Senator Andy Kim joins Gary Ell and Sarah Dowling-Ell of the Historical Society along with student volunteers for Moorestown250 on Moorestown Day 2025
Moorestown Day 2025 came alive with Revolutionary spirit and community pride as U.S. Senator Andy Kim joined the Historical Society of Moorestown and the Moorestown250 initiative in celebrating the town’s rich heritage and its role in America’s founding story.
In a standout moment, Senator Kim was photographed with enthusiastic Moorestown High School students dressed as historical figures—including colonial patriots, 18th-century ladies, suffragists, and even a cheeky Hessian soldier holding a rubber chicken. The chicken, while humorous, carried serious symbolism: it represents the real history of the 1770s when Hessian troops plundered Moorestown during the Revolutionary War, slaughtering livestock—including chickens—at the Smith-Cadbury Mansion, now the headquarters of the Historical Society.
“This is what history is all about,” said Sarah Dowling-Ell, a student representative from the Historical Society. “It’s not just about remembering dates—it’s about stories, people, and the quirky, meaningful details that connect us to the past. Even a rubber chicken can speak volumes when it tells a true story.”
Senator Kim praised the community’s deep engagement with history and especially the creativity and commitment of the student volunteers. “You’re showing what it means to carry our past into the future,” he said. “History lives in communities like Moorestown—and it’s thriving here.”
Moorestown250, the town’s initiative to commemorate the United States Semiquincentennial (250th anniversary), has been busy building a slate of educational and interactive programs, including the upcoming Hessian Retreat Fun Run, Revolutionary Witness House Tour, Living History & Ghost Tours, and the Alice Paul Women’s History Trail & Memorial.
The Historical Society invites the public to join the effort, attend upcoming events, and support the cause by purchasing commemorative “Moorestown Est. 1682” caps and merchandise—proceeds go toward preserving and sharing the town’s revolutionary legacy.
Visit Moorestown250 for a list of programming!
