Monthly Speaker Series Presentation – Built to Last: The Story of Crescent Tire and the Crescenzo Family
The Historical Society of Hammonton (HSH) presents another fun FREE-to-ALL Speaker Series event on the first Thursday of the month at the Canoe Club Senior Center, Hammonton Lake Park. No pre-registration required.
First Thursday of the month
Canoe Club at Hammonton Lake Park
Free and open to the public – no membership or RSVP required!
6 PM – Monthly Membership Meeting
6:45 PM – Refreshments
7 PM – Speaker Series PresentationThe May program, “Built to Last: The Story of Crescent Tire & Service and the Crescenzo Family,” will feature longtime local business owner Christa Crescenzo McIntosh. A true story of resilience, reinvention, and family continuity, the presentation will explore the history of one of Hammonton’s enduring family businesses and the generations who helped shape it.
Founded in 1937, Crescent Tire & Service began at the corner of Egg Harbor Road and Passmore Avenue, where Christa’s grandfather pumped gas, sold tires, and repaired automobiles. In an era when prejudice against Italian immigrants was still common, he felt compelled to name the business Crescent Tire & Service rather than use the family surname, Crescenzo – a powerful reflection of both the challenges and determination that marked many immigrant success stories.
The business entered a new chapter in 1972, when Christa’s father expanded operations by building a larger facility with additional repair bays at 325 S. White Horse Pike, ending gas service to focus fully on automotive repair. That location remained home to the business for decades and became a familiar landmark in the Hammonton community. The program will also highlight the next generation now involved in the business, underscoring how legacy businesses remain relevant by adapting while staying true to their roots.
As the third-generation owner and first woman to lead Crescent Tire & Service, Christa brings a deeply personal perspective to this story. A lifelong Hammontonian, she returned home after attending La Salle University and spending several years away, ultimately rejoining the family business she grew up around. Her journey is also one of perseverance through personal loss and transition. After losing both her brother and father within two years of each other, Christa stepped into leadership during a pivotal moment for the business. Through it all, Crescent Tire has remained firmly rooted in family, with multiple generations continuing to work side by side.
An Organization for All Ages
The Historical Society of Hammonton is dedicated to preserving and celebrating the rich, multi-cultural social, economic, and political heritage of our town and its people. Our mission is to increase awareness of Hammonton’s rich history and to establish public access by collecting, conserving, interpreting, and promoting it to the widest possible audience.
Get Involved!
There’s a place for you at HSH. Help at events, join community outreach, support fundraising, or dive into museum collections and oral history. With many active committees, you can get involved as little or as much as you’d like. Send us an email and tell us what interests you!
Located in the historic former Town Hall (built in 1887) in Veterans Memorial Park, the Museum is open on Saturdays from 11 AM–2 PM. Other days by appointment or happenstance (if the OPEN flag is flying, come on in).
For more information, call (609) 270-7652 or email info@historicalsocietyofhammonton.org.
Visit us online at www.historicalsocietyofhammonton.org.
Funding has been made possible in part by the New Jersey Historical Commission, a division of Cultural Affairs within the Department of State, through funds administered by the Atlantic County Office of Cultural and Heritage Affairs.