These Days in Mahwah History
Mahwah historian John Bristow published columns entitled “This Month in Mahwah History,” in the Home and Store News from 1985 to 1992, and “Events in Mahwah History” in 1993. He preserved his research in the form of index cards, keyed to the date. We are publishing that content on our website and will be adding more events to those that he found. This is a listing of all events entered thus far.
For today’s events, see This Day in Mahwah History
Date | Type | Event |
---|---|---|
1901-01-01 | People | The Twentieth Century was ushered in with noisy demonstrations all over town. Guns were fired and the church bells rung. (Bristow) |
1926-01-01 | Government | A rise in Township relief expenditures of nearly six thousand dollars pushed the annual budget up to $47,731.11 from $43,941.78 over 1935, but a surplus revenue appropriation from the State kept the amount to be raised from taxation, $25,941.78 at the same level as the year before. Hohokus Township (now Mahwah Township) was the first municipal governing body to have their budget in place. At the organization meeting James Devine was chosen Chairman again. Municipal officers were chosen and the special police appointed for the local churches and for the big estates on Valley Road. (Bristow) |
1928-01-01 | Fire Department | Fire Company #2 organized with 15 charter members, John Mayhook named chief. (Bristow) |
1929-01-01 | Business | New Jersey Rapid Transit company goes out of business, replaced by buses. (Bristow) |
1937-01-01 | People | Mahwah people greeted the New Year in a variety of parties. About forty people stopped at Monti's Inn on their way to the dance at the Houvenkopf Country Club. Mr. and Mrs. Raymond Dator spent the evening as the guests of Mr. and Mrs. Conover in Suffern. Mr. and Mrs. Samuel White, Mr. and Mrs. Charles S. Hallenbeck and Mr. and Mrs. Fred Richard celebrated at the Swiss Chalet in Ramsey. To avoid the crush the Suffern Woman's Club had their dance on the 26th and the Community Club, also in Suffern, had theirs on January 2nd. (Bristow) |
1937-01-01 | Government | There were no surprises at the reorganization session of the Township Committee. James Devine was reelected as Chairman, although he stated that he would prefer one of the other two members to take the post. He only did it, he said, out of consideration for community welfare. He also remarked on the excellent financial condition of the Town. This face was demonstrated when the Board rewarded the excellent work of Police Chief Charles E. Smith and Attorney Walter . Weber with $100 annual raises. Because of the extra work created by the use of the Town Hall by so many community organizations, the janitor's salary was also raised $25 for the year. (Bristow) |
1937-01-01 | Crime | Two local cars were stolen on New Years Eve and recovered on New Years Day. One was returned unharmed, the other had been wrecked. Mrs. Ralph Geffen of Lafayette Ave., Suffern reported her car missing shortly after 8:00 PM. It was found by State Police in Sloatsburg. It had been run off the road and wrecked. Mrs. Geffen was the owner and operator of a grocery store and butcher shop in Mahwah. The other car belonged to Zachary Levine of Valley Road, Mahwah. It was later found by Police to have been driven only a short distance down Valley Road and abandoned near Fogle's garage. The police did not apprehend the thieves but assumed them to be local residents celebrating the holiday. Both cars had been parked near Mrs. Geffen's store with the keys in the ignition. (Bristow) |
1939-01-01 | People | Mahwah people welcomed in the New Year in a variety of ways. Some attended festivities at the Tallman Riding Academy and the Houvenkopf Country club, in New York City, a private parties scubas those held by the Tibbals, on Armour Road and the Hagios on Malcolm Road. Mrs. H. Marr reported that she and some of her friends welcomed in the New Year at the Mahwah Tavern. (Bristow) |
1941-01-01 | Police | Nine-year-old Richard Templin, son of Mr. and Mrs. Robert Templin of Myrtle avenue, Mahwah, was hit in the neck with a .22 calibre bullet as he, his brother, Robert, 10, and two friends were walking in the woods near the McKee sand banks just off Route 202. His mother took him to Good Samaritan Hospital in Suffern where he was given a 50-50 chance to live. Another youth was reported to have been held by the police for firing his rifle at a rabbit from his front porch not far away. He claimed her could not have hit the Templin boy since he was half a mile away from where that boy was hit. The police have recovered the bullet and were to conduct tests. (Bristow) |
1942-01-01 | Politics | James Devine retired from public office after 53 years in public service. He had held every elective office in the Township except Town clerk. When asked what he was most proud of he said that the Township has no public debt, and that it had never been necessary to make a campaign speech to get elected. He was born in Suffern in 1867 and followed is father's trade as blacksmith while holding various offices. He was a County Freeholder for 15 years and served two terms in the State Assembly. He gave up his blacksmith shop when he became Custodian of the County courthouse in Hackensack, a post which he gave up two years previously after 22 years. Devine Drive, a street opposite the Commodore Perry playing field is named for him. (Bristow) |
1943-01-01 | Religion | In accordance with President Roosevelt's Thanksgiving Proclamation, on New Years Day a short service of prayer and meditation was held at the Ramapo Reformed Church, an the church was open all day for personal meditation. (Bristow) |
1965-01-01 | People | A historical marker was unveiled on Route 202 inn Mahwah citing the historic significance of Valley Road. The Valley Association through the Bergen County Historical Association obtained the marker and arranged for its installation. (Bristow) |
1965-01-01 | Government | On reorganization day Morris Ruddick was reelected as Mayor and most of the other officers given another term. The lone exception involved a seat on the Board of Health. Mrs. Mary S. Krupinski had been nominated but was not elected when Committeeman James Hacket indicated that former Health Officer Mrs. Mary Olive Wiley, who had recently resigned as Health Officer in Ramsey, was willing to serve on the Board again. Temporarily the post was left vacant until the dispute could be settled. (Bristow) |
1967-01-01 | People | Funeral services were held in Nyack, N.Y. for George Cole who died in the Rockland County Welfare Home in Pomona, NY. He had lived in Mahwah for most of his life. He had worked as fireman at the Brake Shoe Plant. He was survived by a son Raymond, of Central Nyack and a daughter Mrs. Elizabeth Melay of West Milford. (Bristow_ |
1893-01-02 | People | The children on the A. B. Darling farm were entertained at New Years Party by Mrs. Darling in the hall next to the main house. The hall was decorated with Chinese lanterns, evergreens and a trimmed Christmas tree. Colored candles lighted the darkened room. Each child received several "useful gifts" as well as books, toys, organs, figs and candy. (Bristow) |
1899-01-02 | The coldest weather of the season has been recorded. The thermometers around town registered between 15 and 18 below zero. At Welch's greenhouse it reached 22 below zero. (Bristow) | |
1900-01-02 | People | In a letter to the Ramsey Journal, Mr. Edwin Thatcher an engineer and architect propertied on his inspection of the Darlington bridge over the Ramapo on the road to Hillburn which was the site of an accident on December 27th. He stated that the bridge was sound in every respect. The builder who was present when the accident took place stated that no railing could have withstood the full weight of a horse and that the horse would have been killed if the railing had not given way. Mr. Thatcher believed that the bridge should last "for the next five hundred years." (Thatcher seems to have been the designer of the bridge since his name is on the iron plague attached.) (Bristow) |
1912-01-02 | People | A group of Italian laborers at the McMillan farm went toe Suffern to celebrate the New Year and drank heavily. In the morning one of them was found dead at the farm. He had drunk two bottles of whiskey in Suffern and took another with him which was nearly empty when he was found. Dr DeYoe said that the stuff in the bottle did not smell like whiskey. It may have contained wood alcohol. It will be tested. County Physician McFadden did not believe an autopsy or an inquest where necessary so the body was released immediately for burial. (Bristow) |
1916-01-02 | Religion | The Ramapo Reformed Church began a "Week of Peace" as suggested by the Federal Council of Churches. Meetings are scheduled every day this week. Those on Sunday the 2nd and the 9th are being held in the Church and Thursday's in the Lecture Hall. Monday's meeting will be at Albert Winter's house and those on Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday at, respectively, the homes of Steven Winter, J. F. Benedict, W. O. King, and at the Parsonage. The general topic of the week is "Peace and UnitY" with separate topics for each night. (Bristow) |
1917-01-02 | Business | Because of Labor Troubles at the Brake Shoe factory no deliveries of intoxicating liquor will be made to people in the factory district. The announcement was made by Frank Scherer, manager of the Mahwah Bottling Co., and Sam Greenstein, Manager of the Mahwah Liquor Company. (Bristow) |
1931-01-02 | People | When James L. Dickinson of Suffern swung wide to make a turn into Railroad Avenue from Valley Road his car was hit by Charles Vuolo's car who was following him going south on Valley Rd. When Chief Smith investigated the accident Dickinson Goth summons. (Bristow) |
1937-01-02 | People | Funeral services were held for Daniel "Uncle Dan" Hinck who had died of a heart attack on December 30th as he was coming home from the farm which he worked. He was the son of John Eliza Hinck and had been born September 15, 1855. He was a lifelong resident of Darlington. He left his wife, known affectionately in the community as "Mother" Hinck and two children, Christopher, and Charlotte. (Bristow) |
1940-01-02 | Religion | A letter signed by Florence Mann the secretary of the A. M. E. Zion Sunday school expressed the appreciation felt by the children of the congregation for the gifts of toys, candy, and clothing donated by eh children o the Ramapo Reformed Church Sunday school. This custom of sending something to the congregation only a few blocks away from their church had been followed for several years by the older church's young people. (Bristow) |
1940-01-02 | Recreation | Mary and Barbara Rothhaupt, daughters of Mr. and Mrs. Frank Rothhaupt of Winter Street spent the day skiing and sledding at the Monroe, New York, Golf Club. (Bristow) |
1952-01-02 | Charity | Mayor Charles N. Feldman inaugurated the annual March of Dimes campaign with a personal contribution and a Township Proclamation supporting the drive and appointing its Chairman, Mrs. Willard Rhodes. The drive, dedicated to fund research into the cure and prevention of Infantile Paralysis, now called polio. White collection boxes, made to resemble iron lungs were placed in stories and other public places throughout the Township. Assisting Mrs. Rhodes were her husband, who acted as treasure, and Mrs. Fred Baker, Mrs. Hardwick Dean and Mrs. R. Brundage. (Bristow) |
1967-01-02 | Politics | The Republicans regained control of the Township Committee as Mrs. Alice M. Hazlewood a, and Lawrence Brennan was unanimously chosen mayor. In a surprise move John W. Leyden Jr. of Ridgewood was named Township Attorney. The Committee was presented with a petition signed by 250 requesting that John J. Warhol be named to the post instead of the previously announced choice, Mayor Richard DeKorte, who was present, rose to decline the appointment. His firm represents the interests of the Brennan interests and he wished to avoid any apparent conflict of interest. (Bristow) |
1895-01-03 | People | Mr. Abraham Benta was one of a party who fell through the ice in the mill pond. He is extremely ill of exposure. (Bristow) |
1909-01-03 | People | Another candidate will preach at the Reformed Church in the morning and at the evening at Darlington. He is the Rev. Cunningham of Oakland. (Bristow) |
1909-01-03 | Religion | The new Sunday school Officers are Harry Z. Sturr, Assistant Superintendent, David Hopper; Secretary, Joseph H. Young; Treasurer and Librarian, John Vandenberg; Pianist, Miss. R. Wanamaker. A number of members of the Sunday school have perfect attendance: 1 year: Marion Shields, Myra Young 2 years: Maud Hopper, Elmer Jackson, Leonard Young, Florence Dator; 6 years: Charles Young (Treasurer) 7 years: Harry Been, Joseph H. Young (Bristow) |
1918-01-03 | Crime | Robbers broke into the Mahwah Station. A bag of mail left when the 5:40 mail train did not arrive until 8:00 PM was broken into and checks and valuables stolen. James Briggs of Cragmere saw the thieves in the station as he came for a nearly morning train in tand summoned the station agent, Mr. Fairservice. By the time they returned the thieves had boarded the train. By telegraphing ahead the men were arrested and the checks and valuables recovered. They have been arranged on $2,500 bail each. (Bristow) |
1923-01-03 | Business | The Superba Theater in Ramsey is showing D. W. Griffith's "Orphans of the Storm" starring Dorothy and Lilian Gish. There is a matinee performance each day at 3:30 with admission set at 30 cents for adults and 20 cents for children. All seats in the evening are priced at 50 cents. On January 8th and 9th they will have Harold Lloyd in "Grandma's Boy" his first five reel feature. Since this is Monday and Tuesday, the prices are 15 cents and 25 cents. |
1928-01-03 | Business | Diskons the "Busy Store" at Main and Van Houten Its in Paterson began their "White Goods Sale". The store claimed that their high volume permitted bulk purchases from leading mills which resulted in the lowest prices in the "Metropolitan Shopping District". Fancy bed spreads were priced at $2.30. Bed sheets were priced from 89 cents for the 81x90 inch size to $1.99 for the 90 x 109 size. If you want Fruit of the Loom sheets, they were priced at $1.50. Pillow cases were proportionally reduced. (Bristow) |
1934-01-03 | People | The meeting of the Dogwood Troops of Girl Scouts was largely devoted to singing three and four part rounds. Everyone learned at least one new song "Golden Slumbers". The group then divided. Those who had brought their skies went to the pond to skate. The others divided into odd and even teams to play "Washington Crossing the Delaware". The leaders announced that the next meeting would be devoted to stamp collecting. The Scouts were asked to bring their collections. Mrs. W. Ross would be present to answer questions and make helpful suggestions about stamps and collecting. (Bristow) |
1937-01-03 | People | Despite a remarkable fourth quarter comeback Mahwah's Holy Name basketball team was defeated by tThe Ramapo Athletic Club in a game at the Fire Hall in Hillburn. Holy Name was missing its star center, John Parlagi, and were overwhelmed in the first three quarters 32-9. In the final ten minutes, though, Holy Name scored twenty-two, a remarkable figure considering the time spent in jumping up the ball after each basket which was still the rule in those days. John Krupinski ended the game with 12 points, and Gene Kwonacki scored eight. Ormstead of the RACS scored fourteen for the winners. An average of a basket every thirty seconds. A crowd of 85 Mahwah fans cheered on their team in vain. (Bristow) |
1937-01-03 | People | Funeral services were held at the Bogert Chapel in Fardule for John DeGroat who died of a heart ailment after a two-month illness. He was born in Darlington on June 14th, 1855 and was the son of Willian and Sarah DeGroat. He was 82 years old. He had been in the employ of all three of the area's large estates, working for Mr. McMillan, Mr. Havenmeyer and Mrs. Crocker at various times. (Bristow) |
1937-01-03 | Religion | The January meeting of the Polish Roman Catholic Society was devoted to induction ceremonies for its newly elected officers. Rev. Robert Wieszorek presided as Marcel Chodorwski was formally installed as President. (Bristow) |
1942-01-03 | People | Two Mahwah residents, Bluebell and Topsy, set new records during 1941. These young ladies were cows belonging to Albert Winter's Mahwin Farm. They were recognized by the New Jersey Gurnsey Breeders Association for record production of milk and butterfat. Bluebell of Mahwin Farms had the highest production in the entire state in class EE. She predicted 14,167.9 lbs of milk and 651.3 lbs of butterfat from three milking a day. Topsy of Mahwin Farms had produced 14,542.5 lbs of milk and 619.3 of butterfat in class B, She was also milked three times a day. Mr. Winter and his manager Mr. Chase received certificates at the annual convention of the association. (Bristow) |
1910-01-04 | Business | Harry Z. Sturr has been chosen Vice President of the firm of Quackenbush nd Co. of Paterson for whom he has worked for 15 years. The privately owned firm has "quite recently" been reorganized as a stock company and he was chosen as one of its first officers. The business was founded in 1853 and now occupies a large four store building at Broadway and Market Streets. It specializes in blacksmith supplies and heavy hardware. (Bristow) |
1918-01-04 | Politics | James Devine has been appointed Custodian of the Court House in Hackensack. He was resigned his position with A. J. Winter and Son. (Bristow) |
1927-01-04 | Education | Although, presumably, most children who received money for Christmas may have had some of their own ideas about what to do with it, many of them followed their parents' advice and put it in the bank. The school announced that for the week of January 4th the astonishing total of $199.00 had been deposited in the school savings bank. The school was hailed for giving children such a "splendid opportunity" to learn the advantages of saving at an early age." (Bristow) |
1928-01-04 | People | Dorothy Jane Keith held a belated Christmas party for some of her little friends at her parents home on Airmount Road. Among the guests were Mildred and Ruth Elizabeth Russell, Audrey Sims, Cynthia and Charles Hewitt, Nancy and Sylvia Swan and Robert and John Bristow. (This event may well have been the author's debut in Mahwah society.) (Bristow) |
1933-01-04 | Business | Motor Vehicle Commissioner Harold G. Hoffman announced a campaign against false names and addresses given for drivers licenses and registrations. He estimated that at least 5,000 of these documents have fictitious identifications on them. Outside of the fact that it is against the law to give false information, he said, the major difficulty lay in cases of hit and run accidents. When registrations and licenses prove to be false investigating officers and hating to go on in trying to apprehend the perpetrators. He said that every resource in his department would be employees of his Department to verify names and addresses, but that he was hampered by a short-age of personnel. He had found that many of the violators in the past had been associated with the liquor trade and hoped that the recent real of the Hobart Act would remove the need for deceiving the authorities. He pointed out that this was the only part of the motor vehicle law under which violators could be charged at any time during the year. In all other cases charges had to be brought within thirty days. The giving of false names and addresses was subject to a fine of between $200 and $500 and a year in jail. (Bristow) |
1937-01-04 | People | The Township Board awarded contracts for the paving of Sparrowbush Road. The low bid of $12,947.03. submitted by Samuel Braen & Sons was accepted subject to approval by the State Highway Commission. The contract called for a McAdam foundation and a "bituminous penetration surface." The Committee was advised by Township Engineer F. E. Harley and its Attorney Walter W. Weber. (Bristow) |
1937-01-04 | Fire Department | The West Mahwah Fire Department #2 discussed their need for a telephone in the fire house. Because of wind direction adverse weather conditions the fire siren could not always be heard at all, or had been misinterpreted. No definite action was taken but a request may be made to the Township Committee for this necessity to be installed. (Bristow) |
1940-01-04 | Education | A budding science project undertaken by two boys in the eight grade to grief over the Christmas vacation. Donald Scherer and George Lenczak had planted two boxes with rye grass, one with fertilizer and other other without fertilizer. The class had noticed that the one with fertilizer was infinitely growing faster. Since no one thought to water the grass over Christmas both grass types died and the experiment had to be abandoned just before vacation. (Bristow) |
1940-01-04 | Police | Police Chief Charles E. Smith announced that although the state law forbidding dogs from running loose had been repealed, the local ordinance was still in effect. "Dogs must not run at large in any part of Hohokus Township under any circumstances whatsoever," he stated. (Bristow) |
1943-01-04 | Government | Explicit instructions were received from rationing officials in Washington to force as many buildings owners to convert their francs from oil heat to coal as soon as possible. Only private homes were to be allowed to continue to heat with oil. Public buildings were to lose their fuel ration cards. The instructions emphasized the extreme shortage of oil for heating. Only those owners who could provide incontrovertible proof of their inability to convert were to retain their rations. The board was charged with making significant savings during the next two months. Date for conversion must be set, the wire stated, or buildings will have to be heatless. The amount of oil obtainable fro the remaining ration cards was to be cut in half as of 12:01 on this date. (Bristow) |
1966-01-04 | Politics | Royal F. Sengstacken was elected Chairman of the Town Planning Board at its reorganization meeting, replacing Kenneth Zabriskie. The main business of the evening was to consider the request to rezone the plat at the corner of Wyckoff and Forest Avenues for a shopping center and medical building. Some opposition from local residents had already surfaced. A study was undertaken before action was decided upon. (Bristow) |
1900-01-05 | Business | Petry's store on the east side of the tracks in the Petry building has been rented by Mr. Dedrick. He will operate a general country store and will also supply coal and feed to the public. Mr. Dedrick comes from Catskill New York where he was a successful store keeper. (Bristow) |
1914-01-05 | Education | December attendance figures for the Township Schools were not very good. One cause given for this was a scarlet fever scare in Masonicus which caused some parents to keep their children home. The Board of Educationdecided to obtain copies of the compulsory attendance laws and distribute them to every parent. (Bristow) |
1923-01-05 | People | Mrs. Nan Bugg has secured a divorce from her husband Leo giving her custody of the children. (Bristow) |
1928-01-05 | Crime | The theft of a car from a Ramsey parking lot was cited by local police officials as a lesson to all car owners. The car, belonging to "Benny" Kresker, a Ramsey butcher, was parked behind his shop. He had left the keys in the ignition. Fortunately his wife recognized the car during a visit to Ridgewood and notified Chief Voss of the Ramsey Police. Several items from the glove compartment as well as the keys were missing. After helping Kresker reclaim his car Chief Voss urged motorists not to leave their keys in their cars and to record not only the license plate number but also the registration numbers of their tires in case of theft. (Bristow) |
1933-01-05 | Business | The A and P advertised prime ribs of beef at 19 cents a pound, leg of lamb at 17 cents a lb., 4 cans of Campbell's beans for 19 cents, and Waldorf toilet paper @ 5 rolls for 19 cents. (Bristow) |
1933-01-05 | People | The Thursday Volunteer Sewers held their first meeting at the Town Hall. 400 years of flannelette had been received from the National Red Cross to make clothing for the unemployed of Mahwah. Miss Florence Gates, the School Nurse, reported that the greatest need was for underwear so the major focus of the workers was making slips bloomers and other undergarments for the material Mrs. William Simpson, the Pastor's wife was the Chairman, assisted by Miss Woodward and Mrs. Myers. Mrs. Petri supplied the coffee to supplement the lunches the fifteen workers brought with them. (Bristow) |
1936-01-05 | Religion | The Polish Roman Catholic Society met in the auditorium of the immaculate Heart of Mary Church. The new officers were given their oath of office by the Rev. Thomas Patalong. Serving as President was John Krupinski; K. Tomporski, V.P., John Malizewski, Secretary, John Kniezewski, treasurer and F. Trusiwicz, Master of the Hall. (Bristow) |
1939-01-05 | Education | Mrs. Ogden Hewitt spoke at 9:40 AM on radio station WOR about the New Jersey State College for Women. Mrs. Hewitt was State Chairman of the College Committee on the Board of the New Jersey Federation of Women's Clubs. The occasion marked the 20th birthday of the College. (Bristow) |
1940-01-05 | Business | The Mahwah Library announced that among the new books of the shelves were Agnes N. Keith's "Land Below the Wind": "Kitty Foyle" by Christopher Morley and Forster's "Captain Horatio Hornblower". (Bristow) |
1942-01-05 | Business | The members of the Mahwah Tire Rationing Board were sworn in as Federal agents in a ceremony in Newark. Cark Hebner, Chairman and R. Ralph Seberry and Abram Valentine formed the committee which allocated tires and tubes to residents of the Township under the terms of the federal tire rationing regulations. Car and truck owners did not have much to look forward to since the entire January quota was one tire and one tube for a passenger car, one light truck and one heavy truck. (Bristow) |
1952-01-05 | People | An accident involving a slipped tow chain resulted in damage to four cars on Franklin Turnpike. James Howard of Fox Lane Suffers was towing a car owned by George Acker Jr. also of Fox Lane. southbound when the chain slipped. The Howard car went out of control and struck a northbound car driven by William O'Neill of first st. Suffern. The Acker car struck another car moving north driven by May Brigham of Winter Road, Mahwah. Three persons were taken to Good Samaritan Hospital in Suffern. Both Howard and Acker were fined in Magistrate's Court for reckless driving. A total of $40 and $7.50 in court costs. (Bristow) |
1956-01-05 | People | Byrd Avery led her team to victory in a rifle shooting contest with the Teaneck High School Squad. Avery represented the Mahwah Rifle Club. She was the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Howard Avery of Mahwah. She was rated as an expert rifleman by the National Rifle Association. In a match she scored 181 out of a possible 100 points. (Bristow) |
1965-01-05 | Education | Five foreign exchange students from local high schools spoke before the afternoon department of the Mahwah Women's Club about their own countries and their impressions of America. The students were Ellen Torvo, (Pascack Valley) Vanaya Natu, India (Teaneck) Jose Tortone, Argentina (Demarest) and Kazuko Ohtaka, Japan (Mahwah). Miss OHtaka and Mr. Mankier performed dances from their countries. They were introduced by Lynn Custer, President of the Mahwah High School chapter of the American Field Service which sponsors the program. Mrs. Estrid Lund, advisor to the Chapter and Foreign language teacher at Mahwah High accompanied the group. (Bristow) |
1966-01-05 | Transportation | William White, chairman of the Erie-Lakawana System announced that a petition had been filed with the N.J. Board of Public Utilities to suspend all interstate passenger service on the line. He cited continued losses, currently running over $9 million per year as the major reason for the move. The continuance of the passenger service could threaten the continued operation of the system as a fright line, he said. About 35,000 daily commuters would have been affected if the petition is granted. Local groups began immediately to organize opposition. (Bristow) |
1911-01-06 | People | The Census Bureau announced that Bergen County is now the State's sixth largest county in population. It has grown 40%, more than any other county in the past 5 years. It now ranks below only Hudson, Essex, Passaic, Camden, and Union counties. It is expected to surpass all but Essex and Hudson by 1920. Only the lack of manufacturing puts it behind Passaic County. The figures; 1905: 100,003; 1910: 138,002 (1980: 845,385, only exceeded by Essex County.). (NJ Legislative Manual, 1983) (Bristow) |
1933-01-06 | People | At the January Meeting of the Board of the Mahwah Women's Club $2.00 was voted to assist the Girl Scouts Christmas Tree Fund. A suggested $5.00 donation to the PTA to help finance the purchase of a multigraph machine for the School was rejected as the Board did not believe that there would be enough use for a duplicating machine to justify the expense. (Bristow) |
1933-01-06 | Education | Ramsey High School defeated its old rival Hasbrouck Heights in basketball for the seventeenth time. Coach Charlie Schanz's squad was aided by an extraordinary 21 point performance form Herb Pelzer, one of the highest point scores in the county that year. Led by Pelzer's seven points, Ramsey led 11-4 in the first quarter and 17 to 7 at the half. Pelzer, Vernon and Schierloh continued the Ramsey scoring in the second half so that the final score reached 39-22. It was only Ramsey's second win and first home court win of the year, however. In Pelzer's absence they had lost their first league game of the year to Tenafly. It was Ramsey's first loss ever to Tenafly. Ramsey was the defending league/champion in basketball. They faced the other co-champions, Garfield, on Friday the 13th, (Bristow) |
1934-01-06 | Education | Many Mahwah young people began to return to schools and colleges after having spent the holidays with their families. Cyrus Tibbals returned to Paling School. Charles Hewitt went back to Lawrencevilla School and his sister Cynthia resumed her studies at Bryn Mawr. Valerie Twibell, who had recently been named co-editor of the college newspaper, went back to Saratoga Springs where she was a student at Skidmore College. (Bristow) |
1937-01-06 | People | In a quiet ceremony at the bridge's home, Miss Joan Blair was married to Henry O. Haveneyer Jr. The bride was the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. J. Insley Blair, founder of the Blair and Co banking firm. Her sister was Mrs. Stephen Lorrilard. The groom was a 1926 graduate of Yale University. He was the grandson of the late Theodore A. Havenmeyer and son of Mr. and Mrs. Henry Havenmeyer of Mahwah and Newport R. I. The Assistant Treasurer and a director of the firm of Havenmeyer and Elder. He was credited with having invented about ninenty railway devices for railway appliances and equipment. Only family members attended the ceremony performed by the Rev. family members attended the ceremony performed by the Rev. Francis P. LeBuffe at Blairhame the home of the bride's parents. (Bristow) |
1940-01-06 | Education | Returning to boarding school and college were many Mahwah young people after spending Christmas and New Years at home with their families. Among the colleges were Blue Ridge College (Jean Buhlman) Cornell (Ruth Russell)< Cranbrook Academy of Art, Detroit (Suzanne Chapman) Duke (Mary Jacobson) Katherine Gibbs (Betty Erion) Lehigh (Demerest and John Beers) N.Y.U. (Bertram Schappell) Pace (David Heartwell) Perdue (Robert Hendrick) Princeton (Dana Knowlton) Rutgers (Ted Ericson, Robert Foster and Edmund Palma) Southern Seminary (Yvonne Bouisault) William and Mary (Mildred Russell) and Wilson (Marjorie Biddle) (Bristow) |
1942-01-06 | Politics | Among the new assemblymen attending the first session of the New Jersey Legislature was John J. Warhol Jr. of Mahwah. He heard Governor Edwards call for unity in the face of the wartime emergency. Warhol received several committee appointments, including to the Fiscal Controls Committee and was named the Chairman of the Printed Bills Committee. Attending the session to watch the new legislature take the oath was his father, John J. Warhol Sr., and Mrs. Warhol. (Bristow) |
1947-01-06 | People | Elmer J. Snow Who supervised the construction of the Abex Corporation factory in Mahwah in 1901 and served as a director of that company for 46 years died in Mahwah. (Bristow) |
1952-01-06 | People | This was the last casting reading for the Antrim Players new production of "The Late George Apley." Director John Brimer, who had directed "Suspect" the previous June, was anxious to fin some talented men to fill the eight male parts in the play. George Kaufman had adapted this "comedy of character" from the novel by J. Marquand. (Bristow) |
1952-01-06 | People | This was the last casting reading for the Antrim Players new production of "The Late George Apley." Director John Brimer, who had directed "Suspect" the previous June, was anxious to fin some talented men to fill the eight male parts in the play. George Kaufman had adapted this "comedy of character" from the novel by J. Marquand. (Bristow) |
1874-01-07 | People | One of a series of sociables was held at the home of Andrew Winter. Unfortunately the adverse weather kept many people away but those who came had "a pleasant and enjoyable time." (Bristow) |
1895-01-07 | Religion | Rev. Mr. Green is presiding over services of the African Methodist Episcopal Church where a comfortable little chapel welcomes the residents of the locality to attend. (Bristow) |
1905-01-07 | People | The Board of Health heard complaints from E. E. Carpenter about how Inspector Collins had disinfected houses on the mountain near the Crocker Farm. The inhabitants of the houses had not remained in quarantine one week as they were required to do. He had burned sulphur in the rooms but what he needed was a formaldehyde machine so that he could disinfect more thoroughly. The Board insisted that the work be done more carefully. There were 19 cases of scarlet fever in the Township in 1904 (4 fatal) 10 of diptheria (2 fatal) and 3 typhoid fever (2 fatal) (Bristow) |
1913-01-07 | Business | In a letter to the Ramsey Journal E. P. Beebe (of Oweno Rd, Cragmeere RJ 3/7/1913) protested the decision of the Trolley Company to cut back to an hourly instead of a 30 minute schedule during the winter. The village Trustees of Suffern and the Board of Trustees of the Cragmere Association are among those who have petitioned the company to reverse its decision. The restricted schedule is particularly damaging are being sought to petitions , one by the commuters and another by organizations such as the Suffern Merchants and the Civic Association of Suffern. The company was recently sold to a syndicate who have paid off the debts and plan a link to Hoboken from Paterson. (Bristow) |
1914-01-07 | Business | A new salary scale for Township Officers was adopted. The Township Clark will receive $200, the Treasurer $125 and the Township Attorney $150 per year. (Bristow) |
1929-01-07 | Education | At the regular meeting of the Township Board of Education it was reported that quite a number of the students were ill with influenza and were remaining at home. Some of the teachers were ill too, but they have been sticking to their posts. Several children had been absent on that day to attend the first service ever held in the Greek Catholic Church on Island Road. (Bristow) |
1929-01-07 | People | The recent fire in the home of Alex Adams demonstrated the extreme need the Town has for a Firehouse. Nearly 3/4 of the members threatened to resign unless the Township Committee acted to begin the construction of a heated firehouse on the site at the corner of Miller Rd and Franklin Turnpike. In addition to the urgently needed firehouse the site was considered ideal fro a library, town hall and community house. The site was considered perfect for a true community center. The general layout and architectural treatment of the center was considered of great importance to the future growth of the community and the sort of people attracted to live in Mahwah. (Bristow) |
1933-01-07 | People | Charles E. Ellis Jr. started on a world tour, sailing on the Caledonia for Glasgow, Scotland. He visit Europe, the Near East, China, Japan, and Hawaii before returning sometime in the summer. (Bristow) |
1939-01-07 | People | Funeral services were held for Suffern's last Civil War veteran, Charles Sanford Conrad. Military honors were paid by the Fromme-Maxwell-DeBaun Post of the American Legion. Conrad served for three years in the navy under Admiral Farragut and for three months under Sherman on land. He was 87 years old. |
1939-01-07 | Education | Funeral services were held for William T. Morris, an eight grade teacher in School No. 2 (now Commodore Perry). At the School Board meeting the Supervising Principal asked the Board whether they wanted to replace him with a beginning teacher or were willing to pay more for an experienced one. The Board replied that they would pay $1,300 for an experienced teacher and $1,000 for an inexperienced one. (Bristow) |
1956-01-07 | People | There was a rare arctic visitor to Ramsey, a bird. It was picked up on Lake Street between Route 17 and Napolitano's pond by Dr. Joseph Vasseli of 32 South Central Ave. who saw it fall from a wire and land in front of his car. It was bleeding from its wing. He took it to Secor's service station and then home for the night. The next morning he tried to release it but the bird could not take off. He called Styles Thomas, President of the Fyke Nature association who was able to identify the bird as a Fulmarus glacialis, an arctic or Northern Fulmar. Thomas summoned other noted birdwatchers about the find. Among others who came to see the visitor were Phillip Grosch of Radburn, the President of the New Jersey Audobon Society and Charles K. Nichols of Ridgewood, a research assistant at the American Museum of Natural History, and Mrs. Eleanor Dater, author of the "Ways of Nature" Column in the Ramsey Journal and a bid bander. Mrs. Thomas provided tuna fish which the bird ate from her hand and Dr. Kanning gave it some vitamins and bread soaked in salt water. On Monday, January 9th Thomas took the bird to Alpine and carefully pitched it into the air. The bird immediately took flight and disappeared. It was one of only five recorded sightings of this bird in the United States and it was the only one to have been banded and released. The Northern Fulmer lives almost entirely in the Arctic region. It spends most of its life at sea, usually well out to sea. It breeds in the Arctic, usually only producing one egg a year which is laid on rocks or in small depressions in mountain slopes. They average 19 inches long with 1 42 inch wingspread. (Bristow) |
1895-01-08 | Business | Mr. A. B. Darling shipped 65 of his best horses to an auction at Madison Square Garden in New York City. This will permit him to bring other horses up from his stock farms in the south as all he has left on the farm now are some work horses and colts. Mr. Andrew T. Winter of Mahwah was one of the purchasers at the sale, buying 2 fine horses. (Bristow) |
1903-01-08 | Transportation | Because the grade on the Railroad is so steep between Ramsey and Mahwah, theErie has been splitting coal trains in two and leaving one in Ramsey. Railroad detectives arrived when a local coal dealer reported that many local residents were helping themselves to a suppliery of coal from the stationary coal cars. (Bristow) |
1909-01-08 | Politics | A hotly contested meeting between sub-committees of the Township and Borough failed to decide the hot issue of how to apportion the indebtedness for the macadamized roads. A report showed that a total of $16,115.38 had been spent on 8,400 of macadamized roads. Deducting state aid of $4,851.88 this left $11,253.50 a figure which was accepted by vote of both groups. A motion to divide it as the other debts had been divided, 69% to the Township and 31% to the Borough was defeated. A closed session of the three representatives from each government still did not solve the problem. It was rumored that the Township was holding out for an even division of the debt. It may have to go to court to be decided. (Bristow) |
1923-01-08 | Business | A. J. Winter and Sons have purchased a brand new "Pearce Arrow" truck to make feed and grain deliveries. (Bristow) |
1929-01-08 | People | The local post of the American Legion compilation of the wartime service of its members was nearly completed. Probably the most conspicuous service rendered was that of Frank Scherer who was cited for bravery in action when serving with the 27th Division. The Post was also compiling a list of local residents who served in nearby arsenals, although not actually in uniform. Many served under Major C. E. Ellis who was in charge of several of these facilities during the war. Among those who served in this way were: Guy M. Carleton, Raymond, F. Dator, Edwin C. Lane, Ralph Wilson Millard Cooper and Frank Schorr. (Bristow) |
1929-01-08 | Business | What the management of the Ridgewood Playhouse described as "the Picture of pictures", "Wings" was booked for an unprecedented four day run. Patrons were warned not to wait for the last day to see it because of the "tremendous demand". It was described as a "masterpiece portraying the men who fought for freedom of the skies." (Bristow) |
1937-01-08 | Education | A feature of the Woman's Club meeting was a discussion of local matters by the Civics Committee. Among the matters brought up were the control of mosquitoes, the project to give all houses in town numbers, and the equalization bill requiring an equal education for all school children in the state. Also announced was the candidacy for the school board of Mrs. Eleanor Meisse. She was a Middlebury graduate, a mathematician and the mother of three children enrolled in the local schools. She was running to fill the vacancy which occurred when Mrs. Mildred H. Russell resigned from the Board. (Bristow) |
1937-01-08 | People | John J. Snak was reelected President of the Mahwah Citizens Club. He was the first President ever to succeed himself and was said to be highly esteemed in the community for the effective work he has done to hold the organization together. Albert Hopper and Jack Reich were accepted into membership by unanimous vote but two other members found delinquent and denied membership. The Club was open only to American Citizens. It devoted itself to improving the life of the West Mahwah area. (Bristow) |
1940-01-08 | Fire Department | On the twelfth anniversary of the organization of Fire Company No. 2 in West Mahwah, Rocco Miraglio was reelected to his sixth term as President of the company. John Snek was also chosen for the sixth time as treasurer. (Bristow) |
1942-01-08 | Fire Department | The Mahwah page of the Ramsey Journal contained a number of appeals to residents of the Township mostly related directly to the national defense emergency. As more and more men were drafted into the armed services there was an appeal for volunteers for the Fire Department, especially during the daylight hours. Mrs. Charles Hallenback, the Mahwah coordinator for the airplane observation post asked for more volunteers so that the post could be staffed 24 hours each day. Volunteers were to call her or the local Defense Board in the firehouse. The Defense Board asked that all residents return their defense questionnaires immediately. These would enable the board to enlist the help of all members of their community in the various defense committees then being formed. The local unit of the Red Cross Sewing group, which was meeting every Monday at the Reformed Church Chapel issued a call for sewers. Especially needed were those with portable sewing machines. The unit had a very large quota of garments and surgical bandages to meet and need as many volunteers as the building could hold. (Bristow) |
1943-01-08 | People | Seventy-two young men reported for induction into the armed services from the area covered by Draft Board No. 1 in Allendale. Ten of them were from Mahwah. The Mahwah inductees were Michael Belowch, Joseph Hartley, William Drobesh Jr., George Home Jr., Joseph J. Karpowich, Harold Mann, Stanley W. Rappel, Edwin Starr, Joseph Swintek, and William R. Wickham. (One of these men, Stanley W. Rappel, is currently a member of the Mahwah Township Council and serves as its Vice-President.) (Bristow) |
1985-01-08 | Real Estate | Water tower toppled as demolition begins at the former Ford plant. (Bristow) |
1874-01-09 | Transportation | Ramseys - Dater and Co, the carriage makers, have sole out their fancy pleasure sleighs. The snowy weather over the holiday made for good sledding. They are now at work making light wagons (?) and will turn out fancy built stock fort he spring. (Bristow) |
1896-01-09 | People | Edward Meyer, father of John Meyer died of a stroke. He was 76 years old. The body was sent to Newport for burial. As a solemn funeral cortege including all the employees of the Havermeyer Farm passed through Mahwah to the Requiem Mass in the Catholic Church in Suffern the bells on the Reformed Church were tolled. (Bristow) |
1908-01-09 | Education | A proposal to split off a Borough of Ramsey from Hohokus Township was advanced. A group of Ramsey citizens heard that some in Mahwah were planning to form a Borough of Mahwah and forestalled their move by proposing their own split. A surveyor was hired so that neither their the old or new area would have an unfair proposition of either population or assessed valuation. The population of the new borough will be between 1,700 and 1,800, only the Ramsey School will be in the new unit. It is expected that much progress can be made in both areas as they will no longer be competing for revenues and improvements. (Bristow) |
1923-01-09 | People | Lewis Gross of Mahwah was sentenced to pay $14,256.26 to the estate of the late Emerson McMillan for cutting down nearly 5,000 green oak trees on the McMillan Estate, Gross had a contract with the McMillans to cut all dead chesnut and oak trees to be used for railroad ties. One of the jurors also had visited the site and tramped around in the snow to inspect the damage. He said the jury award was not excessive. Another observed, however said that all the timber on the estate wasn't $14,000. Gross is a lumber mill owner. (Bristow) |
1923-01-09 | Real Estate | The Cragmere Association turned down a request to open their roads to a new development to the south. (Bristow) |
1933-01-09 | Education | The Board of Education deliberated again on how to meet the increases in the train fare for students between Mahwah and Ramsey. About 150 students per day made the round trip. The Erie had recently raised the cost by three cents a ride. The $9 per week cost was considerable at a time when salaries were being cut and expenses reduced drastically because of the depression. The Board decided to make a formal complaint to the Erie and inform them that they could not pay the increase. (Bristow) |
1933-01-09 | Education | The Hooks Township Board of Education considered how to meet the increased costs of sending pupils from Mahwah to the Ramsey High School. The Ramsey School Board had recently announced a hike in tuition rates from $120 a year per pupil to $125. Since about 150 pupils attended Ramsey High, this meant a total cost of $750. Also the Board had to deal with the recent increase in train fare from Mahwah to Ramsey. The cost of a twenty-five ride ticket had gone up three cents per ride. This came to $9.00 per week. The Board decided to make a formal complaint to the Erie Railroad that they not able to pay the increase. At a time when tax collections were way down because of the depression and teachers were being forced to accept a pay cut of 10%, the school budget simply could not absorb any increases in expenses. (Bristow) |
1933-01-09 | Education | The School Board received a letter from the Teachers of the Township Schools agreeing. to reductions in their salaries. Edwin C. Lane, the Board President announced local resolution allowing the Board to set the salaries of the teachers regardless of their contracts. The amount of the cuts has not yet been determined. This will be voted on in the School Board elections in February. (Bristow) |
1936-01-09 | Politics | The budget for the Township was published. Of the $47,731.11 called for the largest figures were for Roads ($6,000) salaries (4,300) Payments on the Firehouse Notes (5,300) Street lighting ($4,000) Police Department (3,250) and emergency relief ($3,600) A public hearing was scheduled for the 16th and the budget was to go into effect ten days after publication. $325 was allocated to a new snow plow and $400 for the purchase of a new police car. (Bristow) |
1940-01-09 | People | The Christmas Dance of the Junior Woman's Club was so great a financial success that the Club voted to continue donating two quarts of milk a day to their adopted family. Members of the group had visited the family on Christmas Day with toys for the children. The meeting was held at the home of Miss Alleta Hopper on Ramapo Avenue. (Bristow) |
1952-01-09 | Government | Word was received from Trenton that federal funding had been approved for the paving of Sparrowbush Road. The State Highway Commissioner Ransford J. Abbot confirmed that $50,000 had been set aside for the project and for other road building plans in Fairview, Harrington Park, Palisades Park and Wyckoff, out of the $1,500,000 appropriation for New Jersey. (Bristow) |
1799-01-10 | People | Andrew Hopper and other residents petitioned for the building of a road past their properties. (Bristow) |
1908-01-10 | Business | A Mahwah Savings and Loan Association has been formed. Over 600 shares of stock have already been sold. The officers are: President, A. J. Winter, Vice-President, Elmer J. Snow, Secretary Addison L. Clark, Treasurer, William O. King. Mr. Clark was the leading force behind the new organization. He has been working for many months to get it started. The most prominent men in the village have come forth to help. (Bristow) |
1911-01-10 | People | The third in the lecture series of the Ramapo Reformed Church was held in the Lecture Hall with a talk by the Rev. A. A. Pfansteil on "Holland, Land of Dikes." His enthusiastic audience enjoyed a program of lantern slides taken when his family was there on vacation. The slides had been realistically colored by a talented artist. (Bristow) |
1912-01-10 | Politics | The Annual meeting of the Mahwah Savings and Loan was a rather brief affair. Elmer J. Snow, the President, and the other officers with one exception were reelected. Mr. A. J. Winter refused to allow his name to be put up for reelection because of his poor health. The Association has a healthy profit of over 8% for the year. The Temporary officers for the meeting included Mr. Leo Bugg as Secretary and Mr. James Davidson of Ramsey as Chairman. Mr. Davidson cut his remarks short because he said he had to catch the 9:40 trolley. (Bristow) |
1923-01-10 | People | The Duo Art club gave a farewell party to the Holmes family of Cragmere who are moving to Texas in two weeks. The Boy Scouts gave Luther Holmes a surprise party on Monday, the 8th. Mr. and Mrs. Salling of Cragmere are moving to South Carolina where Mr. Salling has a new position. (Bristow) |
1924-01-10 | People | At the Woman's Club meeting, held at the Eggar's home, the final version of the revised constitution and bylaws was adopted. A nominating committee was chosen, chaired by Mrs. Cooper, Mrs. Winter, reporting for the Library Committee revealed that the collection had 3,986 volumes. Many members were thrilled to see a picture of the town park in the January issue of the Garden Magazine. (Bristow) |
1937-01-10 | Religion | The annual Christmas entertainment was given by the parochial school children of the Immaculate Heart of Mary Church on Island Rd. A nativity play "Wleczor Gwiazdowy", given in Polish was performed under the direction of the Felician Sisters. The capacity audience responded with warm applause for the production, the lovely costumes and the affecting way the children played their parts. Two brief plays in English preceded the nativity pageant: Something New and "The Inquisitive Lady", performed by the students in the first grade. Some appropriate Christmas choruses completed the evening. (Bristow) |
1939-01-10 | Real Estate | The sale of the Kemp Estate to Albert J. Winter was announced. The property on the Northeast corner of Miller Road and Franklin Turnpike was rumored to be slated for commercial use. Raymond Dator was the broker who effected the sale. (Bristow) |
1940-01-10 | Politics | Clark Hebner, President, presided at the January meeting of the Hohokus Township Civic Association at the Town Hall. At the business meeting much of the discussion centered on the proposed new auditorium building for the schools and the question of tenure for the Supervising Principal and three teachers. A committee was formed to look into providing a flood light at Winter's Pond for night skating. The principle speaker of the evening was the dean of the New Jersey State Assembly having represented Bergen County for seven terms. John Y. Dater of Ramsey was close behind him with six terms in the Assembly. Assemblyman Schroeder urged citizens to work hard to help preserve democracy in America as the rest of the war-torn world was hardly in a position to do so. (Bristow) |
1940-01-10 | Education | The seventh grade history class completed a unit on English history. They concluded that some of the sixteenth-century English rulers would have made excellent understudies for Hitler, Mussolini, and France. (Bristow) |
1940-01-10 | People | There were sixty-seven cases of whooping cough in the Township, according to the health department. Among those affected were Ann Marie Mulronry, David Oaksmith, Patsey Heartwell, Ted Hughes, Norman Grisewood, Bruce Mowery and the Kipp and Henry children. Mardie Rountree, refusing to go along with the crowd, had the mumps instead. (Bristow) |
1956-01-10 | Business | Pinto production at the Ford Plant in Mahwah was placed on a two shift day. The Ford Plant in Mahwh began to produce Pintos on a two shift schedule. About 2,500 new production workers had been put to work. Production was expected to reach 1,000 units a day in the coming weeks. (Bristow) |
1971-01-10 | People | Stephanie Milardo crowned Queen of the Mahwah Lions Club Winter Carnival at Winter's Pond by Mayor Morris Ruddick. (Bristow) |
1900-01-11 | Business | Opposition to the new underpass under the railroad at the Depot is fading away. It is true that the old road had existed nearly 200 years but the absolute safety of the public is overcoming the romance of the past. The new depot will be quipped with a new hot air furnace. (Bristow) |
1910-01-11 | People | The New Brunswick papers "recently" carried this announcement: "Mr. William Siemons of Suydam Street, announces the engagement of his daughter Adelia to the Rev. A. C. Dykema Pastor of the Reformed Church at Mahwah. The wedding will take place early in the Spring." (Bristow) |
1911-01-11 | People | As a reward to its best engineers the Erie will allow their names to be lettered on the outside of their cabs. Harvey Springstead of Waldwick, who is the engineer of the westbound local through Mahwah at 10:40 every day is the first to be honored. The Erie is the first railroad to adopt this custom. It is very popular with the engineers and may encourage even better service, safety, and economy. (Bristow) |
1912-01-11 | People | Charles R. Rhodes, the Ramsey Undertaker, had quite an adventure when he went to New York City to try to settle the affair of an Italian worker who died on January 2nd from too much drink. Mr. McComber, the Superintendent of the McMillan Farm had asked Rhodes to delay the funeral until the victim's brother could be notified. The man's papers were turned over to Rhodes to assist in the search for the brother. They included a New York City bankbook with over $1,000 on deposit. When Rhodes arrived at the Bank in the Italian neighborhood of Manhattan he showed the teller the bank book and asked for the brother. He was immediately attacked and struck about the head by three rough appearing men. He succeeded in escaping and went to the Police to swear out a complaint against the men and get the papers back. Although the bank teller denied ever having seen Rhoades (he spoke only broken English) the police were able to locate both the papers and the three men and eventually to straighten things out. Finally charges were withdrawn. The three men, one of them the missing brother thought that Rhodes was trying to steal his money. Mr. Rhoades expenses were paid. His head has healed, but he will not soon venture into the Charles Street section of New York again. (Bristow) |
1918-01-11 | People | Harry Breen and Charles Rabie went fishing through the ice at Greenwood Lake. They returned on the 12th with a nice string of fish including a 6 lb. pickerel. (Bristow) |
1927-01-11 | Education | The Ramapo County Day School held a discussion on sex education under the direction of Dr. Swan of the Social Hygiene Association. The meeting was held in the school building. (now the site of an Avon Parking Lot, next to the Mahwah River on Route 59.) (Bristow) |
1929-01-11 | Fire Department | At the January Meeting of the Fire Department, held at the Town Hall, 58 members were present, 32 from the Mahwah Fire Department. During 1928 the Departments fought 47 fires, with an aggregate loss of $5,600. Once more the extreme need for a fireproof, heated firehouse was brought up. Chief Edwin Scherer pointed out the low morale of the Department because of the inability to maintain the fire truck properly. Because the hoses have to be put back on the truck wet they are beginning to rot. The lack of a heated storage shed for the truck had led to considerable sickness among volunteers who had to clean the truck in wet clothing. H. W. Mowrey, the Chairman of the Township Committee promised action on the request as soon as a study, then underway was completed. (Bristow) |
1929-01-11 | People | The Eight grade stars overwhelmed Grade 7A in Basketball 11 to 0. Playing for grade eight were Francis Krupinski, Paul Gazda, George Wargerska, Martin Assony and ???. The unfortunate Grade 7 victims were John Cishek, Cyrus Tibbals and Richard Blauvelt, at least that is all that were listed in the Ramsey Journal. At five it is a wonder the eight grade kept the score so low. (Bristow) |
1933-01-11 | People | Henrietta Winter had a busy day in New York. During the way she attended the automobile show and after dinner viewed the performance at the Roxy Music Hall in Radio City. (The famous Rockets were created by Roxy before they were associated with Radio City) (Bristow) |
1937-01-11 | Education | The Board of Education heard a report from Supervising Principal W. G. Hayward concerning mandatory small-pox vaccination in Bergen County Schools. He had received letters from the Superintendents in Fairlawn and Teaneck that they required every pupil to be vaccinated before attending school unless exempted by the school physician. They had not court cases resulting from this policy, they reported. The Board announced that they would study the situation and make a policy in the near future. Meanwhile the Board authorized Dr. Liddy to acquire toxin-antitoxins for immunizing the pupils against diphtheria. (Bristow) |
1937-01-11 | Education | The resignation of Julian D. Taylor, eight grade teacher in School No. 2 (Mahwah) to accept a position at the Essex County Vocational School resulted in a shuffling of teaching posts. Mr. Lean took the eight grade, Mr. Dalnodar, teacher at the mountain school, took Mr. Lean's seventh grade and Kenneth Linaberry was offered a substitute teacher's post at the mountain School. If everything worked out well he was to be offered a contract for the remainder of the school year. (Bristow) |
1942-01-11 | People | The historic home of John Y. Dater was completely destroyed in a nighttime fire. Despite the efforts of 45 members of the Ramsey Fire Department, little of the valuable antiques, family moments and personal possessions of Mr. and Mrs. Dater and their two servants could be said. The fire apparently started in the chimney in the basement and quickly spread to the second floor and the attic. Ella Pearson, the Dater's cook smelled fire and her brother Ronam the butler roused the Daters. All four were able to escape with only the clothes they were wearing into the very cold night air. The house, which stood at the corner of Main Street and Central Avenue, had been built by Senator John Y. Dater, the grandfather of Mr. Dater. Among the items lost to the flames were linen sheets woven on hand looms by Mrs. Dater's grandmother's slaves, rare coverettes, a set of pewter which had been buried during the Revolution to protect it from being found by the British and a four post bed said to be worth $5,000. The Dater's were given temporary shelter by Dr. and Mrs. Lutz and then moved into a rented furnished house on South Central Avenue. They praised the work of the firemen and thanked them for their valiant efforts to save their home. There were no plans to rebuild the gutted home. (Bristow) |
1903-01-12 | People | Coasting has been wonderful all week. As many as 50 to 60 young peoples were seen on the Mahwah hill in one night. (Bristow) |
1909-01-12 | Education | The Board of Education has not been able to hire a truant officer. Meanwhile Principal Grant has offered to look after the problem in the meantime. (Bristow) |
1916-01-12 | Crime | Morris L. Pepperman Jr. of Suffern was arrested for the burglary of Committeeman Frank X. Dater's house on New Year's Eve. According to an article in the New York World, Pepperman was a highly regarded young man, formerly employed at the American Brake Shoe and Foundry Co. He is suspected of taking part in nine other burglaries last summer in the neighborhood. The Dators were out for the evening on the night of the robbery, but neighbors saw suspicious people in the house and summoned Constable Trueman Rodgers. Rodgers met Pepperman and his friend Kenneth Bergess of Philadelphia, in a sleigh near the Dater house. They told him two young men had just gone the other way. The two men then went to Suffern, returned their rented sleigh, boasting about their loot and showing their revolvers. They took an 11:45 train to Jersey City. Authorities there were notified but the men had gotten off with their bag of jewelry and other valuables at an earlier stop. Pepperman was described by Judge William /harrison Rodgers as "a dandy youth, a favorite with the girls during the day and a burglar at night." Burgess is still being sought. Pepperman was arranged in Hackensack, released on $2,000 bond and will be sentenced on February 23rd. (Bristow) |
1920-01-12 | People | Edwin P. Beebe of Mahwah married Agnes Rhodes Jackson of Chicago in a simple ceremony at his home in Cragmere. The bride is an accomplished musician well known in Chicago musical circles. This is Beebe's second marriage. His first wife died last year. He has three children by his first marriage. (Bristow) |
1920-01-12 | People | New Canon Conn. was the location of the marriage of Alice Carter Heath with Frank B. Scherer of Mahwah. The bride was attended by her sister and by Florence Dator Nidd, while the groom was attended by his brother Edwin D. Scherer of Mahwah. After a wedding trip the couple will occupy the homestead on Island Rd, which they bought recently from Ira Whaley Sr. (Bristow) |
1923-01-12 | Education | At the graduation exercises of the Mahwah School 22 students completed their grammar school education. Dick Heigerd was the President of the class, Jean Allen was V.P., Clinton S. Terwilliger, sec-treas. The $10 gold piece for the highest average went to Terwilliger with Jean Allen as runner-up. The class gave a dictionary to the school and a fountain pen to Miss Brendan, the principal and an umbrella their teacher, Miss Hull. 12 students received certificates for perfect attendance. (Bristow) |
1924-01-12 | People | The New Jersey Bonus Bureau revealed that 124,000 out of 128,257 applicants received state bonuses for their service during World War I. Those that were rejected proved mostly to be enemy aliens, those who did not serve any active duty, were dishonorably discharged or enlisted after November 11th, 1918. Federal records showed that 143,126 enlisted from New Jersey, 116,083 in the Army, 23,826 in the navy and 3,227 in the Marines. A few applications were still being processed mainly because of conflicts between Federal and state records as to where a particular serviceman had enlisted. The bonuses were made on a sliding scale depending on length of service and overseas service. The average bonus paid was $88.75, for a total of nearly $11 million for the entire state. December 31st 1923 was the deadline for applications to be made for this special service bonus. (Bristow) |
1933-01-12 | People | Word was received that a former Ramsey resident had been killed in action in South America. Major Kenneth Leighton had lived in Bolivia for fifteen years. He was a signaling expert and had been in charge of technical communications work for the Bolivian Army. He hd gone into action at the beginning of the war between Bolivia and Paraguay. No details were released as to how he met his death. (Bristow) |
1937-01-12 | Politics | Mrs. F. W. Petri and Mrs. Stephen Biddle attended the BergenCounty League of Women Voters meeting in Hackensack. Among the topics of the day's meeting were the new Social Security Act, the Consumer Cooperative movement and sweated home industrial work by women in New Jersey. According to Mrs. Harriman Simmons of the Consumers League there were about 3,700 women involved in sweated home labor in New Jersey, down from about 10,000 before the Depression but rapidly growing. As an example of the evils of this practice she spoke of the candlewick bed spreads made by the mountain women of North Carolina. This business which grossed about half a million dollars a year, she said, paid the women one cent per hour for their work. She urged the passage of the League's bill calling for the eight-hour day and fours-four hour week for women working in restaurants, bakeries, and laundries. (Bristow) |
1952-01-12 | Education | The sale of class pictures so far exceeded expectations that the photographer took ta series of pictures around the school as a gift to the school. School class pictures had not been taken for several years so there was apparently a large demand for the photos. One parent who was reluctant to buy the picture because her child was absent on the day the picture was taken was persuaded to buy because her child pointed out that she saw him everyday and had lots of pictures of him but they had none of his friends. (Bristow) |
1956-01-12 | Business | Plans were released for a $3 million shopping center at the Ramsey traffic circle at Franklin Turnpike and Route 17. About half of the stores were reported to have been already leased and parking for more than 2,000 cars planned. the facility, about two miles south of the new Ford plant in Mahwah was designed to service a trading area including 18 municipalities in northern Bergen County and in Rockland County, NY. Among the leases already signed were one for a W. T. Grant department store, a Grand Union Supermarket and F. W. Woolworth. The developer Carl S. Carlson of Ridgewood projected sales of seventeen million dollars a year from about 200,000 square feet of floor space. Construction was set to begin on March 1st. (Bristow) |
1967-01-12 | People | Mahwah's two discotheques, the Loft on Route 17 and the Morgue on Franklin Turnpike got reprieves for 60 days while a new ordinance restricting entertainment establishment was being studied. They had been closed at the beginning of the month under a 1929 ordinance which their lawyer pointed out had been originally passed to control two churches which had been disputing about meeting nights. A wide variety of people supported the Discos as good entertainment for young people, including Board of Education candidate Vincent April, Township Treasurer Jack Friedlander, Mrs. Pasquale Valone, CYO Director of Immaculate Conception parish, a priest from Don Bosco and grandmother who recently moved here from Brooklyn. (Bristow) |
1874-01-13 | People | A brakeman fell off an Erie train while it was moving. He is severely injured. |
1913-01-13 | Education | The Senior Class at the Mahwah School elected the following officers: President: David Winter Jr., Vice-President Harry Calling; Secretary Ratie Lawrence, Treasurer, Esther Winter; Prophet, Lila Banta. The class will begin at Ramsey High School immediately. (Bristow) |
1918-01-13 | Religion | Sunday school is now being held in the Church as there is not enough coal to heat both the church and the lecture hall. (Bristow) |
1922-01-13 | People | A special committee was chosen by the Women's Club to select a name for the Town Park to the west of the Station which the Club has been planting. The four members of the committee were expected to select an appropriate Indian name. But they came up with Kilmer Park in memory of Joyce Kilmer the poet and former Mahwah resident who was killed in the war. (Bristow) |
1924-01-13 | Religion | Attendance at the Ramapo Reformed Church Sunday school was 140. This was considered quite good considering the number of children quarantined because of measles and mumps and the fact that there were no special contests going on and that the excitement of the Christmas season was over. It was only natural, Church leader assumed, that as Mahwah grew so would Church membership and attendance. (Bristow) |
1927-01-13 | Business | In an ad in the Ramsey Journal, a Paterson Buick dealer, E. A. Browne, claimed that once again during 1926 more Buicks had toured through Yellowstone Park than any other brand of cars except for "the lowest price" make, presumably Fords. He claimed that this had been true of every year since the park was opened to automobile traffic. Of the 44,472 cars of 101 makes which entered for the year, 4,756, or about 10 percent were Buicks. He claimed that this was "convincing evidence of Buick's reliability" Diivers would not trust their cars to the rugged roads of the Park unless they could be sure that they could negotiate the steep hills and sharp turns of the wilds. The dealer asserted that aBuick could take you "comfortably, safely and splendidly--- across the Continent--- or around the World." (Bristow) |
1929-01-13 | Business | The Holley Theater in Ramsey began a six-month cycle of Silver Nights. Every woman and girl who paid the 30 cent admission charge would receive a piece of silver plate. If they attend each of the Monday and Wednesday performances for the 26 week promotion they would acquire a 52 piece set of high quality silverware. Most theaters do this over a year but the Holley Theatre will do it in six months. (Bristow) |
1934-01-13 | Business | The January clearance sale at the Jacobus Boot Shop in Ridgewood featured footwear priced from $1.95 for children's shoes to $.95 for men's walk-overs. They claimed to have a large selection of women's suede shoes in attractive colors at $2.95 and Polly Preston arch shores at $3.95. Their shop was on Ridgewood Avenue, opposite Woolworth's. (Bristow) |
1937-01-13 | People | A surprise birthday party was given by Mrs. Gordon G. O'Brien for her husband. Dinner for twelve guests was followed by an evening of bridge. (Bristow) |
1942-01-13 | People | At the Board of Health meeting, Sanitary Inspector Howard W. Cochran reported on the case of George Abrams and his goats. Abrams had been admitted to the Hackensack Hospital. He had been living, Cochrane reported, in a rough shack on Hilltop Avenue. The shack contained his bed and his ten goats. There was no running water or sanitary facilities. Cochran reported that the SPCA had been called to take care of the goats. The Board ordered Cochrane to find out who owned the property where Abrams shack was located and have the owner remove the goats from the Township as a health menace and a violation of local ordinances. (Bristow) |
1952-01-13 | People | Leif Hegg, a wounded veteran of the Korean War was added to the staff of the Ramsey Journal as an apprentice printer. He was one of the first veterans to be hired under the provision of Public Law 894 giving Korean War veterans the same rights as those give not veterans of the Second World War under the G. I. Bill. He had had both of his hands and feet frozen during the retreat from the reservoir near the Chinese border. He was quickly evacuated to Japan for medical treatment and credited penicillin for his nearly complete recovery. A native of Norway, he was only in the first few weeks of a Linotype course in New York City when he was recommended for the Journal job. (Bristow) |
1980-01-13 | People | Historical marker at the Hopper Gristmill Site unveiled. (Bristow) |
1781-01-14 | People | Andrew and Garret Hopper, brothers, exchanged farms. Garret to get the Hopper House and Andrew to have the older Hopper homestead. (Bristow) |
1910-01-14 | Business | The Paterson Press maintains that the Erie will be electrified in the next two or three years at a a cost of $15,000,000. William McAdoo, the President of the Hudson Tubes has promised to build two tunnels for the exclusive use of the Erie under the River. The Erie would then build a terminal in Manhattan. In addition to the new engines the change would require smaller, lower cars. The line would be electrified from Suffern and on the Newark Branch, with the tracks able to accommodate both steam and electric cars. The steam trains would stop at Jersey City and the passengers would have to take the Tube. It is propose d to electrify the Greenwood Lake branch first since it has steeper grades. If electrification works well there it would be spread to the other branches. It is not expected that the trains will run any faster in our area but there would be the advantage of no more soft coal smoke. (Bristow) |
1914-01-14 | Business | At the annual meeting of the Mahwah Savings and Loan Harry A. Hagerman was elected President to succeed Elmer J. Snow. The Association Profit for the year was nearly 9%. (Bristow) |
1916-01-14 | Fire Department | The annual election of the fire department was held in the New Town Hall. Much progress has been made in the year since they were organized. A new chemical fire truck is being built for the company. (Bristow) |
1916-01-14 | People | The Three Act Play "Mrs. Tubbs of Shanty Town" was plagued with troubles from the beginning. It was originally scheduled to be given in the New Town Hall by the Ladies Aid Society of the Ramapo Reformed Church. The proceeds were to go to the Parsonage repair fund. Unfortunately illness in the cast led to its postponement until February 2nd. Further illness in the cast led to its indefinite postponement. (Bristow) |
1927-01-14 | Religion | It might have been thought that the Reformed Church Turkey Dinner might have been called off because of the severe snow storm but 130 people attended anyway. It had been prepared and served by the men of the congregation and was pronounced a great success by those who attended. (Bristow) |
1928-01-14 | People | Among those from Mahwah who went down to Madison Square Garden for the Ford Industrial Exposition were Mr. and Mrs. George T. Price and their daughter Betty, accompanied by Cynthia Hewitt. They particularly enjoyed the display models of the new Ford Model "A". (Bristow) |
1929-01-14 | People | Mrs. Frank Z. Dator died at her home. Described as "one of the old members of her community" by the Ramsey Journal. She was survived by her son Raymond and three daughters, Mrs. A. Valentine, Mrs. Florence McIntyre and Mrs. Franck Rothhaupt. She had been particularly active in the Aid Society of the Ramapo Reformed Church. (Bristow) |
1940-01-14 | People | The crew of the interned German ship "Columbus" passed through town on Erie train #7. They had been interned at Ellis Island for some time but arrangements had been made for them to b=embark for Europe via steamship from San Francisco. The Erie pier at Jersey City was closed off as the sailors entrained, but fifteen friends and relatives had been given consular permission to attend and showered them with flowers as they set off on their long journey. (Bristow) |
1945-01-14 | Charity | Inez Hallenback was the chairman of the Victory clothing drive which began in Mahwah. clothing was in such short supplyy in the devastated countries of Europe that, as one returning veteran reported, a good pair of used shoes cost $65. A nurse who returned from three years in Europe related that people wrapped their feet and legs in rags and newspapers to keep warm. The suffering was made greater by the shortage of fuel for heating not only in the former Axis countries but also among our Allies. Generous Mahwa residents were urged to search their closest for woolen coats, sweaters, suits, trousers, skirts, underwear, overshoes, and especially shoes. Collections begin at the firehouse on the 14th where the collection depot would be open daily from 8 AM to 10 PM. Donors were urged to include a letter with their gifts. Items not wanted were straw hats, toys, pillows and feather beds and furniture. (Bristow) |
1952-01-14 | Education | At the regular meeting of the School Board reports were given about the several tracts the Board was considering as the site of a new school. The tract by Winter's Pond owned by Mrs. Winter was considered too hilly for a school The Wright tract diagonally across from Commodore Perry and the Boyce property between Island Road and the Railroad were both considered too close to Route 17. The Carlough tract east of the Turnpike across from the Brake Shoe was too close to the State line and the airport property was also close to the State line and its level had been reduced by gravel mining. (Bristow) |
1965-01-14 | People | Funeral services were held for Mary Suffern, 95, who died on New Years Day. She was the great-granddaughter of John Suffern who came to this country from County Antrim, Ireland before the Revolution and founded the village now named after him. She had lived at her home on Lake Street in Hillburn since it was built in 1875. She attended Cooper Union and the Art Students League in New York City and studied under Jules Arnault, a French painter in the early 1890s. She woke as a draughtsman in New York City until 1900 when the death of her sister, Anne forced her to return to take care of the home. She was survived by her sister Elsie Suffern Cornell and a niece Mrs. Eleanor Suffern Fiebely, the Pastor of the Ramapo Reformed Church in Mahwah, and a nephew, Rev. Richard Suffern of Paterson. funeral services were conducted by the Rev. Ross Seward of the Hillburn Presbyterian Church with rural in the Mahwah Cemetery. Her father had to give up his Suffern home during the depression of 1872 and built the Hillburn house three years later. (Bristow) |
1777-01-15 | People | John Suffern, son of John and Mary Suffern of New Antrim (now Suffern) died at the age of 11 months and 15 days. (Gravestone is in the abandoned Lutheran Cemetery on Moffat Road.) (Bristow) |
1832-01-15 | People | Garret W. Hopper who had owned the Larne-Van Horn house died. (Bristow) |
1874-01-15 | People | A Mahwah lady has given away two of her late husband's firearms away. Shortly Robinson received a musket which her husband had used in the service. Walter Smith was given a silver mounted rifle. He says he can hit the bulls eye every time with it. (Bristow) |
1918-01-15 | Business | Samuel Rothhoupt has been carrying on as manager of his brother's garbage business. Frank is now stationed at Camp Dix. He is expected home shortly on furlough since he had an emergency operation for appendicitis. The Garage advertised that they had only 5 Fords left, 4 touring cars and 1 runabout. There is no indication when they would get more with the wartime demand being what it is. (Bristow) |
1927-01-15 | People | During the great snow storm a series of mashups made life miserable for Mrs. Rose Dahlman, the teacher of the mountain school. She and her husband and small daughter returned from a visit to friends in New York City to find their car, which they had left in the Suffern station, would not start. They were able after a long wait to secure a taxi, but the driver could not drive further than the foot of the mountain. It took nearly an hour to walk up the mountain to their home in the raging snow. They discovered that during their absence the kitchen kerosene stove had exploded and had blown out the windows. They were reported to have wished they were back in their friends' apartment in the city. (Bristow) |
1934-01-15 | People | Ginger Rogers fans could see two of her pictures locally. At the Warner Theatre in Ridgewood she was appearing in "Sitting Pretty" with Jack Oakie, Jack Haley and Thelma Todd. The Lafayette Theatre featured her with Dolores Del Rio in "Flying Down to Rio" Interestingly enough the publicity for this film failed to mention her co-star Fred Astaire. This was their first picture together. The other local cinemas featured "Her Sweetheart" with Lionel Barrimore and Marie Dessler ("The most heartwarming picture in Marie Dressler's career" and Douglas Fairbanks in "Mr. Robinson Crusoe" at the Strand.) (Bristow) |
1936-01-15 | Transportation | The new section of Route 2 claimed another victim when David John Halon was struck and left seriously injured along the road. He was taken to Good Samaritan Hospital suffering from a fractured skull and internal injuries. He had been discharged that morning from the Roosevelt C.C.C. Camp and was apparently attempting to get home to Elhurst Long Island. (Route 2 is now Route 17). (Bristow) |
1936-01-15 | Business | The Ramsey Theatre announced that China-ware Nights will now be Wednesday and Thursday evenings. The Thursday matinee remains as before so that the ladies could obtain their china on a more convenient schedule. The entire set was on display in the window of the Ramsey Recreations Center next to the theatre. The theatre management promised that there would be no reduction in there quality of the attractions caused by the new policy. (Bristow) |
1942-01-15 | Business | The Ramapo Photo-finishing Company, who gave its only address as Post Office Box 398 in Mahwah, offered to develop and print any roll of 6 or eight exposure film for twenty-five cents. (The folks at the Suffern Camera shop told me that the charge for a 12 exposure roll of film today, if all the shots come out, is $5.55.) (Bristow) |
1942-01-15 | People | The Ramsey Journal published a letter which the publisher had received from a Mahwah serviceman, William L. Trusewicz. He described the recent trip he had taken from Fort Riley, Kansas, to McChord Field, near Tacoma Washington. He wrote that he was particularly impressed by the beauty of the Rocky Mountains and by the warm reception which his troop train received by people along the tracks. Everywhere people cheered and gave the thumbs up sign. Some called "Give 'em hell boys!". He said he liked his new post but that he missed the horses he had worked with in the cavalry at Fort Riley. In Washington he and his buddies were living in tents rather than barracks. He said the tent was very cold until he and his buddies got their fire going in the mornings. He said he liked the food, particularly the "swell" turkey they had on Christmas. "It was almost as good as mom cooks at home," he wrote. Generally he liked the army and had not joined "for a picnic". He particularly was impressed by the view of snow-capped Mount Reiner from the Camp. With him was another recruit from the Ramsey area, VanderElls, from Wyckoff. He asked that his subscription to the Journal now be sent to his Washington address so that he could keep track of what was happening at home. (Bristow) |
1952-01-15 | People | Governor Alfred Driscoll, described as the Father of the highway, cut the ribbon opening the last nine mile section of the New Jersey Turnpike. Among the 1,000 people were manyBergen County officials, including Freeholder Chester Smeltzer of Ramsey. Bergen Assemblyman Cavinato, the Speaker of the House, called it "the best and most modern highway ever built" and marveled at its having been completed in less than twenty-three months. As part of the opening ceremonies the two major bridges in the section were dedicated to heroes of World War II. The passaic River bridge to Chaplain Washington of the Dorchester, and the Hackensack River Bridge to the Lewandowski Brother of Lyndhurst both of whom were killed in action. At the 1,000 plate dinner which followed it was announced that $500 in tolls had been collected in the first two hours of operation. In the Governor's remarks he said that the next goal of the Turnpike Officials should be the building of connections with the New Your State Thruway and the Pennsylvania Turnpike. (Bristow) |
1894-01-16 | People | "These are sturing times. Mahwah whiskey and free-love are the two staple topics that hold the public attention. The latter has stepped out to such an extent, that a jealousy has sprung up between the lotharios whose shrine is at the widow's. A few evenings ago the people in the vicinity were disturbed by the cries of "head him off, head him off", which proved to be a party on track of a jealous lover. The object was to dress the Benedict out in a coat of tar and feathers, but his legs were too much for them. Besides this individual there weree some others who the party were to serve the same way, but their drunkenness saved them for once. (Bristow) |
1913-01-16 | People | The Rev. Van Orden, Presbyterian Pastor in Ramsey gave an illustrated talk on the "life and conditions of the people living on the Lower East Side of New York". This is part of the free lecture series being given in the lecture room of the old Darling Estates in Darlington. (Bristow) |
1918-01-16 | People | There has been much dispute about why the sidewalk on Ramapo Avenue has not been cleared of snow. There is no Town ordinance about clearing sidewalks but most people believe it is the responsibility of the property owners. (Bristow) |
1920-01-16 | Politics | Cragmere's E. Douglas Hotchkiss, in a letter to the Ramsey Journal announced his complete opposition to the Prohibition Amendment. He labeled it an "attack on the liberties of the American people." He said he would vote for no candidate, Republican or Democrat who supports this. He pointed out that no eastern or northern state had voted in favor of the amendments. (Bristow) |
1922-01-16 | Politics | Mrs. E. C. Lane served on the Jury in Hackensack. She is the first Mahwah woman actually to serve on a county jury, although one was named to the Gard Jury Panel last fall, she did not serve. (Bristow) |
1934-01-16 | Business | The CWA workers who were clearing and grading the right of way for the new highway through Allendale Saddle River and Ramsey held a mass meeting at the Waldwick school auditorium to protest a cut in their wages. Their hourly pay had been cut from 50 cents to 45 cents. A resolution to go out on strike, as other CWA workers had done in other areas, was narrowly defeated, but an organization was formed to negotiate with the Federal officials. Louis Caruso of Waldwick was chosen as President was Winter Winterbutton, a Spanish-American War veteran of Park Ridge, as secretary. Group of CWA workers from Fairlawn reported the steps that they had taken to reverse their recent cut to 40 cents an hour. The official reason for the cut in wages was that the NRA wage for road work was 40 cents an hour. The local CWA workers pointed out that they had been working in heavily wooded areas and swamps, and that poor weather had reduced their incomes to 7 cents to 9 cents per week. No family could be sustained on that low a wage, they insisted. (Bristow) |
1936-01-16 | Police | At the Township Committee meeting, the police report for 1935 cited 303 investigations, 90 arrests, 40 accidents, 3 accidental deaths, 28 fires attended, and $174 in fines collected. Happily all seven of the missing persons reported were found and two of the three stolen cars recovered. (Bristow) |
1936-01-16 | Education | Board President John Y. Dator wielded a handsome chromium-plated shovel to mark the beginning of construction of the new Ramsey High School on East Main St. Work had been held up until word was received two days earlier that the WPA authorities at Newark had approved the project. Rain on the 15th postponed the informal ground breaking ceremonies one day. Faculty members and students from the fifth grade up attended as well as Borough officials, the Boy Scouts the High School Band, the Board of Education local clergy and businessmen, the American Legion and the Fire Department. The new building was expected to take a year to complete. (Bristow) |
1937-01-16 | People | At the annual meeting and dinner of the New Jersey Guernsey Breeders Association, held at the Longacre Country Club in Lawrenceville, the Mahwin Farms of Mahwah was awarded three certificates for state records in milk and butter production in 1936. Mr. Albert Winter, owner of the Farm, was present to receive the awards. They range Class "G", for individual cows under two years in age, to Class "A2 for cows over five years old. (Bristow) |
1937-01-16 | People | Township Committeeman was the principle speaker at the West Mahwah Citizens Club annual dinner. His talk centered on the work of paving and improving the roads of the West Mahwah section. During the last year, he stated, about half of the West Mahwah roads had been paved through a grant of $11,000 from W. P. A. He said that an additional grant was being sought to pave the remaining roads. When asked why the Township had not done the work earlier using its own funds he said that the Committee had decided that the tax burden would be too heavy, and then ten years before there had not been enough real estate in West Mahwah. Forty-nine members and guests attended the affair held at Monti's Inn. (Bristow) |
1940-01-16 | Recreation | Steve Dombrowski almost singlehandedly overwhelmed the Hillburn Rescue Squad basketball team as the Hovenkopf five won 50 to 33. Dombrowsky scored 25 points with twelve field goals and a foul shot. The Hovenkopf squad won their third consecutive victory of the young season. of Micik, Dembia, Krupinski, and Kuzmik and Dombrowski. Snow and Russo of the Hillburn five scored ten points each and Dixon twelve. Neither side listed any substitutes for the game. (Bristow) |
1948-01-16 | Education | Lloyd O. Stallings Jr of Ramapo Ave. was graduated from East Stroudsberg Teachers College in Pennsylvania. He was the first returning veteran from Mahwah to take advantage of the G. I. Bill of Rights, offering educational opportunities for veterans of the Second World War. (Bristow) |
1952-01-16 | People | The newly formed Wednesday Evening Club held its second meeting. It was formed for those young couples, mostly with children, who had outgrown the social groups made up of singles and childless couples. It met in the Chapel of the Ramapo Reformed Church under its President Ralph Valentine. One of its organizers, Mrs. Stanley Williams announced the plans for their first big social event, a square dance on January 26th. (Bristow) |
1854-01-17 | Government | Mahwah resident Rodman McCanley Price inaugurated as New Jersey's youngest governor, aged 38. (Bristow) |
1903-01-17 | People | The large hay and grain barns at the Mountain Side Farm of the Havermeyers burned to the ground. The fire was discovered at about 8:30 AM. It took less than an hour for the buildings to be consumed. (Bristow) |
1918-01-17 | People | My Tuesdays are meatless My Wednesdays are wheatless and getting more heatless each day. My home it is heatless, My bed it is sheetless They are all sent to the WMCA. The barrooms are treatless, My coffee is sweeties, Each day I get poorer and wiser. My stocking are fretless, My trousers are seatless. Oh. How I hate the Kaiser. (Bristow) |
1927-01-17 | Education | Ramsey Assemblyman John Y. Dater was named the chairman of the Education Committee of the lower house of the state legislature. He was beginning his sixth term in the house. He announced a vigorous campaign to make sure that the proceeds of the state railroad tax, which were supposed to be used to support elementary education, were not longer diverted to other uses. He also promised to block further grants to Rutgers University until their educational training facilities were placed under the guidance of the State Education Department. He said that Rutgers should institute a course for preparing high school teachers. The normal schools, he pointed out, only trained primary teachers, leaving High Schools to seek out of the state for trained teachers. (Bristow) |
1928-01-17 | People | So popular had the Tuesday afternoon children's ballroom dancing classes become that the group had to be split int two. The older children came at 3:30 and the younger ones met at 4:30. Classes were held at the home of the instructor, Clyde Newell. (Bristow) |
1929-01-17 | Education | A epidemic of flu hit the schools. 120 students were sent home with symptoms of the disease was were two teachers. The state has issued a bulletin ordering that students with fevers be sent home to be put to bed. (Bristow) |
1936-01-17 | People | The Woman's Club of Mahwah presented a program of biographies to the Literature Department of the Ridgewood Woman's Club. Several club members summarized some of the current books dealing with prominent figures of the day. Mrs. Albert Winter emphasized chinese calligraphy in her review of "My Country and My People" by Lin Yutang. Mrs. Mildred Cooper summarized Sigrid Unset's "Longest Years" an Mrs. L. R. Rounds entertained with sections of "The Story of My Life by Queen Marie of Roumania. Poems by Audrey Wurdeman, the 1935 Pulitzer Prize winner for poetry, were read by Mrs. E. Lincoln. The poet was only twenty-four when she received the prize, the youngest winner ever. The afternoon was ended with the reading of humorous excerpts from the fish title on the best seller list for 1935, "Life with Father" by Mrs. Winter, who acted as Chairman for the Mahwah Club's program that afternoon. (Bristow) |
1937-01-17 | Recreation | Hopes that the Mahwah Holy Name basketball team would win the Hillburn Tourney were dashed as the Moffatts put on a furious charge in the second half to win 49-31. The score was tied at 15 at the half but Holy Name was behind by eight points going into the last quarter. Moffatt scored 18 points, many in the second half while Holy Name's Peter Kutney scored most of his 11 points in the first half. (Bristow) |
1940-01-17 | People | Several people from Mahwah attended the concert at the Mosque Theater in Newark for the benefit of the Alumni Association of the New Jersey State College for Women. The featured artist was the pianist Vladimir Horowitz, making his first appearance in America since leaving here for a tour in 1935. (Bristow) |
1942-01-17 | People | The dance at the Immaculate Heart of Mary Church not only served as a benefit for the parish fund but it also served as a farewell for the members of the band, the Royal Cadets. All seven members of the band were scheduled for induction into the service in the next few weeks, so this was billed as their final performance. The dance was well attended and profitable. Much of the credit was given to Mrs. Jennie Giewald and her committee of six ladies who were in charge of the arrangements. (Bristow) |
1943-01-17 | People | James Kearney Jr., State Director of the Office of Price Admins ratio issued a comprehensive explanation of how the new Ration Book number Two would be used. Every person in the State was to receive a book. Distribution to children would be thorough the schools. Adults would have to pick them up and supply proper identification. The blue stamps in the books were for canned and frozen fruits and vegetables, the red ones were to be used later for meat rationing. Announcements would begin and what the various stamps permitted the consumer to buy. (Bristow) |
1902-01-18 | People | Mr. Harry Sturr and his new bride Grace Banta who were married in Mahwah on the 15th were introduced to President Roosevelt in Washington by Congressman Stewart. The President offered his congratulations to the newlyweds. (Bristow) |
1908-01-18 | People | The boundaries of the proposed borough of Mahwah have been laid out. In some cases they overlap with those proposed for he Borough of Ramsey, but there is a small triangular section of Masonic which is in neither Borough. It will be all that is left of the old Hooks Township if both boroughs are organized. The proposal is signed by many prominent Mahwah names: George Crocker, A. J. Winter, David Hopper, A. L. Clark, Thomas Tatham, H. Z. Store, J. A. Davidson, American Brake Shoe and Foundry Company, E. J. Snow, P. D. Ramsey and William Howe. (Bristow) |
1910-01-18 | People | The will of George Crocker probated in Trenton. The financier who died recently of cancer had a large estate in Darlington. He left the bulk of his estate to a George Crocker Special Research fund to be administered by the Trustees of Columbia University. Should a cure for cancer be found the money could be used to construct a building. He heft $100,000 each to a cousin of his step children, Emmy W. Kearny, Alexander Erving and Alexander H. Rutherford. (Bristow) |
1911-01-18 | People | James Devine Sr., the father of ex-assemblyman Devine died unexpectedly after a long illness. Funeral services were on the 20th. (Bristow) |
1927-01-18 | People | The 400 acre Bear Swamp Property was sold to the Spring Valley Rod and Gun Club in a private sale. The occasion was used to recall some of the facts and legends about the area including the role of the historic Cannonball Trail in resisting the British during the American Revolution and the origin of the mountain people who lived nearby. One thing seemed certain the wonderful fishing in the area would now be restricted to club members. (Bristow) |
1934-01-18 | Government | The difficult financial times made it difficult for the Township council to meet the requests of various Township services as they drew up the budget for the coming fiscal year. Chief Smith requested a police radio and a typewriter. Previously he had to go to Ramsey to use their typewriter when he had to prepare his annual reports. The request was turned over to Committeeman Glasgow to look into prices and assess the need. The Northern Bergen Nursing Service requested as large a grant as the Township could afford. They reported that because of the Depression, the need for their services had increased greatly. Mahwah required more services than any other municipality in the territory, they reported. The Council voted them $100, the same amount they had received in 1933. (Bristow) |
1934-01-18 | Government | The Township Council adopted the budget for 1934 at a work session. It was reduced from the year before by $673-31 to $27,941.52. Part of this cut was arrived at by reducing the Board of Health budget from $500 to $300 and lowering the Police Department budget from $3500 to $3000. among the difficulties in predicting revenues for the coming year was the fact that the State would no longer rebate part of the gasoline tax to the municipality. This was to be offset by the elimination of the State road tax. This ha amounted to $2500 in 1933. (Bristow) |
1936-01-18 | People | American visitors to New York City were reported to have made the little Church Around the Corner the number one tourist attraction in the city, according to the four major Tavel bureaus in the city. Thomas Cook and Co., said that with foreign visitors Rockefeller Center was the first thing on their list. After these were Broadway by night, Chinatown, Greenwich Village, the financial district and the George Washington Bridge, then the longest suspension bridge in the world. One of the major attractions of the past, the Statue of Liberty was reported to have slipped way down the list. (Bristow) |
1940-01-18 | People | In the school news for the week were items about (Among the reporters for the various grades in the Mahwah School were Katherine Schultz for 8X and Arthelia Jennings for 7x in School Number Two (Mahwah)) and Maida Straut who was in charge of the morning exercises in School No 7 (Cragmere). The School of Safety Patrol was busy constructing warning signs for the crossings at Ramapo Ave and Island Rd. Jack Time was recovering from having his tonsils out. Edward Malinowski attempted to walk across the Ramapo River on the ice, fell through and had to swim to shore under the ice. She created an interesting quiz which was won by row two. (Bristow) |
1943-01-18 | People | At Recorder's Court Judge J. Frank Young fined Frank Watson of Airmount Rd and Walter Vogelin of Armour Rd. seven dollars each for allowing their dogs to run loose. Notices of the dog quarantine had recently been posted all over town so no dog owners could plead ignorance to the state campaign to control rabies. Judge Young said the fines should serve as a warning to dog owners that Mahwah was serious about its canine quarantine. (Bristow) |
1956-01-18 | Police | State troopers ended a five town chase of a Suffern youth when they forced him off of the road at Wrathall's Garage in Mahwah. The trouble began for the young man when he took his father's car without permission and drive it without a license. When police in Waldwick tried to flag him down in a speed trap he sped off with them in pursuit. He passed through Saddle River, Upper Saddle River, Ramsey, and Mahwah going through red lights, passing on the right and terrorizing pedestrians and forcing other cars off the road when the troopers cornered him. Even after being stopped he refused to get out of his car and tried to run a trooper down. He was charged with speeding, failure to follow police signals, driving without a license, reckless driving and taking a vehicle without permission of the owner. Fortunately no one was hurt during his wild ride and the car was not damaged. (Bristow) |
1911-01-19 | People | While doing some surveying John and Henry Wanamaker were carrying a short trolley rail. It slipped out of their hands and severed the tip of John's thumb. An attempt was made to reattach it be he had to have it amputated at the Suffern hospital when blood poisoning set in. (Bristow) |
1914-01-19 | Education | The Masonic School has been closed until January 26th because of scarlet fever. The school will be fumigated on Tuesday the 20th and Friday the 23rd. Arrangements have been made for the pupils in the highest grades to take their examinations so they will not fail the State Exams in June. (Bristow) |
1928-01-19 | People | Among the notable new books announced as ready for borrowing at the Library Ray Stoddard Baker biography of the late president Woodrow Wilson, Booth Tarkington's latest novel "Claire Ambler" And Thonrton Wilder's still famous "The Bridge of San Luis Rey." Also among the new arrivals was the posthumously published "Journal of Kathleen Mansfield" and local author Albert Payson Terhune's "The Luck of the Laird". (Bristow) |
1928-01-19 | People | Readers of the Ramsey Journal were invited to send for circular 405 of the U. S. Department of Agriculture describing the advantages of oil heat. Many home owners were attracted to the fact that oil heat was cleaner and more dependable than heating with coal. Many types of oil burners had been placed on the market during the past few years, the pamphlet stated, and "this new method of heating" appealed to many because temperatures were easier to control and the supply was less subject to "uncertainty of supply" according to the pamphlet. (Bristow) |
1934-01-19 | People | The Rev. William E. Simpson, the Pastor of the Ramapo Reformed Church met with other members of the class of 1904 at Rutgers University to plan their celebration of the fiftieth anniversary of their graduation, in May. He was to mark the fiftieth anniversary of his ordination in June. January 27th also was to mark the completion of his twelfth year in Mahwah. at the time he had held the post longer than any Pastor in the history of the Church. (Bristow) |
1936-01-19 | Religion | Despite the blizzard which hit the town both the Ramapo Reformed Church's Sunday school and worship services were reasonably well attended. Several families came t school on their children's sleds rather than trying to drive. When, after the storm John J. Brennan complained that a number of sidewalks in West Mahwah had not been shoveled by the Township, the Town Board reminded him that it was the property owner's responsibility to clear the sidewalk. If the Township did it they would add the charge to his tax bill. (Bristow) |
1937-01-19 | People | Mr. and Mrs. W. H. Conover celebrated their fiftieth wedding anniversary with an open house attended by about one hundred guests. Among the many telegrams cards and congratulations which they received on the occasion were a telegram from their grandson Frank Dator, a student at Duke and a telephone call from Vassar from their granddaughter Doris Dator. (Bristow) |
1940-01-19 | Business | Among the used cars offered for sale this week in the Ramsey Journal by Allendale Sales and Service was a 1930 Packard Phaeton for $30, a 1931 Chevrolet Sedan for $40, a 1932 Nash for $35 and a 1931 Essex Coupe for $20. $20 would also get you a 1930 Res Sedan fro Station Motors in Ridgewood that week. (Bristow) |
1940-01-19 | Recreation | Movie fans could chose from Mr. Smith Goes to Washington starring Jean Arthur and James Stewart at the Ramsey Theater or Jack Holt and Patricia Ellis in Fugative at Large at the Strand in Suffern. If they waited a few days they could catch Dorothy Lamour in "hHer Jungle Love or Gary Cooper in Marco Polo at the Stand or Judy Garland and Mickey Rooney in Babes in Arms at the Ramsey the following week or Boris Karloff in "The Man They Could Not Hang" At the Warner Brothers Garden Theater in Paterson held over for a third full week was Clark Gable and Vivian Leigh in Gone with the Wind. (Bristow) |
1986-01-19 | Education | Pine Hall, a new dormitory at Ramapo College was opened officially. Students began moving in for the opening of the new semester on January 21st. A welcoming dinner for the new residents was held on the 17th with Ramapo's new President Dr. Robert A. Scott present. Formal dedication was to take place later in the spring. The 341 bed dormitory cost $7.3 million to build. It had a passive solar design which was supposed to cut heating costs by 60%. It will be used mostly by freshman students. Each suite contained three bedrooms and bathroom facilities. Each floor has common study areas, two lounges, and kitchenettes. Plans were laid for the building in 1979 but approved for its construction did not begin until construction approval was gained late in 1983. The new dormitory will mean that about 40% of the college full-time students lived on campus. This would permit more intensive recruiting of students from South Jersey and other areas beyond normal commuting distance. It will also permit more Bergen County residents to live on campus. It will be offered to outside groups during the summer as a conference center. This use was hoped to produce about $175,000 in rental income. (Bristow) |
1905-01-20 | Business | The American Brake Shoe and Foundry Company has a large crew of men adding several hundred feet of track at the plant to facilitate the loading and unloading of materials and product. (Bristow) |
1911-01-20 | Transportation | Trolley service is expected to begin to Ramsey by the end of February and to Mahwah a little later. The rails are already laid through Ramsey and well into Mahwah, but construction is being held up by a property dispute in Allendale and the difficulties of building the trestle which will carry the cars over the Erie yards in Wyckoff. The trolley may not go beyond the New York State line since the Suffern Village fathers are making such high demands on the Company. (Bristow) |
1914-01-20 | Education | It has been so cold that the schools are very hard to heat. Miss Stark had to dismiss the Wyckoff School and Miss Folsom did the same for the Mountain School. (She has subsequently resigned and will be replaced on February by Miss Rose K. Foster.) Pupils on the north side of the Mahwah School have had several days of uncomfortable temperatures. (Bristow) |
1916-01-20 | People | Mr. E. P. Beebe, of Oweno Rd., Cragmere will speak on the "Boy Problem" at the men's club meeting at the new Town Hall. He is associated with the Boy Scouts. The male quartette will sing. (Bristow) |
1917-01-20 | Business | Over 350 workmen of the Brake Shoe went on strike. Only the Pattern makers Department, which has a staff of 25, none of them foreigners, is still working. The strikers demanded an immediate 10% wage raise. They claim that the new workers hired to fulfill the large war contract were being laid 10% above the old hands. The Union had held talks with management but the owners refuse to arbitrate and announced that all workers would be fired as of Thursday, the 25th. Mr. Price asked the Sheriff for guards and ten were sent. They patrol 24 hours a day and have been stoned by the strikers. The management is prepared to hire strike breakers. (Bristow) |
1924-01-20 | Religion | The Sunday service at the Ramapo Reformed Church was omitted because of the repainting of the sanctuary and the installation of new lighting fixtures. Bible school was held as usual in the Chapel. On January 27th the sanctuary was reopened with a special musical service and a sermon on "What to know, or wisdom". (Bristow) |
1925-01-20 | People | The perils of leaving the window open on your car when you park it were demonstrated for H. Schweibert of Woodland Avenue, Ramsey. He drove his car into New York and locked it, leaving the window partly open when he did some business at Seventh Ave and 135th St. When he came out he discovered that a man had gotten into the car by slipping his hand through the open window. The thief was about to drive away when Schweibert ran up, closely followed by a policeman. The thief was soon a prisoner. It was discovered that he had been in the country less than a year and already had been arrested twice for robbery. He had a number of pawn tickets on his person at the time of his arrest. (Bristow) |
1936-01-20 | Fire Department | At the height of the weekend snow storm the fire alarm summoned Company #1 to the home of Frank Winters on Route 2. Because of the depth of the snow, it took the truck quite a bit of time to reach the blaze. Once there they were able to extinguish the chimney fire fairly quickly. Especially effective was the chemical outfit recently acquired by the company. (Bristow) |
1937-01-20 | People | Several Mahwah stamp collectors travelled to New York to see selections from the collection of Mrs. Ethel B. Stewart on display at Gimbels. She was the president of the Sussex County Philatelic society and described as one of the most notable women stamp collectors in the world. The gem of her was a block of four of the inverted "Jenny" airmail stamp. It was valued at about $20,000 at that time. (Bristow) |
1943-01-20 | People | Mr. and Mrs. George K. Boursault announced the engagement of their daughter Yvonne to Lt. George Fairchild III. The prospective bride was a graduate of Ridgewood High School and Southern Seminary in Buena Vista, Virginia. Her fiancé was a sergeant in the infantry and the coast artillery until he transferred to the Air Corps. He had recently won his wings and was stationed at Long Beach California in the Ferry Command. No date was set for the wedding. (Bristow) |
1944-01-20 | Politics | Township Attorney John J. Warhol was instructed by the Town Board to draw up a petition to change the name of the Township. Township officials complained that Hohokus Township was constantly being confused with the Borough of Hohokus. Mail was often delayed by being sent to the wrong place. Township Clerk R. F. Dator spoke of the fact that a number of local voters had been denied the opportunity to vote in the last election by the fact that the County Board of Elections had sent their registrations to the Borough of Hooks. The petition would be placed on the ballot in November and needed a two-thirds vote to pass. No new name was agreed upon at the meeting but many favored calling the Township Mahwah. (Bristow) |
1903-01-21 | People | The weather has not interfered with the transport of bricks to the site of the new Crocker Mansion. The teamsters are using sleighs. (Bristow) |
1910-01-21 | Business | Mr. I. B. Tiedman, a director of the Mahwah Savings and Loan, was elected a Director of the First National Bank of Ramsey. (Bristow) |
1912-01-21 | Crime | Ezra Conklin struck his common law wife Josephine DeGroat on the head with an axe and ended up in the County Jail in Hackensack. He lives on the mountain just back of Mahwah. He hit her a terrible blow and immediately crossed over the State Line into New York. The children finally got some help on the morning of the 22nd when a Suffern doctor found her in bed in a pool of blood, the axe nearby. Conklin was arrested at the home of his brother in Sloastberg by New York State authorities. He was turned over to Bergen County Police by the Justice of the Peace in Suffern. Conklin claimed that a singing in his head during certain phases of the moon caused him to do it. His wife is not expected to live. Conklin has not been in trouble with the law before. He is about 35 years old. (Mrs. DeGroat was taken to the Hackensack Hospital by County Detective William V. A. Blauvelt. The two small children who witnessed the assault were placed in the County Home. Conklin is still in jail.) |
1918-01-21 | Business | Stores were closed for a half day on orders from the Fuel Administration. There was some grumbling, but there is little that could be done about it. Many coal trains pass through but none stop at A. Winter's siding. Mayor DeBaun of Ramsey has suggested that the trains would not stop for no reason at the grade crossings in Ramsey there if local residents would empty a few coal cars. Perhaps Mahwah should follow suit. (Bristow) |
1929-01-21 | People | Reports from the National Headquarters of the American Legion confirm that the Mahwah post has the largest membership of its history. It was explained that following the experience of the GAR further membership growth can be expected for another ten years at which time every honorably discharged veteran should be a member. Local officials believe that the lack of a movie theater in Mahwah has hampered their growth, somewhat since there are many fine films they could have shown which would have enhanced the attractiveness of their program. (Bristow) |
1934-01-21 | Recreation | George Rountree repeated his triumph of the year before at the second annual Boy Scout Troop fifty skating races held at Winter's Pond. He scored 11 points to Lloyd Salling's 10. Dana Knowlton scored 5 and Sibley Reid 1. Only a fall in the 200 yard dash prevented Selling from dethroning Rountree since Selling won both of the other races at 1,000 and 2,000 yards. Rountree finished first in the dash and second in the other two races. (Bristow) |
1937-01-21 | People | Mrs. Harold T. Knowlton and Mrs. Franklin F. Russell attended the exhibition at the New York Museum of Art "European Influence on Early American Homes". The visitors found their trip particularly enjoyable since the Delphian Society etc. The Delphian Society had devoted several recent study hours to this subject. (Bristow) |
1937-01-21 | Government | The Township Committee passed the first reading of the budget for 1937. They were very pleased to announce that the amount to be raised by taxation was down slightly from the previous year, The Toal was to be $25,566.90, down $47.18 from 1936. The Township was to receive considerable outside funds during the year, including the WPA grant for the paving of Sparrowbush Road. The public hearing and final vote on the budget was scheduled for February 18th at the Municipal Building. (Bristow) |
1940-01-21 | People | Mr. and Mrs. Edward Jones of Railroad Ave, Mahwah celebrated their twenty-fifth wedding anniversary with a party for several friends and their immediate family. The couple had been married on January 21, 1915 by the Rev. A. C. Dykema. Mrs. Jones was the daughter of Stephen Voorish of Fardale. The couple had five children, and two grandchildren. (Bristow) |
1943-01-21 | Politics | A Township Ordinance set new salary rates for various officials in local government. The rates of payment were unchanged from the previous year. They called for $600 for the Tax Assessor $1,000 for the Clerk, $1,200 for the Tax Collector, $2,000 per year for the Superintendent of Roads and Playgrounds. (Bristow) |
1943-01-21 | Fire Department | In his annual report to the Township Committee, Fire Chief Wrathall reported that the fire companies had responded to 69 alarms, conducted 20 drills and had spent a total of 64 hours and 5 minutes fighting fires. Two firemen had 100% attendance at fires, Charles Morris and the Chief himself. He stated, however, that fire company No. 2 had not responded to the last three fires when the alarm sounded. *two brush fires and the fire at the Orthman Farm. (Bristow) |
1943-01-21 | People | The first meeting of the Executive Committee of the newly formed Community War Service Division of the Local Defense Council was held at the home of Mrs. Howard MacPherson. Charles Piumb, Chairman presided. The various chairmen reported on the work of their sub-committees. Of particular interest was the collection of 8,000 lbs of scrap metal from farmers in the Masonicus by the Salvage Committee, the continuous availability of the Housing and Fair Rent Chairman, Thomas Doyle, and a series of lectures being given in Hackensack attended by the Child Care Committee of which Mildred MacPherson was Chairman. (Bristow) |
1915-01-22 | People | Game Warden Small shot a wounded deer. The doe which weighed nearly 100 lbs had been hit but not killed by a hunter. The carcass was taken to an ice box in Hackensack. By orders of the Fish and Game Commission the meat will be distributed to the Bergen County Children's Home and the Home for Incurables. (Bristow) |
1920-01-22 | People | The Mahwah Women's Club has appointed a committee to organize a Mahwah Public Library. Mrs. Leo Bugg, Mrs. Elizabeth C. Charleston, Mrs. E. P. Lincoln and Mrs. R. H. Wilson are completing the details and organizing financing. A central location in the Winter Building has been secured (Actually the Henriette Building JWB) The 2,200 books of the Mary C. Bugg Library in Cragmere have been donated as have the best current periodicals. (Bristow) |
1924-01-22 | Politics | The Ramsey Borough Council heard two contrasting delegations on the subject of a possible name change for Lake Street. The problem concerned the recent improvements to Crescent Avenue, which crossed Lake Street east of the village and continued north to the Borough line. Crescent Avenue was the main road to Paterson from this area and the M. Bergen Roads Association had sponsored the recent improvements to the northern part of the road including the installation of electric and telephone poles. The Association wanted the road to be called North Escent Avenue and Lake Street to end at the point where they came together. Mayor Storer succeeded in lowering the temperature of the clash between those who wanted to retain the Lake Street name and the new supporters of North Crescent Avenue. He had the tax map brought out and showed that the name Lake Street had been applied in 1908 to the entire length of the road from Franklin Turnpike to the Borough line. He suggested that Lake Street remain unless all parties agreed on an entirely new name. If they did the Council would approve the change, he promised. (Bristow) |
1925-01-22 | Charity | The annual report of the Bergen County Tuberculosis Association was given at the group's annual meeting in Hackensack. In the Association's two sanitariums 82 patients were treated with 56 requiring hospitalization. A major effort was made in 1924 to provide services for the many rural schools in the county which had no school nurse. Talks were given in 24 towns, and the Association weighed over 14,000 children in connection with school and home visits. Final tallies on the 1924 Christmas Seal campaign were not yet in, although it was expected to equal the 1923 figures. That campaign had raised $30,583.38. 22 1/2 percent of that went to the State Association which in turn sent 5% to the National organization. All of the remaining funds were used for local work. The County Seal Chairman reported that there had been committees in 69 communities. He praised the cooperation given by the commercial classes in the County High School. The students had addressed about 28,000 envelopes during the course of the campaign. (Bristow) |
1934-01-22 | People | Bergen County Alumni of Rutgers University organized a Bergen County Alumni organization in a meeting held at the Elk's clubhouse in Hackensack. Among the charter members was the Rev. William E. Simpson, Rutgers 1904. (Bristow) |
1936-01-22 | People | At the meeting of the Island Road Association a letter was authorized to request the Erie Railroad to improve the fill in the grade crossing at Island Rd and Church Street. They will also attempt to do something about the large number of stray dogs who are killing chickens in the area. (Bristow) |
1936-01-22 | Politics | The Island Road Association held their regular bi-monthly meeting at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Frank Schoor. The group voted to petition the Erie Railroad to improve the roadbed at the grade crossing at Island Road and Church Street. They decided to complain to the Freeholders about the number of unfilled potholes on Island Road. The Township Board were to be the recipients of another complaint concerning the many stray dogs who were killing chickens in the vicinity of Island Road. The next meeting was set for April 15th. (Bristow) |
1937-01-22 | People | Henry Jackson of Island Road was slightly injured when he was struck by a car near the intersection of Island Road anD Valley Road. He was walking across the road carrying a bag of coke on his shoulder and said he did not see the approaching automobile because of the heavy fog. Fortunately the driver, Joseph Jenczek, of Tuxedo Park, saw Jackson and was able to slow his car enough to lessen the impact. Jackson was slightly hurt in his foot and leg, but did not require hospitalization. There was report concerning the fate of the coke bottles. (Bristow) |
1937-01-22 | Recreation | The weekend feature at the Ramsey Theatre was the Dionne Quintuplets, Yvonne, Cecile, Marie, Anette and Emile in "Reunion", with Jean Hershel. The three stooges in "Movie Maniacs", the Court of Human Relations in "Mad Money" and a Mickey Mouse Cartoon coveted the program. The Lafayette in Suffern featured Jane Withers in "Holy Terror". But the coming week offered two films destined to become classics, Gary Cooper and Jean Arthur in "The Plainsman" and Tyrone Power and Madelein Carroll in "Lloyds of London". (Bristow) |
1940-01-22 | Fire Department | An overheated furnace caused a fire which did an estimated $10,000 damage to Reich's Tavern on Valley Road. The fire broke out at about 2:00 AM. A tenant ran a half-mile to Reich's house to alert him. Despite the efforts of both Mahwah's fire companies including Company Number Two's new apparatus, which was used for the first time, the two-story building was completely gutted. A large stock of liquor and Reich's many hunting and fishing trophies were destroyed. The loss was covered by insurance, he announced, and he said he hoped to rebuild quickly and resume his business. (Bristow) |
1943-01-22 | Politics | In response to a number of inquiries, the ration board announced that it was legal to use small amounts of gasoline to transport voters to the polls. It was pointed out that this only applied to rural areas where the distance to the polls was too great to walk conveniently. Voters were urged to join together to share rides and to combine trips to vote with visits to the market. A special ration for the limited time was available for candidates but not for their managers. (Bristow) |
1943-01-22 | People | Monroe Henry Bester, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Harry Bester of Cragmere Park was married to Miss B. V. White of Airmont, NY. After a dinner at the groom's home the couple departed for a brief wedding trip. The couple would live in Airmont and return to their jobs at the Suffern National Bank and the Metallurgical Laboratory of the American Brake Shoe plant. (Bristow) |
1895-01-23 | People | Darlington's annual sleigh ride featured eight sleigh loads. It departed from the School at 1:00 PM. The happy revelers passed through Allendale, Waldwick, Wortendyke, Campgaw, and back home. (Bristow) |
1899-01-23 | People | William Van Horn, a lifelong resident of the Valley died, after a long illness. He was 68 years old. Funeral services were held Thursday the 20th at the Reformed Church. (Bristow) |
1900-01-23 | Business | The Committee of the Bergen County Freeholders to look into the condition of the Purdy bridge in Darlington on the road to Hillburn has decided that the bridge is unsafe and that no further payments will be made to the contractor until repairs are made. (Bristow) |
1904-01-23 | Recreation | The Darlington Club enjoyed a theater evening in the City. They went to New York on the 4:48 train, enjoyed a 10 course dinner at the Chelsea and then attended the performance of "The Country Chairman" at the Wallacks. They returned on the theater train and then in a straw ride to Darlington. Miss L. E. Valentine is President for this six month period. (Bristow) |
1916-01-23 | People | The sympathies of the Campgaw community go out to the Rev. J. M. Versteeg on the tragic death of his brother Cornelius J. Versteeg of Paterson. On a visit to his fiancé he was not feeling well and remained overnight. When he went to bed he failed to light all the burners in his gas heater. When he failed to respond to a call in the morning he was found dead of asphyxiation. (Bristow) |
1922-01-23 | Religion | The Rev. and Mrs. Simpson and their children arrived in town. He will begin his service at the Ramapo Reformed on Sunday the 26th. They received a shower of postcards from parishioners assuring them of a cordial welcome. Dr. A. Vannema, the former Pastor, who has been filling the pulpit until the Simpsons could arrive, gave his farewell sermon last Sunday. He is well liked by children and adults alike. The Rev. Simpson was born in Philadelphia and educated at Rutgers and the New Brunswick Seminary. He is a past Grand of the I.O.O.F and Chaplain of his Masonic Lodge. He admits to being a baseball fan but says his hobby is hard work. The Simpson children are William Elmendorf, 13, named for his mother's family from Ulster County, N. Y., Theda Lousie, 12 and Ruth Eileen., 6. (Bristow) |
1929-01-23 | Religion | Church building of the Holy Spirit (Byzantine Catholic) parish completed. (Bristow) |
1933-01-23 | Education | The first adult education class, in English for the foreign born, met at School No. 2. Miss Florence North was the teacher. An earlier attempt at forming a class. in child care at the school had failed since so many who wished at attend could not speak English. (Bristow) |
1936-01-23 | Crime | A hit and run driver was tracked down by the use of the police radio. Stanley Suleski, of West Mahwah was hit by a milk truck driven by a New York man at about 2:15. Suleski was driving south on North Central Avenue in Ramsey when he was hit in front of Martin Cook's house. The truck stopped briefly and then went on. Suleski hailed another car and set out in pursuit. He informed officer Edward Schmidt who was on duty on Main St. Schmidt used the police radio to send out a report of the accident. About 10 minutes later police in Midland Park picked up the offender. Officer Schmidt issued a summons for hit and run driving returnable on the 27th at Recorder's Court in Ramsey. (Bristow) |
1937-01-23 | People | The second social party of the Children of Mary Sodality was reported to have been a great success. (2 C's OK) It attracted young people from several neighboring communities. A highlight of the evening was the amateur hour. Connie Romanish, described as "an aspiring Eleanor Powell-Ruby Keeler dancer" took the first prize. So warm was the applause that she had to do four numbers. Mrs. Louise Karpowicz and Miss Carrie Kwasnicki were the winners of the lucky number dance. (Bristow) |
1956-01-23 | Business | When engineer John Brumbaugh of Mahwah came before the Ramsey planning Board with the plans and specifications for the new shopping center at the Ramsey Circle he got a rude shock. When the new owner Carl S. Carlson of Ridgewood bought the property from the former owner Mr. Tamburelli he was not aware that he was obligated to fulfill certain agreements already made with the Ramsey authorities and that a subdivision permit had not been obtained before the Howard Johnson property had been sold. Carlson who was present, was informed that a buffer zone had to be left alongside of the school property and that although he could begin grading that week as he had expected to do, many more steps would have to be made before full approval of his plans could be given. A new drainage pal had to be made up to prevent runoff into the Main Street area, full specifications of every proposed store in the development submitted and a subdivision application processed. Presumably Mr. Brumbaugh had to go back to his drawing board. (Bristow) |
1967-01-23 | Police | Three young men were accused of leaving the scene of an accident when their car struck a parked car in front of 108 Valley Rd. and into the porch of the house. They claimed that they had been hitch hiking from Suffern when they were picked up by an unidentified man who then left the scene, but police were not convinced. Two of the men were arrested on Warhol Avenue by Patrolmen George Rossiter and Robert MacFarran. (Bristow) |
1986-01-23 | Business | Symbolic ground breaking ceremonies for the new International Crossroads Building took place at the site of the former Ford Motor Company Assembly Plant. Actual construction was not to begin until later in the year. Taking part in the ceremony were: Date from conversation with Bill Doherty. (Bristow) |
1805-01-24 | Business | Henry Van Dalsem sells Large-Van Horn farm to Relief Verbryck, a miller, for $6250. (Bristow) |
1903-01-24 | People | When a leg was found on the tracks near the Mahwah Depot a search was made. Remants of the body of James Henry Clark were found for a considerable distance. He had apparently been run over by a number of trains. Clark had gone out to the tracks to pick up coal (made short by the national coal strike). He was a moulder in the Brake Shoe Foundry. He was 32 years old and leaves a wife and two children. (Bristow) |
1908-01-24 | Business | The Mahwah real estate Broker C. I. Smith advertised in the Ramsey Journal for properties to sell, "Your farm, country place, village house or acreage." He particularly is looking for an old fashioned farmhouse preferably of stone, but will consider a "well preserved, roomy, farm house". No prices are mentioned. (Bristow) |
1915-01-24 | Religion | The Campgaw M. E. Church is still holding services in the School while repairs are being made to the Chapel. About $2,000 is being spent on a new heating system, a basement and new pews. The Pastor, Mr. Versteeg has instituted a series of cottage prayer meetings in line with the Billy Sunday movement with which the Church is registered. (Bristow) |
1916-01-24 | Business | Constable Rodgers had to go to the American Brake Shoe Plant to restore order among the workers. The machine shop men struck for a raise when the raise promised by the company turned out not to be as big as the workers wanted. Other workers supported the action of the machine shop men. The night shift refused to go to work. They were persuaded to go home. Overnight the Company adjusted matters so that normal work resumed on Tuesday. The men will receive a raise but not as much as they expected. Constable Rodgers was there on Tuesday evening as well in case trouble revived. (Bristow) |
1924-01-24 | Recreation | The big cinema attraction locally was the screen adaptation of Eugene O'Neil's Pulitzer Prize winning play "Anna Christie". The silent film starred Blanche Sweet. She had reached stardom for her performance in "Judith of Bethulah". The film was appearing at the Operahouse in Ridgewood. The Playhouse in Ridgewood had their final performance of a film about thow parents were failing in their duty to their children by indulging their sons and daughters' every whim. It was called "Flaming Youth" and starred Coleen Moore. The Holley Theatre in Ramsey was offering "Woman Proof" written by George, Ade and starring Thomas Meighan and Lila Lee. Mary Astor had a supporting role in what was billed as "by far the finest and funniest picture Meighan has ever made." Of course, if you wanted until Tuesday you could see "Dark Secrets" with Dorothy Dalton, Episode 8 of the serial "The Santa Fe Trail" and a live performance by the Holley Jazz Orchestra. The group had appeared at the Holley's opening performance to great acclaim, according to a publicity release in the Ramsey Journal. (Bristow) |
1934-01-24 | Politics | Petitions were accepted for five persons wishing to run for the four vacancies on the School Board in the election scheduled for February 9th. Dr. Harry DeGray who had been appointed to fill out the term of Fardale representative Edward Thomas was the only person to announce that he was running for the one year remaining on that term. The other four, running for full three-year terms were Ardelle Cory, Mildred Russell, Frank B. Scherer and Irvin Tiedeman. Both women had been active in Girl Scouting and in the Mahwah Woman's Club. Mrs. Cory listed as her greatest achievement the administration and establishment of the Girl Scout camp, Waternook. Mrs. Russell pointed to her organization of the George Washington Bicentennial pageant. Both men were veterans of World War I with service overseas. Scherer had won the silver star for bravery in battle. Scherer had served as commander of the local Legion Post and had been in the Mahwah Fire Department since 1915. Tiedeman was the only one of the four who was then serving on the Board and was running for a third term. He pointed to his bringing of business methods to the Board's purchase of coal and other supplies as his greatest achievement in his four years on the Board. Two of the openings off the Board came about when James Devine and Edwin C. Lane chose not to run for reelection. (Bristow) |
1937-01-24 | Recreation | West Mahwah's Holy Name basketball team was outclassed in a game against Ramapo A. C. played at the Hillburn Fire Hall. The RACs seemed to score at will while the locals were guilty of poor passing and lack of movement on either offense or defense. Krupinski made only three baskets out of 36 and scored only 7, but he was Holy Name's high scorer for the day. In an unusual move Borish added some life to the team as a substitute for Micik but he scored only one basket. The team snapped out of its lethargy by an east 39-16 win over Allendale two nights later. (Bristow) |
1948-01-24 | People | James A. Glasgow Sr. of Ramapo Avenue cleaned up at the 100th Anniversary exhibition of the Boston Poultry and Pigeon Association. His fantail pigeons won first place in every category which they entered and his Wife Pigeon won best in show over 1,332 other birds from all over the US and Canada. The showing was particularly outstanding since the recent snow storm had delayed the arrival of the birds in Boston. Although three days is usually considered the maximum time that such birds can go without food and especially water, Glasgow's birds were deprived for four days until he rescued them from the Express office and carried them off in a taxi. Conditions were still so bad that the taxi took over an hour to travel two miles. (Bristow) |
1967-01-24 | Real Estate | Frank W. Dator announced that his son William F. Bator had been notified by the New Jersey Real Estate Commission that he has qualified for a Real Estate broker's license. William Dater was Vice President of the Dater Agency founded by his Grandfather Raymond F. Dator. He was graduated from Mahwah High School and majored in Business Administration at Monmouth College. He also attended the Vale School of Real Estate and Upsalla College. He was active in both the Fire Department and the Ambulance Corps. (Bristow) |
1967-01-24 | Police | The partially decomposed body of William Morgan of Paterson was found in a gully north of the new Fidelity Terminal building on Franklin Turnpike. An autopsy revealed a gash in the back of his head but no bullet wounds. The police declared the case to be highly suspicious. (more) (Bristow) |
1874-01-25 | Transportation | The young station master in Mahwah went on horseback to visit his girl in Tallman's. On the way he was overtaken by a sudden snowstorm. Just at that moment a train came up the grade shooting fire in all directions. The result was what he called "the toughest ride he ever took", but, he added that "everything was lovely when he got there." The correspondent of the Bergen Democrat was moved to quote a verse from the famous Ride of Tam O'Shanter: "Well mounted on his gay (grey?) mare Meg, A better never lifted peg, He skipped on through mud and mire, Despising rain, wind and fire." (Bristow) |
1910-01-25 | Crime | Vincent W. Vander Weyde, the engineer who laid out Cragmere Park on the Old Miller property, committed suicide. He apparently had run up many debts and was apprehended stealing a tray of diamonds in New York City and swallowed poison. Many local people had endorsed notes for this popular young man. Among those victimized were Abram C. Banta, Clerk of the Board of Education ($225) Mr. Miller ($500 board bill) Clarence Strickland of Suffern ($300) and David Maged of Suffern ($50 to $60). He had also borrowed money from a local bank but that was secured by his shares in the Mahwah Savings and Loan. He was an only son, unmarried, and leaves an aged mother in New York City. (Bristow) |
1920-01-25 | Religion | The Rev. A. Vennema suffered a stroke which has resulted in lameness to his right hand and foot. His doctors have prescribed a long period of rest. He is considering asking the Classis of Paramus to relieve him of his pastorate as of May 1st. (Bristow) |
1934-01-25 | Education | A special meeting of the Hohokus Township Board of Education ended with a vote to postpone the closing of the mountain school. A detailed letter from County Superintendent Harding urged that several specific steps be taken to asses the educational needs of the pupils at both the mountain school and School #2 in Mahwah. Harding noted that attendance at the mountain school had decreased for a number of years, and that the 21 students currently enrolled came from only six families. This pointed to the eventual closing of the school. Before that happened a series of diagnostic tests to measure intelligence and achievement and a survey of the physical and mental health of the pupils in school #2 should be undertaken. In the meantime the school should be kept open and a competent "man" be hired to teach there at least until the end of the school year. The eventful solution, he stated, might be the creation of one or more "opportunity classes" for some of the special needs children in both schools. The testing program would be effective and not expensive. The Board responded by voting the postponement unanimously, hiring Andrew J. Donneley of Paterson as the mountain school teacher, cancelling the bids for bus transportation for the mountain pupils and making final plans for the Board's annual meeting and the elections to take place on February 13th. (Bristow) |
1936-01-25 | People | After the recent snowfall an old fashioned sleigh ride was enjoyed along the Saddle River Road followed by a visit to the Ferncroft for refreshments. In the group were Mr. and Mrs. A. A. Harris, Mr. and Mrs. C. Hallenback and Mr. and Mrs. Norman Sherow. (Bristow) |
1936-01-25 | Recreation | Six Scouts from Troop Fifty accompanied by Scoutmaster Douglas O'Brein and Assistant Scoutmaster Bernhardt Meier spent an exciting winter weekend at Camp No-Be-Be-Sco. The boys joined 37 other leaders and scouts from nearby troops. They went up in one of the school buses, dubbed the "chicken coop". They walked in for 1 1/2 miles carrying their equipment. The skiing and other winter sports were reported to have been good and the food, prepared by James Van Benschotten, excellent. Scouts Robert Boucher, Myron Merrill, Hilton Mabie, William Prendergast, Ralph Valentine and James Hackett made up the group. (James Hackett was later to be Mayor of Mahwah, Both Myron Merrill and Hilton Marie were killed in service during World War II. |
1942-01-25 | Government | At the Township Defense Council meeting the formation of a new Committee on Demolition, rescue and repair was announced. Joseph M. Palma was named Chairman and Thomas H. Prendergast as his assistant. The group was placed in charge of clearing up debris, keeping streets open, pulling down unsafe buildings and repairing damaged roads, bridges and utilities in case of enemy action in the Township. The sub-groups were formed: Demolition, John M. Schweitzer, Chairman, Rescue, Charles Feldman, and Repair divided among John Glasgow for Road, James S. Foster for bridges, Harry Green Jr., underground utilities, and James A. Glasgow Sr., overhead utilities. Over one hundred men had been enrolled to assist in the work of the Committee in case of an emergency. (Bristow) |
1943-01-25 | People | Gloria Amelia Bennet, Mahwah's first WAVE left for basic training. She was a graduate of Ramsey High School and of the Sherwood Secretarial School in Paterson. She was one of a thousand young women who began their training that day. (Bristow) |
1943-01-25 | Politics | In response to several inquiries as to whether holders of "A" gas ration coupons could use their gas to go to the polls on Election Day, the local Board issued a clarifying ruling. They said that other means of transportation were available and the polls were too far to travel conveniently on foot. They urged that voters combine rides and, if possible, make strip to market at the same time they came to vote. National regulations permitted nona fide candidates to obtain modest extra rations for use in campaigning but this was not to apply to campaign managers or party officials. Extra rations were also available for taking poll workers to and from the polls on Election Day and for the transport of election materials, the board explained. (Bristow) |
1952-01-25 | Education | Students in grades 1 and four finished a complete physical examination which was intended to provide a base file against which to measure future growth and development. The examination included a pedigraph, a urinalysis and a strip examination. Each class was completed in a period of about two hours, preceded by classroom instruction concerning personal hygiene and the purpose of the examination. Testing of other classes was delayed for lack of a suitable space. Students not being examined had to be crowded into other classrooms. Giving the eye test in the corridor was rejected since the hall became too crowded and pupil standing in line disturbed other classes. |
1952-01-25 | Transportation | The sixth annual commuters Dinner was held at the Eureka House in Suffern, with ninety men in attendance. The idea for the event came from the realization that the only contact that most commuters had with each other was a few minutes on the train platform in the morning. A few train commuters decided to get together for a social evening, sometime. The original dinner was confined to train commuters but it had been expanded to include bus and car travelers. There was no planned activities for the events except the social contacts and some fine singing by Thomas McLoughlan of Allendale. The Committee for the dinner in 1952 included veteran commuters Howard F. Holman, Harold D. Knowlton, J. Ralph Seberry and Alonzo B. Sherow. (Bristow) |
1956-01-25 | Recreation | Maryann Wiley was chosen to represent the Mahwah Girl Scouts at the Senior Roundup scheduled for July in Pontiac, Michigan. She was the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. C. Edson Wiley of Armour Road. She was a junior at Ramsey High School and had been active in scouting for ten years. She had been awarded the Curved Bar award for her achievements. In preparation for her trip she was taking a refresher course in camping skills at the Ridgewood Y. (Bristow) |
1893-01-26 | People | An excellent photograph of the new Darlington School was taken by photographer Frank P. Hewitt of Orange, N.J. It was taken to be exhibited at the Columbian Exhibition in Chicago. Copies of the two views are available for 50 cents each. (Bristow) |
1905-01-26 | Disasters | The gentle snow which began on the 24th and intensified on the 25th almost completely closed down the Township. The trains hardly ran. The big rotary plow was sent through from Susquehanna but the tracks drifted in again almost immediately. This almost equals the blizzard of 1888. (Bristow) |
1910-01-26 | Religion | A reception was held in the lecture room of the Reformed Church, so that the congregation could meet the new Pastor, the Rev. A. C. Dykema. The Ladies Aid Society sponsored the affair and served refreshments. The Pastor had expressed great eagerness to meet as many of the parishioners as possible and a large crowd turned out for the occasion. (Bristow) |
1927-01-26 | Police | Chief Peter J. Riccardi, of the Bergen County Police, opened a campaign against motorists who were operating unsafe vehicles. With a crew of four officers under the direction of Lieutenant Shafter, a road block was set up at the County line in Fairview. Thirty-two summonses were issued for such offenses as having only one head light, having no tail light and driving with mud spattered license plates. Chief Richard said that his road blocks would be established all over the country in the near future in an attempt to round up "all delinquent drivers." (Bristow) |
1934-01-26 | Fire Department | Mahwah Fire Department #1 and #2 invited the New Jersey and New York Volunteer Firemen's Association to held their business meeting in Mahwah. Since the group was made up of over 160 fire companies in New Jersey and New York, the only place large enough to hold the meeting was the new school building at the Immaculate Conception Seminary. Through the kindness of Father Charles at the Seminary the school was made available for the meeting. An entertainment followed the conclusion of the business session. (Bristow) |
1937-01-26 | Religion | The schedule for the third annual series of Lenten breakfasts sponsored by the Ramapo Reformed Church was released. These meetings would be held on 4 successive Thursdays. Each would feature a noted speaker. The first was to take place at the home of Mrs. Abram Valetine on Miller Road. The speaker was to be Rev. Taber Knox of Warwick, N. Y. The price for all four breakfasts was $1.00 or 30 cents for a single breakfast. (Bristow) |
1942-01-26 | Police | A local man was fined $10 and $2 costs for reckless driving by Recorder Frank J. Young. Officer Ted Wickham testified that he had observed the car going at a high rate of speed on Island Road. When the driver realized that the police car was following he turned out his lights so that the license plate could not be seen. When the suspect told d the Judge that he was scheduled for induction into the Army shortly, the fine was suspended. (Bristow) |
1943-01-26 | People | What was reported as a "splendid" program was given at the Mahwah Town Hall by the local Air Raid Wardens. Howard Avery presided and stressed the importance of the Wardens in case of an actual attack. He outlined how they had been trained to handle "panic" situations and urged complete cooperation with their instructions. He outlined the latest methods of dealing with incendiary bombs by employing a strong steady stream of water to out them. A film provided by General Motors, "Why Johnnie Green is the luckiest boy in the world" was shown. Avery urged anyone who had not enrolled in Civil Defense to find some way to cooperate in this vital service. (Bristow) |
1952-01-26 | Education | The parents of children in Mrs. McCann's kindergarten showed their support of the school in a practical way by completing a series of projects to improve the classroom. Questionnaires were sent home to determine what individual families were willing to do. Committees were then formed to be in charge of parties, telephone contacts and construction of equipment. The biggest project involved the construction of a partition in the form of a side of a house for the housekeeping corner of the classroom. This was constructed to hold the stove, dishes, doll bed and other homemaking equipment. A classroom library was expanded and bedding made for the doll bed. The parents pledged to continue their participation as long as their children were in school. (Bristow) |
1956-01-26 | Police | Mayor Charles Feldman took the time at the Township Committee to congratulate Police Chief Charles E. Smith for the report of his department's activities during 1955. 497 arrests were made during the year, following up on 1268 investigations. The police investigated 181 motor vehicle accidents and issued 386 summonses. They attended 67 fires and 2 strikes. They did better than alright in two categories. Five stolen cars were reported and they recovered six and while twenty-one missing persons were reported they found twenty-four. They also recovered $7,510 worth of stolen property. During the year they logged 112,437 miles in police vehicles and made 12,134 inspections of vacant buildings, 2,200 inspections of school buildings and 31,695 inspections of business establishments. With all that activity it was no wonder that they were seeking bids for new police cars. (Bristow) |
1900-01-27 | Education | At the Teachers' Association of Bergen Count meeting in Ramsey Dr. C. P. De You maintained that the brain of a child did not permit two consecutive hours of study. At least five minutes of relaxation per hour is needed. The brain cannot retain anything when it is tired, he said. Therefore the period between nine and recess at eleven should be broken up. (Bristow) |
1914-01-27 | Education | Principal Schorr report that some unruly boys had to be taken with their parents before Justice Rodgers and sternly reprimanded. Their parents and the boys promised to behave better in the future. Any recurrence of this behavior will be dealt with severely. (Bristow) |
1920-01-27 | People | Harry Breen is the champion Fox Hunter of Hohokus Township. He has shot four since the first of the year. (Bristow) |
1936-01-27 | People | Bobby Franson celebrated his twelfth birthday. Since he was then eligible to join the Boy Scouts, he joined Troop 50 the meeting of February 1st. (Bristow) |
1937-01-27 | Business | All of the officers of the Mahwah Building and Loan were reflected at their annual meeting. Chosen were Charles S. Hallenbeck, Howard F. Holman, Frank B. Scherer Elmer J. Snow and Albert Winter, all prominent men in the community long associated with the Building and Loan. The improved business climate was reflected that the association had been able to issue $26,196 in new loans during 1936 $16,700 in cancelled loans was applied to reducing the mortgages of several of the members. (Bristow) |
1943-01-27 | People | The USO reported that the Township Honor Roll of those in service should have 263 names on it. Unfortunately the sign was completely filled up and no further names could be added until the new wings were installed. The new wings had been ordered in November but the sign painter had not been able to fill the order as yet, To be included with the names of the 260 men in uniform there were three women in service, Grace Bennett in the WAVES and the Sidorsky twins who had enlisted in the Signal Corps and were awaiting induction. The Ramsey Honor Roll contained 106 names at that time. (Bristow) |
1944-01-27 | People | Mr. and Mrs. Charles Pelz of Airmount Ave. announced that their three Marine daughters had received promotions. The three women had joined in March 1943 and were serving together at the Marine Air station in Cherry Point, N.C. Cloria, who worked with newly arrived "boots" was named a sergeant, while Florence and Dorothy who worked in the Western Union office and the Post Office became corporals. All three were graduates of Ramsey High School. Before enlisting Gloria was a secretary, Dorothy a teletypist, and Florence a bookkeeper. (Bristow) |
1954-01-27 | Police | Highlights of the annual report of the Mahwah Police Department presented to the Township Committee included the efforts of the Department to enforce the temporary 35 mph speed limit on Route 17. The Township lowered the speed limit to 35 after two accidents resulting in five deaths on the road. Chief Smith maintained that if the list had been lowered fewer deaths would have resulted. Until such time as the State widens the highway the speed limit would remain at 35 from the New York State Line at Hillburn to the Ramsey traffic circle. These five fatalities were the only ones recorded during 1953 among the 137 accidents handled by the Mahwah Police during the year, Chief Smith reported. He also reported one suicide and one case of bookmaking among the 1,344 investigations undertaken by the Department. The Township Committee authorized the purchase of two new police cars from E. A. Thompson Motor Sales, the Ford agency in Suffern. (Bristow) |
1954-01-27 | Business | The featured speaker at the meeting of the New Jersey Federation of Official Planning Boards held in Ramsey was Angus Harris, President of the Bergen County Chamber of Commerce and manager of the Ford Motor Company's Edgewater Assembly plant. He spoke on the impact on Mahwah and Bergen County of the new assembly plant then under construction on the site of the former Houvenkopf Country Club. Any major changes in the towns in this area, he said, were up to the towns themselves. Almost all of the factory employees would be transferred from Edgewater and would remain in their present homes, commuting to Mahwah by car. Because of the excellent highway and rail transportation available in Mahwah, he foresaw little highway overcrowding. He expected the new plant to help Mahwah "to mature slowly, rather than cause a mass influx of people into the area". according to newspaper accounts of his talk. (Bristow) |
1955-01-27 | People | The Board of the Bergen County Tuberculosis Association welcomed two new members Mrs. Mary Olive Wiley, Mahwah's Health Officer and an officer of the Bergen County Health Officers Association and Clyde R. Newell, District Representative of the New Jersey Health Department. The new members joined Dr. Thomas DeCicio, the President of the County Medical Society as ex-officio members of the committee. Their meeting heard reports on the campaign to x-ray students in county schools and the annual Christmas Seals sale. (Bristow) |
1956-01-27 | Crime | A young Bergenfield bus driver named Clark was convicted of causing death by reckless driving in an accident which had taken place on Jul 3, 1954 in which four people died. In the trial the prosecution developed evidence that Clark, who was returning with an empty bus from Monticello, had been without sleep for twenty-three hours. An eyewitness to the crash in Mahwah on Route 17, testified that the bus was straddling the center line of the highway when it crashed head on with a car driven by a driver from Brooklyn. Patrolman Fred Miller of the Mahwah police department testified that skid marks showed that the bus was a full five feet into the northbound lane. Killed were Eli Lubowsky, 45, his wife Edith, 39, Barry, their son, 8 and Mrs. Lubowsky's brother Irvin Gechlik, 41. The only survivor besides Clark was Murray Lubowsky, 12, who suffered several fractures. He had since recovered from his injuries. The prosecutor maintained that clark had fallen asleep at the wheel. The jury was out for three hours before returning their guilty verdict. Clark was scheduled to be sentenced on Februaryy 17th by County Judge Arthur O'Dea. (Bristow) |
1874-01-28 | Crime | In a very interesting legal case tried before Squire Christie at Hagerman's Hotel in Mahwah involved a charge of trespassing. The case involved a child Peter Hopper, the ward of James Terwilliger of Saddle River. He had his gun taken away from him by Abram DeBaun while he was crossing DeBaun's property. The boy was represented by lawyer DeBaun and the defense by H. Ryerson (of Ramsey?). The defense claim that it took place at another time than that listed in the declaration was declared out of order. The defendant was questioned at length by Ryerson but when Lawyer DeBaun asked him, in cross examination, "Did you take the gun away from the boy?" the defense objected. DeBaun "said by the Bible he had a right to judge him out of his own mouth." DeBaun had earlier called Case Folly, George Ryerson and William Murray to prove damages for being deprived of the use of a gun and two of the erwilligers for the value of the gun. Both lawyers pled eloquently for their clients. Eventually the jury, consisting of Henry R. Wanamaker, James Stuart, Abram Christie, Peter Messenger, Andrew Hopper and David Stuart, rendered a verdict of $22 damages and $8 costs for the plaintiff. (Bristow) |
1902-01-28 | People | Mr. Carpenter has spent the last few weeks traveling through New York, New Jersey and Massachusetts searching for a truly superior horse for the Crocker Farm. In New York he bought the handsome trotting stallion King Muscovite who has won several blue ribbons in western shows and has a record of 2:21 1/4. He now graces the stall formerly occupied by Kentucky Prince, sold by Mr. Darling for $10,700. (Bristow) |
1920-01-28 | Fire Department | The annual election of the Mahwah Fire Department chose the following ofor the coming year. President, Harry Z. Sturr, V. P. Millard Cooper, Financial Secretary H. M. Wanamaker, Recording Secretary William B. Doremus; Treasurer, William O. King; Chief, Abraham Valentine, Assistant Chief, H. S. Fairservice. The Mahwah Women's Club presented the Company with some useful kitchen utensils at the meeting. (Bristow) |
1934-01-28 | Recreation | Sunday moviegoers had the usual choice of feature attractions. At the Lafayette in Suffern you could catch Laurel and Hardy and Charlie Chase in "Sons of the Desert". Down the street at the Strand there was the usual double feature, this time of "Sin of Nora Moran" ("direct from the New York Strand" and starring Zika Johnson and Alan Dinehart. As the second feature there was Tom Mix and Tony in "The Terror Trail". The Ramsey Theatre also had a double feature, Cladette Colbert in "Thee Cornered Moon" and James Cagney in "Lady Killer". If you went to the Warner in Ridgewood you would have found it dark since local ordinance forbade movies on Sunday. The Saturday and Monday feature was one of the all-time comedy classics, the Marx Brothers in "Duck Soup". It was set in the country of Fredoonia where the boys were leading a tax revolt. Margaret Dumont, a feature in many Marx Brothers movies was the country's wealthiest citizen and she refuses to put up the money to pay off the national debt unless Grouche is named dictator. The soundtrack in this film directed by Leo McCarey included the Marx Brothers version of "Whose Afraid of the Big Bad Wolf". (Bristow) |
1937-01-28 | Recreation | Mrs. Frederick A. Schultz attended the dress rehearsal of the new opera "Caponsacchi" sponsored by the Metropolitan Opera Guild at the Opera House in New York. The world premier of the new opera in English was scheduled for February 1st. The composer, Richard Hageman, was a former director of the Metropolitan and Chicago Opera Companies and a teacher at the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia. He ended his career associated with Paramount Studios. (Bristow) |
1943-01-28 | People | The Civil Service advertised for anyone not already involved in war work to apply for positions as Civilian Radio Intercept Officers. The position involved working with the Army Air Corps in maintaining radio silence during air alarms. Their duties involved monitoring radio stations during periods of radio silence, maintaining watch over distress channels, conducting tests and performing other federal monitoring assignments. Required were two to four years of college training in engineering or physics or experience in radio technology. The posts carried salaries ranging from $2,000 to $2,200 per year plus overtime pay. Applications were available at any first or second-class post office. (Bristow) |
1954-01-28 | People | Stag Hill Road resident Ceasar J. Bertheau was elected vice-President of the North Bergen County Council of the Boy Scouts during their annual meeting in Hackensack. Bertheau was also a national Council Representative of the Scouts. (Bristow) |
1954-01-28 | Education | The Fardale Community Association heard School Board President C. F. Tibbals explain the school budget for the coming year. Particular attention was paid in his talk to the need for additional teachers because of higher enrollment. He spoke also of the special propositions on the ballot, to be voted on by local voters on February 9th. These special propositions included $150 for improvement of playgrounds, $1,756.47 for new equipment and furniture. Of particular local interest was the proposition to transfer over $22,000 from the George Washington School account to those of Commodore Perry and Betsy Ross. This was, Tibbals explained, merely a technical transfer unexpected bond issue monies and did not represent any slighting of Fardale students. (Bristow) |
1956-01-28 | People | Mr. and Mrs. G. M. Etherington gave a special Mexican dinner party at their home on Highland Avenue in honor of Joe March of Pearl River and his wife. March who worked in the metallurgical laboratory at the American Brakeshoe plant had recently been promoted and was to move shortly to the Medine, New York plant. Guests from Suffern, Ramsey, Levitwon Long Island, joined those from Mahwah in celebrating the new position. (Bristow) |
1966-01-28 | People | Eighteen new members were inducted into the Mahwah Elks Lodge, 1941. The eight year old organization had been growing rapidly and drew members from Ramsey, Suffern wand Hillburn as well as Mahwah. Their new lodge building was rapidly nearing completion at its location near the borders of Suffern. Included in the new facility was a 42 foot horseshoe shaped bar. (Bristow) |
1874-01-29 | People | A sociable was held in the home of Judge Quackenbush. It was described by the reporter for the Bergen Democrat as "very enjoyable". He ought to know since he was there "and oh didn't we have fun." (Bristow) |
1916-01-29 | Recreation | Mahwah's first movie theater was opened by John Winter in the Henrietta building. Shows are to be held every Saturday afternoon and evening with dancing to follow the evening performance. The first bill, six reel of film, consisted of "The Seventh Commandment" (3 reels) "Luxurious Lou", "The White and Black Snow Ball" and "It may be You" (1 reel each). (Bristow) |
1934-01-29 | Business | A cut in the number of hours which CWA workers worked each week went into effect. About 8,000 of these relief workers were put on a fifteen hour week, divided into two sev and one-quarter hour days. The remaining 6,000 men were to continue working a twenty-four hour week divided into three eight-hour days. The decision as to which category an individual worker was placed in depended on the size municipality that the man was drawn from. Because of the recent cut in hourly wages from 50 cents to 45 cents, the maximum pay for the larger group was about $7.50, with the smaller group getting about $12 per week. No more supplies were to be bought for these projects, but, since most supplies had already been purchased, this was not expected to interfere with the projects underway. It was expected that most municipal projects would be finished with the months of February and March at which time the entire program would be terminated. (Bristow) |
1937-01-29 | Religion | The day proclaimed by Pope Pious XI to celebrate the feast of St. John Bosco was observed at the immaculate Heart of Mary Church on Island Road by a solemn high mass at which the Rev. Anthony Zasautek of the Selesian Congregation of St. John Bosco presided. The sermon about the humble Italian institutions all over the world was preached by Rev. Reszutek of the Don Bosco School in Ramsey. (Bristow) |
1940-01-29 | Business | R. V. Ackerman of the Motor Vehicle Agency announced that the new license plates would go on sale on February 1st. The would become valid on March 15th and be required on April 1st. The plates were black with green letters and continued the pattern of three letters and two numerals, or three numerals and two letters which had been in use during 1939. He urged motorists not to wait until the last minute to get their plates. "We don't have to save money for Christmas shopping", he stated. (On February first when the plates went on sale forty sets of plates were sold.) (Bristow) |
1954-01-29 | People | Leading a Fardale exodus for water climes were Mr. and Mrs. John Storms who left for a months vacation in Palm Beach Florida. They were accompanied by Mrs. Elizabeth Hooper of Ramsey. Mr. and Mrs. Charles Bartholf were scheduled to leave for Miami on February 10th for an "extended stay". Fardale people didn't go for flying weekends in the sun in those days. (Bristow) |
1955-01-29 | People | Lindsay Macarthur died at his home on West Ramapo Avenue after a long illness. The veteran of World War I was 61. He was born in Brooklyn and had been a Mahwah resident for 33 years. He was survived by his mother Mrs. Lillian E. Macarthur, his wife Alice, a daughter Patricia Alice and a son Lindsay Jr., and a sister Miss Marjorie Macarthur, all of Mahwah. Funeral services were held at the Mahwah Reformed Church with the REv. Howard Friebely officiating on the 31st, with interment in the Mahwah Cemetery. (Bristow) |
1955-01-29 | People | William Drobesh, the District Commander of the VFW returned from the national contention of that veterans organization which had been held in Washington. He termed the conference a great success, except for being delated six guess in his arrival by a train derailment in Maryland. The Bergen County group had breakfast with Congressman Widnall and Osmers, laid a wreath on the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, attended a joint-session of Congress/and met with President Eisenhower in the White House. /and a meeting of the Armed Services Committee, They did some sightseeing in their spare time. (Bristow) |
1956-01-29 | Religion | Rev. Gordon Byrnes of the Immaculate Conception Church, Darlington announces 50,000 building program including a parish house and a new parking area. (Bristow) |
1956-01-29 | Religion | St. John's Episcopal Church of Ramsey celebrated its fiftieth anniversary be dedicating its new Parish House. The church building had been dedicated in May, 1906. It was the gift of George Crocker of Darlington as a memorial to his wife. The land had been given by Edwin F. Carpenter. The noted local architect William Dewsnap designed the building. Prior to moving to their new building the parishioners had met in various homes and later in the Odd Fellows Hall. At the time the Church was formed Rev. James W. Jackson was the Vicar and F. G. Washburn was the warden. The new Parish house was built as a result of many years work by the church members. Following the ceremonies marking the anniversary the new hall was opened for inspection and refreshments were served. (Bristow) |
1956-01-29 | Religion | The fiftieth anniversary of the founding of St. John's Episcopal Church in Ramsey was celebrated by the dedication of the new parish house. The Rt. Rev. Benjamin M. Washburn, the Bishop of Newark unveiled the cornerstone of the new facility. The first scheduled use of the wing was scheduled for the following Sunday when all classes of the Sunday school could meet at a new time, 9:30, instead of having to meet in separate sessions because of lack of space. Prior to the unveiling the Rev. George R. Dawson, the rector of the parish, conducted evening prayer services. The sermon was delivered by Bishop Washburn. Two former rectors of the Church, read the lessons. The Rev. Raymond Masters, rector from 1918-1928 read the Old Testament lesson was read the Old Testament lesson was read by the Rev. P. R. Martin, rector from 1936 to 1946. Also present in the sanctuary was Mrs. Emily R. Cadman, the wife of another former rector and several pastors of churches in Ramsey and nearby towns. Music was provided by both the senior and junior choirs, under the direction of the organist Miss Nancy Craine of New York City. After the service the new facility was open for inspection. Present were the architect, John Marinaro of Ramsey and the builder Joseph Napolitano. (Bristow) |
1965-01-29 | Education | The fiftieth Anniversary of Don Bosco High School was celebrated at Immaculate Hall at the school by over 1,200 clergy, guests and students. A pontifical mass was celebrated by the Most Rev. Thomas A. Boland, Archbishop of New ark assisted by several of the 67 clergy present. Present were the Very Rev. August Bosio, provincial of the Selasian Society of the Eastern Province and the eight living former Directors of the School. In his commemorative eulogy former director the Rev. Chester A. Wisniewski who traced the history of the school. A message of congratulation from Pope Pious VI bestowed special blessings and graces on this anniversary. (Bristow) |
1966-01-29 | Politics | The Township Committee expressed unanimous opposition to the proposal on the part of the Bergen County Park Commission to build a ski area in the Campgaw-Fyke Reservation. The plans included the enlarging of Fyke Brook Pond for snow making and drinking water and the construction of a Lodge and other buildings installation of ski lifts. The Committee was most concerned about the loss of prospective tax eatables and increases in traffic on local roads. |
1874-01-30 | Education | There is talk of starting a singing school to meet at the school once a week. The viability of this project was questioned by some because of the effect of the wind on "that ancient piece of architecture." The correspondent of the Bergen Democrat asserted that "the clapboards rattle rattle a drum accompaniment, a thousand whistles open from numberless holes, the windows play bone solos and Aeolian harps break forth in mildest strains. Besides it would be impossible to keep the wind from blowing the lamps out, to say nothing about the general wear and tear of rats, braids and chignons." (Bristow) |
1923-01-30 | Politics | Assemblyman John Y. Bator has introduced two bills to block the scheme to divert the water of the Ramapo River for the use of the City of Bayonne. A number of different supporters of the bills surfaced during the hearings who are not from Bergen County. The consul for the political opposition to the Bayonne City Administration spoke for the bills. The Consul for the New Jersey Water Supply Commission threatened to resign his $7,500 a year post to devote himself to arousing the public to the need for water conservation. On the other side the Jersey City fears its plan to develop Rock Pond in Mercer County as a reservoir might be threatened if the bill goes through. Many believe that the Ramapo will eventually have to be tapped to help meet the water needs of North Jersey, but it should not be done by a single municipality, but under control of the State for the good of all. (Bristow) |
1925-01-30 | Recreation | Before a large crowd in the new Ramsey High School gym, the local basketball teams traded victories with East Rutherford. The visiting girls team won 39-22 and the local boys got revenge for their loss in the championship game by winning 33-28. In the girls game it was the task of the Ramsey guards to prevent Herr of Easy Rutherford from repeating her feat of scoring 20 points against them as she had done in their last meeting. They did quite well against this star, but the Ramsey forwards were not up to challenging the Rutherford forwards. Ramsey fell behind 7-0 before they were able to score. But they brought the score to 9-7 at the end of the first quarter but fell behind again at the half 18-11. Unfortunately Owen and Winter fouled out. They were replaced by two Mahwah girls, Mabel King and Trumbower. Their inexperience helped explain the ability of the visitors to outscore Ramsey 21-11 in the second half for a final score of 39-22. When the boys took over an intense struggle began. Neither team could score for nearly three minutes and the quarter ended 5-5. A burst of scoring in the second quarter brought the score to 16-15 in favor of the visitors. In the second half Ramsey's O. Mara and Brincker matched the work of the Hamas brothers for East Rutherford. Brinker scored a total of 18 points for Ramsey, including 10 our of 20 from the free throw line, while the East Rutherford center, one of the Hamas brothers scored 15 points. In the end Ramsey outscored East Rutherford 17-12 for the final three-point margin of victory. (Bristow) |
1933-01-30 | Charity | Mrs. Henry Mann was directing the work of a group of volunteer sewers at the A. M. E. Zion Church. They were assisting the Red Cross in making garments for those made destitute by the Depression. As of their last meeting they had made nine waists for boys , fifty slips for girls, ten bloomers, four underskirts for women, one nightgown for a baby and four pillow slips. The scraps were being made into a quilt. (Bristow) |
1934-01-30 | Real Estate | The realtor Raymond F. Bator negotiated a five-year lease on the Nash place on Franklin Turnpike to Joseph Wilson and Keith Van Buren. They announced that they will sell auto parts and conduct what they called "an auto exchange", presumably a used car business. Wilson and Van Buren had ten years experience in the business since they had been running similar establishments in Belleville and Dover. (Bristow) |
1937-01-30 | Charity | Ferncroft on Franklin Turnpike in Ramsey was the locale of the annual President's Birthday Ball to raise money to treat sufferers from Infantile Paralysis, now called polio. This was one of 6,000 such balls held throughout the nation. At 11:00 PM the dancing was halted so that President Roosevelt's radio message could be heard. Over 300 attended the affair and $165 was raised. 70% of the money was to be used locally and 30% was to be given as a present to the Warm Spring Foundation by President Roosevelt, himself a sufferer from the disease. (Bristow) |
1937-01-30 | Recreation | Mr. and Mrs. Donald Sherow and house guests attended series of athletic contest between Peddie School and Blair Academy. Swimming, basketball and wrestling matches were held at Blairstown where their son Donald wa a student. (Bristow) |
1941-01-30 | People | The highlight of the nineteenth annual meeting of the North Bergen County Council of the Boy Scouts was to awarding of the Silver Beaver award to Ramsey Scouter Abram W. Harris Jr. for his 22 years of devotion of scouting. Among the seven new members elected to the Executive Board of the Mahwah Council was Howard S. Avery of Mahwah. (Bristow) |
1952-01-30 | People | Funeral services were held for Corporal Nathan O. Day who had been killed in action in Korea on October 1, 1951. He was the son of Jacob and Doris Day of Avenue A in Mahwah. Burial was in Union cemetery, Ramsey. (Bristow) |
1955-01-30 | Business | Mahwah resident Chalres G. Lorens was named Assistant Vice-President of the International Division of the chemical Corn Exchange Bank by the Bank's Board of Directors. Lorenz had joined the company in 1920 and had been its international division assistant manager since 1946. He lived at 90 Owned Road with his wife the former Violet N. White of Brooklyn and their children. (Bristow) |
1965-01-30 | Recreation | 19 members of Scout troop 50 camp out in Harriman Park under Scoutmaster Greg Price. Their thermometer registered 15 degrees below zero. (Bristow) |
1967-01-30 | Crime | Two Paterson men were arraigned before Magistrate Otto Saalfield Jr. in connection with the murder of William Morgan, 24, whose body had been found along Franklin Turnpike. Fred Kalisas and Mrs. Joanne Vidal had been arrested in Miami Florida at the request of the Bergen County Prosecutor. Mrs. Vidal, held as a material witness was released on bail. Two other Paterson men were still being sought. (Bristow) |
1795-01-31 | People | Abraham Van Horn, Bergen County Freeholder and State Assemblymen (1852-3) born. Later owned the Larne-Van Horn House. (Bristow) |
1901-01-31 | People | John Ryerson caught a red fox on Campgaw Mountain, the first of the season. (Ryerson was annually one of the biggest collectors of bounties for foxes from the Town Board.) (Bristow) |
1903-01-31 | Charity | The Town Board has responded to the appeal of the Paterson General Hospital by endowing a bed there. The $250 contribution will not equal the cost of treating the 10 charity patients from the Township who spent a total of 323 days at the hospital at a cost of $1.15 per day last year. (Bristow) |
1929-01-31 | People | The wedding of Miss Alice Smith, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. David H. Smith and Lindsey E. MacArthur took place at noon at the home of the bride's parents in Mahwah. Only members of the immediate families were present. After a wedding trip to Bermuda the couple planned to live in Brooklyn. (Bristow) |
1935-01-31 | People | A four year old boy who wandered away from his home on Long Avenue in Mahwah was found to have drowned in the Ramapo River about 75 feet from his home. Frank Conklin and his three-year-old brother had left their yard without their mother knowing they were gone. Sometime later the younger boy returned home and told his mother that Frankie was in the river. Mrs. Frank Conklin rushed to the river bank and threw herself into the water to search along the high banks. When Chief Smith was notified he summoned the fire department to aid in the search. The firemen used rowboats to aid them but their search was handicapped by their not being sure just where the boy had gone in. Eventually his body was found caught in a stump by the ice at the edge of the stream. The boy was taken to the Good Samaritan Hospital but he could not be revived. Funeral services were held from the Conklin home with Father Martin Fahy of Tuxedo presiding. Internment was in the Sloatsburg Cemetery. (Bristow) |
1936-01-31 | People | This was the date on which all license plates in New Jersey expired. In most states in the union licenses expired on December 31st in those days, but New Jersey was among a number of states with different dates. Arkansas, Florida, Missouri, and New York also had January expiration dates. Connecticut, and Georgia had February dates, Idaho, South Dakota, Virginia, and Vermont had dates in March, New Hampshire, Ohio, Tennessee and Texas had April dates and West Virginia plates expired on June 30th. No state had the variable dates which all states have today. (Bristow) |
1937-01-31 | People | The honor certificate recently awarded to the Ramapo Chapter of the American Red Cross for having reached its quota in the annual membership drive went on display in the Mahwah Post Office. This was the second straight year that the Chapter received this honor. The membership target for the year was 1,100 members. The framed certificate was to hang in the post offices of each of the communities covered by the Chapter. (Bristow) |
