Indian King Tavern Museum welcomes its first female Town Crier

Joanne Gebhardt of Bellmawr, New Jersey, is the first female town crier for the Friends of the Indian King Tavern Museum. South Jersey residents may have met or heard Joanne as she performs in the community at local events. While the town crier experience is serious, it’s seriously fun, too, says Joanne, who is a self-employed, licensed massage therapist by day.

"I love being a town crier because it gives me the opportunity to meet and greet many people who live or work in Haddonfield and the surrounding area,” she says. “It also gives me the chance to participate in many other community events where the town criers are requested.”

Joanne’s seven-year-old grandson Lucas Buttery is now the tavern’s youngest town crier. Lucas also dresses in 18th-century attire and has become a favorite among the older criers.

“My grandson enjoys being a crier because he can ring the bell and shout loudly, and no one will tell him to be quiet,” she says.

Fellow volunteer Rosario Licciardello runs the committee of the tavern’s team of town criers and is actively looking for new recruits to help promote the Indian King Tavern Museum events in the region. The tavern recently received a grant to underwrite the cost of period attire for the volunteers.

“We are thrilled to have Joanne 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. Call Rosario Licciardello at 856-866-0038.

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, 233 Kings Highway East, Haddonfield, NJ 08033. For more information call the museum 856-429-6792 or visit its website www.indiankingfriends.org.

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