History: Temperance and The Matawan Journal (1871 - 1889)

The Matawan Journal was a strong voice for the temperance movement throughout the late 19th century. As a consequence it covered the news with a certain bias, editorialized broadly against the evils of alcohol, and  meticulously covered the various manifestations of prohibitionist agitation and organization in the county and state. While it is a great resource, keep in mind that it surely represents the opinions of only a segment of the community and contains a heavy bias. You may have to read between the lines and reverse engineer certain articles and editorials to begin to see what was really happening. 

Below are a few related pieces I found today; you will find others throughout the blog.

The 30 Sep 1871 edition of The Matawan Journal contained this harsh editorial rebuke against political machines using liquor to obtain votes during the party nomination phase of elections. The commentary followed on its coverage of a dysfunctional local party convention at the Farry hotel. When a nomination was challenged, the person running the meeting was an interested party and left the issue unaddressed, so a large group exited the convention and met outside near the hotel's stables to nominate their own committee. It was in that context that the text below followed.

"A word or two now with reference to whiskey. We saw more drunken men in Matawan last Saturday afternoon than we have seen in the six months before. It is a shame and a disgrace that we cannot select men for our public offices without a part of our citizens being turned into rum tubs, into whose mouths whiskey is poured almost like water, in the hope that by this means a nomination may be secured. What low things will be done by men wearing the garb of respectability, that they may attain to a little honor. We would rather hide honor in the grave than climb for it on the temple of ambition, if to obtain it required our wading through the streams of rum that flow every year from political whiskey barrels."

Coverage of the temperance movement included the work of the Prohibition Party, which was expected to hold its NJ state convention in Keyport on 6 Sep 1887, according to the 27 Aug 1887 edition of The Matawan Journal. This conservative third party was founded in 1869 and advocated for the prohibition of alcohol in the US. Its heyday was the years immediately after World War I and the beginning of Prohibition, then again immediately after World War II and before the Korean War. The party still exists but has been relegated to political oddity status according to Wikipedia.

The Woman's Christian Temperance Union (WCTU) had its own column in the Matawan Journal, as seen in its 7 Sep 1889 edition. The column listed upcoming meetings by the Matawan WCTU in the Baptist church's lecture room on 12 Sep 1889 and the Loyal Temperance Legion on 13 Sep 1889 in the Reform Club room.

A significant portion of the WCTU column was dedicated to an editorial pondering the best strategy to make progress on temperance in Matawan. A local WCTU member had recently bemoaned the state of affairs in Matawan as being worse than when she started agitating for change 30 years earlier. The editorial proposed a legal prohibition of alcohol as worth a try.

"In this temperance work there is the yet untried remedy of legal suppression, and there are temperance voters enough in the old parties to give it a trial. Would matters be in any worse state, if it simply proved that prohibition simply didn't prohibit?" (Well, there's that whole issue of how rum running prompted the creation of organized crime in America.)

Prominently displayed on page 2 col 1 of the 7 Sep 1889 paper were announcements of the Democratic Party and the Monmouth County Prohibition conventions. The Prohibitionists of Monmouth County would be electing their county executive committee at their meeting on 7 Sep 1889 at the Reform Club room in Freehold.

History: Monmouth County Hangings (1691 - 1906)

The 5 Jul 1906 edition of The Matawan Journal (pg 6 col 2) reported the grisly details of the hanging in Freehold of Edward W Brown, a 38 year old black man from Virginia, for the 11 Jun 1904 murder of Rebecca Treynum in Long Branch.

See also Chapter 3 - The Brown Execution (pp 25 - 34) in George Joynson's "Murders in Monmouth: Capital Crimes from the Jersey Shore's Past" for a detailed rendering of the murder, pursuit, trial and execution. (Available to view at Google Books)

The article also contained this list of hangings in the county, but I can't vouch for its accuracy. See if you detect a theme.

