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Crooked Lane
I have been obsessed with the area in which I grew up for quite some time. Almost to the point where I want to write a book, or create a website, just in regards to the history of the Delaware River communities. The weather was to be nice on Saturday, so I decided I would go hiking in the woods where I grew up. But, we’ll get to that in a minute. First up, I was given the honor by the Burlington County division of the Special Olympics, of announcing all the events which were held at Lenape High School’s Football field Saturday morning. I love sports. Any kind of sports in the sense of commentating color or play by play. One day I may finally come out of the closet and leave DJing for sports radio. Who knows. There is a definite feeling once I walk on to the football field. Despite being incredibly exhausted from a lack of sleep on Friday night, I made it a point to get up early and head to the field. I met up with organizer Sandra Rodenbeck, who is a very sweet woman, and I went up to the press booth high above Lenape field and started announcing the Special Olympics competitors' names. While doing that, I was making sure people knew where to get snacks, where the bathroom was, raffle winners, lost wallets, post game food, etc. I was no stranger to this booth. This was the same booth I called the historic Thanksgiving day High School football games in the late 90’s. One with Mike Ryan, and the other with Philadelphia sports radio legend, Joe Pelligrino. It felt weird to return back to this sound booth. But nonetheless, it was a nice day for it. I had the chance to meet a couple of newspapers, proud parents, and even a few gagliarchives listeners. News travels fast apparently. How did they know I would be there?!? The Olympics humbled me. You think of how many things you have going on in your life. Unwanted stress, failed ventures, work deadlines, money problems, nonsensical drama with your friends, personal deadlines, and all other things that make the acids begin to churn. Here on that field, they all went away. These wonderful, beautiful kids put it all in perspective. The Mount Holly-Vincentown Kiwanis Club co-sponsored the event and was very generous to me. To see the looks on the kids’ faces as their names were announced was my payment for the afternoon. When the morning was all said and done, I walked back to my car exhausted, yet smiling.
Walking In Colestown
After a hot dog and some coffee, I went across the street and parked my car in Crofton Commons. I began my obsessive hike up the South Branch of the Pennsauken Creek on the Cherry Hill side. As I hiked, I tried to locate the spot on the creek where as a child, I witnessed the wall of wooden planks on the side bank of the Pennsauken creek. When I was 11, I didn’t care. But now, here at 33, I would give anything to find just one plank. The overgrowth was heavy. I took too long to come out here. I tried to imagine a creek that was once higher at one time…small barges moving up and down with goods for the local towns of Fellowship, Colestown, Springdale, and Chester. I could hear and feel it. I began my trek through the woods of what was once the outskirts of Colestown. I looked at the ground closely to see if there was anything. Stones, old bottles, wood, metal, anything. As I hiked deeper into the woods of one time Colestown, I found old growth trees. At least 150 years old. I also spotted old stone deep within the ground that had to be placed there on purpose. What could it have been? Foundation? Farmhouse? Covered up Well? Who knows. I came upon the housing development now known as Olde Springs Crossing. If you know the history, there used to be a road that crossed over the South Branch of the Pennsauken Creek called Crooked Lane. Crooked wrapped through Colestown (Present day Cherry Hill) from Kings Highway, crossed the creek, then went into Chester (Present day Maple Shade). The road wound through to Fellowship Road (Present day Route 73) and ended there. This road began in the early 1690’s and crossed that creek until the bridge collapsed in 1914. There were houses and farms that ran amidst that road. There is a house that still stands from the 1720’s on that road that the owners have done a fine job of hiding it from the township. Unfortunately, they have covered that house with stucco. Very depressing. But…hey, it’s still there. The Lippincott’s live across the street from them (founding family to the area) and Mr. Lippincott took me to his back yard and showed me the old foundation he refuses to move or destroy. Bless him. Moving right along, I walked back to my jeep and went to the Maple Shade side and drove through Clusters Of Lexton. In this condo community lies a house along the Pennsauken Creek owned by the DaCosta family. When I was young, I spoke to Mr. DaCosta's wife and she stated how he was more or less the 'new' of old land owners of the area. He held many acres in the surrounding area. Including what is now King's Croft, Crofton Commons, and Brandywoods. The last time I knocked on their door with curiousity, I was 13. Now here I am with the same curiosity at 33, I knocked again. Unfortunately, the house is now rented by the family and the tenants had no idea really about the house...but there was the farmhouse out back, along with the outline of what was once a prosperous and busy acreage of land.
