. Across the river, though, was another developing area: Philadelphia.
“This became a great bonus… so goods coming into New Jersey and even going as far as the [New Jersey] Shore would come in through Haddonfield and then be transported via wagons [and more] as far away as Egg Harbor,” said Rauschenberger.
Then came the Revolution, and after, when a railroad opened between Philadelphia and Atlantic City in the latter half of the 1800s, Haddonfield transitioned into a railroad suburb.
“The train coming, I think, changed everything. It allowed people to become commuters into Philadelphia and Camden,” said Rauschenberger; the railroad contributed to Haddonfield’s continued expansion. “[In] the Victorian Era, a lot of people were Philadelphians who came to get out of the city in the summer; Haddonfield almost became a summer resort,” said Rauschenberger.
In 1850, the population was around 800, but by 1900 it had at least quadrupled. The growth would only speed up as the town became an automobile suburb after the building of the Delaware River Bridge in 1926, now known as the Benjamin Franklin Bridge. Commuting to urban hubs like Philadelphia was made even easier. It did not take long for Haddonfield to fully develop; the remaining farms fell to housing development.
Many of the original colonial buildings have long since disappeared, but there are some buildings that remain from that general time period. The famous Indian King Tavern is one such building that now hosts a museum. Birdwood, Boxwood Hall, and Gibbs Tavern were all built in the late 1700s. The original house of Elizabeth Haddon is not one of them, however, as it burned down in 1842. By that point, it had already passed out of the Haddon-Hopkins family. The house that currently stands on 201 Wood Lane was built on the foundations of its predecessor. The only original part now is the brewery at the back of the property.
Still, not all of the colonial “feel” of the town is authentic. Like the rest of the country, Haddonfield suffered from the Great Depression in the 1930s; there were many vacant properties, and the downtown area was a mix of architectural styles.
“In the 1940s, right as World War II was ending, businessmen…pushed the colonial aspect of the town…and so a lot of the buildings’ facades were changed back to a more colonial or semi-colonial look,” said Rauschenberger.
The history of Haddonfield and its origins could go on forever. The town is ripe with stories still waiting to be discovered. The Haddonfield Historical Society provides tours around town, sometimes led by Rauschenberger and other historians. A forthcoming book from the Society is planned to be released in 2027 detailing Haddonfield, the American Revolution, and the Quaker response.
During the American Revolution, Haddonfield became a meeting point for revolutionaries and military leaders. Located between Philadelphia and southern New Jersey, the town was a frequent stop for messengers and members of the Continental Army.
Although Haddonfield attempted to limit its involvement in the Revolutionary War due to its Quaker beliefs, the town was unable to avoid being affected because of its location. The New Jersey militia used the town as a rendezvous since Haddonfield was located at a crossroads and positioned close to Philadelphia. General Marquis de Lafayette, a French nobleman who joined the American cause, was known to have stayed in Haddonfield during the war. Troops from the Continental Army also passed through since taverns and homes were available to be used as resting stops.
Other than its political significance, Haddonfield was also an example of colonial life during wartime. Families made their own butter, sewed clothes, and rationed out candlelight. Children kept up with reading and scriptures at home or in small groups, and adults stayed updated through newspapers and information from neighbors. However, the American Revolution disrupted colonial life in Haddonfield— war brought foraging raids, confiscation of property, and ongoing skirmishes for control of roads and resources.
The Indian King Tavern, now a state-owned museum, is an important historical site. From 1777 to 1873, the building operated as a tavern, offering food, drink, lodging, and conversation for travelers and locals. Most significantly, the Indian King Tavern is where New Jersey worked towards statehood during the Revolution; additionally, the Great Seal of New Jersey was adopted by the legislature.
A year later, in June of 1778, the Redcoats invaded Haddonfield and were challenged by the Continental Army. Today, The Friends of the Indian King Tavern Museum presents this battle, dubbed the Haddonfield Skirmish, every summer, reenacting the historic battle between the British Redcoats and Continental troops. Various activities are offered as well, such as colonial dancing, sword-fighting, a yelling contest, and pony rides.