1942-01-31 | People | The first statewide test of air raid sirens was held. Because the Township is so large there were parts where the Mahwah siren could not easily be heard, so the Township Civil Defense Committee urged surrounding towns to join in the drill to test whether all part of the Township could hear at least some town's siren. Handbills were distributed to warn people of the event and a survey taken of the results. The State Defense council announced that if an actual air raid were to take place at noon, the hour designated for the test the standard signal would be given twice. (Bristow) |
1955-01-31 | Real Estate | Housing construction continued to very high in Mahwah in 1954, according to a report given to the Township Committee. Eighty homes were built during the year as compared to 84 in 1953 and 50 in 1952. The greatest building remained in West Mahwah, where 33 new houses and Cragmere where 32 new houses were built. Four houses were built in Masonic and eleven in Fardale in 1954. Fifty-six houses had been built in West Mahwah in 1953. (Bristow) |
1956-01-31 | People | Glasgow Terrace Resident Russell Hammer sang the role of "Faust" in a trip from Gounod's opera on the Firestone Hour with soprano Barbara Gibson and Metropolitan Opera star Cesare Siepe. Hammer was a regular member of the Firestone Chorus on TV and Radio. He was choir director and tenor soloist of the Emmanuel Baptists Church in Ridgewood. (Bristow) |
1958-01-31 | People | Over two0hundred friends and colleagues of Angus M. Harris gathered at the Swiss Chalet to honor his retirement from the Ford Motor Company. He had joined the company in 1916 and had spent the last 19 years of his forty years with the company working in New Jersey. He had been the manager of the Ford Assembly Plant in Edgewater before operations were moved to Mahwah. He had remained manager of the Mahwah plant until his retirement on April 1, 1957. For the rest of 1957 he had served as a consultant to the company. In addition to his Ford duties he had served as a Director of the New Jersey State Chamber of Commerce, a commissioner of the New Jersey Turnpike authority, and was active in several charities. |
1896-02-01 | People | John Harvey was severely injured when the train he was riding as a brakeman between Suffern and Jersey City struck him while it halted in Rutherford to allow a passenger train to pass. He died in St. Francis Hospital in Jersey City. He was 23 and left a wife and 2 children. (Bristow) |
1901-02-01 | Business | Manufacturing operations at the Mahwah plant of the American Brake Shoe and Foundry Corporation begin. The factory, an offshoot of the Ramapo Iron Works in Hillburn had Elmer J. Snow, cousin of William Wait Snow company founder, as Superintendent. (Bristow) |
1911-02-01 | People | The results of the 11th census were released. Ramsey has a population of 1,667 and Hohokus Township has 1,881. The census of 1900 showed 2,610 before Ramsey broke away, an increase of 938 between the two areas. (Bristow) |
1920-02-01 | Religion | Worshippers at the service today had their first opportunity to admire the new memorial window in the Ramapo Reformed Church. It was given by George Sheffield of Pompton Lakes in memory of his parents, the Rev. and Mrs. Sheffield, former Pastor of the Church. (Bristow) |
1924-02-01 | Recreation | The entertainment highlight of the weekend was the appearance at the Lyceum Theatre in Paterson of De Wolf Hopper's comic opera company in 2 performances of Gilbert and Sullivan's "Mikado" and H. M. S. Pinafore". It was billed as "the event of the season". Tickets were priced from 50 cents to $2 for the evening performance of Mikado and from 27 cents to $1. Between the acts of the operettas Hopper recited his famous baseball poem "Casey at the Bat". (Bristow) |
1929-02-01 | Police | Mahwah's new traffic officer, Emile J. Schmitt is a Spanish American War veteran who participated as an infantryman in the capture of Santiago Cuba from the Spanish, July, 1898. (Bristow) |
1931-02-01 | Education | Robert Seifert was awarded a prize of the book "Wild Animal Trails" for having had 100% on each daily spelling test since the opening of school. He was a pupil in grade 41 of School number 2. (Bristow) |
1931-02-01 | Religion | The Rosary Altar Society of the Immaculate Conception Parish chartered by acclamation from Rome. The duties of the group include the maintenance of the altar and sacristy and to sew and embroider the baptismal robes given to all new newborn parishioners. (Bristow) |
1935-02-01 | People | A coasting accident landed an eighteen-year-old Scotch boy in the Good Samaritan Hospital very near death. George Sheivers, the son of the head gardener at the Birch Estate ran into a car driven by Alfred Marks, a Suffern carpenter. Marks had picked up Mary Wanamaker from her job at the Waterman home on Oweno Rd. He had stopped at the intersection of Airmount and Owneo to wait for a group of coasters. When he thought that the road was clear, he crossed it only to be struck in the rear by Sheiver's sled. The young man got up and was clutching his chest holding onto the spare tire at the rear of Mark's car. Marks took him to Dr. Liddy's house only to find him not at home. Neither was Dr. Stone in Suffern, so Marks took Seivers to the hospital where he was treated by Dr. Moses. He was found to be suffering from four broken ribs and a punctured lung. The reporter for the Ramsey Journal lamented the fact that so many children coasted on so dangerous a road, and asked that some public-spirited privy individual open his grounds to coasters so that they could play without the dangers of operating on a public street. Since there were no subsequent news items on the young man's condition we can presume that he recovered. (Bristow) |
1937-02-01 | Recreation | Six members of the Mahwah Boy Scout Troop demonstrated transportation techniques to the weekly first aid class being conducted under instructor Douglas O'Brein at 34 Church Street in Ramsey. Led by Assistant Scoutmaster Dernhardt Meier, the boys demonstrated carries using both hand grips and the use of the litter. Monroe Bester, Roger Erickson, Robert Herrick, Ralph Valentine and Francis Hackett took part in the demonstration. In addition to being a Red Cross First Aid Instructor Douglas O'Brein was the Scoutmaster of Troop 50. (Bristow) |
1940-02-01 | People | James Devine resigned his post as Custodian of the County Court House after twenty-two years in the job. A hint of this step was given when he absolutely refused reappointment as Chairman of the Township Committee in January 1st. When he began at the Court House the salary was $1,800 per year. He travelled to work in a horse and buggy in summer and a sleigh in winter. More recently he drove his own car to the then $3,700 per year position. (Bristow) |
1941-02-01 | People | The story in the Ramsey Journal concerning the first in a series of dramatic productions by the Mahwah Woman's Club mentioned the ten ladies on the refreshment committee, and the ten people who "assisted in the program" but failed to mention what the play was or comment on how well it was performed. The next production in this anonymous series was scheduled for March 1st, again at the Town Hall. (Bristow) |
1942-02-01 | Police | Richard V. King went on duty as a regular Patrolman on the Mahwah Police Department. He had been appointed at the Township Committee meeting of January 15th. Chief Smith also reported on the special group of Police reserves who had volunteered to assist the force during the wartime emergency. Fifteen men were to receive arm bands and training to assist in case of special need. Included in the Group were C. Edison Wiley, Lloyd Calling and Donald Parker. (Bristow) |
1918-02-02 | Disasters | The Township Committee recessed its meeting to inspect the damage done by the recent storms to Miller and Airmont Rods. (Bristow) |
1923-02-02 | Business | Mayer Brothers in Paterson advertised a special line of "Irene Castle Fashions". Now you can acquire "frocks and wraps which are exact duplicates of the foreign creations fro the personal wardrobe of the 'best dressed woman in America." The models are made, the ad said, of "famous Corticelli Silks". Each model had the label "Irene Castle Original Model". Among the garments featured was the "Wimbledon" a frock with crepe bewitching in its lavalliere effects, at $45.00 and the "Rosamonde" a spade coat with a three-quarter jaunty shoulder cape at $110.00. (Bristow) |
1935-02-02 | Recreation | The piano pupils of Miriam Schultz have a recital to parents and other victims who could be roped in to witness the event. At the end Mrs. Schultz hoped that the audience had enjoyed the program, but stated that its real purpose was to give her young charges an opportunity to express themselves. Among the many aspiring artists on display were Robert and Elaine Reuhl, Edna Derbyshire, Louise Fairservice, Dolores Plumb, Eleanor Waters, Harold Mowery, Earnest Greef, Peter Ash, and Sibley Reid. (Sibley Reid was later to be one of 12 Mahwah servicemen to die in service during World War II). (Bristow) |
1937-02-02 | People | The home of Mrs. Albert Winter was the site of the meeting of the Board of Directors of the Mahwah Woman's Club. Mrs. Howard S. Avery of Highland Road and Mrs. Sockman of Beveridge Road were welcomed into membership. The Treasurer reported on the distribution of the proceeds of recent charity activities to the three activities supported by the Club, the Girl Scouts, the Library and the school welfare fund. (Bristow) |
1941-02-02 | People | Edward Eastland, son of Mr. and Mrs. John V. Eastland of Island Ave., Ramsey participated in a colorful ceremony in New York City. He had recently enlisted in the old Seventh Regiment, then called the 207th Coast Artillery Regiment (Anti-aircraft). Prior to the regiment's departure from New York for a year's training at Camp Stewart in Georgia they paraded down fifth Avenue to St. Thomas' Church for a special service. The regiment was dressed in their field uniforms, campaign hats with red artillery cords and puttees. Preceded by a processional cross and a band playing "Onward Christian Soldiers" the regiment marched in battery formation led by their commander Colonel Tobin. Eastland's battery H carried the efficiency guidon they had won the year before. Cheering crowds greeted the marchers from fifty-seventh St. to the Church, located on Fifty-third St. Although thousands wished to enter the Church for the service, the Regiment's colors were blessed in a rarely used service copied from an old British ritual. (Bristow) |
1941-02-02 | People | The icy road conditions caused an accident in which a Pompton Lakes girl was badly cut around the face. Lola Williams, 21, was a passenger in a car driven by Peter Crockett of Tuxedo Park when their car skidded and rammed into a tree on Valley Road in Mahwah. She was thrown into the windshield and suffered severe head and face cuts. There were no seat belts or air bags to protect drivers of their passengers in those days, of course. (Bristow) |
1942-02-02 | People | Mr. and Mrs. George E. Brinkerhoff purchase "Welawiben" the Estate of Clarence and Adelaide Chapman (Now Carmel Retreat House) (Bristow) |
1952-02-02 | Business | Local buyers could benefit from several special promotions in neighboring stores on this Saturday. Prices for Admiral Philco and Emerson television sets began at $149 in the Ramsey Radio Shop, with installation extra. In Suffern, coupons would get you $20 off on any dinette set at the Suffern Rug and Furniture, and Trudy's Drug store offered a free bottle of 100 aspirin tablets with any $1 purchase. During Suffern's "Opportunity Days" $5 off on any top coat or men's suit at Bush clothing on Chestnut Street next to the Post Office or a free bottle etc. (Bristow) |
1954-02-02 | Fire Department | The Women's Auxiliary of the Fardale Fire Department announced that they had placed their order for a restaurant stove for the fire house on Fardale Avenue. They had been running a pyramid sales program involving cakes, candy, aprons and pot holders since November to pay for the new piece of equipment. The men of the fire company had been painting and redecorating the fire house. The addition of the new stove would assure the excellent dinners and special events for the Fardale Community, according to the Auxiliary announcement. (Bristow) |
1955-02-02 | People | Captain Lawrence Nyland, of Church Street came home on furlough after sixteen months on Korea with the Second Infantry. After his leave he was to go to Fort Benning, Georgia for advanced infantry training and then be stationed at Fort Jackson, South Carolina. (Bristow) |
1964-02-02 | Crime | US Supreme Court denies a hearing of Edgar H. Smith's conviction for the murder of Victoria Zielinski in Mahwah in 1957. (Bristow) |
1870-02-03 | People | Mahwah's first post office opens at Andrew Hagerman's Hotel. Hagerman was the first postmaster. (Bristow) |
1896-02-03 | People | First, second and third prizes were taken at the poultry show at Madison Square Garden by some of the prize pigeons and bantams exhibited by Mr. Glascow on behalf of the Havermeyer Brothers. (Bristow) |
1921-02-03 | People | At the annual meeting of the John P. From Post of the American Legion a Committee was formed to confer with Township officials about the permanent memorial for those who died in the war. Elmer J. Snow, Frank R. Whelan, J. J. Salling, Harry Marie and Walter H. Griffin were chosen. Charles E. Ellis was named Post Commander, Mr. Whelan Vice Commander, Clarence R. Smith, Adjudant; Thomas P. Sergeant, Treasurer, J. J. Calling, Employment Officer, E. B. Hill Athletic Officer and Aloise Golly, Sergeant at arms. Chairmen of standing committees were Frank B. Scherer, Post Activities, Americanization, Robert B. Smith, Finance, Elmer J. Snow. A smoker and a dance were announced but do not seem to have ever taken place. (Bristow) |
1933-02-03 | Police | Of the 148 crimes and misdemeanors reported by the Mahwah police for 1932, 71 of them were for breaking municipal ordinances. A distant second was motor vehicle and traffic violations, 18, assault and battery, 16, juvenile delinquency 11 were of manslaughter, one of non-support and three of larceny of fowl 4 of grand larceny and six of disorderly conduct. (Bristow) |
1935-02-03 | People | The Sunday sky jumping competition at Salisbury Mills in Connecticut attracted many spectators from Mahwah. Among those reported to have watched the meet were Mr. and Mrs. Robert Harris, Mrs. Charles McReady, Mrs. Arthur Burger, Mr. and Mrs. Harry Mabie and son Hilton and Mr. and Mrs. Horace Ritter. The Ritters had a busy weekend since they had attended a performance of "The Great Waltz" and dined in Chinatown the day before. Of course the fact that their daughter and Mary were spending the weekend with friends in Brooklyn might have had something to do with their being freed for those two days. (Bristow) |
1936-02-03 | People | Darlington resident Mrs. Ingraham Estabrook died at her home on Valley Road at the age of 74. She was born in Canada on March 7, 1861 and had come to Mahwah in 1881 as a bride. She was a faithful member of the Kings Daughters and caught for over forty years in the Darlington Sunday school. For over a year she had been an invalid. She was survived by three daughters Emily Estabrook also of Valley Road, Darlington, Mrs. Eva Dixon, Ramsey, and Mrs. Mary J. Utter, Suffern., a sister, Mrs. William Sears of Arlington R. I. and a brother, John Rhodes of Tennessee. There were nine grandchildren and three great grandchildren. (Bristow) |
1936-02-03 | People | Mrs. Ingraham Estabrook of Valley Road, Darlington, died. She was 74 and has been an invalid for over a year. She was a native of Sackville Canada and moved to Mahwah as the 20-year-old bride in 1861. She had been a teacher in the Darlington Sunday school for over 40 years. She was a member of the Darlington Kings Daughters. She lived with her daughter Emily Estabrook and left two other daughters, Mrs. Eva Dixon of Ramsey and Mrs. Mary J. Utter of Suffern, 9 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. (Bristow) |
1936-02-03 | People | The American Legion Post held a special meeting to assist veterans in filling their applications for their bonus "baby bonds". Special fingerprinting equipment was obtained for the purpose of helping the 48 Mahwah veterans who were eligible. Any war veteran under the rank of major was eligible to receive $1 per day of stateside service and $1.25 per day for foreign service. The average veteran was expected to receive about $800. When the bonuses were paid Mahwah was expected to experience a brief return of prosperity. (Bristow) |
1941-02-03 | People | The speaker at a morning assembly program at Ramsey High School was Captain Tim Healy host of a popular radio program on stamp collecting. He spoke to the student body on world events, the European war and the impact of the "lease-lend" bill. That evening on his program, broadcast over station WEAF in New York has congratulated Principal Wesley D. Tisdale on the 34th anniversary of his coming to Ramsey, February 3, 1907. (Bristow) |
1954-02-03 | Recreation | Mahwah's Boy's basketball squad and lost one in recent games. They lost to Ramsey on January 27th 38-18. After a close first half, Ramsey scored 13 points in the third quarter to break the game open. coming back the next week, however, Mahwah defeated Waldwick 39-21. In other games Mihok was the scoring leader for the Mahwah grammar school, scoring 8 points against Ramsey and 12 against Waldwick. On February 1st Mahwah defeated Allendale 35-18 with Bob Morgan scoring ten points with his side set shots. (Bristow) |
1967-02-03 | Recreation | Coach Jim Slano's Thunderbird basketball team surprised its fans by winning two in a row and climbing out of the league caller. The team had lost all ten of their games when they defeated Waldwick 60-45 and then Northern Highlands 63-51. Mahwah was aided by the return to eligibility of hustling Warren Carr who teamed with Don McFarlane and De Zurney to score effectively. Bill Riley scored 20 in the victory over Northern Highlands. (Bristow) |
1967-02-03 | Fire Department | Fire Company #1 held what they described as their first ever dinner venture, a fish and chips dinner served at the Junior-Senior High School. Charles Vuolo Jr. was the Dinner chairman which was to raise money for new equipment. (Bristow) |
1903-02-04 | Education | Bergen County Superintendent Terhune made his semi-annual visit to the District's schools. He found 33 students at Masonic, 32 at Darlington and 58 in Mahwah, 34 in the Principal's room and 24 in primary. (Bristow) |
1903-02-04 | Education | Bergen County Superintendent Terhune made his semiannual visit to the District's schools. He found 33 students at Masonic, 32 at Darlington and 58 in Mahwah, 34 in the Principal's room and 24 in primary. (Bristow) |
1916-02-04 | People | The formal opening of the Comfort Lodge Jr OUAM's new home in the New Town Hall in Mahwah was celebrated by a double bill put on by the Borough Company of Allendale. The comedy "Sylvia's Money" featured a cast of six was followed by a program of classy amateur vaudeville. The entertainment was under the personal direction of the well-known coach Mary S. Parkhurst. Over 200 people attended including some of the state officials. Four new members were inducted. (Bristow) |
1918-02-04 | People | All enemy alien males over the age of 14 must register at the Post Office. Only those whose naturalization papers have been competed are exempt from this order from the Attorney General. Each registrant must provide 4 photos of himself and submit to fingerprinting. (Bristow) |
1920-02-04 | Disasters | A major snowstorm hit Mahwah. The Schools were closed Thursday and Friday (the 5th and 6th). The Reformed Church Services and Sunday School were not held, the Township Committee meeting was put off until the 13th. Only the Trolleys continued on schedule without interruption. (Bristow) |
1935-02-04 | People | The teenage girls class in the Ramapo Reformed Church Sunday school were entertained by the boys "Onward" Class. Refreshments, provided by the mothers of the boys, were served. There is no report as to how things went, but at the end of the evening the girls were reported to have threatened to come back another time. (Bristow) |
1936-02-04 | People | The official list of those who had passed the bar examination included the name of Frank young of Mahwah. (Bristow) |
1937-02-04 | Transportation | A very dangerous situation had developed at the corner of Miller Road and Franklin, described as the "most important intersection in town. Water that was being led out of cellars up the hill was gathering at the corner and turning into ice creating a hazard to motorists and pedestrians alike. The reporter for the Ramsey "Journal" urged that something be done to correct the situation which "endangers of the lives of travelers on the Turnpike. (Bristow) |
1944-02-04 | People | An article in the Ramsey Journal informed the public that pressure cookers had been taken off the list of rationed items. This meant that home canners did not have to rely on more risky methods of preserving their home-grown foods during the war emergency. Particularly to be avoided was the freezing of home canned foods. Freezing after canning tended to crush glass containers and bulge metal ones. The US Department of Agriculture urged housewives to use pressure methods to can, especially in the case non-acid foods such as meats and most vegetables, except for tomatoes. The article concluded with the statement that 315,000 wartime pressure cookers, made of steel covered with porcelain, had been made in 1943 and 400,000 were to be produced in 1944. These could be obtained without a letter from the ration Board as long as they were to be used for food preparation. (Bristow) |
1956-02-04 | Fire Department | Lindsey McArthur home on corner of East Ramapo Ave and Route 17 burned by local firemen to clear way for a motel site. (Bristow) |
1957-02-04 | Religion | Construction begins on new school and parish center at Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish. (Bristow) |
1958-02-04 | Politics | The resignations of Mahwah's Superintendent of Schools and prospective High School Principal were presented at the Board of Education meeting. This seemingly brought to an end the stormy career of Dr. Roy Austin and his administrative assistance Dr. Albert F. Carpenter. Tension over Dr. Austin's job went back to April 1954 when the Board voted 5 to 4 not to renew his contract. This had resulted in a complete revolution in the Board. Most of the majority members were defeated for reelection and replaced by Austin supporters. The State Education Commissioner had ruled that Austin had tenure and could not be replaced. Trouble boiled up suddenly at a public hearing on the budget only a week before the resignation. A proposal to raise Austin's salary from $10,000 to $10,500 was defeated, again by a 5-4 vote. There was much indignation that so sensitive a matter be discussed in public session. The Mahwah Teacher's Association protested at the next Board meeting, praising Austin and objecting to the "public exhibition" as demeaning to his office. Board President Howard Avery stated that it was not the Board's policy to discuss personal matters in public session, but that it was impossible to control what happened at a public meeting. Austin's resignation was to take effect on April 15th. (Bristow) |
1958-02-04 | Business | There was an unusually large list of new books at the Mahwah Library. Along with teenage stories such as "A Cap for Corinne" and "Kathe, the New Teacher" there were a number of more famous titles. Among the new arrivals was "The Fall" by Albert Camus, "Why I am not a Christian" by Bertrand Russell "Nuclear Weapons and Foreign Policy" by Harvard Professor Henry Kissinger and Milan Djilas' critique of Communist society, "The New Class". (Bristow) |
1967-02-04 | People | Funeral services were held at the Byzantine Catholic Church of the Holy Spirit for George Parnahay of 111 Winter Terrace who died on February 1st. He had been born in the part of the Austrian Empire which later became Czechoslovakia. He had lived in Mahwah for 50 years, working as a molder for the Abex Corporation before his retirement. He was a member of the Sokol Society at the Byzantine Catholic Church of the Holy Spirit. He was 78 years old. (Bristow) |
1849-02-05 | People | Township of Hohokus, including what is now Mahwah, incorporated by act of the New Jersey Sate Legislature. (Bristow) |
1904-02-05 | People | Mr. Crocker's "White Ghost" automobile is a 45 horsepower Mercedes. It is greatly feared by local farmers. (Bristow) |
1910-02-05 | People | So many people have asked for permits to carry revolvers that the Hohokus Township Board wondered if there was a sudden rash of Desperados in Town. Some of the people who requested the permits said they regularly carry large sums of money. The others were asked to appear before the Board to explain their reasons. Township Treasurer Hagerman complained "If you issue many more you will have to have a new book printed." (Bristow) |
1915-02-05 | Religion | Under the Headline "Polish Chapel in Mahwah" The Ramsey Journal reported that the Selesian Fathers would build a chapel for the Polish people living in or near Mahwah. The land has been donated by the American Brake Shoe and Foundry Company. Frederick J. Schwartz, the architect, is drawing up the plans and bids will be sought soon for the construction. (Bristow) |
1918-02-05 | Business | The restaurant formerly operated for the benefit of the employees at the Brake Shoe plant has been closed by order of P. V. Snow, the Superintendent of the plant. (Bristow) |
1921-02-05 | Transportation | Mrs. Louis Henion is recovering from a recent accident. During a heavy fog she was truck by a work car of the North Jersey Rapid Transit (Trolley) Line. She was crossing a private grade crossing "a few hundred yards south of Christie Avenue." (Bristow) |
1923-02-05 | Real Estate | The Roger Real Estate office has installed a "wireless" [in quotes in original JWB] so that speculators can keep track of their money. Meanwhile members of the Old Guard while away the time with checkers. (Bristow) |
1925-02-05 | People | The Ramsey Journal reported that legislation had been introduced into the Oregon and California legislatures to protect family pets. Many people allowed their dogs to ride on the running board of the car when they travelled. The proposed legislation would mandate that some sort of railing or fender be provided to prevent the pooches from falling off. The Journal stated that "All states should require such protection for our best friend." (Bristow) |
1927-02-05 | People | Many people from the Fardale community were reported to have spent an "enjoyable evening" on this Saturday attending the opening of the new Wyckoff Motors showroom. (Bristow) |
1936-02-05 | People | There were an unusually large number of deaths in community during the first week in February. Charity Wilson the daughter of Harry B. and Ellvine Quackenbush Hagerman of Mahwah died at a four year illness. She was 45. She was survived by her husband Ray S. Wilson and a daughter Beverly, a graduate of Ramsey High School. Mrs. F. Larkin, formerly of Mahwah died at her home in Newark. She had lied on Airmount Road with her husband and two daughters Suzann and Alice. Charles D. Vanderbeck, a former member of the Township Committee died at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Bartholf in Fardale. He had made his home in Wyckoff for several years before his death. He had contracted a severe cold but had seemingly recovered and resumed his normal activities. He had a further stack of severe pain on Saturday night, February 8th and died during the night. His doctor gave the cause of death as meningitis. (Bristow) |
1937-02-05 | People | Funeral services were held for Andrew Mankiewicz at his home on Brook Street. He and his wife had celebrated their 45th wedding anniversary on January 28th. A slight attack of "grippe" quickly developed into pneumonia. He was survived by his wife, Julia, four children and two grandchildren. He had been born in Ruranowa, Poland in 1865. He had served as an officer in the Russian Army and had been sent into exile in Siberia for a period of time before he came to America in 1903. He came to Mahwah in 1905 and had worked for twenty-eight years at the American Brake Shoe before his retirement. He was described as well read and keenly interested in psychology. (Bristow) |
1937-02-05 | Charity | Half of the proceeds of the weekly bingo party jointly sponsored by the American Legion and the Fire Department were donated to the American Red Cross Flood Relief fund. The Ladies Sid of the Ramapo Reformed Church donated $10 to the fund. A total of $533.09 had been donated to date by residents of Hohokus Township for the fund. Attendance at the weekly Bingo parties became so heavy that the second floor of the firehouse had to be opened to accommodate the 232 players. Among the local merchants. who made special contributions for the occasion was the A. J. Winter & Sons who promised to deliver a ton of coal to any winner in Hohokus Township or Suffern. (Bristow) |
1958-02-05 | Business | Surprise, automobile insurance rates went up in New Jersey. The New Jersey Banking and Insurance Commissioner Charles R. Howell had approved the rate rise after what was described as "months of study by his department." The rises applied only to private passenger cars and averaged about 14% higher than before. The biggest hikes were for single males under 25. An example of the rise was that the rate for the Northern Bergen driver carrying the basic policy of $5,000 to $10,000 for bodily injury and $5,000 for property damage would than pay $47 per year, as opposed to the old rate of $41. The under 25 male, single driver had to pay instead of the previous rate of $136 $169. It might have paid him to get married, though, since the rate for married males under 25 was $89 instead of the earlier rate of $78. There might have been some hidden costs of marriage not covered by car insurance, we suppose. (Bristow) |
1900-02-06 | Education | The School Board accepted an offer from the Hillburn School Board to pay $7.50 per year for any Hillburn scholars attending Hohokus Township schools. No action was taken concerning a patent powder which Mr. Bridges claimed would put out fire. (Bristow) |
1905-02-06 | Disasters | The water in the reservoir froze. East Mahwah was left without water. (Bristow) |
1915-02-06 | People | A prize turkey and 10 guinea fowls were destroyed by dogs at the Havermeyer Farm. Since he has suffered losses before from the same source, Mr. Havermeyer may put a claim in to the town for damages. (Bristow) |
1918-02-06 | People | The Mahwah home Guard has finally enrolled the 75 members needed to form a company in the N.J. State Reserve Militia. A special squad has been formed to help recent recruits acquire the rudiments of military tactics. New officers were chosen, Charles E. Ellis, Capt. J. Arthur Murphy, 1st Lt., Sherman Powell, 2nd Lt., Harold D. Bowie, 1st Sgt., Alton B. Cox, Percival M. Allen, Stewart H. Fairservice, Percy T. Smith Sits., Raymond S. Wilson, William E. Sims, Clarence G. NewKirk, Clarence R. Smith, Hugh J. Goodrich, Edward Salter, cpls. (The company's success is in no small measure the result of support from the Home Defense League of Hohokus Township of which Elmer J. Snow is the President. Since he has no military experience he serves as a private in the company, despite his prominence in other walks of life. Other prominent privates are Howard F. Holman, Township Committeeman, Frank School, Principal of the Township Schools, James Devine, Custodian of the County Courthouse and Raymond F. Bator, Township Treasurer. (Bristow) |
1923-02-06 | People | They are harvesting ice on Winter's Pond. (Bristow) |
1927-02-06 | Crime | An argument between a Mahwah landlady and her tenant ended with her being shot and the tenant being killed in a shootout in Paterson three days later. Arthur Mann, 40, a foundry worker at the Brake Shoe in Mahwah got into an argument with his landlady Lillian Davis after her husband had left for work. Neighbors heard angry shouting and a pistol shot. When police arrived Mrs. Davi was gravely wounded and Mann had fled. Acting on anonymous tip police cornered Mann in a house in Paterson. Mann had reportedly said that he would not be taken alive and was true to his word. In a gun battle with police he was struck in the temple and killed. His empty pistol was found at his side. (Bristow) |
1933-02-06 | Education | At the School Board meeting the provisions of the new State law permitting School Districts to reduce the salaries of teachers and employees by simple resolution were explained. Supervising Principal Gilbert Forte reported that enrollment was 548 and average daily attendance was 469, or about 86%. (Bristow) |
1934-02-06 | Charity | Mrs. Ogden B. Hewitt was the Mahwah representative on the organizing committee for the President's Birthday Ball held at the Tuxedo Club in Tuxedo Park. This was considered one of the major social events of the season. The proceeds of the affair went to support the Warm Springs Foundation for crippled children in Georgia. Warm Springs was the place where President Roosevelt himself went for treatment of his affliction, then called infantile paralysis, and where he was to die in 1945. (Bristow) |
1936-02-06 | People | Because of a misunderstanding about the deadline for filling petitions one of the three members of the school board seeking reelection, Richard had served a three year term on the board and was Chairman of the insurance Committee and active in the transportation and supply committees. He was a civil engineer with a degree from Worchester Polytechnic. He had served in the US Army during World War I. When he became established in business in New York City in 1921 he made his home in Mahwah. His wife Mildred was a well-known portrait painter. His two daughters, Dorothy Jane and Dariel attended the local schools. On the ballot were James A. Glasgow, a native of Scotland and a resident of Mahwah since 1894, who had been on the Board for fifteen years and on the Township Committee for six, and Mrs. Laura Wanamaker who had twice been appointed to full vacancies created when Board members moved away from the community. she had lived in Mahwah most of her life and was a graduate of Ramsey High School. She had three children in the local schools. The election was scheduled for February 11th. (Bristow) |
1937-02-06 | Crime | Mrs. Sydney Hall offered a $25 reward for information leading to the arrest of the persons who broke into her house in Cragmere Park on the night of February 6th. (Bristow) |
1942-02-06 | Recreation | Mahwah's first Eagle Scout Albert Boursault awarded his badge by council Commissioner T. B. Snow, District Commissioner Judd Kinzley and Neighborhood Commissioner William Fisher. (Bristow) |
1944-02-06 | People | Mahwah dentist Edward H. Myer Jr. was commissioned a 1st lieutenant in the Army medical Corps. He was ordered to report for duty at Fort Bliss, Texas on February 18th. Dr. Myer was the son of Dr. and Mrs. E. H. Myer Sr. who had lived in Mahwah for 33 years. He was a graduate of the local school and Keystone Academy from which he had been graduated in 1933. Five years later he received his D. D. S. from the University of Maryland. He had been conducting a general practice of family density in Mahwah ever since. He lived with his wife, the former Katherine Ritchie of Suffern and his son another Edward Myer on Franklin Turnpike. He was a member of the county and state Dental Societies and of the American Dental Association. (Bristow) |
1944-02-06 | People | Mr. and Mrs. A. H. Wallworth of Darlington Ave received word that their son Robert was then in Italy. He wrote that his outfit, the 168th Infantry Regiment had arrived from North Africa just after Christmas. He was in a mortar squad, which he said was much better than a rifle platoon. He said that since his regiment was a good outfit, he had a better chance of surviving in combat. The front lines are not a nice place to be, he wrote, "but they are not as bad as they were because the Germans know they are fighting a losing war." He predicted that as soon as they reached Germany Jerry would give up and all the boys could come home. Italy, he wrote "is a very beautiful place when you can stop and admire it. It is a shame that the war has wrecked it so." (Bristow) |
1876-02-07 | People | The trial of Barney Winters vrs. Peterson was scheduled to begin. Winters sued Peterson for throwing cats in his well. (Bristow) |
1902-02-07 | Government | By Town ordinance no dog is to be in the streets without a muzzle unless accompanied by its owner. This was aroused considerable bitter opposition from people who do not realize that the ordinance was passed because of a state law requiring muzzling. (Bristow) |
1905-02-07 | Education | The School Board fixed $8,000 as the cost of the new school in Mahwah. The School Superintendent was instructed to write to the State Superintendent for a set of approved plans for the new building. (Bristow) |
1916-02-07 | Education | The new pillar post lights in front of the School were lighted for the first time. They will be in use whenever there is any meeting or activity at the School at night. (Bristow) |
1921-02-07 | Religion | The Rev. Dr. James M. Farrar, acting Pastor of the Ramapo Reformed Church, was admitted to St. Luke's hospital for an operation on his right eye for a cataract. (he has been suffering from failing sight for about 5 years. Dr. A. Wiener who performed the operation said that the other eye cannot be operated on for some time, but when that operation does take place Dr. Farrar will be able to see quite well. The Pastor expects to return to his pulpit in early March. (Bristow) |
1936-02-07 | Business | An official ruling of the Internal Revenue Service forbade New Jersey residents from deducting sales tax paid between July 1 and October 26, 1935. The ruling was based on a technicality as all IRS rulings seem to be. The wording of the 2% sales tax indicated that it was paid by the retailer, not the customer, even though the store owner was required to pass the tax on to the consumer. Apparently the retailers could deduct the tax but not his customers. (Bristow) |
1936-02-07 | People | At the Executive Board meeting of the Mahwah Woman's Club a serious discussion was held concerning a problem which was increasingly in the local news. Because of recent snowstorms the coasting on several of the streets of Cragmere has beanery good. Many young people have been hitching rides up the hills on the back of passing cars. Several near accidents have taken place. A proposal was made to designate one of the streets as a coasting hill but this proved difficult because those who live on the hill do not wish to give up driving on their own street, and because of the problem of possible liability on the part of the Township. It was decided to undertake a campaign of education directed at the young coasters. Three separate articles on the subject appeared in the Ramsey Journal issue of February 13th, including a statement by the editor of the Mahwah Messenger, the page devoted to Mahwah news in the paper. (Bristow) |
1936-02-07 | People | Funeral services were held for Mrs. Ingram Estabrook. She has been a teacher in the Darlington Sunday School for over 40 years and a resident of Mahwah since 1881. (Bristow) |
1941-02-07 | People | Sixth-grader Peter Ash took over the morning exercises at school number 7 (New Betsy Ross School). He brought his magic set to school and demonstrated some very good tricks. (Bristow) |
1941-02-07 | Education | The Friday morning exercises at School #7 in Cragmere were taken over by Peter Ash of Grade 6. He brought his magic set to school and demonstrated several fascinating tricks. Grade 4 student Harold Stuart, wrote his classmates from Dania Florida. He said that he missed the coasting on the hills of Cragmere, but he admitted that going swimming almost every day somewhat made up for it. (Bristow) |
1962-02-07 | Recreation | The highest award for Catholic Scouts, Ad Altare Dei was presented to John Derick at the annual Blue and Gold Dinner of Cub Pack 255 held in the Club 17. The Pack was sponsored by the Immaculate Conception Parish of Darlington whose Pastor Rev Stanislaus Rosinski, received the pack Charter from Joseph Crowley. Awards were made to each of the den mothers and achievement awards conferred by Commissioner Ken DeFerrari and William Brennan. (Bristow) |
1967-02-07 | Disasters | A blizzard hit the Mahwah area closing schools and businesses. Governor Richard Hughes declared the 8th a bank holiday to ease the strain on traffic. The snow was so deep that most motorists did not venture out. There were few accidents as a result. Police patrol cars acted as taxis for pedestrians, especially for women found walking alone. (Bristow) |
1910-02-08 | People | A committee of David Hopper, Harry Z. Sturr and H. A. Hagerman have been appointed to supervise the installation of electric lights in the Reformed Church Parsonage. J. Elmer Fox is doing the work. (Bristow) |
1912-02-08 | Religion | The Rev. and Mrs. Dykema have organized a missionary reading circle in Darlington. Meetings are to be held on the second Tuesday of every month at 3:30 PM. Mrs. Dykema was elected President, Mrs. McComber, wife of the Superintendent at the McMillan Farm, vice-president and Mrs. Davidson, Secretary and Treasurer. (Bristow) |
1921-02-08 | People | 86 good citizens attended the annual School Board meeting. Public support for the schools is evident in the fact that the budget passed 85 to 1. George F. Sutherland and Clinton Terwilliger were reelected to the Board. E. V. H. Winter refused reelection so he was replaced by James Glasgow. (Bristow) |
1927-02-08 | People | Word was received from Dr. Meyers that he was very much alive. There had been rumors in town that he had drowned while on a vacation to... (Bristow) |
1933-02-08 | People | At the monthly meeting of the Red Cross Chapter the scale of the volunteer relief effort which was being mounted locally was revealed. Working with the government the chapter has distributed large quantities of clothing and 1,200 sacks of flour. Any person have a written order signed by a poor mistress or poor master could receive an allotment of relief supplies. (Bristow) |
1936-02-08 | Recreation | Three Mahwah families enjoyed separate Broadway plays that day. Mr. and Mrs. Horace Ritter of Maysenger Road attended a performance of "Russett Mantle". Mr. and Mrs. E. Norman Grisewood capped their day in the city with a performance of "First Lady". Mr. and Mrs. Fred Richard attended a Theater Party at a performance of "Jumbo". (Bristow) |
1937-02-08 | Recreation | A film program at the Parish Hall of the Immaculate Heart of Mary delighted a large audience. The Polish film "Twelve Chairs" was followed by a Polish "talkie" comedy. (Bristow) |
1941-02-08 | Recreation | Publicity for the school entertainment on February 28th included the promise of the appearance of these star acts from school No. 7: "A woman sawed in half", "The Human cannonball" "The Siamese twins" and "tight walkers". The eighth grade was to give a jitterbug exhibition. In School No. 2 in Mahwah four Grade 5 students collaborated in making a poster for the occasion. George Blankenburg drew a "fine looking Scarecrow", Louise Kloster and Garry Cook supplied straw for the poster and Sophia Malewski donated hair from her long braids. (Bristow) |
1944-02-08 | People | Matthew Prumbaum was nearly a casualty of the intensity of the war production effort. He was recovering at his home in Island Road from an attack of anemia. His doctor blamed the affliction to the seven-day weeks and long hours he had been working at a Staten Island Shipyard. (Bristow) |
1955-02-08 | Education | In the highest vote ever recorded up to that time in a Mahwah School District election, supporters of ousted School Superintendent Roy S. Austin were decisively elected over those who had supported his firing. It was expected that Austin would be rehired as District head at the special election scheduled for February 15th. Winning reelection was Board Chairman Cyrus F. Tibbels, and newcomers Howard Avery and Mrs. Shirley Storms. Robert Hopkins, the leader of the Anti-Austin group was defeated along with his running mates, Ronald Lewis and Julius Holland. The newly elected members were expected to team up with holdover members Charles Bartholf and Paul Gustavson against the remaining anti-Austin members still on the Board, Mrs. Alice Macarthur, Mrs. Edythe Glasgow, Mrs. Mabel Petrie and Harold Knowlton. The school budget also passed by a comfortable majority. Austin, Mahwah's first Superintendent, had been accused of extravagance in his pressing for a bond issue to improve existing schools and build a new school on Ridge Road, and faced opposition for his plans to integrate the mountain children more fully into the schools, introduce ability grouping and spend money on expanded programs and a hot-lunch facility. (Bristow) |
1958-02-08 | Business | J. Howard Glover of 1064 Valley Road, Mahwah began his duties as Assistant to the Treasury Department of AT&T. He had previously been the manager of the Telephone Company's Hackensack branch office. Glover was a graduate of Montclair State Teachers College and had served as a Lieutenant in the Army Transportation Corps between 1943 and 1946. Upon his discharge he had gone to work for AT&T as a representative in the commercial department in the Newark office. He became the business manager of the Westfield office in 1954 and assumed his post in Hackensack in 1955. (Bristow) |
1976-02-08 | Religion | Fardale ward, Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter. Day Saints (Mormon) dedicated their new meeting house in a special service. (Bristow) |
1893-02-09 | Crime | Theodore O. Havermeyer, his Lawyer, William M. Johnson, and his gamekeeper, Valentine de Gies appeared in court in Hackensack to press charges against several poachers. Justice Crump found Peter May, E. C. Carpenter, Edward Carlough and Anthony Sheffield guilty under the game law of 1849 and fined each $5.00. Sheffield threatened to shoot gamekeeper Gies. (Bristow) |
1914-02-09 | Education | Miss Margaret Mack was appointed Attendance Officer for the Mountain School. She is a nurse maintained by Miss Nora E. Snow of Hillburn to serve the mountain community. Attendance at the school has been quite good considering the handicaps these students are under. Miss Foster began her duties February 2nd after the resignation of Miss. Folsom. (Bristow) |
1920-02-09 | Business | Two new businesses opened in the John Winter Block this week. "The Handy Shop", operated by Miss Hannington, where dry goods and novelties can be purchased and a meat and vegetable market in charge of J. B. Garrison of Oakland. Our business district is growing. (Bristow) |
1922-02-09 | Religion | A reception was held by the Ramapo Reformed Church Consistory for the Rev. and Mrs. Simpson at the Parsonage. Captain Smith and some of the Girl Scouts were present to they sang some of their songs. The Boy Scouts, not to be outdone, sang some of theirs. Mrs. J. A. Ackerman, Mrs. Carpenter, Mrs. Heidgerd and Mrs. Winter were on the receiving line. (Bristow) |
1925-02-09 | Recreation | The local entertainment week began with two big attractions in Paterson. The Lyceum, which featured live plays began a week's run of "The greatest of all laugh providers" "Getting Gertie's Garter". The Orpheum countered with the twenty-fifth anniversary of Columbia Burlesque in Paterson. The featured comedian was Paterson's own Gene Shuler, who left his job in one of the silk mills to pursue a career in burlesque. The local movies had a variety of offerings. The Lafayette in Suffern was featuring Bebe Daniels and Ricardo Cortes in Argentine Love. The US Theatre in Paterson was screening one of the most famous of silent classics "Greed". This Samuel Goldman epic, directed by Erich von Stroheim starred Gibson Gowland and featured such later well known actors as Zazu Pitts and Gene Herself. The legendary art directors Richard Day and Cedric Gibbons collaborated on the film which according to some lasted ten hours in the original version. Goldman took the picture away from von Stroheim and cut it to 110 minutes. It was based on Frank Norris' popular novel McTeague. (Bristow) |
1929-02-09 | Recreation | Mrs. Alfred J. Ronk, Mrs. Thomas Ulrichs and Mrs. Alonso B. Sherrow and the Ulrich. A group from Mahwah spent the day in the City enjoying its cultural attractions. In the morning they visited the Anderson art gallery, in the afternoon Otto and William Ulrichs attended the performance of Tosca at the Metropolitan Opera, while their mother, Mrs. Thomas Ulrichs, Mrs. Alfred J. Ronk and Mrs. Alonso B. Sherrow and two other Ulrichs children Antonio and Alex attended the performance of "Animal Crackers" at the Forty-Fourth Street Theater. (You wonder how they decided who would go to what.) (Bristow) |
1933-02-09 | Crime | The Great Eastern Store in West Mahwah was robbed by three men. Edward Bailly, the manager of the store accompanied Chief Smith to the New York State Police Barracks at Monroe to see if three men held there were the perpetrators, but identification could not be made. The three robbers parked their car in front of the store. One remained in the car while the other two entered and pretended to buy cigarettes. Manager Bailly was confronted by a gun, and told to raise his hands while the other rifled the cash register for $40.00. They sped off in a Buick which was later found to have been stolen. (Bristow) |
1937-02-09 | Recreation | The Lafayette Theater in Suffern presented the first suburban showing of Norma Shearer and Lesie Howard in Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet. There were three showing daily at 3, 7, and 9. All seats were reserved at prices ranging from 55 cents for the balcony and the matinee to $1.65 for the Loge seats in the evening performances. The publicity for the film stressed that this overwhelming love story "is closely related to every man and woman of today." "The balcony scene alone will enthrall everyone who sees it," as it is "as modern as any love story... of today." (Bristow) |
1955-02-09 | People | There was only one ambulance call during the week Captain Allan Dixon reported. Mrs. Gamble of Jersey Avenue was taken to Valley Hospital by crewmen Ed Schemer Jr. and George Straut Jr. (Bristow) |
1967-02-09 | Police | Police Chief Edmund Wickham requested the Board of Education to devise a more suitable means of informing parents that school would not be in session because of the weather. He said that one morning the police had been called 61 times within a 30 minute period to ask about the school schedule. He feared that an emergency call would be impossible to make under those circumstances. (Bristow) |
1967-02-09 | Politics | The Township Committee introduced a budget totaling over 3,000,000 with a projected rise in the tax rate of 49 cents to $3.17. Republican Committeeman Peter L. Murphy claimed that the steep rise was required because last year's Democratic administration did not appropriate enough to cover required capital outlays and had added to the police and administrative staffs. Of the estimated increases 25 cents would go to the schools ($1,963,078 up. $314,853) 19 cents to the Township ($720,086 up $213,199) and 5 cents to the county ($438,078 up $67,633) (Bristow) |
1967-02-09 | Politics | The Township Committee moved to repeal the controversial ordinance adopted by the Democratic Administration in 1966 to control the activities of peddlers and solicitors. The American Civil Liberties had been threatening to sue because of the provision in the ordinance charging a $15 fee for the right to distribute handbills. The Union contended that this was an unconstitutional infringement of free speech. A public hearing on the new ordinance which removed the controversial fee was scheduled for March 9th. (Bristow) |
1967-02-09 | People | The Township Committee retained its attorney John W. Leyden to represent it in the lawsuit brought by Committeeman Patrick Malone to regain his seat on the Planning Board. Leyden maintained that Malone had been appointed to fill the vacancy left when May John Brennan became Mayor in 1966. Mr. Malone has contended that he was appointed to a full three-year term and should not have been replaced after a year. (Bristow) |
1856-02-10 | People | George Crocker millionaire owner of Darling property, later Immaculate Conception Seminary, born in Sacramento, California. (Bristow) |
1905-02-10 | People | "Judge" John Quackenbush died after a short bout with the pneumonia he contracted during the great snowstorm two weeks ago. He was deputy collector of the Customs for the Port of New York, a post he had held for seven years. Prior to that he held the posts of Entry Clerk 1865-1869, Chief Clerk; 1869-;1897. His post paid an annual salary of $3,000. Before going with the customs he had been a NYC police Justice and was thus always called "Judge" for the rest of his life. He had always had a lively interest in politics. He had been affiliated with the American or "Know-nothing Party. He then switched to the Republicans and helped found that party in New York. He was present when candidate Abraham Lincoln made his famous Cooper Union speech, which made his reputation in the east. He was born in Mahwah October 1, 1927 of a pioneer family in the area. When he lost his wife last year, he went to live with another daughter in Ridgewood. Here he died. He was buried in the family plot in the Mahwah Cemetery. (Bristow) |
1920-02-10 | People | A special citation commended the wartime service of Major Charles E. Ellis in the Ordinance Service. The commendation, signed by General C. L. Ruggies praised his "energy, ability and good judgement" in his many posts. He is a temporary officer, one of many retained by the Army until he can be replaced by a regular officer. Major Ellis was graduated from a military school, saw foreign service as a volunteer during the Spanish-American War and has held every rank from Private to Major. He was commander of the Mahwah Militia Reserve until he volunteered for active service. (Bristow) |
1921-02-10 | People | A telephone call to Ramsey 22 will get you a demonstration of an electric iron by the Rockland Electric Company. They recommend it as an easy, versatile and fast alternative to "the old way". (Bristow) |
1927-02-10 | Business | In an ad in the Ramsey Journal, Andrew T. Vroom announced that he had opened an electrical business in Allendale. Along with a variety of automotive services he specialized in radio sets. He offered the latest "fully shielded" models, would erect aerials and make repairs on any existing set. He guaranteed both distant reception and "finest tone quality". (Bristow) |
1931-02-10 | Politics | Only 34 votes were cast as the annual School Board Elections resulted in the re-election of all three candidates, James Devine, Edwin C. Lane and Irvin B. Tiedman. The six propositions all passed without a negative vote. (Bristow) |
1936-02-10 | Education | At the School Board meeting the calendar for the rest of the year was approved. School was to close June 18th provided. that the state will allow the ten days the schools were closed for Infantile Paralysis to be counted in the total for the year. The Board approved the spending of $1.70 for 500 index cards and $1.00 for two notebooks. (there is a great deal more) (Bristow) |
1936-02-10 | People | The New Jersey Health Department banned the use of the well at htemountain school for drinking water until it was cleaned. Meanwhile the pupils brought drinking water from home although there is no evidence this water is any better. When the well is cleaned a new, tight cover will be installed. (Bristow) |
1937-02-10 | People | "Winnie Winx" disappeared. The pet wire-haired terrier went out with her puppy that morning. The puppy "Popper" came back apparently badly frightened but the mother did not. Despite day and night searches by Florence Emerson, her owner and many friends and neighbors in the neighborhood of Babbitt's bridge and Hopper's nursery in Fardale, the dog was not seen again. (Bristow) |
1937-02-10 | Recreation | Spring Valley High School's Ralph Sneden almost singlehandedly took the measure of the Don Bosco basketball team in a game at the Valley's Gym. Don Bosco's team, then known as the Polish Legion, had defeated Spring Valley 39 to 37 on the Ramsey court earlier in the season. This time the score was 29-27 in overtime, with Sweden scoring 2h of the Valley's points. Domkowski scored 12 and Janeczek, 10 for Bosco. Bosco's coach Father Francis praised the efforts of his team. Critics blamed the defeat on the lack of a "standing guard" on Bosco's squad. (Bristow) |
1944-02-10 | Business | "Can You Drive a Car?" asked an ad in the Ramsey Journal newspaper. "When you were a kid, did you always pester your parents to go along on every ride? And now, do you get a kick out of handling the wheel like a man?" The ad came from the Women's Army Corps. The WACs needed women with mechanical ability and other skills. There were 239 types of Army jobs where WACs were needed, and where woman could learn skills "that will be useful in their lives." Young women were asked to get details on WAC enlistment at their post office or to write to the Adjutant General in Washington. (Bristow) |
1962-02-10 | Recreation | The Golden Anniversary of the Girl Scouts of America was celebrated in a ceremony at the Mahwah High School by local scouts and Brownies. Mrs. Donald Zackrone, Chairman of the Juliette Low Anniversary Celebration presided and read a letter from President John F. Kennedy congratulating the Scouts on their anniversary. The members of the six Brownie troops and the six Scout troops voted to contribute all the money which they gave annually to the World Friendship Fund to the Mahwah-Allendale Chapter of the American Field Service to help bring two foreign students to Mahwah High School for a year. The Girl Scout Council announced a matching contribution. (Bristow) |
1897-02-11 | People | David Fox Jr., of Mahwah and three men from Paterson left for the Klondike. They carried a letter from Vice President Hobart to the Commander off the American military expedition which has been dispatched to the gold fields. (Bristow) |
1898-02-11 | Education | A complaint has been lodged that the flag does not fly over the school house. The Board of Education has been asked to look into why the Principal does not have this patriotic duty fulfill daily. (Bristow0 |
1922-02-11 | Police | An attempted robbery at I. B. Tiedman's home ended with the arrest of the perpetrators in Paterson. Chief Dator had been returning from the Fire Department Meeting when he saw a car with no lights near the Tiedman house. The occupant said that the car had broken down. He was joined by two other men who took Chief Dator to Ramsey to one of the men's uncles who vouched for their character. Dator allowed them to leave but returned to the house the next morning to find it open and the contents packed for shipment. The furniture, pictures, clothing and cooking utensils were all in sacks, the victrola carefully padded to prevent scratching. The Tiedmans are in the city for the winter. Chief Dator started to search for them and by chance found them in Paterson working on their car. The Paterson police made the arrest, they were arraigned before Judge Price in Mahwah and sent to the County Jail in Hackensack. These men are wanted in connection with 16 robberies in various places. Frank Huther, 25, of Hawthorne was out on bail for a $5,000 robbery if the home of Senator James Frawley of Sugern, Albert Yanson, 25, of Totowa is out on bail for a $3,000 robbery of liquor in Westwood, the third man, Henry DeYoung of Paterson has no police record. The Police expect them to confess and hope thereby to clear up numerous pending cases. (Bristow) |
1931-02-11 | Recreation | At the Girl Scout meeting Marie Morrison passed her first class signaling badge. She sent and received at 16 letters per minute. Other girls practiced judging weights, sewing baby garments and life saving. (Bristow) |
1935-02-11 | Education | Among the topics considered at the School Board meeting was the rising cost of sending pupils to high school. The budget was to be higher next year despite the fact that Ramsey High School had reduced its tuition rates by $4.00 per pupil. The problem was that forty more pupils would be entering high school in the coming year. A subcommittee or Mrs. Russell and Mr. Keith was appointed to look into the possibility of sending pupils to a different high school, presumably Ridgewood. (Bristow) |
1935-02-11 | Education | The Hohokus Township Board of Education heard a request from Supervising Principal Hayward to attend the National Education Association Convention slated for Atlantic City later in the month. So eloquently did Hayward describe the value to the school district from his attendance that they not only gave him permission to go but voted him $50 for his expenses. (Bristow) |
1936-02-11 | Education | Edward Winters edged out Richard Keith in a close contest for the third seat on the School Board in the annual elections. Although Keith was the incumbent his petition failed to be revived in time so that both he and his rival were write-in candidates. On an extremely cold night 230 ballots were cast with Winter receiving 124 and Keith 96. Winter had previous served a number of terms during the time when the original Fardale School was built. Keith was a resident of Cragmere. The other two seats were won by incumbents James A. Glasgow and Mrs. Leora Wanamaker. (Bristow) |
1936-02-11 | Education | The School Board election two of the three incumbents were reelected. James A. Glasgow and Leora Wanamaker were elected daily. Richard Keith, whose election petition had reached the registrar too late to have his name printed on the ballot lost to another write-in candidate Edward V. H. Winters. The Fardale native had served a number of years on the Board at the time when the Fardale School was being built. Local opinion said that in any contest between a Mahwah native and someone who had moved here from elsewhere, the favorite son had a great advantage. The vote was 124 to 96. Keith had lived in Mahwah since 1921. (Bristow) |
1937-02-11 | Police | A series of robberies dating back several months were solved when an 8th grade student at the Mahwah School led police to a cave he and two friends had dug in the back of the Mahwah Cemetery. The three youths had broken into the school six times since October 21st each time taking small objects and sums of money. They dug the cave to hold the objects they had taken. It took them about a week to burrow out the cave which they entered through a dirt-covered trap door. The case was broken when one of the boys was seen with a knife which had been taken from the school. They later confessed to the entries into the school and to the ransacking of the home of Mrs. Sydney Hall on Mahwah Road. They obtained entrance to the Hall home by breaking a window in the basement. They used an axe to break down the door to the main part of the house stole jewels, tools and the oil burner thermostat and carved words on a table top with the points of their knives. The three boys, the oldest of whom was 14, were released on their own recognizance pending charges of juvenile delinquency. All three lived on Island Road. (Bristow) |
1937-02-11 | Fire Department | At the monthly meeting of the Mahwah Fire Department It was urged that the temporary floodlights which had been installed outside the building as a temporary measure to assist patrons of their highly successful Bingo evenings be kept as a permanent feature. They had helped people see where they were going as they entered the building, and, it was believed, made it more difficult for gasoline to be siphoned from cars parked outside without detection. In other business the resignation of Richard Heiggerd, who had moved to his new job in Aliquippe, PA, was accepted with regret. There had been no fires in January, Chief Morris reported. (Bristow) |
1937-02-11 | Recreation | The Holy Name basketball team's coach Johnny Parlagi was featured in the weekly sports column of the West Mahwah news in the Ramsey Journal. He served both as canter on the team and its coach, although he was only 23 years old. Described as a "towering" 6 feet two inches tall, Parlagi had played basketball at Don Bosco, and on the Ramsey High JV in 1929 and as a varsity reserve in 1930. His real development as a player had taken place since he left high school, the reporter commented. He played a slow, de liberate style. His favorite shot was a two-handed set shot from medium distance. He was described as reluctant to make "run-shots" and somewhat deficient in his timing on the center jump. As a coach he was praised for his fair mindset, modest style. He was said to be "more willing to lose a player than spoil the morale of the team". (Bristow) |
1899-02-12 | Disasters | The town was completely snowbound. All trains were stopped until the mail train, due shortly after 9 reached town after 2:00 PM. The rotary plow did not clear the tracks until the 14th. It was said that the thermometer went lower than it did during the blizzard of 1888. (Bristow) |
1900-02-12 | People | Reports that a duel had been fought in Mahwah are unfounded. A Dane named J. Christiansen, who was raising cows on property rented from Mrs. Wright got involved in an argument with his hired man. The hired hand had demanded his pay and Christiansen fired wildly into the air several times. The hired man knocked the pistol out of Christiansen's hand and it was surrendered to Mr. Winter when they went down to his store for his help in settling the dispute. It was all blown over. The cows have been sold, both men have left town and Mrs. Wright has reoccupied her house. (Bristow) |
1916-02-12 | Disasters | The temperature reached 10 below zero on one of the coldest nights in recent years. The Erie Railroad was not able to keep up with its schedule because of the cold. (Bristow) |
1918-02-12 | Crime | The two boys who are accused of having broken into and ransacked the Mahwah station on January 3rd were arrested in Jersey City and taken to Hackensack Jail. Walter Zalinski (Zabriskie in the original article) of Jersey City and Edward Meyers of Union City have also been accused of eating one of My. Havermeyer's prize chickens, and breaking into mail sacks. [They pleaded guilty and were sent to the Mahwah Reformatory.] (Bristow) |
1925-02-12 | People | A long feature article detailed the wonderful results of the American occupation of Haiti. According to the article the outstanding result of the nine years of American presence was that "all Haitians, and especially the peasant working class... are free of the menace of confiscation of their property and (know) that their lives are safe." The article went on to paint a rosy picture of financial security, higher educational standards and a weakening of the power of witchcraft and voodoo. The tasks ahead were said to be a reform of the judiciary and the establishment of modern agricultural methods. The article implied that Haiti would never again be the backward nation it was in 1915 when the Marines arrived. (Bristow) |
1929-02-12 | People | Six sites for major reservoirs to supply the Bergen County area were presented to the Bergen County Water Supply Water Commission. The one most recommended was a site on the Mahwah River, just north of Suffern. Since the Mahwah River would not provide enough water to supply the 91,000,000 gallons of water at $61 per million gallons which the project was supposed to supply, water would be taken from the Ramapo River between Hillburn and Sloatsburg and either sent through an underground tunnel or "booted" up over the mountains in a pip line. In position from many areas immediately surfaced to the Suffern site. No decision was taken on the proposal. (Bristow) |
1931-02-12 | People | Mrs. Peter B. Ash and sons Peter and Charles Frederick and John, the young son of Mr. and Mrs. Robert Bristol of Hillburn left by train for an extended vacation in Clearwater, Florida. (Bristow) |
1931-02-12 | Recreation | The Lafayette Theater in Suffern featured four films for the week. Ed Wyn in "The Perfect Fool", Marion Davies in "Bachelor Father", Gary Cooper, Marlene Dietrich and Adolph Menjou in "Morocco" and Janet Gaynor in "The Man Who Came Back". Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm was the Children's Matinee feature. For those in search of live entertainment the Orpheum in Paterson featured their 26 girls in "Burlesk" (burlesque) (Bristow) |
1931-02-12 | Recreation | Troop 50 held a father and son dinner with the food prepared by the scouts. At the court of honor merit badges were presented to David Heartwell, James Foster and John and Fran Cishek. John Cishek also received a silver loving-cup for having won the last contest. The evening ended with a speech by Scoutmaster David Oaksmith. (Bristow) |
1937-02-12 | Recreation | The Reading Circle met at the home of Mr. Mrs. Frederick Chapman on Maysenger Road. Three Noel Coward plays, "The Astonished Heart", "Red Pepper" and "The Family Album" were read. This was particularly timely since the one-act plays were being presented on Broadway that season and several in the large audience had attended the performances. The group met twice monthly to read aloud. (Bristow) |
1955-02-12 | Fire Department | Shuart's was the location of the annual dinner of the Mahwah Fire Department #1 attended by about eighty members and guests. Frank Young acted as master of ceremonies and introduced the many distinguished guests. Present were Mr. and Mrs. Bruce F. Sockman, representing the Township Committee, Fire Commissioner and Mrs. Thomas Ackerson the Department's Chaplain and Mrs. Howard E. Friebeley and a full complement of officers from the Ramsey Fire Department. The main activity of the evening outside of eating and drinking was dancing. Meanwhile, Company No. 2 were having their party at the Twin Bar. The feature of the evening was a birthday cake for Township Attorney, John Warhol Jr. (Bristow) |
1958-02-12 | People | The new Woolworth store opened in the Interstate Shopping Center in Ramsey. The store covered 8,000 sq feet and included a soda fountain and luncheonette. In addition to the usual departments, the facility had special sections offering draperies, and curtains, wrought iron furniture do it yourself supplies and equipment and baby wear. (Bristow) |
1965-02-12 | Recreation | Although the Thunderbirds snapped a two-game losing streak by defeating Pascack Hills 66-32 they only raised their record to 5-11. With only three basketball games left on the schedule they seemed doomed to remain in 8th place in the Northern Bergen Scholastic League this season. In the win over Pascack Valley little Gene Tremblay scored 23 points, and was particularly effective during the first period which ended with Mahwah ahead 19-2. (Bristow) |
1849-02-13 | Real Estate | Garret I (John) Hopper sold the Larne-Van Horn house and property to Abraham Van Horn. (Bristow) |
1920-02-13 | Government | A game of musical chairs resulted from the resignation of James Devine as Collector of Taxes for the Township. He has been suffering from ill health. Harry Z. Sturr resigned as Town Clerk to take the Collector's job. Raymond F. Dator resigned as Treasurer to become Clerk, and Harold Johnson was appointed Township Treasurer. The meeting had been postponed one week because of the big snowstorm last week. (Bristow) |
1927-02-13 | Education | An epidemic of scarlet fever, described as "mild" and "light" hit the community. Fifteen patients in 13 families were affected. The Boards and Health and the School Board sponsored a conference on how to meet the emergency. They sought advice from Dr. Joseph Morrow, the Superintendent of Bergen Pines, Dr. Ralph O. Clock of Leferle Laboratories in Pearl River, and Dr. Frank Laidlaw of the New York State Department of Health in Middletown. They suggested that all pupils be tested with the Dick test. Those without immunity were to receive a series of four weekly injections. All agreed that the school week should be kept open and all pupils urged to attend. Pupils were to be given an extra recess in the afternoon and calisthenics, done with the window open, were to be done in every class after each pair of recitation periods. As a precaution the Mahwah Library forbade the circulation of children's books and urged all parents to return any that had been checked out previously. Among those reported to have been stricken were Elizabeth Grant, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Frank Grant, and Aleta Hopper and Miss Lea Howell the Third Grade teacher. Attendance was low, however, as scarlet fever was aid to come in three-year cycles and was expected to be heavy that winter. Fortunately there had been no deaths from the disease in the Township yet. (Bristow) |
1933-02-13 | Recreation | George Rountree won the gold medal in the skiing championship of the Mahwah Boy Scout Troop. He scored 11 points to Wilbur Heartwell's 6. Roger Erikson scored 4, Sibley Reid 3 and Donald Sherow 1. The competition took place on Winter's pond. (Bristow) |
1935-02-13 | Recreation | A Junior Scout Troops was organized at the home of Dana S. Knowlton on Oweno Road. Twelve aspiring Scots attended. Knowlton, a fifteen-year-old First Class Scout offered to prepare the young recruits for becoming full fledged scouts when they reached scout age, which in those days was your twelfth birthday. Knowlton, who was listed in the troop register as having been a scout for two years, began a program of teaching all the scouts lore and regulations through the Tenderfoot stage. It was thought that by this methods beginning scouts could raise to the higher ranks sooner. Mahwah was not to have an official Cub Scout program for another five years. (Bristow) |
1936-02-13 | People | Some familiar authors were featured on the list of new books added to the library collection although perhaps not their most memorable works. Booth Tarkington's latest work was "The Lorenzo Bunch" P. G. Wodehouse was the author of "The Luck of the Bodkins" and Walter Lippman's contribution was titled "Interpretations". (Bristow) |
1940-02-13 | People | Miss Annie Winter attended the Book and Author luncheon at the Hotel Astor in New York City. The feature of the occasion was the presentation of the National Book Awards by the National Booksellers' Association. The winners for 1939 were John Steinbeck's "Grapes of Wrath" for fiction and Antoine de St. Exupery's "Wind, Sand and Stars". A Gutenberg Bible valued at $100,000 was on display. (Bristow) |
1941-02-13 | People | The Mahwah Public Library announced that they had added a new magazine to those available in their reading room, Fortune. Among the new books was Why England Slept, by John F. Kennedy the 23-year-old son of American Ambassador to Britain, Joseph P. Kennedy. (Bristow) |
1941-02-13 | People | The Ramsey Borough Council, meeting on Thursday, since the 12th was Lincoln's birthday, heard a report from Mayor Goertzen about the meetings he had been having with Erie Superintendent Adams on the upper crossing of the Erie. There had been considerable attention given to that unguarded crossing since a major accident had taken place there a few months earlier. The Erie was reported to have taken a survey of traffic there and at the Main Street crossing. They had recorded over 6,000 vehicles crossing at Main Street on a single day and about 500 at the upper crossing. It was understood that the Railroad was going to install gates at the upper crossing. These would be operated from the tower on Main Street. (Bristow) |
1941-02-13 | People | The Ramsey Journal list the new library books available for borrowing. Along with "The Strategy of Terror" by Edward Taylor and P C. Wren's "Two Feet from Heaven", there was a volume, described by Henry R. Luce in the introduction as "remarkable". Luce went on to say that he could not name "a single man of my college generation who could have written such an "adult" book during his senior year of college... many of us would be willing to have the destinies of the Republic handed over to his generation at once." The book was "Why England Slept" Its author was John F. Kennedy. Twenty years after the publication of his senior thesis he was elected President of the United State, at age 43, the youngest ever chosen as President. (Bristow) |
1954-02-13 | Business | Steel erection began at the New Ford Assembly Plant. By the end of the month most of what was to be the administrative offices and the cafeteria had taken shape, up to two stories in height. Three teams from Bethlehem Steel were working with large cranes to put the steel together. Thirty to forty cartloads of steel were waiting in the new Suffern yards for the crews. One crew was laying out the steel in the order it was to be put up while two others actually put the beams in place. Between 15 and 15 acres of the 39 acres projected to be used for the buildings had some steel in place. Two freight cars of equipment for the boiler house were waiting on a siding in Ramsey to be installed when the building was further along in its construction. Fred J. Brotherton, the general contractor had over 200 men at work on February 23rd laying the road, building the fence to enclose the project and building wooden forms for the laying of concrete for the foundations of the main assembly buildings. Thirty-nine acres was to be covered with buildings alone and the fence was to surround 177 acres. |
1955-02-13 | People | Pat Oaksmith, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. David Oaksmith was notified that she was one of the winners of a state poster contest devoted to encouraging jobs for the physically handicapped. (Bristow) |
1898-02-14 | People | Brigadier General Francis Price, the son of former Gov. Rodman Price died at the home of Mrs. Mary Post (in the Reversal section of Mahwah, off Middle Mts. Rd.) (Now Camp Glen Grey and Glen Grey Rd.) (Bristow) |
1899-02-14 | Disasters | The steam plant at the Darlington School was completely wrecked when all the pipes froze during the big storm the 14th and 15th. School was closed until a temporary stop was installed on the 16th, but since only two scholars showed up for school it was decided to remain closed until Monday the 20th. (Bristow) |
1914-02-14 | People | Mrs. Eugene Conklin gave an oyster supper in her home to benefit the Mary C. Bugg Library. Dinner was served between 6 and 9 at a price of 25 cents. For an additional 25 cents you could stay for the dancing that followed. Fifty suppers were served despite the poor weather. (Bristow) |
1929-02-14 | Recreation | In an impressive ceremony Boy Scout Troop 50 was presented with its charter for 1929 by E. H. Dahlquist, Assistant Scout Executive of the Northern Bergen Council. Thirty scouts and the new members of the Scout Committee were president as Committee Chairman Harold S. Schultz received the document. Seven new Scouts received their Tenderfoot badges: Edwards Monroe, Louis and John Wright, Jack Brooks, Robert Fairservice, Richard King and Howard Blauvelt. Richard Blauvelt also received his Second Class pin. Mr. Dahlquist and Scoutmaster Tibbals then introduced several new games to the Scouts. (Bristow) |
1933-02-14 | Education | Among the propositions passed at the annual school board election was $400.00 to purchase the Masonicus School site. Charles F. Diehl, James A. Glasgow and Richard L. Keith were elected to the Board, the latter by only 3 votes over Ray S. Wilson. The Toal voted for all the expenses of the schools for the year was $49,110.00. (Bristow) |
1935-02-14 | Police | Police Chief Charles Smith sent out summons to many of the prominent men of the community. It threatened them with dire punishments if they did not appear as charged on February 22nd. The Chief was acting in his capacity as commander of the local American Legion Post. The summonses sternly ordered their recipients to report to the Town Hall for a good time and warned them that they were certain to have a good time. The occasion was the Post's annual winter dance and buffet dinner. Dancing was to be the "syncopating strains of the Rio club orchestra" and the charge was minimal. "Failure to attend," the summons stated, "will penalize the recipient to the extent of a dull time at home and lasting regret." Meanwhile the Ramapo Valley Chapter of the VFW was promising their members no dinner speeches at their dance at the Log Cabin in Ramsey on March 1st. (Bristow) |
1936-02-14 | People | The Home Department of the Woman's Club celebrated St. Valentine's Day with a busy meeting. Mrs. George Ball, a former resident of Mahwah spoke on "Roads to Peace" She stressed the importance of education, religion, business and politics as vital paths to the great main highway of "cooperative security." Mrs. T. E. Hazelwood then spoke on interior decoration. She gave many concrete examples of the use of fabrics, colors and flowers to usher in the coming spring season. The meeting room was decorated with hearts and heart-shaped cookies were served by the refreshment committee for the day, headed by Mrs. Stephen Biddle. (Bristow) |
1940-02-14 | Disasters | One of the worst snowstorms in years blanketed the area. The heavy snow fall which continued for many hours blocked all roads and the snow was drifted by strong northernly winds. Hundreds of cars, buses and trucks were abandoned by the road, 150 of them between Saddle River and the Ramsey traffic circle. Jim Secor reported that his was the only service station open during the storm and every inch of available space at the station and at the fruit and vegetable stand was full as stranded motorists spent the night. Ten people took refuge at Wellingtons, and nearly 200 at the Saddle Inn. A bus, which had taken two hours to get from the City to Paramus, and another to reach to get from the City to Paramus, and another to reach a point one-half mile from the Inn was finally stalled and the passengers walked to the Inn. Among those from Mahwah stranded there were Mrs. Franklin P. Russell, Tom Sawyer, Arthur Christie, Cutler Godfrey, Frank Mulrooney and Mrs. Baines. The food ran out at midnight, but the coffee lasted until the end. Many remained at the Inn for fifteen hours before they were picked up and returned to their homes. (Bristow) |
1941-02-14 | Police | Officer Ted Wickham of the Mahwah Police Department finally paid off in cigars to his fellow members of the Fire Department for the recent birth of his daughter, Janice Daniel at the Good Samaritan Hospital, at the group's monthly meeting. The group voted unanimously to hold their annual dinner at the Ridgewood Elks Club on March 1st. Chief Wrathall reported two fires and two drills during the month of January. (Bristow) |
1941-02-14 | People | The Literature and Drama Department of the Woman's Club met at the home of Mrs. Arthur Harris on Owner. The program of the day health with current plays on Broadway. Mrs. Albert Winter reported on the new musical "Cabin in the Sky" described in the newspaper report as a "Negro musical comedy". The play starred Ethel R. A. Smith led a discussion of "Sapphire and the Slave Girl". Mrs. Charles Hallenback, who had directed and produced an umber of successful plays for the group, was the Department's Chairman. (Bristow) |
1955-02-14 | Crime | Police were puzzling over a daylight Robbert on First Street involving two young white men. Mrs. Eva Paulet, described in the newspaper account as "middle-aged" answered the door to two men who forced their way into her house. They forced her into the shower where they bound and gagged her with adhesive tape. They proceeded to search the house for five to ten minutes and then left. Mrs. Paulet was able to free herself and phone a neighbor who summoned the police. Strangely nothing was missing. She assumes they were searching for cash. She had none in the house. Mrs. Goldberg, to whom she appealed when she got away was herself the victim of a robbery on January 2nd. (Bristow) |
1985-02-14 | Politics | By a 6-1 vote the Township Council accepted the settlement of the Mount Laurel II suit and withdrew its appeal. by the terms of the settlement Beaver Creek will be permitted to build 538 units, not including any for low and moderate income families. The developer will reimburse the township $1,000,000 for the roosts of sewers and road signal at the corner of Airmont and Masonicus. The low and moderate income homes are to be built as part of the Kilmer Woods and Franklin Commons developments. (Bristow) |
1900-02-15 | People | Mahwah's first public pay station has been installed in A. J. Winter's store. All agree that it is a decided improvement to the appointments of the town. (Bristow) |
1923-02-15 | People | The new School Nurse Miss Orpha Young began her work. She comes from Pennsylvania, saw considerable service as a war nurse during the war and has been in Red Cross work since then. (Bristow) |
1931-02-15 | Religion | The Ramapo Reformed Church announced that they were going to install an illuminated message board in front of the Church. The Consistory had raised $70 and needed $50 to complete the project. The cost included a timing device for turning it on and off automatically. $45 had been donated by the Home Department and $25 was raised at a Masonic service last year. (Bristow) |
1934-02-15 | Government | The first steps toward a comprehensive zoning law for the Township were taken at the Town Committee meeting. Two members of the Committee, E. C. Lane and F. W. Petri had formed a special committee to investigate the need for zoning and wrote a letter to the Committee urging some sort of zoning along the new portions of Route 2. When asked for his opinion Township Attorney Webber advised that there would be a stronger legal case if zoning regulations were adopted for the entire Township rather than a small section. A further stimulus to the Committee was a complaint from Mr. Balough that a junkyard was being operated next door to his house. He demanded that the Committee prevent this from happening. The Board discovered that although there had been an agreement between the owner's father and the business that only new cars be displayed on the property, a ten-foot fence had been built and junk cars were being stripped for parts on the property. Although this seemed to violate the original agreement, the Town had no power to order the business to cease unless some other laws were being violated since there were no zoning regulations. The Committee decided to adopt some sort of zoning regulations at their next meeting. (Bristow) |
1934-02-15 | Fire Department | The Township Committee witnessed a demonstration of a new method of charing the Fire Departments' Chemical Tanks at the monthly meeting. Fire Chief Monroe pointed out that the present system using sulphuric acid and bicarbonate of soda was so caustic as to damage the paint on the truck, the clothing and books of the firemen and even the objects which were afire. Also, the pressure in the tanks was not subject to control. A Mr. Clark, the manufacturer of a new process, explained that his mixture of carbon dioxide and water was only mildly toxic and could be fully controlled by the operators. He invited the Committee Members outside for a demonstration. The conversion to the new system, he pointed out, would only cost $164,25 and the tank could be recharged for about thirty cents. No action was taken by the Board on the request. |
1934-02-15 | Education | Two officials from the Waldwick School Board appeared before the Waldwick Mayor and Council to ask them to request a loan from the state to pay their teachers. Edward R. Pfitzner, Clerk and H. G. Honig, attorney, explained that the Township owed the School Board $11,000 and the State owed them $7,000. The teachers had not been paid for two months and bills were owing for a year or more. They were hoping to ask for a loan of $2,728.60 from the Delaware Water Bond issue of the state to meet the payroll and pay the most pressing expenses. The problem stemmed from the inability of Waldwick to collect taxes from its citizens because of the Depression. The State Education Department was required by law to withhold education funds until State and County taxes were paid. Attorney Honig was attempting to draft a sort of note which he hoped would satisfy the State enough to release the money, and pay part of the backpay for the teachers. The Mayor and Council approved the request and voted an emergency grant of $700 from their meager funds to get something in the pay envelopes of the faithful teachers. (Bristow) |
1940-02-15 | People | Little Dickie Slade was slightly injured when an ice truck backed into him while he was playing in the snow drifts created by the intense storm outside his Hillside Avenue home. Since he was forced back into the soft snow he was not seriously hurt. The doctor prescribed a day or two in bed and he returned to school on Monday the 18th. (Bristow) |
1940-02-15 | People | Mrs. J. Beers of 72 Oweno Road, snowbound as the whole town was during the intense storm, entertained some of her immediate neighbors at a table of bridge for the afternoon. (Bristow) |
1954-02-15 | Education | The "Play and Do" Nursery School opened at 111 Oweno Road. Louis Karpowich, Chairman of the Zoning board of Adjustment, announced that a variance had been granted to permit the opening of the school. Mrs. Lillian Troop, its director and psychologist, was formerly on the staff of the University of Chicago Nursery School. Three experienced teachers and a nurse completed the staff of the new venture. Its program was said to have been approved by the Early Childhood Division of the State Education Department. The school accepted students from three to five years of age. The program hours were between 9 to 11:30 AM. It was the only pre-kindergarten program in the Mahwah area. (Bristow) |
1955-02-15 | Education | In a dramatic series of votes, the School Board reinstated Roy S. Austin as Superintendent of Schools retroactive to June 15, 1954, rescinded the resolution of January 15th to appeal the decision of the State Board Education ordering his reinstatement, and raised his salary from $6,500 to $6,900 per year. This action had been the main promise that Board President Cyrus Tibbals and his two running mates had made in their successful election campaign during the previous weeks, but there had been so much heat generated by the controversy over Austin's performance that there was both tension and relief over the end of the year-long struggle. The Principals' Committee who had been filling in during the controversy were thanked for their efforts and new member Howard Avery suggested that Board minutes should be researched to draw up a comprehensive list of the duties of the Superintendent to avoid such troubles in the future. (Bristow) |
1957-02-15 | Education | School Board President Howard Avery addressed the Fardale P. T. A. on three vital subjects. The shortage of space in the local schools, he said, forecast similar shortages in the area's colleges. Unless students developed the discipline to excel in their studies they might find college doors closed to them. This was particularly dangerous to New Jersey students since more than one half of them attended out-of-state schools. He detailed the plans for curriculum development and teacher training then underway in the Mahwah schools. He stated that one or more days during the upcoming school year would be devoted to staff development and urged citizens to participate in the process. Better schools would encourage a "higher type of newcomer" to move to the community. His last topic was the need for civil defense in the construction of the new High School. The new campus school was being planned without basements or even corridors. As a result the local Civil Defense Council recommended that the auditorium be built without windows. This would provide some protection for about 2/3 of the students. The remainder could be sheltered in the third gym area if it were built underground with wired glass windows and inside shutters. This could be done at minimum cost. (Bristow) |
1962-02-15 | Education | Stephen C. Schimpf of Airmount Avenue, Mahwah, was elected president of his fraternity at Rutgers University. The Junior biochemical science major was chosen to head the Delta Rho Chapter of Alpha Psi Omega the national service fraternity at the State University. Schimpf, a former member of Boy Scout Troop 50, had achieved the rank of Eagle in 1956. (Bristow) |
1967-02-15 | Education | In a Blue and Gray Day at the Mahwah Junior-Senior High School students and faculty celebrated the ninth anniversary of the opening of the School. The campus school was opened in September 1957 but the first four classrooms were not opened until February, 1958. Giant birthday cakes, donated by the Mahwah Lions Club and baked by Rose Caterers of Mahawh, were enjoyed at each of the lunch periods. Dr. George Rehrauer, principal paid special tribute to the several teachers who had been at the school since its inception: Mrs. Eleanor Attena, Harold Beyer, David Brush, George Carpenter, Lawrence Cashiolo, Mrs. Marian Eddy, Frank Filardo, Mrs. Joan Hopkins, Miss Evangeline Klug, Floville LaGarde, Jules Lazicki, Gabriel Massaro (more?) and Dr. Kenneth Bishop, Principal until his appointment as Superintendent of Schools. (additional names) Mitchell Modiset, Albert Mura, Miss Dorothy O'Brein, Howard Ochs, Robert Schneider, Mrs. Bette Shatwell, Richard Stack, Mrs. Betty Toricelli, Edward Warr. Five members of the food maintenance and secretarial staff: Mrs. Lorraine Hart, Miss Sophie Patrick, Tom Green, Ned Green, and George Straut. (Bristow) |
1895-02-16 | People | Staats B. Hagerman died of cancer. He comes from a distinguished local family. His grandfather once owned the Mountainside Farm and served in the Assembly and was a county judge from 1822-1827. (Bristow) |
1899-02-16 | People | Committeeman May and a gang of 20 men went down to the Ramapo (Valley) Road to clear the snow from the recent storm. He said the road was completely filled from fence to fence. (Bristow) |
1909-02-16 | Crime | A long series of thefts from Dederick's grocery in Mahwah were seemingly solved by the arrest of George Banta and John Petri. Mr. Dedrick reported that 13 bags of feed were stolen. The wagon containing the feed was traced to Theodore Shuart's stable in Suffern. One of the stable boys there said the grain had been brought by Banta and Petry. Constable Shuary arrested the two men and they were taken to Jail in Hackensack on Sunday the 21st. A search revealed a number of other items. Some dishes and baby clothes were returned to their owners. They were tried before Judge Demarest on March 9th. They pleaded guilty. Petrey was sentenced to 60 days and Banta to 90 because he had secured the wagon and seems to have recruited Petry to help him. (Bristow) |
1910-02-16 | People | Seven big sleighs full of Mahwah school children chaperoned by their teachers went on a sleigh ride through town. (Bristow) |
1923-02-16 | Recreation | The Scout Father and Son supper drew 20 fathers and substitutes and over 20 boys. "Adjudant Bowie was on the job." Among the talks, that of Mr. Weiland was particularly good. (Bristow) |
1925-02-16 | Business | A large display ad in the Ramsey Journal identified this as the "date you're looking for". All were expected to rush to Ramsey Motors, "Main St., at Trolley" for the "First showing of the new Dodge Brothers Motor Cars for 1925." The ad did not provide any details as to cost, availability or the features of the new cars. It was enough, we supposed, to know they were there for people to flock down to see and buy them. (Bristow) |
1925-02-16 | Transportation | Second Assistant Postmaster General, Col. Paul Henderson celebrated the first six months of regular transcontinental air mail service by hailing the fact that San Francisco had been permanently moved to within 34 hours of New York City. The seven day a week service, made possible by night flying was becoming more and more popular and could only get better. A recent experimental flight had reduced flying time to 26 hours. All this had been accomplished in the six years since the first airmail route, between New York and Washington. The next six years should bring unbelievable further progress, he promised. He was confident that the cost of air mail service could be reduced from $2.63 to thirty cents per ton mile, less than 11% of the 1925 figure. This could only be done, he stated, of larger and more efficient planes could be built. He was certain that this would be accomplished soon. The air mail service would soon be able to expand to carrying freight and eventually passengers, he predicted. He did not believe, however, that the airplane would ever replicate the railroad as the way most Americans traveled. (Bristow) |
1933-02-16 | Fire Department | Both Mahwah fire companies responded to an alarm on Crescent Ave. Theodore Stuart's barn burned to the ground. Fortunately it was possible to save a cow, and Shetland pony and two cars from the flames. An explosion, later determined to have been of a fire extinguisher knocked out a spectator for a time. No determination was made as to the cause of the blaze. (Bristow) |
1935-02-16 | Police | Some interstate police cooperation resulted in the arrest of a gasoline thief. Suffern police officer Kratch got a tip on the license number of a car whose driver had been seen stealing gas out of another car. Chief Vilord of Suffern and Chief Smith of Mahwah traced the license number to what the newspaper account described as "a man of unimpeachable reputation" discovery that a Mahwah man. Unable to afford to pay the license fees for his car, he had simply painted over his old plate with the 1935 colors. Gas was another problem, so he simply took it from parked cars as the need arose. He was held for a later court appraisal of his ingenious methods. (Bristow) |
1940-02-16 | People | In the midst of the worst storm in many years word reached Dr. F. J. Liddy that Mrs. Richard West, who lived near the top of the Houvenkopf mountain, was about to produce her sixth child. Dr. Liddy, accompanied by Police Chief Charles E. Smith left their car on Route Two and walked up the mountain road to the West Home. At times the drifts were more than hip deep on their one mile walk. They arrived in time to assist in the birth of a healthy baby girl. (Bristow) |
1940-02-16 | Recreation | The Warner Theater in Ridgewood announced that for the third week "Gone with the Wind" was held over. That same week the Lafayette Theater in Suffern featured such attractions as Marlene Dietrich and James Stewart in "Destiny Rides Again" and a double bill of "Four Wives" starring the Lane sisters and Ronald Reagan in "Smashing the Money Ring", Monday was bicycle night, Tuesday and Wednesdays were chinaware nights an there were cash prizes on Thursday. (Bristow) |
1957-02-16 | Transportation | Mayor Charles Banker announced that Hillburn was granting a fourth two-week extension to their deadline for closing the road through that New York village to the mountain section of Mahwah. He said that it appeared that despite the adverse weather, Mahwah seemed to be doing all that it could to get Geiger Road ready for use. Mahwah Town Clerk Raymond P. Dator reported that during the week crushed stone had been laid down on several parts of the road. It was said to be usable in dry weather by cars. Additional grading would be necessary before it could be used by school buses. When the road was completed Mahwah officials hoped that they could eliminate the daily expense of $66 dollars for taxi service for school children from that part of the Township. The Hillburn Township Board had closed to access road from Hillburn to vehicles of more than five tons gross. Although State Highway officials had promised their support, there was still no target day for the completion of the road improvement project. Hillburn would have to grant more extensions if the Stag Hill community was not to be cut off completely from the outside world. (Bristow) |
1965-02-16 | People | Funeral services were held in the Chapel of his estate for Henry Osborne Havermeyer of Mountainside Farm on Ramapo Valley Road in Darlington. He had been born in 1875 the son of Theodore A. Havermeyer and Mrs. Emilie de Loosey Havermeyer II. In a varied business career he served in many important posts in the family sugar business launching of the Kennecott Coper Company. He was a director of many companies including the Chase Manhattan Bank, The Delaware, Lackawanna and Western, Kennecott and the American Sugar Refining Company. Among his many interests was birds, nests and eggs to the Peabody Museum at his Alma Mater, Yale. He was survived by his two sons, Henry O. Jr. and Frederick C. Havermeyer V., both of Mahwah and a daughter Mrs. George Foreman Robinson of Ridgewood, four grandchildren, and seven great-grandchildren. The disposition of his large estate was uncertain until the reading of the will. In an editorial, the Ramsey Journal Mr. Havermeyer was described as "the last of a group of Ramapo Valley Residents who exerted a strong influence on the community... were interested in Mahwah and Ramsey (and)... were public spirited and willing to spend their money for the good of both towns." (Bristow) |
1904-02-17 | People | Over 90 carloads of bricks have been shipped to Ramsey and then carted to the site of the new Crocker mansion. At 15,000 bricks per car nearly 1 1/2 million bricks have been brought to Darlington. Steel girders have also been taken to the site. More materials have yet to be delivered before final construction can begin. (Bristow) |
1915-02-17 | People | One of a series of current discussion sessions was held in the Library for the women of Mahwah and Cragmere by the Library Committee. These sessions are designed to bring the women of the town together and to promote the values of the Library to the community. Tea was served at the end to a large crowd. (Bristow) |
1917-02-17 | People | Six students from Columbia College visited Mahwah and surrounding communities over the weekend, staying in local homes, organizing sporting events and witnessing to their Christian lives. On Friday they organized an impromptu indoor track meet among pick up teams for 80 to 90 boys in the High School Gym. There was a hike and a basketball game on Saturday and visits to all area Sunday Schools on Sunday morning. A special program in the Lutheran Church where the boys spoke of their Christian lives ended the weekend on Sunday afternoon. (Bristow) |
1933-02-17 | Police | The Township Committee purchased a Chevrolet roaster with a rumble seat for the use of the Police Department. The $ price of $500 was reduced by the Mahwah Garage by the trade-in for the old motorcycle. (I wonder what the rumble seat was used for? Perhaps arrested felons were more docile in those days.) (Bristow) |
1935-02-17 | People | Beecher S. Bowdich, the Secretary-Treasurer of the New Jersey Audubon Society issued a stinging indictment of the Passaic Valley Flood Control Commission's plan to convert Trot Meadows into a lake. Writing from the Society's office in Newark, Bowdich refuted the Commission's claim that a few pieces of high ground in Troy's meadows would remain above the lake level and provide adequate breeding grounds for the many birds who nest in the area. He also refuted the Commission's claim that the new lake would deprive mosquitos of much of their local breeding areas. "With the greater flooded area," he wrote, "increased mosquito hordes are to be expected." The islands left in both the Boonton and Qyanockie reservoirs had not become breeding grounds for birds even though those areas were closed to the public. The Commission's plan to lease the shores of the new lake for commercial use would prevent any bird or animal population from living there. He described Trot Meadows as "unique... (in) the whole state of New Jersey." Its loss would be immeasurable. The Commission's plan did not prove conclusively that the new lake would do much to control floods either. (Bristow) |
1935-02-17 | People | Most of the new books at the Mahwah Library that week were by such women as Kathleen Norris, "Women in Love", Victoria Lincoln, "February Hill", Charlotte Wyckoff, "Jothy", Isabel H. Carter, "Shipmates" and Eleanor Lattimore, "Little Pear". A notable exception was Franz Werfel's novel of the Armenian Genocide, "The Forty Days of Musa Dagh". (Bristow) |
1941-02-17 | Education | History was made in Mahwah as Mrs. Alice MacArthur was named President of the School Board. She was the first woman to hold the post. There had been a number of women board members since Mrs. Elmer J. Snow became the second women ever in Bergen County to serve on a school board early in the century. She succeeded Havilah M. Smith in the post. Mrs. MacArthur was the daughter of the late David Smith and Mrs. Smith. She had moved to Mahwah with her family from Brooklyn when she was five. She was graduated from the local school and Ramsey High School and had studied at the Centenary Collegiate Institute and Packer Institute and had taken a two-year course in interior decoration at the New York Institute. She was the mother of two children and had shown great enthusiasm for the most modern teaching methods during her period on the Board. (At the time of the Mahwah Centennial Alice Smith MacArthur Hazelwood was named Mahwah's outstanding citizen. Her picture hangs in the Town Hall. She died in 1989.) (Bristow) |
1945-02-17 | Business | The newly organized Aero and Golf Club announced its postwar plans. As soon as the snow melted an engineering survey would be held to lay out one or more landing strips. An explosion of the ownership and operation of private planes was expected after the war and facilities would have to be provided. The airport facilities were to be under the direct supervision of Rudolph Deetjen, formerly assistant to the Chairman of Consolidated Vultees, a manufacturer of airplanes. Plans were also underway to build a large modern swimming facility. The pool committee was headed by a New Wall Street executive, Charles B. Schubert. None of these activities were to interfere with the 18 hole golf course and the tennis facilities. Each of the major groups, aero, swimming, tennis and golf would have their own organizations and charge separate fees. The club house was to be refurbished. For the duration the Golf, tennis and social activities would resume in the spring. The Out o'Bounds Aero and Golf Club Corporation had recently bought out the former Houvenkopf Country Club. J. B. Ryan of Suffern, who had held 70% of the mortgage of the old Club, was the leading figure in the new arrangement. He predicted that Mahwah would have the most up-to-date sporting and social center in the metropolitan area. (The Club occupied the site where the International Crossroads and Sharp facilities now stand.) (Bristow) |
1954-02-17 | Business | Construction begins on Ford Assembly plant, third largest in the world. (Bristow) |
1957-02-17 | People | The General Mills Corporation announced that the winner of the Ramsey High School Homemaker of Tomorrow Award was Judith Lane, 17 of Fardale. She had scored the highest in a written examination concerning homemaking skills and attitudes which was administered on December 4th. Her examination paper was forwarded to compete for the state title and, she hoped, the Title of All-American Homelaker of Tomorrow. Lane was an honor student, a member of the Tri-Y and the Bible Club. The junior planned to enter Montclair State Teachers College and major in art. (Bristow) |
1965-02-17 | Education | Because of a lack of a quorum, the elementary PTA of Mahwah failed to act on a proposal to contribute $1,000 to the building of an elementary school in Latin America through the Peace Corps program. Although a majority of these present favored the proposal, several expressed strong opposition on the grounds that there were many worthy local projects deserving substantial support. Supporters pointed out the great educational value of establishing friendship with children of a different culture. It would cost less than the sponsorship of Mahwah High School's two American Field Service exchange students and have a broader scope. (Bristow) |
1910-02-18 | Education | Enrollment has risen so high in the Mahwah School that a new teacher has been hired and began work today. (Bristow) |
1910-02-18 | Transportation | Willis E. Fertig, Vice President and General Manager of Jersey Construction Company announced that the Trolley line is virtually complete to Hohokus and should begin service by May 1st. Some land has been purchased in our area including the real estate office of Mr. I. V. B. De Baun in Ramsey which will be used as a depot. The remaining nine miles of track will be begun immediately. The cars will run every half hour and should reach Paterson from Mahwah in about 30 minutes. (Bristow) |
1914-02-18 | Religion | A new choir has been formed at the Ramapo Reformed Church. Practices are on Wednesday nights. The choir members are: Misses A. Winter and Bertha E. White, sopranos, Mrs. A. C. Dykema, contralto, Mr. A. Hopper and Mr. F. Benedict, tenors and Mr. F. Schulz, bass. (Bristow) |
1915-02-18 | Transportation | Work was completed on Mahwah's new train station. The Agent has moved in. Everyone is enjoying the new furniture and equipment (and the new light in front RJ 2/26/1915) Section boss Nelson Kelly and his crew moved everything to the new station. (Bristow) |
1919-02-18 | People | Lloyd Salling has been mustered out of the Navy and has arrived at home. There is a rumor that he is going to get married soon. [He was married to Ethal M. Limper of Suffern at the M. E. Church in Suffern on Easter Sunday, April 20th.] (Bristow) |
1925-02-18 | Crime | There was a murder in Suffern. Thomas Cheche was shot several times by Cerry Palmarozza in front of the Gas Company Office on Lafayette Avenue. Palmarozzo, 45, was reported to have believed that Cheche had attempted to seduce Palmarozza's eighteen-year-old daughter. According to the report in the Ramsey Journal, Cheche had left town around Christmas time and went to Connecticut because the situation got too "hot". When he thought the matter had blown over he returned to Suffern. Palmarozza was said to have gone to court but gotten no satisfaction so he took the matter into his own hands. He fired both barrels of a shotgun into Cheche's back and then emptied a revolver into his victim. After the shooting he fled up the street but was caught by "a pursuing posse". He was brought to the offices of District Attorney Morton Lexow and was held until the coroner could make his report. The murdered man left a widow and nine children. (Bristow) |
1933-02-18 | People | The Township Overseer of the Poor reported than the month of January, (as the depression deepens) 41 families totally 177 persons were supplied with food, two children were buried, two families moved to Paterson and Red Cross flour and clothing distributed to families in need. (Bristow) |
1936-02-18 | People | In addition to the usual business meeting, at which plans for a benefit card party to benefit the Speakers Fund were laid, the PTA meeting was devoted to learning about Ethiopia. A biography of Halie Selassie was given and an explanation made of why the Ethiopian people have rallied around him during the invasion of their country which began on October 2, 1935. (Only a few weeks later, on May 5th Mussolini's troops occupied Addis Ababa and declared Ethiopia as part of the Italian Empire.) (Bristow) |
1940-02-18 | Religion | A highlight of the Ramapo Reformed Church Consistory's "Have a Heart for China" campaign was a talk on the plight of Chinese refugees given before an audience of sixty by Mrs. Beatrice Russell of the Church Committee for China. She showed movies of missional work in China and the situation of the many refugees from the Japanese invasion. Other departments of the Church who are participating in the campaign are the Sunday School with its "Chinese Guest Bags" where the children can deposit their pennies, a "China Tea" to be given that week by the Ladies Aid and the sale of Chinese Refugee seals by the Missionary Society. The Consistory said they adopted this campaign as their outreach focus for the year since so little attention was being given to China in comparison to the world cry for aid to Finland. (Bristow) |
1957-02-18 | Education | The Board of Education decided to reverse a decision made previously concerning the heating of the new High School. On the advice of the consulting engineers for the architect, Marchand and Menges, they decided to install separate furnaces in each of the buildings in the campus-style school rather than a single large furnace centrally located. Even though the larger furnace would use the cheaper No. 6 oil, the engineers projected a saving of about $3,000 per year in heating costs and in insulation expenses. Little did they know what was going to happen to heating oil costs in the years ahead. (Bristow) |
1965-02-18 | Recreation | Walt Disney's Mary Poppins starring Julie Andrews was the featured attraction at both the Warner Theater in Ridgewood and the 59 Conerama in Nanuet. (Bristow) |
1781-02-19 | People | General Lafayette spent the night at Hopper's on the way to Pompton to take command of his troops. He then marched to Virginia. (Bristow) |
1905-02-19 | Crime | Some of the guests at a Hungarian wedding near the American Brake Shoe Factory got boisterous. A fight resulted with knives used to wound a number of women and men. Officers from Ramsey made arrests on Monday, the 20th. (Bristow) |
1913-02-19 | People | The recent epidemic of grippe and pneumonia has claimed its first victim. Charles P. Young died after an illness of only five days. Young was a native of Mahwah, born in the family homestead on Island Rd, 6 years ago. His wife, 6 children and a brother and sister survive him. Funeral in the Reformed Church. (Bristow) |
1922-02-19 | Crime | George F. Smith caught two men who had committed acts of malicious mischief at his fruit and vegetable stand on the Turnpike. One of them, Mike Kudrick, who works at Stephen Rothaupt's garage confessed and implicated seven others: Stephen Rothaupt, Clayton Johnson, George Buckman, all of Suffern, three men from Ramsey: David Holdrum, Raymond Meyers and a Mr. Hemion, and Joseph Washtog of Mahwah. They all eventually confessed to such things as pouring kerosene on fruit, stealing oil and a water pump, boring a hole in a gasoline tank, spilling over 80 gallons of oil and breaking windows and light bulbs. They all pleaded guilty and Justice Price sentenced them to fines of $24.55 each and to make restitution to Smith. Smith intends to have guards on his property and treat any future damage very seriously. (Bristow) |
1929-02-19 | People | The annual report of the Northern Bergen Nursing Service showed that 182 more nursing and welfare visits were made then in 1928 by this local branch of the Tuberculosis and Health Association. The officers were moved to Ramsey and a new Ford car purchased for Mrs. Kalbfus, the visiting nurse, since repairs on the old Star were becoming too expensive. (Bristow) |
1934-02-19 | Disasters | A blizzard set in the afternoon, by morning the temperature was about 10 degrees with very high winds. A few commuters waited for the train but the earliest train but most of the roads were impassable and taxi service was suspended. When the Ramsey High School closed and school bus service was suspended Principal Haywood closed the Township schools. Although most of the teachers made it in, very few students were able to brave the storm to get to classes. Mr. Donnelly, the teacher at the mountain school arrived to find three of his charges waiting at the door. The High School School was called off for the rest of the week but Mahwah's schools were scheduled to open on Wednesday the 21st as usual. Several other events in town were postponed or curtailed by the storm. The colonial tea scheduled by the Ladies Aid of the Ramapo Reformed Church was postponed to the 28th. The first of a series of Lenten breakfasts, held at Mrs. Harriss' house on Oweno Road had only seventeen in attendance instead of the expected thirty. When another snowstorm hit town on the 28th the Ladies Aid gave up and postponed the Colonial Tea indefinitely. (Bristow) |
1941-02-19 | Government | Ramsey Borough Clerk Raymond E. Rockefeller announced his resignation from the post he had held since 1932. He had just received an appointment from Congressman Martin Dies of Texas as a special investigator for the House of UnAmerican Activities Committee. He was to operate out of the Committee's offices in the Federal Court Building at Foley Square in Manhattan. Councilmen Franklin D. Haring and Winfield began to stir up interest in a testimonial dinner for Rockefeller. It was to be held within two weeks. It was hoped that Congressman J. Parnell Thomas of Allendale, the Vice President of the "Dies Committee" would be the main speaker for the evening. (Bristow) |
1956-02-19 | Religion | Rev. I. E. M. Pflueger of the Lutheran Church ordained and commissioned as a missionary to establish a parish in Mahwah. (Bristow) |
1957-02-19 | Fire Department | Shortly after noon both Mahwah Fire Companies responded to an alarm at the Ramapo Water Gardens. They found a barn burning but were able to do little to save it as it already was burning fiercely. (The Ramapo Water Gardens, at one time a major tourist attraction in Mahwah occupied the site of the Devenshire School on Valley Road.) (Bristow) |
1957-02-19 | Politics | There were no surprises at the Republican Party meetings in Mahwah, Allendale and Upper Saddle River. All incumbents were nominated to run again. In Mahwah Fardale resident Charles N. Feldman was named to run again for township committee as was R. Ralph Seberry of the Cragmere section. Feldman, the Mahwah Mayor was also expected to run again for Republican County Committee member. There was no evidence that there would be repeat of the vigorous primary fight of the previous year, but local Democrats opened their campaign by publishing a four-page first issue of "The Mahwah Democrat" containing lively criticisms of the Republican administration. They announced that they would contest strongly for the two seats on the Committee. (Bristow) |
1959-02-19 | People | At the Town Committee meeting Mrs. Walburga Crawford the Deputy Township Clerk warned dog owners that they had only a few days to renew their pets' licenses. She pointed out that 1,000 dogs had been registered in 1958 and only 650 dog licenses had been renewed for 1959. (Bristow) |
1959-02-19 | Politics | On a straight party-line vote the Township Budget was passed three to two. The $636,324 proposal up $27,454 over the previous year was supported by Republican Mayor over the previous year was supported by Republican Mayor Norris Ruddick and Committeemen Bruce Sockman and John Brennan. Democrats Vincent Blefary and Janet Herlihy opposed the budget largely because most of the rise in municipal expenses was concealed by the use of surplus funds from the past. The lack of surplus funds in the future, said Blefray, would result in large tax increases in the years to come. They also questioned various items in the budget, particularly the capital improvements. The majority insisted that much of the increase represented higher municipal wages, made necessary to keep them comparable to those in neighboring communities. The capital improvement budget included $55,000 for widening Valley Road, $8,000 for improvements in the Masonicus Fire House and $25,000 to build sidewalks along Ridge Road leading to the High School. (Bristow) |
1789-02-20 | Business | Garret W. Hopper purchased the grist mill that later bore his name from Thomas Boggs (Bristow) |
1903-02-20 | People | A. J. Winter has equipped his main barns with electric lights. (Bristow) |
1918-02-20 | People | Everett Fredericks of Suffern was found lying between the tracks near the overhead bridge. He had been hit by a train. He was carried to his home nearly and then to the Good Samaritan Hospital where his badly crushed leg was amputated below the knee. He is about 65 years old and "well thought of in Suffern." (Bristow) |
1923-02-20 | People | The Pastor of the RR Church, Rev. Simpson had to preside over two funerals in one week. One was for the infant son of Mr. and Mrs. Henry Peltz of Airmount Rd, and the other, on the 15th was for Mrs. George Wan of Island Rd. She was 65 and left a husband and a large family of grown children. (Bristow) |
1931-02-20 | People | At the annual meeting of the Northern Bergen Nursing Service, Mrs. William H. Kehr of Mahwah was elected President. The service, which covers Ramsey, Waldwick, Allendale and Upper Saddle River as well as Manwah made 2,253 visits during 1930, 56 percent of all nursing care was given free. (Bristow) |
1932-02-20 | Police | Some times the work of the local police brushes the big time crime of other places. The Police blotter records the visit of Detective Sgt. Eley and Detective George Seely from the Bayonne police. They asked for Chief Smith's aid in arresting Sam Dominick and Patrick Bingham of Mahwah who were wanted in connection with a gangland "ride murder". The blotter reports laconically "men located". The next day Smith was asked to investigate a car recently purchased by one of the suspects and thought to have been used in the rubout. He reported that he found no evidence of whether blood or bullet holes in the vehicle. (Bristow) |
1935-02-20 | People | Mahwah's Poormaster Harold Johnson gave his monthly report on the relief work in Mahwah. He stated that in all of his nine years in the post there had never been a heavier month. There was an average of fifty families on relief in the Township. Since January 18th he had committed four persons to the Hackensack hospital, had eight cases treated by a doctor and buried an indigent child. He was happy to report that he had obtained a supply of food form the Emergency Relief agency and was distributing it to the poor. In addition to his duties as Poormaster, Johnson was also treasurer of the Township Committee and custodian of the school funds, financial secretary of the fire department, a director of the Savings and Loan assistant treasurer of the Writner Lumber Company in Suffern. He stated that the post of Poormaster was the most arduous since it took up much of his free time, including Sunday. For this post he received a salary of $25 a year. (Bristow) |
1936-02-20 | People | Postmaster Walter B. Finch was appointed to another term in the office he had held for 22 years under five Presidents. He was first appointed in 1918. The appointment was signed by President Roosevelt. (Bristow) |
1936-02-20 | People | The Houvenkopf Country Club and the Greek Orthodox Church in West Mahwah appeared before an informal hearing of the Town Board charged with violating the State liquor laws. Each had opened its bar when an outside organization was renting the hall. Frank H. Janke, Thomas Prendergast and A. Vilord, the Club's manager, represented the Club. They claimed that they had only received a $15 rental for the evening and only required the nominal sponsorship of an outside organization. About 15 actual Club members were present at the dance where beer was sold. The priest of the Church said he had not heard of the law. It was explained to him that the Church could have a single license to sell beer per year, although each separate organization of the Church could have one per year as well. (Bristow) |
1941-02-20 | Fire Department | One of Suffern's worst fires destroyed Dixon Motors on Wayne Avenue causing damage estimated at $65,000 and resulting in severe injuries to several firefighters. The fire, which seemed to have started in the boiler room of the building was discovered by Erie yard foreman Sam Nardo at about 2:30 AM. He notified Suffern police. When Fire Chief Atena arrived on the scene he issued a mutual aid call. Fire companies from Mahwah, Hillburn, Sloastburg, and Tallman responded. The difficulties of fighting the blaze were heightened by the extreme cold and the strong winds. The building was completely destroyed along with 17 new Dodge cars and trucks and 6 used cars in the adjacent lot. The roof of the Eureka Hotel caught fire three times and sparks were found on the roof of the Sacred Heart Church an eight of a mile away. Houses were wet down within a block of the fire. Many firemen suffered from frostbite and several were completely slated with ice before the blaze was brought under control. Most seriously injured was Patrolman James Lydon, a member of the Suffern Fire Department was critically injured. He entered the burning building and fell through the floor. His cries were heard by Max Grossman who went in to rescue him. Suffern Fire Department Lt. Ted Friedman and Police Sgt. Edison Thompson followed him into the building and found him carrying Lydon out on his back. Lydon was taken to the Good Samaritan Hospital where he was reported to be in critical condition with third-degree burns and a probable broken neck. Ex-Fire Chief Belmont also suffered severe burns around the eye and was treated at the scene by Dr. Frank Errico. James Dixon of Ramsey, a partner in the firm, said that the building was insured. (Bristow) |
1957-02-20 | People | The six members of Cub Den 4 had a busy week. On the 18th they visited the Nike Base accompanied by their parents. Two days later their Den Mother Mrs. G. M. Etherton assisted by Mrs. Robert James and Mrs. Homer Quick, took then on a tour of the Ford Assembly Plant. The lucky six Cubs were Roger Etherton, Stephen Gulrich, Ricky Brown, A. J. Giegerich, Bobby James and Thommy Quick. No doubt they wondered why they couldn't do things as exciting every week. (Bristow) |
1967-02-20 | Education | Dr. Kenneth P. Bishop, superintendent of Schools resigned from his post as of July 31 because of what he called "recent misunderstandings" with the Board of Education. He told a surprised Board of Education Meeting that the school district needed "full confidence and trust" among the Board the administration and the community. The misunderstandings regarding "role, responsibilities and expectations" if continued could undermine much of the progress toward quality education that has been made over the past several years." The Board unanimously accepted his resignation without comment and went on to other business. Principal Rehrauer gave a moving tribute to Dr. Bishop which was received without comment by the Bard. After the meeting Board President Louis Urban said that he would not comment until the Board had a chance to study the matter further. One member, Henry Dobson, said that the Board would not renew Biship's Contract at Dr. Biship's request but would not elaborate. (Bristow) |
1925-02-21 | People | The cornerstone of the new Masonic Lodge in Suffern was laid with the assistance of representatives of many neighboring lodges. The visiting dignitaries met at the Erie station and marched up to the local lodge room where they were met by the local brothers. They were then conducted to the site of the new building on Lafayette Avenue. The ceremonies were conducted by Most Worshipful Arthur S. Tompkins, the former Grand Pastor of the State of New York. Assisting him were the Deputy Grand Master, and the Grand, Wardens, Secretary, Treasurer, chaplain and Marshall. The local host was the Rockland County Commander K. T. The Suffern Lodge of the Masons had been organized on June 11, 1865. One reason for the large attendance at the dedication ceremony was the fact that this was said to be the first masonic lodge to be built in the region. (Bristow) |
1932-02-21 | Police | The rest of the police day was less exciting. After checking out the supposed gangland murder car, Police Chief Smith reported that he had been called out when Arthur Van Dunk reported a fight in progress. He found no fight. In the afternoon Mrs. Alice Babcock claimed that her husband was abusing her, but she refused to sign a complaint. Most of the day was devoted to investigating, without success, a robbery and break-in at Chris Hunick's roadside stand which had been reported on the 14th. He spent over six hours on this investigation. His day, which had begun at 8:30 AM ended at 3:40 the next morning when his "night patrol" ended. (Bristow) |
1933-02-21 | People | Norman Sherow entertained his friends at a stag party. The main dish was the venison from the deer he shot last November in Pennsylvania. Among the guests were Ray Dator, E. D. Scherer, Harry Been, the Rev. Simpson and Chief Smith. (Bristow) |
1933-02-21 | People | The jigsaw puzzle party of the Church Aid Society of the Community Church )Old Ramapough Reformed Church) was a great success. After dessert served to over 50 guests they retired to the game room where fourteen tables were arranged. Four were seated at each table, each having a puzzle. The first person to finish at each table received a prize. (Bristow) |
1935-02-21 | People | 95 unemployed men, including almost the entire membership of the Mahwah Chapter of the Citizens Welfare association stormed the meeting of the Township Committee to demand that Stated be requested to supplement the relief funds available in Mahwah. Their cause was ably argued by the Association's Bergen County President James Gibbons. (Bristow) |
1935-02-21 | People | Nearly all the members of the Mahwah Chapter of the Citizens Welfare Association of Bergen County, accompanied by the county officers stormed the Township Committee meeting to demand that Mahwah apply for relief funds for the unemployed. Speaking for the group, County Chairman James Gibbons, insisted that gaining a state grant would more than double the benefit received by the needy families and might lower local taxes. In what was reported as a "forceful presentation" he stressed the needs of the poor in Mahwah and stated that even if the Township did not apply for the grant, they were still helping to pay for grants to other communities. Gibbons also stated that as soon as relief payments total the local relief pay for twelve hours of work, the recipient must begin to pay back by working. He mentioned such useful work as repairing the roads and cleaning sidewalks as things which would be helpful to the community and beneficial to the men and their families. Chairman Devine pointed out that Mahwah was the only municipality not on the state aid list to receive surplus food for distribution here. Gibbons stressed the great benefits which his organization had helped win for neighboring Allendale. The Committee took the suggestions under advisement. The Mahwah chapter had been in existence for about 1 1/2 months. W. Gesner was the President. The other officers were David Winter, Francis Fitzgerald, Sherilan Conklin. Meetings were held every Monday in the Town Hall. (Bristow) |
1935-02-21 | People | The subject of the Literature and Drama Department's meeting at the home of Mrs. Prendergast, was "The Influence of the Negro on American Culture". Mrs. Leslie Rounds opened the afternoon meeting with brief biographies if important African-American writers from Phyllis Wheatley to the present. She spoke of James Weldon Johnson, Pal Lawrence Dunbar, William Stanley Braithwaite, Claude McKay, Leslie Pinckney Hill and County Cullen, as well as Booker T. Washington and his successor Maj. Robert Moulton. A number of poems were read, including "Rhapsody" by Braithwaite, "The Teacher" by Hill and four by County Cullen "Harlem Shadows", "Spring in New Hampshire", "The Mouthy Woman" and "To John Keats". As an illustration to that part of Mrs. Rounds talk on sermons by Negro preachers, Mrs. Buhlman read "ListenLord", a prayer and sermon on the creation. At various times in the program spirituals were sung by the Book Choral Club of Hillburn, conducted by Clyde Newall. Club members were reminded of the play reading, scheduled for March 16th, and urged to attend one of the Club's major fundraising activities, ironically enough given the subject of the program that day, a minstrel show to take place on May 1st. (Bristow) |
1940-02-21 | People | The three-car collision caused by the slippery conditions off the roads took place on Franklin Turnpike. In the narrow stretch of the road in front of Doyle's Tavern a car driven by Walter Bryllinski of Ramsey skidded into another driven by Albert Mauriello of Suffern. The rear bumper was torn from Brylinski's car. Richard DeFreese of Hillburn was unable to stop his car and also ran into Brylinski's vehicle. Since little damage was done and the weather conditions were at fault no charges were pressed. Chief Charles E. Smith investigated. (Bristow) |
1941-02-21 | People | Mr. and Mrs. Charles Mabie celebrated their golden wedding anniversary by an open house at their home on Hillside Ave where they had been married by the Rev. DeYoe on February 21, 1891. (Bristow) |
1947-02-21 | Disasters | 16 inch snowfall, the deepest in six years hits Mahwah. Only one traffic accident is reported. (Bristow) |
1957-02-21 | Business | Suburban Driver Service of Ridgewood offered convenient service in their ad in the Ramsey Journal. They would either pick you up or drive you down to catch your plane at Newark, or Laguardia, your train at Pennsylvania or Grand Central Station or any of the New York City steamship piers for a flat fee of five dollars, plus tolls. You had to provide the car, however. They promised "dependable and courteous drivers." (Bristow) |
1898-02-22 | People | Many Mahwah people attended the 4th annual Reception of the Ramapo Valley Wheelmen. Professor Falon of Paterson provided music for dancing interrupted at midnight for a supper. Many of the guests arrived late because of the stormy weather but bicyclists are hardy folk and do not allow mere weather to stop them. (Bristow) |
1900-02-22 | People | Mrs. Merritt, concerned over the large number of school children who have no opportunity for a sleigh ride has arranged for a number of sleighs or wagons to come to the Ramsey School to pick up the children for a ride. The route will be around Mahwah and Darlington. She is to be congratulated for her public spirit in arranging the outing. Unfortunately it rained and the ride had to be postponed. (Bristow) |
1914-02-22 | People | Mr. Leo Bugg dislocated his shoulder coasting on Mahwah Rd. (Bristow) |
1915-02-22 | Business | James DeVine, who has run his blacksmith shop for nearly 30 years while pursuing an active political career, has sold his business to Albert Smith of Midland Park. DeVine has accepted the position of manager for Albert Winter's feed and coal business. (Smith took over on Monday, February 22nd.) (Bristow) |
1916-02-22 | People | The guests of Albert Winter were given a bobsled ride. The party left Mahwah at 6:00 PM and went to the Wyckoff Reformed Church for a waffle party. This was followed by a "thrilling" demonstration of Boy Scout maneuvers. In addition to Mr. and Mrs. Winter the party consisted of Mr. and Mrs. David Hopper, Principal and Mrs. Schoor, Mr. and Mrs. Warren Ackerman, Miss Ratie Winter, and Miss Clayton. (Bristow) |
1929-02-22 | Disasters | A heavy snowfall began which slowed Mahwah to a standstill. The school children attended classes during their lunch hour so that they could be dismissed at 1:00. Thirteen members of Scout Troop 50 were disappointed when their pilgrimage to the battlefield of Gettysburg was postponed, the boys were asked by the Town Committee to shovel the walks in the station park and did so for the first time ever as soon as the storm was over. (Bristow) |
1933-02-22 | People | The newly erected Immaculate Conception Church in Darlington was the site of the wedding of Marguerite Hade and James Dooley of Ramsey. The ceremony was performed by Right Reverend Thomas H. LcLaughlin assisted by the Rev. C. C. Demjanovich. The Hymns were sung by the Church choir of which both the bride and groom were members. (Bristow) |
1934-02-22 | People | Fifteen Girl Scouts braved the deep snow for a hike into the mountains back of Mahwah. Led by Mary Ritter and Katherine Ackerman they trekked up through deep drifts to a previously selected camping spot. They cleared fire sites and cooked Kebabs of steak, potato, onion and bacon on green sticks. Despite some that were black and some that were raw everyone was reported to have cooked a good one. After lunch exploring parties went out to find good spots to slide down in the snow and after warming themselves on a large camp fire and cleaning up the camp site, the group returned home. They had been told that you can't go hiking in the snow but this hike disproved it for those who went. Katherine Ackerman planned out the hike as part of her first class requirements. (Bristow) |
1934-02-22 | Recreation | Five scouts and Scoutmaster O'Brien went on a ski hike to Bear Mountain Park. They drove up to Tuxedo and hiked about two miles up one of the park trails and then turned around for the fun, skiing down. Although there were quite a few spills among the general excitement, no one was injured. (Bristow) |
1935-02-22 | Recreation | The big attraction at the Holley Theatre in Ramsey on Friday and Saturday was "The Painted Veil". The story of an Australian heiress who defied her mother by marrying a young English doctor starred Herbert Marshall and "the incomparable" Greta Garbo. George Brent had a supporting role. The second feature was "Here is My Heart starring Kitty Carlisle and Bing Crosby. Bing played an impoverished corner who woos an heiress by posing as a waiter in her hotel. Other local theaters that week had such diverse attraction as Ronald Coleman and Loretta Young in "Clive of India" at the Lafayette, Katherine Hepburn in Barrie's "The... " and W. C. Fields, Lionel Barrymore, Little Minister, and Marlene Dietrich in "The Scarlett Empress" at the Strand in Suffern. Maureen O'Sullivan, Edna May Oliver and Madge Evans in Dicken's David Copperfield at the Warner in Ridgewood. (Bristow) |
1941-02-22 | People | This was Voluntary National Defense Registration Day, sponsored by the American Legion. At Legion Posts all over the country Legion members and unaffiliated World War veterans had been asked to volunteer for the defense effort. Especially wanted were those who spoke a foreign language or who had mechanical or technical skills. The Legion rooms in Ramsey and in Mahwah were open all day for registration. The registration involved no military committment Mahwah Legion Post Commander George Buhlman. (Bristow) |
1945-02-22 | People | The Librarian announced that among the new books on the shelves were "The World of Washington Irving" by Van Wyck Brooks, Irving Stone's "Immortal Wife" and the collection of Ernie Pyle's wartime dispatches "Brave Men" (Pyle had only a few weeks to live. He was killed during the US invasion of Ie Shima on April 18, 1945.) (The wisdom of the original selection is seen in the fact that not only are all three books still in the Library collection but all three were out when I checked on February 17, 1989) (Bristow) |
1951-02-22 | Recreation | Senior Girl Scouts of 11 and their younger sisters of Troop 8 hiked to Boston Mine in Harriman Park. They were led by Boy Scout leader Howard Avery and Scout big brother John Shoemaker. Because of the heavy rains of the day before and the gusty winds most were not able to qualify for the "Outdoor Cooks" badge by making a fire with only two matches. Among those who participated were Mary Avery Sally Morgan and Sophie Prokop of Troop 11 and Byrd Avery, Carol Shoemaker and Nancy Shoemaker of Troop 11. (Bristow) |
1894-02-23 | People | Members of the Union Social and Literary Society of Ramsey presented two plays, "No. 2" and "That rascal Pat", at the Darlington School. The evening was held to make the final payment on the horse sheds outside the school. (Bristow) |
1912-02-23 | Education | Thirty-six Township voters cast their ballots and overwhelmingly approved the bond issues for the new school improvements. An $18,000 bond was approved for the new addition to the Mahwah School and $1,500 for the Masonicus School. (Bristow) |
1915-02-23 | Business | Charles Mabie and I Vanderbilt have formed a partnership in the painting and decorating business. They already have many requests for estimates. (one of their first jobs was to paint Albert Winter's new barn) (Bristow) |
1917-02-23 | People | A local Chapter of the Red Cross was organized in a meeting at Winter's Hall through the efforts of Mrs. Elmer J. Snow. Mr. Elmer J. Snow secured Albert W. Slaub, director of the Atlantic Division of the Red Cross to be the principal speaker. Invitations were sent to Waldwick, Allendale and Ramsey as well as Mahwah. Despite the bad weather a large crowd assembled. Mr. Snow was named temporary Chairman and Mr. F. W. Sargent as Secretary. Mr. Staub gave a detailed explanation of the work of the Red Cross in the present war. 367 shipments of supplies have been sent to Europe including some 80,000 cases. At first supplies were sent to both sides, but now no supplies can reach Germany & Austria (He denied that his German sounding name meant that he had been sending the best supplies to Germany.). All of the organizational work and the shipping have been done free of charge through donations. The Red Cross is now actively preparing for war should it come and is seeking to set up chapters in every community. By a vote of the meeting a Chapter was set up. The following officers were chosen: George M. Potter, Allendale, President, Mrs. Elmer J. Snow, Mahwah, V. P., W. E. Bates, Waldwick, Secretary, and Mrs. J. F. DeBaun, Ramsey, Reasurer. Committees were set up in each town. The Committee for Mahwah consists of Mrs. Snow, Mrs. Albert Winter, and H. F. Holman. (Bristow) |
1929-02-23 | People | The heavy snowfall brought out the artistic talents of many Mahwah children. Many artistic snowmen and tunnels were constructed. Particularly admired was George Washington on Cooley Road, and the horse built by the Fromm children. (Bristow) |
1934-02-23 | Recreation | The focus of the meeting of Boy Scout troop Fifty was a demonstration by Mr. Schweitzer. He used wood turning techniques to make a casting model of a bully. On March 2nd he completed his demonstration by making a casting of the model. Foundry practices and woodturning are both merit badges which the Scouts can earn and it was hoped that his demonstration would encourage some of the boys to earn these awards. (Bristow) |
1935-02-23 | People | Second prize at the amateur night o the Community Club in Suffern, was won by a Mahwah man, Gordon O'Brien. He won warm applause from the large audience for his ballad singing. The other prizes went to Suffern residents, Antoinette Kaufman, won third for her piano playing, and first prize was awarded to James Stoner of Suffern who used hats as a vehicle for impersonating famous people. A large crowd from Mahwah attended the snow and enjoyed the dance which followed. (Bristow) |
1936-02-23 | People | Mr. and Mrs. Horace Ritter and their daughter Mary enjoyed the excellent sledding on the hills back of Valley Road with many of their neighbors. Coasting and skiing was also reported to be excellent around the water tower and trestle on the other side of town. (Bristow) |
1936-02-23 | Education | Mrs. Florence, a teacher at School Number 2, died of pneumonia after a brief illness. She had come to the Mahwah School in 1925 and, since departmentalization, had taught mathematics and English. (Bristow) |
1940-02-23 | Fire Department | Three different insurance investigators gave different explanations for the fire which severely damaged the Home of Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Prendergast on Oweno Rd. The fire started as Mr. Prendergast was using some cleaning fluid to remove soot from the wall of the game room. The result of oil burner explosions on the 18th and 20th. He said he was using only small quantities of the fluid at the time. He went into the garage from the cellar to check on the intake valve of the oil burner which was clogged with snow, returned to the kitchen for a glass of water only to find a dense cloud of smoke in the dining room. By the time he had called the Fire Department from an extension phone upstairs the smoke was too heavy to permit his escape. He sat for a time on the window sill of the upstairs bathroom estimating his chances of injury if he jumped into the snow bank below. Windows began to blow out downstairs and the roof beneath him began to get him when a neighbor, Donal Sherow, arrived with a ladder and he was able to escape. He highly praised the work of the Fire Department but the house was severely damaged. They arrived within six minutes and were able to save some of the furnishings. The insurance experts could not decide among the cleaning fluid, the oil burner or a carelessly dropped cigarette to blame for the disaster. Mr. Prendergast stated that he was not smoking at the time. (Bristow) |
1954-02-23 | People | Mahwah's John C. McCann was one of the nearly thirty dealers to exhibit at the antique auto show held at the Congregational church in Glen Ridge. He attracted considerable attention with his exhibit of antique carriage lamps, cuff-links and studs and oil paintings. (Bristow) |
1954-02-23 | Education | The Mahwah School budget was turned down by the voters for the second time. It lost by only five votes in District 3, Fardale, and by less than thirty in District 1, but was soundly defeated in District 2, with 57 votes for and 207 against. The Township Committee and the School Board was scheduled to meet to draw up the final budget. Education law provided for the budget adopted by the Township Committee being the official budget for the District without approval by the voters. (Bristow) |
1955-02-23 | People | The red alert, a series of three short blasts over a three-minute period on the air raid sirens was sounded for three days at noon. Each time it was followed by the all clear, three steady one minute blasts spaced at two-minute intervals. The purpose, according to Bernard Goreyca, newly appointed Civil Defense Council Chairman by the Township Committee, announced the test and explained that it was to inform the public of what the alarm sounded like. There was no Civil Defense mobilization during the drill and traffic was not required to stop. Goreyca ended his announcement by requesting that anyone interested in civil defense get in touch with him. (Bristow) |
1985-02-23 | Recreation | 5 Eagle Scouts of Troop 50 gain their badges in a Court of Honor at the Ramapo Reformed Church: Anthony Alderisio Jeffrey Cantor, Peter Meyer, Michale Sirard, Gerry Williamson. (Bristow) |
1913-02-24 | People | Professor Milton Secore of Hackensack has organized a large class of mandolin and violin students in Cragmere. (Bristow) |
1914-02-24 | People | Among the guests at a dancing party given at their home on Airmont Road by Mr. and Mrs. E. P. Beebe were the misses Hazel Hartwell, Mildred and Dorothy Jones, Hopper, Tomlinson, Alice Ramsey, and Messes Paul Hopper, Harry Hagerman, E. P. Van Gogh, Guy Greene, Joseph Gibley and Edgar Decker. (Bristow) |
1914-02-24 | People | Congressman Hart informed the Ramsey Journal by letter that he had nominated Walter D. Finch to be the new Postmaster of Mahwah. (Bristow) |
1918-02-24 | Religion | The Rev. S. V. Wallace will occupy the pulpit of the Ramapo Reformed Church as a candidate. He will preach in Mahwah in the morning and Darlington in the evening unless there is a storm. If the weather is bad the evening service will be in Mahwah. (Bristow) |
1925-02-24 | People | In addition to her duties as President of the Library Board and the posts she held in the Reformed Church Sunday school and Church Aid, Annie C. Winter had another civic duty to perform. She was selected for jury duty. Named with her from Mahwah were Charles E. Wood, Mary O. Valentine, William Baxter and Horace Edwards. (Bristow) |
1925-02-24 | Politics | President Coolidge, just before his inauguration on March 4th, announced that during his first term the national debt had been reduced by over three million dollars to 865 million dollars. He pointed to American prosperity as well as his own economy in government as making it possible. He praised the "heroic" efforts of the American public for bearing up under the immense burden of wartime taxes and pledged to keep reducing the debt. As an example of his economy he announced that the cost of his inauguration had been cut drastically. The ceremony, he insisted, was intended to demonstrate once more that the US Government was dominated by civil, not military power. For this reason only those military forces actually stationed in Washington would take part. As a result the cost of the inauguration had been cut from $100,000 to $450. (Bristow) |
1933-02-24 | People | The PTA held a highly successful card party at the Town Hall. There were 27 tables of bridge, pinnacle, five-hundred and jigsaw puzzles. Mrs. Charles Edwards of Mahwah won the door prize a $2.50 gold piece (The US mint ceased making gold coins three months later. Her prize today would be worth at least $200) (Bristow) |
1934-02-24 | Recreation | Saturday night moviegoers had quite a variety to choose from. At the Ramsey Theater, for that day only they could see George Brent and Margaret Lindsey in From Headquarters. The Warner in Ridgewood offered a double feature, "Eskimo Wife Traders" and Joe Penner in "Here Prince" while the Hawthorne Theatre's double was "Golden Harvest" with Chester Morris and Jackie Cooper in "Skippy" plus a cartoon and a newsreel. The Lafayette in Suffern featured "This Side of Heaven" with Lionel Barrimore, Fay Bainter and Una Merkel and the Strand, also in Suffern, had a double feature of "Before Morning" and John Wayne in "West of the Divide" (Bristow) |
1940-02-24 | People | Mahwah young people were heavily represented at the Leap Year dance given at the Ramsey High School Gymnasium. Ted Rickson and Robert Foster even came home for the weekend from Rutgers University to attend. Among those enjoying the festivities were the Misses Adrea Erickson, Barbara ..., June Foster, Connie and Eileen Wilson, Carol Tuedemann, Barbara Seberry, Betty Sherow, Cara Tibbells and Dorothy and Daniel Keith. Hilton Mabie, William Petri, Donald Sherow, John Beers and Kenneth Foster made up the male contingent. (Bristow) |
1944-02-24 | Religion | Three of the four "John"s chosen as officers of the Holy Name Society of the Immaculate Conception Church were from Mahwah, according to a report from Father Lester A. Quinn. John Cogan was elected Vice President, John Callahan as secretary and John Cloonan as treasurer. Only John Heavy of Oakland, chosen for the top job, as President, was not from Mahwah. (Bristow) |
1945-02-24 | People | John Balogh, of Warhol Avenue, Mahwah, received word that his daughter, Mary Marozin, had arrived safely in France. She had volunteered to serve as a Red Cross secretary in the European Theater of War. After her graduation from St. Luke's High School in Hohokus she had been employed in the War Department in Washington. (Bristow) |
1908-02-25 | People | On "Tunnel Day" President Theodore Roosevelt pushed the electric button inaugurating the new Hudson Tubes under the River. These have been under construction for several years and will permit travelers to get to New York City without having to change to a ferry. Governor Fort of New Jersey and Governor Hughes started simultaneously in cars at opposite ends of the tunnel and met for brief ceremonies under the river, with officials of the Tunnel Company. A banquet at Sherry's capped the evening. (Bristow) |
1909-02-25 | Education | Professor Louis Bevier of Rutgers University visited Ramsey High School and was so impressed with the quality of the work there that he recommends that it be listed among the 94 full four year High Schools classed as "Approved High Schools". Two conditions were attached to the recommendation 1) that no pupil be graduated without four full years of High School work 2) that chemistry be added to the curriculum. The new title carries with it higher state aid, enough to pay for the added staff requirements when the school went to a four-year program last fall. This move had raised the High School staff to the state minimum of three full-time teachers called for in the requirements. The State pays $400 per high school teacher, twice the normal aid. The State Superintendent C. J. Baxter informed the local School Board that the State Board of Education had placed Ramsey on the list of Approved High Schools at their meeting of April 6, 1909. (Bristow) |
1922-02-25 | People | Katherine Twyford, the daughter of Mrs. H. Beaumont Twyford of Mahwah and New York City was married to Earnest F. Grief at All Souls Church on 81st St in Manhattan. Among the attendants was Miss Olive Snow, of Mahwah, a bridesmaid. (Bristow) |
1934-02-25 | Fire Department | The Mahwah Fire Department appealed to the public to let the firemen do their work when a fire breaks out. So many people had been so anxious to watch the fire that they had been racing their cars to get to the scene of the fire before the fire trucks get there. This was especially a problem in some of the more rural parts of the Township where the roads were narrow and unpaved. They said that they were considering asking the Township Committee to pass an ordinance similar to the one in force in Ridgewood, prohibiting cars from following fire trucks or proceeding them. (Bristow) |
1935-02-25 | People | A seven-year-old boy, Eddie Walgroski, was hospitalized for severe dog bites. He was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Stanley Walgroski of Valley Road. He was bitten severely around the head and hands by a dog belonging to John Strysko. The boy was rushed to the Good Samaritan Hospital by Chief Charles Smith and Fire Chief John Mehwok. Dr. Royal Sengstacken, who treated the boy, said he would probably have to remain hospitalized for a week. (Bristow) |
1935-02-25 | People | Seven-year-old Eddie Walgroski of Valley Road was badly bitten around the head and hands by a dog belonging to John Sprysko. Police Chief Smith and West Mahwah Fire Chief John Mehwok (?) rushed him to Good Samaritan Hospital where he was attended by Dr. Royal Sengstacken. (Bristow) |
1945-02-25 | People | Staff Sergeant John Vielinski was home on a thirty-day convalescent furlough from the Army. He was the son of Mrs. Antoinette and the late Joseph Vielinski of Island Road, Mahwah She Vielinski had lost his left arm to a German mortar shell in action in France. This was the second time he had been wounded during his seven-month tour of combat duty in Europe. He was awarded the Purple Heart with oak leaf cluster. He would return to the Lawson General Hospital in Atlanta for further treatment after his leave was up. His brother Stanely was also serving overseas. (Bristow) |
1949-02-25 | People | The new Bergen-Passaic telephone book issued. The old individual listings by towns have been replaced by a single alphabetical listing since "The Bergen-Passaic area has undergone marked changes during the last few years under the impact of sustained growth and a shift to much more metropolitan characteristics" according to the New Jersey Bell Telephone Company. 243,000 copies are being distributed. (Bristow) |
1958-02-25 | People | Thirteen men from the district covered by Selective Service Board No. 1 were inducted into the service. Those from Mahwah were Zack Levine of Franklin Turnpike, a volunteer, and Alex Zachrone of Brook Street and George Peirano of Mountain Road who had been drafted. Ten additional men were scheduled for induction on March 3rd. (Bristow) |
1962-02-25 | People | Mrs. Violen Van Dunk, 53, who died suddenly on the 23rd was honored in funeral services held at the Wanamaker & Carlough Funeral Home, Suffern. She was buried in the Airmount Cemetery. A native of Mahwah and a resident of Stag Hill Road, her husband, George survived her. She had two children, George Jr. of Ringwood and Mary of Mahwah, as well as a father Andrew Mann Sr. of Mahwah, and six brothers and sisters: Mrs. Margaret DeFreese, Mrs. Merika Van Dunk and Mrs. Mabel Boddy of Mahwah, and Otto, Page and Andrew Mann Jr., all of Mahwah. (Bristow) |
1962-02-25 | People | The newly formed Community Service Association, meeting at the home of its President, Mrs. Berwyn B. Gehgan on Crescent Ave, Mahwah, adopted its constitution and bylaws and considered several reports concerning possible projects. The group voted to buy three reference books to assist High School students in selecting which colleges they wished to apply to. They also considered aid to the elderly and the plans for the proposed public library in the Stag Hill area. (Bristow) |
1911-02-26 | Crime | A mysterious rash of window breaking continued and remains unsolved. Windows were broken in the Board of Education Room at the School and in the Lecture Hall of the Ramapo Reformed Church. The only thing disturbed was a small clock of little value taken from the School. (Bristow) |
1918-02-26 | People | Harry Breen, Harry Conkling, D. Christie (his brother H. Christie is running his business for him while he is in camp) Arthur Valentine and F. Keeney left for Camp Dix Each was presented with a knitted outfit before leaving. (Bristow) |
1932-02-26 | Police | Chief Smith met Mr. Glasgow in West Wahwah who reported that a mad dog had been through town. He ordered Smith to inform all residents of West Mahwah to tie their dogs up. He authorized him to give officer Schmidt overtime to assist in notifying all dog owners of the situation. Smith spent 3 1/2 hours doing this and Schmidt spent another 1 1/2 hours. The work continued over several days: 4 hours on the 27th, 4 1/2 hours on the 28th, and, after another reported appearance of the "mad" dog on March 1st, continued for several days more. The dog was never found and no cases of dog bites or rabies reported. (Bristow) |
1940-02-26 | Recreation | At the meeting of the Rainbow Girl Scout Troop it was decided to organize a new group since there had been so many new scouts joining recently. The rainbow theme of the group names was continued as the new group named itself the "purple fairies". Liza Schurrmann was chosen leader. (Bristow) |
1943-02-26 | People | Charles Frederick Ash, son of Mrs. and Mr. Prentice Ash of Mahwah received a gold medal as the outstanding scholastic athlete in a track meet at Madison Square Garden. He had won three events as a member of the Hill School track team. The only people in the audience who knew him were Mr. and Mrs. Robert Bristow of Hillburn, who rarely missed a Garden Track Meet in those years. (Bristow) |
1945-02-26 | People | On the first day of the annual Red Cross membershipp drive local officials reported that the first contribution had arrived on November 1st 1944. It was from signalman 2nd class Jesse Beers whose family lived on Oweno Rd. Along with his substantial contribution was a long letter praising the work of the Red Cross overseas. He told of the comprehensive services of the ARC service clubs in such European cities as Liverpool, London, and Antwerp. Here you could get a bed for 30 cents a night, meals at 20 cents and find music, dancing, recreation, and even get your hair cut and your uniform pressed. The personnel, mostly local people were both friendly and helpful, concert and theater tickets, organizing tours of historic sites and giving helpful travel tips. He could not understand why everyone was not supporting this vital work all over the world, he wrote. (Bristow) |
1951-02-26 | Government | At the Township Board meeting the results of the property repayment were revealed by Alvin F. reuhl, Tax Assessor of Mahwah. Total property in the Town was set at $6,534,000 for 1951 as opposed to $5,224,000. and increase of $1,321,000. He projected that if the Township budget remained the same the tax rate would fall 7 cents to 3,93 per thousand. But since both the school and general expenses were expected to rise, the new tax rate would probably be about $4.61 per hundred. (Bristow) |
1951-02-26 | Government | Frank Harley, Township Engineer announced plans to improve Ramapo Valley Rd. from the railroad overpass through the congested area of West Mahwah up to Avenue A. The road was to be widened from 33 to 40 feet and curbing and sidewalks installed. Since this is a County Road, he pointed out that there would be little direct cost to local taxpayers. The sidewalks are the responsibility of the property owners. Three buildings would have to be moved to accommodate the widening program but this was expected to cause little trouble. John Warhol, Township Attorney announced that his father, John Warhol Sr. was willing to donate to the township a 30-foot triangle of property at the intersection of Brook Street and Valley Road to widen the curve in the road. (Bristow) |
1951-02-26 | Transportation | Hopes for an overpass over Route 17 at Ramapo Avenue were given a major boost when it was announced at the Township Board meeting that the County Highway Committee had proposed a $250,000,000 highway program for the County which included eliminating most of the traffic lights on the highway and the installation of cloverleafs. A bond issue and a 1 cent per gallon increase in the gasoline tax would pay for the improvements. (Bristow) |
1954-02-26 | People | Clifford Mische, the Bergen County Park Commissioner promised that the new Fyke County Park in Mahwah and Franklin Lakes would be kept perpetually wild and be preserved as a wildlife sanctuary. Area residents had been promised two years earlier, when the land acquisition was in the planning stage, that the park would never be turned into an amusement park. Many present at the open meeting of the Fyke Nature Association held in Ramsey were relieved to have this assurance repeated now that the land had been purchased by the County. The Fyke club had been formed two years earlier to survey the area and make recommendations concerning particularly important areas to concentrate on in protecting its wildlife and attracting more. The Club was waiting for the arrival of contour so that they could propose the layout of nature trails. Guy Nearing of Ramsey a well-known naturalist, who had laid out the nature trails at the Greenbrook Sanctuary along the Palisades, praised the Park Commission. He joined others in rejoicing that this wonderful area would be protected "for all time from destruction for either industrial or residential purposes. (Unfortunately a significant portion of the park, now called Campgaw, has been taken over for the construction of Interstate 287.) eastern part of the park, including the campground (Bristow) |
1959-02-26 | Fire Department | The Ford Assembly Plant in Mahwah was one of six Ford plants throughout the country to be cited by the National Fire Protection Association for superior fire prevention programs in 1958. This was considered remarkable since the plant had had a potentially dangerous fire in April. The work of the plant's fire brigade was highly praised as they and fire companies from five surrounding communities cooperated to put out the blaze. Chief Fire Inspection Officer James Kolchin, formerly a New York City Fireman for eleven years and before that a lieutenant commander in a Navy fire fighting unit during World War II was the head of the plant's fire prevention + training program. (Bristow) |
1959-02-26 | People | The Mahwah Planning Board announced a proposed an industrial park of nearly 3,000 acres to be built along the New York State line between Route 17 and the Passaic County Line. "This industrial Park would represent a major step in the orderly and progressive development of our Township" the Board stated. The proposal called for a minimum of 100 acres lots for buildings, well separated from existing public roads. John Mayer, chairman of the Board stated that the plan would be attractive to large corporations who would be willing to shoulder the expense of access roads, sewer and water supply facilities. Also included in the proposal would be the elimination of the commercial strip along Route 17 and the provision for Motels to be built well back from the road. Mayer urged a large turnout for the public hearing to be held on March 2nd. (Bristow) |
1703-02-27 | People | Marriage of Lucas Kiersted and Janetje Laroe, dau. of a French Huguenot (at Hackensack). They ran a trading post near the site of the Larne-Van Horn House. (Bristow) |
1899-02-27 | People | Mr. and Mrs. John Mayer and family sailed for Europe in the steamer Campania. They will stay for several months, spending Holy Week in Rome. (Bristow) |
1905-02-27 | Crime | Thieves broke into the Mahwah Dept. All they were able to steal were the nickels in the chewing gum slot machine. (Bristow) |
1917-02-27 | People | The new Red Cross Chapter adopted the name North Bergen County Chapter. It will have jurisdiction over Mahwah, Ramsey, Allendale, Wyckoff, Saddle River, Masonicus, Waldwick and vicinity. Chairmen of Committees were announced. Those from Mahwah were: Supplies, H. F. Holman, Membership, Mrs. Albert Winter, Home Nursing (including hygiene, surgical dressing, dietetics, and care of the sick) Miss E. G. Carleton. Each Chairman will have a local aide. (Bristow) |
1930-02-27 | Police | The case of some cable stolen from the Houvenkopf Country Club was broken with the arrest of two men. Mr. Creelman had reported that 350 feet of copper cable was missing from the garage at the Club on February 25th. He said that he heard that a Suffern Jeweler had bought the cable. Police Chief Smith began to make inquiries and received a tip from McKinley Allen. Gene Mann was questioned and finally admitted having "pulled the job". He implicated Dewey Castelonia who was also arrested. Both were committed to the County Jail. With the cooperation of Chief of the Suffern police the cable was recovered from Max Cohen, the Suffern Jeweler who denied knowing that the cable was stolen property. (Bristow) |
1931-02-27 | Police | Trooper Charles Enid reported to Police Chief Smith that he had a lead that James Kealey, wanted by the Ridgewood Police for murder was living in Mahwah. He was supposed to be at the home of George Leyden who was supposed to live at Mrs. Scherer's. Smith sought out Leyden, who actually lived on Railroad Avenue. He said he knew nothing about any James Kealey and he was not found when they both searched. A week later on March 5th, the Ridgewood Police called to say they had a hot tip on where James Kealey was. They said he was living with George Leyden. Smith recorded on the Police Blotter that he had "already checked up on that angle." The case did not appear again in the Mahwah Police Book so they must have turned their search elsewhere. (Bristow) |
1934-02-27 | People | The arrival of a few more pledges revived the hope that a bronze copy of Lincoln's Gettysburg Address may still be presented to Mahwah's new school before the end of the year. The as yet unnamed school in Cragmere had already received a bronze copy of the Declaration of Independence from Mr. and Mrs. Howard F. Holman. Because of the depression pledges had lagged. Among the new subscribers to the project were Mr. and Mrs. James Devine, Mr. and Mrs. F. P. Best, E. Endleight Forbes, William O. King, Dr. F. J. Liddy, Mr. and Mrs. Harry Mabie, Dr. Edward H. Meyer, Mr. and Mrs. Lloyd O. Selling, R. Ralph Seberry, Havilah M. Smith, Mrs. Even Trumbower and Richard Valentine. (Bristow) |
1938-02-27 | Real Estate | The Township Committee secured an option to buy a seven-acre plot at the corner of Island Road and Ramapo Avenue for $7,500. The land is the proposed site of a community center and auditorium which had been under consideration for some time. Tentative drawings and a model had been created by the architectural firm of Fanning and Shaw and were on display in the window of the real estate office of R. F. Dator. Crucial to the success of the plan was a grant from the Works Progress Administration (W.P.A.) which was being applied for. If the grant is not received it is expected that the land will be used for playing fields for School No. 2, across the street. (The grant was not approved and the building was never constructed. The plot now contains two playing fields and tennis courts as well as a small Town office building.) (Bristow) |
1945-02-27 | People | Alletta Hopper, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. David Hopper returned to her post at Cory Field, Pensacola Florida after a leave of ten days at home. The Wave Specialist Technician 2/c was a Ramsey High graduate. She had trained at New York University in music education and taught music in the Mahwah and Hillburn schools prior to her enlistment in the Waves in September, 1943. (Bristow) |
1945-02-27 | People | Richard Jennings, 88, a Mahwah native died. He was born on November 27, 1857 the son of Samuel and Sarah Jennings. He was employed for many years at Henry Hevemeyer's Morningside farm. He was survived by his wife Sarah, a daughter Ellen Meade of Mahwah, and several grandchildren. The funeral was at Wanamaker &Carlough with burial in the Union Cemetery in Ramsey. (Bristow) |
1954-02-27 | People | Over fifty people attended the square dance sponsored by the Fardale firemen. The door prize, a parakeet and cage donated by Mr. and Mrs. George O'Lear of Wyckoff Ave., was won by Harold Pfitzner of Youngs Road. Marily Porter of Pulis Avenue won the bouquet of flowers and Mrs. Richard Akin took home the box of candy. The dances were held weekly at the Firehouse and were especially popular with the young people of the Fardale Community. (Bristow) |
1958-02-27 | People | Named as the "Outstanding Young Man of the Year" was Captain Robert J. Wall of 96 East Slope Road in Mahwah + by the New York City Junior Board of Trade Wall had been the youngest master of any American merchant ship at age 28. Then aged 31 he was the traffic representative of the Farrell Line in New York. He received his award from Gerard McAlister o the Transportation and Communication Committee at the Board's annual dinner at the Belmont Plaza hotel in Manhattan. He also received congratulations on the birth of his fourth son, Brian Francis, born on the 21st at Good Samaritan Hospital. (Bristow) |
1962-02-27 | Politics | District voters decisively defeated the same school budget which had been rejected in a light vote on February 13th. Instead of losing in West Mahwah and passing in the other Districts, this time it was turned down in every district. 1,050 of the 3,570 voters went to the polls. The Township Committee by law had thirty days to make cuts in the budget. If the Committee took no action the State Commissioner of Education would make the decision. Both the current expense budget and the capital outlay budget were rejected. (Bristow) |
1874-02-28 | Crime | John Douglas who works with Mr. Winters was arraigned in Paterson for larceny. He was accused of stealing a gun and a pair of gloves. Mr. Winter spent most of the day searching Douglas' usual haunts. He found the missing objects in Centerville where the thief had left them. The policeman who assisted Mr. Winter contributed greatly in the remarkable recovery of stolen objects. Most of the time stolen objects are gone forever. (Bristow) |
1898-02-28 | People | The Darlington Sunday School's musicale featured cornet solos by Mr. Saalfield and Mr. William R. Henion and gramophone selections. Admission, 25 cents. (Bristow) |
1903-02-28 | People | Mrs. Alfred B. Darling died at her New York City home after a four month battle with heart disease. She was married in 1863 and was for many years a summer resident of Darlington. After her husband's death she devoted all of her energies to charity. Her favorite summer charity was brining girls from the Henry Street Settlement for a fresh air vacation at a cottage at her farm. (Bristow) |
1918-02-28 | People | (Postmaster?) Walter Finch has started a war garden in a window box at the Post Office. (Bristow) |
1931-02-28 | Recreation | The Saturday afternoon children's matinee at the Lafayette Theater in Suffern was Mrs. Wiggs of the Cabbage Patch. The only admission charge was imperishable food stuffs for the needy of the area, hard hit by the depression. Among the hostesses for the day was Mrs. Ogden Hewett of Mahwah. (Bristow) |
1933-02-28 | People | John A. Winter of Franklin Turnpike was treated at the Good Samaritan Hospital for a broken arm which he suffered from a fall off a ladder. He was working at the Kemp house which was being moved to a new foundation. (The Kemp house stood at the corner of Miller Road and Franklin Turnpike, where the Sunoco station is today.) (Bristow) |
1940-02-28 | Charity | J. Spencer Wood, President of the Grand Union Company announced the enthusiastic participation of his company in the Finnish Relief campaign headed by former President Herbert Hoover. For a period of ten days sealed containers will be placed on the counters of all their stores for the general public to leave contributions. Also a vigorous campaign will be started to persuade employees and executives to contribute to the Fund. (Finland had been invaded by the USSR in the wake of the fall of Poland and was fighting a difficult winter campaign against overwhelming Russian forces.) (Bristow) |
1945-02-28 | People | Vivid details of the "D-Day" invasion of Normandy were given by Gpl. William Kwasnicki a member of the Second Infantry Ranger Battalion. The Mahwah native was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Victor Kwasnicki of 14 Island Road. He was home on leave after seven months of combat duty and three wounds. His outfit was given the task of silencing a German artillery battery which was preventing the American troops from leaving the beach. "The Jerry battery," he related in a War Department interview, "was located atop a steep cliff. All the approaches were covered by enemy machine gun and rifle fire but we were determined to scale the cliff. I'll tell you how hard we were concentrating. As I started up the cliff I was hit in the right leg by a machine gun bullet. I didn't even feel pain. I remember seeing blood on my pants and wondering what caused it. Buddies on either side were hit but we could not stop. Slowly our unit went higher and higher. A bullet creased my helmet and scrambled over. We pressed on until we were within grenade throwing distance and let the Jerries have it with thermite grenades. Then our riflemen opened up, and after a savage fight that lasted about thirty minutes, the Jerry battery was silenced." He did not even report his wound until four days later. After his leave he expected to return overseas. (Bristow) |
1952-02-28 | People | Judith Ann Ferguson, of Route 202 Mahwah won first prize in the amateur hour held at the Lafayette Theater in Suffern. Her ventriloquism won the 8-year-old a $25 bond and the opportunity to appear on television at some future date. (Bristow) |
1952-02-28 | People | The Mahwah Garden Club formed a Committee to place a suitably inscribed plaque at the former home of Joyce Kilmer on Airmount Rd. The poet, who died in action in France during the First World War lived in Mahwah for four years. (Bristow) |
1958-02-28 | Politics | A former ski trooper, Murray De Camp Speer, was chosen by the Mahwah Democratic Club as their candidate for the Township Committee. Speer was a resident of Valley Road. He had served in Alaska and the Alps during his three years in the army and received the Purple Heart during his wartime service. He had been the first President of the Tenth Division Ski Association. He announced that he would base his campaign on the idea that government should be for the people, not for the individual. He promised to campaign door to door to bring his view before the Mahwah voters. (Bristow) |
1967-02-28 | Education | Mahwah School District voters turned down the budget for the second time 4-8 to 339. The budget had been cut by $50,000 to $1,957,786. The West Mahwah district voted the budget down by about 100 voters white the Cragmere and Fardale Districts approved it by slim margins. Mrs. Edythe Glasgow, a School Board member for a number of years pointed out that West Mahwah helps support a Lutheran and two Catholic parochial Schools. At the four public meetings held on the budget only one person appeared at Betsy Ross School, two each at Commodore Perry and Fardale and only three at the High School. She concluded that people were voting their pocketbooks. The Township Committee now may recommend further cuts. (Bristow) |
1908-02-29 | People | Dr. J. B. Finch and wife of Ramsey welcomed a new daughter to their home. This leap year baby will have a birthday every four years. (Bristow) |
1912-02-29 | Education | At the Ramsey Board of Education Meeting bids for the construction of the New High School whill will serve the outlying communities as well as Ramsey, were opened. Many contractors provided bids but the combined lowest bids were more than the $29,000 authorized so all the checks were returned. Costs have gone up considerably since the State Education Department has raised specifications for the construction of school buildings. The Board believes that about $7,000 additional will have to be authorized for them to construct the building they believe the community needs. They have determined not to build a smaller or less well-equipped one. (Bristow) |
1944-02-29 | People | Mrs. Mabel Petrie reminded parents and relatives of servicemen that the only way they could vote in the election in November was through a soldier's ballot. Any adult family member could fill out an application for one for their serviceman. These could be obtained from there at Box 94 in Mahwah or by calling here at Cragmere 3937. Anyone twenty-one years of age or older on November 7, 1944 was eligible. The applications had to be sent to Trenton. Ballots would be sent directly to the service women or men, she said. (Bristow) |
1866-03-01 | Business | The Ramapo Valley Mining and Petroleum Company was incorporated in New York City. The Prospectus said that the company had leases on both sides of the Ramapo River consisting of about 3,500 acres of 25 farms from Suffern to what is now Ramsey. They sank a well 676 yards south of Bear Swamp near the Deerhaven bridge, across the river from Abran Garrison's house. It went down 400' hitting lignite and coal but no oil, before being stopped by basalt. (Bristow) |
1898-03-01 | Education | At the School Board Meeting the following sums were proposed for the coming year for the Hohokus Township Schools. Painting $200 Teachers' salaries $1,400 Janitors' fees 200 Cleaning, repairs & supplies $400 Clerk's fees 75 Taking school census 35 Textbooks and stationary 300 The Supervising Principal W. A. Stovall had his salary raised from $800 to $900. (Bristow) |
1911-03-01 | People | Ralph B. Crummy a lawyer who had lived in Mahwah [Cragmere?] for two years died at the untimely age of only 27. He leaves a mother, 2 brothers and a sister. He formerly lived in Brooklyn and is a graduate of Erasmus Hall and Columbia Law School. (Bristow) |
1914-03-01 | Disasters | The biggest snowfall in years hit Mawah. Heavy snow began to fall as the new month came in accompanied by 80 mph winds. School was closed for 2 days. Few trains run until the third. Almost all electric and telephone wires were down. Since the Rockland Electric Co. could not erect new ones they leaned temporary ones against stones so that service could be restored. It was reported that only 12 telephones were operating in Ramsey. This storm was said to have caused more damage than the blizzard of 1888 here since we had no wires then. (Bristow) |
1916-03-01 | Education | Grades 7 and 8 in the Mahwah School has achieved the distinction of having the highest attendance for the past six months. Those with perfect attendance for the month of February were Hector Chisholm, Herman DeGroat, Vivian DeGroat, George Selling, Jesse Slavin, Richard Wanamaker, Albert Winter, Carl Winter, Minnie Hopper, Elizabeth Lawrence, Genevieve Mahoney and Olive Valentine. (Bristow) |
1932-03-01 | People | Attendance at the PTA meeting was curtailed by a wave of colds sweeping the Committee Chairmen. The most urgent piece of business had to be deferred. The group could not agree on whether to buy a stereopticon machine or a motion picture projector for the schools. The children of the Darlington School were reported to be selling candy to be able to present $100 to their PTA for the purchase of a projector. (Bristow) |
