This Day in History: 1938-04-15
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)