Howard Griffith vividly remembers that they also owned the first automobile in Haddonfield.

They had perfected and installed the first jump spark in the engine of their jalopy that they stored alongside the scale in the coal yard. It was a topless affair that looked like a nice carriage, with the spindles surrounding the single two-person seat.

The wheels were merely little wired carriage wheels, and there was no steering wheel, just a steering lever. The engine had chain drive and was under the seat. It had one cylinder and was started by a crank that protruded from the side.

The Bells putt-putted around town with no competition until Lou Rounds and old Bob Bates purchased their firemen red open two-seaters that were the sports cars of that time.

At a total of $11, a supply pipe was run into a house, a meter was installed, one open gas jet fixture was attached, and a square stove was set up with four top burners and an oven underneath.

Every street was dug up throughout the town when the mains were laid. The gas came into Haddonfield in a round pipe laid on the surface of the bridge on Haddon Avenue from Westmont into town.

Remember how every household would be in a turmoil occasionally when the light in the evening would grow dim and flicker? A frantic search would be made for a quarter and rush down to the cellar to the meter would be made to put the coin in the meter to replenish the gas supply coming into the house.  How times have changed!

Consequently, the entire area from the railroad to Potter Street was dug up in June. However, a situation developed that was unforeseen.

The street was leveled and graded, and everything was ready for the paving to begin when the rains came!

It was not possible to install new curbing or sidewalks that had been planned. One day a rowboat was seen being rowed at the intersection of Haddon Avenue and East Kings Highway. Another day, a sole lady shopper was reported seen on the highway.

Pop Johnson, the proprietor of Johnson¹s Department Store, brought up from his Salem home a car full of corn stalks and they were planted in the middle of the Main Street to make it appear that the street had been torn up for so long that corn had grown there.