1938-03-01 | Recreation | The Mahwah School's new hillbilly band gave its first performance. Supervising Principal Robert C. Fagan had wanted a small school band for some time so he secured Mr. McLean as advisor and Mrs. Irving Tiedman as coach. The members of the group were Albert Boursault and Norma DeGroat, harmonica, Robert Sheret, guitar, Donald Tilley, drums, Henry Radesky, banjo, Florence Jones, piano. Margaret Salling doubled on the piano and the banjo. (Bristow) |
1944-03-01 | Transportation | This was the first day that the new license plate could be displayed on your car. They were not required until April 1st. The single plate, which was straw colored, with black letters, was to be fixed to the rear of the car. Motorists who wished to retain the same number they had before were urged to apply early. By keeping the same number, R. V. Ackerman, the local Motor Vehicle agent stated, the car owner would not have to have the number on his gas ration card or on his tire inspection certificate changed. (Bristow) |
1945-03-01 | People | A former basketball star at Ramsey High School, Andrew Remo, of Mahwah, continued his winning ways while in the service. The Army Sergeant led his DEMI squad to victory in the Post championship of his Army base. For security reasons the address and name of the base were not revealed. Remo, the captain of his team, was the high scorer for his team with 13 points as they defeated Battery A 53-41. Remo's wife, the former Gloria Huebner, and his daughter Marie lived at the family home on Valley Road while Andrew was in the service. (Bristow) |
1945-03-01 | Business | The annual sale of Christmas Seals was officially ended. Mrs. H. F. Holman, the local Chairman reported that Mahwah had sold $651.78 of the labels for the benefit of the Bergen County Tuberculosis and Health Association. This was the highest total in Mahwah's history. Mrs. Holman thanked the members of her Committee: Mrs. Ogden Hewitt, Mrs. William Kehr and Mrs. F. Keys. (Bristow) |
1951-03-01 | People | Pfc. John Eaton of Ramsey arrived at Percy Jones Army Hospital in ?Battle Creek Michigan for treatment of the frostbite he suffered while a prisoner of Chinese forces during the Korean War. He had been serving with the 24th Division when he was captured near the 38th parallel on New Year's Day. He was held for 42 days about 60 miles north of the battles lines and, was released when he and several others pretended to accept daily doses of indoctrination to which they were subjected. The 19-year-old Ramsey High graduate was then provided with thousands of surrender leaflets and turned loose between the lines. He first revealed his plight to his mother by phone on the 22nd from Japan and returned to the States on the 27th of February. (Bristow) |
1952-03-01 | People | Edward T. Pitts, son of Mr. and Mrs. Howard Pitts of Armour Road Cragmere became Northern New Jersey Preparatory School wrestling Champion in the 133-pound class. He defeated Neil Hayes of Lawrenceville 8-0 in helping Peddie School to a third place finish in the Headmasters and Coaches Tournament. Pitts was a Senior at Peddie, President of the Senior Class and Captain of the wrestling team. (Bristow) |
1962-03-01 | Business | The Darlington County Club was sold to a family group associated with the Falstrom Company in Passaic. The five new owners, who acquired the property which had originally been developed by Fred Wehran, the developer of Teterboro Airport, were Albert W. Lindstrom, his two sons, Clifford II and Albert, his brother Clifford, and his nephew John Ricker. They announced the they would greatly expand the facilities and activities at the facility which had more than 700 families as members and more then 700 attending its Day Camp the previous season. They intended, though to continue such popular activities as the Miss Darlington and Mrs. Darlington beauty pageants. (Bristow) |
1962-03-01 | People | The Fyke Nature Association was conducting a bird feeder watch program. All persons who maintained feeders were asked to keep a record of what came to the feeders daily. These reports were to be turned in to neighborhood field workers who would collate and turn in the information to a central listing monthly. The purpose was to monitor changes in the winter bird population in this area. Among the local people who had agreed to be field workers were Mr. and Mrs. Donald Storing of Valley Road, Mahwah, Mr. and Mrs. John Douglas McKechnie of Hillburn and Mrs. Henry L. Carson and Mrs. Thomas Wright of Ramsey. (Bristow) |
1898-03-02 | People | The Christian Endeavor Society entertainment at the Lecture Room of the Reformed Church featured the Excelsior Quartet from Paterson and a gramophone with the latest songs and jokes. (Bristow) |
1902-03-02 | Disasters | In a disastrous flood there was extensive damage. The bridge near James Devine's blacksmith was swept away. Freeholder Devine will attempt to have the Board erect a strong new bridge to replace the temporary bridge. (Bristow) |
1912-03-02 | People | The death of Andrew Winter was sudden and unexpected although he had been in poor health for some months. He ate his usual full supper and went to bed about 8:00 PM. He was suddenly taken ill around 9:30 and soon died. He was 71 years old and continued to be active socially and in church work, although he sold his grocery business about five years ago. The Funeral service was conducted at the Ramapo Reformed Church where he was on the Consistory. The eulogy was delivered by former Pastor Rev. Vanderberg and the service conducted by the Rev. Dykema and another former Pastor Walter Mains. Internment was in the family plot in the Mahwah Cemetery. (Bristow) |
1914-03-02 | People | The employees of the Darlington Farm presented a silver loving cup to Allen S. Merchant, their General Manager who is leaving. He will take up the post of Farm Bureau Manager and County Agricultural Expert in Montgomery County, New York. His office will be in Florida, the County seat. (Bristow) |
1918-03-02 | Business | Milk is cheapest source of protein. If it is 10 cents a quart it is as cheap as sirloin steak at 22.9 cents a lb. or eggs at 27.9 a doz. At 12 cents a quart it is as cheap as sirloin steak at 27.4 cents a lb. or eggs at 33.5 a doz. When milk is 10 cents a quart, steak can be no more than 14.2 cents per lb. or eggs more than 3.3 cents a dox. (Bristow) |
1932-03-02 | Police | At 11:10 AM Mrs. Kelley, of Cragmere, called the Mahwah Police Department to say that she had lost her child. Chief Smith told her to take a good look around and call him back. Five minutes later she called again. She had found the missing child. (Bristow) |
1934-03-02 | People | The Duplicate Bridge Tournament sponsored by the Mahwah Woman's club at the Town Hall was so popular the four more were scheduled. Nine tables participated during the evening. First prize was won by Dr. and Mrs. Royal Sengstacken of Suffern. Second prize went to A. Hasemeyer and partner. Mr. and Mrs. Foss Tibbals were third and Mr. and Mrs. Richard Keith were fourth. (Bristow) |
1945-03-02 | People | A double tragedy hit the family of Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Demeduk of Valley Road, Darlington. On the same day that their son T/5 Nicholas Demeduk was reported seriously wounded in combat in the Philippines, a second son, Tech. Sgt. John J. Demeduk was killed in action in Germany. Sgt. Demeduk, 24, was a member of the 13th Infantry Division. He was a graduate of St. Luke's School in Hohokus and had entered the service on March 17, 1941. He had been overseas for a year at the time of his death. A third son, Pvt. Peter Demeduk was stationed in Mississippi with the Army Air Force. A daughter, Justine, worked in the Ramsey Home Bakery. (Bristow) |
1950-03-02 | Education | In a letter to the Ramsey Journal Henry O. Havemeyer and Horace S. Ritter campaigned vigorously for the defeat of the proposed bond is set to finance a new central elementary school on Ridge Road. They maintained that the 4 existing schools, George Washington, Betsy Ross, the... and Commodore Perry were quite adequate. If parents wanted "marble halls" they should send their children to private schools and spare the public the expense of the high initial cost and the high transportation costs of the School Board's proposal. Mahwah's education, they maintained was neither "Model T" nor "Bargain Basement." as some supporters had claimed. (Bristow) |
1957-03-02 | Business | Dignitaries from Ramsey and Mahwah joined in the ceremonial opening of Mahwah's first Bank. A branch of the First National Bank and Trust Company was opened at the corner of Ramapo Ave and Franklin Turnpike. Among the dignitaries present were Mayors John Elliot of Ramsey and Charles Feldman of Mahwah, and bank officials, Frederick Storer, President and Ronald Lewis, branch manager. An honored guest was Mrs. Annie C. Winter formally owned the land. She was photographed holding a ten dollar bill issued in 1902 by the Bank. It was signed by the Bank's first president, E. F. Carpenter, Mrs. Winter's father. (Bristow) |
1959-03-02 | Government | A large crowd filled the Mill Road firehouse to capacity as the Planning Board considered a change of zoning to permit the building of a 3,000 acre industrial park in the mountain area paralleling the New York State Line. Some residents like Murray Spear of Valley Road contended that his world open the entire valley to uncontrolled industrial development, while others, such as Jerrold Oakle of Deerhaven said that controlled growth was the only alternative to extremely high taxes. Also opposing town's masterplan should be enacted before it was changed. Fred Blanplied of Marion Drive countered by stating that stable planning such as the master plan would introduce was needed if the Town was to attract industry. Caesar J. Bertheau of Stag Hill Road deplored the plan because it would interfere with home ownership, "The greatest investment that most people make in a lifetime." But Michael Warhol of West Mahwah maintained that the Town must have industry to help pay for the taxes so that ordinary people could keep their homes. The Board postponed its decision. (Bristow) |
1959-03-02 | Education | An executive session of the Boards of Education of Mahwah and Allendale failed to resolve the question of whether a regional high school should be created covering the two towns. Allendale had requested the meeting since their students were attending Mahwah High School on a ten-year tuition arrangement. They wished to create a more permanent solution for secondary education in Allendale. Dr. Geroge B. McClellan, Mahwah's Superintendent and Allendale President George Wolfson agreed to continue meeting. County Superintendent Archie S. Hay had outlined the steps necessary to create a regional high school to the two groups. (Bristow) |
1911-03-03 | People | Since the Hooks Town Board has not yet appointed a dog warden the dog ordinance is not being enforced. (Bristow) |
1920-03-03 | Police | For the past 7 days there have been no commitments to the County Jail. In fact the large new facility has only 12 prisoners, most for minor infractions. Sheriff Kinzley says it is because of prohibition. (Bristow) |
1928-03-03 | People | The Mahwah Chapter of the Delphin Society met at Mrs. William G. Sargant's home. The program for the day was "Weber, Schumann and Schubert, Three Romantics". Mrs. R. A. Smith sang "My Jesus as Thy Will" by Weber Summaries of the achievements of the three composers were given by members, Mrs. R. A. Smith sang etc. Mrs. William Kehr sang Schumann's "Fresh Green", "Silence" and "I can Not, I Dare Not, Believe it" and Mrs. Clifford D. Schoomaker and Schubert's "Ave Maria" Mrs. Werner Trumbower, a guest, played the piano accompaniments. Piano solos as recorded on the Ampico player piano by Luba d'Alexandrowska, Howard Brockway and Arthur Schnabel completed the program. (Bristow) |
1934-03-03 | People | The Little Theatre Group of Mahwah held a play reading at the Town Hall before a group of members, friends and relatives. Taking leading of roles in "Mary Queen of Scots" were Mrs. Ogden B. Hewitt, Mrs. Edwin T. Bennett, Mrs. Alonso Sherow, J. Anton Harris and George G. O'Brein. Unusual in these events was the serving of coffee to the audience at the close of the reading. (Bristow) |
1938-03-03 | People | Clarence Quackenbush, 23, an employee of the American Brake Shoe was injured severely in the hand at work. He was quickly taken to the Good Samaritan Hospital where Dr. Royal Sengstacken treated him. He lived on Railroad Ave., (Bristow) |
1942-03-03 | People | The Defense Council announced that supplies of sand had been delivered at strategic places around the Township. Householders were urged to place at least two pails of this said in their attics to be used in case of incendiary bomb attacks. Air Raid Wardens were available to explain to any resident how the sand should be used. The announced locations of the sand deposits illustrate how much Mahwah has changed since 1942. Public schools Number 2 and 7, Fardale and Darlington, opposite WARHOL'S STORE, Opposite the basket factory, Opposite Frank Scherer residence, near Hopkins Corner, in Finch's parking lot, on Airmount Rd near the respective residences of O'Brein, H. M. Smith Pelz and Grant s. and opposite Frank Rothhaupt's garage and in many other places around the Township. (Bristow) |
1945-03-03 | People | Cadet Nurse Nora DeGroat came home to spend the weekend with her parents Mr. and Mrs. Dorty DeGroat on Ridge Road. The Cadet Nurse was in training at Hackensack Hospital. (Bristow) |
1945-03-03 | People | Many national newspapers published an Associated Press photo of marines in front of the American flag on top of Mount Suribachi. (This was not THE famous picture of the raising of the flag on February 23rd, but another, later photo). Among the marines was Cpr. Joseph R. Brennan, the son of Mr. and Mrs. J. J. Brennan of Island Rd., Mahwah. The Marine was serving with Company C, fourth Engineer Battalion, Fourth Marine Division. He was to the rear of the group, directly in front of the flagstaff. He had been overseas for about seventeen months. This was his sixth island invasion. He had previously landed twice on the Marshalls, Saipan, Tinian and Tarawa. Brennan's brother William was in the Army in Italy. He had been wounded twice while participating in the Anzio beachhead and the March on Rome. (Bristow) |
1952-03-03 | Business | The Town and Country Shop on Miller Rd was sold by Mrs. Alice MacArthur and Mrs. Rebecca Stone to Mrs. Ila Kuck of Oweno Rd. She announced that she had redecorated and would concentrate on providing her customers with "smartness and individuality at modest prices." (Bristow) |
1955-03-03 | Politics | The recently reorganized Mahwah Republican Club announced its support of William Drobesh as County Committeeman from District 2, West Mahwa. Drobesh, who had been active in many civic activities in the district was to oppose the incumbent, John J. Warhol Jr., Town and School Board attorney. The Club describing itself as the first fluff-fledged GOP group in Mahwah's history, supported Drobesh as a part of its aefforts to remove Republican politics from the hands of what it described as a "small clique". Drobesh was a former member of the school board and had been particularly active in the VFW. He was former Mahwah and Bergen County Commander and was then serving as District Commender of the New Jersey Department of the VFW. He was a fireman an Elk and had chaired the Mahwa Boy Scout fund drives for several years. (Bristow) |
1958-03-03 | Education | In anticipation of the opening of the new Junior-Senior High School in September the Board of Education announced several changes in the feeder schools. The Betsy Ross and Commodore Perry schools were to go back to single sessions. Betsy Ross would house grades one, two, and three, while the kindergarten and grades four through six would attend Commodore Perry. Eleven teachers who had been teaching in grades seven and eight were transferred to the Junior high school. Betsy Ross Principal Rene Buhlman opposed the new arrangement, especially the shuttle bus which was to bring kindergarten pupils from Betsy Ross to Commodore Perry daily. (Bristow) |
1874-03-04 | People | Jacob Dorems sued John Yoho for the non-payment of a $15 debt. Doremus had sold a horse with the understanding that if the horse lived for a year Yolo would pay the $15. When the year ended the horse was still alive but Yolo did not pay. The horse died two months later. Squire Christie gave a verdict of $15 for the plaintiff but since the defendant is destitute Doremus will probably never collect. The Judge had to brig the plaintiff's lawyer Abner Bennet to order since two-thirds of his speech was in Latin which the court could not understand. (Bristow) |
1898-03-04 | Crime | A $50 reward is offered for the arrest of thieves who broke int o the house of David Hopper by cutting out a pane of glass. The loot included $40 of Church funds, (Mr. Hopper is Treasurer of the Reformed Church.) 2 gold watches, a pair of eyeglasses, some clothing and 2 nearly new Remington bicycles. Since the bikes have very visible hubs they will be easily recovered. The thieves also took two hats leaving their own old ones. The family was alsleep in the upper floor and did not hear the thieves. The Church Consistory voted to help him make up the lost Church money. (Bristow) |
1902-03-04 | Education | The Board of Education voted $50 to provide school libraries for the five District schools. It was pointed out that the District stands to lose a good deal of State Aid this year since it will now be allocated according to attendance. (Bristow) |
1909-03-04 | People | Mrs. Ann Van Riper died. She had celebrated her 108th birthday on February 21st. She and her 70 years old daughter Marcia lived in a little red house on the Litchult Farm in Masonicus. (See December 21, 1908 for full biog.). "Her death was simply a gradual going away of the the center of life, due to old age." She was buried in the Union Cemetery. (Bristow) |
1911-03-04 | Crime | Mr. Hicks, the poormaster, reported to the Town Board of a case of child neglect and abuse. A 21-year-old epileptic William Jennings of Mahwah was being confined in an unheated attic. He had no clothes and was not being fed adequately. Both of his feet had frozen and several toes had fallen off from gangrene. Physicians at the Hackensack Hospital fear his leg may have to be amputated. Superintendent Brett arrested the father and had him committed to the jail in Hackensack. (Bristow) |
1932-03-04 | People | Assembly programs of the Ramsey grade school and High School heard the reminiscences of William D. Plumb of Paterson. He was said to be the last surviving crew member of the USS Constitution. He had served on the venerable ship in 1880. He had been allowed to sail with the ship fifty years later as it traveled from New London to New York City on August 29, 1931. The students were reported to have been "thrilled" to hear his many tales of service on the old ship. (Bristow) |
1933-03-04 | People | The new President, Franklin D. Roosevelt, in his inaugural address, attempted to restore calm in the country torn by the near collapse of the banking system. He proclaimed a bank holiday to last one week. Over the weekend both the Ramsey and Allendale Banks adopted the uniform rules suggested by the U.S. Treasury Department. Withdrawals of up to $10 from savings or checking accounts would be permitted to buy food and medicines. They would make change for businesses, cash government checks and accept temporary deposits of cash. Safe deposit and trust departments would remain open for business. The holiday ended on March 15 when all local banks reopened after receiving new licenses. Dr. John Finch, the President of the Ramsey Bank said that there had been a steady stream of customers on the first day of resumed business with deposits exceeding withdrawals. The only restriction remaining was on loans. (Bristow) |
1938-03-04 | People | Dr. Robert F. James, the Mahwah scientists and developer of the anti-bacterial lamp was the guest speaker at the Suffern Rotary Club. He spoke on the Wasserman test for syphilis in the meeting held at the Eureka House. Among the local members of the medical profession present were Drs. Royal F. Sengstacken, George W. Unworth, George Veith, Lyle Gage and Carlisle Hussey. (Bristow) |
1942-03-04 | People | The prizes at the card party sponsored by the Mahwah Chapter of the Good Samaritan Hospital Guild reflected the wartime shortages. Winners at each of the bridge and pinochle tables received a daintily wrapped prize of sugar. Sugar was one of the items subject to rationing during the emergency. The party netted $43 which was donated to help maintain the hospital laboratory. The group had recently donated a fully equipped suture tray to be used, as they said, "for emergency defense work". (Bristow) |
1952-03-04 | People | The Mahwah Girl Scout Council announced that 10% of all money realized from future fundraising efforts would be put into a sinking fund to retire their debts. It was decided to sell pencils and Girl Scout cookies made available by the national office, even though the local Council disapproves of community food sales as a form of raising money. (Bristow) |
1957-03-04 | People | A joyride ended in tragedy for a Mahwah boy and his Suffern companion when the car they had taken without permission crashed after a ninety mile chase through Rockland County. The two youths had sneaked out of their homes after their parents were asleep. Gary Smith, 16 of Mahwah took a 1957 convertible which belonged to Mayflower Plymouth Sales, of which his father was the general manager. He picked up the Thomas Emgre, 15 of Suffern and they went for a ride. When police in Spring Valley tried to stop them for running a red light at the corner of Routes 45 and 59, they set out at high speed through Haverstraw, Suffern and Ramapo at speeds of 90 miles per hour. In Tuxedo the police tried to stop him with a police car blocking one lane of the road and a truck parked on the other side of the road. Smith driving south on Route 17, crashed between the two vehicles and hit a tree fifty feet down the road. The Emgre boy was killed instantly. Smith suffered severe lacerations. The car was wrecked. He was treated at the Tuxedo Memorial Hospital and faced charges of reckless endangerment and various speeding violations in Spring Valley, and Ramapo when he was released. He was reported to have told police that he feared being stopped because he had no license. (Bristow) |
1957-03-04 | Business | The First National Bank and Trust Company opened its first branch, in Mahwah. It was Mahwah's first bank. The first customer was Mrs. Yvette Bester of Malcolm Road. She opened a savings accounts and rented a safe deposit box. The opening was hailed in an editorial in the Ramsey Journal as indicating the growth of the Bank, which had been established on March 26, 1909, and of the growth of Mahwah itself. "The existence of banking facilities in a town insures its steady growth and the bank in turn grows with the community." The bank had the latest equipment including an open counter rather than closed windows, a drive-in window and a night depository. (Bristow) |
1903-03-05 | People | In addition to the usual bounties on red fox and chicken hawks, the Republican Primary proposed a bounty of $1 on Minks. An attempt to raise the contract wages for a man and a team from $3.50 to $4.00 per day was defeated. (Bristow) |
1911-03-05 | People | The house occupied by Joseph Vandermonk caught fire while the family was out. Neighbors tried to put out the blaze but the house burned to the ground. Only a little furniture was saved. The building belonged to A. J. Winter. (Bristow) |
1920-03-05 | Disasters | The big storm knocked down the fine flagpole on Harry Z. Sturr's lawn. Because the roads and walks were blocked there was no Sunday Service at the Ramapo Reformed or Darlington Churches. (Bristow) |
1934-03-05 | Education | Although Supervising Principal W. George Hayward was confined to his home by the grippe, and eye infection and general fatigue his monthly report to the Board of Education was read at their regular meeting. Among other things he praised the work of the new custodian John Ashby in the Cragmere School who had started on February 1st. Ten out of the twenty teachers in the District were taking courses in nearby colleges and Universities, he reported. The Board agreed to allow the eighth grade a day for a field trip and authorized the purchase of mimeograph paper for four issues of a school newspaper at the Mahwah School. (Bristow) |
1934-03-05 | Government | The sale of bottles of liquor containing less than a pint was forbidden in retail stores in New Jersey by order of Frederick Barnett, Commissioner of Alcoholic beverages. He stated that these so-called "nips" had "encouraged drunkenness and disorder". Barnett recognized the advantages of selling these small quantities on trains or in taverns for immediate consumption since the purchaser could be sure of what he was getting. But in stores these bottles were often displayed with cigarettes at a price of two for 25 cents including sales that might never have taken place when someone came in for gum or candy. For the most part, he claimed, although they were not drunk on the premises, they were often gulped down at the door or on the sidewalk outside thus turning a retail store into a consumption business. Bottles littered the parks, and motorists complained of broken glass in the streets, he pointed out as he issued orders limiting the sale of liquor to bottles of a pint or more in retail stores. (Bristow) |
1934-03-05 | Education | Two special events marked the school board meeting, held at School No. 2, Mahwah. After many months of planning, the Board finally voted the playground equipment which would permit organized games to be played. Included in the order were baseball bats, a play ball assortment and a fourteen-inch ball for each school and volleyball equipment for Schools No.s 2, 7, and Fardale. This was the final Board meeting for two returning veteran members, Edwin C. Lane, the Board President and James Devine. The Board passed a testimonial resolution introduced by Richard Keith honoring their many years of service. (Bristow) |
1944-03-05 | People | The Fardale Honor Roll was dedicated in a ceremony at the corner of Forest Road and Wyckoff Avenue. The sign was designed and constructed under the supervisions of Marvin Akin. Alfred Heflin and John Storms donated shrubs and Harry Stenner flowers to be planted at the site. Permission for using the plot was granted by Mrs. Mary Ackerman of Ramsey. Heflin and Stenner were in charge of the landscaping. (Bristow) |
1949-03-05 | People | A penny sale was held at the Masonic Civic Center on Masonicus Road to raise money for new equipment. The Company was organized in 1947. Albert Norton was the commanding officer. The company had 22 men. (Bristow) |
1951-03-05 | People | The annual Girl Scout Cookie sale began in Mahwah. Three flavors were available at 35 cents per box. All profits went to the local troops. The sale was coordinated by the newly-formed Girls Planning Board made up of representatives of all the troops in town. Mrs. Frank Overocker was moderator of the Board. (Bristow) |
1959-03-05 | Politics | The Mahwah Democratic Party nominated Tax Assessor Joseph B. Krupinski and Francis J. Nugget as their candidates for Township Committee in the November election. The Republican Party meeting scheduled for March 10th was cancelled when it became known that incumbents Mayor Morris E. Ruddick and Bruce E. Sockman would seek reelection. In order for the Republicans to retain their majority on the Committee both candidates would have to win. Nugent was a native of Jersey City. He served overseas for three years and was wounded twice. His wife also saw wartime service as a nurse. Nugent was a reserve officer, a member of the VFW and Knights of Columbus, Cub Master of 255 and a member of the Troop Committee of Troop 255. Krupinski had been twice elected Assessor but had failed in two previous bids for election to the Committee. Mayor Ruddick was the first elected Mayor after the reorganization. He was running for his second term. Sockman was running for his third. (Bristow) |
1962-03-05 | People | The Mahwah Choral Society, an affiliate of the School Community Organization of the Mahwah Schools announced that Mrs. Celeste Connes of Spook Rock Rd., Suffern, had accepted the post of director of the year-old organization. She succeeded Robert Pernichief who had resigned recently. Mrs. Connes was a graduate of the Juilliard School, and Birmingham Conservatory of Music and Greenboro College, North Carolina. She was rehearsal performance accompanist for the Ridgewood Gilbert and Sullivan Company and the Elmwood Players in Nyack and a member of the voice Department of the Community Music School in Spring Valley. A concert on June 9th was the weekly rehearsals held on Monday evenings in the Mahwah High School. (Bristow) |
1902-03-06 | Politics | Henry O. Havemeyer Jr. was nominated at the Republican Convention in Ramsey as a Committeeman. He ran against the incumbent Henry A. Winter and lost 47 to 83. (The usual resolutions about wages and bounties were passed.) (Bristow) |
1918-03-06 | Education | A gardening class has been started at the School. Mr. Jenkins, Forman of the Lewis Farm is the volunteer instructor. The class is open to boys and girls, some of the topics to be considered are the use of fertilizers and proper gardening techniques. (Bristow) |
1933-03-06 | People | At their annual meeting the Library Board reported that the depression has greatly increased public usage of the Library. Daily circulation has reached 105 books. (Bristow) |
1933-03-06 | Education | The Hohokus Township School Board voted unanimously to purchase the Masonicus School site. $400 was to be raised from taxation for this purpose, as voted upon in the recent School Board election. Additional insurance was to be obtained for the site until such time as it was to be disposed of. The Board also approved of a new teacher's desk and flag for the Fardale School. (Bristow) |
1933-03-06 | Education | The impact of the depression was evident in the monthly report of the school District nurse. In addition to the usual visits to schools and to absent pupils she reported that 44 pairs of shoes had been distributed to needy pupils, 966 free cups of soup and 767 free bottles of milk provided. (Bristow) |
1934-03-06 | People | The last of a series of lectures sponsored by the Woman's Club on topics of interest to women was given at the Town Hall. The speaker was Dr. Franklin F. Russell. His topic was "Domestic Relations and Property Rights." He covered a wide variety of topics concerning marriage, annulment, separation, divorce, child custody, the personal and property rights of children and spouses and the liability of husbands for the torts and contracts of their wives. The series had been delayed because of the storm on the 19th and poorly attended on the 28th when he spoke on "Racketeering". (Bristow) |
1942-03-06 | People | Sibley Reid, an aviation cadet, completed his basic flight training at Enid Oklahoma. He was immediately transferred to Lake Charles Louisiana for advanced cadet training. (Sibley Reid was later to be killed in action, one of fourteen Mahwah servicemen to die in World War II.) (Bristow) |
1950-03-06 | Politics | Mahwah's first formal Republican Party organization, the Independent Republican Club was organized at a meeting at the firehouse. Major Charles Bacon, the temporary chairman and the force behind its organization said that its purpose was to make up for faults among local Republicans apparent to many. A constitution, read by Deed Vilmar, President Pro-Tem was read. The purpose of the organization was to stimulate interest and enthusiasm for good government in the community. Major Bacon was chosen chairman of a nominating committee. Lindsey MacArthur was chosen as head of the membership committee. (Bristow) |
1952-03-06 | Police | Applications were solicited for patrolmen for the Mahwah Police Department. Applicants had to be at least 5' 8" tall and weight 140 pounds. The salary range was between $2,800 to $3,600 per year. An additional patrol car was being purchased to accommodate the new patrolmen. (Bristow) |
1953-03-06 | People | The American Friends Service Committee announced that they had approved the application of the Friends of the Ramapos to establish a summer work camp in the Stag Hill area to help local people construct their own homes. The Camp was scheduled to begin about June 23rd and last eight weeks. S. Allen Bacon the Director of the AFSC Work Camp Program came up from Philadelphia to announce the grant at a meeting held in Mahwah. Three preliminary meetings had been held during February each filled to overflowing. At the time of the announcement thirty families had signed up to receive housing advice and assistance. The work camp participants were expected to contribute about 5,000 hours of volunteer time for construction on homes, and, perhaps, a recreation facility. A fund campaign was slated to begin shortly, but the Mental Health Association had already donated $35 to the cause. A. Hurford Grossman of the Service Committee visited Mahwah on February 28th and 29th. He announced that he was particularly impressed by the cooperative spirit in the community. Two pioneer families, he reported, had already acquired land and were building their own houses without waiting for any assistance. Gordon Maunsell of Suffern, a member of the Volunteer Committee was seeking credit help for two families. The Committee was also seeking contributions of folding chairs and card tables for the nearly completed Community Room at the Green Valley AME Zion Church. (Bristow) |
1958-03-06 | Business | L&M Aluminum Products, located at 54 E Main Street in Ramsey offered to install 12 three track aluminum windows and an aluminum door on your house for the bargain price of $251.000. Other products reduced for their "Everything in the Place Must Go sale included a tub enclosure for $39.95 installed and a door hood for $14.95. (Bristow) |
1965-03-06 | People | At the State Interscholastic wrestling championship George Buxbaum of Mahwah High School came in third in the 157 pound class. Buxbaum had won in the district and regional championships to reach the State finals. He lost 3-1 to Frank Zengel of Hunterdon Central in the semifinal and then pinned Demitrius Johnson of North Bulington for the consolation championship and third place. Gary Harwigsen of Ramsey High finished fourth in heavyweight division. (Bristow) |
1696-03-07 | People | Samuel Laroe born. Later owned lower half of Large-Van Horn property (Bristow) |
1777-03-07 | People | Nathaniel Sackett, of New Windsor, one of General Washingotn's agents reported from Suffern's Tavern that he had sent an spy through the American lines in the area of the English Neighborhood that evening with orders to set himself up in the poultry business in New York City so that he could travel back and forth once or twice a week with news of the British forces there. Unfortunately he had not heard anything from him and feared he was a double agent. (Bristow) |
1905-03-07 | People | James Mann, a Mahwah resident, died in the Paterson General Hospital. Cancer had necessitated the amputation of his leg and he never recovered from the operation. He was buried in the Mahwah Cemetery. (Bristow) |
1905-03-07 | Education | The Board of Education recommended the approval of the expenditure of $1,200 for the purchase of land and no more than $11,000 for the building of the new Mahwah School. The latest up to date plans have been secured from the State. It will be a four room brick building. The estimated cost includes heating and furniture. Should the voters turn down the proposition the State can order it anyway. (Bristow) |
1916-03-07 | People | A petition was sent to Assemblyman Bailey by several residents of the southernmost portion of the Township to have that section annexed to the Borough of Oakland. Unfortunately the time had already passed for new bills to be introduced, although the Assemblyman tried to have the rules suspended for this bill. Among those supporting the transfer were Clarence Chapman, William Hand, John Brooks Leavitt, Garret Garrison and Lloyd Henion. (Bristow) |
1919-03-07 | People | A Get-together men's dinner was held at the Mahwa Town Hall by the Ramapo Reformed Church was described in the Ramsey Journal as the "biggest event socially in the history of Mahwah." 150men attended about 50% of them commuters each day from Mahwah, at $1 each. The room was decorated in orange, the color of the Reformed Church in America, in honor of William of Orange. The dinner was prepared by the Ladies Aid Society. Songs were performed by Rev. Vennema's daughter, Mrs. Edward Du Bois and the orchestra consisting of Mrs. Minnie Ramsey, piano, Frank Rufner, violin, William Kehr, viola, Arthur Biggs, flute and John R. Grimm, cello played during and after dinner. Speeches by the Rev. Vennema, Howard F. Holman, Chairman of the Township Committee and Simon Blocher, Pastor of the Paterson Reformed Church were timely and inspiring. (Bristow) |
1928-03-07 | People | Clifford D. Schoonmaker of Mahwah was named President of the Board of Directors of the National Woolens and Trimming Association at a meeting held in the Canadian Club at the Hotel Belmont. (Bristow) |
1932-03-07 | People | The Annual meeting of the Mahwah Free Public Library Association was held at the library. Florence E. Cooper, Margaret S. Forte and Evelyn B. Lane were elected to three year terms as trustees. In the annual report it was noted that the library quarters in the Winter Building on Miller Road had become completely inadequate to hold the collection. As a result the Board had to lease the adjacent store and thus double their space. The impact of the depression was deplored. It had resulted in fewer contributions and greatly increased circulation. They had been forced to rebind nearly 200 books during the year. They had been able to borrow 210 vitally needed books from the state during the year. Without state help the Board reported, they would not have been able to continue to provide the level of service needed by the public. The librarian reported 825 borrowers, and a daily circulation of 14,280. 267 books were added to the collection. 101 of these books were donated. 166 books were purchased at a cost of $315. $38 were spent on magazines and $1,072 was spent on salaries, rent and utilities. The Board projected sharply higher costs during 1932 because of the rent having been doubled. A monthly story hour was given for children and the librarian reported that she worked hard to channel young readers into worthwhile books. (Bristow) |
1933-03-07 | People | Dr. Robert F. James of Mahwah was the featured speaker at a meeting of bacteriologists, physicians and public health authorities at the Engineering Auditorium in New York City. Dr. James and Dr. Harvey C. Renyschler had jointly developed a lamp which killed bacteria and other microorganisms. Both are on the staff of the Westinghouse Corporation, where Dr. Rentschler is research director. The new lamp, which costs about 1/3 as much as a 25 watt lamp to operate, completely sterilized air, food and utensils after a brief contact. The new lamp had been tried at the meat department of Scherer and Co. in Mahwah for the previous year. It had also reduced post-op native deaths caused by airborne infection since it began to be used in the Duke University Hospital operating room, in Durham, N. C. Dr. James had developed a lamp for killing molds when he worked for Detroit Edison. He joined forces with Dr. Renschleider when he came to work for Westinghouse and the new lamp resulted after eight years of development. (Bristow) |
1938-03-07 | People | At the annual meeting of the Library Board three new members were elected to three year terms: Florence Cooper, Eleanor Miss, Louise G. Rounds. 649 books were added to the collection, 148 purchased and 461 donated, for a total of 9,486. There were 625 regular borrowers with average circulation on busy days between 116 and 132. (Bristow) |
1945-03-07 | Fire Department | The Fardale Fire Department met at Dick Akin's garage. The most important item of business was the second reading of the bylaws and a petition drive to have the company accepted as an independent company by the Township. The final steps were about to be taken to incorporate the group. 1945's standing committees were also appointed and orders confirmed for additional Indian pumps and brooms to fight brush and forest fires. Harry Stenner was the lucky winner of the "dark horse" prize, whatever that was. (Bristow) |
1959-03-07 | People | A short-eared owl and a flock of snow buntings were the highlight of the Fyke Nature Association's field trip to Long Island, but the group did not get to see the European redwing. This bird had been seen for the first time in North America by some bird watchers that winter. The excursion was led by Mr. and Mrs. Henry Walcott of Wyckoff and included the group's President Roy Dietert and his wife Betty and daughter, Kathy, Mrs. Newell Sjolander and Ted Muller. (Bristow) |
1899-03-08 | Politics | Among the resolutions passed at the Democratic Primary held at Schroeder's Hotel in Ramsey were a $2.00 bounty on red foxes, a 50 cent bounty of chicken hawks and a tax on dogs and bitches of 25 cents each. $2,000 was voted to Macadamize the roads. (Bristow) |
1904-03-08 | Politics | James H. Carlough of Mahwah, Democrat, was elected over the Republican John C. Ryerson to the Township Committee by a majority of four votes. He was the only Democrat elected. The Socialst candidate Harry Montross received only 20 votes. Among the bounties voted was one for 50 cents each for hen weasels. (Bristow) |
1909-03-08 | Transportation | At a special meeting attended by three Hohokus Township Committeemen, Albert Winter, C. D. Vanderbeek and Jacob Straut and Township Treasurer Harry Hagerman as well as members of the Borough of Ramsey Committee and Allendale residents a number of recommendations were made to the Erie Railroad to improve service to Mahwah and the other towns. The Mahwah contingent requested that the eastbound train (the 8:43 from Ramsey) stop at Mahwah. They wanted a train to arrive from New York at about 6:30 PM and that the Depots in all three towns be opened until 9:00 PM. A delegation of Albert Winter, Otto Saalfield of Ramsey and Mr. Lee of Allendale will personally call on the Erie Passenger Alert. (Bristow) |
1930-03-08 | Police | The was a busy Saturday for Chief Smith of the Hohokus Township Police. At 10:00 AM he raided a card game at the American Brake Shoe Plant. He arrested fourteen men. At 3:00 PM he was a guard at the Savings and Lean Board meeting. While there he got a call from the State Troopers to go with them while they raided a still in Masonicus. At 5:00 PM they went to a barn back of Anthony Dubenz's. The Police Record Book reads laconically: "Found a still. Knocked it off and notified prosecutor's Office." He returned from the raid to escort William King to the Ramsey Bank with the funds from the Savings and Loan. At 10:10 he received a complaint from Mike Romanski that there was a fight on his street, Brook St. Smith went down there to investigate "No one fighting" he recorded in his blotter. (Bristow) |
1934-03-08 | Business | Spring Fever seems to have hit one of Miss Reich's cows. She wandered away from her Darlington Avenue Barn during the night. She was later found at Albert Winter's dairy. She had apparently been seeking bovine companionship. (Bristow) |
1942-03-08 | Business | The first of the new wartime pennies were received in this area. The Denver and Philadelphia mints had begun production of the new "penny" several weeks earlier. The coins contained was 95% copper and about 5% zinc. They contained only an infinitesimal amount of tin. The old coins contained about 1% tin. The new coins were said to be virtually indistinguishable from the old coins. The mints were also turning out nickel-less nickels made half of silver and half of copper, but these had not been distributed as yet. The older five cent pieces contained about 25% nickel. Both tin and nickel were to be saved for war production. (Later in the war, during 1943 pennies were made of aluminum, since the copper was also needed for the war effort.) (Bristow) |
1945-03-08 | Charity | As the second week of the annual Red Cross Fund Drive was drawing to a close, drive Chairman, P. D. Ash of Mahwah announced that two communities had already exceeded their quotas: Fardale and Saddle River. The achievements of these local committees were featured on radio station WEAF's newscaster Don Goddard, who compared their results and those of Scarsdale with the lagging receipts in New York City. Saddle River reached 110% of quota and FArdale achieved 125% of its quota, according to Ash. (Bristow) |
1951-03-08 | People | Because of the heavy demand for first aid training applicants were being screened by the Civil Defense Council, with preference being given to Ambulance Corps drivers, firemen and policemen. The fact that Mahwah had only two active first aid instructors limited the numbers drastically. A standard class of 20 was being taught in Fardale while 24 in Mahwah were completing the advanced course. Another class of 24 was scheduled to begin in Fardale, while 24 from the American Brake Shoe Corporation was to begin on March 27th. (Bristow) |
1955-03-08 | People | Former Out O'Bounds Aero and Golf Club amateur champion Scott Marozin was appointed a gold instructor at the Newark Airport Golf Course perhaps so he could work in familiar circumstances. The Out O'Bounds course had been taken over for the Ford plant site and he needed a new airport course since. (Bristow) |
1957-03-08 | People | Among four young women from the area who were graduated by the Flower-Fifth Avenue School of Nursing was Barbara Dromboski of Mahwah. Four of the girls were all graduates of Ramsey High School and all had gone together for the affiliation part of their training to a hospital in Middletown New York. The new Mahwah nurse was the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. H. Dombroski of 116 Christie Avenue. She had been an officer of the senior council in Ramsey. While at Flower-Fifth Avenue she was Secretary of the Student Council and President of her class for three years. The other local girls to be graduated were Carolyn Korbmacher, June Hindy and Peggy Doremus, all of Ramsey. An interesting sidelight to the graduation ceremonies was the presence of TV cameras. One of the graduates had been a successful contestant on the hit TV program "Name that Tune" just before the graduation. (Bristow) |
1962-03-08 | Education | The Township Committee made $108,542 in cuts in the School District Budget which had been twice turned down by the voters. After considerable discussion the School Board decided to accept $106,000 of those cuts and not to take the matter to the State Commissioner of Education. Much of the controversy centered on how much free surplus should be left in the budget. In order to protect the educational standards of the District the Board voted to devote all of its surplus funds to the anticipated budget. One of the moves was to submit to the voters the transfer of $40,000 previously allocated for a High School Athletic Field House to current expenses. (Bristow) |
1909-03-09 | Business | The Mahwah Company which is developing the old Ezra Miller Estate has published an attractive brochure describing the new residential park. The illustrated pamphlet describes the general layout and includes a map. Several men have been working all winter preparing about 2 miles of macadamized roads and other facilities. Several lots have been sold already. (Bristow) |
1909-03-09 | People | Three District Court Judges have been appointed to hear the case of how to divide the cost of macadamizing Franklin Turnpike. They heard evidence on 3/20/1909 Judge Demarest will consider the final recommendation. (Bristow) |
1915-03-09 | People | Charles L. Barker's peach orchard was the site of a special demonstration of the latest fruit tree care techniques given to a large gathering of local farmers. Holding the session were the State and County tree experts Mr. Merrill and Mr. W. W. Oley. Both agreed that Mr. Barker's orchard is in excellent condition. (Bristow) |
1928-03-09 | Fire Department | After Chief Scherer reported on the five brush fires to which the Mahwah Fire Department responded during February attention at the monthly department meeting turned to why one of the members failed to attend the Fardale fire. The culprit, identified in the report in the Ramsey Journal only as "Bill", the Secretary of the Relief Association, explained that he had been following the fire truck in his powerful new car at 60 miles per hour when he observed another brush fire. He stopped to assist an elderly lady and her grandson who were attempting to put the fire out with a rug beater and a potato masher. When he had put the fire out it was to late to attend the Fardale Fire. The matter was turned over to the "New Fires Committee" consisting of President Dator, Secretary Dunning, Chief Scherer and Foreman Hagerman. After consulting various maps the Committee discovered that the fire had taken place in Ramsey, not in Mahwah. "Bill" was fined two dollars for going to and assisting in putting out a fire not in his district. It was decided to buy more bonds with the fine money, if he ever paid it. (Bristow) |
1928-03-09 | People | Havilah M. Smith of Summet Road received one-third of the estate of his late father, William C. Smith of New York City, who died June 30, 1927. Another brother and two grandsons inherited the rest. The net value of the estate was $245,268 with each third worth $81,756. Most of the estate was in the form of stocks and bonds, the New York State Transfer Tax Department announced. (Bristow) |
1934-03-09 | Fire Department | Chief Roy Monroe reported that there had been two fires in town during the month of February, during the monthly meeting of Company No. 1 at the fire house. A demonstration of the company's new carbon dioxide pressure system was announced for the next day so that all of the members could see how the system worked. This replaced the old sulphuric acid process and would permit the company to fight gasoline fires more easily. Three new members were inducted: Jesse A. Slavin, Allan Winter and William J. Wrathall Jr. Twenty-two members enjoyed the dinner which followed the business meeting. (Bristow) |
1934-03-09 | Recreation | Led by center "Ace" Sutherland of Mahwah, Ramsey High School's basketball team defeated Bogota 24-12 to capture the North Bergen class 2 Championship. By their victory they advanced into the semifinals of the state championships at Asbury Park against Merchatville High School. The Purple and Gold showed their determination early in the game with five points from Dombrowski in the first four minutes. The first quarter ended with Ramsey leading 9-0 and the score was 13-2 at the half. Ramsey took advantage of the large court at Pompton Lakes to nullify Bogota's rough tactic, tactics which had led to the cancellation of their regular season game earlier in the year. Coach "Charley" Schanz's strategy of using the fast break and guarding Bogota's most dangerous player, Beckmann, with two guards was said to have been the deciding factor in the game. Sutherland was praised for his ability consistently to win the tap after almost every score and for his sharp passing. He scored five points. Vernon was high scorer for Ramsey with 11. Beckmann had six for Bogota. (Bristow) |
1942-03-09 | Fire Department | At the monthly meeting of the Ladies' Auxiliary of the Fire Department held at Mrs. Edwin Scherer's home, various activities were discussed, all of them requiring money from their treasury. Eventually the group decided to buy a $100 Defense Bond with their money. (Bristow) |
1949-03-09 | Education | Dorothy Gordin, a student in the eight grade of Commodore Perry School received first prize in an art contest sponsored by the Mahwah Woman's Club. Mrs. Dorothy Keith, well-known Cragmere artist judged the contest which was open to students in grades four to eight. Honorable mention awards went to George Van Dunk, Orrie Osinga, Chris Schaefer, Beverly Trommel, Mike Semon, Ted Cavender and James Cavender. (Bristow) |
1953-03-09 | Crime | Charges were dismissed in Magistrate's court in Mahwah against a New York City driver. He had been charged with leaving the scene of an accident in Mahwah. The action was dismissed when it was learned that John Elder was serving a jail term for assault and battery in connection with the same accident. (Bristow) |
1962-03-09 | Recreation | Junior John Lisack ended the basketball season in possession of seven career records. The NBIL individual scoring leader this season set season marks in points, free throws and field goals, as well as career marks in the first two categories and single game marks in total points, 41 and free throws, 15. In all of these he broke marks previously set by Curt Blefray. Lisack was expected to break Blefray's career field goal mark of 269 and his field goals in a single game mark of 15 in his final year of eligibility. Blefray's marks were set in only two seasons, 59-60 and 60-61. Mahwah started varsity basketball in 1959. (Bristow) |
1967-03-09 | Government | A crowd of more than 400 residents turned the public hearing on the budget into an unruly attack on the Township Committee, forcing them to cut $50,000 from their proposals. When it became obvious that there was not enough room in the Miller Road Firehouse the meeting was transferred to the High School auditorium where a noose hung from the ceiling indicate the mood of the crowd. Catcalls and jeers greeted such proposals as a raise in salary for Committeemen from $1,000 to $1,200. $6,000 earmarked for pay raises for police and $8,000 earmarked for hiring a business administrator purchasing agent. A third hearing was set for the following week. No one seems to know why the townspeople are set against all budgets this year, even the Democrats, who lost control over the Town Committee in the last elections and who have sent out fliers against budget increases, admitted that the movement seemed to be a spontaneous "minor miracle" in the words of publicity chairman Mrs. Bernadette Callahan. (Bristow) |
1841-03-10 | Transportation | Law incorporating the Paterson and Ramapo Railroad passed. It was to be built from a suitable place in or near Paterson through Passaic and Bergen counties to some suitable place at the border between Franklin Township and the State of New York. The right of way was not to exceed 66'. The railroad permitted to charge 6 cents a mile for passengers and 10 cents per mile for a ton of freight. (Bristow) |
1905-03-10 | Business | The New York and New Jersey Telephone Company announced their new "farmers telephone". Anyone living at least 1 1/2 miles from the telephone exchange can have one installed for $18.00 per year. (Bristow) |
1911-03-10 | People | Freeholder Carpenter entertained the State Road Commissioner Col. Stevens and the County Engineer, Ralph D. Earle Jr. at lunch. He accompanied them on an inspection of Franklin Turnpike as far as the State line. (Bristow) |
1913-03-10 | People | The New York Telephone Company is issuing an entirely new telephone book to its subscribers. A single book listing all north Jersey subscribers will replace the small local books and the large suburban one for out of town calls. The new book will be slightly larger than the old suburban book but will contain more names by being printed in a new three column setting. The book will list the town in alphabetical order and subscribers within each town also alphabetically. It will be issued three times a year in February, May and October. (Bristow) |
1921-03-10 | Business | The Chanteclaire Music Shop in Paterson advertised in the Ramsey Journal the latest hit jazz records at 69 cents each. These ten inch double sided records included such titles as: Make it Cozy for Me, L Like to do It, Beautiful Faces need Beautiful Clothes and I want a Jazzy Kiss. (Bristow) |
1922-03-10 | People | About 60 persons were present at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Adamson for the organizational meeting of the Mahwah Garden Club. A constitutional committee of Mrs. James Devine, Mrs. Lincoln, Clark Hebner and Mr. Adamson was selected. The following officers were chosen: J. A. Winter, President; Mrs. D. W. Heidgerd, V.P., Mr. Trumbower, Sec. Mrs. Cory, Treasurer. (Bristow) |
1922-03-10 | People | The annual meeting and election of the Mahwah Women's Club was held at the Kemp House. The Club voted to send a letter opposing the transfer of the proposed Tuberculosis Hospital from the control of the Hospital Board to that of the Freeholders. The Club believed it would be too political to have the Freeholders in charge. The Library Committee reported 3,170 books and 20 magazines are on the shelves. Mra. Ball was elected President, Mrs. C. D. Schoonmaker, VP, Mrs. E. C. Land Rec. Sec. Mrs. D. F. W. Heidgerd Treas. and Mrs. W. G. Sageant, corresponding Sec. 26 members attended. (Bristow) |
1928-03-10 | Recreation | Mrs. Thomas H. Prendergast and Mrs. Thoman Ulrichs attended the premier performance at the Metropolitan Opera of Puccini's comedy La Ronnie. Saturday afternoon the opera had premiered during the first World War and had mostly an indifferent reception. Now, four years after the composer's death it received what was called "the finest ever given" Lucrezia Bori was "enchanting" as Magda and Benjamin Gigli "suave" as Ruggero. (Bristow) |
1934-03-10 | Business | Have you been hoping that automobile insurance rates would go down. On this date in 1934 the National Rating Bureau announced the the standard charges for insurance in Bergen County was going down. The initial rates for light and medium cars which had been $13 for $5,000 of coverage and $50 for personal property damage had been reduced to $12 and $45 injury protection respectively, a total of $56 instead of the previous $63. The motorist would save $6 by the new lower rates. The charges for heavy cars were also down a total of $8 to $14 for property damage and $53 dollars per year. Although no formal announcement was made, it was expected that the non-conference companies, who traditionally charged rates lower than the standard ones, would follow suit. (Bristow) |
1942-03-10 | Fire Department | Another Mahwah landmark was lost in a fire during the night. The old "Squire" Young House on Young's Road burned to the ground in a blaze that might have been caused by faulty wiring. The house was occupied by Angelo Uberti. He had spent what was described as a "small fortune" in turning the old house into "one of the show places of the section". Uberti said that he had been awakened shortly after midnight when his wife smelled smoke. He immediately called the Ramsey police and said that he thought there was a fire an would call back immediately if there was. Unfortunately the telephone wires had already been burned through when he tried to call a few minutes later. Eventually he sent one of his servants in a car to notify the firemen. By the time the alarm was turned in and the fire department arrived there was little that could be done. Only a few of Uberti's clothes were saved. Al of the furniture and personal possessions of Mrs. Uberti and the servants were lost. Mr. Uberti praised the world of the Mahwah Fire Department but realized that they faced an impossible task in saving the old homestead. (Bristow) |
1942-03-10 | Business | The request of Nick Tondo for tires for his Consumers Ice Company truck was turned down by the ration board. Clark Hebner, chairman of the local rationing board said that the rejection was based on the fact that the company hand another truck which they did not have registered. The tires from this truck were still usable and could be transferred to the other truck. The Board did not consider that the business requested two trucks at that time. (Bristow) |
1945-03-10 | People | April 1st was announced as the last date that old members of the Houvenkopf Country Club could continue to use the Golf Course without joining the new Out O'Bounds Aero and Golf Club. The tennis Committee announced that Mr. Alexander Banks of Suffern had donated a tennis trophy to get their program started for the year. No details were revealed as to how the trophy was to be awarded. The full membership of the various committees were not to be revealed until after the official opening on April 1st. (Bristow) |
1949-03-10 | Recreation | Boy Scout Troop 155 of Fardale was reorganized under Gordon Cortier of Mahwah, as Scoutmaster. John Strong was his Assistant Scoutmaster, Charles Feldman was Committee Chairman. Charles Bartholf was listed as "outdoor man". Others named to assist with the new reorganization were Ray Johnson, Marvin Akin, Alfred Heflin, John Van Dine, Donald Stetson and Dr. J. W. Moss. All were from Fardale, except for the Scoutmaster (Bristow) |
1950-03-10 | Recreation | Nine members of Troop 8 of Fardale were the guests of Troop 26, Darien Connecticut over the weekend. The group was accompanied by Mrs. D. Clair and Mrs. E. Potter. They travelled by bus to New York City and by train to Darien where they were photographed by the local paper as they got off the train. After supper at their host's homes the girls went to the Darien Junior High School for the Girl Scout Birthday celebration. In the morning they went to the youth cabin for games, songs and an exchange of gifts. They returned to Fardale by the 4:40 train from Stamford. Those making the trip were: Carole and Janet Ryan, Joan Akin, Leslee Potter, Julie Clair, Carol O'Lear, Marie Monica, Zenia Marks and Barbara Knichel. (Bristow) |
1951-03-10 | Recreation | The Antrim Players opened their spring season with a concert by the eminent composter-pianist Percy Granger. Meanwhile the company was working on two one-act plays "The Monkey's Paw" and Noel Coward's "Ways and Means", both directed by Hugh McPhillips, a Junior production, written and directed by Alexandra Finn and a full-length play, "January Thaw" directed by Maddie Lee. (Bristow) |
1919-03-11 | People | Mrs. E. P. Beebe died of complications following an operation for an intestinal blockage. She will be missed. "Every Boy Scout in the Ramapo Valley felt that he had two mothers, his own and Mrs .Beebe up in Cragmere Park." She worked tirelessly in various war charities and had served as President of the Salmagundi Club. She leaves three children, one only 11 months old. Mr. Beebe is an official of the Iron Age Publishing Co. He has been active in the Boy Scouts, acting as Scoutmaster of one of the Suffern Troops. (Bristow) |
1922-03-11 | People | The Sunshine Club Contest Dinner was held at the Reformed Church Lecture Hall. The contest rules called for pins for the winners and losers to provide dinner for the winners. 21 members attended. The following officers were chosen: Alice Smith, President; Sarah Cooley, V.P., Katherine Smith, Treas. and Mabel King, sec. (Bristow) |
1928-03-11 | Fire Department | Fire gutted the newly decorated basement of the Airmont Lutheran Church. Several thousand dollar damage was done in the blaze which was discovered just before seven in a Sunday morning. The fire departments of Suffern, Tallmans and Mahwah responded quickly and saved the rest of the building from destruction. A contractor had just finished extensive alterations and repairs to the building but the Church's insurance had not yet been extended to the new work so the congregation was to have to bear the entire loss. The Pastor, the REv. Frank Jones was at a loss to explain the fire. Those who cared for the fires in the church were always very careful, he said. (Bristow) |
1932-03-11 | Education | The two seventh grades at the Mahwah School went on a field trip to Washington's Headquarters in Morristown. Mis soy and Miss Track chaperoned the group. After their return the pupils wrote compositions about what they had seen and learned. Particularly impressive for the students were the cannons in the yard, the kitchen with its flour barrel made out of an old tree trunk and the room where Lafayette had once slept. 1932 was celebrated throughout the country as the bicentennial of George, and Martha, Washington's births. (Bristow) |
1933-03-11 | People | Stephen Lush won the 60 yard dash in the intercollegiate games at Drake University. (Bristow) |
1934-03-11 | People | A number of local people returned to town from vacations in warmer climes. Mr. and Mrs. Shuart and their son and daughter returned from over a month in Florida as did Mr. and Mrs. A Valentine of Miller Road who had spent several weeks in Miami. Mr. and Mrs. John Winter and daughter Mildred returned from Palm Beach. Mr. and Mrs. H. F. Holman came back from an extended vacation in California and Honolulu. Not to be outdone Mr. and Mrs. Alan Grosbeck chose the day before to leave on a cruise to South America. (Mr. & Mrs. E. C. Lane also returned after several weeks in California. (Bristow) |
1948-03-11 | People | Town Clerk Ray Dator and Town Engineer Harley have been given the task of assigning house numbers. Every house that is to be serviced by mail delivery will receive a card indicating the number and instructions as to how they are to be prominently displayed. (Bristow) |
1953-03-11 | Education | The Grade Mothers of the Mahwah Township Schools met at the Commodore Perry School, under the chairmanship of Mrs. Yvonne Dator. The ten Mothers present decided to work on three main projects. The proceeds of the recent food sale were to be spent on a tape recorder for the lower grades. Future fund raising activities were destined to provide new reference books for the upper grades libraries and smaller playground equipment for the kindergartens. (Bristow) |
1955-03-11 | People | Damage estimated at $200 was sustained by the car of a Waldwick man involved in an accident on Route 17 about one-quarter of a mile north of Island Road. The driver was attempting to turn into the Saddle-Pal ranch when struck by a car driven by a Jersey City man. Each claimed that the other was at fault. (Bristow) |
1957-03-11 | Education | The special expediting committee, appointed by the Board of Education to speed up the construction of the New High School demanded a vote of confidence before continuing their work. When they reported to the Board that they had recommended to the architecture that the ratio of classrooms to all-purpose rooms in the new school be raised to 12-1 instead of 6 to 1 they were accused of trying to make themselves into a design committee instead of an expediting committee. Mr. Tibbals also questioned whether the chairman of the committee Frank Russo, was not compromising his professional standing as a builder by serving on the group. Mr. Russo said he had not fear for his reputation and attacked what he described as "dillydallying". The reason why the work was not progressing as rapidly as it should toward the target of opening the new High School in the fall of 1958 was that there were too many people giving ideas to the architect so that he had to change the plans constantly. He and his colleagues, Edward Pagels and John Lesure, then withdrew so that the Board could discuss their work. When they returned the Board passed a vote of confidence in their work. They stated that they wanted the job finished without second guessing of the expediting committees decisions. (Bristow) |
1962-03-11 | People | Residents were reminded that Troop 50's paper drive would begin at 1:00 PM. Bundles of paper would be picked up at the curb. The Scouts had been picking up newspaper since World War II. (They continue to do so, the March paper drive is scheduled for the 15th.) (Bristow) |
1965-03-11 | Police | A series of promotions and the adoption of a new salary guide for the Mahwah Police Department were actions taken at the Township Board meeting. Sgt. Thaddeus Kownacki was prompted to lieutenant and Ptl. Fred Miller and Henry Fidura were promoted to sergeants. The new lieutenant replaced John Micik who died in 1964. Existing officer on the force were Chief Edmund Wickham and Capt. Charles Haight. The Chief reported that five new patrolmen would be hired during the month. The new salary guide set upper and lower limits for each grade: Chief between $9,000 and $10,000 Captain between $7,800 & $8,500 between $7,300 and $8,000, Sgt between $7,100 to $7,500 Lt detective from $7,000 to $8,000 Patrolman from $5,000 to $7,000. (Bristow) |
1898-03-12 | People | Two young boys died of pneumonia within 24 hours of each other. John, son of Charles Young of Mahwah and the infant son of Samuel Winter of Darlington. (Bristow) |
1901-03-12 | Politics | At the Township elections the Republicans triumphed from one end of the ticket to the other. The Ramsey Journal commented that this was made possible by the large Republican vote from "our colored citizens from the mountains and remote districts". Among the winners Albert Winter of Mahwah. James Devine Jr. is already on the Board, so Mahwah is well represented on the Board of Chosen Freeholders of Bergen County. (Bristow) |
1912-03-12 | Disasters | A heavy snowstorm which began today reminded many local people of the great blizzard 24 years ago in 1888. The snow turned to rain, however, and fears subsided. (Bristow) |
1912-03-12 | Business | James A. Johnson has sold his hotel to Mr. Frank Scherer of New York City. Mr. Johnson and his mother sailed on a cruise to Norway this week. The Hotel (which?) has always been well run under his management. (Bristow) |
1915-03-12 | People | A Special entertainment and dance in the school auditorium is to be held to benefit the March C. Bugg Public Library. Vocal and instrumental music by Tannery and Datan and two little plays by the children will be followed by dancing. Admission is 35 cents for adults and 15 cents for children. (Bristow) |
1945-03-12 | People | Fardale road residents Mr. and Mrs. Anthony Piccolo received word that their son Stephen had been promoted to Sgt. The new non-commissioned officer was a member of a medical detachment attached to a combat engineer battalion which was then in the Philippines. He was a veteran of the invasions of Guam and Leyte as well. He entered the service in 1941 after his graduation from Ramsey High School. (Bristow) |
1949-03-12 | Charity | In appealing for funds to support the Ambulance Corps, Chairman Frank B. Scherer reported that the Corps had made 83 calls since it was organized, 77 of them in 1948. During 1948 the Corps covered 1,162 miles, transported 67 to hospitals, 4 from hospitals, rendered first aid to three victims and answered two fire calls. Scherer pointed out that all members of the Corps worked without pay and there was no charge for ambulance service to residents of the Township. (Bristow) |
1951-03-12 | Education | Supervising Principal Harold L. Holmes resigned his post citing the press of other business interests. The Board accepted his resignation with regret and began the search for a successor. Attendance in the schools was announced as below the State average. The most frequently given reasons was poor road conditions and the lack of cafeteria facilities in some schools. (Bristow) |
1953-03-12 | Police | A break-in at a cabin belonging to Roger Baldwin on the Bear Swamp Road was reported to police. Baldwin, the founder and National Chairman of the American Civil Liberties Union reported that nothing seemed to have been stolen from his cabin. (Bristow) |
1958-03-12 | People | An after-breakfast cigarette almost proved fatal for Charles Manzing of 19 Alexander Court. The 71-year-old man thought that the match he had used to light his cigarette was out, but it ignited his clothing. He was suffering from first, second and third degree burns to his back, chest, arms, and face when he was admitted to Good Samaritan Hospital. (Bristow) |
1967-03-12 | People | The fiftieth anniversary of the charter of the Ramapo Valley Chapter of the Red Cross was celebrated by a reception. The original Charter for what was then known as the North Bergen Chapter was issued March 12, 1917. The Chapter covered the towns of Allendale, Mahwah, Ramsey, Saddle River, Upper Saddle River and Waldwick. (Bristow) |
1967-03-12 | People | The Fiftieth Anniversary of the Ramapo Valley Chapter of the American Red Cross was celebrated in an open house reception at the Presbyterian Church in Ramsey, with about 100 visitors present. Representative William B. Widnall and Mrs. Widnall joined representatives from local ambulance corps, scouts and many former officers and volunteers. Greeting the visitors were the honorary Chairmen Mrs. Guy Drumm and Mrs. George Witt, Mrs. Raymond Briccola, executive director Mrs. Albert E. Ostertag, Chapter Secretary and Mr. Ostertag who is Chapter President. The Chapter was originally known as the North Bergen Chapter and was formed at a meeting in Mahwah on (Bristow) |
1901-03-13 | People | A case of small pox in the home of a colored family named Suffern living near Frank Hopper's has been identified by Board of Health Inspector Jacob Young. The House has been quarantined and notices passed. (Bristow) |
1905-03-13 | Transportation | Officials of the Public Service Company explained their plans for completing the trolley line from Paterson to Ridgewood. The Line would start on Main St. and pass through Hawthorne, North Paterson, Midland Park and into Ridgewood. Later the tracks would be extended from Ridgewood to Suffern. A population of 10,000 people are estimated to live in the area to be served. The company has purchased rights of way for $59,000. (Bristow) |
1934-03-13 | People | After the business session of the Mahwah Junior Woman's Club had disposed of such items as deciding to hold a spring dance, accepting Suzanne Larkin to membership and amending the bylaws to add two standing committees to their structure, the group turned to the entertainment for the evening. Under Loretta Schneider's leadership the members played "Gracie Allen" bridge. This was contract bridge with many intriguing and puzzling special rules. At the end of the evening four winners were chosen, "for essentially Gracie Allen reasons" to Marcia Cooley, Olive Eggars, Suzanne Larkin, Henrietta Winter and Henrietta Young. Unfortunately the newspaper account of the meeting failed to include any details of how the game was played. (Bristow) |
1934-03-13 | People | Rockland County was undergoing a miniature gold rush as a result of the announcement that gold had been discovered in a creek near Suffern. About a year before Sol Vontess had found gold in a stream which ran down from the Ramapo hills. He had spent about a year trying to discover its source. His brother-in-law, Dr. Edward Wolff finally broke the news and claimed that the find had assayed out at about $26 of gold per ton. Mining Engineers told Dr. Wolff that the gold must have washed down from the hills. The exact site of the original deposit was not revealed and there was no public announcement that it had even been found. (Bristow) |
1934-03-13 | Food and Drink | The makings of custard for the entire population of the Township spilled onto Route 2 at Spring Street in Ramsey when two trucks collided early in the morning. A Borden Farms milk truck, driven by Edward Morbeck collided with an egg truck driven by Peter A. Carey of St. Patrick's Villa, Harriman, NY. 250 quarts of milk were mixed with a quantity of eggs. If a bread truck had come along at the wrong moment we could have all had French toast. (Bristow) |
1942-03-13 | Recreation | The Ramsey theatre reopened under new management. The theatre had been entirely redecorated for the occasion. The opening bill was a double feature of "Suspicion" with Cary Grant as a wastrel husband and Joan Fontaine in her first role since "Rebecca", and "Henry Alderich for President" starring Jimmy Lydia, June Presser and Mary Anderson. As Superman cartoon completed the bill. At other local theaters you could have caught Jimmy Cagney and Brenda Marshall in "Captains of the Clouds" at the Lafayette, Errol Flynn as Custer in "They Died With their Boots on" and a second feature "Holt of the Secret Service, at the Strand, both in Suffern, and "Bahama Passage" with Madeline Carroll and Stirling Hayden at the Warner, in Ridgewood. (Bristow) |
1945-03-13 | People | A dispatch from the American Fifth Army in Italy reported on the activities of the 631st Field Artillery Battalion, in which PFC Joseph Warhol was a cannoneer. Warhol, the son of George Warhol of Valley Road, operated a mortar which helped the protect the main batteries of his unit, then operating in the Po Valley. The outfit had been in combat for 440 days during which time they had fired 132,000 shells, or more than 6,000 tons of metal at the enemy. They had first landed in Casablanca in February, 1943, and joined the Sicilian campaign on July 14, 1943. They fought through Sicily and in numerous battles as the Allied forces fought their way up the boot of the mainland. During the Cassino campaign, where they fought for two months they were often under fire form three sides simultaneously and bombarded by Messerschmidts and Foke-Wolfes. On one occasion they had sustained casualties to all three of their main batteries at the same time and had barely succeeded in dousing a fire in their ammunition dump just before it should have blown. On the opening day of the spring offensive from the Garignano River they had fired 3,000 rounds. They were under such intense fire at various times in the campaign they had had their communications wires cut five times during a single day and had to send the cooks and clerks back for supplies. (Bristow) |
1952-03-13 | People | The Ramsey Journal reported that the new Darlington Lake Country Club was nearing completing and was expected to open in June. The project, initiated by Fred E. Wehren of Valley Road Mahwah was located near the Township line in Darlington. 150 acres of woodland had been developed. Facilities included a lake for boating and fishing, two swimming pools, picnic facilities, a club house and restaurant. Modestly priced memberships were available to residents of northern Bergen County and Southern Rockland without discrimination. (The facility is now part of the Bergen County Park Commission.) (Bristow) |
1962-03-13 | Recreation | Although Bob Dierman's Mahwah High School wrestling squad finished a disappointing 3-10 season with a 28-11 loss to Manchester Regional, two Mahwah wrestlers went on to take third place in the classes in the finals of the NJIAA championship held in the Rutgers Gym. Joe Monica, who had been unbeaten in twelve bouts during the regular season in the 158 pound class lost a very close 2-1 bout in the opening round but won convincingly 7-1 in the consolation round. Billy Wilson in the 142 pound class and won 10 and drawn two in the dual meets. He lost his opening round match 14-5 but came back to win 5-1 in the final bout. (Bristow) |
1965-03-13 | Recreation | Five Cub Scouts and two Boy Scouts from Troop 50 hiked to Sterling Furnace under the guidance of Paul Taylor, outdoor activities chairman of Pack 50. The boys explored the old railroad, collect rock samples and learned about the place where the chain was forged which was stretched across the Hudson during the Revolutionary War. The Cubs were Steven Dunn, Donald Kimber, Marton Fronius, Michael Smith, and Ben Taylor. Bruce Barbour and Paul Taylor were the Scout who assisted. (Bristow) |
1986-03-13 | People | The Blue Balloon, which called itself "Mahwah's Hottest New Club", presented an all male review "Centerfolds". It was said to consist of 2 1/2 hours of male dancers. There was a $5,000 cover charge and male patrons were not to be admitted until after the show. There was dancing to a DJ before and after the show. Reservations were suggested. The club was located at 46 Franklin Turnpike, Mahwah. (Bristow) |
1899-03-14 | Politics | At the Township elections it was voted that for the purposes of contracts with the Town a day's work consists of 10 hours. Wages for a man were set at $1.50 per day, for a man horse and cart, $2.50 and for am an and a team $3.50 per day. (Bristow) |
1909-03-14 | People | A new deer hunting law was described by the Ramsey Journal as "about the casuist piece of game legislation ever enacted." The paper explained that about ten years ago the deer population had declined so alarmingly that deer hunting was banned in the state except for Wednesdays in November. Since then the deer population has multiplied and requests to open a longer season have been ignored. Instead this new law which forbids the use of anything but buckshot in a 16 gauge shotgun has been passed. The fine is $500. An additional fine of $100 is levied on anyone caught killing a doe or a fawn. The Journal explained that buckshot is impossible in a 16 gauge shotgun and that such a charge is capable of maiming but not killing a deer. (Bristow) |
1932-03-14 | Recreation | The major feature of the week at the Lafayette Theatre in Suffern was "Arrowsmith" starring Ronald Colman, Helen Hayes and Richard Bennett. It was described as "The picture the critics could not praise enough" The Samuel Goldwyn featured was adapted from Sinclair Lewis' famous novel published in 1925. He was offered the Pulitzer Prize for the work, but refused it. Helen Hayes was already being described as "one of the queens of the stage". Richard Bennett had a distinguished stage career but was a relative newcomer to the screen. He was perhaps better known as the father of the famous stage trio Constance, Joan and Barbara Bennett. John Ford was the director. (Bristow) |
1934-03-14 | Recreation | Work was well along on the new stage for the Ramapo Reformed Church Chapel. The need for a stage which local thespians could produce amateur theatricals had been keenly felt for a number of years. The Chapel seemed an ideal place. An added feature was the fact that the stage and lighting facilities were designed to be disassembled when not in use so as not to interfere with the work of the Sunday school. Abram Valentine, the local builder was the carpenter on the job and Millard Cooper was provided the lights. The Committee in charge consisted of Norman Sherow, Robert Dunning and Robert Siebert. To help pay for the new facility, three one act plays were scheduled for April 6 and 7. They were to be directed by Inez Hallenbeck, well known for the many plays she had directed for the Literature and Drama division of the Woman's Club. A measure of how far away this event was from our time was the promise that Mrs. Hallenbeck's husband, Charles, would do one of his "clever Negro interpretations". (Bristow) |
1938-03-14 | Education | At the School Board Meeting there was a long discussion over a new flag and stand which had been purchased for the school. James A. Glasgow complained that it looked cheap. He was told that it had cost $1.85. Supervising Principal Fagan said that he had not used it since there seemed no way to fasten the flag to the pole. Holes would have to be made in the pole and its was too fragile to drill. It was finally decided to return the flag and pole and obtain one more suitable for platform use. (The matter was finally settled at the meeting of April the Board. A 4x6' flag on a 9' 1 1/2" pole was ordered at a cost not to exceed $15.00) (Bristow) |
1942-03-14 | People | Miss Katherine Grimm came home to enjoy her spring vacation with her mother, Mrs. John Grimm on Armor Road. Miss Grimm was working as the secretary for the History Department at Yale University. (Bristow) |
1950-03-14 | People | Peter S. Ash, son of Mr. and Mrs. Prentice Ash of Miller Rd. was inducted as a member of Kappa Alpha fraternity at Hobert College where he was a sophomore. Ash was a graduate of the Westminster School in Simsbury Conn. where he was capital of the swimming team, lettered in football and was manager of the baseball team. (Bristow) |
1953-03-14 | People | Five young men from Haskell and Riverdale picked the wrong place to attempt to strip a parked car during the night. The vehicle was at Steve Kudrick's Garage on Franklin Turnpike. Their activities awakened Patrolman Micik and Mrs. wife, who lived in an apartment over the garage. The men fled before Micik could get dressed, but he notified his fellow policemen and the Suffern police. The Mahwah police car and the Suffern police converged on the getaway car at the state line. The five youths, all between 18 and 21, denied any knowledge of the crime, but a search of their car revealed a car radio and other items from the stripped car. They were conveyed to the County Jail for later court appearances. (Bristow) |
1955-03-14 | Education | At the School Board Meeting the extension of the Salk Polio vaccine program for another year was passed. In addition to pupils in grade three who were immunized the previous year, those in grades 1, 2 and 4 were to be covered Superintendent Austin reported that the advertisement for a janitor had resulted in about twenty interviews with applicants. He recommended the hiring of the best of these at an annual salary of $3,100. (Bristow) |
1955-03-14 | People | The Senior Girl Scout troop devoted their meeting to the Air Spotter Volunteer program. Civil Defense Director C. A. Bloomer described the role of the air spotters in the Civil Defense program and the girls toured the observation post at the Good Samaritan Hospital. Thirteen of the girls signed up to work in pairs for two hours weekly at the post. (Bristow) |
1962-03-14 | Fire Department | A disastrous fire on Stag Hill Road which destroyed a house and left two families homeless impelled the Township to improve fire protection in the Stag Hill community. Plans to install a fire siren with the next month and erect a building to house a fire truck to service the area were announced by Mayor Morris Ruddick. The Stag Hill Fire Department had been organized for several months but it had no equipment. This disaster helped dramatize the need of more concrete action. Meanwhile a number of organizations and persons in the Stag Hill and wider community moved to aid the stricken families. Chester Mann, an employee of the Brake Shoe Company perceived a gift of $1,000 contributed by the Company and his fellow employees. Through the aid of the Community Service Association he was able to rent another house on the Road for his wife and their eight children. Anthony Dennison, who with his wife and three children occupied the ground floor apartment was also assisted to find housing and was offered employment by the Brake Shoe. Among those groups cooperating in the joint effort were the Salvation Army and the Superintendent of the Brake Shoe Plant, Morris Ruddick and the Brake Shoe Union President Stephan Sochinlak An editorial in the Ramsey Journal praised the actions of those who came forward to help as an example of "a misfortune" which "resulted in some benefits". (Bristow) |
1898-03-15 | People | A strange light in the sky at 8:45 may have been a reflection on the could of a powerful searchlight. It was said to be quite unlike the northern lights. Some superstitious people think it may be a divine portent of the threatening war with Spain over Cuba. (Bristow) |
1898-03-15 | Education | At the annual Hohokus Township School Meeting held at the Ramsey School Mr. U. G. Herring of Mahwah, Richard Wanamaker of Mahwah and John Y. Dator of Ramsey were elected to the Board for three year terms. Wanamaker received 149 votes. Haring 143 and gator 119. Two other candidates totaled only 70 votes between them. The appropriation of $3,910 was approved for running the schools for the next year 131 to 35. It was the largest school meeting ever held in the Township. (Bristow) |
1910-03-15 | Education | Mrs. Elmer J. Snow, Bergen County's only woman member of a Board of Education, received only 26 votes in her bid for reelection. Of the incidents only she and John O. Henion were renominated. Henion received only 39 votes. Those elected were J. G. Coe (175) Albert Winter (147) A. C. Banta (140). Apparently much campaigning had gone on before the meeting. $1,700 was voted for repairs and $4,500 for regular expenses. The large sum for repairs is for an extension to the Masonicus School which has too many students for the available space. (Bristow) |
1917-03-15 | People | George Foster, who should know better since he is an employee of the powder works in Haskell, was almost burned to death when he tried to determine the height of the gasoline in the tank of his auto with a lantern. He had stopped at William V. Pullis' garage in Campgaw and ordered several gallons of "gas". He borrowed a lantern to check the level in the tank when it flared up burning out the top of his machine. He escaped by diving through the side curtains. A fire extinguisher finally put out the blaze. (Bristow) |
1928-03-15 | Business | The Rockland Electric Company, in an advertisement in the Ramsey Journal promised its customers that they would never have to do "Spring Cleaning" again. The Premier Duplex vacuum cleaner, worked for a few minutes a day at a cost of 2 cents for an hour of electricity would keep the house thoroughly clean and sanitary permanently. (Bristow) |
1933-03-15 | Crime | Frank Hopper of Darlington had the battery stolen out of his car. The car was in his garage. The lock on the door of the garage had been broken and the battery lifted out of the car. (Bristow) |
1933-03-15 | People | The bank holiday called for in President Roosevelt's Inaugural Address on March 4th ended. All local banks were relicensed. Dr. John H. Finch, of the Ramsey First National Bank and Trust Company reported that there was a steady stream of customers all day with deposits exceeding withdrawals. Cashier Edward Hamilton of the First National Bank of Allendale said that deposits outnumbered withdrawals four to one. Bank officials generally praised the coop ration they had received from their customers during the emergency. (Bristow) |
1934-03-15 | People | Although most of the audience at the Hohokus Township Board meeting came to demand that the Town enact a zoning ordinance at least one determined Mahwah resident had his own agenda. M. J. Snack of Railroad Avenue complained that he had lived on the street for thirty years and was tired of waiting for street lights. Why should other parts of town have street lights and not his part of Railroad Avenue, he demanded. Furthermore there was hole in the road in front of his house which was dangerous. Someone was going to get hurt if it was not filled in, he predicted. Committee Chairman James Devine stated that the Township was "planning" an inspection of the roads and that his hole would be considered at that time. As far as the street lights were concerned, Devine stated, the only thing holding back the installation of lights on Railroad Avenue and other streets was the depression. As soon as the Township could figure a way to finance needed improvements they would consider them. When another Railroad Avenue resident complained about people dumping refuse in front of his house, Devine told John Gordon that if he would complain about a specific individual to the police they would look into it. Railroad Avenue did not get much satisfaction from attending that Board meeting. (Bristow) |
1934-03-15 | People | Ramsey's last remaining Civil War Veteran, Cornelius Stuart died in his 87th year. He had been ill for three weeks and died at the home of his son Cornelius H. Stuart on Wyckoff Ave. He was born in Wyckoff June 30, 1846. He was sixteen when he enlisted in Company K of the 13th Heavy Artillery Regiment. He was honorably discharged on May 31, 1865. He never talked much about his wartime experiences and his memorabilia were lost when his trunk was stolen. Even his discharge papers were destroyed in a fire. A highlight of his service, however was a day when his unit was reviewed by President Abraham Lincoln who shook every member of his unit by the hand and expressed his personal thanks for their service. His memories of actual fighting were confined to a few brushes with Confederate patrols. Shortly after his discharge from the Army he married Margaret Straut at the Airmont Church. He was survived by three children, William, of Waldwick, Cornelius of Ramsey and Mrs. Tullie Winters of Ramsey. There were twenty-five grandchildren. The American Legion held a special service for him and asked that flags fly at half staff until the funeral held at the Church of the Redeemer. A Legion Guard of Honor accompanied the body to the Airmont cemetery. (Bristow) |
1938-03-15 | People | The Mahwah Garden Club formed a Junior Girl Scout Department to assist the scouts in creating a garden. Mr. Dunlop donated the use of the land where the old Cragmere barn once stood. Albert Winter volunteered to plow and harrow the ground and supply a central pipe so they can draw water. James A. Biggs volunteered to help with layout and the selection of seed, while Elliot Henry will obtain donations of seeds and plants. The Garden Club will help them produce plants and vegetables in time for the annual garden show where they were to have their own individual exhibits. (Bristow) |
1951-03-15 | People | Bidds were called for equipment to open a new artesian well for Mahwah. The prolonged dry spell during the summer of 1950 revealed the need for additional supplies so it was decided to activate a well dug thirty-five years previously but never used. Frank E. Harley conducted tests on the well and believed it would supply 250 gallons per minute and not require chlorination. (Bristow) |
1953-03-15 | Crime | Thieves broke into Bodner's chicken farm on Young's Road. The entry was discovered by Patrolman Figure during a routine check of the premises. Mr. Bodner could not immediately determine how many of his fowl were missing. He said he had so many chickens that it was hard to keep track. (Bristow) |
1955-03-15 | People | The school Board delivered an ultimatum to the Lehmann Construction. In a resolution introduced by Mrs. Storms, the company was given three months to remove the fill from the schoolyard at the George Washington School or lose all rights to the fill. The Board was determined that there would be a playground at the school before it reopened in September. The matter had been pending for two years. (Bristow) |
1958-03-15 | People | On exhibit at the Mahwah Free Library was a display on how pencils were manufactured. Various types of lead pencils were exhibited as well as the process by which a block of wood is turned into pencils. The exhibit was prepared by Peter De Yeo, 11, a sixth grade pupil at Commodore Perry School. He became interested in the topic through his uncle Duncan C. Taylor of the Eberhard Faber Company, a leading pencil manufacturer. Peter De Yeo was the son of Mr. and Mrs. John M. De You of Airmount and Armour Roads (Bristow) |
1909-03-16 | Education | Among those elected to terms on the School Board for the Township of Hohokus was a woman, Mrs. Clara Snow. She was elected for a one year term and is the only women serving on the School Board in Bergen County and only the second every to be elected to such a post in the County. She is the Wife of Elmer J. Snow, General Superintendent of the Brake Shoe, who acted as Chairman of the meeting. Others elected were, for three year terms: John Ackerman, F. W. Sergeant and Abraham Valentine, for 2 years: Ira Whaley Jr., David Hopper and David Winter, for 1 year terms: Richard Wanamaker and John O. Henion. 18 or 19 people had been nominated for the various posts. $5,000 for current expenses and $600 for building repairs were voted. It is believed that a special meeting will soon called to consider building a new school in Campgaw and another on the mountain. (Bristow) |
1909-03-16 | Business | The post of General Storekeeper for the American Brake Shoe and Foundry Company has been given to James A. Davidson. Mr. Davidson has been the Superintendent of the Mahwah Plant. He will operate out of Mahwah and make frequent visits to the other plants operated by the Company. Among those to be visited will be the new one under construction at Norwood, Mass. The new Superintendent then there will be A. L. Clark of the Mahwah plant. (Bristow) |
1915-03-16 | Education | Among the items to be voted on at the Annual School election is $1,400 for repairs, including sidewalks and grading at the Mahwah School. The total appropriation of $9,000 for expenses is down $100 from last year because of higher than anticipated State Aid. (Bristow) |
1920-03-16 | Crime | Cragmere resident George Perry was arraigned before Judge Mackey in Hackensack on a charge of malicious mischief. He is alleged to have thrown a stone through Albert Gory's living room window. (Bristow) |
1933-03-16 | Recreation | The first in a series of bridge parties sponsored by the Girl Scout Council was given in the home of Mrs. Harry Bester. Mrs. J. H. Paterson won the high score prize. The proceeds are to form a fund to ensure that all the scouts have at least five days in summer camp even if their parents have been hard hit by the depression. (Bristow) |
1933-03-16 | Recreation | The Scouts of Troop 50 began their "civic good deed" of trimming and cleaning out the Barbary terrace at the railroad station. It is part of their program of helping clean up the town for spring. (Bristow) |
1938-03-16 | Education | Supervising Principal Robert C. Fagan secured two educational films for exhibition at the schools. "Wheel of Chance" dealt with highway safety and "Along Main Street" visualized the traits of a pleasing personality. They were supplied by a soft drink company. Schools Number 3 and 7 saw them at 9:00 AM, 2 & 5 at 10:30 and No. 6 sometime in the afternoon. (#3: Masonicus, 7 Cragmere; 2: Mahwah, 5: Darlington 6: mountain) (Bristow) |
1942-03-16 | Government | At a special meeting of the Local Defense Council in the firehouse, Frank Scherer, the chairman of the Township Council read a letter from Leonard Drayfus, New Jersey Director of Civil Defense ordering each locality to select one individual as Supreme Commander of Civil Defense. Such a person, the letter stated, should be the "most capable, well known and respected person in the community and able to devote the time and energy to this vital work. He would be in complete charge of all volunteer and regular forces in the township during a defense emergency. The Council debated at some length about two might quality for so important post and eventually nominated Charles Hallenbeck for the post. Since the need was felt for someone who would be present in town during the day, a second and a third in command were nominated. Edwin Scherer was selected for the number two post and Township Council President Frank Scherer was selected for the number three position. The appointments were ratified at a special Township Council meeting the next day. (Bristow) |
1945-03-16 | Business | The Fardale Association held a business meeting and St. Patrick's Day games party at the Fardale School. Little business was transacted but much fun was had at the party. The major business of the evening was an amendment to the bylaws and the formation of a new standing committee. When this was duly accomplished a member pointed out that the constitution called for two-thirds vote to change the bylaws. The proposed change was abandoned and the committee disbanded. The treasurer, George Emerson, reported that there were 116 members who had paid their dues. In the absence of the President, Raymond Johnson, the business meeting was adjourned and the games began. Oh yes, there were refreshments. (Bristow) |
1958-03-16 | Recreation | The weekend feature at the Lafayette Theatre in Suffern was Richard Brook's adaptation of Dostoyevsky's famous novel "The Brothers Karamazov". Starred were Lee J. Cobb as the dominating father and Yul Brenner, Richard Basehart, Albert Salmi and William Shatner as his fun-seeking, scholarly, epileptic and religious sons respectively. Maria School and Claire Bloom also starred. It was Shatner's first movie role. (Bristow) |
1959-03-16 | Education | The School Board accepted the recommendation of its special study commission and voted for a December 31st cutoff date for entrance to kindergarten. The previous year they had suspended their decision for one year that a child must be five years old by October first to enter kindergarten. Board member Dorothy Ulrichs summarized the findings of the study commission made up of Dr. George B. McClellan, Superintendent of Schools, Dr. Richard Christie, a psychologist, Renee J. Buhlman, principal of Betsy Ross School and Ethel Henion, a kindergarten teacher. The Commission stated that chronological age had no relationship to mental achievement and stressed the their recommendations applied only to Mahwah, not other school Districts. The Committee asked that a study be made of non-graded elementary programs where students could progress at their own rates. At the meeting Mrs. Buhlman announced her resignation to take affect at the end of the school year. The Board accepted it with regret and with thanks for her many years of service to the District. The Board also resolved to require that each entering kindergarten student have received at least one polio shot before being admitted to class. (Bristow) |
1962-03-16 | Recreation | At Scout Troop Fifty's court of Honor a donation was made to the Ambulance Corps of the proceeds of the Troop's January Paper Drive. A check for $115.61 was presented to Ambulance Corp Captain Ray Spadevecchia by Scout Commissioner William Fisher. Appreciation was expressed to the American Brake Shoe, Henderson Trucking, A. Penner, Frank Dator and James Price for their generosity in donating the use of their trucks in the bimonthly newspaper collections. This marked the twentieth year the Scouts had been doing this community service. Rank advancements were also conferred at the Court of Honor by Scoutmaster Neal O. Floyd to Jay Sutherland, tenderfoot, Tom Rossiter, Bob Hanlon and Russ Tibbals, first class and Hank Cheney, star. (Bristow) |
1963-03-16 | Education | Although the contracts for the repair of the Betsy Ross, George Washington and Commodore Perry Schools had already been awarded at the meeting of March 9th, the Mahwah Board of Education rejected all of the bids of repairs at the Mountain School. All of the bids came in over budget. The architect was asked to see if the specifications could be altered somewhat to make the projected repairs cheaper. Bids for over $500,000 in bonds were advertised to pay for those and other projects. (Bristow) |
1966-03-16 | Business | The American Brake Shoe Company announced that it was installing a massive complex of equipment to end air pollution from the foundry smoke stacks. The new equipment would remove both coarse and fine particles from the air leaving the furnace stacks when installation was completed early in 1967. The State determined that if the equipment worked as specified the plant would meet the requirements of Chapter VII of the State Air Pollution Code. The company said the the Mahwah plant would be the first in the State to comply fully with the provisions of the new Code. The installation would be undertaken in three stages, the second of which would require the closing down of production. The process involves cooling the 2,000 degree gasses down to 500 so that the particles can be collected and removed. The company said that this was just another example of their policy making them a better community neighbor. (Bristow) |
1905-03-17 | People | The expensive monument honoring Dr. A. S. Zabriskie who died two years ago has been erected in the Mahwah Cemetery. The cost came from the subscriptions by his friends. (Bristow) |
1911-03-17 | Business | Call Suffern 28 on the telephone and you will get J. A. Johnson's Mahwah Bottling Company. They will supply you with high quality wines, liquors, lager and ales for family use. (Bristow) |
1918-03-17 | People | Albert Winter's pump house caught fire. The alarm bell rang about 2:00 PM and the fire was put out quickly with hand extinguishers before much damage had been done. The fire was started when sparks from a passing train ignited the grass. (Bristow) |
1918-03-17 | Religion | The congregation of the Ramapo Reformed Church met to consider selection one of the candidates who have been preaching for the past few weeks. The group was divided between two candidates but finally selected the Rev. A. Vanema, President of Hope College, Michigan. The Rev. Vanema is known locally because he was Pastor of a Church in Passaic for a number of years. He will begin this summer after the College closes. He is a powerful preacher and expected to build up the Church. (Bristow) |
1919-03-17 | People | A "welcome Home" sign was erected in the Station Park this week. (Bristow) |
1928-03-17 | People | The Leapyear Dance at the Houvenkopf Country Club was held. (Bristow) |
1928-03-17 | People | The St. Patrick's costume Ball at the Houvenkopf Country Club was well attended by Mahwah people. Mr. and Mrs. Alonzo Sherow entertained Alice Smith and Lindsey MacArthur at dinner before they all went to the dance. Also in attendance were the following couples: Prentice D. Ash, Elliot Reid, Kenneth Shrewsbury, Mr. and Mrs. Ernest Greef, Richard L. Keith, George Rountree and Robert Walker. (Bristow) |
1932-03-17 | Religion | The Consistory of the Ramapough Reformed Church appealed to those who had not fulfilled their pledges to the Church to do so by the end of the fiscal year on March 31st. Because of the depression receipts were down $200 from 1931. This would be the size of the Church's deficit if the amount was not made up. The annual extra Easter offering, which was usually devoted to some special cause, was to be applied to the deficit for the year. The committee asked for liberality on the part of those who had not suffered financially." (Bristow) |
1933-03-17 | People | The American Legion came to the aid of a needy family. The father had been injured and was unable to work. The Legion helped arrange for his transfer to the Hospital where he could obtain necessary care. The Ladies Auxiliary of the Fire Department contributed coal. Miss Gathes, the School Nurse found clothing and shoes for the eight children, five of whom attended school. (Bristow) |
1934-03-17 | Recreation | It was a big week at the Lafayette Theatre in Suffern; The feature on Friday and Saturday was Will Rogers in David Harum. Also featured were Louise Dressler and Stepin Fetchit. Starting on Sunday the attraction was Queen Christine with Greta Garbo and John Gilbert. Later in the week there was a double feature of Sleepers East, a murder mystery starring Wayne Gibson and Preston Foster and "Devil Tiger" a jungle epic. The picture was supposed to be about a baby elephant but the director, Clyde Elliot, could not find one and had to settle fro a baby tiger. Enigmatically it was listed only as having an "all-star cast". Other local theaters had such diverse fare as Baby Leroy in "Miss Fane's Baby is Stolen" at the Warner in Ridgewood, William Powell and Bette Davis in "Fashion Follies of 1934" billed as combining "Mammoth spectacle and spicy romance", and Spencer Tracy in two very different roles. He appeared at the Ramsey Theatre as an ex-gangster and beer baron railroaded into prison in "The Mad Game" and as an itinerant sign painter out to marry a rich heiress but ending up falling for a simple country girl in "Face in the Sky" at the Strand in Suffern. Of course if you waited until later in the week you could see the classic "It Happened One Night" with Claudette Colbert and Clark Gable co-starring for the first time, again at the Strand. (A picture of the Strand was recently added to Grecos') (Bristow) |
1938-03-17 | Fire Department | Thirty-five West Mahwah Hose Co. Number 2 members packed the Township Committee meeting to hear John J. Warhol Jr. an attorney explain their plans for a new firehouse. As requested by Chairman James Devine Jr. they also summarized their plans in a letter to the Committee. Warhol showed plans which had been drawn up either to renovate the unsuitable Strysko Building which they were now using for build an entirely new building. The new building, he maintained, would be cheaper, costing about $14,000. He exhibited headlines of the recent disaster in Paterson when firemen perished when their building burned. West Mahwah deserves a new firehouse while they are still alive, he said. (Bristow) |
1942-03-17 | People | The number one man in the North Bergen area was Henry Pruiksma of Saddle River. He was the first name listed on the Draft Board #1's list of 100 armed men to be considered for induction into the armed services. This did not mean that he would be the first to go, since the Board had to consider health, marital status, fatherhood and employment in other industries before drafting a person, but if he were to be classified 1A he would go first. Mahwah names on the list were Herbert T. Parson, listed as number 4, George R. Henlon (?), 20th, George C. Straut, No. 27, James H. Williams, 34th, C. Edson Wiley, 38th, Charles L. Plumb, 43rd, Michael Martis, 61st, Andrew Seaman, 73rd, & Charles B. Straut 85th. (Bristow) |
1945-03-17 | Recreation | The thirty-third birthday of the Girls Scouts was celebrated by all of the troops in town at their clubhouse in Mahwah. Since it was St. Patrick's Day and since the girls scouts' color is green, green birthday cakes were the order of the day, not a single large one but thirty-three small ones, each with a single candle. Each troop led the whole group in a game or activity. Mrs. Helen Swale's Troop four Brownies and Mrs. Yvonne Fairchild's Troop seven led "Round the Mountain". A Virginia reel was chosen by Mrs. Amos Smith's Troop 5. Mrs. Elaine Ruehl's Troop 3 played "Do this do that", Fardale's Troops 6, led by Mrs. Emerson led in the game "right-left." Mrs. Boyd Dunbar Girl Scout Commissioner, as well as leader of Troop 2, led her Scouts in "Advertisements" and acted as Master of Ceremonies for the informal occasion. (Bristow) |
1955-03-17 | People | The fifty-fifth wedding anniversary of Mr. and Mrs. John Getzlaffs was celebrated in a surprise party at Shuart's Restaurant. The couple was presented with a bouquet and Mrs. Getzlaffs with a corsage. They had been married in their native Germany in 1900, two years before they came to this county. They had lived in Mahwah for twenty-eight years. The couple had three children and numerous grandchildren, some of whom were present at the party. (Bristow) |
1955-03-17 | Business | The route of the proposed Gas Transmission Co's Tennessee Natural Gas pipeline through Mahwah was revealed at the Town Board meeting. It was described as crossing Route 17 near the McKee sand pit, crossing under the Erie tracks below Sam Braen's sand pit, up Airmount Ave and through David Carlough's apple orchard into Upper Saddle River. Property had already been purchased on Route 17 for a maintenance building for the 248 mile pipeline slated to reach from north central Pennsylvania to New York City. (Bristow) |
1965-03-17 | Education | The Mahwah Elementary P.T.A. once more failed to reach a quorum so that the projected expenditure of $1,000 to build a school in Latin America through the Peace Corps School-to-School program could not be voted upon. Instead another proposal was brought before the group. High School Guidance Counselor John Bohan proposed a summer school for preschool children from Mahwah's extreme poverty areas. Such children, he said start school without the cultural background or health care for success and 95% of them drop out at 16. His proposal was to use one of the elementary school, a trained teacher and several high school students. The program would enroll 10-15 students. Mahwah does not qualify for Federal poverty program funds and the Board of Education is prevented by law from spending money on children under school age. The High School Honor Society's Community Service Organization had been handicapped by the lack of equipment and adequate funding. No action could be taken on this proposal because of the lack of a quorum. (Bristow) |
1860-03-18 | Religion | At a meeting of the Classis of Paramus of the Reformed Church it was reported that there were 55 members in full communion with the Church, the same as the year before. Four members had been received into the church during the year and four had died. The total number in the congregation, including children and non-members was 334. The two sabbath schools, one in Mahwah and the other in Darlington had an average attendance of 60 weekly. Benevolent contributions during the year were reported to have totaled $24.88. (Bristow) |
1902-03-18 | Politics | Mr. DeYoe local lawyer and well known Socialist introduced a resolution that a school house be built on the mountain to educate the children there. A teacher should be sought from the Book T. Washington Institute to be placed there. It was our duty, he said, to educate the Negro. The resolution passed after lively debate. (Bristow) |
1908-03-18 | Politics | Governor Franklin Fort signed a bill creating the Borough of Ramsey, splitting away from the township of Hohokus. The bill was introduced into the Assembly by Assemblyman James Devine Jr. of Mahwah. Ramsey became the 45th Borough in Bergen County. (Bristow) |
1913-03-18 | Education | At the annual School Board elections Fred Sutherland, Albert Winter and Charles N. Winter were elected to three-year terms, Harry Hagerman and E.V.N. Winter to two-year terms and Frank Grant for a one-year term. Although considerable opposition to the idea of $1,200 for toilets. (Bristow) |
1922-03-18 | People | James Devine and Mrs. A. Adamson represented the newly organized Mahwah Garden Club at the organizational meeting of the Federation of Garden Clubs of Bergen County. Mr. Devine was named to the committee to write a constitution for the new federation. (Bristow) |
1931-03-18 | Police | Police work along the border of another state can sometimes be complicated. Chief Smith received a complaint that someone had stolen a radio from Smith's roadside stand (Not a relative?) Mrs. Smith named a local man as the suspect. Chief Smith questioned the suspect who denied knowing anything about a radio. He said he had heard that a man he called "Frank", who operated a labor camp in Hillburn had bought an electric radio for $3. He took Mrs. Smith to Hillburn to search for the radio. Of course they had to get Chief Stern of the Ramapo Police to go along. "Frank" was not home but they searched the house and found no radio. Later that night Chief Stern brought "Frank" to Smith's house. "Frank" swore he knew nothing about the radio. The searched "Frank"'s house but found no radio. While in Hillburn they got a lead that the radio was in the house of a woman in Saddle River. The next day he took Mrs. Smith again and State Trooper Stockburger to the Saddle River House. The woman denied knowing anything about any radio. Again they searched the house and found nothing. There is no evidence in the police record book that the radio was ever recovered. (Bristow) |
1942-03-18 | Crime | Counterfeiting charges against a Mahwah man were dropped by the Felony Court in New York City. Assistant District Attorney Harold H. McGowan asked for dismissal of the charges "without prejudice". Kenneth McLean, of Maysenger Road had been arrested the previous October along with Anthony Pucciarello of Brooklyn. The forty-six-year-old photoengraver and his longshoreman associate had been accused of illegally reproducing dues stamps of the A. F. of L. Dairy Producers Union. (Bristow) |
1949-03-18 | Business | Mrs. Alice MacArthur and Mrs. Rebecca Stone sponsored a tea and fashion show at the Town and Country Shop on Miller Rd. Evening, sports and afternoon wear were modeled by Mrs. Gaston Meig, Mrs. R. Schaeffer and Mrs. John Wurts of Mahwah among others. (Bristow) |
1950-03-18 | Recreation | The Ramsey High School boys basketball team won the first state championship ever won by a Ramsey team. They defeated Millburn 56-50 for the Group II title. The Millburn team had won nineteen straight games but Ramsey put on their best performance of the year never being headed after the first quarter. They led by three at the half. Millburn tied at 33 all early in the second half but Ramsey regained the lead never to be headed again. Two busloads of fans accompanied the team bus to the contest held in the Elizabeth Armory. Bill DeMaryine, co-scoring leader of the Rams with Jim Williams at 217 points for the season was particularly effective during the playoffs by scoring 62 points in the four games. (Bristow) |
1952-03-18 | People | Elias Mann died after a brief illness. He was 76 and had lived all his life in Mahwah. He worked for many years for A. J. Winter and Son. He made his home with his nephew Matthew H. Mann on Island Rd. He was buried in the family plot in the Mahwah Cemetery. (Bristow) |
1957-03-18 | Transportation | The Hillburn Town Board postponed for another two weeks the closing of the only road to the mountain section of Mahwah. It was believed that this was the last extension of time Mahwah would need to complete the new Geiger Road access to the mountain community. On the 16th a group of Mahwah and Hillburn officials inspected the work in progress, led by Mahwah's Jack Glasgow. The road department had been working all winter to complete the road, he said, even the nthe mountain was under a foot of snow. In a few places the road surface was still soft because frost had prevented the installation of drainage pipes. One of the Brain yard shovels had been widening the road and banking the outsides to provide protection since guard rails were not being built. Some minor blasting still had to be done, he said. The Township Engineer, Frank E. Harley said that the new road would have maximum grades of 18%, 5% less than the Hillburn Road. The curves would be more gradual too, he maintained. He expected that two more weeks would permit the road to be ready for the test by the school bus company as to whether their vehicles could use the new road safely. When this was successfully completed, according to School Superintendent Roy S. Austin, it would be possible to stop having to use taxis to transport the children as they had been since Hillburn closed the road to heavy vehicles. The completed road was expected to be superior to the Hillburn road in every respect and that it would open a whole new area of the mountains to anyone who wanted to build a mountaintop home in Mahwah. (Bristow) |
1957-03-18 | People | When his car went out of control on Ridge Road in Mahwah, John A. Balogh of Darlington Ave., Ramsey suffered a broken arm and facial cuts. He was driving north when he struck a fence and a tree. He was taken to the Good Samaritan Hospital. Police who investigated the accident reported that Balogh could not explain why his car left the road. (Bristow) |
1899-03-19 | Disasters | A severe thunderstorm at 5:30 in the afternoon blew a large tree across Valley Road opposite Mr. Valentine's house. He and his neighbors removed it quickly. (Bristow) |
1917-03-19 | Education | I. B. Tiederman was the only School Board member who would agree to run for another term at the annual school meeting. He, R. A. Smith and Warren Ackerman were elected to 3-year terms. $350 was voted for repairs and $7,500 for current expenses. (Bristow) |
1918-03-19 | Education | At the annual School Board Election Jesse Utter, Guy M. Carleton and Clinton Terwilliger were chosen for three year terms and E. V. H. Winter for the one year term. Of the 85 voters present a number were women who voted for the first time. $500 was voted for repairs and $10,185 for current expenses. The $800 to improve the ventilation at the Mahwah School was voted down 43 to 37. A report on the Thrift Stamp Campaign was heard, and Mrs. E. J. Snow spoke eloquently for the Belgian clothing campaign. (Bristow) |
1918-03-19 | People | The flag pole in the station Park was a new flag. The service flag has 6 more stars on it in honor of the six young men who just departed for Camp Dix. Their names are listed on the honor roll. (Bristow) |
1928-03-19 | People | The 4:59 from Jersey City was involved in an accident at Garfield. The train struck a car demolishing it and killing its two occupants. Neither the engineer nor the passengers felt any shock until the brakeman saw the debris and applied the emergency brakes. The train was delayed for about ten minutes. (Bristow) |
1942-03-19 | People | A big topic before the Township Council was the problem of dogs running loose in Town. Many complaints had been received concerning dogs being allowed to run without muzzles and the accompanying danger of rabies. A petition was presented signed by 174 residents of the community requesting that the SPCA be given the task of rounding up stray dogs. Mrs. Mabel Petrie was the spokesperson for the group. She said that the previous system of paying a fee to the dog warden for each dog picked up had proved unsatisfactory. Frank Scherer accepted the petition but stated that the Board's hands were tied on this matter. A new state law had just gone into effect on February 1st putting the responsibility onto the local police chief. The Council then passed an ordinance repealing their law on September 15, 1932 appointing a dog warden for the Township. They notified the present warden, A. R. Griffith of Blaurelt, N.Y. that his services had been terminated. They also revoked the temporary license for Mr. McDonald to run a dog pound in Cragmere. They did not announce where Chief Smith and his fellow officers were to deposit any strays that they might collect. (Bristow) |
1945-03-19 | People | Pfc William Brennan was reported to have been hospitalized somewhere in France for Malaria, according to a report received by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. John J. Brennan of Island Road, Mahwah. He had already been wounded three times in the battles of Anzio, and Salino and in the assault on Rome. (Bristow) |
1955-03-19 | People | A special mother-daughter dinner was held by the Sodality of the Immaculate Heart of Mary Church. The high school girls did a Spanish dance in costume, the school girls presented a playlet and a special Feast Day song was sung to honor the name day that day of Father Joseph Haluch S. D. B. (Bristow) |
1957-03-19 | People | A Ramsey woman, Mrs. Helen M. Stecz of Ramsey was hospitalized when her car was hit by a motorist driving southbound in the northbound lane of Route 17 near Island Road. She stated that she had been waiting on the cutoff waiting to enter the roadway when her car was struck by a Newborn driver going the wrong way. Grover J. Skrague said that the last time he went through Mahwah the road was still under construction and he thought he was in the right lane. He was charged with reckless driving and with not having his license and registration with him. Mrs. Stecz was taken to Good Samaritan Hospital by the Mahwah Ambulance. (Bristow) |
1957-03-19 | People | The officers of the Mahwah Woman's Club for the year were announced at the meeting of the evening division. Chairman was to be Mrs. Vivian Skues. Mrs. Otto Ulrichs was chosen as vice-chairman. Mrs. Edward Phair of Owner Rd. was the winner of two tickets to "My Fair Lady" and dinner for two awarded at the meeting. The program of the evening was a slide presentation on Japan given by Mrs. John Scially. Her program focused on the city of Kyoto where she had lived. She said that Japanese women rarely wear hats, except when it rains, they are working in the fields or when they get married. She said that often Japanese women would gather outside the American Church to enjoy the sight of the American women arriving for services wearing their peculiar hats. They found this very entertaining. Mrs. Scially said. (Bristow) |
1964-03-19 | People | Mrs. Betty Torricelli elected President of the New Jersey Library Association at their annual convention at the Princeton Inn. She is the Librarian of Mahwah High School. (Bristow) |
1986-03-19 | Recreation | Mahwah High School's Boys Basketball team won a stunning overtime victory over Emerson in the sectional semifinal game. Trailing by four points with less than a minute to go the Thunderbirds scored the last five points of the game to win 45-44. With 27 seconds remaining Ed Doran scored a basket, Joe Nazzari stole the ball on Emerson's inbounds play, was fouled and scored both foul shots to provide the margin of victory with only 3 seconds remaining on the clock. Head Coach John Carty hailed the team as miracle workers. It meant that Mahwah would be in its sectional championship game for the seventh year in a row. (Nazarri ended with 14 points and Doran with 11.) (Bristow) |
1890-03-20 | People | The Board of Chosen Freeholders came to Mahwah to inspect the newly completed iron bridge across the Ramapo River just below the Darling Mansion. It had been contracted to Dean and Westbrook, Bridge Engineers an Contractors of New York City. (See Recollections of Local History January 29, 1986 for a photograph of this event.) (Bristow) |
1911-03-20 | People | John A. Johnson, 51, proprietor of the Ramapo Hotel in Mahwah died of heart disease. His wife and son survive him. He was given a masonic funeral in Glen Rock. (Bristow) |
1915-03-20 | Transportation | The Township Committee has advertised for bids to be opened on March 20th for the grading of Ramapo Avenue from the Franklin Turnpike to the Church. When the grading is complete they plan to build sidewalks. (Bristow) |
1920-03-20 | People | Mahwah is going to have an American Legion Post. A preliminary meeting was held and temporary officers chosen. (Bristow) |
1928-03-20 | Education | Leonie Adams, the sister of Miss Josephine Adams, the teacher at the mountain school, received a Guggenheim fellowship. This permitted her to retire from work to travel and continue her writing. She was the author "Those Not Elect" and was connected with the Metropolitan Museum of Art. (Bristow) |
1932-03-20 | People | The twentieth anniversary of Hugo Stenbruch's appointment as conductor of the Liederkranz Orchestra of New York was celebrated by a ceremony attended by many of his friends and admirers. Director of the Board and Chairman of the Orchestra were present to thank him for developing the orchestra from a small struggling group to a full symphony orchestra of 85 players. He was presented with a laurel wreath and a gold watch the audience added its warm applause. Mr. Steinbruck had been a resident of Mahwah since 1920. (Bristow) |
1934-03-20 | People | A Number of local people attended the New York Flower Show at Grand Central Palace in the city during the week. Mr. and Mrs. Millard Cooper attended on Tuesday evening, too late to meet Mrs. Elliot Henry of Malcolm Road, who was a hostess there during the morning. On Wednesday Miss Mack, the mountain nurse of the Houvenkopf and Mrs. Henry Fritchie of Armour Road went down together to enjoy the exhibits. (Bristow) |
1934-03-20 | Fire Department | A spectacular fire destroyed the Wayne Avenue Fire House in Suffern. The fire was discovered by Police eOfficer Edson Thompson at 1:45 AM when he saw a glow in the sky. He tried to turn in an alarm, but the fire had already melted the pipe carrying the wire to the siren and it did not sound. The message was received at the Hook and Ladder Company's bell and Assistant Chief Harry Carlough and Captain Louis Attena responded. Just before they got there, the roof collapsed into the second floor meeting room. The remainder of the building was filled with smoke but they were able to batter open the doors and save the two fire trucks. Meanwhileother firemen were notified by telephone, by fire trucks which circulated the village with their sirens wailing and by the whistle on a locomotive on the Erie. Telephone operators at the exchange cooperated fully in arousing the firemen who had phones. While Thompson was attempting to rouse the firemen he found a notice to release a prisoner from the lockup located near the fire station. He hastened to do so, although the lockup was not damaged I the fire. Beside the fire trucks, little was saved from the fire. It was surmised that the blaze had started in an electrical short circuit in the attic of the building. (Bristow) |
1938-03-20 | Religion | A novena for St. Joseph, which had begun on the 11th ended with elaborate services at the Immaculate Heart of Mary Church. Rev. Robert Wieczorek, S.C. assisted by Father Francis blessed the new statue of St. Joseph. (Bristow) |
1938-03-20 | People | Simon Mann, 66, of Mahwah was killed instantly as he attempted to cross Route 20 at 7:50 PM. The impact was so great that the radiator of the car driven by a Kingston man, was destroyed. The driver said that he had been blinded by southbound cars and there are no street lights at that point in the road, about 120 feet from Smith's roadside stand. Mann was a WPA worker. He lived on Mountain Rd. At one time he was owner of property taken over for the new road. The front page article said he was 63, but said he had been born in 1863 which would make him 76? |
1942-03-20 | People | Two of the newly arrived library books were two which had apparently been rushed to print because of the recently declared war with Japan. They were Hugh Byas' "Japanese Enemy" and Wilfred Fleisher's "Our Enemy Japan". Most of the remaining books were rather light reading, except for James H. R. Cromwell's "Pax Americana" (Bristow) |
1955-03-20 | Religion | The historic Ramapo Reformed Church was rededicated after its renovation in a special Dedication Service. In addition to the Rev. Howard E. Friebely, former pastor Clarence S. Howard, Rev. Robert Geddes, Executive-Secretary of the New Jersey Synod of the Reformed Church in America and the Rev. Howard G. Hagerman of the Reformed Church in Newark, who gave the Dedicatory sermon, attended. Musical selections included "How Lovely are thy Dwellings" by Spohr. Chairman of the arrangements Committee was Norman H. Sherow. (Bristow) |
1962-03-20 | Education | Double sessions at the Ramsey High School were averted when the Upper Saddle River School Board voted on Monday night to send its freshmen and sophomores to Mahwah High School in the Fall and Mahwah voted to accept the arrangement on Wednesday. Ramsey's Board, who had actively sought the arrangement one Wednesday. Ramsey's Board, who had actively sought the arrangement ratified it on Tuesday. The Mahwah Board voted to defer tuition increases for a year, to soften the financial burden on Upper Saddle River, although that Board had to assume higher transportation charges for its students. Mahwah welcomed the 176 new students since this would help to reduce the per pupil cost of debt service much more including public reaction which was considered extremely high by many local residents. About $200 per year for each High School student. (Bristow) |
1898-03-21 | People | The Mahwah Council, No. 245, Junior Order of United America Mechanics has reached a membership of 160. It meets in Journal Hall in Ramsey on Mondays. It is particularly interested in protecting Americans from the harmful effects of foreign competition. (Bristow) |
1903-03-21 | Recreation | At the Suffern Gun Club the competition for the Reaves Trophy was won by John C. Ryerson who defeated James Devine 17 to 16. (Bristow) |
1905-03-21 | Education | At the Board of Education meeting approval was given for the new Mahwah School. $1,200 was voted to buy the lot and $9,800 (down from $11,000 in the original resolution) for building and furnishing the four room brick school. (Bristow) |
1913-03-21 | People | A special event in the Darlington lecture series will be the appearance by one of America's most famous readers, Professor E. Livingston Barbour. He will read from "David Harum". He is Professor of Elocution and Oratory at Rutgers and the Seminary of the Dutch Reformed Church. He is lecturer in voice and platform delivery at Drew Theological Seminary and in the National School of Elocution and Oratory in Philadelphia. There is no charge for this series presented in the lecture room of the old Darling Mansion at 8:00 PM. (Bristow) |
1913-03-21 | Business | Automobile dealer G. F. Sutherland advertised two models of the Metz Radster. It was praised as a "great hill climber" with a simple, fearless transmission. The models are priced at $445 and $495 each. (Bristow) |
1921-03-21 | People | Assemblyman Dator (R. Bergen, (Ramsey))'s bill to declare November 11th (Armistice Day) a State holiday was passed by the Assembly 56 to 0. It had been defeated 23 to 10 last week but a furore among the State's veterans put enough pressure on the Legislature to get the bill passed. (Bristow) |
1933-03-21 | Real Estate | The old Kemp house, at the corner of Mille rRoad and the Turnpike was moved to a new site away from the road. It was to be covered into a two-family house. (Bristow) |
1934-03-21 | Crime | A Civil suit for damages in the case of a Cragmere boy who had been shot by a neighbor as he ran across his yard was suddenly dismissed in a dramatic turn. John Wright of Cragmere was seeking $15,000 in damages from Cornelius Stuart for an incident which had taken place on January 25, 1932. John Wright Jr and another boy were playing hare and hounds and ran across the Shuart yard. Testimony revealed that Stuart had raised the window of his house and fired his shotgun at the boys. Eighty-five pellets were taken from the boy's right leg and fifty slugs from his left. One of those questioned was Shuart's father. When he reported that criminal charges against his twenty-four-year-old son had previously been dismissed, Judge Edwin C. Caffrey declared a mistrial, ending the case. (Bristow) |
1945-03-21 | Fire Department | When a Mahwah woman, Mrs. Greene, was on the point of death in Hawthorne, Mahwah officials turned to a novel method of seeking blood donors to save her. Fire Chief Monroe rang the fire alarm. When the company reported he asked for volunteers to give blood. Five came forward and three of them, Police Chief Smith, Charles Morris and W. J. Wrathall went down to Hawthorne to be tested. Morris was chosen and the transfusion was made. The technology of saving blood in Blood Banks had not yet been perfected in those days so direct transfusions were the only way to give blood. (Bristow) |
1953-03-21 | People | As their part of a county-wide safety program, the Woman's Club of Mahwah sponsored "Operation Red Tape". At each of the Townships Fire Houses volunteers were present to apply safety tape the children's bicycles. This tape showed up as red during the daylight hours and glowed in the dark when hit by automobile headlights. Youngsters from east of the tracks could go to Fire Company #1 and those west of the railroad went to Company #2. Fardale bicycles were serviced at the Fardale Fire House. (Bristow) |
1957-03-21 | Real Estate | An application to remove 50,000 cubic yards from the Stephen Birch property aroused considerable opposition at the Mahwah Township Committee meeting. Reed Contracting Company petitioned the Committee said that Mr. Birch wanted to sell the soil because he wanted to remove a knoll on the area near the well field and next to the Brain property. The fill was desperately needed, the company spokesman said, for the construction of the Garden State Parkway. Opposition came from several Valley Road residents headed by D. C. Spear. He asked why Mr. Birch was not there to make the application himself and charged that the removal would going to "extend the terrible situation that exists in the so-called water area right now." He demanded a change in the local ordinance when he was informed by Township Attorney John Warhol that its provisions permitted either the property owner or the contractor to apply for the permit. No decision was reached on the application at the meeting. (Bristow) |
1966-03-21 | People | Airman George Buxmann of Forest Ave. in Allendale was assigned to... after completing his basic training at Lackland Air Force Base. He was to be trained as a communications specialist. He was a 1965 graduate of Mahwah High School where he was an outstanding wrestler. In 1965 he took a third in the State wrestling championship. (Bristow) |
1967-03-21 | People | Library of Henry O. Havermeyer, featuring books on American naval history, sold at auction at the Parke-Bernet Galleries in New York City. (Bristow) |
1899-03-22 | People | The 25th anniversary of the Hohokus Lodge No. 178 of the International Order of Odd Fellows was held at the Odd Fellows Hall with over 300 in attendance. Past Grand Master the Rev. A. A. King of the Ramapo Reformed Church was a featured speaker, although his recent illness kept his remarks brief. (Bristow) |
1911-03-22 | Transportation | Construction of the new trolley bridge (over the Mahwah River?) near the Suffern line has begun. Rumor has it that the trolleys will be running from Ramsey about the middle of April. (Bristow) |
1916-03-22 | Transportation | Roads in Darlington are nearly impassable. Drifts 4' to 5' deep have accumulated because of the flat terrain and the nearness of the mountains. The Havemeyers have attempted to plow the roads but the snow is so deep they cannot keep their plow from overturning. (Bristow) |
1920-03-22 | The northern lights were clearly visible in the skies tonight. (Bristow) | |
1928-03-22 | Business | A classified ad in the Ramsey Journal offered a 10 room furnish colonial with bath on a one acre plot in Mahwah for $100 per month on a one year lease. The grounds contained a garden, shade and fruit trees and a garage, convenient to the station. An Allendale apartment with three rooms and bath, gas and electric, and a four room one in Ramsey with a garage rented for $30 per month each. (Bristow) |
1933-03-22 | Religion | At the annual meeting of the Church Aid Society of the Mahwah Community Church Mrs. Robert Siebert was elected President. Other officials selected were Mrs. Hallenbeck, Hagerman, Winter, Estabrook. The society had an active year. They had the interior of the Chapel painted, the Church cleaned, two rooms in the Parsonage decorated, installed new electrical outlets in the chapel and bought new linen and silverware. They also made baby garments and over fifty outfits for needy school children out of material supplied by the Red Cross. (Bristow) |
1933-03-22 | Recreation | The Lafayette Theater in Suffern featured Mae West in "She Done Him Wrong". Costarred were Cary Grant and Noah Berry. The Advertisement in the Ramsey Journal warned "You may blush, but you will like it". The Ramsey Theater had Douglas Fairbanks Jr in "Parachute Jumper". The Hawthorne Theater featured Will Rogers and Janet Gaynor in "State Fair". (Bristow) |
1934-03-22 | People | Although the question of appointing a committee to investigate the need for a zoning ordinance for the Township was not considered at the regular monthly meeting on March 15, a committee was named at the continuation of that adjourned meeting on March 22nd. The group named covered all parts of the Township. Edwin C. Lane represented east Mahwah, Albert Winter came from Mahwah proper, Frank Scherer came from West Mahwah, J. J. Vanderbeek was chosen from Fardale and Theodore Stuart came from Masonicus. A former member, F. W. Petri, refused reappointment because he was having eye trouble. (Bristow) |
1934-03-22 | Recreation | Publicity for the forthcoming one-act plays to be put on by the Ramapo Reformed Church to help pay for the new stage reached new heights of creativity in praising the third play. Featured were Robert Eibert, Gertrude Ewart and Gordon Miss. Siebert was described as even better than he had been in a previous triumph, "Happy Journey to Camden and Trenton" "Never before has anything so humorous been attempted by our amateurs. the press release promised. It will recall all the funny things you have laughed over in bygone days". (Bristow) |
1945-03-22 | People | The Ramsey Journal featured a recipe for what the paper described as a "Big, delicious 8-Serving meatloaf" which could be made for "only five points". (Meat was strictly rationed during World War II and every piece had to be paid for in ration "points", which in the case of meat were red. Coupons were issued for each family members specifying a particular number of points per month. Change was given in little fiber red discs. (Bristow) |
1957-03-22 | People | An accident at the corner of Franklin Turnpike and Ramapo Avenue involved a familiar scenario. Tw cars ran the red light at Miller Road and when the first halted at the second light a few feet later to turn into Ramapo Avenue the second car hit him. The driver of the first car, Carl Thitehener, of Hasbrouck Heights claimed that the Miller Road light was yellow when he went through and he stopped because the second light was red. The driver of the second car said he did not realize that there was a second light and could not stop. Patrolman Sawicki, who was on duty escorting school children across of the red witnessed the accident and issued summonses to both for running the red light. This corner, with its double set of lights had been the scene of numerous accidents, particularly before the construction of Route 17 when Franklin Turnpike was the Township's main highway. (Bristow) |
1962-03-22 | People | In special ceremonies at the Township Committee meeting Mahwah honored Joseph H. Frazier of 67 West Airmount Rd. for his thirteen years as a school crossing guard. Mary Morris E. Ruddick presented the 85-year-old retiree with his badge as a memento. Police Detective William Russo gave him a special trophy to mark the occasion. (Bristow) |
1962-03-22 | People | The Township Committee introduced an ordinance setting higher salaries for municipal employees. The raises would be retroactive to January 1st if fully passed after a projected public hearing in April. The minimum and maximum salaries were set at $6,500 to $8,000 for the police chief, 6,000 to 7,000 for Captains, down to patrolmen from $4,400 to 6,000. The Township Clerk was raised to $5,300, the Tax Collector $6,400 and members of the Township Committee $1,000 each. Secretaries to such groups as the Shade Tree Commission and the Recreation Committee were to receive $500, the Road Superintendent $7,400 road equipment operators $6,000 each and janitors $2,300. (Bristow) |
1775-03-23 | Crime | A black gelding was stolen from the stable of William Hopper farm. A five dollar reward was offered for the arrest of the thief as long as the horse was also returned. (Bristow) |
1874-03-23 | People | Two of Mahwah's oldest and respected citizens died within a month of each other. On March 23rd Abram A. Banta died. He was 77. "A few weeks prior Peter Bush, 84, died. "Both of these gentlemen were upright in their lives and it can be truly said that they died the death of the righteous." (Bristow) |
1904-03-23 | Education | At the organizational meeting of the Board of Education Mr. E. F. Carpenter insisted that the fact that the election of James Devine meant that only one Mahwah members was on the Board was a "disgrace to the Township". He maintained that one of the two Ramsey members should resign to allow another Mahwah man to be chosen. (Bristow) |
1912-03-23 | People | This is the earliest Easter of the 20th century. The last time Easter was this early again until 2007. Other years with early Easters will be 1940 (March 25) and 1967, 1978 and 1989 (March 26th). (Bristow) |
1918-03-23 | Food and Drink | A Bear Supper was held at the Town Hall to benefit the Red Cross. The main course was roast bear, donated by Mrs. Elmer J. Snow who ran the affaire. The bears had been raised from cubs when their mother had been shot by Jack Snow near the Snow's summer camp in the Adirondacks. Over 100 tickets had been sold for this unusual affair and $195 donated to the Red Cross, (Bristow) |
1922-03-23 | People | The Board of Conservation and Development voted to approve the project whereby major parts of Hohokus Township will be flooded. A large lake to provide water for the City of Bayonne would be created behind a high dam at Oakland. The Lake will be 3/4 of a mile in places and will hold 11 billion gallons of water. Among those areas in Hohokus Township to be affected will be the Havermeyer and McMillan Estates, the Darlington School and the newly improved Valley Road. Property holders will be compensated. [The final vote is scheduled for April 13th 4/6/1922]. [It was actually voted on on the 21st 4/27/1922]. The order will be appealed by Prosecutor J. Willard DeYoe representing Oakland and some property owners in the area over four cemeteries in Oakland (and at least the Hopper Cemetery in Mahwah JWB) where early settlers are buried will be submerged under the new lake. A hearing on May 16th before Supreme Court Commissioner George Slingerland of Paterson. The original petition was dated 2/21/21. There will be another hearing on the 24th. (Bristow) |
1930-03-23 | Police | Chief Smith received a call from The Oakland Chief that George Smith, no relative who lived on the mountain was dying of pneumonia and would not call a doctor because he had no money. He called Harold Johnson, the welfare director who in turn called Dr. Meyers. The three of them went up to George Smith's house. They decided that he was suffering from too much to drink. They returned at 11:05. (Bristow) |
1934-03-23 | People | Fire destroyed the home of Daniel Smith located on Kohler Estate off Valley Road. The little house, off Fyke Road was located about a mile from Valley Road, but, although both Mahwah fire companies responded promptly when the alarm sounded the road was nearly impassable because of mud and hols so that by the time the apparatus arrived the house was already completely burning. The only water available was the family well. A hose was put down the well but the water only lasted three minutes. The family was able to save only a few personal possessions. Local authorities found temporary shelter for Smith, his wife and at an unoccupied summer cottage but much help was needed because of the very cold weather. Smith was a veteran of World War I. His wife was a French war bride. They had six children, three boys aged fourteen, twelve and ten, and three (boys?) aged four, three and two. They were said to live a very isolated life. The only contact they regularly had with the outside world, the reporter for the Ramsey Journal related was through the fact that the girls attended the Immaculate Conception School in Darlington. Spearheading the drive to help the Smith family was the local post of the American Legion. (Bristow) |
1934-03-23 | People | The second in a series of very popular duplicate bridge tournaments was held at the Town Hall. Mr. and Mrs. Richard Keith of Mahwah and Mr. Russell A. Hasemeyer and his partner P. R. Jordan had the second highest score for the evening, with 69 1/2 points. The winning team consisted of Mrs. Grace Bristow and Mrs. Sarah Hulswit with a score of 70 1/2 points. The winners of the previous tournament, Dr. and Mrs. Royal Sengstacken, finished out of the money this time. (Bristow) |
1950-03-23 | People | The Ramsey Journal printed a copy of the letter sent by Charles L. Feldman, Chairman of the Mahwah Township Committee to the Public Utilities Commission protesting the steep rise on fare about to be instituted. The Township Committee had ordered that fare rise be protested since service was getting progressively poorer, cars were dirty, trains were late and stations and the right of way were littered and neglected. Young asked that the fare rates be rescinded and the old rates restored which, he felt, were already too high for the service rendered. (Bristow) |
1962-03-23 | People | The Fyke Nature Association meeting was transferred to the Grace Baptist Church because the furnace in their usual meeting place, the Ramsey Town Hall was broken. President David Leach announced that the next field trip would be to the Great Swamp in Morris County. Members were alerted to the fact that a European goldfinch had been signed in the yard of Talbot Dunn on East Allendale Ave. It was the first local sighting of this Eastern hemisphere bird. (Bristow) |
1966-03-23 | People | Alan T. Conseth of Mahwah spoke before the Cedar Grove Rotary Club meeting at the Friar Tuck Inn. He was an employee of the Port of New York Authority and he presented a color-slide program on the $25,000,000, 110 story World Trade Center to be constructed on the lower west side. He was a senior consultant on tunnels and bridges. He particularly concentrated on how the many transportation facilities which were to service the new facility would make the work of the various governmental and private agencies involved in foreign trade who would occupy the new facility. (Bristow) |
1872-03-24 | People | Stephen Birch born, New York City, Later owned mansion where Ramapo College is today. (Bristow) |
1895-03-24 | People | Harry Salyer died of a lung infection. He had been employed by Campbell's Drug Store in Suffern. Dr. Zabriskie had hoped he would live through to the Spring but it was not to be. He was greatly mourned by his many friends who had elected him Treasurer of the Reformed Church Sunday School. He was 19 years old. (Bristow) |
1915-03-24 | People | Fardale Social Club formed, first use of that name for the southern part of Mahwah (Named after FArdale Academy, Frank Merriwell's School) (Bristow) |
1916-03-24 | People | The Superba Theater in Ramsey advertised two shows of "The Greatest of European War Pictures" called Fighting France. Millions of men and thousands of horses were promised along with a "terrific" battle between "monster Zeppelin" and a French airplane, "two airplanes in deadly combat 3,000 feet in the air" and many more. "See war as it really is." (Bristow) |
1918-03-24 | Food and Drink | War Cake: One cup molasses, one cup corn syrup, 1 1/2 cups water, one package raisins, 2 tablespoons fat, 1 tsp salt, 1 tsp cinnamon, 1/2 tsp cloves, 1/2 tsp nutmeg, 3 cups flour, 1/2 tsp soda, 2 tsp. baking powder. Boil first five ingredients and bake in 2 loaves for 45 minutes in moderate oven. Make 20-25 servings. You may substitute one cup oatmeal for 7/8 cup of flour. (Bristow) |
1933-03-24 | Business | A barber and beauty shop was the latest business venture in town. Frank Peppe, who was previously at the Hotel Roosevelt in New York City, opened up a show in the Winter Building. He announced that he was prepared to give expert care to women', children's and men's tonsorial needs. (Bristow) |
1934-03-24 | People | Douglas O'Brein was involved in an automobile accident on his way home from a course he was taking in Yonkers. In order to avoid two other cars who had run into each other he swerved and ended up against a tree in Paramus. He was not seriously injured. His car needed some of the things which he had been studying. His course was on auto accessories. (Bristow) |
1938-03-24 | People | The International Relations discussion Group considered the topic of "Adequate National Defense" but the discussion centered on the situation in Eastern Europe following the annexation of Austria by Hitler's Germany. Germany's ambitions regarding Poland, Lithuania and Czechoslovakia were considered. They reached the conclusion that Germany's ambitions there were not related to nationality, since the populations were Slavs and not German speaking, for the most part, but were focused on the region's resources. (Bristow) |
1949-03-24 | People | Gordon Meisse, Chairman of the Building Fund Committee of the Ramapo Reformed Church announced plans for a $40,000 remodeling of the Church school building. New additions were planned for the south (street) side, and new wings added to the west and north sides. A partial second story with a meeting room for the ladies organizations and a balcony for the auditorium was to be added. A new stage and dressing rooms would permit the production of plays. The renovations were expected to double the seating capacity of the auditorium. (Bristow) |
1950-03-24 | People | Mildred Keith and Elfrida Chapman, local artists, were the judges of the annual art competition for grades 4 to 8. $4 first prize was awarded to Eunice Moore, Grade 8 at Commodore Perry in the upper grades competition. The lower grades winner, Jacqueline Hadala, Grade 4 at Betsy Ross, was awarded $2. Honorable mention went to two fourth graders, Robert Mann, at Commodore Perry and Patricia Remo, Betsy Ross. The prizes were provided by the Mahwah Women's Club. Miss Moore's picture a landscape in oils, was to be exhibited at the Sixth District Conference of the Federation of Women's Clubs and possibly at the annual conference in Atlantic City. (Bristow) |
1957-03-24 | People | The Mahwah Library featured an exhibit of flies and fly tying equipment mounted by Brian Appleton, a senior at Ramsey High School. When he became dissatisfied with the flies he could buy in stores, he learned how to tie his own. The various stages in the tying of a fly were demonstrated in the display and also in the pages of a Canadian publication "Forest and Outdoors in Pictures". An article by Brian was included in the January issue of the magazine. He wrote it with the assistance of his mother, a professional photographer. Another of his articles on lies was scheduled for publication in "Boys Life". Brian said that he expected to inaugurate the trout season early on the morning of April 13th on the Saddle River. (Bristow) |
1965-03-24 | People | The March meeting of the Mahwah Elementary PTA featured a spaghetti dinner and a lampoon on the Mahwah school system. The musical satire "This was the Year that Was" was directed by faculty member Lloyd Dille with PTA Vice-President Shirley Mueller as assistant. The authors were Mrs. Dille, Mrs. Mueller and Dr. Robert Perinchief. The "TWTYTW Girl was second grade teacher Mrs. Florence O'Hara. A chorus line of dancing mothers was under the direction of Mrs. Donald Campbell. (Bristow) |
1760-03-25 | Real Estate | Lambertus Larie sold 137 acres, the old Voss lot, to William Hopper of Paramus (Where the Ramapo College athletic fields and the Polo club are today) for 400 pounds (Bristow) |
1905-03-25 | Education | At the organizational meeting of the Board of Education a special committee consisting of James Devine Jr, David Hopper and H. A. Winter was chosen to oversee the construction of the new school in Mahwah. (Bristow) |
1930-03-25 | People | Three-year-old Sophie Krupinski of Valley Road, Mahwah was in the habit of walking from her house down to John Warhol's for candy. She stepped our in the road and was struck by a car driven by Rhett Fletcher of Green Village, N.Y. She was badly cut around the face and head. Dr. Royal Sengstacken was summoned and he took her in his own car to the hospital. In commenting on the accident, Chief Smith wrote. "I do not think the driver was negligent. ...Due to the child's age, it did not realize the danger." (Bristow) |
1933-03-25 | Recreation | Ninety-eight scouts and scouters of Circle A of the Bergen County Council of scouts hiked to Claudius Smith's Lair in the Interstate Park. Scoutmaster O'Brien and seventeen of Troop Fifty's 19 registered scouts participated. The hike, which included a nature game and a signaling contest, covered ten miles. Robert Foster completed his requirements for second class. (Bristow) |
1934-03-25 | Education | Mollie Smith, a student at Ithaca College, was named as the 1934 winner of the Oracle Key, the college's highest honor. In receiving the honor she was following behind her talented sister Katherine and Peggie, who had won the award in previous years. Mollie Smith was preparing for a musical career and was also a member of "Sigma Alpha Iota" the national musical honor sorority, "The Alpha" a scholastic honor society, the college orchestra, the Little Symphony and the a cappella Choir. She had recently been named president of the W. I. G. A. for 1935. (Bristow) |
1934-03-25 | People | Township Overseer of the Poor Harold Johnson announced that there were some job opportunities in the government reforestation project if Township residents could get their applications in by March 30th. He said that specifically there were opportunities for "ten white and twenty colored men." (Bristow) |
1934-03-25 | Transportation | Workmen from the Public Service Rail Road erected barriers to keep people from dumping ashes and garbage along the right of way of the former Trolley Line in Mahwah. The North Jersey Rapid Transit Trolley cars had ceased running in 1929. Public Service was trying to maintain the property in a responsible way but homeowners were using the area instead of paying to have their trash removed. The Ramsey "Journal" lamented the lack of strong sanitary laws that had turned the old trolley line as well as many of the unoccupied property along streams in the Township into garbage dumps. (Bristow) |
1957-03-25 | Transportation | The State Highway Department advertised for bids for the landscaping of Route 17 from the Ramapo River south to the Ramsey traffic circle. That section of the highway, at one time called "Butcher Boulevard" because of the numerous fatal accidents there, was being converted to a six-lane dual highway. All of the cross streets were being replaced by overpasses at Ramapo Valley Road, Ramapo Avenue, Spring Street and Island Road-Central Avenue. The major portion of the work was to plant shrubbery such as cocksure Hawthorne Japanese rose and red dossier dogwood in the center strip to prevent glare from oncoming headlights and shade trees such as pin oaks, maples and Austrian pines at the interchanges. The slopes at the interchanges were to be planted with vines such as honeysuckle and bittersweet so as to prevent soil erosion and to but down on mowing and maintenance. In all the specifications called for 33 shade trees, 37 evergreens, 82 small flowering trees, 9,525 shrubs and 7,150 vines. Similar work was done on the road north from the Ramapo River Bridge to the Hillburn line the previous year. (Bristow) |
1965-03-25 | People | In a signed article John. Y Dator discussed the location of Joyce Kilmer's "House with Nobody In it". He related that he had talked with an old resident who had received an autographed copy of the poem from Kilmer himself. There was no question, this person maintained, that it was the old Christie Farm House on the east side of Franklin Turnpike "just a short distance north of the Tondo Ice Station and a bit south of the Mahwah Ford salesroom, The old stone foundation is still there, but it may not be long." "It is shown on a 1767 map of this area as the old John Christie house and was the farm dwelling for a considerable acreage of land. It appears on an 1861 map and still in the Christie family. How long they remained in ownership has not been determined but suffice it to say that it was one of Mahwah's pre-Revolutionary houses." The article was accompanied by a photo of the old foundations "in a thicket east of Franklin Turnpike." (Bristow) |
1965-03-25 | People | The Township Committee decided to allow the radio tower erected at the North Jersey Paper Company on Route 17 to remain despite its having been constructed without a zoning variance when the owner offered the police and the road department to use it on occasion. The 86 foot FM antenna covers an area of 25 to 50 miles. John Borstelmann, the Company President explained that it had been put up over a weekend when he was out of town by an outside contractor who did not know that a variance was needed. Committeewoman Janet Herlihy said that since it was unobtrusive and built in an industrial zone it was not really bothering anyone and ought to stay. (Bristow) |
1902-03-26 | Business | The American Brake Shoe Co's Mahwah plant will be the largest such shop in the world when planned additions of 100' to the south and 80' to the north are completed. (Bristow) |
1905-03-26 | People | Forty-two Italian workers arrived to swell the large numbers constructing the Crocker Mansion. Fresh batches have been arriving nearly every day. (Bristow) |
1915-03-26 | People | The New Jersey Division telephone directory is being delivered by a small army of men and women in automobiles. 150,000 copies of the 450 page book containing about 122,000 listings are distributed three times a year. 35 years ago most directories were printed on vest pocket cards. (Bristow) |
1917-03-26 | People | The Red Cross Membership Campaign is in full swing, it was reported in the Chapter Executive Meeting in Waldwick, Mahwah has enrolled 64 members, Allendale 43, Ramsey 12, Saddle River 12, Waldwick 13, outsiders 4. The Home Nursing Committee has started a class with 19 enrolled. Mahwah will also start first aid and surgical dressing classes during the latter part of April. (Bristow) |
1920-03-26 | People | Mr. Fred W. Snow, the brother of Mrs. Elmer J. Snow died in his home in Hillburn. He was president of the Ramapo Iron Works and a director of the American Brake Shoe and Foundry Corporation. He was Chairman of the Rockland County Republican Committee. He had been ill only a few days. Burial was in the family vault in Mahwah. (Bristow) |
1928-03-26 | Recreation | One hundred-sixty-one friends and supporters of the Ramsey High School Basketball team attended a dinner at the High School Gym to celebrate the squad's second successive Class B Bergen County Championship. The members of the team were awarded their varsity "R"'s, and a gold charm each. The Principal, Mr. Tisdale presented the handsome loving cup. One more victory and it would be the school's to keep. Another cup was a surprise gift of the Citizens' Association. Postmaster Parvin acted as toastmaster, Mayor Gertzen thanked the team, Coach Schanz praised the boys and Captain Ronald C. Lewis thanked the crowd for their attendance and their support during the season. The members of the team were: Ronald C. Lewis, Captain, Peter Young, Robert Ibsen, Henry Graf, Edward Motto, Joseph Graf, Stewart Varey, James Wrathall, S. Collier, R. Wilson, Otto Sallfield, J. Martin, H. Gesselfinger, Fred Boucher and Coach Schanz. The major speaker of the evening was Majpr H. A. Dargue, the commander of the recent U.S. Army Air flight to Latin America. (Bristow) |
1933-03-26 | People | Dr. George Martin Ball, 67, died at his home in New York City. He was a specialist in nose and throat diseases, and was for many years connected with the New York City Children's Hospital. He built one of the first homes in Mahwah east of the Turnpike, before it was developed as Cragmere Park. He lived in Mahwah for many years and was consulting physician to many Mahwah families. (Bristow) |
1934-03-26 | People | Work began on extensive alterations to the Club House at the Houvenkopf Country Club. The ground floor was being converted into a series of locker rooms and showers. A grill will be added to the facilities. W. T. Findley was in charge of the work. He was awarded the contract to carry out the plans drawn up by the noted architect Walter R. Wilder. Wilder was a resident of Haverstraw road and a member of the Club. President F. H. Janke and the Board of Governors were studying what to do with the existing locker rooms on the third floor. (Bristow) |
1949-03-26 | Recreation | Boy Scouts of Troop 50 enjoyed a hike in Hariman Park. They started at the foot of Lake Stahehe, hiked to the Bald Rock Shelter via the Donderberg Trail and had lunch. Afterwards they traveled the A.S.B. Trail to the Appalachian Trail, through the "lemon squeezer" and then around Island Pond to the Boston Mine. Each of the scouts obtained a sample of magnetite at the abandoned shaft. They then hiked down the Old Pond Road to Green Pond and then to the Seven Lakes Drive where they were picked up. (Bristow) |
1955-03-26 | People | A special organ recital was held to help pay for the new organ recently installed at the Green Mountain A. M. E. Zion Church on Grove Street. Mrs. Eva Van Dunk played a number of selections. Russell Milligan sang a solo as did Blance and Other Jennings, and Frances Morgan. Betty Jane Mills played an accordion solo. The Rev. George Mann spoke about the difficult days the church had gone through. He said that he wished that some of the old timers who had stuck with the congregation during its dark days could see the new organ in the newly redecorated church. (Bristow) |
1957-03-26 | People | The newly completed rectory of the Immaculate Conception Church was toured by forty members of the Rosary Altar Society. Construction had been completed the week before and the house had been furnished and was ready for occupancy. To help pay for some of the costs of the new building, the group planned a fashion show in May, featuring clothing from the Globe Store in Suffern. (Bristow) |
1893-03-27 | Business | At a meeting in Ramsey it was proposed that the areas roads be macadamized, including Franklin Turnpike and Island Rd, A committee of A. Schroeder, John E. Christie and Abram L. Terwilliger has been formed to secure enough signatures to get a special election to authorize the necessary bonds to accomplish the work. $40,000 worth of bonds @ 5% for 20 years, a sum not to exceed 1/2 of 1% of the assessed valuation. The specifications include the use of a steam roller on the job. (Bristow) |
1908-03-27 | People | Mrs. Jemima Sturr, widow of John H. Sturr and mother of Harry Z. Sturr died in Mahwah. She was stricken with paralysis on the 24th and soon lapsed into an irreversible coma. Funeral services were in the Ramapo Reformed Church although she was associated for many years with the M. E. Church of Campgaw. Lovely floral tributes and two duets "In the Hour of Trial" and "Asleep in Jesus" added to the beauty of the services. Burial was in Wyckoff. (Bristow) |
1911-03-27 | Education | A meeting of the school children decided Olay out a tennis court for the girls and organize two baseball teams for the boys this spring. The following officers were elected: First team Baseball: Captain: Mr. Pechtel (the principal), manager, Albert Green, Treasurer, Ted Fletcher, Mascot, J Slaven; Second Team, Captain Charles Stuart, Manager, Charles Smith Girls: Manager: Miss Snyder, Asst. Mgr. Miss Myer, Captain: Miss Smith; Trees: Miss Stafford. The ball teams are practicing daily and hope to be ready for competition with other grammar schools early in April. (Bristow) |
1916-03-27 | People | An employee of the Susquehanna Railroad was narrowly saved from death by the quick action of Kenneth DuVall. The man, who had been drinking, was leaning on the iron gate at the crossing between the two westbound tracks waiting for an eastbound freight to pass. He did not see the Chicago Express, No. 1, coming around the ebdn and would have stepped right in front of it if he had not been dragged away by DuVall. (Bristow) |
1920-03-27 | Real Estate | There is a property boom in Mahwah. Louis B. Sibley has bought the home formerly owned by the Health Commissioner of New York City, Dr. Royal S. Copeland. Henry Hagerman's property near the Erie Freight House has been bought by Albert Winter. Percy Smith has bought the cottage formerly owned by William Kehr and Smith's house has been bought by John J. Hermans. John J. Grimm is moving into the former Maloon house on Armour Rd. (Bristow) |
1931-03-27 | Fire Department | Women's Auxiliary of the Mahwah Fire Department organized by 31 wives of firemen in Company No. 1. (Bristow) |
1933-03-27 | People | Julia VanDunk of Wood Street was fined $1 and $1 costs for allowing her dog to run without a muzzle in violation o the Township ordinance. (Bristow) |
1934-03-27 | People | Beatrice Dorbacker had the thrill of the young life when she attended a radio broadcast at Radio City. It was her favorite show and featured Baby Rose Marie. (Bristow) |
1944-03-27 | People | Frederick E. Delhagen, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Henry Delhagen of Mahwah, was killed in action. Sgt. Delhagen was a member of a bomber crew attached to the Eight Air Force and was taking part in a raid over Europe when his plane was shot down. (Bristow) |
1948-03-27 | People | It was almost exclusively a family affairs when Alice Howard of Pompton Plains married George Norman of Jersey City. The bride's brother, Everett Howard of Ridgewood, gave her away, another brother Harold was an usher, her sister Mrs. Carl Zipper was matron of honor and a third brother the Rev. Clarence S. Howard, pastor of the Ramapo Reformed Church performed the ceremony. (Bristow) |
1952-03-27 | People | Funeral services were held in Goshen New York for C. Barnwell Straut, 50, who died in New York Hospital after a long illness. He had been born in Suffern New York and resided in Mahwah for 25 years after living in Hillburn. He was survived by his wife Maida of Olney Rd and a son, C. Barnwell Straut Jr. and a daughter Maida Straut. The Strauts lived on Olney Rd. (Bristow) |
1957-03-27 | People | Mrs. Rose Kulken Conklin of Valley Road, Mahwah was killed as she ran her car into the rear of a slow moving truck on mile hill just south of the Upper Saddle River border on Route 17. She was dead upon arrival at Valley Hospital in Ridgewood. Michael J. Evans of Kingston, N. Y., the driver of the truck told the police that he was moving up the hill toward the Ramsey light when he "felt a bump" at the back of his truck. He stopped to investigate and found Mrs. Conklin's wrecked car. Mrs. Conklin was a nurse at the Teaneck Holy Name Hospital in ... She was born in Midland Park and was survived by her 1-year-old son Mark, her husband Edward and her mother. Her death was the first traffic fatality in Ramsey in 1957. (Bristow) |
1968-03-27 | Fire Department | A Mahwah 4-H Club inaugurated at meeting at the Masonicus Fire Department. (Bristow) |
1918-03-28 | People | The Exemption Board has examined 1,351 men and sent 149 to camp. Those from Mahwah, all sent to Camp Dix: George R. Neumann Michael O'Rourke Arthur Valentine Harry Conklin Ferdinand C. Kenney Harry Breen John J. Smack (Bristow) |
1920-03-28 | People | Daylight saving time has been adopted in Mahwah. The railroad adopted the daylight schedule since New York City has made the change. Both the school and the Church have switched to summer time. (Bristow) |
1926-03-28 | Crime | A bus driver from Paterson reported to police that he had been held up at gunpoint and robbed just outside of Mahwah. Fred Peterson said that a man had hailed the bus on Franklin Turnpike near the Mahwah border. When the man boarded he pointed a revolver at Peterson. He ordered the driver to turn out all of the lights in the bus turn over his valuables, get out and walk down the road and not return for five minutes. Peterson persuaded the robber to leave him his watch because of its sentimental value, but he took $16 in fares, a diamond ring worth $25 and $26 in cash belonging to Peterson. When the driver got back to his bus he saw the robber drive away in a car heading in the direction of Paterson. He provided the police with a description but was unable to see the license plate. (Bristow) |
1931-03-28 | Police | Chief Smith of the Mahwah Police was always being called to do things which were out of his jurisdiction. On this date Oriel Ennels called him to collect a debt of $65 that someone owed him. Smith told Ennels to sue the other person. One the 14th John Warhol called about a West Mahwah man who was acting strangely in his store. He wanted him committed. Chief sMith told him there was nothing he could do since the County Physician had declared the man sane a few days before. On the 21st, Chief Smith was summoned because a West Mahwah man had beaten up his wife and aunt. Smith could do nothing since neither would sign a complaint. When a neighbor demanded that the offender be locked up because he was afraid of him, Smith again refused. You have to wait until he does something to you, before you can sign a complaint. (Bristow) |
1934-03-28 | People | Cyrus F. Tibballs III returned home from Pawling School for the Easier Holidays. A press release under the signature of Headmaster Frederick L. Gamage Jr, praised the activities of the Cragmere resident. He had been issued a special letter for having set the school record of 1:10.8 for the 100 yard backstroke and being a member of the 126 yard medley relay which set a new school record of 1:07. He had also been named by the faculty to the "Pawling Perfect" Society made up of students outstanding in all phases of school life. He was to return to School on April 5th. (Bristow) |
1938-03-28 | People | William H. Dederick, 88 died at his home on Hillside Avenue. He had moved to Mahwah from Catskill, N.Y. thirty years before to enter the grocery business with his brother the late Joseph H. Dederick. Although he had been blind for nine years he was otherwise in relatively good health until his wife died about seven months previously. He was survived by his daughter with whom he lived, a brother in Paterson and several nieces and nephews. (Bristow) |
1941-03-28 | People | Dr. Charles F. Hunter Bergen County Commissioner presided from a row boat as the Fish and Game Commission stocked the Ramapo River with trout. 25,000 fish will be released in the river this year. The entire West Bank of the river is open to fishing except for small areas in the Havermeyer estate and along the Seminary property. (Bristow) |
1945-03-28 | People | Jacob Straut celebrated his 89th birthday on the job at the Ramsey High School. The veteran janitor had served at his post for 49 years. He had been born on the family farm in Airmont in 1859 and lived on Franklin Turnpike in Ramsey with his wife of 63 years, the former Mary M. Hetzel of Darlington. He had started working on New Years Day in 1896 at the old wooden building on North Central Avenue, which was later remodeled into the Ramsey Municipal Building. Among his duties in those days, he told well-wishers at his birthday celebration, was to draw buckets of water from the school well and leave them on logs which had been upended in the school yard so that the pupils could get a drink without having to draw water from the well themselves. He recalled that when the High School opened two teachers had to hold classes in the same room. (Bristow) |
1949-03-28 | Religion | A campaign to build a new parish house fort he Ramapo Reformed Church is announced. (Bristow) |
1950-03-28 | Religion | The addition to the Chapel of the Ramapo Reformed Church was dedicated. Additional space was provided for religion education with a number of changes to improve the use of the building as a community center. The former Duo-Art Club contributed equipment for the stage so that plays could be performed. A completely equipped kitchen was added to the plans at an added cost of $1,200. Separate heating controls were provided for the community room. The completed cost was $18,000 of which about $7,000 had to be borrowed. The building was open for inspection from 8 to 10 with the formal dedication at 8:30. (Bristow) |
1952-03-28 | People | The newly organized Fyke Nature Association held its first regular meeting in the Ramsey Borough Hall. Mrs. Ludwig Fusser of Redburn gave a program entitled "A Marsh is Wealth" The new club was formed to bring together those who were interested in preserving Fyke Park (Now Campgaw Park) which was then being acquired by Bergen County as a nature reserve. Its aim was to study, catalogue and preserve this stretch of woodlands. A series of programs for the coming months was laid out. These included sessions on geology, astronomy, wild flowers and fruits & seed pods. Field trips were planned to serve the meteor shower of the Perselds, to study mushrooms and to take the annual Christmas bird count. (Bristow) |
1957-03-28 | Transportation | Geiger Road was once more the subject of intense controversy at the Township Committee meeting. Otto Mann of the Stage Hill Civic League contradicted the optimistic announcements of Township Engineer Frank Harley at almost every point. Harley stated, once more, that the road would be ready for full use in two weeks. He said it was already being used by residents of the area. "We've been faced with some of the worst possible conditions in trying to build this road up the mountain during the middle of winter." Mann criticized both the practicality and safety of the new road. He was that if was had only one lane, with muddy shoulders on each side with grades for school buses. He once more demanded that the Township improve Stag Hill Road instead. Hillburn officials agreed with Harley. They praised the work Mahwah had done. Mayor Harold Williams and several trustees had inspected the road and announced that "remarkable" progress had been made. They expected to grant another of their two week extensions of the deadline for closing their road to the mountain community and agreed not to put the ordinance into effect until they had been informed that the road was open. (Bristow) |
1967-03-28 | People | A groundbreaking ceremony was held by members of the Evening Department of the Mahwah Women's Club, the Boy and Girl Scouts and the Ramapo Junior Gardeners Club to mark the beginning of their plan to beautify the grounds of the Post Office and the east embankment at the Railroad Station in Mahwah. Charles Vuolo of the Town Trellis created the landscape design and chose the plants so that there would be a four season color design. Money for the project has been raised by the Women's Club who planned a cocktail party at the Apple Ridge Country Club on June 2nd to benefit the project. (Bristow) |
1912-03-29 | People | The Cragmere Association's newly elected officers are President Leo Bugg; Vice President: W. Griffin, Treasurer: E. Keys; Secretary: P. Clarke. (Bristow) |
1920-03-29 | People | The Mahwah Woman's Club celebrated its anniversary by holding a birthday party. Recitations and songs were followed by refreshments including a large birthday cake. (Bristow) |
1927-03-29 | People | A Rotary Club was organized in Suffern. The group was to meet on Tuesdays at the Eureka House over lunch. Chosen as President was Alfred Grunewald. H. Van Allen Clark was elected Vice-President, Louis Hammel as Secretary, Frank Paret as Treasurer, Henry W. Behrens as Sergeant of Arms. Most of these men, plus Herman F. Imworlde made up the Board of Directors. Many prominent men in the community were members, including Morton Lexow, David Christie, C. B. McPhillips and Drs. Hussey, Sherwood and Lyle Gage. Dr. GAge remained an active member until his death at nearly 103 in 1982. (Bristow) |
1928-03-29 | Religion | The Church Aid Society of the Ramapo Reformed Church voted at their annual meeting to install a gas stove in the parsonage. A committee of Mrs. Clifford D. Schoonmaker, Mrs. Gilbert L. Forte, and the Pastor's wife, Mrs. William E. Simpson were appointed to see to it. The stove was installed during the week of April 12th. (Bristow) |
1928-03-29 | Government | The tax rates for the various Towns and Boroughs in Bergen were announced. District. 1927 1928 Hohokus Township 3.88. 4.00 Ramsey Borough. 4.60 4.83 Saddle River. 2.71. 3.18 Allendale. 4.61. 5.00 Upper Saddle River 2.97 2.91 Waldwick. 5.61. 4.84 Average rate for county 4.86 5.07 (Bristow) |
1938-03-29 | Crime | Joseph Gawal of Spring Valley Road landed in the Criminal Court in Hackensack accused of having stolen two hams and a pig from Fred Triquart's pig farm also on Spring Valley Road. Gawal admitted the theft but said he remembered nothing about it since he was drunk at the time. His sentence was put off. (Bristow) |
1938-03-29 | Crime | Stephen Romanish 20, and his brother Joseph, 17 of Brook Street Mahwah received 30-day suspended sentences in the Criminal Court in Hackensack when they pleaded guilty of breaking into a former bakery on Brook Street. Two other young men, both with criminal records were arrested at the same time and were awaiting trial. All four were accused of intending to break up the cast iron furnace in the store to sell it for scrap iron. (Bristow) |
