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Crossing the past Ewing authors tell the history of Washington Crossing in new book BY DAN AUBREY
Ewing-based historians Patricia Millen and Robert Sands recently published the Images of America series book Washington Crossing. The two say their new Arcadia Press book of mainly vintage photographs “was written to honor the 1776 crossing of the Delaware by General George Washington and his army and the parks that mark its place in history.” But, they continue, the images “preserve more than the events of the American Revolution. For generations of people, the parks have been an extension of their own backyards and hold fond memories of hiking thorough wooded trails—or along the canals—family picnics and outdoor play watching or witnessing history relived on Christmas Day. “We have attempted to capture these timeless moments that make up the story of both parks. (And) preserve the pictorial history of the crossing and the parks that flank the river—for all the thousands of visitors who come each year to stand on the banks to marvel at the site where Washington crossed the Delaware.”
Today, they note, that site consists of parks on both sides of the river. New Jersey’s Washington Crossing State Park, of which Millen is a founding member of the park association, encompasses areas in Mercer and Hunterdon counties in New Jersey and was created in 1912. The Washington Crossing Historic Park in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, was created shortly afterward in 1917. Nevertheless, the main image that dominates the story of the park is “the dramatic scene of Washington standing in a Durham boat in 1776 in the icy river.” They say that the image “with the flag furling in the wind has been ingrained into the American consciousness. It is recognized the world over. This imagery has been immortalized in paintings, sculptures, propaganda, and even in modern-day advertising.” The crossing is also part of the popular annual Christmas Day recreation that celebrated 69 years last month. As Sands and Millen note, “Actor St. John ‘Sinjun’ Terrell began the first modern re-enactments of the crossing of the Delaware in 1953. With six friends in rented costumes in a half-scale Durham boat built by Lambertville carpenter Elmer Case, he staged Emanuel Leutze’s iconic painting.” See BOOK, Page 6
Robert Wiggs (in cap) works with young football players at Playmaker Athletics on Spruce Street in Ewing.
Wiggs finds his passion with Playmaker Athletics BY RICH FISHER
What do iconic high school wide receivers do after their playing days are over? Well, the ones who appreciate what football did for them make a conscientious choice to give back to the game and the area where they grew up.
Consider Robert Wiggs one of those guys. The 29-year-old graduated in 2011 as Nottingham’s all-time leader in pass receptions and passing yards and was also Mercer County’s career receptions leader (although the county record has since been broken). He was one of the area’s most electrifying players and was
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also a track & field standout. Wiggs took both talents to Wesley College and had some impressive moments with the now-defunct Division III powerhouse program that was bought out by the University of Delaware. Wiggs now works full time for the New Jersey State Police, but See WIGGS, Page 3
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