November 17, 2004
Dog days
Burlington County Times

By DANIELLE CAMILLI

MOORESTOWN - Moorestown has gone to the dogs.

Well, one dog, for the time being.

Nipper, the iconic fox terrier whose image first represented the Victor Talking Machine in 1902 and later served as a symbol of electronics giant RCA, made his much-anticipated return to the township yesterday.

The 5-foot-tall, fiberglass Nipper statues arrived at the Lutheran Home at Moorestown on Main Street, where they will stay until early next year.

The statues are part of a fund-raising public art project, Nipper 2005, that will put the soon-to-be decorated figures on the township's streets next summer.

Proceeds from the fund-raiser, which will include an auction of the statues next October and the sale of Nipper merchandise, will benefit five township-based nonprofit groups: The Evergreens continuing care center, the Historical Society of Moorestown, the Lutheran Home, the Community House and the Perkins Center for the Arts.

Yesterday's event, which included "dog catcher" Sara Homer of the Moorestown Historical Society rounding up wayward Nipper statues that had been placed around town, was a homecoming of sorts for one of the world's most recognizable trademarks of the 20th century.

Eldridge Johnson, the founder of the Victor Talking Machine, lived in what is now the Lutheran Home. He acquired the rights to the painting "His Master's Voice" in 1900. In the painting, Nipper is seen with his head cocked, listening to a phonograph.

Paul Cranmer, administrator at the Lutheran Home, said more than 70 artists have submitted applications to decorate the 30 statues. A "grooming committee" will announce the winning artists in January.

Mayor Michael Sanyour helped welcome the litter to town.

"It's a fine breed," he said. "What could be more fitting than for Nipper to come home to Moorestown."

Email: dcamilli@phillyBurbs.com