1945-03-29 | People | A veteran of Bataan, who spent three years in Japanese prison camps in the Philippines left after having spent part of his three month furlough visiting friends and relatives in the Mahwah area. Staff Sergerat Leon A. Nice Jr was the son of Leon A. Tice who was employed for a number of years on the Birch farm on Valley Road in Mahwah. The younger Time had enlisted in the regular army in 1939. At the time of the Japanese attack on Manilla on December 8, 1942 he had been overseas for two years and was scheduled for discharge on December 24, 1941. The medical Corpsman was assigned to Sternberg General Hospital in Manila. He and his unit worked day and night for three weeks taking care of those wounded in the continuous air attacks. Eventually he was evacuated to the Bataan Base Hospital where he was when Bataan fell to the Japanese on April 9th. He succeeded in avoiding capture until the 24th. He was first sent to the notorious Billbid Prison in Manila and then to Cabanatuan Prison Camp five days later. While in the camp he and his fellow corpsmen set up and operated a small camp hospital. Their work was seriously hampered by the almost complete absence of any medicines or supplies. He was still there when the 6th Army Rangers liberated the camp on January 30, 1945. After a 25-mile forced march, carrying 50-60 of the more seriously ill prisoners, the captives reached the American lines and freedom. At the time of his liberation he weighed 108 lbs instead of his normal 150. He returned to San Francisco on March 8th for his 90 day furlough. He spent some of it in this area and some with his father, then living in Pennsylvania. He reported that he was not expecting to be sent overseas again. He was to report back to a rest camp at Santa Barbara, California at the end of his leave. (Bristow) |
1948-03-29 | Crime | Leo Richardson, 55, pleaded guilty to passing a bad check and was sentenced to three to six years in prison in Easton Pennsylvania. He gave his residence as Ramsey, New Jersey, but no one here had ever heard of him. The Ramsey Journal checked with the local utility companies, police departments, the Bergen County Court House, Municipal Building records and several "old timers". The only Richardson anyone could remember was Lester Richardson, a former Ramsey resident who was the clerk of the Bergen County Criminal Court in Hackensack. Lester told the Journal that he was not Leo and had never heard of any relative or resident by that name. The convicted Richardson faced assault and battery charges brought by a jail keeper in Bethlehem, PA and sixteen other bad check charges in other places. (Bristow) |
1952-03-29 | Fire Department | The fourth in a series of seven card parties to support the Masonicus Fire Department was held by the Company and the Masonicus Civil Association. The door prize was won by Frank Pelz, which hardly seemed fair since he had won the fur coat which was the door prize at the penny sale in 1949. (Bristow) |
1957-03-29 | People | When Messrs Mennella and Waldron, famed animal trainers moved from Ramsey to Mahwah they took with them Debbie, the English Bulldog who had produced puppies four weeks before and one of television's most familiar simians J. Fred Muggs. (Bristow) |
1966-03-29 | Crime | John Dennison Jr. of Grove St. disturbed a Tuesday night service at the Immaculate Heart of Mary Church when he came up to the altar seeking the owners of two cars which he had damaged in an accident. He apparently wished to notify them of what had happened. He was ushered out of the church by altar boys and was arrested for disorderly conduct and reckless driving. His car had hit one of the cars and driven it into the other, but carried it a bit too far, damaging both. He was released on $150 bail. (Bristow) |
1977-03-29 | Crime | Edgar H. Smith admits, during atrial in San Diego for attempted rape, that he had in fact killed Vicki Zielinski in 1957, a crime for which he had escaped the death penalty while maintaining his innocence. (Bristow) |
1903-03-30 | People | A Ladies Aid Society has been formed at the Reformed Church. Meetings will be held every other week. Mrs. L. Vanderburg was chosen president, Miss Mamie Henion, Vice President, Miss Ratie Winter, Secretary and Miss Charity Quackenbush, treasurer. (Bristow) |
1911-03-30 | People | The Trustees of Columbia University are at a loss as to what to do with George Crocker's cigars. When he died he left his Estate in Darlington to the University to establish a foundation to search for the cause & cure of cancer of which both he and his wife had died. The contents of the Crocker Mansion included an especially constructed humidor in the basement containing about 60,000 cigars, worth, according to tobacco experts, between $20,000 and $30,000. They were all especially manufactured by some of the world's greatest cigar experts and bear Mr. Crocker's monogram. Part of the problem in disposing of them is that they must be legally classified as "household goods and furnishings". If not they belong to the heirs as personal property. (Bristow) |
1919-03-30 | People | The Red Cross Campaign to collect old clothes for shipment to Europe ended. Sherman Powell was the Mahwah Chairman. School children and Boy Scouts have assisted with the collection. The Central station for collection in Mahwah was the League for Patriotic Services Office in the Henrietta Building. (Bristow) |
1920-03-30 | People | There was no Mahwah name on the petit jury list for April, although William N. Woofruff of Ramsey was drawn. Also chosen was Carl A. Himmel (?) of Hackensack. He is the first black in memory chosen for the petit jury. His selection was approved by the Jury Commission and Sheriff Joseph Kinzley and the legal community, and "is a source of much gratification to the colored element." (Bristow) |
1926-03-30 | Transportation | The North Jersey Rapid Transit Company offered half fare schedule to its customers. The fare from Suffern to Ramsey was cut from 14 cents to 7 cents. A rider who made a round trip between the two places daily for a month would save about $4. The yearly savings, if put in a savings bank would amount to $48, the company pointed out. Fares to other places were similarly reduced. The fare from Suffern to Paterson was 22 cents, to Hackensack 27 cents and to the Fort Lee Ferry only 42 cents. A mother and her three children going to Paterson and back from Suffern would only have to pay 88 cents. Surely this was the cheapest and safest transportation available. It would certainly be cheaper than using your own car, the company pointed out. Travel on the line went up immediately, but the difficulties of the line were not cured and they went out of business only three years later. (Bristow) |
1942-03-30 | People | The Mahwah Unit of the American Red Cross' Ramapo Valley Chapter announced that they were closing their sewing room until further notice. Those present finished up garments which had been started and made arm bands for the First Aid Stations, but, since no further supplies of cloth had been received, there was little that the group could do on future Mondays. A supply of kaiaked and navy blue wool had been received for preparing gloves and mittens for servicemen. Any knitter could pick up a supply for work at home. Since there were more than thirty workers present, the Canteen Department served a hot lunch for 25 cents. Mrs. Ian Graham was in charge of the lunch preparations. (Bristow) |
1949-03-30 | People | Assemblyman William B. Widnall, the Chairman of the annual Red Cross fund drive announced that the Chapter had reached its quota of #3,740. Fardale was well over its quota under the chairmanship of J. J. Storms and Mahwah Chairman Mrs. Clark Hebner was within a few dollars of its quota of $1,180.00 (Bristow) |
1952-03-30 | People | Mr. and Mrs. Edwin T. Bennet were honored for his thirty-six years of service to the School District as Clerk of the Board of Education. The Bennetts were retiring to Florida. The dinner, held in the Chapel of the Reformed Church was attended by many present and formed officials of the Board and the Township. At the speakers table, in addition to the Bennetts, were Board President D. Cameron Bradley, Township Committee Chairman Charles Feldman, Supervising Principal Roy Austin, Dr. S. D. Beers, dinner Chairman John Fallows and former Board Presidents David Hopper, Havilah, Smith, John Warhol Jr. and Alfred G. Heflin. A plaque signed by all present and past members of the School Board still living in Mahwah was presented to Bennett which hailed his "single-minded" devotion to duty, his zealous attention to detail and his most helpful assistance in guiding the actions of the Board in accordance with school law and precedent through thirty-five years of faithful service." Mrs. Bannett was presented with a leather handbag for the help and support she had given her husband through all these years. (A list of those who attended followed On March 27th The Township Board passed a resolution in honor of Bennett for his service as Tax Collector since 1934. It honored his "outstanding service" and named him an "excellent public servant". who had "brought honor &credit to himself & the Township." (Bristow) |
1952-03-30 | People | Over 100 attended a dinner in the Presbyterian Church in Ramsey to mark the 40th anniversary of Scout Troop 31, the second oldest scout troop in the United States. A highlight of the evening was the award of the Eagle rank to Struthwolf by the Troop's oldest Eagle, Dr. Harold Grosselfinegr. The Troop's highest honor, the William Metzger Memorial Award went to Jack Van Brunt who also received his Life Scout rank from former Scoutmaster John Y. Dator. (Bristow) |
1952-03-30 | Crime | Sidney Mayer of Montibello Road Suffern reported that his car had been stolen when its as parked outside of the Out-of-Bounds Country Club. When he returned from playing gold his 1952 Dodge Coupe was missing. At about 11:00 PM Mahwah Police Sergeant Wickham and Patrolman Micik were conferring with Suffern Patrolman Pierce at the corner of North Ramapo Avenue and Route 202 when the car drove by. They gave chase and found the car with its engine still running in a driveway on State Street. The culprit was not found but the car was returned to Mayer. (Bristow) |
1952-03-30 | Police | Wilbur Ward of the Ward Bulldozer Company on Franklin Turnpike reported that a truck and trailer were missing from his lot. The Mahwah police sent out an alarm. The next day the Ridgewood police found the missing tractor-trailer abandoned at the Ridgewood dump. Nothing was ever discovered as to how it got there. (Bristow) |
1965-03-30 | Crime | Edgar H. Smith was denied a new trial in a hearing at the County Court House, but it seemed likely that a sixth in a series of stays of execution would be granted in the case. Smith had been in the death house of the Trenton State Prison for nearly eight years after his conviction in 1957 for the murder of Victoria Zielinski in a Mahwah sandpit. Smith, acting as his own attorney claimed a variety of procedural errors in his prosecution. The judge maintained that all of these had been dealt with in previous appeals. Smith's case, which had attracted nationwide attention, had led to three unsuccessful appeals to the New Jersey Supreme Court and one to the US Supreme Court. (Bristow) |
1901-03-31 | People | Eleven cars full of immigrants went through in the Erie on their way to the west. Every day there has been one or two such cars and recently there were five on a single night. Most are Swedes, Syrians and Poles ("men without a country") from Russia, Germany, and Austria. (Bristow) |
1902-03-31 | Transportation | Henry Havermeyer's big red automobile went through town at a very dangerous rate. Anyone who might get in the way would be risking serious injury. The ordinance against fast driving must be enforced. He recently received a severe reprimand from a New York Judge for speeding. (Bristow) |
1911-03-31 | Transportation | A test trolley car passed through Ramsey en route to Mahwah this afternoon. Regular service will soon follow. (Bristow) |
1915-03-31 | People | A social and athletic club has been formed among the young people who lives in the southern part of the Township, outside of Ramsey. William Morris was named President, Alfred Gebquer, First Vice President, Myrtle Winter, 2nd Vice President, Katherine Heiland, Treasurer, and Verna Vanderbeck, Secretary. 19 charter members are enrolled plus three [adult?] members (Bristow) |
1928-03-31 | People | Mr. and Mrs. Ernest Green entertained Mrs. and Mrs. Elliot Reid for dinner. Afterwards they attended Dr. Seabury's lecture at the Suffern High School. This was part of a series on psychology which he had been giving that winer. Also in attendance from Mahwah were Mr. and Mrs. Robert Walker, Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth Shrewsbury, Mrs. Foss Tibols, Mrs. Norman H. Sherow and Mrs. Alonso B. Sherow. (Bristow) |
1937-03-31 | Politics | The organizational meeting of the proposed Mahwah Democratic Club had to be postponed a second time because of a poor turnout. The temporary chairmen John J. Brennan and Albert Hopper promised that they would make further inquiries and if enough people showed an interest in such a club, schedule another night to get the club organized. (Bristow) |
1938-03-31 | Education | Supervising Principal announced that new playground games had been secured so that all students could take part in some sport during recreational periods. In addition to softball, equipment for playground ball, volleyball, ring tennis dodgeball, badminton and quoits were put into use. (Bristow) |
1938-03-31 | People | The Reverend William E. Simpson, who was the Pastor of the Ramapo Reformed Church for 16 years before his retirement in July, 1937 died of a heart attack at his son's home in Oakland. He suffered a severe heart attack in December and remained too weak resist two more on the day he died. He was a graduate of Rutgers and of the Teological Seminary in New Brunswick. He had held posts in Green Bush, N.Y. and Piermont, N.Y. before coming to Mahwah. The services were held in the Mahwah Church on April 4th. His lifelong firmed, Tabor Knox of Warwick, the Parish where Simpson grew up, presided assisted by the Pastors of the Waldwick and Upper Ridgewood Reformed Churches. Twenty pastors of the Classis of Paramus attended as a body out of respect for their former colleague. (Bristow) |
1952-03-31 | People | A group of about thirty bird-banders visited at the home of John Y. Dator in Ramsey. They had been attending the Eastern Bird Banders Association Convention at the American Museum of Natural History. They visited Ridgewood and Pequannock as part of their trip to Ramsey. (Bristow) |
1955-03-31 | Politics | The Mahwah Republican Club was formally organized at a meeting at the Municipal Building. Under Temporary Chairman Livingstone T. Goodman officers were elected and a constitution and bylaws adopted. (Bristow) |
1962-03-31 | People | Eight-thousand deposit bottles were collected in a house-to-house drive sponsored by the Mahwah Lions Club. The Lions worked in cooperation with the Finance co-chairman of the local American Field SERvice Chapter, John Huff, of Allendale. The proceeds, estimated at about $200 were to be used to finance the bringing of 2 foreign students to Mahwah High hSchool. Jack Watson, of the Lions is the other chairman of the AFS Committee. (Bristow) |
1966-03-31 | Recreation | At the final dress rehearsal of the Mahwah High School production of "Brigadoon" the cast entertained nearly 300 students from nearby high schools as a part of Northern Bergen Interscholastic League cultural inter-visitation program. Students from Northern Highlands, Waldwick, Pascack Valley, River Dell. Ramsey, Indian Hills and Ramapo Regional High School as well as Immaculate Heart of Mary School were invited. Starring in the cast of nearly 80 in the production were Terry Minogue, Wayne McBride, Mark Statuto, Kurt Hirsch, Hilary Gaess, and Glenn Johnson. The pit orchestra was under Mr. Mura's direction with Mrs. Donna Garlic as choreographer. (Bristow) |
1966-03-31 | People | This was the deadline for the initial enrollment for the new Medicare program. All those 65 or older had to enroll separately for the two plans or have to wait a year and a half and pay a premium 10% higher. Plan A which covered hospital costs and was free, Plan B covered doctor bills and cost $3.00 per month. Those eligible were reminded that you did not have to be on social security to receive Medicare and were warned not to drop their private medical coverage until July 1st when the new plan went into effect. (Bristow) |
1912-04-01 | Real Estate | Several families have arrived to spend the summer in Cragmere. Those that arrived are the Adamson, Powell and Jones families. Mr. McPeek has been awarded the contract to build a large new house for Mr. Brandenburg. (Bristow) |
1920-04-01 | Education | The Mahwah Library was organized by the Mahwah Woman's Club. Mrs. Annie Winter is the President of the Board of Trustees. (Bristow) |
1947-04-01 | Education | Miss Ruby Trask, the second grade teacher at the Commodore Perry School, notified school officials that she would not return to school for the remainder of the school year. She had been severely injured in an automobile accident on March 25th. She and a relative, Will Redington, were travelling to Otsego, New York for a funeral when the car skidded into a tree. Mr. Reddington was killed and Miss Trask suffered a fractured ankle and severe shock. (Bristow) |
1952-04-01 | Education | As part of the eighth-grade civics project called "Bordertown", a comprehensive description of Mahwah's town government was made into a pamphlet by Commodore Perry students Sue Heflin and Pat Oaksmith. They received letters from the holders of different positions in the town government which described their duties. A similar pamphlet about the town's school was prepared by Byrd Avery, Nancy Schoemaker and Edna Scheld. It included material about the school budget and contained photographs of schools, churches and the Municipal Building (the Miller Road fire house).Recreation in Mahwah was investigated by Richard Trucksess, Guy Burton, June Fitzgerald and Carol Shoemaker. Included were the golf course, the airport, Sunset Lake for swimming, Winter's Pond for skating, Ridge Road for hunting and the Ramapo River for fishing. Organizations described were the Commodore Perry Glee Club, the Garden Club, the township recreation program and the Boy Scouts. The booklets, maps and charts prepared by the students were displayed in the windows of Tax Collector Rinkey's office. (Bristow) |
1957-04-01 | Education | Mahwah High School officers Charles Riley, President and Bill Dator, Vice-President, appeared before the School Board with proposals for the new high school's colors and school symbol. The Board approved the Thunderbird for the school symbol and gave tentative approval for sapphire blue, leaf green and Aztec gold as the colors. Approval was only tentative since, as the boys reported, the Club is still discussing the choice of the colors. The boys displayed a two color shield on which a gold thunderbird has been centered. The Principal of the Commodore Perry School displayed some pennants featuring the thunderbird. They were made of felt and had been made by an activity group consisting of Daniel Schultz, Roland Jennings, Richard Dennison, Philip DeFreese and Ralph Dennison. Superintendent Roy Auston said that full plans of the new high school would be displayed at the public meeting scheduled for Betsy Ross School on April 8th. (Bristow) |
1966-04-01 | People | Pvt. Patrick J. Brems, 19, the son of Mr. and Mrs. H.J. Brems of 53 Fleming Arrow Road Mahwah, was killed in a bomb attack on an Army Officers billet only two weeks after his arrival in Saigon. He had entered the Army in October, 1965 with the wish to join the Green Berets, but he became a MP after basic training because he was not yet 20 years old, which is the minimum age for the Special Forces. He was one of three killed in the Vietcong bombing which destroyed the first floor of the building they were guarding. His family had only recently moved to Mahwah from River Edge where he had been graduated from River Dell High School before his enlistment. In addition to his parents, he left a 14 year old sister, Colleen who is a student at the Paterson Benedictine Academy. The elder Mr. Brems was a customs inspector in Hoboken. (Bristow) |
1721-04-02 | People | Jacobus Laroe was baptized according to the Hackensack Church records. He was born in Ramapo. (Bristow) |
1788-04-02 | People | Cornelius Haring sold the Laroe-Van Horn house and farm to his elder brother Judge John Haring, who was a delegate to the Continental Congress and to the New York State Convention to ratify the U.S. Constitution - he voted against it. (Bristow) |
1915-04-02 | Education | A party from the Irving School in New York City arrived to spend the weekend at the Ramapo Hotel. Mr. Shibley and his pupils will spend their time in walks in the mountains learning about nature. (bristow0 |
1937-04-02 | People | Funeral services were held in Clifton for Mrs. Agnes Adamson, the wife of the late Alexander Adamson, who was the first resident of Cragmere Park. Before her marriage, Mrs. Adamson was a registered nurse. She was a charter member of the local nursing service and served six years as the President of that organization. She also held the post of membership chairman of the local Red Cross chapter for a number of years and was a founding member of the Mahwah Garden Club. She retired from working when her husband's health deteriorated. She moved to Clifton after his death. The only survivor was an adopted son. (Bristow) |
1947-04-02 | People | Miss Florency Gates, retired school nurse for the Mahwah Township schools, died in her home in Nyack. She was a graduate of St. Mary's Hospital for Children in New York City and had served for 18 months at an Army base hospital in France during World War I. During her twenty one years as a nurse in the Mahwah schools, she was one of the town's most prominent figures. She had been particularly important during the Depression in identifying and helping children in need. A close friend was quoted as saying that "At all times she worked humbly and joyously, but most effectively. Not only the children and the faculty will miss her, but the whole community will as well." Episcopal funeral services were held in Sparkill with burial in Nyack on the 5th. (Bristow) |
1875-04-03 | People | Mike Wanamaker caught 180 pigeons in a net in one day. They were probably passenger pigeons - used for meat. (Bristow) |
1905-04-03 | People | The six year old son of Frank Peltz of the Sun Farm in Masonicus became lost and was not found for five days. His father took him to the Winter grocery store in Mahwah to buy supplies. Mr. Peltz started the boy on his way home, but he did not arrive. He was dressed in a blue jacket and light waist and cap. He was finally found in Paterson, but no explanation was given for how he had wandered away that far. (Bristow) |
1915-04-03 | Education | Classes began at Don Bosco High School in Ramsey. It was the oldest Salesian school on the eastern seaboard. It had been called the Columbus Institute when it was located in Hawthorne, but the school building burned, leaving the priests and the brothers homeless. The Order traded some property in Brooklyn for a former summer hotel in Ramsey (The Wayfair Inn) which they had sought as a novitiate for men entering the priesthood. A school for homeless Polish boys was a more urgent need at the time, so the Columbus Institute moved to Ramsey and was renamed Don Bosco High School. The director was the Rev. Robert Wieczorek. The school had no chapel, library, or study hall. Everybody had to walk to West Mahwah to attend Sunday Mass. There was so little room that they only had freshmen and sophomores. The first of many expansions began in 1917, the year that juniors and seniors were added to the student body. (Bristow) |
1920-04-03 | Education | The Mahwah Public Library opened its doors with 70 books checked out on its first day. (Bristow) |
1962-04-03 | Real Estate | Plans were announced for a large industrial park, similar to the one in Paramus, to the west of Franklin Turnpike, near the Ramsey border. George Lethbridge, president of Fidelity Terminal of Hackensack and developers of the Paramus Park Shopping Center, presented plans to the Planning Board. When completed, there will be 1,000,000 sq. feet of building, starting with one of 60,000 sq. feet. Another one of 180,000 sq. feet was to be built along the railroad tracks. He indicated that he expected one building to always be under construction until the whole project was completed. No Planning Board approval was needed for the first building, but a public hearing was scheduled for May 1st to consider permission to build a road from Franklin Turnpike to the railroad and to divide the plot into lots. The project was a speculation on the part of the company since no major contracts had been signed with tenants. Ground breaking ceremonies were set for April 21st. The same week Mr. Lethbridge was welcomed as a new member of the Mahwah Chamber of Commerce. (Bristow) |
1912-04-04 | Fire Department | At about 4am a train went through Mahwah blowing its whistle continuously. It was immediately noticed that J. H. Dedrick's feed house was burning. Unfortunately little could be done; the barn, its contents and adjacent box car were consumed in the flames. (Bristow) |
1927-04-04 | Government | Motor Vehicle Commissioner Dill dismissed the possibility of a legal challenge to New Jersey's first gasoline tax. "I am proceeding on the assumption that the gasoline tax law just passed will not be assailed in the courts, but that if it is, it will be upheld. The tax will go into effect July 13th." The two cents a gallon tax was to be collected from the refineries, not from service station owners or directly from the consumers. Most assumed that the 40 or 50 refineries would pass the cost on to the motorists, but there was some evidence that the industry might assume the tax to keep gas prices low. (Bristow) |
1933-04-04 | Business | Harold Johnson, the overseer of the poor for the Township, announced that he will provide unemployed men for odd jobs about the house or yard by the day, the half day or the hour. There are many such unemployed men in town because of the Depression. (Bristow) |
1944-04-04 | Education | A Mahwah girl, Jane Henry, was named "Miss Ramsey High" for 1944. She received nearly one-third of the ballots cast from a field of twenty-two contestants. She had been born in Brooklyn, but had moved to Mahwah when only one year old. She was reported to have a very winning smile and an outgoing personality. She collected dolls for a hobby and worshipped Bing Crosby. She liked sports and reading good books and had held many positions in extra-curricular activities including serving as Secretary of the Student Council, Treasurer of the Spanish Club and the Tri-High and business manager of the Nuggett. She hoped to major in either History or English or Home Economics at Penn State University. When informed of her selection, she was reported to have exclaimed "Oh my gosh!". (Bristow) |
1967-04-04 | Real Estate | An angry capacity crowd packed the public hearing of the Mahwah Planning Board which considered the proposed 136 acre Voorhees Estates development in Fardale. The crowd, called "mis-informed" by the reporter of the Ramsey Journal, attacked what they believed was an underhanded attempt by the builder to go against local zoning ordinances. A total of 117 homes were projected, each on slightly less than one acre. An area of about 8 acres was to be set aside for a park. The homes were expected to sell for between $35,000 to $40,000 each. No action was taken by the Planning Board since a change in zoning regulations, apparently proposed by the Board itself, were necessary for the development to be built. (Bristow) |
1745-04-05 | Real Estate | John Voss purchased a 100 acre plot from the New Jersey Proprietors, a half-mile east of the Laroe-Van Horn farm. (Bristow) |
1902-04-05 | Police | The Town Board discussed whether a sign should be posted warning drivers of automobiles against excessive speed. Since the maximum fine is $5, it would not pay to have a man near the sign to make arrests. (Bristow) |
1931-04-05 | Crime | On this date, Police Chief Smith was notified that the Suffern Police were holding a man who had set fire to the real estate office of Mahwah Manor on Ramapo Avenue in Mahwah. The offender, Frank Lukac had attempted to build a fire inside the empty house in order to keep warm. He had broken into the unused building and was living there. After stopping in the State Police barracks in Ramsey to fingerprint him, Smith took Lukac to the county jail in Hackensack. (Bristow) |
1942-04-05 | Recreation | Mrs. J.C. Codington of Maysenger Road held an egg hunt in her yard for the neighborhood children on Easter Morning. Janet Lawrence found the most eggs and C. Edison Wiley Jr. took second place. (Bristow) |
1944-04-05 | People | A Mahwah airman, Staff Sergeant Douglas O'Brien, was a member of the 355th Fighter Group of the Second Division of the Eighth Air Force which carried out a devastating strafing attack on the Munich Air Base in Germany. The Unit was credited with having flown their P-51 Mustangs through extremely difficult weather and destroying 43 enemy aircraft on the ground and shooting eight out of the air. They also were credited with damaging a further 81 German planes on the ground. For this feat, the Unit was given a Distinguished Unit Citation in 1945. Staff Sergeant O'Brien was an electrical specialist among the ground organization which helped to keep the Mustangs in the air. He had entered the service in April 1942 and had arrived in Britain, where he was stationed, in July 1943. He lived at the corner of Airmount and Alcott Roads in Cragmere. Before his induction, he has been the Scoutmaster of Troop 50 for many years. (Bristow) |
1952-04-05 | Recreation | The world premier of Abbott and Costello's new film "Jack and the Beanstalk" was held at the Fabian Theatre in Paterson. Both stars made personal appearances at the opening which was for the benefit of youth charities in Paterson. Both were New Jersey natives. Abbott from Atlantic City and Costello was born in Paterson where he maintained a home. (Bristow) |
1915-04-06 | People | James A. Davidson, the Superintendent of the American Brake Shoe and Foundry Company, died in his home in Ramsey. He was 60 years old. He originally came from Orange County, New York, and worked for a time in William Van Waggonen's store in Ramapo. He then moved to Pennsylvania where he learned the foundry business. Eventually he took a position as foreman in the factory in Hillburn and Superintendent of the Mahwah plant in 1901. He has recently taken his wife on a tour of the Panama Canal and intended to continue to the San Diego Exhibition, but his health gave out and he returned home to die of Bright's disease. Internment was in the Mahwah Cemetery. (Bristow) |
1921-04-06 | Government | Five members of the Bergen County Freeholders, including Director William H. Roberts, hiked over seven miles of the Ramapo Valley Road. in Mahwah. The road is being improved from the NY State line to Oakland. They hiked south from the intersection of Ramapo Avenue in Mahwah to the Passaic County line. The road is especially picturesque because of the trees. Maple trees had been planted by H.O. Havermeyer Sr. and pine trees by his son, H. O. Havermeyer Jr. They were invited in by Mr. Havermeyer to sample his spring water and to see the monument to mark the spot where George Washington sat under a favorite tree. It is expected that the road will be completed and opened to traffic by July 1st. It will, no doubt, be one of the favorite drives in the county. (Bristow) |
1938-04-06 | Real Estate | The first reading of a bill to purchase the tract of land at the corner of Ramapo Avenue and Island Road, to be used as a community center, was passed by the Township Committee. The Committee had had an option to buy the land for $7,500 for several months and acted to secure the property before the option ran out. A public hearing was scheduled for April 21st at the regular monthly meeting of the Committee. An application for a WPA grant for the construction of the building had been submitted, but there had been no response to that application. (Bristow) |
1981-04-06 | Government | The first anniversary of the U.S. entry into the war was chosen for the opening of the Third Liberty Loan Bond drive. The members of the Militia Reserve have agreed to undertake a house-to-house canvas for the drive. Mahwah's quota is $17,900 and this was more than doubled by raising $40,950. Mahwah gets an honor flag with a gold star for having doubled the quota. (Bristow) |
1875-04-07 | Disasters | Diphtheria is raging among the local children. Henry Ryerson and John Morerson has each lost one of their children. (Bristow) |
1898-04-07 | Recreation | Mahwah Station Agent Weaver and R.M. Bary of Suffern stocked tributaries of the Mahwah River with 200 yearling trout. (Bristow) |
1900-04-07 | Government | Mr. W.W. Snow of the Rockland Electric Company in Hillburn appeared before the Town Board to request permission to construct an electric light wire and poles along Franklin Turnpike through Mahwah from Suffern to Allendale. He offered the Town three or four lights to be places anywhere they wished and maintained a nominal fee. The price for 16 candle power lights for homes and stores would be about one cent per hour. The Board did not make a decision on the matter pending public expressions at its next meeting. (Bristow) |
1938-04-07 | Police | A fight at a local tavern between two local men who had been drinking focused attention on the number of relief recipients who spent their government relief money on liquor rather than on their families. Fred DeGroat and Ernest White were involved in a fight at 11pm in front of the West Mahwah Bar. Overseer of the Poor, Harold Johnson said that he had received many complaints about relief recipients drinking their relief money. "Something must be done to stop it", he said. Recorder Frank Young, in postponing sentencing said "The Township realizes the necessity to give relief to most cases, but if a man does not know enough to keep away from a tavern and use the money for his family, then he better go to jail, they'll take good care of you there, too." The police announced that they would make particular surveillance on relief recipients attending taverns in the future. (Bristow) |
1713-04-08 | Religion | Nine German Lutheran families settled in the "Island" section of Mahwah. They had rented a boat on April 3rd to bring their family possessions up the river. The last few days of the trip was overland from the Hudson River to what was described as "a tract of land between Saddle River and the Hill over Ramopuck and Mawhawhay." There were eleven couples and twenty-two children in the group. Among the family heads were the Wanamakers, Fredericks, Maysingers, Streights, Carloughs, Millers, Storrs, Schmidts and Linuses. Each family had to pay on every March 25th, four fat chickens or geese to the local land developer, Peter Fauconnier. The Germans were religious refugees from the Palatine section of Germany. One of their first corporate acts was to found a small church. Many of these family members were buried later in the Moffatt Road Cemetery where their names may be seen on some of the surviving stones. (Bristow) |
1922-04-08 | People | The 75th birthday of Jacob C. Straut was celebrated by a surprise party at his home. He claims that he has only spent $12 on doctors during his whole life. He was born in Masonicus on April 8, 1847 and was educated at the Masonicus school and later went into farming as his life's work. He married Catherine Carlough on July 21, 1868. They had their 50th wedding anniversary party in 1918. At his birthday party, one son, four daughters, 18 grandchildren and five great grandchildren were present. For the past 8 years he has been a member of the Township Committee. He was one of the two original Township Committee appointed by Governor John Frank Fort in 1908 when Ramsey became a borough. He sold his farm a year ago and built a modern house on Hillside Avenue. (Bristow) |
1935-04-08 | Education | On the motion of Richard Keith, the Township Board of Education directed that parents be informed of the danger of smallpox and be urged to have their children vaccinated. The Board is considering making vaccination mandatory. (Bristow) |
1961-04-08 | People | Mrs. Annie Winter, 80, died after a brief illness. She had been President of the Board of the Mahwah Library for 41 years. Her funeral was on April 11th. (Bristow) |
1965-04-08 | Business | Fardale residents complained at the Township Committee meeting that they were greatly disturbed by the soil removal operations of the Raymond Knichel Company on Young's Road. Every morning at about 6am, huge empty trucks began to arrive. A compromise had previously been reached with the company in which they promised not to begin operations of loaded trucks until 7am. The residents complained that the empty trucks were noisier than the full ones. They also maintained that the trucks exceeded the speed limit and spilled rocks along the roads. The Committee decided to write to Knichel reminding him of the agreements and that his license was revocable. The police were to monitor the speed of the trucks. (Bristow) |
1903-04-09 | Disasters | C. H. Row's barn in Masonicus burned to the ground in a fire of undetermined origin. In addition to the entire contents of the building, a number of pigs, cows and horses were destroyed. These were to hsve been auctioned-off in five days. (Bristow) |
1903-04-09 | Business | The workers at the American Brake Shoe factory voted to organize a union. (Bristow) |
1905-04-09 | Disasters | A train wreck on the Erie Railroad just above the depot brought spectators out from several nearby towns as well as Mahwah residents. A broken axel on a coal car caused it to derail, taking with it about twenty fully loaded coal cars. No one was hurt. (Bristow) |
1942-04-09 | Business | The First National Bank and Trust Company of Ramsey urged their depositors to increase their saving accounts as a contribution to victory in the war by purchasing a "Victory Bicycle". You would get a "bigger kick out of life" from the exercise and you could save gas by peddling on down to the bank to make your deposits. (Bristow) |
1949-04-09 | Charity | The Mahwah Garden Club held a perennial sale. The proceeds were to be used to landscape the grounds around the new Winter Memorial Library building then under construction. (Bristow) |
1955-04-09 | Business | A.J. Winter and Son advertised their new garden department. They had a special sale on renting lawn rollers and fertilizers for twenty-five cents a day. Most fertilizers were priced at $2.25 for a fifty pound bag. Lime was sixty-five cents a bag and top soil was fifteen dollars a truck load. Their store was located where the old post office was on Ramapo Avenue near the train station. (Bristow) |
1962-04-09 | Religion | At a special parish meeting, the Ramapo Reformed Church voted to build a $43,000 addition to the Church for a choir room, a minister's study and a fellowship room. (Bristow) |
1871-04-10 | Government | The financial report for the Township of Hohokus for the year 1870-1871 included $92.71 for poor relief, $22.00 for the "sheep bill" and an expense of $20.00 for a counterfeit bill received. The total expense for the Township for the year came to $17,190.27 including $4,178.28 for maintaining the roads. (Bristow) |
1908-04-10 | Government | Governor Fort signed Assemblyman De Vine's bill #15 incorporating the Borough of Ramsey. Ramsey becomes the 45th borough in Bergen County (we now have 70). Mahwah will not push the passage of her bill since Ramsey has split off. (Bristow) |
1909-04-10 | People | Summer visitors are already beginning to arrive in Mahwah. Mr. John Winter, Mrs. C.B. Conklin and Mr. G. V. Turner and family are among those early arrivals. (Bristow) |
1942-04-10 | Government | The Women's Club held a Defense Rally at the Town Hall. Two films were shown; a British one on air raid pre-cautions and an American one entitled "How to fight a fire bomb". Local Defense Council Chairman, Charles Hellenback, presided and members of the various Defense committees were present to answer questions. The rally was intended to acquaint the public with the role of the various groups and the place that new members might play in the defense effort. (Bristow) |
1950-04-10 | Government | The Republican organization named Alvin F. Reuhl as their candidate for Tax Assessor of the Mahwah Township in the wake of the successive resignations of Robert M. Dunning and Ronald Lewis. Reuhl was unopposed. Reuhl was a real estate broker in New York City and was then serving on the Arbitration Board of the New York City Real Estate Board and as Chairman of Insurance and City Hall District Rental Conditions Committee. He was a veteran of World War I and had lived in Mahwah since 1930. He served as head Air Raid Warden in Mahwah from 1940 to 1945. He was an original member of the Planning Board and a director of the mahwah Savings and Loan Company. His three children had attended local schools and Ramsey High School. Thomas Ackerson and Jesse Beers were the Republican candidates for the Township Committee in the election slated for April 18th. Ackerson was opposed by the Independent Republican candidate Charlie Nichols. (Bristow) |
1937-04-11 | Crime | The body of an elderly recluse was discovered by police alongside of the Ramapo river. He apparently had fallen from the bridge into the river, but died after struggling to get out of the stream. Chief Smith appealed to the Bergen County Welfare Board as to what to do since the man's only known relative, a brother, had been committed to a state mental hospital fifteen years before. He apparently rarely spoke to anyone and had no friends locally. (Bristow) |
1938-04-11 | Education | At the meeting of the Township Board of Education, Police Chief Smith reported on the condition of Lake Oweno. The lake adjoins the playground of School No. 7 (now the Betsy Ross School) in Cragmere. It was, he said, a constant source of trouble for the teachers as the children tend to fall into the lake. The Township Board of Health said it was unsanitary and a breeding place for mosquitos. The lake belonged to the defunct Cragmere Association. Chief Smith, as the last Treasurer of the Association, had been paying the taxes on the property out of the dwindling assets of the Association. The Board of Health's attorney asked that the lake be drained. The School Board was asked if they objected to the dam being broken to let the water out. They gave approval for the action, but the former members of the Cragmere Association had to give their approval at a meeting. It was hoped that the lake site could be added to the playground of the school. This was eventually done, the lake was drained and the site was filled-in to form the Betsy Ross field. (Bristow) |
1961-04-11 | People | Funeral services were held at the Ramapo Reformed Church for Mrs. Annie Winter who had died on the 8th of April after a brief illness,. She was one of Mahwah's best known civic leaders. She was born in Darlington, attended private school in Allendale, the Packard Collegiate Institute and Vassar. She married Albert Winter in 1904. She was a charter member of the Mahwah Women's Club, active in the Reformed Church where she taught Sunday School for twenty-five years and the chief force in organizing the Mahwah Public Library. She was President of the Library Board for forty-one years, from the time of its organization on April 1, 1920 until she resigned on June 15, 1960. She supplemented with a generous bequest the $40,000 left in her husband's will for the construction of the Library near the train station. She had been named Citizen of the Year by the VFW. (Bristow) |
1902-04-12 | People | John McClennin, the manager of the Mountainside Farm in Darlington has disappeared. He was to have been married in New York City today, but his first wife appeared on the scene with a warrant for his arrest. It is thought that he has gone West. The next week it was reported that he had indeed married and was living quietly with his new bride, Bessie Dallard of New York City, and he was still the superintendent of the Mountainside Farm. (Bristow) |
1921-04-12 | Disasters | Louisa Godeski was killed in an accident in front of her home on Ramapo Valley Road. She was playing along the side of the road when a Standard Oil motor truck came by at a slow speed, driven by J.J. Smith of Ridgewood. She apparently tried to jump on the side of the truck, fell off and the rear wheel crushed her head, killing her instantly. Smith was released on $1,000 bail pending an autopsy. He is reputed to be a very careful driver who has never had a accident. (Bristow) |
1926-04-12 | Education | School officials revealed that there were "only" five or six cases of German measles in the Mahwah School. By state law, every member of a family where any one person had the highly communicable disease was required to stay home from school. Among those waiting the required two weeks was Miss Briant, the teacher of grade 4-B. (Bristow) |
1938-04-12 | Charity | Henrietta Zisgin was selected President of the Junior Women's Club at its meeting at the home of Mrs. Frank J. Young. In compliance with a request from the State Federation of Junior Women's Clubs, the local club has chosen an Indian symbol to be used to identify the clubs on the State map. The Club submitted as it historic points the markers on Valley Road in memory of Washington's march to West Point from Morristown; the old Ramapough Reformed Church and the town's Indian name. They named the American brake Shoe Company as the outstanding activity in the town. (Bristow) |
1947-04-12 | Charity | In a lengthy article in the Ramsey Journal newspaper, reporter Mina Chapman described the loneliness of the residents of an old persons home run by Mrs. Ames in the old Foxwood Hotel. She related that many residents were infirmed, deaf, blind or deformed. Although some were relatively able to help themselves, without exception, she stated, they were lonely, all unwanted 'remnants' and 'discards' from yesterday's useful life. They were patiently resigned throughout the long, endless days - hoping - waiting for the 'company' that never comes. Mrs. Ames was described as a large-hearted person who cared for the 40+ guests as best as she could, even keeping them on when they could no longer pay. The Foxwood Hotel stood half way up the hill behind the Short Line maintenance garage. It had been one of Mahwah's many hotels until the late 1920s, then a boys school and then a home for the aged. It was demolished about 1950. (Bristow) |
1952-04-12 | Disasters | James Acker, an 83 year-old man from Fair Lawn, was stricken and died of a heart attack while fishing on the Ho-Ho-Kus creek near the Mahwah-Wyckoff border. The Mahwah police were notified by the Wyckoff police when it was determined that the death had taken place in Mahwah. It seems a fitting way for an old angler to go. (Bristow) |
1896-04-13 | Agriculture | While a yolk of oxen was plowing a field on Benjamin Henio's farm in Darlington, one of them suddenly dropped dead. (Bristow) |
1942-04-13 | Education | At the Mahwah School Board meeting, a letter was read from Education Commissioner Charles E. Elloit urging boards to buy all of their coal for the coming school year as soon as possible and store it for later use. The Board acted immediately, accepting the bid from A.J. Winter & Son for $10.35 a ton, even though it was the only one they had received. The Board authorized the storage of some of the coal for the Darlington School in a shed outside of the school and ordered that the bins in the Mahwah School be extended to accept the entire shipment immediately. (Bristow) |
1950-04-13 | People | Nearly two hundred people gathered at the Villa Lafayette in Spring Valley to honor retiring Township Committee Chairman Frank B. Scherer. Scherer had served on the Committe for twelve years. Charles N. Feldmann, the Township Committee Chairman was the toastmaster, Elliot Reid presented him with an embossed resolution on behalf of the Committee and Thomas J. Ackerson presented him with a gift certificate for an RCA sixteen inch console television set from the Dinner Committee. Seated at the head table in addition to the guest of honor, the Feldmanns, the Reids and the Ackersons were the following couples: Mr. and Mrs. Howard Holman, Alvin F. Reuhl, John Warhol, Jesse F. Beers, Raymond F. Dator, Frank E. Hurley, Rev. and Mrs. Clarence Sloan Howard, Miss Annie C. Winter and James Glasgow Sr. Scherer said "I didn't think that it was possible to have so many friends left after serving in public office for twelve years." (Bristow) |
1955-04-13 | Recreation | Sixty-three mothers and their daughters attended the Girl Scout dinner of the Fardale troops held at the Fardale fire house. In addition to the ceremonies and musical numbers, a television set was generously brought in by Arthur Hasse so that the girls would not miss the weekly showing of "Davy Crocket" (Bristow) |
1918-04-14 | Real Estate | A new well has been dug at the Stephen Birch estate by Harry E. Estes of Ridgewood. It is 8 inches in diameter. It struck water at 157 feet from a site well above the house on the hillside. There is so much water that it flows to five feet above the ground surface and the supply seems limitless. It will be piped for immediate use. (Bistrow) |
1931-04-14 | Police | When a Brook Street resident complained to Chief of Police Smith that his neighbor was emptying the contents of his cesspool into his garden and that his family could not stand the smell, Smith told him to complain to Albert Winter, the clerk of the Board of Health. (Bristow) |
1944-04-14 | People | The will of Albert Winter was probated. The chief feature was a $40,000 bequest to the Township of Mahwah to build a "fully equipped" library building near the intersection of Franklin Turnpike and Miller Road. The bequest, which was to be administered by his wife Annir Winter and James Devine, stipulated that the library remain forever free to all and was to be known as the :Winter Memorial Library". It was to be a memorial to his father, Andrew J. Winter, his wife, his aunt Rachel Winter and himself. The money was to be deposited in a trust account within five years of his death. When the Trustees saw fit, they were to give the Township two years to construct the new building or the money would revert back to his residual estate. The will also left small sums to various relatives and to the Ramapo Reformed Church Cemetery to maintain the family plot. He left $200 to each of his employees who had been with him at least ten years and $1,500 to Frank Straut, who had been the manager of the Winter Coal yard for many years. The remainder of the estate went to his wife. Albert Winter had for many years been one of Mahwah's most prominent citizens. He owned much property and was a mainstay of such local institutions as the Saving and Loan and the Ramapo Reformed Church. (Bristow) |
1952-04-14 | People | Funeral services were held at the Airmount Lutheran Church for Mrs. Rachel Osborn of Masonicus Road, Mahwah. The Rev. Howard E. Funk officiated. Services had been held the evening before by several of the organizations to which she had belonged: the Ramsey Grange P.H. 135, the Daughters of America and the Sons and Daughters of Liberty Council. She had been born in Paterson, but lived in Masonicus for sixty of her eighty-six years. She was survived by nine grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren. (Bristow) |
1911-04-15 | Transportation | The new Trolley line did a rushing business as local residents tried the new service from Ramsey to Paterson. The trip was both rapid and enjoyable. Trolley riding is becoming a fad. Cars run on a 40 minute heading with the first at 6:30am. Mahwah is waiting impatiently for its service to begin. (Bristow) |
1912-04-15 | Charity | Mrs. Dykema persuaded her husband, the pastor of the Ramapo Reformed Church, to take her on a trolley ride. While they were gone, friends and parishioners decorated the Parsonage for a cotton party to celebrate their two years of marriage. The couple were given cotton bags of money. The Darlington Chapel alone filled ten of them. This "cotton" money totaled $33. Abram Banta entertained with violin selections. A pleasant evening was spent by all. (Bristow) |
1932-04-15 | Real Estate | The deed for the property on which the new Catholic church and school of the Immaculate Conception Parish was to be built was filed in Hackensack. The property was bought from the Immaculate Conception Seminary. (Bristow) |
1938-04-15 | Transportation | Janet Shuart of Mahwah narrowly escaped serious injury when she slipped while attempting to board a moving train at the Ridgewood station of the Erie Railroad. She had missed her train in Mahwah so her mother drove her to the Ridgewood station. She arrived at the station just as the train was moving toward New York. She ran to jump aboard but her shoe came off and she fell, the train dragged her beyond the station. Here quick thinking on the part of a bystander, Albert DeFreese of Midland Park, saved her from being struck by the steps of the railroad car. She was trying to get up when he reached through the fence and forced her to lie still. The train stopped and she was able to board the train with only minor scrapes and bruises. (Bristow) |
1942-04-15 | Government | The first test blackout since America entered the war four months earlier was pronounced a great success throughout the North Bergen County area. Some 100 volunteer workers checked all of the surrounding communities and found few violations. In one or two cases in Waldwick and Ramsey, people had gone out for the evening and left a light burning or had fallen asleep and did not hear the alarm, but observers at the observation point in Saddle River reported no light visible. Chairman Charles Hallenbeck announced "The effectiveness of the test blackout was 100 percent in Hohokus Township. There were checkers at various strategic points in the Township who observed the efficiency with which the test was conducted. (Bristow) |
1952-04-15 | Real Estate | Stephen Birch Jr. offered a plot of about 20 acres free to the Mahwah School District as the site of a new school. In a letter to the Board, he outlined a plot on the west side of Ridge Road, running north of Jackson Road. He proposed the gift to be in the name of his father, the late Stephen Birch Sr. on the condition that the proposition be placed before the public as a separate ballot item and that the property be used exclusively as a school site. (Bristow) |
1912-04-16 | Transportation | The rain has so completely washed-out the roads in Cragmere that permanent improvements are now being made. (Bristow) |
1915-04-16 | Fire Department | The Mahwah Fire Department bell was donated by T.H. Williams. It is now mounted on the firehouse lawn at Fire Company #1 at the intersection of Miller Road and Franklin Turnpike. (Bristow) |
1929-04-16 | Education | The voters of the School District turned down a proposition to build a new school in the Cragmere section of the town. Mr. and Mrs. Edwin C. Lane had offered five acres south of Airmount Avenue free to the District. The defeated proposition was to accept this offer and to spend $110,000 to construct the new school. It lost 483-237 because of opposition from older Mahwah citizens. Cragmere residents responded with a plan to secede and create a new borough. (Bristow) |
1942-04-16 | Government | Complaints from residents of West Mahwah dominated the meeting of the Town Board which was held at the Town Hall. Mrs. Stephen Kudrick and Mrs. Peter Jasenzak requested more street lights on Church Street. Building was ordered halted on a structure until the building inspector could look it over. The building was supposed to be a garage, but apparently something quite different is being built. There was a long dispute between two delegations of West Mahwah residents, one accusing the other of creating a public nuisance by noisy gatherings late into the night at the intersection of Valley Road and Wood street, the other accusing the first group of derogatory attitudes toward them. Committee Chairman Frank Scherer had to remind all present that only legitimate town business could be dealt with at the meeting. Personal grievances had to be settled in court. He promised that all complaints connected with Township affairs would be investigated. (Bristow) |
1947-04-16 | Government | Official word was received from the office of the Postmaster General in Washington D.C. to begin house-to-house mail delivery in Mahwah. Mail bags and pouches had been delivered to the Mahwah Post Office the Postmaster reported. Delivery could not begin however, until the town completed the installation of a complete set of street signs and house numbers had been posted on all homes and businesses. Supervisor of Roads, J. Glasgow Jr., in a report to the Township Committee, cited a recently completed survey to the effect that 96 new and replacement street signs were needed in the community. It was expected that the service would begin on July 1st, barring unforeseen delays. Actual house-to-house delivery did not begin until 1948. (Bristow) |
1901-04-17 | People | Laura Henion of Darlington and John Meyers of Campgaw were married in a ceremony at the Henion home. The wedding involved members of the immediate families since the Meyers family is in morning. Among the wedding gifts were the usual solver, china, glassware and linen and a buffet and a Morris chair. Miss Henion will be greatly missed since she is a skilled musician, a faithful Sunday School teacher and an active member of the Christian Endeavour and the King's Daughters. (Bristow) |
1910-04-17 | People | David Hopper missed Sunday School for the first time this year. His wife gave birth to a son in the morning. (Bristow) |
1916-04-17 | Government | Running water has been installed in the Post Office. (Bristow) |
1928-04-17 | Fire Department | The most serious of a series of fires to plague the Township during the week was a porch fire at Charles Coumbe's house. Because of prompt action by Mr. Davey, a neighbor, the fire was put out before the firemen arrived. (Bristow) |
1933-04-17 | Education | A sparse crowd attended the talk on safety education given at the PTA meeting by Miss Idabelle Stevenson. Among the points which she made were that she supported Motor Commissioner Hoffman's plan for making driving instruction a school subject. 42% of all accidents, she said, involved drivers who were less than 21 years of age. She suggested that pins should be inserted in the corks of poison bottles to prevent their being mistaken for other things in the dark. Gasoline, she said, should never be used as a cleaning fluid in the home. (Bristow) |
1947-04-17 | Fire Department | The frustration of the members of Fire Company No. 2 over the lack of a fire house of their own was expressed by veteran member John Mayhook before the Township Committee. The Company had received nothing but promises from the Committee, he complained. "Just when is the Township going to give the 'other' Fire Company any consideration?" he asked. Committee Chairman Frank B. Scherer agreed, pointing out that it was demoralizing to belong to an organization that had no place to meet and had to keep its fire truck in a private garage. However, the Committee pointed out that they had been carrying $16,000 on the books since 1940 for building the new firehouse. Wartime shortages had prevented its construction and they were waiting for construction costs to go down. $16,000 wouldn't buy mush if a building, they pointed out. They had been similarly carrying $40,000 for the building of a free public library when prices came down, Scherer said. (Bristow) |
1952-04-17 | Business | In announcing the annual chest x-ray tests of its employees, the American Brake Shoe Company reported that during 1951 the portable x-ray unit had detected fifty-six cases of tuberculosis among its employees and six cases of lung cancer. (Bristow) |
1903-04-18 | Recreation | Darlington resident Marshall Baldwin has invited all comers, whether members of the Ramsey Gun Club or not, to a clay bird shoot at his home. The sweepstakes, 25 targets with a 20 foot rise, carries a $1.00 entry fee with first and second scorers taking the prize money. (Bristow) |
1915-04-18 | Crime | Mrs. John Baron's boarding house was broken into by robbers. They choked Mrs. Brown into unconsciousness and stole $192. It was thought that they were Polish workers from West Mahwah. No arrests have been made. (Bristow) |
1918-04-18 | Transportation | A serious accident was narrowly averted at the corner of Miller Road and the Turnpike. A northbound limousine, reported to be moving very fast, skidded into a retaining wall and overturned trying to avoid a team and wagon driven by Michael FiJi. One rear wheel and the windshield were broken on the auto, but the occupants were not hurt. (Bristow) |
1947-04-18 | Agriculture | At the Fardale Community Association meeting, it was announced that the emergency blood donor list had reached forty names. The annual plant sale was cancelled in favor of a cake sale to be held on May 17th under the chairmanship of Mrs. David Pollock. The main speaker of the evening was County Agricultural agent Charles MacDougal. A topic of special interest to the attending members was his suggestions of what sprays and dusts to use in case the tomato blight reappeared this year. (Bristow) |
1952-04-18 | Recreation | Howard Avery, Boy Scout representative to the PTA which sponsors Boy Scout Troop 50, reported on the activities of the Troop. He recommended that an Explorer Post be created and that the Cub Scout Pack be re-established. This would give the full range of Scouting activities to the boys in the community. He asked that a future meeting be devoted to Scouting. (Bristow) |
1898-04-19 | Education | The Board of Education voted that when war is declared against Spain, the American flag should be flown continuously day and night over the Township schools. War was declared the next day. (Bristow) |
1900-04-19 | Crime | Young Mr. Mann, son of the night watchman on the Havemeyer Estate, was doing the rounds for his sick father when he encountered two men in the main house at 11pm. He fired on them and they shot him in the leg, captured him and gagged and bound him to a tree. When he freed himself two hours later, the intruders had fled. DR. DeYoe of Ramsey treated his leg for shotgun pellets. Detective McGee of Paterson is investigating. (Bristow) |
1909-04-19 | Transportation | A Committee of the Bergen County Freeholders passed through Mahwah by auto to survey River Road for possible citation as a County road. There is considerable sentiment for designation of several important roads as County roads to be maintained at county expense. No final report will be made until east-west roads are also surveyed. (Bristow) |
1944-04-19 | Real Estate | Mrs. Harry Furman purchased Andrew Hagerman's house on Railroad Avenue. She had leased her business, Furman's Mountain View Lunch Stand and gas station to Mrs. Rose Barrett for five years. The popular stand stood at the corner of Route 17 and Valley Road. (Bristow) |
1949-04-19 | Crime | The Mahwah police were baffled by the finding of an abandoned safe found in a ravine on the Wehren Farm on Valley Road by four Ramsey boys on a fishing outing. The boys stopped their bicycles to rest when they saw the safe. When they returned home, they notified the Ramsey police who turned the case over to Sgt. Edmund Wickham of the Mahwah police. Nothing was found at the scene except a safe deposit key which was traced to a Nother Bergen man who reported that his house had been burglarized and the safe stolen. Four $100 savings bonds and other papers were missing. The police believe that the door to the safe had been jammed open elsewhere and the safe merely dumped in Mahwah. There were no further clues to who had stolen the safe. Later two bank books were found two miles north of where the safe was found. The police believed that more papers might be found and asked residents to be alert for them. (Bristow) |
1950-04-19 | Crime | Mahwah Police Patrolman John Micek received considerable praise for his alert work in apprehending four men from Brooklyn. He saw a parked car in front of the Crescent Garage at 3:10am and when he investigated, he found a window broken. He detained the men and called Police Chief Smith. The men were charged with burglary and sent to the Bergen County jail in Hackensack. (Bristow) |
1986-04-19 | Business | In the largest continuous concrete pouring ever done in the Eastern United states, the foundation of the International Crossroads building was laid. A total of 8,500 cubic yards of concrete was poured in one minute intervals starting at 4:30am. The cost was $1.8 million dollars. 850 trips were taken from Mahwah, Bogota and Riverdale. The day was chosen because it was the only day that Raia Industries could commit all of their concrete trucks for the day. (Bristow) |
1895-04-20 | Religion | The Ramapo Reformed Church School building burned. The congregation was able to save the piano, the benches and the library books, but the 45 year-old building was completely destroyed. (Bristow) |
1909-04-20 | Police | New Jersey Governor Fort has signed a number of new automobile laws. Included is a law forbidding driving without registration numbers, and laws setting a state speed limit of 25 mph in rural areas, permitting out-of-state drivers to drive without a New Jersey license if they are properly licensed in another state, and reducing the fees paid to Justices of the Peace and Constables for making arrests and convictions. (Bristow) |
1910-04-20 | People | The young ladies who board at Township Clerk Harry Sturr's house had a surprise birthday for him and his friend Joseph Young. Blanch Lewis sang and sang and a pleasant time was had. Both men were born on the same day and both claimed to have forgotten that it was their birthday. (Bristow) |
1933-04-20 | Fire Department | At the Township Committee meeting, a request was received from the Mahwah Fire Department that they be permitted to place an identifying sign on the building. People think it is an old people's home or a church, they reported. (Bristow) |
1933-04-20 | Transportation | The Mahwah Township Committee considered the many complaints that had been received concerning the construction of the new state highway - now Route 17. Chairman Devine said that many residents had reported cracking of walls in their homes from the blasting. A representative of the contractor, William Eisenberg & Sons, said that the work they were doing under the mountain next to the golf course was being accomplished with relatively small charges of dynamite and that it was quite impossible for there to be any damage to people who live in the vicinity. The company would investigate any complaints, he said. The Township Committee turned the matter over to their attorney. (Bristow) |
1950-04-20 | Real Estate | The Mahwah Planning Board bowed to public opinion by denying an application for an industrial park on Ramapo Valley Road. Instead they up-zoned the area between Halifax Road and the Oakland border, west to the mountains, from one acre to two acres. The industrial park proposal had been under consideration by the Board for some months, but has attracted little attention until two public hearings had been held on the subject during the previous week. Local opposition centered on the desire to preserve the rural character of the Ramapo Valley area. Fred Wehran supported the one acre zoning because he said that two acre zoning made road construction too expensive. Most residents opposed the move, however, including H.E. Serner, Donald Lord, Mrs. James Girdwood and Frank Kraus. The Stag Hill Civic League presented a petition signed by sixty people opposing the industrial park. Vincent F. Blefary, Democratic Committeeman, defended the fact that the Board had given no publicity to their consideration of the industrial park application since, he said, the Board wished to prevent speculation by developers. He described the mountain area as a land bank which would be better serve the area as an industrial park than it would filled with houses. William Zuidema of Fardale said he could not understand why so many people were against progress. (Bristow) |
1966-04-20 | People | Funeral services were held in Ridgewood for George F. Emerson of Fairmount Avenue, Fardale in Mahwah who died in the Veteran's Hospital in East Orange after a brief illness. He was born in 1887, was 79 years old and had lived in Mahwah for 40 years. His hobby was beekeeping and he was a member of the Bergen County Beekeepers association. He had been active in scouting and was a Mason. He has served in the U.S. Army during the Mexican Border action, including the pursuit of Poncho Villa into Mexico led by General Pershing. He had been wounded in the battle of the Argonne Forest during his service in France in the 102nd Engineers during World War I. (Bristow) |
1900-04-21 | Government | A new Township ordinance offers $3.00 to anyone, but not a hotel proprietor, who build and maintains a public watering trough along a public road. (Bristow) |
1927-04-21 | Real Estate | The final transfer of the McMillan Estate to the Diocese of Newark as the new site of the Immaculate Conception Seminary was completed. (Bristow) |
1933-04-21 | Disasters | Joseph Zero of Orange Avenue Suffern committed suicide by jumping in front of the Erie Railroad train #27 as it approached the Mahwah station at 3:15pm. The train engineer, C. Craine, saw him on the tracks and blew his whistle, but he was unable to stop in time. Unlike many in those depression times, Zero did not take his life because he was out of work. He was a house painter and had been working on a large contract. But he had told his friends that he was tired of life and would some day kill himself in front of a train. He was survived by his wife and six children. He was fifty-five years old. (Bristow) |
1952-04-21 | Real Estate | The Mahwah School Board rejected the offer of a free school site from Stephen Birch Jr. There were four main objections. (!) the gift in the name of his father might take the form of naming the new high school proposed for the site the Stephen Birch High School. (2) the costs of bulldozing the site was said to be high. (3) the safety danger presented by the fact that the AT&T telephone cable crosses the property. (4) the requirement that the gift be put up to the voters as a separate proposition. The latter would mean that the voters would be committing themselves to build a school on property which the School District did not yet own. A letter containing the Board's objections was to be sent to Birch. (Bristow) |
1955-04-21 | Government | Several items of business before the Township Committee dealt with the Ford plant. A license was issued to Ira C. Tier and Margaret Meyer to operate a road-stand on wheels to sell snacks to the Ford workers. It was to be located on Max Smith's property on Route 17. The Ford Company Bus service's request for permission to run busses from Jersey City via Union City, west New York, North Bergen and Cliffside Park bringing Ford workers to and from work, was referred to the Township attorney for stude. Bids were open for the repaving of Houvenkopf Road near the Ford plant. (Bristow) |
1955-04-21 | Government | William Waligrowski appeared again at the Township Committee meeting to complain that nothing had been done about the electric transformer outside of his bedroom window. No only had the Rockland Electric Company done nothing about the constant buzzing which kept him from sleeping at night, but they were installing another at the same spot. Particularly annoying was the fact that these devises supplied no residential customers, only the Ford plant. The Town Committee reported that the utility company had spent over $3,000 on the case, but postponed further action until Mayor Feldmann got back from a business trip. (Bristow) |
1915-04-22 | People | Mr. Leo Bugg has been so busy promoting his real estate business, that he has invested in an automobile. (Bristow) |
1916-04-22 | Fire Department | A special housing for the fire bell was built by the members of the Fire Department. Up until now it has been resting on four barrels. (Bristow) |
1938-04-22 | Fire Department | A two-hundred year old house, the Old Derbyshire Homestead on East Crescent Avenue, burned to the ground. The fire was reported just before mid-night. Only the West Mahwah Fire Company responded to the alarm which was relayed by telephone. Furniture, window shades and other things stored in the house were completely destroyed as were two very old maple trees in front of the house. Charles Derbyshire had owned the building for over fifty years. Damage was estimated at about $1,500. It was not insured. Mahwah Fire Chief Charles Morris investigated the fire, but had no explanation for why it broke out. (Bristow) |
1944-04-22 | Crime | While Winfield Secor of Upper Saddle River was attending a show at the Lafayette Theatre in Suffern, his convertible was stolen. The car was recovered as a result of persistent police work by Chief H.H. Voss of the Ramsey police and detective Edward Stanton of the State Police. They questioned a Waldwick youth who had been picked up for stealing another car until he admitted that he had taken the Secor's car as well. He led police to an isolated lane in Waldwick where he had concealed the vehicle. It was unharmed. The gas tank, which had been full when the car was taken, was empty. The youth admitted that he had driven it quite a bit in the few days he had the car. (Bristow) |
1955-04-22 | Disasters | A combined business and pleasure trip to Washington D.C. ended tragically for a mahwah man. Louis Chambre, a native of France died suddenly of an apparent hear attack. He was 53 years old and had lived in Mahwah for twenty years. He was a vice-president of the Bollet-Vianney Wire Die Company located in Gutenberg, NJ. He was attending a business conference and was planning to attend his daughter's graduation from Georgetown University two days later. A High Requiem Mass was celebrated at the Immaculate Conception Church in Darlington by the Rev. Lester Quinn. He was survived by his wife, Renee, his daughter Marie-Therese and his three sons, Jacques, Robert and Andre. (Bristow) |
1966-04-22 | People | Furniture and art works from the estate of the late Henry O. Havermeyer were sold at auction at his estate "Morningside Farm" in Darlington. Much of the furniture was from his New York city mansion. The art works included the contents of his private chapel including stained glass windows and a 17th century painting on a wood panel of the Holy Family which had been a gift of Solomon Guggenheim. There was an ivory skull in the manner of Antonio Scabate from 1505, some hand-painted panels by Charoltte Havemeyer and some marble cupids by the 19th century Roman sculptor Benzoni. The sale attracted a large crowd. (Bristow) |
1972-04-22 | Food and Drink | Troop 50 of the Mahwah Boy Scouts celebrated their 50th anniversary at a dinner at the Elks Club. (bristow) |
1926-04-23 | Recreation | The Fardale School announced the forthcoming production of a play to benefit the school playground equipment fund. The play, that perennial favorite "Aaron Slick from Pum'kin Crick" was to be given at the Campgaw Union Chapel on Friday, May 14th, 1926. (Bristow) |
1937-04-23 | Religion | Ground was broken for the building of the Church of Christ the King and the 300 room Walsh Residence Hall at the Immaculate Conception Seminary in Darlington. (Bristow) |
1942-04-23 | Government | Among the 43 men reporting for duty in the U.S. Armed Forces on May 1st, 1942, there were 6 from Mahwah. They included Alexander Radeski, Michael Sohn Jr., Paige Mann and Vernon DeGroat. They were to report at 7:30am at the police headquarters in Oakland. (Bristow) |
1942-04-23 | Agriculture | In his weekly "Victory Gardens" column, Harold D. Knowlton suggested a variety of special vegetables for Mahwah residents to try to grow including Detroit dark red beets. He warned novices to avoid celery and cucumbers since they were hard to grow. He suggested May 1st as a date after which the danger of frost would be safely past. (Bristow) |
1942-04-23 | Government | The mayor issued a call for all women 18 to 35 years old who could be spared from their household duties, to take industrial jobs immediately. Their help was needed on the "industrial front" he stated. They were urged to register with the U.S. Employment Service in Paterson. The Area Labor Supply Committee desperately needed workers to fill positions in vital defense jobs, he maintained. (Bristow) |
1952-04-23 | Education | In a letter to Stephen Birch Jr., the Mahwah Board of Education explained its reasons for rejecting Birch's offer of s plot on Ridge Road free for a new high school. The Major reason was the location of the major AT&T trunk line across the property. Contacts were made with the telephone company which indicated that it would be at least five years before the line could be either buried or re-routed. The reason cited was the present shortage of copper wire and other critical materials. The board requested that Birch reconsider their earlier suggestion as to the exact piece of property to be deeded so that both a new school and playing fields might be located without encroaching on the AT&T right of way. The Board asked for clarification of one additional point and the withdrawal of another. They asked for a reply within one week. The letter was signed by Mildred H. Helier, District Clerk. There was considerable controversy about the Board's stand. Many felt that his second condition, that the property be used for a school building and other educational and public purposes was perfectly clear. They also believed that the Board was being petty in rejecting his call that the town vote on the acceptance of the property. Another Board meeting was planned for May2nd. There was no public knowledge of any reply Birch might have made to the Board's request. (Bristow) |
1921-04-24 | Religion | Dr. Farar returned to his pulpit at the Ramapo Reformed Church after his successful cataract operation. Every pew in the sanctuary was taken, He announced that he would preach all summer. He had taken his vacation while he was convalescing. The Ramsey Journal newspaper had a long summary of his sermon and called him "One of America's greatest preachers" and urged the readers to "crank up the old fliver or get out the big car and come over to Mahwah next Sunday morning. If you haven't a car, then ask your neighbor to bring you. Let the golf game go that morning, forget the garden or instead of taking that automobile ride up towards Bear Mountain, turn the car down the Turnpike and up the hill to the little church. Crowded? Yes, every seat taken, but there are plenty of Mahwahites who would gladly sit up in the big gallery or even stand only so you may have the opportunity to hear this great preacher. If you have no church connection, whether you live in one end or the other of the Ramapo Valley, whether in Allendale or Saddle River in the south or Hillburn, Suffern or Viola in the north, remember that he belongs to the Ramapo Valley". |
1933-04-24 | Education | At a special meeting of the Board of Education, the salaries of school personnel were cut for the school year 1993-1934. All teachers receiving $1,500 or less were to be cut by 10%, while those over $1,500 were cut by 15%. Janitors receiving more than $1,000 were cut 10%. The position of Supervising Principal was eliminated and Mr. Robert L. Forte was offered a position as teaching principal instead. (Bristow) |
1935-04-24 | Government | Harold Johnson, Overseer of the Poor for Hohokus Township, has on hand enough seed potatoes for fifty families on relief. They are to be distributed on a first-come-first-served basis. 30 pounds of potatoes and 25 pounds of lime to each family. (Bristow) |
1903-04-25 | People | A.J. Winter has joined with James B. Campbell, R.J. Davidson of Hillburn and E.F. Allen of Sloatsburgh to raise a fund for a monument in the Mahwah Cemetery in honor of Dr. Albert Zabriskie. He was, they said, "everybody's friend; always ready to visit the sick, feed the hungry and clothe the naked". (Bristow) |
1916-04-25 | Crime | Clarence Lewis, owner of the former "Sheffield Farm" in Mahwah discovered he had been robbed of his prize Houdan chickens. Twelve of the fowl, worth $25 each had been stolen. Lewis offered a $100 reward for the apprehension of the thieves. Constable Trueman Rodgers has a suspicion and some slim clues as to who might be guilty. He asked Suffern Police Chief to go with him to the home of Herbet Jennings. Only one of the prize fowl had been left uneaten. Jennings and his brother Albert were persuaded to take a walk with the constable and the two men were arrested as soon as they crossed the NY/NJ state line. They have been lodged in the Bergen County jail awaiting Grand Jury action. How do you suppose $275 of chicken tasted? They were convicted on May 18th of burglary before Judge Seutert and sentencing will be on June 1st. They will probably go to Trenton. (bristow) |
1918-04-25 | Government | The Militia Reserve Company paraded in Suffern Monday night. They are in excellent shape after their many weeks of drilling and made a fine showing. (Bristow) |
1919-04-25 | People | The children of Cragmere celebrated Arbor Day by planting a tree in honor of Theodore Roosevelt who died on January 6, 1919. (Bristow) |
1942-04-25 | Government | All men between the ages of 45 and 64 were registered for the military draft at area offices over the weekend. Local Draft Board Chairman, Major Charles V. Bacon of Mahwah announced that municipal buildings and schools throughout the area world receive registrations from 9am to 5pm on Saturday and Sunday and from 7am to 5pm on Monday. Registrants were asked to bring their name and address on a small card to facilitate registration. Anyone too ill to appear personally was registered at home by special volunteers. (Bristow) |
1955-04-25 | Government | The Mahwah Health Officer, Olive Wiley. announced that the clinic scheduled for administrating the Salk polio vaccine to local children had to be postponed. Manufacturers of the vaccine were unable to keep up with the demand. A telegram from the State Health Commissioner Bergsma promised that the vaccine would be shipped as soon as available. The clinic would be re-scheduled as soon as the precious vaccine arrived. (Bristow) |
1875-04-26 | People | The funeral services were held for Mrs. Jacob Dater at the Ramapo Rformed Church. (Bristow) |
1895-04-26 | Education | The Arbor Day exercises were held at the Darlington School. The entire student body went on a walk to "Halifax" on top of the Ramapo mountains to experience geography rather than study it. They were accompanied by a portion of the Mahwah School. (Bristow) |
1900-04-26 | Fire Department | Governor Price's house burned down in a fire which started in the attic. The furniture was saved, but the house was completely wrecked. The house was the old John J. Winter house, an old Mahwah landmark. It is said that many valuable relics were destroyed as well as several hundred dollars in cash. (Bristow) |
1910-04-26 | People | William Wait Snow, founder of the American Brake Shoe and Foundry in Mahwah and the village of Hillburn, died in his palatial home in Hillburn. He would have been 82 years old on Jul17th. He had been in poor health for several months. In July 1900, he and others began construction of the Mahwah plant, then called the Ramapo Foundry Company. He was buried in the family plot in the Mahwah Cemetery with his wife who died eight year earlier. (Bristow) |
1918-04-26 | Government | By Presidential Proclamation this is "Liberty Day". Each community is urged to hold rallies to raise pledges for the Third Liberty Loan Campaign. Mahwah has attained a remarkable record. The quta was $17,900, but they have sold $54,000 so far in bonds and thrift stamps, that's three times over the quota. As of April 19, 140 people had brought bonds. Mahwah had reached $65,850 by May1. The campaign ends May 4th. (bristow) |
1944-04-26 | Government | Aviation Machinist Mate Third Class Stewart Swan was graduated from the Hutchinson Naval Air Training Station in Kansas. What's that you say? A naval air station 1,500 miles from the sea? Yes. Swan was a member of a history-making class. He was one of the first five-man crew ever graduated from an inland naval base. He and the other four members of his crew immediately took off for an unannounced combat station. The airman is the son of Mr. and Mrs. S. Swan of Hillside Avenue. (Bristow) |
1955-04-26 | Government | The Mahwah Men's Club meeting was devoted to an explanation of America's newest defense weapon, the NIKE missile. Engineers of the New York Telephone Company shoed films of how the missile could intercept and destroy a hostile bomber. Since there was a NIKE base in Mahwah, the meeting was open to all interested citizens. (Bristow) |
1895-04-27 | Agriculture | The collapse of a rotten beam in the cow barn at the Havermeyer Farm left two cows suspended by their strap collars and seven others fallen into the cellar. All were rescued because of the quick action of Mr. Estabrook who knocked away a post with an axe and succeeded in hoisting the cows to safety. Miraculously, none of the cows were injured. (Bristow) |
1904-04-27 | Real Estate | The masonary work on the new Crocker House has reached the second floor. It appears magnificent, but there is as yet no clue as to its final appearance. It will clearly be one of the greatest houses in the state. (Bristow) |
1909-04-27 | Business | Mr. Steve Voronzak, a Hungarian worker at the Brake Shoe foundry, was severely burned in an accident at the plant. A large vat of molten iron tipped over on him and nearly burned him to death. He was treated at the Good Samaritan Hospital in Suffern. (Bristow) |
1928-04-27 | Education | An epidemic of the grippe (the flu) hit the Mahwah schools. Fifty-three pupils had at least one day of absence during the week and several of the teachers were ill as well. The janitor, Jack Anderson, was confined to his home and Mr. Estabrook, the church Janitor took his place temporarily. George Trumbower spent the weekend at home, since the Pawling School where he attends, was closed because of the grippe epidemic. (Bristow) |
1955-04-27 | Crime | In Magistrate Young's court, several motorists were charged with passing a school bus. Each was charged $10 and $3 court costs. Two truckers were fined the same amount for not having mud flaps on their vehicles. More serious was a local man charged with breaking and entering a series of summer homes at Bear Swamp Lake. The case was referred to the Grand Jury. (Bristow) |
1955-04-27 | Police | The Suffern Erie Railroad station master notified the Mahwah police at 10am that a dog was trapped on the tracks just south of the Route 202 underpass. A train was expected through at10:15am, so Officer Wickham of the Mahwah police responded quickly. He found a collie whose chain had become entangled with a railroad tie. Using a hacksaw, he cut the chain just in time to free the animal before the train arrived. Since it was not wearing a license or other identification, the dog was turned over to the dog warden, Harry Babcock. (Bristow) |
1957-04-27 | People | Funeral services were held in Englewood for Harold. D. Nixon, 58 of Mahwah. He had suffered a cerebral hemorrhage on April 15th and died in the Montefiore Hospital in the Bronx. Nixon was a pioneer in the industrial real estate field. He headed his own firm, Harold D. Nixon, Inc. in Hackensack. He arranged for the bringing of the first industrial plants to Englewood, assembled the site for the Bendix plant in Teterboro and sold the property to Sears for their Hackensack store. Nixon was a member of the Society of Industrial realtors, The Bergen County Chamber of Commerce, the Paramus Square Club, the Elks and the Masons. He was awarded a purple heart during his service during World War I. He also served on the Draft Board for District 2. He was born in Buffalo, New York and had lived in Paramus before moving to Mahwah. He was survived by his wife Delma, two sons, four daughters and three grandchildren. (bristow) |
1967-04-27 | Business | The Ramsey Journal newspaper ceased publication after 75 years. It had been published by successive members of the Dater family for its entire history. First by John Y. Dater, his son John Y. Dater and his grandson Thomas E. Dater. The assets of the paper were sold to the Herald -News of Ridgewood. The Home and Store News continued to be published by Thomas E. Dater. The paper's first issue had been dated May 26, 1892. (Bristow) |
1849-04-28 | People | Maria Laroe-Hopper, the widow of Andrew Hopper, died at the age of 98. She was buried in the cemetery near the Laroe-Van Horn house. (Bristow) |
1896-04-28 | Transportation | David Hopper has been named Local Consul for the League of American Wheelmen. Bicycling is growing in Mahwah, eight new bicycles have been sold this spring. Charles Mabie and W.S. Haring took a spin to Hackensack and Newark one day last week. (Bristow) |
1922-04-28 | Charity | The Fourth Committe of the Ladies Aid Society gave a progressive luncheon. The first course was at Mrs. Kehr's, the second at Mrs. Heidgerd's, the third at Mrs. Sagant's and the final course at Mrs. Hebmer's. The ladies enjoyed both the delicious dishes and the socializing as they walked from one house to another. $48 was raised for the treasury. The Ladies Aid is going to buy a vacuum cleaner to go along with their new carpet at the Ramapo Reformed Church. (Bristow) |
1943-04-28 | Food and Drink | The entire executive meeting of the Community War Services was devoted to canning methods, even though Victory Gardens had just been planted and harvest was a long way off. The two major methods of canning were demonstrated with preference given to the use of the pressure cooker, which only took about an hour to can beans compared to the three hours required by the conventional water bath method. Considering the fact that the average person would need 100 cans per year, the savings would be considerable. Pressure cookers are available for purchase at about $15 each but only to groups of five persons or more. Mrs. C. Sawtell was chairman of nutrition for the group. (Bristow) |
1710-04-29 | Ramapough | Mr. William Bond, the General Agent for the Proprietors of the East New Jersey Colony and for Richard Ingoldesby, the Lieutenant Governor of New York, reported that in the course of his surveying the Ramapo Tract, that he had been threatened by residents in the area. Samuel Bayard, Rachel Bayard, who is the widow of Peter Bayard, Major Brockolst, and Albert Zabriskie and his two sons had threatened to break his neck and incite an Indian upraising if he pressed the Proprietors claims to the 46,200 acre tract. They also sent an Indian to threaten him. However, he succeeded in drawing a map of the tract, including Union Hill in Suffern, where the quarry is, and the river crossing in Mahwah. (Bristow) |
1895-04-29 | Religion | At the Ramapo Reformed Church congregational meeting, it was decided to replace the old school building which had burned down on April 20th, with a new building. $150 was pledged. Andrew Winter pledged $50 and offered to double that if the rest of the congregation raises $900 of the $1,000 needed. (Bristow) |
1926-04-29 | Education | The relative size and, perhaps, the quality of the isolation in the various schools in the District, was illustrated by a legal advertisement in the Ramsey Journal for the annual coal contract of the local school District. The Mountain School and the Masonicus schools required nine tons of stove coal each. The Darlington and Fardale schools needed twelve tons, while to Mahwah school required 65 tons with a possible 45 additional tons "previous to April 1st". (Bristow) |
1912-04-30 | Agriculture | Mr. E.F. Carpenter, former superintendent of the Darling Farm in Darlington, was the guest of honor at the American Jersey Cattle Club Banquet in New York City. He was honored for having made the first test of Jersey Cattle in this Country at the Darling Farm. (Bristow) |
1928-04-30 | Recreation | Andrew Kurieck was the winner of the Mahwah School's annual marble tournament. Mr Forte was the referee as 50 boys and two girls vied to represent Mahwah in the local play-off against the winners from Allendale, Waldwick and Ramsey. Kurieck was 13 years old and a student in grade 6B. The New Jersey Championships were to be held in Paterson. In June, the National Shoot-Off was scheduled for Altantic City. The tournament was sponsored by the Paterson Call newspaper. The competition was held in a ten foot ring, with six children in a set, requiring a first, second and a final round to determine the winner. (Bristow) |
1944-04-30 | Disasters | Major's Crossing on the Erie Railroad in Hillburn claimed two more victims when two Mahwah women were killed in a tragic accident. Miss Ruth Hopper, 22, and her mother, Mrs. Caroline Louise Hopper were returning from services at the Hillburn Presbyterian Church when their car was struck by the Port Jervis Express on the unguarded grade crossing in Hillburn, known as Major's Crossing. Although there were no witnesses, police surmised that they had waited for an eastbound freight train to pass and had entered the crossing only to be struck by the westbound passenger train. Apparently they had almost cleared the crossing, since their car was struck in the rear. It was demolished and Mrs. Hopper was thrown over twenty feet. She died instantly. Miss Hopper died soon after being taken to Good Samaritan Hospital in Suffern. Ruth Hopper, 22, was the organist of the Hillburn Church. She was well known in the area for her musical talent. She had been graduated from Ramsey High School in 1938 and had studied with a number of local teachers in preparation for a teaching career. She was the accompanist of a glee club in Garfield until the war forced it to disband. She belonged to an acapella chorus in Ridgewood and had played several local recitals on the organ and the piano. The Hopper family had lived in Mahwah for fire years. Mr. William Hopper operated a butcher shop in Ramsey where they had lived before moving to Mahwah. Survivors included Mr. Hopper and two sons, Miss Hopper's brothers, Ernest and Norman, both in the U.S. Navy. The Rev. Robert S. Jones of the Hillburn Church presided over the services on may 3rd. Interment was in the Union Cemetery in Ramsey. (Bristow) |
1954-04-30 | People | Mr. and Mrs. Asa DeGroat of 132 Grove Street, Mahwah, received word that their son, Henry DeGroat, 22, had been promoted to the rank of Corporal. He was serving in a Signal Service battalion in the Far Eastern Command of the Army in Tokyo. (Bristow) |
1787-05-01 | Real Estate | Andrew Hopper received a final deed to the Hopper house property from the New Jersey Proprietors. They had disputed the earlier disposal of the property. Price 200 pounds. (Bristow) |
1867-05-01 | Religion | The Rev. Ephraim DeYoe resigned his post as pastor of the Saddle River Lutheran Church to devote full time to the congregation in Masonicus and Ramsey. He had been preaching in the morning at Saddle River, in the afternoon in Masonicus, and in the evening in Ramsey. (Bristow) |
1900-05-01 | Transportation | The Erie's new Buffalo Express passed through town for the first time. It features all new cars painted uniformly. There is a Pullman, the "St. Cloud," three day coaches and a cafe car which serves a la carte meals at all hours. West bound the new train is #1, east bound it is #2. (Bristow) |
1908-05-01 | Education | The Mahwah School was closed today because of a measles epidemic. Over 100 pupils are said to be out because they caught it. (Bristow). |
1912-05-01 | Education | The Township Board of Education devoted its meeting to the proposed addition to the School. Bids were opened for the $18,000 improvement, but, despite taking the lowest bid the total exceeded the $18,000 figure. There was some consideration of leaving out the concrete floor in the basement and of leaving the two rooms on the top floor unfinished but it was finally decided to go back to the public for a vote in a $2,500 supplementary bond issue. (Bristow) |
1921-05-01 | Police | Ray Dator is one of six New Jersey traffic police stationed along the Turnpike between Mahwah and Hackensack. In addition there are two motorcycle patrolmen in Ridgewood. Dator officiates on Saturdays and Sundays at the corner of Miller Road. (Bristow) |
1924-05-01 | Business | Although there were a large number of classified ads in the Ramsey Journal this day, most of them did not quote prices for their wares. Three which did offered Rhode Island Red hatchling eggs for $1.50 to $6.00 for fifteen. E. Humbert of Darlington Avenue was attempting to sell his 1921 Ford with five new cord tires, $100 in extra equipment and only 9,500 miles on it for $359. Finally a Ramsey owner was willing to part with his Haynes circuit radio set, complete with bulb, wet and dry batteries in excellent working order for $20. (Bristow) |
1924-05-01 | Food and Drink | In its regular weekly ad in the Ramsey Journal the Mahwah Bottling Company stressed dark beer and mixers this week. They had four brands of ginger ale: Canada Dry, Cantrell & Cochrane, Cliquot Club and White Star, as well as White Rock soda. Their dark beers were Trommers, Rupperts and something called Sprattler and Mennells "Paterson Brew." They could be easily reached by phone at Suffern 28. |
1927-05-01 | Fire Department | The Mahwah Fire Department demonstrated their efficiency when they were invited to visit the Ramsey Department. Within two minutes of the beginning of their drill they had two streams of water pumping, each carrying over 200 pounds of pressure. The company has had plenty of change to develop a high level of efficiency since they fought nearly 20 fires during the month of April. (Bristow) |
1927-05-01 | Religion | The Young People Delegation from the Ramapo Reformed Church to the County Young Peoples Conference in Bogota again took the trophy. This was awarded to the group with the highest attendance, punctuality and good work in the sessions. In the three times the Mahwah Young People have attended the conference they have won the trophy twice and tied once. (Bristow) |
1930-05-01 | People | Rutherford Ross, the Supervisor of the Federal Census in New Jersey, issued the preliminary figures for Bergen County. With figures from six municipalities still not in yet, the totals showed a dramatic growth in Bergen's population since 1920. The total population had grown to 363,279 from 210,703, an increase of 73%. North Arlington had grown 373% and Teaneck showed a 59% growth from 2090 to 3253. Upper Saddle River went from 251 to 347, an increase of 38% & Allendale had a 48% rise to 1728 from 1164. Unfortunately among the missing six municipalities were Oakland, and Hohokus Township, not yet officially called Mahwah. (Bristow) |
1931-05-01 | Recreation | Henry O. Havemeyer announced that permits would no longer be granted to people wishing to swim and picnic on his Mountainside Farm in Darlington. For many years local people had been granted this privilege but since so many public bathing places have opened up he decided to keep his place private and grant permits to no one. (Bristow) |
1961-05-01 | Recreation | The first three trails in the new Fyke Park (now called Campgaw) were opened to the public. The Fyke Nature Association announced that it would lead public walks over the Indian, Hemlock, and Lone Beech trails throughout the month of May to acquaint the public with the natural beauty of the new County nature preserve. The walks will be led by Mr. and Mrs. Edward Griffen, Mr. and Mrs. Lemuel Walker and Mrs Newell Sjolander. (Bristow) |
1966-05-01 | Religion | The Full Gospel Church on Grove Street welcomed a new pastor at Sunday services, the Rev. Stanley Long. He was a native of Salem, a graduate of Salem High School and a student at Temple University and Bible School in Providence, R.I. He has been involved in evangelistic work up and down the eastern seaboard as well as leading a congregation in southern New Jersey. He and his wife, the former Ruby Pitts and their two children, Tammy, 5 and Tina, 2 were living in Hillburn. (Bristow) |
1970-05-01 | Business | The People's Trust Bank of New Jersey holds a Grand Opening of its Mahwah branch at Route 17 and West Ramapo Avenue. (Bristow) |
1900-05-02 | Business | The contract had been let for the building of the new Miller Boarding House. M. P. S. Van Kirj of Paterson received the contract which is for about $24,000. (Bristow) |
1909-05-02 | Business | John VandenBerg Jr. has bought out his father's plumbing business and will continue the fine quality service the firm has always given. His shop, near the Depot, is on the telephone. Among his current projects is work on the new home of Mrs. Bessie Morris. (Bristow). |
1910-05-02 | Transportation | At the County Freeholders meeting Mr. Carpenter brought up the dangerous situation near the Mahwah Station where "two roads fork." He requested and gained approval for a street light to be installed there. |
1910-05-02 | Government | Henry B. Hagerman has received his official reappointment as Mahwah postmaster. The Post Office will be moved to a separate quarters as soon as possible. (Bristow) |
1927-05-02 | Religion | Seven Mahwah children were among the members of the Christ Church Sunday School who attended the annual services at the Epsicopal Cathedral of St. John the Divine in New York City for the presentation of missionary offerings. The representatives of the Suffern Church were among 2000 Sunday Schools in New York Diocese which contributed $46,970 to the cause. The members of the Junior Choir who marched in the grand procession were particularly impressed at passing through the Children's Arch in the uncompleted Cathedral since they had contributed to its construction. The Mahwah children who attended were Betty Ellis, Majorie Sargent, Elizabeth Tibbals, David Hartwell, Wilbur Hartwell. Junior Rountree, and Cyrus Tibbals. (Bristow) |
1927-05-02 | Charity | The children of the Junior Red Cross at the private Nenel's School in Cragmere contributed the $7.00 the had raised to the Mississippi Flood Relief Fund. It was accompanied by a poem: The little children who have given This money gift to God in heaven To help those afflicted be May they received his blessing free; On this tumultuous day. |
1930-05-02 | Religion | The guest speaker at the meeting of the Men's Club of the Church of the Redeemer was ex-Governor A. Harry Moore. The women of the Congregation were also present in large numbers to hear what the Ramsey Journal called "one of the finest speakers in New Jersey" talk on the place of the Church in modern life. He concentrated on opportunities for service in the world. For example, he cited the statistic that out of 1,170 prisoners in New Jersey jails at the time, only very few had ever had any religious training. He stressed the necessity of parents providing training, including religion for their children. Some of the members of the enthusiastic audience were sobered somewhat when he stated that the Chinese system of punishing the father for the crimes of his children had much to recommend it. The ex-Governor throughout impressed the audience with his sincerity, and his love for humanity, especially children. After his talk he was taken by Pastor Siegart to the Fortitude Lodge of the Masons and gave what the Journal called "the finest address on masonry that has ever been heard within the confines of the lodge room." |
1943-05-02 | People | John Winter, who would have been 91 at the end of the month, a lifelong resident of Mahwah, died of a stroke at his home. He had been in poor health for two years. He was born on May 31, 1852, the youngest of nine children of Andrew Winter one of the earliest settlers of Mahwah. The Winter Home was located west of Franklin Turnpike, opposite Lawrence Road. It was the local stop for the stage coaches going north from Hackensack into New York State and changed horses at Winter's. It had burned down a few years previously. He and his brother John conducted a carriage building business for many years at a location east of the Turnpike, north of Lawrence Rd. Throughout his life his principal business was the management of his considerable real estate holdings. He had organized Mahwah's first water company, had been a director in the Savings and Loan for 20 years and active in local politics until fairly recently. His first wife, Emma Suffern died in 1900 after 20 years of marriage. He married Jessie P. McPherson in 1905. A daughter Henrietta Parkhurst was born in 1908 and the second Mrs. Winter died in 1909. he was survived by his daughter. then Mrs. John W. R. Zisgen and John William Zisgen. Funeral services were conducted at his home on the 5th by Rev. Clarence Sloan Howard. Internment followed in the family plot at the Reformed Church cemetery. (Bristow) |
1955-05-02 | Business | The demand for tickets to the Avon Products Annual Open House Day was so great that another date had to be set, on May 9th. The Suffern firm, the largest cosmetics factory in the world, with nearly one thousand employees, encouraged the families of workers to visit the factory and see their relatives actually at work. Working hours for each of the days were set from 12:00 to 9:00PM so that family members who were not free during the day could attend. (Bristow) |
1957-05-02 | Business | The Suburban Propane Corporation announced that Henry J. Popovich of 13 Forrest Ave. had been promoted to manage the Mahwah office of the company. The new official had started in the company as a trainee in 1953 and had served in Salisbury Maryland before becoming Assistant Manager in Mahwah in 1955. He succeeded George Peacock of Pompton Plains, who has been promoted to manage the larger office in Mt. Kisco. Popovich was replaced as Assistant Manager by Richard A. Maker, the former dispatcher at the South Sudbury, Mass. district. (Bristow) |
1960-05-02 | Recreation | Ramsey High School's George Blasius pitched a no-hitter against River Dell at Finch Park in Ramsey. He needed only 86 pitches to dispose of the Visitors. He faced only 23 batters in the seven inning game. He gave up no walks. Two of the three baserunners got on base by errors and he hit a batter. Only three balls were hit to the outfield. Blasius raised he season's record to two wins and three losses. The final score against the league leaders was 5-1, with the River Dell run unearned. He helped himself at the plate with two hits. Rehain hit a home run in the third inning following Muti's base clearing double. |
1985-05-02 | Government | At a Ramapo Planning Board meeting Mayor Frank Kraus of Mahwah was among a number of public officials to oppose the construction of a 330-foot microwave tower near the site of the closed Ramapo land fill in Ramapo, NY. Kraus maintained that the microwave emissions may be responsible for such medical problems as cataracts, birth defects, and cancers. (Bristow) |
1909-05-03 | Transportation | At the County Freeholders Meeting there was considerable discussion of the proposal to create a County Highway System. Freeholder DeWitt stated that if the big aeronautic Carnival at Arlington on the 25th is a success air ships and aeroplanes will replace the need for expensive bridges in the County. (Bristow) |
1910-05-03 | Government | Mr. Henry Ryerson began taking the census in the mountain district. Some difficulty has been encountered in determining the ownership of the farms and cabins and it has been decided to simplify the section of the census form dealing with the cash value of crops. Census takers get 3 cents per name and $2.00 per day for their work. |
1916-05-03 | Government | This day has been declared "Mosquito Day" in New Jersey by the Interstate Mosquito Extermination Committee. It is designed to acquaint everyone in the state about how mosquitos breed and what can be done to eliminate their breeding cycle. In every classroom in the state students will be taught about the battle against mosquitos. It is hoped to counter the persistent myths about the pests such as that they breed in shrubbery, trees and long grass and that night causes malaria. Bergen County's Chief Inspector claims that mosquitos can be eliminated if drainage is controlled. Such control, he said, is a matter of individual responsibility. (Bristow) |
1917-05-03 | Military | The Mahwah Home Defense League was organized in the Assembly Room of the School. The following officers were chosen: E. J. Snow, President, Thomas H. Tatum, V.P., W. O. King, Secretary, B.F. Lord, Jr., Treasurer, Emerson McMillan, honorary V.P. 79 members were enrolled. About a dozen of them have some military training, including Mr. McMillan who served 4 years and 3 months in the Union Army during the Civil War. Although he is 74 years old he offered to substitute in the training of a company. The company will drill along military lines. It is expected that more will join. (Bristow) |
1923-05-03 | Military | A fund for the war memorial in the Park has been over subscribed, proving once more that Mahwah people rise to an important occasion. Impressive ceremonies have been planned for Memorial Day including the participation by the Hillburn Band and an address by the Honorable Randolph Perkins. (Bristow) |
1927-05-03 | Crime | The Mahwah School was robbed of an Underwood typewriter which belonged to the principal Mr. Gilbert Forte. Desks and closets were looted. Losses totaled about $300.00 . The school reporter stated that the authorities were looking into the matter and would no doubt "will soon be found." "It is a great pity that there are people who would rob and pilfer our school," the reporter lamented. |
1933-05-03 | Recreation | Thirty members of the Mahwah Women's Club went to Trenton in a chartered bus to participate in the annual Little Theater tournament of the Federated Women's Clubs of New Jersey. Their play, Lionel Adams fantasy "How the Great Guest Came" was one of 25 given at the Contemporary Club. The Club's president elect Margaret Middleton Hewitt presented the group. Ines Hallenbeck, the chairman of the department of Literature and Drama, and director of the play read the prologue. In the cast were Betty Edwards, Florence Bennett, Marie Boursault, and Irene Prendergast. The play was very well received but did not win a prize. The group was entertained at tea by Mrs. Hewitt's mother, Mrs. Middleton of Trenton before their return to Mahwah. (Bristow) |
1934-05-03 | Education | There was a hand-ball shootout between the fifth grades at the Mahwah and Cragmere Schools. It ended with a decisive victory for School Number 2 (Mahwah) 45-18 over School Number 7 (Cragmere). It was not until 1945 that the names Commodore Perry and Betsy Ross were given to the two elementary schools. (Bristow) |
1950-05-03 | Government | Special Clean-Up Week assembly programs were held in the district schools. The focus was on the proper disposition of refuse. Great dangers to public health could come from illegal dumping, the speakers stressed. The pupils were told that if their families had any refuse they could not dispose of easily they had only to call the Roads Department. A Township truck would come to their home to pick up the refuse. (Bristow). |
1954-05-03 | Food and Drink | At the Township Committee meeting, Mayor Charles Feldmann reported on the progress made toward filling the water needs of the new Ford plant. The manufacturing plant was expected to require about a million gallons of water a day. They had given $300,000 on December 28, 1953 to pay for the engineering studies toward constructing a storage plant at the plant. The Mayor announced that four test wells had been drilled south of Route 17 near the river. They were capable of producing a million and a half gallons of water a day, far above the needs of the plant. When asked if any of the surplus would be diverted to domestic use, Feldmann said that there was plenty of capacity for home use in the existing system. When the demand rose, these wells would be hooked-up with the regular system, he stated. (Bristow) |
1956-05-03 | Health and Medicine | Antoinette O'Brien, 14, a Chester N.J. eighth grader was overcome by an asthmatic attack when she was touring the Ford Assembly Plant with her class. Mahwah Ambulance crew members John Coe and Charles Masker transported her to the Good Samaritan Hospital and then to her home. It was one of four calls to which the Corps responded during the week. (Bristow) |
1960-05-03 | Sports | The final standings for the Brake Shoe Bowling League showed the Do-Alls as the winners of the final competition of the year. High average for the year remained G. Traglia, with 177, for the men and J. Weeks, at 159, for the women. |
1963-05-03 | Disasters | The Winter House, given to the Township in the will of the late Annie Winter, was extensively damaged in a fire of suspicious origin. (Bristow) |
1901-05-04 | Government | The Town Board ordered an investigation of the claim that the widening of the Railroad has encroached on the old road near the Depot. It is said that the Erie proposes to build a new road from the new steel plant (the future Brake Shoe plant?) across Andrew Winter's meadow and joining with the old road near the Depot (Bristow) |
1908-05-04 | Transportation | At the Freeholders Meeting in Hackensack the question of whether to rebuild the bridge at the Havemeyer Estate which was washed away in the flood of 1903 was considered. The Superintendent of the Estate claimed it was a private bridge and the Estate did not want it rebuilt. About 25 local residents, some of them very old men, testified that it had always been open to the public. The Freeholder Committee backed the request of the Township Board that the bridge be rebuilt so that the people on the other side could cross over and allow their children to go to school. The legal question as to whether the Freeholders have the legal right to do this has not been decided. (Bristow) |
1921-05-04 | Business | There is a building boom in Mahwah like the ones before the war. Stephen Rauthaupt is erecting his Central Garage on the Turnpike. Jack Vandenburgh has put up an attractive store between Airmont and Mahwah on the Turnpike. He will no longer dispense his "Honey Be" honey from his front porch. Clark Hebner's new house on Maysenger should be ready for occupancy in August. Ground has been broken for Mr. Sherew's house on Oweno Rd., and Frank Russell has received bids for his house on the S.E. corner of Oweno and Airmount. The Bugg Realty Co., is completing a unique two story house on Alcott Road. (Bristow) |
1927-05-04 | Sports | Self-help seemed to be more the rule in the old days. The seventh grade at School No. 2 continued work on laying out their own tennis court on the west side of the school grounds. They were expecting to derive much "pleasure and sport" from this asset. (Bristow) |
1928-05-04 | Food and Drink | In an ad in the Ramsey Journal the Great Eastern Stores urged their customers to "Bake a blueberry pie, today!" They offered a special of a can of Maine blueberries for 17 cents and flake pie crust for 10 cents. (Bristow) |
1931-05-04 | People | A group of observers from Westwood attended the Girl Scout meeting. Scout Headquarters thought so highly of the work of Captain Olive Eggers that when Westwood began to consider the orgainzation of a new troop it was suggested that they see this outstanding one in operation. (Bristow) |
1931-05-04 | Crime | Chief Smith was patrolling in Darlington when he noticed a large crowd at Abe Reich's store on Darlington Road. When he investigated he found an argument in progress between Reich and a customer, Richard Turner. When Turner pulled a knife on Reich, Smith arrested him. He took him to the Ramsey State Police Barracks and fingerprinted him and conveyed him to the county jail in Hackensack for commitment. (Bristow) |
1934-05-04 | Military | At their annual elections, the Mahwah Post of the American Legion chose Police Chief Charles E. Smith commander to succeed Edward P. Hugues. Frank J. Peppe was named the new service officer. He replaced James V. Conlan who had served in the post for a number of years. Many in the Post commended Conlan's work in behalf of needy veterans during the darkest days of the depression. Present for the meeting was County Commander Charles V. Bacon, a former Commander of the Mahwah post. He addressed the meeting on a number of topics of current interest. He particularly defended the Legion against charges that they had used their political influence to push through the independent offices bill containing large sums for veterans benefits. He said that most of the money was to go to civil servants and to veterans of the Spanish-American War. |
1935-05-04 | Agriculture | The Boy Scouts of Troop 50 conducted a raid on the tent caterpillars along with south end of Island Road where there are so few houses. Hundreds of nests were burned. |
1944-05-04 | Military | The Ramsey Journal published a report from Lt. John Tisdale, son of the Supervising Principal of the Borough Schools. He had seen the sinking of the destroyer DeKoven on February 1, 1943. He did not know at the time that another Ramsey serviceman, Machinist Mater First Class Victor Y. Matthews was on board until he saw a notice, also in the Journal, that the Navy had declared him killed in action after being missing for a year. Tisdale was an infantry officer in the South Pacific Area. He had entered his service in September 1941 and had been overseas for two years. (Bristow) |
1953-05-04 | Business | The Ford Motor Company announced it was to build a major auto assembly plant on the site of the old Houvenkopf Country Club in Mahwah. (Bristow) |
1960-05-04 | Education | Two large flowering pink dogwoods were planted at the entrance to the Administration Building of the Mahwah High School. They were the gift of the Mahwah Garden Club and joined the azaleas, rhododendrums and white dogwoods. which had been put in by Ian Pryde the school's superintendent of buildings and grounds and his crew to beautify the campus-style school. (Bristow) |
1900-05-05 | Business | The Rockland Electric Company of Hillburn has been awarded a contract to erect electric light poles and wires along Franklin Turnpike. The franchise lasts 20 years and includes the provision of seven 20 power lights free for three years. There was some question as to whether the contract should specify who should pay for the electric meters and provision should have been made in future for using the poles for installing electric fire alarm wires on the poles. After the company accepts the contract they have 90 days to complete the work. |
1902-05-05 | Government | James Devine Jr. appeared before the Town Board to petition them to take action concerning the speed at which automobiles drive, especially down the hill near Miller's. These drivers are reckless on all roads but particularly so where they have been running "at nearly a two minute clip" (30 miles an hour). Dogs have been killed here and parents keep their children in doors out of fear. A constable is to be hired and the fine raised at the next meeting. |
1921-05-05 | Food and Drink | The American Provision Company ("one of America's Big Chain Stores"), Main Street, Ramsey, advertised in the Ramsey Journal. Fresh chopped beef at 30 cents a pound, prime rib roast at 34 cents a pound, peanut butter at 17 cents a pound and margarine at 30 cents a pound. |
1927-05-05 | Charity | In a communication to the Ramsey Journal, William E. Simpson, pastor of the Ramapo Reformed Church and Chairman of the Mississippi Flood Relief Committee protested that the paper had omitted Mahwah from stories about the fund appeal. The Township, he said, had the highest quota based on Red Cross membership. The quota had been met at the first appeal, but that the dimensions of the devastation were so great that further donations had been sought. Contributions could be sent to him, placed in a box at the Mahwah post office or given to other members of the committee: Mrs. Alexnader Adamson, Mrs. Clifford Schoonmaker, Mr. L. B. Tiedeman, & Mr. G. L. Forte (Supervising Principal). (Bristow) |
1927-05-05 | Charity | The Ramsey Journal saluted the scouts for their community service. The Boy Scouts were beautifying the corners of the Station Park and selling bird houses at the Community Shoppe "that any bird would be glad to rent." The Girls had donated clothing to the Nursing Service and sent clothing which they had made themselves including a quilted blanket to the babies of the Virgin Islands. (Bristow) |
1934-05-05 | Government | When Robert B. Murphy, the Secretary of the Bergen County Board of Taxation, released the list of local tax rates for the County the news was not good for most North Bergen localities. With the exception of Waldwick, Glen Rock, and Ridgewood, tax rates went down. The rate went down 46 points in Ramsey, 56 points in Franklin Lakes, 32 points in Allendale, 31 in Wyckoff, and 7 points in Saddle River. Both Upper Saddle River and Hohokus Township cut their rates by 16 points. In contrast, Garfield raised theirs by 265 points and Lodi raised theirs 229 to the highest level in the county $10.14. All of this fiscal restraint was occasioned by the Depression and the belief that the Federal Government was going to take up more of the burden of relief expenses. (Bristow) |
1939-05-05 | People | Illse Schurmann was the first member of the fourth grade to attend the 1939 World's Fair. She described the many interesting things she had seen to the other members of the class. (Bristow) |
1943-05-05 | Military | Richard V. King, son of Mrs. and Mrs. William O. King of Franklin Turnpike returned home for a very brief visit with his wife and daughter from his post in the merchant marine. Before the war he was employed as personnel man with the Isthua Steamship Company, the post he then filled with the merchant marine. More recently he had resigned his position on the Township police force in December to go to sea. He had been on a number of trips some of them extensive, to the war zone. He returned to duty in Boston on May 6th, accompanied on the train by his wife. She returned from Boston on the 9th. (Bristow) |
1951-05-05 | Fire Department | Louis Urban was the chairman for the annual baked ham dinner held in the new Fardale Fire House. Five hundred and fifty dinners were served. The proceeds were to go to completing the equipment for the kitchen so they could have bigger and better dinners it is assumed. |
1951-05-05 | Sports | The Ramsey High School Majorettes took first prize at the first annual U.S. Twirling Association Eastern Seabord competition, beating out fifteen other teams. In the competition at Mineola, Long Island, only those who had won 1st, 2nd, or 3rd at previous regional competitions were eligible. Their hard work over the past few weeks won them a score of 93.7 out of a possible 100. The members of the championship squad: Pat Smith, Captain, Carol Dean, Lella Commoll, Ann Blanchard, Joan Junker, Jeanette Roberts, Carol Williamson, Barbara DuVall, Carol Scherer, and Hope Wiley, Ruth Arens, Gertrude DeKorte and Coach Elsa Preischle were honored. (Bristow) |
1912-05-06 | Real Estate | Mr. J. Clarence Lewis of New York City has bought a portion of Morningside Farm from the Estate of the late Henry Havemeyer. Mrs. Havemeyer will retain the mansion and has sold land to the north to Mr. Lewis who will build a summer home there. (Now the Devonshire School). (Bristow) |
1919-05-06 | Business | The Cragmere Country Club has let contracts for the rehabilitation and expansion of the tennis courts at Oweno Lake. Nearly 40 residents of the Park have contributed to this work which is being done by the F. M. Storms Co. of Saddle River and Christopher Brothers of Allendale. F. M. Waterman is President of the Club and A. R. Wilcox is the Secretary-Treasurer. (Bristow). |
1922-05-06 | Recreation | The Mahwah Garden Club held an exchange at the Club House on Lake Oweno. Members brought plants, bulbs and shrubs for exchange. Those without anything to exchange were charged 10 cents a plant. (Bristow) |
1931-05-06 | Transportation | The abandoned trolley tracks across Miller Road, which have been the cause of several broken automobile springs were removed and the roadway, gutters and curb regraded. (Bristow) |
1935-05-06 | Recreation | Mrs. Werner Trumbower and her daughter Juliana spent the weekend at Princeton University where her son is a student. A highlight of their stay was seeing a performance of "The Barretts of Wimpole Street", starring Katherine Cornell. The actress had formed her own company for the production of this, her most famous play, in which she appeared as Elizabeth Barrett Browning over 700 times. She was then in the midst of a two-year national tour of the play in which she performed in seventy-five cities. (Bristow0 |
1873-05-07 | Disasters | Death struck Mahwah three times in quick succession. Abram Bockee, who had been perfectly well yesterday, was found dead of what Squire Christie concluded at the inquest was apoplexy. He was, after all, of a somewhat phlegmatic nature. Last week, Martin Ackerman dropped dead of a heart attack after eating his usual dinner at his brother's home where he lived. During the same week, John O'Benis's wife of Ramapo Valley, died of consumption. (Bristow) |
1913-05-07 | Government | The bitter strike in Paterson almost spilled over into Mahwah. Groups of strikers spread out from Paterson to disrupt workers in neighboring towns. A large Group arrived in Ridgewood and stopped work in the water plant and other businesses large and small, threatening workers with violence if they did not stop work. They spread outward into Waldwick and two arrived in Allendale. Ramsey organized a special police force to supplement a number of sheriff's deputies who came from Hackensack. They were armed with clubs and watched all roads into town. No strikers appeared in Ramsey or in Mahwah. Arrangements were made, however, to reconvene these special officers by six taps on the Ramsey Fire Bell so that all men could be alerted to protect their property. (Bristow) |
1915-05-07 | People | Joyce Kilmer's poem, "Trees", dated in copy handwritten in the Mahwah Library - originally published in 1913. (Bristow) |
1923-05-07 | Religion | An old document dating from 1710 and an old Dutch bible printed in Holland in 1715 have been discovered. At one time both belonged to the Ramapo Reformed Church. The Church recently made a plea that any old documents and records belonging to the Church be identified. A history of the Church is being considered and the records are not in good order, there being many gaps. (Bristow) |
1939-05-07 | People | At the American Day parade in Hackensack, Walter Konski of Mahwah, was awarded a belated Purple Heart medal for wounds he received during the First World War. He was a member of the Teaneck Post of the Veterans of Foreign Wars. (Bristow) |
1960-05-07 | Recreation | Mahwah Mayor Morris Ruddick cut the ribbon that stretched across the backstop of the Sam Braen Little League Field at the corner of Airmont Road and Airmount Avenue and it was dedicated. Ronald C. Lewis, secretary of the Recreation Committee, acted as the master of ceremonies. A flag, presented by VFW past commander William Drobesh of the VFW, was raised by members of the color guard from the Nike base. Present were Township Committee members John J. Brennan, Bruce E. Sockman, Vincent F. Blefary and Janet T. Herlihy, and former Township Clerk Raymond F. Dator. Lewis also acted as umpire as Norman Beatty's Tiny Tot Team defeated one coached by Daniel Zachrone, 14 to 10. The new field brought to eight the number of Township ball fields. (Bristow) |
1875-05-08 | Recreation | The Bergen County Democrat newspaper reported that the "Second Nine" of Darlington had challenged the "Muffers" to a baseball game on the Ramsey track. The winning team was to get to keep the ball. There was no report as to which team won. (Bristow) |
1919-05-08 | Charity | The Mahwah Women's Club as formed. It is an outgrowth of the Cragmere Civic Association which began as a Garden Club and sponsored by Mrs. Fred Wterman. (Bristow) |
1934-05-08 | Fire Department | The Mahwah Fire Department had some unusual help in putting out a brush fire at the end of Malcolm Road. The fire in the woods had been reported by Miss Edith Bester and Robert Fey, a neighbor. As the firemen fought the blaze, the attracted a group of the neighboring children. They offered to help and when they were not discouraging from doing so, went home for pails and brooms. Soon five little girls were standing shoulder-to-shoulder to each other and battling the stubborn blaze. The five girls were Dorothy Jane, Dariel Keith, Elaine Ruehl and her two guests, Jan Foster and Barbara Walker. The firemen praised their work and named them the Children's Fire Brigade. It took most of the afternoon to extinguish the blaze. (Bristow) |
1939-05-08 | Education | At the regular School Board meeting, it was revealed that all of the teachers had been offered new contracts for the coming year. Supervising Principal Robert C. Fagan received an increase of $200 and raises of $50 were given to those teachers at minimum salary, or who had not had a raise in several years or who were deemed to be underpaid. The school nurse, Florence Gates and the school doctor. Dr. Liddy were retained at the same salary as were all of the school janitors. (Bristow) |
1954-05-08 | Real Estate | One of Mahwah's choicest pieces of real estate passed from one prominent Mahwah family to another. A.J. Winter and Sons feed and grain store was sold to Frank W. Dater. The property extended from the Erie Railroad to Franklin Turnpike along Ramapo Avenue and 200 feet of more south to King Street. The Winter family had owned the property since before the Erie Railroad was built in 1848. Albert J. Winter had died in 1944. It was his widow Annie Winter who signed the papers completing the transfer. Dator announced that the business would continue with most of the original employees, many of whom had worked for the firm for 35 or more years. Mr. Winter's father Andrew had started the business in 1890. His son had continued it after his death in 1912. It was an interesting fact that some of the grain and feed sold in the store in the early days had been bought from the feed mill operated by Mr. Dator's grandfather Frank Z. Dator at what was then called Dator's Crossing on Route 59 in Tallman. When the inventory was made prior to the sale, a number of items from a by-gone era were located, including horse guards and barrels of molasses. The property today still contains the Dator real estate agency, the post office and the branch office of the Citizens First National Bank, but no feed and grain business. (Bristow) |
1965-05-08 | Fire Department | The new Bergen County Fire Training Center, located on Campgaw Road in the Fardale section of Mahwah, was dedicated with a speech by U. S. Senator Clifford Case before 500 guests. |
1911-05-09 | Transportation | Work gangs are laboring around the clock to complete the trolley line through Mahwah by Decoration Day. Poles and arms are up as far as Miller Road and the abutments are in place for the bridge at the Burpo place. (Bristow) |
1913-05-09 | People | The Cragmere section of Mahwah is filling up again. The Jones family has returned after a five month absence. The W. Pryor family are back in their bungalow and the Hagaar family of Monsey, New York are in their home. Mr. and Mrs. M. Shulz are living in their garage until their new home is finished. (Bristow) |
1916-05-09 | Business | 500 employees of the Brake Shoe plant in Mahwah went out on strike for higher pay and shorter hours. The men later returned to work after a meeting of representatives of the men and the management resolved their differences. (Bristow) |
1916-05-09 | People | John Wanamaker, the sonof Richard Wanamaker, died in his home in Buffalo, New York. He had been operated on for appendicitis and seeming to be recovering, but he suffered a relapse and died. The family went to Buffalo and returned with the body for the funeral out of the Wanamaker home and burial in the Mahwah Cemetery. His widow returned for the funeral, but has returned to Buffalo. (Bristow) |
1941-05-09 | Education | The School Board rejected the plea of John Cavander that his two children, recently turned five years old, be admitted directly into first grade rather than kindergarten. He claimed that they had received "pre-grade" training and thus should not be held back. The School Board announced that they did not have the power of promotion. Only the school supervisors could determine if a child was socially adjusted and qualified enough to move ahead of his age group. (Bristow) |
1962-05-09 | People | Russian cosmonaut Gherman Titov tours the Ford Motor Company Assembly plant in mahwah. (Bristow0 |
1898-05-10 | Business | The auction at the Mountain Side farm of the late M. Havemeyer only brought $13,000. 275 cattle were sold, including some fine Jersey cows sold for only $5 apiece. One handsome Simmrnthal bull brought $430. Most of the horses were sold, but non of the sheep. Most of the farmhands have been laid off and the fires in the new boiler in the dairy drawn. (Bristow) |
1960-05-10 | People | The explosive growth in the North Bergen area was revealed when the Census Bureau released its preliminary figures for the 1960 census. Mahwah had 7,221 people compared to 4,880 in 1950. Ramsey went from 4,670, less than Mahwah in 1950 to 9,505 in 1960. Waldwick showed the greatest growth, from only 3,983 in 1950 to 10,482. Wyckoff went from 5,590 to 11,171. Allendale went to 4,060 from 2,400 and Upper saddle River from 708 to 3,562. Bergen County as a whole raised its population to 778,475 from 539,130. (Bristow) |
1784-05-11 | Real Estate | Jacobus Isaac Bogert sold his farm along the Ramapo River to Cornelius Haring, a surveyor and land speculator. The farm includes the Laroe-Van Horn house. (Bristow) - includes |
1904-05-11 | People | Albert Winter of Mahwah married Annie Carpenter of Darlington. the bride was dressed in a white crepe de chine over taffeta with a veil. She was attended by ten of her classmates from Vassar who also acted as ushers. Music was provided by Miss Alemia Williams, music instruction at Vassar. Included among the lavish wedding gifts was a 150 piece set of sterling silver from Mr. and Mrs. George Crocker. (Bristow) |
1939-05-11 | Education | Among the new books at the Mahwah Public Library that week were Steinbeck's "The Grapes of Wrath" and Monet's edition of "Casanova's Memoirs". (Bristow) |
1939-05-11 | Real Estate | Realtor R. F. Dator advertised in the Ramsey Journal newspaper free maps of the 1939 World's Fair grounds in New York City to prospective visitors to the Fair. (Bristow) |
1940-05-11 | Business | Negotiations between the Brake Shoe Company and the American Federation of Labor (AFL) broke off, ending hopes that a protracted strike at the Mahwah plant might be ended. The company rejected the demand for a "closed shop", stating that it was against company policy. It also refused a general wage increase, saying that it would handicap the company in competing in the open market. The company said that they would entertain requests for raises from individual departments through the grievance process and they might grant some if they felt that they would be justified. The meeting was held in the company offices in Mahwah, with attorney Jack Freedland, President Rocco Falliero and Secretary Carmine Santo representing the union and attorney William Brennan, Plant Manager W. S. Fraula speaking for the company. As a mass meeting held in the Mahwah Town Hall, the resulted of the meeting were summarized. A further set of demands were agreed upon for later meetings and the strike was to continue. President Faliero explained that contracts in other plants prevented their going out in sympathy with the Mahwah workers. He bitterly denounced the organizing activities of the CIO labor union during the previous week. Only the AFL was authorized to bargain for the Mahwah workers, he stated. (Bristow) |
1911-05-12 | People | By special permission of the Township Committee, the pole line of the New York Telephone Company was extended from the New York / New Jersey state line to Stephen Straut's house. (Bristow) |
1918-05-12 | Education | Only 5 students attended the Masconicus School because of an outbreak of the measles. Thirty are on the rolls. Miss Lawrence took over the school on May 10th. She is the fifth teacher this year in Masonicus. (Bristow) |
1927-05-12 | Charity | Residents of the Ramapo Valley responded generously to the Red Cross emergency appeal for the Mississippi Flood Relief Campaign. The original quota of $400 was quickly met and doubled as the scale of the disaster was realized. At the time the Ramsey Journal went to press $1,396.22 had been reported, over three times the original quota. This was the largest peacetime fund ever raised in the six town area (Mahwah, Ramsey, Allendale, Waldwick, Saddle River and Upper Saddle River). A large sum was collected at the polo match in Saddle River and the students at the Church of the Redeemer Sunday School in Ramsey contributed $25.00. People who normally gave 20 cents were giving a dollar. (Bristow) |
1934-05-12 | Police | At least someone in Mahwah knew how to come in out of the rain, even if illegally. Police Chief Smith investigated a report that the Write house on Island Road had been entered into overnight. He found that a window to a store room had been used to get in. Nothing was disturbed however. Smith concluded that whoever it was had simply been seeking shelter from the big rain storm on Wednesday the 8th. (Bristow) |
1941-05-12 | Education | The Board of Education voted to establish the first Kindergarten in the local schools to begin in September. Miss Vida Johnson of Ridgewood was hired to teach the classes at a salary of $1,100 per year. The classes were to be established at School #2, Mahwah with two sessions of two hours each. In order to have the class on the ground floor as prescribed by State law, the fourth grade was moved to the second floor. With the voting of funds for equipment and supplies, the special District Kindergarten Committee was disbanded. Mahwah was one of only a very few districts in this area not to have a kindergarten program. Many in the community believed that this placed Mahwah students at a disadvantage when they entered Ramsey High School. Some 30 children had already been identified as eligible. (Bristow) |
1943-05-12 | Government | Corporal Douglas O'Brien returned to his post at the Municipal Airport in Philadelphia after spending a three day pass with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. George O'Brien of Airmount Road. This had been his first visit home in 13 months since entering the service in April 1942. Most of his service time had been spent in the Air Force training schools at Lincoln Air Base where he took the Air Mechanic's course at Chanute Field, Illinois; for the electrical specialists course and at Dearborn, Michigan and for the Overhaul course. He was a 1927 graduate of Ramsey High School and had attended the University of Notre Dame for one year. His enthusiastic interest in scouting had been demonstrated by his having served for eleven years as Scoutmaster of Troop Fifty in Mahwah. (Bristow) |
1913-05-13 | Fire Department | A serious woods fire in Cragmere near Mr. Bennet's house brought out the "wet broom brigade". Cragmere residents armed with wet brooms, shovels, rakes and wet burlap, turned out to fight the blaze. After two hours of exhausting, dirty work, they succeeded in containing the fire. (Bristow) |
1917-05-13 | Government | The Home Guard is drilling three times a week under the direction of Captain Ellis and Lts. Murphy and Fairservice. Between 80 to 100 men are enrolled. They are making good progress in military drill and did well on parade today - Sunday. The group has rifles and most have khaki uniforms. The agricultural department has taken over a large plot in Cragmere for growing beans. The boy Scouts are distributing bags for the collection of paper, rags, cardboard and magazines. They have bought a baler and will share the proceeds equally with the Red Cross. (Bristow) |
1922-05-13 | Charity | The Mahwah Garden Club planted a blue spruce in the Park to be used as a community Christmas Tree. (Bristow) |
1923-05-13 | Education | Attendance at the primary department of the Ramapo Reformed Church Sunday School was only half of normal because of a diphtheria epidemic in the Slavic settlement of West Mahwah. Parents were reminded that the Sunday School has only one family from this area. (Bristow) |
1931-05-13 | Disasters | A spectacular train derailment at 3:30am three hundred feet south of the Mahwah train station, awoke people for a mile around. A broken wheel on an eastbound freight train caused it to jump the track and sideswipe the fast westbound milk train. The engine of the milk train overturned and over fifteen railroad cars piled up in the wreck which blocked all four tracks of the Erie Railroad and disrupted the morning rush hour service. Three trainmen narrowly averted death. They were rushed to the Good Samaritan Hospital by ambulance where they were treated by the Erie Railroad surgeon, Dr. Royal F. Sengstacken. An Erie spokesman said that it was a miracle that the engineer, fireman and a brakeman were able to crawl out of the overturned engine with only minor injuries. They had seen the lurching car as they approached and were able to prepare before the accident. The engineer and the conductor of the other train as well as the conductor of the derailed train rushed to the aid of the injured men immediately. The work of re-routing the commuters was immediately begun. Suffern passengers were sent on the Piermont Branch. A bus from Tuxedo took care of Sloatsburg and Hillburn. A shuttle train from Waldwick served Allendale and Ramsey commuters. Large crowds gathered all day to watch the crews clean up the debris. Erie detectives kept them back. The tracks had been so badly damaged, that one had been bent into a loop. By 9am service was resumed on two tracks. (Bristow) |
1935-05-13 | Government | The results of the parental survey on immunizations against smallpox and diphtheria were disturbing. One hundred percent of the questionnaires were retuned and they indicated that 182 students had been vaccinated, but 350 had not. Inoculated against diphtheria were 326, not inoculated: 204. The cost of securing this protection for children is not great and for those who cannot afford it, free service can be obtained from the school doctors, DR. Meyer and Dr. Liddy. It was hoped that when school re-opened in the Fall, that all children would be protected against these dreaded diseases which are so easy to prevent. (Bristow) |
1943-05-13 | Food and Drink | The Ramsey Journal newspaper summarized the status of the various ration books and stamps as follows. There were four different red stamps valid during the month of May for the purchase of meat, cheese, butter fats and canned fish. Blue stamps were valid for the purchase of canned and processed foods, stamp number 83 in the War Ration Book One was good for a pound of coffee through May 30th. Stamp #17 was good until June 15th for one pair of shoes, but purchasers were warned that the coupon had to be torn out of the book in the presence of the storekeeper. Loose ones were invalid. Period 5 coupon were good for 10 gallons of fuel oil or kerosene through September 30th and Number 5 stamps were good for three gallons of gasoline through July 21st. Special applications had to be made to the Ration Board for tires and extra shoes for nurses and nurses aides. (Bristow) |
1951-05-13 | Police | New signs were authorized along Franklin Turnpike to inform motorists that the speed limit had been raised to 25 miles per hour. The police intended to enforce the new limit. (Bristow) |
1956-05-13 | Agriculture | Mahwah and 13 other municipalities and townships in northern Bergen, Sussex and Passaic counties were placed under a Gypsy Moth quarantine by the State Department of Agriculture. Under the terms of the ban, all regulated materials had to be inspected and certified free of gypsy moth contagion by an inspector from the State before being allowed to be shipped to other parts of the state. Included in the banned materials were any timber and timber products, trees, shrubs, plants and vines with woody stems. The Township was notified along with Ramsey and Oakland in Bergen County along with West Milford. Wanaque, Ringwood and Bloomingdale in Passaic County and seven places in Sussex. All were notified by letter from Assistant Secretary of Agriculture William C. Lynn. No expiration date for the quarantine was announced. (Bristow) |
1904-05-14 | Crime | The hoodlum element in Ramsey was out in full force, including some boys from Mahwah. The drugstore window was broken, a drunk reeled along the street, street light bulbs were broken and a poker game staged in the hay shed behind the store. The Town Committee may finally be ready to act to curb these excesses which are bad enough without being exaggerated in the out of town papers. (Bristow) |
1916-05-14 | Religion | The newly completed church building of the Immaculate Heart of Mary dedicated. (Bristow) |
1923-05-14 | Recreation | Miss Vail gave a cotillion for her dancing class. Ruth Perry and Marjorie Sargent danced the Chiffonade. Marjorie Ballard danced the four-leaf clover and Julia Trombower performed a folk dance. |
1956-05-14 | Education | A procedural dispute almost upset the appointment of a new principal for the Commodore Perry School. Mrs. Petri and Mrs. Glasgow complained that they had not been given sufficient chance to interview the candidates for the post. With Mr. Pgels they nominated a local teacher for the post. They said that the Board policy of interviewing only those recommended by the Superintendent was a good way to confer dictatorship. When their candidate was turned down by a vote of 6-3, the original candidate, Manning Hamilton, was unanimously chosen. (Bristow) |
1960-05-14 | Government | Health Officer Mary Olive Wiley presided over a rabies clinic at the Municipal Building from 1 to 3pm. In announcing this, the only clinic to be held during the year, she pointed out that the previous weekend there had been three serious dog bites in the Township. None of the dogs had been inoculated, she reported, although all of the animals were found to be free of rabies. (Bristow) |
1971-05-14 | Crime | Judge Gibbons overturns the conviction of Edgar Smith for the 1957 murder of Victoria Zielinski because of a forced confession. (Bristow) |
1918-05-15 | Transportation | The regular meeting of the North Bergen Good Roads and Improvement Association was held at David Carlough's home. Over 50 members attended. (Bristow) |
1941-05-15 | Government | Chairman Frank H. Scherer named the 15 members of the Mahwah Local Defense Council. Included were Major Charles V. Bacon, formerly the Commander of the Bergen County American Legion, local Legion Commander George V. Buhlman, Fire Chief William Wrathall Jr., Supervising Principal Robert C. Fagan, the Rev. Clarence Sloan Howard of the Ramapo Reformed Church and the Rev. Charles Demjanovich, the pastor of the Immaculate Conception Church in Darlington. They would meet later to select their own chairman. (Bristow) |
1941-05-15 | Charity | Mrs. Edward Grimm held a "Sewing for Britain" meeting at her home at 76 Oweno Road. It was one of a series of activities for British relief being held in the community. (Bristow) |
1941-05-15 | Recreation | The Mahwah grammar school defeated Allendale 6-5 in baseball. The undisputed star of the team was John Timko. He took over the pitching in the second inning and finished for his fourth win of the season and he also hit the winning home run in the sixth inning. Mahwah was alone in first place in the league with three more games left to claim the championship for another year. (Bristow) |
1941-05-15 | Recreation | The Mahwah grammar school defeated Allendale 6-5 in baseball. The undisputed star of the team was John Timko. He took over the pitching in the second inning and finished for his fourth win of the season and he also hit the winning home run in the sixth inning. Mahwah was alone in first place in the league with three more games left to claim the championship for another year. (Bristow) |
1956-05-15 | Real Estate | A public meeting of the Township Committee on zoning regulations revealed widespread opposition to the concept of any restrictions on the right of a property owner to do anything he wanted with his property. As a result, the Committee reported to the Township Board in June recommending that nothing further de done about it. Among those most in support of zoning were Township Committee Chairman James Devine who said "Any kind of a zoning ordinance is better than none at all." Township Clerk Dator ended his impassioned speech in favor of the legislation by stating "I'm in the real estate business. I know what it means to be unprotected." (bristow) |
1900-05-16 | Transportation | Mrs. Williams narrowly escaped serious injury when she was driving her colt and cart across the railroad tracks at the Depot. The cross bar of the shaft broke. The horse began to kick savagely, just missing her head. She was thrown out onto a pile of cinders when two of the wheels were smashed. The horse was fortunately caught quickly and neither was injured severely. (Bristow) |
1940-05-16 | Transportation | Among the used cars offered for sale in the classified ads of the Ramsey Journal newspaper was a 1937 LaSalle with radio, heater and white wall tires for $495, a 1937 Lincoln Zephyr four-door sedan for $575, a 1939 Plymouth convertible coupe for $695 and a 1932 two-door Ford for $50. Or you could get a "practice piano" for all of $10, and a six room house with bath and a garage for $2,950. (Bristow) |
1940-05-16 | Business | The Brake Shoe Company strike ended. The Union and the Company signed an agreement on Thursday evening, May 16th, under which the men would return to work on Monday, May 20th. For the first time, the Company recognized the Union as the exclusive bargaining agent for the employees of the Mahwah plant. An election supervised by the National Labor Relations Board had been held on April 19, 1940. The Company, however, refused to bargain to the Union's satisfaction and the strike was called. The agreement ending the strike listed seven specific issues over which it would strive to negotiate an agreement with the Union. These included wages, hours, grievance procedures and vacation and holiday pay. A schedule was attached listing when various departments would resume work. The Company also promised to make a major effort to regain work lost during the strike, particularly by getting customers to return to their patterns to the Mahwah plant. No reprisals were to be taken against any employee for Union activity or participation in the strike. (Bristow) |
1941-05-16 | Education | Eleanor Mihok, Andrew Seaman and Helen Haight were recognized as being the only members of the fifth grade class at the Mahwah School who had brought a handkerchief to school every day since the beginning of the school year in September. (Bristow) |
1958-05-16 | Crime | An unused barns burns on the Havermeyer Estate. Arson is suspected as another barn had burned on May 2nd. (Bristow) |
1943-05-17 | Charity | The work of the Mahwah Sewing Unit of the Red Cross was halted by a shortage of material. In the meantime, the sewers continued to report to the Chapel of the Ramapo Reformed Church to assist with the making of surgical dressings so badly needed in the war zones. Mrs. Elliot Reid praised the work of her team, many of whom had been working at home because gas rationing made travel to and from the Chapel difficult. She announced that the girls of the seventh grade, under the direction of Miss Trask in School #2, had made two patchwork lap robes, three fracture pillows and three scrap books to be sent to Camp Shanks from the current scraps discarded by the sewing group. (Bristow) |
1954-05-17 | Business | With about 95% of the structural steel work completed, workers began to install the pre-cast concrete walls in the new Ford assembly plant in Mahwah, according to Kenneth B. Lockheart, the resident engineer on the project. In order to speed up the completion of the construction, the workforce of 750 men was being expanded to an eventual 1,500 workers. Bids were about to go out for contractors to work on the landscaping and the parking lots and to build the sewage disposal facilities. A total of more than 9,500 tons of structural steel were being together by 149,000 high tension bolts, he stated. Work had also begun on pouring the concrete flooring and the roofing on the south end of the plant. The first of three boilers, each with a capacity of 120,000 per hour was being installed. It should be completed in October, the second in November and the third before the first of the year. For the boiler house alone, 153 tons of steel had been installed. Each of the pre-cast panels weighed between 3 and a half to 8 and a half tons and they were up to 25 feet long. They were being cast on the site. A special vacuum process was used to remove excess moisture and a 12 ton canvas sling was used to put them in place. The main assembly building was to cover 39 acres and provide about 1,750,000 sq. feet of manufacturing space. Both trucks and cars were to be assembled there. (Bristow) |
1956-05-17 | Education | In addition to all of the problems of changing personnel, budget votes and the building of the new high school, the Township Board of Education faced a unique problem. After thirty years of efficient service, the sewage disposal system at the Commodore Perry School was blocked up. The problem was that no one could remember where the cesspool was located. Mrs. Edith Glasgow remembered that a truck had broken into the top 32 years before, but she couldn't remember were it was. Any clues as to the whereabouts of the system were requested from the public. (Bristow) |
1956-05-17 | Government | The Township Committee unanimously passed the new ordinance establishing a shade tree commission. Mayor Charles N. Feldmann explained to a community member that service on the commission carried no salary, although money had been allocated to pay a secretary. Several highly competent persons had offered to serve on the new board. (Bristow) |
1960-05-17 | Education | Mahwah School Superintendent Dr. George McClellan announced that he had submitted a request to Federal education authorities for a six-station language laboratory. Nation Defense Education funds have been authorized by Congress for improvements in the teaching of foreign languages, mathematics and science. McClellan said that studies had shown that a week's work in a language lab equals several weeks in a traditional classroom. The laboratory would permit a teacher to monitor the work of several students simultaneously. (Bristow) |
1899-05-18 | Charity | An entertainment to benefit the Darlington Sunday School included two farces, "The Irish Linen Peddler" acted by James Glasgow and "Rubber Boots". Musical entertainment, including several songs by Edna Shuart filled the remainder of the program. Admission was ten cents for children and twenty cents for adults. (Bristow) |
1910-05-18 | Recreation | The Barnum and Bailey Circus appeared in Paterson. The circus is using entirely new equipment which cost the company 3 and a half million dollars. Among the animal exhibits is the only baby giraffe ever born in captivity and successfully exhibited. It stands only three feet high. 400 performers entertained large crowds which contained many from Mahwah. The Erie Railroad ran special trains at special low rates for the occasion. (Bristow) |
1934-05-18 | Recreation | The Home Department of the Mahwah Women's Club devoted itself to what they described as a "truly feminine topic" lace-making. The speaker was the unfeminine Stephen M. Biddle, whose family lace-making business had been founded in England many years before. He gave a history of lace-making from Egyptian times and displayed samples of handmade and machine-made lace from several countries and times. The oldest piece he showed was a part of a lace flounce worn in Versailles at the Court of Louis XIV. Members brought pieces of old lace with them to the meeting to display and compare them. All agreed that lace was a fascinating topic about which their mothers knew much more than they did. (Bristow) |
1941-05-18 | People | Mr. and Mrs. Cutler Godfrey of Malcolm Road had as their weekend guests Mr. and Mrs. Ted Gary of New York City. Mr. Gary is a well-known stage and screen dancer. His most recent hit had been "Crazy with the Heat" which had recently closed on Broadway. (Bristow) |
1943-05-18 | Government | At the Township Board of Health meeting, Sanitary Inspector Mrs. Olive Wiley reported 26 cases of German measles, 3 cases of chickenpox and 22 cases of mumps had been reported. One case of whooping cough had been sent to the Bergen Pines Hospital. Two wells had been tested at Bergen Pines and found satisfactory. Seven premises were inspected and approved for the keeping of chickens. There were three marriages, one birth and two deaths during the month of April. (Bristow) |
1951-05-18 | Recreation | At the meeting of the Fardale Community Association, a forceful plea for the establishment of a park in that part of Mahwah was made by guest speaker Henry O. Pond of Tenafly, a member of the Bergen County planning Board. He said that there was scarcely a place in most parts of the county "where a child can set his foot without trespassing except on the public road." The Association had been alarmed by the threat that a housing development would be built on the Fyke Road property if the proposed county park did not materialize. (Bristow) |
1956-05-18 | Government | Residents of Strong Street in the Fardale section of Mahwah once more appeared in force at the Township Committee meeting to protest the flooding of their street. Whenever it rains, they reported, they are unable to get to their mailboxes on Forest Avenue and their children cannot get to school. Despite frequent complaints, nothing has been done to clear the blocked drain under Forest Avenue. Although the drain was the responsibility of the Bergen County Road Department, they could not see why the Mahwah Road Department could not open the drain temporarily. Township attorney John Warhol warned against this, however. Mayor Feldmann promised that the County authorities would be informed again of the problem and strongly urged to take action. Residents agreed to deed a portion of their properties to permit the paving of a 30 foot roadway and the building of sidewalks. (Bristow) |
1901-05-19 | Transportation | The Erie Railroad began to sell special five-day excursion rates at $8.85 per round trip to Buffalo. The Pan-American Exhibition is scheduled to open on May 20th. Special excursion rates will run throughout the exhibition. (Bristow) |
1913-05-19 | Business | The Paterson strikers, who have been disrupting work in nearby towns, were expected at attempting to interrupt work at the American Brake Shoe and Foundry Company in Mahwah. They did not appear, although the fence had reportedly been electrified for the occasion. (Bristow) |
1927-05-19 | Education | Among the new books available in the Mahwah Library this week were "Lord Jim" by Joseph Conrad, "Mother Knows Best" by Edna Ferber and "The Sun Also Rises" by Ernest Hemmingway. (Bristow) |
1939-05-19 | Education | The entire eighth grade, members of other grades and a number of Mahwah students at Ramsey High School, went to the World's Fair in Flushing Meadow Park. They went by train to Jersey City and from there by ferry boat to Flushing and then by bus to the Fair grounds. They broke up into smaller groups to tour the various exhibits. (Bristow) |
1941-05-19 | Fire Department | The Mahwah Fire Department opened a fund raising campaign to buy supplies and parade uniforms for the Company. A letter was mailed to local residents outlining the contributions of the fire fighters to the community. During the previous year they had fought fifty fires, the letter read, and twenty-three fires in the month of April 1941 alone. Many of these fires were brush fires which threatened homes. They often took hours to extinguish, came at awkward hours and resulted in loss of sleep and work time for the volunteers. The new uniforms would mot only raise the morale of the group, but would also help them to compete in county and regional parades and competitions. The campaign was to continue until July 4th. (Bristow) |
1960-05-19 | Business | :Automation in an Accounting Office" was the title of a paper delivered to the annual meeting of the New Jersey Society of Certified Public Accountants by E. T. Boyle of 79 Armour Road, Mahwah. Boyle had his own practice in Hackensack. He was a graduate of New York University and entered the profession in 1934. How many of the 500 accountants and their wives heard his paper is unknown, but since the meeting was held in Atlantic City's Hotel Dennis, we presume that some of them might have been on the boardwalk when it was being read. (Bristow) |
1960-05-19 | Crime | The Mahwah Township Board adopted a new ordinance prohibiting anyone to move their personal household effects out of the community without a police permit. There would be no charge for the permit which would not be issued until the water and tax departments could check if back bills had been made. Violators would be subject to a fine of $200 or thirty days imprisonment. (Bristow) |
1892-05-20 | Business | John Y. Dater begins the publication of The Ramsey Journal, a weekly newspaper which covered, in addition to Ramsey local news and summaries of national news, news of surrounding communities. (Bristow) |
1901-05-20 | Crime | The Tax Assessor began his rounds. Chief among the new regulations is the raising of the dog tax to 50 cents per dog for the first dog and one dollar for each additional dog over the age of six months. The penalty is $2.50 for each offense. Any dog owner who does not kill his dog within 24 hours after proof that it killed or wounded any sheep, lamb, poultry or other domestic animal will be fined ten dollars and triple damages. (Bristow) |
1921-05-20 | Crime | A robbery at the store of Mike Hornhick on Ramapo Road was quickly solved through the quick work of Constable Ray Dater. Shortly before Hornhick closed for the night, two of five masked men entered the store and demanded his money at gun point. They left with about 4400, but a phone call to Judge Price brought quick help in the form of Dater, Abram Valentine and Deputy Sheriff Benjamin J. Lord Jr. Four of the five men were soon arrested. One of them had been recognized by Hornhick despite his mask. The arresting officers displayed considerable courage, for these men were armed and known as desperate characters, some on parole for earlier offenses. All are now in jail in Hackensack. (Bristow) |
1927-05-20 | Crime | The school janitor, Mr. Ackerson, caught the dog who had been breaking into his chicken coop. He had recently lost five chickens and two settings of eggs to dogs to these marauders. By setting an animal trap, he was able to catch a dog and force the owner to make good on the losses he had suffered. (Bristow) |
1935-05-20 | Education | A petition was signed by all members present at the PTA meeting in the Town Hall asking that graduates of the local schools be permitted to attend Ridgewood and other area high schools as well as Ramsey High School. Harold Mowery was elected President for the coming year. (Bristow) |
1943-05-20 | Transportation | At the Township Council meeting, a committee was set up to meet with representatives of the Borough of Ramsey over maintenance of East Crescent Avenue. Since the road constituted the boundary between the two towns, technically one half of the street should be maintained by one town and the other half by the Borough. The two highway departments employed different systems of maintaining dirt roads, so the surface was in bad condition. Road Commissioner James A. Glasgow, Senior Engineer Frank Harley and Township attorney, John Warhol were appointed to work out a system where Mahwah would maintain a complete section of the road and Ramsey the other. (Bristow) |
1960-05-20 | Education | More thn a500 people attended the opening performance of the Ramapo Junior Ballet at the Mahwah Junior-Senior High School auditorium. The company had been formed the previous Fall by Ernest Clecarelli of Ramsey. Thirty-four girls performed dances from classical ballet to modern jazz. Mayor Morris E. Ruddick welcomed the new venture as a cultural asset to the area and wished it well during the intermission. All proceeds from admissions was to be devoted to future performances. (Bristow) |
1911-05-21 | Transportation | Trolley service began running from Mahwah. It did a brisk business. (Bristow) |
1912-05-21 | People | Mrs. Margaret Banta, Mahwah's oldest citizen, celebrated her 92nd birthday. Cragmere's oldest resident, Mrs. E. Keeler, was 88 years old last week. (Bristow) |
1913-05-21 | Transportation | The long-awaited auto bus to carry commuters from Cragmere to the train station and trolley stops has finally arrived. All Cragmere was reported in the Ramsey Journal newspaper as being "justly proud" of the new service. (Bristow) |
1916-05-21 | Crime | Judge W. H. Rodgers had a busy Sunday sentencing violators of the automobile laws. Four New York motorists were fined $5.85 each for driving without a license. Justice Rogers has threatened jail sentences for speeders on the Franklin Turnpike and had a particularly flagrant case brought before him. It involved a New Hampshire driver, Kenyon B. Fly. He was clocked at about 50 miles per hour on the Turnpike. Several times State Motor Vehicle Inspector Arthur A. Stagg tried to pull him over only to have to have Ely speed up his powerful machine and elude him. Stagg finally forced him over by locking his fender with him and pushing him to the side of the road in Mahwah. Stagg brought him before Judge Rodgers who was going to send him to jail. But Ely pleaded and the Judge let him off with the highest fine that the law allows, $100, which was paid in cash on the spt. (Bristow) |
1935-05-21 | Recreation | Boy Scout Troop 50 of Mahwah , New Jersey had a busy weekend. On Friday night they gave a demonstration of scout skills to their sponsoring organization, the Mahwah American legion Past. They gave signaling, first aid, fire building and pioneering demonstrations. The height of the evening was a boxing demonstration between Frances Hackett and Jack Ackerson. On Saturday, the troop went on an overnight hike to Sheppard Pond. They were led by Scoutmaster Douglas O'Brien. Those who went included Hackett and Ackerson, James Hackett, Bernard Meier, and three scouts who were to be among 12 12 Mahwah residents who were to die in service during World War II: Hilton Mabie, Myron Merill and Sibley Reid. On their return, the scouts began the annual Poppy sale in honor of those who had been wounded in service during the First World War or were unemployed. (Bristow) |
1956-05-21 | Transportation | Among those paying fines at the magistrate's court in its regular Monday night session were: S. Senick of Paterson and Albert Mann Jr. who admitted that they had underestimated the height of the Route 202 railway bridge at the Suffern Border and had wedged their truck under it, They each paid $10 fines and $5 court costs for careless driving. (Bristow) |
1900-05-22 | Transportation | The Erie Railroad began to run its passenger trains on the new outside tracks. The inside tracks are reserved for freight trains. Great care should be taken to be sure that you are on the right track. A permanent pipe fence will be erected to divide the passengers from the freight tracks. (Bristow) |
1901-05-22 | Real Estate | The Van Horn Farm was sold to William Van Horn Jr. for $6,3000. An additional $400 was paid for 200 acres of mountain land. A recent auction of the farm was unsuccessful as no bid reached the reserve price. (Bristow) |
1908-05-22 | Crime | The Mahwah Board of Education has offered a $10 reward for the conviction of those responsible for breaking the windows in the Mahwah School House recently. (Bristow) |
1922-05-22 | Real Estate | Henry O. Havemeyer has joined the suit against what is being called locally as the "Bayonne Water Grab", the plan to dam the Ramapo River as a reservoir for that refinery city. Havemeyer contends that no adequate system of compensation has been developed and that sewage and drainage in the upper Ramapo Valley makes the water unfit for drinking. (Bristow) |
1934-05-22 | Education | The sixth grade class from the Cragmere school spent the day in New York City. Through the influence of Mrs. Louise Albrecht, one of the class mothers, the students were given a tour of the passenger liner "Hamburg". They spent the afternoon at the Metropolitan Museum of Art where they were guided through the Egyptian Wing and the Armor Room as part of their class studies of mummies and armor. In addition to Mrs. Albrecht, Mrs. Ralph Seberry, Mrs. James Foster, Roy Green and R.N. Wanamaker provided transportation in their cars for the trip. (Bristow) |
1935-05-22 | People | A lawsuit was filed in Newark by Mr. and Mrs. William Bowman of Suffern against Mr. and Mrs. Harry C. Twibell of Cragmere,. The Bowmans are asking $75,000 damages for injuries suffered by Mrs. Bowman when she was bitten by the Twibell's dog. The plaintiffs allege that the German police dog was allowed to run at large even though the Twibell's knew it to be of "vicious and ill propensities." They claim that Mrs. Bowman was attacked without warning and did nothing to provoke the dog. (Bristow) |
1940-05-22 | Recreation | In the audience for the weekly Fred Allen Show in New York City were Mrs. Oscar Dorbacker and Miss Ruth Baxter of Mahwah. All radio shows in those days were broadcast live since tape recording techniques were in their infancy. (Bristow) |
1897-05-23 | People | Mrs. Matilda Caroline Sands, widow of the late ex-governor Price, died at her home "Hazlewood-on-the Ramapo" after a long illness. She was buried in their family vault in the Mahwah Cemetery. (Bristow) |
1910-05-23 | Education | A total eclipse of the moon made this day the ideal one for viewing Halley's Comet. It has been visible after sunset most nigh, but the moon had dimmed the view of it. The Ramsey Journal newspaper urged all residents to take a look at it since it won't be back for 75 years. (Bristow) |
1915-05-23 | Recreation | Members of the Fardale Pleasure Club enjoyed a rare treat when a forfeit was attached to the result of a foot race between two members, Charles Morris and Norman Van Gelder. Then Van Gelder lost by a step, he was forced to carry Richard Morris one and a half miles by wheelbarrow. Each time he stopped to rest, four inches were cut off of his jeans. He was forced to make three stops. At each of these stops, excitement mounted as another four inches were cut from his pants. Many pictures were taken which will appear in the issue of the Fardale Flivver. (Bristow) |
1931-05-23 | Recreation | The committee in charge of the Saturday children's matinees at the Lafayette Theater in Suffern decided to cancel the show so that the children could watch the great air circus. Between 500 to 600 airplanes were expected to pass over from west toward New York City during the late morning. (Bristow) |
1934-05-23 | Charity | The Church Aid met at the home of Miss Long. In the absence of the President, Mrs. Albert winter presided. Mrs. Schorr described the recent trip which the club took to a laundry. $19.69 was raised on that occasion, bringing the treasury up to $165.92. The group decided to skip the meeting scheduled for June 27th. While they were at it, they skipped the July and the August meeting too. They did not decide to skip the strawberry festival slated for June 6th however, and an all-day sewing session to make aprons for the Fall sale was called for June 13th. (Bristow) |
1946-05-23 | Recreation | A charter to organize Post #7124 of the Veterans of Foreign Wars was granted. There were 66 names listed as duly qualified. (Bristow) |
1951-05-23 | Education | Mrs. Florence C. North, the principal of the Mahwah Schools, collapsed and died before medical aid could be obtained in her school. She had been over to the Betsy Ross school to attend a third grade play. She drove her car back to her own school and was entering her office at the Commodore Perry school when the heart attack hit her. Police Chief Smith happened to be at the school and he took her to Good Samaritan Hospital in the police car, but it was too late. She had been a teacher and principal in the Mahwah schools for 31 years. She was the first principal of Betsy Ross School when it opened in 1931 and had been named Supervising Principal of all Mahwah schools only five weeks before her death. |
1956-05-23 | People | Mr. Edward A. Pagels of Mahwah was promoted to the rank of Brigadier General in the United States Army Reserve. He had been a Field Artillery Officer for 22 years, including six years of active duty during the Second World War. He served overseas in North Africa, India, Burma and China. In India he was on the staff of General Stillwell and served with Merrill's Marauders in Burma. He was later the chief of psychological warfare for the entire China theater and at the end of the war, he was the highest ranking U.S. officer in North China. In civilian life, he headed his own engineering firm in New York City. He was an active Mason and shiner, a trustee of the Ramapo Reformed Church and a member of the Mahwah Township School Board. (Bristow) |
1910-05-24 | Government | Mr. Cook is working on taking the census and reports that he is nearly through. (Bristow) |
1940-05-24 | Education | It was the field trip season in school number 7, Cragmere. Grade Four went on a tour of the Sheffield Farms. Grade Five spent the day in New York City visiting the Museum of Natural History and the Hayden Planetarium. For some of the students it was their first visit to New York City and going over the George Washington Bridge and through the Lincoln Tunnel. Grade Six, as a part of their study of the Renaissance, spent the morning in the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the afternoon at the Cloisters. (Bristow) |
1956-05-24 | Real Estate | An editorial in the Ramsey Journal newspaper protested the misuse of Campgaw Park. It had been set aside as a nature preserve, but no sooner than it had been established, when the U.S. Army took over part of the area for a NIKE base. Now the Army is intending to expand the base by taking more parkland. This was particularly disturbing, according to the editorial, since the Air Force had admitted that the NIKE missiles could probably not be able to shoot down enemy bombers before they could drop their bombs in the area. In addition, the Ridgewood YMCA has announced plans to run a permanent day camp of 300 acres within the Park. Citizens were urged to fight to replace the politically appointed Park Commissioners with ones more concerned about preserving the environment. (Bristow) |
1966-05-24 | Government | At the Township Committee meeting, notification was given that the American Civil Liberties Union was suing the Township and Police Chief Smith over enforcement of the new ordinances regulating peddling. Seymour Goldstaub, the ACLU lawyer for this area, had warned of this action at the public hearing held on the new ordinance. The Township Committee decided to confer with Goldstaub to determine what minor modifications in the ordinance might be made to avoid the lawsuit. (Bristow) |
1966-05-24 | Transportation | Letters were sent to all Mahwah Township voters urging them to attend the public hearing on the proposed Interstate Route 287 route through Mahwah and voice their disapproval. Mayor James Hackett said that the route, which would create a "Great Wall of China" dividing the Township into two, must not be allowed to go through through indifference. The Township Committee indicated that they would seek a meeting with Governor Richard E. Hughes and with the United States Secretary of Commerce which has jurisdiction over the Bureau of Public Roads. The public hearing is scheduled for June 23, 1966. (Bristow) |
1966-05-24 | Police | The Mahwah Township Committee adopted a new salary scale for the Police Force. It ranged from a starting salary of $5,500 through $8,00 for a sergeant, $9,000 for captain and $10,500 for Chief. (Bristow) |
1907-05-25 | Government | The new Mahwah Township dog ordinance provides for the appointment of a Dog Warden. Any dog found at large without a securely fashioned wire or leather muzzle can be captured by any citizen and delivered to the Warden. There is a $2.00 fee to redeem such dogs. (Bristow) |
1918-05-25 | Transportation | Another serious accident was barely averted at Miller Road and Franklin Turnpike. Red Cross nurses were taking collections at the corner from passing motorists. A delivery vehicle stopped to make a contribution and a light car behind it smashed into it. The second car had a crushed fender, headlight and a shattered wind shield. Only a moment later, John Winter, who was sweeping up the broken glass in the road, was nearly struck by another speeding auto. (Bristow) |
1918-05-25 | Charity | The Red Cross Fund Campaign is over with our Chapter once more having fulfilled its quota. The national quota was $100,000,000 to be raised in one week. The Chapter quota was $20,000 which is a remarkable figure coming so soon after the Third Liberty Loan Campaign. Elmer J. Snow was chairman of the Mahwah campaign, a great sacrifice for him as he had done the same for the Liberty Loan Campaign. Allendale, Saddle River and Waldwick also exceeded their quotas. (Bristow) |
1934-05-25 | Recreation | There was the usual variety in local movie fare this week. The Lafayette Theater in Suffern had "Sadie McKee", which starred Joan Crawford as a femme fatal. She had previously played reserved ingenue parts. Here she was cast as a torch-singing vaudeville headliner. Another film involving a singing plot followed later in the week. It was the first National film ever shown at the theater "Twenty Million Sweethearts". In it Dick Powell plays a singing waiter who wants to be a radio crooner. Also featured ware Ginger Rogers and the Mills Brothers. Another version of a familiar plot was the vehicle for Constance Bennett in "Moulin Rouge". She was cast as a stage struck wife of a play write, who led a double life as Raquel, a notorious artiste in the famous Paris night spot. If all of this musical stuff was too much for you, there was always "The Black Cat" at the warner theater in Ridgewood. This starred both Boris Karloff and Bela Lugosi as recently released prisoners of war out to get revenge on the world for their sufferings. Of course the second feature on the double bill was "Finishing School" with Frances Dee, Billie Burke and, again, Ginger Rogers. (Bristow) |
1940-05-25 | Recreation | Boy Scout Troop 50 of Mahwah was the winner of the treasure hunt put on by the Ramapo District in the mountains in back of Havemeyer's. Forty-eight scouts and five leaders from six troops took part in the hunt which called on woodcraft and other scout skills. The prize was a keg filled with 360 chocolate bars. Scout Troop 56 of Oakland took second place. Other troops taking part were Troop 54 in Hohokus, Troop 135 of Saddle River and Troops 31 and 131 of Ramsey. The pleasure of the day was spoiled somewhat when several of the Saddle River scouts became separated from their group and got lost. It was after eight o'clock before they were located and brought home. (Bristow) |
1892-05-26 | People | Clara Amanda Snow, daughter of William Wait Snow, the founder of what was later to be called the Abex Corporation, was married in Hillburn, NY to her cousin Elmer J. Snow, then the machine shop foreman of the Ramapo Wheel and Foundry Company. He was later to supervise the construction of the Mahwah plant and be the General Superintendent of the Brake Shoe Corporation. (Bristow) |
1927-05-26 | Fire Department | Work was progressing rapidly on the installation of fire hydrants in the Mahwah Township. No Mahwah home would be more than 800 feet from a fire hydrant, this reducing the risk of fire damage considerably, it was announced. (Bristow) |
