As we come to the end of 2024 and look forward to the new year, here’s a look back at the top stories in Bordentown.
The faces on the mural at the Woodlin Lodge No. 30 tell that of a storied African American history in Bordentown City. Members of the Woodlin Lodge No. 30 (right), march into the dedication ceremony of the mural that was held in November.
Woodlin Lodge Mural
The faces on the mural at the Woodlin Lodge No. 30 tell that of a storied African American history in Bordentown City.
For Leon Stanley, founder of Bordentown Arts, learning of the history has been quite an experience.
The mural project began when Stanley approached John Piercy of the Lodge about the possibility of a mural in Aug. 2022.
“I knew nothing about the lodge,” Stanley admitted.
But once Piercy and the Brothers of Woodlin Lodge No. 30 expressed interest in a mural, Stanley “pretty quickly went down this rabbit hole of African American Bordentown history.”
“I was just overwhelmed with the stories and depth and contributions that had been made and a lot of stories that we don’t hear a lot about,” Stanley said. “Bordentown City is a very historic place … it’s been an incredibly humbling and spiritual experience.”
Father and son muralists, Peter and Pete Bieling of Bieling Artworks of Burlington, began painting the mural on Oct. 9. And with 40 days straight of no rain, the mural was completed with a dedication ceremony in November. Sherwin Williams donated the paint for the mural.
The faces on the mural includes Prince Hall, founder of Prince Hall Freemasonry; Joshua Woodlin, African Methodist Episcopal (A.M.E.) pastor and lodge namesake; Rev. Walter Rice, A.M.E. pastor and founder of the “Bordentown School, also known as the Manual/Industrial School; Charles W. Campbell, past Woodlin Lodge worshipful master; Anna Kershaw Conley, School No. 2 teacher who then became the first Black teacher to teach white kids after the state desegregated schools in 1947; William Hastie, manual training school faculty member and federal judge and Dr. Ivory M. Buck, a prominent Prince Hall freemason.
Other faces include Floyd Little, Bordentown Military Institute alumni and Denver Broncos halfback; Ishod Wair, a professional skateboarder; Dionne Farris, Bordentown High School Class of 1987, singer, and Grammy nominee; James Monroe Gregory, principal at the Bordentown Manual Training School; Arthur Symes, former Manual School student and dean of the School of Architecture at Southern University; William J. Simmons, educator, pastor and activist; and William F. Powell, an educator, principal of school No. 2 and minister to Haiti.
Among the faces, the mural depicts the Order of the Eastern Star, the Woodlin Lodge No. 30 logo, The Manual Training and Industrial School for Colored Youth, runaway slaves, The Gilder House, an Underground Railroad safe house and the North Star.
New Jersey Department of Transportation Acting Commissioner Francis O’Connor memorialized that the state is “repairing, not replacing” the historic Farnsworth Avenue bridge. As the oldest stone masonry arch bridge spanning a railway in the entire country, the historical and geological implications of replacing the bridge would have been significant.
Farnsworth Avenue bridge
News of “repairing, not replacing” the historic Farnsworth Avenue bridge was welcome news to Bordentown City as a whole in June.
New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT) Acting Commissioner Francis O’Connor memorialized the decision in a letter to Bordentown City Mayor Jennifer Sciortino on Sept. 18.
“The department will move forward with a project to repair the Farnsworth Avenue Bridge over the railroad tracks rather than the originally planned replacement of the bridge,” O’Connor stated in the letter.
“By changing the scope of the project, NJDOT will investigate what kind of repairs can be done to improve the structural integrity of the bridge in a manner that minimizes the impact to both vehicular and pedestrian traffic, as well as rail traffic.”
As the oldest stone masonry arch bridge spanning a railway in the entire country, the historical and geological implications of replacing the bridge would have been significant. Farnsworth Avenue was expected to be closed to traffic for upwards of two years if the bridge were to be replaced, and the physical and economic impact on the surrounding community could have been potentially devastating, city officials had said.
In 2019, NJDOT had proposed plans to replace the bridge calling it “deficient.” In the proposal, Farnsworth Avenue would be closed for a two-year period. The Veterans Memorial was going to be removed and stored during bridge construction and then reassembled once the construction was complete.
Together, city officials, Sen. Troy Singleton’s office, and a number of city organizations rallied. They met and communicated with DOT officials numerous times, passed a governing body resolution, and signed petitions to advocate for repairing, rather than replacing the bridge.
