The Friends of the Indian King Tavern Museum welcome Anthony Simeone as a new town crier and volunteer. Some of Simeone’s responsibilities will be dressing in 18th century attire and announcing the events at the Indian King Tavern to the community.
Simeone, 40, of Oaklyn, manages the proposal-writing department for furniture manufacturer Knoll and considers himself a history buff of the 18th century. Simeone has experience in public speaking, as he is president of the Camden County Toastmasters Club.
This town crier experience is serious, but seriously fun, too. While walking around Haddonfield in period attire, town criers pose for selfies, wave at passersby in cars and get questions from kids like “Are you a pirate?” Town criers add color to Haddonfield, said volunteer Philip Zoebisch.
Fellow volunteer Rosario Licciardello runs the committee of the tavern’s team of town criers and is actively looking for new recruits. The tavern recently received a grant to underwrite the cost of period attire for the volunteers. Also, the tavern offers training to help criers to be the best they can be.
“We are thrilled to have Anthony as a town crier,” said Licciardello. “Our volunteers are the town ambassadors of the Indian King Tavern and we appreciate their time and energy.”
The Indian King Tavern is actively looking for volunteers of all ages to audition in February. Call Rosario Licciardello at (856) 866–0038 or e-mail him at royalsilinc@gmail.com.
Visiting the Indian King Tavern is like stepping back in time to the Colonial Era, with its period rooms, authentic décor and historical details. The Indian King Tavern is the location where the seal of New Jersey was adopted and where New Jersey became a state in 1777. It is now a museum and important part of our state’s history.
The Indian King Tavern Museum is located at 233 Kings Highway East in Haddonfield. For more information call the museum (856) 429–6792 or visit their website www.indiankingfriends.org.