1939-05-26 | Religion | A crowd of about 150 members and guests attended the silver anniversary banquet of Z.R.R.K., which is the Polish Roman Catholic Society, in the Polish Hall On Island Road in Mahwah. The local group had been founded on January 11, 1914 by the late John Kosko. It had 34 members at the time and had grown to 140 at the time of the anniversary. Ten original members still resided in Mahwah and were still members: John Zembryski Sr. and Jr., William Radecki, Roam Dombrowski, Antoni Temporowski, William Suleski, Rose Temporowski, Antoni Zaczot, and Konstanty Temporowski. The group chartered itself with the Immaculate Heart of Mary Church in 1917. Among the honored guests was John M. Weber, the Director of the Polish Roman Catholic Union who came up from Baltimore for the event. The Union was founded in 1873 and had 18,000,000 members nationwide. (Bristow) |
1946-05-26 | Crime | Police connected a series of crimes with the escape of two youths from the Warwick, NY Reformatory on Saturday, May 25th. Willian Mann, the operator of a service station on Route 17, reported that his 1932 Chevrolet sedan had been stolen from his driveway sometime between 2 and 9 in the morning. Meanwhile, Patrolman Thomas Wilson found an abandoned car along the highway. It was out of gas and had a flat tire. It proved to have been stolen from a Chester man who lives close to Warwick, NY. Leo Woody, proprietor of a small roadside stand along the highway reported that a window had been broken and some peanuts stolen. Police surmised that the two New York City youths had abandoned the Chester car when they got the flat tire. They walked a short way down the road, stolen the peanuts and continued on their way with the stolen Mann car. The police sent out a state-wide alarm. Later the Mann's car was recovered by the Fort Lee Police. (Bristow) |
1951-05-26 | People | Billy Dator celebrated his eighth birthday with a supper party at his home. He obviously had not developed any tolerance for girls since all eleven guests were boys. (Bristow) |
1896-05-27 | Religion | The Young People's Christian Endeavor from seven towns met at the Ramapo Reformed Church to organize the Ramapo Valley Local Union of Christian Endeavor. Societies from Ramsey, Darlington, Mahwah, Suffern, Hillburn, and Tallman were present. The Rev. Carleton Bannister was elected President; David Hopper was elected Vice-President; Mrs. Jeannie E. Sweet is Secretary; and Mr. Sutherland is the Treasurer. The next meeting will take place in Hillburn. (Bristow) |
1907-05-27 | Recreation | Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show appeared in Paterson with Cody guaranteed to be at every performance. The show included what was claimed to be the original train and cars which took part in the "great Train Robbery" and some of the posse who originally had sought the robbers. The engine was paraded through the streets of Paterson on the way to the exhibition grounds. (Bristow) |
1910-05-27 | People | Halley's comet ceases to be an object of interest. Now there is no excuse for staying out late at night. (Bristow) |
1916-05-27 | Transportation | A motorist who was either racing the trolley or ignoring the warning signal, lost control of his car on the Turnpike. It tipped up on two wheels, leaning against Mr. Wanamaker's wall. which prevented it from plunging down the embankment. The rear of the car blocked the trolley tracks, holding up traffic for over an hour until the car could be removed. No injuries were reported to the driver and only minor damage to the auto. (Bristow) |
1933-05-27 | Recreation | Edward Monroe dominated the Scout Troop 50 track meet that was held at the Ramsey High School field by winning all six events. Wilbur Heartwell was second in the 50 yard dash, half mile, shot put and the running broad jump. Howard Peirano was second in the standing broad jump and Dana Knowlton too second in the running high jump. Lloyd Salling was a consistent last in all but the shot put, where he finished next to last (Bristow) |
1937-05-27 | Fire Department | A barn fire on Franklin Turnpike brought out about forty fireman from both Mahwah Fire Companies early in the morning. The dry old structure stood opposite Warhol's garage. The firemen had no chance to save it. It burned to the ground in about thirty minutes. It had formerly belonged to the late Julius Babcock of Mahwah, but was the property of David J. Carroll of Ramsey at the time of the fire. (Bristow) |
1939-05-27 | People | After dodging cars for 35 years in the automobile business, Frank J. Rothaupt stepped out of his driveway only to be struck by a bicycle ridden by Steward Swan, 13, of Hillside Avenue. The boy was only slightly injured, but his bicycle was destroyed and Rothaupt was resting comfortably in the Good Samaritan Hospital with a broken cheekbone and a variety of cuts and scratches. The auto dealer remarked "Even near your own door, you don't know what will hit you. I'm glad it wasn't one of my cars." (Bristow) |
1951-05-27 | Religion | Over 200 parishioners and friends gathered at the Immaculate Heart of Mary Church to celebrate the 25th Anniversary of the ordination of their pastor, the Rev. Joseph Haluch. After a solemn High Mass celebrated by a number of distinguished prelates, a turkey dinner was served to the congregation. Julia Keri presented him with a silver basket of 25 American Beauty roses on behalf of the parochial school children. He also received a replica of the pillow he had received at his ordination at the New Rochelle Seminary from Betty Ann Doescher of the school. Father Haluch had served the Mahwah congregation for five years. (Bristow) |
1898-05-28 | Transportation | A special meeting of the Township Committee was held to consider the Erie's Railroad plans to alter the crossing at the Depot. The railroad is going to four tracks and proposes raising the tracks and constructing an underpass high enough to permit wagons to pass. Mr. John Petry was the only objector. He says his business, located at the crossing, will suffer. Everyone else welcomed the greater safety afforded by the underpass. The entire cost will be borne by the railroad with the Township to control how it is to be spent. (Bristow) |
1900-05-28 | A partial eclipse of the Sun saw the skies darken perceptibly. The next eclipse will not take place until 1925. (Bristow) | |
1909-05-28 | Education | The voters of the Township considered the building of two new schools at the Town Hall in Mahwah. The first proposition was for a new building in Campgaw to replace the one abandoned a year or so ago. There is some opposition to this proposal since the about 30 students have been attending in Ramsey at a cost of less than the salary of a teacher alone without considering the cost of the building. The other school is a new one for the children living on the mountain. They have been attending what has been called the "Ledge School" in the private home of the artist Mr. Wheaton near the NY/NJ State line in back of Suffern. The authorization is for $25 for a lot and $1,315 for the building and maintenance of the school. It is hoped that both schools will be open in time for the Fall term. (Bristow) |
1921-05-28 | Business | All records for cars passing on the Franklin Turnpike were broken on Saturday. One observer recorded the following makes of cars: Cadillacs, Chalmers and Chevrolets, Fiats and Franklins, Lincolns and Lafayettes, Marmons and Mercers, Nashes and Nationals, Overlands and Oaklands, Pierce Arrow, Peerless, Pages and Packards, Studebakers and Stutzes. One motorist who went away for the weekend and returned to Hohokus, said that he had seen 997 cars. (Bristow) |
1921-05-28 | Government | Dr. Farrar's sermon at the Ramapo Reformed Church highlighted the plight of ex-servicemen. Many find their wartime service makes it harder to get a job. They refuse to wear their discharge button because it attracts abuse. (Bristow) |
1922-05-28 | Religion | The Congregation of the Green Mountain Chapel is planning to build across the street from the Greek Catholic Church on Island Road. The Greek Church building looks greatly improved with its new coat of stucco. (Bristow) |
1927-05-28 | Fire Department | Assistant Foreman of the Mahwah Fire Department was interviewed at the fire which destroyed the Mahwah Inn. he declared, "If the Township had fire hydrants, the record of the Fire Department in not having lost a fire in over three years would still be unbroken." Two houses were totally destroyed that year because of the lack of water, repreorted. (Bristow) |
1927-05-28 | Disasters | Fire destroyed the Mahwah Inn in Cragmere. The Alarm was sounded about 4:30 and the Mahwah Fire Department responded quickly, but high winds made a call for outside assistance necessary. The Ramsey and the Suffern fire companies responded, but a shortage of water made operations difficult. When Mahwah relayed to Suffern, it was possible to draw water from Lake Oweno and confine the flames to in inn. Repeatedly the fire spread to the roof of the Snow garage next door and it might have caught the house as well had the firemen not fought the blaze so tenaciously. One Suffern fireman was injured severely in the leg. When the blaze was brought under control, only the rear chimneys still stood. Nothing was saved of the interior furnishings and the occupants were said to have been lucky to have escaped with their lives. Mrs. Miller and several maids had arrived early in the morning to clean the inn in preparation for the Decoration Day business. They burned some rubbish in one of the fireplaces and fire officials presumed that the flames had gotten into the roof shingles where their extreme dryness and the high winds fanned the blaze. In addition to the inn, all the beautiful trees and the shrubbery of which the institution was famous for were destroyed. The Ramsey Journal newspaper suggested that all owners of public accommodations look into replacing their dry wooden shingles with fire-proof ones to avoid a similar tragedy. (Bristow) |
1934-05-28 | Crime | The trial of Warren A. Ackerman for embezzlement of Township tax revenues was postponed at the request of his lawyer. The prosecutor had made further charges against him and had him re-arrested. He was specifically charged, this time with stealing $1,100. A total of about $12,000 of the tax funds in his care as Collector of Taxes for the Township was missing. Charges connected with the remainder of the money were to be made later when officials had more time to untangle the accounts. Ackerman's wife, Ella, who was also indicted in the case, was to be tried later. Ackerman had served two terms as the Hohokus Township tax collector. He was employed by a large new York City bank, but was dismissed when the charges were made known. (Bristow) |
1943-05-28 | Police | The license plate number on an ordinary "B" gas ration coupon was worth $150.00 to a Utica motorist according to Hohokus Township Police Chef Charles E. Smith. The former state trooper was notified when Mrs. Leona La Belle reported that she had left her pocketbook with that sum in the rest room of the Orsek Brothers diner and gas station on Route 17 at about 10:30pm. After she and her husband had driven only a few miles, she remembered that she had left the pocketbook in the station rest room. When the LaBelles returned, it was gone. In the meantime, a car driven by Cocky Tulgarien of Monroe, NY had also stopped for gas and his woman companion had visited the same restroom. The service station attendant called the Mahwah police and Police Chief Smith, a former State Trooper, had the answer in a moment. He took the license number from the back of the coupon and notified the New York State Troopers at Monroe. The missing pocketbook was recovered from Tulgarien. He claimed that his friend had only taken it for safe keeping. (Bristow) |
1875-05-29 | Education | Dr. Acker advertised a public lecture on physiology and heath. When only a dozen people showed up, he refunded their ten cent admission charge and gave a free lecture. *Bristow) |
1940-05-29 | People | The Mahwah Rod and Gun Club formed a special committee to combat any possible "Fifth Column" activity in town. The term "Fifth Column" was coined during the Spanish Civil War. When General Mola was asked which of his four columns would capture Madrid, he was reported to reply that it would be a Fifth Column of Nationists. Mr. Sherow was chosen to head the group. The club also announced that they were to receive seed from the state which will be planted to provide food for the birds. |
1940-05-29 | Charity | While British soldiers were still being evacuated from the beaches of Dunkirk, a local unit of the British War Relief Association was being formed in Mahwah. The aim of the group was to relieve human suffering in Britain and France especially through hospitals or other humanitarian organizations approved by the parent organization. Mrs. Stephen Biddle was the President. Many well known people from Mahwah and Suffern were charter members. (Bristow) |
1943-05-29 | Recreation | Wartime gas shortages resulted in the cancellation of both the annual Memorial Day Golf Tournament and the Dance which traditionally followed it. Ted Vilord, Steward of the Golf Club, announced that many members were walking to the course and caddying for themselves. Some were coming on horseback or on bicycles., he reported. (Bristow) |
1956-05-29 | Education | The Mahwah Ambulance Corps participated in a statewide safety campaign during the Memorial Day holiday. Starting the night before, they patrolled Route 202 within the Township broadcasting safety messages over a loudspeaker. The experiment was to be continued during the July 4th and Labor Day holidays and accident statistics compared with previous years to assess the effectiveness of this sort of campaign. (Bristow) |
1913-05-30 | Recreation | Jesse Swan spent Decoration Day fishing at Mombasha Lake and came home with 62 perch. (Bristow) |
1916-05-30 | Fire Department | Mahwah's Fire Department's new auto fire truck was delivered. It is being kept in James DeVine's barn. It is a great addition to our fire fighting equipment. (Bristow) |
1916-05-30 | Recreation | The men's doubles tennis tournament held at the Houvenkopf Country Club was won by the team of Joseph of Cragmere and Dr. Caryle P. Hussey of Suffern after a stiff battle. A number of automobile parties from Mahwah and Cragmere attended the event. (Bristow) |
1918-05-30 | Government | Memorial Day services were arranged by a committee composed of Howard F. Holman, Chairman, Willian F. King, Frank Schorr, Charles Mabie, and E.M. Keys. The Women's Committee consists of Mrs. E. J. Snow, Mrs. Albert Winter and Mrs. F. M. Waterman. The Militia Reserve Company participated, there was a short patriotic play given by the school children and the usual speeches. The graves of the 42 veterans buried in the Mahwah Cemetery were decorated and a wreath placed below the Honor Roll of Mahwah men who are on active duty service in the Post Office window. (Bristow) |
1921-05-30 | Government | At the Memorial Day services, Legion Commander Charles E. Ellis recalled Memorial Day in 1917 when the Mahwah Home Defense of 192 men had participated. Later of these 102 (there is some confusion here since both figures are given), 62 entered the military service and two were killed in action, three wounded and one decorated for valor. An address was given by the Rev. Van Orden of Ramsey, who served in France with the First Division. The Boy scouts drilled and the Girl Scouts decorated the graves of the dead. (Bristow) |
1922-05-30 | Government | At Memorial Day Services at the school, the principal speaker was the former New York City Police Commissioner Colonel Arthur Woode. Mrs. John Grimm sang "Trees". The words are by former Mahwah resident Joyce Kilmer who gave his life during the war. The Girl Scouts performed exercises to music and the Boy Scouts gave a bicycle drill and a semaphore demonstration. The Jr. O.U.A.M. presented a large flag to the town. Captain Snow was the master of ceremonies. (Bristow) |
1923-05-30 | Government | Mahwah's War Memorial was dedicated in impressive ceremonies at Station Park. The line of march gathered at the Legion meeting place and included cars bearing the families of John P. Fromm and Edward Konight, Mahwah's war heroes, nine members of the John P. Jenkins Post, G.A.R. including Mr. Mann, their color bearer, the Hillburn Band, the John P. Fromm Post of the American Legion, the Women's Auxiliary of the Suffern Legion Post, Boy and Girl Scouts and the school children. Before an audience that was estimated at 300, the Honorable Randolph Perkins, the featured speaker of the day, urged Americans to be always ready to defend our Constitution and institutions. Mrs. Fromm and Mrs. Konight unveiled the new monument. Services followed in the Mahwah Cemetery, where Adjunct Hart of the GAR read the Gettysburg Address. After returning to Station Park, a large delegation including the firing squads, motored to the Airmont Cemetery for ceremonies over the grave of Edward Knight and Abram R. Doyle. The entire day was under the direction of the Mahwah Post of the American Legion. (Bristow) |
1935-05-30 | Government | Many different organization participated in the annual Memorial Day services held at the monument in the park and at local cemeteries. The speakers included the Rev. Simpson who gave the invocation and the Rev. Domanovitch of the Immaculate Heart of Mary Church who gave the benediction. Post Commander and Police Chief Smith, former Commander, now the Bergen County Commander, Charles V. Bacon and Mrs. Marion Booth Kelly, a Mahwah resident and nationally known orator and Scoutmaster Douglas O'Brien, were the speakers for the day. Assistant Scoutmaster Bernhardt Meier sounded taps. A profusion of floral tributes, contributed by town residents, were placed on the grave of the veterans of all wars by the Girl and the Boy Scouts. (Bristow) |
1956-05-30 | Government | A record crowd witnessed the Memorial Day services conducted by the Veterans of Foreign Wars. The major speakers were Mayor Charles Feldmann and VFW District Commander William Drobesh. A firing squad from the NIKE missile base fired salutes at the three war memorials, at the Immaculate Heart of Mary Church, across from Commodore Perry school and in the Station Park. (Bristow) |
1875-05-31 | Agriculture | Abram W. Litchult reminded his old patrons and the public in general that now that the strawberry season was in full swing, he would be at the Ramsey freight station every night to receive and ship produce to the market. Everything would be shipped to 248 Fulton street, between Washington and West Streets in the city promptly. (Bristow) |
1910-05-31 | Religion | In a special reception at the Ramapo Reformed Church Lecture Hall, the congregation was introduced to Adelia Dykema, the pastor's new bride. The couple has just returned from their wedding trip. The room was gaily decorated and a large attendance proved the success of the occasion. (Bristow) |
1922-05-31 | People | Emerson McMillan, for years a resident of Darlington, died after a long illness. He was 79 years old. He had a stroke a few months ago and during the winter months a severe cold developed into pneumonia which proved to be too much for his weakened constitution. He was born in Ohio. He considered himself a self-made man and made do with four hours of sleep a night. He was a civil engineer for a time and was a stockholder in public utilities companies. He made weekly and even daily trips to his New York City banking business from his home in Darlington. That home was the Crocker mansion which he bought on the death of the California millionaire George Crocker. (Bristow) |
1924-05-31 | Crime | One girlfriend friend too many landed Archie Reed in the County jail after threatening two people with his revolver. Reed, who was described in The Bergen Record newspaper as being the caretaker of an estate, invited his new girlfriend to his room. Suddenly, his old girlfriend appeared on the scene. He apparently flaunted his new love to the old flame. She became enraged and a shouting match ensued. Eventually he pulled his revolver and drove her away. Instead of going home, she told the revolver story to Mahwah policeman R.F. Dator. When Dator arrived on the scene, Reed again pulled the revolver and a struggle ensued. Dator subdued the 27 year old Reed and took him to jail awaiting a hearing on the gun charge. According to the account, his 19 year old new girlfriend also landed in jail for carrying a concealed weapon. Reed had given her the revolver and she had flourished it in the face of her predecessor in Reed's affections. No shots were fired during all of this. (Bristow) |
1933-05-31 | Education | At the School Board meeting, the total enrollment in the District's five schools was reported as 535 with an average daily attendance of 481. The Superintendent reported that he had visited the Mountain School twice during the month, the Fardale School eight times, Darlington ten times and the Mahwah and Cragmere schools every day they were open. All of the teachers contracts have been signed and returned except for Mr. Forte. The clerk was instructed to send him a letter stating that if he had not returned the contract within ten days, it would be withdrawn. (Bristow) |
1939-05-31 | Crime | Michael Sumaczewski of Reich Street, Mahwah was fined $3 and $2 court costs in police court for firing his shotgun in town. Evidence in this case indicated that he was mad at a cat which had wounded a child and then scratched him in the hand. He lasted away killing the cat, but also hitting a neighbor across the street slightly in the arm. Mrs. Mary Maglia called the police and complained that he was drunk. Recorder Frank Young imposed the lightest penalty since this was the first case that had ever come before him of violating the firearm ordinance. (Bristow) |
1946-05-31 | Education | The graduating eighth graders of the Mahwah schools went on a tour of the Ramsey High School. They were led by the Principal Mr. Moore and by the guidance counselor Mrs. Stewart. They visited all parts of the school and saw many programs actually in operation. They were escorted by eighth grade teachers Mrs. Elmann and Mr. Holman. (Bristow) |
1965-05-31 | Crime | A complicated series of chases from Tuxedo to Mahwah ended in the arrest of four young men on charges of carrying out three robberies. Two Suffern youths and one each from Spring Valley and Mahwah were arrested in connection with a robbery at the Red Apple Motel in Tuxedo and accused of taking part in holdups at the home of Murray DeCamp on Valley Road and at the Bel-Air Motel in Upper Saddle River. The Red Apple Motel was held uo early in the Morning. When the perpetrators got less than they had expected, they took the night clerk, Robert Reed as a hostage. When they ran the getaway car into a ditch, they forced him to help them push the car back onto the road. In the confusion, he escaped even though several shots were fired at him. He called the police. Two of the men were questioned by Tuxedo Police Chief Sam Mottola when they were stopped by a flat tire. They pulled a gun on him and escaped into the woods. Meanwhile, another of the accused stole a 1955 Pontiac and attempted to flee. When he attempted to run a roadblock in Hillburn, he crashed his car against a tree near The Motel on the Mountain. He also escaped into the woods. An extensive manhunt followed with as many as forty local police and state troopers involved. Eventually all four were rounded up. The two Suffern boys were sent to the county jail in New City and the other two ended up in the Bergen County jail in Hackensack. A variety of charges were filed against the four young men. (Bristow) |
1905-06-01 | Transportation | The new state automobile code went into effect. Hailed by the Automobile Club of America as enlightened, it forbids using the highway as a race course or to set a speed record. It sets the state speed limit of 30 miles per hour. (Bristow) |
1912-06-01 | People | Miss Helen Whritner of Cragmere Park was married to U. S. Army Lieutenant Francis Henry Miles of Fort Hancock in a military wedding at Christ Church in Suffern. After a reception at the bride's home the couple left on their honeymoon. The groom must report for duty at Benrica Arsenal, California on June 20th. (Bristow) |
1919-06-01 | Government | The Government Biological Survey has completed a bird survey of the Wyanokie Plateau near Greenwood Lake. Eighteen naturalists identified 77 species and 1,622 nesting pairs. Wood warblers: 21 species; oven bird: 274 pairs; black and white warblers: 85 pairs; Redstart: 84 pairs; Vireos were the next highest: red eyes: 210 pairs, scarlet tanager: 75 pairs. (Bristow) |
1924-06-01 | People | Mahwah was shaken to hear of the death of a member of the Board of Education, Sherman D. Powell. He had gone to the garage of his house on Armour Road to clean his revolver. Suddenly the weapon fired and the bullet struck Powell in the chest just below the heart. County physician Dr. Ogden entered on the death certificate death from a hemorrhage of the heart. He said that death was instantaneous. Powell was 44 years old. (Bristow) |
1926-06-01 | Recreation | The grounds of the Sesquicentennial exhibition in Philadelphia, marking the anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, opened on time. The New Jersey building and grounds were reported to be particularly beautiful. Several local groups were planning visits to the exhibition during the summer. (Bristow) |
1926-06-01 | Crime | When Judge Price returned to his home from a business trip he discovered that his house had been robbed. He immediately notified Chief Dator, indicating that he suspected a young man who worked for him. It had been reported that the teenager had been seen boarding a trolley in the direction of Paterson. He was later traced to Ridgewood where he had changed trolleys for one to New York. Chief Dator sent one of his deputies, Roy Monroe, to Arcola Park to watch for the suspect. Dator headed for New York City. On a chance he stopped at Palisades Amusement Park in case he had stopped there for a bit of fun. In a short time he discovered the young fellow at a shooting gallery and arrested him. When he was searched he was found to be carrying $1,455 in stolen money and jewelry, and a 32-calibre revolver, all belonging to the Judge. He was taken to Hackensack and held pending a grand jury hearing. Judge Price expressed great satisfaction at the quick action taken by Chief Dator and the return of his property. (Bristow) |
1931-06-01 | People | The Ramapo Reformed Church hailed the June graduates from the congregation. These included, except for those in the local school, Katherine Grimm from the Girls' School in Allendale, J. Willard Holman from Blair Academy, Howard F. Holman, Dartmouth College, Powell Lincoln, Harvard University, William E. Simpson, Rutgers, Theda L. Simpson, Englewood Hospital Nurses' Training, and Molly Smith and Theodore Salter from Ramsey High School. (Bristow) |
1937-06-01 | People | George Trumbower and his mother Mrs. Werner Trumbower went down to Floyd Bennett Field. He flew a plane from there over New York City and Mahwah. He circled over the homes of many of his friends in Cragmere. Some of them recognized him and saluted him as he flew over. (Bristow) |
1943-06-01 | Military | Signalman 3rd Class Jesse Beers Jr. arrived at his parents' home on Oweno Rd. for the three day pass. The son of Mr. and Mrs. J. F. Beers had been on convoy duty in the North Atlantic. He had enlisted in the Navy on September 4, 1942 and had taken visual communication training at the Navy Signal School in Butler, MO after boot camp training at Great Lakes Naval Training Station. He was a graduate of Lehigh University. His brother, Demarest was at medical school at Columbia University and had been accepted for the service, as well as another brother who was scheduled to enter the service on July 1st after V-12 training. (Bristow) |
1943-06-01 | Education | The Eighth grade of the Mahwah School visited Ramsey High School. Because of the ban on driving the group left on the 8:30 train and returned on the train at about 12:00 noon. The entire class took and passed a standard First Aid Course and were to receive their cards at the class day exercises. (Bristow) |
1946-06-01 | Charity | A campaign to help starving people began in Mahwah. Forty-seven women under the chairmanship of Mrs. Inez Hallenbeck were distributing collection boxes throughout the Township. Food was being collected in stores and the post office. In addition coin boxes containing the words "the Unseen Guest" were being sent to every home to stand on the dining room table as a silent reminder of how much fortunate Americans were than those in the lands devastated by the recent war. The campaign, sponsored by the United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Agency (UNRRA) was to last until June 15th. (Bristow) |
1958-06-01 | Religion | Dedication of the new school and parish center of Immaculate Heart of Mary Church. (Bristow) |
1875-06-02 | Business | The baker in Ramsey reduced the price of a loaf of bread to nine cents. Most people at the time would rather bake bread at home than pay such an outrageous price. (Bristow) |
1897-06-02 | Education | It was announced that the average annual cost per pupil of maintaining the Public Schools in Bergen County is $15.03, the highest in the state. (Bristow) |
1908-06-02 | Transportation | A new trolley line from Paterson to Suffern has been announced. Malcolm R. McAdoo, President of the North Jersey Rapid Transit Company announced that the organization has a capital stock of $1,000,000. It plans a route which will parallel the Erie tracks through Mahwah which will cost $40,000 per mile or about $600,000 for the 15 miles. This will leave $400,000 for rolling stock, power, and maintenance. The fare from Suffern to Paterson is expected to be 15 cents. The previously announced route from Paterson to New York City will also be built. Since the line will be built on private right of way Mr. McAdoo claimed that the new service will be practically an airline, running at high speeds. (Bristow) |
1921-06-02 | Religion | So effective has Dr. Farrar's work in the pulpit of the Ramapo Reformed Church been that at the quarterly communion service 36 persons united with the Church, 16 by letter and 20 by confession of faith. These new members represent 7 different denominations. (Bristow) |
1924-06-02 | Real Estate | New proprietors were the rule of the day. A new lessee took over the Mahwah Inn. The new operators were said to have promised to make it an "up-to-date place". Mrs. Alonso Pauson rented the Moffat house on Island Road. She announced that she would take on boarders. She pointed out that the house was convenient both to the depot and to the school. Finally, the latest of a series of new managers took over the "Eastern Store". He was said to be the 5th or 6th new manager since the first of the year. (Bristow) |
1933-06-02 | Recreation | The excellent financial condition of the Woman's Club was evident by the report of its treasurer. The recent plant sale had netted $33 and other fund raising efforts from the previous month brought in another $20.75. The group donated $10 to the Boy Scouts to be used as the Scoutmaster, Douglas O'Brian, saw fit, but decided not to act on a suggestion that they subscribe to an organization which provided speakers on international relations for $5 a year. Their big plan for the year was to install a kitchenette in the Town Hall. (Bristow) |
1935-06-02 | Transportation | A monumental traffic jam developed on this, the first real weekend of the summer when hundreds of cars came down the newly completed sections of Route 2 from New York State, passed the Country Club and into the traffic circle in Ramsey and funneled into the Franklin Turnpike seeking to rejoin the new highway at Hohokus. Local residents reported a solid line of cars throughout the entire stretch of the Turnpike, much of the time not moving at all. By about 8:30 conditions got so bad that Chief Smith began to divert some of the traffic down North Central Avenue. Marshall James Van Benschoten was on duty at the corner of N. Central and Main Street from 8-11 PM handling the diverted traffic. Ramsey, Allendale, Waldwick, and Hohokus bore the brunt of the congestion which thinned out when the completed section of the new road was reached. Local residents said that perhaps the previous Fourth of July could equal it. (Bristow) |
1937-06-02 | People | The fame of Mrs. J. A. Biggs as a gardener was very much in evidence this week. She served as a judge at the Allendale Flower Show on the 29th, hosted the Garden Department of the River Edge Woman's Club in a tour of her personal garden on the 1st, and was again a judge at the Radburn Garden Club Flower Show on the 2nd. (Bristow) |
1943-06-02 | People | Mollie King of Mahwah, a student at Fairleigh Dickinson Junior College in Rutherford won 4th prize in a national poster contest. The competition had been sponsored by the California Latham Foundation. Miss King was a student of Constance Boulard of the College Art Department. (Bristow) |
1951-06-02 | Charity | Among the items donated for the country auction at the Ramapo Reformed Church were 50 gallons of oil by Sam Braen & Co., a cord of wood jointly from Raymond F. Dator and Albert J. Winter and Sons, handyman service for two days by William Fisher, and butler service for a dinner or cocktail party donated by Thomas Hickman and Ronald Estabrook. Home made pies and cakes were sold by the Church Aid Society. (Bristow) |
1954-06-02 | People | Among the graduates at ceremonies at the State University Maritime College at Fort Schyler was David Oaksmith Jr., the son of Mrs. and Mrs. David Oaksmith of Maysenger Rd. Perhaps the most notable experiences during his four years at the college was the three cruises on the Empire State, the college's training ship. In addition to visiting Florida and Bermuda, the cadets visited many of the countries of western Europe. Among the places visited were Britain, Denmark, Greece, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, and Spain, including the Belearic Islands. (Bristow) |
1965-06-02 | Education | Thomas Olenchak presented his painting "Duck Feeders at Winter's Pond" to the Mahwah PTA. The group announced that it would be awarded to the holder of the lucky ticket at the annual Elementary PTA "Salute to the Teachers" dinner. The ticket sales were to benefit the Thunderbird Scholarship Fund. In addition to the drawing and a buffet dinner, the June 11th event featured folk singing by Chet Marron of Ramsey. (Bristow) |
1875-06-03 | People | George Berdan of Ramsey had an accident on the way to work. One of the boards fell out of the bottom of his wagon and he was thrown to the ground. According to the reporter from the Bergen County Democrat, "before he could realize his situation the horse was a full fifty yards away going at a 1:10 gait". The horse finally stopped running after half a mile when he reached "the old homestead". (Bristow) |
1916-06-03 | People | Mrs. Martin Litchult of Masonicus was taken to Paterson General Hospital for an operation for cancer. (Bristow) |
1918-06-03 | Government | First Street, State Street, and Jersey Ave. in the west ward are receiving free mail delivery along with Suffern. (Bristow) |
1926-06-03 | Education | "Madri Italiani Per la Salute dei Bambini" read the headline in the Ramsey Journal. An Italian language appeal appeared on page one of the paper announcing that the Ramsey PTA was participating in a national campaign to "secure perfect health for each child before their enrollment in school". Parents were urged to have their children's eyesight, hearing, teeth, heart, and blood tested before the opening of school in the fall. Families were fortunate to have the cooperation of the school authorities, especially "Signor Tisdale, Signorine Miller Richardson", the school nurses, and were advised to bring their children to Miss Richardson's office in "l'edifizio 'High School'" for a free medical checkup. Any correctable defects could be cured during the summer months so that the children would be prepared to fully take advantage of "L'Instruzione intellectual" when school opened in September. The English language appeal which preceded the Italian message was quite different in wording. The first examinations were to take place on Saturday, June 5th. The National PTA hoped that inadequate parents would be as disreputable as quack doctors and shyster lawyers. (Bristow) |
1927-06-03 | People | "Bob" Dunning was reported to have been seen studying "Bridge in Ten Lessons" since he was dealt a hand containing 13 spades and got so flustered he bid seven no trump. The Ramsey Journal suggested he stick to pinochle. (Bristow) |
1927-06-03 | Real Estate | Land for the Holy Spirit Byzantine Catholic Church in Mahwah purchased. (Bristow) |
1930-06-03 | Crime | Mahwah Police Chief Smith got a tip through Mrs. Devine that there might be a still in Masonicus. She said that her informant thought it was located in a barn at Dubenezics'. He went at 9:00 PM to investigate and found a beer bottling plant concealed in the barn. He arrested Alfred Fox of Ridgewood. He called Lieutenant Allen in Englewood to report the find. County Detective Murphy and Frazier arrived at 12:30 AM to take over the case. He got home at 1:30 from a day that had begun at 8:00 AM with a complaint about a stray dog on Christie Avenue. (Bristow) |
1937-06-03 | Business | A new business in town was the Mona Beauty Shop which opened in the old post office at the corner of Miller Road and Railroad Avenue. (Bristow) |
1939-06-03 | Food and Drink | The final event of the Girl Scouts was an outing at Sunset Lake, Mahwah. The group was divided into three groups for a contest in meal preparation and serving. Each bought, prepared, and served a meal to their group and an adult advisor, the winner being declared the group who could do this most deliciously and cheaply. The winning meal, consisting of Italian spaghetti, buttered rolls, fresh pineapple, cookies, and coca-cola cost only 20 cents per head. The second place meal consisted of hamburger, buttered rolls, fresh peas, potato chips, apples, cookies, and coca-cola cost 25 cents per person. (Bristow) |
1940-06-03 | Education | A variety of criticisms were leveled at the proposed auditorium and gym to be built next to the Mahwah School at the School Board meeting. The architect Edward W. Helms of Ridgewood explained its features, illustrating his points with lantern slides. There was considerable criticism about the size and nature of the stage. Helms said that much could be done with a curtain and side drops, but that these were not included in the basic contract price of $75,000. To a suggestion from the audience that wall and roof expense could be saved by putting the gym under the auditorium, Helms replied that state law prohibited the putting of a gym below ground level, and that the added cost of substantially stronger floor trusses would offset the savings. There were criticisms of the fact that folding chairs were to be used on the sloping floor. This was seen as unsafe in case of a fire or emergency. Others believed that the money could be better used to rehabilitate the existing facilities in the school. Still others complained that not enough consideration had been given to community groups who might wish to use the stage or gymnasium. The Board assured them that only a nominal fee of $5 would be charged to outside groups. R. F. Dator, local realtor, supported the project. He said he was ashamed to tell people considering moving to the community that there was no public auditorium or indoor recreation floor. Board President Havilah Smith urged the public to support the vote scheduled for June 24th. (Bristow) |
1940-06-03 | Education | The 5th grade at the Cragmere School had a special history lesson. Allen Ackerly brought in a flag which dated back to Civil War days. It had belonged to his great-grandfather, Mr. Sherwood, who had been appointed by President Lincoln to be Postmaster of Haverstraw, NY. The flag had been flown in Haverstraw to celebrate Union victories during the war. (Bristow) |
1954-06-03 | Government | The contract to build the guided missile bases in Mahwah and Franklin Lakes was awarded to a Hackensack firm. Tandy and Allen Construction Company won with a bid of $418,000. Two other bidders had offered to do the job for over $600,000 each. Construction included 25,000 cubic yards of excavation, the construction of roads, sanitary facilities, electric installations and water connections, and the topping of trees between the radar facility and the launching sites. The Nike base was to be located on property belonging to the Immaculate Conception Seminary in Mahwah on Campgaw Road. (Bristow) |
1901-06-04 | Education | At the Board of Education meeting Grant Smith, principal of the Mahwah School, demanded a raise in salary if he was to remain at the school. After consideration the Board asked for his resignation. They offered the post to Miss Nancy Wade, who had previously announced that she would not remain in the school without a raise. She will be paid $60.00 per month. (Bristow) |
1913-06-04 | People | Charles Kohler, owner of Ramapo Stock Farm and leading horse trainer, died in Paris. (Bristow) |
1916-06-04 | Religion | The Mahwah Church Evangelistic Campaign ended with a musical farewell service. Delegations from the churches of Hillburn and Suffern joined the Mahwah congregants. There was much happy singing. Two addresses were given, one by the Rev. White on yielding of self to Christ and the other by the Rev. Dykemo on prayer. A rising vote of thanks was given to the Episcopal Rev. White for his participation and as a token of esteem (He holds weekly services at the Cragmere Association Clubhouse.) This campaign began in April and has resulted in much good both spiritually and socially for the community. Many people returned to the church or joined it. All expenses have been met by voluntary contributions and $15 was donated to the Red Cross work in war stricken Europe. (Bristow) |
1922-06-04 | Religion | Anyone having records of the Ramapo Reformed Church is asked to volunteer them. There is talk of writing a history of the church and some of the records are missing. (Bristow) |
1927-06-04 | Recreation | Boy Scout Troop 50 completed a three month patrol contest with the newest patrol winning. The Rattlesnake Patrol under Arthur Eakins scored 829 points. The Beaver Patrol was second at 767 points, and the Flying Eagles had 444 points. Points were awarded for attendance, payment of dues, work on gardens, patrol good turns, baseball, advancement tests passed and the collection of tent caterpillar nests. In all over 3,000 caterpillar nests were destroyed during the patrol contest. The prize was an all day trip through the Brooklyn Navy Yard. In the contest for individual honors Eakins scored 224 points and won a scout knife. The second and third place winners, Scouts Rousch and Cisnek, got to accompany the winning patrol to Brooklyn. (Bristow) |
1933-06-04 | People | The Russell family, Mildred, Ruth Elizabeth, and their parents Dr. and Mrs. Franklin F. Russell left en route to Swarthmore College outside of Philadelphia. They were to attend the graduation exercises and Dr. Russell was to meet with the Rhodes Scholarship Committee of which he was a member. (Bristow) |
1935-06-04 | Police | Mahwah and Ramsey were baffled by the case of a Paterson girl who had been thrown out of a car and refused to talk about it. Officer Albert Schmidt and Mahwah Police Chief Charles E. Smith were summoned to the blinker light on Route 2 (now Route 17) in Mahwah just before midnight to find a girl, Betta Meinwitz, 18, of Paterson beside the road. They took her to the Good Samaritan Hospital where she was examined by Dr. Vernon L. Hawes. She was found to have bruises around the head caused by her being forced from the car. The Paterson Police had sent out an alarm on her since she had disappeared from her home at 3:00 PM the previous day. She remained in the hospital until picked up by her parents the next day, but she never revealed to anyone how she had come to be dumped in Mahwah. Chief Smith said that if she liked to spend her time being tossed out of cars and not talking about it she was in her rights. She was not charged. (Bristow) |
1940-06-04 | Education | The members of the 8th grade drew lots to determine seating arrangements for their families at graduation. Each graduate was to receive three tickets to the ceremony. Katherine Schultz and Gloria Sandberg continued as team leaders for girls' playground activities again this week. The week's activity was handball. The previous week they had played baseball. (Bristow) |
1946-06-04 | Recreation | Forty prospective members attended the first meeting of the new Mahwah Choral Society at the home of the Director J. Van Broderode on Oweno Road. Mr. Van Broderode had had many years experience in directing large choral groups. He asked anyone interested in good music to join in on the weekly meetings. Edward Hopper of Ridgewood was the accompanist for the Society. Plans for a concert, possibly early in the fall, were not ready to be announced. (Bristow) |
1957-06-04 | Crime | Edgar H. Smith was convicted of the March 4th slaying of Victoria Zielinski in a Fardale sand pit. (Bristow) |
1960-06-04 | Business | The Ramsey Cinema, closed since 1952, was reopened under new management. Bertill I. Calson leased the building and undertook extensive renovations before the opening. He announced that there would be children's matinees followed by continuous showings on weekends. During the week a double feature with the first film being repeated at the end would be the usual fare, or a single feature with selected short subjects shown twice. The theater had been constructed during the first World War and had changed hands a number of times in the interval. The first showing was a double feature of "A Visit to a Small Planet" and "A Touch of Larceny". (Bristow) |
1965-06-04 | Charity | The Fyke Nature Association donated $200 to the Nature Conservancy to help save the prairie chicken. This sum was enough for the Washington DC environmental group to purchase 1 1/2 acres of land in Texas used by the threatened birds as a breeding ground. Only about 1,000 of the Attwater Prairie Chickens were left, all in Texas. At one time they were prolific in New Jersey but had been eliminated in the east by the destruction of their breeding grounds. The Nature Conservancy was attempting to buy 2,500 acres in Colorado County, Texas. About one third of the needed $365,000 had been raised. In 1964 the local wildlife group had given $100 to help preserve The Great Swamp in Morris County, New Jersey. (Bristow) |
1916-06-05 | Education | The Bergen County schools tent caterpillar campaign has ended with a total of 215,397 nests destroyed. The Mahwah school received the $5 third prize in the contest for accounting for 23,160 nests. Allen Winter of Fardale eliminated 2,202 egg masses. He won 50 cents for his efforts. Darlington (4,467), Masonicus (3,397), and Fardale (2,200) also participated. (Bristow) |
1917-06-05 | Military | Registration Day was celebrated by parades and ceremonies in all local towns. The day had been declared a state holiday by Governor Edge. Town church and fire bells were rung and polling places opened early so that all men between 21 and 31 could enroll themselves. The day was also used to remind people of the Red Cross and Liberty Loan drives. (Nothing in the paper specifically about Mahwah, except that Mrs. E. J. Snow spoke in Ramsey urging women to come forward for war work. (Bristow) |
1917-06-05 | Military | Registration Day was celebrated by parades and ceremonies in all local towns. The day had been declared a state holiday by Governor Edge. Town church and fire bells were rung and polling places opened early so that all men between 21 and 31 could enroll themselves. The day was also used to remind people of the Red Cross and Liberty Loan drives. (Nothing in the paper specifically about Mahwah, except that Mrs. E. J. Snow spoke in Ramsey urging women to come forward for war work. (Bristow) |
1918-06-05 | Military | The second draft registration day for young men who became 21 since last year's registration included eight from Mahwah: Raymond Edwards Jr. Luther Henion Young Stanley Kwasnicki Gordon DeGroat George Suffern Martin Dickey Hamp Brown Albert Hoffman |
1924-06-05 | Recreation | In the "Mahwah" column in the Ramsey Journal an anonymous woman was purported to have taken time out from her pursuit of "the finer affairs of the town" to identify nearly sixty different species of birds "near her home this spring". Unfortunately there was no further identification of this early birder. (Bristow) |
1926-06-05 | People | Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Foster Kelley spent the weekend at the Mahwah Inn while their summer house on Owena Road was being opened for the season. (Does any reader know when the name of that Cragmere street changed from Owner to Oweno?) (Bristow) |
1926-06-05 | Recreation | The Do Good Club of the Fardale School took the trolley to Paterson to attend a play at the Fabian Theatre. They got two plays, "That's My Baby" and Al St. John in "Sky Bound" as well as an organ recital and a dancing exhibition to keep them entertained. They reported that they had laughed during the entire evening. There was no report as to how the organist might have responded if they had laughed during her or his performance as well as during the plays. (Bristow) |
1930-06-05 | Police | The Bear Mountain Police called Mahwah Police Chief Smith to ask if he wanted William Crossland. He had been accused of holding an illegal shooting match in Mahwah a few days earlier. Smith replied that he had heard nothing about any shooting match. The case was dropped and Crossland Released. (Bristow) |
1931-06-05 | People | Among the Mahwah residents who were graduated from colleges and universities this spring was William E. Simpson Jr., who received his B.S. in chemistry from Rutgers University. In addition to being an outstanding student academically he was president of his fraternity, manager, president, and leader of the Rutgers Band, a member of the YMCA Cabinet and Vice-President of the New Jersey State Council for Young People's Religious Education. He won a varsity letter in track and was President of the Spiked Shoe, the National Honorary Track Society. It was said of him, for some reason, that nobody found him with time on his hands. (His father was Pastor of the Reformed Church.) (Bristow) |
1940-06-05 | Education | County Superintendent of Schools R. R. Zimmermann visited Mahwah Schools Nos. 2, Mahwah, and 5, Darlington. In his report he urged the creation of a kindergarten program in School No. 2. Another year of what he called "progressive work" would give pupils "strength and inspiration" for their other eight years in grammar school. He placed great stress on the value of assembly programs as providing "an enlargement of interest, the development of appreciation, and at least the beginning of group behavior". He suggested the purchase of "victrola records" each year in both schools to strengthen the appreciation of music and stressed the importance of improvements in the lunch program. He ended his report by commending the teachers and the Supervising Principal Robert C. Fagan for their efforts "to build the foundations of good citizenship" and giving "pupils a bent toward the fulfillment of good useful lives". (Bristow) |
1940-06-05 | People | The Senior Prom at the Suffern High School Gymnasium was attended by a number of Mahwah young people. Going as guests of Suffern students were the Misses Barbara Seberry, Barbara and Nancy Walker, Dorothy Jake Keith, Evelyn Kelly, and Robert Mowery. (Bristow) |
1943-06-05 | Charity | The cafeteria supper planned by the Church Aid Society was cancelled because of gas rationing. Members were urged to hold informal parties and teas during the summer as a fund raiser for the group. (Bristow) |
1791-06-06 | People | Peter Light (Leydt), pastor of Mahwah, New Hempsted, and Ponds Dutch Reformed Churches makes out his will. (Bristow) |
1899-06-06 | Education | At the regular meeting of the Board of Education Mr. G. G. Grant and Miss Nancy M. Wade were reappointed to teach in School No. 2 (Mahwah), and Miss Helen Kutchlin in School No. 5 (Riverdale). Miss Adelaide Carpenter (Darlington) has resigned and Miss Crawford (Masonicus) may also resign, both because of poor health, so these two schools have no teachers for next year. Contracts were awarded for painting the three schools, George Doremus for Masonicus, and M. F. Montross for the other two schools. (Bristow) |
1923-06-06 | Recreation | The Mahwah Girl Scouts have organized a basketball team. They practice on Wednesdays under the direction of coach Scout Jeanie Wrathal. On Saturdays they go hiking, mountain climbing, or picnicking. They have been working on three badges. Mrs. Drake has been helping the Scouts with the milliner's badge. Mrs. Petri directs the work of the needlewoman's badge. Mrs. Biggs is in charge of the gardening work. The Scouts have planted beans, radishes, lettuce, and other garden vegetables. The Second patrol has made curtains for the Scout room. (Bristow) |
1923-06-06 | People | Two Mahwah residents were graduated from Princeton. Melvin Lane will enter Harvard Law School in the Fall and Robert Ball will return to Princeton for post-graduate study. (Bristow) |
1930-06-06 | Police | The intersection of Miller Road and Franklin Turnpike was the scene of another accident. Mr. D. Bowie was stopped at the light at Miller when Frances Kane of Suffern turned too wide onto Miller from the Turnpike and struck Bowie's car in the side. Kane backed his car away and kept going. Bowie pursued him and stopped him in Suffern. Mahwah Police Chief Smith went to Suffern and gave him a subpoena to appear the next night before Judge Price. (Bristow) |
1937-06-06 | Religion | The Holy Communion service at the Ramapo Reformed Church was the last official service presided over by Rev. William Simpson. He was taking an indefinite leave of absence from his fifteen-year pastorate because of ill health. The service was also the occasion of the induction of the congregation's "new" officers. Elders Millard Cooper, David Hopper, and Albert Winter, and deacons Raymond F. Brainard, Norman H. Sherow, and Samuel C. White. Of these six men only White was new. He replaced William F. Furman who resigned because of his poor health prevented him from attending meetings. (Bristow) |
1937-06-06 | People | The summer season got off to a good start at Camp No-Be-Bo-Sco with the annual father and son weekend. Charles Bartholf accompanied James and Francis Hackett, Ralph Valentine attended with Assistant Scout Master Bernhardt Meyer, Oscar Frauson joined his sons Bobby and Billy, and Harry Mabie roughed it with his son Hilton. (Bristow) |
1943-06-06 | Food and Drink | Home canners needing sugar were instructed to use sugar coupons number 15 and 16. Each was worth five pounds. Canners needing more than ten pounds would have to apply directly to their local ration board. (Bristow) |
1965-06-06 | Education | The Board of Education of the Northern Highlands Regional High School was so elated at the progress being made toward the completion of their new building that they voted that they would o longer need to rent space in the Mahwah High School campus. They toured the new plant on May 22nd with the architects, the contractors, and the clerk of the works. (Bristow) |
1966-06-06 | Education | Less than ten residents attended the public hearing to consider additions to the Joyce Kilmer and George Washington Elementary Schools. This was part of the second stage of the masterplan already adopted for the schools. It called for a ten-room addition to Kilmer at a cost of $439,700 and a smaller addition of four classrooms, a large playroom and teacher's facilities at a cost of $360,000 at George Washington. Superintendent Bishop estimated that the new expenditures would add six or seven cents to the tax rate. The alternative to approval of the changes would be double or triple sessions, Board President Louis Urban contended. No one in attendance expressed any disapproval of the plan. (Bristow) |
1978-06-06 | Fire Department | A parade of 20 neighboring Fire Companies marked the 20th anniversary of Fire Company No. 2. (Bristow) |
1820-06-07 | People | Abraham Hopper, who farmed the Laroe-Van Horn farmstead for 16 years, died. He is buried in Ramapo Reformed Churchyard. (Bristow) |
1894-06-07 | People | Former Governor and Congressman R. M. Price died at his home "Hazelwood-on-the-Ramapo" in Mahwah of stomach cancer. (Bristow) |
1899-06-07 | Agriculture | The thermometer reached an official 97 today. It has been the hottest June in the 29 year history of the Weather Bureau. There has been so little rain that the strawberries are cooking in the fields. (Bristow) |
1900-06-07 | Transportation | The most elegant train ever seen on the Erie transported the guests through town from Tuxedo to New York for the wedding of Miss Crocker and Mrs. Harrison. It consisted of seven fully vestibuled Pullman cars. (Bristow) |
1902-06-07 | Government | The Mt. Prospect Water Company was given thirty days to post $5,000 and begin laying water mains or the Town Board would revoke their franchise. (Bristow) |
1902-06-07 | Transportation | The Town Board resolved to contract with the Rockland Electric Company for street lights. Those in Mahwah would be "at new bridge at Blacksmith Shop; Turnpike Road near the old Price place; Lemp's Corner, at the head of the road leading to the underground crossing at the Turnpike. (Bristow) |
1908-06-07 | Religion | The Ramapo Reformed Church sanctuary was once more in use after its three-year redecoration. Mr. Christmas of Tallman, the summer organist, demonstrated the new organ and the Pastor, Rev. Walter L. Mains reviewed the redecoration work. The work has improved the church both materially and spiritually. An ice cream strawberry festival will be given on the 17th to help pay for the brass rail and curtain in the new choir loft. (Bristow) |
1937-06-07 | Fire Department | Thirty-two members of the West Mahwah Fire Department were present when Dr. F. M. Kaelber was given an honorary membership in the organization. Hose Company Number 2 was going to be very busy on July 5th, since they had agreed to appear in the Suffern Independence Day parade in the morning and the Ramsey parade in the afternoon. The meeting was held in the Warhol Club room. (Bristow) |
1939-06-07 | Recreation | Twenty-two members of the Junior Woman's Club, including Mrs. John R. Grimm, their honorary member, attended a dinner and theater party in New York City. The group met for dinner at The Woodstock Hotel and then divided, one group attending "Abe Lincoln in Illinois" and the other "No Time for Comedy" with Katherine Cornell. (Bristow) |
1940-06-07 | People | Janet Stuart of Winter Street returned home from her freshman year at Converse College. After the close of school she and her roommate had travelled to Florida with her grandparents and then motored up from Florida to home. (Bristow) |
1956-06-07 | Business | According to a report made to the Township Committee at its regular meeting by Preston C. Shimmer the State Public Health Engineer, noise on the Erie spur to the Ford plant has been cut in half since October. Readings had been taken between 1:00 and 3:00 AM by sound recorder and the sound of the cars coupling were so soft as almost not to register on the meter. Several local residents disagreed with the report. The Erie is to be asked to plant two rows of evergreen trees along the spur to muffle the noise. A complaint that excessive smoke had been emitted by the Brake Shoe Factory was referred to Plant Superintendent Morris Ruddick for action, reported Health Office Wiley. (Bristow) |
1965-06-07 | People | Andrew Mann of Mill Street Ramapo died following a brief illness. He was born in Hillburn in 1882 and had returned to Ramapo after spending some time with his son Otto on Hillburn Mountain Road. He had retired from his job as watchman. Funeral services were held at the Wanamaker & Carlough funeral home and presided over by the Rev. Edward Smith. His wife Mary was believed to have died in 1925. He was survived by another son Paige Mann and three daughters, Mrs. Margaret De Freese, Mrs. Merika Van Dunk, and Mrs. Mabel Boddy, all of Mahwah. There were 58 grandchildren and an undetermined number of great-grandchildren. (Bristow) |
1980-06-07 | Recreation | Troop 50 of the Boy Scouts celebrated their 60th anniversary with a Camporee and ceremonies. Two charter members attended, Dick Heidgerd and John MacDougall. (Bristow) |
1653-06-08 | People | Blandina Kiersted, first owner of property in Mahwah, was baptized. She later married Peter Bayard, nephew of Peter Stuyvesant. (Bristow) |
1871-06-08 | Crime | Wesley Waldron was committed to the County Jail in Hackensack for an assault on his wife and child. The warrant was sworn to by "Squire" Storm on Hohokus Township. He could not make bail. (Bristow) |
1918-06-08 | Transportation | Tarvia* was spread on Miller Road, the block around the Park, and part of Ramapo Avenue to the school. The Township Committee considers itself lucky since war time regulations include a government ban on the non-military use of such substances. The Committee was later asked to try to secure some more to cover Ramapo Ave. from the school to Havermeyer Rd. because of the heavy traffic. (Bristow) *a viscid substance used to bind road surfaces trademark--Dictionary JWB |
1927-06-08 | Government | In his Flag Day message Governor Moore asked that flags be displayed for a week in honor of the 150th anniversary of the adoption of the flag and to honor Colonel Charles Lindbergh's flight across the Atlantic. The flag was officially proclaimed June 14, 1777. Governor Moore saluted Lindbergh as "the most daring and outstanding air navigator of modern times" and said his flight "will go down in history as one of the most outstanding achievements in the history of the world". The Governor pointed out that Washington's army was in camp at Camp Middlebrook, Bound Brook, when the flag was proclaimed, thus linking New Jersey most closely to adoption of the flag. (Bristow) |
1937-06-08 | Recreation | A familiar title among the recent additions to the Library's collection was Zane Grey's latest American frontier novel "West of the Pecos". It did not quite rival the sales of "Riders of the Purple Sage" which had appeared in 1912, but it swelled his sales totals, which were said to have reached about 11 million copies. His stories had been translated into twenty languages. A less familiar title which he was to publish later in the year was "An American Angler in Australia", evidence of his sincere love of fishing. He had only turned to writing when his dentistry practice had proved a failure. (Bristow) |
1940-06-08 | People | Michael J. Deehan, 37 of Darlington Rd. Mahwah, was severely injured in an auto accident on Valley Road. He reported that he was blinded by the headlights of an approaching car and swerved into a tree. He was thrown against the windshield and received severe lacerations of the head and hand. His car was severely bashed in on the right side. The condition of the tree was not reported. (Bristow) |
1940-06-08 | People | Mr. and Mrs. Garritt Zwart celebrated Mrs. Zwart's birthday by a visit to the World's Fair. The Zwarts planned to leave their Hillside Ave. home to spend the summer in Vermont after the Suffern High School graduation, where Mr. Zwart was a science teach. (Bristow) |
1940-06-08 | Recreation | The twentieth anniversary of Boy Scout Troop 50 was celebrated by an all night Scouteree held at Sunset Lake. All of the troops in the Ramapo District were invited to participate in a series of contests, testing scout skills, softball games, and the District Court of Awards. Mahwah Neighborhood Commissioner William Fisher, assisted by members of the Troop Committee, made the arrangements for the celebration. Members of the Ramsey Sea Scout Ship acted as judges of many of the events. (Bristow) |
1941-06-08 | Sports | A phone call to Cragmere 3890 would get you Mrs. Stephen Biddle, Mahwah Chairman of a series of polo matches to be held at the Ramapo Valley Polo Club in Tallman on two successive Sundays. The tickets were $1 each, $2 for the series, including a possible playoff on June 22nd if necessary. The matches were being held to aid British War Relief. (Bristow) |
1954-06-08 | Education | Another round in the continuing battle between the Board of Education and its Superintendent, Dr. Roy Austin was fought out at the Board meeting. Frederick W. Branea, the Field Director of the New Jersey Education Association informed the Board that they would support Austin in the coming hearing before the State Commissioner of Education. The NJEA maintained that since the Board did not formally accept Austin's resignation on April 12th or during a thirty day period after that date the provisions of the tenure law went into effect and Austin could not be removed. The Board's attorney John Warhol Jr. contended that by actively seeking a new Superintendent the Board had made an implied acceptance of the resignation. Austin had since withdrawn the resignation and was prepared to fight for his position. Board President Cyrus M. Tibballs III recalled that when the resignation had been presented he had called for a formal motion of acceptance. None had been made at the time, he claimed. Warhol also stated that since Austin's contract permitted either side to terminate the contract unilaterally no formal action by the Board was necessary. The Board proceeded to vote to terminate Austin's services on the spot, but the NJEA representative said that this was not a valid action as they would contend at the formal hearing in two weeks. (Bristow) |
1956-06-08 | People | Among recent local graduates was Dennis Kievit. He was graduated from New Hampton Prep School, New Hampton, NH. He planned to enter the University of Miami to study engineering in the fall. (Bristow) |
1956-06-08 | People | Eighteen residents of Mahwah and surrounding areas were honored at a ceremony for their work at the West Mahwah Community Center. Among those honored were Mrs Janet Herlihy, Township Committeewoman for interracial cooperation, School Principals Dan Lamberti and Mrs. Renee Buhlman, and School Superintendent Roy S. Austin for their work in integrating the school and community, Mrs. Vera Storms for the mental health program, Gussie Wallis, Otto Mann, and Louise Green of the Stag Hill Civic League, Florence De Freese and Alice Burrs for the housing program, and the Rev. George Mann, Rev. Harold Thompson, and Rev. Edward Jones for their religious leadership in the community. Dr. Lester Rounds of Suffern was honored as were Hillburn residents Mrs. Bella Perry for Girls Club work, Mrs. Harvey Coleman, PTA, Marion Van Dunk, NAACP, and Benjamin Powell Jr., Ungava Club. Fifteen June graduates of the Mahwah and Suffern High Schools were also honored at the dance. (Bristow) |
1965-06-08 | Real Estate | The rapid expansion of developments continued in Mahwah as the Planning Board approved section 7 of the Scotch Hills development in Masonicus. The houses in the new section would sell for $37,000 to $45,000 and would raise the number of homes in Scotch Hills to 71. There were only a few questions asked by neighbors in the Masonicus area concerning roads, and no overt opposition to the decision. The Board also approved a major development in Fardale for Otto Jahn but deferred a decision on approval for another development off Vail Place and Campgaw Road pending receipt of the final map. (Bristow) |
1871-06-09 | Agriculture | The drought has ruined the early strawberry crop. Not only has the fruit been damaged but the plants as well. (Bristow) |
1909-06-09 | Transportation | The three commissioners appointed to decide the question of the allocation of the debt for the macadamizing of Franklin Turnpike, Judges Wendall J. Wright, Guy C. Fake, and Cornelius Doremus have recommended to Judge Demerest the division be the same as for all the other debts: 31% for the Borough of Ramsey and 69% for the Township of Hohokus. (Bristow) |
1923-06-09 | Recreation | Mrs. Winter reported that the Library now has 3,597 books. Subscriptions have been obtained for two radio magazines in addition to the many periodicals the Library already receives. Mrs. Simpson, the Pastor's wife, is in charge of the children's hour, Tuesdays at 3:00. The reading class will not meet again until fall. The Club voted $50 to the Library book fund. (Bristow) |
1926-06-09 | Charity | The Church Aid Society met at the home of Mrs. Irving Brown. The nineteen members present enjoyed some songs by Mrs. Schoonmaker, a few piano selections by Mrs. Schultz, and the reading of one of Dean Brown's sermons. (Bristow) |
1935-06-09 | Crime | Detectives arrested Stinson Powell at his home in Hackensack on the charge that he had escaped in 1927 from a North Carolina chain gang. He had been convicted of second degree murder and sentenced to twenty years. At the time of his escape he had only 4 months to serve. After his escape he had married a Hackensack woman and had been working at the Road Department in Ramsey. He was being held in the Hackensack jail without bail, waiting for extradition back to North Caroline. (Bristow) |
1937-06-09 | Sports | "Skip" Wrathall requested that some civic minded person donate the use of a vacant field for softball playing. He had volunteered to organize recreation activities for the community during the summer. For a few weeks Albert Winter had allowed one of his pastures in Darlington to be used for this purpose, but he reluctantly announced that he needed the field for pasturage. Wrathall, in making the appeal, said that the Township was the only one in the area without a community playing field. Mahwah needed a playing field. He implied that the Township Committee should get busy and create one. (Bristow) |
1941-06-09 | Police | Recorder J. Frank Young decided to seek a ruling from higher authorities in the case of a California man. He had been arrested on Memorial Day and charged with not having a valid driver's license. The driver, David Paul of Los Angeles, said he had a valid California driver's license. But Chief Smith said that the reciprocity laws permitted only drivers from New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania to drive in each other's states. Paul was driving a car belonging to a New York City friend with whom he was staying. Judge Young said that the New Jersey Motor Vehicle code did not deal with a case like this specifically, so he reserved judgement. Paul posted a $7 bail pending the decision. (Bristow) |
1946-06-09 | Business | A dinner was held honoring the 33 Brake Shoe employees who completed a 19-week training program at the Mahwah plant. Through lectures and discussion the employees were to increase their general understanding of how the foundry worked and broaden their knowledge beyond their own individual tasks. Lectures were given by T. J. Wood, the Plant Superintendent, and various departmental managers, A. J. Dietrich, Mr. Wood's Assistant, and George Watson of the metallurgical department. The speakers at the dinner were Scott Fraula, Assistant to the President of the Brake Shoe, and Horace Dean, Vice President of the Castings Division, who congratulated the men for showing much interest in the work to spend two hours per week after work. It was hoped that many more Mahwah employees would take a similar course to be offered in the fall. (Bristow) |
1946-06-09 | Military | William R. Brennan telephoned his parents to say that instead of coming home he had reenlisted. He had served for two and a half years, two years overseas during and since the war. He had served in the infantry during the Italian campaign. He was the holder of a combat Infantry badge and the Purple Heart three times for his wounds. He had been transferred to the Air Force and had served in France since the war ended. He was on his way to Clover Field, New Mexico, and expected to be assigned to the Pacific theater. (Bristow) |
1954-06-09 | Transportation | State Highway Commissioner Dwight Palmer announced plans for making Route 17 a divided highway between the Ramsey Circle and the New York State line in Hillburn. State authorities were convinced that the high volume of traffic on the three lane road contributed heavily to the high fatalities there. According to state statistics more than 12,750 cars and trucks used the stretch every day. This was 7% more than in 1953, Palmer reported. Many head-on collisions had taken place on the straight section of the highway between Ramapo Avenue and the Ramsey border. Palmer said that state authorities expected even more traffic on Route 17 when the Ford plant was in operation and the New York State Thruway intersection was completed at Suffern. Plans called for a six lane highway with a wide safety strip in the center. The first section to be constructed was to be the 1-1/10 mile section between Hillburn and the Rampo River, with a second bridge across the Ramapo River at Hillburn Road. Later the section between the River and the Ramsey Circle was to be constructed. This section would include bridges over Valley Road and the Erie Railroad. Ramapo Avenue, Spring Street, and North Central Avenue (Island Road) were to cross the road on bridges as well. The existing bridges at Ramapo Avenue and over the railroad would have to be widened. The others were new. Traffic flow locally was expected to be much improved. (Bristow) |
1966-06-09 | Transportation | Walter Dale appealed to the Township Committee to build bicycle trails along local roads. There were 56,000,000 bicycles in the US and few places where they could be safely ridden, he pointed out. He suggested that bike trails be built along one side of new streets and sidewalks on the other. Mayor James Hackett supported the idea of bike trails and suggested Winter's Park as a place to start. The Board decided to send a letter to the County Freeholders suggesting they build bike trails in the County parks. (Bristow) |
1776-06-10 | Crime | The New York Gazette reported that the house of the widow Catherine Shrout in Ramapough, NJ had been robbed and afterwards burned to the ground. There was no indication of who had done this or whether they were ever caught. (Bristow) |
1875-06-10 | Education | A spelling bee was held at the Ramsey School. Ten pupils were able to spell all of the 66 words asked. Twenty-four of Professor T. Lewis Strong's scholars received certificates for their punctuality, diligence, correct deportment, and progress in studies, as the term ended in the Ramsey Institute. The pupils were given a two week vacation to work in the strawberry fields. (Bristow) |
1875-06-10 | People | The Bergen County Democrat reported that Lawyer DeBaun had appeared in town disguised. It was said that he was at first thought to be a tramp until it was discovered that he had been to a barber in Paterson and had his beard shaved off. (Bristow) |
1892-06-10 | Disasters | The 7-year-old daughter of John Van Horn was killed by a train crossing the Erie railroad tracks at Suffern. The funeral was at the Methodist Church on the 12th. (Bristow) |
1899-06-10 | Transportation | The surveyors of the highway met to determine the exact location of the new railroad underpass at the Depot. Mr. Rysdpk, lawyer for Mr. Petry, appeared before Judge Zabriskie to get a court order to stop the proceedings. Mr. Petry maintains the underpass will ruin his business. He claims there are several others who agree with him who did not sign the petition. The Judge refused to intervene, and after several hours the surveyors announced their decision: the road will pass through A. J. Winter's fuel shed, cross the RR at right angles under a 30' bridge, and join the main road near the blacksmith shop. Roads will be built on each side of the tracks, one to Winter's store and the other to Petry's. The Depot will be moved further south and improved. The tracks will be elevated about 4 feet. (Bristow) |
1908-06-10 | Government | The final division of assets between the Township of Hohokus and the new Borough of Ramsey was reached at a joint meeting. The total valuation of property in the Township was set at $1,101,767.50 while that of the Borough was $492, 572.50. Thus 31% of the assets and liabilities go to Ramsey, the other 69% to the Township. The question of the indebtedness for macadamizing the roads has not been decided. One side maintains that since more of the macadamized roads are in Ramsey the Borough should pay a larger proportion of the accumulated debt. Others say that the indebtedness was assumed by the whole Township and should be divided accordingly. It was finally resolved in the usual 31% and 69% formula. (Bristow) |
1916-06-10 | People | A surprise farewell party was given by Mr. and Mrs. F. V. H. Winter for the popular young Fardale teacher Miss Florence Grider. The party first gathered at the home of Mae Worris and then proceeded to Myrll Winter's home where Miss Grider lives. She was completely surprised. There was music, dancing, games, and songs. A beautiful Fardale pennant was given to her as a farewell gift. (Bristow) |
1922-06-10 | People | The wedding of Olive Louise Snow to Prentice D. Ash took place at the bride's home "Aloha". The wedding was held on the lawn at 7:30 PM. Several hundred guests attended. The Rev. C. M. Ackerman of the Hillburn Presyterian Church presided. A reception with dancing at a specially constructed pavilion followed. The bride is the daughter of Elmer and Clara Snow, and her father is the Superintendent of the Brake Show Corporation in Mahwah. She is a 1921 graduate of Smith College. John B. Snow of Niagara Falls, the bride's brother, was best man. Mrs. John B. Snow was matron of honor. Mildred Snow Gleason was a ribbon girl. The groom is the son of Dr. and Mrs. Charles Frederick Ash of 192 Columbia Heights, Brooklyn. He is a graduate of MIT and his Chi Phi fraternity brothers acted as ushers. The couple have built a Dutch Colonial house and will live in Mahwah. |
1927-06-10 | Fire Department | At the monthly meeting of the Fire Department much time was spent discussing the lessons learned from the fire which had destroyed the Mahwah Inn on May 28th. The shortage of water was a crucial problem. This was expected to be relieved when the new fire hydrants are completely installed. Crowd control was a major problem at the fire as well. Spectators crowded around the firemen disrupting their work and cutting off the water supply by driving their automobiles over the fire hoses. Chief Scherer appointed five police whose duty would be to keep spectators back at future fires. (Bristow) |
1927-06-10 | Transportation | White safety lines were painted on Franklin Turnpike, much to the satisfaction of Cragmere residents. The traffic on the heavily travelled road had been oblivious to the fact that many cars enter the roadway from the side streets leading out of the Park. Attention then turned to getting some of the shrubbery cut back on the turns in the road so that motorists could see ahead of them. (Bristow) |
1937-06-10 | Crime | A Darlington Road resident was convicted of assault and battery charges in the Hackensack Court of Judge Lloyd Schroeder. The charges stemmed from a family dispute. An argument between a woman and her father over his failure to pay his room rent awakened the woman's husband at 1:30 AM. The wife has accused her parent of spending too much. The in-law threatened him with a hammer and hit him with what he called a "high swift right" and broke and older man's jaw. The judge refused to allow the wife to withdraw her charges against her husband. The convicted man was released on $600 bail awaiting sentencing later. (Bristow) |
1943-06-10 | Military | Ski Trooper Robert Frausen, son of Mr. and Mrs. Oscar Frauson of Franklin Turnpike returned home on leave and described the training methods of one of the Army's newest units. He had been training at Camp Hale with the 10th Army Division under the tutelage of some of the most famous ski instructors in the US, many of them Swiss and Austrians, he related in an interview with a reporter from the Ramsey Journal. Even though they trained at temperatures of 35 to 40 degrees below zero, sunburn lotion and sunglasses were part of their regular equipment. They often spent the night in the snow by constructing snow huts, heated only by their own body warmth. All clothes and even their canteens had to be taken into their sleeping bags at night to prevent them from being frozen. He said he had chosen the ski troops because he had developed a great love of skiing and the outdoors as a member of Mahwah's Troop 50. (Bristow) |
1954-06-10 | Business | Shostak Motors, the De Soto and Plymouth dealer on Chestnut Street in Suffern, featured used cars in their ad in the Ramsey Journal that week. In addition to what they claimed were original owner 1952 Plymouths and a 1948 Willys Jeep station wagon for which no prices were quoted, they had specials on two pre-war cars. There was a 1940 Hudson for $125.00 and a 1940 Ford for $64.98. There was no information as to condition or model. (Bristow) |
1894-06-11 | People | The funeral of ex-Governor Price was held at the Ramapo Reformed Church. He had been born on November 5, 1816. In the funeral oration it was recalled that he had served on the flagship of Commodor Sloat and personally persuaded him to raise the flag over Monterey and claim California for the United States when the Mexican War broke out. He was a delegate to the first California Constitutional Convention in August 1849. He was elected to the 32nd Congress in Bergen and surrounding counties. He was particularly interested in education. When he was elected Governor of New Jersey in 1854 he founded the Normal School and has been called the "father of the public school system of New Jersey". He helped create the first Life Saving Station in New Jersey. Attending the funeral were Governor Werts and ex-Governor Abbett. A relative of General Fremont placed a withered fern on the casket that Ex-Governor Price had placed on Fremont's casket. |
1904-06-11 | People | Mrs. Harriet Quackenbush, wife of Judge John Quackenbush, died. She was born in Paterson 75 years ago and had been married for 59 years. Of her four children three had already died and she had been particularly depressed by the death of her daughter Charity less than one month ago. (Bristow) |
1920-06-11 | Recreation | Boy Scout Troop 50 formed under the sponsorship of the Women's Club. E. C. Lane was Scoutmaster. (Bristow) |
1921-06-11 | Recreation | At the American Legion Field Day a team of 10 boys had a tug of war with 12 girls. The girls "pulled the boys all over the field". Among the winners were: running broad jump (boys under 17): A. Winter; obstacle race for Boy Scouts: Daily Bugg. For the girls events Sally Cooley won three events, the standing broad jump, the horse race, and the 60 yard dash. Henrietta Winter won the basketball throw. (Bristow) |
1926-06-11 | Recreation | Those who attended the performance of "The Night Cry" at the Lafayette Theater in Suffern doubly enjoyed the show. Not only did they get to see "Rin-Tin-Tin at his best", but they were contributing part of their fifty cents admission charge to help beautify the station park. They also got to see a Pathe newsreel and a comedy "Hay Foot, Straw Foot". Of course they could have taken the train to Paterson and seen Colleen Moore in Ella Conders, or the "throbbing, tempestuous romance 'Torrent'" starring Greta Garbo and Ricard Cortez, or "Sea Horses" with Jack Holt and Florence Vador at the Playhouse in Ridgewood, instead. (Bristow) |
1927-06-11 | People | Mr. and Mrs. Leslie R. Rounds entertained a literary celebrity over the weekend. Their guest, Miriam Ott Munsch, was a member of the Poetry Society of America and the League of American Penwomen. (Bristow) |
1927-06-11 | Fire Department | The Ramsey Fire Department received a $100 check from Elmer J. Snow of Mahwah for their dedicated efforts to save his house during the fire which destroyed the Mahwah Inn on May 28th. Chief George Hicks accepted the donation with gratitude. It is not often that the efforts of our volunteer firemen are so tangibly recognized. Too frequently their efforts are taken for granted, the Ramsey Journal observed. (Bristow) |
1931-06-11 | Education | A very full day was enjoyed by the 7th grade of the Mahwah school on a field trip to New York City. They visited Riverside Church, Grant's Tomb, the American Museum of Natural History, and the ducks in Central Park before lunch, the Daily News Building, and the Statue of Liberty in the afternoon. They returned home via the Holland Tunnel. The 26 students were accompanied by Miss Gates and Mrs. Dewsnap. (Bristow) |
1931-06-11 | Business | The Mart, "The Miracle Store of New Jersey" in Paterson, advertised a dress sale. Rayon and cotton styles were $1.45 each. Silk prints began at $2.45, and silk suits were expensive at $4.45 each. They were claimed to be copied from higher priced models and to be priced "within the reach of every woman's purse". (Bristow) |
1935-06-11 | Education | All Ramsey School District teachers appeared before President John Y. Dator, a notary public, to swear to support the Constitution and Government of the United States. A charge that there were a number of "Reds" in the State who should not have been allowed to teach without such an oath led the Legislature to pass legislation requiring the loyalty oath. (Bristow) |
1937-06-11 | Charity | Despite the rainy weather the annual meeting of the Mahwah Women's Club succeeded in providing a showcase for the achievements of the group during the year. Because of the rain it was held in the Town Hall instead of the ground of Mrs. Thomas Ulrich's home. Each department head outlined the activities of her section. Mrs. L. Coughlin detailed the meetings of the Home Department, including two on gardening and three on "textiles--budgeting and selecting the wardrobe and buying hosiery and slips". The Literature and Drama Departments' activities were summarized by Mrs. George C. Buhlman. Highlights were meetings devoted to Pulitzer Prize winner "Gone with the Wind" and international short stories. Mrs. Franklin P. Russell reported for three different branches. Outstanding achievements of the Civics Department were persuading the Township Council to pass resolutions on zoning, the better policing of school buildings, and on garbage service. The "Educational Contacts" branch was reported to have conducted a vigorous letter writing campaign to local legislators on eduction laws, and the splendid work of the Welfare Committee in helping needy children in the schools. An International Relations study group had studied current problems in many parts of the world during the year. Because of the number and complexity of the activities of these three divisions Mrs. Russell suggested that two committees be created instead of the single civic affairs group in the past. After these reports Mrs. Hall, President of the Hackensack Women's Club and Sixth District Vice-President, installed the new officers for 1937-8. A talk on Hawaii followed. (Bristow) |
1937-06-11 | Recreation | Winner of the $50 prize for the most popular commercial exhibition at the Rockland County Flower Show was Frederick Huebner. He was the owner of the Ramapo Water Gardens on Valley Road in Mahwah. His exhibit, presented at the Ramapo Riding Academy in Tallman, was a small rock garden and fish pond, said to have been "exquisite in its richness of simplicity", whatever that means. (Bristow) |
1791-06-12 | People | Peter Light (Leydt) the Pastor of the Mahwah, New Hempstead, and Ponds Reformed Churches died. He was only 27 years old and had made out his will six days earlier. He was a graduate of Queen's College, now Rutgers, and had been ordained two years earlier. He was buried in the Hopper Cemetery on Valley Road where his gravestone is still to be seen. (Bristow) |
1911-06-12 | Disasters | A devastating series of thunderstorms hit town for three days starting on Saturday night the 10th. A large tree on John Q. Young's residence on Island Rd. blew over during the second storm on Sunday night, knocking out the main electric power line to Ramsey. Trolley Car #16 struck a large tree just south of Ramsey during the same storm. During Monday's storm lightning struck the chimney of Elias Mann's house. He and his wife had retired for the night. The lightning bolt struck him in bed from the stove pipe hole into the bedroom. He was unconscious for two hours but has recovered. During that same storm a fire was reported near H. A. Winter's house. The fire company from Ramsey responded but turned back when they found it was not in Ramsey. A calf and heifer in Mr. Bush's barn burned to death in the blaze, which leveled the barn despite the drenching rain. (Bristow) |
1913-06-12 | Education | The largest commencement ever held in the Township schools took place in the Lecture Hall of the Reformed Church. The class contained 19 graduates, many of whom are going on to high school or business college next year. The Suffern Orchestra entertained. Principal Pechtal was given a set of books as a farewell gift by Ralph Conklin in the name of the class. Mr. Pechtel is leaving Mahwah. (Bristow) |
1926-06-12 | People | In a brilliant society wedding, Carlotta Havemeyer was united with Anson Alexander Bigelow in Darlington. The bride was the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Henry O. Havemeyer of Morningside Farm, where the services were conducted by the Rev. Father Peter Guinevan of St. Ambrose Parish in New York City. The groom was the son of the late Nelson Bigelow of Philadelphia and Mrs. Edward Pedelford. The bride wore her mother's gown of rare Rennaisance lace over ivory satin and chiffon. It had a train 12 feet long. Special trains brought the guests from New York City to Mahwah for the event. (Bristow) |
1931-06-12 | Business | Henry N. Thurston, proprietor of the Allendale Sales & Service, reported that he made a trip to Albany in which he averaged 16.1 miles per gallon on his own "Standard" gasoline on the trip up and only 11 miles per gallon on a rival brand on the return journey. He was celebrating twenty years of his being in business. His was the first gas station on Franklin Turnpike when he opened in 1911. He makes an occasional test of his gas to reassure himself that he was still selling the best. (Bristow) |
1935-06-12 | Charity | Special ceremonies marked the 50th anniversary of the Women's Missionary Society at the Reformed Church. Several charter members were still alive from the first meeting when Mrs. A. M. Sheffield was chosen President. Mrs. Harold Ross, granddaughter of that first President, entertained about 60 members at her home on Goffle Rd. on June 12th. One of those charter members, Mrs. John Van Horn, read from the scripture. (Other charter members still alive were Miss Ratie Winter, Miss Mae Zabriskie, Mrs. E. A. Carpenter, and Mrs. J. Q. Young.) Reminiscences of the early days of the Society were given and a report given by Mrs. Albert Winter and Mrs. Millard Cooper of their recently completed six week trip to the Holy Land. (Bristow) |
1937-06-12 | Disasters | Chief Smith was called out for five motorcycle accidents within two hours of this Saturday evening. Two of them were caused by the so-called "safety island" on the highway bridge over the Ramapo River. Township and police officials had protested in vain to the state about the island. It was supposed to divide the north and south-bound traffic as it crossed the bridge, and to keep cars from making left turns onto the ramp leading to Valley Road. Most cars did not see the elevated slab and would bounce off and be wrecked. It was said to be particularly deadly when the accident involved a motorcycle. At 1:15 a motorcycle driven by a River Edge man failed to see the safety island and ran into it. He and his fiancé were thrown off the cycle. He suffered severe lacerations to the head, arms, and hands. She remained in the hospital suffering from a fractured skull. Another motorcycle accident took place at 11:30 just north of the Ramapo River Bridge. The driver swerved to avoid a car parked on the roadway. In doing so he cut off another cyclist, throwing that vehicle out of control. Both cyclists and the passenger of one of them were treated at the hospital. Chief Smith said that he would appeal to the automobile clubs to get help in having the island removed. Two other motorcycle accidents were not investigated by the police since the victims went on their way before the lawmen arrived. (Bristow) |
1939-06-12 | Education | At the School Board meeting the text of the report of the fact-finding committee of the Mahwah Civic Association was revealed. It called for the building of a combined Junior High School and Auditorium and Community Building. The six major recommendations of the Committee were (1.) That the Township build a Junior High School. This was particularly recommended as a cost saving measure since it could provide vocation training for the "subnormal" pupils who could then be encouraged to go to work at 16 rather than remaining in school until age 20 at the more expensive Ramsey High School. (2.) The building of a municipal or community building with a space for meetings and storage. Individual offices for town officials were not considered necessary. (3.) A community auditorium attached to School #2 was not recommended. There was not enough room for it. (4.) The combining of the Junior High School and the municipal building and auditorium into a single building or pair of buildings. They could share heating plants and maintenance staffs and thus cut costs. (5.) The only argument against the Junior High School was that it might hinder cooperation between the Township Schools and Ramsey High School. (6.) Convert the Darlington School into a special school for the "sub-grade" students. Here these slow students could be taught to work with their hands and not hold the others back. (7.) The building of new grade schools in Fardale, Masonicus, and West Mahwah. This would cut transportation costs. Even second grade students could walk a mile to school, they reported. (Bristow) |
1939-06-12 | Education | The latest round in the long simmering dispute between the Township of Hohokus (now called Mahwah) and the Ramsey High School authorities over tuition costs was a formal presentation by the Township's lawyers to the State Education Commissioner. The firm of Chanless and Weller presented the Township's contention that the cost of building the new High School should be calculated as the true local cost, deducting the amount of the state grants to the Ramsey School Board. This would reduce the per person charges for out of town students by $13.15 a year. Ramsey authorities countered that they had only been following regulations as to how to calculate those costs. (Bristow) |
1940-06-12 | Education | The Township Civic Association meeting at the Town Hall, voted to oppose the Bond Issue for a new Auditorium and Gym next to the Mahwah School. They reached this decision because they believed that with the war going on in Europe, the times were not right for the School District to assume so large a debt. The bond was to authorize $75,000 for the construction of a combined gymnasium and auditorium to the east of the Mahwah School, but some present at the meeting believed that the true cost would be closer to $90,000 when grading and equipment were added. Despite the opposition of several prominent citizens, including A. J. Winter, who said the town needed the facility and could afford it, the group voted to support the recommendation of their executive committee and reject the bond issue. On the 10th the Board of Education voted to hold the bond issue vote on June 24th between 8:00 and 10:00 PM. (Bristow) |
1951-06-12 | Health and Medicine | The President of the Board of Health announced the appointment of a new Township Plumbing Inspector, Charles Vuolo to replace Emil Christian who had resigned. Sanitary Inspector Wiley reported two cases of measles, one of mumps, four dog bites, and seven marriages for the month. Sunset Lake swimming pool received its permit to operate for the summer. (Bristow) |
1954-06-12 | People | The lawn of the manse of the Ramapo Reformed Church was the site of a special party given by Mrs. Howard E. Friebely and Rev. Richard M. Suffern in honor of their father Dr. Edward Russell Suffern's 50th year in dentistry. Many of his friends and patients from Rockland County and northern Bergen attended and presented him with gifts and good wishes. Dr. Suffern was a fifth generation descendent from John Suffern the tavern keeper, industrialist, and public official after whom the village of Suffern is named. John Suffern was the first Rockland County Judge and a New York State Assemblyman and State Senator. Dr. Suffern was educated at the Paterson Classical and Scientific School and the University of Pennsylvania School of Dentistry, from which he was graduated in 1903. He married Ida Else Munn of Newark in 1911. She was a 1902 graduate of Cornell University. Dr. Suffern was closely involved in youth work for many years especially with the WMCA and local churches. When asked whether he was going to retire he answered "I have no thought of discontinuing". (Bristow) |
1956-06-12 | Police | The fines varied with the offenses at the Mahwah Magistrate's Court. Improper passing, including passing a stopped school bus brought a $10 fine. Driving in reverse on Route 17 cost you $15, and driving without a license came to $25 and a probable suspension based on total points. The costs of court in each of the two higher fines amounted to $5 each. (Bristow) |
1874-06-13 | Sports | Darlington's baseball team met the Modocas of Hohokus in a match game at Suffern. Darlington was "scalped" in the words of the Bergen Democrat's reporter, 67-11. (Bristow) |
1896-06-13 | Crime | A highwayman tried unsuccessfully to rob Albert Holdrum late at night as he was passing the Darlington School house. He jumped out from behind a tree and demanded Holdrum's money. When he refused to give up the money the highwayman escaped. Holdrum could not give a description of the highwayman. (Bristow) |
1910-06-13 | Transportation | The new Bergen short cut on the Erie was opened after 3 years and 8 months of construction. This eliminates the only tunnel on the entire Erie line between New York and Chicago. The cut through solid rock is 4,400 feet long, 58' wide, and between 46 and 58' deep. 500,000 cubic yards of rock and 160,000 cubic yards of earth were removed. 250,000 pounds of dynamite were used. No fatalities accompanied the construction work. (Bristow) |
1922-06-13 | People | The will of Emerson McMillan was admitted for probate. It is expected to run into several million dollars. A long series of bequests of $10,000 or $15,000 was made to many relatives including his brother and sisters, and his deceased sister's children and grandchildren. His wife, Isabelle Morgan McMillan, was left $50,000 per year for the maintenance of the Darlington estate and the family. Each of the direct heirs are also to get $50,000 per year. (Bristow) |
1927-06-13 | People | Mr. and Mrs. Frank Scherer were among those from Mahwah who attended the parade in honor of Colonel Lindberg after his famous solo flight. Scherer said there were almost as many people at the parade as there are at the Station in Mahwah when the Express comes in. (Bristow) |
1929-06-13 | Recreation | Several from Mahwah were among the one hundred people who attended a musical entertainment at the home of Mrs. J. Edgar Davidson in Hillburn. Attending the affair from Mahwah were Mrs. John Morgan, Mrs. S. Lusch, and Mrs. Ogden Hewitt. It was held for the benefit of the Kings Daughters. (Bristow) |
1939-06-13 | Recreation | When it was discovered how many West Mahwah residents were members of the Mahwah Citizen's Club, Mahwah Hose Company No. 2 and the Mahwah Holy Name Society organizations decided on a joint clam bake. The Presidents John Snack of the Citizen's Club, Rocco Miraglio of the Hose Company, and Frank Krupinski of Holy Name, were to meet together and agree upon a time and place. (Bristow) |
1940-06-13 | Health and Medicine | At a special assembly as School Number 2, Mahwah, forty-six graduating eighth graders were presented with Red Cross First Aid certificates. They had been prepared for the test by Miss Florence Gates, the school nurse. She had taken two rigorous courses given in Englewood in order to be certified as a first aid instructor. (Bristow) |
1940-06-13 | Education | Eight members of the Board of Education addressed a letter to Township voters urging their support for the bond issue vote on June 24th. It authorized $75,000 for the construction of a combined auditorium and gym to the east of the Mahwah Grammar School. The letter stressed the importance of daily assembly programs and for indoor physical training facilities, neither of which was possible with the existing school facilities. The lack of daily calisthenics, they said, had resulted in the inferior posture habits evidenced by the pupils of today. They pointed out that the new facility would free space for a kindergarten or for vital home economics facilities. The new building would provide a vitally needed music room as well. They maintained that a defeat of the bond issue would only result in raising the cost of a facility which would have to be built anyway. The letter was signed by Board President H. M. Smith and by the following members of the Board: Robert Dunning, E. A. Grisewood, Alice MacArthur, Eleanor Miesse, I. B. Tiedeman, John J. Vanderbeek, and John J. Warhol Jr. (Bristow) |
1946-06-13 | Military | The final meeting of the Committee to suggest a suitable memorial for those from Mahwah who served in World War II held its final meeting in the Fire House. Each organization in town had been asked to name a representative to meet together and make a recommendation. The group drew up a formal resolution calling for a community house especially for the use of the Township's young people. The figure of about $50,000 was suggested. Although no consensus could be reached on the location of the house, the playground on Ramapo Avenue was most frequently suggested. The money was to be raised by public subscription with any shortfall being made up by public funds. (Bristow) |
1956-06-13 | Education | At the P. T. A.'s third annual dinner held at the Commodore Perry School Mrs. Vivian W. Skues was elected President for the subsequent school year. More than 200 persons were present at the dinner which climaxed with vocal solos by Russell Hammer, a regular on the Firestone Hour TV show. Also elected were Mrs. J. S. Handfield, P. T. Morigi, and Mrs. Richard Shawas, V.P., Treasurer, and Secretary, respectively. (Bristow) |
1962-06-13 | Fire Department | A parade with 6,000 marchers of the New York and New Jersey Volunteer Firemen's Association marks the 50th anniversary of the Mahwah Fire Department. (Bristow) |
1870-06-14 | Real Estate | John and Sophia Pondir purchased 1 35 between Valley Rd. and the Ramapo River from Garret Van Horn. Mr. Pondir is a Wall Street broker. The Pondirs are one of the first Jewish families in Mahwah. (Bristow) |
1875-06-14 | Disasters | A tragedy was narrowly averted when George Berden's horse bolted. The horse was pulling a cultivator when the horse blanket slid off his back, knocking the child who was on his back off onto the ground. Before anything could be done the frightened horse pulled the cultivator right over the fallen child. Fortunately he was not hurt in any way. (Bristow) |
1875-06-14 | People | How not to cut your lawn with a sickle was demonstrated by John H. Ackerman. He was reported to have nearly cut one of his fingers off in the process. (Bristow) |
1895-06-14 | Education | School exercises marked the end of the school year in Darlington. Nettie Henion received the prize for perfect attendance. Mr. Frank H. Little received a bronze ink stand and a tortoise shell paper cutter as a farewell gift. He will teach in Norwood next year. Refreshments followed on the lawn in front of the school. (Bristow) |
1916-06-14 | People | Flag Day was celebrated by the displaying of the flag at the home of most patriotic citizens. Judge Rodgers also hung a picture of the Republican candidate for President, Mr. Charles Evans Hughes. (Bristow) |
1927-06-14 | The American flag flew over Memorial Park for a week in honor of the 150th anniversary of the flag and as Mahwah's tribute to Colonel Lindbergh's epic flight across the Atlantic in the "Spirit of St. Louis". (Bristow) | |
1935-06-14 | Recreation | At their meeting the Dogwood Troop of the Girl Scouts presented the Thank You pin to Olive Eggers for her ten years as Captain of the Troop. More than 30 girls were present for the ceremony. Mabel King was the new Captain. A play was presented, coached by Grace Johnson, with musical accompaniment by Mrs. Anthony. In the cast were June Foster, Barbara Seberry, Clara Tibbals, Faith Slavin, Elaine Reuhl, Genevieve Courtney, Ruth Courtney, and Edith Dunn. A poem written by Olive Keough was read. (Bristow) |
1937-06-14 | Education | The students at the Immaculate Heart of Mary School were treated to a dinner and an afternoon of movies by their pastor. Rev. Robert Wieczorex said that this was in appreciation for the participation in the entertainment celebration of the students in honor of his feast day the day before. The movies were "Girl of the Ozarks", a Popeye cartoon, and a Paramount newsreel. A number of parents came to help their offspring enjoy their day off from school. (Bristow) |
1939-06-14 | Education | Fifty-two students were graduated from the Township schools in ceremonies at School No. 2 (now Commodore Perry). Addresses were given by Supervising Principal Robert G. Fagan, Board President Havilah M. Smith, who awarded the diplomas, and Class President Charles R. Kidd. There was an essay on the birth of the flag by Theresa Woods. American Legion Awards for the outstanding students who combined both character and ability were made to Katherine Hoffman and John Micik by Commander James Fogle. (Bristow) |
1946-06-14 | Police | One tough Police Justice was Suffern's William E. Miele. He was particularly tough on traffic violators, a fact abundantly shown in the case of a motorist who parked fifteen minutes over the two hour limit on Suffern Place. The Judge charged the offender, William E. Miele, a $1 fine for the offense. The Judge reached down in his pocket and paid the fine like any other violator. (Bristow) |
1954-06-14 | Education | Hopes that the Mountain School could be reopened were dashed when a letter from the State Department of Education was read at the School Board meeting. The State authorities insisted that before the school was to be used again it would have to be completely refurbished and that an adequate road would have to built up to it. The Board dropped its plans to use the school again. (Bristow) |
1954-06-14 | Education | In another move in their continuing efforts to get rid of Superintendent of Schools Roy S. Austin, the Board of Education barred him from attending graduation exercises. Austin had taken his accustomed place at the table at the regular meeting. The Board voted 5-4 to forbid him to participate in the meeting. He sat with the spectators while a letter from him to the Board was read. On advice of Counsel, the letter stated, he would continue to report for work for the remainder of the school year. A representative of the NJEA reminded the Board that a report from the Superintendent was due at the end of the year. The Board would have to consider carefully who was to sign it and also who would sign the graduation diplomas. The Board asked Mr. Lamberti to take on these duties. He politely declined, saying the duty belonged to Mr. Austin. The Board voted, again 5-4 to give him these duties. By a similar vote they reappointed John Warhol Jr. as the Board's attorney. Mr. Tibbals was asked to communicate with Warhol about what to do about the report and the diplomas. (Bristow) |
1970-06-14 | Education | Immaculate Conception School marks the 40th anniversary of its first graduating class of two students. (Bristow) |
1901-06-15 | Disasters | Mr. and Mrs. Winter were badly injured when their horse was frightened by an automobile on the Turnpike. The driver, when he saw the horse was frightened, did not stop until he was next to the horse. The horse tried to turn around and upset the wagon. Mrs. Winter suffered severe scratches and an arm fracture. Mr. Winter dislocated his arm. After summoning aid the driver of the automobile returned in the direction of Paterson. (Bristow) |
1916-06-15 | Education | Commencement exercises for the Mahwah School were held in the Assembly Room of the School. There are 15 graduates: Hector Chisholm (**), President, Iroka Adaci, Minnie Hopper, Katherine Hopper, Vivian De Groat (**), Sarah Gordon, Elizabeth Edwards, Eurayna Hetzel, Genevieve Mahoney, Marjorie Van Der Velde, Francis Mankiewicz, Alice F. Smith, Jesse Slavin, George Stalling (*), Olive Valentine, Carl Winter. (*) perfect attendance for three years (**) perfect attendance for one year (Bristow) |
1916-06-15 | Business | The Rockland Electric Company has rented the vacant store next to the trolley tracks for a demonstration of electric stoves and other home appliances. These will be held through Saturday the 17th at 3:30 and 7:30. (Bristow) |
1926-06-15 | People | There was a near fatality at the Ramsey station. A girl, identified as Miss Pyle in the newspaper account, attempted to board the 7:55 express as it was already moving. She was dangling from the railing and would have been crushed by the railing alongside of the tracks except for the quick action of commuter William Troop of Ramsey. He got up from his seat and pulled her into the car from the platform. An eyewitness, in a letter to the Ramsey Journal, reported that she took the incident very lightly, claiming that she could have made it on her own. The letter's author "L. R. B." repeated with approval another passenger's comment that "a good old fashioned spanking from her mother would help that young lady a whole lot." (Bristow) |
1929-06-15 | Recreation | The annual recital of the pupils of Mr. and Mrs. Hugo Steinbruch was held in their home. Among the twenty-two pieces performed were Paderewsky's Minuet in G, played by Aletta Hopper, and Andre's Cantilena for eight violins rendered by Elisabeth Ackerman, Doris Johnson, Molly Smith, Eugene Kownacky, Harold Pallet, Herman Reich, Robert Williams, and Frank Dator. (Bristow) |
1940-06-15 | Education | The members of the 5th grade in School #7, Cragmere, were the guests of Lindsey MacArthur and his mother at a picnic lunch at their home on Ramapo Avenue the last day of school for the year. Allen Ackerly and Jean Smith were recognized for having the best attendance for the year. (Bristow) |
1946-06-15 | People | Mr. and Mrs. John W. Campbell, Interstate Street Suffern, announced the engagement of their daughter Margaret to Donald T. Sherow, son of Mrs. and Mrs. Norman Sherow of Oweno Rd., Mahwah. Miss Campbell was a graduate of the Suffern High School and was employed at Lord, Abbott and Company in New York City. The prospective groom was a graduate of Blair Academy. He had served in both the Pacific and European Theaters as a Reserve Officer. He was employed by the Marine Office of America in New York City. The wedding was to take place in the fall. (Bristow) |
1948-06-15 | Military | Ladies Auxiliary of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, Post No. 7124 was organized by 38 charter members. (Bristow) |
1951-06-15 | People | Forrest L. Merrill died. He was the operator of the best known of the roadside farms stands in Mahwah. He had been in generally good health but his family related that the death of his wife Regina two years before had left him "a broken and purposeless man". He was survived by a son and a daughter. Another son had died in a bombing raid over the Balkans during World War II. (Bristow) |
1951-06-15 | Education | Twenty-five Mahwah elementary school pupils were cited for having perfect attendance for the year. The eighth grade had the most, eight, but the second grade came a close second with six who had not missed a day of school during 1950-1951. (Bristow) |
1965-06-15 | Recreation | The National Council of the Girl Scouts of America rejected the request of the Ramsey and Mahwah Scouts to form a joint organization. In separate letters to Mrs. C. J. Cooper of the Mahwah Council and Mrs. Vincent Muti of the Ramsey group, Mrs. Jacob E. Eckel, Secretary, informed the local leaders that their proposal was "not suitable and appropriate" for promoting the creation of large councils, a policy adopted by the National Council in 1963. It would be possible, she explained, for one of the two to be absorbed by the other, but the resulting organization would still be too small to meet the national goal. Both groups were being pressured to join the Bergen County Council instead. In an editorial the Ramsey Journal called the decision "disgusting" and blamed it on the attempt on the part of the National Office to take decisions out of the hands of volunteers and confine them to professionals. The editor ended by suggesting that the local groups leave the Girl Scouts and join the Campfire Girls who left more decisions to local leaders. (Bristow) |
1753-06-16 | Real Estate | Hendrick Kiersted dictates his will, leaving his farm* to his wife and four sons. *From about the NY border to about the Laroe-Van Horn House (Bristow) |
1774-06-16 | Real Estate | John Voss quit the Hannes Voss lot and moved to a 100 acre property 1/2 mile east of the Laroe-Van Horn farm. (Bristow) |
1875-06-16 | Agriculture | 885 baskets of strawberries were shipped from Ramsey to the New York market that night, and 1,852 baskets on the next night. (Bristow) |
1929-06-16 | People | Mr. and Mrs. Richard Keith entertained eleven guests at dinner in their home on Malcom Rd. The party was in honor of Dr. and Mrs. Franklin Russell. There had been another party in their honor on the 14th given by Mrs. Ogden Hewitt. The Russells departed the next week for a European trip, sailing from Quebec. (Bristow) |
1932-06-16 | Religion | Lightning strikes the steeple of the Ramapo Reformed Church with only slight damage. (Bristow) |
1937-06-16 | Health and Medicine | Carpenters began to construct the forms for the new Good Samaritan Hospital on Route 59 West of Suffern. The excavation work had been completed on the previous Friday. Caulway, Inc., the general contractor, expected to begin pouring concrete by the end of the week. The new building was shaped like a "T" with 205 feet of frontage and 140 feet deep. It was to have three floors with two operating rooms, a laboratory, and work rooms. Work on the new facility was expected to be completed by the spring of 1938. Meanwhile the old building on Orange Avenue continued to be in use. (Bristow) |
1940-06-16 | Education | The members of the class of 1940 were welcomed into membership in the Alumni Association of the Immaculate Conception School. The twenty new members received class pins. A program of games and refreshments followed the business meeting. (Bristow) |
1943-06-16 | Education | Over $460 worth of war stamps and war bonds were bought in the District Schools during the school years which ended with graduation ceremonies on that day. Barderus Shuart was class President. A play "Her Adopted Land" was presented. It depicted the activities of a group of foreigners whose attempted sabotage was foiled by the FBI. The school orchestra played Rubenstein's Melodie in F, Lehar's Merry Widow Waltz, and the Marine Hymn. The diplomas were distributed by Mrs. Lindsey Macarthur, President of the Board of Education. (Bristow) |
1946-06-16 | Disasters | The alert persistence of a witness to a hit-and-run accident resulted in the identification of the driver. In Tuxedo, New York, H. C. Sonne was driving north on Route 17 when a car shot across the road struck his car in the left side causing extensive damage. When the other driver did not stop a witness at a filling station across the street gave chase until it stopped at another gas station in Ramapo. By the time the police arrived he had gone but his license number had been noted and he was traced to his New York City address and given a summons. He was scheduled to appear in court on Monday, June 24th. The Sonne car was so badly damaged that it had to be towed away. The driver, Mardinia S. Soukisian of 51 West 100th St. in Manhattan was fined $25 and $2 costs when the case came up on June 24th. (Bristow) |
1946-06-16 | People | The Immaculate Heart of Mary Church was the scene of the wedding of Agnes Mihok, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John Mihok of Island Road with Edward Garza, son of Mr. and Mrs. E. Garza of San Marcos, Texas. The Rev. Chester Wininniewiski officiated at the 4:30 pm ceremony. The reception was held in the church hall. After a wedding trip to New York City the couple departed to live in San Marcos, Texas. A tragedy was narrowly averted during the ceremony. Mrs. Virginia Mihok returned home for something during the reception for her sister-in-law to find her house, on the corner of Grove Street and Island Road, on fire. The timely arrival of Officer Tom Wilson permitted him and Mrs. Mihok's son to get a flaming mattress out of the bedroom window before the whole house caught fire. (Bristow) |
1951-06-16 | Crime | Police Chief Smith warned residents that a peeping Tom had been reported in Mahwah, spying on ladies who neglected to draw their shades as they were retiring. No specific information was released and there was some skepticism expressed since the original report came out of Ridgewood, where, as the reporter of the Ramsey Journal reminded his readers "such characters as William Remington, convicted perjurer and former Communist Party member, are known to walk the street in broad daylight." Chief Smith did warn that doors and windows by kept locked both day and night. The supposed peeping Tim might well be a second story man "casing" a house for a robbery. (Bristow) |
1965-06-16 | People | Miss Dorothy M. Hutton died in the Fair Lawn Hospital after an illness of five weeks. She was 53 years old and had lived most of her life in Fardale. She was the daughter of Antoinette and John Hutton and was survived by her mother and a sister, both of Paterson. Funeral services were conducted at the Van Emburgh Funeral Home in Ramsey by the Rev. John A. Bagby of the Paterson Presbyterian Church with interment in the Redeemer Cemetery in Fardale. (Bristow) |
1901-06-17 | Health and Medicine | The Hohokus Township Board of Health declared that there was no smallpox epidemic in town. Dr. Zabriskie had pronounced a Suffern case chicken pox but a Paterson doctor called it smallpox and Paterson papers had printed a number of stories magnifying the case into an epidemic. The Mahwah Depot and Hagerman's house as well as the residence of the patient have been disinfected. The Town Board urged precautions against the spread of any communicable disease. (Bristow) |
1916-06-17 | Transportation | The Township Committee passed an ordinance to build curbs and gutters on Airmont Road from the Turnpike to Beveridge Road. This will eliminate much of the wash which takes place with every heavy rain. (Bristow) |
1918-06-17 | Military | The Borough Council of Ramsey passed a resolution that the German language Harmonie Singing Society cease meeting for the duration of the war. The society announced that they had already done so and protested the slur on their patriotism involved in the ban. One member cancelled his subscription to the Ramsey Journal, an offer gleefully accepted by the editor. (Bristow) |
1921-06-17 | Agriculture | Strawberries are scarce this summer and sugar has gone up in price to 6 cents a pound. Those who went to the strawberry festival given by the Ladies' Aid on the porch of the Schoonmaker cottage expected to buy what was left over were disappointed. It was all eaten up and $50 raised for the Ladies' Aid. (Bristow) |
1922-06-17 | Recreation | The Cragmere-Duo-Art Club was organized last October. The monthly meetings have been devoted to the study of the lives of various composers and to operatic and oratorio numbers. (The final performance of the year was an Operetta "Miss Cherryblossom" at the Mahwah Town Hall.) The settings were authentic, the chorus and orchestra performed well and the soloists were accomplished. All were coached and directed by Clyde A. Newall. Lois McClaudland and Mr. Newall sang the principal roles. (Bristow) |
1926-06-17 | Education | Twenty-five pupils were recognized as having perfect attendance during the school year at the annual commencement exercises of the four schools in Mahwah. There were an additional six students who only missed school on the day of a heavy snow storm. Particular praise was directed toward Willard Holman. He had not been absent for five years. Six students also received special certificates for proficiency in the Palmer writing method, surely one of the most difficult goals to achieve in the history of American education. (Bristow) |
1935-06-17 | Charity | The Citizens Welfare Association began meeting in the basement of Paul's lunchroom. The members were elated at the news that after many months of waiting that E. R. A. had been approved for the Township. The welfare plan would do much to relieve the meager food checks provided through the Town Poormaster. It was announced that a few members had found work. All the members once more pledged that they would accept relief only until they can find jobs which would support their families. Anyone who could use unskilled labor was asked to write to the Corresponding Secretary Francis Fitzgerald at P. O. Box 54, Mahwah. (Bristow) |
1940-06-17 | Education | Eighteen members of the Mahwah Public School baseball team were the guests of the New York Giants for a game at the Polo Grounds. Kenneth Linberry made the arrangements. Among those recognized for their contributions to the season were letter winners John Time, Charles Kramer, Mike Borish, Charles Kipp, George Courtney, Nicholas Belowch, Robert Reuhl, Frank Reuhl, Howard Krimsky, William DeGroat, John Kudrich, Walter Klimek and Joseph Lances. Receiving official baseballs for having hit home runs during the season were John Time and Charles Kipp. Also attending the game were five boys who worked hard but did not quite earn a letter: Joseph Mihok, Eddie Chodorowski, Louis Wright, Harry Belowch, and Donald Hardy. (Bristow) |
1943-06-17 | Military | The Hohokus (now Mahwah) Township Committee bought $10,000 worth of War Bonds with surplus funds after receiving the approval of the Commissioner of Local Government, Walter R. Darley. The approval arrived simultaneously with a check for $41.90 in interest on the bonds. (Bristow) |
1947-06-17 | Fire Department | At the Township Committee meeting it was announced that the request of two residents to have fire hydrants installed on Ridge Road had been denied. A letter from the Water Company President Mrs. Annie C. Winter stated that the current prices of fittings, pipes, and hydrants, all subject to at least a five month delay in delivery, was too high for there to be a reasonable prospect of profit from the installation. The matter had been brought up by Mrs. Carrie Morgan and Mrs. Harold Burton who had hoped to be able to reduce fire insurance premiums on their homes. (Bristow) |
1947-06-17 | Transportation | Bill Beard, the young veteran who was the manager of the Out O'Bounds airport on the grounds of the Country Club announced that all twelve planes which operated out of the airport were then equipped with mufflers. This should end the very few complaints he had been received about the noises accompanying takeoff and landing. Beard was a Suffern native who had flown P-47s in the Army and had been teaching flying for eighteen months. Hiss assistant, Alan Field, had flown over 1,300 hours in the Army in the Arctic Theater. They had studied teaching methods under the G. I. Bill and had about thirty students at the time. A large hanger was under construction at the field and two of the planes, Fairchild 24s, were available for charter at about $24 per hour. The plane had a cruising speed of 120 mph and seated three passengers and the pilot. (Bristow) |
1956-06-17 | Business | A prospective customer was so eager to patronize the El Rio roadside stand that he damaged both the stand and the sign before he could stop his car. Meyer M. Horn of Yonkers said that he had misjudged the distance as he turned in from the highway. (Bristow) |
1902-06-18 | Transportation | A new trolley line is scheduled to be built through from Paterson paralleling the Erie tracks to Suffern and following the Piermont branch to Piermont, by ferry to Yonkers and then connect with the Bronx Trolley system. Lawyers have been seeking property for the new line since they want to own their right of way and thus avoid the speed laws on public thoroughfares. The line will be 62 1/2 miles long. The new company, which is not related to the North Jersey Traction Company, is to be called Ramapo Traction Company. They seek to sell bonds to raise capital. (Bristow) |
1910-06-18 | People | The Curator of the Staten Island Museum of Natural History camped out over the weekend with Charles E. Sleight at Bear Swamp. (Bristow) |
1917-06-18 | Charity | The Red Cross fund drive began with a national target of $100,000,000. The local Mahwah Committee consists of Mrs. Elmer J. Snow, James Devine, H. Sturr, H. R. Stevens, Mrs. H. R. Stevens, E. J. Snow, E. L. Lane, Miss E. G. Corilton, E. P. Beebe, B. F. Lord, Mrs. R. R. Smith, H. F. Holman, Mrs. A. Winter, I. B. Friedman, Mrs. F. W. Sargent, W. O. King, and C. G. Newkirk. The North Bergen Chapter's goal was $5,000, up to Wednesday night Mahwah raised $1,263, Ramsey $104.80, Allendale $98, and Saddle River $40. Ramsey merchants will donate 10% of their sales on Thursday the 21st as will merchants in other towns. (Bristow) |
1919-06-18 | Education | The Rev. A. Vennema was the principal speaker at the 8th grade graduation of the Mahwah School. He spoke on "The By-Products of an Education". (He also spoke at the Suffern H. S. graduation.) President of the class was Dailey Bugg, John Mackey was V. P., and Andrew J. Hopper, Secretary and Treasurer. Also graduated were: Dorothy E. Newark, Mildred Wanamaker, Allan Winter, Michael Woroski, Vera DeGroat, Warren DeGroat, Raymond Meyers, Edith Marjory, and George Derbyshire. (Bristow) |
1926-06-18 | Recreation | Hugo Steinbruch of Cragmere, the conductor of the Liederkranz Orchestra of New York City, presented a special concert in the auditorium of the Sesquicentennial Exhibition in Philadelphia. Former Metropolitan Opera star Anna Case was the vocal soloist, assisted by the Liederkranz Chorus. The large audience was reported to have given the performance an ovation. (Bristow) |
1926-06-18 | Education | The pupils of the Fardale School put on a special entertainment for their parents as the school closed for the summer. Special praise was extended to three pupils, Melvin Hutton and Stephen and Rose Piccolo. They had been neither absent nor tardy for the entire year. So that the students could fully enjoy their summer, the announcement was made that school would re-open on September 8th. (Bristow) |
1929-06-18 | Education | For the third year in a row girls from Mahwah carried off the highest honors in the graduating class at Ramsey High School. That year's valedictorian was Louise Everett, while Louise Popham was the salutatorian. (Bristow) |
1939-06-18 | Real Estate | A number of Mahwah residents attended the ceremonies marking the transfer of the historic Ringwood estate to the State of New Jersey. Among those present were the following couples: Mr. and Mrs. R. N. Wanamaker, Frank Paret, Franklin F. Russell, E. W. Van Houton, and Fred W. Petri. On the 12th the pupils of Grade 4 in School #7 toured the mansion. Mrs. Ogden Hewett entertained at a dinner party before the event. (Bristow) |
1940-06-18 | Education | Supervising Principal Robert C. Fagan presented a handsomely bound book to Arthur Nelson for having perfect attendance in the Darlington School for the entire year. Robert Reuhl, who had been tardy returning from lunch one day, received honorable mention. (Bristow) |
1943-06-18 | Education | At the thirty-fifth annual Commencement ceremonies of the Ramsey High School, 149 diplomas were awarded, several of them in absentia. Three of the thirteen servicemen in the graduating class received furloughs to be able to graduate with the class: Pvt. George Keeney, Seaman Second Class James Remo, and Corp. Stephen Megles. The other ten were less fortunate: Paratrooper Stiles Thomas, John Micik, James Ward, and John Edwards, Army, George Terwilliger, Marines, George Christman, Kenneth De Ferrari, William Marti, Charles Schubert, and Joseph Shedler, Navy. Creighton Hill was Class President and Ruth Meisse was Valedictorian. (Bristow) |
1947-06-18 | People | Mr. and Mrs. John Zisgen celebrated their wedding anniversary with a dinner at the Latch String Restaurant in Oradell. Their children Barbara and Robert helped their parents celebrate. Mrs. Zisgen received a corsage of ten roses for the occasion. (Bristow) |
1874-06-19 | Agriculture | Strawberries are being shipped from the Ramsey station to New York City at the rate of 15,476 baskets per night. (Bristow) |
1907-06-19 | People | The Crocker Mansion is completed and it is rumored that Mr. Crocker will move in this week. (Bristow) |
1912-06-19 | Real Estate | Albert Winter has sold his house to David Hopper. Mr. Winter will live in his late father's house across the street. His Aunt Rattie Winter will build a cottage next to Mr. Sturr's property. (Bristow) |
1915-06-19 | Agriculture | An extremely successful Strawberry Festival was put on at the grounds of the Fardale Pleasure Club. The Committee was under the Chairmanship of Maud Place, assisted by Mrs. H. J. Morris, Myrtle Winter, Mary Warosky, Rita Saalfield, Fred Gebauer, and Charles Bartholf. Norman Van Gelder turned out to be the salesperson of the day. He was reported to have "washed dishes with one hand, sold cream with the other, drew the multitude with his silver tongue, and made change with his feet". (Bristow) |
1935-06-19 | Charity | Special services were held at the Reformed Church to mark the 50th anniversary of the Women's Missionary Society. Mrs. E. F. Carpenter, one of the charter members read from the Scripture. Mrs. A. C. Dykema sang "He Shall Feed His Flock" from "Messiah" by Handel, and "Rest in the Lord" from Mendelssohn's Elijah. Miss Winifred Woodward read a historical sketch "Fifty Years of Work" and Mrs. Havilah Smith spoke on "Fifty Years of Stewardship". The Junior Choir sang Gounod's "Lovely Appear" and led the music. Mrs. Martin DeWolfe, a returned missionary from India closed the service with a stirring address. The President of the Society was one of its Charter Members, Miss Rattie Winter. (Bristow) |
1937-06-19 | Education | The dedication of the new Ramsey High School attracted a capacity crowd from Ramsey and surrounding communities. There were no reserved seats in the 1,100 seat auditorium so that the crowd had to arrive early to be admitted. The Board of Education issued special invitations to the boards of education, district clerks, and principals from the sending districts of Hohokus Township (Mahwah), Allendale, Wyckoff, Waldwick, Franklin Lakes, Saddle River, and Upper Saddle River. In addition to musical selections by the High School Orchestra, speeches were the order of the day. Among those favoring the audience with a few hundred well chosen remarks were Henry R. Parvin, the chairman of the special High School Committee, Board President John Y. Dater, Supervisor, Principal Wesley D. Tisdale, High School Principal Guy P. Moore, and various local politicians. (Bristow) |
1939-06-19 | Education | The driver of the school bus which takes Mahwah pupils from School #7 (now Betsy Ross) to Ramsey High School entertained his riders at a picnic on Bertrand's Island at Lake Mohawk. This picnic had become an annual affair since the bus service began a few years before. (Does anyone know who the driver was who rewarded his riders so generously?) (Bristow) |
1943-06-19 | Recreation | One hundred badges for proficiency and advancement were presented at the annual Girl Scout Court of Awards held at the Town Hall. First Class badges were awarded to Ruth Doty, Nancy Parker, and Judy Parker of Troop 3 and Carolyn Seberry of the Senior Troop. (Bristow) |
1946-06-19 | Education | In his address to the 38 graduates of the Mahwah Schools and their families and friends at graduation exercises at the Mahwah School, Supervising Principal Robert C. Fagan warned the community not to stand pat. New facilities and programs were needed to bring Mahwah up to a level with surrounding communities. He spoke particularly of home economics and industrial arts programs and a modern gymnasium. "What better (war) memorial could we provide," he maintained, "than a modern educational plant which would ensure fine educational facilities to the sons and daughters, the brothers and sisters of those who served so valiantly." Helen Howard was the class President. Board President Alice S. Macarthur presented the diplomas to the graduates. (Bristow) |
1947-06-19 | People | Among the veterans granted tax relief because of their military service during the war were Fred J. Crawford of Mountainside Ave., who had served in the U. A. Army artillery, and Air Corps veterans Arthur R. Zimmerli of Franklin Turnpike, and Otto A. Ulrichs of Maysenger Rd. (Bristow) |
1899-06-20 | Disasters | William Valentine was left unconscious from the effects of a lightning bolt which struck his house. The house was little damaged but the blast, which hit when he was sitting on his porch, prostrated him and he did not recover for some time. (Bristow) |
1902-06-20 | Disasters | The extreme variability of the weather has been attributed by some to the explosion of Mr. Pelee, sun spot activity, and to an unusual alignment of the planets. (Bristow) |
1913-06-20 | Recreation | The grading of a new park near the station is nearly complete to the great satisfaction of the residents. (Bristow) |
1927-06-20 | People | Miss Helen North became Librarian of the Suffern Library. This, together with her work as Mahwah Librarian, a post she had held since the library opened, gave her a full-time library job. (Bristow) |
1929-06-20 | Business | Although the Reed Furniture Store in Suffern tried to fight the trend, many local people did much of their shopping in Paterson or New York City. In an ad in the Ramsey Journal the store cited that "no one has yet been able to understand" why people would go far afield when they could buy the same products at home for less. "The small town store buys from the same manufacturer that the big city dealer does. He buys at the same price, (and) he most always sells for less (because) his cost of doing business is less." Their weekly special was a three piece set of living room furniture for $35.00. (Bristow) |
1929-06-20 | Business | In a special page in the Ramsey Journal, Suffern merchants offered attractive bargains for their patrons. The Eagle Mens' Shop, at 78 Lafayette Ave., their featured bargain was suits, priced at $11.95. Advertising copy did not differ much from today's wording. These suits were said to have "values to $25.00." The store also offered silk hose at three for a dollar, "collegiate trousers" for $2.45, "Balbriggan shirts and drawers" for 39 cents, Khaki pants and work shirts for $1.00, and for 59 cents respectively and a wide variety of bathing suits, with tops, of course, for $2.95 in worsted and in wool for $1.95. J. K. Patterson, at 22 Lafayette Avenue featured suits and top coats at $22.50 each, which they described as an "extraordinary value for the money." (Bristow) |
1939-06-20 | Recreation | At their final meeting of the season the Girl Scout Committee announced that scouting had become so popular in Mahwah that both the Brownies and the Scouts would have to be divided into two troops. Congratulations were extended to the Scout leaders Mrs. Christie and Mrs. Parker and her assistant Mrs. Harriss. Scout activities were suspended until September. (Bristow) |
1943-06-20 | Military | Mahwah's three Marine sisters, Gloria, Dorothy, and Florence Ann Pelz completed their basic training in the United States Marine Corps Women's Reserve at Hunter College in New York. They enlisted on March 15, 1943. They were awaiting permanent assignment. They were the daughters of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Pelz of Airmount Avenue, Mahwah. Their Marine Corps brother Cpl. Charles Pelz was believed to be somewhere in the South Pacific. (Bristow) |
1948-06-20 | People | Bruce Graham of Mahwah was married to Barbara Stryker of White Plains at the Chatterton Hill Congregational Church in White Plains. The groom, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Ian Graham of Mahwah, had served as a fighter pilot in the Army Air Corps during the war. He was studying architecture at Cornell University. Among the attendants at the wedding were C. Barnwell Straut, the best man, and Charles Frederick Ash II, an usher, both of Mahwah. (Bristow) |
1965-06-20 | Religion | The dedication of the new parish home of the Holy Spirit Byzantine Catholic Church was celebrated with a special mass and a banquet. The Most Rev. Stephen J. Kocisko, Bishop of Passaic celebrated the pontifical divine liturgy at 4:00 PM. The banquet was held in the auditorium of the Church of the Immaculate Conception across the street from the Holy Spirit Church. Members of other churches following the Byzantine Rite celebrated along with the local parishioners. (Bristow) |
1966-06-20 | Education | The School Board received $9,520 in federal funds to establish a Head Start program at the Commodore Perry School during the summer. It would operate during the same 20 days as Summer School. (Bristow) |
1980-06-20 | Business | Ford Assembly Plant in Mahwah closes. |
1900-06-21 | Transportation | The first automobile in this vicinity is owned by Mr. Harry Havermeyer of Darlington. (Bristow) |
1910-06-21 | Transportation | Mr. Albert Winter attended the State Railroad Commission meeting in Trenton. The Commission will come to Mahwah personally before deciding on the petition of the Trolley line to cross any streets here at grade. (Bristow) |
1910-06-21 | Religion | The Parsonage of the Reformed Church was connected to the telephone. (Bristow) |
1915-06-21 | Government | The Post Office has been moved to the Old Town Hall in enlarged quarters. (Bristow) |
1923-06-21 | Education | Hannah E. Trumbower was the President of the graduating class from the Mahwah School. P. Donald Fay was Vice-President, and Helen S. Fay Secretary-Treasurer. The 25 class members chose green and white as their class colors. Miss Trumbower presented a flag to the school as the class gift. She received the $10 gold piece given by the Women's Club for the highest scholarship. Jane Hebner received a similar prize given by Mr. Tiedeman for second highest scholarship. Mrs. G. M. Ball presented a $5 gold piece to Helen Fay for the prize essay on the World For Peace. Mary Weitzman and John Warhol were also praised for having written splendid essays on the subject. Julia Trumbower and Mike Warhol received silver pencils for having 100% in spelling for the year. Mr. Tiedeman presented the diplomas. (Bristow) |
1927-06-21 | People | Mabel King, who had recently completed her two year teacher training course at the Trenton State Normal School, was hired by the Waldwick School Board. She was to teach second grade in the Waldwick Elementary School starting in September. (Bristow) |
1929-06-21 | Recreation | The big weekend attraction at the Lafayette, "Rockland County's finest photoplay theatre" was "The Squall". It starred Alice Joyce, Richard Tucker (not the opera singer), and Zazu Pitts. It was said to have come directly from months on Broadway at $2 a seat, and to be the "first presentation in this area". The management claimed with pride that it was a "100 percent talking and singing picture". There were two shows in the evening at 7 and 9 PM and a matinee at 3:00 on Saturday and Sunday. (Bristow) |
1956-06-21 | Education | Twenty-six students at the Immaculate Conception School received their diplomas from the Rev. W. Gordon Byrne, Pastor. Special awards went to Yvonne N. Brenner for scholastic excellence, and to Eileen O'Grady for excellence in Christian doctrine. Awards for scholastic achievement from the Holy Name Society and from the Rosary Altar Society were given to Mary A. Snyder and Bernard J. Crawford. The VFW Essay contest winners were Maryellen C. Maguire and Robert C. Leonowicz. (Bristow) |
1965-06-21 | Education | Because of the difficulty of obtaining quality substitute teachers, the Board of Education voted to raise their pay to $20 per day. A substitute hired on a long term basis, involving lesson planning and testing, would get $25 per diem. (Bristow) |
1965-06-21 | Education | The School Board devoted a good portion of its meeting hearing reports from the first four High School seniors who had taken part in the new independent study program. Janet Herlihy contrasted the current American theater with earlier periods and deplored the emphasis of the day on quantity rather than quality. Jane Debgel analyzed modern art as an expression of the philosophy of the 1960's. Gerhart Yanker reported on his studies of utopias, and Joseph Chopek related his experiments concerning the impact of radioisotopes on the glands and hearts of hamsters. All four students thanked the Board for the opportunity to take part in the pilot program. The Board was so favorably impressed that they said they would consider expanding the program to include five or six students in the coming year. |
1896-06-22 | Disasters | An historic log cabin 150 years old was destroyed by fire in the mountains west of Mahwah. Local tradition has it that Washington stayed here when his troops used the old route on their way to Morristown, Springfield, and Pompton. Superstitious people believe the house was the site of a tragic love affair and haunted by the ghost of a jilted lover. It also was supposed to have a secret passageway leading to a mountain outlet by which slaves escaped from the pursuers. The cabin had 2 rooms and a loft with cement filling the chinks between the logs. (Bristow) |
1910-06-22 | Education | Commencement exercises for the Hohokus Township schools were held in the lecture room of the Reformed Church. The full capacity of the room, 250, held about one half of those wishing to attend. Others had to remain outside. Tom Sergeant's (Mahwah) Valedictory address, Winifred Mahoney's (Darlington) Salutatory address, the duet by Mildred Dator and Edith Hopper, the recitation "Miss Tubbs at the Sewing Circle" by Ella Mabie, the class prophecy by Mary Kennedy, a piano solo by Laura DuBois and the class statistics by Anna Seabury were warmly applauded. In the absence of Board President Sergeant the diplomas were presented by Mr. Hendrickson, the Supervising Principal. He remarked that in one year the number of graduates had risen from 7 to 15. Nearly 10% had received scholarships. Daily attendance was up 73 from last year. He said that he had made 30 visits to Darlington, 24 to Masonicus, 21 to the Mountain, and 26 to Wyckoff and taught 38 days for absent teachers. This was the first commencement ever held in Mahwah. The address was given by the Rev. A. C. Dykema. (Bristow) |
1917-06-22 | Education | The closing exercises of the Mountain School included the singing of patriotic songs, recitations and choruses by the different grades, the flag salute, and awards. First prize for regular attendance went to Lila DeGroat and Henry DeGroat; second prize to Marie Mann and Otto Mann. First prize for order went to Rella DeGroat, and first prize for neat work to Fannie DeGroat. Each pupil received a small book. The school held the attendance banner for four months and is to get a picture for the school room. The exercises ended with parents joining children in a picnic under the trees. (Bristow) |
1920-06-22 | People | Harry Wanamaker died suddenly at the age of 43. He had been in poor health for some time but remained at work. He was taken ill suddenly on the 21st and lapsed into a coma from which he never recovered. Interment was in the Mahwah Cemetery. A delegation from the Suffern Odd Fellows Lodge attended the funeral. (Bristow) |
1921-06-22 | People | Dr. James W. Farrar, Pastor of the Ramapo Reformed Church, died suddenly in bed at the Parsonage. Since his wife was in the hospital he was alone at home, and his death was said to have been painless. He had been eating at the home of the Church Sexton, Mr. Dedrick. When he did not appear for lunch the Dedrick's thought he might have made other arrangements, but when he did not respond to an appointment with some children in the congregation Mr. Dedrick began a search of the grounds and eventually climbed through the window of his second floor bedroom to discover him peacefully in bed. He had been dead for several hours. The Dr. who examined him believes that it was a heart attack brought on by the extreme heat of the day. He has been in Mahwah for a little more than a year. He had won many friends for the church and was especially fond of children. He had just passed his 68th birthday on June 20th. His body was returned to Brooklyn where he was buried after a simple ceremony in the First Reformed Church where he had been Pastor for 27 years. He had attended a dinner in Brooklyn given by Judge Landis, the baseball Commissioner, on the night before he died. (Bristow) |
1930-06-22 | Education | The first graduating class of the Immaculate Conception Parish School consisted of two students: Virginia Costello and Thomas Duggan. |
1932-06-22 | Education | Forty-seven pupils of the Mahwah School are listed as having had perfect attendance for the year, six of them in class 6-E: Irene Balogh, George Chisek, Gilbert Jones, Alma Lawrence, Shirley Pharo, Helen Remo, and Dorothy Shuart. (Bristow) |
1940-06-22 | Education | Registration ended for a six-week vacation school at the Darlington School to begin on June 24th under the direction of Mrs. Margaret Coleman. All children of grammar school age were eligible and a bus provided transportation both morning and afternoon. Girls were given instruction in sewing and cooking, while boys received shop training. The playground was open to all students. Four other teachers assisted Mrs. Coleman. (Bristow) |
1947-06-22 | People | Mr. and Mrs. R. W. Grimm of 76 Oweno Road held a dinner party to honor the 48th wedding anniversary of Mrs. Grimm's parents, Mr. and Mrs. H. D. Dickerson of Long Island. (Bristow) |
1947-06-22 | Education | The continued growth of the Immaculate Conception School was marked at the annual commencement held at the Church in Darlington. Twenty-six diplomas were awarded under the direction of Rev. Lester A. Quinn. He announced that there were 184 students in the school. The classes ranged in size from eleven in grade 7 to thirty-six in grade 1. The 3rd, 5th, and 6th grades each had twenty-five. Except for John Lamoureaux in the 7th grade, and Francis Podgorski in the 2nd grade, the prizes for having the highest average in each grade were won by girls. The Sister Miriam Teresa award for scholastic excellence among the graduates went to another boy, Charles Sullivan. Rose Kulken was runner-up. (Bristow) |
1947-06-22 | People | The Lutheran Church in Airmont was the site of the wedding of Robert McManua of Pompton and Mildred Johnson, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Evald Johnson of Nelson Avenue, Mahwah. The bride wore a gown made of material secured by the groom during his service in Korea. He had recently been discharged after three years in the U. S. Army. The bride was employed by the National Retail Association of New York. She was a graduate of Ramsey High School. After a honeymoon in western North Carolina they were to live in Mahwah. (Bristow) |
1948-06-22 | Military | The newly organized Women's Auxiliary of the Mahwah Memorial Post of the Veterans of Foreign Wars elected its first offices in a meeting held at the Twin Bars Restaurant. Thirty-two members were present at the meeting which was presided over by the District President of the VFW Auxiliaries, Mrs. Bertha Bullis. Miss Mary Speich was chosen President. Other officers were Miss Mary Borish, Senior Vice-President, Miss Pauline Popalawski, Junior Vice-President, Miss Ann Warguski, Treasurer, and Miss Margaret Borish, Chaplain. Twelve other posts were also filled at the meeting. The installation of the new officers was to take place at the next meeting on July 12th, also at Twin Bars. (Bristow) |
1888-06-23 | Sports | Mr. Shuart's trotter "Oweno Maid" was matched against John Robinson's horse "Belle Paris" in a stakes race for the purse of $500. When Shuart's horse did not toe the mark Robinson offered to refund Shuart's $250. This was considered a very honorable act on Robinson's part but everybody understood that the money was rightfully his. (Bristow) |
1901-06-23 | Government | A large crew of men is busy installing the poles of the telephone line to Havermeyer's. (Bristow) |
1908-06-23 | People | George Crocker was operated on for stomach cancer. Some noted doctors are at his bedside in his Darlington mansion. (Bristow) |
1910-06-23 | Religion | At a congregational meeting the following officers of the Ramapo Reformed Church were selected: Elders for two years: Andrew J. Winter, John T. Henion. For one year: Ira Whaley Deacons for two years: David Hopper, Harry Z. Sturr. For one year: E. F. Carpenter, Martin M. Henion |
1921-06-23 | Education | Fifteen were graduated from the Mahwah School before an audience of over 300 people in the school auditorium. The class officers were: President, Emma Ackerman; Vice President, Jennie Reich; Treasurer and Secretary, Helen Weitzman. Miss Reich won the Women's Club prize for having the highest average, Henrietta Winter was runner up. Mr. I. B. Tiedeman, President of the Board of Education presented the diplomas and attendance certificates. The graduates (in addition to those named): Mahwah: Irene Archady, Maud Schenck, Beatrice Quackenbush, Mike Kudrick, Andrew Kwnasick, Henry Jacobson; Masonicus: Olive Coe; Darlington: Elsie Hesland, Mary Sisco, John Burns, Fred Swin. (Bristow) |
1926-06-23 | Recreation | Eleven members of the Church Aid Society spent a most enjoyable afternoon at the Team-Play Lodge in Suffern. The downpour did not interfere with singing, entertainment, and refreshments enjoyed around the open fire by the visitors who were the guests of Miss Grisewold and the Blind Girls Association. The Blind Girls have asked the Mahwah Girl Scouts to teach them a course in nature study during the summer. Captain Olive Eggars took charge of the program which is to take place on Thursday of each week during July and August. |
1926-06-23 | Real Estate | With the passage of legislation in Trenton and Albany assuring the building of the trans-Hudson Bridge at 178th St., Bergen County was reported to be experiencing a real estate boom. Prices were reported to be rising in all sections of the county. Improvements in the rapid transit system, which in those days meant trolley lines, and in bus systems in what was described as "the likelihood of the further development of the vehicular tunnel system" all pointed to a greater attraction toward northwestern New Jersey of some of the population of overcrowded Manhattan. The location of the proposed bridge was such, according to a press release from the Bergen County Realtors Association, made Bergen especially attractive to "the vast army of dweller" in "the Harlem Section" of New York. "Bergen County is richly blessed with an attractive landscape, well-kept roads, inviting homes, splendid views, and up-to-date transportation accommodations", said the article. Bergen County, "was never so much on the map as it is today" stated an article in the Jersey Journal. (Bristow) |
1947-06-23 | Police | In Recorder Frank Young's court, a Brooklyn man paid a $3 fine for speeding on Route 17, and a Suffern man paid one of $25 for violating an unnamed local ordinance. The cost of driving on a suspended license was a whopping $100 fine as Sylvester Topnick of Island Road found out to his regret. $2 in court costs were added on top of the C note. Sgt. Ted Wickham brought in the charge. (Bristow) |
1956-06-23 | Recreation | Mahwah Explorer Scout Steven Schimoff of Airmount Rd. was one of five chosen from Bergen County to attend a two-week conservation encampment at Camp Edge near Alloway. In addition to fishing and hunting skills the Scouts studied marsh ecology and took part in a duck brood census. They were expected to assist in conservation training in their own communities. (Bristow) |
1965-06-23 | Education | 305 graduates made up the largest class in the six year history of Mahwah High School. This was expected to be the last such large class since students from Allendale and Upper Saddle River would no longer attend Mahwah in the fall. Joseph Chopek, the class President, received the Elementary PTA Award for the highest academic achievement. A variety of $100 awards from Celco honored Karen Pryde for Foreign Language proficiency, Richard K. Kunzelmen for Science, Gary Montross for Mathematics, and Winfred Shaw for English. Thunderbird Scholarships went to 15 graduates, and 40 Seniors received Margaret Wehren Awards consisting of $25 savings bonds. (Bristow) |
1965-06-23 | Disasters | Funeral services were held for Frederick M. Kanning, 28, of Bath Court Mahwah, who was killed in an automobile accident on Route 17. He and his wife Linda were driving north after the tenth anniversary reunion of the Ramsey High School Class of 1955 held at the Swiss Chalet in Ramsey. He lost control of his car and slammed into the bridge railing where Route 17 crosses over Route 202. Both occupants were hurled out of the car and fell down onto Route 202 below. He was pronounced dead at the scene and his wife was taken to Good Samaritan Hospital in critical condition, suffering from several fractures and severe cuts. She was declared out of danger two days later. Kanning was the son of Dr. and Mrs. Frederick Kanning of Allendale. After graduation he had served in the Navy aboard the USS Bennington. In addition to his wife he was survived by a son, Frederick Jr., eight months old, two brothers, one serving on the USS Ben Franklin at the Groton Submarine Base, his parents, and two grandparents. A special Fireman's service was held on the 23rd, attended by members of both the Mahwah and Allendale Fire Departments. (Bristow) |
1966-06-23 | Transportation | Most Mahwah residents who attended the Public Hearing on the route for the final section of Route 287 came away from the meeting with representatives of the State Highway Department convinced that the State had no intention of altering the proposed route through Mahwah. Among the speakers was James A. McFaul, executive secretary of the Bergen County Park Commission who protested the impact of the route on the Campgaw Reservation. The state officials did promise to study the cost of the suggested changes in the route made by Mahwah representatives. (Bristow) |
1699-06-24 | Real Estate | Patent verifies earlier grant of land by Oratam, chief of the Hackensack tribe to Sarah Roeloffse, mother of Blandina, Mahwah's first landowner. (Bristow) |
1893-06-24 | Transportation | As a result of a petition by a number of commuters concerning the lack of any train between 11:00 AM and 3:00 PM, especially on Saturdays, General Passenger Agent Roberts has arranged a regular stop at Mahwah for the half-holiday Special to stop here at 12:30 on Saturdays. (Bristow) |
1911-06-24 | People | The ticket taker in the Mahwah Depot, who lives in Suffern, narrowly escaped serious injury when a group of Mahwah young men intercepted him returning from a visit to his girlfriend. They threatened to tear his clothing off and tar and feather him if he did not stay away from the girl. He is reported to have a wife and child already. The group was said to have included members of the best families in Mahwah. (Bristow) |
1920-06-24 | People | Frank J. Rothhaupt and his new bride Mildred Dator left on their wedding trip in a brand new Ford sedan. They were married in the Sacred Heart R. C. Church in Suffern. Mrs. Frances Nidd, sister of the bride and George Rothhaupt, brother of the groom were their attendants. The destination of their trip was kept secret. (Bristow) |
1942-06-24 | Military | Mrs. George O'Brien was hostess for another successful meeting of the Canteen Club of which she was President. As is the custom, various members cooked recipes suitable for canteen work and explained how they were prepared. Mrs. Charles DuPuy did the main dish, Mrs. H. A. Scmitt, the salad, and Mrs. Norman Grisewood the formula for the dessert. Mrs. Holland provided the tea and coffee. Arm bands were distributed for the members who would be participating with other defense workers in the July 4th parade. (Bristow) |
1943-06-24 | Transportation | Undaunted by wartime shortages Township Road Superintendent Jack Glasgow devised his own road patching machine. At the cost of about $75 he combined an 80 gallon kitchen hot water boiler, mounted on the base of an old concrete mixer, an air compressor, a fuel oil burner, and a garden hose and nozzle to heat and spread the tar binder. With this he was able to fill up the pot holes in the Township roads damaged during the previous winter. (Bristow) |
1953-06-24 | Charity | Delbert Replogle, President of the Volunteer Committee concerned with the People of the Ramapo, addressed a meeting of forty people at the Presbyterian Church in Ramsey. The committee was formed under the auspices of the Quaker American Friends Service Committee to do something on a local level for the Ramapo Mountain People. Mrs. Vers Stomms, school nurse, spoke of the urgent need for a baby clinic and a day nursery where working mothers could leave their children. The Rev. George Mann, the Pastor of the mountain church spoke of the struggle to find adequate housing and the need for supervised recreation and some way to overcome community prejudice. He spoke, particularly of the small bands of community children who set out on foot for the local swimming concession only to return having been refused admission. Professor Warren Smith of Penn State University explained the Friends Work Camp which will serve the community during the summer. Sixteen young people recruited by the AFSC were to spend 8 weeks largely at their own expense to help in the community. Mr. Replogle explained that the original plan was for the young people to work with community residents in building a community educational center to meet the need for a first aid station, day care facility and recreation and meeting place, but this met with some community resistance and the Township Board would not issue the required building permit. Instead the work camp would grade the property bought for the center and build an addition onto the Grove Street AME Zion Church. He said that the idea was to work with, not against people. (Bristow) |
1954-06-24 | Government | The Stag Hill Civic League received its charter in ceremonies at their meeting. Arthur Chapin, the Director of Human Relations for the CIO presented the document and gave an inspiring speech. The group thanked Mr. Chapin and his Secretary Betty Stevens for their gift of a handsome binder for their constitution and by-laws. Also present for the ceremonies were Mrs. Vers Bartholf of Fardale, a member of the Board of Education, and Rev. George Mann of West Mahwah. (Bristow) |
1965-06-24 | People | Lt. Peter Hedley of Ramsey took over command of the U.S.S. Limpkin in Charleston, SC. He had been graduated from the Merchant Marine Academy in 1960. The ceremony was witnessed by Hedley's parents and his wife, the former Pat Oaksmith of Mahwah. (Bristow) |
1965-06-24 | Transportation | The Township Committee accused the State Highway Department of deceit and duplicity for having scheduled a public hearing in Franklin Lakes on the route of the proposed Route 287 without consulting Mahwah. After the first announcement of the route in February there had been a meeting with Mahwah officials in which they had asked for changes in the route to avoid some prime residential properties. The planned public hearing, scheduled for July 15th at 10:30 AM, showed the route unchanged from the original plans. The road was to enter Mahwah from Franklin Lakes near the intersection of Campgaw Road and Youngs Road, past Darlington Lake and Valley Road and intersecting with Route 17 at the foot of Stag Hill Road. The Township officials had asked for a route between the announced route and Valley Road since this was less used land. The Committee members expressed shock at having their wishes completely ignored. They vowed to take further steps to stop the plans. (Bristow) |
1965-06-24 | Business | The Township Committee extended the welcome mat to the Duro-Test Corporation. Committeeman Peter L. Murphy suggested that the Company, whose request for a new factory site had been turned down by Allendale for lack of a suitable industrial zone, be invited to inspect Mahwah's advantages. Mahwah has such spaces, Murphy pointed out. Several sites were near the highway or the railroad and already zoned for industry. Besides, he commented, "We can use the ratable." (Bristow) |
1985-06-24 | Education | Robert A. Scott becomes President of Ramapo College. He replaces Acting President Sidney Silverman who served after the resignation of founding President George T. Potter. Scott came to Ramapo from the post of director of academic affairs at the Indiana Commission for Higher Education. He is a former Professor of Anthropology at Cornell University. (Bristow) |
1888-06-25 | Crime | A case against Mr. and Mr. G. A. Hector was dismissed for insufficient evidence. They had been accused of having lured two Ramsey women, Carrie Haight and Adeline Smith, from their homes for "immoral purposes". (Bristow) |
1908-06-25 | Recreation | A new organization of horse lovers has been formed, the Ramsey Driving Club. They have refurbished the old track just north of the village, have added a new grandstand to hold 200 spectators and a new judge's stand. The first meet will be held on July 4th. Fifteen horses are to race (Unfortunately a steady downpour caused the cancellation of the event.) (Bristow) |
1916-06-25 | Disasters | John Vitus, 22, a Russian, who was returning from a Polish wedding in West Mahwah was struck by the Chicago express. He suffered fractures of six ribs and a collar bone, and internal injuries. He is not expected to live. He and another guest were walking down the tracks and stopped in front of Scherer's to watch a New York train go by. Although the engineer of the express repeatedly blew his whistle the two young men did not hear it. At the last minute they tried to run beyond the iron fence which protects the side of the tracks. His companion escaped but Vitus was struck. He was taken to Good Samaritan Hospital. (Bristow) |
1918-06-25 | Military | The Canning Kitchen has moved from Mrs. James Devine's home to the Henrietta Building. The Club has many fine displays of the work they are doing. (Bristow) |
1929-06-25 | Real Estate | To some people Cragmere Park was essentially a summer resort during its early years. Many homes were not insulated for winter living and were closed during the colder months. As time went on most residents remained all year, but some continued their part-time occupancy. One such family was that of Mr. and Mrs. William O. Sargant. They returned to their Cragmere residence, along with their daughter Marjorie, having closed their apartment in Ridgewood until the fall. They took a break between homes by driving to Northampton, Mass. to attend the graduation exercises at Smith College. On the way home they visited for a few days with former Mahwah resident Mrs. Eleanor C. Bugg at her Clinton, Conn. home. (Bristow) |
1931-06-25 | Recreation | The annual opening of the bass season in New Jersey prompted the Fish and Game Commission to urge men to get out and fish. This might help them to get their minds off the Depression and help put food on the table of the unemployed. The sale of fishing licenses during the trout and pike seasons broke all records. Some trout streams were fished out several times during the season and had to be restocked from the fish hatchery in Hackettstown. Anglers were urged to cooperate in the enforcement of the fishing regulations so that the policy of liberal restocking could be continued. (Bristow) |
1939-06-25 | People | The Church of the Sacred Heart in Suffern was the site of the wedding of Ann Snack of Railroad Ave. Mahwah, and Louis Miraglio of Suffern. The bride was the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Michael J. Snack of Mahwah. After a reception in the old Masonic Hall in Suffern, which featured dancing to Joey Reich and his Orchestra, the couple left for a one-week wedding trip. They took up residence on Railroad Avenue after their return. (Bristow) |
1939-06-25 | People | The Immaculate Heart of Mary Church was the site of a solemn High Mass to celebrate the marriage of Miss Jeannie Krupinski, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John Krupinski of Valley Road, Mahwah, and Mathew Pillis, son of Mrs. Lilian Pillis of Ramapo Avenue. Celebrating the Mass was pastor of the church Rev. Robert Wieczorek. Miss Krupinski had been organist and choir director of the church for eight years. After a reception at the Hotel Lafayette in Suffern the couple departed for a trip to Niagara Falls. (Bristow) |
1947-06-25 | Recreation | A very successful benefit bridge lawn party was held by the Woman's Club at the home of Mrs. George Kuck with over eighty guests present. Mrs. William Brainard won the electric percolator which had been donated by Suffern's Country Home Service, 100 Lafayette Ave. Sherer's donated the candy. The proceeds were to go for a dental chair for the Mahwah School. Mrs. J. R. Von Maur was the Chairman of the affair. Mrs. Arthur Winter won the door prize, although one wonders what door there might have been at a lawn party. (Bristow) |
1958-06-25 | Crime | New Jersey Supreme Court unanimously denied appeal of Edgar H. Smith of his co-victim for murdering Victoria Zielinski in 1957. (Bristow) |
1965-06-25 | Sports | Statistics released confirmed that the Mahwah High School Thunderbird baseball team was one of the more successful ones in the school's six year history. Three players hit over .300. Leading the team was Dave Mihok who pitched 50 innings, striking out 62. He hit .409 in earning a 5-3 record on the mound. Also hitting .300 or more were third baseman Gene Tremblay and first baseman John Peyman. The team's overall record was 12-6 which earned them a tie for second place in the Northern Bergen Interscholastic League where their record was 11-5. (Bristow) |
1985-06-25 | Police | Mahwah Police Sergeant Sam Alderisio was named Police Chief by Mayor Kraus and the Town Council. Alderisio had been a member of the force for 20 years and a Sergeant since 1973. His son, Tony, was one of five Troop 50 Scouts to be advanced to the rank of Eagle this year. (Bristow) |
1872-06-26 | Politics | Representing Hohokus Township at the New Jersey State Democratic Convention were ex-Governor R. M. Price and A. G. Garroson. The Bergen Democrat reported that there was quite a contest between Governor Price and A. G. Hardenburg from Harrington, but Hardenberg got the nomination as County Delegate. (Bristow) |
1910-06-26 | Police | Two motorists, H. B. Palmer of Tenafly and Charles Kohler of Mahwah have been charged with speeding in Mahwah and must appear before Justice Brett. The charges were made by State Inspectors who clock autos with a chronometer from a motorcycle. Another summons has been issued to a driver from Hackensack for going 45 miles per hour through Mahwah. (Bristow) |
1917-06-26 | Charity | The fund drive of the Red Cross ended with a total of nearly $12,000 raised. The goal of the North Bergen Chapter had been set at $5,000. Mahwah: $9,262.05 Saddle River: $1,025.53 Allendale: $912.48 Ramsey: $555.09 Waldwick: $221.95 Total: $11,977.10 More is supposed to come in from Ramsey and Allendale. |
1921-06-26 | People | Dr. A. Vennema, the former Pastor of the Ramapo Reformed Church gave a memorial sermon for his successor who died suddenly on the 23rd. The children of the congregation had a special service at 2:00 PM the time of Dr. Farrar's funeral in Brooklyn. It was presided over by Miss Rachel Winter, Superintendent of the Primary Department of the Sunday School. When Dr. Farrar's body had been removed from the Parsonage the school children had strewn the ground with flowers and stood at attention while the flag was lowered to half mast. (See xeroxed copy of Dr. Farrar's obituary.) (Summary of Dr. Vennema's sermon on p. 8.) (Bristow) |
1929-06-26 | Crime | A noontime raid was carried out by officers from the county Prosecutors office and the Ramsey Police on a still on Airmount Road, near the Mahwah border. As Chief Charles Straut and his fellow officers turned into the driveway of an old farm they could hear an alarm bell ringing. When they arrived at the ticket barn in back of the house they found no humans but plenty of signs of recent activity. There was a half-eaten lunch on the table and a big kettle of mash cooking. Further investigation disclosed that an addition with a concrete floor had been built onto the old barn. The still contained five vats containing 2,700 gallons of what proved to be ale in various states of fermentation. Apparently the brew was aged a full two days before being placed in barrels and sold. There was a supply of uncooked food in the house and some children's clothing hanging on the line. The Rockland Electric Company reported that an electric meter had been installed the week before. A water meter had also been recently put in, but it had not been read yet, since the quarter did not end until the 30th. The farm had once belonged to the Litchult family, but it had been sold to Kopf and more recently to a Paterson man, Charles Bush. There were some good clues as to who had been living in the house, including a report from neighbors that a car had been seen in the driveway bearing a Sussex County plate. The police discovered that a string had been carefully stretched across the driveway. When it was broken by an entering car it rang the alarm bell allowing the bootleggers to escape. There was no report as to whether any of the raiders had sampled the quality of the illegal moonshine. (The making of ale had been banned with all other alcoholic beverages as a result of the passage of the 18th amendment to the U.S. Constitution in 1919. It was not to be repealed until 1933.) (Bristow) |
1930-06-26 | Crime | Chief Smith took three children from Campgaw Road down to the Police Station in Glen Rock to attempt an identification. A complaint had been made that a man in a Chevrolet Coupe had "acted in a lewd manner " toward them. They had written down the license number of the car. It was traced to a Glen Rock police officer. When confronted with the officer they were unable to make an identification. Although other leads were followed up in the case, no arrest was made. (Bristow) |
1931-06-26 | Crime | Mrs. Utter, who operated a roadside stand described as being at "the State Line" called Chief Smith to report that her stand had been broken into. The list of the stolen articles may provide some readers with a reminder of times past: Lollypops, Life Savers, Beech Nut drops, Babe Ruth bars, Amos and Andy bars, Sauerkraut bars, Fischer's Fudge, Necco Wafers, Cough Drops, Cracker Jacks, Cheese logs, fruit cakes, pickles, also Old Gold, Chesterfield, Fatimas, and Lucky Strike cigarettes and three boxes of La Paloma cigars. Although the State Police assisted in the investigation, there is no record that any of the stolen goods were recovered. (Bristow) |
1933-06-26 | Crime | At 4:00 AM an unknown young man stole a gum machine valued at about $30 from the Mahwah Diner. Despite a police watch on all roads to the North and the broadcasting of an alarm over the county police radio in Hackensack the thief was not apprehended. (Bristow) |
1935-06-26 | Education | Among the Cragmere children graduated from School No. 2 at the annual commencement ceremonies were Jeanne Buhlman, Yvonne Boursault, Suzanne Chapman, Bonnie Waterman, and Robert Boucher. The same week Doris Dator, Priscilla Ritter, Anna Brunsky, Richard King, and Robert Fairservice were graduated from Ramsey High School. (Bristow) |
1948-06-26 | Fire Department | The members of both Mahwah Fire Companies and their auxiliaries marched in the annual parade of the New Jersey and New York Firemen's Association held in perfect weather at Lyndhurst. The men took sixth place for their appearance. One truck and a sufficient number of members were left behind to protect Mahwah during the festivities. (Bristow) |
1965-06-26 | People | A former assistant football coach at Mahwah High School, Bob Sawyer, signed a contract to teach and be assistant football and track coach at Kinnelon High School. He was considered to have been one of the best football players ever to have performed for Ramsey High, from where he graduated in 1955. He went on to Wyoming University where he starred at fullback. He was signed by the New York Giants and was one of the last players cut before the opening of the season. He went on to play in the Canadian league. After his stint in Mahwah he went on to be an assistant coach at Clarkstown High School in Rockland County before accepting the Kinnelon post. (Bristow) |
1895-06-27 | People | Assessor John Ackerman has completed the State Census of Hohokus Township. Excluding those who live within a half mile of the Ramsey Depot the count was: Dwelling houses 329 White Males 645 "Colored" Males 131 Under 5 Males 100 5-20 Males 261 20-60 Males 472 Over 60 Males 42 Families 363 White Females 669 "Colored" Females 113 Under 5 Females 103 5-20 Females 470 20-60 Females 401 Over 60 Females 64 |
1910-06-27 | Crime | The thieves who broke into the Mahwah Station were believed to be hobos. They forced one of the waiting room doors and broke open a number of packages in the express room. There seems to have been nothing of value for them to steal. (Bristow) |
1918-06-27 | Business | The Brakeshoe is giving up their store and selling out the merchandise at cost. The building, the Robert Johnson homestead, has been leased to a Polish organization. (Bristow) |
1926-06-27 | People | Among the Mahwah young people home from the summer for colleges and universities were Henrietta Winter, a freshman at New Jersey State College, Mabel King, also from her first year at Trenton Normal School, and Melvin Lane, who had completed his studies at Harvard Law School. Lane must have found the final exams very strenuous since he was very ill for several days after returning home. Miss King had no such problems, she left almost immediately to take up her duties as nature counsellor at the Girl Scout Camp in Rahway. (Bristow) |
1929-06-27 | Recreation | Several more serious books were among the new arrivals on the library shelves. Ulrich B. Phillips "Life and Labor in the Old South", long considered a standard account of the slave system, and two studies related to World War I, "Foch Speaks", a memoir by the Supreme Allied Commander in the war, and Siegfried Sassoon's "Memoirs of a Fox-Hunting Man", the first volume of his anti-war autobiography in fictional form. (Bristow) |
1929-06-27 | Recreation | The talking picture revolution was not complete in 1929. The Lafayette Theatre's attractions for the week did include an "all talking comedy" Strong Boy with Victor McLaghlen and "the three musketeers of filmdom" Farrell Macdonald, Clyde Cook, and "Slim" Summerville. But they also featured the gorgeous Corine Griffith and Ian Keith in a film adaptation of Ferenc Molnar's "Prisoners". She plays a poor peasant who tried to capture the fancy of a lawyer by stealing a $500 sequined dress for a party. When he still ignores her she rips the gown off her body and tears it to shreds. The film was advertised as being "50% talking". No doubt her monumental rage was part of the talking part. (Bristow) |
1931-06-27 | Crime | State Trooper Darnell of the Waldwick station reported to Chief Smith that five bundles of wooden shingles, which had been reported missing from the American Brake Shoe Company, had been seen "in the woods" between two houses during the early evening of June 25th. When the two went up to investigate, strange to relate, they were no longer there and no one claimed to have seen them. (Bristow) |
1939-06-27 | Crime | A mad dog broke away from a leash at the home of Elizabeth Wastog on First Street in Mahwah. Before he could be destroyed by police he had bitten four persons, a dog, and a calf. The WPA workers on a project near Airmount Road were the first to be attacked. Later France Haight of Hillburn Rd. was attacked and a dog owned by Mrs. A. L. Jacobson, and a calf belonging to R. A. Retz were attacked before officer Ted Wickham shot him. The head was sent to Bergen Pines for testing. Township Health Inspector, Dr. J. F. Liddy treated the human victims. Chief of Police Charles E. Smith urged that anyone else who might have been bitten come forward for treatment. He reminded residents that dogs were not allowed to run loose. (Bristow) |
1942-06-27 | Sports | Representing Mahwah at the Eastern Archery Association's annual championship were Willie Cheney, Arthur Wilcox, and Lee Fisher. They were among the nearly 200 competitors and spectators at the competition, held at Connecticut State College at Storrs. Both Wilcox and Fisher won target prizes, and Fisher took third place in the flight shoot. (Bristow) |
1942-06-27 | People | Rita Courtney held a party in honor of LeRoy Russell's scheduled induction into the armed services in a few days. In addition to the hostess, among the girls present were Blythe Kennedy, Jean Scherer, Irene and Gloria Sandberg, and Faith Slavin. Among the boys were Ralph Valentine, Ronald Estabrook, William Jackson, Robert Seibert, and John Beers. LeRoy was presented with a handsome wallet to keep his $21 a month in. (Bristow) |
1947-06-27 | Business | At the monthly meeting of the Board of the Mahwah Savings and Loan, mortgages totaling $52,200 were approved, three of these for $20,000 to veterans. Most of the mortgages were for the construction of six houses. Checks to holders of shares on the Association's income of over $300,000 were to be mailed on June 30th. (Bristow) |
1951-06-27 | Fire Department | The headline in the Ramsey Journal read "Mahwah Firemen Cheer as Fire Burns in Tavern". The event was the burning of the $1500 note for the purchase of their 1948 ambulance, bought in 1950 for $4,585. They then owned it free and clear and only had to worry about the $1,000 for expenses which the Corp needed to keep operating. Chairman Allen Dixon, Captain C. Smith, and Lieutenant L. Dorbacher presided over the incineration. The Corps had driven over 1700 miles and contributed 342 hours of free service to the community. All Corpsmen were members of the Mahwah Fire Company No. 1. (Bristow) |
1893-06-28 | Business | An ice cream parlor has been opened in what was formerly the meat market by the village barber. He only arrived here about ten days ago. He said he was surprised at the number of customers he has had in his barber shop. (Bristow) |
1900-06-28 | Recreation | Mr. William D. Ramsey has attracted such large crowds of people from all over the township for the past few Sunday afternoons to listen to his beautiful new Edison phonograph that he held a public free concert at Dater Hall in Ramsey. Fifty selections by the Sousa Band, quartets, solos, comic songs, recitations, and many others were played and could be heard throughout the crowded hall. The evening was opened by selections by the Saalfield Band. (Bristow) |
