Today people try to find the time to go for a walk for their health. Back then walking everyday was part of your life. My mother and I, wagon in tow, walked to the Quaker Store, where we were greeted by Mrs. Strippoli. Who could forget her wonderful smile? We walked to Laurel Springs to the bank and to have our shoes repaired — not replaced. We walked to the post office and to the meat market and in the evening to the train station to meet my dad as he came home from work. We also walked to school.

Some of the things were more convenient. We had a milkman. breadman, iceman, insurance man and a family doctor who came to our house.

Paul: I remember that the back door of the house couldn’t be locked. The milkman, Charlie Clark of Clark’s Dairies would deliver milk early every morning. You could hear him walking up the driveway, milk bottles rattling, enter the back door and leave milk and butter in the refrigerator, before anyone was out of bed.

Judy: When you picked up your phone (no dial or buttons) the operator (a real person, not a machine) said. "Number please."

The customer was always right. The trades people seemed to try hard to please you. There was none of this "don’t know, don’t care" attitude. I guess it can be summed up in one word - respect.

There was a kindness and respect and genuine caring among the neighbors and merchants of Stratford. The heart of Stratford was its people.

Thecla: My memory goes back to the Fire Auxiliary in Stratford and also to the Federated Women’s Club, of which I became president. While president. we moved the library from the little building on At1antic Avenue into Clark’s house which used to be a school. I was a Den Mother for the Boy Scouts. Helen Hartman’s Girl Scout Troop also met in my home’s rec. room. We taught the scouts to square dance. Other kids in town would come and watch and want to learn to dance too.

Later the Women’s Club and PTA. sponsored a Canteen (dance). Fire Chief John Stephen moved the fire engines out of the garage for our dances. Fathers and sons also served as chaperones for us.

The best years of my life were spent in Stratford as a wife and a mother. I also enjoyed my volunteer work.

Paul: Sam Yellin was Stratford’s first police officer and Chief of Police, He was a wonderful person.

Bonnie: Chief Yellin was known to all of us as "Uncle’ Sam. I can remember one time walking home in a soaking rain and he stopped and drove me home in his police car. He would also come to relieve the safeties in the safety patrol if the weather was inclement. When we graduated from 8th grade ‘Uncle’ Sam gave each of us a present. I know the girls received scarves, but I don’t remember what he gave the boys. He really was Uncle Sam,

"It is not that I belong to the past, but the past that belongs to me," The Promised Land by Mary Antin

Collecting these fond remembrances’ of Stratford has brought such good thoughts and quite a few chuckles. Just remembering our parents laughing or their pleasant words, a neighbor’s good wishes, a sibling’s kindness or a fun time with a friend brings such happiness. So when we reflect back on our special experiences in Stratford we will add them to our collection of happy golden moments.

Note: The year 2000 marks the 75th anniversary of Stratford.

The End (for now...)

The article above has been taken from an article that appeared in South Jersey Magazine in the Spring 2000 issue. The article is entitled Fond Remembrances of Stratford (1940's through mid 1950's) and was compiled by Bonnie Hoeflich McGuire. The remembrances above were contributed to the article by some residents of Stratford both past and present. The article above was scanned from a photocopy of the original so you can probably blame any typos on me.

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