History: Dr Carl Gesswein, Matawan Physician (1881 - 1956)

Charles Albert "Carl" Gesswein was a prominent medical doctor with an office at the corner of Church and Main Streets and a home at 205 Main Street in Matawan for many years. He born on 30 May 1881, in Canton, Ohio, married Bessie Morrow about 1906, and died on 19 Mar 1956 at Riverview Hospital in Red Bank after a long illness.

In the 1881 Canton City Directory, Carl's father Gustave L Gesswein was foreman at the Diebold Safe and Lock Co and lived at 148 South Cherry Street in Canton. In a separate section of the directory, G Gesswein was listed as the 4th Ward's member of the school board. His term of office was due to expire in 1890.

Gustave appeared in the 1888-1889, 1889-1890, and 1891-1892 Canton City Directories.

Carl was a student living with his parents, Gustave J and Mary Gesswein, at 506 Bucher, Canton, OH, in the 1896 Canton City Directory. Carl's sister Laura was in the same household; she was working as a bookkeeper at the co-op grocery. His sister Rose was also there, listed as a stenographer.

Carl was a student living with his parents, Gustave and Marie Gesswein, in Hamilton, OH in the 1900 Federal Census. His father, who was born in Sep 1850 in Germany and came to the US five years later, was superintendent of a safe manufacturer in Hamilton, OH. Home to three major safe companies, Hamilton was considered the Safe Capital of the World at the time. Carl's mother was born in Feb 1856 in the portion of Virginia that would become West Virginia; her father was born in Germany and mother in Switzerland. Gustav and Marie were married about 1877 and had four children, one of which had died by 1900.

The 1900 Hamilton City Directory showed Gustave as Superintendent of the Mosler Safe Company, Grand Boulevard, East Hamilton. Their residence was at 229 North 7th Street in Hamilton. Carl was a clerk at Mosler. Gustave's wife was Mary A Gesswein. Carl's sisters Laura and Rose were in the household but listed no occupations.

Carl was a student in the 1902 Hamilton City Directory. Laura was a stenographer, while the other details above remained the same.

Carl was a medical student in the 1904 Hamilton City Directory. The other details above remained the same.

Carl finished undergraduate work at the University of Cincinnati, then medical school at the University of Illinois, Urbana, according to his obituary. He opened a medical office in Plainfield, NJ in 1904.

Carl married Bessie Morrow about 1906. Bessie and her fraternal twin, Jesse Morrow, were born in Oct 1879, children of John and Ada Morrow, according to the 1900 Federal Census. The family lived in Hamilton, OH, where John was a salesman. The twins were born in Seven Mile, OH, according to Bessie's obituary, which showed her name as Bessie Hudson Morrow. Her burial record and Carl's obituary both showed her maiden name as Hudson, but the Hudson connection was not obvious. John and Ada had been married 29 years in the 1900 Census and the children showed Pennsylvania parental birth places, matching John and Ada.

Carl and Bessie were enumerated at 102 Central Avenue in Plainfield, NJ in the 1910 Federal Census. He was a doctor with his own office. He and Bessie had been married for four years at the time.

Carl appeared with a business listing in the 1912 Plainfield City Directory. He was a physician with hours 8 - 10 am, 1 - 3 pm, and 7 - 8 pm. His residence was at 102 Central Avenue in Plainfield, NJ. His phone was 730-J. His father Gustave was listed in the household; he was working as a superintendent in Philadelphia. The women were not listed.

Carl was listed with physicians in the 1914, 1915 and 1916 Plainfield City Directories. Each showed his 102 Central Avenue address.

Carl and Bessie moved to Matawan in 1916, according to his obituary. The 14 Dec 1916 edition of The Matawan Journal contained this report:

"Dr. George G. Reynolds has sold his house on Main Street to Dr. Carl A. Gesswein of Plainfield, who, with his wife, moves here to-day. Dr. Gesswein is a graduate of The Chicago College of Physicians and Surgeons, with twelve years' experience of practicing medicine and has had experience as operating surgeon in the Plainfield Hospital."