Make-A-Wish
With his infectious smile, Ayden Ugo-Alum raised his arms in the air as he walked arm in arm with his mom, Shawntell Manning, and his twin sister Aya.
It was the morning of Aug. 5 and he had just walked into his Make-A-Wish held at the Bordentown Elks Lodge No. 2085 to have the entire community celebrate he and his sister’s 10th birthday with all his favorites.
Along with his family and friends, members of the Bordentown Elks Lodge, members of Make-A-Wish New Jersey, Bordentown Township Mayor Eugene Fuzy, members of the Bordentown Township Police Department, fire department, New Jersey State Police and community members were on hand to make his wish a reality.
“When our chapter started over 40 years ago, we had one mission in mind and that was to create life changing changes for kids with critical illnesses and that is exactly why we are here today,” said Nicole Rivera, who is vice president of Mission Delivery for Make-A-Wish New Jersey and has been making wishes possible for three years.
“We are here because of this young boy Ayden. Our team had the pleasure of meeting Ayden just a brief time ago when we invited him to our home, the Samuel & Josephine Plumeri Wishing Place, that we affectionally like to call it, the castle (in Monroe Township, Middlesex County).
“Ayden welcomed us with a huge hug,” Rivera recalled. “He declared his fondest wish would be to host a party for his community and thank them for all that they have done for him and his family.
“Ayden I’m here today to tell you, your wish is going to be granted.”
With the news, Ayden happily smiled and clapped.
Fuzy presented Ayden with a township proclamation as well as a key to the township.
“The township received a call from Make-A-Wish Foundation New Jersey and we are thrilled to make this wish a reality,” he said. “Through the efforts of Make-A-Wish New Jersey, the Bordentown Elks, who did a lot of the heavy lifting and the township, this day was made possible.”
Last April, Ayden was diagnosed with Cerebral Adrenoleukodystrophy (ALD) a rare non-curable genetic brain disease, that doctors say will quickly take his vision, hearing, mobility, and ultimately his life.
The day finally came for Bordentown City to officially rename the Bordentown Post Office in honor of American icon Clara Barton, founder of the American Red Cross. Members of the Bordentown Historical Society were joined by Congressman Andy Kim, who introduced and passed the bill to rename the post office ahead of Barton’s 200th birthday year.
Clara Barton
The day finally came for Bordentown City to officially rename the Bordentown Post Office in honor of American icon Clara Barton, founder of the American Red Cross.
Bordentown Historical Society’s co-president Bonnie Goldman was in period dress as the icon to welcome everyone on March 24 in front of the post office at 14 Walnut St.
Members of the Bordentown Historical Society were joined by Congressman Andy Kim, who introduced and passed the bill to rename the post office ahead of Barton’s 200th birthday year, Bordentown Deputy Mayor Joe Myers, and Rosie Taravella, CEO of American Red Cross New Jersey.
Kim had introduced the bill in 2019 and it was co-sponsored by every member of New Jersey’s bipartisan delegation and ultimately passed in 2021.
“Clara Barton’s leadership has left a lasting legacy in Bordentown, New Jersey, and throughout our country,” Kim had said when the bill passed. “I’m proud that the Bordentown Post Office will be a small piece of that great legacy and a reminder of the impact on the lives of millions thanks to her work.”
In addition to her leadership role in founding the American Red Cross, Barton also helped found the first free school in New Jersey, located in Bordentown. Barton’s efforts helped increase the number of children in school from six when the school was first established, to over 600 by the next year. The Clara Barton Schoolhouse in Bordentown stands today as an honored historical landmark preserved by the Bordentown Historical Society.
Nathan Roohr was promoted to chief of police in February.
Police Chief
Two veteran police officers moved up the ranks within the Bordentown Township Police Department.
Mayor Eugene M. Fuzy swore in Nathan Roohr as provisional chief of police and Christopher Burns as lieutenant at a Bordentown Township Committee meeting on Feb. 12.
Roohr has been with the department since 2003. He was promoted to captain in 2022 after serving as lieutenant for two years.
He was appointed to acting police chief following the retirement of Police Chief Brian Pesce that was effective on Oct. 1. Pesce had served as chief since 2018 following the termination of former Chief Frank Nucera.
Christopher Burns was promoted to the position of lieutenant after serving as a sergeant for the past eight years. He is well regarded by his peers, officials said.
