Hammonton to mark anniversary of Reagan's visit, speech

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"It is one of the grandest days the town has ever seen," said former Councilman Rock Colasurdo, 70, who was the event's emcee. "It's not like we're in Philadelphia where the president comes all the time. We are a remote town in southern New Jersey that, at the time, had a population of only 13,000 people."

Reagan's speech Sept. 19, 1984, attracted more than 25,000.

On Saturday, the town will celebrate the 25th anniversary of Hammonton's third presidential encounter. Ulysses S. Grant briefly tipped his cap at the train stop on his way through town in 1846, and presidential candidate Theodore Roosevelt made a "whistle stop" there during his 1912 campaign.

"It's something that should be celebrated," said Hammonton Republican Club President Mike Torrissi, who organized Saturday's event.

Republican lieutenant governor candidate Kim Guadagno, freeholder chairman Jim Curcio, freeholder Frank Giordano and freeholder candidate Frank Formica are among the dignitaries scheduled to be in attendance for the ceremony, which will begin at 2 p.m. on the corner of Bellevue and Central avenues.

"Having a president visit Hammonton is something significant that happened here, that hasn't happened here since and that may never happen here again," Torrissi said. "Regardless of your political viewpoint, Democrat or Republican, it's an important part of Hammonton's history."

The significance of Reagan's visit can still be seen throughout the town, from the "Reagan Rock" monument at the site where he spoke on the corner of Bellevue and Central avenues, to the photo of the occasion hanging in Town Hall. And from the street sign for Ronald Reagan Drive (a.k.a. Central Avenue), to the billboard at the entrance of town that claims Hammonton is "The Blueberry Capital of the World" - an assertion Reagan made in his speech.

"We asked him to say it and he did," said Colasurdo, adding his wife Gloria Dellanoce-Colasurdo submitted much of the local flavor for Reagan's speech to the White House days in advance. "And the blueberry has been associated with the town ever since."

Colasurdo's mother, Millie, also baked the blueberry pie that Blueberry Queen Stacy Smith presented to Reagan on stage.

"When he was done with his speech, he went into the bank for refreshments and asked his Secret Service guys, 'Hey guys, where's that blueberry pie?'" Colasurdo said. "What a great guy he was."

Angie Rodio remembers the days of anticipation leading up to Reagan's visit and the massive crowd that showed for it.

"It was all very exciting," said Rodio, 84, the vice president of the Hammonton Republican Club. "The streets were filled with people, the kids were all let out of school, and we were busing people in from all different towns. There was even a line of people to trying get in."

Councilman James Bertino was 27 years old when he had a front-row seat for Reagan's speech.

"It was a tremendous experience. One that struck a chord with me and first inspired me to get involved in politics," Bertino said. "To be able to be part of that, with the so many thousands of people who witnessed it, was just phenomenal."

In addition to crowd-pleasing references to Bruce Springsteen, the Hammonton Blue Devils and the St. Joseph Wildcats, Reagan's 30-minute speech - which was stopped by applause two dozen times - also touched upon the town's rich Italian heritage.

"We've come to Hammonton ... because you are what America is all about. Americans like you, and your mothers and fathers, and their parents - here in Hammonton, I know that means many proud Italians and hard-working families who want to keep those farms in your families - all of you have given the ideas, muscle, moral courage and, yes, the spiritual strength that built the greatest, freest nation the world has ever known," Reagan said. "You didn't come here seeking streets paved with gold. You didn't come asking for welfare or special treatment. You came for freedom and opportunity."

Rodio said it was a message that helped Reagan overwhelmingly win the Hammonton vote.

"We're just a small little town here, but the president came to talk to us," she said. "It was 25 years ago and I can still remember how exciting it was."

E-mail Robert Spahr: RSpahr@pressofac.com