Clayton Historic Preservation, Inc.

Clayton Historic Preservation, Inc. Clayton Historic Preservation, Inc., Clayton, New Jersey

HAPPY World Bicycle Day! First photo: October, 1947, CLAYTON, NJ youngsters line up with their bicycles and get an ear...
06/03/2026

HAPPY World Bicycle Day! First photo: October, 1947, CLAYTON, NJ youngsters line up with their bicycles and get an early lesson about bike safety by taking a test which resulted in their getting drivers licenses if they knew the right answers. Second photo: July 4th, 1925 race from CLAYTON to Millville, NJ. L to R are Adolph Matthews, Charles Butts, Harry Weiner, Percival DeFrehn and B. Franklin Alexander. ~~

CLAYTON, NJ’s history is everywhere……….While you’re out walking………….….take a look…………... Herma Scheeper SIMMONS (1922-20...
05/29/2026

CLAYTON, NJ’s history is everywhere……….While you’re out walking………….….take a look…………...
Herma Scheeper SIMMONS (1922-2008) was born in Hanover-Threuffen, Germany. The Scheeper family emigrated to the United States in 1929, and made the final move to Clayton, New Jersey in 1931. Herma attended Clayton Elementary School and Clayton High School graduating in 1941. Herma attended Glassboro Normal School, continued her education at University of Penn and served in the military with the US Marine Corps, serving as a Corporal, from February 1945 through July 1946. She became an elementary school teacher in Clayton in 1955. She also taught for the US government from 1955-1956 in Baoesgouesberg, Germany, where she instructed the children of military families. In 1958 she became the principal of Clayton Elementary School until 1990. Herma S. SIMMONS dedicated 35 years to public education in Clayton. Herma S. SIMMONS Elementary School, West Chestnut Street, is dedicated to her. ~~

MEMORIAL DAY PARADE starts at 10 AM. Come join us!
05/25/2026

MEMORIAL DAY PARADE starts at 10 AM. Come join us!

CLAYTON, NJ is full of history. While you’re out enjoying your walks……look around you…….... The Taylor Bell Baseball Fi...
05/22/2026

CLAYTON, NJ is full of history. While you’re out enjoying your walks……look around you…….... The Taylor Bell Baseball Fields at 558 Washington Ave. were dedicated on June 10, 1984 to pay tribute to Henry Taylor Bell (1919-2002) for his many years of public service, in particular CLAYTON’s youth. Also on that day, CLAYTON Mayor and Council made a proclamation that June 10th to be “H. Taylor Bell Day.” Mr. Bell graduated from Bridgeton High School in 1937 and began umpiring men's semi-pro baseball until his enlistment in the U. S. Army during World War II. While serving, he played in the Canal Zone League and Florida's East Coast (1942). It was there that Bell attended umpire school for servicemen run by the American and National League. After serving, Bell came home to South Jersey, married his wife, the former Ida Bregler, and started his employment (1947) at New Jersey Bell Telephone Company, where he would work for the next 36 years before retiring in 1983 as head of the supply department. Bell, known as “Mr. Little League,” helped found Little League baseball teams in Elmer and CLAYTON and served as president of each league for several years. Since 1952, Bell umpired in State sectional and regional Little League and senior league division tournaments. In 1968, Bell was selected to be the tournament director for New Jersey State Little League tournament. Also that year Bell umpired in the World Series of Little League Senior Division, Gary, IN. In 1969, Bell umpired the Little League World Series in Williamsport, PA, an experience he once called “perhaps the most gratifying ever.” In 1982, Bell umpired his 1000th Little League game in which he struck out his own grandson, Eddie Bell, Jr. Bell received high praises throughout his life for the many hours of service he volunteered to his community. He estimated that by 1965 he drove over 4,000 miles on Little League business in Gloucester County alone. Taylor Bell attended the Little League Congress in Charlotte, N. C. in 1981, where he was awarded the most prestigious honor the “Little League Distinguished Service Award”, one of only ten of the numerous volunteers to have received this honored award. Locally, Bell was inducted into the Gloucester County Sports Hall of Fame in 1986. Bell also devoted considerable time to scouting and served on the CLAYTON Cub Scouts Committee, some as Chairman. He served, as well, on the CLAYTON Boys Scout Committee and on the CLAYTON Explorers post committee.~~

CLAYTON Historic Prerservation will hold it's monthly meeting on Thursday, May 21st at 6:00 PM. The meeting will be held...
05/19/2026

CLAYTON Historic Prerservation will hold it's monthly meeting on Thursday, May 21st at 6:00 PM. The meeting will be held at the CLAYTON Historic Museum, 29 East Ave. CHP is looking for enthusiastic people who who would wish to volunteer in several of our upcoming projects. Please visit CHP at our meeting this Thursday or apply to Borough Hall, 125 No. Delsea Drive.~~

CLAYTON’s history is everywhere. While you’re out enjoying your walks……….look around you………………..The D. J. Bentz Memoria...
05/15/2026