1900-06-28 | Charity | Mrs. A. B. Darling opened her cottage for an outing of about 50 children of the Henry Street Settlement. She has had the old Henion Homestead redecorated as a meeting house of the newly organized Kings Daughters. The group is busy sewing clothing for a group of Fresh Air waifs from the tenements of New York City who will be brought out to enjoy the fresh, pure country air. (Bristow) |
1918-06-28 | Disasters | Fire completely destroyed a barn full of hay on Island Rd., belonging to Albert Winter. By the time the fire company arrived there was little they could do but protect nearby buildings. Even with only a light breeze blowing, burning shingles were carried a considerable distance. Finally the firemen used a wire to pull the burning building over so that it would not burn so high. The loss may exceed $1,000. The cause is a mystery since no one had been in the barn for several days. (Bristow) |
1931-06-28 | Crime | Phillip Lyman reported that his 12 gauge, double barreled shotgun had been stolen from him "in the woods on the Fike Road." The exact circumstances of the theft were not explained. Chief Smith recovered the firearm the next day. It had already been sold to one of the mountain residents. Chief Smith arrested the seller and had him committed to the County Jail in default of bond. (Bristow) |
1935-06-28 | Recreation | Arthur R. Wilcox of Alcott Road was $200 richer because of his skills at solving a mystery. He won first prize from the Colgate radio program for his ingenious solution to a crime problem presented by the noted radio personality and criminologist Professor Findley. His solution used only three words. It was the first correct answer given from among the many thousands sent in. (Bristow) |
1942-06-28 | Military | New Jersey Governor Edison Edge rejected the plan for a reduction in street lighting as proposed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in case of a war emergency. Writing for the New Jersey Municipalities, he said that except in times of an actual air raid, any brownout or reduction in the size of street lamps would interfere with our primary purpose, the production of war goods. Any reduction would result in "added traffic hazards without any significant decrease in case of detection and identification from the air", he wrote. (Bristow) |
1945-06-28 | Military | Mahwah reached the 99% point in its Seventh War Loan Drive quota. Mahwah Township Chairman Havilah M. Smith thanked drive Treasurer Harry S. Ripley and Assistant Treasurer C. Barnwell Straut who had been spending two nights each week checking sales and making up reports. The drive had reached $64,425 out of a goal of $65,000. Fardale chairman Alfred Heflin said that he was sure that his area could come up with $75. If all the divisions did as well the quote could be met. (Bristow) |
1954-06-28 | Education | The latest round of Austin v. Board of Education was played out at the Board meeting. Austin wrote to the Board stating that he was attending the meeting and would be available for any services they might need from him. He also returned a check for $135.98 marked "Severance Pay". He wrote that he would not accept anything less than payment for the full term of his contract. He considered himself still Superintendent of Schools because he had tenure. An interesting sidelight on the case was revealed at the meeting when a teacher, Louise J. Assinen, resigned her job citing the "uncertain circumstances" existing in the Mahwah school system. During the public session Willis Cheney demanded an estimate from Board Attorney Warhol of what the costs might be for pursuing appeals in the Austin case. In answer to Cheney's question Warhol stated that the cost depends on the amount of time the appeal would take. The Board then proceeded to vote to deny Austin the right to hold a teachers' meeting, rejected any reports he might choose to make, and authorized the Board Secretary to sign any papers and reports normally signed by the Superintendent. Attorney Warhol stated that he would not argue before the State Education Commissioner concerning continuity of service after June 30th, the normal date for the expiration of Superintendents' contracts. He would base his entire argument on the minutes of the April 18th meeting when Austin presented his resignation. (Bristow) |
1965-06-28 | Government | Gov. Richard Hughes granted partial exemptions to Mahwah, Allendale, and Ramsey from the water use restrictions which had been imposed on four counties. With the relaxed rules residents could fill their pools, wash their cars, and water their lawns up to three times per week. Street washing was discontinued and water would not be served in restaurants unless requested. Residents were urged to call the water department about questions concerning the new rules. The police department had been overwhelmed by so many calls that it was feared some emergency would not receive prompt attention. (Bristow) |
1988-06-28 | Business | Ground was broken for a new United States headquarters for Jaguar Cars Inc. The proposed $25 million dollar structure was to be built on a 20-acre site at the McBride Office and Research Center on MacArthur Boulevard. Present for the symbolic ceremony were, among others, W. Peter McBride, president of McBride Enterprises, Jaguar's President Graham W. Whitehead, and Sir James Mellon, Consul General in New York for the United Kingdom. (Bristow) |
1874-06-29 | People | William Sears of Mahwah has sued John A. Zabriskie of Saddle River for a portion of his wages as a farm laborer. He is being represented by lawyer DeBaun who has developed a reputation as a crack trial lawyer locally. The case will be held before Squire Christie (on the 29th). Sears claims that he contracted to work for a year for $690. Zabriskie had paid him $360 and refused to pay the balance when Sears said he would not stay on another year. (Trial was eventually set for August 10th.) (Bristow) |
1895-06-29 | People | John Banta of Mahwah and friends from Suffern and Ramsey camped out at "Negro Pond"* for the weekend. They took a two horse team, 6 hounds, cooking utensils, a tent, and a boat. They set up camp and fished night and day. Despite the rain they caught many fish and were quite comfortable on a bed of boughs in their tent. (Bristow) *now Cranberry Pond |
1896-06-29 | People | J. O. Donner of Darlington has sold out his entire stable of blooded stock of horses. He shipped 62 head (26 horses, 2 stallions, 8 colts, and 16 brood mares) to C. Hood, Gallatin, TN. (Bristow) |
1910-06-29 | People | Miss Blanche Lewis sailed on the Lusitania for a tour of the British Isles and France. (Bristow) |
1920-06-29 | Religion | A reception was held at the Chapel for the Congregation of the Reformed Church to meet the new Pastor Rev. Dr. James M. Farrar and his wife. (Bristow) |
1926-06-29 | Recreation | The Fortitude Fellowcraft Club of Ramsey gave a surprise party for about 75 guests, about half of those invited to a mystery event. No one knew in advance what was to transpire, but all seemed to enjoy the revelry and food which followed. Two highlights of the evening were informal talks by Congressman Perkins and Harold Kinkaid of Waldwick who exhibited photographs Randolph had taken in the recent aviation investigation in Washington. Kinkaid was recently released from Spitsbergen, Norway where he had been the mechanic in charge of Admiral Byrd's plane before his recent flight over the North Pole on May 9th. Byrd made his flight just two days before Amundson, the first man to reach the South Pole, duplicated Byrd's feat in a dirigible. Kinkaid provided many inside tips about the flight which had not appeared in the newspapers. (Bristow) |
1937-06-29 | Disasters | Scoutmaster Douglas O'Brien was driving home from the Troop 50 meeting with a group of his scouts when he was struck by a hit and run driver. He was turning into King Street when the second car behind him side swiped his car and sped off. Fortunately there were no injuries and the car was only slightly damaged. The driver of the other car was not apprehended. (Bristow) |
1938-06-29 | Crime | When a New York motorist paid for five gallons of gas with a $5.00 bill, Joseph Cox, the proprietor of a gas station on Route 2, wrote down his license number, as he always did when customers gave him very large bills. The next day the bank refused the bill as counterfeit. The police were notified and an alarm sent out on the Bergen County police network and the State Police teletype. The motorist was picked up when he came back for more gas, but he convinced the Police that he had himself been the victim of the counterfeiter. The driver was out the money since he had to make good on the counterfeit bill. (Bristow) |
1942-06-29 | Recreation | A group of sixteen young gardeners met at the home of Mrs. Charles Plumb to learn flower arranging. They intended to enter the Mahwah Garden Club's show in September in the most effective way possible. The members of the Garden Club Junior Committee sponsored the class. Mrs. D. A. Parker was Chairman with assistance from Mrs. H. A. Schmidt and Mrs. Irwin Doty, as well as Mrs. Plumb. Mrs. Ralph Seberry agreed to criticize the arrangements and made very helpful suggestions to the young exhibitors. (Bristow) |
1947-06-29 | Recreation | Among the new library books acquired by the Mahwah Library were Tynbee's "A Study of History", "Full Moon" by P. G. Wodehouse, "Kingsblood Royal" by Sinclair Lewis, and Edna Lewis's "The Web of Days". (Bristow) |
1953-06-29 | Business | Isaac and Virginia Bogert, owners of a Mahwah trailer court on Pulis Ave., sued in Hackensack Superior Court to overturn a Township ordinance prohibiting the parking of any trailer in Mahwah for more than two hours. The ordinance was adopted to protect the health and safety of town residents, according to its preamble. It was adopted on April 16th and went into effect May 1st. Township officials contended that water and sewage facilities were inadequate for such a facility. The Bogerts pointed out that they established their camp long before the ordinance went into effect, and that they have their own well and septic facilities. The park was for long-term residents, not transients, they contended. They asserted that their place is neat and orderly and not in the least objectionable. They and their five resident families asked that the ordinance be set aside as illegal. (Bristow) |
1953-06-29 | People | Troop 50's Junior Assistant Scoutmaster John Shoemaker won one of scouting's highest and rarest awards, the "God and Country" citation. The requirements include a strong recommendation from the Scout's church or temple, a high level of knowledge about his religion, 100 hours of church service, and a review by a board of clergymen drawn from all parts of the Scout Council. Shoemaker, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Shoemaker of Miller Road, is a member of the Christian Science Church of Suffern. (Bristow) |
1965-06-29 | Crime | A portable television set proved to be just that at the Western Auto store in the Interstate Shopping Center in Ramsey. Al De Feo, the shop owner, signed a complaint about the theft of his TV to the Ramsey Borough Police. The County Police placed three New York City residents under arrest when they stopped them on Route 4 heading for the city with their new acquisition. The two men were sent to the County jail for failure to make bond. Their female companion was released on $250 bail. (Bristow) |
1760-06-30 | People | Hendrick Laroe's will was probated. (Bristow) |
1898-06-30 | Military | Four special trains of volunteers passed through Mahwah en route to California. They will go to Manila to take part in the war against Spain. (Bristow) |
1899-06-30 | Education | At the commencement exercises of the Darlington School a number of fine musical selections and recitations were given. Among the essays by the graduates were "Travel and its Advantages" by Ada Henion, "The Girl of the Period" by Julia Whelen, and the Valedictory "Newspapers and their Influence" roundly criticizing 'yellow journalism' by Lizzie Valentine. (Bristow) |
1907-06-30 | Food and Drink | A patriotic prohibition sermon was delivered by the Rev. W. S. Mains at the Ramapo Reformed Church. Drink, he maintained, interferes with "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness", perverts justice, upsets domestic tranquility, and is the great enemy of the general welfare. It is responsible, directly or indirectly, for 90% of crime and supplies the largest proportion of the inmates of jails, alms houses, and insane asylums. "It destroys homes, bringing untold suffering upon defenseless wives and children." Would Prohibition curb individual liberty? Personal liberty ceases when it interferes with "the general good of the whole people". The only way it can be stopped is to abolish it completely and this can be done only by arousing all the people. "It is the duty of the Christian and the Patriot to use all their powers to kill this enemy of the home, the state, and the Church." (Bristow) |
1923-06-30 | Religion | The Ramapo Reformed Church Sunday School reached a record attendance for the month of June of 156 members. The Radio Contest was won by the Young Woman's Class with the Ramapo Girls Club came in second. The Sunday School will continue all summer even though the church will be closed during August. (Bristow) |
1926-06-30 | Recreation | The Church Aid Society of Mahwah presented a special musical entertainment entitled "The Minister's Honeymoon" at Winter's Hall. The cast of thirty came from Allendale and provided a very enjoyable evening for the many who attended. There was no report of how much was raised by the Aid from the show, nor what they intended to do with the profits, if any. (Bristow) |
1930-06-30 | Police | At 10:55 the State Police reported that a 63-year-old Fardale man had attempted suicide by cutting his veins with a razor. Dr. Gillet had treated John Neitzling but feared he would make another attempt on his life if left alone. Chief Smith was told that it was the task of the local police to watch him overnight. The next day the County Physician, Dr. Gilady, had Neitzling committed to the Morris Plains Asylum. The Neitzling family objected and demanded that the Town take care of their father. Since Mr. Neitzling had an income he could not be placed under the charge of Supervisor of the Poor. Chief Smith finally appealed to James Devine about what to do. The Police Record Book does not contain any record about what the final disposition of this case was. (Bristow) |
1930-06-30 | Police | Mrs. George Warguozs called Chief Smith in a panic. Her boy had been missing since 7:00 PM. She feared that he had been drowned. The Chief told her to search the house thoroughly and call him back. She found the boy sleeping peacefully in the cellar. (Bristow) |
1937-06-30 | Disasters | Captain James Beard was injured in an accident in Baltimore MD. He stepped out of his car and was struck by a passing motorist. He was confined to the St. Agnes Hospital in Baltimore. His injuries were not considered serious. He had been on his way to the Boy Scout Jamboree in Washington. His father, a passenger in the car, was not injured. What did his father have to do with it? Daniel Carter Beard, then 87 years old, was "Uncle Dan" Beard one of the major founders of the Boy Scout movement in the United States. The only scout ever to receive a golden eagle award was scheduled to speak at the Jamboree. Dan Beard was also a Suffern resident. He died in 1941 and is buried in the "Brick Church" cemetery in Wesley Hills. (Bristow) |
1938-06-30 | Education | At the conclusion of the school, Principal Guy W. Moore of Ramsey High School announced that the Board of Education, as was its custom, had presented book prizes to all students in the High School with perfect attendance for the entire year. For 1937-8 101 high school student had neither been absent or tardy for the entire school year. (Bristow) |
1948-06-30 | Government | Township Clerk Raymond D. Dator announced that the last of the street signs had been installed in town in preparation for the inauguration of home mail delivery. Township engineer F. E. Harley had assigned the house numbers. Residents would be notified of the new numbers by postcard within a week. The public meeting on the plan was to be held later in the month. When all of that had been completed, Mr. Dator said, the next step would be up to the Post Master. (Bristow) |
1953-06-30 | People | Lt. David Wilcox, son of Arthur Wilcox of Alcott Rd. and the late Mrs. Wilcox, returned from active duty in Korea. He had flown 50 night missions with the 67th Tactical Reconnaissance Wing. He was reassigned as an instructor in Sacramento at Mather Air Force Base. He volunteered for active duty after serving in World War II and re-entered the Air Force in April 1950 and went to Korea in December, 1952. (Bristow) |
1780-07-01 | Military | Andrew W. Hopper received $200 for the use of his house as headquarters for General Washington. (Bristow) |
1907-07-01 | Crime | William Valentine and his wife must be very sound sleepers. Some thieves entered their house and stole $747, $700 of it from under the mattress where the Valentines were sleeping. They only awoke when the thieves were leaving. He had just withdrawn the money from the bank. (Bristow) |
1908-07-01 | Religion | The Rev. Walter L. Mains of the Ramapo Reformed Church has received a call from the Second Reformed Church of Paterson. The Congregational meeting chose him unanimously after he preached in Paterson on the 21st. The Paterson church has over 400 members. He has accepted the call and will begin there on October 1st. (Bristow) |
1910-07-01 | Transportation | The Erie raised the rates to commuters. The rate for a monthly ticket went from $7.60 to $9.10 in Mahwah. The 10 trip ticket to New York will now cost $6.05, the fifty ticket to $24.15. In explaining the increased rate R. H. Wallace, the Erie's General Passenger Agent, pointed to the increasing cost of steel, cars, locomotives, labor, taxes and even railroad ties (now 75 cents instead of 30 cents). The commuter service, he explained, has never and probably never will pay for itself. (Bristow) |
1921-07-01 | People | Mr. Sherow had nine carpenters at work trying to complete the garage at his new house on Oweno Rd. It was said that the "Tinker's Chorus" from Robin Hood had nothing on the rat-a-tat-tat of those nine hammers. (Bristow) |
1926-07-01 | Government | House-to-house mail delivery began in the Borough of Ramsey. Postmaster Parvin reminded all residents they would get no delivery until they provided letter boxes or door slots. The arrival of the mailman would be heralded by a whistle, he said. The event was hailed as one more step forward for the progressive community. (Bristow) |
1927-07-01 | Transportation | A two cent tax on each gallon of gasoline went into effect, Motor Vehicle Commissioner William L. Dill announced. Plans were made to send inspectors to retail dealers to be sure they were collecting the new tax. |
1930-07-01 | Disasters | An accident at the intersection of Franklin Turnpike and what was described in the Police blotter as "Airemont Road" was investigated by Chief Smith. Charles Derbyshire of East Crescent Avenue was crossing the Turnpike going west. He was struck in the side by a Brooklyn driver David Weintzweig, who was traveling north on the Turnpike. Weintzweig said that his brakes had failed and admitted that he was the cause of the accident. Derbyshire suffered lacerations requiring three stitches in his scalp. He was treated by Dr. Liddy and released. (Bristow) |
1930-07-01 | Fire Department | Mr. Finch called Chief Smith to report that the men had arrived with the new furniture for the fire house. Smith, who was involved in several other cases at the same time, told them to go to the fire house and he would meet them with the key. He discovered that the Public Service had borrowed the key to read the meter and had not returned it. He was not able to get it back until late in the afternoon. Meanwhile there was a house fire in Cragmere caused by lighting striking the roof. Someone must have had a key, because the fire company fought the fire. Perhaps they took in the furniture at the time they came to get the truck to go to the fire. In any event the case of the missing key seems to have been solved since there is no further mention of the problem in the Mahwah Police blotter. (Bristow) |
1935-07-01 | People | Miss Elizabeth McKinney, a niece of Mrs. Elmer J. Snow of Olney Road, with whom she lives, left to spend the summer at the Snow family camp on Bisby Lake in the Adirondack League Club preserve near Old Forge. (Bristow) |
1935-07-01 | Government | The first New Jersey sales tax went into effect to general, though resigned, grumbling from the paying public. Studies to propose alternatives to property taxes as the basis for funding local services began in 1932. Organized opposition in North Jersey and in Camden kept the tax off the books until in desperation the legislature passed the tax two weeks earlier. Merchants who had careful accounting systems found they could adjust to the new position, but smaller places without any accounting system found it very hard to adjust to the new law. (Bristow) |
1953-07-01 | Real Estate | The Erie Land and Improvement Company took title to the 80 acre tract owned by A. D. McKee known as the Ramapo Valley Airport next to Route 17. The transfer of title to the Golf Course had taken place on June 20th. Together these plots were to constitute the major property on which the Ford Assembly Plant was to be built. (Bristow) |
1874-07-02 | Agriculture | 211,329 baskets of strawberries were shipped from the Ramsey station during the season this year. (Bristow) |
1916-07-02 | Disasters | Lightning struck the barn of Governor Price's house during a severe thunderstorm. The bolt struck the couple, stripped all the wire on the chicken coop, killed all the perched chickens inside and eventually grounded itself in the lot nearby. (Bristow) |
1917-07-02 | Recreation | A merry party of girls made a hike up Torne Mountain, accompanied by Mrs. Maessner, Mrs. Wicks, and Miss L. Long. Included in the group were Bertha & Dorothea White, Lila Banta, Helen Maessner, Emma Hopper, Mildred Hagerman, Catheryn Hopper, Alice Smith, and Olive Valentine. (Bristow) |
1921-07-02 | Sports | Oliver Aston of Ramsey, an amateur wireless operator, received detailed descriptions of the Dempsey-Carpenter fight direct from ringside. Aston was a Navy radio operator during the war and has kept up his wireless since at home. He said the reception was more distinct than a telephone conversation. He could hear the roar of the crowd and the gong before and after the rounds. Dempsey knocked out Carpenter in 1:66 in the 4th round. (Bristow) |
1926-07-02 | People | Northfield Massachusetts attracted several Mahwah people as a vacation spot. Mr. and Mrs. E. C. Lane and Mr. and Mrs. George M. Ball left by car to spend several weeks there. Also there were Johanna North, Helen North, Henrietta Morris, and Theda Simpson. They were attending a missionary conference for two weeks. The Misses Norths were to stay all month. In Helen North's absence, her post as Mahwah Librarian was being filled by Mrs. Harry North. (Bristow) |
1927-07-02 | Real Estate | A model demonstration home was opened to public viewing for the first time in Buena Vista Heights in Suffern. The housing development was described as "Suffern's master suburb" and promoted as a "credit to the community". Visitors were urged to view the "cozy English cottage" and the other homes under construction in this area with its superb views of the Ramapo. No prices for the homes in the development were quoted in the original publicity for the event. (Bristow) |
1929-07-02 | Business | "The grand opening and public inspection" of Ramsey's newest store was marked when "The Pantry" opened its doors between 2 and 10PM. This was a branch of a smilier establishment in Wyckoff. The proprietors guaranteed that every loaf of bread, every layer and loaf cake, and every pie, cookie, and macaroon was baked in the Wyckoff kitchens by women bakers personally trained by Kathryn Louise Barbour. New stock was brought in several times a day, they promised. In addition they had a delicatessen department and prepared packed lunches for school children or workers who could not go home for lunch. The customer was promised that this way they could return to the kitchens of their Grandmother's time. (Bristow) |
1942-07-02 | Military | Mr. F. J. Liddy, the physician for the Mahwah Schools and Chief Medical Advisor to the local Draft Board received his commission as a Captain in the Army Medical Corps. He was scheduled to go on active duty in September. Dr. E. H. Meyers Sr. was named to replace him on the Defense Council. (Bristow) |
1945-07-02 | Transportation | State Highway Commissioner Spencer Miller Jr. formally requested $90,000 from Federal Highway funds to match a similar amount appropriated by the State Legislature for preliminary surveys for the proposed post-war construction of the Palisades Parkway. The proposed road is to stretch from the George Washington Bridge to Bear Mountain. The New Jersey section was to be 12 miles long and was estimated to cost $4,500,000 out of the total of $14,550,000, according to estimates made by C. F. Bedwell, acting State Highway Engineer. (Bristow) |
1951-07-02 | Business | John C. Williams, the President of L. Bamberger & Co. announced that the company had bought 57 acres at the s-w corner of Routes 4 and 17 for the construction of a vast new shopping center. He said that the success of the Bamberger Store in Morristown had encouraged them to build in this hub of Bergen County. It would be, he said, within 8 miles of the Hudson and 4 miles from Paterson. It would serve an immediate area whose population had grown 18% since 1940. Many other stores would also build at the site and there would be parking for thousands of cars. (Bristow) |
1953-07-02 | Health and Medicine | At the Board of Health meeting it was announced that Sunset Lake had been checked for water purity by the local Health Inspector and a representative of the State. They found it satisfactory. It was to be checked twice weekly during the swimming season. (Bristow) |
1955-07-02 | Religion | Father W. Gordon Byrne takes up his post as the first resident pastor of the Immaculate Conception Parish. Since there was no place for him to live he slept in the church office. The rectory was built a year later. (Bristow) |
1960-07-02 | Religion | The Reverend Stanislaus F. Rosinaki assumes his duties as the resident parish priest of The Immaculate Conception Church, succeeding Father Byrne who had been assigned to found the new parish in Oakland. (Bristow) |
1904-07-03 | Religion | Dedicatory services were held for the new Catholic Church in Ramsey. Prior to this, Mahwah Catholics had to worship in Suffern. Admission was by ticket only. Father Carew is the pastor. The Very Reverend Michael P. Smith CSP made the dedicatory sermon. He is a Paulist Father, Superior of the House of Studies in the San Francisco Paulist Community. Mass was said by the Rev. Edwin A. Kelly of Paterson. Rev. Holland of Donwoodie Seminary and Mr. Shaw of Seton Hall. Alex Brady of Ramsey was Master of Ceremonies. (Bristow) |
1911-07-03 | Crime | Mr. Albert Winter found a "black-hand" ("blackmail?") letter on the door of his dairy. His house and barn would be burned if he did not place $200 under a stone under a certain tree. Although County detectives Blauvelt and Couter watched the tree carefully on the appointed night no one appeared to claim the money. Nothing further has been heard of the case which attracted intense local interest. (Bristow) |
1916-07-03 | Crime | Fourteen-year-old Serina Jennings ("colored") is being held for action by the Juvenile Court for breaking and entering the home of Mrs. Julia Wostock on Ridge Rd. when no one was home. She stole quite a number of articles of clothing and took them home, explaining that Mrs. Havermeyer had given them to her. (Bristow) |
1922-07-03 | Sports | Baseball fans have built a new diamond on top of the hill in Cragmere. Trombower is reported to be so much an all-around player that he smokes with his mask on. (Bristow) |
1926-07-03 | People | Mr. and Mrs. Norman Sherow hosted a farewell party for Mr. Schoonmaker before his departure aboard the "Cleveland" for a six week tour of Europe. The guests all contributed to a wallet as a going away gift and each received a miniature steamship model as a party favor. (Bristow) |
1935-07-03 | People | Funeral services were held for Miss Rachel Winter who had died July 1st. She had lived all of her life in Mahwah and was particularly active in the life of the Ramapo Reformed Church. She had been born in 1858, the youngest of the seven children of Rachel T. and John A. Winter. She was Superintendent of the primary department of the Sunday School and for 27 years the President of the Women's Missionary Society, a flourishing organization of some seventy members. She was lauded at her funeral for her unique combination of gentleness, dignity, charm, and tenacity, a type of "Christian gentlewoman" rapidly disappearing. (Bristow) |
1942-07-03 | People | In impressive ceremonies at Spence Field in Georgia, Robert Ludlow Foster, 23, son of Mr. and Mrs. James S. Foster Sr. of Highland Road received his wings and was commissioned as a second Lieutenant in the Army Air Corps. He was a 1936 graduate of Ramsey High School and had attended Rutgers before being accepted for cadet training. (Bristow) |
1942-07-03 | Recreation | Weekend movie viewers could catch Eleanor Powers, Red Skelton, Bert Lahr, and The Tommy Dorsey Orchestra in "Ship Ahoy". The Strand in Suffern had Gene Autrey in "Carolina Moon", and Freddie Bartholomew in "Cadets in Parade". The Ramsey Theater had a double feature too, Robert Young and Marsha Hunt in "Joe Smith, American", and Sabu in Rudyard Kipling's "Jungle Book", plus the second episode of the thrilling serial "Gang Busters". (Bristow) |
1958-07-03 | Disasters | W. E. Dennison, a resident of West Mahwah, drowned while swimming at Silver Lake in the Stag Hill section. He had been at the lake fishing with his brother when he attempted to swim ashore from an island in the middle of the lake and drowned before help could reach him. He only survived his wife by a few months as she had been killed in an auto accident in Suffern during the Spring. The Rev. George Mann of the A. M. E. Zion Church officiated at the funeral on July 7th. He was survived by three children, his parents Mr. and Mrs. John T. Dennison, and four brothers and three sisters. (Bristow) |
1965-07-03 | Disasters | A simple household chore ended in tragedy for Theodore Hand, 27. He lost his balance while washing windows, fell through the glass and injured his arm so severely that it had to be amputated. The accident took place at Deepdale owned by Dr. Donald C. Lord of Ridgewood. The house was being used by the Deepdale Associates, of which Hand was a member. The members of the Mahwah Ambulance Corps used a special inflated sleeve to keep Hand's arm together while taking him to the Good Samaritan Hospital, but nothing could be done to save it. (Bristow) |
1874-07-04 | Disasters | Fourth of July celebrations in Ramsey were disrupted by a terrible hail storm at 4:00 PM. John Y. Dator reported that 400 panes of glass in his buildings had been broken by the force of the storm. It is feared that the peach crop is completely ruined. Many trees have been stripped completely of their leaves. People who were caught out in the storm unprotected suffered painful injuries. (Bristow) |
1896-07-04 | People | States Hagerman was not seriously injured when he fell from his bicycle during the July 4th races in Hohokus. (Bristow) |
1909-07-04 | Recreation | George Crocker provided 4th of July treats for the workers and tenants on his estate. Ice cream, cake, and fruits were served early in the evening followed by a display of fireworks costing several hundred dollars. The fireworks were particularly effective silhouetted against the Ramapo Hills which echoed the happy sounds. At the end a pole wrapped with 20,000 firecrackers was set off. The crowd, including many who had driven several miles to see the fireworks, responded with a hearty Three Cheers for Mr. Crocker. (Bristow) |
1910-07-04 | Recreation | The lake on the Havermeyer Farm was the site of the annual Fourth of July fireworks for the employees, family, and friends. Colored lights burned at intervals along the lake shore creating a lovely effect. (Bristow) |
1913-07-04 | Recreation | The residents of Cragmere witnessed a large fireworks display on Lake Oweno put on by the Cragmere Committee. Roman candles and lanterns illuminated the lake. (Bristow) |
1916-07-04 | Military | The 23rd Regiment of New York National Guard was given a special Independence Day treat by Justice Rodgers. The soldiers are on their way to Mexico (to take part in the expedition against Francisco Villa?). The Judge had his house and grounds decorated with over 50 Japanese lanterns and numerous American flags. He provided a beautiful and loud fireworks display. Particularly effective was the "red fire" in the flags. (Bristow) |
1926-07-04 | Recreation | The Independence Day celebration at Mahwah was considered a great success. A variety of organizations united to plan and pay for the event. The Doo-Art Club performed several numbers and their chorus was spread out among the crowd to help in the community singing, led by Elmer Schumacher. The crowd was also greatly entertained by the talented cornetist, Miss Zimmerman, whose services were obtained by the Women's Club. The Girl Scouts, dressed in red, white, and blue headdresses and aprons, sold refreshments. The setting was Lake Oweno where the boathouse was decorated with Japanese lanterns. The evening was capped with a fine display of fireworks. (Bristow) |
1928-07-04 | Fire Department | Independence Day ceremonies at the flag pole in Station Plaza included the replacement of the old fire bell with a new fire siren. (Bristow) |
1938-07-04 | Recreation | The ninth annual Ramsey Fourth of July parade was declared to be the longest ever held, taking forty minutes to pass a single point. A number of visiting companies lent their support to the various Ramsey organizations who marched. Cups in various categories were won by visitors from the Waldwick, Midland Park, and Mahwah Fire Companies. Mahwah had the largest single contingent and used the occasion to show off their fine new truck. (Bristow) |
1942-07-04 | Recreation | Township Committee Chairman Frank B. Scherer presided over the dedication of the Town Honor Roll of those serving in the Armed Forces. All Township residents involved in volunteer work, estimated at 375, passed in review before the members of the Defense Council and the Township Committee. The guest speaker of the day was Senator Schroeder who spoke of the American ideals embodied in the Declaration of Independence. The parade was followed by a baseball game and an evening block dance at the fire house. Chairman Elliot Reid expressed his appreciation for those who had worked hard for this memorable Independence Day event which went off without any injuries. (Bristow) |
1947-07-04 | Fire Department | While returning from the Ridgewood Fourth of July parade the Mahwah Fire Department took a busman's holiday by stopping off to help put out a brush fire in Waldwick. (Bristow) |
1965-07-04 | Sports | Baltimore Oriole rookie Curt Blefary had one of the best days of his career against the Cleveland Indians. He was four for four, scored twice, and drove in four runs. Earlier in the week he had hit two homers against the Yankees, one drove starter Jim Bouton to the showers, the other was against Whitey Ford. At week's end he had 35 RBIs, had scored 27 runs and was hitting .279 with 13 homers. Some were suggesting that he would be the rookie of the year. He had been an outstanding athlete at Mahwah High School before signing with the Oriole management. (Bristow) |
1902-07-05 | Real Estate | Mrs. Thomas Fortune Ryan purchased the former Musslmer residence in Suffern. She intends to remodel it as a hospital. It will be run by the Sisters of Charity but will be open to all. Construction awaits the completion of the plans. (Bristow) |
1904-07-05 | Education | The Board of Education spent most of its meeting selecting teachers for the fall term. Since several of the applicants enclosed photographs of themselves the work lost some of its monotony. Miss Myra Owen of Millville was hired provisionally for Darlington, Laura Davidson of Trenton was assigned the primary grade in Mahwah and Anna C. Haleu from Oxford Furnace will teach at Masonicus. But Misses Owen and Davidson are not available. Miss Lucy Cullen of Philipsburn, NJ was assigned to Mahwah. The post in Darlington is still vacant. (Bristow) |
1916-07-05 | Health and Medicine | The New York City Health Commissioner has warned NJ officials of the dangers of the present outbreak of infantile paralysis. The City authorities attempted to prevent any suspected cases from leaving the City, but this is almost impossible. Parents are warned to keep their children away from contact with anyone who might have the disease. They were warned against motion picture shows or other places where children congregate. If a child has a gastro-intestinal disturbance, the child should be isolated and seen by a physician. The annual Sunday School picnic of the Reformed Church was cancelled because of the epidemic. (Bristow) |
1917-07-05 | Business | Schoonmaker and Co. of Paterson advertised in the Ramsey Journal a full line of Home Guard uniforms, hats, leggings, shirts, shoes, and belts in either the New Jersey regulation color or in the National khaki color. (Bristow) |
1922-07-05 | Business | The Stuart Construction Company of Bridgeport, CT has been awarded the contract to build the addition to the school. This is the same company which is building the fine modern homes in the plot across the street from the school. (Bristow) |
1926-07-05 | Recreation | In celebrations hailed by The Ramsey Journal as one of Ramsey's "biggest days ever", the 150th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence was marked. There was a parade with many floats and delegations from most of the local organizations including the Red Men, the Fellowcraft Club, the Fire Departments from Ramsey and surrounding communities, the Village Improvement Association, and cars filled with such dignitaries at John B. Finch, Mayor Gertzen and John Y. Dater, the Fortitude Chapter O. E. S., De Molay and Post's Military Band. Police Chief Landers was in charge of the line of march and participated himself on his motorcycle. Nothing was allowed to interrupt the parade except, inevitably, a train on the Erie which cut it in half. There were patriotic speeches, good things to eat and, of course, fireworks. Many from Mahwah attended, getting the benefit of fireworks two nights in a row, following Mahwah's celebrations on the Fourth. (Bristow) |
1926-07-05 | Recreation | The week's films, all silent of course, at the Lafayette Theatre in Suffern included Reginald Denny in "Rolling Home", a comedy reported to contain no slap-stick, House Peters in "Combat" containing the "biggest forest fire ever filmed, and, by popular request, Dorothy and Lillian Gish in "Romula", billed as the "greatest actresses of the screen in the most beautiful of all pictures. Lillian Gish's supreme triumph". Because of the Suffern fireworks on the 5th only one performance of "Combat" was scheduled, unless it rained. (Bristow) |
1938-07-05 | People | Midnight was the hour that the Polish liner Batory set sail for Gydnya Poland. Among the passengers was Mrs. John Janisiewski of Island Road. She was planning to spend a few months in the land of her birth. Many friends joined her in her cabin for a Bon Voyage Party, including Mrs. Paul Janeske, Mrs. Marcel Knowacki, Helen Janosko, John Krupinski, Stella Sewiock, Pauline Poplaski, Mary and Velma Trusiewicz, Gene Knowacki, Joseph Zak of Passaic, and Mr. and Mr. A. Ciechowal of Paterson. (Bristow) |
1942-07-05 | Charity | Metropolitan Opera star Maria Markin, and radio sitarist John Hoyas were among the many stars of stage, radio and screen who appeared at the Russian Relief benefit at the estate of Dr. and Mrs. Virgil G. Damon on Viola Rd. in Suffern. Jimmie Sayo was the master of ceremonies in a show which featured a special appearance of Helen Hayes who gave a reading. She was Chairman of the event. (Bristow) |
1942-07-05 | People | Mrs. Mary Hammond, a weekend guest of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Kelley of Maysenger Road spoke of her experiences in war-time Britain to a large crowd at the Kelley home. She had been sent as a representative of the Newspaper Association of North America. She travelled to England on a Pan American Clipper via Africa and Lisbon to arrive in blacked-out London in a storm without a hotel reservation. She reported that the English were responding to the hardships of their struggle with courage and good humor. (Bristow) |
1947-07-05 | People | After only seven hours of instruction from Al Field, Ted Glasgow of Valley Road became the youngest pilot to solo at the Ramapo Valley airfield. He was too young at sixteen for a pilot's license, however. (Bristow) |
1953-07-05 | People | Mr. and Mrs. John Lesures of 25 Wanamaker Ave., entertained an Egyptian Exchange Student Hosean El Gamel. He had just completed his studies at Harvard University in economics. He is spending the remainder of his year in the USA touring the country. (Bristow) |
1965-07-05 | Education | Louis Urban, President of the Board of Education, announced that Dr. George B. McClellan had resigned his post. On September 1st he was to take up his new duties as Superintendent in Hackensack. McClellan had come to Mahwah in March of 1958 at the time of Roy S. Austin's resignation. He had been the Superintendent in Ridgefield since 1948. He had started his educational career in Pennsauken where he was a mathematics teacher and assistant principal. He moved to Ridgewood where he was Department Chairman at George Washington Junior High and then Assistant Principal of Willard School. His next position was as Supervising Principal in HoHoKus. From there he went to Ridgefield. He had been educated at Pennsylvania State College, Temple, and Teachers' College of Columbia University. Urban called a special meeting of the Board on Monday, July 12th to begin the search for a new superintendent. (Bristow) |
1855-07-06 | Education | An official ground-breaking ceremony marked the beginning of construction on the addition to Ramsey High School. Wielding the ceremonial shovels were Board of Education President Thomas M. Antonsen, John S. Leslie, Vice President and Board Members Dr. John Porter, Harold G. Williams, and Alden W. Jewell. (Bristow) |
1875-07-06 | Disasters | J. Valentine met with quite a serious accident on Wednesday evening while loading a crate of strawberries in the dark. His team started up suddenly while he was between the wagon and the train throwing him down. The crate landed on top of him bruising him so badly that he could not stand up easily for some time afterwards. (Bristow) |
1909-07-06 | Politics | At the Board of Freeholders meeting Harry A. Stuart was elected County Clerk. He was nominated by HoHoKus Township Freeholder May and elected by a slim 2 vote majority over William V. A. Blauvelt and the only Democratic candidate William Conklin. Stuart was sworn in immediately and began his duties at the meeting. (Bristow) |
1909-07-06 | Transportation | The Board of Chosen Freeholders awarded the contract for the rebuilding of the Havermeyer Bridge to the low bidder the F. R. Long Company. The contract was for $2,398.00. The bridge was washed away in the flood of 1903. (Bristow) |
1909-07-06 | Recreation | The new licensing law goes into effect for hunters. For a fee of $1.15, residents are permitted to hunt for a year. Aliens and non-residents, whether they own property in New Jersey or not, must pay $10.50 for the license. Farm owners and their families may hunt on their own farms without one of the new licenses, during the hunting season. (Bristow) |
1916-07-06 | Crime | Four out of town drivers were arrested for speeding and fined by Judge Rodgers. The fines ranged from the $15 one assessed on C. M. Reynolds of Queens as a first offender, up to the $25 fine paid by William A. Dalsnider, a chauffeur for the Rev. White of New York City. (Bristow) |
1916-07-06 | Fire Department | The Mahwah Fire Department conducted a test of its efficiency. They went down to the State Line at Suffern and responded to an alarm at Miller Road in 4 minutes. It took an additional 5 minutes to extinguish the blaze of boxes and barrels which had been set near the fire bell. (Bristow) |
1926-07-06 | Recreation | Among 37 new books listed as ready for borrowing at the Mahwah Library there were several well known titles and authors. The famous Australian Diva Nellie Malba's autobiography "Memories" was one, along with Sinclair Lewis' latest novel "Mantrap". Also added were a collection of Edith Wharton's short stories "Here and Beyond", "Treasure" by the Oakland journalist and writer of dog stories, Albert Payson Terhune, and DuBose Heyward's "Porgy". This novel was such a success that the next year, in collaboration with his wife Dorothy Hartzel Heyward, he turned it into a play which won the Pulitzer Prize in 1927. The book for Gershwin's famous opera "Porgy and Bess", 1935, was drawn from it. (Bristow) |
1932-07-06 | People | Scouts James Foster and Charles Bacon hitchhiked to the Buffalo Centennial Exhibition, returning eight days later not having spent all of the $5.00 they started with. (Bristow) |
1942-07-06 | People | Aletta Hopper left for Los Angeles where she was to spend the summer with friends. She made the transcontinental trip by Greyhound bus. (Bristow) |
1946-07-06 | People | Masonicus Civic Association was organized. Its purpose was to create and maintain a better community spirit and to foster improvement of the Masonicus area. G. Edgar Litchult convened this meeting in his own home and was the guiding spirit in the organization. (Bristow) |
1965-07-06 | Business | Mahwah finally passed its master plan. At least the Planning Board adopted its revised version of the proposal. Despite the fact that public testimony at the hearing in February had been unanimously against areas set aside for shopping centers and for garden apartments, the plan included areas devoted to each. The major change was to soften the language. Instead of designating specific areas for shopping centers in Masonicus, Fardale, Ridge Road, and an extension of the Forrets Road Plaza, the new wording merely indicated that as residential development continued, further consideration should be given to designating areas for shopping and garden apartments in the four areas previously mentioned. The original plan had called for between 10 and 15% of new residential housing to be in the form of apartments. The new wording merely called for future planners to consider high density housing in the four areas. (Bristow) |
1855-07-07 | Religion | Cornerstone of the new Masonicus Lutheran Church laid. Rev. J. C. Duty of New Germantown presided. (Bristow) |
1907-07-07 | Transportation | Since repairs began to be made to Franklin Turnpike, traffic has increased markedly. James Shuart counted 46 in one hour on a Sunday. (Bristow) |
1910-07-07 | Real Estate | The Crocker Farm has been sold to Emerson McMillen a NYC banker for $1,000,000. The sale price included livestock, implements, and the furniture in the mansion. Mr. McMillen is expected to take possession about August 1st. Originally when purchased in 1872 by Mr. Darling there was about 500 acres. There are now over 1,100 acres. (Long survey of the history of the farm) Famous race horses: Axworthy, his most famous horse did 2.15 1/4 as a three year old. Kingmond with a record of 2.09 1/4 was a speedway champion for several years. Other famous horses: King Darlington, Grey Light, Prince Lavalard, Helen Turner, and Conquest Star. Jersey cattle also famous. Colonel Russell of Boston paid $10,000 for the bull Pedro. Missers Miller & Silsby of Pennsylvania paid $12,500 for Michael Angelo, the highest ever paid for a yearling Jersey. (Bristow) |
1917-07-07 | Food and Drink | The first meeting of the Mahwah Canning Club was held in the home of Mrs. Janes Devine, where the central kitchen has been established. Mr. Hulburnt of the NJ Agricultural Dept. spoke on food conservation. He said that the efforts of the Mahwah community in this line has been brought to the attention of Mr. Hoover who asked for a detailed report on activities here. Miss Helen Smith, an expert, demonstrates several days a week to show proper techniques at one of the 5 community kitchens. (Bristow) |
1917-07-07 | Military | The Mahwah Home Guards went on a camping trip to Sloatsburg. About 30 members went by the 5:30 PM train, hiked 5 miles to Sterling Pond and pitched their tents. After a generous supper and an evening around the campfire they had taps at 10:00 PM and went to bed, posting a one-hour guard throughout the night. Many were kept up all night by the whip-poor-wills and barking dogs. Some were too cold to sleep also. They drilled all Sunday morning and returned to Mahwah on the afternoon train. (Bristow) |
1922-07-07 | People | Edward Perkins has been appointed Scoutmaster in place of Charles Smith who resigned recently. Several of the scouts just came back from a three day hike. (Bristow) |
1923-07-07 | People | Luther Young sang over WOR, the Newark radio station belonging to L. Bamberger and Co. He has a fine baritone voice which he has been training under the well-known operatic singer Giacomo Bourg. Mr. Young was joined by his wife who used her lyric soprano voice to good effect in several numbers. Mr. Young expects to sing on WEAF, the popular New York City radio station soon. (Bristow) |
1938-07-07 | Education | Enrollments at Ramsey High School for the school year 1938 to 1939 were expected to top 900, according to reports submitted by Supervising Principal W. D. Tisdale and High School Principal Guy W. Moore. A total of 871 different students had been enrolled during the previous year with an average attendance of 818. This daily total was 93 over the previous year. The projected figure was arrived at by checking with authorities in the sending districts so that teachers could be hired for the fall well in advance. Prior to the acceptance of students in outlying districts enrollment was generally under 100. It reached 129 in 1921. Beginning with 1922 students from outside districts were accepted and enrollment shot up. (Bristow) |
1938-07-07 | Government | Forty-two members of the newly organized Mahwah Township Civic Association paid their first dues as the club held its second full meeting. This was considered remarkable since the meeting had been changed from the second Thursday of the month to the first Thursday of the month without formal notification of the membership. There had been 93 charter members at the initial meeting the previous month. It was decided to use a post card system to notify members of future meetings. President Keys admitted that he had failed to name the members of the five-member special Executive Board but promised to do so before the next meeting. (Bristow) |
1947-07-07 | Fire Department | The Mahwah Fire Department responded to two minor fires along Route 17. A truck caught fire near the El Rio Restaurant on the 6th and another blaze at Smith's Mountain Rest was put out by a fire extinguisher before the fire truck arrived. Damage from both fires was reported as slight. (Bristow) |
1947-07-07 | Transportation | The Mahwah Police Department completed a survey of traffic at the intersection of Route 202 and Franklin Turnpike at the New York State line. It had been requested by the State Highway Commission to assist them in responding to the request for a traffic light there. On Sunday, July 6th, there were 8,931 cars through the intersection, and Monday the 7th, an off day, there were 7,962. There had been ten accidents at the corner during the previous year. The Commission authorized the light to be installed after receiving the survey and a request from the State Motor Vehicle Commission. No date was announced for the light to go into operation. (Bristow) |
1947-07-07 | People | When John Kudrich of Ramsey arrived at New York on the 17th he reported having met a Mahwah man, Ernie Longerich in the Seamen's Club in Bremerhaven Germany on the 7th. Kudrich, who was better known by his stage name of Jack Sharpe, was a semantic on the U.S. Marine Marlin. His ship docked directly behind a Germany ship, the S. S. General Heintzelmann on which Ernie was serving as a radar technician. The two met that evening at the Club and again the next night to exchange news of friends back home. Longerich, 23, was an honor student in the Mahwah and Ramsey schools and held two patents on television equipment while still in school. He was the son of the late Mr. and Mrs. Fritz Longerich of Mahwah. (Bristow) |
1888-07-08 | Sports | The Mahwah Red Star baseball team travelled to Ramapo to meet the Ramapo Valley White Stars. The stakes were $2 a side. In what was described as a "well played and very close game" the White Stars edged the Red Stars 17-16. A rematch was announced with the stakes upped to $10 per side. No date was set for the replay. (Bristow) |
1908-07-08 | Education | Through the efforts of the School Principal S. Burton Straight in organizing a recent concert, a new bell was delivered for the Darlington School. (Bristow) |
1909-07-08 | Business | At the Township Committee meeting Mr. Elmer J. Snow, representing the Brake Shoe Company, requested the rerouting of a road parallel to the plant and the railroad. The Company wishes to build a new building and is willing to bear all the costs of relocating the road. This will be voted on in August. (Bristow) |
1909-07-08 | Government | Mr. Homer Snow of the Rockland Electric Company questioned the request of the Township Committee for a street light on Darlington Road, near Matthew Hicks' residence. The Company believed that it would be of little use there. Mr. Snow agreed to put up the light when the terms of the contract were explained to him. (Bristow) |
1935-07-08 | Charity | A sudden raise in the number of relief cases from 22 from before the present system had been installed to 44 was deplored by several members of the Township Committee. The relief system had cost the Township $814 during July with no work being performed by the recipients. Chairman James Devine joined with Committeemen Diehl and Glasgow in demanding a visit to County Relief Director Mrs. Hawes to determine why the Township could not resume control over Relief operations. Under the E.R.A. system half of the expenditures would be reimbursed by the Government. Several incidents were given of men who were working part-time who had quit work so as not to compromise their relief status. A plan for recipients to do some substantial work for their payments had not been approved yet by Mrs. Hawes' Office. (Bristow) |
1935-07-08 | Transportation | The American Automobile Association reported the results of fuel efficiency at various speeds conducted at the Indianapolis Speedway. Thirteen makes of cars were tested over twenty-one days in over 600,000 laps. The results showed that American cars showed the greatest efficiency when run at thirty miles per hour or less. At 10 mph cars ran 8.7 miles per gallon; at 20 mph they covered 18.9 mpg, and 18 mpg at 30 mph. At 50, car mileage was reduced to 12.6; and at 80 mph it dropped to only 8.6 miles per gallon with greatly increased oil consumption as well. This survey was publicized as part of the AAA8's campaign to get motorists to slow down. (Bristow) |
1938-07-08 | Government | A convoy of 25 trucks passed through Mahwah on Route 2, now Route 17, carrying the first shipment of silver to the newly completed depository at West Point. Nearly twelve tons of silver were included in this first shipment, out of a total of $1,290,000,000 being shipped. The government contracted the job out to the Peter J. Mahey Trucking Company. They said that they were moving 5,000 bars a day and 3,500 on Sundays. It was estimated that it would take ten months to complete the contract. A coast guardsman armed with a rifle sat in the front with the driver of each truck and another in the rear. Police protection was given by each town as they passed through. The Mahey Company was to receive $157,000 for the job. (Bristow) |
1945-07-08 | People | A son was born to Mr. and Mrs. Alfred Heflin of Wyckoff Ave., Fardale, in Good Samaritan Hospital. Already in the family were sisters Jo and Sue. Thomas Jo born 1937 8 years old Sue born 1938 7 years old |
1948-07-08 | Transportation | County School Superintendent Roy Zimmerman reminded all School Boards in the County of the new state law designed to prevent motorists from passing a stopped school bus. All school buses must be equipped with red oscillating lights on the front and back which would go into operation when the bus stopped to take on or discharge passengers. The Mahwah Board added several clauses to their contract with the Ramsey Transportation Company to cover the buses used to transport pupils to and from Ramsey High School and to the elementary schools in the District. (Bristow) |
1948-07-08 | Business | The Singer Sewing Center in Ridgewood advertised in the Ramsey Journal a series of eight sewing lessons, two hours each for girls between 10 and 16. "No need wishing for beautiful summer clothes when you can make them so easily in these special vacation courses", the ad promised. The price with individualized instruction guaranteed was eight dollars for the complete series. (Bristow) |
1948-07-08 | Business | Two Mahwah girls announced they were opening a day care nursery. Margaret Rountree and Jane Vilmar were offering their service during the morning hours on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, and during the afternoons on Tuesday and Thursday. They picked up the children at their homes and returned them at the end of the session (Bristow) |
1913-07-09 | People | Joseph H. Young, a life-long resident of Mahwah died in the Good Samaritan Hospital. He had been taken ill on the 4th and moved to the Hospital on the 6th. An operation was performed today but his condition was so weak that he did not survive it. He leaves a wife, an infant son, a mother, three brothers, and two sisters. He was Secretary of the Sunday School and a Deacon in the Reformed Church, an auditor for the Mahwah Savings and Loan, and a charter member of the Comfort Council of the Junior Order of United American Mechanics. (Bristow) |
1916-07-09 | Transportation | Because of the numerous accidents which have taken place at Miller Road and the Turnpike Judge Rodgers has been requested to have large warning signs placed there to warn motorists. The Commissioner of Motor Vehicles will have the signs installed. Judge Rodgers has promised to fine those who disregard the new signs with the maximum fine. (Bristow) |
1916-07-09 | Government | When the contractors who are laying the concrete sidewalk near the station appeared for work today nearby residents protested this work being done on Sunday. The authorities stopped the workmen. (Bristow) |
1918-07-09 | People | Frank Shorr, Principal of Mahwah's Schools is spending the summer working in a munitions factory in Philadelphia. (Bristow) |
1920-07-09 | Disasters | A New York City man named Cohen was killed in an auto accident on the Franklin Turnpike between Mahwah and Ramsey. Cohen's car was going north when an auto, bearing New York places and caught in a long line of cars, tried to pull out and pass the whole string. He struck the Cohen car, shattering the windshield. Cohen was so badly cut by flying glass that he bled to death. Police are searching for the driver of the other car. They have the license numbers. (Bristow) |
1922-07-09 | Religion | Since most of the choir is away the singing at the Ramapo Reformed Church was led by the Young Woman's Sunday School class with the help of Messrs. Hagar and Lane. Miss Olive Valentine sang the solo "most acceptably". The Church is open in July but closed, along with the Sunday School, on August 6th and 13th, opening again on August 20th. (Bristow) |
1926-07-09 | Recreation | The July meeting of the Mahwah Women's Club was a picnic luncheon and Girl Scout entertainment given at the Cory Estate, "Watternook" on Valley Road. About forty club members watched the scouts perform a pageant on the banks of the Ramapo River. Nearly all the scouts participated in demonstrations of how they conducted their meeting and in a swimming meet. Girl Scouting's highest award, the Golden Egret was conferred on Mabel King and Olive Eggers. Margaret King received the letter of commendation which is the last step before the Golden Egret. The Girls showed their appreciation for the day by awarding a "thanks" medal to Mrs. Walter Cory, their hostess. (Bristow) |
1935-07-09 | Education | Ramsey voters selected the Main Street site for the new High School. 499 votes were cast for that site and 414 for the site on South Central Avenue. A vote of 472 had been declared the majority needed. Fourteen ballots had been rejected so the Main Street site had 27 over the required number. In the previous vote neither site had reached the required minimum. (Bristow) |
1935-07-09 | Recreation | The Mahwah Woman's Club held a card and swimming party at the home of Mrs. Walter Cory on Valley Road for the benefit of the benevolent fund. Everyone was urged to attend even if they did not play bridge or swim. The invitation urged them to "bring their sewing and join in on the general good time." The proceeds of the fund was annually divided equally among the Library, Girl Scouts, and the welfare committee. (Bristow) |
1942-07-09 | Health and Medicine | At the Board of Health meeting Dr. Liddy reported on his investigation of whooping cough cases. Mrs. Prokop had complained about having her house quarantined when other homes in the neighborhood had not be placarded. Dr. Liddy found that in the other cases no physician had been consulted and therefore no report made to the Board. All the homes were now quarantined, he reported. The Board, under Frank Scherer in the absence of Richard Keith, discussed better methods of enforcement of quarantine regulations. (Bristow) |
1942-07-09 | Transportation | This was the first of three consecutive days in which local schools would be open for motorists to register for gas rationing books. Pleasure car owners would receive a ration book and an "A" sticker for their windshields. Drivers of trucks and commercial vehicles had to apply at the Price and Ration Board Office in Ramsey. Another possible substance for future rationing was state tax revenues which had been falling steadily as non-essential driving was curtailed. The only alternative was to cut services or raise taxes to cover the shortfall. Where have we heard this before? (Bristow) |
1953-07-09 | Military | At the monthly Civilian Defense Council the need for a warning siren in the Valley Road area was discussed. It was resolved to ask the Township Committee for permission to install one at the Seminary property where it could be more clearly heard because of its central position. Howard Avery reported on the activities of the radio amateur Civil Emergency Service, which he headed in Mahwah. He said there were ten key stations in zone 3. The operators keep in touch with each other evening Wednesday night. (Bristow) |
1888-07-10 | Government | Postmaster Henry Hagerman arranged for Mahwah mail to be picked up by train No. 6 at 2:25 PM daily. Prior to this time there had been only one mail pickup toward New York City a day. Andrew Hagerman had succeeded his father as Postmaster in 1881 and remained in the post except for brief periods until 1914. (Bristow) |
1897-07-10 | The temperature reached 97, the highest reading of the year so far. It was 96 on July 6th. (Bristow) | |
1898-07-10 | Religion | The Rev. A. A. King preached an inspiring sermon on this Sunday set aside by President McKinley "to give thanks for the glorious victories achieved by our Army and Navy" (in the war against Spain.) (Bristow) |
1918-07-10 | Crime | J. Lohmson, Chief of Detectives of the Erie Railroad, supervised the arrest of a number of foreigners who live in the "patch" section for trespassing and stealing coal. Judge Price fined some and made others make restitution for the stolen coal. (Bristow) |
1919-07-10 | Business | Mahwah was among the towns listed as receiving delivery service by auto truck from Quackenbush & Co. of Paterson. In their July clearance Men's shirts were reduced to $1.29, and Women's suits and waists to $19.95 and to $1.19 and $1.69. (Bristow) |
1926-07-10 | People | Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth Shrewsbury and their son Kenneth Jr. left for Chadwick NJ to spend the rest of the summer at the beach. They had joined with Mr. and Mrs. Byron Swan of Sloatsburg in taking a cottage there. (Chadwick no longer exists as such. It was located one mile north of Lavalette. The area now is called Ocean Beach.) Leaving the same day were Mr. and Mrs. Prentice Ash and Mrs. Ash's parents Mr. and Mrs. Elmer J. Snow. They had owned a beach front house at Chadwick for many years. (Bristow) |
1945-07-10 | Military | Sgt. Mel Smith, son of Mr and Mrs. Max Smith of Mahwah came home on a 32-day furlough after having served throughout the European campaigns and winning four battle stars. As a member of the 1st Infantry Division he landed at Omaha Beach on D-Day plus 30. He fought in the Saint-Lo breakthrough, the Battle of the Ardennes Forest, and the Remagen bridgehead. He reported that later, as a member of the 170th Field Artillery, his outfit chased General Patton across Germany to Czechoslovakia without firing a shot until the war ended. He was expected to report to Fort Hood Texas for possible reassignment to the Pacific at the conclusion of his leave. Sgt. Smith, 21, was a 1940 graduate of Ramsey High School and had two years at Ohio University before entering the service. (Bristow) |
1947-07-10 | People | On the pretense that they were going to a square dance, Mr. and Mrs. Joseph H. Frazier of Airmount Road, Mahwah, were lured into the Grange Hall in Ramsey where they were given a surprise 40th wedding anniversary party by their children and friends. They were natives of Darlington where they were married on July 10, 1907. A three-tiered wedding cake had been prepared by their daughter Mrs. Percy Ackerson of Ramsey. Also assisting in arranging the celebration was another daughter Mrs. Irving Adler of Mahwah and Mr. and Mrs. Walter Ackerson of Ramsey. Their son had died in 1937. At age 71, Mr. Frazier was still working at the American Brake Shoe plant, where he had started 39 years before. Also at the party was Mrs. Frazier's mother, still active at 98. (Bristow) |
1947-07-10 | Business | Wanamaker and Carlough's funeral directors advertised in the Ramsey Journal that they would assist the next of kin of those who had died in the service to request the return of the remains "from foreign soil to their rightful sanctuary in the family's 'God's Acre'". (Bristow) |
1948-07-10 | Military | The New Jersey National Guard departed by train for Pine Camp New York for their annual two week training maneuvers. Pvt. Griffin Holbrook Smith, Franklin Turnpike and Red Bacon of Fardale were among the trainees. They were scheduled to qualify on heavy weapons and small arms, take part in a two day maneuver off the base camp, and undergo intensive unit training. (While Red was gone his wife Sandy went to stay in Tuxedo, NY.) (Bristow) |
1953-07-10 | Recreation | Three Troop 50 Scouts left for the Third National Scout Jamboree in Santa Ana, California. Jack Wiley, Fred Tehran, and Charlie Vuolo, representing the North Bergen and Ridgewood-Glen Rock Councils left by train with over 5,000 Scouts from the metropolitan area to join the encampment of some 50,000 boys and their leaders between July 17 and July 23. Special reductions in fares made it possible for Scouts from this area to pay only $228.74 for railroad and Pullman fare for the round trip in a lower birth. About 75% of the Scouts came by train, in a movement comparable in its complexity to some of the troop movements of World War II. (Bristow) |
1968-07-10 | People | Joan Forrester daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Harry Forrester of Youngs Road in Fardale received a cash award in a joke contest run by radio disc jockey Scott Money. Since she had won an award for academic excellence at her recent graduation from the Immaculate Conception School and a curved bar at a recent Girl Scout Court of Awards Ceremony, this was the third award she had received in two months. The winning joke defined evolution as "the theory that makes a zoo money wonder 'am I my keeper's brother?'" (Bristow) |
1894-07-11 | Transportation | The Board of Chosen Freeholders of Bergen County met in Mahwah to consider whether to build a bridge over the Ramapo near Hillburn. It was decided 10-2 to spend up to $3,200 for an iron bridge using two spans of the old Weser Bridge. The Board was entertained after the meeting at Havermeyers. (Bristow) |
1896-07-11 | People | Henry R. Wanamaker was seriously injured when he was loading hay. His ox team started suddenly, throwing him off the top of his load. No bones were broken but he is expected to have a long recovery before he can walk unassisted. (Bristow) |
1918-07-11 | Military | Harry Breen was home on what may be his last leave, he expects to be shipped overseas very shortly. He is a cook stationed at Camp Dix. (Bristow) |
1919-07-11 | Military | Mahwah's celebration for her returning servicemen took place at Winter's Hall. Speeches were made by Howard F. Holman, Chairman of the Township Committee, Major Charles E. Ellis, former Captain and organizer of the Mahwah Reserve Company, and the Rev. A. Vannema, Pastor of the Reformed Church. Mr. Holman presented each of the veterans with a medal and announced that plans were under way to erect a bronze monument to the two men who gave their lives in the war from Mahwah, John P. Fromm Jr. and Eduard Konight. Medals were distributed to 66 men. (Bristow) |
1935-07-11 | Business | The A & P in Suffern advertised a special sale on coffee. Bokar was 23 cents, Red Circle 19 cents, and Eight O'Clock 17 cents. Also on sale were bread at 8 cents a loaf, toilet paper at four rolls for 15 cents, Wheaties for two packages for 19 cents, etc. (Bristow) |
1938-07-11 | Education | J. A. Glasgow was given a limit of $15 to spend to install a new bell system in the Mahwah school. It was reported to have malfunctioned frequently during the year. The new system was to have a bell in each corridor, all operated from a single button in the Principal's office. It was to be used to mark the beginning and end of each session, recesses, assemblies, and fire drills, and, we presume, an actual fire in case one should break out. (Bristow) |
1938-07-11 | Education | The School Board received word that the Cragmere Association had voted on July 6th to turn over Oweno Lake and its surrounding land to the Board, along with the remaining balance in their bank account. J. A. Glasgow was charged with finding out the cost of transporting the extra fill left over from the construction of the playing field opposite the Mahwah School and transporting it to School No. 7, Cragmere, to fill in Oweno Lake, creating a much larger and safer playground area to the west of the school. (Bristow) |
1938-07-11 | Education | The School Board, after hearing a report of the nuisance and litter occasioned by many picnickers using the grounds of the Mountain School, voted to erect "no trespassing" signs on the property and locks on privies to discourage visitors. They accepted the resignation of the teacher there, L. Kenneth Linnaberry, transferring him to School number 2, Mahwah. (Bristow) |
1985-07-11 | Real Estate | The Mahwah Ambulance Corps #1 dedicated its new building on Franklin Turnpike. The Dutch Colonial style provided over 3,000 feet of badly needed space for training and expansion. There were three bays for ambulances, training facilities, and office space for the 30 person group. Mayor Kraus cut the ribbon. President Ralph Coviello and Corps Captain Glenda Livingston accepted the new $252,000 building. (Bristow) |
1888-07-12 | People | The departure for parts unknown of W. P. Piper from Suffern was regretted by many people, according to the correspondent of the BCD. Especially moved were those who were waiting for the Moulon News Company proprietor to pay his bills. (Bristow) |
1909-07-12 | Disasters | There is a rumor that a young woman who was staying in one of the boarding houses in the Township has committed suicide. (Bristow) |
1910-07-12 | Transportation | Judge Parker has named the commissioners who will appraise some of the property desired by the North Jersey Rapid Transit line for their right of way. Peter G. Zabriskie, Henry D. Winton, and Akerman D. Pell will examine the properties of Caroline C. Cafferty and Alice Mesereau in Hohokus Township. (Bristow) |
1915-07-12 | Transportation | The Hackensack contractor Mr. Whaley is widening the Main Street (Ramapo Ave) bridge near DeVine's blacksmith shop. (Bristow) |
1918-07-12 | Fire Department | The Fire Department voted to turn over all fire equipment to the town authorities with all further expenses being born by town taxes. (Bristow) |
1938-07-12 | People | Mr. and Mrs. W. R. Zisgen and Miss Eleanor Bugg were the dinner guests of Mr. and Mrs. Dailey I. Bugg of New York City. After dinner they attended the concert of the New York Philharmonic-Symphony at Lewisohn Stadium. Featured in a Gershwin memorial program were Paul Whiteman and his orchestra. The concert had been postponed from the day before by heavy rains. (Bristow) |
1938-07-12 | Education | Trouble seemed to be brewing among the sending districts as Ramsey School Board clerk Lester S. Rutan announced that the tentative charge for students from outside of Ramsey for the 1938-1939 school year would be about $145. Before extensive bickering over the new figure erupted it had to be approved by County Superintendent Zimmerman and the officials on Trenton. (Bristow) |
1942-07-12 | Recreation | The new Champion of the Houvenkopf Country Club was Jim Rice, who defeated Wilbur Pulis one up. Pulis ended up second for the third time. Unfortunately the previous year's winner, Bill Marr of Mahwah was unable to attend since he was serving in the Army Air Corps in Alabama. (Bristow) |
1945-07-12 | Military | The Camp Shanks Sewing Brigade held a reunion. The group met for cocktails at Mrs. Stephen Bidd's and then drove to the Out O'Bounds Country Club for luncheon. The place cards were replicas of the camp insignia and the centerpiece was a clever arrangement of the tools of their work, needles, scissors, buttons, discarded chevrons, and a pair of pajama pants, so often used as a quick change when uniform pants were being shortened or repaired. Talks were given by Mrs. Prentice Ash, Mrs. Howard MacPherson, and Mrs. Elliot Reid concerning the Red Cross operations and the future of Camp Shanks. The members all felt that they had made a contribution to the war effort by their work with the boys and only dared that their husbands and sons would find out that they had learned how to press pants. Ten ladies were present and they missed those who were A.W.O.L. for the occasion. (Bristow) |
1947-07-12 | People | Many Mahwah families were departing town for vacations. The Township Registrar Miss Florence Pelz and her sister of Airmount Rd. spent the week in Long Branch. The E. T. Wells family of Franklin Turnpike had a farm in Vermont to retreat to. Mr. and Mrs. Ralph Frederick went to Greenwood Lake. Chick Haight was already returning to his duties as a Patrolman on the Mahwah Police Department. He was reported to have spent his two week vacation in a resort known as Fardale. (Bristow) |
1947-07-12 | People | Newlyweds Evelyn B. Vogelin of Armour Road and George Miller of Philadelphia departed for a honeymoon in Nantucket after their wedding at the Immaculate Conception Church in Darlington. They met while attending Ursinus College. The groom was a veteran of three years in the army during World War II. He had been awarded the Silver Star, the Bronze Star, and the Purple Heart with two oak leaf clusters. The new couple planned to live in Philadelphia where the groom planned to continue with graduate work at the University of Pennsylvania. (Bristow) |
1948-07-12 | Disasters | The Mahwah Ambulance handled an unusual accident. Early Relis of Paterson was using an acetylene torch to cut some metal when he collapsed suddenly and lacerated his scalp on a steel beam. R. F. Dator, Frank Dator, and Albert Kidd were the crew who took him to Good Samaritan Hospital for treatment. (Bristow) |
1888-07-13 | Crime | An article datelined "Ramseys" County Democrat deplored the actions of an unnamed husband who was reported to have beaten up his wife. This was not, apparently, the first time this had happened, but the general feeling was that a man who would raise his arm to strike an innocent female is unworthy of notice and devoid of all respect. (Bristow) |
1895-07-13 | A severe hailstorm did comparatively little damage in Darlington. The nervous were frightened and a few panes in greenhouses and houses were shattered. (Bristow) | |
1909-07-13 | Education | The Board of Education opened bids for the two new schools in the District. Mr. A. C. Banta, whose low bid was $1,816.90, was awarded the contract for the new school on the mountain. He will also be given the contract for the Wyckoff school (in Campgaw) when the State Board of Education approves its construction. His low bid for this contract was $2,185.97. (Bristow) |
1920-07-13 | Education | A Child Health Center was opened by the Red Cross in the Polish School in West Mahwah. Miss Flagg will be available every Tuesday from 2-5 to help mothers learn about how to care for their children. (Bristow) |
1923-07-13 | Charity | The Mahwah Women's Club held a luncheon on the lawn of Mrs. Elmer J. Snow's home on Olney Rd. Those at the speakers' table were Mrs. Snow, Mrs. Lincoln, Mrs. Ball, Mrs. Waterman, and the Committee Chairmen. It was announced that the American Legion is preparing a composite picture of Mahwah's wartime heroes to be hung in the Library. The Committee on Education for Peace announced that the ten recommended books were in the Library. Mrs. Ball said that if all ten could not be read four were especially recommended: Philip Gibbs, "Now it can be Told"; Lowes Dickinson, "The Causes of War"; Will Irwin, "The Next War"; Charles Jackson, "What the War Has Taught Us". Mrs. Keys asked for autos to take the people at the County Poor Farm for a ride. Victrola records were also welcomed at the Poor Farm. (Bristow) |
1926-07-13 | Recreation | As part of their requirements for the Hostess badge, the Hostess served tea for some of their leaders and parents at the home of Mrs. Ogden B. Hewitt. The guests were Mrs. Walter Cory, Mrs. Thomas Ulrich, Miss Olive Eggars, Mrs. Josephine Middleton, Mrs. Anton B. Cox, and Mrs. George T. Price. There was no report as to whether the girls earned their badge. (Bristow) |
1932-07-13 | People | Mrs. R. N. Wanamaker of State Street treated herself to a day in the city. The highlight of the day was a performance of the musical comedy "Of Thee I Sing". The play with music by George Gershwin and lyrics by his brother Ira to a book by Morris Ryskand and George S. Kaufman, was the first musical ever to win a Pulitzer Prize. (Bristow) |
1935-07-13 | Disasters | Miss Helen North, Librarian of the Mahwah Library for the previous fifteen years, was struck and killed by a train in an unprotected crossing in Suffern. She had gone to Suffern to visit her dentist and was crossing the tracks to get the local to go back to Mahwah. She apparently waited for a freight train to pass and did not hear the Chicago Express coming around the curve. She had been brought up in Brooklyn, after her birth in Montague, NJ in 1894. She had lived in Mahwah for 20 years with her sister Miss Johanna North, the Principal of the Cragmere School #7 (now called Betsy Ross). She was well known and loved in the community for her tact and personal attention to library patrons of all ages and backgrounds. (Bristow) |
1935-07-13 | Fire Department | Thirty members of the Mahwah Fire Department #1 and one truck participated in the Fireman's Parade and Convention in Palisades Park. At the meeting on the 12th two fires were reported for the month of June and a visitation to the Fireman's Home in Boontom was planned for July 28th. (Bristow) |
1942-07-13 | Education | The School Board Clerk brought the attention of the Board to a new state law granting ten paid days of sick leave for teachers. Unused days could be accumulated. The Board requested a copy of the law for study. Prior to this time, teachers out for sickness might be docked for the missing days. (Bristow) |
1947-07-13 | Religion | Some local churches slowed down for the summer. The Sunday School at the Reformed Church did not meet for the summer, and worship services did without the choir. The Suffern Presbyterian Church held its shortened service between 9 and 9:30 with comfortable sports clothes replacing "Sunday-go-to-meeting" finery. (Bristow) |
1900-07-14 | Disasters | Mrs. John Meyer died of a pistol shot wound, possibly accidental, at her home in Darlington. Very little information has been released by the family or through the inquest. Dr. Zabriskie, the family physician, said that she has not been sick. He was summoned to the house to find her lying on the floor of her bedroom in great pain with a bullet just below her heart. Since the bullet lodged in her intestine there was little that he, Dr. Cleveland at the Havermeyer Estate, and a specialist from New York City, Dr. Markoe, could do. She died the next day. Father Meredith of Suffern administered the last rites of the Catholic Church. At the inquest a servant testified that she was looking at Mrs. Mayer when the shot rang out and did not even see the pistol until after Mrs. Mayer had fallen. The inquest, conducted by Dr. Vroom of Ridgewood, concluded that she had died of "injury received from the discharge of a pistol while she was handling the same". She leaves four young children, one only six months old. A funeral mass was said and the body conveyed for burial in the Greenwood Cemetery in Brooklyn. A special train carried the many mourners from New York to and from Mahwah. (Bristow) |
1921-07-14 | Real Estate | Ground was broken for Frank Russell's house on the S. E. corner of Airmont and Oweno Rd. When it is finished, that block of Oweno between Airmont and the woods will be built up solidly on both sides. (Bristow) |
1926-07-14 | Disasters | Peter Kyle of Suffern was electrocuted while working with a crew from the Rockland Electric Company to relocate some electric wires in Saddle River. Officials of the Company surmised that his rubber gloves might have had a tiny hole in them and his hand and arm were burned. In trying to avoid further pain he seemed to have leaned against the high tension wires and received 4,000 volts through his side. The other members of his crew did all they could to save him. One of them risked his own life to bring him down from the pole where he was working. Although they performed artificial respiration on him for over two hours they were not able to save him. The Suffern resident left a wife and three children. He was about 45 years old and had worked for the company for about thirty years. (Bristow) |
1930-07-14 | Real Estate | An East Mahwah Residents Association was formed in a meeting at the Town Hall. Its ultimate purpose was to secede from the rest of the Township and form its own Borough. This movement had been precipitated by the defeat of a proposition to build a school in Cragmere. Irvin B. Tiedeman and his wife were among the prime movers. They claimed that the lack of a school had reduced property values. A spirited discussion followed. Some, like H. W. Mowery pointing out the great expenses involved in creating a new Borough while others maintain that there was an unbridgeable gap between those east and those west of the tracks. Ray Dator moved the formation of the Association and Mr. Tiedeman was asked to form an advisory committee of 30 for the new group. (Bristow) |
1931-07-14 | Disasters | An Erie train was wrecked when a coupling failed opposite Christie's house on Franklin Turnpike. Three vagrants who were riding the northbound freight were thrown off an oil car by the impact. Segurd Thompson died instantly, Charles Erikson died on the way to the hospital. Both men were listed as homeless. A third "tramp", Samuel Tyrystad of Yonkers, NY was injured and taken to the Good Samaritan Hospital. He was suffering from contusions and shock. (Bristow) |
1947-07-14 | Education | Miss Eleanor Hutchinson of Heightstown, NJ was appointed school nurse by the Board of Education. Although no details as to her previous posts were reported she was said to be both highly qualified and experienced as a public health and school nurse. Her appointment was made necessary by the death of Miss Florence Gates who had served in the post for 21 years. Supervising Principal Holmes reported to the School Board that a memorial fund had been created in her memory. $115 had been raised so far to purchase a piece of practical equipment for the nurse's office at the Commodore Perry School. Particularly active in raising the fund was the Fardale Association, he stated. (Bristow) |
1947-07-14 | Recreation | Supervising Principal Holmes reported that the Woman's Club offer to provide playground equipment for the schools was being held in abeyance while he consulted State Education Department officials on the legality of the offer. He did report that the state officials had said that all rotary equipment was considered unsafe. They recommended only swings, see-saws, and basketball standards. A tentative date was set for September for a meeting with state officials on the matter. (Bristow) |
1947-07-14 | Education | When Board member Alfred Heflin offered to clear away the weeds which almost obscured the Darlington School for nothing, the other members of the School Board insisted that his men be paid. The District had the money, they insisted. Finance Chairman John Zisgen reported that bond numbers 46, 47, and 48, each for $1,000, had been retired. Only $27,000 of the $75,000 debt incurred with the building of the Betsy Ross School still remained outstanding, he revealed. (Bristow) |
1948-07-14 | Education | R. C. Hopkins of the Buildings and Grounds Committee of the School Board was authorized by the Board to attempt to solve the long-standing problem of not being able to get any shrubbery to grow around Betsy Ross School. He was to follow up the offer of the Mahwah Garden Club to donate shrubbery which knowledgeable people in the Club believed would grow there. (Bristow) |
1948-07-14 | Education | The Board of Education gave orders that District Clerk Edwin T. Bennett secure markers or some other method to prevent teachers or visitors to the Commodore Perry School from parking anywhere else but to the west of the building. They had been parking in their own private spaces to the north of the building and interfering with the playground space. (Bristow) |
1953-07-14 | Real Estate | Mynard Greene, the developer of the proposed Route 17 shopping center on Franklin Turnpike, requested permission from the Borough Council to begin construction within ten days. The first to be built will be the Howard Johnson Restaurant on the circle itself. Unfortunately, he explained, he could not begin construction of the rest of the center because he had not yet completed leases for the major tenants. Whatever happened, however, the last thing to be built would be the drive-in theater. Although permission had been given to begin construction of the restaurant the year before, the Council re-passed the permit. (Bristow) |
1958-07-14 | Education | The School Board announced the appointment of Martin J. Toole as the Principal of Commodore Perry School. He had been Principal-in-Charge in Demarest for the previous four years. His salary of $8,000 was the highest ever paid for an elementary principal in Mahwah. Thirty applicants had applied and seventeen had been interviewed. Board President Edward Pagels claimed that the difficulty of finding a new Principal had previously been the low salary paid by the District. (Bristow) |
1896-07-15 | Recreation | The Christian Endeavour's Spider-web Social was well attended. Eighteen "spiders" attempted to unravel the web but only 5 reached the end successfully. Miss Sadie Slyer won the first prize of a set of cuff-buttons. Games and singing were followed by ice cream, cake, and lemonade. (Bristow) |
1898-07-15 | Transportation | Mr. James Keegan of the Real Estate Department of the Erie Railroad has completed the transactions necessary for the construction of the new underpass at the Depot. Among the purchases is the Stephen Winter house which is too close to where the extra two tracks will be laid. The house will have to be moved or demolished. (Bristow) |
1901-07-15 | Disasters | Nyack, NY resident William Best was killed in an accident in the "new steel plant" in Mahwah. He was caught between two cars of the pick up and his leg crushed. He arrived in the hospital in Paterson unconscious. His leg was amputated but he died soon after. Neither the railroad nor the steel works will accept responsibility for the tragedy because Best was "where he had no business to be." (Bristow) |
1905-07-15 | Recreation | Two professional organists appeared at the special Organ Fund Concert for the Ramapo Reformed Church. Mrs. R. L. Blackwell, formerly an organ instructor at Vassar College, and Mr. W. A. Christmas of Tallman's played the newly installed Odel organ. The instrument is a 2 manual, 5 octave pipe organ with 2 1/2 octaves of pedals. Especially noteworthy was Mr. Christmas' rendition of Flagler's "Variations on an American Air" and Mrs. Blackwell's playing of the "Pastorale" by Bossi and "Caprice" by Delthiers. Also heard were vocal solos by Misses Edith Van Dyne of Suffern, Bessie Caulkins of Hollis, Long Island, and the tenor Mr. P. Gordon Kemp. Admission for the affair was 50 cents. The artists were entertained by Mr. A. Winter in his handsome new home. Mr. Winter was, with Mr. George Crocker, the major contributor to the congregational fund which purchased the new instrument. (Bristow) |
1910-07-15 | Transportation | The Ramsey Journal reported that 25,000 passengers had been carried on the new Trolley line between Hohokus and Paterson during the first two weeks of service. The day's first car leave from Hohokus at 5:58 AM, the last at 11:58 PM. All stops have been established. The cars run every 30 minutes during weekdays and every 15 minutes on the weekend. The work above Waldwick is moving very slowly. (Bristow) |
1911-07-15 | Transportation | The North Jersey Rapid Transit Company began service every thirty minutes from Mahwah on its new Trolley line. The northbound cars will depart at about 8 minutes and 38 minutes after the hour, and the southbound ones at 22 and 52 minutes after the hour. (Bristow) |
1926-07-15 | Religion | The Bishop of Newark purchased the McMillan estate in Darlington as the new site of the Immaculate Conception Seminary. (Bristow) |
1926-07-15 | Real Estate | The trustees of the McMillan Estate sold the former Crocker mansion and over 1200 acres to the Roman Catholic Diocese of Newark as a site for a seminary. The price was estimated to have been about $500,000. Immaculate Conception Seminary was to relocate on the site and by the move to be able to accept more candidates for the priesthood. Extensive alterations were contemplated to existing buildings and several new structures were built before the transfer of the school, expected to take place in January or February, 1927. The estate had originally belonged to A. B. Darling. George Crocker, the California millionaire bought it from the Darling estate. It passed to Emerson McMillan on Crocker's death. After McMillan's death a syndicate attempted to turn the property into a luxury country club and golf course. They had gone bankrupt and the great mansion and lands reverted to the McMillan estate. It was estimated that over $2,000,000 had been spent on the estate through the years. (Bristow) |
1935-07-15 | Recreation | Mrs. Thomas H. Pendergast took a group of children up the recently opened Perkins Drive in Bear Mountain Park. Marjorie Biddle, Garda Waterman, Irene and Billy Pendergast enjoyed the panoramic view of the Hudson and the Ramapo Hills from the top of the Tower. (Bristow) |
1942-07-15 | Disasters | A collision between cars driven by two local residents resulted in both damage and personal injury. James R. Glasgow, 24, of Valley Road Mahwah collided with a car driven by Gilbert Oddo, 42, of Ferguson Place in Ramsey at the corner of Carol and Spring Streets at 10:00 PM. Two passengers in the Oddo car were slightly injured and were treated by Dr. Vernon L. Hawes. Glasgow's car had smashed glass on the left side and the wheels were knocked out of line when he jumped the sidewalk and smashed into the home of Ramsey Patrolman George Strant. The Oddo car also suffered broken glass and a smashed hood and mudguard. Both cars had to be towed from the scene. (Bristow) |
1948-07-15 | Fire Department | The Township Committee gave the Fardale Fire Company the right to have a separate emergency phone number since new and substitute telephone operators were constantly sending calls to the wrong number, delaying the arrival of their company at fires. (Bristow) |
1953-07-15 | Transportation | Reliable sources at the State Capitol have revealed that only $500,000 of the $3 1/2 million dollars originally allocated for the widening of the Route 17 from the Ramsey Circle to the New York State border will actually be spent at that time. $1,000,000 has been diverted to the construction of Route S-4-B, just then begun to be called Route 208. Many had thought 208 would never be built at all since it had been created as a WPA make-work project during the depression. The grading had been completed but no money was ever appropriated to pave it even after the WPA went out of business. (Bristow) |
1958-07-15 | Education | The Ramsey School Board announced that agreement had been reached with Mahwah concerning the use of the Ramsey High School building by Mahwah students pending the completion of the new Mahwah High School Plant. Ramsey students would start at 7:45 and be dismissed at 1:53 while the 600 Mahwah students would begin at 1:53 and continue until about 6:30. This was accomplished by limiting the Ramsey home room period and lunch period and restricting Mahwah's extra-curricular programs. The new High School was expected to be completed about February 1st. (Bristow) |
1910-07-16 | Police | James Devine seems to be the only serious candidate for Bergen County Sheriff. He has been rallying support in various parts of the county. He has previously shown his abilities on the Hohokus Township Committee as member and as Chairman, on the Board of Education as County Freeholder, as a New Jersey Assemblyman and on the County Republican Committee. He now serves as Township Assessor. He was born in Suffern in 1867 and plies his trade of blacksmith along the brook near the Depot. (Bristow) |
1915-07-16 | Recreation | The Reformed Church picnic to Eastside Park in Paterson traveled in two special trolly cars. The round trip fare was 35 cents. Among the big winners of the athletic and variety events was Olive Valentine who won both the 50 yard dash (Alice Smith, second) and the ball throwing contest (Margaret Conklin, second). In the 50 yard dash for adults Rev. Dykema was first and Principal Schorr, second. Mrs. E. C. Lane won the 25 yard walk and Mrs. Warren Ackerman the nail driving contest. (Bristow) |
1916-07-16 | Charity | The Ladies Aid Society is taking orders for orange, grapefruit or mixed marmalade at 15 cents per glass. The proceeds will go to aid the suffering babies in the war zone in Europe. (Bristow) |
1918-07-16 | Disasters | The rainy weather caused slippery driving conditions. An Overland roadster turned around twice near the garage and smashed into a tree, breaking a wheel. The driver reported she was not hurt. In another accident the driver mistook the circle of lights illuminating the trolley station near the entrance of Cragmere for those referred to in the warning sign above the road and smashed into the iron railing, demolishing his Dodge and nearly going over the embankment. (Bristow) |
1926-07-16 | People | House guests at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Arthur J. Biggs was Mrs. Biggs' sister and brother-in-law Colonel and Mrs. W. M. Biggs. Colonel Biggs was returning from being posted in Panama. He was to resume his position as Chief of the Audit Department of the United States Army. (One wonders what hammers and toilet seats cost during his tenure of office.) (Bristow) |
1931-07-16 | Police | A Mountain Road resident called Chief Smith at 6 AM to complain that there was a naked man wrapped in a blanket at the foot of the mountain. When the Chief investigated he found a man sleeping. He was fully clothed and there was nothing wrong with him, according to his report in the police blotter. His annoyance at having been called out on his day off was obvious. (Bristow) |
1932-07-16 | People | A broken leg was the price that George Shuart of Woodland Ave., Ramsey, paid for leaving his truck in gear on Saturday afternoon. He was using the truck to carry hay from his farm to his Father's barn on Darlington Avenue. He had left the truck in gear while he was unloading the hay. In preparation for the return trip he stopped at the front of the truck and gave the crank a turn to start the engine. The truck surged forward pinning him against the barn wall. His leg was broken below the knee. Dr. Gillett took Shuart to the hospital where an x-ray revealed that the leg had been broken in eleven pieces. It was not immediately clear whether he would regain full use of his leg after so serious an accident. (Bristow) |
1940-07-16 | Crime | Frank Sudol, of East Crescent Ave., Mahwah, was arrested for possessing a dismantled still and 15 gallons of untaxed brandy. A. B. C. investigator Frank Hullin found the dismantled still in a chicken coop behind the house during a raid and the brandy in an upstairs room. When he was arraigned on November 30th he pleaded not-guilty. (Bristow) |
1942-07-16 | Government | At the Township Board meeting Building Inspector Stewart Swan was instructed to check on all roadside signs to make sure that the required fees had been paid. They paid the Township's share of $60 in the cost of equipping the air raid warning station being constructed in Ramsey and authorized personnel changes in the two fire departments. (Bristow) |
1942-07-16 | Business | The Township Board was notified by the Public Service Electric & Gas Company that they had transferred their ownership of the former Trolley Line property in Mahwah to the Rockland Electric Company of Nyack. Any further negotiations regarding the renting of this property would have to be taken up with the new owners, the letter stated. (Bristow) |
1948-07-16 | Military | In impressive ceremonies held at the Immaculate Heart of Mary Church Hall the officers of the newly organized Ladies Auxiliary of the Veterans of Foreign Wars were inducted. Heading the new post was Miss Mary Speich with Mary Borish, Pauline Poplawski, Ann Warguska, and Margaret Borish in other major posts. Presiding was Mrs. Bertha Bullis, Past President of the New Jersey State Department of the VFW. Large delegations attended the ceremonies from Auxiliary Posts in Paramus, Ramsey, and Westwood as numerous State Auxiliary representatives. A buffet supper followed at the Twin Bar Restaurant, arranged for by the male VFW Post. (Bristow) |
1955-07-16 | Business | Manufacturing operations begin at new Ford Assembly plant less than 24 hours after the Edgewater plant is closed. (Bristow) |
1908-07-17 | Business | Ramsey Druggist H. R. Parvin advertised in the Ramsey Journal a special of an $8 phonograph for $2. A postal card would bring a demonstration in your home or you could go to the store directly. (Bristow) |
1916-07-17 | People | Mildred Dator has taken a job in the office of the Writner Lumber Company in Suffern. (Bristow) |
1916-07-17 | People | William A. Christmas has given up his job as organist of the Savoy Theater in N.Y.C. He will continue as organist of the Reformed Church as before. (Bristow) |
1922-07-17 | People | Frederick and William Heidgerd and Robert Wilson are driving by flivver to the Pacific coast and have reached Nebraska. They left Mahwah on July 5 and report good roads everywhere except Iowa. They are camping out and have found that many towns maintain tourist camps. In Valley, Nebraska, they met a party from Ridgewood. Eventually they parted. Frederick Heidgerd got a job in Los Angeles, Robert Wilson is at Big Horn Ranch in Coalmont, Colorado, and William Heidgerd is on his way home by ship. A letter from Wilson was published August 31, 1911. Wilson returned to town (no date) in June, 1923. (Bristow) |
1924-07-17 | Transportation | In his report on the International Police Chief's Association in Montreal, Peter J. Siccardi of the County Traffic Police Department recommended the widening of Franklin Turnpike. He pointed out that this was the most dangerous of all the congested routes in the County since it was the main route between New York City and the Catskills, Adirondacks, and Canada. From the 15,000 autos which existed in 1900 there were in 1923 15,000,000 with an expected toll of 180,000 dead in traffic accidents in 1924. He suggested the widening of the road to 80 feet with a four foot park in the center. He said the cost would be fairly low since few houses would have to be moved outside the 80 foot area. (Since the road is only about 30 feet wide from curb to curb in Mahwah today, we have to assume that the plan was never carried out.) (Bristow) |
1926-07-17 | People | Daly Bugg, the son of the real estate agent who promoted Cragmere Park, and of Eleanor Bugg of Mahwah, sailed for Europe for a tour. He had recently been graduated from St. Lawrence University in Canton, N.Y. (Bristow) |
1935-07-17 | People | The will of Rachel Winter of Mahwah, who died on July 2nd, was probated. $1,000 was left to the Reformed Church where she had been an active member all her life, serving as Superintendent of the Primary Department of the church school and for 27 years as President of the Women's Missionary Society. The income from $500 was to go for general church purposes and the income from the other $500 was to go to the Women's Missionary Society. Real estate was left to her nephew Albert Winter and the remainder, after a few personal legacies, went to nieces Martha and Ilda Winter. (Bristow) |
1945-07-17 | People | Joseph P. Stocker, a resident of Ramsey for most of his life, died at a Park Ridge sanitarium. He was 81 years old. He was born in Austria on June 28, 1864 and had come to this country as an infant. For most of his working life he had been a checker at the American Brake Shoe plant in Mahwah. After his retirement there he ran a shoe repair business in Ramsey in a shop next to the American Legion (later VFW) Hall. (Bristow) |
1953-07-17 | Education | John A. Fellows, President of the Board of Education, announced that he would resign as of August 15th. He had accepted a position with a chemical company in St. Louis. Vice President Cyrus F. Tibbals III was to succeed to the presidency. Fardale PTA members attended the meeting to protest the proposal to bus sixth grade students to a central location. They proposed an alternative arrangement. The Board sent the proposal back to the Committee. (Bristow) |
1953-07-17 | Recreation | Scout John Wiley reported in a letter to his parents on the events of the Scout Jamboree which opened in Santa Ana California. The inspiring opening ceremonies featured Lannie Ross and pageants of great events in American history. Other highlights of the first few days were a visit to Knott's Berry Farm, swims in the Pacific Ocean, and a candlelit ceremony during which the 50,000 Scouts present recited the Scout oath. (Bristow) |
1958-07-17 | Disasters | Frederick Allen of 24 Shuart Lane, Ramsey, was killed when he seemingly became confused while attempting to walk across Route 17 in Mahwah. He was treated for multiple fractures by medical technicians from a Nation Guard unit on their way to the Mahwah bivouac area at the time of the accident but he died the next day in the Good Samaritan Hospital. A charge of failure to keep to the left was changed to a technical charge of death by auto against the driver of the fatal auto, although police reported that tire tracks indicated that the driver had left skid marks 100 yards long in attempting to avoid hitting Allen. Allen, 50, had been a Ramsey resident for 25 years. (Bristow) |
1893-07-18 | Agriculture | Haying is done at the Darling Farm according to Mr. Carpenter. 200 tons of hay were gathered by ten men in 12 days. (Bristow) |
1908-07-18 | Crime | Mrs. Mary Degroat was reported to have been beaten to death by her husband Stephen. He was said to have come home to their residence back of the Golf Club grounds and have beaten her with a club for no apparent reason. She suffered a fractured skull, two broken arms, scratches, and a broken nose. The husband was apprehended by Constable Shuart of Ramsey and taken to the Hackensack Jail. The paper reported him to have said, "I killed my wife, I deserve the worst." At the inquest, however, an entirely different story emerged. Dr. Bouygo of Ridgewood who performed the autopsy testified that there were no marks of violence on her body and that she had died of a brain hemorrhage. Loomis Degroat, Stephen's brother, and his wife testified that although he had slapped her with his hands on the fatal night he had not used a club. The coroner's jury said that she had died of the hemorrhage. Degroat was released. (Bristow) |
1910-07-18 | Transportation | Boring operations began at 179th St. to determine if this would be a good site for the proposed Hudson River Bridge. This is the narrowest part of the Hudson River, rock is exposed on both sides of the River and the river sides drop sharply at this point. It is expected that the bridge might cost as much as $10,000,000 but leave a 14,000 channel span, at this point above where the large ships anchor in the harbor. It is expected to carry vehicular as well as high speed trolley traffic. (Bristow) |
1918-07-18 | People | Olive Snow received a fine Packard roadster last week. (Bristow) |
1924-07-18 | Crime | Unknown burglars broke into a house at the intersection of Darlington and Ridge Roads and stole the bathroom fixtures, doors, and a pump. A $100 reward was offered by Mr. F. Schucht for the arrest and conviction of the "vandals". (Bristow) |
1931-07-18 | Crime | The Proprietor of the Sunset Lake resort reported that his stand had been broken into overnight. H. Wehman reported three or four cartons of Old Gold, Lucky Strike, Chesterfield, and Camel cigarettes stolen along with Rio-tan cigars and numerous five cent candy bars and chewing gum. Chief Smith and State Troopers O'Donnell and Nelson spent much of the day investigating the theft. Although "the Kelly boy" reported that he had seen a suspicious boy at the house next door to Sunset Lake, he was unable to identify him. (Bristow) |
1935-07-18 | Recreation | Among the Mahwah residents who attended the performance of "The Devil's Disciple" with Ina Clair at the County Theatre in Suffern were Mr. and Mrs. F. T. Chapman, Mr. and Mrs. Leslie Rounds, Mr. and Mrs. Ogden Hewitt, and Mr. and Mrs. Richard Keith. (Bristow) |
1938-07-18 | People | Mr. and Mrs. Herman Steinbruch and son Dick were spending their vacation on Cape Cod. They were reported about to leave town for Springfield, MA. Mr. Steinbruch had been offered the job of manager of a local radio station there. (Bristow) |
1945-07-18 | People | Mrs. Marvin Akin of Chestnut Street, Fardale spent the day in New York City. She attended the matinee performance of "Bloomer Girls". (Bristow) |
1948-07-18 | Recreation | The new tennis court was almost ready for use. Only the posts for holding the net had not been installed. Township officials had enclosed a three-court space on the Commodore Perry playground. To avoid the maintenance problems of a clay surface, the court had been surfaced with Amacite by the Ward Brothers at a cost of $1,520. The markers were painted on to make them permanent. Township residents who wished to play were required to present themselves at the Town Clerk's office to obtain the key to the enclosure, except on Saturdays and Sundays. On weekends the gate would be permanently left open during daylight hours, Clerk R. F. Dator announced. Money would be placed in the 1949 budget to complete the other two courts. (Bristow) |
1899-07-19 | Recreation | At the Darlington Christian Endeavor's Sock Social at Havermeyer's Hall admission was charged by measuring feet sizes at the door. Games, including "Who, Which, or What am I" were enjoyed. Miss Mary Henion won the grand prize. (Bristow) |
1916-07-19 | Recreation | There seems to be plenty of small catfish being caught. Try not to be caught yourself by the Game Warden. The fine for fishing without a license is $50 and costs. (Bristow) |
1926-07-19 | Real Estate | In honor of the 150th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, the American Historic Preservation Society announced that they had purchased a plot 75 by 200 feet on the Palisades. This was the site of Fort Lee during the American Revolution. This was to be turned into an historical park, the organization revealed. They hoped this way to halt the "apartment house advance" and provide a more dignified approach to the great bridge planned to stretch from Fort Lee to 178th Street in Manhattan, at or near the location of Fort Washington, the companion to Fort Lee in guarding the Hudson from British advance. (Bristow) |
1926-07-19 | Government | Ramsey Postmaster Parvin was unanimously re-elected President of the mid-Atlantic League of District Postmasters at their annual convention in Philadelphia. The League covered the states of New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania. He was also chosen to attend the national convention of the League in Salt Lake City in September. While in Philadelphia he visited the Sesquicentennial exhibition. He said that it was about 85% completed with preparations still going on for some exhibits, even though the exhibition is open to the public. He was particularly impressed, of course, by the model post office. He watched the envelope machine preparing envelopes with the special Sesquicentennial stamp. He offered to supply copies of the new envelope for any local collectors who wanted them. He needed only to know how many each collector needed so that he could obtain a sufficient supply. The envelope was not to go on sale until July 27th. (Bristow) |
1932-07-19 | Recreation | Mrs. Alice MacArthur began a busy week of golfing by participating in a tournament at the Golf Club in Poughkeepsie. Olive Valentine and Mrs. H. M. Fillibrown of Mahwah were joined by other members of the local club from surrounding communities on the trip. Betty and Mary McKenna and Mrs. P. J. Kelly of Hillburn were among those competing. Two days later most of these ladies took part in the elimination tournament at the Houvenkopf Country Club for the David H. Smith trophy. The silver tray was to go to the winner of the play-off the following week. In addition to Mrs. MacArthur, Mrs. Fillibrown, and Miss Valentine of Mahwah, the qualifiers included Miss Fisher and Miss McKenna of Suffern, Mrs. Ross of Fort Lee, and Mrs. Rickling and Mrs. Kingston, whose home towns were not identified. Which of the two McKenna sisters was eliminated, Mary or Betty? The newspaper account did not say. (Unfortunately the newspaper accounts, in the next week or so did not reveal who won.) (Bristow) |
1935-07-19 | Disasters | A Mountindale, N.Y. laundry truck driver either fell asleep at the wheel or lost control of his vehicle on the Ramsey traffic circle of Route 2 (now Route 17) and caused a minor accident involving an engaged couple from Ramsey. Miss Susan Anderson was slightly injured in the accident, but she and her fiancee* continued on their way to do some shopping for their wedding the next day. The wedding came off as scheduled and the trial of the offending driver was postponed until the couple returned from their wedding trip. He was fined $25 for reckless driving. *Meredith A. Snyder of Franklin Turnpike, Ramsey |
1942-07-19 | Sports | Before the scheduled baseball game between the Mahwah Athletic Club and Stony Point at the Mahwah Athletic Field, the crowd was thrilled by an appearance by Babe Ruth. The famous slugger entertained the crowd by hitting a few of his famous homerun balls and signing autographs. In the game, Mahwah defeated the visitors 4-0 in what was described as "one of the finest games played so far this year." (Bristow) |
1942-07-19 | People | The wedding of Edna Trusewicz of Mahwah and Charles Durkin of Tuxedo was solemnized in Hackensack by Monsignor Burke. Miss Trucewicz was the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Felix Trucewicz of 10 Island Road and was in training at the Hackensack Hospital School of Nursing. After a wedding trip to Virginia, the couple was to reside in Suffern. (Bristow) |
1955-07-19 | Business | First car rolls off Ford assembly line in new Mahwah plant. (Bristow) |
1895-07-20 | Disasters | Severe thunderstorms hit Darlington. A large tree was hit by lightning in front of E. F. Carpenter's residence and trees were blown down on the Darling and Havermeyer estates. (Bristow) |
1903-07-20 | Disasters | Mrs. Margaret Litchult of Masonicus lost her house to fire during the night. (Bristow) |
1911-07-20 | Transportation | At a citizens meeting it was decided not to allow the Erie to move Franklin Turnpike 140 feet to the east. There will be other meetings on this hot topic. (Bristow) |
1930-07-20 | Police | When Special Police Officer Brennan told Chief Smith that he would not be able to go on traffic duty that day the Chief came up with a solution. He called Donald Faye and asked him to take the duty. When Faye agreed Chief Smith went over to Brennan's house and borrowed his shirt and hat for Faye to use. Do you suppose that Faye had his own badge of did he simply use Brennan's too? (Bristow) |
1931-07-20 | Police | The casual way in which accidents were reported in the Mahwah Police book is illustrated by an accident investigated by Chief Smith. Although the names of the drivers of the two cars involved were recorded and a diagram of the accident was put into the book, the exact location is not apparent. Smith reported that "A" car turned into a street and "B" car struck "A" car. At least we know that the incident took place on Valley Road, but there is no clue as to what street the first car turned into. (Bristow) |
1942-07-20 | Police | As an emergency wartime measure, photography was forbidden on the George Washington and Staten Island bridges, and in and around the Holland and Lincoln Tunnels. The bans included still and motion picture photography on or from these structures and was being enforced by police and by special signs. Some film had been confiscated from over-enthusiastic hobbyists. Sabotage by spies was feared. (Bristow) |
1942-07-20 | Police | Chief of Police Charles E. Smith reported that there had been three crimes committed during the month of June: two cases of petit larceny and one of malicious mischief. The Department had made 52 investigations, had found one missing person, and had been called in to assist in an attempted suicide. (Bristow) |
1956-07-20 | Government | Leora M. Manamaker confirmed by President Eisenhower as Postmaster of Mahwah. (Bristow) |
1965-07-20 | Crime | A seventh petition for a stay of execution was filed by lawyers for Edgar H. Smith who was scheduled to die during the week of August 23rd. County Judge Arthur O'Dea, who had originally passed the sentence against Smith, set the new execution date after U.S. Supreme Court Justice William J. Brennan had vacated the sixth stay. Smith had been on death row for more than eight years, longer than any convicted murderer had ever spent there. Smith was convicted for first degree murder in the killing of fifteen-year-old Victoria Zielinski of Wyckoff Ave. Ramsey in a gravel pit off Chapel Road and Fardale Avenue in Mahwah. |
1965-07-20 | Disasters | Officials at the Good Samaritan Hospital reported that Joan Brown was in satisfactory condition following a brush with a car. Stephen Dombrowski, of 138 Johnson Ave., Mahwah's building inspector, was driving north on Scherer Place. He told the investigating officer Patrolman Frank Ackerson that he had noticed two children playing alongside the street and had slowed down. He heard a noise on the other side of the car and realized that the two year old Joan Brown had run into his car from that side. He stopped and took the child and her mother to the hospital. (Bristow) |
1893-07-21 | People | While Mrs. Birch was shopping at Eisenhauer's store her daughter was left in the cart. Suddenly the pony bolted and started home toward Mahwah at a high rate of speed. The cart almost overturned at Pulis' Corner but the girl kept her wits and kept the cart on the road. Mr. Robert Fisher succeeded in halting the animal and Miss Birch drove home without suffering any injury. (Bristow) |
1908-07-21 | Disasters | When the belly band on his new racing wagon broke, Assemblyman James Devine Jr. of Mahwah was thrown out and injured his leg. Since the horse was rigged with a speeding harness there were no breeches fastened to the shaft, and when the ben broke the wagon ran up on the horse, frightening him. Mr. Devine was able to stop the horse but sustained a painful leg injury and now walks with a limp. (Bristow) |
1911-07-21 | Business | J. K. Paterson's store in Suffern, in an advertisement in the Ramsey Journal, offered to refund the trolley fare of any patron from Ramsey of Mahwah who buys $5 worth of his clothing. He features this week Adler's Collegiate Clothes, Stetson Hats, and Holeproof hose for men and women. (Bristow) |
1921-07-21 | Recreation | The Mahwah Boy Scouts' plan for a summer camp back of Oakland were frustrated at the last moment by poor attendance. A beautiful site had been selected in the Ramapo Mountains complete with a knoll for their tents and a spring for water. But when the day for departure arrived only five showed up. Under Patrol Leader Daily Bugg, Scouts Hopper, Heidgerd, Schierer, and Glasgow marched off to the big scout camp in Bear Mountain instead. (Bristow) |
1923-07-21 | Crime | Bergen County's first Ku Klux Klan meeting was held in Paramus. 652 candidates were initiated into membership. It was held on a farm on East Ridgewood Ave. near the County Farm. Over 2,000 persons were present including 200 women, presumably members of the Camelias, the women's auxiliary of the Klan. The owners of the farm were paid $3.00 rent and had been told that it was to be used for a Sunday School picnic. 52 candidates came from Pompton Lake alone, with others from Hackensack, Carlsdad, and other Bergen County towns, and Essex and Hudson Counties. The ceremony lasted about an hour, culminating with the taking of the oath by the candidates and the burning of a 50' cross, illuminated by the headlights of an estimated 267 automobiles. Non members were kept away. (Bristow) |
1926-07-21 | Business | Model T Ford number 14,000,000 came off the assembly line in the Ford Plant. It was a little more than two years since the 10,000,000th Ford had been produced on June 4, 1924. That model had been taken on a tour of the U.S. from San Francisco to New York on the Lincoln Highway. The first model T had been produced on October 1, 1908. It was not until December 10, 1915 that the millionth Ford had been assembled. (Bristow) |
1945-07-21 | Military | The biggest all-night diner in the U.S. was said to be operating at Camp Shanks in Orangeburg as thousands of veterans of the European War were being received back in the States. Thirty cooks and 120 KPs keep the meals going 'round the clock. The biggest item on the menu is steaks since the first official Army menu proscribes a steak as the first meal a returning soldier gets when he returns stateside. The cooks prepare as many as 3,000 steaks for a single meal. Milk, ice cream, and french fried potatoes are the other favorites. When the latter were prepared, the usual complement of 35 pounds of potatoes per 100 men was routinely doubled. Captain Diviney, the assistant chief of the mess division inaugurated the steak meals in the summer of 1944. They proved so popular that they became official last February. (Bristow) |
1948-07-21 | Religion | The Classis of Paramus, of the Reformed Church, which used to meet in such exotic places as Westwood, Wyckoff, and Hackensack, met this year at Silver Bay on Lake George. The Rev. and Mrs. Clarence Sloan Howard attended for the local Reformed Church. During the Pastor's absence the pulpit was filled by the Rev. James Mettings of Wyckoff, associate secretary for the Board of Domestic Missions. (Bristow) |
1953-07-21 | Government | A sound truck circulated through town to urge water conservation. There was no actual shortage but water is being used so quickly that it does not have time to settle or purify, according to Township officials. Residents were asked not to use their sprinklers and to water flowers with a watering can. (Bristow) |
1958-07-21 | Fire Department | Mayor Morris Ruddick praised Mahwah residents for their attention to safety since the Fire Department reported that there had been no fires during the month of June. No one could remember the last months without any fires in the Township. (Bristow) |
1958-07-21 | Education | The Board of Education investigated legal action against the Roofers Union whose strike was holding up completion of the new Mahwah High School. Most of the buildings were reported to be 98% completed except for the roofs. In most cases the remaining work could not be done until the roofs were completed. The project date of February 1st for occupancy of the new plant was contingent on finishing these roofs. Board President Edward Pagels branded a strike against a public school unconstitutional. The original completion date of Sept. 30th had had to be abandoned because of a Carpenters strike. (Bristow) |
1958-07-21 | Government | The Republican members outvoted the Democrats 3-2 in approving a proposed ordinance to install water mains from Franklin Turnpike to Oweno Road. The Democrats, Vincent Blefary and Janet Herlihy, maintained that there were other worthy projects which should be undertaken first. Another ordinance to install storm drains on Miller and Malcolm Roads was approved unanimously. (Bristow) |
1885-07-22 | Charity | Women's Missionary Society of the Ramapough Reformed Church organized with Mrs. A. M. Sheffield as President. (Bristow) |
1910-07-22 | Sports | Exhibition of the Johnson-Jeffries fight motion picture has been forbidden in New Jersey by Supreme Court Judge Swayze. He charged the Hudson County Grand Jury that to show the pictures of the Nevada fight would be unlawful since they had a clear tendency "to pander to vicious and disorderly members of our society." The mayors of Paterson and Passaic ordered them banned from their cities. (Bristow) |
1932-07-22 | People | Mrs. J. B. Stocker of North Central Avenue in Ramsey received something very unusual in those pre-New Deal days, a check from the government. She would dearly not have received it, though, since it covered her expenses to take part in a trip to France with other Gold Star mothers to visit the grave of her son. Nicholas P. Stocker was buried in the American Cemetery at Suresnes on the Seine near Paris. He had been killed on October 16, 1918. A group of three hundred mothers and widows were to sail on August 14th on the Leviathon for six weeks. This was the final contingent to make the sad pilgrimage. (Bristow) |
1935-07-22 | People | Olive Eggars was appointed acting librarian at the monthly meeting of the Library Board. The death of Miss Helen North who had been librarian for fifteen years made this appointment necessary. The Board praised Miss North as "faithful, steadfast, and capable, yet modest and unassuming, a beloved personal friend and associate" and "Christian gentlewoman" in a formal resolution, a copy of which was sent to her family. (Bristow) |
1941-07-22 | People | The Ramsey Draft Board No. 1 announced that the contingent to depart for induction on July 28th would be headed by Gene J. Kownacki, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Marcel Kownacki of Valley Road, Mahwah. He was a graduate of Don Bosco and the New York Institute of Photography. For several years he had edited the Mahwah news page and the sports pages of the Ramsey Journal. Other Mahwah inductees were John Marguska of Wilmuth Street and a volunteer, Arthur Francis Jennings. Fred Shierloh of Ramsey, a well-know local athlete, and Lester Werther, the manager of the Ramsey Theatre were also in the group. (Bristow) |
1945-07-22 | People | George L. Rossiter, who had lived for 28 years on Wyckoff Ave. in Ramsey, died. He had been born in Wales in 1871 and came to this country in 1900. He had served for 17 years with the British Army in India, where his parents had been missionaries. He held the rank of Major in the Bihar Light Horse. He also was manager of an indigo plantation. At the time of his death he was active as a manufacturer of brushes. Funeral services were held at St. John's Episcopal Church. He was survived by four children, seven grandchildren, and two sisters and a brother in Britain. (Bristow) |
1953-07-22 | Crime | Despite the vigilance of the Erie Police, a vacant house recently purchased for the spur to the new Ford plant, was entered and an oil burner stolen. It seems the Railroad Dicks were having supper at the time of the crime. (Bristow) |
1958-07-22 | People | Clifton E. Gerald of 185 Franklin Turnpike, Mahwah died suddenly at his home. He was 61 years old and had been an office executive of the Brake Shoe for 46 years. A masonic service proceeded funeral services at Wanamaker & Carlough and internment in the Airmount Cemetery. (Bristow) |
1965-07-22 | Government | A letter from the Planning Board to the Township Committee urged the adoption of the new Master Plan. Since the Board had only received their copy the day before their meeting they voted to postpone consideration of the zoning policy until the August meeting. (Bristow) |
1965-07-22 | Police | Police Chief Edmund Wickham notified the Township Board that his department had adopted a new technique in dealing with abandoned cars in the Township. The cars were to be photographed and the owners given ten days to remove them. The photos would help prevent junk car owners from simply moving a car from one spot to another when they received the notice to remove the wreck. (Bristow) |
1985-07-22 | Real Estate | The Mahwah Planning Board heard an elaborate presentation concerning the proposed 25-story International Crossroads office-building hotel on the site of the former Ford Plant. The bottom 11 floors would be the hotel and the top 11 would hold the offices. Banqueting and meeting rooms, a pool and elaborate gardens in various styles were explained by architect John J. Gilchrist. A public hearing was scheduled for August 12th. (Bristow) |
1873-07-23 | Crime | Local scandal has it that the Pastor of the Ramapo Reformed Church, the Rev. Mr. George McGee stole a kiss from a local school teacher when he was showing her some pictures. She is supposed to have complained to her parents and her father has made strong threats against the offender. When Rev. Mr. McGee heard there was a warrant for his arrest, he voluntarily appeared before "The Squire" (Judge Garrison? BD 11/14/1873) and gave bail to answer the charge of "improper liberties with a young lady. The matter is the town talk and much scandal is afloat on the subject." |
1875-07-23 | People | David Decker, a conductor on the Erie Railroad, died at his home in Suffern. Nine train cars of mourners attended the funeral on the 26th. The ceremonies were supposed to be in Methodist Church but there were so many present that they moved to a nearby grove of trees, with the Methodist Pastor J. S. Hayes presiding. (Bristow) |
1904-07-23 | People | Mr. and Mrs. Albert Winter have moved into their new home on Ramapo Avenue. The major construction was completed on May 1st but decorating, furnishing, and finishing touches delayed their occupancy. (Bristow) |
1908-07-23 | Transportation | A petition is being circulated to widen Miller Road to 50 feet. There is very little opposition except from those who contend it does not get enough use to warrant the expense. (Bristow) |
1912-07-23 | Crime | John Palmly of Mahwah was lodged in the County Jail in Hackensack on a charge of wife beating. He is being held for the Grand Jury meeting on August 12th. (Bristow) |
1913-07-23 | People | Mahwah resident Robert Ball became the first in town to become a boy scout. He joined a troop in Suffern ("in New York State"). He spent the summer at a scout camp in The White Mountains. (Bristow) |
1930-07-23 | Police | When a Middletown, NY newspaper called Chief Smith about details of a murder the day before in Mahwah the Chief was puzzled. He called the State Police barracks in Ramsey about it. They hadn't heard of any murder either. (Bristow) |
1945-07-23 | Disasters | Mahwah escaped the worst of the flood damage from a very severe storm which did considerable damage in Ramsey and Saddle River. Route 202 was closed from the Brakeshoe plant to the NY border by three feet of water. The horses at the Mahwah Farms were standing in four feet of water and had to be led to safety. Over 30 chickens were drowned and many cellars flooded. Damage in Saddle River was heavy, especially to the new warehouse at William Tricker's on Allendale Ave. Between 60,000-70,000 tropical fish were washed away. In Ramsey the heaviest damage was suffered by McPeek's Department Store. The gym in the Ramsey Grammar School, which suffered $10,000 damage in a flood the year before was saved by the new drainage system and sump pump installed at the time of the earlier flood. (Bristow) |
1947-07-23 | People | The engagement of Helen Barrett, a Syracuse University instructor, to an underclassman Frederick Petri of Mahwah was announced by Miss Barrett's parents. Barrett was a recent M.A. from Syracuse, a Phi Beta Kappa, and an English teacher at the New York State University. Petri was expected to enter the Syracuse Law School in the fall. He had served three and a half years in the army during World War Two, serving in the European Theater during much of that time. No date for the wedding was set. (Bristow) |
1958-07-23 | Transportation | The State Highway Office announced that work was underway to widen and alter the ramps on the Ramapo Avenue overpass over Route 17. This was to permit school busses to cross over and reach the new High School on Ridge Road. (Bristow) |
1965-07-23 | Disasters | Another motorist died leaving the Swiss Chalet in Ramsey. Wesley R. Larsen, 52, turned left from the parking lot at the restaurant onto the northbound lane of Route 17 and was killed instantly when his car rammed into a car driven by a New York City man. Benjamin F. Dixon, 45, and his passenger, Charles Curtis, 60, also of New York City were treated at the Good Samaritan Hospital and released the next day. Ramsey Police Chief Norman R. Stegen, working with the proprietors of the Swiss Chalet, arranged for a temporary barrier to be placed across the exit to the lot until a permanent closing could take place. Larsen was the third fatality in eighteen months from the same cause, as well as several non-fatal accidents. The victim, a native of North Dakota, had been the deputy project engineer on the Titan I missile program. Mr. Dixon had attempted to avoid the accident by blowing his horn and blinking his lights but could not avoid the collision. There had been other similar incidents involving other places along the divided highway. On the 27th another motorist had turned north onto the southbound lane in Mahwah but had escaped an accident. (Bristow) |
1895-07-24 | People | Funeral services were held for Mrs. J. J. Valentine, wife of Deacon Valentine of the Reformed Church. She died after a long struggle with lung disease despite the efforts of Dr. Zabriskie. Services were held at 1:00 at the family home and at 2:00PM at the Reformed Church by the Rev. King. (Bristow) |
1904-07-24 | Religion | The new slate roof of the Ramapo Reformed Church is the first new roof within memory. It should last for "several generations" according to the reporter of the Ramsey Journal. (Bristow) |
1907-07-24 | Charity | 25 cents will get you into the annual fair of the Ladies Aid Society of the Ramapo Reformed Church. This entitles you to supper, to enjoy music of the Suffern Brass Band, and to purchase some of the fancy goods, candy, and ice cream offered for sale. The proceeds will go to pay for a "heating apparatus" for the Parsonage. The net profits from all activities was $164.00. (Bristow) |
1917-07-24 | Charity | The activities of the Mahwah Scouts in collecting waste materials for reuse were outlined at the Red Cross Executive Committee meeting in Ramsey. For some years the Scouts in Suffern and Mahwah have been collecting newspapers and magazines to help defray camping expenses. Since the U.S. went to war this has been greatly expanded. They are cooperating with the Red Cross now. Half of the first $500 they collect will go to the Red Cross and every penny over $500. Two bailers have been bought, one for Mahwah and one for Suffern. They collect newspapers, magazines, tissue paper, cereal cartons, etc. Gunny sacks have been distributed to homes and they are emptied by volunteers in autos. There is now practically a freight car load of materials, mostly magazines, ready for shipment. Since most of the Scouts are working during the summer one of them, Scott Doyle, has been employed full time to do the bailing. Allendale Scouts are cooperating and the Scouts of other towns are expected to join in the campaign. All papers can be brought to Mahwah for bailing. Abram Valentine will accept small packages at his store for pickup later by the Scouts. For information call Scoutmaster E. P. Beebe, Mahwah. Phone Suffern 425. (Bristow) |
1918-07-24 | Military | Over fifty U.S. Army trucks passed through town from Buffalo on the way "over there". (Bristow) |
1922-07-24 | Transportation | The big rut at the intersection of Ramapo and Island Roads has finally been repaired by the County. (Bristow) |
1926-07-24 | Disasters | A fierce electrical storm swept through town at about 5:00 in the afternoon. By the time it was over, an hour later, wires were blown down, several houses hit by lightning, and a great deal of rain fell within a few minutes. The most seriously injured resident was Charles W. Romaine. Romaine, who had a dairy farm on Island Avenue, was milking a cow when his dairy barn was hit by a lightning bolt. The shock passed through the milk pail he was holding between his knees and burned his legs severely. The cow was knocked down and was not back to normal for several days. James Ferguson, a young farm hand, was also knocked down as was another cow and a bull. They seemed to have recovered fully by the next morning. Romaine was puzzled by the fact that his milk pail, which was nearly full when he was hit, had only a quart of milk in it afterward. The Rockland Electric Company worked all night and during Sunday to repair the damage. Several of the dirt roads in the Borough and in the Township were washed out by the heavy rains. (Bristow) |
1945-07-24 | People | Jan Galenkamp of Forest Rd. Fardale received the first letter from his parents in the Netherlands since the Germans occupied the country in 1940. Although they survived the war, the letter reported that all their clothing and supplies had been confiscated and two of his younger brothers had been taken for forced labor in Germany. (Bristow) |
1945-07-24 | People | T/Sgt. Vincent Sneider arrived home from England for a leave after two and a half years in England with the Eighth Air Force. He flew back from England on a B-24 via Iceland and Labrador, a trip taking 17 1/2 hours flying time. His last assignment before returning home was a trip to Switzerland to help pick up 20 B-24s which had been forced down and interned for the duration of the War in that neutral country. They were then overhauled and returned to the States. He reported that he had spent four days in Rennes, France, visiting his brothers Sgts. Howard and Robert who were stationed there. (Bristow) |
1948-07-24 | People | When Robert Stevens wanted to spend a short visit with his sister, Mrs. Charles Shoemaker of Miller Road, he did it the modern way. He flew his small plane from his home in Augusta Maine and landed at the Mahwah airport. (Bristow) |
1953-07-24 | Disasters | The three lane section of Route 17 between the Ramsey Circle and the New York State line claimed four more victims, when a tractor-trailer attempted a left turn into Moore's Terminal and was struck by a sedan carrying two French Canadian families. Four of the passengers were killed and two seriously injured. When news of the accident reached Mahwah Police they requested three ambulances, a fire truck, and all available emergency equipment. Traffic was handled by police from Mahwah, Hillburn, and the Bergen County Police forces. The Canadians were on their way to the Jehovah's Witness World Assembly at Yankee Stadium in New York City. Neither the truck not its driver were seriously injured. (Bristow) |
1953-07-24 | Ramapough | The twelve high school age students who made up the American Friends Service Committee Work Camp sponsored by the Volunteer Committee Concerned with the People of the Ramapos completed the preliminary stages of the addition they were building on the AME Zion Church on Grove Street. They had been living at the home of Josephine Turslow Adams on the mountain. They walked down to the work project each day and labored with people from the church community in laying the foundation and framework for the large extension to the rear of the historic church. The yard had been landscaped and a porch added to the front of the structure, and a septic system constructed. The young people worked under the supervision of Dr. and Mrs. Warren Smith of Penn State University, two councilors, and a work supervisor George Mann. They all share the work of preparing meals and maintaining their quarters. In everything, they attempt to build bridges of good will with the people of the community and have won over their confidence by their cheerfulness and sincere concern. (Bristow) |
1958-07-24 | Food and Drink | Residents of Railroad Avenue protested forcefully about low water pressure on their street. E. I. Conklin, the spokesperson of the group, maintained that when the Brake Shoe was drawing from the main that ordinary residents could not even get a glass of water from their faucets. He said he was planning to dig his own well if nothing was done about the situation. The Board assured the companies that they would look into the situation. (Bristow) |
1900-07-25 | People | Mrs. Guire, the wife of a conductor on the Erie, died. She had been injured severely several months ago when her horse ran away. The horse had been frightened by Dr. Vroom's automobile. Mr. Guire is suing Dr. Vroom. (Bristow) |
1904-07-25 | Recreation | The Hiawatha Club Social was held at the Rowe place under Miss Banta's direction. The lawn party was enhanced by the many Japanese lanterns which decorated the barns and piano, and with phonograph music. (Bristow) |
1915-07-25 | Crime | Seventeen boys from the Polish settlement of Mahwah were summoned before Justice Rodgers and charged with cruelty to birds. A series of arrests were made by County Game Warden Small and Assistant Warden Chet Billings, assisted by Constables Trueman and George Rodgers. The boys were charged with stealing birds from their nests, suspending them from trees with strings and throwing stones at them. Five of the boys were fined $5.00 each, Mike Kudrich, 10, John Secora, 9, John Mihok, 8, Joseph Pabonsik, 10, and Andrew August, 8. The other twelve were discharged. (Bristow) |
1916-07-25 | Politics | The New Mahwah Republican Club has been formed. It selected E. Douglas Hotchkiss as its President, Alex Adamson, V.P., William O. King, Secretary, and R. F. Dator as Treasurer. The first major project of the Club is to raise a banner for Hughes and Fairbanks over the Franklin Turnpike. A number of prominent Republicans are expected to speak at this affair. Among those chosen as honorary Vice-Presidents of the Club for this occasion are Emerson McMillan, Otis H. Cutler, E. J. Snow, Harry Z. Sturr, and William Harrison Rodgers. (Bristow) |
1921-07-25 | Charity | A number of Mahwah families have taken in convalescing children from the Social Service Bureau of Bellvue Hospital. These children are not ill but many are undernourished and can benefit from a country outing. Among those who accepted these children are Mrs. A. C. Drake, Mrs. William Sargeant, Mrs. A. J. Ellis, Mrs. O. H. Bruen, Mrs. A. R. Wilcox, Mrs. Lane, and Mrs. Adamson. There are more children waiting. The one week stays have, in many cases, been extended to two and even three weeks. Two families have even offered to adopt their guests but these children are not orphans and must be returned to their families. (Mrs. Alex Adamson of Mahwah is coordinating these visits.) (Bristow) |
1926-07-25 | People | The paper was filled with news of vacation trips, surprisingly enough, many of these were by car. Mr. and Mrs. Edwin C. Lane and Dr. and Mrs. George M. Ball motored through New England, Mr. and Mrs. Leslie Rounds went to Maine for two weeks, and Mr. Robert H. Ball returned from a motor trip through Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and Ohio. As usual, the Jersey Shore attracted many. Mr. and Mrs. Clarence Smith left for Point Pleasant, and Mr. and Mrs. Foss Tibbals and daughter Elizabeth spent the weekend as the guests of Mr. and Mrs. Douglas Snow in Chadwick, while Mrs. George T. Price and daughter Betty returned from several weeks in Ocean Grove. (Bristow) |
1931-07-25 | Crime | Frank Geiger of Suffern reported that someone had broken into his bungalow on the mountain. When Chief Smith and Trooper Charles of the State Police Barracks in Ramsey investigated they found the window on the north side of the building, described as being "near Castelonia's", had been broken to gain admission. A precise list of the objects stolen, ranging from a pair of field glasses, a blanket, and three towels, to five cans of milk, soap, sugar, and a collar, was entered in the Police book but there was no indication of the value of the stolen goods. Although the police spent several days investigating the case there were no arrests made. Although Chief Voss of Ramsey had asked Smith to help with crowd control at the American Legion parade that afternoon, he started the investigation of the robbery at 1:50 and only came back at 6:45. (Bristow) |
1932-07-25 | Business | The new cleaning and dyeing establishment on Miller Road announced that Mrs. Evelyn Gunmaer had accepted the post of manager. The shop was a branch of the old established Miller and Brantigan establishment in Midland Park. (Bristow) |
1923-07-26 | Crime | Bergen County's first Ku-Klux-Klan meeting was held. (Bristow) |
1935-07-26 | Crime | A Brooklyn motorist was apprehended through the swift use of the County Police Radio system. Lorraine Caun of Allendale was driving through Ramsey near the Mahwah border when she was forced nearly into the ditch by the Brooklyn driver. She reported the incident and the license number of the car to Officer Alfred Smith who was on duty at Main Street and Franklin Turnpike in Ramsey. He telephoned Police Headquarters in Hackensack from a nearby garage at 5:40. Four minutes later, as the alarm was being broadcast, Officer Frank Mortimer spotted the car in Ho-Ho-Kus and arrested Joseph Blutreich. He was brought back to Ramsey and charged for trial on August 5th as a hit and run driver. He denied knowledge of the offense. (Bristow) |
1946-07-26 | Charity | The Ramapo Valley Chapter of the Red Cross announced that they had received a special award from British authorities for their work to aid British hospitals during the war. A certificate of appreciation came from the Central Hospital Supply Service of the British Red Cross and the Order of St. John of Jerusalem, and was signed by the Duchess of Gloucester, the president of the Supply Service. She was the sister-in-law of the reigning monarch, George VI. The Chapter used the occasion to remind local residents of the many tasks which the Chapter was still undertaking. These included the making of hospital dressings, pajamas, bed jackets, and layettes. The Home Service was still active, as was the Public Health Nursing Service and the First Aid and Water Safety Services. (Bristow) |
1958-07-26 | Police | Mayor Morris Ruddick presided at ceremonies dedicating the new police pistol range located on the Sam Braen property south of the Automobile Conveying Company lot. Patrolmen had volunteered their time over two months preparing the range, which included 15 targets and a range house. The Mahwah force participated in the West Bergen Pistol League. Present at the ceremonies were donors of equipment, police officers, and members of the Township Committee. (Bristow) |
1898-07-27 | Transportation | Freeholder King awarded contracts ("sold") for the iron bridge near John Garrison's in the Valley. William Shuart will do the painting and William E. Concklin contracted for the planking at $73.00. (Bristow) |
1915-07-27 | Real Estate | Albert Winter has started the excavation for the new building which will stand where the old Town Hall was. The new building will have two stores and the Post Office on the first floor and a large room and, perhaps, a barber shop in the second. It is expected to be ready in November. (Bristow) |
1916-07-27 | People | Joyce Kilmer, the Mahwah poet and contributor to the Literary Digest and other magazines, was struck by a train in Suffern. He was taken to the Good Samaritan Hospital where he was found to have two broken ribs. He was walking to Suffern to take the 7:52 train to New York City. When he attempted to cross the tracks in front of the train he was hit and carried about ten feet. (Bristow) |
1918-07-27 | Education | A five day Chataqua was held in Ramsey during the last days of July. Among the sponsors from Mahwah are Leo W. Bugg, Elmer J. Snow, and John W. Winter. The price for the two session course of lectures was $2. It is said to have been the first ever held in Bergen County. $150 of the tickets were sold in advance. Particularly praised was the lecture given on Tuesday the 30th by Dr. Thomas E. Green, head of the Red Cross Speakers Bureau in Washington. He spoke of the causes of the war including Germany's plans to rule the world. He explained why the U.S. entered the war and how we were, in part, paying France back for her help during our Revolution. The most moving section of his speech concerned the terrible German atrocities. Germany has sunk to "the lowest form of life, back to the jungle type", he said. (Bristow) |
1932-07-27 | Recreation | A summer musical entertainment at the Campgaw Church, including excerpts from Schubert's Rosamunde, was given by the Community Chorus, directed by Mrs. Herbert Bentley who also played violin solos. (Bristow) |
1932-07-27 | Recreation | One of the great comedy stars of the early talking picture era, Edna May Oliver, starred in the Lafayette's feature attraction, "Ladies of the Jury". The veteran cinema star used every wile to convince the fellow members of her jury that a pretty show girl was not guilty of murder. You could also have spent your money at the Ramsey Theatre to see Robert Montgomery in "But the Flesh is Weak", a high society comedy set in Britain, or the Warner's feature "Merrily We Go to Hell". This "romance drama" starred Sylvia Sidney and Frederick March. A short, "Red Noses" featured two other veteran comediennes Thelma Todd and Zazu Pitts. Of course the red noses were only shown in black and white in those days. (Bristow) |
1935-07-27 | Transportation | An American Legion Convention and abnormal weekend traffic made for one of the worst tie-ups along Franklin Turnpike between the Ramsey Traffic Circle and Ho-Ho-Kus. Congestion began on Friday afternoon and continued through Monday morning as thousands of cars traveled north for the weekend and returned. The Bergen County Police had provided extra officers to assist on the previous weekends but could spare no one this time. Special Officer Fred Fritz was stationed at Main Street and the Turnpike from 7:00 until midnight while Chief Voss and Officer Ed Schmidt handled the traffic diverted from the highway down Central Avenue to relieve the traffic at the Circle. Everyone looked forward to the completion of the missing link between Ho-Ho-Kus and Ramsey on Route 2 (now Route 17). (Bristow) |
1946-07-27 | People | A very unusual war bride arrived to stay with her husband temporarily in his parents' home on Carol Street in Ramsey. She was the former Lucy Mentchisky, a Ukranian who had been taken to Germany for forced labor during the war. The petite blonde, who reminded many locally of the skating and film star Sonja Henie, was an accomplished pianist, who spoke five languages fluently, including English. She met and fell in love with T/4 Dominic Carracello who was part of the 44th Armored Division occupying the part of Germany where she had been held. They met in December, 1945 and were married in a civil ceremony on May 18th in Regensburg, Germany. A church wedding followed on June 15th. The groom had entered the army in September 1942. He started with the Signal Corps and the Rescue Boat Squadron in New Orleans, and later with three different infantry and armored divisions, earning the Combat Infantryman's badge and the ETO ribbon with battle star. He deposited his bride with his mother, Mrs. Dominic Spadavecchia on Carol Street and returned to Fort Dix where he received his honorable discharge on the 30th. Mrs. Carracello reported that she liked the green, rural atmosphere in Ramsey since she had always lived in a large city. She had not ventured much out of the house yet, preferring to wait for her husband to show her the local sites. (Bristow) |
1946-07-27 | Crime | Less than twenty-four hours elapsed between the time a car was stolen in Paterson and found in Mahwah. At 2:00 AM a 1941 Dodge Club Coupe was stolen from a parking lot in Paterson. It belonged to a Radbun man, William J. Nolan. It was found abandoned on Valley Road in Mahwah by Officer Tom Wilson of the Mahwah Police Department at 11:15 PM. There was no clue as to who might have taken the vehicle or why it was abandoned. (Bristow) |
1947-07-27 | Recreation | The lawn of the George F. Emerson home was the site of the organizational meeting of the Bergen Division of the New Jersey Bee Keepers Association. The new organization was to promote the science of bee keeping in this area. Mr. Emerson was elected President for the first year. A series of meetings and visits to each other's hives were being planned. (Bristow) |
1948-07-27 | Recreation | Mr. and Mrs. Allen M. Bailey of Miller Road were entertained by Mr. and Mrs. Fred Fairfield at their apartment on Riverside Drive. After dinner they attended the opening of the play "Springtime for Henry" at the Sea Cliff, Long Island playhouse. The play starred Edward Everett Horton. (Bristow) |
1893-07-28 | At about 4:00 AM a brilliant meteor was observed crossing from west to east. It was seen for 30 seconds and then exploded, waking the whole neighborhood. Some thought the powder mill at Pompton had exploded. (Bristow) | |
1907-07-28 | Religion | The Ladies of the Reformed Church have begun a fund to buy a new organ for the sanctuary. Subscriptions are being sought among the parishioners. Mrs. A. J. Winter, always a staunch supporter of the church, has pledged to the sum of $1,000 if it can be raised by other members of the Church. (See February 3, 1908 for purchase). (Bristow) |
1911-07-28 | Transportation | J. R. B. Smith, the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles for New Jersey has ordered that no more 8-day tourist registrations be issued. From now on any motorist from New York, Pennsylvania, Delaware or Maryland who wishes to drive on New Jersey roads will have to buy a regular annual registration. License fees are $5, $8, and $10, according to horse power. His action was prompted by the fact that the New York State Legislature has adjourned without passing reciprocity legislation. If any one of the neighboring states relents, the $1 temporary registration fee will probably be restored. |
1911-07-28 | Disasters | Three persons were killed when two trolley cars collided on a curve between Ridgewood and Glen Rock. The motorman of one of the trolleys was killed as well as Mr. Pilgrim, the Superintendent of the Trolley company. He was traveling north with an empty car to pick up an excursion of school children when his car struck a loaded one coming down grade from Ridgewood at a point where neither motorman could see. Mr. Pilgrim's car was not a regularly scheduled car. The two cars were telescoped. A number of other passengers, including two from Suffern, were injured. It is feared that the signals failed, even though Mr. Pilgrim had just repaired the one in Glen Rock. (Bristow) |
1922-07-28 | Education | A chapter of the Delphian Society was organized at a meeting in the Library. Fifteen Charter members were present: Mrs. Franklin F. Russell, Mrs. R. A. Smith, Mrs. Harry Mabie, Mrs. Breen, Mrs. Elmer J. Snow, Mrs. Thomas d'Arcy, Mrs. Sherman D. Powell, Mrs. Joanna North, Mrs. Norman H. Sherow, Mrs. Harold W. Mowrey, Mrs. A. S. Wattson, Mrs. A. C. Knowlton, Mrs. D. M. Hill, Mrs. Scott Widdecombe, and Mrs. J. M. Waite. Miss Edith M. Brooks, who with Mrs. Helen R. Small has been enrolling members in the local Chapter ran the meeting. A Constitution and By-Laws were adopted. Mrs. Powell was elected President, Mrs. Russell, Vice President, Mrs. Sherow Secretary and Treasurer. The advisory Board consisted of Mrs. William Kehr, Mrs. Elliot Reid, and Mrs. Harold Mowrey. The Charter will be left open for 30 days to allow others to join. A list of further Charter Members up to press time is added. (Bristow) |
1923-07-28 | Education | On this, the 9th anniversary of the beginning of the War, national observances were held dedicated to "Law Not War" and "No More War". Mrs. G. M. Ball of Mahwah is the Chairman of the "Education for Peace" Committee for the Mahwah Women's Club and for the Sixth District. She has arranged for the distribution of 400 handbills and posters to residents of Mahwah. Large posters have been put up in the Library, the Post Office, and stores. The Committee awarded prizes for essays on the general subject of peace at the recent Mahwah School graduation exercises. (Bristow) |
1932-07-28 | Transportation | With the opening of the connections to Route 4 in Fort Lee, the approaches to the George Washington Bridge were completed. The entire project cost $8,000,000 and was described as the largest road building project ever undertaken by the State of New Jersey. The State Highway Department described it as "a perfect example of utility and beauty", and the Route 4 connection as "a masterpiece of engineering skill and design". Particularly praised was the fact that much of the approach ways were depressed, that there were no left hand turns anywhere, and that a series of cleverly designed cloverleafs improved the flow of traffic. The twelve mile highway between Fort Lee and Paterson was expected to save between fifteen and twenty minutes of travel time for the motorist. Bridges over the Hackensack, Passaic, and Saddle Rivers and either underpasses or overpasses avoided intersections with intersecting roads along its entire route. A critic praised its "arrow like straightness" for "eliminating the possibility of accidents". Present-day commuters will be glad to learn that the new highway eliminated the possibility of traffic congestion. (Bristow) |
1935-07-28 | Sports | Defensive lapses brought the Darlington baseball team to disaster against Tuxedo at the victor's field. Darlington had defeated Tuxedo in a practice game earlier in the season but the Mountaineers had been on a tear since. They had crushed Sloatsburg the week before 12-2. Darlington had done reasonably well over the first four innings and scored two in the fourth to tie at two runs each but collapsed in the bottom half of the fifth and ended up on the short side of a 10-2 score. In subsequent weeks, however, the team defeated Paterson 7-3 and Hillburn 7-4 on their new field at Havermayer's. (Bristow) |
1953-07-28 | Transportation | Governor Driscoll announced that fast action would be taken to widen Route 17 to a four-lane divided highway between Ramsey and the State Line. No details as to the status of the Ramsey traffic circle, any additional traffic lights and or overpasses included in the plans were divulged at the Governor's press conference. It was assumed, however, that a major portion of the $3,500,000 appropriated for Northern Bergen highway construction would be devoted to the project. The highway has a very high accident rate. Mahwah police have dealt with 63 accidents on the road since June of 1952. In those accidents 57 people were injured and 4 were killed. The Governor said that the construction of the Ford plant made the expansion work necessary. Work was to begin at the State Line end. He said that the decision to speed up the work was made before the fatal accident on the 24th. (Bristow) |
1958-07-28 | Transportation | The awarding of the annual school bus contract was delayed because of some confusion over the impact of the opening of the new Mahwah High School. The contract was to transport Mahwah pupils to Ramsey High. Since the new school was scheduled to open in February the Board wanted to be able to cancel the contract at that time. The bus company was agreeable but it was not clear that this could be done without advertising for new bids on that basis. (Bristow) |
1896-07-29 | People | A. B. Darling was conveyed by special ambulance from his home in Darlington to the Mahwah Station. The ambulance, which had previously been used to carry Mr. Vanderbilt from his home to his yacht, was summoned from New York City for the occasion. He left on Train #1 by special car for the Spa at Richfield Springs in the Adirondacks. It is hoped that the change of air at the famous spa will help revive his health. (Bristow) |
1900-07-29 | Recreation | Nine girls from the Choir of St. Ambrose Episcopal Church in New York City sang the anthem "The Holy City" in the Darlington Church. They are enjoying a Fresh Air vacation at the Darling Estate. (Bristow) |
1915-07-29 | Transportation | The current issue of Suburban Life describes the "bee" at which the residents of Cragmere repaired and resurfaced their roads on Decoration Day. (Bristow) |
1931-07-29 | People | Mrs. Henry Peltz called Chief Smith to report that her son, Henry Jr., had been bitten by a dog belonging to Karl Thiele in Masonicus. The boy was treated for bites in the back and buttocks by Dr. Unsworthy of Suffern. Although Thiele offered to pay for the boy's medical treatment, unfortunately the dog had not been inoculated against rabies and the boy had to undergo the painful series of rabies shots. The dog remained chained up for three weeks but did not show any signs of rabies, fortunately. (Bristow) |
1932-07-29 | Recreation | One of the most famous stars in screen history was featured in "As You Desire Me" showing at the Hawthorne Theatre. Greta Garbo was the glamorous star of this romance set in Italy. Supporting her were Melvin Douglas and Eric von Stroheim. Other attractions being offered at the same time in local theaters were "Winner Take All" at the Ramsey Theatre in which James Cagney played the part of a boxer attempting a comeback, "What Price Hollywood" in which Constance Bennett filled the role of a waitress who crashed the film world, and the comedy "Road of the Dragon" in which Richard Dix was backed up by comedy stars Edward Everett Horton and Edna May Olliver. (Bristow) |
1932-07-29 | Charity | The Ramsey Athletic Club announced that it had arranged a charity game with the Hillburn Fire Department baseball team on the High School diamond. All the proceeds were to go to help the unemployed. The Ramsey club was to obtain a list of the unemployed from the Poormistress Mrs. Ella Rouse and distribute baskets of food to them. This was believed a more effective way of helping the poor than giving them a direct money grant. There was to be no admission charge to the game, but a silver collection would be taken from the spectators. (Bristow) |
1935-07-29 | Charity | Francis Fitzgerald, the Secretary of the local Chapter of Relief Recipients, the CWA, replied angrily to accusations leveled at the new Relief system at the Township Board meeting. Members of the Committee said that the new system had expanded the numbers receiving relief, had not required them to work, and had doubled the number of recipients. Fitzgerald, in a letter to the Ramsey Journal, maintained that no one on relief would not rather have a job, that the reason why there were only 22 on the dole the previous winter was that many had been turned away by the Poormaster with the admonition to go out and get a job. Those on the dole had received only a food ticket for $1.04 a week to keep body and soul together. All the members of the CWA wanted was an honest job, he said. The only alternative to the dole was for a man to steal enough to live on. There is enough which needs to be done around the Township to keep Relief recipients working at least part time until they can find a real job. Every member wanted a job, not a food ticket, he concluded. (Bristow) |
1946-07-29 | Crime | Police Chief Charles Smith reported to the Town Board about the activities of his department during June, 1946. The figures showed that the month had not been much different from many other recent ones. There were only five crimes committed, two burglaries, one petty larceny, and two cases of breaking and entering. An escaped prisoner had also been recaptured. Otherwise there were the usual number of arrests, six, accidents, seven, and fires, three. In handling this volume of work the Department drove a total of 3,883 miles. (Bristow) |
1947-07-29 | Crime | Former resident and Mahwah native Myron Sutherland was buried in the Airmount Cemetery. His badly decomposed body had been found by Georgia police in an abandoned cabin at the edge of the Okefenokee Swamp. He had been shot in the back of the head by a .22 caliber rifle. Florida and Georgia police assumed that he had been murdered by his hunting companion, Wayne F. Woodruff. The two men had left Jacksonville, Florida where Sutherland worked at a machine shop and Woodruff at a shipyard to go hunting near the swamp, only 25 air miles from Jacksonville. Both men were known as hunting enthusiasts. When Sutherland did not return to work or to his rooming house Jacksonville police investigated. When his body was found on the 20th there was little to identify it since it had been exposed to wild hogs and vultures. It was the circling of the vultures which led police to the cabin. The police recognized Sutherland who had been seen in the area before on previous visits. Woodruff was apprehended in El Paso Texas with his bride of one week. He claimed that the shooting had been an accident, but police suspected murder, with robbery as the motive. Sutherland, 35, was a graduate of Ramsey High School, where he had been a star basketball player. He had worked as a machinist for three years in Jacksonville. He was an amateur gunsmith and was known to carry large amounts of money with him. His abandoned car was found on a Jacksonville Street but witnesses said that Woodruff had driven around in it for the week after the shooting, trying to sell it twice. Both of Sutherland's rifles were in Woodruff's possession when he was picked up by police in Texas. (Bristow) |
1948-07-29 | People | In an open letter to the Ramsey Journal Mrs. Roseanna Smallman praised the work of the Mahwah Ambulance Corps. She had fallen in her home on May 1st, breaking several bones, she related. The Corps responded quickly, administered skillful first aid, minimized her pain, and transported her to the hospital efficiently. She ended her letter by calling on everyone in the community to support the Ambulance Corps. "We should be very proud of it. It deserves our support", she wrote. (Bristow) |
1953-07-29 | Recreation | The Antrim Players Special Summer Season opened with two plays. The thriller "Ladies in Retirement" featured Grace Bristow, Marian Coffin, Alexandra Finn, Ernestine Fitzgerald, Thomas France, Kit Helms, and Peggy Rednour of Mahwah. The comedy "Next" had a number of Mahwah residents in the cast including Frances Avery, Robert Schultz, and Nancy Parker as well as Antrim regulars John Brimer, Russell Decker Jean Davidson, and George Freeman. It was to be given on August 6, 7, 8, and 9th. (Bristow) |
1916-07-30 | People | George Chesterfield Billings, known as "Rattlesnake Chet" drowned in the Ramapo River while searching for turtles. He apparently had swam out in the river after a turtle and was swept under. His friends suspected nothing since he was so skilled a swimmer. Dr. C. P. DeYoe was summoned and pronounced him dead, but believes it was from some other cause than drowning. Interment was in Union Cemetery. He was about 39 years old. He and his brother appeared first in Hackensack with a hurdy gurdy about 25 years ago and seemed unmistakably Italian, he claimed sometimes to be an Indian from Rhode Island or a descendant of King Philip. He was a Deputy Game Warden for a number of years and was known as an authority on birds and animals. He had a reputation for honesty in his court testimony. He was particularly famed for his ability as a snake hunter and had challenged all comers to a snake contest at the upcoming Bergen County Fair in Ho-Ho-Kus. (Bristow) |
1916-07-30 | Crime | Leon T. Weil of New York City was fined $25 and costs by Judge Rodgers for impatience. There had been a minor auto accident which halted traffic for some time. Weil left his place in line and tried to drive around the obstruction. Inspector Ackerman and Inspector Stagg ordered him to stop, when he failed to do so they chased him and arrested him. (Bristow) |
1918-07-30 | People | Joyce Kilmer, Mahwah poet, died near Seringes, France during an attack on the Hills above the Ourcq River. (Bristow) |
1926-07-30 | Education | Two natural enemies, a bacteria and a wasp, seemed to be restoring the balance of nature against the tent caterpillar pests in the eastern United States according to Dr. Frank E. Lutz, the Ramsey entomologist. Dr. Lutz was the director of the Station for the Study of Insects established by the American Museum of Natural History in Harriman State Park. Dr. Lutz had been conducting a series of experiments in an old barn made available for his use by W. Averell Harriman, one of the Commissioners of the Palisades Interstate Park Commission. Lutz was trying to find out how female tent caterpillars select mostly wild cherry trees to build their nests. Since they did it at night, sight was not a factor, he concluded. Their mouths were not equipped for tasting and hearing was out of the question, so that left only touch and smell among the familiar five senses. He rigged an experiment using oak twigs and cherry leaves, and cherry twigs and oak leaves to see which the caterpillar would use to lay their eggs. The experiment failed, since only one batch of eggs was laid. When the insects were analyzed they were found to be sick with a bacteria. Further investigation showed that many of the tent caterpillars in the park that year were too sick to change into moths. Also a species of wasp was preying on the cocoons. Dr. Lutz' conclusion was that in offering school children prizes for burning nests we might be eliminating also the natural restraints on the expansion of the pests. The Field station was best known for establishing labelled nature trails in Harriman Park so that visitors could better understand the natural area. (Bristow) |
1932-07-30 | Military | One hundred percent of the membership of the local American Legion Post attended the 6th annual County Convention in Bergenfield. One reason for so large an attendance was to give the support to Charles V. Bacon of Mahwah, the former Post Commander. Major Bacon was a candidate for Vice-Commander of the county organization. He was one of four successful candidates. Charles Mastenbrook of Wyckoff was unanimously chosen as County Commander. The new officers were installed immediately in a ceremony presided over by the New Jersey Region Commander, W. Rex McMcrosson in the presence of several hundred Legionnaires. One of the resolutions passed at the business session was a call for an investigation to charges that aliens were being given state and county jobs in preference to veterans and citizens. (Bristow) |
1935-07-30 | People | Elizabeth Glover of Foxcroft, Maine, arrived to spend the month of August with her Aunt, Mrs. Leslie R. Rounds. She had a summer job in the office of the Corn Products Company of New York. In September she would return to Skidmore College for her senior year. (Bristow) |
1946-07-30 | People | About one hundred friends of Charles W. Morris attended a testimonial for him and his family as he left the community to take up a new post. The dinner was held at Shuart's on Route 17 and was sponsored by Fire Company No. 1, of which Morris had been chief for seven years. The family had sold their home on Railroad Ave. and were moving to Cecilton, Maryland. Mr. Morris was to manage "Linden Manor", a 250 acre farm owned by the R. J. Christopher family, Allendale lumber dealers. The farm, located on Chesapeake Bay was famed for its herd of pure-bred Aberdeen Angus cattle. Mr. Morris was presented with a gold watch by the members of the Fire Company. Mr. and Mrs. Morris and their children Bessie and Charles Jr. were scheduled to arrive in their new home on August 1st. After a delicious roast beef dinner the guests danced to the music of the Herbie Monroe Swing Orchestra. (Bristow) |
1956-07-30 | People | John A. Remo 3rd, an Airman Second Class, was assigned to the 71st Air Rescue Station at Elmsdorf Air Base in Alaska. He was the son of Mr. and Mrs. John A. Remo of Christie Ave. He had been graduated from Ramsey High School in 1955. He was an airborne radio operator. (Bristow) |
1958-07-30 | Crime | Governor Robert Meyner announced that he was denying requests that he either grant a stay of execution or a commutation of the death sentence against Edger H. Smith of Mahwah for the murder of Victoria Zielinski of Wyckoff Ave. Ramsey. Meyner had met that afternoon with the members of the State Board of Parole to hear arguments by Smith's lawyer John E. Selzer of Hackensack. Selzer had asked for the stay because of what he described as new evidence in the case. Meyner had previously denied a general stay of all executions pending the fate of a bill in the legislature abolishing the death penalty. Smith had been sentenced for a second time after the Supreme Court had upheld the original conviction. (Bristow) |
1888-07-31 | Agriculture | Eighty barrels of apples were shipped to market from the Ramsey station. (Bristow) |
1907-07-31 | Business | The sale of the business of A. J. Winter & Son to Joseph H. Dedrick has been completed. Mr. Dedrick was previously in business here and has returned to Mahwah after a year of traveling in the west. (Bristow) |
1921-07-31 | Disasters | A severe hailstorm devastated Mahwah and Greenwood Lake but missed Suffern and Ramsey. Stones as large as 3" in Mahwah and 6" in Greenwood Lake were found after the storm. Gardens and crops were ruined, holes were punched in the tops of cars and even in the roofs of houses. Over 1,000 panes of glass were broken in Paterson's greenhouse, just north of Ramsey. Housewives gathered up the hailstones to replenish their ice boxes and to freeze their ice cream. (Bristow) |
1922-07-31 | Recreation | The Superba Theatre, Main St., Ramsey, offered four different programs for the week with performances at 7:45 in the evenings Monday through Saturday, with a matinee on Saturday at 2:30. Monday and Tuesday featured Doris May in "Boy Crazy", Wednesday and Thursday you could see Ethel Clayton in "Her Own Money", on Friday Norma Talmadge in "By Right of Purchase", and Baby Marie Osborne in "Little Mary Sunshine". The Saturday program featured the popular Willie S. Hart in "Traveling On", a comedy "Business is Business", and the Pathe news. (Bristow) |
1930-07-31 | People | John Trusicwicz got his bicycle back. He had reported it stolen on the 20th. Chief Smith saw a boy riding it and questioned him. The boy said he had found it in Leo Bugg's barn. Apparently Bugg had found it and put it away for safekeeping until its owner could be found. The boy convinced Smith that he was telling the truth and was not charged. (Bristow) |
1935-07-31 | People | Raymond F. Dator of Hillside Avenue was confined to his home for the week because of an infection in his leg, the result of a fall downstairs in his home. (Bristow) |
1940-07-31 | People | Recorder Frank Young was invited to speak at the 32nd annual reunion of the Bodine family held at Mount Pleasant, NJ. His mother, Mrs. Anna J. Young and his sister Alta accompanied him. His topic was "The Essentials of Democracy". Young was a member of the Bodine family through his mother's side. (Bristow) |
1946-07-31 | Police | A minor traffic accident on Grove Street ended in a two-family brawl involving several arrests and numerous accusations of assault and battery. Cars belonging to Clarence Mann of Valley Road and Silas Burris of Grove Street collided. Relatives of both drivers, all living within a block of each other, quickly joined in the argument which ensued. Two were arrested at the time of the accident, and four more arrests were made the next morning by Police Chief Smith as the fray continued long after the original incident took place. Interestingly enough, neither of the drivers was arrested, nor were any charges made in connection with the accident itself. But one of the participants was reported by the police to be AWOL from the army and was taken away by the military police. (Bristow) |
1946-07-31 | Fire Department | Eighteen charter members formed the Ladies Auxiliary of the Mahwah Fire Department No. 2, assisted by two members of the Ladies Auxiliary of Company No. 1. (Bristow) |
1948-07-31 | Recreation | Although all the local movie houses presented double features over the weekend, the offerings do not seem to have been memorable in retrospect. The Lafayette in Suffern had Sabu in "Man Eater of Kumaon", and "Mickey" with Lois Butler and John Sutton. The Strand had Jane Frazer, William Marshall, and Victor Mature in "Calendar Girl", plus Robert Paige in "Red Stallion" and the 8th Chapter of "Vigilante". The Ramsey Theatre offered Errol Flynn and Ann Sheridan in "Silver River" and Philip Reed in "Big Town After Dark". Even these days when over 450 movies are shown on TV every week, you might have to wait a long time to catch any of these cinematic epics on your small screen. (Bristow) |
1956-07-31 | Fire Department | When the report was received of a truck fire on Fairmont Road in Fardale, both Fire Companies No. 1 and 2 raced through Ramsey to the scene. They found that the Fardale Company had already put out the blaze. Damage was reported to be light. (Bristow) |
1961-07-31 | Education | Dr. George B. McClellan, Mahwah Superintendent of Schools, cited the need for new school buildings in his annual report to the community. The need for new elementary classrooms was becoming critical. If Allendale were to withdraw their sending students it might be possible to house some 5th and 6th grade students in the High School, although this would not be educationally desirable, he said. All space in the three existing elementary schools was being fully utilized. Particularly overcrowded were the all-purpose rooms at George Washington and Betsy Ross, he maintained. The total maximum capacity of the three elementary schools, he said, was 100 for George Washington, 275 for Betsy Ross, and 350 for Commodore Perry, less if there were no kindergarten classes. The actual enrollments would greatly exceed these capacities during the 1961-1962 school year. (Bristow) |
1961-07-31 | Education | Dr. George B. McClellan, Mahwah Superintendent of Schools, cited the need for new school buildings in his annual report to the community. The need for new elementary classrooms was becoming critical. If Allendale were to withdraw their sending students it might be possible to house some fifth and sixth-grade students in the High School, although this would not be educationally desirable, he said. All space in the three existing elementary schools was being fully utilized. Particularly overcrowded were the all-purpose rooms at George Washington and Betsy Ross, he maintained. The total maximum capacity of the three elementary schools, he said was 100 for George Washington, 275 for Betsy Ross, and 350 for Commodore Perry, less if there were no kindergarten classes. The actual enrollments would exceed these capacities during the 1961-62 school year. (Bristow) |
1871-08-01 | Education | The annual report of the County Superintendent of Schools reports that District #58 "Island Church" had 146 children between 5 and 15; $56.52 was the amount from the State Appropriation, $603.80 from the two mil tax and $660.32 was the total expenditure for the school. The figures for Masonicus were 75 children $29.04; $320.96 and $350.00. The "Ramapo Valley" (Darlington?), 158; $61.17, $653.43, and $714.00. (Bristow) |
1899-08-01 | Recreation | Thirteen of the twenty-seven members of the Darlington Christian Endeavor who went to the Hillburn Social went by bicycle. They were warmly greeted by Mr. Gould and had a lovely evening. (Bristow) |
1908-08-01 | Transportation | The Township Committee heard reports of the damage done to the recently macadamized portions of Franklin Turnpike by speeding autos. Unless automobiles are "compelled" to obey the speed limit the road will be "ditched and gullied" and have to be repaired. (Bristow) |
1911-08-01 | Crime | Although the new plumage law forbids the sale of bird feathers for personal adornment, the law does not apply to any hats you already have. The law passed last winter goes into effect today and covers birds of paradise, ostrich, domestic fowl, sparrows, blackbirds, crows, certain hawks, and one species of owl. (Bristow) |
1912-08-01 | Business | Abraham Valentine and Raymond Dator have purchased the grocery business of Mr. Dederick. Mr. Dederick's wagons, sleighs, and horses were sold at auction on the 29th. Another grocery and dry goods business will soon be opened. Walter Finch and Charles Smith have rented the store near the trolley station. (Bristow) |
1918-08-01 | Religion | Mahwah's new pastor, the Rev. Ame Vennema, D. D. was installed in an impressive service at the Ramapo Reformed Church. He had been a member of the Classis of Paramus for 16 years as Pastor of the First Reformed Church of Passaic before being President of Hope College, Holland, Mich., the middle west college of the Reformed Church. While President he raised the endowment by $150,000 and enrollment by 80%. He has also served as pastor in New Paltz, Kalamazoo, Mich., Rochester, and Port Jervis. He is a member of the Board of Foreign Missions of the Reformed Church and a frequent contributor to such publications as The Christian Intelligencer. A reception was held for the new Pastor and his family by the Congregation on August 6th. (Bristow) |
