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Famous railroad disaster story set to arrive in Bordentown By Dan Aubrey The tale of one New Jersey’s most legendary train accidents makes stop at Bordentown’s Old City Hall in the form of a new theatrical storytelling presentation developed through the Bordentown Historical Society. The third installment of the “Harrowing History” series, the presentation led by BHS member Kristi Kantorski arrives 123 years after the train known as the Nellie Bly collided with another train as it passed Bordentown on its way to New York City. That Feb. 21, 1901, calamity resulted in the deaths of 17 passengers. Others were mangled when cars slipped from the tracks and fire ripped through wooden cars. It also resulted in a nationally watched investigation that brought changes to the railroad industry. The Nellie Bly was a Pennsylvania Railroad express connecting New York and Atlantic City. Traveling at the then recordbreaking 60 miles per hour, the express was named after a newspaper reporter who came to fame for her own record-
breaking story — testing the time calculations of French writer Jules Verne’s popular and seemingly fantastic 1872 novel, “Around the World in 80 Days.” Sharing insights about the creation of the production in which costumed storytellers recreate those who lived and witnessed the accident, Kantorski connects “The Wreck” to her work on the first presentation of “Harrowing History.” That 2020 event, recounting six actual tales of murder, madness, and mystery in Bordentown, received a History Recognition Program award from the Burlington County Division of Parks. “I spent nearly a year every weekend in libraries compiling information and building the stories that would be revealed,” Kantorski says. “The result was fascinating stories of betrayal, greed, turn-of-the-century crime and punishment, and even a ghost story or two that had never seen the light of day in many cases.” She says that while it was looking through files that she discovered the mention of a “horrific train accident” that led to the creation of the current see NELLIE, Page 6
Bordentown basketball coach Bill Lloyd is looking for a big season from 5-foot-11 junior Maddie Wylie. (Photo by Rich Fisher.)
Junior Wylie ready to step up for Scotties’ basketball By rICH FISHer Bill Lloyd is making no secret about it. He wants Maddie Wylie to step up and be a dominant force for the Bordentown High girls’ basketball team. “We’re looking for more consistency out of her, especially defensively and rebounding,” the Scotties coach said prior to a preseason scrimmage with Allentown. “So that’s something she’s gonna work on and hope-
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fully lead us in that this year. “I told her she also needs to be a leading scorer in our league, she needs to be a leading rebounder in our league. That’s the challenge I gave to her. I think within our (Burlington County Patriot) Division she has the capability of doing that.” Is she ready to meet that challenge? “We’ll find out,” Lloyd said with a laugh. “Her and I talked a few times in the preseason and
she wants it. She put the work in over the summer so we’ll see what happens.” And what does Wiley think? “I love that kind of a challenge,” the junior said assuredly. “I need to work on stuff, everybody needs to work on stuff. But I love that challenge. I want to be the leading player. I strive for that.” Wylie is in her second year with the Scotties, having transsee WYLIE, Page 9
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