By Amy Batista, Special Writer
HIGHTSTOWN – The Peddie School turned 208 years old this month and celebrated the occasion by honoring two of its alumni and opening a time capsule during its Founders Day celebration Feb. 19.
“Today is a great day of celebrating our past,” said Dean of Students Peter McClellan. “Our past can merely be an excavation, but it has to be an act of self creation in the present.”
The entire student body of 545 students, staff, alumni and board of trustees gathered or the celebration inside Ayers Memorial Chapel on the Peddie School Campus.
The school was marking the 208th birthday of Thomas Baldwin Peddie, the namesake of the school, who was born in Edinburg, Scotland, on Feb. 12, 1808. After his father died, Mr. Peddie emigrated to America in 1833 at the age of 25 to seek his fortune. He settled in Newark, N.J., as an apprentice in a leather factory, making saddles and leather trunks, according.
Besides being one of the state’s leading businessmen, Mr. Peddie was also active in state politics. He served as a representative in the New Jersey state legislature from 1864-1866 and then was elected Republican mayor of Newark from 1866-1869. He also served a term in Congress from 1877-1879.
Mr. Peddie died in Newark on Feb. 16, 1889 and is buried there. Because he was born in February, the school has honored him since 1895 at regularly held Founders Day ceremonies in that month.
“Finally, we are going to be honoring some people who have made profound impacts on the school that you go to,” said Mr. McClellan.
He said that he trusted those in attendance would enjoy the end of their ceremony where the time capsule was opened.
“Our annual Founders Day congregation is held at this time each year to close to Thomas B. Peddie’s February 12th birthday,” said Headmaster Peter Quinn. “It has become our custom on this day to learn about the founders of our school. And not just those Baptist parishioners of the spring of 1864, but we dedicate this time to illustrating the contributions of Peddie legends in later generations and in our own time as well.”
Mr. Quinn said that was important because they can learn from those examples how to “found Peddie.”
“The most vibrant schools are in a continual process of being founded or established all the time by and for the people who comprise this community in any given year,” he said. “There are however, some whose contributions have been clearly exceptional for their duration and their impact and scope. We celebrate two of those today.”
The school honored Robert Zenker, class of 1943, and Robert Tucker, class of 1944.
“Their devotion inspires me and will after today inspire all of you,” said Mr. Quinn.
He said the devotion of Mr. Tucker and Mr. Zenker comes from a tremendous and emotional attachment to this school.
“These men created a permanent place in their hearts for Peddie and that devotion is now shared in the lives of their family,” said Mr. Quinn. “Don’t be afraid to put your heart into the school in whatever way you can. That level of commitment is what has made Peddie the extraordinary place it is for all of us.”
Director of Alumni Relations Brian Davidson took a few minutes to do a presentation on honoree Mr. Tucker saying it was “long overdue.”
“The cosmic volunteer who serves to Peddie is legendary,” said Mr. Davidson. “A true gentleman of the old-school.”
Mr. Davidson said in the 73 years since his graduation, Mr. Tucker has done just about everything for his alma mater and has been involved with every aspect of the school.
“Always generous with his time, his spirit and his resources,” he said. “He has been a wise counselor to 11 headmasters, including Mr. Quinn.”
He said that Mr. Tucker, accompanied by his wife Betty, is a constant presence at reunion weekends, Blair Day, graduations, and numerous alumni functions.
“He is the living embodiment of what we perceive a school founder to be and who’s service to Peddie we hope all of our alumni will aspire too,” said Mr. Davidson.
Board of trustees member Anne Seltzer said that Mr. Tucker was ill and unable to attend the ceremony. She reflected and shared her findings of his transcript and report card along with some of Mr. Tucker’s memories.
“He is a man who has balanced his love of horses and farming with business career throughout his life,” said Ms. Seltzer.
Headmaster Quinn concluded the ceremony with archivist Dr. David Martin opening the time capsule, which was buried in the Avery Dorm pre-1920s.
“When Peddie institute students arrived for the first day of classes on Sept. 24, 1920, some lucky students moved into a dorm called Avery,” he said, adding it was the last of three new dorms built that decade.
“The cost of attending and board Peddie in 1920 was $900 per year,” said Mr. Quinn, which included, tuition, meals and up to 12 pieces of laundry per week.He said when the school set about to renovate Avery Dorm last summer John Newman discovered the ancient box.
“We set it aside until today and thought it would be appropriate to open it with all of you on Founders Day,” he said.
Dr. Martin was in-charge of opening the box, along one of the student body presidents, Uzo Achebe.
“As suspected, guesses were alumni catalog, a bible, a hymn book, or newspaper,” said Dr. Martin.
The first item pulled from the box was a newspaper. But it wasn’t in very good shape. It was dated June 9, 1920.
Dr. Martin discovered that there were holes in the time capsule, which means that moisture go into it.
The second item retrieved from the box was a copy of the Peddie Chronicles.At the end of the ceremony, Dr. Martin said that he would begin the process of freezing the papers, which will eliminate some of the mold, and then drying them out for further examination.