• Sep 1691 - Cesar, black, for the murder of Mary Wright, also black, at Middletown. Tried, convicted and hung at Shrewsbury.
• Mar 1696 - Jeremy, black, for the murder of his master at Middletown, where he was hung.
• 1699 -  Tom, black, for the rape of a white woman at Middletown, where he was hung.
• 1700 - Mingo, black, for the murder of Ned, also black; he was hung at Middletown.
• 13 May 1803 - Peter Stout, presumed white, for the murder of a neighbor's son at Upper Freehold; he was hung at Freehold.
• Fall 1826 - Tony, black, for murder of Elijah Bedle near Keyport; he was hung just south of Freehold.
• 11 Apr 1851 - John Cline, presumed white, for the murder of a man at Red Valley.
• 8 Jan 1858 - James P Donnelly, presumed white, for the 1 Aug 1857 murder of Albert E Moses at Navesink.
• 27 Nov 1863 - Peter E Slocum, presumed white, for the murder of his wife at West Long Branch.
• 7 Jan 1869 - William N Woolley, presumed white, for the murder of Hartshorne Fleming at Bennett's Tavern near Shark River.
• 18 Jul 1888 - Richard Kearney, black, for the murder of Mrs Margaret Purcell at Elberon.
• 13 Apr 1892 - Louis J Harriott, presumed white, for the murder of Mrs Charles T Leonard at Atlantic Highlands.
•  29 Jun 1906 - Edward W Brown, black, for the 11 Jun 1904 murder of his mistress in Long Branch; hung at Freehold.

History: Main Street, Matawan (c 1905)

 What can we see in this post card image of Main Street, Matawan, New Jersey published as A6545 by the American News Company?

The turn in the road in the distance suggests that we are looking north from near Ravine Drive. Here's a roughly equivalent view in today's Matawan.

The chimney on the right in both images might lock the perspective of the old image.

The three story building on the right in the far distance is likely the Matawan House, which was located at the bend in the road at that point. It was torn down in 1930. See "Around Matawan and Aberdeen," page 102, to see an image of the Matawan House. The two-story A-frame building to the north of the Matawan House is large and distinctive but I cannot immediately identify it. Can you?

The Methodist Church steeple might be visible within the tree immediately to the right of the carriage on the right side of the street.

The presence of one or more horse-drawn carriages suggests this image is dated before 1908, when vehicles started to share local roads in earnest and cause some issues with horse-drawn vehicles.

Utility poles were installed in 1899, when Main Street received electric street lights, so the image could be after that date. Then again, no wires are visible, so the poles could be for kerosene lamps setting the date for the image prior to 1900. Thoughts?

I'd welcome any building identifications or thoughts on the date of the image.

History: Brick Worker Shot at Card Game, Lands in Matawan Hospital (1928)

The 21 Sep 1928 edition of The Matawan Journal included this short blurb describing the rough life of the Cliffwood brick manufacturing community:

"As the result of an argument over cards, Hugh J Ross, colored, employer of the Craigen Brick Company at Cliffwood, is in the Matawan Hospital with a bullet hole in his groin and his common law wife, Viola Wright, is in the county jail at Freehold, having been held for the grand jury, it being alleged that she fired the shot. The woman was arrested by the State police and arraigned before a Keyport justice. At the hospital it was said that Ross did not appear to be seriously injured."

I suspect that Viola wasn't playing cards with the guys. It's more likely that she shot Hugh in the groin over some indiscretion involving a woman. One can only ponder how someone could have been shot in the groin and not be seriously injured.

History: Call for Network of Stone Roads in New Jersey (1899)

The 21 Sep 1899 edition of The Matawan Journal included a lengthy front page article discussing The Red Bank Register's call for a network of county stone roads to facilitate both commerce and recreational travel. Cars were becoming more popular, so people needed roadways spanning the state, as well as local roads connecting to these arteries. Construction costs would be shared between the state, county and local governments, but the roads would eventually be managed by the state.