1932-08-01 | Business | August 1st was "Dollar Day" at McPeek's Department Store in Ramsey. Among the "dynamite" bargains offered for $1 were two men's overalls, with or without a bib, five pairs of men's silk hose, five undershirts, hunting coats, and two dress shirts. For girls there were four wash dresses, brown oxford shoes, and four bloomers, all for $1 each. Women could come away with four broadcloth slips, ten pair of Lisle hose, a wash dress, or seven yards of dress print cloth. Every family member could be outfitted with a raincoat or a woolen bathing suit for the magic figure of a buck each. If you missed that dollar day you could wait for the next one since McPeek's stated that they would have one every month. (Bristow) |
1935-08-01 | People | A round of parties and dinners preceded the departure from Mahwah of Mr. and Mrs. Edgar Waterman and their daughters Bonnie and Garda to their new home in San Antonio Texas where Mr. Waterman had a new position. Miss Irene Pendergast entertained the two daughters on Saturday night. Among the guests were Marjorie Biddle, Sibley Reid, Robert Herrick, Donald Sherow, and George Rountree. On Monday afternoon Mrs. Hugo Steinbruck entertained the bridge group: Mrs. Thomas Ulrichs, Mrs. Alonso Sherow, and Mrs. Waterman, which had been playing together for some time. On Tuesday evening Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Prendergast had the whole family to dinner. On Wednesday Mrs. Benjamin Lord held a dessert bridge for Mrs. Waterman. Apparently the family had Wednesday evening to get ready for their departure Thursday. (Bristow) |
1940-08-01 | Crime | Patrolman Carl DeMarco was dispatched to Young's Road, near the former country home of Nils T. Granland, a night club proprietor, to investigate a complaint that someone was selling liquor to the W. P. A. workers there. The foreman of the crew summoned police because a New York registered car had been appearing at odd moments to sell whiskey to the relief workers. By the time DeMarco got there the car had left, apparently in the direction of Suffern. (Bristow) |
1946-08-01 | Business | As post-war production peaked, sparked by the backlog of unfilled orders from the wartime shortages, the Brake Shoe advertised for foundry workers, either skilled or unskilled. Applicants had merely to apply at the main gatehouse of the Mahwah plant. (Bristow) |
1954-08-01 | People | Michael Warhol invested as Exalted Ruler as the Mahwah Elks Lodge is formally instituted in ceremonies at Ramsey High School. (Bristow) |
1957-08-01 | Transportation | The Town Board of Hillburn closed the road from that village to the Stag Hill section of Mahwah. This not only cut off school bus access to Stag Hill but also fuel deliveries and made automobile traffic have to divert to the Old Stag Hill Road. The Stag Hill Civic League demanded that the Old Road be repaired and reopened. The Mahwah Town Board planned to pave Geiger Road, a steeper alternative. (Bristow) |
1902-08-02 | Business | Representatives of the Mt. Prospect Water Company explained that the reason they had not started work on the water mains in town was because they had several Directors fired for cause. Some minority stockholders are suing in the courts. This has tied up their funds. (Bristow) |
1923-08-02 | Charity | The John P. Fromme Post of the American Legion moved into new quarters back of the Post Office. They have been growing so much that their old quarters in the Cragmere Barn were no longer adequate. They have been cleaning and renovating the store which used to be Wilson's Meat Market. The Post amounted that it had a membership gain of 197%, the largest in the state for towns of under 10,000. The next highest post had a gain of 168%. Since that rating came out the post gained five new members. (Bristow) |
1923-08-02 | Recreation | The Ramsey Journal began to print the radio programs of WBZ the Westinghouse station in Springfield, Mass. There were time signals, a weather report and Massachusetts market report at noon. Programs were continuous from 5:00 PM to 10:00 PM, expect for a "silent period" between 6:15 and 6:30. Among the features was a bedtime story for children, a book review, frequent baseball scores, and a dinner time concert by the WBZ trio. (Bristow) |
1932-08-02 | Crime | The Prohibition Office in Newark announced that a raid on an Upper Saddle River Farm had resulted in the destruction of a $10,000 illegal still. Federal agents from the Newark office led the raid on the Gardner Farm on East Saddle River Road. Later laborers from the office dismantled the still, including nine 7,500 gallon vats of molasses and mash. The operators of the still must have known the raid was coming, since no arrests were reported. (Bristow) |
1935-08-02 | Transportation | The two shafts of the then as-yet-unnamed vehicular tunnel from Weehawken to 39th Street in Manhattan were joined in the middle of the river "right on the dime", according to Port Authority sources. Construction had begun fourteen months earlier, funded by a grant from the PWA, and the new tunnel was expected to open to traffic late in the winter of 1938. It was hoped that the two-way tunnel would relieve traffic on the Holland Tunnel downtown and the George Washington Bridge uptown. (Bristow) |
1940-08-02 | Transportation | A typical traffic jam on a summer weekend resulted in an accident and a summons for a Newburgh driver, Marcis Greene. As usual the traffic backed up from the traffic light in Ramapo on Friday evening. The traffic was at a standstill through the Hillburn by-pass and into Mahwah. Greene simply did not stop and crashed into the last car in the line, that of Edward Byrne of North Bergen, damaging it badly. When Chief of Police Charles E. Smith arrived on the scene he issued a summons for reckless driving to the Newburgh motorist. (Bristow) |
1947-08-02 | People | The Zisgen family had a busy week. Mr. and Mrs. John W. R. Zisgen and children Barbara and Johnny had gone swimming at Lake Sebago on Wednesday, followed by a visit to the Trailside Museum at Bear Mountain. On Friday they drove to Hyde Park to visit the Roosevelt home and library. They stopped at Poughkeepsie for lunch. (Bristow) |
1971-08-02 | Business | George Lethbridge appeared before the Mahwah Planning Board to request a zoning change to permit the construction of an office park on a 387 acre site on the west side of Ridge Road. (Bristow) |
1984-08-02 | Real Estate | Judge Harvey Smith orders that Mahwah's attempts to alter its zoning to meet the requirements of the Mt. Laurel II decision are inadequate and rules that 3,422 dwelling units be constructed by various builders. (Bristow) |
1874-08-03 | Government | An order clerk at the Post Office fell asleep while making a delivery to Darlington. When he awoke the horse had taken him off the route. He was so annoyed that he kicked the horse which responded by kicking back and pulling out of his harness and running away leaving the young man and his wagon abandoned. (Bristow) |
1888-08-03 | Real Estate | John Finch was busy supplying the abutments for the new "Cleveland Bridge" at Garrison's on the Ramapo. He had recently contracted to supply twelve carloads of bricks for Mr. Havemeyer's new house on Valley Road. (Bristow) |
1901-08-03 | Education | Religion has become an issue in filling a vacancy in the teaching staff of the Mahwah school. William F. Hasted of the Board of Education claims that it would not be "proper" for a Catholic to teach in a secular school. The Ramsey Journal remarked that she was not hired to teach religion and would have no opportunity to do so. (Bristow) |
1912-08-03 | Recreation | Several local people attended the airplane meet at Ho-Ho-Kus and found it disappointing. Instead of four planes only one showed up. It did a few tricks at around 6:00 and carried a bag down to Ridgewood. A crowd variously estimated as between 7,000 and 10,000 had paid 50 cents each to see the show. (Bristow) |
1916-08-03 | People | Dr. Royal S. Copeland has sold his house in Mahwah and has bought a house on the Haverstraw Road in Suffern. (Bristow) |
1930-08-03 | Disasters | There were two accidents on successive days in the same place, the intersection of Valley Road and Mountain Road. In the first, a driver from Woodhaven, N. Y. admitted that he had turned out of Mountain Road too wide, running into a Caldwell, N. J. motorist going north on Valley Road. The wife of the driver of the second car was treated at Good Samaritan Hospital for a leg injury. In the second, a Rockland Electric Company truck attempted to turn into Mountain Road at the same moment that a motorcycle started to pass him. The cyclist ended in the hospital with a broken right foot and other injuries. (Bristow) |
1934-08-03 | Crime | The alarming rise in poultry thefts impelled New Jersey to be the first state to authorize registration of flocks by Poultrymen. One hundred twenty-two in eighteen counties registered their flocks with the State Police and received a registration number. They then proceeded to tattoo their chickens, ducks, geese, and turkeys. In this way stolen birds could more easily be identified if they were recovered. (Bristow) |
1940-08-03 | Crime | Four young men from New York City were found to have picked several baskets of little green apples from the trees on Walter Knopf's farm on Airmont Rd., Mahwah. When Police Chief Charles E. Smith arrived the youths explained that they were from the city and thought that since these apples were growing "wild" no one would object to their picking some. Knopf finally believed them and did not press charges when they promised to pay for his loss. (Bristow) |
1946-08-03 | Fire Department | Forty returning veterans were honored at a "Welcome Home" dinner by the Mahwah Fire Company No. 2 in the Mahwah municipal building. Harold Ackerson, Chief of the Company, gave the welcoming address, praising the men for their patriotic services during the war. Roast beef was the main dish of the evening. (Bristow) |
1985-08-03 | Disasters | Mahwah Fire Department's Hazardous Materials Team was among nine fire companies which fought a fire in a nail-polish factory on Route 59 in Tallman. Traffic was tied up for hours but no injuries were reported. (Bristow) |
1900-08-04 | Transportation | The Town Board resolved to have the hill on Franklin Turnpike cut down. Committeeman Wanamaker is to do the work. About two feet will be cut from the top of the knoll on the Turnpike between where the road which leads to the underground crossing (Ramapo Ave.) to just below David Hopper's house. (Bristow) |
1908-08-04 | Education | The Board of Education was not able to hire a principal for the Mahwah School. Mr. Ward, a former teacher in the School, may get the job. (Bristow) |
1913-08-04 | Education | In addition to granting contracts to the teachers for next year, the Township Board of Education awarded contracts for the construction of flush toilets in the Mahwah School. The upper floor of the school is to be converted into an auditorium for the use of the school and of community groups. Mr. Frank Shorr, a successful teacher for five years on Long Island, has been hired as the new Supervising Principal. He will be assisted in Mahwah by Miss Clara S. Houston of Montclair and Misses Potter, Burnett and Earnest, and Mrs. Blackman and Mrs. Smith. Miss Holohan will return to Masonicus after a year's absence. Mr. Elmer J. Seever will be at Darlington and Miss Folsom will teach at the Mountain School. (Bristow) |
1923-08-04 | Education | Miss Alta Young is in charge of the Library while Miss Helen North takes her two week vacation. Miss North is spending her vacation in the Thousand Islands. The Library windows have been arranged as a tribute to President Harding who died today. Mrs. Winter announced that the $10 which the Women's Club had presented to Mrs. Kelley at the July Meeting had been donated to the Library and had been used to buy two books, The Life and Letters of Walter Hines Page, and The Letters of Franklin Lane. (Bristow) |
1934-08-04 | Disasters | George Rountree Jr. of Mahwah Troop 50 provided eyewitness accounts of the fire which destroyed the kitchen and mess hall at Camp No-Be-Bo-Sco near Blairstown. He said that the scouts had been awakened at 4:00am with cries of fire. They had dressed quickly and gone down to the mess hall to help. A bucket brigade was formed of staff members, leaders and the older scouts above the rank of Star. The camp truck driver, Thomas B. Snow Jr. drove the fourteen minutes into Blairstown dressed only in his pajama bottoms. He succeeded in arousing the town and returning with the fire department. They were pumping water into the blaze within forty minutes of the time it was discovered by Marshall Sheldon, a staff member from Easton, PA. Unfortunately only the dish washing shed and the icehouse could be saved. Officials estimated the loss at $15,000, covered by insurance. Rountree reported that the boys had had their breakfast at their own tents, but that by the time of the evening meal a tent had been erected and tables borrowed from a circus. Camp officials praised the scouts and their leaders for the swift carrying out of fire emergency procedures. Fortunately no one was hurt. Plans were already underway to replace the structure which seated 300. Other Mahwah Scouts at camp during the fire were Sibley Reid, Donald Sherow, Bobby Herrick, and Myron Merrill. (Reid and Merrill were among the twelve Mahwah service men to die in World War II.) (Bristow) |
1947-08-04 | Transportation | The first of seven powerful diesel engines went into service on the Erie railroad. The remaining six engines were to be delivered within ten days, at which time all through passenger trains from Jersey City to Chicago would be diesel powered. Each of the engines was 151 feet long, divided into three sections. The engineer was situated at the very front of the train in air-conditioned comfort. Sound proofing was said to be so good that he could communicate with the other members of the crew in normal tones clearly. When the new timetables went into effect in September it would be possible to reduce the travel time to Chicago by two hours, R. E. Woodward, Erie President, announced. (Bristow) |
1956-08-04 | Crime | A mistake made by many, of failing to stop at the second light at the corner of Franklin Turnpike and Miller Road, brought three young men to grief. When the three stopped at a gas station to clean up they parked their car in front of the Mahwah Post Office. When they started on their way again the driver failed to notice the second light at the corner of Ramapo Avenue, and Sgt. Micik stopped them. The three immediately abandoned their car and escaped on foot up the hill into Cragmere. They were eventually cornered in a backyard on Malcolm Road by Micik and Patrolman Brennan. They proved to be escapees from a New York State Reform School. They had fled from the George Junior Republic near Ithaca the afternoon before. THEY STOLE A CAR and, when it ran out of gas, they stole another by using metal foil to connect the ignition wires. All they had in their possession at the time of their arrest was a flashlight and a camera which they had taken from the first car they stole. Mahwah officials made arrangements with the Sheriff of Sullivan County to pick them up and return them to custody. (Bristow) |
1958-08-04 | Disasters | Fourteen-year-old Huguette Gosselin visited the community to thank all those who were so kind to her when she had been seriously injured in one of Route 17's most serious accidents. She was a passenger in a car on July 4, 1953 which collided with a truck turning into Moore's Terminal in Mahwah. Four of the seven in the car, including Huguette's sister Diane, 7, were killed. She suffered fractures of both legs and a severely crushed pelvis and remained in traction at The Good Samaritan Hospital for six weeks. During her confinement she remained cheerful and friendly to all who came to see her, even though she could not speak any English at the time. She was passing through the community on her way to a Jehovah's Witness Assembly in New York with her father as they had in 1953. (Bristow) |
1961-08-04 | People | Mayor Morris Ruddick of Mahwah crowned Dina Spader of Franklin Lakes as Miss Darlington of 1961, the climax of the annual beauty pageant at the Darlington Country Club. (Bristow) |
1961-08-04 | The Mahwah Flood Control Committee was cool to an invitation to join the Upper Passaic Valley Flood Control Committee because of their opposition to the proposal to raise the level of the Oakland Dam to 200 feet. They re-expressed their total opposition to any detention dam in the Ramapo Valley. In this the Mahwah Committee was joining the Deerhaven Association and the Valley Association. Although a representative of the Army Corps of Engineers maintained that neither a place nor a height for the proposed dam had been set, there was some disagreement as to how much the existing dam would have to be raised to be able to impound the over one million extra gallons of water which was the target of the project. Most local people agreed with Stephen Dole of the State Department of Conservation and Economic Development that a 200' dam was impossible in the area. | |
1894-08-05 | Recreation | Mrs. William Winter of New York City made her annual appearance as a soloist at the Ramapo Reformed Church. She sang Sir Arthur Sullivan's "The Lost Chord" to great effect. Last year she sang "Calvary". (Bristow) |
1902-08-05 | Education | It seems likely that the Riverdale School will not open this year. No teacher has been hired and the recent organization of a borough of Oakland should mean that the few Riverdale students can attend there. (Bristow) |
1917-08-05 | Religion | The Green Mountain Valley A. M. E. Zion Church began a series of Camp Meetings under the direction of the Pastor, Rev. W. W. Gales of Rutherford. The church is located just back of the Havermeyer property. The meetings will continue until September 3rd with three services each Sunday, at 10:30, 3:00, and 7:30. (Bristow) |
1926-08-05 | Business | Hammel's Department Store on Lafayette Avenue in Suffern advertised its stunning line of Walk-Over shoes for women. They were priced at $7.00, $8.50, and $10.00 a pair. The ad maintained that "discrete revelation" was the fashion rule for the season. This called for a very short skirt, a "molded silhouette", and "transparent fabrics". "When fashion peeps at pretty feet, pretty feet peep back at a masculine world so interested that you need but one word more". Only Walk-Over shoes were fitted properly for all that peeping, the ad implied. (Bristow) |
1934-08-05 | Sports | The Darlington baseball team was so soundly defeating Southfields that the game was called in the home half of the 5th inning. Darlington had already scored six runs in the 2nd. When they began to bombard the Southfield's pitcher in the 5th the managers decided to call the game with the score 9-4 and going up. They were scheduled to play Waldwick away on August 12th. (Bristow) |
1934-08-05 | People | The weekend saw an astonishing burst of social activity, mostly in Cragmere Park. Many families were reported to be on summer vacation in places as varied as Plattsburg, NY, Pittsburg, PA, and Staten Island, as predictable as Lake George, Cape Cod, and the "Connecticut Shore", and as distant as Atlanta, Florida, and Sweden. Testifying to the reputation which Mahwah itself once had as a summer resort, nineteen families reported that they had over thirty people as house guests over the weekend. Among the more unusual ones were Solomon of London, England, with Mr. and Mrs. Stephen Biddle, and an interesting combination, Captain D. Pratt Nannix, U. S. Navy retired and Miss Nora Scott of the Egyptian Department of the Metropolitan's Museum Egyptian Department, both of whom were staying with Mrs. Sidney Hall. (Bristow) |
1942-08-05 | Education | The home of Mrs. S. R. Dodge on Airmount Road was the site of a special study meeting on post-war reconstruction. Among the speakers were Dr. E. Hickman of the faculty of Rutgers and the New Jersey College for Women, and Mrs. Frederick Biggs, Chairman of the National Committee on the Cause and Cure of War. (Bristow) |
1946-08-05 | People | A mystery dog arrived in Ramsey from Okinawa. It arrived addressed to the Leslie family of South Central Avenue and came from a Lt. Jacob Leeder, unknown to the Leslies. Mrs. Leslie assumed it must have something to do with her brother who had just arrived in San Francisco. The canine mystery of "Stubby", a mixed breed, reported to be very long in body and short of leg, but very friendly and loyal, was cleared up when Captain James S. Allen arrived at his sister's home. "Stubby" had been the mascot of Allen's Signal Corps outfit in Hawaii. He was left behind when the unit went to Leyte, in the Philippines, but showed up there mysteriously two months later. The unit took him with them when they went to Okinawa. Lt. Leeder had been very attached to the dog and arranged to have him shipped home when he shipped on. He feared that the Okinawans, known for their taste for roast dog, might have made a meal of the pet. Since he was, like many others at the time, house hunting, he had it shipped to his friend's sister's home in Ramsey for safekeeping. Dr. Thomas Lynch, the local veterinarian, pronounced the friendly mutt in excellent health. (Bristow) |
1947-08-05 | Transportation | The 150 people who attended a public hearing concerning eliminating the grade crossing on Main St. soundly rejected all four proposals which had been put forward for their consideration. The only thing that got some support was a plan to build an overhead crossing, not on Main St., but between Prospect and Maple Streets. An underpass was favored by some because of its better general appearance and beauty, but most believed that the drainage problems would be too great under such a plan. The decision was a bitter blow to the Borough officials, who had worked for eighteen months drawing up plans and estimates for the four proposals. The matter was laid aside until estimates of the cost of the overpass could be drawn up. (Bristow) |
1961-08-05 | Disasters | A small number of community residents took the opportunity to visit the model home fallout shelter set up by the Civil Defense officials in the basement of the Education Building on Malcolm Rd. Civil Defense Director Bernard W. Corcyca and Assistant Director Howard Avery explained to visitors how they could defend their families in case of an atomic attack through similar cinder block structures. Avery explained that because of prevailing wind, attacks on New York City were not to be feared as much as those which might take place in the Bethlehem-Allentown area. A ten megaton blast in New York City would, he explained, break every window in Bergen County homes. It would take about two hours for radioactive dust from such an explosion to reach us here, giving residents time to use the home shelters effectively. Shelters must be made of sturdy materials, Mr. Corcyca maintained. The officials were somewhat disappointed in the small turnout to the model shelter, which had been on display for several Saturdays. (Bristow) |
1985-08-05 | Crime | The Mahwah Fire Department and Ambulance Corps were summoned to Oakland when a dispute among patrons at the FRG Sports Complex erupted into violence. The Mahwah Ambulance Corps #4 treated Michael Elliot for gunshot wounds. He was later accused of aggravated assault and attempted murder. (Bristow) |
1895-08-06 | Recreation | The musical program the Saalfield Band played at the entertainment at the Ramapo Reformed Church began with the "National Air", ended with "Home Sweet Home", and included the "Star Band Quickstep" by George Southwell, the Centenary Waltz by Hawkins, and, by request, the Standard Overture by Hermes. Over 300 people had paid to enjoy the 35 cent meal and entertainment. (Bristow) |
1909-08-06 | Transportation | Mr. John R. Lee, the contractor on the new trolley line from Paterson to Suffern, has suspended all construction until disputes concerning the right of way are resolved. A number of property owners who made warm promises of support and cooperation in the construction have refused permission for the right of way through their land. There is a suit by the Erie Railroad concerning the crossing of the Bergen shortcut, and another dispute in Ridgewood over whether the line will cross over or under Ridgewood Ave. (Bristow) |
1919-08-06 | Transportation | The Roads Committee of the County Freeholder recommended new roads to become County Roads. Among them is the Havermeyer Road along the Ramapo River from the State Line in Suffern to Oakland. (Bristow) |
1934-08-06 | Disasters | State authorities confirmed that the Dutch Elm disease had hit Ridgewood. Nine trees were determined to be diseased in the village. The Village Shade Tree Department stated that there were 550 Elms on the streets owned by the village, many of them 18-30' in diameter, and probably between 1,000 and 1,500 on private property plus 300 at the Municipal Nursery on East Glen Ave. Federal experts said that all of these were doomed unless the disease could be quickly eradicated. The State Tree Department employees were destroying the affected trees as soon as possible. They were being cut down, taken to the nursery site, soaked with oil, and burned completely. After each day's work even the tools were being sterilized. The State appropriation of $30,000 for the year had already been used up so Ridgewood could expect no financial aid, but Superintendent Henry Leuning was determined to get every diseased tree down as quickly as possible. He foresaw some problems with those on private property though. (Bristow) |
1935-08-06 | People | A silver set of sixty pieces, "chanced off" at the weekly meeting of the Citizens' Welfare Association, local relief recipients association for the benefit of the unemployed members, was won by Miss Mack, the mountain nurse. She said that she would use it in helping her charges. Miss Margaret Mack was installed as a nurse to the mountain community by Miss Nora E. Snow of Hillburn twenty years earlier and remained there until Miss Snow's death in 1943. (Bristow) |
1935-08-06 | Politics | The first of a series of forums on current affairs sponsored by the Women's Club was held in the home of Mrs. Marion Booth Kelley on Maysenger Road. The subject was national politics. Using a chart showing government expenditures from 1914, 1918, 1934, and 1935 Mrs. Kelley maintained that increasing governmental power and red tape was leading to a denial of States' Rights and the establishment of a "socialistic" order in this country. She blamed the philosophy of President Franklin Roosevelt for exceeding the financial capacities of the nation with his extravagant TVA project, relief expenditures, and "experimental legislation". The series was to continue on subsequent Tuesdays. If attendance got any bigger they were considering opening up the Town Hall to provide enough room. (Bristow) |
1935-08-06 | Charity | The running feud between the Township Board and the members of the Citizens Welfare Association, local relief recipients, continued with charges that many needy families had had their dole cut in half. One family of twelve had received $22.86 every two weeks and had been cut to $11.40. Where they had formerly 64 cents per meal they had been cut to 27 cents per meal, assuming that they had no other expenses. Another family of eight had been cut from $18.40 every two weeks to $10.17. Smaller families had been cut proportionally. This situation was partially relieved by donations of food baskets from local merchants. (Bristow) |
1935-08-06 | Education | The Well-Baby Station in West Mahwah was formally opened with Miss Ferguson, the nurse of the North Bergen Nursing Services attending to twenty-three babies and pre-school children. Among the guests at the opening were James Glasgow and Charles Diehl of the Township Committee, Father Patalog, Pastor of the Immaculate Heart of Mary Church, and representatives of the Mount Carmel Guild and the Nursing Service. After the informal reception the Station conducted a two hour session with the babies. Each was examined, weighed and measured, and advice was given to the mothers as to care and feeding. Booklets in three languages were distributed. The tiny Station, only ten by fourteen feet, was to be open on the first and third Thursdays of each month from 3:00 to 5:00. (Bristow) |
1958-08-06 | Crime | Two new lawyers for Edgar Smith, convicted earlier in the year of the murder of Victoria Zielinsky, filed a new appeal based on the recent decision in the Mallory Case. Mallory had been held incommunicado for seven hours for questioning. The attorneys claimed that Smith had been held for some twenty hours without warrant or arrest while being questioned by relays of officials representing the State. William Richter and Robert W. Hicks, both of Washington, were the fourth lawyers to enter the case since it broke. They also claimed that the unsigned confession, which they said was the cornerstone of the State's case, had been improperly admitted as evidence and that the affidavit refutes Smith's statement that a local man had been with Zielinsky after Smith left her on the night of the murder and was suspect. (Bristow) |
1961-08-06 | Disasters | The driver of a Pied Piper Ice Cream truck escaped serious injuries when his brakes failed on Geiger Road. He was attempting to make a sharp curve on the steep road 1000' above Route 17 when the brakes failed to hold. The truck overturned and only a very small tree stopped it from plunging down the steep embankment onto the highway. The driver William G. Aielio, of Paterson, was not injured but his truck was a total wreck. (Bristow) |
1874-08-07 | Agriculture | 140 barrels of apples are shipped from Ramsey every night. They sell for $1.75 per barrel. (Bristow) |
1888-08-07 | Disasters | Edward Smith's bull broke into a stall at a neighboring barn, badly goring Cornelius Acker's horse in the side with his horns. (Bristow) |
1898-08-07 | Agriculture | Blacksnakes seem to be in the news in Darlington. Benjamin Henion killed one 5' 3" long, and recently Daniel Hink killed one 6' 6" long. The snake had been stealing eggs from a nest in the Henks' door yard. He even ate the chine nest egg. (Bristow) |
1907-08-07 | People | Two employees of the American Brake Shoe and Foundry Company are in the news. Joseph H. Young has been promoted at a considerable increase in salary. The newest stenographer at the plant is Wilbur Winters. He is said to be taking hold of his new position strongly. (Bristow) |
1908-08-07 | Real Estate | Among the properties listed as subject to sale for non-payment of back taxes was a two acre plot belonging to the Estate of Frank Lake. It was located in the Ramapo Mountains next to John VanDunk. Sixty-one cents in taxes were owed. (Bristow) |
1924-08-07 | Business | Stephen A. Rothhaupt, the auto dealer in Mahwah, offered the latest models of Maxwells at special prices. The delivered prices were $1,195 for a Club Sedan, $1,155 for a Sport Touring model, and $980 for a Touring Car. He also sold Chryslers. (Bristow) |
1935-08-07 | Crime | Five automobile accidents, two assault and battery cases, a traffic violation, and a complaint of dogs killing chickens kept the Mahwah Police busy during the first week in August. Two of the accidents took place on the straight section of Route 2 near Smith's Mountain Rest. A motorist fell asleep on Valley Road, near the Burch Estate, and a little girl, six-year-old Lotte Trusiesicz, stepped out from behind a parked car, and received a scratched face. Also, a car coming out from the underpass at the Suffern border crashed with a large touring car carrying eight vacationers from Sullivan County. The assault and battery cases involved trespassing on the Houvenkopf Golf Course. When Clinton Sherow complained that dogs had killed over 100 of his young poulet chicken, Chief Smith said he would seek the culprit vigorously. "Dogs may bark and keep the neighbors awake, but they may not take his chickens." |
1940-08-07 | Sports | Skip Wrathall, President of the Mahwah Rod and Gun Club, announced that Mahwah had been stocked with seventy-two pheasants. R. F. Dator and Clinton Sherow assisted Game Warden Thomas L. Spencer in releasing the bird. Wrathall thanked the Fish and Game Commission for providing Mahwah sportsmen with a "hunters paradise, practically a dessert". (Bristow) |
1943-08-07 | Business | William B. Graves, the President of the American Brake Shoe Company, announced that the company had purchased the Electric Alloys Company, one of the leading producers of alloys which resist heat and corrosion. The new acquisition has its headquarters in Elyria, Ohio. The Manager of Brake Shoe's American Manganese Steel Division Walter G. Hoffman was named President of the Electric Alloys Company. Its previous President W. C. Whyte took the title of Vice President but was to continue in much the same executive capacity as before in the company's operations. The new acquisition brought the Brake Shoe's plants to 59, located in Canada and 21 of the states of the U. S. The Brake Shoe had gone into the research and production of heat and corrosion resistant steel alloys in 1925. The new acquisition would double the company's production capacity. Walter G. Hoffman stated that Brake Shoe had been the pioneer in the creation of steels which would resist temperatures between 1600 and 2100 degrees F. Such steels, he said were vital in the production of such vital wartime material as plane parts, wheels, and oil cracking stills. "It is research," he stated, "that has carried these alloys in a few years to the important position they now enjoy in industry." (Bristow) |
1956-08-07 | Education | The new books on the shelves of the Mahwah Library included "A Scientific Report on the Search for Bridey Murphy" by Kline & Rosen. (Bristow) |
1961-08-07 | Crime | Magistrate Anthony Meyer Jr. fined Harold DeFreese of Route 17, Mahwah $5.00 for shooting within the Township limits. Ford Motor Company officials had complained that the rifle shots he had been firing near his home were ricocheting onto the grounds of the plant. (Bristow) |
1888-08-08 | Recreation | About 100 people from Ramsey and vicinity took advantage of the special excursion rates to spend the day at Rockaway Beach. Some merely walked the beach. Others actually went bathing. (Bristow) |
1897-08-08 | Agriculture | The first katydid of the season was heard in Darlington. According to the old saying the first frost should come in six weeks. (Bristow) |
1917-08-08 | People | The second list of drafted men to report to Closter for examination: 310 Charles Banta 325 Wallace Edwards 334 John B. Snow 349 Hiram Curlee 352 Elmer Powasnick 364 Peter Podgwiskie 374 Paul Locmogko 376 George Wenescuk 380 Martin Koposkie 389 Endro Dzurko 391 Mike Saho 402 Theodore Holownski 403 Joe Dembrowski 406 Mike Temko 410 George Parnakay 412 Steve Dennecki 417 Morris Mann 429 William Roseskie 438 Steve Kiedrick 453 Mike Mikalis 475 Archibald Mann 494 Norman Ryerson 505 Alexander Siepiola 507 Sedwick Minot 508 Costanza Tomporafoki 509 Alexander Tourelle 510 W. H. Mann 513 Arthur Valentine 537 Max Mironok 546 Clifford H. Ward 548 Howard Jones 551 John Roblawski 555 John Warhol 559 A. W. Doremus 563 Thomas F. Dennison 564 George Kipizj 566 John J. Stalling 573 G. R. Neumann 574 F. Schucht 577 Harry Conklin 588 John Kribinski 596 Raymond S. Wilson 598 Raymond F. Dator |
1924-08-08 | Business | James O'Dea's Victrola Shop in Paterson advertised the latest Victor Records. You could select from classical items such as the War March of the Priests by Mendelssohn, performed by the NY Philharmonic, conducted by Wilhelm Mengelberg, and the Twelfth Hungarian Rhapsody played by Olga Samaroff, selections from New York Musicals such as "Little Jessie James" sung by Reinald Werrenrath, and the latest dance numbers played by Paul Whiteman or Fred Waring and His Pennsylvanians, including "Red Nose Pete" and "I Can't Get the One I Want". (Bristow) |
1929-08-08 | Fire Department | The new fire house for the Mahwah Department was completed on Miller Rd. (Bristow) |
1934-08-08 | Recreation | About forty members of the Woman's Club of Mahwah enjoyed a wonderful day as the guests of Mrs. Ogden B. Hewitt at her summer home in Awosting on Greenwood Lake. Since the centenary of the Town of West Milford was being celebrated the town was decorated with flags, and there were sailing races and a tennis tournament in progress as well as a dance. The club members swam in the Lake and enjoyed an informal reception at the Hewitt home. (Bristow) |
1940-08-08 | People | The Harris family, who had been occupying the house belonging to Edna S. Tice on Airmount Rd. left the community for Arizona. Mr. Harris was to be in business there. They drove out, intending to camp in the open all the way to Arizona. (Bristow) |
1946-08-08 | Business | The American Brake Shoe Company advertised in the Ramsey Journal for "skilled and unskilled foundry workers" as peacetime production got fully underway. (Bristow) |
1956-08-08 | Business | The 200,000th Ford assembled at the Mahwah plant came off the assembly line at about 10:00 am. The convertible was driven by Anthony Forst, a 40 year Ford employee. His passengers were S. K. Cannon, Assistant plant manager, and Beverly Ann Cass of Fairlawn, Miss New Jersey. (Bristow) |
1958-08-08 | Crime | The search for two bandits who held up the Esso Station on Route 17 in Mahwah was intensified as news broke of the death of a River Edge service station attendant in a similar robbery. There were also reports of robberies in Fair Lawn and in Orangeburg and Pearl River, NY, apparently by the same pair. In the Mahwah robbery, the proprietor Warren Leroy of Ridgewood and a customer were ordered to lie down in a storeroom. The customer, Robert Flauboulet of Valley Road, did not understand the order and failed to respond. He was hit on the head with an empty soda case. The robbers escaped with $65. Flauboulet was treated for a head wound at the Good Samaritan Hospital. (Bristow) |
1961-08-08 | People | The President of the Mahwah Chamber of Commerce, William S. Fenner resigned. The Ford Motor Company Executive was being transferred to another state. The Board of Directors offered the post to First Vice President Dr. Edward H. Meyer Jr. but he declined because of the pressure of his professional activities. Second Vice President Frank W. Dator was selected to succeed Fenner. (Bristow) |
1873-08-09 | Crime | Ramsey's Peter Post was arrested for wife beating. He is alleged to have knocked her black and blue and inflicted other injuries. He was bound over. (Bristow) |
1897-08-09 | Crime | William Sinell of Suffern appeared before Judge DeBaun on a charge of keeping a disorderly house in Mahwah. The charge had been sworn before a Hackensack justice but the complainant refused to appear when he heard Judge DeBaun was to hear the case and the charges were dropped. (Bristow) |
1902-08-09 | Transportation | The Board of Freeholders of the County met in Petry's Hotel in Mahwah to open bids for three new bridges over the Ramapo. They will be built "at Mahwah", another in Darlington, and a third near Jacob Croute's residence. The Mahwah contract went to W. W. Pulls for $3,533, the others for J. W. Pulls for $365 and $260 respectively. (Bristow) |
1917-08-09 | Charity | Mahwah Canning Club Activities Chairman: Mrs. Elmer J. Snow; Demonstrator: Miss Helen C. Smith; Chairmen: Finances: Mrs. Clarence Lewis, Program and Publicity, Mrs. Dana Pierce. The purpose of the Club is to preserve the food raised in the Town by proper canning and preserving. There are five kitchens: Central at the residence of Mrs. James DeVine, Mahwah, Wednesdays and Saturdays; Cragmere: Mrs. John Stewart, Cragmere Park, Tuesdays; Darlington: Mrs. Charles R. Troop, Thursdays; Brake Shoe Welfare House, Mr. Peddle, Fridays; Houvenkopf Kitchen, Mr. Houvenkopf Community House, Miss Mack, Mondays. "Kitchens can be used at any time by any housewife or group of women who wish to work together in preserving or canning their own food." Anyone with surplus is urged to put it at the disposal of the Club. |
1926-08-09 | Politics | More than 500 attend a Ku Klux Klan rally at the Ponds Reformed Church in Oakland. (Bristow) |
1934-08-09 | Real Estate | The continuing impact of the depression was evident in the number of lots that were announced about to be sold for unpaid taxes. A total of over $12,000 was owed in unpaid 1932 and 1933 taxes plus interest on 47 different pieces of property. The charges ranged from the $2.02 balance owed on Block 65, lot 19 to the over $3,000 owed by the estate of George and Davis Fox, on two lots totaling ten acres on Franklin Turnpike. Some of the arrears were made up before the sale on the 14th, but all lots offered for sale were sold, enabling the Township to balance its books. (Bristow) |
1938-08-09 | Education | Only one bid was received for painting various schools in the district. As a result, the Board decided to postpone most of the needed work until the Christmas vacation in the hope that more bids could be encouraged. Meanwhile the single bidder L. O. Salling was given two jobs. He was to paint the outside of the Mountain School for $60 and a classroom and closet at the Darlington School for $12.50. The colors were to be chosen by the School Board Clerk. Work was to be completed before the opening of school. (Bristow) |
1940-08-09 | Crime | A Monsey, New York man was serving a ten-day sentence in the Rockland County jail when he was unable to pay a fine of $10 for operating a motor vehicle without a license. Officer Ted Wickham found Alvin Boyle walking along Valley Road at 4:30 a.m. When questioned, Boyle explained that he had accepted a ride to Monsey but had been left off in Mahwah by mistake. Wickham let him go, although Boyle seemed very nervous. A few minutes later he found a badly damaged car near Jack Reich's Tavern with the engine still warm. With the help of the Suffern Police he discovered that it was registered to Roy Rubenfeld, the proprietor of the Monsey Park Hotel. He called Rubenfeld who assured him that his car was in his garage. Wickham asked him to check and Rubenfeld found the car missing. The Suffern Police picked up Boyle and charged him with driving without a license when Rubenfeld refused to press charges against Boyle, an employee of the Hotel, for taking the car without his permission. (Bristow) |
1940-08-09 | Fire Department | A special committee was selected by Fire Company President J. Frank Young to draft an amendment to drop members of the company with poor records of attending fires. A lengthy discussion concluded that it was not fair to the taxpayers to pay for insurance and benefits to firemen who did not show up for fires or drills. Fire Chief Charles Morris reported that there had been one fire and two drills during the month of July. (Bristow) |
1955-08-09 | Transportation | The actual work on the widening of Route 17 through Mahwah began. The stretch of highway had been the scene of numerous accidents, some of them fatal when it was a three-lane highway with a shared passing lane. (Bristow) |
1958-08-09 | Recreation | The annual clambake of the Mahwah Elks held on Club grounds was in honor of Fred L. Wehren in honor of his donation of eight and a half acres of land on North Central Avenue to the Lodge. The affaire was attended by officers of the Hackensack and Westwood Lodges as well as those from Mahwah. (Bristow) |
1985-08-09 | People | Mr. and Mrs. Stanley Grodecki of Reich Avenue celebrated their 55th wedding anniversary with a Mass celebrated by Father Eugene Palumbo at the Immaculate Heart of Mary Church. A reception followed at The Eureka House in Suffern. (Bristow) |
1770-08-10 | Ramapough | Nineteen Hackensack Indians sell "Ramapough", Iapough" (Yawpough) and "Camque" (Campgaw) to the widow Blandina Bayard. (Bristow) |
1913-08-10 | Disasters | A severe storm caused much local damage. A dozen large maples were blown down on Franklin Turnpike pulling down electric and telephone wires with them. A house under construction in Cragmere was blown down flat. (Bristow) |
1923-08-10 | Politics | This day has been designed a National Day of Mourning to honor the late President Warren G. Harding who died on August 2nd. Most businesses and all government offices were closed. A major portion of the meeting of the Mahwah Women's Club was devoted to a memorial service. An orchestra of Mr. Briggs, flute, Mr. Kehr, violin, Mr. Grimm, cello, and Mrs. Grimm, piano, played "Abide with Me" and "Nearer my God to Thee". The Club President Mrs. Lincoln, expressed the grief felt for Mrs. Harding and asked for a moment of silent prayer for her followed by the Lord's Prayer. Mrs. Grimm sang "Lead Kingly Light". Mr. James A. Biggs gave an appreciation of Mr. Harding which The Ramsey Journal published on its front page. The service ended with Mrs. Grimm singing "The Cross" by Malcolm Douglas. |
1924-08-10 | Politics | The memory of the late Colonel Andrew Adelbert Andridge was honored in a sinister fashion by nearly 1,500 on a farm between Ramsey and Saddle River. Andridge had been the King Kleagle of the Ku Klux Klan of the state of New Jersey. The robed Klansmen came in nearly one thousand cars to gather on the farm of E. H. Smith on the road from Ramsey to Saddle River. A platform had been erected on a field and a large cross burned. The headlights from the cars also added their light to the scene. The audience sang "Blest be the Tie that Binds", joined in a prayer, and listened to praises of the late Klan leader's humanitarian work, his defense of the Bible and American institutions, and the flag. The evening ended with the singing of "Nearer My God to Thee" and "Taps". (Bristow) |
1934-08-10 | People | Mrs. Albert Winter returned home after a six week cruise. She sailed on the Hamburg-American liner "Reliance". Her itinerary covered all the Scandinavian countries including Iceland and a stop in the Soviet Union. Iceland, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Denmark, Russia (Bristow) |
1940-08-10 | People | Mary Ritter was appointed as an English and Social Studies teacher at Pierson High School in Sag Harbor on Long Island. She was the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Horace S. Ritter of Maysenger Road and a 1940 graduate of St. Lawrence University. Miss Ritter had a distinguished record in college. Her poetry had been published by the New York Sun and other publications. She was President of the college Literary Society and served as Associate Editor of two campus newspapers and the college yearbook. She had previously attended Mahwah School No. 2 and Ramsey High School. (Bristow) |
1943-08-10 | People | Corp. Stanley B. Appelgate, home on a fifteen-day furlough to visit his parents, was given what the Ramsey Journal described as a "surprise roast" by some of his friends. Corp. Applegate was serving in a military police unit at the Del Valley Army Air Force base in Austin, Texas. The list of guests, mostly young women and some of their parents, did not apparently make elaborate insulting remarks to the guest of honor. Instead, this was a hot dog roast. (Bristow) |
1943-08-10 | People | The guest of honor at a surprise hot dog roast at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph M. Applegate was their son Cpl. Stanley P. Applegate who was home on a two-week furlough. The soldier had entered the service in August, 1942 and had been home on leave once before during January. He was stationed at Del Valley Army Air Force Base. Although a number of couples were present at the party, special mention was made of the presence of Misses Doris Anderson, Ann Naeer, Norma Buchanan, Jean Eastland, and Elizabeth Meester. (Bristow) |
1946-08-10 | People | Funeral services were held for Frank D. Shuart, 69, of Airmont Avenue. He was a carpenter who had been most recently employed at the Cheelcroft development in Hohokus until material shortages halted work there recently. His four brothers, two sisters, two daughters, and one of his sons all lived in Mahwah or Ramsey. He was also survived by fourteen grandchildren. He was a member of several local lodges. The Daughters of American conducted services at Wanamaker & Carlough on the 9th. The funeral was conducted by the Rev. Luther Freimuth of the Airmount Lutheran Church at Wanamaker & Carlough Funeral Home in Suffern. (Bristow) |
1958-08-10 | Disasters | Emergency services were fully involved in assisting the victims of a major wreck on the Erie Railroad. A head-on collision of a westbound mail train and an eastbound train, No. 50, shifted to the westbound tracks because of a freight train on the eastbound tracks, resulted in five deaths and injuries to nearly 40 passengers and crewmen. The accident, blamed on a failure of the towerman in the Suffern yards, occurred at the old Sterlington Station between Hillburn and Sloatsburg. That loss of life was not greater was because of the prompt work of the more than twenty rescue and ambulance squads including those from Mahwah, Ramsey, Allendale, and Upper Saddle River. Four Ramsey doctors and one from Mahwah also assisted at the scene. The accident took place at about 6:50 am. The first patient, the conductor of the westbound train, arrived at Good Samaritan Hospital at 7:05. By the time most of the doctors arrived at the scene at 8:00 am there was nothing to do. All injured patients had been treated or taken to either Good Samaritan or Tuxedo Hospitals. Dr. R. W. Delaphaine, of Mahwah, said there were too many doctors and ambulances at the site. Some better estimation of the scope of the disaster should have been made before so many were called. Sister Miriam Thomas, the Administrator of the Good Samaritan Hospital, however, had nothing but praise for the cooperative spirit shown by both doctors and ambulances, and for the extra help received from the Nyack and Valley Hospitals, and firms in Teterboro and Bethlehem Pennsylvania which made their private planes available in the emergency to transport patients who wished to be treated at their home hospitals. (Bristow) |
1888-08-11 | Transportation | Erie Railroad officials decided that Conductor Roberts was taking too much time making change on the branch line from Suffern to Piermont. They transferred him and brought in mainline Conductor Carpenter for a three-day trial. At the end of the trial period the railroad backed down. They decided that Roberts did as well as Carpenter and restored him to his post. Regular riders said that it did not seem right without Roberts punching the tickets. (Bristow) |
1888-08-11 | Agriculture | Theodore Havemeyer was adding considerably to his farm buildings. One barn extension was planned to cover 265 feet all together. (Bristow) |
1917-08-11 | Charity | Mr. and Mrs. Peek demonstrated the use of the dehydrator at the central kitchen of the Mahwah Canning Club at the residence of Mrs. James Devine. Miss Wetzel, the Bergen County Demonstrator spoke on food substitutes. One of the five kitchens is open every day of the week. (Bristow) |
1935-08-11 | Charity | The newly organized Mahwah Citizens' Club received its official charter at its regular meeting on Island Road. Honored guests included Township Committee Chairman James Devine, and Judge Walter W. Weber, who had assisted in gaining the Charter, Chief of Police Charles Smith, and the Rev. Thomas Patalong of the Immaculate Heart of Mary Church. Devine and Weber were the principal speakers at the ceremonies. They emphasized the good which the organization can do for the Community. (Bristow) |
1940-08-11 | People | Dr. Frank J. Liddy returned from a vacation trip to Canada. He visited with his parents in Toronto. The highlight of his visit was a chance to see the famous Dionne Quintuplets. (Bristow) |
1940-08-11 | People | Mrs. Mary Balogh died at her home on Franklin Turnpike of a heart attack. She had been in poor health ever since contracting a bad case of blood poisoning when she accidentally cut her hand while opening a tin can. A high requiem mass was held on August 15th at the Holy Ghost Greek Catholic Church. Officiating at the services were the Church's Pastor Rev. Eugene Volkay and Rev. Michael Jackovitch of St. Michael's Church in Passaic. She was buried in the St. Michael's Cemetery in Lodi. Mrs. Balogh had lived in Mahwah for 35 years. She was born in Austria-Hungary in 1885 and came to America when she was six. She was 55 years old. She was survived by her husband John H. Balogh, four sons, including Nick, 19, and Joe, 17, popular Ramsey High School athletes, and five daughters, including Irene Balogh, better known by her stage name of Donna Dearing as a showgirl, two sisters and two brothers. (Bristow) |
1940-08-11 | Fire Department | The Mahwah Fire Department's clam bake at Winter's Field attracted 125 patrons. In the horseshoe pitching competition last year's champion, Recorder Frank Young, was badly off form and was ousted by Township Clerk R. F. Dator. But in the final three out of five match contest the winner was Duree DeGroat who bested Tom Breen. The day was capped by a rousing softball game matching the married firemen against the single ones. The fireside contingent, captained by Skip Wrathall finally won in a tight pitching duel 34-33. George O'Brien went all the way for the winners in a contest marked by many home runs. The festivities were enhanced by a special sound recording system lent for the occasion by James A. Glasgow Jr. (Bristow) |
1946-08-11 | Religion | The Campgaw Union Sunday School was closed for the remainder of the month of August because of an epidemic of measles. It was to re-open September 8th. (Bristow) |
1955-08-11 | People | Two members of Mrs. James Mason's Girl Scout Troop 4, Carol Joan Wehnen of Sun Valley Farm and Susan Snyder of Alcott Road were attending Camp Te-Ata. Each was reported to have earned her first class badge with "curved bars". (Bristow) |
1956-08-11 | Police | At the Township Committee Meeting it was announced that the shattered windshield of the police car had been replaced at no cost to the Town. The car was passing by the Brake Shoe plant when a piece of metal flew out over the fence and struck it. A crane equipped with a swinging ball was being used to break up some scrap metal. The company agreed to halt operations and to replace the windshield. The driver of the car was not injured. (Bristow) |
1956-08-11 | People | The home of Mr. and Mrs. Theodore Hazelwood on Snow Drive was the site of the marriage of their daughter Anne Hazelwood Morgan to Alfred Brady Jr. The bride was the widow of Navy Lieutenant Edward Morgan of Pasadena, California. She was a graduate of the Emma Willard School and Vassar College. The groom was a former student at Cornell when he entered the service and served three years in Europe. He was the sales manager of the Hackensack Cable Corporation. Present at the ceremony were a few family members including Mr. Brady's three sons by a former marriage. (Bristow) |
1873-08-12 | People | Judge John Quackenbush is hoping to be appointed Deputy Collector of Customs for the City of New York. The post carries a salary of "several thousand dollars and nothing to do". The promotion of John R. Lydecker leaves a vacancy in the office. A. Paterson said that the Judge "gained his overgrowth looking over the Ramapo Mountains to see the sun set". (Bristow) |
1916-08-12 | Politics | A large crowd attended the banner raising ceremonies of the Mahwah Republican Club near the intersection of the Turnpike and Miller Road. Two poles had been erected and accompanied by music from the Brake Shoe Band. The 20' by 30' banner was stretched across the road. Red fires and torches illuminated the scene. After greetings by President Hotchkiss, the candidates for Governor, George L. Record and Col. Austin Colgate spoke. They were followed by the three candidates for State Assembly, and the Sheriff candidate, Mahwah's James Devine. The banner has the slogan "Preparedness, Protection, and Prosperity", the name of the Club, the names of the presidential candidates, Hughes and Fairbanks, and spaces for the names of the State and Local candidates to be chosen in the primary. Everyone was there including Democrats, Socialists, and Prohibitionists. (Bristow) |
1934-08-12 | People | Eagle Scout Elwood Palma returned from spending two weeks at Camp No-Be-Bo-Sco as a handicraft instructor. For his work he received an instructor's badge. He would seem to have been Mahwah's first Eagle Scout, although he was not listed as a member of the local Troop 50. (Bristow) |
1935-08-12 | Education | At the School Board meeting the letter permitting Mahwah students to attend Ridgewood High School instead of Ramsey was read. Howard White, Commissioner of Education insisted that both the Ridgewood and Ramsey Board of Educations had to agree. Motions were made by Richard Keith to schedule meetings with those Boards on the matter. If the plan was approved the local School Board would pay the tuition of students at Ridgewood up to the amount which Ramsey would charge. Parents would have to bear all transportation costs. (Bristow) |
1940-08-12 | Education | Miss Aleta Hopper was hired by the Board of Education to teach the newly adopted music program in the Mahwah Schools. The contract called for her to teach two days a week in the different schools on a rotating schedule. For this she was to be paid $500. She was the daughter of David Hopper who, among his many achievements, was for many years the Superintendent of the Ramapo Reformed Church Sunday School. The date of her appointment, sadly enough, coincided with the day her mother, Mrs. Anna C. Hopper, died. (Bristow) |
1940-08-12 | People | When David Hopper came home from the Post Office at 4:30 he found that his wife Ann had collapsed in her garden. Dr. Edward Meyers of Mahwah was called immediately. He tried to revive her from what he diagnosed as a cerebral hemorrhage but he failed and pronounced her dead at about 8:00 PM. Funeral services were held on the 15th by Clarence Sloan Howard of the Reformed Church, who returned from his vacation to conduct the services. Mrs. Hopper was born in Spring Valley in 1872, the daughter of Albert Bogert and Catherine Alletta Zabriskie. She married David Hopper in 1898 and lived in Mahwah the rest of her life. Originally the couple lived in the home later owned by David Meyers on Franklin Turnpike until they moved to a new home on East Ramapo Avenue. In addition to her husband, she was survived by a son, three daughters, four grandchildren, and two brothers, Albert Bogert, a former Freeholder and officer of the People's Trust in Hackensack, and Charles Bogert of River Edge. (Bristow) |
1951-08-12 | Transportation | Residents of West Airmount Road were incensed at a proposal to rename their street Kilmer Road, in honor of the poet. The chief advocate of the change was H. W. Mowery. He admired the poet who was said to have written "Trees" while he was living on Airmont Road. It would also end the confusion which existed between Airmont Ave. and Airmount Ave. which intersects at the top of the hill. Opponents had been organized by Harry S. Ripley. He said trying to change an established name only leads to confusion. Most people are still referring to the Avenue of the Americas as Sixth Ave., he pointed out. Most of the opposition came from West Airmount where twelve families live. Only about seven or eight families lived on Airmount east of the Turnpike. Ripley was circulating a petition against the change. (Bristow) |
1955-08-12 | Transportation | A conference was held among high officials of the Erie Railroad and the Ford plant concerning the excessive noise on the railway spur leading to the plant. What residents of the State Street area referred to they called the "Erie Midnight Serenade" as making it impossible for them to sleep night after night. Present at the meeting were the Assistant General Manager of Erie, E. Sanok and the District Superintendent, and, from Ford, General Manager Angus Harris and his Traffic Manager and Industrial Relations Manager. Mrs. Olive Wiley attended for the Township of Mahwah. Mrs. Wiley reported that a genuine effort was being made to reduce noise levels. The major problem would seem to be the steep grade caused by ground settlement which made high speeds necessary and the use of untrained personnel. (Bristow) |
1961-08-12 | Recreation | The recreation program for the children of Stag Hill went into full swing. Recreation equipment had been provided by the Recreation Committee and the older children had completed their work in cleaning up a playground around the school. George Holland, the program director, implemented a program of organized games and activities. Assisting him were some of the older children, Betty Jane DeGroat, Wanda Mann, Regina DeGroat, and Dotty Mann. The children were looking forward to a picnic which the Grand Union Corporation had promised to sponsor later in the month. Mr. Holland announced that he hoped the program would cover the entire summer the next year. (Bristow) |
1961-08-12 | People | The Shell Companies Foundation announced that Evangeline Klug, chemistry teacher and Science Chairman at Mahwah High School had been studying during the summer at Cornell University under a Shell Merit Fellowship Award. (Bristow) |
1985-08-12 | People | Maurice B. Smith Boone died Monday. She was 81 and a member of the Mount Zion A.M.E. Church, Mahwah. She was President of the Missionary Society, a church mother and stewardess board member. For 22 years she served as a delegate to the A.M.E. Zion conference. She was a member of the Spring Valley Chapter of the NAACP. She was survived by six children, eleven grandchildren, and five great-grandchildren. Her husband Curtis died in 1941. (Bristow) |
1888-08-13 | Transportation | The Erie was building new platforms at the west side of various stations along the line. The ones in Suffern and Ramsey were finished, and Mahwah's not yet completed. During the construction in Ramsey C. A. Sweet accidentally fell from the platform and broke his leg just above the ankle. (Bristow) |
1896-08-13 | Disasters | Richard Wanamaker's former house on Ridge Road was completely destroyed by fire. Only a little furniture on the ground floor was saved. A neighbor alerted the family while they were eating breakfast that their house was on fire. (Bristow) |
1911-08-13 | People | Thomas Banta, a Civil War veteran, was buried in the Mahwah Cemetery. He served in Company B of the 22nd New Jersey Regiment. He had suffered from cancer for a number of years and had had several operations to attempt to relieve his condition. The Rev. E. Shafer preached the funeral sermon. (Bristow) |
1915-08-13 | Transportation | Emerson McMillan is contributing heavily to the cause of aviation in this country. He believes that airplane design and the training of good pilots are vital to American preparedness. The Russian defeat by Germany, he believes was a result of the lack of a proper Russian air force. Mr. McMillan is a life member of the Aero Club of America and has recently offered to add to his previous gift of $1,000 to the National Aeroplane Fund up to $50,000 more. He will contribute $100 for each $900 contributed by others between now and February 1, 1916. (Bristow) |
1920-08-13 | People | George Salling broke his arm while cranking his automobile. (Bristow) |
1920-08-13 | Politics | The Tennessee Legislature ratified the 19th amendment, guaranteeing women the right to vote. Tennessee is the 36th and decisive state making the amendment a part of the U.S. Constitution. Even though New Jersey has not ratified the amendment and the New Jersey Constitution limits the suffrage to males, women will be able to vote in state and local elections this fall. The National Constitution overrides the State Constitution. (Bristow) |
1924-08-13 | Government | Postmaster Harry Corwin of Paterson received a request from the First Assistant Postmaster General in Washington to install a special air mail postbox in the local post office. The request had originated with the Wright Aeronautical Corporation in Paterson. The air age was certainly upon us. (Bristow) |
1934-08-13 | Recreation | The Junior Women's Club presented a set of fifty-eight iced tea glasses to the Senior Women's Club as a gift. There is no explanation for what brought about their generosity, and since when is fifty-eight a "set"? (Bristow) |
1935-08-13 | Politics | At the second of the four forums dealing with current affairs being sponsored at the home of Mrs. Marion Booth Kelley on Maysenger Road, the topics ranged from the recent Rhode Island elections, the declaring of the A.A.A. unconstitutional by a Federal District Court, and the disastrously expensive Social Security Bill, about to be signed by President Roosevelt. (Bristow) |
1951-08-13 | Recreation | The Ramsey High School Band and seven of Ramsey's champion twirlers added to the din at Ebbets Field as the Brooklyn Dodgers celebrated one of their "Music Depreciation" Nights. They were seated in the left field stands. The girls never did get to twirl but the band played even though the hundreds of instruments in the crowd were tuned to the daffy musical orientation of the famed Dodger Sym Phony. They arrived home at about 1:00 A.M., happy over the Dodgers' come-from-behind win on a homer by Roy Campanella. (Bristow) |
1958-08-13 | Crime | Legal maneuverings to delay the execution of Edgar H. Smith, convicted of having murdered Victoria Zielinski in Fardale continued. On August 12 Justice Brennan of the U.S. Supreme Court, with the single word "NO", had refused a stay of execution for the Mahwah resident. He had already been denied clemency from N.J. Governor Robert B. Meyer and his automatic appeal to the N.J. Supreme Court had been denied. Meanwhile testimony continued in Hackensack for defense motions for a new trial. The two major claims made by Smith's team of lawyers were in connection with defense attempts to implicate another man, Donald Hammill in the crime, and accusations that one of the jurors had acted improperly in the case. In testimony on August 13, tavern owner Herbert Pelzer testified that Hammill had not been in his tavern on the evening of the crime, as Hammill claimed. Several other witnesses contradicted some of Pelzer's testimony, and one claimed that Hammill had been there most of the evening. Testimony concerning the conduct of the juror was inconclusive. Finally the heat and the mosquitos forced a continuance into the next day without a ruling from Judge Arthur J. O'Day. Additional moves were being made in Federal Courts claiming Smith's constitutional rights had been violated, and the N.J. opponents of capitol punishment were active in opposing the execution. (Bristow) |
1904-08-14 | Recreation | The Erie sponsored an excursion to Newburgh. A round trip ticket was 80 cents. The featured attraction was a ride on the inclined railway at the new resort in Beacon. So many people went that another excursion has been scheduled for the 28th. (Bristow) |
1909-08-14 | Real Estate | The Town Board vacated the old road leading to the Miller place and accepted the new, straight one, built by the Company. The area is now known as Cragmere. (Bristow) |
1930-08-14 | People | Mrs. Hahn reported that there was a dead man lying along the side of Franklin Turnpike. When Chief Smith investigated he found that the victim was not dead and had been taken to the Good Samaritan Hospital where his condition was listed as critical. He had been struck at about 8:00 P.M. while walking along the road by a Southfields, NY driver. When Smith interviewed George Gottschalk he said that he had not been blinded by lights from cars approaching him and that the weather was clear. He was arrested and held on $500 bail in the County Jail in Hackensack. The victim, George Portela of Orange Avenue, Suffern, had no memory of the incident. By the 26th Dr. Royal Sengstacken informed Chief Smith that Portela's injuries would not be fatal. (Bristow) |
1934-08-14 | Transportation | Richard Halman left San Francisco late in the afternoon by plane and arrived at Newark Airport at about the same time on the 15th. He was said to be one of the first in Mahwah to have traveled from coast to coast in less than twenty-four hours. (Bristow) |
1943-08-14 | Recreation | The dedicated movie-goer could revel in some of the most famous films of the war years on four consecutive days locally. On Saturday s/he could see James Cagney in Yankee Doodle Dandy at the Strand in Suffern. Sunday's classic offering, again at the Strand, was "Casablanca" with Ingrid Bergman and Humphrey Bogart. On Monday, "Five Graves to Cairo" starring Franchot Tone, Anne Baxter, and Erich von Stroheim was showing at the Ramsey Theatre, and on Tuesday Stage Door Canteen featuring "48 Stars, 6 Bands, and 9 Song Hits" was scheduled for the Lafayette in Suffern. All four had either a specific wartime setting or a patriotic slant. The movies went to war as did everybody else, including the author of this column in 1943. (Bristow) |
1945-08-14 | Military | Mahwah celebrated Victory in World War II by continuous blasts on the fire siren until the air reservoir ran out. They then turned to the old fire bell and the bells of the Reformed Church. (Bristow) |
1951-08-14 | Education | Bernard W. Gorcyca of Church Street was named to the Board of Education to fill the unexpired term of Thomas Ackerson. In other business, complaints that there was poison ivy on the Betsy Ross school grounds were heard. The offending plants were condemned to death. (Bristow) |
1951-08-14 | Education | P.T.A. President Herman J. Behrens reacted favorably to the recommendations for school reorganization made by Drs. Boehm and Hayward of N.Y.U. Although there were some similarities to the plan rejected in 1949, Behrens pointed out that the new proposal was more modest. It called for the rehabilitation of Commodore Perry and the reopening of the Mountain School, in addition to the building of a central school of 10-12 classrooms, a gymnasium, all purpose room and special education, industrial arts, and home economics classrooms. The plan would be financed by a series of three successive bond issues, another proposal praised by Behrens since it permitted maximum flexibility in making the decision as to whether to open a Junior High School. (Bristow) |
1951-08-14 | Education | The Board of Education heard reports on how the repairs to the Township schools were proceeding. It was decided to turn on the electricity at the Mountain School since it was being used as a Sunday School. At the recommendation of Frank Dator insurance was raised on all of the schools and their contents to keep up with inflation. (Bristow) |
1955-08-14 | Business | The strike at the American Brake Shoe Factory reached a complete impasse. The Company claimed that the strike had been caused by the dismissal of Steve Sochulak months earlier. The Union said that "conditions of contract" were the main cause of the dispute and the Sochulak case had entered into the matter afterward. A U.S. Mediation Board hearing on the case scheduled for August 9th had not been held. The Union said they wouldn't appear without a contract. Meanwhile the picketing continued at the plant. (Bristow) |
1961-08-14 | Police | A Paterson man, Donald F. Mullen, was fined a total of $18 in municipal court in an odd incident. Patrolman Fred Millen literally stopped Mullen's car as it was rolling backward on Valley Road. Apparently Mullen and his companion had parked on a slight grade and fallen asleep. The brakes failed to hold and the car began to drift backward when it rolled into the police car. Magistrate Anthony Meyer Jr. fined Mullen $15 for having faulty brakes and $3 for not having the registration on the borrowed car in his possession. He might have been fined for reckless driving except that he wasn't actually driving and no damage was done. (Bristow) |
1874-08-15 | Recreation | A raffle at Hagerman's Hotel set off a wild night in Mahwah. The raffle attracted a large crowd and the spirits flowed. "Scotch Charley" won the gun and treated the crowd to what the Bergen Democrat's correspondent referred to as "copious quantities of tanglefoot". They then moved to "the Castle DeMerritt (Mrs. Merritt's tavern) where more wines and liquors were consumed. A quarrel broke out between "Dutch Ant" and a servant girl over an old grudge. She eventually hit him with a lighted lantern injuring him so badly that it is feared he will lose an eye. Jas Hopper tried to arouse "The Lord of the Manor' who was asleep in the cupola. When awakened the proprietor wanted to know "what in h___ was going on downstairs". Several efforts were made to get her (or his?) books on but when arriving downstairs the rioters had left. (Bristow) |
1874-08-15 | Sports | Some Darlington visitors to Mahwah claimed they could beat a certain Mahwah man at wresting without half trying. In fact they picked out one of their weakest wrestlers they were so confident. But the Mahwah man was only playing with them and went through the entire crowd of Darlingtons and threw them all (Bristow) |
1916-08-15 | Health and Medicine | The quarantine on the Polish family in West Mahwah when a case of Infantile Paralysis was found several weeks ago has been lifted. The child is still segregated, though. A man is to be stationed on the back road to West Mahwah to prevent the influx of foreign children and others into the Brake Shoe settlement there. This is in compliance with the new state regulations on infantile paralysis. (Bristow) |
1918-08-15 | Business | In one of a series of articles "German Atrocities and German Goods", readers of the Ramsey Journal were told of an American soldier who got lost in no man's land and was found the next day completely hacked to pieces. German cutlery was the pride of the world, the author said. Since the war American knives and razors have begun to be manufactured. Are we going to continue to buy from Germans who use their beautiful knives for such butchery? "My buyer, it is up to you to decide...where you will buy your goods." |
1935-08-15 | Education | Since Ramsey High School did not offer an agricultural course, an unnamed pupil from Fardale was granted permission to attend high school in Paterson to take that course. (Bristow) |
1935-08-15 | Religion | The ordinance to permit the Arch Diocese of Newark to build a cemetery at Campgaw Road was postponed once more when representatives of Stephen Birch objected to the wording of the letter from Msgr. McLaughlin that it was the Church's "intention" to limit burials to parishes from north of Ridgewood and adjacent Rockland County. Birch, especially, complained that there was no finite limit on the possible expansion of the cemetery property. The Committee sent the ordinance back to their attorney for stronger wording. Local Catholics complained of the delay stating that there had never been a question of this being a non-sectarian cemetery, it was for Catholics only and there there had never been a case where a cemetery permit had hinged on an assurance that no extension ever be requested for in the future. It would seem, they maintained, that Mr. Birch was the only person objecting to the establishment of this badly needed facility. (Bristow) |
1940-08-15 | Transportation | Township Tax Assessor Albert Winter proved to be a staunch supporter of the faithful horse at the Township Committee meeting. When Committeeman James Devine and the Township Engineer announced that Ridge Road would be closed temporarily to horses for repairs, Winter jokingly announced "You don't think you can keep me off that road do you? Nobody can stop me." Devine threatened to close it for thirty days. Winter shot back "I would like to see any man in this room keep my horses off that road." He went on to accuse the Committee of planting dynamite in the road to threaten him. The road was being paved as a part of a WPA roads grant in the Township. (Bristow) |
1940-08-15 | Transportation | Township Tax Assessor Albert Winter proved to be a staunch supporter of the faithful horse at the Township Committee meeting. When Committeeman James Devine and the Township Engineer announced that Ridge Road would be closed temporarily to horses for repairs, Winter jokingly announced "You don't think you can keep me off that road do you? Nobody can stop me." Devine threatened to close it for thirty days. Winter shot back "I would like to see any man in this room keep my horses off that road." He went on to accuse the Committee of planting dynamite in the road to threaten him. The road was being paved as a part of a WPA roads grant in the Township. (Bristow) |
1951-08-15 | Disasters | A man who was sleeping in his car alongside of Route 17 just north of Ramapo Avenue was severely injured when a truck swerved off the road and landed on top of his car. The truck, driven by a man from Kingsport, NJ, left the road in an attempt to avoid a south-bound car which was far over the center line. The truck smashed into the parked Crosley, overturned, and burst into flames. Since the cargo was aviation fuel both the truck driver and the sleeping motorist were lucky to escape with their lives. Everett Curtis of New York City was taken to the Good Samaritan Hospital where he was treated for head injuries. The truck driver was able to crawl out of the window of the vehicle. He was not injured. (Bristow) |
1958-08-15 | Business | A group of sixty business and industrial leaders, meeting at The Mark Restaurant, voted to form a sort of Chamber of Commerce organization in Mahwah. The meeting had been called by Mayor Morris Ruddick. A nominating committee headed by Edward Scherer was selected to get the new organization started. He and his son had been instrumental in getting the meeting arranged along with John Wargol Jr. and Clinton Carlough. (Bristow) |
1962-08-15 | Real Estate | The Board of Adjustment reserved judgement on an application by Albert Kidd Jr. of 111 Miller Road to build a home just above a hairpin turn on Geiger Road in the Stag Hill section of Mahwah. When asked why he wanted to build a home in the area zoned as an industrial park, Kidd replied that he liked privacy. (Bristow) |
1743-08-16 | Real Estate | Lucas Kiersted conveys his portion of the tract where Ramapo College now stands to Hendrick Laroe. (Bristow) |
1908-08-16 | Transportation | Township Engineer Richard Wanamaker reported that 155 autos passed his house today. Is it any wonder our roads need repair. (Bristow) |
1912-08-16 | Business | Schoonmaker & Co. of Main St. Paterson advertised in The Ramsey Journal equipment "for the autoist". Auto dusters from $1.50 to $10.00, auto gloves $1.00 to $3.00, and auto caps from .50 to $2.00. (Bristow) |
1922-08-16 | People | George B. Christie, formerly the manager of the Liberty Theater and Playhouse in Suffern and a resident of Mahwah, married Betty Kaye. She is a star of Vaudeville well known for her stage role as "Madame" the Oriental dancer in "Patches". They were married at the annual "Pageant of Progress" in Chicago. The auburn haired beauty is scheduled to appear in a new production "The Auburn Bride". (Bristow) |
1934-08-16 | Fire Department | At the Township Committee an extension of the fire protected area in town to include the Airmount Road extension from Island Road to the Erie Railroad and the Railroad Avenue continuation was announced. A Committee had been formed by Chairman Devine to work with the Schedule Rating Office to meet the regulations for reducing the fire insurance rates of homes on those streets since they did not have fire hydrants. A series of fire barrels were donated by Chairman Devine and installed by the various homeowners involved. As a result the streets were declare protected as of August 18th. Any home owner within fifty feet of one of the new barrels would be considered protected and eligible for the lower rates. (Bristow) |
1934-08-16 | Real Estate | The Township Committee received a petition requesting the establishment of a Catholic Cemetery on the grounds of the Immaculate Conception Seminary in Darlington. The original proposal had been received in June. A public hearing was held in July with a number of nearby property holders complaining that the new facility would lower their property values. As a result the request was laid over. The new petition was said to contain the signatures of 282 taxpayers and voters in the Township. No immediate response was given to the request. (Bristow) |
1935-08-16 | People | A spate of articles in metropolitan newspapers about where Joyce Kilmer's famous poem "Trees" was written was the occasion for the presentation to the local American Legion Post of a letter from the poet's wife stating that it had been written in Mahwah. The letter had been written to Major Charles E. Ellis, a neighbor of the poet-soldier when he lived in Mahwah, several years earlier. The letter stated that Mrs. Kilmer knew that it was in Mahwah that her husband had written the famous poem. The letter was presented by Major Ellis to the Post's historian Edward G. Schneider for inclusion among the Post's historical archives. This news was particularly pleasing to James Devine, the Chairman of the Township Committee, long an admirer of Kilmer's poetry and to then current resident of the former Kilmer House in Airmount Road, Magnus Hellstrom, a retired mechanical engineer. (Bristow) |
1951-08-16 | Health and Medicine | The Ramsey Journal reported that a thorough investigation had disproved the widely believed story that a girl had died of a copperhead snake bite received at Sunset Lake in Mahwah. The story had been circulating for about two weeks. Inquiries to all police stations and hospitals in the area proved negative. Although everyone had heard the story no one knew who the girl was supposed to be, who her parents were, or where she was supposed to have lived. There were various versions of the story, including one in which the mother had killed the snake with her bare hands after her baby had been attacked in her carriage. Tony Stabile, the owner and manager of the recreation facility and adjoining tavern, was at a loss to explain how the yarn got started. The Journal urged its readers to kill the story "just was you would a snake" if you heard it again. (Bristow) |
1958-08-16 | Recreation | Ten Explorers departed for a "High Adventure" camping and fishing expedition to Baxter State Park in Maine. They planned to climb Mount Katahdin and hike and fish in northern Maine. Leading the group was Explorer advisor Milton R. Schneider of Mahwah Post 50. Those making the trip from Post 50 were Shae Avery, John Daniel Glasgow, John and Jerry Peirano, Joseph Pullaro, Harry T. Sampson, and William Dator. (Bristow) |
1893-08-17 | Ramapough | Workmen digging in a sand bank near William Van Horn's house in Darlington unearthed a skeleton of a man standing upright in the sand. Since arrowheads and other relics were found with the bones it is presumed to be an Indian. Mr. Meyers plans to mount and exhibit the skeleton. (Bristow) |
1912-08-17 | Real Estate | The Township Board offered $500 of the $2500 A. J. Winter will receive with the relocation of Franklin Turnpike if the town will devote the property to a park. (Bristow) |
1912-08-17 | Real Estate | The Township has been offered a public park. The property belongs to Mr. Albert Winter and he has offered to sell it at a price below the market, and also to contribute $500 to help pay for improvements. It was seen by many as an improvement for the Town which might attract home buyers. There was some controversy about how it should be paid for, however. Some felt it would only benefit those living near the station. Those from Darlington and Masonicus would only see it once a year when they came to vote. However if more people buy homes this would reduce the rate for all tax payers, it was pointed out. (Bristow) |
1918-08-17 | Recreation | A musical entertainment was given at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Almeron G. Drake. Admission was 50 cents and a total of $137.55 was turned over to the North Bergen Chapter of the Red Cross. The Cragmere Orchestra, William Kehr conductor, played. Mrs. W. S. Semple played Jensen's "Spring Song", Percy A. Allen sang the "Marseillaise", Mrs. J. R. Grim sang "Delight" by Luckstone, and Mrs. W. R. Kehr sang "Love Song" by Flesier. After refreshments were served the orchestra played for dancing. (Bristow) |
1924-08-17 | Police | Robert J. Burrows of Newark got away with a fine of $5 and costs for speeding in Oakland when he showed Magistrate Rodgers a letter from the Newark Commissioner of Police asking that the young man be shown courtesy if in trouble. Considering that another Newark man, without the letter we presume, had only been fined $10 for speeding and driving without a license you wonder how persuasive the letter really was. (Bristow) |
1941-08-17 | Sports | Red Bank, N. J. was the site of the annual Gold Cup motorboat races. Charles Vuolo attended as the guest of the owner of the winner of the uncontested race, Zalmon G. Simmons. Stanley Sargent of Nyack, Charles Vuolo's brother-in-law was the mechanic who rode with the winning boat "My Sin". (Bristow) |
1961-08-17 | People | A Paterson man suffered head injuries when he apparently fell asleep at the wheel of his 1958 sedan on his way home from work. The car skidded seventy-five feet and bounced off the curb several times before coming to rest facing the wrong way on Franklin Turnpike near Airmount Road. The driver, Joseph Harrelson, was taken to Good Samaritan Hospital in the Mahwah Ambulance. When he regained consciousness he explained that he had stopped off for a few drinks after he got off from work and had dozed off. (Bristow) |
1961-08-17 | Real Estate | In a letter to Norman J. Griffiths, Chairman of the Governor's Upper Valley Flood Control Committee, Mayor Morris Ruddick announced that Mahwah would accept the invitation to join the group but remained unalterably opposed to the plan to develop a detention basin behind a raised dam in Oakland. He said that if the river level were to be raised 20 or 25 feet as has been proposed the value of residential property destroyed in Mahwah would be $6,000,000. Contemplated future construction valued at $1,000,000 would be impossible and Route 202 would have to be moved at great expense. He saw no benefit to Bergen County in the scheme and stated that Mahwah would fight the proposal "to the fullest extent of its ability". (Bristow) |
1961-08-17 | Education | The Ramsey Journal published excerpts from Dr. George McClellan's annual report to the School Board concerning his policy on informing the public about what the Mahwah Schools are doing. The Superintendent insisted that the best pubic information agent was the student when he comes home each day from school. Workshops and faculty meetings had been held during the year to convince staff that what they said and did in dealing with the pubic was vital to getting the message to the pubic that the Schools wanted their activities known and were open to questions on every topic. He reported that 75 pictures and 170 different stories had been published in the local press during the year. In one local paper, presumably the Journal, over 1,500 inches of stories had been printed. The Journal welcomed this open policy in an editorial praising his work and revealing that in every instance during the year that any of their reporters had a question to ask about school events and policies they had been given candid answers. The editorial concluded that this system should be emulated by other districts. It beat the grapevine as a source of information. (Bristow) |
1874-08-18 | Real Estate | Thirty workmen are constructing the cellar of Mr. Miller's new house in Mahwah. It will be three stories high with a Mansard roof and will be 100 x 80' in dimensions. When it is completed it will be one of the finest in the county. Since Mr. Miller likes to encourage local trades, most of the workers are from Ramsey. (Bristow) |
1900-08-18 | Transportation | The Town Board received a letter from W. W. Snow of the Rockland Electric Company asking for an extension of 60 days on the completion date of the electric line along Franklin Turnpike. Although the line is complete through Mahwah, lack of materials make it impossible to reach the Allendale line in time. (Bristow) |
1901-08-18 | People | Miss Carrie Nation, the celebrated temperance activist, passed through town on her way to Paterson. (Paterson saloon keepers take note.) (Bristow) |
1924-08-18 | Police | The young son of Mitchell Beyers on Campgaw was the first local person against which the County's new tear gas bombs was used. The victim was a patient at a New York State mental institution and was on a brief home visit when he suddenly became violent. He armed himself with two guns and a sword and barricaded himself in the attic of the family home. His father called the police. The chief reviewed the situation and recalled that the County Sheriff, Jack Fox, had offered the new weapons to local police forces if they need them. Chief Hopper sent to Hackensack for one and fired it into the room where the young man was holed up. He and Marshall Ackerman then rushed the room and subdued the boy. The gas had so blinded him that he was only able to strike out with his sword, injuring both officers. He was subdued and taken back to the institution by two keepers hastily summoned from across the border. Sheriff Fox advised every police department in the County to acquire a couple of these tear gas bombs for just such emergencies. (Bristow) |
1934-08-18 | Recreation | An unusual flower party was held at the home of Mr. and Mrs. D. W. F. Heidgerd of Maysenger Road. The guests assembled to view the blooming of the hosts' night blooming cereus. As the petals began to spread they first saw the orange and yellow petals surrounding the bud, then the white petals parted revealing the feathery pistol and stamen at the heart of the flower. The guests' attention was not so completely held that they were not able to take advantage of the delicious refreshments which followed the floral performance. (Bristow) |
1935-08-18 | Education | Among the federal projects listed in the New York papers as having received President Roosevelt's approval was $270,000 for the construction of the new Ramsey High School. Telegrams from Senator Moore and Representative Perkins soon followed confirming the grant, and eventually a telegram from Thomas P. Carroll of the National Emergency Council in Washington addressed to John Y. Dater, President of the Board of Education. Subsequent instructions urged that the work begin immediately. A meeting of the Board was scheduled for September 3rd to complete final arrangements and start construction. (Bristow) |
1946-08-18 | Sports | "Duke Sinatra" owned by Mr. R. G. Hess of Saddle River and handled by John V. Murphy of Forest Road, Mahwah, won Best in Show at the Bay State Beagle Show. Murphy was considered one of the best dog handlers in the area by dog show followers. (Bristow) |
1949-08-18 | Recreation | The Library announced that among the new books on their shelves were "The Flying Red Horse" by Harriette Armour, "Lead Kindly Light" by Vincent Sheean, and "1984". The last book was said to be by George Drinell, but we all know better. (Bristow) |
1955-08-18 | Disasters | Hurricane Diane caused considerable inconvenience locally but did not cause the major damage expected. At the height of the storm, about 4:00 P. M., access to Suffern either by Valley Road or by Franklin Turnpike was impossible because of flooding from the Mahwah and Ramapo Rivers. Route 17 was awash at Sunset Lake. Deerhaven was cut off, although the Cleveland Bridge did not quite go under. At 6 A. M. on the 19th the Davis family of "Rolling Hills" was evacuated by the Mahwah Police after rising waters from Fyke Brook completely inundated their first floor and washed out their driveway. Because local damage was so slight, five local State Troopers had been sent to Blairstown and Lambertville to help out there. (Bristow) |
1955-08-18 | Education | Two requests to use the Mountain School for local events were approved by the Town Board. The Rev. Frank Sanson of the Salvation Army Missionary Training School was given permission to conduct Sunday School there, and the Stag Hill Civic Association was to use it as their meeting room. Recent improvements, including the installation of flush toilets, had been completed by the Township. The usual stipulation was made that during the winter months outside users had to provide their own wood for heating. (Bristow) |
1763-08-19 | Ramapough | The lease of lot #135 of the Ramapo tract was granted to David Christie by the Board of Proprietors of East Jersey. The property was on both sides of Ridge Road. (Bristow) |
1909-08-19 | People | Judge Henry Furlong made a statement to the Ramsey Journal concerning the tragic death of his wife. He had left home on Monday August 9th for a trip to the Jersey Shore with friends, partly for fishing and partly simply to get away. He revealed his destination only to his wife, saying he wanted privacy. He refused to reveal to his companions. His wife wanted him back on Saturday for advise on a house she was interested in but he did not return until Monday the 16th. Then he learned through a newspaper account of his wife's death. He immediately called home. She had been stricken suddenly, immediately lost consciousness, and died quickly despite expert medical help. He denied vehemently that he had hidden somewhere on the estate, or that he was estranged from any member of his family, or that he had eloped with Mrs. Halsey. He blamed these lies on the sort of jealousy a judge arouses among his enemies. Judge Furlong bought "Hazelwood", the former home of Governor Price, five years ago. He has three daughters and a son. His eldest daughter, Ruby, 23, is a Board of Health Nurse in New York City working in the schools. Ada is 18 and Nellie 10, they are at home. His son Charles, 23, is married. Mr. James Lockwood, the Superintendent of "Hazelwood" defended his employer warmly. He could not believe that Furlong had threatened to shoot any reporters as had been printed in some papers. (Bristow) |
1930-08-19 | Crime | Thieves broke into Charles Miller's stand apparently on the night of the 19th. Chief Smith had a holiday on the 20th so he did not investigate until the 21st. Entrance had been gained by breaking a window in the front. The intruders gorged themselves on food and left, taking a supply of cigars, cigarettes, candy, and a broken pistol. Although Chief Smith interviewed several neighbors he was unable to turn up any clues. (Bristow) |
1940-08-19 | Health and Medicine | A dispute over the use of a spring near Franklin Turnpike between Sanitary Inspector Howard Cochran and Board of Education President Havilah M. Smith simmered over when Cochrane issued a sanitary code violation against Smith. At issue was a spring which Smith was supposed to be using to provide water for his tenants. Complaints had been made that people were washing their dogs in the spring. Cochran investigated and gave Smith a few days to correct the situation. When he did not do so and reportedly dared Cochrane to issue the summons the Sanitary Inspector obliged. The violation was to be heard in Recorder Frank Young's court on the 26th. While the Inspector was issuing the complaint his wife and son Bruce and Mrs. Edward Schneider and children Joyce and Bruce were visiting the World's Fair in Flushing Meadow. The case could not be heard on the 19th because Smith was out of town on vacation. (Bristow) |
1940-08-19 | Politics | For the first time the Mahwah Republican County Committee members chose officers for the Township. They met at the office of R. F. Dator, Township Clerk, and selected Dator as Chairman, Mrs. Agnes Estabrook, Vice-Chairman, Mrs. Mabel Petri, Secretary, and John J. Warhol Jr. as Treasurer. The Republicans were gearing up for this important presidential election year. (Bristow) |
1940-08-19 | Police | Recorder Frank J. Young declared the days of kerosene headlights dead in Mahwah. Two Nutley, NJ men were fined $5 and $2 costs for operating 1926 trucks at night with only kerosene lamps as warning lights. Police Chief Charles E. Smith signed the complaint. Fred C. Worth of the trucking company, who ordered the men to make the trip from his Newark branch to Newburgh, argued that the lamps were original equipment and that the vehicles had passed the State inspection. He said that he had been told by State authorities that he could operate the trucks at night if he did not go over twenty miles an hour. Young rejected the argument. He said that State regulations required headlights to be visible from a distance of 75 feet. Both sides agreed that they could not be seen past 40 feet. Young declared the transport vehicles a "menace". Chief Smith said he had come upon the trucks at 3:10 AM on the main highway through town (then called Route 2), seemingly without lights. The Nutley men pleaded not guilty, but paid the fines. (Bristow) |
1941-08-19 | Transportation | The Township Board received word that $4,500 had been allocated by the State to improve Miller Road. The major credit for obtaining the funds for the Township was given to State Senator Schroeder who had pursued the matter personally with Trenton. (Bristow) |
1949-08-19 | Agriculture | Mahwah was the site of a cow hunt lasting two days. It ended with the killing of the animal by Charles Morris. Martin Cook reported that one of his cows had escaped and might be dangerous to children. Cook had a herd at the dairy barn once owned by Albert Winter on Rt. 17. Sgt. Edmund Wickham patrolled the streets of Mahwah for two days, spurred on by reports from various citizens who had seen the beast. Police officials finally determined that she hid out in Ash's wood in Cragmere during the day, only venturing out at night to graze. Finally Wickham organized a posse consisting of Frank Dator at the wheel, he with a powerful light, and Morris with his rifle. A report that the cow had been seen near the corner of Miller and Alcott Roads led them to concentrate in that area. Finally they found her and were able to get close enough for Morris to finish her off with four shots from his 30 30. The cow was reported to be able to run like a deer and the police were afraid that she might attract a child. Some wondered if there wasn't some way to capture her peacefully. (Bristow) |
1951-08-19 | Business | Sales of Brake Shoe products for the first half of 1951 were the highest in the nearly 50 years the company had been operating, according to a report issued to stock holders by William B. Given Jr., the Chairman of the company. Net earnings were $3.7 million compared to $2.5 million for a comparable period in 1950. Shipments rose from $46.5 to $77.6 during the same period. As of June 30th unfilled orders stood at $60 million. (Bristow) |
1955-08-19 | Recreation | The rains of Hurricane Diane during the previous two days came too late to save the annual flower show of the Mahwah Garden Club. J. Frank Young, President, announced that the show had been cancelled because of the summer long drought. The municipal water restrictions had not permitted the proper watering of gardens, he stated, and recalled that the show had also been cancelled in 1953 for a similar reason. An informal show might be held at the regular meeting on September 8th, he announced. (Bristow) |
1903-08-20 | Agriculture | Sweet corn is very expensive this season. It is going for $2.50 per hundred ears. (Bristow) |
1909-08-20 | Education | Ground was broken for the new school house near Wyckoff. The contractor A. C. Banta has promised to work quickly. Meanwhile the old Campgaw School has been rented and will be used until the new school is ready. A teacher has been hired for the fall term. (Bristow) |
1921-08-20 | Recreation | The County Fair held by the Girls Sunshine Club of the Ramapo Reformed Church netted $62 for the Girls fund. Jeannie Wetherall, in a harlequin costume, acted as barker for the various attractions. The freaks tent attracted much attention to such people as Frances Edwards and Henrietta Winter. The Mystic Maze was presided over by Katherine Smith, Bertha White told gypsy fortunes, and Olive Valentine had charge of the "Art" exhibit. The most popular attraction of all was the three reeler "The Amazing Adventures of Annabelle Aggleheimer" which starred Emma Hopper, Alice Smith, Evelyn King, and Sara Cooley, under the direction of Miss Durant. This farce ended when a miniature Mahwah Fire Department engine arrived on the scene to quench the flames. All are to be congratulated on this wonderfully entertaining day. (Bristow) |
1934-08-20 | People | Mrs. Harold Schultz and her children Catherine, Richard, and Harold returned from a brief trip to Bermuda. They left on the 15th on the S. S. Queen of Bermuda and returned on the S. S. Monarch. On their return she reported that they had had splendid weather and that no one had suffered from seasickness. (Bristow) |
1941-08-20 | Business | The Brake Shoe President William R. Given Jr. announced a $1,000 reward for the arrest and conviction of those responsible for the sabotage at the Mahwah plant. The damage occurred on August 11th and consisted of sand being placed in the machinery of the power plant, and damage to the plant's locomotive, yard crane, and planer. In addition, numerous windows had been broken. The damage would have been more severe if it had not been discovered and the machinery started up. This was the first time in the history of the plant that any sabotage had ever taken place, company officials insisted. The company also said that all of the demands made by the International Moulders and Foundry Workers Union, which called the strike, had been met, except for the closed shop. They believed that they must protect the reluctance on the part of some loyal workers to join the Union. They promised to treat Union and non-Union workers impartially. They said they would exert every effort to assist state and federal authorities in finding those guilty of the sabotage. (Bristow) |
1946-08-20 | Education | A Board of Trustees for the Free Public Library was organized in accordance with the new state law. Frank B. Scherer, Chairman of the Township Committee, presided, as seven members were named and the certificate of incorporation signed. The law required that the Chief Executive of the town and the President of the School Board be members. The membership of the new Board, in addition to Scherer, consisted of Harold Homes, Superintendent of Schools, Annie Winter, chosen as President, Florence E. Cooper, Secretary, Gertrude S. Sockman, Secretary, and Trustees Inez S. Hollenbeck and Eleanor L. Miesse. The new Board adjourned until October awaiting approval from the State. The subject of a new building was to be their first priority, but it was feared labor and material shortages would delay the needed construction for some time. (Bristow) |
1962-08-20 | Police | Magistrate Anthony Meyer Jr. had a busy evening in Municipal Court. A Brooklyn man was fined $25 for careless driving. He was accused of having hit a couple from Morristown, PA when they attempted to cross Route 17 on foot. They testified that the driver had seemed to swerve toward rather than away from them. Two other men from New York were fined for being drunk and disorderly. They became abusive and had to be removed from a Short Line bus in Mahwah. (Bristow) |
1962-08-20 | Education | The annual problem of when and whether to expand the number of elementary classrooms in the Mahwah schools was considered again at the School Board meeting. The schools were three classrooms short at the time, and the school budget had been turned down twice during the preceding year. The shortage was expected to be six during 1966-67. The District had contracted to accept students from Allendale and Upper Saddle River until 1965 when the new regional High School was scheduled to open but these were high school students, mostly and the shortages were in elementary grades. The Board once more expressed its opposition to using some room at the High School for grade six, but at the time the High School was filled to capacity with the out-of-district students. The Planning Board had recommended the previous week that the Board look into purchasing property to the southwest of the High School for expansion purposes. It was expected that community growth would continue at a steady pace with no hints as to what part of town would experience the most growth. Extensive consideration of the problem, however, was prevented by the insistent questions from a group from Fardale who objected to waste in the contracting of the High School, the inefficient design of the campus-style school and demanded the extension of George Washington School instead of the use of the Fardale Fire House and the Conner House as classroom space. (Bristow) |
1962-08-20 | Education | The Board of Education revealed that they were still short two high school teachers as the schools were about to open for the coming year. In addition to listing the shortages of a Spanish and a Chemistry teacher, the Board approved the appointment of several new teachers. Among those was Egidio Caporale, named as a teacher of History and Physical Education. Caporale was a graduate of Butler University. He had three years of military service and had previously taught for one year in Avon, Indiana. (Bristow) |
1888-08-21 | Disasters | David H. Pulis had an accident near the Ramsey Depot. His wagon load of apples was overturned in a collision with another wagon. He complained that the road had been "rounded" so much that two wagons could not pass without hitting one another. (Bristow) |
1888-08-21 | Politics | The Democrats of Ramsey organized a Cleveland and Thurman Club. President Cleveland was involved in his second, unsuccessful, campaign for the presidency. The local club selected Albert Lydecker as President, F. Kimball, Vice-President, and Willard DeYoe as Secretary-Treasurer. The first two were also chosen as delegates to the Congressional Convention. E. Miller was chose to attend the League meeting at Trenton. The members of the Executive Committee were John J. May, Garret H. Winter, George Sutherland, Martin M. Henion, and John Hopper. (Bristow) |
1904-08-21 | Crime | An English horse thief, Thomas Jones, was arrested in the mountains back of Mahwah and committed to the jail in Hackensack. He was accused of stealing a horse and carriage from a man in Oakland. He is believed to be a member of a gang of horse thieves which has been operating for two years in North Jersey. (Bristow) |
1941-08-21 | Business | Maple Motors in Ridgewood offered some attractive used car buys. Prices ranged from $825 for a 1939 Pontiac 4 door sedan with radio and heater, and $795 for a 1940 Chrysler sports coupe, down to $45 for a 1934 Buick Victoria coupe, $40 for a 1934 Chrysler Business coupe, and $35 for a 1933 Pontiac four-door sedan. |
1941-08-21 | Agriculture | The local Acme Market's ad in the Ramsey Journal reflected the height of the produce season. Corn was 23 cents for a dozen ears, cantaloupes were 5 cents each, carrots were three bunches for 10 cents, and cucumbers and peppers were four for 10 cents. The feature of the week was watermelons at 25 cents each. Extra large ones were for 29 cents. Two large 18-oz. loaves of bread were 15 cents. (Bristow) |
1956-08-21 | Crime | A barefoot man wandered into the Ford Plant parking lot and began examining the employees' cars. When questioned he said he wanted a late model convertible, preferably a "nice Dodge". When plant guards interfered Patrick Maloney became annoyed. If someone would just get him a set of keys, he said, he would just drive out of town. He was arrested on a disorderly conduct charge and eventually sent to County Jail for psychiatric evaluation. He had refused a bus ticket back home and demanded he be taken to Flushing in the police car. (Bristow) |
1958-08-21 | Crime | A letter from Bergen County Prosecutor Guy W. Calissi praising the work of Mahwah Police Captain Edmund Wickham was read at the Township Committee meeting. Wickham was praised for his quick identification of a suspect who had robbed the Colonial Esso station on Route 17. This assisted the River Edge police in apprehending and indicting the same man for the murder of a service station owner in their community. (Bristow) |
1961-08-21 | Religion | A special congregational meeting of the Holy Cross Lutheran Church authorized the drawing of a master plan for future expansion of the church building. At the time church services were being held in a room which was used for classes in the church school. Additional classroom space was needed as well as a sanctuary. No definite plans were being made but a committee was authorized to make up a set of priorities to meet the congregation's future needs. (Bristow) |
1961-08-21 | Education | The Board of Education approved several personnel changes including the resignation of Robert Sawyer, a high school mathematics teacher who had received a bid from a professional football team in Canada. (Bristow) |
1908-08-22 | Transportation | A proposed ordinance over the signature of Township Clerk A. L. Clark gave notice of the intention to widen and straighten Franklin Turnpike from the residence of Peter G. Kemp (now the site of the Urban National Bank JWB) to that of James H. Carlough in Suffern. Some bends in the road are to be eliminated and the road widened to 50 feet. The ordinance comes up for a vote on September 19, 1908. (Bristow) |
1919-08-22 | Education | Mr. Schorr has resigned his position as Principal of the Mahwah Schools. Miss Greenman of Englewood has been appointed as his successor. (He became principal in Paterson but continued to live on Island Rd. in Mahwah). (Bristow) |
1924-08-22 | Politics | Nomination night in Allendale was made memorable by the selection of a woman, Martha J. Parkhurst, as fusion candidate for "Mayoress". After the selection of Republican candidates for county office the meeting was adjourned and thrown open to candidates from all parties for local office. Many of Allendale's new women voters hailed the nomination as a historic moment for the village. (You have to keep reading to find out if she got elected.) (Bristow) |
1934-08-22 | People | The first of a series of Civic Forums was held on the lawn of Mrs. Marian Booth Kelley, the prominent lecturer and civic leader. As promised, it lasted exactly one hour, beginning promptly at 10:30. She gave a brief but comprehensive review of the background of current American events, beginning with 1817, the date of her father's birth. She covered such topics as the impact of the railroad, the progress of science and industry, the employment of women and children in the factories, and the effect of war on the economy. Most of the prominent women in the community were in attendance. She was to continue for three additional weeks with more current topics. (Bristow) |
1941-08-22 | Education | The Mahwah Library announced that a number of books were new to their shelves. Among the more prominent ones were Douglas Miller's" You Can't Do Business with Hilter", and A. J. Cronin's "The Keys of the Kingdom". (Bristow) |
1949-08-22 | People | Mahwah's atomic scientist was transferred to Washington. Dr. James Beckerley, who lived on Beveridge Road in Cragmere was moved from his job as technical advisor to the Atomic Energy Commission in New York City to chief of the Demonstration Branch of the agency. Dr. Beckerley had come to Mahwah in 1945 to do research at the Brake Shoe metallurgical laboratory. He had received his doctorate from Stanford and had taught courses in nuclear physics at Columbia University from 1942 to 1945. He was named to the Atomic Energy Commission immediately after its formation. In his new job he was to be in charge of deterring what should be made public about atomic energy and what should remain secret. With his wife and his eight-year-old son, James, he planned to move from Mahwah on September 1st and live in Silver Springs, MD. (Bristow) |
1951-08-22 | Charity | Mahwah residents were urged to contribute good used clothing for war refugees in South Korea. Contributions could be left in the firehouses of Mahwah, Masonicus, Fardale, and West Mahwah as well as the homes of the Committee members and Scherer's Store. Clothing was to be in good condition but did not have to be laundered or cleaned. Shoes and hats were welcomed but straw hats were not desired, according to Chairman Steve Kudricks, because they are so hard to pack. (It is hard to picture South Koreans wearing straw hats. Were they still being worn in Mahwah as late as 1951?) (Bristow) |
1961-08-22 | Recreation | A feature of a beauty demonstration and fashion show at the Darlington Country Club was the latest hairdos demonstrated by Thomas Sancetta, "Mr. Tom" of La Boheme de Beaute in Ramsey. Receiving one of these creations was Mrs. Carmen Berra, the wife of the famous Yankees player Yogi Berra. (Bristow) |
1897-08-23 | People | The Widow Christie charged Ramsey Hotel owner August Schroeder with having included $30 in worn Confederate bills in his payment for some telephone poles. Mr. Schroeder pointed out that both he and she had counted the money and that she had given him a receipt in full for the purchase. (Bristow) |
1898-08-23 | Military | Three large train loads of colored troops passed through town on the Erie bound for Santiago de Cuba from Kansas. (Bristow) |
1917-08-23 | Military | The first list of those actually called up for service after preliminary review of their possible deferment included three Mahwah names: 310 Charles Banta 349 Hiram Curlee 573 G. R. Neumann (Bristow) |
1940-08-23 | Recreation | In preparation for the annual Mahwah Garden Club's Fair and Flower Show, a special class in flower arrangement was held at the chapel of the Reformed Church. The class was taught by Mrs. Arthur J. Biggs of Mahwah, a noted expert. She demonstrated a variety of arrangements to a large group of local gardeners. Mrs. Biggs once more volunteered to provide flowers and vases on the day of the show for anyone who wanted to enter the flower arranging competition. She annually served as judge in many local flower shows and had won several awards for her flowers at Madison Square Garden. At the last minute she could not appear and her place was taken by author and speaker Dorothy Biddle. A large group attended. (Bristow) |
1941-08-23 | People | The art studio of Frederick Trench Chapman on Maysenger Road was the scene of the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Chapman's daughter Suzanne to Eric D. Dodge of Airmount. The Rev. Hugh McCandless of Christ Church in Suffern performed the ceremony. The bride had studied sculpture at the Cranbrooke Academy in Detroit and the Art Students' League in New York City. Mr. Dodge, a graduate of William College, was in business in Hartford where the couple were to live. The bride was a descendent of the Very Rev. Richard Trench, one time Dean of Westminster in London and Anglican Bishop of Dublin and Major General Frederick Trench. (Bristow) |
1951-08-23 | Transportation | The Township engineer Frank E. Harley, in a letter, notified the Town Council that the much needed traffic light at the intersection of Route 17 and Ramapo Avenue would be installed "before the summer of 1952". The straight stretch of the much travelled route had been the scene of numerous accidents, some of them fatal. (Bristow) |
1953-08-23 | Transportation | The Township engineer, Frank E. Harley, in a letter, notified the Town Council that the much needed traffic light at the intersection of Route 17 and Ramapo Avenue would be installed "before the summer of 1952". The straight stretch of the much travelled route has been the scene of numerous accidents, some of them fatal. (Bristow) |
1956-08-23 | Crime | A vacant house belonging to the Immaculate Conception Church was set afire by an arsonist. When firemen arrived they found the garage ablaze and fires set in the cellar, the kitchen, and two upstairs bedrooms. They were able to carry out three burning mattresses and save the house but the garage was totally destroyed. This was the latest in a series of deliberately set fires, the latest also involving a vacant house belonging to the church. (Bristow) |
1956-08-23 | Police | The Mahwah Police Department was increased to twelve with the addition of two new patrolmen. Kasamir A. Sawicki and George Rossiter were appointed to six-month probationary status at annual salaries of $3,300 each. Both of the new patrolmen were veterans of World War II and attended Ramsey High School. Sawicki also attended the Immaculate Heart of Mary School. (Bristow) |
1958-08-23 | Recreation | The Masonicus Civic Association held their annual picnic in conjunction with the Masonicus Fire Department on the Civic Hall and Fire Department grounds. The affair was open to all Masonicus residents. William MacCall was named President of the group in their annual elections at their most recent meeting. (Bristow) |
1961-08-23 | Business | The Board of Adjustment rejected a request for a variance by the Automobile Transport Company. They had wished to convert a barn, just off Route 17, into a repair shop for their tractors and trailers. The Board said that the building, which belonged to Fred E. Wehren and had formerly been the site of the Mahwah Dairy, was in a zone restricted to offices and research laboratories, not industrial use. It was also 150 feet from a residential area and too near a school. Several local residents had appeared at the public hearing on the proposed variance complaining about the impact there would be on their homes. Louis Karpowich of Island Road said it would destroy the zoning law to put a junk shop in the middle of acre zoning. How could the Township attract office buildings and laboratories to their new industrial park if there was a repair shop in the middle of it, said B. J. Prober of Glasgow Terrance. (Bristow) |
1888-08-24 | People | W. A. Darling was reported in the Bergen County Democrat to be building the "most expensive house in the County" on his Darlington property. It was estimated to cost $100,000. The house was to be 100 feet long, made of pressed brick, and to have a Queen Anne style roof "now so popular throughout the country". The next week the Democrat apologized. It was not Mr. Darling who was building a new house, it was Mr. Havermeyer. The paper could not resist the temptation to take a few swipes at the sugar king, however. The building of a palatial house was one more evidence, the paper insisted, "that trusts have been robbing the people of this country out of millions of dollars yearly". The paper promised that Cleveland and "the Democracy" would "put a quietus on" Blaine and the Republicans in the fall election. (Bristow) |
1897-08-24 | Transportation | The Erie ran 49 special trains to the Buffalo Convention of the G. A. R. (Grand Army of the Republic) carrying 82,000 of the estimated 300,000 who attended. (Bristow) |
1911-08-24 | Education | The Township Board of Education has decided unofficially not to go ahead now with the new addition on the school since it would be too disruptive during the school year. (Bristow) |
1912-08-24 | Recreation | The annual picnic of the Mahwah Sunday School went by special trolley to East Side Park in Paterson. Especially attractive were the tennis courts for the older students and the merry-go-round for the younger ones. There were a number of athletic competitions. Some of the winners included: Ball throw: boys over 14, Luther Young, 62 yards. Girls over 14, Bessie Mabie, 31 yards. Girls under 14, Minnie Hopper, 23 yards. Luther Young also won the running broad jump (10 1/2 feet). Jessie Slavin won three events for boys under 14: running broad jump (8 feet), standing broad jump (5 1/2 feet), and 100 yard dash. The 440 yard dash was won by Louis Winter in 53 seconds. The expedition returned to Mahwah about 5:15. (Bristow) |
1913-08-24 | Sports | Tennis seems to be a consuming passion of the residents of Cragmere. The court near the water tower is in constant use and a new one is nearing completion near Lake Oweno. A tennis membership will cost a $3.00 initiation fee and $2.00 per season. (Bristow) |
1940-08-24 | People | The twentieth wedding anniversary of Mr. and Mrs. Frederick Huebner was celebrated by sixty guests at the couple's home on Valley Road. The terrace was decorated with Japanese lanterns but it was so cool that the party had to be moved inside. The Huebners married on August 24, 1920 in St. Mary's Church in Jamaica, Queens. They had moved to Mahwah in 1933 and operated the Ramapo Water Gardens, a popular tourist attraction because of its great variety of tropical fish. They used the occasion also to announce the engagement of their daughter Gloria Ann to Andrew Remo, the son of Mr. and Mrs. John Remo of Meadowbrook Ave. The prospective groom was a popular athlete at Ramsey High School, having won All-County mention in basketball for two years. No date was announced for the wedding. (Bristow) |
1941-08-24 | Military | The commander of the Third Naval District in New York announced that one of the fifty over-aged destroyers sent to England in the destroyers-for-bases agreement of September, 1940 had been renamed the "Ramsey". The former USS Meade was being used for convoy duty. Like all the destroyers, they had been given the names of British and American cities. Recently the first of these ships to be sunk, the former "Hopewell" renamed the "Bath" went down in the North Atlantic. It had been operated by a Norwegian crew. No information was given out as to the whereabouts of the "Ramsey". (Bristow) |
1946-08-24 | Disasters | The first child ever killed in a traffic accident since the incorporation of Ramsey in 1908 was Albert Kern, 12, who was killed instantly when the Jeep in which he was riding was struck by a northbound Greyhound bus at the intersection of Lake Street and Franklin Turnpike. He was riding into Ramsey to buy a birthday present for his uncle, the driver of the Jeep. The bus struck the Jeep on the left rear. The boy was thrown about thirty feet and struck his head on a utility pole, he died instantly. The bus driver was moving slowly, according to witnesses, and made every effort to avoid the collision although measurements showed that the right tire skidded about 85 feet before stopping. The driver of the Jeep, Otto Fund of Upper Saddle River, was treated for cuts and bruises about the head. (Bristow) |
1965-08-24 | Religion | A large number of the members of the Mahwah congregation began to attend the district convention of Jehovah's Witnesses at Yankee Stadium. According to August Russ, the presiding minister of the Mahwah group, 50,000 were expected to attend daily during the six day meeting. It was one of fifteen district meetings throughout the country. Russ said that the conference was to concentrate on the Bible. "The program is designed to show the Bible's place in the modern home and how the Bible can contribute to family happiness", he reported. (Bristow) |
1888-08-25 | Health and Medicine | An unidentified ten-year-old Suffern boy survived both the bite of a large Copperhead and the traditional remedy administered by helpful neighbors. The boy "came around all right" after a "good dose of apple whiskey...not withstanding the hue and cry of some of the people against the remedy used", reported the Bergen County Democrat. (Bristow) |
1897-08-25 | People | James Pullis of Campgaw severely injured himself while cutting brush. He hit his leg with the brush hook just below the knee cutting off a piece of bone and severing a ligament. He was moved to Paterson Hospital on September 1st by order of Dr. J. C. McCoy. He was operated on on October 13th to remove his knee cap but died 5 hours later. He leaves a wife and child. (Bristow) |
1908-08-25 | Crime | A wanted fugitive, William Monroe, was the object of an exciting chase after his escape from New York State. He was visiting the farm of his brother in Campgaw when Sheriff Becker of Orange County and two Under-Sheriffs approached the house. He was captured briefly in a cornfield near the house but broke away again and escaped into a big swamp. The officers pursued him for hours. Blood on the ground indicated that at least one of the many shots fired at him had found its mark, but his speed and endurance amazed his pursuers. They are confident of capturing him soon if his wounds do not prove fatal. He was described as a notorious "desperado" whose latest crime involved a barn burning in New Paltz, NY. (Bristow) |
1922-08-25 | Real Estate | The Mahwah Company sold lot #10 and half of lot 9, Block B map of Cragmere #531 to Thomas Wormald for $150.00. (Bristow) |
1949-08-25 | Business | In an ad in The Ramsey Journal visitors to the New York State Freedom train were urged to visit Busch's Clothes Shop on Chestnut Street, Suffern, next to the Post Office. The Freedom Train, copying the national Freedom Train of the year before, contained documents and moments of the heritage and government of New York State. It was open for visitors on the railroad siding at Chestnut Street next to the Post Office. Busch's promised "Freedom from high prices" in mens and boys clothing. (Bristow) |
1955-08-25 | Business | In an advertisement in The Ramsey Journal, the telephone company urged its subscribers to install extension phones. The convenience of extra phones only cost 75 cents per month or less, the ad pointed out. (Bristow) |
1955-08-25 | Government | The hiring of a special assessor to evaluate the Ford plant and other large businesses in town for tax purposes seemed an excellent opportunity to re-evaluate all properties in Mahwah according to John W. Leyden, and attorney and local resident. He told the Board that there were many inequities in the taxes. At a time when Ford would be paying a large share of total taxes, individual changes in property taxes would not be noticed. Mayor Charles Feldmann pointed out that a complete re-evaluation had taken place only four years earlier and the Council and the County authorities had been completely satisfied with the results. It was suggested that Mr. Layden meet with Mr. Krupinski, the previous assessor, before saddling the town with unnecessary expenses. (Bristow) |
1961-08-25 | Four young boys in Ramsey found a sick bird behind the Grand Union store on Main Street Ramsey and took it to Eleanor Dater, the author of the weekly column Nature Notes in The Ramsey Journal, with the question, what kind of a bird was it. Although Mrs. Dater first thought that the immature bird was a Virginia Rail she finally decided it was a Clapper Rail. There had been only one other time that this bird had ever been seen in Bergen County without an exact date. Frank McLaughlin of the New Jersey Audubon Society agreed with the identification of the bird but there was no way to explain how a bird which always lives in salt water marshes, and who did not seem to be old enough to fly by himself got so far inland. He was surviving by being force fed shrimp in salt water but the question of when to return the bird to the wild was complicated by the fact that open season on Rails opened on September 1st. (Bristow) | |
1961-08-25 | Recreation | The local movie goer could choose from Gary Cooper and Deborah Kerr in "The Naked Edge" at the Warner in Ridgewood, "Fanny" with Leslie Charon, Charles Boyer, and Maurice Chevalier at The Lafayette in Suffern, and Fred Astaire and Debbie Reynolds in "The Pleasure of His Company" in Ramsey. Only the Ramsey Cinema failed to advertise that they were air conditioned. (Bristow) |
1875-08-26 | Religion | Impressive ceremonies marked the laying of the cornerstone of the Ramsey Reformed Church. The new church was complete except for the stone so that the dedicatory services could be held simultaneously. The corner stone was filled with a Bible, various newspapers and coins, and a history of the establishment of the church. Since the new congregation had split off from the Mahwah Reformed Church with some bitterness, the Rev. George McGee of Mahwah was notable by his absence at the ceremony. (Bristow) |
1888-08-26 | People | When Isaac VanSciver was climbing into Senator Dater's wagon in Ramsey the horse moved suddenly, throwing him to the ground. He looked up into the Senator's face and commented "It is only done to try my faith. Hallelujah!" (Bristow) |
1910-08-26 | Transportation | The Township has lost its plea to prevent the Trolley Company from establishing grade crossings here. The Utility Commissioners ruled that at the point where the Trolley crosses Miller Road and again on Franklin Turnpike the car must come to a complete stop. The Trolleys must run as single cars, not in trains. (Bristow) |
1930-08-26 | Police | When Mrs. Szelegia of Brook Street complained to Chief Smith that one of her chickens was on Mike Romanish's property next door, the lawman suggested she go and ask for it back. (Bristow) |
1934-08-26 | Sports | The Darlington baseball team overwhelmed the nine from CCC Camp No. 48 9-1. "Left" Sutherland's pitching was so effective that the visitors had no base rummers through four innings. Finally they scored on a walk and an error, in the fifth. The Civilian Conservation Corps boys were part of the crew building camping shelters and other facilities in Bear Mountain and Harriman parks. (Bristow) |
1935-08-26 | Business | The Ramsey Delicatessen claimed to be the first local store to install a case for the display and sale of frozen foods products. The demand for the New Bird's Eye food products had so far exceeded demand that the new eight-foot case was obtained. It would keep the foods perfectly preserved at a temperature of 0 degrees, according to "the two Johns" who ran the popular store. (Bristow) |
1940-08-26 | Police | Nine Mahwah youths were reprimanded and fined $2 each court costs on charges of disorderly conduct by Recorder Frank Young. They had been congregating nightly in front of a chain store on Valley Road managed by Edward Bailey. Bailey finally summoned Chief Smith when the boys became boisterous and used offensive language to customers and passing motorists. Jack Reich, operator of a tavern next door tried to reason with the boys but got nowhere. The incident served to bring public attention to the lack of recreation facilities in the community. In a letter signed by "J. V. B." which appeared in that week's Ramsey Journal, the situation was a long standing one. If nothing can be done to provide "a place with a clean, wholesome environment" for such boys they will move on to further offenses, and perhaps reform school or state prison, the author maintained. If the churches and lodges cannot meet the need, he asserted, the community as a whole should create some sort of recreational program so that basically decent boys should not have to congregate on street corners. Recorder Young said that he sympathizes with the nine, all first offenders, but that local businessmen must be able to operate their establishments without crowds of people congregating outside their premises using loud and obscene language. (Bristow) |
1941-08-26 | Health and Medicine | Infantile paralysis, now called poliomyelitis or polio, struck locally for the first time in several epidemics. Anna Lobdell of Waldwick was diagnosed by Dr. Kalman Shase and taken to Bergen Pines after she complained of headaches and pain in the knees. The entire family, Mr. and Mrs. H. Humphrey of Waldwick Ave., and their children Howard and Kenneth were quarantined. A third son Charles Lobdell was expected back from camp at Delhi, NY on September 1st. Anna, who was to turn 13 in September, was to enter 8th grade that year. She had won first place in swimming the previous Saturday at the third annual Gala Day events. (Bristow) |
1951-08-26 | Transportation | A petition signed by 63 residents to change the name of Airmount Road to Joyce Kilmer Road was presented to the Township Council. The poet and war hero lived on Airmount Road for several years. The move to change the name was led by H. W. Mowery who cited the confusion of having two roads with similar names in the area. Residents of West Airmount vigorously opposed the change. They were led by Harry S. Ripley who complained of the confusion and expense of changing a well established name to another. The Ramsey Journal was informed authoritatively that Airmount east of the Turnpike would be changed to Kilmer and West Airmount would retain its traditional name. (Bristow) |
1955-08-26 | Transportation | The state of New Jersey acceded the request of Mayor Alexander Eichorn of Ramsey to erect barriers across the openings in the island on Route 17 between Lake Street and the traffic circle. In an action described as "colossal crust" by State officials, Ramsey police had cut off the island on their own after a fatal accident involving the use of one of those openings. The State Attorney General had ordered the barriers down, but after attending the Council Meeting on the 23rd the State Highway Department allowed them to go up again. Airmount Road was not to be cut off, but no left turn signs would be erected at that crossing. (Bristow) |
1956-08-26 | Disasters | A rear end collision involving two cars on Valley Road resulted in damage to the bumper and grille of one car, and the trunk and rear light of the other. Total damages were estimated at $25 for both cars. (Bristow) |
1888-08-27 | People | John Y. Dater Jr. was reported to have crushed two of his fingers in a printing press. The Bergen County Democrats called it a "Medocratic squeeze". (Bristow) |
1910-08-27 | Government | The Post Office moved to its new quarters in the Town Hall. It has for years been located at the train station. Henry B. Hagerman, who had acted as station agent as well as postmaster, resigned his station agent job to devote full time to has postal duties. A new station agent has been hired. (Bristow) |
1931-08-27 | Disasters | Two nearly identical one-car accidents took place within four days of each other at the same place. On the 23rd a car driven by a Brooklyn man skidded out of control at what the Mahwah Police identified as "Van Horn's Corner" on Mountain Road. Four passengers were treated at the hospital for lacerations and bruises to their right sides. On the 27th a car driven by a Chicago man skidded at the same place, only this time the car overturned. Two of his passengers received cuts to their right hands and legs. Mrs. Van Horn must have gotten very tired of having to report these accidents by her house. (Bristow) |
1940-08-27 | Charity | The local chapter of the Red Cross reached its quota in the war refugee gift drive, Mrs. Elliot Reid, the Chapter's general chairman, announced. In making the announcement she stated that great care was being taken to make sure that none of the gifts fall into the hands of the Nazis. She said that the agency would not distribute the gifts in any territory where they did not have complete freedom of action. She thanked the seventeen women who assisted in the drive. (Bristow) |
1941-08-27 | Business | The Brake Shoe sent a letter to all their striking employees stating that the only issue between the company and their employees was the demand for a closed shop. Recent reports that the Company had withdrawn their offer of a raise of 6 1/2 cents per hour were untrue, the letter stated. At the first bargaining session the Company had raised their offer of a raise to the level demanded by the Union. They had never withdrawn that offer. The letter stated that the decision as to whether to join the Union or not was an individual one. All employees would receive equal treatment, they insisted. (Bristow) |
1941-08-27 | Transportation | The Ramsey Town Board was urged to press Upper Saddle River authorities to permit the installation of a traffic light at Lake Street and Route 2, now Route 17. Councilman Baker complained that when traffic is heavy he had to go down to Allendale and use the light there to cross the highway. Councilman F. D. Haring said that the request for a light at the busy intersection had been held up by opposition from some Upper Saddle River residents. Mayor Gertzen was urged to get in touch with Upper Saddle River Mayor E. R. Tilley to work out the dispute. Councilman Baker stated that "if there is justification for a light at Allendale Avenue there certainly is for one at Lake Street". (Bristow) |
1951-08-27 | Disasters | William Nixon, 15, suffered a possible fracture of his leg from an accident involving a horse he was driving at the Blue Ridge Riding Academy. The young resident of Wyckoff Avenue, Fardale, was driving a horse and sulky around the oval at the Academy when the horse reared and threw his driver to the ground. The animal rushed onto Spring Valley Road at Forest Avenue where he crashed into the rear of a truck. The horse was killed instantly. Young Nixon was taken to the Hackensack Hospital by the Paramus Volunteer Ambulance. (Bristow) |
1955-08-27 | Transportation | One of the heaviest days in the history of traffic on Route 17 took place as vacationers headed north on one of the last Saturdays of the summer. The speed limit was cut to 25 between the Ramsey traffic circle and the Ramapo River by road construction. Traffic was sent north on the Franklin Turnpike, only to be sent back out on Route 17 at various points by Mahwah Police. Eventually a fire in Ramapo, N.Y. blocked off Route 59 completely. Mahwah requested that no more traffic be sent onto Franklin Turnpike. Traffic on Route 17 backed up as far as Route 4 in Paramus. (Bristow) |
1958-08-27 | Business | The largest grey iron casting ever poured at the Engineering Division of the Brake Shoe was shipped. It was destined to be the bed for a gantry-type skin mill in the Kearny and Trecker plant in Milwaukee Wisconsin. The casting was poured on August 15th. Cooling kept it in the plant until the day before it was shipped, by truck. According to Morris Ruddick, Plant Superintendent, it weighed 22 tons and was five' 7" wide and 2' 6" high. The new installation was a milling machine designed to be controlled automatically by previously prepared punched cards. (Bristow) |
1961-08-27 | Crime | Robert Jones of Franklin Lakes discovered where not to park his car in Mahwah overnight--in front of Robert Hulton's junk yard on Fairmont Avenue. When he returned in the morning he found his battery, radiator, radio, instrument gauges, two side view mirrors, and two fender skirts had been stripped from the car. Police valued the missing parts at $80. (Bristow) |
1781-08-28 | Military | Rochambeau met with General Washington at Hopper's. Some of the French army camped nearby. (Bristow) |
1920-08-28 | Recreation | The Mahwah Garden Club's annual Flower Show was held in Winter's Hall. J. A. Glasgow won a blue ribbon for exhibiting some of Mr. Havermeyer's prize-winning fantail pigeons. Other blue ribbons in this category were won by Donald Fay of Cragmere for two ring doves, and Mrs. O. H. Bruen, also of Cragmere, for a canary. Prizes for flowers were won by Mrs. G. M. Ball, Mrs. Cram, Mrs. Biggs, and Mrs. A. J. Ellis. County Demonstrator W. P. Stone judged the vegetable exhibits. Judged as having the best variety of vegetables were J. A. Biggs, first prize, and Mr. Havermeyer, second. Mrs. Biggs won for the best canned goods. (Bristow) |
1921-08-28 | Police | The lower Cragmere entrance on Mahwah Rd. is a favorite spot for the motorcycle policemen to lay in wait for speeders on the Turnpike. There, hidden among the shrubbery, they hide until a speeder passes. They then pursue him at full speed. The local youngsters enjoy the game. (Bristow) |
1924-08-28 | Recreation | Among the books recently added to the library shelves were two by Edith Wharton, "The Spark" and "New Year's Day", and several books of history, "Thayer's Life of George Washington", Marshall's "Seward's Folly", and Columbus' "Journal" of his discovery of America. Others included Forestine Hooker's "Little House in the Desert", not the Prairie. (Bristow) |
1924-08-28 | Business | The Rockland Electric Company advertised the Eureka Vacuum Cleaner. Among its advantages was that the housewife would no longer have to beat the mattresses. She could simply run the vacuum cleaner over it and clean it with fresh air. A call to Ramsey 22 would get you a demonstration in your home. (Bristow) |
1941-08-28 | People | Two large bridal showers were held on successive weekends in Mahwah. The bridesmaids of each bride-to-be were the hostesses. The affair for Lottie Zaleski was given in the school hall of the Immaculate Heart of Mary church. Mrs. Lucille Poplowaski, sisiter-in-law of the guest of honor Pauline Poplowaski gave the reception in her home on Valley Road. The brides must have received plenty of loot since newspaper reports indicated that there were 62 guests at the Poplowaski affair and 64 at the Zaleski party. |
1955-08-28 | Business | Strike against American Brake Shoe Company by Local 315 International Molders and Foundry Workers settled. Agreement ratified in meeting on August 28. (Bristow) |
1958-08-28 | Transportation | Information reaching the Township indicated that the route of the new highway, known only as RAI 104, had been determined. Rumors indicated that it might pass along Ridge Road through the site of the new High School and continue through Glasgow Terrace. Township Clerk Raymond Dator was instructed by the Board and Mayor Ruddick to arrange a meeting with State Highway officials to discuss the route. (Is RAI 104 now Interestate 287?) (Bristow) |
1958-08-28 | Transportation | Plans for widening and straightening Valley Road were discussed at the Township Board meeting. Township Engineer John Brumbaugh urged haste in order to get the estimated cost of about $120,000 onto the County budget for the year. Township Attorney John Warhol Jr. urged caution, however. He said the Board had to decide whether it was a special or a general improvement. A general improvement would involve no assessment to be made on property owners. Costs would be difficult to estimate said Committeeman Vincent F. Blefary because of the possibility of having to move some houses and tear up and replace front yards. Mayor Morris Ruddick said that cost should not be the only consideration since that dangerous stretch of road had cost ten lives in the preceding ten years. (Bristow) |
1874-08-29 | People | Mrs. Merritt has taken William Hopper to the altar. For some time he has been managing her affairs. The correspondent of the Bergen Democrats said that he had become so attached to the business that he had become a joint owner. (Mrs. Merritt operates a well-know tavern in Mahwah.) (Bristow) |
1888-08-29 | Business | The Ramapo Wheel and Foundry Company of Hillburn completed another new building. It was designed for storage and was located directly across from the depot. The reporter of the Bergen County Democrat said this was just another example of how the town was growing. New buildings were going up everywhere in what he called "the best kept village on the Erie Road". (Bristow) |
1899-08-29 | Disasters | Fire broke out in the servant's wing of the Miller homestead at about 9:15 PM. Some of the guests panicked, throwing their trunks out of the windows, barely missing Mr. Miller. When he went for the fire extinguishers they were missing and later found in a nearby orchard. When the big 3" firehose, supplied by a large reservoir on top of the hill, was turned on kinks in it caused it to burst. When a new hose was secured the pipes in the basement had already melted and there was no more pressure. Some furniture, mostly damaged, was saved, but the building was a total wreck. It had been built in 1874-5 by Col. Ezra Miller, inventor of the patent coupler and buffer used in most railroad cars today. There were 22 guests at the Inn when the fire began. It was insured for $32,000. He intends to rebuild. (Bristow) |
1910-08-29 | People | Mrs. Margaret Rudolph, the 75 year old mother of Mrs. John Van Horn, wandered away from the Van Horn home and has not been seen for several days. She was last seen by a little girl heading up the road in the opposite direction from which she usually walked just before 5:00. A continuous search has been mounted for several days. The Ramapo River was dragged and the mountain searched. The County detectives were brought into the case and an interpreter secured on the chance that she might have fallen into the hands of the Italians who live in the shanties back of the golf course and who might be holding her for ransom. Mrs. Van Horn has offered a $50 reward for information about her mother's whereabouts. (Bristow) |
1924-08-29 | Recreation | The Girl Scout Council announced that they had called off their scheduled swimming party at Havermeyer's because of fears of pollution of the river and the presence of what they described as "disorderly elements". (Bristow) |
1935-08-29 | Business | Among the ads for school clothes in the Ramsey Journal was one from Schoonmaker's in Paterson. They were offering wool knickers for $1.95, long trousers for $2.95, two knicker suits for $7.95, and "student suits" with long trousers for $12.50. Boys shoes were $2.95. (Bristow) |
1941-08-29 | Real Estate | A new five-room bungalow was nearing completion on Highland Road. It was to be offered for sale by the R. F. Dator Agency when it was finished. There were no house numbers in use at the time so it is difficult to know just which house this was. (Bristow) |
1949-08-29 | Government | The final negotiations for the sale of the Mahwah Water Company by the Township were declared to be almost complete. The terms of the franchise agreement reached in 1929 assured the Township of the opportunity of buying the privately owned system if the Winter family chose to sell. The Town was given three months to make up its mind in the matter. Mrs. Annie Winter wrote to the Town Board on January 5, 1949 stating her intention to sell. The Board held an emergency meeting the next night to consider what to do. Eventually Mrs. Winter, through her attorney Edgar A. DeYoe of Ramsey, set a price of $130,000 on the company. The Township did not meet the three month deadline since many, who had their own wells did not wish to subsidize those who did not. They had the company assessed and continued talks through their attorney John Warhol Jr. to purchase the company, scheduled for the near future. (The Bond Issue to purchase the Company was not held until January, 1950. It passed 763-223.) (Bristow) |
1956-08-29 | Disasters | At Magistrate's court, charges of reckless driving were dismissed against two motorists who were involved in an accident when they failed to see a construction barrier and smashed into each other. The judge said that since the accident had taken place during the height of the recent storm, the real culprit was Hurricane Diane. (Bristow) |
1961-08-29 | People | After nearly forty years with the company, Frederick A. Blanpied of Marion Drive, Mahwah, retired from Bell Laboratories in Wharton. He had served as assistant to the director of military systems in the research branch of the utility company. Blanpied was a graduate of Dartmouth College and a veteran of both World Wars. During World War I he took part in six major campaigns. He received a special Commendation Award for performance of duty in the Second World War. He was active in many organizations, especially in his former home in Ridgewood where he had been the first President of the PTA. He was on the Board of the Sons of the Revolution in Paramus, Treasurer of the Rockland County Gem and Mineral Society, and in several aviation societies, including the exclusive 100,000 mile club. In Mahwah he was very visible as the Chairman of the Mayor's Flood Control Committee. His son David was a doctor on the faculty of Cornell University and his daughter was married to a physician in Philadelphia. His wife, Evelyn was a talented artist. There were five grandchildren. (Bristow) |
1875-08-30 | Sports | The Darlington baseball team entertained the visiting Continentals from New York City on the Capotoline grounds. The result was a rout with Darlington on the long end of a 17-1 score. Nothing was said in the accounts to who the umpire was. James Stanley was hit by a foul ball and severely injured. (Bristow) |
1875-08-30 | People | Two clerks from the "upper store" in Ramsey attended the "pic-nic" held at Ackerman's Lake in Fardale and overstayed their leave, making merry. John remained well into the night and Gerry did not return for two days. Both were fired, although Gerry was taken back on promise of future good behavior. (Bristow) |
1909-08-30 | Government | The value of the Erie Railroad property in Mahwah has been established as $1,864 by the State Board of Assessors. Ramsey's was set at $6,700. (Bristow) |
1921-08-30 | Government | For the first time in the County and the State women have been drawn for the September sessions of the Grand and Petit juries. Of the 35 drawn for the Grand Jury, 23 of which will serve, three were from Mahwah. Mrs. Elmer J. Snow, Mrs.Edwin C. Lane, and Mrs Hermenia Hotchkiss. The other women were also drawn, Mrs. Julia M. Sidman from Ridgefield Park, and Dorothy Scarborough from Englewood. About one-third of the 100 Petit jurors drawn are women, none from Mahwah. (Bristow) |
1934-08-30 | Government | A suggestion in the Ramsey Journal that Ramsey needed a public library brought a spate of angry letters to the editor of that newspaper. "I. M. Bored" suggested that the lady who had written the original letter should confine herself to bedtime stories and fiction. "J. B. H." saw the suggestion that the Mayor and Council vote some money from the budget to help the library "taxation without representation". The writer went on to point out that with newspapers and magazines "there seems to be so little need of a public library, and the extra expense to be saddled upon our over-taxed people". He praised the Mayor and Council for "keeping this injustice from the ballot". (Bristow) |
1934-08-30 | Recreation | Bridge was still the rage in Mahwah. Even in the heat of summer the weekly "Briefs" column reported seven bridge parties in town, three of them to benefit the benevolent fund of the Mahwah Woman's Club. Considering the number of house guests reported here it is a fairly safe assumption that there were many more such parties not reported in the paper. (Bristow) |
1941-08-30 | Health and Medicine | A number of local events were cancelled because of the epidemic of infantile paralysis. The School Board postponed the opening of school until September 15th. The Mahwah Garden Club cancelled their annual Fair and Flower Show. Dr. Joseph R. Morrow, Superintendent of Bergen Pines Hospital urged that parents keep their children away from large gatherings until the epidemic subsided. The Reformed Church cancelled services and their Sunday School would not meet until the schools opened, church officials announced. (Bristow) |
1949-08-30 | Sports | Four members of the Ramsey Civil Air Patrol who are members of New Jersey State Drill Team competed in Toronto, Canada against teams from Canada and Great Britain. The New Jersey group had recently won the national championship. Team members Barry DeVries and Leroy Van were from Ramsey, Alfred Ivany was from Allendale, and John Apgar was from Mahwah. Unfortunately they lost by two points in the Toronto International competition. (Bristow) |
1958-08-30 | People | Margie Blum of Teaneck was chosen Darlington Country Club Summer Queen. She was crowned by the 1957 Queen Diane Findlay of Mahwah in a ceremony at the Club. (Bristow) |
1813-08-31 | People | Andrew Hopper, revolutionary militiaman, died, aged 67. (Bristow) |
1888-08-31 | Recreation | The Bergen County Democrats reported from Suffern that "Our Town Clerk" had been fishing in Ramapo Lake and had come back with "some of the finest pickerel that has been seen in some time". Was Esler Sherwood still Town Clerk in 1888? (Bristow) |
1912-08-31 | Real Estate | 53 local citizens sign petition to accept the Winter offer of money for the new park near the station. (Bristow) |
1934-08-31 | People | Miss Grace Elliot returned from a Caribbean cruise much impressed by what she had seen. She and two friends from Long Island sailed on August 18th. They stopped at St. Thomas in the Virgin Islands, Curacao, Port au Prince Haiti, and a place called, in the newspaper account, "La Guayas" where they took a delightful train trip to the interior capital of "Caracero, Ven.", before returning to New York. Assuming the "Ven." means Venezuela the only thing I can figure is that they landed at La Guatra and went by train to Caracas. Perhaps a reader can come up with a better suggestion. (Bristow) |
1935-08-31 | Recreation | The North Bergen Council of the Boy Scouts opened a special three-week jamboree at Camp No-Be-Bo-Sco. Council Executive L. P. McDonough announced that the program was specially prepared for those Scouts who had been chosen for the National Jamboree in Washington. The Washington program had been cancelled by President Franklin Roosevelt because of the spread of infantile paralysis (polio) to the states of Maryland and Virginia. A feature of the local program was a canoe trip down the Delaware River from Dingman's Ferry to Trenton visiting sites of historic interest. Bus trips would be made to Pennsylvania coal mines, steel mills, power plants, and colleges. A string of horses had been obtained for the boys' use. The original theme of the Jamboree, the celebration of the 25th anniversary of the founding of the Boy Scouts of America, would be retained. (Bristow) |
1940-08-31 | Military | A reunion of war-time buddies drew Mr. and Mrs. Donald Parker to New York City. The World War I veterans spent three days in the City. The reunion was longer than usual because the group spent a day at the New York World's Fair and took part in a veterans parade at the exhibition. (Bristow) |
1949-08-31 | People | Lois Schweizer of 38 Maysenger Rd. departed for freshman orientation at Fairleigh Dickinson College. She received a $200 scholarship to help her in the study of Merchandising and Fashion Design. At Ramsey High School she was listed as having belonged to almost every club on campus from the Etiquette Club and the Biology Club to the Yearbook Staff and the Student Council. She was Chairman of the Junior Prom Committee and participated in the Junior and Senior plays and the Glee Club. She had recently appeared on the "Junior Town Meeting of the Air" over radio station WAAT. She gave a prepared talk on what to expect in the Far East, answering questions from the audience. With all of these activities she still managed to be on the Honor Roll scholastically, and be active in the Girl Scouts and church youth activities. Perhaps she went to college for a rest. (Bristow) |
1950-08-31 | People | An elderly widow died in the Good Samaritan Hospital after a fall on the stairs of her home at 179 Island Rd. Mrs. Virginia T. Boardman was found by a longtime friend, unconscious. He called the police. Chief Smith summoned Dr. Beers who diagnosed that she had a fractured skull from hitting her head on a ladder. The Mahwah ambulance took the 86-year-old woman to the Hospital but she died shortly after being admitted. Her family was called but funeral arrangements were not announced. (Bristow) |
1955-08-31 | Transportation | The Erie Railroad announced a three point program designed to end the "Midnight Serenade" of switching noises at the Ford plant spur. They would train their crew to handle freight cars more gently, and provide more supervision, they will reduce the grade of the spur from one of .3 to one of .015, and they would build more tracks so that all traffic would not be concentrated on the few lines thus requiring more switching. Local residents who had been complaining of lack of sleep because of the din said they would be convinced when the noise actually abated. The Erie officials estimated that the changes would take several months. (Bristow) |
1961-08-31 | Disasters | A bovine tragedy took place near Sam Braen's sand pit along the tracks of the Erie-Lackawana Railroad. A cow fell off a slow moving freight train and was killed. There was no explanation as to how she had fallen out of the cattle car. (Bristow) |
1924-09-01 | Recreation | The local movie houses featured a variety of prominent stars. The Opera House in Ridgewood celebrated its grand re-opening with Norma Talmadge in Secrets. The Lyceum in Paterson offered Why Men Leave and the Lafayette in Suffern had Lillian Gish in The White Sister, "pictorially the most beautiful film ever made" starring the greatest actress in the history of the screen. The Lafayette's prices were 25 and 35 cents for matinees and 50 cents for evening performances. (Bristow) |
1948-09-02 | Education | The contract was signed by the Library Board for the construction of the new Library Building. Since the formal organization of the Library in 1920, the facility had used quarters in the Henrietta Building. $40,000 was left in the will of the late Albert Winter for the new library. It was designed by architect Lawrence Moore of Englewood and the voters of the Township has accepted the bequest by ballot in November 1947. It had the latest facilities including radiant heating in the floors. Furniture and equipment were to be supplied by the Remington Rand Library Board as a memorial to Mrs. Dorothy McCready who served for many years on the Library Board. Official dedication services were held on December 17, 1949. (Bristow) |
1901-09-03 | Real Estate | There is a rumor that has appeared in a number of local newspapers that the California millionaire George Crocker will buy the Darling Farm which he has visited several times. He has been quoted as saying that he will demolish all of the buildings and construct a mansion on the hill. (Bristow) |
1916-09-04 | Police | The Labor Day traffic on Franklin Turnpike was the heaviest it has ever been. The State Inspectors reported that 121 cars passed Miller Road all going in the same direction in nine minutes. Acting under State orders, Chief Vehicle Inspector Johnson and ten Inspectors assisted by the Mahwah Constables and Inspector Stagg, arrested nearly 100 violators between the hours of 7pm to 10pm for speeding and having glaring headlights. The offenders were brought in bunches before Judge Rodgers and fined $25 for speeding and $5 for other offences. (Bristow) |
1961-09-07 | Education | Schools opened again in Mahwah with an estimated total enrollment of 1.645 pupils, in increase of nearly 100 over the previous year. 885 students were expected in the Junior-Senior High School; 403 in Commodore Perry, 257 in Betsy Ross and 100 in George Washington and its annex in the Fardale Firehouse. The remaining 537 pupils would be attending parochial schools. Thirty-five in the Holy Cross Lutheran Church School, 320 in the Immaculate Conception School and 192 in the Immaculate Heart of Mary School. (Bristow) |
1985-09-08 | Religion | Dr. Norman Vincent Peale spoke before an audience of 300 people as a part of the Ramapo Reformed Church's 200th anniversary celebrations. Bi-Centennial chairman Howard McPherson arranged Peale's visit through their mutual membership in the Rotary Club. He praised the courage of the pioneers who founded this country. "Think of the courage of those early settlers. They left their communities back in Europe to go to an unknown area. How seasick they must have been in those small ships. And once they were here, they found those enormous trees. They were so tall and thick that a squirrel could leave the New York area and never had to touch the ground until he came to the Mississippi River. Peale also reiterated his "Power of Positive Thinking" theme of his famous books. (Bristow) |
1918-09-09 | Crime | Mrs. B.F. Lord, Mrs. Brown and Mrs. Powell of the Cragmere section of Mahwah were arraigned before Justice Bratt in Hackensack on a charge of slander. They were alleged to be members of a clique who continually harassed a Mrs. Gory. On June 20th they were alleged to have made scurrilous remarks as they passed the Gory house. She pressed charges against them. Judge Bratt dismissed the charges for insufficient evidence. (Bristow) |
1949-09-10 | Recreation | Mahwah Township celebrates its 100th Birthday with a parade, a block dance, a country fair, an air show and a fireworks display. F. W. Dator was the Chairman of the Centennial Committee. (Bristow) |
1907-09-11 | Education | At the Township Board of Education meeting a general discussion was had regarding the conditions at the Darlington School and the need for another teacher. There are presently 56 pupils enrolled and only one teacher. No action was taken and the subject was put off for one week. The matter was still under discussion in November with 58 students enrolled and 33 subjects to teach. The teacher said that all he could do was to hear lessons. (Bristow) |
1902-09-12 | Real Estate | The George Crocker residence in Darlington is lighted with over 100 electric lights in the house and several on the lawn. Lights have also been installed in the superintendent's house, the kennel, the dairy barn, chicken house and the stables. (Bristow) |
1985-09-12 | Government | At the Town Council meeting, Elise Baranowski of the Bergen County Office of Cultural and Historic Affairs marked the completion of the County survey of Historic Sites by giving a slide program featuring some of the 140 sites in Mahwah. She presented copies of the two volume Historic Sites Survey to the Mayor, Frank Kraus, the Mahwah Library and the Mahwah Historic Sites Committee. Janet Brown, Mahwah's Town Historian, presented Miss Baranowski with a copy of the Town's history. (Bristow) |
1791-09-13 | Transportation | Land for the construction of the "Dutch Reformed Church at Ramapock" was purchased by the minister, elders and deacons from the General Proprietors of Eastern New Jersey for the sum of 5 shillings. (Bristow) |
1934-09-13 | Crime | Mahwah Police Chief Smith attended a special meeting of the Police Chief's Association at the County Court House in Hackensack. County Prosecutor Breslin called the meeting to set up a special system of alarms to protect local banks against robbery. The wave of bank robberies throughout the country brought about by the Depression made special measures necessary. Alarms were to be set up with links to local Police Headquarters in each locality. It was hoped that the new system would make Bergen County an unhealthy place for potential bank robbers. (Bristow) |
1950-09-13 | People | One of Mahwah's best known citizens was buried. James A. Glasgow Sr. had died at the Good Samaritan Hospital on September 10th after a brief illness. He was born in Scotland in 1877 and had lived in Mahwah for 55 years. He was an internationally known raiser of show pigeons. He had served for 20 years on the Board of Education and was a former Township Committeeman and a Police Commissioner. Services were held at the W.A. Carlough Funeral Home in Ramsey by the Rev. Sloan Howard of the Reformed Church. Internment was in the family plot in the Mahwah Cemetery. He is survived by three sons, James A. Glasgow Jr., John Glasgow, Robert Glasgow and a daughter Mrs. Elizabeth Lewis, all of Mahwah, eight grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.(Bristow) |
1911-09-14 | Transportation | James Ward in his Curtis bi-plane flew over Mahwah along the Erie railroad tracks. He is attempting to be the first person to fly from coast to coast by plane. William Randolph Hearst of the New York American newspaper has offered a prize $50,000 to the first person to fly ocean-to-ocean within 30 days. Ward left New York September 13th, but he got lost and spent the night in Paterson after flying 100 miles. This morning he flew over Ramsey and Mahwah at about 9:35am. He landed at Sloatsburg to make a minor adjustment and ended in Calicoon, Penn. after a flight today of 135 miles. Another plane is suppose to leave for California and pass over Mahwah on the 16th or on the 17th. If this happens, the Ramsey Fire Bell will be rung. When Ward passed over Mahwah, the school children were let out and all businesses ceased as everyone came out of their homes to watch. (Bristow) |
1915-09-14 | Religion | Permission was given by the Bishop of the Diocese of Newark for the building of a Catholic Church in West Mahwah. The Immaculate Heart of Mary Church was completed in 1916. (Bristow) |
1874-09-15 | Disasters | John Doremus's barn burned down to the ground in Masonicus while the family was in Paterson. He has lost all of his hay, wagons, harness and farm tools as well as a litter of seven young pigs. It is suspected that the fire was set by a tramp. (Bristow) |
1875-09-15 | Food and Drink | A picnic at the Hopkins and Dickinson factory in Darlington was reported to have been a small affair except for the generous supply of beer provided. Quite a number of workers became very drunk. Some took off their clothes and one was said to have been so far gone on lager that he jumped into the stream to dry himself off. Things quieted down in the evening and dancing continued until very late. The next day, several workers were dismissed because of their riotous behavior at the picnic. (Bristow) |
1959-09-15 | People | The Bergen County Board of Freeholders passed a resolution to establish police and fire training schools in Mahwah. (Bristow) |
1902-09-16 | Education | School did not open in Masonicus when it was discovered that the teacher, Rosabelle Meyers, had died in August. A new teacher is being sought. (Bristow) |
1934-09-16 | Transportation | A Mahwah youth, William Kulawczyk 19, had his foot badly crushed under an Erie Railroad freight train in Suffern. According to the story told by the victim and his companion John Krupinski, Kulawczyk was impatient at the time a slow moving train was passing and attempted to crawl across the coupling between two cars. He fell and his foot was run over by the wheels of the freight car. He was taken across the street to the Good Samaritan Hospital where his condition was critical for a time because of the loss of blood and shock. Dr. Royal Sengstacken, who operated on his foot, feared that he would have to amputate to save the young man's life, but he was able to save it by removing a few small bones. He said that he would probably never recover the full use of his foot. (Bristow) |
1943-09-16 | People | Andrew H. Hagerman was found dead in his home on Railroad Avenue. He had apparently taken his own life since he was found in the kitchen and all of the gas jets were open. His wife had died suddenly on the 13th. Her funeral was scheduled for the afternoon of the day he died. He had been suffering from a nervous disorder for some time and had decided to enter a sanitarium after his wife's funeral scheduled for that afternoon. There were no surviving relatives. (Bristow) |
1901-09-17 | Recreation | King Muscovite, George Crocker's bay stallion, received first prize at the HoHoKus races this week for his 2:14 trial over four other high-class competitors. Crocker also won in another class with Darlington and Mrs. Crocker's pair of chestnut geldings. Caster and Pollux won over a fine pair from New York. (Bristow) |
1911-09-17 | Transportation | Another airplane passed over Mahwah following the Erie railroad tracks. Hundreds waited to hear the Ramsey fire bell all afternoon. It finally rang shortly after 5pm. Navy officer Galbraith P. Rogers passed over Ramsey at 5:13pm in his large Wright bi-plane at about 2,000 feet. This was not as exciting as Ward who flew by three days ago much lower so that be could be seen clearly. Rogers had left Sheepshead Park at 4pm and flew without incident until he landed at dusk at 6:25pm at Middletown, NY. On Monday he crashed as he took off and had to repair his craft. Ward has been held up by engine trouble at Corning, NY, but he still has a comfortable lead over Rogers. Both are participating in a prize race for a $50,000 prize offered by William Randolph Hearst for the first person to fly across the country in 30 days. Rogers eventually won, arriving in Los Angeles on November 6th where he was mobbed by a large crowd. He still has 20 miles to go. He will land on the beach so that he can complete the ocean-to-ocean journey. He traveled 4,111 miles in 4,846 minutes actual flying time. At one time he held a broken connecting rod together with his hand while flying with his other hand. (Bristow) |
1915-09-18 | Fire Department | The Mahwah Fire Department acquires its first piece of apparatus. (Bristow) |
1934-09-18 | Crime | A jury of six men and six women deliberated for thirty minutes before bringing in a guilt verdict against Warren A. Ackerman for embezzling Mahwah Township funds in his capacity as Tax Collector. He is to return on October first for sentencing before Judge J. Wallace Leydes. He faces a maximum of seven years in prison for the offense. He was the tenth tax collector to be charged in Bergen County within the past few months. Prosecutor Breslin ridiculed Ackerman's defense that he knew nothing about the shortages in the accounts. Mrs. M. Ella Ackerman, his wife, testified that she personally put the receipts into the safe in their home. She could not account for the missing money except to suggest that it might have been stolen. Both denied taking the money, but the prosecutor, using the results of an intensive investigation of Ackerman's financial records, demonstrated that he maintained three bank accounts and deposited Township funds into the account into which he deposited his own salary checks. He could not believe that Ackerman, a banker for over thirty years, did not produce any cancelled checks or detailed financial records of his own money in his own defense. Ackerman received the verdict calmly, but his wife collapsed and had to be revived in the courtroom. The money had not been recovered at the time of the trial. (Bristow) |
1936-09-18 | Education | Enrollment at the Polish Catholic School on Island Road was reported to have reached ninety. The children were enjoying the new volleyball set that they bought with the money they had earned during the Spring. The Polish School Co-operator's Association is planning a benefit dance on the 26th with the proceeds going to the school fund. (Bristow) |
1901-09-19 | People | At 3:30 in the afternoon, the Church bell was rung out of respect for the funeral of President McKinley by an assassin at the Buffalo Exposition. Flags were hung at half-mast and many have displayed portraits of the late leader. (Bristow) |
1963-09-19 | Agriculture | The apple picking season was in full swing. One of the area's most interesting apple farms is that of D.J. Carlough & Son in Upper saddle River. It had been started in the 1830s by the grandfather of the owner and at this time covered 430 acres. About 25 to 30 percent of the crop each year was being exported, according to Clinton D. Carlough, the head of the company. He reported that England and Venezuela were major customers, but they also shipped to Bolivia, Peru, Panama and Puerto Rico in this hemisphere and Iceland, Ireland, Scotland, the Netherlands, Finland, Norway and Sweden in Europe. He reported that his family had farmed in the area before the first apple trees had been put in the ground in the early 1830s. One of the original trees was still alive, he said, but was not expected to last the year. The passing visitor might be confused to see the pickers putting their apples into Rupert beer cases. But Carlough said that when the brewery changed to cardboard cartons, he had bought more than 100,000 of the old wooden cases which proved to be ideal for apple picking. (Bristow) |
1900-09-20 | Transportation | Over two hundred people attended the harvest festival of the King's Daughters of Darlington held in the Darling Estate Carriage house. Over 50 oleander, spruce and cedar trees were included among the decorations. The floor was large enough to hold 12 sets and dancing continued until 3am. (Bristow) |
1934-09-20 | Police | The Township Treasurer, Harold E. Johnson, reported to the Township Committee that it had been necessary to purchase clothing, shoes and rubbers for a number of children from families on relief so that they could go to school. This was not a usual expense which the Township had assumed in the past so the heads of the families involved were told that they had to work to pay off the costs of the clothing involved. No details were revealed as to how this work obligation was to be fulfilled. |
1911-09-21 | Transportation | Robert J. Morgan, while walking home to Ramsey from his job at the American Brake Shoe Plant, was killed by a train. He generally walked the tracks in good weather rather than the road and had arrived at the Mahwah Station when he stepped out of the way of an east-bound express train and directly in front of a west-bound freight train. He died when his head struck the stone abutment of the road overpass. He leaves a wife and three children. He was recently elected Secretary of the Ramsey Republican Club. He and his wife were active in the work of the Presbyterian Church where the funeral was held on the 24th. He was 41 years old. The Brake Shoe Company paid all of his funeral expenses and established a liberal bank account in the name of his daughter Lillian Morgan. (Bristow) |
1923-09-21 | Government | The New Jersey State Court of Errors and Appeals turned down the project to dam the Ramapo River to provide water for Bayonne. The basis for the decision was errors in the process whereby the project was implemented. It is expected that before the application can be re-submitted, the State Legislature will pass a law preventing a single municipality from monopolizing a watershed which may be needed by a whole region. The suit was brought by property holders who would have had their lands flooded by the project. (Bristow) |
1943-09-22 | People | Among those inducted into the armed services was John Kenneth Lannsberry, who was a former Mahwah teacher. He came to Mahwah in 1937. He was acting principal of the mountain school for two years and taught seventh and eighth grades in School No. 2 (now Commodore Perry) until he resigned in 1942 to take a position in Hillsdale. While in Mahwah he created the School Safety Patrol, coached the basketball team and took an active role in community affairs. He was a graduate of Newark State Normal School and Rutgers. He was married and had a daughter at the time of his induction into the Coast Guard. |
1968-09-22 | Transportation | The 1871 Old Mahwah Railroad Station was dedicated as a museum by Governor Richard Hughes. |
1898-09-23 | Transportation | Harry Chester passed through Mahwah on his way to San Francisco on foot. He will be paid $500 if he reaches there by July 5, 1899. Part of the conditions of the wager were that he leave with only one cent in his pocket and promise not to steal or beg. He supports himself by doing slight-of-hand tricks. He must walk about 28 miles per day to reach his destination on time. He left New York City yesterday. (Bristow) |
1957-09-23 | Education | Contracts totaling $2,622,216 were awarded by the Mahwah School Board of Education for the construction of the new Junior-Senior High School on Ridge Road. Construction was to begin as soon as the various contractors posted performance bonds. The school was designed in the most modern style in a campus format and was scheduled to open in September 1958, although construction delays postponed the opening well into 1959. (Bristow) |
1967-09-23 | Real Estate | The fourth fire in the former Winter Home leaves the house in a totally ruined condition. It was left to the Township by Annie Winter under the stipulation that it never be torn down. |
1779-09-24 | Government | Brigadier General Woodford of the Virginia Division of the Continental Army camped at the Hopper House on Ramapo Valley Road. (Bristow) |
1875-09-24 | Crime | John Matthews announced that the person who took his wagon seat could have the cushion by calling at his house. He did not indicate what he intended to do with the thief if he actually did turn up. (Bristow) |
1938-09-24 | Transportation | A group of 141 young men take up residence at the new Walsh residence hall at the Immaculate Conception Seminary in Darlington. (Bristow) |
1916-09-25 | Education | Because of the Infantile Paralysis Epidemic, it was decided not to open the Township schools until September 25th. Although regular church services have been resumed, the Sunday School will remain closed until the regular school opens. When the schools did open, the attendance was down somewhat since on doctor's orders children were kept home because of some cases of diphtheria and scarlet fever. (Bristow) |
1900-09-26 | Real Estate | The electric lights were finally turned on at many places in the Township as the Rockland Electric Company of Hillburn completed this stage of the work. The Township located two of the seven lights provided free by the company in Mahwah; one at the Reformed Church and the other at the underground crossing of the railroad. The company stands ready to wire any house at low cost. (Bristow) |
1912-09-26 | Crime | Printed notices have been posted throughout the Cragmere development prohibiting mutilating trees, breaking fences and stealing fruit under penalty of the law. (Bristow) |
1937-09-26 | Religion | Over 15,000 people witnessed the laying of the cornerstone of the Christ the King Chapel and the new residence building at the Immaculate Conception Seminary in Darlington. Among the many church dignitaries present for the occasion was the Most Reverent Bishop Thomas Walsh of the Archdiocese of Newark and representatives of every parish in the district. In his sermon, the Most Reverent Thomas McGlaughlin, Auxiliary Bishop of the Diocese, said "The significance of this happy, memorable occasion must be sought in the purpose which these stately structures are to fulfill. They are to be the dwelling place for young men who are to become the priestly generation, worthy ministers of Jesus Christ who will every be present among them in the magnificent chapel being erected here in His honor". The new buildings, which would cost over $1,500,000 without furnishings, were expected to be ready for occupancy by August 1938. (Bristow) |
1959-09-26 | Fire Department | At the State Volunteer Firemen's Convention in Atlantic City, Bergen County Freeholder Peter W. Passuro announced that a county fire and police training school would be established in Mahwah. The old Henion farm consisting of 83 acres on Campgaw Road had been purchased by the county and construction would begin shortly of a 2.5 story building, fire pits, sprinkler systems, pumping docks. fire towers, a smoke house and other related equipment. He said that the site previously selected for the school proved to be inadequate. (Bristow) |
1904-09-27 | People | The committee to erect a monument to Dr. Albert S. Zabriskie has commissioned William Copeland Jr. of Suffern to build it. It will have a 20 foot long shaft on a five foot base. It was publicity announced that it would stand in the triangles at the junction of Lafayette and Washington Avenues in Suffern, but later information confirmed that it will be placed near his grave in the Mahwah Cemetery. Contributions are still being accepted by Andrew Winter in Mahwah for the $100 still needed. (Bristow) |
1920-09-28 | Politics | The primary election was the first opportunity for women to vote following the passage of the 19th amendment. Registration took place between September 14th and the 19th by house-to-house canvasing. It was not necessary to give one's exact age. They have been accepting "over 21" for the past two years. There will be two further registration dates before the general election in November; September 28th and October 12th. Over 60% of the votes in the primary election were cast by women, though not that many in Mahwah. (Bristow) |
1907-09-29 | Religion | A Catholic mission was begun in Mahwah for the benefit of the Polish workers at the Brake Shoe Plant. One of the buildings at the works was loaned for the services. About 400 people attended the morning and afternoon services and the religious motion pictures shown in the evening. The mission will be continued. The company has donated two lots to be used for the construction of a church building. Meanwhile a temporary one will be built there. (Bristow) |
1913-09-29 | Education | The Cragmere Association Library is now open on Monday, Thursday and Friday afternoons from 2pm to 5pm. (Bristow) |
