By: centraljersey.com
A dedication ceremony for the Upper Freehold Regional district’s Newell Elementary School was held Saturday. The school recently was renamed to coincide with its becoming a K-4 school this fall with the opening of the new Stone Bridge Middle School.
Saturday’s dedication featured greetings from Principal Kelly Huggins and Board of Education President Lisa Herzer. Ms. Huggins recognized the distinguished guests, including past and present Board of Education members, past and present administrators and staff, as well as the school naming and steering committees.
She followed with the history of the school building, completed in 1924, and its many incarnations, starting as a high school and more recently as a combined elementary and middle school, now fulfilling the function of a K-4 elementary school.
The highlight of the dedication was the surprise honoring of Joan West for her 30 years of service to the school as principal’s secretary. Mrs. West cut the official dedication ribbon. She was treated to a song written in her honor performed by the audience.
A short history of the Allentown/Upper Freehold Revolutionary War involvement was presented as part of the explanation of the name chosen honoring William A. Newell, the 23rd governor of New Jersey, who is buried in the Presbyterian Cemetery in Allentown.
Mary Clark, a local historian, told of growing up in the former home of William Newell who practiced as a physician in the area. Abraham Lincoln was, perhaps, his most famous patient. She said she hopes the name will encourage students to learn more of their own local history.
Local historian John Fabiano continued with the history of William Newell, including that he may be best known for the Newell Act, which created the U.S. Life-Saving Service that ultimately merged with the Revenue Cutter Service to form the U.S. Coast Guard in 1915. Mr. Fabiano treated the audience to a physical description of the man as he entered Congress.