• Red Bank to Eatontown (this year, to complete route to Belmar)
• Belmar to New Brunswick (2 sections need to be completed next year)
• Atlantic Highlands to Matawan (next year?)
• Oceanic to Red Bank (next year?)
• Belmar along the coast to Atlantic City (a few miles each year)
• Atlantic City to Cape May (existing)
• Two northbound routes from New Brunswick
• A major north-south route is underway in the western part of the state
• A major north-south route is underway in the central part of the state
• Asbury Park to Freehold (future, after shore road completed)
• Shrewsbury to Freehold (future, after shore road completed)
• Matawan to Freehold (future, after shore road completed)
• Eatontown to Tinton Falls (future, to complete E-W route to shore)
• Freehold southwest, west and northwest to major road in western part of the state
• Oceanic bridge to Atlantic Highlands (planned)
• Matawan to Old Bridge (planned)
• Old Bridge to New Brunswick (completed)

History: First Annual Monmouth County Firemen's Parade, Matawan (1875)

The 27 Nov 1875 edition of The Matawan Journal described the events of the Monmouth County Firemen's grand parade, which was held in Matawan on Thanksgiving Day, Thursday 25 Nov 1875. The honor of hosting what was the first such annual parade was granted by the United Associations of Monmouth to Matawan's Washington Company, the oldest fire company in the county.

Recent rains had made the streets muddy, but the day was clear and bright.

The following fire companies appeared in the parade in order of seniority:

•  Washington Company (the Washingtons), of Matawan, was represented by 45 men in red shirts and black pants. Their equipment was a single-deck hand engine.
• Good Will Company (the Good Wills), of Freehold, was represented by only 25 men and a ladder truck stripped bare of its ladders, buckets, and other appurtenances. The company was indignant that the Freehold commissioners had limited the fire company's participation, especially that they had refused to allow them to bring their handsome steamer and stripped bare the ladder truck. The "noble few" arrived first, in carriages.
• Navesink Hook and Ladder Company (the Navesinks), of Red Bank, was represented by 61 men in blue shirts and black pants. The men arrived on the 1:27 pm train and were met by their hook and ladder truck, complete with ladders, etc, which had been drawn to the event by two teams of fine horses.
• Oceanic Company (the Oceanics), of Long Branch Village, consisted of 53 men in red shirts and black pants. They arrived by special train along with the Atlantic Company and were met at the station by the Washingtons. They brought their Babcock engine.
• Atlantic Company (the Atlantics), of East Long Branch, consisted of 53 men in blue shirts and black pants. They arrived by special train along with the Oceanic Company and were met at the station by the Washingtons. Their one-cylindered steamer was the most handsome machine in the parade. They also brought their ladder truck, complete with appurtenances.

Also appearing were the following bands:

• Jefferson Cornet Band, of Newark, a 14 piece band, accompanied the Matawan fire company.
• Major Allstrom's Cornet Band, of Red Bank, accompanied the Navesink fire company.
• Freehold Band, of Freehold, a 16 piece band plus drum corps, accompanied the Freehold and Long Branch fire companies.

The parade began at the Matawan railroad station, proceeded as far as the residence of John Suydam, then counter-marched down Main Street as far as the residence of Mr L Cady. The parade counter-marched to Church Street, then down Church to Broad Street, then Broad to Little Street, and up Little to the Engine House.

The firemen constructed a great archway over the intersection of Main and Little Streets to honor the county's firemen, who were greeted all along the way by citizens displaying mottoes of welcome, hanging wreaths, waving handkerchiefs, and draping flags from their windows. An estimated 5,000 persons attended the parade. Men, women and children thronged the streets and hung out of windows along the parade route.

The companies parked their fire vehicles at the Engine House and proceeded on foot to Washington Hall for a collation prepared by the ladies of Matawan. The newspaper took Lieutenant Hendrickson for a sneak preview of the collation. He reportedly compared the collation favorably to a reception prepared for the military at the dedication of the "soldiers' monument at Beverly."

When the festivities were over, the Freehold men departed in their carriages and the others departed by train. Foreman Sickels, of Washington Company, and his crew were given high praises by the newspaper for their untiring efforts to make the parade a success. Chief Marshall Sidney Walling, and his assistants Henry Stillwell, D P VanDeventer, and Charles A Geran were complimented on how they aptly preserved the order of the day on horseback, especially how they kept their steeds in check despite the din of the parade.

Other fire company news:

The 19 Feb 1876 edition of The Matawan Journal announced that the Washington Company would muster in full dress on 22 Feb 1876 at 7 o'clock. Also announced was the Centennial Firemen's Ball of Monmouth County, which would be held at John J Wheeler's hotel in Eatontown on 22 Feb 1876.

