This issue of the magazine is filled with stories about people and places that contribute to Haddonfield’s character and charm.
The house at the center of our story “The House That Saw History” serves as a perfect metonym for a particular chapter of Haddonfield’s history. In tracing the story of 436 Kings Highway East, Katrina Janco ends up telling the story of an entire historic district’s creation.
I’m reminded of Virginia Lee Burton’s classic childhood book “The Little House,” in which a wide-eyed home becomes distressed as a city rises around her and smokestacks sully the surroundings. Eventually, a relative of the original builder arranges to move the little house back to the countryside, restoring her peace. There’s a happy ending in our version too: As change looms, Haddonfield residents rally to protect the neighborhood from development. You can almost imagine our little house smiling in relief.
That spirit of stewardship carries through this issue. Sarah Tambussi, administrator at the Historical Society of Haddonfield, is a connector of people and ideas, and the quiet force behind so much of the history we celebrate. She has suggested the homes in our historical home series, “Brick by Brick,” and is forever brainstorming about how to bolster worthy causes. In our conversation for this issue, it quickly became clear that linking people, organizations, and ideas is part of her makeup. Speak with her for a few minutes and you’ll leave with a renewed appreciation for the layers of history in this town and some of her contagious enthusiasm for the work people are doing on its behalf.
Care for the community shows up at the Refill Market in Haddon Township, where the forward-thinking Tina Solak helps shoppers feel good about helping the planet. Her idea is disarmingly simple: small changes, like buying hand soap in bulk, can significantly reduce waste. It isn’t hard to adjust our regular habits, yet more of us need to do it.
There’s a similar intentionality in the work of photographer Jillian Guyette, whose images carry an emotional gravity, even though her working style is fluid. In Suzy Katz’s profile, we step inside her inviting portrait studio on Tanner Street. I’m intrigued by how she sets the scene so that people feel comfortable when she takes their portraits. From yoga-teacher training, she has learned to take a moment for herself before a session, so that she is centered, calm, and relaxed. “It allows people to reciprocate your energy,” she says. Also important: “I always have music on in here,” she says. “I always make sure it smells really good.”
Enjoy!
