The History of the Miss Stratford Event:

The actual Miss Stratford Pageant began some time in the early fifties. Jack Cathrall who lived in Stratford his entire 87 years when he started to write a book called  “The History of Stratford, New Jersey”. Jack, discovered some historical facts about the beginnings of the Pageant following completion and the distribution of  645 books These facts include a Miss Stratford named Selistine Brown age 3 who presided over a gala event in front of  the White Horse General Store. This event was held on November 4, 1922 to celebrate the newly paved White Horse Pike from Camden to Atlantic City, N.J. This highway was then known as the longest stretch of hard-surface roadway in the world.  This event was held three years before our Borough was actually incorporated in 1925. Selistine Brown, the very first Miss Stratford lived directly across the street on the White Horse Pike.