Haddonfield’s history is preserved even today—many of the homes and buildings from the Revolutionary era still exist along King’s Highway, Haddonfield’s main historic street.
In October 1858, paleontologist William Parker Foulke discovered the partial skeleton of an enormous herbivorous dinosaur in a marlpit, which previously belonged to a historic farm in Haddonfield.
Environmental Scientist and Naturalist Joseph Leidy later analyzed these skeletal remains, classifying them as a Hadrosaurus foulkii dinosaur in the 19th century. This discovery marks history as the first discovered near-complete dinosaur skeletal collection. Leidy’s analysis has opened paleontologists’ up to a much more complex and comprehensive view of dynamic and bipedal creatures.
The discovery of the Hadrosaurus foulkii was revolutionary through its impact on the process by which paleontologists use remains to craft a body structure rather than just relying on the original skeletal remains. In 1868, the Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University in Philadelphia not only developed a restoration of what the hadrosaurus foulkii could have looked like, but also made it available to be viewed by the public through a mounted exhibit, becoming the first mounted dinosaur skeleton exhibition in the United States. It is also showcased in Haddonfield as a bronze sculpture of a Hadrosaurus foulkii on a street known as Lantern Lane.
Haddonfield remains a powerful addition to New Jersey and its history, and the Hadrosaurus foulkii is another example of this. The Hadrosaurus foulkii was named as New Jersey’s state dinosaur in 1991, further establishing its position as a symbol of Haddonfield’s identity, along with the Hadrosaurus foulkii Leidy discovery site, which has been considered a National Historic Landmark since 1994.
Additionally, the discovery has served as a way to communicate and spread knowledge and culture. The scientific discovery within the town not only brings tourists from around the state to the area, but also preserves the historical image of Haddonfield through the exhibition and the Leidy Site. It has also led to an increased sense of public participation and interest in natural history due to heightened attraction to the many attractions honoring the discovery.
In 2025, tourists often walk through the streets of Haddonfield, stopping by the Hadrosaurus foulkii model to take a photo without even realizing that they are standing on the very ground where historical discoveries were made. Regardless, what is left of the fossil remains, nearly 170 years later from the original marlpit, leaves a lasting impact on today’s society. It stands strong in Haddonfield as a key reminder in connecting the past with the future, and the impact that even the biggest historical discoveries can sometimes evolve from the tiniest of towns.
For one of New Jersey’s oldest municipalities, Haddonfield, preserving its history has been an ongoing effort. The community mission dates back more than a century and is carried forward by a long list of preservationists, volunteers, and advocates who have worked to conserve the town’s historic core. In this story, Eastside explores a few of the organizations and individuals who keep Haddonfield’s heritage alive, the preservation challenges they face today, and their plans for the future.
The Historical Society of Haddonfield (1914)
1914 marked the 200th anniversary of Haddonfield, yet it also marked the birth of an enduring legacy of preservation in the town. Recognizing the need for a historical society, three residents—Julia Bedford Gill, Samuel Nicholson Rhoads, and James Lane Pennypacker—came together to sponsor the creation of the Historical Society in Haddonfield (HSH) at the Indian King Tavern.
The HSH stands as one of the most prominent organizations in maintaining the town’s history. Primarily volunteer-run, it has dedicated itself to safeguarding and sharing Haddonfield’s past for over a century through its conservation of historic buildings and collection of artifacts.
The Society maintains two historically-significant structures: Greenfield Hall, which was the third residence of Haddonfield’s founder, Elizabeth Haddon, and now serves as the headquarters and house museum of the Society; and the Samuel Mickle House, believed to be one of the oldest houses in Haddonfield. The HSH also contains an archive for historical records and documents, all stored in the Patricia Lennon Archives Center & Research Library, built in 2022. In its current efforts, the archives center is working to digitize its materials to enhance public accessibility.
Today, the HSH welcomes the community and its residents to learn more about the past, holding lectures, tours, and book club discussions open to the public.
Joan Aiken
Among the many figures active in the preservation effort of Haddonfield, there are few as important as Joan Aiken.