Follow The Trees
I then drove into the old Robert's property (Present day Robert's Mill Apartments). A friend had pointed out, weeks back my suspicions on the layout of the development over the one time popular mill. I was correct in the sense of where the mill was located. But it was bittersweet. There was once a tavern located in the vicinity of what is now Old Bridge Road. The overgrowth was so heavy in this early part of spring that tredging through, down the slope would have been in impossible. So I walked to where I was also told I was correct by a friend in the 'Maple Shade' side of the now defunct Crooked Lane. I always had a strong feeling of how the road ran AFTER it crossed the Pennsauken Creek. And after studying the old town property maps, I had pretty much came to the realization that not only did I know how the old road ran, but where and how it curved. My thoughts were confirmed. I have to admit I am a bit obsessed with this lost part of Colestown. It's personal. I don't know...I get lost sometimes in life...sudden breakdowns in the filters that block the darker places that one can be consumed by. I find myself returning to both sides of Crooked lane. It holds a deep trail in my heart. This is how life goes. Things become incomplete and then accepted. No matter how much it was loved and needed at one time. But it is still good to look at them and understand that that 'road' had seen better days. A road that once meant so much to so many, for so many years. That's how life goes. Then you become forgotten between two apartment complexes. I know you're there. I do.
The Degree Of Absolute
We featured an interview with Aaron Bell of Degree Absolute. Their self titled disc on the Sensory records label is one of the best unknowns in the current scene. This isn't necessarily a a progressive metal album. This has many components. Symphonic, ambient, metal, and of course progressive rock hooks. Aaron is humble, but Jack and I know this disc is the real deal. We discussed the new album that took some time to put together, but none the less, the proof is in the pudding. An excellent work. Personal thanks to him for doing well under pressure. We featured more music from the Popul Vuh catalog with some new music from the excellent Progquebec label. We opened things up tonight with Lenny White's Venusian Summer. I feel personally this is one of the great fusion albums of all time. This album cooks so much it's disturbing. I was almost stomping the floor as loud as Keith Rowe does.
6/28/00
We kicked off our current campaign of 50 Weeks To 1000. In essence, we'll be featuring different tidbits of things we have done over the last 15 years leading up to our 1000th show. They can be concerts, interviews, in studio performances, and anything newsworthy we have given you in our travels. Tonight we did a flashback to 2000 in early Summer on a Thursday night in the Art Museum section of the city. The venue was the Bishop's Collar. The band, The Sonny Troy Band. They had residence on Thursday nights for over a year with many sit-ins. This particular night's line up featured Mike Dimanti on Drums, Ace Tesone on Bass, Bill Whited on Keyboards, and my father Sonny Troy on the guitar. This night was not like many prior Thursdays...there was an intesnity in the air. Roger and I arrived at 9 P.M. already under the spell of the night's offerings. After introducing the band the set was incredible. I was pounding the table so hard, I thought the Mini Disc recorder would pick up the vibration so I had to move seats. Roger and I yelled between each song in delight. The band cooked so hot that people at the bar moved to the rear to get a better look. Up walks Philadelphia guitarist Jimmy Bruno. Jimmy sat in and played the final set with my dad....it was great. It was something to see these two friends who are legends in the community of jazz joining together. It was something you were glad to have on tape. Great memory. The Yuenglings flowed....drained...and concluded. We left for an excursion into the Allegheny section that is not to be forgotten and flew up 76 with my hand over one eye. I would love to have nights like that once a week. Ahhh...memories.

This Program Ran 4 Hours and 2 Minutes.