A Stitch Through Time: Celebrating Haddonfield’s History in Thread
- Mar 19
- 2 min read
By Joana McDonnell, Communications Officer, Borough of Haddonfield
Recently, the Historical Society of Haddonfield opened the doors of Greenfield Hall for an event that showcases the Borough’s past, one carefully stitched by the hands of Haddonfield girls and young women more than two centuries ago. As part of Haddonfield’s celebration of America’s 250th birthday, attendees gathered to explore the Historical Society’s extensive collection of antique cross‑stitch and needlework.
More than 22 samplers are on display, along with additional examples of embroidery and even delicate hair art. Each piece offers a window into the lives of the young women who created them: their education, their families, and their beliefs. In an era when needlework was a core part of a girl’s schooling, these samplers served as both practice and personal expression. Letters, numbers, decorative motifs, and inspirational verses were all part of the curriculum, culminating in a final, more elaborate embroidery that showcased a student’s mastery. Many of the samplers in the collection can be traced back to specific Haddonfield girls and women, some as young as nine or ten, whose lives, homes, and family histories have been researched by their archivists.
The Borough has recreated a cross-stitch sampler kit of the Historical Society Building, and it is available for purchase for $35.00.
You can purchase a kit :
In person at Borough Hall, Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., in the Clerk’s Office. Check or Credit Card.
Whether you’re an experienced embroiderer or trying needlework for the first time, these kits are a wonderful way to honor the artistry of Haddonfield’s past while creating something new for America’s 250th.
Greenfield Hall is open for tours, Monday, Wednesday & Thursday from 1 to 4 pm and by appointment. For more information: https://haddonfieldhistory.org/
