COURIER POST - 3/7/06
Township says it all for residents
Tuesday, March 7, 2006
By LAWRENCE HAJNA
Courier-Post Staff
Ask anyone from Washington Township where they live, and odds are very good they will simply reply "Township."
Perhaps they'll say the Township, or even in Township.
But more than likely, you'll just get "Township" as a response.
With all due respect to Cherry Hill, West Deptford, Medford and the scores of other municipalities officially incorporated as townships in the tri-county area, you'd pretty much have to be a dolt to not know that they mean Gloucester County's Washington Township.
It's one of the first things Mark Birnbaum noticed when he opened a sandwich shop in "Township."
"Even before we moved here, when I would go out to a place inhabited by locals, very often they'd say in Township, like they say in-surance in Ohio, with the accent on "in' -- "he's been in Township since 1982,' " Birnbaum said.
Russ Waddell of Medford owns Township Liquors on the Black Horse Pike. Despite the name of his store, which predates his ownership, he's still an outsider and doesn't quite comprehend the quirk.
"They say something like, "I'm from the Township, the Township.' What township is that? "Washington.'"
Is it pride? Ego?
Perhaps even a little insecurity?
After all, there are seven New Jersey municipalities named for the father of our country and at least 19 places containing some derivation of George Washington's name in the state.
No one seems to know for sure how or when the linguistic peculiarity came about, but it probably traces its origins to the 1970s, to high school students and the pride they felt for their sports teams.
Years ago, the "Minuteman" on the Washington Township football helmet -- and its nod to the nation's forefathers -- gave way to a simple Twp in italic script.
Fans at high school football games cheer on "Township, Township, Township."
Back in the '70s, Washington Township, now Gloucester County's most populous municipality with some 50,000 people, was rural, mostly orchards interspersed with little towns -- Turnersville, Hurffville, Grenloch, Cross Keys, Mayfair, Bunker Hill and Chapel Heights.
But it was on the cusp of becoming the fastest-growing municipality in South Jersey.
The notion of Township as identity rapidly swallowed up any affinity locals had for these little farm towns. Anyway, most of the folks moving in were from Philadelphia and weren't seeking a piece of country living. They were bringing the city with them, only with lawns.
But how does this translate into the virtual loss of the township's incorporated name by its own citizens?
"You just get lazy," said James McKeever, a longtime resident who is the township's municipal services director. "When you use it two or three times, it just comes easier than saying Washington Township.
"It's funny how it's recognized all over the place."
Shane McLaughlin, 18, is a recent graduate of Washington Township High School. McLaughlin picked up the habit from his father, who didn't even live in Township but in Pitman.
"I think it has something to do with going from a farm town to being an upper, built-up, nice community. They use Township as a way to show they're more of a premier, elite town, especially in Gloucester County," he said.
Michael Licisyn, a 22-year-old senior at Rowan University, made a film appropriately titled Township that took a sometimes satirical look at his hometown through a writer who returns to his home in Washington Township for artistic inspiration. He finds a world of speed bumps and subdivisions.
Throughout, the characters stay true to the use of the term "Township."
Outsiders may think the habit stems from cockiness, but it's really pride, Licisyn said.
Saying Washington alone, as one would say Cherry Hill or Medford, just doesn't feel natural, said Joseph Bollendorf, assistant principal for the high school's 11-12 wing.
To outsiders, the usurpation by Washington Township of the term for its sole use may seem "like we have an attitude," he said.
"I don't think it's that at all. It's just something you inherit when you move to the township."
Reach Lawrence Hajna at (856) 486-2466 or lhajna@courierpostonline.com
Township says it all for residents Tuesday, March 7, 2006 By LAWRENCE HAJNA Ask anyone from Washington Township where they live, and odds are very good they will simply reply "Township." Perhaps they'll say the Township, or even in Township. But more than likely, you'll just get "Township" as a response. With all due respect to Cherry Hill, West Deptford, Medford and the scores of other municipalities officially incorporated as townships in the tri-county area, you'd pretty much have to be a dolt to not know that they mean Gloucester County's Washington Township. It's one of the first things Mark Birnbaum noticed when he opened a sandwich shop in "Township." "Even before we moved here, when I would go out to a place inhabited by locals, very often they'd say in Township, like they say in-surance in Ohio, with the accent on "in' -- "he's been in Township since 1982,' " Birnbaum said. Russ Waddell of Medford owns Township Liquors on the Black Horse Pike. Despite the name of his store, which predates his ownership, he's still an outsider and doesn't quite comprehend the quirk. "They say something like, "I'm from the Township, the Township.' What township is that? "Washington.'" Is it pride? Ego? Perhaps even a little insecurity? After all, there are seven New Jersey municipalities named for the father of our country and at least 19 places containing some derivation of George Washington's name in the state. No one seems to know for sure how or when the linguistic peculiarity came about, but it probably traces its origins to the 1970s, to high school students and the pride they felt for their sports teams. Years ago, the "Minuteman" on the Washington Township football helmet -- and its nod to the nation's forefathers -- gave way to a simple Twp in italic script. Fans at high school football games cheer on "Township, Township, Township." Back in the '70s, Washington Township, now Gloucester County's most populous municipality with some 50,000 people, was rural, mostly orchards interspersed with little towns -- Turnersville, Hurffville, Grenloch, Cross Keys, Mayfair, Bunker Hill and Chapel Heights. But it was on the cusp of becoming the fastest-growing municipality in South Jersey. The notion of Township as identity rapidly swallowed up any affinity locals had for these little farm towns. Anyway, most of the folks moving in were from Philadelphia and weren't seeking a piece of country living. They were bringing the city with them, only with lawns. But how does this translate into the virtual loss of the township's incorporated name by its own citizens? "You just get lazy," said James McKeever, a longtime resident who is the township's municipal services director. "When you use it two or three times, it just comes easier than saying Washington Township. "It's funny how it's recognized all over the place." Shane McLaughlin, 18, is a recent graduate of Washington Township High School. McLaughlin picked up the habit from his father, who didn't even live in Township but in Pitman. "I think it has something to do with going from a farm town to being an upper, built-up, nice community. They use Township as a way to show they're more of a premier, elite town, especially in Gloucester County," he said. Michael Licisyn, a 22-year-old senior at Rowan University, made a film appropriately titled Township that took a sometimes satirical look at his hometown through a writer who returns to his home in Washington Township for artistic inspiration. He finds a world of speed bumps and subdivisions. Throughout, the characters stay true to the use of the term "Township." Outsiders may think the habit stems from cockiness, but it's really pride, Licisyn said. Saying Washington alone, as one would say Cherry Hill or Medford, just doesn't feel natural, said Joseph Bollendorf, assistant principal for the high school's 11-12 wing. To outsiders, the usurpation by Washington Township of the term for its sole use may seem "like we have an attitude," he said. "I don't think it's that at all. It's just something you inherit when you move to the township." Reach Lawrence Hajna at (856) 486-2466 or lhajna@courierpostonline.com |