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Haddonfield's town crier is wise beyond his years

For Haddonfield's tricentennial, Joey Rihl, 10, will do the honors. (PATRICK McPEAK / Staff Photographer)

GALLERY: For Haddonfield's tricentennial,… (PATRICK…)

By Andrew Seidman, Inquirer Staff Writer

Posted: March 10, 2013

"Oyez! Oyez! Oyez!"

Patrons of downtown Haddonfield - or anyone within shouting distance of it - were likely to hear those words bellowing Saturday from a 10-year-old boy. Some passersby looked perplexed, but Joey Rihl was not trying to cause a ruckus; he was just doing his new job as town crier.

The Friends of the Indian King Tavern museum held a contest in December to name a town crier in honor of Haddonfield's tricentennial. It ended up selecting five candidates - mostly adults.

Wearing a colonial costume and wielding a bell Saturday, Joey took a page out of the 18th-century, inviting people standing outside restaurants, at a Starbucks, and in a barbershop to watch a magician perform at the museum.

Or in his words: "Prepare thyself to be a-mazed at the marvel oft thee spell-binding, daring, and most certainly a-rousing acts in thy heart oft Haddonfield: The Indian King."

"Joey is a history buff," said his mother, Patty Anne Rihl. That might be putting it lightly.

In an after-school program, the fifth grader at Central Elementary School has taught Greek mythology to his peers. When he was in third grade, he taught Egypt's 18th dynasty to sixth graders.

"Joey operates on a level well above all the rest of us," said Dennis Tully, a friend of the Rihl family, whose wife, Kathy, alerted Joey to the auditions.

Approached with the idea, "I said, 'I suppose why not?' " Joey recalled.

He also collects historical artifacts for his own "museum" on the third floor of his house. His favorite item? "That's easy," he said. "John Hancock's original signature," a Christmas present.

He has been known to correct - and replace - tour guides, especially when they mess up the history of England's King Henry VIII.

He will perform town-crier duties in Haddonfield's Fourth of July parade and at other town events.

But he will also maintain his role as a 10-year-old. Said his mother: "He enjoys going to Phillies games."

Contact Andrew Seidman

at 856-779-3846 or aseidman@phillynews.com,

or follow on Twitter @AndrewSeidman.