The 11 Mar 1876 edition of The Matawan Journal reviewed the assets of the local fire company and asked its readers to ask themselves if the fire company didn't deserve more support.
   1 - The firemen are well organized, willing and alert.
   2 - The engine house, if a bit costly and not large enough to stow all the necessary gear, is well built and paid for.
   3 - The company has an engine that works, albeit with great effort.
   4 - The company has a suction hose, but it's only barely long enough to reach the water in a typical well.
   5 - The company's ejection hose has such serious leaks that bystanders are guaranteed a good wetting. About 100 feet of the hose is good enough for hose practice but not for a significant fire.
   6 - The alarm bell in the engine house was cracked during the Centennial celebrations and is now useless. It's glory has departed, the writer notes.
   7 - The promised cisterns have yet to arrive.

The 29 Apr 1876 edition of The Matawan Journal announced the utter destruction by fire of the home of a colored man named David Schanck. The house had been located near the "camp meeting woods." The newspaper thought the property had been insured.

A letter to the editor in the 13 May 1876 edition of The Matawan Journal urged Matawan residents to turn their attention to the poor condition of its fire fighting vehicle, hoses, and equipment. "The engine is classed by experts as third class, useless in a case of a large fire; the hose now on hand is unfit for use; and there is not enough even of this to reach a fire at a short distance." The writer, listed simply as C D H, encouraged the replacement of the old equipment and purchase of new. He ended with a hope that this will wake some of the Rip Van Winkles of Matawan to a sense of their duty. . ." 

The 17 Jun 1876 edition of The Matawan Journal announced that the Washington Fire Company was arranging to acquire a new bell to replace the one in their alarm tower. That bell cracked while ringing in the Centennial year on New Year's eve. The company would parade at 1 pm on the 4th of July.

The 14 Oct 1876 edition of The Matawan Journal announced the upcoming Monmouth County Firemen's annual parade, which would be held in Long Branch on 19 Oct 1876. The article made mention of "the Washingtons," the local Matawan fire company, which would be represented at the parade. The writer noted that the previous annual parade was held in Matawan in Nov 1875.

History: Jilted Lover Stabs Himself in Neck at Matawan Train Station (1927)

A lonely man, feeling depressed after being jilted by a woman, stabbed himself in the neck and broke off the knife blade after getting off the Central Jersey Railroad train at Matawan rail station, according to a front page article in the 1 Apr 1927 edition of The Matawan Journal. He had just arrived from Highlands, where he claimed he'd tried to drown himself, but the water wasn't deep enough; his shirt was still wet.

Matawan Chief of Police Edwin Sloat and Dr Millard Erwin saw to his immediate medical needs, then Chief Sloat sent him to the Monmouth County jail, where he was examined by a doctor, found to be demented, and quickly committed to the New Jersey State Hospital (now Trenton Psychiatric Hospital) in Trenton.

Three years later, the 1930 Federal Census listed an Anthony Waideles, age 39, born in Polish Russia and spoke Lithuanian, who was head of household on 8th Street in Union Beach. He was a house laborer. The record showed that he had immigrated to the US in 1912 and was a naturalized citizen. He claimed to have only $10 to his name.

Living in the same household was a roomer named Joseph Mackovick, age 38, who was born in Lithuania and spoke Lithuanian. He was a laborer in hollow tile. He was an alien; the date of immigration is difficult to read.

The Matawan Police Department had been established a year earlier, on 9 Mar 1926, according to a history found on the Matawan PD website. Chief Sloat was the first full time police officer in Matawan to hold the position of Chief of Police.

Below is the original text from The Matawan Journal.

STABS HIMSELF IN THROAT.
Anthony Waidhes Mentally Unbalanced Said Girl Deserted Him.

Because he had been jilted by a woman, Anthony Waidhes, 35, a native of Poland, stabbed himself in the throat with a jackknife Wednesday morning. The man was a passenger on the Central Railroad train on the Highlands division, which arrived at Matawan station at 8:45. It is thought that he thrust the knife into his throat soon after he alighted from the train. Blood streamed from the wound and the man's clothing was soaked with water.

Chief of Police Edwin C. Sloat of Matawan took the man in charge and Dr. Millard Erwin administered first aid and advised that Weidhes be taken to a hospital. Chief Sloat questioned the man who told him that the knife had broke off in his throat when he stabbed himself and that before he attempted to slash his throat he had tried to drown himself but that the water was not deep enough. He said that he had no family and that a girl had deserted him.

