Rothwell family was named Outstanding Citizen of 2006
By John Tredrea
The family that has owned Pennington Quality Market for almost 26 years has been honored for longtime community service by the Pleasant Valley Vigilant Association, a 135-year-old local protective society.
At the association’s recent annual meeting, the Rothwell family was named Outstanding Citizen of 2006.
"The Rothwell family has been generous with its many community events and worthy causes for many years," said association member Erwin Harbat. "Among many other examples, they’ve supported the Holiday Walk in Pennington and school activities."
The Rothwell family has owned Pennington Quality since September 1981. The previous owners were the McVeigh brothers, who ran the market when it was located on North Main Street in Pennington Borough and when it first moved to its current Route 31 location.
Accepting the award from the Vigilant Association were Larry Rothwell and Michael Rothwell, market owners.
The Rothwells received their award at the 134th annual meeting of the association. The organization was formed on Feb. 3, 1872 to protect its members’ property and continues to meet "to enjoy good fellowship . . . and to help in preserving history," Mr. Harbat said.
Pleasant Valley is a rural area in northwestern Hopewell Township. In 1872, The Pleasant Valley Vigilant Association was formed "for the protection of its member’s property and for the detection and pursuit, apprehension, arrest and prosecution of thieves, tramps, marauders and other deprecators on persons and property and for the recovery of stolen goods."
Many similar protective societies were formed in this area of New Jersey and across the river in Pennsylvania around the time of the Civil War. However, the local group is the last such "horse company" (allowed by an act passed by the New Jersey Legislature back in 1878) that still survives in this state.

