Tells the Story
FIRST – IN HONOR OF AMERICA’S FIRST MANNED FLIGHT; PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA TO DEPTFORD, NEW JERSEY
JANUARY 1793.
FINEST – IN HONOR OF THE LAW ENFORCEMENT PROFESSION; DEPTFORD POLICE FLY AMERICA’S FIRST POLICE BALLOON
MAY 1998.
Deptford Township is proud to be the landing site of the first manned flight in our country’s history.
On January 9, 1793, Jean Pierre Blanchard began his journey in a hot air balloon from the yard of the old Walnut Street Prison in Philadelphia.
Practically the whole city came out to watch and among the crowd was President George Washington and future president Thomas Jefferson.
Fifteen miles and 46 minutes later, Blanchard landed in Deptford Township at what is now the site of the Deptford Landing Shopping Center on Clements Bridge Road. The Old Clement Oak Tree which is noted in historical records still stands there to this day. Just as much as the first airplane flight, this is truly a major event in our country’s history.