As the man was apparently demented, Chief Sloan took him to Freehold, where he turned him over to Jail Physician Dr. Clayton and after an examination as to his sanity he was committed to the State Institute at Trenton.

History: Monmouth Battle Monument Commission Accepts Design (1883)

 The 10 Mar 1883 edition of The Matawan Journal discussed the approval of a monument celebrating the Battle of Monmouth,which would be erected in Freehold in a little over a year.

Monumental - The Monmouth Battle Monument Commission had a meeting in Trenton on March 2d. They accepted a design for the monument as submitted by Maurice J Power, of the National Fine Art Foundry, of New York.  The monument is to be 100 feet high, made of New England granite, with 5 large bronze tablets illustrative of incidents of the Battle of Monmouth, and designed by James E Kelly, artist of Harper's Monthly. The monument is to cost $35,000 and to be finished by May 1, 1884.

The Welcome to Freehold website has an assortment of local Freehold history articles, including the text of an undated News Transcript article that provides a timetable of the Battle of Monmouth Monument's existence. Reading that page, I was surprised to learn that the statue of Columbia Triumphant, which stood atop the memorial, was struck by lightning during a major storm and seriously damaged in August 1894, just before the monument's tenth anniversary. A replacement statue was purchased and installed in May 1896.

The monument includes a series of plaques with the following depictions:

• (Relief one:) RAMSAY DEFENDING HIS GUNS/LT. COLONEL OSWALD LT. COLONEL RAMSAY/3rd REG. MARYLAND LINE  
• (Relief two:) WASHINGTON RALLYING THE TROOPS 
• (Relief three:) MOLLY PITCHER/TENNENT CHURCH/KNOX 
• (Relief four:) COUNCIL OF WAR AT HOPEWELL/(illegible) SCOTT/STEUBEN LORD STERLING JUNE 24,1778. WASHINGTON WAYNE WOODFORD/POOR KNOX LAFAYETTE SCAMMELL PATTERSON GREENE LEE 
• (Relief five:) WAYNES CHARGE/TENNENT PARSONAGE/LT. COL. HENRY (illegible)/M. J. POWER signed

See the Smithsonian Institution's Art Inventories Catalog for the most thorough discussion of the components of the Monmouth Battle Monument and their history.

History: Matawan Journal, A Week of Railroad News (1885)

The 21 Feb 1885 edition of The Matawan Journal contained the following items related in one way or another to the railroad:

1) There was notice of the sale of over 20 acres of land by the heirs of the late Mrs Mary Smith.

A house, barn, and 16 acres of land, also 6 acres of salt meadow, located near Matawan station, will be sold at public sale on Saturday, Feb 18th, by the heirs of the late Mrs Mary Smith. See posters for fuller particulars.

• The Atlas of Monmouth County, by Beers, Comstock, and Cline, 1873, pg 17, shows Mrs Smith's property located on the east side of Atlantic Avenue just south of the railroad junction.
• The Atlas of Monmouth County, by Chester Wolverton, 1889, plate 28, shows the property as part of a much larger block of land belonging to J C Conover & Co.
• The 1850 Federal Census shows Mary Smith age 44 born in NJ as wife of William C Smith age 50. They were living in Raritan. Mary's husband was a farmer with $2,000 in real property. They had daughters Elizabeth, Angeline, and Charlene, ages 15, 13, and 10, respectively. Also living in their household were Elizabeth, James and Hannah Van Cleaf, ages 13, 10, and 7, resp. The relationship of the Van Cleaf children to the Smiths is not stated.
• The 1860 Federal Census shows Mary Smith age 56 born in NJ. She owned $900 in real property plus $200 in personal property. She was living in Matawan. James, Hannah and Joseph Van Cleaf, ages 19, 17,and 11, respectively, lived in her household. James was listed as a farmer.
• The 1870 Federal census shows Mary Smith age 65 born in NJ. She owned $1,200 in real property plus $250 in personal property. She kept house. She was still living in Matawan.
• The 1880 Federal Census shows Mary Smith age 75 born in NJ to NJ parents. She kept house. She was still living in Matawan.

