Displaying items by tag: collingswood

The small, suburban Camden County borough of Collingswood, that once produced a Republican governor, is now a bright blue municipality and has changed over the last decade, resembling a town more akin to Montclair or Lambertville than to other Camden County suburbs. One certainty is that it’s a Democratic stronghold that no longer resembles the small town that launched William T. Cahill’s political career 60 years ago. The Philadelphia-born son of Irish immigrants, Cahill moved to Collingswood around 1939, won a State Assembly seat in 1951 and in 1958, when 78-year-old Rep. Charles Wolverton (R-Merchantville) retired after 31 years in Congress, ran for the Camden-Gloucester-Salem seat and won by 1,859 votes. He was re-elected in 1968 with 66% of the vote  then, decided to run for governor in 1969. Collingswood gave favorite-son Cahill a massive 79% of the vote in his successful election as 38th governor of NJ.

Father Alfred J. Hewett, a priest of the Diocese of Camden for more than 60 years, died April 18 at the age of 95. Father Hewett graduated from Collingswood High School, served in the U.S. Navy Air Corps and the U.S. Army Air Corps then, attended Saint Joseph’s University. His first assignment was in Merchantville, as parochial vicar at Saint Peter Parish from 1956-63. Due to current restrictions, interment at Calvary Cemetery in Cherry Hill will be held privately for his family.  A memorial Mass will be held when the current restrictions are lifted.  Donations may be made to Madonna House or Catholic Relief Services.

A press release from McFarlan's Market Collingswood tonight announced that owners, Janet Stevens and Pete Burgess, are closing their Collingswood location effective August 15, 2019 and will continue operations at the Merchantville location.  The Merchantville location has been in business since May 2010 and the Collingswood location, which underwent a complete remodel, opened last September. Both stores feature specialty groceries including baked goods, butcher, deli, and prepared foods and catering services. The Collingswood location also features a café dining space. Both locations are fully equipped and furnished including refrigeration and cooking equipment. “While we love owning the stores and our employees, customers, suppliers, and both towns, the time has come to search for a new owner,” said Pete Burgess. “We feel an operator with the right concept and experience can make the stores profitable, but we are open to the highest and best use for both sites including possible conversion to restaurants,” added Burgess. Joe Riggs of NAI Mertz is representing the owners in finding potential buyers/operators for both locations and suggested that conversion to dining/restaurant operations would likely be the highest and best use.  Interested buyers can contact Joe Riggs at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Read the NJ Pen article.