An advertisement for Dr C A Gesswein appeared in the 1 Nov 1917 edition of The Matawan Journal (pg 6, col 5). His office was at the corner of Main and Church Sts, telephone 214, was open early in the morning (7:30 - 9 am), afternoon (1 - 3 pm), and evening (7 - 8:30 pm).

By the time Carl registered for the WWI draft in Sep 1918, he and Bessie were living at 205 Main Street in Matawan. He was of medium height and build with brown hair and grey eyes and was keeping a medical office at 30 Church Street, according to that record.

Carl's parents and two unmarried sisters were living in his 205 Main Street household in the 1920 Federal Census. His father was no longer working. (This record, in contrast to the 1900 record above, says that Gustave emigrated to the US in 1870 and was naturalized in 1875. And Marie's parents were both born in Switzerland in this record.) Carl's sister Laura was a secretary at the Episcopal church.

Carl and Bessie's household at 205 Main Street in the 1930 Federal Census included his parents, his sister Laura, and Bessie's sister's daughter Lillian Kenny. Lillian was a nurse in an office, presumably Carl's medical office.

Carl's parents went to Germany and spent several weeks there in the early fall of 1930, according to an Oct 1930 article reprised in the 1 Oct 1970 edition of The Matawan Journal. The article revealed that Gustav held the title of Justice of the Peace.

The doctor hit the news in 1930 when he recommended testing the water in Lake Matawan for toxins.

In Jun 1931, Carl took Bessie and their niece Lillian Kenny to Philadelphia, where he attended the convention of the American Medical Association, according to a history article in the 17 Jun 1971 edition of The Matawan Journal.

Bessie hosted the Matawan Women's Club at her home to hear the Mayor Edward Currie speak on municipal management, according to the 25 Nov 1932 edition of The Matawan Journal (pg 1, col 3). (Her  attendance in the early 1950s at a Former Presidents of the New Jersey Federation of Women's Clubs suggests that she served as president of the Matawan Women's Club at some point.)

Bessie hosted the Wednesday Afternoon Bridge Club at her home, according to the 25 Jul 1935 edition of The Red Bank Register.

Carl maintained a flower garden on the lot where Daniel B Strong had a store for many years, according to the 16 Aug 1935 edition of The Matawan Journal. (You can also see the text of the 1935 article at History of Singer Sewing Machines in Monmouth and Middlesex Counties in his blog.)

The 1940 Federal Census showed Carl and Bessie hosting his unwed sister Laura and an adult niece named Lillian Kenny at their 205 Main Street residence. Lillian was a technician, office assistant.

Carl served on the committee for the annual dance benefit for Riverview hospital, according to the 18 Jul 1940 edition of The Red Bank Register.

Carl's medical office was at 35 Church Street in 1942, according to his WWII draft registration papers.  He and Bessie were at 205 Main Street and their phone number was 214. He was 5'8" tall and 200 lbs with grey hair and had a tattoo on his arm.

During WWII, Carl was chief of emergency medical services of the Matawan Borough Defense Council.

Carl worked on the staff at Monmouth Medical, Riverview and South Amboy hospitals. He served as the school physician for the Matawan Township school district. He also worked in Holmdel Township. He was a former member of the Monmouth County Medical Society.

Carl served on the Board of Directors of Matawan Bank and attained the presidency of the bank, according to his obituary. The 12 Jul 1951 edition of The Matawan Journal had a public notice of the accounts of this bank, showing Carl as president.

Carl was a member of Matawan Lodge #192 F & AM {Free and Accepted Masons}, according to his obituary.

Bessie was an active member of the First Presbyterian Church, according to her obituary. She served as President of the Glenwood Mission Band until 1950, according to the 19 Jan 1950 edition of The Matawan Journal. She was also a circle member, among other activities of the church. She was also active in the Matawan branch of the American Red Cross. She is mentioned in this context in the 13 Apr 1950 edition of The Matawan Journal.