2) There was news of an accident involving one of the stage coaches running between the station and Keyport:

On Monday, during the heavy gale and storm, one of the stages running between Keyport and the Matawan station, was blown over near Brown's Point. Three or four passengers were in the stage, but none were hurt.

• The Atlas of Monmouth County, by Beers, Comstock, and Cline, 1873, pg 23, showed Brown's Point as that area of Keyport between Luppatcong Creek, Matawan Creek, and Raritan Bay. The point is bisected lengthwise by Broadway. The stage would have been heading down Broadway towards West Front Street and possibly tipped while turning at the intersection of the two.

3) There had been a strong Nor'easter that Monday (16 Feb 1885), causing an unusually high tide in Matawan and undermining the tracks of the Freehold and New York Railway near East Freehold.

One of the highest tides known for years overflowed the meadows on each side of Matawan creek during the north easter last Monday morning. The Morristown road was submerged up to the bank by the lower gateway to Mr Hankinson's farm-house, and also the road loading to the "Henry Stillwell" farm, and away up the ravine. The meadows remained overflowed the entire day.

• There was a farmer named Henry Stillwell born about 1842 who lived in Holmdel in the 1880 Federal Census. He lived in Raritan in the 1850 Federal Census.
  

A Narrow Escape

On Tuesday morning, as the 2 PM train from Freehold on the F & NY Railway, was near East Freehold, the engineer noticed some distance ahead a decline in the track and was sure something was wrong. The train was stopped and a serious accident was no doubt averted. By the heavy rain of Monday the culvert beneath the track as an outlet for the water from one field to another had become clogged with --- and a great pond of water four feet deep had accumulated. This worked its way along the side of the embankment until it had forced a way through, under the track. Had the train gone on, the weight would have crushed down the embankment and a serious accident must have occurred. The train waited until the arrival of the 1:33 from Matawan for Freehold, when the passengers were transferred each way, the respective trains returning. The breech was promptly repaired.

4) The Honorable James H Van Cleef of New Brunswick got the better of a Pennsylvania railroad company after being put off a train on his way home for what they claimed was lack of proper fare. When they offered him 82 cents to refund his remaining fare, he took them to court. In lieu of the $5,000 suit he filed against them, VanCleef accepted their apology for rudeness, their payment of his legal fees, and an annual pass to ride anywhere in the Pennsylvania rail system.

• The 1880 Federal Census lists James Van Clief, age 35, lawyer, living in New Brunswick with wife Ellen (age 34) and son Schuyler (age 5) and a servant named Annie Scudder (age 25). His mother, brother in law, nieces, and an aunt were living with them.

5) The various railroads published their time tables in the newspaper.

The Freehold and New York Railway advertised trains from Matawan for Marlboro and Freehold, etc (7 trains); Matawan for Keyport (4 trains); Keyport for Matawan (6 trains); and Freehold for Matawan (6 trains). Their advertisement mentioned that stages would connect between Matawan station and Keyport, but only for trains between Freehold and Matawan.

The Pennsylvania Railroad New York Division advertised trains departing Rahway, Elizabeth, and Newark for Trenton and Philadelphia.

The New York and Long Branch Railroad advertised trains between New York and Newark and Matawan, as well as Matawan and Long Branch and Point Pleasant. They had stages connecting Red Bank with Oceania and Fair Haven.

History: Frederick Whitcomb of Freehold, 1873-1911

A hundred years ago this week, traveling salesman Frederick Whitcomb of Freehold shot himself in the head in his room at the Boston Tavern on Tuesday and died the next day in a local Boston hospital, according to the 23 Nov 1911 edition of The Matawan Journal, page 1, col 3. Mr Whitcomb, age 37, represented A P Smith & Co of East Orange.

The Federal Census for 1910 showed Frederick A Whitcomb, age 39 of New York, living in Freehold with his second wife Eliza F Whitcomb, age 28 of New Jersey, and their two sons McClean F and John F, ages 3 and 8, respectively, both of New Jersey. Frederick and Eliza had been married 3 years and only McClean was hers. This was Eliza's first marriage. Frederick was a "commercial master" whose business was "merchandise." They had a servant, Anna Pettis, age 23 of Virginia. Anna had been married 5 years and had one living child, but her husband and child did not appear in this listing.

