“The woods are lovely dark and deep” mused Robert Frost. His words echo the sentiment one feels upon discovering Mountwell Park. This Haddonfield treasure offers a serene escape from the town’s hustle.
Mountwell Park is more than just a green space. It is a portal to the past. It holds echoes of the area’s first homestead. Reilley’s Military Academy once stood proudly here. Many houses nearby were part of that academy.
After the tracks were removed, the right-of-way became part of Mountwell Park. While not vast, the woods are large enough to offer seclusion.
Imagine stepping off the curb. Suddenly, you find yourself surrounded by trees in Mountwell Park. It feels like entering another time.
In the early 1900s, the small stream here was flooded creating a swimming hole. Later, in the 1920s, a cement pool was built. Locals like myself swam here as children before it was closed due to age.
As a child, I spent countless afternoons exploring Mountwell Park. I enjoyed the feeling of peaceful isolation. It was amazing to be so close to town yet feel so removed.
One of my favorite things was to find initials carved into trees. The oldest legible carvings dated back to the 1930s. Imagine the stories those trees could tell. I often wondered about the people who carved them. Where were they now?
Mountwell Park held a special charm on snowy nights. Bundled in boots and a heavy coat, I would walk through the snow-covered woods. The snow transformed the familiar into something magical.
At the far end of Mountwell Park, near Pennypacker Creek, stood a 50-foot hill. I would imagine myself as a soldier during WWII. I enjoyed the feeling of timelessness.
Haddonfield in the snow always reminded me of the 1940s. Perhaps it was from watching war movies. Mountwell Park possessed a captivating anachronism.
It felt like a link to the past where I could connect with people from long ago. Maybe even to the Leni Lanape Indians who once lived here.
Growing up near Mountwell Park added a spiritual dimension to my life. There was an almost inaudible hum about the place. But in the snowy silence of the woods, that hum would almost become loud enough to hear.
Mountwell Park is more than a park. It is a memory. It is a link to Haddonfield’s rich history. Take a walk and experience the magic of Mountwell Park.