Bordentown Celebrates 325th Anniversary

Historic Bordentown celebrated its 325th Anniversary with a parade. The parade was held in 2007 on the afternoon of September 30th, starting at 2:00 and ending around 3:30. It was a beautiful day - warm in the sunshine and cool, but still warm, in the shade. Bordentown residents began lining the tree-lined sidewalks along Farnsworth Avenue well before the start of the parade. Everyone was in a great mood and on their best behavior. Vendors hawked their wares along Farnsworth Avenue and its side streets, selling balloons, trinkets for the kiddies, hotdogs with the works, and hot, "New York" style pretzels from makeshift shopping carts. Stores lining the streets were open selling ice cream, fastfood, and serving lunch outdoors. Even Jesters, the Italian eatery mainstay of Bordentown, which is usually closed on Sundays, was open. Homeowners fired up the grills for the end of the season and barbecued in their gardens. Parents brought the kiddies and, indeed, it was a day for the kids and the kid in all of us. Moms and dads, aunts and uncles, and grandmoms and granddads, lined the streets. Early on there were many empty chairs roped off or with signs that said "reserved for" lining the streets waiting for the excited specters to arrive to observe the parade. And when paraders threw candy along the way, both adults and kiddies scrambled for the Halloween treats.

And what a parade it was! There were no clowns, but there were Budweiser Clydesdales (followed by two heroes who willingly cleaned up any droppings to thunderous applause), a horse drawn hearse by the Bordentown Home For Funerals, several nearby and local Police and Fire Departments. There was Sally Starr riding in an open car who could have used a thick telephone book to sit on! There were the beautiful Miss New Jersey 2007, Miss Deaf New Jersey, and Mrs. New Jersey smiling and waving and posing for pictures. Surprisingly or not so surprisingly, Stephenie LaGrosso ("Survivor" Palau and Guatemala) was one of the biggest hits, willingly posing for pictures. A couple of slightly overweight spectators were heard to comment, "She's so thin and beautiful." With the response, "You would be, too, if you had been on an island starving for two months. Maybe we should join 'Survivors'!" There was also Amy Polumbo; Bill Henley and Lori Wilson, Co-Hosts of the 10! Show on NBC 10; Trenton Thunders own mascot. Boomer; and B101's on Buzzbee mascot there.

There were lots of bands. There was the Duffy String Band, the Original Hobo Band in their colorful, "ragged" clothing, a band of Scots in skirts playing the bagpipes, an Irish band sporting shamrocks, other local bands, and several local school marching bands playing some rockin' music. Several girls' and boys' scout and cub pack troops walked. Owners of vintage cars joined the parade with one gentleman driving an original Ford Quadricycle, built in 1896! And lo and behold there was the Mayberry Memories with a clone of Don Knotts mugging for the spectators and cameras as the character, Barney Fife, from the old "Andy Giffith" show back in the early '60's. There were several couples dressed in costumes representing the 18th, 19th, and 20th century, including the Roarin' 20's, the 30's, and some Bobbie Soxers representing the 50's wearing poodle skirts. All this grand fun was brought to a close by the rousing music and dance performances of the Baltimore Wesiders. Overall there were over 40 groups participating in this event, including local families, Bordentown Township Senior Citizens, Hamilton Pal Twirlers, Boyd's Pharmacy, Elks Club, Rotary club, EJS Insurance, the Yacht Club, Bordentown Water Rescue, the Environmental Commission, BMI Alumni, the Bordentown Regional High School Football team, HOB Tavern, Bordentown Library, the Downtown Bordentown Association, Ocean County Community College Interpreters for the Deaf program, the Goddard School, and St. Mary's School.

A good time was had by all. Historic Bordentown celebrates its anniversary only once every 25 years. So if you missed this weekend's events, you have another chance in 2032!