CLAYTON’s history is everywhere. While you’re out enjoying your walks……….look around you………………..The D. J. Bentz Memorial Soccer Complex was named to honor a young man many call a hero. Army Pfc. David J. Bentz, III, was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 26th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, taking basic training in Georgia. On June 20, 2007, while serving in Operation Iraqi Freedom, Bentz, at the age of only 20, died from injuries received in a roadside attack when an improvised explosive device detonated near his vehicle in Baghdad, Iraq. He was on a mission with three other soldiers (who were also killed in action) to deliver medicine to a nearby village. Bentz was posthumously awarded the U. S. Army's Commendation Medal of Valor for saving the life of a comrade just days before he was killed. Born August 1, 1986, in Vineland, Bentz attended St. Catherine of Sienna school, now St. Michael the Archangel Regional school, and then CLAYTON’s middle and high schools graduating in 2004. He loved to play poker and dreamed of becoming a professional card player when he got out of the army. He studied law enforcement while in high school and played soccer for many years including all four years of high school.~~

THANK YOU all who came out to hear Stockton University's Dr. Patricia Chappine speak on her latest book "New Jersey Wom...
05/14/2026

THANK YOU all who came out to hear Stockton University's Dr. Patricia Chappine speak on her latest book "New Jersey Women during World War II." Photo below of Dr. Chappine during Q&A, and (L to R) Chief of Police Lauren Franklin, Mayor Charles Simon, Council Darlene Vondran, Dr. Patricia Chappine, and Council Frank Rollo.

SAVE THE DATE for CHP's next 2 FREE lectures; On September 16th, Erik Mollenhauer will speak on "Red Bank Battlefield: An Unknown Story" and on October 28th when Adam Zielinski talks about "600 South Jersey Militia from Cape May, Cumberland, Gloucester and Salem Counties."~~

CLAYTON Historic Museum at 29 East Avenue will be open Saturday, May 16th, from 11:00 AM to 1:00PM. Please stop in and v...
05/14/2026

CLAYTON Historic Museum at 29 East Avenue will be open Saturday, May 16th, from 11:00 AM to 1:00PM. Please stop in and visit. FREE admsiission, ample parking. ~~

CLAYTON’s history is everywhere. While you’re out enjoying your walks……….look around you………….. The Robert Sandelier Mem...
05/08/2026

CLAYTON’s history is everywhere. While you’re out enjoying your walks……….look around you………….. The Robert Sandelier Memorial Park (Photo 1 & 2) is a recreational facility located behind the Municipal Building at North Delsea Dr. and East High Street. On September 5, 1988 it was dedicated to honor Robert Sandelier for his many years of public service. The dedication ceremony included a ceremonial tree planting by the Sandelier family and a ribbon cutting by Mrs. Helen Sandlier. Bob Sandelier, a longtime resident of CLAYTON had a distinguished career as owner and operator of Sandelier and Company Welders spanning 45 years. In addition, he was owner and developer of Sandy’s Island Campground (Photo 3) in Elk Township from 1967 through 1984. The campground was later sold to developers for Silvergate. Sandelier was highly regarded for his public service. He served his community in many capacities: Charter Member (1956-1988) and Chairman (1961-1988) of the Clayton Sewerage Authority and instrumental in overseeing the construction of CLAYTON’s first sewer system, member of Board of Education (1960-1963) at the time when CLAYTON was building a new High School and then named in charge of construction, CLAYTON’s building inspector (1970- 1988) and an important player in the construction of the CLAYTON Municipal Building and the borough's first Little League field, director of CLAYTON Public Works Department. Sandelier also served as Chairman of the old CLAYTON Athlete Club which fielded some of the finest semi-pro football and baseball teams in the history of South Jersey. Sandelier was named CLAYTON’s Citizen of the Year by the CLAYTON Kiwanis Club in 1976 and announcing the surprise award on behalf of the Kiwanis Joseph Alexander said “I know of no other man who deserves this honor from the Clayton Kiwanis Club more than our citizen of the year for 1976 ……. Bobby Sandelier.” Born in 1912 in Green Tree, Chester County, Pennsylvania, Sandelier passed away on January 14, 1988 at the age of 75. ~~

CLAYTON, NJ: Q&A from our FB followers: “How did CLAYTON High School get the Anchor?” On October 14, 1978, CLAYTON ...
05/01/2026

CLAYTON, NJ: Q&A from our FB followers: “How did CLAYTON High School get the Anchor?” On October 14, 1978, CLAYTON High School held a dedication ceremony (Photo1 & 2) for The ANCHOR, a symbol of CLAYTON’s CLIPPERS, a term used for our bands and teams. The 10 ton ANCHOR belonged to the USS Cascade, a destroyer tender that served in the Pacific theater throughout WWII. Arrangements for the loan were made by the efforts of Andrew Sole, a CLAYTON Elementary school teacher and a merchant marine officer. The ANCHOR was brought from Norfolk, VA through the courtesy of National Freight Co., Vineland, NJ. More gratitude is due to the Cornell Corp., Woodbury, NJ who took responsibility for delivery and placement of this huge piece of history. CLAYTON High School Principal, Mr. James Gilmartin (Photo 3), and CLAYTON’s Fire Chief were among the dignitaries which included Comdr. C. C. Mendenhall, USN, Naval Recruiter, Rep. James J. Florio, County Freeholder Gene Costill, and CLAYTON Mayor Jay H. Sharp. The dedication ceremony included the induction into the Navy of new recruits (Photo 4), a luncheon for the guests and a football game with Penns Grove High School. A special speaker, Stanley Grayson of Caldwell, NJ (see last week's Q&A CLIPPER story) told the story of the origin of the CLAYTON Clippers. ~~

Address

29 East Avenue
Clayton, NJ
08312

Opening Hours

11am - 1pm

Telephone

+18568813039

Website

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