The Federal Census for 1900 showed Frederick Whitcomb, born Nov 1873 in New York, living in East Orange with his first wife, Isabella, born May 1880 in New Jersey and her father, Gustav Kruell, born Oct 1849 in Germany. Frederick was a salesman and Gustav an engraver. Frederick's father had been born in Canada and spoke English; Frederick's mother had been born in New York. Isabella's father Gustav came to America in 1872 and was a naturalized US citizen.

The Federal Census for 1880 showed Frederick Whitcomb, age 6 of New York, living in Buffalo, New York with his parents, N. Whitcomb and wife Mary, two older siblings, a lumber dealer and his wife who were boarding with the family, and a 34 year old black servant from Virginia named Evelyn Logan. Frederick's father was a dentist born in Canada. A notation said that Frederick had scarlet fever on the date of the enumeration.

An Ancestry family tree showed Frederick's parents as Nathan/Nathaniel W. Whitcomb and Mary L Barnes. The same record showed Isabella Kruell's mother as Clara Cecilie Kuhns.

The A P Smith Manufacturing Company of East Orange made fire hydrants, according to FireHydrant.org. Their first hydrant was patented in 1896. The company was purchased by US Pipe in 1966.

Civil War Re-Enactment at Freehold 17-18 September 2011

The 2nd Rhode Island Volunteer Infantry Co D and the 6th New York Independence Battery will be encamped  this weekend (17-18 Sept 2011) at 70 Court Street, opposite the Monmouth County Courthouse lawn, according to Atlanticville.

From 10 am to 4 pm each day, visitors will be able to see typical activities of Union troops, including cooking, textiles and furniture manufacture, military drill and weapons fire as might have occurred during the Civil War. Even Mary Todd Lincoln will be on hand to interpret life as First Lady to Abraham Lincoln.

Atlanticville says the weekend's activities are meant to launch the Monmouth County Historical Association's new exhibit "Marching Away: Monmouth County in the Civil War," but I see no evidence online that such an exhibit exists. I no doubt missed it or they haven't yet updated their site. I'd check further if you plan to attend. The museum has a book called "Marching Away" that deals with Monmouth County men going off to World War II, but that's all I could find.

Many Northern Monmouth/Middlesex County Residents Still Without Power Tuesday

Thousands of people in our area remain without power this morning, according to statistics published by First Energy Corp, the parent company of JCP&L. A quick drive around Cliffwood Beach yesterday afternoon revealed a number of generators humming and wires running from house to house to share power. We drove out to Chili's in Holmdel yesterday but the lot was empty. There was a sign out front that said they had no power. We drove to Applebee's in Middletown, which was open.

A partial list of outages as of 6:05 am today appears below:

• Aberdeen - 319
• Cliffwood - 16
• Cliffwood Beach - 984
• Freehold - 5,325
• Hazlet - 1,507
• Holmdel - 2,656
• Keansburg - 170
• Keyport - 212
• Laurence Harbor - 182
• Marlboro - 1,996
• Matawan - 4,741
• Middletown - 3,394
• Morganville - 2,326
• Old Bridge - 392
• Parlin - 266
• Red Bank - 3,725 
• Sayreville - 87
• South Amboy - 290
• Spotswood - 1,516
• Union Beach -18

South Amboy residents were still boiling their city water as of yesterday afternoon. The water main that broke was fixed by 1 pm yesterday, restoring water pressure.

Getting around was still difficult yesterday afternoon with traffic lights out of order at many intersections. Trees still hung across streets in Navesink and Navesink River Road was blocked, forcing us to drive across the Oceanic Bridge to Rumson. Trouble with the Lake Lefferts dam in Matawan caused the closing of a portion of Ravine Drive in Matawan.

Flooding in Howell Puts Red Cross Disaster Teams on Alert

I've been listening to Monmouth County 911 radio dispatches over the Internet tonight since my wife was put on call by the Jersey Coast Chapter of the American Red Cross. Volunteers are prepared to set up a shelter in Howell later tonight. First responders can be heard on the radio calling for boats to rescue residents from their homes in Howell, where flooding is making contact with electrical lines in their homes and forcing residents into the night. Main routes are closed in places throughout the area due to flooding and downed trees after tonight's severe thunderstorms. What a mess.

