Harriett Anne Lucas
1836-1893

She was quite simply a remarkable woman whose contributions to society cannot be overlooked. A deeply pious person, Harriet Lucas was very interested in the religious environment of our town. In 1856, together with her husband, Mrs. Lucas helped found the Union Sunday School. At their insistence, services for various denominations were held in the local school house. No Church stood in town at that time. After a quarter of a century of operating in this manner, the situation changed when John Lucas donated a parcel of land for the site of an Episcopal Church. After all, he was an Englishman, and the Episcopal Church was the Church of England. The cornerstone for the Church of St. John-In-The-Wilderness was laid on October 1, 1882 at the intersection of Haddonfield-Berlin Road and Clementon Road near Foster Avenue. The building opened its doors in March of 1883. Without the considerable influence of Harriet Lucas, this endeavor might never have been undertaken.
In addition to her work with the church, Mrs. Lucas was very active in other causes. She was involved with the Centennial Exhibition of 1876. Her benevolence was evident in her effort to establish a "Retreat for the Aged Divines of the Church" in 1879. The Tenth Ward Charity Organization, the Hayes Mechanics' Home, the Women's Homoeopathic Association, and the Reformation of Inebriate Women also earned her support. Harriet Lucas was identified with the Silk Culture Association. In her capacity as president of this organization, she presented silk flags to House and Senate committees in Washington in 1885.
While her concerns might not have been much different from those of any other socially prominent late nineteenth century woman, Harriet Lucas stood out because she accomplished so much in such a short time. During the few years of her life (she suffered from declining health) she persisted in working for various causes. Although confined to bed, she maintained her position as a Commissioner of the World's Fair from Pennsylvania and continued her efforts on behalf of the Silk Culture Association. When she died at the age of fifty-six, she left a great legacy of good works. By making the most of her time without regard to the burden imposed on her, she earned the lasting respect and admiration of her peers.
Her singularly noble and useful life, her wide range of practical effort for the best interest of the people as a whole, her vigor and success in elevating Woman's Work, and her unequaled sweetness and simplicity of personal character, created a wide circle of personal and devoted friends. Much as she had suffered from overwork at intervals for two or three years, all were shocked at the announcement of her death. All felt it as a great public loss, and all felt it keenly as a personal grief.