Bessie died of a heart attack on 11 Nov 1952 at their home in Matawan, according to the 13 Nov 1952 edition of The Matawan Journal. Her funeral was to be conducted by Rev Chester Galloway of the First Presbyterian Church on 14 Nov 1952, with burial to follow at Old Tennent Cemetery.

Carl resigned as Matawan Township schools physician in Feb 1955 due to illness, according to the 24 Feb 1955 edition of The Matawan Journal (pg 1, cols 4-5). He also resigned as schools physician in Holmdel, according to the 14 Jul 1955 edition of The Red Bank Register.

Carl's obituary appeared in the 22 Mar 1956 edition of The Matawan Journal, (pp 1, 4). His funeral was conducted by Chester Galloway of the First Presbyterian Church. Burial was on 22 Mar 1956 at Old Tennent Churchyard in Tennent, NJ, according to Find-a-Grave.

Carl left $45,000 and the balance of his estate, minus $30,000 in directed bequests, to Lillian Kenny, his niece, according to the 12 Apr 1956 edition of The Matawan Journal. The bequests went to cousins and nieces as well as his late wife's twin brother.

History: Matawan Journal Applauds Red Cross Response to Hurricane Donna, Urges Reader Donations (1961)

The 23 Mar 1961 edition of The Matawan Journal (pg 4, col 1) urged its readers to give generously to the Monmouth County Chapter of the Red Cross after its herculean efforts to help the Bayshore after the previous fall's Hurricane Donna.

Help The Red Cross

Our readers are urged to respond generously to the annual fund drive of the American Red Cross, now, underway throughout most communities in the bayshore area. The drive is conducted only once annually when all persons are asked to contribute to this worthy service.
 
We, in the bayshore area, after living through the violence and destruction brought by Hurricane Donna last fall, know fully the helpful and timely aid and service rendered by the Red Cross through its Monmouth County Chapter.

Immediate assistance was given, not loaned or sold, to families in distress those who lost clothing, bedding, furniture, and household goods, due to the floods that accompanied the hurricane. Many of these families were lucky to have escaped with their lives in view of the speed at which the tidal flood inundated the low-lying coastal regions from Keansburg to Madison Township.

The Red Cross mobilized its volunteer and professional forces rapidly and were in a position to give aid immediately after the storm. This year, when you make your annual contribution, think of the many families, possibly your neighbors, who were assisted by the nation-wide organization which eases the burden of stricken mankind, the Red Cross.

Matawan Starbucks Aids Red Cross Shelter In Wake of Irene

The Starbucks shop in Matawan provided food and drink for an American Red Cross disaster shelter at Colts Neck High School on Sunday when logistics made it difficult for the Red Cross to supply the shelter themselves. Laurie Creed, the store manager at Starbucks in Matawan, opened her shop, made gallons and gallons of coffee, raided her stash of Starbucks goodies, threw in boxes of bananas, and provided all of these goods for free to help out the victims of Hurricane Irene. Aberdeen NJ Life applauds Starbucks' continued support of our greater community. I hope you will drop in and thank Laurie for her shop's service.

Irene Takes Center Stage; Performance Set For This Weekend

A number of weather forecasts call for Hurricane Irene to pass just off the Jersey coast and deliver heavy precipitation to our area beginning Saturday afternoon. With a new moon coincidentally expected to bring exceptionally high tides and area lands saturated from earlier rains, the risk of flooding is significant.

American Red Cross disaster teams have been training for just this sort of coastal event. Chapters all along the Eastern Seaboard participated in a regional disaster drill back in June that simulated a humanitarian response to a major hurricane even worse than Irene. The Jersey Coast Chapter set up a shelter operation at Brookdale Community College only three months ago and just might have to do so again this weekend.

Down in Cape May Courthouse, the Southern Shore Chapter is helping with public information to help residents prepare for the storm, per NBC 40. Actually, a national response is underway. According to Fox 59 in Indianapolis, Hoosiers are sending Red Cross volunteers to the East Coast to help out with disaster preparation, but their focus is on North Carolina.