22 Aug 2011
UPDATE:  All but one of the residents had someplace to go last night and no shelter was opened.  The Red Cross is compiling a registration list for OEM, and stands ready to assist.

Stuff The Bus, August 2011

Visit Target of Middletown on Saturday 6 August 2011 between 11 am and 4 pm so you can pick up a few extra school supplies for the needy in support of Stuff The Bus, a charitable project of the United Way of Monmouth County. Their staff will be on hand to collect your gifts and direct them to needy kids throughout the county. Even a small contribution could help and will be most appreciated. Similar drives will be held at Target of Manalapan on 13 August and in Freehold on 20 August at Sam's Club. See UWMC and APP for further details.

2011 Monmouth County Fair

The 37th Annual Monmouth County Fair is set to begin on Wednesday 27 July 2011. The fair website is chock full of details on the schedule of events, including stunt shows, musical performances, and fireworks. They're offering an $18 wristband for unlimited use of the amusement rides.

Wild Kingdom in Monmouth County

It's been Mutual of Omaha's Wild Kingdom in Monmouth County the past few days. A baboon has been roaming Freehold and Millstone, an apparent escapee from Six Flags Great Adventure, and humpback whales were seen breaching just offshore at Asbury Park, lured into the shallows by the abundance of bunker (menhaden). Check out pictures and a video of the baboon and a picture of the whales at APP

37th Annual Monmouth County Fair Set for July 2011

The News Transcript advises that this summer's Monmouth County Fair will run from Wed 27 July thru Sun 31 July 2011! The paper provides some useful details about scheduled fair activities, rates, and ride discounts. Check the fair's webpage for details about how to participate in the 2011 Home and Garden Competition or become a vendor. They even have directions, including a map. It's apparently too early to find a schedule of events or a list of the actual entertainment being featured this summer, but they usually hire some fine musicians and other performers. We'll all just have to wait and see.

UPDATE: The Atlantic Highlands Herald carried the entertainment list for the county fair on 15 Jun 2011.

New Brookdale President Introduces Himself

Dr William Toms

Dr William Toms, the new President of Brookdale Community College, posted an introductory message on the school's website. He has replaced Peter Burnham, who at 66 years of age decided to retire rather than struggle to operate the school while under fire from county officials and prosecutors.

Freehold Presses for Shuttle Bus to Aberdeen-Matawan Rail Station

Freehold Borough Council is pressing for shuttle bus service between Freehold and the Aberdeen-Matawan train station, per The News Transcript. I suspect it will be a while before any buses start rolling, but such service would be better than reactivating the Hudson Trail as a rail line.

Aberdeen Tax Assessor to Serve as Interim Township Manager

Holly Reycraft is being nominated to serve as interim township manager by the Aberdeen town council at its 18 January meeting, according to Resolution 2011-21. She will replace Joseph Criscuolo, who tendered his resignation on 4 January 2011 to take a municipal position in Old Bridge Township effective 19 January.

Mr Criscuolo has served as Aberdeen township manager since August 2008, according to The Independent. He left an assistant administrator job in Old Bridge to come to Aberdeen and will now return to OB but as township administrator. Before his recent work in public administration, Mr Criscuolo worked at AT&T Bell Labs in Holmdel for 24 years, according to APP. His new job offers him a $10k bump in pay over what he was earning in Aberdeen. Note that our school board is also losing two administrators for better pay elsewhere.

Per Linked In, Ms Reycraft has served as Aberdeen Tax Assessor since April 2006. Prior to that she was Senior Assistant Tax Assessor in Freehold from 1992 to 2006. She had also been serving as part time tax assessor in Manasquan since 2002. She was Vice President of the Monmouth County Municipal Assessors Association from 2008 to 2010.

Ms Reycraft received her associates in business administration from Brookdale in 1998 and returned to school nine years later. She made the dean's list every year at Kean University until she received her bachelors in public administration there last year. She is continuing her studies at Kean, where she expects to receive her masters in public administration next year.

It is great to see a Brookdale student continuing her education and gaining regional prominence. Our local community college is not only an economical place to pursue advancement after high school but an often unrecognized stepping stone in its students' career development.