All Around Pennsauken

By Robert Fisher-Hughes, Pennsauken Historical Society

This month’s first Sunday falls on Sept. 3, Labor Day weekend, and our Township’s historic connection to Labor Day will be marked as both our homes for history are open from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m., featuring an exhibit of Labor Day history and memorabilia at Griffith Morgan House. Burrough-Dover House will also offer tours and its lovely grounds are always a great spot for recreation or a picnic, especially when the hospitality of the house is available.

The annual meeting of the Pennsauken Historical Society, joined by the Griffith Morgan Committee, will be held on Thursday, Sept. 21, 7:00 p.m., at the Pennsauken Free Public Library, 5605 N. Crescent Blvd. This year will feature a presentation by Mary Groce, who has extensively researched the story of her great uncle, Emory Conrad Malick, a true pioneer as a pilot licensed in 1912, who flew over Pennsylvania and New Jersey and had direct connection to the airfield that grew into Pennsauken’s Central Airport. His story also reveals a pioneer of equality, as Emory Conrad Malick, an African American, fulfilled his dreams of flight against all odds. This account is also one of discovery for our presenter, Mary Groce, who has appeared at the Camden County Historical Society and continues her research into this fascinating and personal story.

History repeats itself, they say, and never with better reason than the return of our fall festival at Burrough-Dover House on Saturday, Sept. 23, from noon to 4:00 p.m. The old house and its beautiful grounds will be lively with activities and crafts that hark back to the colonial era and the early republic, when the Burrough family and the succeeding Dover family farmed, raised children, and lived lives so different and so like our own. Pens made from feathers, ink made from walnuts, dolls made from cornhusks, cream churned into butter, games made of wood, and cobs and fun; anything can happen at the fall festival! Tours of house and museum, crafts and activities, refreshments offered and much more will make the 2017 fall festival at Burrough-Dover House truly historic!

Also, don’t forget that both Griffith Morgan House and Burrough-Dover House will both be open again for the on Oct. 1 with free admission from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. Tours of house and museum, news about history, and events to come as we prepare to present the past!

Burrough-Dover House is located at 9201 Burrough-Dover Lane off Haddonfield Rd., opposite the Wyndam Rd. traffic light. Griffith Morgan House is located at 243 Griffith Morgan Lane off River Rd. between Delair and Route 73. In addition to public events, both homes are open for tours, events and research by prior appointment.

Visit the Griffith Morgan House or Pennsauken Historical Society pages or the group “Pennsauken History Forum” on Facebook for more details or directions or call (856) 486-9561 and leave a message for more information or e-mail to pennsaukenhistoricalsociety@gmail.com. Be sure to contact Pennsauken Historical Society or Griffith Morgan Committee about volunteer opportunities!