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Haddon Township Historical Photographs Thomas A. Edison School (School No. 3) |
 The Thomas A. Edison School in the 1930s shortly after construcution The Thomas A. Edison School was constructed as a Junior High School and known originally as School No. 3, in 1930. It was shorthly therafter named for the famous inventor, who has no connection at all to this specific area, but died shortly after the school was built. The school is located at 205 Melrose Avenue and serves as an Elementary School now. [Source: Courtesy: Marguerite Bennett Collection, William G. Rohrer Memorial Library, Haddon Township, NJ] |
 School No. 3, 7th Grade Class (1930) [Source: Courtesy: Marguerite Bennett Collection, William G. Rohrer Memorial Library, Haddon Township, NJ] |
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During the 1930s, a mid-June graduation ceremony was held each year which included a whole program featuring music, awards and a play. A play was held the first year
(1930), entitled The Woman in Black, but was not tied to the commencement ceremony. The 1930 two act play starred students Charles Lee, Jean Marker, Dorothy Apetz and
Jack Matthews. Another 14 classmates played party guests or police officers. Edwin Turner provided a musical solo and Dorothy Althoff and Leonore Friedman did a tap dance.
Beginning in 1931, the class play Rainbow's End was tied in with the commencement ceremony which took place on June 18, 1931. Haddon Township's Supervising
Principal, Mr. Pate presented the diplomas and "Constitution Books." (Miss Ina L. Ashton was the Edison School Principal; she "presented the class" and she would continue
to do so for many years). It was long a tradition that upon graduation from 8th grade, student recieved an inscribed blue bound book that include
the state and U.S. Constitution. This was done throughout the state for many decade before and after. Awards were presented by the respective Presidents
of the P.T.A.s of the Strawbridge Avenue, the Haddon Avenue, and the Bettlewood Schools. The American Legion and Auxilliary also presented awards and there was
an invocation and benediction given by Reverands representing two different churches. This program continued with sucessive graduations. On June 16, 1932,
the play was When Betsy Made Old Glory (1932 was a patriotic year in America as it was a wide-spread celebration of the bicentennial of the birth of
George Washington). In June 1933, the play was Our United States and the responsibility for presenting the diplomas and constitution books was given over
to the President of the Board of Education, Roger Allen. In June 1934, the play was Uncle Sam's Dilemma and the diplomas and constitution books were
presented by Board President, James Duffy, Jr. In 1935, the play was Bookland written by the Dramatic Club. Mr. Duffy once again presented the diplomas and
books. To the list of P.T.A. presidents, the President of the Stoy P.T.A. began presenting an award in addition to the other elementary schools. (Stoy did not have
its own P.T.A. until 1936). In 1936, the play was Around the World and Mr. Duffy once again presented the diplomas books. In 1937, the play was Sunny of Sunnyside. Edgar C. Forman took over as
Board President so he did the diploma and book honors. Beginning in 1938, the school play was separated from the commencement program; that year it was present
on March 4th and was The Mummy and the Mumps. In 1939, the spring school play was an adaptation of The Adventures of Tom Sawyer. In 1940, the
Thomas A. Edsion created its own P.T.A.
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 Thomas A. Edison Junior High School, 8th Grade Class (1932) [Source: Courtesy: Marguerite Bennett Collection, William G. Rohrer Memorial Library, Haddon Township, NJ] |
 Thomas A. Edison Junior High School, 8th Grade Class (1933) [Source: Courtesy: Marguerite Bennett Collection, William G. Rohrer Memorial Library, Haddon Township, NJ] |
 Thomas A. Edison Junior High School, 8th Grade Class (c. 1930s) [Source: Courtesy: Marguerite Bennett Collection, William G. Rohrer Memorial Library, Haddon Township, NJ] |
 Thomas A. Edison Junior High School, 8th Grade Class (1938) [Source: Courtesy: Marguerite Bennett Collection, William G. Rohrer Memorial Library, Haddon Township, NJ] |
 Thomas A. Edison Junior High School, 8th Grade Class (1945) [Source: Courtesy: Marguerite Bennett Collection, William G. Rohrer Memorial Library, Haddon Township, NJ] |
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