1965-09-30 | Government | A special meeting of the Township Committee was held to award bids for the constructionof a dam at Winter's Pond. The contract was given to the Six Brothers Company for $14,629. Among the benefits expected from the project was a reduction in the flooding downstream. (Bristow) |
1965-09-30 | Government | The proposal that a postal sub-station be established in Fardale was supported by both parties. At a Democratic Party meeting in the Fardale Fire Department annex, Mrs. Janet Herlihy proposed a petition drive. Committeeman James Hackett, also a Democrat, offered to carry any letters and petitions directly to Democratic Senator Harrison A. Williams in Washington, D.C. The Republicans immediately supported the campaign. Committeeman John Brennan went even further to suggest a post office for Fardale. The Republican committeeman promised to write personal letters to New Jersey representatives backing the plan. The proposal was greeted with enthusiasm in Fardale but tempered with some skepticism considering that it was only a month before the Township elections. The situation called for some action since Fardale's mail might be routed through any of four neighboring post offices before delivery - Ramsey, Allendale, Wyckoff and Franklin Lakes. (Bristow) |
1872-10-01 | Real Estate | Colonel Ezra Miller bought 50 acres on the hill east of the train depot from John and Rhoda Mack. Born in Bergen County, he had gone west to Wisconsin where he served in the State Senate and patented the platform buffer and coupler in use in most railroads today. This made him a great deal of money. In 1871, he decided to return to Bergen County and brought the property for $8,800. (Bristow) |
1934-10-01 | Crime | Warren A. Ackerman was convicted of having embezzled $13,000 during his term as Collector of the Township's taxes. The two-day jury trial before Judge Leyden ended with a half-hour deliberation by the jury before the guilty verdict was returned. He was sentenced to 2.5 years to 7 years in State Prison beginning on October tenth. In making the sentence, Judge Leyden remarked that something must be wrong with a system which results in 15% of all the Collectors in Bergen County being convicted or under indictment for embezzlement. No date has yet been set for the trial of his wife. Mrs. Ackerman is accused of having stolen tax money from her husband. (Bristow) |
1871-10-02 | Transportation | The committee, chosen by "the residents of Mahwah and vicinity" of Andrew Winter, Abraham Banta and John Quackenbush, drew up the plans for the new train depot in Mahwah and contracted with John Wanamaker of Suffern to construct the new structure. The contract price was $1,140. (Bristow) |
1943-10-03 | People | Luther Young or Victor Young as he was known on the stage, began rehearsals for the national company of the musical "Oklahoma". He was known locally for his fine baritone voice and had appeared in several Broadway musicals. The company would appear in Washington D.C., Baltimore, Cleveland and would spend the winter in Chicago. He is the son of Mrs. Alice Young of Route 17 Mahwah. (Bristow) |
1904-10-04 | Education | The Mahwah Board of Education voted to offer to meet the $1,200 price for property for a new school in Mahwah. The plot is 311' x 260' and is on the corner of Ramapo Avenue and Island Road. across from the parsonage. The membership of the Ramapo Reformed Church must vote to approve the sale of their property as must the voters of the school district. The old school has been in disrepair for some time and the decision was made to build a new school rather than repair the old one. This school became the Mahwah School and then the Commodore Perry School. (Bristow) |
1930-10-04 | Transportation | Mahwah is to have its first traffic lights. The Bergen County Board of Freeholders approved lights to be installed at the intersections of Valley Road and Franklin Turnpike and Ramapo Avenue and Franklin Turnpike. Permission has been received from the State Traffic Commission and orders were given to purchase and install the devices. (Bristow) |
1948-10-04 | Government | Postmaster Walter Finch announced that mail delivery to individual houses will begin on Monday, October 4th. Thomas Wilson, a former member of the police department, will drive the truck while foot deliveries will be made by John Brennan and Francis Fuhrman. There will be a mail delivery in the morning and a parcel post delivery in the afternoon. (Bristow) |
1699-10-05 | People | Marriage of Petrus Bayard and Rachel Van Bolen who later ran the Indian trading post along the Ramapo River for Blandina Bayard. (Bristow) |
1925-10-05 | Real Estate | The Trustees of the Estate of the late Emerson McMillan can now proceed with foreclosure on the defaulted mortgage on the former McMillan properties in Darlington. The Darlington Golf and Country Club was in operation for less than a year when it filed for bankruptcy. A request on the part of the receivers for an extension of one month to pay the interest on the mortgage was denied by Vice-Chancellor Fielder. The McMillan Estate will now foreclose without the consent of the receivers, Judge Charles M. Egan and Motor Vehicle Commissioner Dill. (Bristow) |
1952-10-06 | People | At a dinner in his honor, Richard Valentine was given an award for completing 50 years of continuous service with the American Brake Shoe Company. He went to work for Brake Shoe on June 15, 1902 at the age of 14. After being with the company for 8 years, he was promoted in 1910 to the position of foreman of the core shop, a job which he has held ever since. He is a native of Darlington and now lives in his own house in Mahwah with his wife Matilda. He has a married son and two grandchildren. His colleagues in the core room presented him with a complete set of lawn furniture which he can enjoy while resting from his favorite hobby, gardening. In addition to his 50 year award, he was given a gift of his choice, several shares of stock in the company. (Bristow) |
1955-10-06 | Real Estate | Roy T. Hurley announces that Curtis-Wright was withdrawing its plan to build a $2 million dollar research center and office adjacent to the Fred Wehren property because of opposition from the Deerhaven property owners to the zoning changes needed. (Bristow) |
1893-10-07 | People | His Royal Highness, the Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria was a guest of Theodore Havermeyer at his estate in Darlington. He arrived in Mahwah in a special one parlor car train. He toured the model farm, ordered 700 shoots of American trees and shot many pheasants during his short stay. He was amazed at what he had seen at the Columbian Exhibition in Chicago. Since he was travelling in strict incognito, no presentations of local people to his Highness took place. (Bristow) |
1894-10-08 | People | David Syms, aged 80 died. Syms was a veteran of the Civil War. He had enjoyed good health almost to the end and had just harvested a large apple crop. He was an active member of the Ramapo Reformed Church. (Bristow) |
1888-10-09 | Real Estate | Theodore Havemeyer's Mountainside Farm was reported to be shipping 8 to 10 cans of milk daily to Tuxedo Park. Pierre Lorrilard'a community had only begun to be occupied two years earlier. Tiring of the excesses of Newport RI, he had sold his "cottage" - The Breakers - to the Vanderbilts in 1885 and had set about creating a simpler suburban community in Tuxedo Park. (Bristow) |
1908-10-09 | Real Estate | It was announced that the estate of Colonel Ezra Miller was sold to Mr. George M. Dunlop of Spring Valley. Over 140 acres will be developed as a residential park. The roads are being macadamized. The property is within 5 to 15 minutes walking time to the depot train station and convenient to the new trolley line from Suffern to Paterson. Plots of one-half acre and more will be offered for sale. The sloping property contains, among other assets, beautiful Lake Oweno and its surrounding lawns. (Bristow) |
1915-10-10 | Transportation | One person died and three were injured in an automobile accident between Mahwah and Ramsey on the Franklin Turnpike. Frank J. Bauer of Hackensack had just bought his new car the day before. He, his wife and Mr. and Mrs. Frank Fiedler, also of Hackensack, went out to try it out. Although Bauer was reputed to be a careful driver, he must have been travelling quite fast since his car slid 75 feet and turned over twice when the right wheels slipped off the paved center strip of the road. Both Bauers were thrown through the windshield. Mr. Bauer suffered severe head cuts and shock. Mrs. Bauer never regained consciousness and died about 15 minutes after being taken to the Good Samaritan Hospital. The Fiedlers suffered bruises and Mrs. Fiedler had a broken collarbone. Commissioner Dill is investigating the accident. (Bristow) |
1930-10-10 | People | Thomas A. Edison, the electrical inventor, accompanied by his wife and some friends, stopped in Mahwah in the course of a motor trip to observe the autumn foliage. The 83 year old West Orange, NJ resident stopped for lunch at the Silver Moon Tea Room. (Brostow) |
1949-10-10 | Fire Department | Work began on the Fardale Firehouse. The cinderblock and stucco structure will hold the company's fire equipment and provide space for meeting and recreation. An addition is planned which will include an auditorium and a kitchen. The work is expected to be completed in November. A great deal of work made this day possible. Not only has the company begun this construction, but they have bought and paid for the land and the fire equipment. There will be no debt or mortgage. (Bristow) |
1966-10-10 | Real Estate | At the Mahwah Historical Association meeting, Peter L. Murphy announced that the work of moving the Old Station to its new site would begin on Monday, the 10th. The Del Regno moving company of West Nyack, NY has accepted the contract. Further contributions are still needed for the extensive restoration that must begin as soon as the old station is in place. (Bristow) |
1954-10-11 | Education | Mr. Cyrus F. Tibbals, founder of the Action Committee and a member of the Board of Education, called for the building of a new school immediately. He said that the school population was growing at the rate of two classes per year and that the schools were filled to capacity already. The Township must make provisions for its growing population immediately. At present there are 217 Mahwah students attending Ramsey High. The minimum population of 400 to 500 students to have a successful high school will be reached in four years said School Board Attorney DeYoe. A Junior-Senior High School may be the answer, he said. (Bristow) |
1739-10-12 | Real Estate | A survey of the Mahwah area was made by Charles Clinton for the proposed Cheescocks Patent. Three families are currently living in the area. (Bristow) |
1931-10-12 | Education | The question of what to name the new school being built near the Cragmere lake is under discussion. A movement has been started to name it the Joyce Kilmer School in honor of the soldier-poet who wrote his famous poem "Trees" while living within two blocks of the new school. (Bristow) |
1957-10-12 | Education | Ground breaking ceremonies for the new Mahwah Junior-Senior High School were held at the Ridge Road site. Attending the ceremony were the architect, Warren G. Ashley, a representative of the major contractor, B.J. Lucarelli and members of the Good Schools Committee and others who were instrumental in achieving a high school for Mahwah. Wielding the shovel for the ground breaking was Klaus Fisher of the high school club and former officers of the club. Mayor Thomas J. Ackerman said that the Township was solidly behind the new school. School Board president Howard S. Avery also spoke. (Bristow) |
1860-10-13 | Food and Drink | At a meeting of the elders of the Ramapo Reformed Church with Pastor William Demarest in the chair, Judge David Christie was tried for intoxication on the highway between Mahwah and Hackensack. He denied that he was drunk, but witnesses, including John A. Winter, G. Hopper Van Horn and Garret Van Riper who accompanied him on the day in question, September 4th, testified as to his behavior and the Judge was declared guilty. He was "affectionately exhorted henceforth to refrain from the practice". (Bristow) |
1925-10-13 | Recreation | The Lafayette Theater in Suffern featured Harold Lloyd in The Freshman for its first showing in this region. Prices range from 25 cents to 35 cents for the matinee to 50 cents for all seats in the two evening performances. The theater has 700 seats, 400 of them reserved. It was advertised as his "greatest" film, one that "sweeps you off of your feet with enjoyment". (Bristow) |
1932-10-13 | Education | A large bronze copy of the Declaration of Independence has been presented to the new school in Cragmere (Betsy Ross) by Mr. and Mrs. Howard F. Holman. It has been installed in the main hall over the drinking fountain. A similar reproduction of Lincoln's Gettysburg Address is being bought by public subscription. (Bristow) |
1976-10-13 | Crime | The FBI arrests Edgar H. Smith in his Las Vegas hotel room for attempted rape and kidnapping. He had been released in 1971 after 14 years on Death Row for the 1957 murder of Victoria Zielinski in Fardale. (Bristow) |
1904-10-14 | Crime | Thomas Jones, the horse thief who was arrested in the back of Mahwah, was sentenced to 5 years in prison by Judge Zabriskie. Jones said that he had never been to jail before. (Bristow) |
1925-10-14 | Education | Alice Smith and Olive Valentine are taking courses in New York City. Miss Valentine is studying at the New York University at night and Miss Smith is taking a course in Interior Design. (Bristow) |
1935-10-14 | People | Elizabeth Glasgow, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. James A. Glasgow Sr. of Mahwah, was married to Ronald C. Lewis of Waldwick by the Rev. William E. Simpson at the Ramapo Reformed Church. After a motor trip though the south, the couple will live on Valley Road. (Bristow) |
1937-10-14 | Real Estate | An application for a liquor license was made for a tavern to be erected on the east side of the Ramsey traffic circle by Franklin Turnpike. This was announced as the first part of a large expansion program by the owners of the Swiss Chalet already located on the east side of the circle. Mr. Karl. H. Pfuhl, the proprietor of the Swiss Chalet, said that he was planning a whole series of buildings in the Swiss style, to be called "the Swiss Village, Inc." Most of the buildings, Pfuhl said, would be homes. The tavern was to be 44 feet by 66 feet. The contour of the ground at the site would create an unusual opportunity for this sort of Alpine architecture, he said. (Bristow) |
1958-10-14 | Business | Fred L. Wehren was elected President of the newly organized Mahwah Chamber of Commerce. The other officers were vice-presidents Charles Reinauer, George Hauck and Willard B. Rhodes. Grace Apgar is the Secretary, Laura Wanamaker is Assistant Secretary and Edwin Weaver is the Treasurer. At a dinner at the Mark restaurant, a standing vote of thanks was given to Morris E. Ruddick for his energy and foresight in being the major force in organizing the new group. One member from each business or profession in Mahwah can be a full member of the Chamber. Its purpose is to promote the commercial and industrial interests of the community. Associate members are those who have a business in the community, but do not live in Mahwah. (Bristow) |
1916-10-15 | Crime | Another visit to Franklin Turnpike by Chief Motor Vehicle Inspector Johnson and 8 of his men from Morristown resulted in fines to 14 motorists for glaring headlights. John E. Owens of NYC was fined $50 for going 40 miles per hour on the Turnpike. He has been convicted of a similar offense last year in New York City. Judge Rodgers said that the next offense would bring a jail sentence. Fred R. Thurherr, 18, of West New York, NJ was fined $25 for going 45 mph. Inspector Stagg lost his hat in running him down between Ramsey and Mahwah. He said that he had forgotten to look at his speedometer. (Bistrow) |
1918-10-15 | Disasters | The Spanish influenza has hit Mahwah hard. Over 100 cases have been reported in the American Brake Shoe and Foundry Company alone. All public meetings are to be banned in Ramsey by a proposed ordinance. (Bristow) |
1943-10-15 | Government | Today, October 15, 1943, is the last day that the Post Office will accept Christmas parcels for service men stationed overseas. (Bristow) |
1959-10-15 | Fire Department | A bitter verbal dispute along party lines broke out at the Township Committee meeting over plans to build an extension to the Miller Road fire house. The Republicans introduced a resolution to spend no more than $15,000 on a one bay addition to house the new fire truck. It was to have cut stone facing on two sides to harmonize with the existing fabric and cinder block on the south side to permit for an inexpensive future expansion. Democratic member Vincent F. Biefary complained that the original plan, which called for three bays was to cost $36,000, had been reduced and plans drawn up without even consulting the Democratic minority. He conceded that the building had to be expanded but abstained from voting because he had not seen the plans. Mayor Morris Ruddick claimed that the board had previously voted 3-2 to cut down on the original structure as being too expensive. These plans only reflected that vote. The first reading of the resolution eventually passed with four votes for it and one abstention. The other Democratic member, Mrs. Janet Herlihy, voted for the ordinance after she had inspected the plans. (Bristow) |
1959-10-15 | Recreation | At the Township Committee meeting the plan to create a recreational park at the corner of Airmount Road and East Mahwah Road moved a step further when a resolution was introduced to construct a dam and spillway on the property to create a skating pond. The resolution introduced my Mrs. Janet Herlihy was supported by Committeeman Bruce E. Sockman on the grounds that it would be a good conservation project. The resolution proposed to spend no more than $7,500 on the project which was to be just west of the Sam Braen Little League field. (Bristow) |
1894-10-16 | Religion | A sumptuous supper was served by the Christian Endeavor Society of the Ramapo Reformed Church. On a beautiful moonlight night, a large crowd sat down to a feast of roast chicken, baked ham, cold roast beef, sandwiches, chicken salad, baked beans, apple, pumpkin, custard and cream pies, fruit and coffee. The price as 35 cents but everyone agreed that it was worth a dollar. Among the Mahwah names in attendance were Banta, Winter, Van Horn, Hopper, Wanamaker, Sweet, Valentine, Peterson, Fraser, Dr. Zabriski and the Rev. King. (Bristow) |
1928-10-16 | Education | A new piano has been installed in the Mountain School in Stag Hill. It was donated by Mrs. Frambach of Orchard Street, Allendale. The School Board had it transported up to the school and the Women's Club contributed $5 to have it tuned. Mrs. Alice Adamson organized the donation. (Bristow) |
1933-10-16 | Fire Department | Quick action by Mahwah's two fire companies prevented a fire at the Immaculate Conception School in Darlington from burning the whole building and the church itself. The fire was discovered my Michael MCDarby who was returning home with his wife at about 11pm. He forced his way into the school and crawled on his hands and knees to the phone to send the alarm to the Fire Department. Both companies responded quickly and were able to contain the fire to one classroom and the boiler room directly beneath. The origin of the fire is uncertain. Father Charles saw nothing amiss when he locked up for the night. The firefighters were somewhat handicapped by the lack of smoke masks. John Brennan suffered the only casualty which was a cut from broken glass. (Bristow) |
1934-10-16 | Agriculture | The New Jersey Guernsey Breeders Association reports that a pure bred Guernsey cow belonging to Albert Winter has established a new record of production. The three-year old Benton's Babette produced 10,521 libs. of milk and 515.8 lbs. of fat in Class EE. She will be listed in the Advanced Register of the American Guernsey Cattle Club for her record. (Bristow) |
1966-10-16 | Religion | The Golden Anniversary of the Roman Catholic Church of the Immaculate Heart of Mary in West Mahwah was celebrated in a Jubilee Mass. The new Parish Rectory was also dedicated. The Most Rev. Martin W. Stanton, the Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Newark, celebrated the Mass and blessed the cornerstone of the rectory. A combined choir sang portions of the Mass in Latin, English and Polish. The Rev. Chester A. Wisniewski, the Director of the Don Bosco Technical High School in Paterson, in recalling the highlights of the 50 years, pointed out the great blessings which stemmed from this being the first church in America dedicated to the Immaculate Heart of Mary. A Jubilee dance was held on October 8th and the celebrations will end with a dinner on November 6th. (Bristow) |
1904-10-17 | People | A young man employed at the Crocker Farm had a serious accident with his bicycle. Mr. Vilinus lost control of his bike and hit a stone wall as he was coming down the steep hill from the new mansion toward the road. He cut his lip, knocked out some teeth and had his nose pushed to one side. Dr. Keifer calls the injuries very severe and painful. (Bristow) |
1917-10-17 | Crime | On Wednesday the deer season had it first fatality. David Holdrum of Darlington was hunting deer up near the McMillan Reservoir in Darlington. He fired at a noise near him, thinking it was a deer. Instead, he shot and killed William Marshall of Oakland. At the time he was arrested, it was thought that he was 18 years old. In fact he is 16. He has been released on $1,000 bail furnished by this employer Mrs. Charles Hohler. (Brostow) |
1960-10-17 | Education | The Mahwah Board of Education set as the total cost of the new high school the figure of $3,365,000. It was noted that this was slightly under the $3,563,000 authorized by the district referendum which authorized the purchase of the land, the construction of the buildings and the buying of furniture and equipment. (Bristow) |
1983-10-17 | Business | The ABEX Corporation (formerly the American Brake Shoe Company), announced that all operations at their Mahwah factory will cease on about January 1, 1984 (Bristow) |
1848-10-18 | Transportation | The Paterson and Ramapo Railroad opened its service to the State Line at Suffern on a single track line designed by John Allen for whom Allendale is later named. (Bristow) |
1913-10-18 | People | Mr. and Mrs. Newkirk held a house-warming for their new home on Oweno Road in Cragmere. Their guests surprised them with a lovely brass fireplace set. (Bristow) |
1933-10-18 | Transportation | The Capital Highway Budget proposals were announced. Included is $1,275,000 to complete Route 2 to the State line. The only remaining section unbuilt is the stretch from Ridgewood to Ramsey. $250,000 is allocated to acquisition of the right-of-way; $75,000 for the construction of bridges and viaducts and $950,000 for construction. These proposals must be approved by the Governor and the Legislature before a spade is turned. (Bristow) |
1934-10-18 | Religion | The Mahwah Township Committee voted unanimously to allow the Roman Catholic Diocese to establish a cemetery on their property on Darlington Road. A number of local residents protested that it would decrease the value of their property and asked for a postponement until a petition could be circulated. The representatives of the Diocese, including the Rev. Damjanovich of the Immaculate Conception Parish, said that other local cemeteries are filled and there should be a place where Catholics can fulfill the requirements of their faith as close to their homes as possible. The dead cannot be buried in the forest. They pointed out that they were not asking that the cemetery be removed from the tax rolls. (Bristow) |
1959-10-18 | People | Francis Cardinal Spellman officiated in the blessing and dedication of the new Cardinal Spellman Pavilion of the Good Samaritan Hospital in Suffern. The exterior and the corridors of the $1,500,000 east wing were blessed by the Cardinal and his procession. The guest speaker for the occasion was Congresswoman Katherine St. George. Charles L. Hulswit, the President of the Advisory Board, Dr. Julius Cohen, the President of the medical staff and Mayor James P. Rice of Suffern also spoke. While the Cardinal was placing a crucifix on one of the corridors of the hospital, a three car accident took place on Route 59 directly outside the building. Two of the victims were admitted to the hospital emergency room a few feet away from where the Cardinal had placed the crucifix in the building. (Bristow) |
1960-10-18 | Transportation | The Bergen County Board of Freeholders awarded a contract for the repair of the historic Cleveland Bridge in Mahwah. $6,374 was the winning bid from the firm of Hiller and Skoglun for strengthening the abutments, replacing the wooden deck and constructing sidewalks and approaches. The project had been requested by the members of the Deerhaven Association who feared that the bridge, built in 1888 and named for then President Grover Cleveland, was not strong enough to hold the heavy trucks carrying construction materials for new homes in the area. (Bristow) |
1912-10-19 | Disasters | A tragedy involving a little girl and a gun she did not know was loaded resulted in the death of a Mahwah man. Leon Hammer, a 22 year old man who worked for Albert Winter came home from work to find 11 year old Jennie Winter visiting in the Harris boarding house where Hammer lived and where Mrs. Harris, an invalid, is often helped by Jennie. As Hammer was washing up from work, he joked with Jennie as he often did. The subject of the gun came up and Hammer taunted her to shoot him. She picked it up, pointed it at him and it fired. He was killed instantly by a bullet in the chest. Jeannie ran home and told her mother what had happened. Although medical help was sought, Hammer was beyond help. He was said to be engaged to a Suffern girl. (Bristow) |
1915-10-19 | Politics | The Equal Suffrage Amendment to the New Jersey Constitution came up for a vote in New Jersey and was narrowly defeated by a vote of about 5,000. All counties in the state except Ocean County turned the amendment down. Locally Ridgewood was in favor by 100 votes, Glen Rock by 11, Waldwick by 34, Allendale by 18, Ramsey by 38 and Mahwah by 11. About 70% of the electorate voted. There was little organized opposition so supporters were surprised by the extant of their loss. (Bristow) |
1966-10-19 | Education | Mahwah High School's wrestling team won the District 6 state tournament at Ridgewood besting Ramsey 63 to 54. Winning crowns for the T-Birds were Jerry Buxbaum (123 pound class) Pete Williams (141) Jim Grosso (147) Mike Fowler (168) and Charlie Vagell (Heavyweight). Ramsey winners were Bruce Muti (115) and Bruce Zinsmeister (178) (Bristow) |
1915-10-20 | Religion | The new concrete sidewalk has now been completed from the train station to the Ramapo Reformed Church. Pedestrians along Ramapo Avenue no longer will have to walk in the mud. (Bristow) |
1932-10-20 | Transportation | At the Township Committee Meeting, strong protests were made to the refusal of the State to eliminate the grade crossing on Route 2 at Ramapo Avenue. It is estimated that the construction of a bridge there would cost between $75,000 and $100,000, but residents insisted that the saving in lives and injuries would justify this expenditure. Abraham Banta was particularly strenuous in his insistence that property values in the area would be seriously reduced if the grade crossing was not removed. The Township Committee agreed to transmit petitions circulated by residents on the subject but expressed the opinion that the most the State could be expected to do was to install a traffic light at the corner. (Bristow) |
1959-10-20 | Crime | New Jersey Supreme Court Justice William J. Brennan refused a stay of execution for Edgar H. Smith of Mahwah, convicted in 1957 for the murder of Victoria Zielinski of Ramsey. Smith's lawyers, Robert W. Hicks of Washington and William Richter of New York, immediately made plans to enter a writ of habeas corpus to correct what they claimed were errors in the trial record. The writ would be the next in a long series of appeals and applications filed in the cases, all of which, at this point, had been turned down in the Superior and Supreme Courts of New Jersey. Bergen County Judge Arthur J. O'Dea was expected to set a new date for Smith's execution in the slaying of the Ramsey teenager in a gravel pit off of Chapel Road in Fardale. (Bristow) |
1922-10-21 | Transportation | Elizabeth Edwards was struck by a speeding automobile on the Franklin Turnpike. She said "Something should be done to make the Turnpike safe for pedestrians. Why do we always have to wait until some serious accident has happened before we awake to action. We should have sidewalks. Who has initiative enough to make the move toward that end?" |
1930-10-21 | Police | When Mrs. Estabrook complained that there was a man at her Island Road house acting strangely, Chief Smith investigated. He found that the man was "crazy, but not physically violent." He took him to Suffern where the police said that he came from Ramsey. He took him to the Ramsey Police Chief where he was identified as a shell-shocked World War veteran. (Bristow) |
1796-10-22 | Real Estate | Judge John Haring sold his farm of 251 acres, including the Laroe-Van Horn House, to Judge Henry Van Dalsem (Bristow) |
1928-10-22 | People | Mr. and Mrs. Henry Boucher have as their guests this week Mrs. Arthur Emerson, wife of Lt. Commander Emerson who is now stationed at Newport, RI. Her former husband was Lt. Earle Childs who was the first American Naval Officer killed in the World War. Mrs. Emerson christened a naval vessel for her husband at the Brooklyn Navy Yard. (Bristow) |
1929-10-22 | Transportation | The New Jersey State Highway Commission gave preliminary approval for a major new highway from Hasbrouck Heights to the State Line at Suffern. It will be called Route 2 (now Route 17). It is estimated that the new highway will cost $2,900,000. The first part to be constructed will by-pass around Hackensack. A very large traffic circle will be constructed where the new road intersects with Route 4. It is expected to overpass Franklin Turnpike in Ramsey and the Erie Railroad in the vicinity of the Houvenkopf Country Club property (Bristow) |
1937-10-22 | Religion | Over 200 parishioners of the Roman Catholic Church of the Immaculate Heart of Mary said farewell to their first pastor, the Rev. Dr. Thomas Patalong, S.C. who sails for Italy on the 24th. He has been recalled to the headquarters of the Salesian Fathers and expects to be re-assigned to the missionary field. He served in the Mahwah parish for 23 years. (Bristow) |
1890-10-23 | Agriculture | Abram W. Litchult died in his home on Clauson Avenue in Brooklyn. He had been born in Masonicus in 1828 and was 62 at the time of his death. He was very well known in this area since many local farmers shipped their produce to his firm for market. He was said to be famed for his uprightness and the warmth and geniality of his friendship. His business was to be carried on by his son, Abram, at the old stand at No. 190 Washington Street near Fulton Street in Manhattan. (Bristow) |
1909-10-23 | Business | The American Brake Shoe and Foundry Company is installing a new water system in their Mahwah Plant. A 40,000 gallon tank, the bottom of which is 75 feet in the air, is the major feature. Automatic sprinklers are being installed in all buildings. (Bristow) |
1908-10-24 | Police | The Mahwah Township Committee appointed William H. Franzier as a special constable. He will be paid by the Brake Shoe Company to patrol around the grounds of that company on Sundays. (Bristow) |
1908-10-24 | Politics | William Jennings Bryan, the Democratic Party candidate for President of the United States, passed through Mahwah on the way to an appearance in Suffern. He spoke for about five minutes to an audience which included some who had come by stagecoach from Ramsey especially for the event. (Bristow) |
1918-10-24 | People | At the monthly meeting of the North Bergen Chapter of the Red Cross, major attention turned to Christmas packages for the boys in the service. Mrs. Elmer J. Snow was named chairman of the Christmas Carton Campaign in Mahwah. Service men overseas send a label to a relative here. When the label is turned into the Red Cross, a carton is provided. After it is filled, it is returned to the Red Cross for shipment from Hoboken to France. November 20th is the last day for cartons to be accepted. They can weigh no more than 3 lbs. Each service man can receive only one carton. (Bristow) |
1930-10-24 | Education | A proposal for an addition to the Fardale School was approved at a special meeting of the voters of the School District held at the Mahwah School (Commodore Perry). The fireproof addition is to contain toilets and be connected to the existing frame building by fire doors. The cost is not to exceed $28,500. The proposal was adopted 140 to 7. (Bristow) |
1931-10-24 | Transportation | The George Washington Bridge was opened to impressive ceremonies. The idea of a trans-Hudson bridge was first proposed in 1863, revived in the 1890s and seriously undertaken in 1921 when the NY-NJ compact was signed. The $20,000,000 bond issue was oversubscribed in 1926 and ground was broken in 1927. It is expected that the entire road network of Bergen County will have to be redesigned to accommodate the new bridge traffic. It will shorten the commuting time for many Mahwah residents who drive to the city. (Bristow) |
1908-10-25 | Fire Department | A steady downpour has put out the forest fire which has been raging in the mountains in back of Darlington. At its height there had been considerable alarm concerning the safety of the houses in the area. Several buildings on the Crocker Estate were so threatened that an all-night fire watch was kept. (Bristow) |
1930-10-25 | Recreation | An early Halloween Party was celebrated at Havemeyer's with music and refreshments provided, as usual, by Mrs. Havemeyer. The costumes were reported to have been very creative. The first prize went to Miss Alarm Clock who only regretted that to live up to her costume, she had to be on the go all of the time. (Bristow) |
1952-10-25 | Transportation | Mrs. Helen Rutledge of Valley Road, Darlington, her neighbor Mrs. Eileen Richardson and their two young children, Catherine Rutledge 8, and Richard Richardson, 10, saw what they believe was a flying saucer. At 10pm on a clear night with just a sliver of a moon, they saw a bright object as big as a full moon. It was circular with two spikes protruding from the sides. It emitted a strange glow as it moved through the sky. It came at them rapidly as they stood on the Rutledge porch that they ran inside. When they came out, it was gone. Mrs. Rutledge says she will remember it to her dying day. (Bristow) |
1962-10-25 | Real Estate | Mahwah was growing so fast that the Township Committee moved to have all street names in developments cleared through the Clerk's Office to avoid duplication. The naming of nay new street is now one of the duties of the Township Historic Sites Committee. (Bristow) |
1902-10-26 | People | Dr. Albert S. Zabriskie died at 73 years of age after more than 50 years of medical service to the community. He was born in Paramus on May 6, 1830, was graduated from the College of Physicians and Surgeons in New York City in 1855. After a number of years in practice in Saddle River, he moved to Suffern where he maintained his practice until his death. Funeral services were held at the Ramapo Reformed Church and internment was in the Mahwah Cemetery. (Bristow) |
1930-10-26 | Crime | Police work can be annoyingly vague sometimes. Chief Smith received two complaints today. George Warguska of West Mahwah complained that someone had stolen six of his Rhode Island Red chickens and Curtis Boone said that someone had taken the battery out of his truck. The Chief could do little about either complaint. Warguska could not identify his chickens and Boone did not remember what kind of battery was missing. (Bristow) |
1956-10-26 | Business | The Ford Assembly Plant went on to 10 hour shifts to meet the demand for the 1957 models. There are now 4.607 production workers at Ford compared to 2,585 just a year ago. All 15 Ford assembly plants have been placed on the maximum overtime permitted by the UAW contract - 30%. 1955 was the company's best selling year. Employment is now 10% higher than it was at that time, nationwide. (Bristow) |
1966-10-26 | Recreation | The Mahwah township Committee accepted the request of the commander of the Nike Base to name the access road into the base for a 19 year old Mahwah man who had recently been killed in Vietnam. The previously un-named street was officially named Patrick Brem Drive. The family of the U.S. Army private expressed their approval of the proposed. (Bristow) |
1966-10-26 | Transportation | The Mahwah Township Committee considered a request for a route of commuter busses through Mahwah. The Short Line Company proposed a route through Mahwah on Route 202 to Oakland, Franklin Lakes, Wyckoff, Waldwick, Ho-Ho-Kus, Ridgewood and Paramus. It would continue through several other towns before reaching Union City and Weehawken. Committeeman Peter Murphy suggested approval of the new route should be held up until the company agreed to change their interstate route away from Airmount Ave. Mrs. Herlihy agreed that Airmount should be avoided, but believed that it would not be fair to commuters to be served by the new route would be held up until the change away from Airmount was agreed upon. (Bristow) |
1896-10-27 | Agriculture | Mahwah is suffering from a severe water shortage and may have to bring water in from long distances. (Bristow) |
1900-10-27 | Politics | A special election train passed through Mahwah today with Vice-Presidential candidate "Teddy" Roosevelt aboard. The train did not stop at Mahwah or Ramsey, but brief stops were made at Hillburn and Suffern. (Bristow) |
1913-10-27 | Politics | The first public event in the new school (Commodore Perry) auditorium was a stereopticon lecture "The Saloon under the Searchlight" by the celebrated temperance lecturer Professor Burton L. Rockwood of the Pennsylvania Temperance Educational Bureau. He stressed how saloons lead to wreaked homes, insanity, poverty and crime. He ended his lecture with an unexpected appeal for funds, but few responded. The school building was open for public inspection between 7:30pm and 8pm before the lecture. (Bristow) |
1928-10-27 | Food and Drink | The annual Halloween party given by Mrs. Havemeyer for the residents of Darlington was a great success, despite the poor weather. Mrs. Havemeyer gives prizes for the best costumes. Particularly impressive among the adults was Miss Library holding her touch, a female impersonator and a young man who wins every year, dressed this time as Uncle Ikey. The children winning prizes were George and Martha Washington and the Gold Dust Twins. Everyone appreciates the wonderful dance music, the decorations and the plentiful refreshments all provided by Mrs. Havemeyer. (Bristow) |
1890-10-28 | People | Alfred B. Darling was in residence at his estate in Darlington supervising the construction of a new dining room in his house. He lived mostly in New York City where he owned the most prominent hotel in the city, the Fifth Avenue Hotel. He spent much time in Darlington. He wanted to make his stock farm the best in America. At the time Starlight was his champion trotter, the latest in a long string of famous racers. (Bristow) |
1910-10-28 | Transportation | Living as we do on the border of New York State, hardly a day goes by without a New York auto driving through town with only a New York State tag. When a New Jersey car tries to enter New York without a NY license, they can be stopped. Can't we do the same? (Bristow) |
1896-10-29 | Charity | Mrs. Alfred Darling has kindly invited the people of Darlington to gather nuts from her trees. Mrs. Valentine is one of those who will thank Mrs. Darling during the coming winter nights "while munching before a bright fire". (Bristow) |
1902-10-29 | Agriculture | The first snow fall of this winter fell today. According to the old saying, since it fell on the 29th, we will have 29 real snow storms this winter. (Bristow) |
1929-10-29 | Business | There is a new telephone exchange for Cragmere Park. Those New Jersey Telephone Company customers who have been serviced by the New York Telephone Company office in Suffern will now have their own exchange, Cragmere. All records and information for the new exchange will be handled by the new telephone company building in Ridgewood. The change-over will be made gradually without any interruption of service. (Bristow) |
1930-10-29 | Crime | In what was described as "one of the most daring crimes ever perpetrated" in this area, a group of thieves broke into the Lafayette Theater in Suffern, wheeled the safe into the playground in back of the high school and blew it open. They made a quick get-away with over $1,000 in cash. Police speculated that some local person had informed the criminals of the layout of the theater since they were able to break into the office of the darkened theater. They apparently tried to blow open the door of the small safe in the Ladies Room and when unsuccessful, wheeled it outside. The apparently had a number of lookouts and were prepared for a swift escape. They left some clues but Police Chief Lunney said that these obviously professional criminals were still at large. (Bristow) |
1900-10-30 | Transportation | James E. Dixon was leading a heifer from Darlington to Carpenter's Farm in Ramsey when the animal ran away. Dixon held on to the rope and was dragged across the tracks as an express train was approaching. Fortunately the train stopped and the heifer got off of the tracks. A serious accident was avoided. (Bristow) |
1920-10-30 | Charity | The work on the triangular plot at the intersection of Ramapo Avenue and Island Road in front of the Reformed Church has been completed. The Mahwah Women's Club has been undertaking this as a project for some time. Sometime ago the Township Committee put curbing around it and last year Mrs. Derby donated barberry for a hedge. At the suggestion of Mrs. J.A. Ackerman, Mr. and Mrs. David A Smith donated a handsome ornamental iron post surmounted by a large round light which has been just been installed. The Club is grateful for this generous gift. (Bristow) |
1908-10-31 | Agriculture | James Glasgow sails to England to exhibit 24 choice Fantail pigeons at the Crystal Palace Exhibition. Mr. Glasgow is in charge of the fancy poultry and pigeons at the Havemeyer Estate and has been very successful in exhibiting his charges. He has won numerous first place prizes. (Bristow) |
1932-10-31 | Police | Cragmere Park was plunged into darkness as almost all of the street light bulbs were broken by Halloween pranksters. Lewis Schnitzer reported that an outbuilding on his property had been overturned. Considerable damage was done during the night with complaints coming into the Police from all sections of the Township. (Bristow) |
1978-10-31 | Disasters | Fire destroys the old barn at Winter's pond. (Bristow) |
1913-11-01 | Education | Since Halloween pranksters stole the ring from the school flagpole , it has not been possible to display the American flag for several days. (Bristow) |
1917-11-01 | Charity | The Second Liberty Loan went over the goal by $47,000. $191,400 was raised against an original goal of $144,000. Of this total, Mahwah raised $16.650 with 65 subscribers. (Bristow) |
1874-11-02 | Agriculture | 250 bushels of chestnuts were shipped from the Campgaw station during the season. (Bristow) |
1917-11-02 | Food and Drink | The Mahwah Canning Club has completed a very successful first year. One hundred club members, under the direction of Miss Smith, put up 1,444 quarts of fruits and vegetables and pickles, and 1,031 glasses of jellies. This does not count what individual members did in their own homes. About $500 was made from the sale of canned goods. These, plus generous donations made the efforts almost self-supporting, aside from the money spent on equipment all of which can be used next season. Particularly gratifying was the work of the Houvenkopf kitchen where 700 quarts of foods were put up by women who had never been able to do this for their families before. 369 quarts of jams and 502 of jellies have been put up by Club members for the soldiers. The Club took First prize in the Bergen County Fair for its exhibit and First, Second and Third prizes in the Community Club Fair in Suffern. (Bristow) |
1920-11-02 | Politics | HoHoKus Township rolled up a large majority for Harding and Coolidge in the Presidential election; 470 as compared to the 105 votes for Cox and Roosevelt. Women came out in large numbers to vote for the first time and, according to the Ramsey Journal, made few mistakes in marking their ballots. Sturr was elected to the Township Committee, Dater as Clerk, King as Tax Collector, Winter as Constable and Smallman as Justice of the peace. (Bristow) |
1920-11-02 | Fire Department | Things were pretty dull on Election Day until the fire alarm rang 23 which is the signal for Island Road and Ramapo Avenue - the location of the school, the Parsonage and the Reformed Church. The chemical truck and a large crowd gathered quickly, but no smoke could be found. It proved to be a drill for the Fire Company. (Bristow) |
1922-11-02 | Disasters | Ashley W. Curtis, 49, of Mahwah was killed by a truck as he attempted to cross Franklin Turnpike. He was employed by the Brake Shoe Company in Hillburn and was on his way to work. The driver of the truck, who was arraigned and released on $1,000 bail, said that he had blown his horn at Curtis, but he had not responded. He leaves a son, Ashley, 14 and an aged mother. the funeral was by Rev. Simpson. (Bristow) |
1940-11-02 | Transportation | The "Death Trap" section of Route 2 (now Route 17) between Sunset Lake and Spring Street in Ramsey claimed another life at 9:30pm Sunday night. William Hanrahan of Passaic was killed and five were hurt in a two-car crash on the three lane section of the highway. Apparently both cars involved tried to pass other vehicles at the same moment and crashed head-on. The driver of one of the cars was cited for reckless driving and released on $1,000 bail. (Bristow) |
1944-11-02 | Crime | Police Chief Charles E. Smith announced that two Paterson men had been arrested breaking into Smith's Mountain Rest on Route 17. Under questioning, they admitted that they had robbed the place before on October 11th and had committed similar crimes in Midland Park and Hawthorne. In their earlier break-ins at the Mahwah restaurant, they had taken two cartons of cigarettes, nine bottles of liquor and $25 in cash. They were committed to the Bergen County jail after their arrest by Patrolman Busch of the Mahwah Township Police. (Bristow) |
1909-11-03 | Charity | A Fair and Supper billed as "the biggest success of the season" was held by the Darlington King's Daughters. Supper was provided and various donated items sold. $50 of the total of $145.29 was raised from the sale of a gold pin donated by Mrs. Henry Havermeyer. (Bristow) |
1916-11-03 | Politics | The Prohibition Party has an ardent supporter in Mahwah, David Hopper. He has secured large portraits of the Prohibition candidates for President and Vice-President and displays them in the window of his house illuminated by blinking lights. The large Prohibition Rally takes place at 8:00pm tonight in the Mahwah Town Hall. (Bristow) |
1917-11-03 | Government | Postage rates will rise from 2 cents to 3 cents for a letter and from 1 cent to 2 cents for a post card today. A war tax of 5 cents has been added to the charges for any telephone call costing more than 15 cents. (Bristow) |
1928-11-03 | Religion | Construction of the church building of Byzantine Catholic Holy Spirit Church begins. (Bristow) |
1940-11-03 | Disasters | A bucket brigade prevented the total destruction of the home of William Suffern on Route 2 (now Route 17) near the Mahwin Farm at 6:45am. The tenet was asleep when workers at the Mahwin Farms saw the blaze and called in the alarm. Before the 35 members of the Fire Department and Hose Company No. 2 arrived to fight the blaze, the Mahwin farm workers and neighbors organized a bucket brigade to check the spread of the flames. (Bristow) |
1899-11-04 | Transportation | The Mahwah Town Board approved the plans for the new underpass under the railroad tracks at the deport / train station. It will be called Ramapo Avenue. A public hearing will be held on December 2nd for any complaints about the crossing. (Bristow) |
1922-11-04 | Ramapough | New Jersey Supreme Court Justice Charles C. Black turned down the appeal against the plan to flood the Ramapo Valley to provide water for the city of Bayonne, New Jersey. The County of Bergen, the Borough of Oakland and various property holders brought the suit, but in every point, the judge found for the Bayonne plan. The plaintiffs will appeal to the Court of Errors and Appeals and to the N.J. State Legislature. (Bristow) |
1945-11-04 | Crime | Arthur DeGroat was executed in the electric chair for the murder of Dorothy McCready of Mahwah. (Bristow) |
1945-11-04 | People | Mrs. E.T. Laroe left for Chicago for a reunion with her husband, a Navy Lt. Commander, who was returning from duty in the Pacific theater of war. Lt. Commander LaRoe was a dive bomber pilot. He had participated in the attacks on Tokyo Bay and many other battles. He had recently been awarded the Navy Cross. After a thirty day leave, he was to report to Washington D.C. for further duty. (Bristow) |
1899-11-05 | Transportation | The new set of tracks has been completed through part of the town and will be used for the first time today. (Bristow) |
1907-11-05 | Politics | 605 votes were cast in HoHoKus Township on Election Day. Republicans won all of the major offices except for Freeholder where John J. May defeated John Y. Dator, who is the Editor of the Ramsey Journal. Dator claimed in the Journal that "the amount of money in circulation at the polls was a disgrace to American manhood." The victories of some show, he said "what men or so-called men will do for a dollar or two." (Bristow) |
1912-11-05 | Politics | 330 votes were cast in Mahwah on Election Day. For President: Taft 101, Roosevelt 89, Wilson 106, Socialist 7, Prohibition 9. Locally C.D. Vanderbeck defeated R.V. Valentine for Committeeman 144 to 104. John Ackerman was elected Collector of Taxes; Henry H. Goetschius was elected Constable; and Harry A. Hagerman and David Hopper were elected as the Surveyors of Highways. (Bristow) |
1937-11-05 | Transportation | The first of three fine elm trees was transplanted from the property of Frank Schorr of Island Road to the grounds of the New York World's Fair. This first tree was planted in front of the Transportation Building on the Fair Grounds in Flushing Meadows so that it would be ready for services on Armistice Day. The World's Fair is not scheduled to open officially until 1939. (Bristow) |
1939-11-05 | People | Mr. and Mrs. Carl Ficken and daughters Nancy and Pat of Valley Road visited LaGuardia Field to watch the planes take off and land. (Bristow) |
1942-11-05 | Politics | In the closest election in years in the Township, James Glasgow Sr. was elected once more to the Township Committee by a majority of 72 votes. Glasgow received 313 votes in District #1 and 224 votes in District #2 for a total of 537. His Republican opponent, Charles N. Feldmann polled 465. Over 60% of the registered voters turned out - 1,011 voters out of the 1.676 registered voters. (Bristow) |
1949-11-05 | Business | Mrs. Vincent Skelly of Oweno Road Mahwah, resigned as the Mahwah correspondent of the Ramapo Valley Independent newspaper. She was replaced by another resident of Oweno Road, Mrs. John D. Devereux. Considerable Mahwah news was printed in the Suffern weekly. Unfortunately when the paper ceased publication, it back files were destroyed and cannot be consulted by local historians. (Bristow) |
1763-11-06 | Religion | Peter Light (Leydt), who became a pastor of the Ramapo Reformed Church was born. (Bristow) |
1875-11-06 | Disasters | Horace Edwards who lived in a farmhouse on the estate of ex-Governor Price, clung to life after a long bout with diphtheria, but not before the dreaded disease had devastated his family. On October 16th he received word that his son Horace, 10, who lived in Ramsey was ill. He proved to be in the last stages of diphtheria and only lived a few hours. The body was brought home for burial and in quick succession Rosanna, 5, Abbie Jane, 9 and Governeur, 7, all died within a few hours of each other. The latter two being buried in a single coffin. An infant of 18 months and three year-old George died a few days later. Horace's brother came to help tend to the sick members of the family and himself sickened and died on October 24th, leaving a wife and nine dependent children. Two of the family women caught a mild form of the disease and survived. Terror struck the neighborhood and few people were brave enough to visit the sick home and offer comfort. There was general agreement that the disease would not have been so devastating if Mrs. Edwards had not disregarded the doctor's orders and kept the windows tightly sealed and discontinued giving the prescribed medicines because the children's throats were so sore. (Bristow) |
1911-11-06 | Transportation | Navy officer Galbraith P. Rogers, who had passed over Ramsey and Mahwah on September 17th, arrived at Los Angeles, California. He was the winner of the $50,000 prize offered by William Randolph Hearst to the first person to fly coast-to-coast in thirty days. He was mobbed by a large crowd. He still had 20 miles to go and completed his journey by landing on the Pacific Ocean beach. He had travelled 4,111 miles in 4,846 minutes actual flying time. At one time he held a broken connecting rod together with his hand while flying with his other hand. The rules did not permit Sunday flying, so his arrival fell within the 30 day limit. (Bristow) |
1915-11-06 | Agriculture | The lake at the Havemayer's was netted by the New Jersey State Game Warden W.H. Smalley and his three assistants to eliminate the carp who are destroying the game fish. 19 large carp, averaging 10 lbs., were taken. The warden and his assistants will return another time to repeat the process this week. (Bristow) |
1945-11-06 | People | Sgt. Leroy Russell returned home from Ft. Dix with his discharge that he had received that day after forty months in the U.S. Army. He had spent half of his service in the Middle east Theater of Operations attached to the fifteenth Air Force. On arriving home he was quoted with having said "It's great to be a civilian again and to be back in dear old Mahwah". (Bristow) |
1964-11-06 | Fire Department | The extreme lack of rain resulted in Mahwah and Oakland completely banning hunting in their Townships. Ramsey joined then in banning all outside burning. The big fire, which had burned 500 acres of Mahwah woodlands near Deerhaven and Fred Wehren's Sun Valley Farm has been patrolled, but there were still stubborn brush fires burning on the borders of Allendale, Saddle River and Waldwick. At the height of the Mahwah fire over 1,000 volunteers including Boy Scouts, students from the Immaculate Conception Seminary and local firemen worked under the direction of Bergen-Passaic Fire Warden Frank Scardo. It was believed that the fire had been started by a careless hunter getting an illegal jump at the hunting season. Three woods fires were burning out of control in the back of Mahwah. The blazes were located from the area of old Halifax Road south toward Camp Yaw Paw. Several hundred men were attempting to keep the fires, made more dangerous by a still north wind, from sweeping across the Boy Scout Camp. About 500 acres of the area where the fires were burning belonged to Fred L. Wehren. He sent men and equipment into the area to cut fire breaks to stop the advance of the fire toward his house and his out-buildings, should the wind shift. There was considerable concern in Deerhaven that their homes might be at risk in cases the fire were to cross Bear Swamp Road. (Bristow) |
1896-11-07 | Disasters | Herman Genster, a German immigrant who worked on the Swan farm in Masonicus, died under unusual circumstances. He drove a team of horses with a wagonload of farm produce to Paterson. There he "imbibed too freely of the firewater". As he drove back, he fell asleep in the body of the wagon with his head hanging out. He slowly strangled to death on the wagon harness. The horses brought the wagon home where he was found dead. As he had no American relatives, he was buried in the cemetery of the "County House". He was declared dead by Coroner DeBaun (Bristow) |
1915-11-07 | Religion | The new Roman Catholic Church (Immaculate Heart of Mary) being built by the Salesian Father in West Mahwah on Island Road is expected to be completed by Spring. The plans drawn up by the architect Frederick J. Schwarz calls for a Gothic style building 36 feet by 80 feet with a slate roof. (Bristow) |
1918-11-07 | Government | A rumor that Germany had offered to surrender under a flag of truce caused a premature celebration in almost every town in America. Church bells were rung, schools were dismissed and people paraded in the streets. The Ramsey Journal newspaper appeared with a banner headline: GERMANY SURRENDERS. (Bristow) |
1936-11-07 | Recreation | John Binko was the Chairman of the Citizen's Club Masquerade Ball held in the Mahwah School Hall (Commodore Perry School). Prizes were awarded to the prettiest and to the most imaginative costumes. A local winner for the funniest dress was Marcel Kownacki who was dressed as an old grandmother. Polish, Slavish, Russian and American jazz music gave everyone a chance to enjoy the evening. (Bristow) |
1939-11-07 | Politics | James A. Glasgow, the veteran Democratic politician won re-election to the Town Council over his Republican opponent King 584 to 165. Glasgow polled ahead of the rest of the Democratic ticket, while King polled last among the Republicans. The bond issue for relief of the victims of the Great Depression lost 527 to 129. 1,036 voted out of a total registration of 2,084 or 50%. (Bristow) |
1944-11-07 | Politics | The voters of HoHoKus Township voted overwhelmingly to change the name of the Township to Mahwah. It had been called HoHoKus since its formation on February 5, 1849 but continual confusion existed between the Township and the nearby Borough of HoHoKus. The vote in favor of the new name was 1,089 to 231 according to Township Clerk R.F. Dator. The new name took effect immediately. In the Presidential election, Mahwah cast 1,124 votes for Dewey and Bricker and 522 votes for Roosevelt and Truman. Town Committeeman Richard Keith was re-elected without opposition. Robert M. Dunning was chosen to fill the unexpired tern of the late Albert Winter as Tax Assessor. (Bristow) |
1873-11-08 | Recreation | John Ramsey brought home another racoon that weighed 19.5 pounds. He has caught so many animals that he has virtually covered his barn with them. Jacob E. Ackerman has trapped two giant minks, one 2.5 feet and the other 2.6 feet in length. Squire Garrison has several groups of illegal hunters summoned before him for trespassing. Parties from HoHoKus, Campgaw and Ramapo Valley have been arrested. Many landowners west of the Ramapo River are determined to preserve the hunting for themselves and their friends. (Bristow) |
1895-11-08 | Politics | Theodore Havemeyer, the Austrian Consul General for more than 25 years, has resigned his post. The Emperor Franz Josef himself made Havemeyer a Baron in recognition. Mr. Franz Stockmeyer is on his way to American to assume the post. (Bristow) |
1912-11-08 | Recreation | A party of 28 people from Cragmere were transported to the dance at the Houvenkopf Country Club in Storm's moving van. (Bristow) |
1921-11-08 | Politics | The Fardale section of the Township had two successful candidates in the elections today. Richard Morris was elected Justice of the Peace and Charles Gebauer as Constable. They are the youngest persons holding these offices in New Jersey and perhaps in the nation. They both recently turned 21 and were able to cast ballots for the first time. (Bristow) |
1949-11-08 | Politics | An aggressive campaign by Democratic Party newcomer Joseph Krupinski fell just five votes short of winning a post on the Mahwah Township Committee. Republican Charles S. Hallenbach ran up an impressive 157 vote majority in the First District (Cragmere and Masonicus) to offset Krupinski's majorities in District Two (West Mahwah) and District Three (Fardale). In every District Krupinski ran ahead of the NJ State Democratic ticket. 1,750 votes were cast, according to Republican Campaign Chairman Dator which is 87% of the registered voters in Mahwah. (Bristow) |
1909-11-09 | Real Estate | The residence of Mr. And Mrs. Henry P. Fletcher is nearing completion at 103 Armour Road. Theirs is the first house built on the new Cragmere property. Several more contracts are reported about to be signed for new homes there. (Bristow) |
1936-11-09 | Food and Drink | Hugo Wehmann's fight to get a liquor license from the Mahwah Township Board for his restaurant on Route 2 (now Route 17) was successful as the decision of the NJ State Alcoholic Beverage Control Board was made public. Commissioner D. Frederick Burnet ordered the Township Board to issue the license. He ruled that the Township ordinance limiting the number of places who sold liquor to 11, the number existing at the time was unreasonable, since six of those were located near the Brake Shoe factory at the north end of the Township and that Wehmann had been operating his restaurant for six years and was located a mile away from any other place selling liquor in the municipality. (Brostow) |
1895-11-10 | Religion | The Young People of the Christian Endeavor of the Ramapo Reformed Church held a Missionary Concert. In addition to hymns and duets, reports were given on the geography, religion, social like of China and missionary work there. (Bristow) |
1909-11-10 | Recreation | The second Wednesday of the deer season saw many sportsmen out. Among those who were successful were Charles Mabie and James Devine of Mahwah. Each shot a buck weighing over 180 lbs. Contractor Charles S. McPeek transported them in his auto. Another large buck was shot near the Havermeyer Reserve, but the hunters did not get it. (Bristow) |
1947-11-10 | Fire Department | At a meeting of 30 residents in the Masonicus school house, the Masonicus Civic Organization decided to sponsor a local volunteer fire company. Theodore Shuart Jr. was selected Chief and a committee will draw up by-laws to be presented at the meeting on November 17th. (Bristow) |
1917-11-11 | People | Navy officer Galbraith P. Rogers, who had won the prize for flying coast-to-coast in 1911, was killed in a mid-air collision when his plane ran into some geese. (Bristow) |
1918-11-11 | Government | The official end of the World War - Armistice Day - the real victory celebration was a repeat and more so of the false one that was rumored on last Thursday. Schools were closed, bells were rung and a victory celebration was held in the Ramsey High school auditorium. Immediately sugar rations were raised, several men who had been called for induction were told not to report and the surgical dressing work has been discontinued. (Bristow) |
1924-11-11 | Religion | The Mahwah Community Church, as they were calling the Ramapo Reformed Church in those days, was open all day for those who wished to pray and meditate on Armistice Day. Pastor Simpson urged that the stress should be on International Peace and the abolition of War. (Bristow) |
1945-11-12 | Government | Sgt. Harold F. Jones received his honorable discharge after three and a half years in the Army. He had served twenty-two months in the South Pacific Theater. In addition to the Philippine Liberation medal and several battle stars, he had been awarded a combat infantry badge and a bronze star. When he arrived at the station in Newark, he was greeted by his mother, Mrs. Edward Jones and two of his brothers. Gilbert had served in the European Theater for two years and had been discharged the previous June; and another son who received a medical discharge after a brief stay in the service. Another son, Edmund, was still in the Army and is stationed at Camp Campbell in Kentucky. His father, Mr. Jones, was at work and could not go to the station to greet his son. (Bristow) |
1898-11-13 | Disasters | Mr. John Hopper hanged himself in the barn of his farm on Wearimus Road. He had given up drinking quite a while ago, but his family reported that he had been behaving strangely for some time. He hanged himself by a rope tied to a rafter. He was 64 years old. (Bristow) |
1949-11-13 | Fire Department | The Masonicus Civic Association building was the scene of a dinner to benefit the Masonicus Fire Department. Mrs. Albert Norton led a committee of relatives and friends of the firemen in serving 165 people. Mr. Albert Norton, Chief of the Fire Company, announced that $135 had been raised. It was to go to buy raincoats, boots and helmets for the Masonicus fireman. Meanwhile, the Mahwah Township Committee was voting taxpayers money to buy similar items for Company #1, as well as a new magneto for one of their trucks. (Bristow) |
1776-11-14 | Government | General George Washington ordered Colonel Jebediah and Colonel Tyler Huntington with two regiments of Connecticut troops (about 400 men) to take up positions at Sidman's Bridge, now the hamlet of Ramapo, NY. They built a musketry line and a log barracks in that area to guard the Ramapo pass against British attacks. during the coming winter. (Bristow) |
1892-11-14 | Food and Drink | John Henion of Darlington entertained his hunting companions David Ramsey and John Whitby to a delicious racoon stew. They had caught this meal on their first racoon hunt in the woods two days ago, (Bristow) |
1949-11-14 | Recreation | At the annual meeting of the Mahwah Junior Rifle Club, held at the metallurgical Laboratory of the American Brake Shoe Company, dues were reduced and Richard Slade was elected President for one year. Other officers were Anthony Franklin, Robert Winchell, Byrd Avery, Jennifer Tilly and Robert Mueller. The Club held target practice on their range in a high sand bank east of Franklin Turnpike, generously provided by Wilbur Ward, every Saturday morning. Howard Avery was the club advisor and instructor. The group was affiliated with the National Rifle Association. (Bristow) |
1985-11-14 | Recreation | A proposed ordinance creating a paid recreation director for the Township of Mahwah was defeated after a public hearing 4-3. The proposal would have created a Director who would be under the direct control of the Town Council. Opponents charged that this situation would discourage volunteer efforts such as those which have been running the Recreation Commission for the past 20 years. There had been feelings expressed by Mayor Kraus that the Council was losing control over Recreation, especially since the commission had maintained it own bank account since the late 1970s. Council President Margaret Griffin was expected to re-introduce the resolution again later. (Bristow) |
1935-11-15 | Crime | Another attempt was made to rob the Great Eastern Store on Darlington Road in West Mahwah. Marks of an attempted forced entry were found on the front entrance. Last year men robbed the store during the day at gun point, rifling the cash register before they escaped. (Bristow) |
1935-11-15 | Charity | The Home Department of the Mahwah Women's Club donated $5.00 to the well-baby clinic in West Mahwah. Miss Ferguson, the attending nurse, reported that she had used the money to buy a gallon of Cod Liver Oil which was being distributed to needy babies. (Bristow) |
1902-11-16 | Religion | The Reverend Vandenberg announced from the pulpit of the Ramapo Reformed Church that he has refused a call from a church in Grand Rapids, Michigan and he will remain in Mahwah. (Bristow) |
1922-11-16 | Food and Drink | Galli's Inn, Mahwah, advertised their special Thanksgiving dinner for $1.50; advanced reservations welcomed. The menu consisted of antipasto, soup, minestrone, homemade noodles, Galli sauce, turkey with chestnut stuffing, cranberry sauce, brussels sprouts, sweet or mashed potatoes, plum pudding, mince pie and coffee. The dinner was followed by dancing. (Bristow) |
1933-11-16 | Charity | Mrs. Charles Hallenbeck chaired a meeting at the Mahwah Town Hall to organize a sewing group for the Red Cross. As winter approached, there were many families in the community, especially those made unemployed by the Depression, lacking warm clothing. Four hundred and fifty yards of flannel and print cloth had been received which local sewers were planning to turn into layettes, underclothing, shirts and dresses for the needy. Mrs. Hallenbeck was named chairman of the new group. She asked for volunteers to begin the work on subsequent Thursdays. Also urgently needed were donations of thread, buttons, binding tape and elastic. (Bristow) |
1978-11-16 | Charity | A 75 foot tall Norway Spruce tree located on the grounds of the Immaculate Conception Seminary was cut down to become the 46th Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree in New York City. (Bristow) |
1933-11-17 | Food and Drink | The annual Father & Son Dinner of the Ramapo Reformed Church, then called the Community Church, was attended by about ninety male parishioners. Mrs. Edward Scherer chaired the dinner committee. The entertainment featured a minstrel show directed by A. Gordon Miesse, some Irish songs by a recent Irish immigrant, twelve-year old James McCarthy, and some recollections of his experiences in Scotland by James Glasgow Sr. In addition to the main speaker of the evening, Rev. Victor Simmons of Glen Rock, some short talks were given by Havilah Smith, David Hopper and the Pastor Rev. Simpson. (Bristow) |
1945-11-17 | Government | Staff Sargent Stanley Strysko, son of Mr. and Mrs. John Strysko of Hine Street received his discharge from Fort Dix after serving 3.5 years in the U.S. Army. He is one of many from Mahwah who are receiving their discharges as the war has ended. (Bristow) |
1949-11-17 | Fire Department | A request from the Masonicus Fire Department for $826 to build an addition to the Masonicus Civic Association building to house the Fire Company's two trucks was considered by the Township Committee. The Masonicus Company explained that they had no place for their trucks. They offered to donate all of the labor for building the addition. Reluctantly the Committee rejected the request. Since the Masonicus group was an independent Fire Company, no township funds could be expended for their benefit. They said that they had to make the same answer to a similar request from the Fardale Fire Department. (Bristow) |
1709-11-18 | Ramapough | The Hackensack Indians convey again the Ramapough tract to the Proprietors of New Jersey. It was signed by Memereskum who later was the sole sachem of "all nations along the Ramapo River". (Bristow) |
1903-11-18 | People | John Glasgow Sr. died. For a number of years, he had been in charge of the fancy poultry at the Havermeyer Farm in Darlington. He was born in Darby, England in 1842 and came to America in 1892. Since he took over, birds under his care have won many prizes. He wrote numerous articles for such publications as The American Fancier. He was a poultry judge at the recent Buffalo Exhibition. (Bristow) |
1909-11-18 | People | John Hicks, the popular ladies man and his friend Joseph Young, squired three of the Mahwah school teachers to a dance in Ramsey. Misses Lewis, Judd and Hall reported that the sparkling apparatus on his big automobile was in good order. (Bristow) |
1911-11-18 | Government | The first reading of the bill to allow Mr. Albert Winter's water company to lay pipes under the Township streets passed the Town Board. (Bristow) |
1936-11-18 | Food and Drink | At the Township Board meeting a liquor license was granted to Hugo Wehman for his restaurant on Route 2 (now Route 17). He had been previously denied a license under the terms of a local ordinance which limited the number of licenses to the number of establishments already in existence. He had appealed the denial and an order had come down from Commissioner Burnett of the Alcoholic Beverages Commission directing that the license be granted. The Commissioner also granted a one-day license to the Mahwah Citizens Club for their party. The license came a bit too late since the party had already taken place on November 7th and the liquor drunk. (Bristow) |
1942-11-18 | Transportation | The Office of Price Administration announced further cuts in gasoline rationing for motorists in the eastern U.S. seaboard. Starting November 22nd "A" coupons would be good for only three gallons of gas. According to Administrator Henderson, this was a further attempt to eliminate non-essential driving. Holders of "A" coupons have been limited to about 240 miles of driving per month. (Bristow) |
1912-11-19 | People | The executors of the estate of the late George Crocker have distributed over $10.5 million dollars with only $28,000 remaining to be distributed. 56 persons were interested in the estate including creditors and three of the legatees left only $100 each who refused the money and signed releases. The value of the Darlington part of the estate was set at $206,186. A profit of $1,317 was made on the sale of personal property, but the wine cellar in the New York City apartment, assessed at $11,593 sold at a loss of $3.530. Columbia University received $1,566,635 to establish a foundation for cancer research. Family members received $9,000,000. Funeral expenses were $7,557. (Bristow) |
1913-11-19 | Education | New Jersey State Commissioner of Education, Calvin N. Kendall, has suggested in a letter to all School Superintendents, Principals and Teachers that all upper elementary and high schools pupils in the State memorize and recite the Gettysburg Address on this 50th anniversary of that great speech. He wrote of its patriotic value and referred to it as one of the greatest masterpieces of English prose. There is no evidence that this suggestion was followed in the Township schools. (Bristow) |
1936-11-19 | People | John Gera of West Mahwah was among those who received citizenship papers at a hearing in the Naturalization Court before Judge Wallace J. Leydon. Gera came to this country from Czechoslovakia. (Bristow) |
1949-11-19 | Politics | A recount of the election in which Republican Charles S. Hollenbeck defeated Democrat Joseph Krupinski came up with the same result: Hollenbeck won by five votes. The Mahwah Democratic Club had requested the recount which consisted in examining the totals on the voting machines to see if they had been mis-read. (Bristow) |
1901-11-20 | Real Estate | Title to the farm of Mr. Elmer Darling passed to George Crocker for the sum of $96,500. Mr. E.F. Carpenter has been instructed to begin work at once. An elegant mansion is to be constructed with barns and kennels. A private switch will be built near the depot in Ramsey for his private railroad car. (Bristow) |
1918-11-20 | Education | The children in the Masonicus School want to make their school a 100% school in the current War Drive. So far only George Doremus is a Victory Boy. He has pledged $5 to the drive. (Bristow) |
1921-11-20 | Religion | The Supply Committee of the Ramapo Reformed Church believe that they have found their new Pastor. He is the Rev. W.E. Simpson. He is highly recommended by the former pastor Vennema. He is a personal friend of one of the members of the Consistory. (Bristow) |
1941-11-20 | Fire Department | The Township Committee decided to ask for private bids for the new West Mahwah Fire House when they received word that the W.P.A. had postponed work on the project. The official reason given by the Government agency was that labor would not be available because of defense needs. The architect, Mr. Aycock, was instructed to have plans and specifications ready by the first of the year. The facility was to house the company's fire truck and include a recreation room for West Mahwah children. They had been forced to leave Mahwah to find a place to meet. The attack on Pearl Harbor less than three weeks later halted work on the new fire house until after the war. (Bristow) |
1695-11-21 | Ramapough | A group of men petitioned the Colony of New York to buy "Ramepog" from the Indians, but this sale never took place. (Bristow) |
1853-11-21 | Transportation | The first through train from Paterson to Dunkirk (near Buffalo) New York passed through Mahwah. (Bristow) |
1875-11-21 | People | James Young accused Abram Van Gelder of having stolen some of his cabbages and corn and of not paying back the money that he borrowed to buy books. When Van Gelder cursed him out, Young came out swinging. eventually several bystanders were able to separate them. Van Gelder's troubles were apparently not over. While he was chopping some wood a few days later, his axe slipped and he cut off one of his toes. (Bristow) |
1918-11-21 | Charity | At the annual meeting of the North Bergen Chapter of the Red Cross, Mrs. Elmer J. Snow was among those re-elected to the Executive Committee. The Executive committee will later chose the officers. She was not present at the meeting because of ill health, but was hailed by Chapter President George M. Potter as "the greatest woman worker of the Chapter." (Bristow) |
1936-11-21 | People | A supposedly staid round of golf proved a painfully dangerous game for Joseph Knisewski, 24, of Ramapo Valley Road in West Mahwah. He and his companions Paul Rimo and George Cornell were approaching the eleventh hole at the Houvenkopf Country Club when he fell down the embankment and fractured his knee. Dr. Unworth also diagnosed badly torn ligaments after examination of the X-rays. Knisewski has had a series of painful mishaps. He had a foot infection earlier in the year and had suffered a broken leg in an automobile accident on Christmas Eve in 1929. (Bristow) |
1942-11-21 | Government | This was the final day for registering automobile tires. No more than five tires per car were permitted. Unless you had registered the serial numbers of your tires and turned in the excess ones to the Government, you would not be eligible for gas ration coupons. (Bristow) |
1911-11-22 | Ramapough | Bergen County Game Warden John C. Reinbold came across Renzie DeGroat in the mountains and asked for his hunting license. DeGroat could not find it, although he claimed to have bought one. Reinbold took him down to the Town Clerk Sturr's office and discovered that DeGroat had indeed bought one on October 20th. DeGroat was warned to carry his license, buy another or face arrest in the future. the son of Bud Mann was not so fortunate. When he was found without a license he was fined $20.00 |
1918-11-22 | People | Butchering is the order of the day in Masonicus. Nearly every family heeded the patriotic call and raised at least one pig. One family raised 8 large hogs. Now the victory has been won: they are being slaughtered. (Bristow) |
1929-11-22 | Religion | At the weekly service of the Ramapo Reformed Church 100% of the choir and the consistory were present. there were 81% of Sunday school students present. The Ladies organization did not make as good a showing, however. Only 36% of the Ladies Aid and 32% of the Missionary Society were in attendance. As an experiment for young men were ushers. The sermon was entitled "Getting Along". (Bristow) |
1935-11-22 | Government | The Township Committee was urged to apply for some of the $ 200.000 which the Farm Bureau has available to pave dirt roads in the County. The committee applied for a total of $150.000 in WPA funds for projects here, but had never received even a dollar. Chairman Devine stated however, that the requests for paving roads in West Mahwah had been placed on the priority list in Washington. (Bristow) |
1941-11-22 | Recreation | The Moose Patrol of Boy Scout Troop 50, hiked up to Wrathall Property for an all day work session. The property had been leased to the troop for scout use. The boys spent the time cooking their lunch and working on merit badges. Senior Patrol Leader Robert Frausen led the hike assisted by Patrol Leader Billy Weaver, cutting and placing logs for their cabin. Meanwhile the Beaver Patrol lived up to it's name: Billy Weaver, by hiking to Beaver Pond to inspect the beaver dam there. They did not see the beavers, who are rarely active during the daylight hours. They did practice cooking and various scout skills in preparation for their tests. The hike was lead by Patrol Leader Bruce Charley under the guidance of Claire Sawtelle. All patrol members attended. (Bristow) |
1959-11-22 | Fire Department | Newly enlarged Masonicus Firehouse was dedicated by Chief R.H. Ritter. President Arthur R. Bell and Mayor Morris. E Ruddick. (Bristow) |
1901-11-23 | Government | The Town Board held a public meeting to consider the petition of the newly formed Mount Prospect Water Co. for a 50 year franchise to provide the Township with water. The proposed rates begin with $6.00 per year for a single faucet, $2.00 for each additional faucet, $5.00 for a toilet, $4.00 for a bathtub and $3.00 a year for a set of laundry tubs. After some minor changes, the Board granted the franchise unanimously. |
1935-11-23 | Charity | The Boy and Girl Scouts announced that they would once more collect and repair toys and dolls for Christmas giving to the needy. The toys could be left at R. Dator's office on Miller Road. Mrs. F.W. Petri volunteered to wrap the gifts and the school nurse, Miss Gates was in charge of distribution |
1935-11-23 | Politics | The Woman's Club requested that one of the roads be designated as a sleigh riding road by the Township Committee. The Committeemen questions the effect on property owners, when the street was closed. They decided that Lawrence Street would be the best for that purpose and Chief Dator proposed the sanding of the bottom 100 feet of the road to stop sleds, as they approach the Turnpike. The proposal was not adopted for fear that the Township would be considered liable for accidents, if they sanded the roads. |
1949-11-23 | Education | A school improvement plan, estimated to cost nearly $ 700.000.00 was presented to the Board of Education at a special meeting.The special Survey Committee of the Board, consisting of board members J. Bradley Green, Chairman and D. Cameron Bradley and Alfred G. Heflin proposed a comprehensive solution to many of the complex problems facing the District. The major features of the plan calls for the building of a new school on Ridge Road to house the upper grades, consisting of 22 classrooms, a gymnasium and auditorium, shops and home economics rooms and two teachers rooms, two playing fields and a large parking lot. The committee recommended that all children living one half mile or more from the school, should be transported.Repairs were recommended for the Betsy Ross and George Washington Schools and Commodore Perry School would no longer be used for school purposes. Children in grades K-3 would remain at Betsy Ross and George Washington, all others would be bused to the new school. Curriculum at the new facility would be departmentalized for grades seven and eight. Manual training, home economics and gymnasium instruction be added to the programs in grades 4-6. the Board adopted the plan and ordered it printed for distribution to the voters. It was expected to be controversial. |
1913-11-24 | Religion | An iron fence has replaced the old wooden one which surrounded part of the Reformed Church Cemetary. |
1921-11-24 | People | The Mother's Department of the Mahwah Woman's Club gave a Thanksgiving Party for the teachers at the Mahwah school. they have offered their services to Miss Greenman to help in isolated cases to distress not wavered by public assistance. |
1960-11-24 | Education | The Thunderbird football team finished its season in dramatic fashion with a last minute win over Hawthorne. After Hawthorne had scored to tie this game at 13 Mahwah received the ensuing kick off on their own 26. After a first down and a 15 yard penalty against Hawthorne, Riley faded back and found Blefrey open over the middle. the big halfback hustled into the endzone untouched for the winning score. Mahwah ended up second in the Northern Bergen Interscholastic League with a conference mark of 4-2, tied with Ramapo Regional. Pascack Valley won the crown with a 60 mark. |
1915-11-25 | Religion | A special Thanksgiving Service was held in the Ramapo Reformed Church in accordance with President Wilson's proclamation. Special music was scheduled from Mrs. Kehr, Mrs. Dykema and Jim Dykema, who just returned from his working with the Mescalero Indiand in New Mexico |
1915-11-25 | Religion | A special Thanksgiving Service was held in the Ramapo Reformed Church in accordance with President Wilson's proclamation. Special music was scheduled from Mrs. Kehr, Mrs. Dykema and Jim Dykema, who just returned from his working with the Mescalero Indiand in New Mexico |
1941-11-25 | Education | The home of Mrs. Werner Turmbower was the scene of a meeting of the International Relation's Committee of the Woman's Club. the major speaker was Mrs. Fern Ross, who spoke of her many years in Peru. She had gone there as a bride and spent over twenty years there. She urged the members to do what they could to help break down the barriers between the colossus of the north and their southern neighbors. The traditions there, she said, were often older than ours and deserved respect. She spoke warmly of the work of Secretary of State Cordell Hull in making the pan American conferences the agency for President Roosevelt's "Good Neighbor" policy. She exhibited some of the many lovely things she had collected during her stay in Peru. (Bristow) |
1945-11-25 | Charity | Havilah M. Smith, the chairman of the Victory Loan Bond drive in Mahwah, reported that sales were going well.As of that date 44% of the total quota of $92.000.00 had been met. 201 bonds had been sold for a total of $40.00 330.25. Sales of Victory stamps in the school had been promoted by a special play, put on by students of Miss Petman's grade 8 at the Commodore Perry School. Smith thanked his committee and urged all Mahwah residents to finish the job of winning victory by oushing the drive to a successful conclusion. |
1875-11-26 | Business | The Hopkins and Dickinson Lock Factory in Darlington went on three-quarter time. Many of the employees were reported to be having difficulty in collecting their back pay. (Bristow) |
1930-11-26 | Religion | The Consistory of the Ramapo Reformed Church was still trying to pay off the deficit created by installing a new heater in the church. they sent out extra envelopes for a special Thanksgiving contribution, to pay the debt. A similar collection had been taken on Thanksgiving a year earlier, when $420.00 was indicated as still owing by the Funding Committee, R. F. Brainerd, Chairman. The new furnace replaced one installed in 1908. (Bristow) |
1935-11-26 | Transportation | In a letter to the Township Committee, C.F. Tibbals Jr. suggested that to relieve traffic at Station Square at train time, that diagonal parking be instituted and that traffic be made one way in the squares on both sides of the tracks. (Bristow) |
1949-11-26 | Government | A petition was filed with Clerk Ray Dator for a referendum on the purchase of the Mahwah Water Company by the TWP. This has been approved by the Board on October 20th and the filing just met the 30 day deadline for such an application. The petition reputed to contain 181 signatures, was presented by John S. Ralston. A spokesperson for the petitioners said they presented the petition not because they opposed the purchase, but because they believed that the board had not given a full enough explanation of the issues to the public. The request was passed on to the Bergen County Board of Elections with a request for the earliest possible date for the voting. It would merely indicate, whether voters approved of the resolution passed on October 20th. before the vote took place Township Attorney John J. Warhol Jr. promised, that a complete report of the status and finances of the company and the complete text of the ordinance would be distributed to voters. (Bristow) |
1949-11-26 | Agriculture | Mahrapo Farms of Mahwah entered two of their prize Aberdeen-Angus cattle in the 50th Anniversary International Livestock Exhibition in the Chicago stock yard. Because premiums for prime beef had risen so much in the previous month, the exhibition was expected to be larger than in 1948. (Bristow) |
1949-11-26 | Agriculture | Mahrapo Farms of Mahwah entered two of their prize Aberdeen-Angus cattle in the 50th Anniversary International Livestock Exhibition in the Chicago stock yard. Because premiums for prime beef had risen so much in the previous month, the exhibition was expected to be larger than in 1948. (Bristow) |
1873-11-27 | Religion | The congregation of the Ramapo Reformed Church gave a donation party for Reverend McGee. the refreshments were tasty and the guests had a wonderful time. $125.00 was raised as a gift for the Domine. Among those present were Miss Wanamaker, Miss Winter, Miss Ackermann and Mrs. Shuart. After the guests went home the pastor dozed off. He was awakened by his dog barking. Someone was trying to get through the window. By the time he went upstairs to get his pistol(the Bergen Democrat explained that he was not a Quaker) the intruder had fled. (Bristow) |
1899-11-27 | Transportation | The railroad to the Depot was raised to the new level to accommodate the new underpass. It now looks like a branch of the EL trains in New York City. (Bristow) |
1916-11-27 | A Greek florist, Henry Fisher of Mahwah, was committed to the County Jail for atrocious assault after biting the hand of Constable Rodgers. Rodgers had been summoned to the home of Mrs. Elizabeth Thuesen, where Fisher had gone on a rampage destroying property and cutting the telephone lines. When Rodgers arrived, Fisher turned on him, beat and bit him and ran away. He was later caught in Hoboken. He was sentenced to a $50.00 fine and was told to keep out of town. (Bristow) | |
1941-11-27 | People | That was said to be the largest pheasant shot in Mahwah that year; was bagged on Thanksgiving Day by Tom Breen. He was having the six pound bird mounted.(Bristow) |
1899-11-28 | People | The new alignment of the railroad created by the construction of the new underpass, caused the death of a valuable horse. William Swan was attempting to cross the railroad at the grade crossing, when he realized, he would not cross in time and attempted to turn his wagon around. The steep embarkment caused the horse to run away. It was found later with a broken leg. (Bristow) |
1910-11-28 | People | A gala farewell was given at Townhall for Raymond Dator and Arthur Valentine, who were leaving town to take up a new life in. Florida. Forty young people attended and danced to the music of the "Heddy Brothers" of Suffern. On the 30th, they departed for Jacksonville and a winter in Orlando. (Bristow) |
1930-11-28 | Police | Balancing the conflicting claims of simultaneous duties, made life difficult for Chief Smith. He was the only full-time peace officer for Mahwah. For example, he was called by a West Mahwah woman who signed a complaint against her husband for physically abusing her. Smith went to arrest him, he then received another report of about an open door in a supposedly empty house in Cragmere. Smith took the arrested man to the Ramsey State police Barracks to be fingerprinted. He left him there and went to Cragmere to look over the open door. He found nothing obviously wrong there, locked the door and returned to take the wife beater to the County Jail in Hackensack. On December 4th his wife called to say, she wanted her husband back. Smith told her, that she would have to arrange that with the Judge. Mahwah Police Book 1930-1932 (Bristow) |
1934-11-28 | Fire Department | Hunters from the Junior Firemen provided the ingredients for a squirrel and rabbit stew party at the firehouse. Ed Scherer acted as Chef. |
1873-11-29 | People | A wounded man was seeing loaded onto a wagon near the Mahwah Depot. He had been shot, not as the Bergen Democrat wrote, with a colt revolver or even a full grown horse pistol, but with Mahwah Whiskey. " The fluid" is sure pop, when fired point blank at a man, says the correspondent. (Bristow) |
1919-11-29 | Charity | The box social of the Fardale's Public School was a splendid success despite the poor weather. It was organized by our popular school teacher Miss Ruth Potter. E.V.H. Winter, Fardale's representative on the TWP Board Of Education, acted as an auctioneer and Mrs. Charles Bartholf played the piano for dancing. Max Thalen was in charge of refreshments. Henry Carlough was cashier. They did so well, that they were unanimously chosen to do it again next time. the proceeds go to the school. |
1921-11-29 | Business | Mrs. Nan Bugg has opened a giftshop (at her home on Oweno Road) in Cragmere. it stocks books, brass, copper, cards, handkerchiefs, linens, toys, baskets and similar items. It is called Nan's Shop and is conveniently located to the Airmont Trolley Stop and by car. (Bristow) |
1929-11-29 | People | Princess Vigo Of Denmark, a cousin of Mr. and Mrs. Ogden Hewitt and a recent visitor of Mahwah , called for home from New York. (Bristow) |
1952-11-29 | People | The Oweno Rd home of Mr. and Mrs. Ray Dator was the scene of a wedding of their daughter, Mrs. Doris Mulcahy of Poughkeepsie and a Philadelphia resident, Warren Reuterahan. Mrs. Reuterahan was trained at the Vassar School of Nursing. Mr. Reuterahan, an employee of the American Papergoods Company in Philadelphia, attended Cornell and Columbia universities. After a reception held at the bride's parents home ( for the immediate family), the couple left for their honeymoon.(Bristow) |
1955-11-29 | Real Estate | Historic Hopper homestead on N.E. corner of Route 17 and Route 202, dating from Pre-Revolutionary times, demolished for an Auto Transport firm site.(Bristow) |
1987-11-29 | Real Estate | An enterprising racoon was reported to have been evicted from the 14th floor of the International Crossroads Building. Architect Bob Gilchrist reported that a few skunks and racoons had moved in during the construction of the massive office and hotel tower on the site of the former Houvenkopf Country Club and Ford Assembly Plant. No details of the eviction were released.(Bristow) |
1913-11-30 | Education | Attendence at the Mahwah Schools which was 83% in October, rose spectacularly to 90% for November. The 91% record chalked up by the 7th and 8th grades, then was equaled or surpassed by the 3rd grade (91%0 and the 4th and 5th grades (95%). The 7th and 8th grades won again by with 985. Nine of the twelve pupils had perfect attendance.The figures for the outlying schools were lower. 76% for Darlington, 64% for Masonicus and 85% for Wyckoff. No figures were given for the Mountain School, but three pupils: Minnie De Groat, Charles Mann and Albert Van Dunk had perfect attendance among the 29 students enrolled there.(Bristow) |
1945-11-30 | People | Mahwah welcomed back a constant stream of recently discharged veterans as the demobilization after WWII took place much faster than anyone had predicted. Most of them had served overseas. included were Master Sgt. Stephen Drobesh, who had been in the European Theater for 3 1/2 years. S/Sgt. Stanley Stryko, who had seen action in the New Guinea, Leyte and Luzon campaigns, Sgt. John Sima, overseas for 2 1/2 years in the North African, Italian and European theaters, T/5 Robert Scherer, who had taken part in the Battle of the bulge. T/4 Stanley Garbowski, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Alexander Garbowski, returned after 3 1/2 years in the army, 21 months in the European Theater. Sadly both his parents passed away, while he was in the service. (Bristow) |
1908-12-01 | Real Estate | For 50.010 Mr. George Dunlop purchased "Oweno" the estate of Colonel Edgar Miller for development as Cragmere Park. (Bristow) |
1910-12-01 | Patrick A. Campbell who is a laborer on the right of way of the new Trolley lines dropped dead suddenly on the job. Coroner Tracy pronounced that the cause was apoplexy. He was buried in Fishkill Landing. (John W. Bristow) | |
1915-12-01 | State Motor Vehicle Commissioner K. Dill is conducting a war against glaring headlights. As a part of license renewal procedure, some times this month each automobile owner must swear that his lights are properly adjusted. If he subsequently is charged with using improperly aimed lights he can be heavily fined for perjury. He has used the same method in the past to be sure that truck drivers have been real view mirrors. All licenses must be renewed by January 1st. There is no 30 day grace period this year. (John W. Bristow) | |
1915-12-01 | Real Estate | This is the new target date for the completion of the new Winter building. It was supposed to be opened about November 1. But there have been construction delays. The steam heat and the concrete sidewalks are going in now. All the stores are rented, the center one to the Gautelli Brothers and the end one to Valentine's grocery. The store next to the tracks will be the new Post Office. Postmaster Finch announces entire new facilities including 100 call boxes and 80 combination lock boxes. An additional window will be added for the relatively new parcel post service.(Bristow) |
1919-12-01 | All auto registrations expire on December 31st. Beginning today, new ones for the 1920 will be available. The nearest registration offices are in Hackensack and Ridgewood. New York registration expires on January 31st. (John W. Bristow) | |
1924-12-01 | Albert Winter resigned from the Board of Education because of the press of business interests. At his suggestion Elmer Schumacher was appointed to fill the remainder of his term. (John W. Bristow) | |
1934-12-01 | The Boy and Girl Scouts cooperate in the a Christmas gift program. The boys of the flying eagle Patrol are making doll debs, while the girl scouts are making doll clothes and bedding for needy children. The scouts are also accepting toys. The program was under the leadership of Asst. Scoutmaster Bernard Weir and Patrol Leaders Sibley Reid and Dana Knowlton. (Sibley Reid was one of four Troop 50 members to give their lives during World War II.) (John W. Bristow) | |
1935-12-01 | The monthly communion service at the Ramapo. Reformed Church continued the sesquicentennial flavor. The "old" communion service was displayed as well as parts of earlier sets used in the life of the Church. Photo-static copies of the original deed of 1791 were being published. (John W. Bristow) | |
1940-12-01 | People | Funeral Services were held in the Ramapo reformed Church for Owen A. Conner, 69, of Oweno Road, Cragmere. He was a retured journalist and had lived in the community for 25 years. Among the papers he had worked for during his long career were the New York World Telegram, The New York Herald, the Journal of Commerce and the Philadelphia Public Ledger, where he was editor. the Reverend Clarence Sloan Howard officiated. Burial was in the Mahwah Cemetery.(Bristow) |
1942-12-01 | Robert E. Jackson a lifelong resident of Ridge Road died. He had the remarkable record of never having missed a session of the Ramapo Reformed Church Sunday School for 35 years. Once during a severe snowstorm when he found the Church closed he went to the home of David Hopper, the Sunday School Superintendent to inquire whether classes would be held. He was survived by his wife, an adopted daughter and 4 grandchildren. (The paper said he had been born in 1897, but that would have made him only 45, was it 1879 perhaps?) (John W. Bristow) | |
1945-12-01 | Pfc. (Private First Class) Michael Beuiah returned to his home on Church Street after three years in the Army. During his twenty-one month service in the European theater he was recommended for the bronze star for his bravery as a member of the 22-46 Truck Company. He served a total of three years in the Army, before his discharge in Fort Wayne, Indiana. (John W. Bristow) | |
1949-12-01 | Government | The pollution of the Ramapo River was the major topic discussed at the regular meeting of the Mahwah Board of Health. Board President Elliott Reid and Health Officer Mrs. Olive Wiley reported on a special meeting of municipal officials along the entire length of the Ramapo River called by the State Health Commissioner to discuss the problem. The Commissioner announced a complete survey of the river to identify the source of pollution. Another meeting was planned for the spring to map action on the results of the survey. Since there was a major water shortage that year, there was much concern for a revival of previously rejected plans to draw on the Ramapo water for distant places. Mrs. Wiley reported, That Mahwah's largest water user, the Brake Shoe was not guilty of polluting the Mahwah River since they carefully treated their water waste water before releasing it into the stream. (Bristow) |
1960-12-01 | The Ramsey Journal officially changed its name to the JOURNAL. This was to recognize the fact that the paper served not only Ramsey but also the surrounding communities of Allendale, Mahwah, and Upper Saddle River. The paper bad begun publication in 1892 when "Ramsey" was a locality inside Ho-Ho-Kus Township. Ramsey was not to break away until 1908, sixteen years later. The two-front-page format permitted the paper to recognize the growth of the surrounding towns and emphasize Mahwah and Allendale news on its own front page. (John W. Bristow) | |
1873-12-02 | Agriculture | Dick De Groat's cow may spend the winter in Mahwah after all. Apparently dissatisfied with the fare provided for her, she wondered onto the Erie tracks at the station crossing. Here she was almost hit by train No. 228, until the engine whistle rudely shocked her into moving. (Bristow) |
1873-12-02 | Education | The residents of the western district of Campgaw(Riverdale?) have been in need of a new school for sometime. Instead of raising taxes to pay for it, they have donated the money voluntarily. "Other districts might profit by example". (Bristow) |
1903-12-02 | Business | The American Brake Shoe Company is expanding. They have bought 30 more acres and are constructing a new building, which will be as large as the existing one. When the shops are in full operation at least 1000 men will be employed. A major problem is the lack of housing in the area. Land speculators have tried to buy up nearby land in anticipation of a killing, but the owners have been reluctant to sell. Meanwhile many men must walk from Suffern daily to work. The Company has helped by establishing a restaurant, where the hands can obtain a substantial meal for 15 cents.(Bristow) |
1918-12-02 | Recreation | A Victory Social and Fair was held at the Havemeyer Hall in Darlington, to mark the successful ending of the war. (Bristow) |
1921-12-02 | The Rev. W. E. Simpson has accepted the call to become the Pastor of the Ramapo Reformed Church. There is general agreement that this was a wise choice. (John W. Bristow) | |
1927-12-02 | The unveiling of Henry Ford's new Model A was a sensation all over America. One hundred thousand people tried to get into the Ford showrooms in Detroit, in Cleveland mounted police had to be called out to handle the crowds and in Kansas City the crowd was so large that a special platform had to be built to raise the models up high enough for everyone to see. In New York City, according to the New York Herald Tribune, one million people tried to get into the Ford headquarters to see the colorful new cards in such suggestive colors as Niagara blue and Arabian sand. The local Ford Agency in Ramsey advertised the features of the new model which replaced the old Motel "T" after so many years. It could go 55 to 65 mph, had remarkable acceleration with its 40 horsepower engine, made 20-30 mph, had a standard, selective gear shift, hydraulic shock absorber and a theft-proof lock. Although they were not expected to be available until the first week of the year, orders were taken with delivery promised in the first ordered, first served basic. The first local order came from Ramsey Borough Clerk Otto Saalfield. He said he bought a new car from Ford every year, and even though he had not seen the model display in New York, he had every faith in Henry Ford and the kind of car he would put out. A dozen orders had been received by the time the sales room closed on this date and by the time the December 8th Ramsey Journal went to bed striation car arrived about the 15th they expected to see many more orders for the Model "A". The price of the new model was $395.00. | |
1934-12-02 | People | Well known Mahwah musician, Hugo Steinbruch died at his home on Airmount Rd, after an illness of several months, He had been born in Schwartzburg, Germany and studied at the Leipzig Conservatory under several famous teachers, including Joseph Joachim.In 1890 he became concert master of the Magdeburg Opera and Director of the Conservatory there. He married Ellie Carstanjen in 1892. In 1897 he became Municipal Director of Music in Barmen(Bremen?). He came to America in 1902. He soon became prominent in various German-American musical organizations., holding the post of conductor of the Liederkranz Orchestra for 22 years. He became an American citizen as soon as he could. He moved to Mahwah in 1920, where he opened a music studio as well as his former one in Brooklyn. He was survived by his widow, Ellie, two sons and two grandsons.(Bristow) |
1935-12-02 | People | The Library has received two memorials of Miss Helen North, its first Librarian. Two of her friends donated a fine reading lamp. Miss Joanna North gave a lovely framed picture of Helen North, to which the Library Board has added an appropriate plaque.(Bristow) |
1945-12-02 | The Greek Catholic Church of Mahwah was the location of the wedding of Margaret Sima of Mahwah and Edward Stelser of Haledon. The bride was the daughter of Mrs. Anna Sima and the late Mr. Sima of Winter Place. Father Roland of Passaic performed the ceremony. A duet "Oh mother dear, pray for me" was suggested by Angeline Knowacki and Edna Wojciekowski. The bride's sister Mrs. Mary Balsco in the Lafayette Hotel in Suffern, the couple left for a week's honeymoon in Atlantic City. On their return they took up residence in Paterson. (John W. Bristow) | |
1945-12-02 | The Ramapo Reform Church began a special Christmas clothing collection to assist the European peoples facing their first post-war winter. Alan Winer was named to head the special committee to collect the clothing. He said that this was a wonderful opportunity to help those more fortunate than we and to teach the real meaning of Christmas to our children. (John W. Bristow) | |
1893-12-03 | 26 chickens were stolen form the Rev. A. King's coop. The Ramsey Journal suggested an electric burglar alarm and some shotgun shells as a solution to this problem in the future. (John W. Bristow) | |
1909-12-03 | The Rockland Electric Company has planted several maple trees along the road by School House Road to replace those which were destroyed when the wire were strung along the street. (John W. Bristow) | |
1930-12-03 | Mr. and Mrs. Gerrard Irvin entertained their uncle Sir Edwards Archdale for serval days. The Northern Ireland Protestant leader was in his country for a conference of Orangemen. (John W. Bristow) | |
1931-12-03 | Membership if the Board of Education involved more of a active role in the life of school in the old days than today. Police Chief Smith was asked by Board member Lane to accompany him to the school to help deal with some "obnoxious" boys. The boys were rounded up and given "severe reprimand", not by Smith, but by Lane. There is no report as to how effective the admonition was. (Mahwah Police Book 1930-1932, page 201) (John W. Bristow) | |
1933-12-03 | Dana Knowlton attended the Army vs Notre Dame football game as his prize for having won the the Boy Scout contest. In a last day burst of activity he had nosed out Sibley Reid for first place, 546 to 538 points. (Sibley Reid was one to give their life in the service during World War II, he was to be named the Troop's "Outstanding Scout in 1935".) (John W. Bristow) | |
1944-12-03 | 12,900 pounds of paper and 400 pounds of rags were collected on the second as series of salvage Sundays run by the Boy Scouts for a war effort. Six trucks provided by American Brake Shop, P.D. Ash Stephen Birch, John Storms and the Townships were on hand at 1:00 PM. Scouts from troops 50 and 140 covered the Township in three hours. R. W. Griffith, County Salvage Chairman, was on hand and praised the efficiency of the operation which was under the chairmanship of Charles Hallenbeck. Subsequent salvage days were set on the first Sunday of each month. (John W. Bristow) | |
1952-12-03 | The teacher's room at Betsy Ross School turned out to be more dangerous than any had ever believed. Mrs. Renee Buhlman slipped on a slick spot on the floor, fell and fractured her leg. (John W. Bristow) | |
1960-12-03 | Harold Beyer, a teacher of German and of linguistics at Mahwah High School was named program chairman of German Teachers of New Jersey at their association annual dinner in East Orange. Mr. Beyer invited Mahwah High's Language Chairman Lawrence Cashioli and Gabriel Massaro to attend the dinner as his guest. The featured speaker of the evening was Professor Mouleon of Princeton University. (John W. Bristow) | |
1960-12-03 | Mrs. Dorothy Ulrichs announced that she would not seek another term on Board of Education. She had served for four years on the Bored. The other members whose terms were expiring in February, Mrs. Edythe Glasgow and Richard D. Wade had not yet made their minds up about whether to run again. (John W. Bristow) | |
1875-12-04 | Business | John Y. Dator announced a sale on his stock of vehicles, Wagons, Carriages and Sleighs, could be picked up at very attractive prices at his place in Ramsey. |
1899-12-04 | In a shocking accident a laborer, Joseph Wash, who was working on the tracks at the new underpass between Ramsey and Mahwah was mangled and killed. He seems to have fallen from the construction train, been struck by the Buffalo Express and run over by the construction train. His head was crushed, one leg severed and all his limbs broken. He leaves a wife and three children in Passaic. (John W. Bristow) | |
1909-12-04 | People | Mr. George Crocker died at his 64th Street home in New York City, after a 2 year bout with cancer. He was born on February 10, 1856 in Sacramento, California. His father was one of the pioneers of the building of the railroads in the Far West and gave his son an estate worth $4.000.000 to $6.000.000 dollars after he proved that he could keep sober for five years. George Crocker had a spectacular career as a railroad man and financier. He left an estate between $10 and $20 million dollars. Eight year age , he bought the estate of Mr. and Mrs. Darling of Darlington for $100.000. Here he proceeded to build a magnificent mansion, on what he called the finest site in the U.S. it is furnished throughout with valuable Antiques. In addition there is an immense greenhouse with about 17.000 sq feet of glass, where flowers, vegetables and grapes are raised. The farm is stocked with fine horses and about 60 head of valuable Jersey cattle. Unfortunately just before the mansion was completed, his wife died, also of cancer. After the funeral in New York City, two special Pullman cars stocked at his order with food from the Darlington Estate , conveyed the funeral party to San Francisco for the burial. All of his holdings will be sold and the proceeds devoted to the George Crocker Special Research at Columbia College, for research into the cause, prevention and cure of cancer. The Darlington estate is expected to be sold as a unit at a private sale. He left many legacies, including a $25.000 legacy and a gift of $10.000 to his Japanese valet and $2500 to his nurse. All of his servants were reputed to have received $100 for each year they served him. (Bristow) |
1927-12-04 | The first snow fall of the season blanketed the area. Although coal and oil dealers were issuing dire warnings about how bad the winter was going to be, John Y. Dater, the editor of the Ramsey Journal insisted as he did almost every year that the day which snow fall begin will indicates the number of storms there will be that winter. A light winter would allow owners of the new Ford Model "A"'s to try out their new cars when delivery began January. One person who is need of a new car was Robert Walker of Mahwah. He had a slight collision with Bruce Tiedeman's car on Franklin Turnpike, swerved and ran into a telegraph pole, completely demolishing it. (When did "Telegraph" poles become "Telephone" poles and eventually "Utility poles"?) | |
1930-12-04 | Mary Soha and Robert Seibert of the 4-A class in School Number 2, Mahwah were tied in spelling. Each had a perfect daily spelling lesson since school opened in September. (John W. Bristow) | |
1930-12-04 | Charity | Mrs. R.A. Smith presented a library of 100 books to the Mountain School. These books were donated from the libraries of the Delphian Society members to encourage reading among the children at school and their families. |
1940-12-04 | Fire Department | A new car was destroyed and total damage to the building equipment and stock estimated at $4500 was caused when the Mahwah Center Station , operated by David Sandberg on Franklin Turnpike and Miller Road was swept by a freak fire. The building owner, by John A. Winter, was not insured. The fire started , when William O. King, local insurance dealer entered the building, while workmaen were removing the gasoline from the new car which belonged to John A. Winter. Not realizing what was happening, he lighted a cigarette. Fire immediately swept the frame of the building. All the windows and doors were closed at the time. the Mahwah Fire Company was called, but could do little to stop the spread of the blaze. King was waiting at the garage for the Shortline bus to New York. Fireman Thomas Ackerman cut his hand , when he broke the window of a locked car parked next to the building in an attempt to move it to safety. He was given First Aid treatment on the scene by TWP Clerk R.F. Dator. Dator also treated Sven Losbon for minor burns around the hands and face. Four others suffered minor injuries in the fire, which was under control after 3/4 of an hour. The building was valued at $1500, the stock and equipment at $3000. The latter was partially insured, as was the car. Traffic was diverted around the scene via Ramapo Road by police. (Bristow) |
1952-12-04 | At monthly meeting of the Mahwah Board of Health Mrs. Edison Wiley Reported on the New Jersey Health Officer's Convention which she had attended at Atlantic City. Among the paper read was one upholding the safety of frozen food, if handled properly, and one approving of municipal fluoridation of water supplies. She also reported that there had been three marriage licenses issued in the Township, and fourteen plumbing permits. Four cases of chicken poxes and seventeen mumps had been recorded. Investigations had been made of dog bite, water and milk quality and variety of complaints during the month. (John W. Bristow) | |
1978-12-04 | Recreation | 75 foot Norway Spruce from Immaculate Conception Seminary grounds lighted in ceremonies as the 46th Rockefeller Center Christmas tree. |
1919-12-05 | Fire Department | A fire, which started at a ladies meeting , destroyed the Campgaw M.E. Church. The building had been redecorated and repaired a few years ago at great expense. A faulty flue seems to have been the cause. The church will meet in the school temporarily.(Bristow) |
1937-12-05 | Many from Mahwah and Suffern attended a benefit supper and concert at the home Mr. J. Edgar in Hillburn. Man hired De 'Elia, pianist, pupil of Alfredo Casella in Rome and Emil von Sauer, one of the last pupils of Liszt was the soloist of the evening. (John W. Bristow) | |
1945-12-05 | People | In the aftermath of World War II, a number of local residents were discharged from the service. Cpl George K. Timko, a flight engineer with the Army Air Forces, was returned to civilian life after nearly three years of service. Cpl Kashmere Chedorowski arrived home on 45 day leave. He had been serving in the Persian and African Theaters. Word was also received that Alleta Hopper, a special Technician First Class was about to be released from the Navy. Sher was the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. David Hopper of Ramapo Rd. She had been stationed in Garty Field, Pensacola, Florida. She arrived home on the 8th.(Bristow) |
1886-12-06 | People | Joyce Kilmer, poet and later resident of Mahwah, born New Brunswick, NJ (Bristow) |
1964-12-06 | Religion | Mass is said in English for the first time in the Immaculate Conception Church Darlington by the Reverend Thomas A. Gillick.(Bristow) |
1895-12-07 | People | Only superb horsemanship on the part of Mr. E.C. Carpenter, saved his life and that of Mr. A.B. Darling, when they were involved of a freak accident on their way back from Ramsey. He was driving a superb team of 3 year old mares worth $4000.00, when a runaway team from the Havermeyer Farm attempted to push through a narrow space between Carpenters wagon and another, going in the opposite direction. Carpenter almost escaped by urging his team to a burst of speed, but all three wagons were smashed. Carpenter was thrown into Albert Concklin's picket fence, but never dropped the reins and quieted his team. Mr. Darling was also thrown out of the wagon and severely sprained his shoulder. The Havermeyer team was finally stopped at Winters. Mr. Darling considers this pair, sired by Alcantara and Baron Wilkes, the most highly bred team he has ever had. (Bristow) |
1918-12-07 | Disasters | Mrs. Emma Hopper, mother of David Hopper, burned to death after an accident at her sons house in Mahwah, where she lives. She was burning some rubbish in the back yard, when her dress caught fire. She was burned extensively and later died in Good Samaritan Hospital. No one knows how the accident happened. Mr. Hopper was at work in Suffern and Mrs. Hopper was out. The two Granddaughters saw Mrs. Hopper coming toward the house, her hands out stretched with her clothes ablaze. She began to roll on the ground and her Granddaughter Emma brought rags to help extinguish the blaze, but not before almost all of her clothes were burned off. Her screams brought Miss Rattie Winter and son Albert Wintewr from across the street. Both Ramsey and Mahwah Doctors where out , when they tried to phone. David Hopper was notified at work and brought Dr.? from Suffern. He administered an opiate, but she remained only semiconscious until her death, shortly after midnight. She had been ill and her head bound up. This may have prevented her from hearing the crackling of the flames, when she swung her skirt over the fire. She was 67. (Bristow) |
1922-12-07 | Business | A Mahwah Radio Club has been formed. The members have been performing various public services, when immediate news is needed. They recently provided election results and World Series and football scores.(Bristow) |
1960-12-07 | Education | At Mahwah High School's fall sports assembly, the trophy awarded each year to the winner of the Ramsey-Mahwah varsity football game, was presented to the Mahwah School by Ramsey's Dick Murray. "If your Ramsey High can't win , " he told the assembled students and faculty, "we root for Mahwah." The trophy was purchased the year before by the Ramsey student council. It was on display in the Administration Building at Mahwah until after the 1961 game. Varsity letters in Football and Cross Countryand "M" for freshman football were awarded and comments made about the season by Coaches George Carpenter, Hugo Marcolini, Vince Herold, Jim Siano, John Ebbels and Richard Stack.(Bristow) |
1941-12-08 | Education | A solemn High Mass was celebrated at the Don Bosco Polish Institute on Franklin TPK. to mark the 100th Anniversary of St. Don Bosco's work with boys. The Silesian Fathers institute this school for polish boys, which is the only one in the United States and was founded in 1915.Preventative, rather than repressive disciple is used in school in accordance with Don Bosco's teachings. Don Bosco met with his first boy on the Feast Of the Immaculate Conception, December 8, 1841 in Assisi, Italy. The reverend C.J. Moskal, was the Director having recently replaced Father Robert Wieczorek, the first Director of the school.(Bristow) |
1955-12-08 | Government | A program for housing in Mahwah was presented at a joint meeting of the TWP Committee, Planning Board, Board Of Health and local Assistance Board by Housing Consultant Elizabeth Hall Niebyl. 15% of housing in Mahwah is classed substandard. |
1960-12-08 | Business | The local Acme Market featured meats at prices expressed in multiples of 9 cents. Various cuts of pork loin cost 39, 49 and 59 cents per pound. Bacon was 69 cents a pound, sirloin steak was 79 cents a pound and porterhouse was 89 cents per pound. If you could bring yourself to spend$ 10.00 all at once, you could get a bonus of 100 extra S&H Green Stamps. (Bristow) |
1979-12-08 | Religion | The feast of the Immaculate Conception was selected for a special Mass of Celebration, marking the 50th Anniversary of the immaculate Conception Parish. The Most Reverend John J. Dougherty Auxiliary Bishop of Newark, served as chief celebrant and homilist.(Bristow) |
1920-12-09 | Crime | Mrs. Anita Butterfield was robbed at gunpoint in front of her house on Miller Road. She had arrived on the 11:15 trolley. The robber had been hiding in the doorway of the Library room. He had his hat brim lowered and his coat collar raised and ordered her to raise her hands. She was so frightened , that she failed to cry out and could not provide any information as to his identity.(Bristow) |
1922-12-09 | Education | Circulation at the Library is increasing. The past two Saturdays there have been 60 borrowers. The magazines circulate less well. All but current issues circulate from one Library day to next. (Bristow) |
1929-12-09 | People | Mrs. Rachael Valentine died in her home in Darlington. She was the mother of W.O. King. The funeral was held on the 11th at the Ramapo Reformed Church. (Bristow) |
1940-12-09 | Education | The School Board move a little bit closer to offering a Kindergarten program at school # 2. Mrs. Gordon Miesse, a Board Member, who has pushed the project, reported that all towns in the surrounding areas have Kindergartens. Two classes of two hours each are proposed, one in the morning and one in the afternoon. A special committee was created to draw up a special curiculum and prepare estimates of the cost for the budget at the next meeting. Also being studied, is manual training, a request by Norman Grisewood. Plans are being submitted for such a class to Trenton, to be sure that State Aid will be granted for it. (Bristow) |
1941-12-09 | Business | The American Brake Shoe has taken the Defense precaution of issuing all their employees with identity cards, which must be worn at all times, while they are in the plant. Special visitors cards are required and are available at the plant gate. (Bristow) |
1945-12-09 | People | Inex (Ines) Hallenbeck was named Chairwoman of the Mahwah Township Victory Clothing Collection. President Truman called upon all American in this unbombed land, to assist the many needy in Europe, whose homes and lives had been disrupted by the war, to assist in this most important drive. Mrs. Hallenback had been, perhaps, the community's most tireless volunteer leader during the war. She was the head of the airplane spotters, where her outstanding work had gained national attention. She was also active in the Woman's Club, the Red Cross, the Library and her Church. She urged every person in Mahwah to give at least one garment and to include a brief note of encouragement in the pocket. (Bristow) |
1709-12-10 | Ramapough | Propriety rights to Ramapo Tract conveyed from the New Jersey Proprietors to a "Comapany", including Lucas Kiersteed for 200 pounds. (Bristow) |
1910-12-10 | Food and Drink | Cragmere residents enjoyed a progressive dinner at the homes of five residents of the Park. The first course was served at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Paul Trieb, followed by further courses at the residences of Mr. And Mrs. Philip Clark, Mrs. C.F. Conkling, Mr. and Mrs. Alexander Adamson and ending with dessert and dancing to the home of Cragmere's first residents, Mr. and Mrs. H.P. Fletcher. Also in the party of 20 were Miss Pearl Plunkett, Mr. and Mrs. Douglas Hamilton, Mrs. C.F. Fisher, Miss Lottie A. Fisher, Dr. G.L. Edwards, Mr. and Mrs. A.B. Reed, Miss Mabel Whitman, Mr. Ralph Van Ness and Mr. George Fisher. (Bristow) |
1952-12-10 | Education | A program of teacher inter-visitation was inaugurated in the Mahwah Schools. Teachers were freed for a day to visit class in another school district to observe procedures and exchange ideas. The presence of Miss Elwood on the staff, made this possible. She had been hired to teach at the Mountain School, but since the building had not been completely renovated, she was free to substitute for visitors. She had become a roving substitute cutting down the use of casual substitutes this year. (Bristow) |
1912-12-11 | Religion | The Reverend Dykema contracted a bad case of Poison Ivy, when he cut down an old apple tree at the Parsonage.(Bristow) |
1917-12-11 | Recreation | The Ladies of the Reformed Church offered an Oyster and Chowder Supper in the chapel for 50 cents a plate. The proceed were divided with the Red Cross. Christmas goods were offered for sale and there was a variety booth for children. (Bristow) |
1930-12-11 | Crime | A West Mahwah man called Chief Smith about a matter too delicate to discuss over the phone. When Smith arrived to investigate, he found that a domestic dispute had taken place. The man begged Smith to commit him to jail. The Chief did not oblige., instead he reprimanded the man for getting drunk and ordered him to stop "cussing his wife". It is not clear, weather this old fashioned psychological technique had any permanent effect or not. (Bristow) |
1939-12-11 | Education | The TWP Clerk communicated to the School Board, that he had received a communication from the IRS. All TWP. teachers, he reported, must file tax forms. The Clerk is expected to send a list of the teachers to Washington.(Bristow) |
1939-12-11 | Education | The TWP School Board considered the problem of whether a new auditorium should be built. Some members of the Board visited nearby schools and reported particularly favorably concerning Allendale's facility. The stage can be converted into a basketball court and sloping floor gives it good sight lines for the audience. Present plans call for it to be built between the School and the Cemetery, although many lamented the fact that the vacant lot across from the School belonged to the Town and not the Board. If it did, the proposed auditorium might be the first stage of a new school.(Bristow) |
1930-12-12 | Crime | Policework in Mahwah was always complicated by the presence of the Stateline, but it did not seem to interfere much with the way the police operated, at least in 1930. Corporal Pfiffer of the State Police Station in Ramsey called to report that 60 chickens had been stolen from Mr. Quackenbush on Airmont Rd. Chief Smith and Troopers Charles and O'Donnell went to investigate. Quackenbush described the 60 missing Leghorns and Rhode Island Reds. They proceeded directly to Spring Valley, NY, in search of a notorious chicken thief. He wasn't there, but they were led to believe that he might be in the mountains back of Mahwah. They proceeded to search the house in question without a warrant, incidentally and found no chicken thief, chickens or chicken feathers. They then went to what Chief Smith described in the police blotter as "The Pest House" in Hillburn, where they questioned the suspect. Again they found no chickens. Although Smith indicated that he would investigate further, the case seemed to have ended there. Smith received a call later from the Ramapo Police. He wanted to know, what Smith was doing "in his place of business". When the Chief explained, Van Orden promised to keep his eyes and ears open for the 60 missing birds. (Bristow) |
1943-12-12 | People | Staff Sargent John J. Krupinski , son of Mr. and Mrs. John J. Krupinski of Valley Road in Mahwah, who had been reported missing during the heavy US raid on Schweinfurth, Germany on October 14th, was reported held as a prisoner of war in Germany. Not included in the list of 327 US soldiers held in Germany, were the other two airmen from this area lost in the raid, T-Sgt. Harwood T. Cook of Allendale and 2nd Lt. Harry C. McIntosh of Hillburn. Sixty flying fortresses and two fighter planes were lost in this heavy raid on a ballbearing factory deep in Germany. |
1944-12-12 | Fire Department | The Fardale Fire Department met at Akin's Garage. President Ralph Bitzer announced that more indian tanks and broom had been ordered. A committee was appointed to investigate, what Government War Surplus has to offer in the way of fire equipment. August Zeegers and Grover Hopper were to serve on the committee with President Bitzer. A joint meeting with the regular Mahwah Fire Department was announced for the 19th to consider, whether Fardale would be added as a regular Fire Company or continue as an independent organization. (Bristow) |
1952-12-12 | Government | At a special meeting of the Fardale Community Association held at the George Washington School, a volunteer committee was formed tom undertake a petition campaign in the Fardale area. Signatures were sought on a request, that the legislature reject the request of West Mahwah citizens for a referendum to create a separate Borough Of West Mahwah. The committee planned also to seek signatures in Cragmere and Masonicus. The Faredale residents claimed, that the proposed Borough would contain most of the industrial ratebles in the township and leave the homeowners and small farmers of the rest of the area paying high taxes to support their roads, police and schools. They charged that the plan to create a West Mahwah Borough was in part designed as a base for the political ambition of Mike Martis. Martis had been scheduled to appear at the meeting to explain and defend the proposed separation, but he failed to appear at the last minute, reportedly on advice of his lawyer.(Bristow) |
1960-12-12 | Education | The Mahwah Highschool football team was declared champions of Group 1 in the North Jersey Section 1 category by the New Jersey Interscholastic Athletic Association. They shared the title with Pompton Lakes. Hugo Marcolini's squad won six , lost two and tied a game with Spring Valley. The determination to rise them to a tie with Pompton Lakes was made by using the complicated Colton Point System. This takes into consideration the relative strength of a schools opponents as well as the won and loss record. The Championship was considered a great honor for the school, that was only the second year of varsity competition. They had a 4-4 record in 1959. (Bristow) |
1912-12-13 | People | The Cragmere stork has struck again, this time twice. A boy was born to Mr. and Mrs. Allen and a baby girl to Mr. and Mrs. Joyce Kilmer.(Bristow) |
1927-12-13 | Government | Unofficial population figures were released that Bergen County was rapidly growing. The total population of the area was estimated at 348,533 as of December 1st, with an estimated 69,701 families and 142,764 registered voters. Most of the municipalities were rapidly growing too. Ramsey had an estimated population of 3,602 in 720 families and an estimated 1,549 registered voters. Mahwah, then still known as Hohokus TWP. had less than half of Ramsey's population, 3,106 in 621 families. There were an estimated 1,325 registered voters. Other nearby population estimated populations were 2,739 for Allendale, 2,021for Waldwick, 3,836 for Saddle River and 386 for Upper Saddle River. All higher than the last official census figures in 1920. Every community in Bergen County was reported to have gained in population since 1920, with Hackensack and Garfield leading the way. (Bristow) |
1960-12-14 | Government | The resignation of Mrs. Mary Olive Wiley as health Officer of Mahwah, was accepted at a special meeting. She had been named a Sanitary Inspector for the Mahwah Board of Health in 1953 and Health Officer in 1950. She had been serving part time in similar positions in Mahwah and Waldwick. When she attempted to resign in Waldwick, post Waldwick officials decided to upgrade the position to a full time one. She accepted the Waldwick post.(Bristow) |
1895-12-15 | People | The ice is nearly 8" thick in the ponds. Farmers are beginning to fill up their ice houses. Skaters put a stove in a little house next to the pond in Darlington to keep them warm. A good supply of cake and cocoa was left there, while they skated. When they returned , they found they had left the door open and a dog had helped himself to a sumptuous spread. (Bristow) |
1940-12-15 | Crime | Oliver Ennis, 38 of Valley Road, was accused of having killed his wife with a knife. The couple had been married less than a month. He alleged that he had caught "another man" coming out of her bedroom at 3:10 pm. When Ennis was indicted by the Bergen County Grand Jury, his chief accuser was the man he accused of misconduct with his wife, his neighbor from across the hall, William Moore. Also testifying was Thomas Adams, of Valley Road, Mahwah, the leader of the Zion Church Choir, who testified that the couple had a loud argument over two corset. Ennis was held in County Jail for trial at a later date. They had lived together for some time before their marriage, and Ennis asserted that he had lived with two men before him. Ennis claimed, that he had found Moore alone with his wife in the bedroom. She had threatened him with a carving knife, while Moore escaped. Ennis admitted to the Ramsey Journal reporter, that he had stabbed a man in 1932 and had wielded a knife on several occasions. The couple lived over a store on Valley Road. His wife lived only 15 minutes after being admitted to the Hospital. Ennis freely confessed the details of the stabbing to Chief Charles E. Smith and the Ramsey Journal reporter Gene J. Kownacki. (Bristow) |
1784-12-16 | Real Estate | Garrett W. Hopper sold the Hopper House & Farm to Andrew Hopper. (Bristow) |
1890-12-16 | People | Ex-Senator Dator was reported to have exchanged Nimrod, his race horse once timed at 2:28, for something more valuable to him at the time, a good family horse. (Bristow) |
1929-12-16 | Police | The TWP Committee announced that they would provide police protection for the community Christmas tree in the station park. Anyone caught molesting the tree or its decorations would be prosecuted. Parents would be held responsible for the actions of their children. (Bristow) |
1941-12-16 | Government | Airplane spotters from Mahwah, Allendale, Ramsey, Upper Saddle River, met at the Mahwah Municipal Building to establish the schedule for manning the post, which is located on the Northeast corner of Lake Street and East Saddle River Road, in Upper Saddle River. Mahwah spotters agreed to watch for 2 1/2 days a week, with Ramsey taking 1 1/2 days and Allendale and the two Saddle Rivers a day each. There are 275 of these posts in the State, approximately 8 miles apart. It is to be manned 24 hours a day, to report movement of all airplanes in the area. Spotters are trained in airplane recognition and report immediatly by phone, when the airplane appears. (Bristow) |
1949-12-17 | Recreation | Ceremonies marked the dedication of the new Winter Memorial Library building next to the Firehouse. Mrs. Winter outlined the history of the Library from the formation of the Bugg Memorial Library in 1916 through the assumption of leadership of the Library in 1920 by the Woman's Club and its incorporation in 1929 as the Mahwah Free Public Library Association to the recent public referendum in 1946, turning it over to the Township. She said that her husband's wish, that the Library housed in a modern fireproof had been made possible by money left in his will. David Hopper spoke of the contributions of the Winter family to the town. Mrs. A.J. Biggs, the Librarian, spoke of the many trials, which the Library has gone through and referred to the new radiantly heated building as "almost incredible". She thanked Mrs. Winter for supplementing the original $ 340.000 bequest left in her huband's will with the additional $25.000, needed to bring the new building into being. Architect Laurence Moon, presented the keys to Mrs. Winter, who in turn, gave them to the Chairman of the Township Committee Frank Scherer. He thanked the Garden Club for undertaking the planting and various donors, for furniture and the clock, given in memory of former Librarian, the late Helen North. Mrs. Janet Zimmerman, acting head of the New Jersey Bureau of Library Services, praised the new facility as one of the best small Libraries in the State. Community members toured the building. It was open for business on the 20th, 1949. (Bristow) |
1949-12-17 | Recreation | New Winter Memorial Library Building dedication. Frank B. Scherer Chairman of the Township Committee accepted on behalf of the town. (Bristow) |
1960-12-17 | Education | Vandals defaced several windows and a statue with red and black paint at the Mahwah Junior Highschool. Although the student body was initially punished by having their extra-curricular privileges taken away for a day and a half, evidence seemed to point to members of the previous years graduating class. Mr. George McClellan, Superintendent of Schools, said that the police were following several leads. He promised, that if found, the culprits would be forced to remove the disfiguring paint. (Bristow) |
1917-12-18 | Business | A number of Cragmere residents are considering moving back into the City, because of coal and wood shortages. Mr. Semple is one, who has been unable to stay out this very cold weather without coal. Mr. Albert Winter has been unable to get coal for the past 3 weeks for his coal business. He says the prospects for the next few weeks are no better. (Bristow) |
1927-12-18 | Recreation | On the opening day of hunting season, many local nimrods were in the fields, in search of a buck. Among those to go out were Mr. and Mrs. Harry Breen. Late in the day, Mrs. Breen fired the first shot in the party and brought down a buck, weighing more than 200 lbs. Later Mr. Breen got his , but it was reported to be a smaller specimen. Neither realized, that the other had succeeded in bringing home venison. (Bristow) |
1929-12-18 | People | Sir Oliver Cromwell Field, 60, died at his estate "The Elms", in Mahwah. He collapsed, while out for a walk on his grounds. He was a direct descendant of Oliver Cromwell, Lord Protector of England, during the Civil War, of the Seventeenth Century. He was born in Calcutta, India of missionary parents. He had returned several years before, from the Real Estate business. He was survived by his wife Lady Isabella L. Fitzsimmons Field, who had served as the President of the American relief Legion, during the First World War. (Bristow) |
1941-12-18 | Government | The Defense Council met with the TWP. Board. They suggested , that a cyclone fence be built around the Mahwah Water Company and a 24 hour guard mounted to prevent sabotage. The TWP. Committee siting the expense involved, decided to defer a decision until after talking with Albert Winter, the owner of the Water Company and his Engineer Harry Breen Jr.. A Defense manpower budget of $1600.00 was voted. Subsequently the Committee, including Committee-Elect Richard L. Keith toured the site and decided that no 24 hour watch should be set up at that time.(Bristow) |
1944-12-18 | Government | Mahwah's goal in the Sixth War Loan drive of $100.000 was exceeded. Chairman C. Barbwell Straut announced, that a total of $106.000 had been subscribed. The quota for E-Bonds of $45.000 was still unfilled. Subscriptions were to remain open until December 31, 1944.The drive began November 20th. (Bristow) |
1952-12-18 | Government | A letter from Mike Martis of West Mahwah Civic Association, explaining the campaign to create a separate Borough of (West Mahwah), was published on page one of the Ramsey Journal. He maintained, that the Township was run for the benefit of Cragmere and Fardale. He stated, that only two West Mahwah candidates had ever been elected to the Township Committee. He believed, that the interests of his area, would only be served by establishing its own government., sensitive to its interests. He explained his decision not to attend a meeting of the Fardale Community on the 12th by charging that the meeting was dominated by the Fardale PTA, which he characterized as a purely political organization. He appealed to the intelligent people of the Township to understand , why west Mahwah wanted its own Borough.(Bristow) |
1952-12-18 | Police | In reporting on the activities of his Department for the month of November, police Chief Charles Smith emphasized the importance of what might seem merely routine activities. Hundreds of hours were spent in checking unoccupied buildings, schools and businesses after hours. Over 9.000 miles were logged on police cars and 106 investigations made. During the month, 26 arrests were made, 10 fires attended and 13 accidents investigated. There was a remarkable success rate in 2 categories, he reported. one stolen car was reported and one recovered. one missing person was reported and one missing person found. (Bristow) |
1952-12-18 | Education | The students of the Commodore Perry School, put on a Christmas program for their parents at the Chapel of the Ramapo reformed Church during the evening. Students from Betsy Ross and George Washington Schools saw the performance during the day. Highlights of the performance included the singing of "I come to the Garden" and "Silent Night" sung by Blanche, Arthelia and Richard Jennings, Dana Recchi's singing of the "Oh Holy Night" and Daniel Lamberti, the Principal of the Commodore Perry School, singing "I Wonder As I Wander". Musical accompaniments were provided by Robert Wrathall, Piano and Mr. Bolack and Mr. Simms on acordians. Mrs. Jack Van Broderode was the Director. Mrs. Yvonne Dator and June Caston staged the dances. The scenery and staging was done by the pupils themselves. (Bristow) |
1960-12-18 | Recreation | Fyke members Stiles Thomas and Mrs. Louis Kort reported seeing, what was described as the first red-bellied woodpecker ever seen in Bergen County. This species, found more generally south of this area. Despite its name, it has a red head and mostly white breast. It has been seen in Allendale. It has become a fairly common bird in this area since 1960. (Bristow) |
1930-12-19 | Food and Drink | The Mahwah American Legion Post Christmas Dinner almost did not happen. The Cragmere Manor, formerly Gardner's Inn, where the dinner was to be held, failed to receive their license as a public restaurant, making it illegal to have dinner there. The Post Officers almost called off the affair until the proprietors generously refused payment for the dinner and provided it for free. Twenty Legionaires and two guests, the Suffern Post Commander Harold Barker and Rockland County Legion Commander Mark L. Stewart, enjoyed a delicious meal. The visitors paid for their meals, by delivering talks described as "of interest and value". (Bristow) |
1932-12-19 | Police | The effect of the depression was evident in the automobile accident casualties for November, announced by the MV Commissioner Harold G. Hoffmann. The month saw more pedestrian casualties, than any of the month in the states history. 82 of the 116 killed in the State were walking. Overall casualties for the first eleven months of the year, 1042 were down nearly 10 percent over 1931. Apparently fewer people could afford to drive, since only 18 people were killed in collisions of one car with another during November. (Bristow) |
1941-12-19 | Government | Alvin F. Reuhl was named Chief Air Raid Warden for the Township by the Defense Council. The District Wardens named included: Clyde Shuart for Masonicus, Elliot Reid for Cragmere, Lindsey McArthur for West Mahwah, Reverend John Tierney, Darlington and Robert A. Hopkins, Fardale. These districts have been subdivided into 50 sectors, each under the charge of an Air Raid Warden. (Bristow) |
1949-12-19 | Government | The question of whether the TWP should buy the Water Company, was discussed at a committee meeting at the Commodore Perry School. C.R. Nichols Jr. of Glasgow terrace, acted as moderator for the meeting, which was carefully kept as non-partisan as possible. Most of the opposition to the plan to take over the private company centered on what were perceived as errors in the way that the TWP. Committee had presented the issue to the voters and to charges that the valuation set on the properties was too high and that the shortfalls in revenues would have to be made up in taxes. Supporters of the plan said, that so vital a service should be publicly owned. In private hands, charges would continue to grow as rapidly as they had done in recent years. Since the company had only used eight of the fourteen wells, originally dug in 1914, there was plenty of capacity for future expansion. The urgency of the question was underscored by the declaration of a water emergency by Governor Driscoll throughout the state. A public vote was set for December 29th. to authorize the funds to buy the facility. (Bristow) |
1960-12-19 | Education | By some fiscal sleight of hand, the School Board raised the school budget $118,606 without raising taxes. The Board anticipated an increase in state and federal aid, tuition to take up part of the shortfall. The rest of the increase was postponed to the end of the fiscal year, in 1962, by which time they expected that new ratables would provide the additional revenues. (Bristow) |
1960-12-19 | Crime | Magistrate Anthony Meyers Jr. fined a Myrtle Avenue resident $50.00 for taking out his anger at a hot rodder, who constantly roared by his home(with a shotgun). He said he fired the shotgun as a warning to the juvenile driver, who used the street as a practice strip for his souped up car. the pellets hit his car's radiator and blew out a tire. He was fined under an ordinance banning the firing of a weapon within 500 feet of a home road. Magistrate Young warned that someone could be seriosly hurt in such an incident and advised the resident to get rid of the gun. (Bristow) |
1890-12-20 | People | When Peter Winter placed the brand new boots he just purchased at Ryerson and Brothers in the wrong wagon, he discovered them gone, when he arrived home. Fortunately the owner of the wagon, an honest person, returned to the store, in order to return them to its rightful owner. Winters must have believed that the Christmas spirit was a real force in the area. (Bristow) |
1898-12-20 | Education | Mr. James Stuart, President of the Board of Education has offered to buy shoes for any children, who are unable to attend school for lack of shoes. The Board has ordered all children to attend school regularly, but up to now, has not been able to get around the lack of shoes for some children. (Bristow) |
1921-12-20 | Crime | Miss Martha Winter's Ford touring car was stolen from the garage back of her house on Franklin TPK. It has license plates # 10981/ John H. Taylor of the County Detectives Bureau has been put on the case. (Bristow) |
1940-12-20 | Crime | Officer Ted Wickham was patrolling east on Ramapo Avenue, shortly after 1:00 am, when he observed a 1919 Essex with one light going in the opposite direction. He turned around to give chase , but lost the car in the dark. Shortly later he found it had run off Island Road near the new community field. It had no occupants, no license plate, but contained 800 lbs of scrap metal, stolen from American Brake Shoe Company. (Bristow) |
1944-12-20 | Charity | A joint Christmas Party of the Ramapo Reformed Church Missionary Society and the Church Aid Society was held. Each attender was asked to bring good, warm used clothing for war relief. Pocket books for the soldiers at Camp Shanks were collected. those who have been sewing dresses for Holland relief, were asked to bring them also.(Bristow) |
1908-12-21 | People | Mrs. Ryneer Van Riper will be 108 years old in February. It is claimed that she is the oldest person in New Jersey. She was born in Midland Park on February 14, 1801. She has been a widow for about 30 years. About 4 years ago, she sold her farm just south of Albert Freeman's property of Franklin Turnpike. Then she and her daughter were given a home by Martin Litchult in Masonicus. They are supplied with farm produce at no charge and otherwise live of the interest from the sale of the farm. Mrs. Van Riper is quite alert. Her voice is strong and she remembers very well, although she cannot remember dates. She fell a view years ago and broke her hip. Now she is confirmed to bed and is completely blind. Her diet is mostly milk with an occasional egg. She says, she is not in pain. (Bristow) |
1915-12-21 | Religion | The Cragmere Sunday School is flourishing. It now has 53 children enrolled. The Christmas tree exercises were held at Mrs. White's house. the school carol service will take place on Sunday, January 2nd. (Bristow) |
1918-12-21 | Fire Department | The Township Committee passed an ordinance assuming responsibility for the Mahwah Fire Dept. Members must be 18 years old and residents of the Township. The fire equipment now belongs to the town, but it is controlled by the Fire Chief, officers and men of the Department. (Bristow) |
1939-12-21 | Transportation | The Township Committee approved the application of the Public Service Coordinated Transport Co., to run a bus from Mahwah to Hackensack. The bus would start at Mahwah Station Plaza and proceed via Ramapo Avenue and Island Road through Ramsey. The Board also approved a new street light between Ramapo Avenue and Moffat Road. (Bristow) |
1943-12-21 | Fire Department | At the Township Committee meeting the annual report of Fire Company #2 was given by Chief Wrathall. The Company had answered 69 alarms during 1942 and spent sixty-four hours and forty-five minutes actually fighting fires. Only two members had made 100% duty during the year, Charles Morris and the Chief himself. It was complained, however that the company failed to respond to the last three fires in the Township, two brush fires and a fire at the Orthman Farm. No explanation was given for this failure. (Bristow) |
1945-12-21 | People | George Emerson of Fairmont Avenue, Fardale, killed a red fox, while it was in the act of killing a flock of ducks. The same fox has been seen several times in the area. It was blamed for killing all of Otto Schleicher's ducks at his home on Wyckoff Avenue. (Bristow) |
1960-12-21 | Business | The Chamber Of Commerce chose their nominee for office, for the upcoming year at their December meeting. William S. Fenner, Manager of the Industrial Relations Department at the Ford Assembly plant was nominated for President. He was a resident of Ridgewood, after having lived for more than two years in Saddle River, where he came from his native Michigan. He had been a member of the Mahwah Chamber Of Commerce sine its organization. He was a member of its Board Of Directors and of the New Jersey Safety Council. Dr. Edward H. Meyer Jr., Frank Dator were chosen as Vice Presidents and Edwin Weaver, Grace Apgar as Treasurer and Leonora Wanamaker, Secretary. The election was set for the January 24th meeting. (Bristow) |
1895-12-22 | People | One of Darlington's oldest residents Levi Hopper died at his home after a painful illness. he was 83 years old. He is to be buried in the Campgaw Cemetery. (Bristow) |
1913-12-22 | People | The Christmas entertainment of the Reformed Church Sunday School featured a play: The Greatest Gift" presented by 25 pupils. A series of costumed "pleasures" were brought before Goddess Bountiful until the greatest Gift, Christmas, brought the play to its climax. The cast consisted of: Ethel Sisco Goddess Bountiful), Minnie Hopper (Peace), Helen Moessner (Plenty), David Winter (Columbus), Emma Hopper (Queen Elizabeth), Bessie Mabie (Betsy Ross), Richard Wanamaker (Sailor), Celia Bante (Florence Nightingale), Mary Kennedy (Dame Fashion), Melvin Lane(Newsboy), Ratie Lawrence (Dame Fortune), Evelyn King (Cook), Olive Valentine (Cupid), Hazel Winter (Moonlight), Hazel Cooper (Night), Lizzie Lawrence (Daylight), Helen Scherer (Christmas), Margret King, Dorothy Valentine, Eva Doremus, and Mabel King (Pages), Jesse Slavin and James Glasgow (Heralds), Andrew Hopper and George Scherer (Soldiers). Gifts were given to worthy scholars and every child got chocolates and an orange. The pupils gave the Dykema Mazda lamps and a Seth Thomas clock. (Bristow) |
1935-12-22 | Charity | The Christmas Party sponsored by the PTA for the less fortunate children of the community was a great success. Mr. and Mrs. Lloyd Salling were the chairmen for this affair. They extended thanks to Scherer & Co, the Suffern A&P, the Great Eastern Store, the Mahwah American Legion and the Suffern Food Center for their gifts of oranges and the Mahwah Community Shop for candy. Sarnoff's Stationary Store gave toys to be reconditioned. The Boy-scouts under their Scoutmaster Douglas O'Brien and the school children supervised by Miss Gates, the School Nurse painted and wrapped the gifts. Police Chief Charles Smith impersonated Santa Claus to a delighted audience. (Bristow) |
1939-12-22 | Recreation | The Mahwah Community Christmas tree was lighted for the first time in the station Park. Among those invited by the Music Committee of the Woman's Club, were all the children of the Township Schools and Santa Claus. (Bristow) |
1892-12-23 | Education | Mr. T.A. Havemeyer formally deeded the new $15.000.00 school building to District # 57. The conditions attached to the deed, require that it be used forever for school purposes. The upper room can be used for public meetings, fairs and religious meetings. The property reverts to him or his heirs, if abandoned at any time. He reserved the rights of access to the creek. (Bristow) |
1912-12-23 | Recreation | A series of lectures, entertainments and social evenings has been planned for Darlington this winter. The lecture room of the old Darlington residence will be the scene of this series. Agricultural subjects, such as potato diseases, production and marketing of eggs and fowl, the farm garden and home growing of tobacco have been proposed. Travelogues with lantern slides of such attractions as Niagara Falls and Yellowstone Park are also planned. There will be no charge for the programs. (Bristow) |
1912-12-23 | Charity | Albert Winter deeds property for the new Station Park to the town. He donates $500.00 for expenses of landscaping and planting. (Bristow) |
1915-12-23 | Crime | Thieves broke into Samuel Greenstein's Liquor Store and stole a large supply of wines and liquors. Greenstein swore out a warrant for the arrest of three suspects. Merry Christmas! Constable George and Truman Rodgers made the arrest of Christmas Day. Three men Archie Reed, Morris Amhurst and Albert Peterson were arrested in a shack near Greenstein's store. They were charged with the crime before Justice of the Peace William H. Rodgers and taken to Hackensack Jail. (Bristow) |
1945-12-23 | Government | Because of the many colds sweeping the State of New Jersey, Director of Health Dr. J. Lynn Mahaffey issued some tips to state residents as to how avoid and treat them. Although a few schools had been closed, he stated there was no epidemic at this time. He suggested that people eat a varied diet in Vitamin A and C. To people who caught colds easily, he suggested cod liver oil or some other vitamin concentrate. (Bristow) |
1679-12-24 | Ramapough | Lucas Kiersted born in Kingston, NY. He later ran Indian Trading Post along Ramapo River for Blandina Bayard. (Bristow) |
1910-12-24 | Charity | Henry O. Havemeyer Jr. carried on a family tradition begun by his late father, Sugar-king H.O. Havemeyer by having a party for the employees of his summer home in Darlington. A large Christmas tree had been filled with presents, which were distributed to the employees. (Bristow) |
1927-12-24 | Fire Department | Binko's Stables destroyed in fire. This leads to the establishment of fire Department # 2 in January 1928. (Bristow) |
1927-12-24 | Fire Department | Christmas Eve festivities were spoiled by two fires during the evening hours. At about 7:45 PM, the chimney of the Van Dunk house back of the railroad station was discovered to be afire. Because Mahwah's only fire alarm system was a bell, few firemen heard the call. But for those, who came out quickly extinguished the blaze. Little damage was done. Three hours later, Joe Binko's barn caught fire. Chief Scherer and two of his helpers were out delivering a few tardy turkeys and were not available, when Mrs. Scherer received the call. She tried to call some of the other drivers without avail. She was finally able to rouse Fred Eggers, who had already gone to bed. While he was dressing he sent his daughter olive out to ring the fire bell. again few members heard the sound. By the time the engine got to the scene of the blaze, the barn was too far gone to be saved. Because the nearest water, the pond opposite of the Brake Shoe Plant, was 2000 feet away, help was summoned from Suffern. With Suffern's 1000 feet of hose and a similar length from the Mahwah truck, they were finally able to get some water on the fire, not to save the barn, but to save nearby buildings. Aid was also offered by Allendale, Saddle River and Ramsey, but their presence was not needed. the events of the night pointed out once more the need of modern fire alarm system and for a fire house. Mahwah people were justly proud of their volunteer firemen, who were so quick to give of themselves for over four hours on a freezing Holiday night. (Bristow) |
1952-12-24 | Police | The police reported a relatively quiet Christmas Eve. C.W. Thyberg reported that two small evergreen trees had been cut and stolen from his yard. A stray shot from a 22 rifle penetrated the window of the Community Shoppe. It was presumed that someone has been target shooting in the field opposite. None of the neighbors remember anyone shooting that afternoon. A New York State man was arrested for possession of indecent pictures. Since he could not make bail, he spent his Christmas in the County Jail, awaiting hearing before Judge Reeves of the Criminal Court in Hackensack.(Bristow) |
1894-12-25 | Food and Drink | The Christmas Festival for the children at the Havemeyer Farm was presided over by Mrs. Havemeyer and her daughters, Miss Dora Havemeyer And Mrs. Mayer. The loft over the dairy was beautifully decorated with greens. The Saalfield Band had been engaged for the evening and played until 11:00 PM, after which they were entertained at the Mansion to a sumptous dinner. Mrs. Havemeyer distributed gifts to the children, a magician did slight of hand tricks and ice cream followed. (Bristow) |
1909-12-25 | Government | Mr. May, the rural deliveryman for the Ramsey Post Office, who delivers to Masonicus and Darlington as well as the Borough, had over 700 pieces of mail to deliver, including 440 postcards. (Bristow) |
1930-12-25 | Police | Although Chief Smith had a day off for the holiday, he had to investigate an accident on Franklin Turnpike. A car driven by George Zimmer of Paterson went out of control while passing another car and ended up on the sidewalk against a telephone pole and a rock. His two passengers, Charles Conrad and Mrs. Ella Hoykas both of Prairie Avenue, Suffern, suffered cuts to the head and scalp and severe bruises. They were treated by Dr. Liddy and sent home. Chief Smith went back to his holiday. (Bristow) |
1942-12-25 | People | Thirty-four soldiers from the Air Forces Factory Training School in Paterson, enjoyed Christmas with families in West Mahwah. Some of the boys were shown around the vicinity and many were allowed to call home long distance. When they returned to base on the 11:02 train, they had made a fine impression on the community and expressed their appreciation for the fine treatment they received. Among those who entertained were Mrs. John Mayhook, Mrs. I. Krupinski, Mrs. J. Brennan and Mrs. M. Gorcyea. (Bristow) |
1945-12-25 | People | After over three years in the Army Medical Corps, Dr. F.J. Liddy was discharged in time to get home for Christmas. He had spent two years in the European Theater. His last post was the 116th General Hospital in Nuremberg, Germany. Many of the Nazi War criminals were patients in the hospital and he attended a session of the War Crimes Trials before his discharge. (Bristow) |
1892-12-26 | People | John Whitby and John Henion of Darlington, skated all the way to Suffern, NY on the Ramapo River. (Bristow) |
1899-12-26 | Charity | Mrs. Havermeyer's Christmas entertainment for the children of Darlington has become so popular, that large crowds from Hillburn, Mahwah, Ramsey, Allendale, Wyckoff and Oakland were attracted to the event. The "Benefectress Of The Ramapo Valley" provided ice-cream, cake and presents for the children and entertainment, including 2 slight-of-hand performers from New York. In addition, each of her employees received a personal note and 2 crisp $ 5.00 bills on Christmas morning from Mrs. Havermeyer. The correspondent from the Ramsey Journal commented, that "such deed of kindness" deserve to be recorded as they cannot fail to cement the good feeling that should always exist and does exist on the Havermeyer Estate between employer and employees. (Bristow) |
1911-12-26 | Charity | The feature of the Ramapo Reformed Church Sunday School Christmas Festival was the tree, a gift from Mr. Albert Winter. It was a pine almost perfectly shaped, 20 feet tall reaching to the ceiling of the Lecture Room. It was beautifully decorated with glitter and gifts of umbrellas, toys, dolls and diplomas, which were given to the children according to merit. All the children received an orange and a box of chocolates. (Bristow) |
1916-12-26 | Religion | The Darlington Chapel Christmas Celebration was described as the best ever. A large Christmas tree decorated with bells, tinsel and electric lights. The Reverend Dykema told a story about two children who wandered into a darkened building, fell asleep and were awakened by Santa Claus. Just at that moment Santa himself arrived to fill the next half hour with antics and presents for the children. (Bristow) |
1917-12-26 | People | James Glasgow began shipping his prize Wyandotte chickens from the Havermeyer Farm to Madison Square Garden for the poultry show. He will also send some prize pigeons to the exhibition. (Bristow) |
1944-12-26 | Fire Department | The Fardale Fire Department in their meeting at Akin's barn, elected officers for 1945. The Chief will be Charles Bartoff, Assistant Chief Harry Carlough, Sr., Captain Harry Carlough Jr., Lieutenant Karl Kjellender, President Charles N. Feldmann, Vice President Harry Stenner, Recording Secretary Louis Urban, Corresponding Secretary Ole Threstrup, Treasurer F. C. Kjellan. They were to be installed on January 9, 1945. The first Department number to enlist was Harold Vanderbeek Jr.. His name was to be placed on the honor roll. There were 44 paid up members at years end. (Bristow) |
1935-12-27 | People | The Woman's Club gave their annual young peoples dance at the Townhall. The patrons and patronesses were Mr. and Mrs. Stephen M. Biddle, Mr. and Mrs. George Buhlman and the dance Chairman Mrs. Arthur A. Harris, did much to make the evening for the "sub-debs" the best dance the town ever had. Among the pre-dance parties around town, before the event was one held by Mr. and Mrs. Frederick Chapman for their daughter Barbara and the dinner at which Irene Prendergast, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Thomas H. Prendergast entertained Marjorie Biddle, Robert Herrick, George Rountree and Sibley Reid. (Bristow) |
1940-12-27 | Fire Department | Members of Mahwah's two fire companies had to walk a while into the hills back of Darlington to fight a fire in the home of Nolan Jennings in the section known as "Cowtown". The house was completely destroyed along with its entire contents, despite the efforts of the firemen with their Indian pumps. Mrs. Jennings and her two children were forced to watch the house burn from the nearby rocks. Mrs. Jennings, who works for the WPA was currently out of work. The road to that section is too narrow for fire trucks. Also there are no hydrants there. The house was not insured. It is said, that the fire started by a faulty oil stove. (Bristow) |
1940-12-27 | Fire Department | Michael Worhol and President Rocco Miraglio, presented the proposal plans for the Company # 2 Firehouse, which is to be built on Island Road near the Greek Catholic Church. The land has been donated by the Brake Shoe Company and the design called for a two story structure 45 X 60 feet with a social hall upstairs. D.R. Sheppard office engineer of the Works Progress Administration, who was present, stated that he did not see any reason why the project should not be approved by his Agency for Federal Funding. It would take about four weeks after the final adoption of the plan by the TWP Committee. (Bristow) |
1940-12-27 | Food and Drink | The Township Committee passed a measure regulating the sale of liquor in the Township as well as the hours it could be sold. Establishments holding a plenary license must close between 2:00 am and 6:00 am on weekdays and between 3:00 am and noon on Sundays. Those with merely a consumption license can stay open two hours later on weekdays and one hour later on Sunday mornings. (Bristow) |
1944-12-27 | People | Dwight D. Little, the Chairman of the Ramapo Valley Chapter announced the appointment of Prentice D. Ash as Chairman of the Red Cross Fund Drive for 1945. He replaces Charles L. Plumb, also of Mahwah, who headed the campaign for the past two years. Ash was a Marine Aviator in World War I and a 1920 Graduate of M.I.T.. His son, Charles was serving in the US Navy. (Bristow) |
1970-12-27 | People | Small Town and Fancy Players open their first production "Dirty Works at the Crossroads" at the Mahwah Highschool. The play is directed by Mrs. Carol Clinger. (Bristow) |
1908-12-28 | Crime | Charles Bechard of Mahwah was arrested as he got off the Erie train in Paterson. he admitted that he had stolen a watch and some money from a man in Mahwah. A description of Bechard had been wired ahead to police Chief Binson of Paterson from which he was able to recognize him instantly. The stolen objects have not been recovered. Bechard claimed that he had hidden them under a loose board in the Mahwah Station platform. A search failed to find such a board or the loot. He was taken to jail in Hackensack. (Bristow) |
1911-12-28 | People | The body of William Banta was found along the Erie between the passenger tracks and the fence just below the coal sheds. He had obviously been hit by a train, but no one had seen the incident or could explain how exactly and why he was on the tracks. He was a long time resident of Mahwah and owned much property here. He was in his 70th year and a widower. He was buried from the home of his son Abram C. Banta and buried in the Mahwah Cemetery. (Bristow) |
1912-12-28 | People | Mrs. Margret Banta of Mahwah, perhaps the oldest resident of Bergen County, died. She was born in 1820 and was 93 years old. She came from two pioneer families in Mahwah, the Van Horns and the Hoppers. She married Abram Banta in 1840. They lived in New York for 10 years and return to Mahwah in 1850 or 1851 and after a further stay in New York again for good in 1859. Her husband died in 1894 after 54 years of marriage. She joined the church in 1841 and thus gave 72 years of Christian service. She was buried in the family plot in the Mahwah Cemetery. (Bristow) |
1914-12-28 | Fire Department | Mahwah Fire Department organized with 25 charter members, Millard Cooper, Chief. (Bristow) |
1932-12-28 | Recreation | The Woman's Club gave a dance for the Junior's Woman's Club and the children of members at the Fire Hall. Since the invitations asked that these invited escort or be escorted by persons not eligible for membership, there were over 100 in attendance. they danced to the music of Miss Mildred Sherwood's four piece orchestra until 1 Am. the Christmas decorations were the work of a committee of the Junior Club consisting of Henrietta Winter, Hannah and Julia Trumbower, Mabel King, Olive Valentine and "several obliging young men". The Committee of the Parent Club, Mrs. E.T. Bennett, Chairman, attended the dance as patronesses, tended the punch bowl rigorously and received the thanks of the young guests at evening end.(Bristow) |
1939-12-28 | Education | The report of the special committee to propose plans for a new school and community auditorium, was presented to a special School Board meeting, attended by the officers of most of the Townships major organizations. Mr. Savino of the W.P.A. who was asked to attend by Mrs. MacArthur and invited formally by Representative J. Parnell Thomas of Allendale spoke of the steps in applying for W.P.A. assistance on such a project. He said that W.P.A funds had been exhausted, so the agency was accepting no new applications. Albert Winter and others said that the Township's experience with the W.P.A. had not been good. He suggested that the only way to be able to tell, that the cost of the project would be, was for the School Board to put out their own bids. The sense of the meeting was, that the Board undertake to build an auditorium/ Gymnasium with a flat floor and a stage no more than $75.000.00, less if possible. The basement was to have rooms, which could be used for training and domestic science classes. The new facility would be used for sports contests, commencement exercises and school assemblies and be available for community use. The committee was to reduce the plan to paper and report back to the near future. (Bristow) |
1940-12-28 | Religion | Funeral Services were held for Mrs. Edwin F. Carpenter, mother of Mrs. Albert Winter and one of the oldest members of the congregation. She had transferred her membership to the Church on February 2, 1894. Hers was said, to be the last one on one of the Church's Memorial windows to become a true memorial. Her contribution of the quarterly communion service to the Church means, that she will be remembered quarterly. (Bristow) |
1941-12-28 | Government | Township Committee Chairman Frank Scherer appointed a committee of three, to administer the rationing of tires and tubes in the Township. Clark Hebner, Ralph Seberry and Abram Valentine were selected after instructions had been received from the State Defense Headquarters in Trenton. Details of the plan had not been announced. (Bristow) |
1942-12-28 | Fire Department | At the annual meeting of Mahwah Fire Company No. 2, most officers were reelected for new terms. Rocco Maraglio starts his ninth year as President, Michael J. Snack, his twelfth, as Recording Secretary, John J. Snack his tenth year of Treasurer and Michael J. Mihok as Assistant Chief for his third year. (Bristow) |
1943-12-28 | People | Elmer J. Snow was recovering from a severe bout with influenza in the Good Samaritan Hospital. He was 74 years old.(Bristow) |
1903-12-29 | People | The funeral was held for the 21 year old son of Abram Straut of Mahwah, who died of Tubercolosis on Christmas Day. Straut was buried in the Masonicus Cemetery. (Bristow) |
1910-12-29 | Recreation | Included in an ice fishing expedition to Mount Bashan for a feew days, were four men from Ramsey and Charles Mabie, Abram Banta, and John O. Henion of Mahwah. They had trouble with rain during the several days they were there, but the party caught 256 perch and pickerel. (Bristow) |
1928-12-29 | People | The most admired Christmas tree in Cragmere was the large blue spruce at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Frederick T. Chapman, on Maysenger Road. The tree was decorated with all blue lights, which as the viewer approached formed a perfect star. The correspondent of the Ramsey Journal pronounced it "the work of an artist", which is of course what the Chapman's were. (Bristow) |
1934-12-29 | Recreation | Miss Norma Sherow is teaching the new dance, the Continental at her weekly dance class. (Bristow) |
1939-12-29 | Recreation | Mr. and Mrs. John W. R. Zisgen made a day of it in New York City during Christmas week. They dined at Stoeffers and attended the Christmas performances at Radio City Music Hall. (Bristow) |
1940-12-29 | People | Stephen Birch of Valley Road, Darlington, Founder of the Kennecott Copper Corporation, died in Doctor's Hospital, New York one week after an abdominal operation. He was 68 years old. His wife died in 1930. In addition to his large estate in Darlington, now the Campus of Ramapo College of New Jersey, he maintained a home in San Diego. Surviving, in addition to a brother and two sisters, were his son Stephen Jr. and his daughter Mary Birch, both of Mahwah. He was a Graduate of the Columbia School of Mines and founded Kennecott in 1893. He was Chairman of its Board of Directors as well as Director of several other nationally known companies at the time of his death. (Bristow) |
1941-12-29 | Government | State Defense Headquarters ordered local Defense officials to make sure, that no whistles or bells were sounded on New Years Eve, since they might be confused with air raid alarm signals. (Bristow) |
1949-12-29 | Education | A drawing of the proposed new elementary school, which is slated to replace Commodore Perry School was being shown at various meetings around town. The site was at the corner of Ridge Road and West Ramapo Avenue about one eighth of a mile from the old school. The School Board was said to have an option to purchase the property for $24.000.00. It had a 443 foot frontage on Ramapo Avenue and 1128 feet on Ridge Road. (Bristow) |
1951-12-29 | Fire Department | The Masonicus Fire Department and the Masonicus Civic Association held a joint Christmas Party. Carols and dancing were the entertainment for the evening , climaxed by Santa's grab bag. Toasts were drunk in honor of Mrs. Charles Peltz's birthday and in the hope of a successful years for both organizations in 1952. (Bristow) |
1917-12-30 | Fire Department | The fire bell rang at 1:00 am for a chimney fire at the Olney Road home of Mrs. E.J. Snow. Before the Fire Company could respond, the fire was put out with a hand extinguisher. (Bristow) |
1920-12-30 | Food and Drink | Fardales first annual dance and straw ride was held. The destination was the Oakland Town Hall, where the revellers danced to the music of Tokyo Five. refreshments were served at 1:00 o'clock. (Bristow) |
1927-12-30 | People | Only the quick actions of two men, who were passing by in their car, saved the life of young John Shuart of Mahwah. The nine year old son of Mr. and Mrs. John Shuart was on the ice of De Wyckoff Lake, skating on Franklin Turnpike, when he fell through he ice at a weak point. Two Rockland Electric Company employees, Edward Meade and John Campbell, glanced at the lake as they were passing and saw Shuart struggling in the broken ice. Two young companions some distance away seemed to be arguing about what to do. The men brought with them a long rope from their car. They found him very quiet with his head thrown back to keep it out of the water, grasping the edge of the ice with his hands. They threw the rope to him. He was able to grasp it and they pulled him to safety. They then took him home to his parents. Had they come any later, it might have been too late to prevent him from slipping under the ice and drowning. (Bristow) |
1932-12-30 | People | Young Donald Sherow's dog was run over and killed by a hit and run driver on Franklin Turnpike. This was the second dog which he had lost in this way in a year. Dogs were allowed to run loose in those days and he had gone from the Sherow family home onto Oweno Road and was hit on the Turnpike. (Bristow) |
1947-12-30 | Fire Department | Members of Mahwah's two volunteer Fire Departments will meet jointly to nominate the Fire Chief to be recommended to the Township Committee for appointment. It is hoped, that a suitable candidate can be found, so that the feud between the two companies can be lessoned. (Bristow) |
1985-12-30 | Religion | The Consistory of the Ramapo Reformed Church organized for 1986 and elected officers. Henry Zeeuw was elected Vice-President. Also chosen were Clerk: Dan Hopkins, Chairman of Deacons, Charles Roukema, Financial Secretary James Dent and Classis Representative, Howard Mc Pherson. (Bristow) |
1850-12-31 | Real Estate | The Will of William G. Hopper, NJ State Legislator and owner of the Grist and Sawmill on the Ramapo River, probated leaving almost all of his estate to his son David W. Hopper. (Bristow) |
1873-12-31 | Politics | Dickie Wanamaker's daughter was married in a clandestine ceremony to Raymond Henion of Ramapo. They are now living with the grooms father. Dickie was reported by the Bergen Democrat thinking it strange, unaccountable and entirely uncalled for. (Bristow) |
1895-12-31 | People | The heavy windstorm last night did so much damage among fences and trees. When Ed Winter of Waldwyck was driving past Decker's Woods, he found a tree had fallen blocking the road. He had to seek help at James Pullis' Farm in removing it. (Bristow) |
1909-12-31 | People | The thirty first Wedding Anniversary of Mr. and Mrs. E.F. Carpenter, who recently retired as Superintendant of the Crocker Farm, was celebrated in a surprise party at their former home. 37 guests flocked to honor them, including their daughter and her husband, Mr. and Mrs. Albert Winter of Mahwah. A 12" silver loving cup was given to Mr. Carpenter engraved "Presented to Mr. and Mrs. E.F. Carpenter January 1st 1910 on their thirty first wedding anniversary with the love and best wishes of the employees of the Darlington Farm." A case of 12 silver spoons was given to Mrs. Carpenter by the women of the farm. Songs and dancing followed as the New Year was welcomed in. This was the last time the Carpenters will be with their former co-workers. (Bristow) |
1912-12-31 | Religion | The reverend Dykema and his wife were surprised to see a ghostly procession carrying a somber and sinister object across the cemetery toward the Ramapo Reformed Church Parsonage. Six or eight men were carrying this eerie load. Mrs. Dykema thought it might be a night funeral. The cortege eventually turned into the north gate of the Parsonage and a knock on the door revealed a group of friends and Parishioners headed by Mr. E.F. Carpenter with a gift of a genuine leather couch for the Domine and his wife. they were totally surprised since they already had received two handsome paintings from the Congregation for Christmas. (Bristow) |
1932-12-31 | Agriculture | Mahwin Johanna Ethel, a registered senior three year old Holstein bred and owned by Albert Winter, set a world record in class B for her age by producing 948.2 pounds of fat and 26,148.7 pounds of 3.6 % milk according to a report issued by the Holstein Friesian Association Of America. The old record was exceeded by 82.4 pounds of butterfat. Winter had had other notable Holsteins, especially Rosamond Korndyke, the only cow in the world to produce over 1,000 pounds of butterfat for three years in a row. (Bristow) |
1940-12-31 | Religion | The Church Bulletin of the Ramapo Reformed Church contains a series of New Years Resolutions for parishioners. The included attending services every week, arriving on time, sit in the front pews and refrain from whispering, move over so that others won't have to climb over me, rustling the pages of the hymnal and checking my watch in the middle of the sermon. (Bristow) |