FIRST - Public School - Haddonfield, NJ - First of its Kind on Waymarking.com

This marker is really beautiful. It is as official as a local municipality can get with a historical remembrance. It is surrounded by flag stone and ivy with a bench in front. The marker just celebrated fifty years. An engraving of the Old Grove School appears on the top of the marker. The marker reads

It was deeded by William E. Hopkins from land which came down through the family from Elizabeth Haddon and here the Grove School was built. Mr. Hopkins wanted all the children of the village to have educational opportunity. Up to that time, the Friends was the only school in Haddonfield. On July 7th, 1855, the Old Grove School became the first public school in Haddonfield. It was understood that any religious group could hold service here and three of our churches met and were organized in the Grove School; The Baptist - 1818, The Methodist - 1829, the Episcopal - 1842. Also Mount Pisgah Methodists - 1887, Mt. Olive Baptist - 1892

The marker is at the intersection of Grove Street and Lake Street, on the left when traveling west on Grove Street. It is mounted on a rock and surrounded by landscaping, flanked by benches. It sits in front of the site where the school house once stood. The marker was erected by the Haddonfield Chapter Daughters of the American Revolution, assisted by The Board of Education and the Haddonfield Commissioners.

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