1967 marked the start of another historic preservation organization in Haddonfield: the Haddonfield Preservation Society, a grassroots advocacy group. Founded by Joan Aiken, who served as the society’s executive director for most of its existence, one of the most significant contributions still seen today is the creation of the Historic District. Its ordinance was adopted in 1971, allowing Haddonfield to become the second municipality in NJ to have a historic district after Cape May. The Historic District is listed in the National Register of Historic Places.
As an area in the center of Haddonfield, the Historic District represents the town’s historic core and encompasses around 488 properties recognized as historic. The Historic District aims to protect its properties by having all structural additions and alterations overseen by the Historic Preservation Commission. In a time when the demolition and neglect of historical sites are rising trends, the creation of the Historic District means the recognition and maintenance of the histories of the buildings.
“[Aiken] single-handedly spearheaded this idea that Haddonfield should have a historic district,” said Ellen Stone, a long-term Haddonfield resident who has dedicated years to preserving its history. “It’s unbelievable—her foresight, because she pushed to get this done, and it wasn’t an easy thing, and our historic district is on the National Register. Now today, I look back and think, had she not, my guess is many beautiful, beautiful homes would have been ripped down because there would be no ordinance to protect them. So that’s the beauty of what she did.
The Haddonfield Preservation Society disbanded in the late 1990s, and Aiken passed away in 2004 at age 82. Yet, looking back, Aiken undoubtedly left a resounding impact on Haddonfield and has left a legacy reflected upon and appreciated by many.
Historic Preservation Commission
Following the adoption of the Historic District ordinance in 1971, the Historic Preservation Commission (HPC) came about in extension. The HPC is a board of seven members—five voting members, and two alternates—that meets monthly.
The HPC works in coordination with the Historic District by overseeing and approving all alterations homeowners wish to make to their houses. In this process, they advise the Planning and Zoning Board on the applications and promote historical preservation, not through hands-on action like the HSH, but rather—and just as importantly—through their advisory role. By doing so, they limit and prevent the unnecessary destruction, demolition, or removal of certain historical features of the buildings.
Despite the countless preservation efforts in the Haddonfield community, it’s also important to acknowledge the rising trend of demolition of historical sites seen both locally and nationally.
Take, for example, the famous White House East Wing in Washington, D.C., the historic Andrew McNally House in California, and the iconic Sheraton Crossroads Hotel of Mahwah, NJ. — all of these being just a few of the many historic buildings lost this year. Whether from natural disasters, neglect, or urban development, these patterns have led to the demolition of numerous historical buildings.
Even with the many advocacy groups and individuals dedicated to protecting the town’s history, this trend can also be seen in Haddonfield. For instance, in the 1960s, many developers wished to tear down much of Haddonfield’s historic district for commercial developments. Today, this desire for demolition is still present.
“Quite frankly, there is no jurisdiction over the homes outside of the historic district,” said Ellen Stone, also a current board member of the HPC and a former board member of the HSH. “They can tear down and build. And a lot of that’s going on in Haddonfield. It’s kind of depressing because that’s what makes this town so unique. When you go to Europe,… you see buildings that have been preserved many, many more years than what we have here in the States. And you say to yourself: it can be done, and it should be done. But that’s a point of contention.”
In response to this, the HPC is looking to expand its protective scope to include historical structures outside the Historic District. Meanwhile, another plan is being made to spread awareness and education on the town’s history. This is the installation of informational plaques on the houses within the Historical District, led by Ellen Stone.
“For years, I thought to myself, here in South Jersey, first off, Haddonfield is [one of the oldest communities] in the state of New Jersey, so it seems strange to me that we’ve never had any kind of plaqueage or signage on homes,” said Stone. “What we’re going to do is we’re going to be putting plaques up on people’s homes with the date that the house was built. It’s a big, big, big endeavor because it requires a lot of research. That’s the hardest part of it.”
As Haddonfield continues its preservation endeavors during a time of growing demolition, Haddonfield remains one of New Jersey’s most historic towns, rich in stories that are protected by the continued commitment of its members.