There was music, there was food, and there was camaraderie during the Puerto Rican Civic Club (PRCA) of Hammonton’s 66th annual Puerto Rican Festival in August.
The eight-day festival began on Aug. 24 with Sunday mass at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church, followed by a flag raising at Hammonton Town Hall. Later that afternoon, DJ Teudy Ramirez Sonido Clave provided music at the Puerto Rican Civic Clubhouse on Old Forks Road.
Featured on Aug. 28 were the band Trio Renacer and DJ Frankie Vargas X-Treme Sounds. The next day, the band Swing DeGuille took the stage with the return of DJ Teudy Ramirez Sonido Clave. To round out the festival, Vargas performed with the band Grupo Los Inolvidables.
Hammonton 08037 caught up with Edwin Negroni, president of the PRCA, as he was putting the final touches on the festival by hanging banners that recognized important figures in the club through the years.
They included Maria “Yaya” Rodriguez, who was grand marshal when the festivities included a parade; Petra Santiago, a former president; Hugo Rivera, who was part of a program for migrants coming to Hammonton; and the late Juan Ortiz Falcón, one of the musicians providing the festival with music over the years.
Founding members of the PRCA are recognized on the wall inside the clubhouse, including Fernando “Freddy” Melendez, who started the group. The club was initially established to provide support to the town’s growing population of farm workers from Puerto Rico, with the goal of ensuring they had access to good living conditions and fair treatment.
But what started off as a small effort to help the migrants feel welcome and supported in the United States has evolved into something much greater. As it grew into a self-funded nonprofit, the club’s mission expanded to promote Puerto Rican culture.
As president, Negroni has taken on the challenge of recognizing the founding members and everyone before him. And outside near the flags, the group recognizes Melendez for his efforts with a plaque.
“When I came in, those members were not here,” Negroni recalled, except for Melendez. “It was not acceptable to me to not recognize those people who committed so many years and not be recognized in the community.”
Melendez was able to acknowledge the recognition before he passed away at 88 in 2023. Negroni recounted how Melendez had pulled him aside and admitted he was surprised the club had lasted so long.
At the time of his passing, it was going on 64 years strong.
Born in Mayaguez, Puerto Rico, Melendez lived in Hammonton for more than 73 years and was a graduate of Hammonton High School. His obituary notes that his proudest accomplishment was co-founding the Puerto Rican Civic Association, where he served in multiple roles, including treasurer.
Most of all, Melendez was a mentor to many in the Hispanic community over the years.
Every year, the festival recognizes club members who have either been long-time members or have directly or indirectly supported the organization, according to Negroni.
“The festival brings families together to remember what these people did,” he explained. “Some things get done and people don’t know about it – or who did it.”
The festival draws up to 500 people a year who get to enjoy the traditions of their homeland through music and food with other people and families in the community.
“We have a big population of migrant workers and they are young Puerto Ricans,” Negroni noted. “Some people come and have lunch and then come back for the music.”
Negroni became involved with the club after he moved to the area in 2001 for a job. He is an electrician by trade.
“I came here the day before 9/11,” he vividly remembered.
Now he’s an electrical inspector for Camden and surrounding municipalities. Negroni and his wife, Evelyn Perez, raised three daughters, all Hammonton High graduates.
Over the years, they’ve volunteered in different capacities for the PRCA. Their daughters and their families still live in the area and volunteer when they can.
“We enjoy it,” Negroni observed of being in the club. He sees it as a way to “protect our heritage.”