Earthquake Ripples Through Town

Just before 2 pm today, I felt the whole house shake. I went outside to see if a tree had hit the roof or something, and all I saw was a couple of very upset squirrels leaping from the roof to the trees, yelling their own complaints.

A quick check of CNN showed Sara Sidner reporting live outside the Gadhafi Compound at risk of apparent immediate harm from live rounds being fired. They broke away at 1:56 pm to report a 5.8 earthquake in Washington, DC. Within a half hour, the report changed to a 5.9 quake reported by the USGS as originating from 3.7 miles deep under Mineral, VA. Pat felt the quake in New York City.

 The US is really getting pounded by natural disasters this year. I've just gotten another e-mail alert to be prepared for a local flooding disaster response resulting from whatever Hurricane Irene is likely to dish out. Our local counties have already been saturated with enough water, and substantial rainfall has the Red Cross chapter in Tinton Falls calling for disaster volunteers to call in their response readiness.

 I suppose now is as good a time as any to provide links to disaster preparedness lists:

 1. Hurricane Safety checklist
 2. Thunderstorm Safety checklist
 3. Flood/flashflood Safety checklist
 4. Earthquake Preparedness Safety checklist
 5. Red Cross Preparedness Facts / Other Safety files

You could also contact, and offer your services as an American Red Cross volunteer.  Should you never deploy to a national disaster, you would still be very well trained in disaster preparedness.  The Jersey Coast Chapter covers Monmouth and Ocean Counties and is always looking for applicants.

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.

Local Red Cross Volunteer Assists Lakewood Victims

High winds that hit Monmouth County on Friday evening tore part of the roof off of the Peter Ward apartment building in Lakewood, leaving 62 residents to seek alternative housing. Half of them were transported by bus to Lakewood High School, where volunteers from the American Red Cross, Jersey Coast Chapter set up an emergency shelter to house victims overnight. My wife received a call around 10 pm Friday and was out all night handling shelter operations for the Red Cross. She got home around noon on Saturday.

The Lakewood Housing Authority expected roof repair workers to be on site on Saturday afternoon, with some sort of temporary fix in place on Sunday. Refer to the APP article on this for more details.

Monmouth and Ocean Disaster Managers Face Earl 2.0

Last weekend, the Jersey Coast Chapter of the American Red Cross joined local and county disaster relief coordinators in Earl 2.0, a major exercise that tested their abilities to work together to deal with the consequences of a seriously reimagined 2010 hurricane. Last year's Hurricane Earl was reconceived as striking much of the East Coast and causing untold damage. The drill was acted out all along the Eastern seaboard.

The local drill allowed Monmouth and Ocean disaster managers to practice setting up and running a disaster relief shelter at Brookdale Community College, a registered disaster relief center in case of a true emergency. Thirty disaster "victims" helped make the event more challenging by providing the team with practical experience providing an assortment of services to victims with a range of special needs and circumstances. The drill showed the managers to be both professional and competent in accomplishing their duties.

Last winter a disaster shelter was set up a Monmouth Mall when a heavy snow stranded motorists in the area. Preparation for disasters is worth the time. Ask your township or borough officials what specific training they have participated in lately to better prepare for local or regional disasters.

History: The Role of the Red Cross in World War I

The 20 February 1919 edition of The Matawan Journal featured a lengthy article by Major General Merritte W Ireland, Surgeon General of the US Army, who lauded the role of the Red Cross during the First World War.

The work of the Red Cross as an organization began beyond the Army's evacuating hospitals and continued through the base hospitals, convalescent homes, recreation rooms, railway food depots, on board the steamers, and on back to our own shores, and is continuing until the men reach home.

He explained that the Army could never have supplied the number of qualified nurses that the Red Cross provided. He even attributed part of the successful Allied defense of Paris to Red Cross support in the hospitals. The Red Cross was advised in advance of battle plans so medical supplies could be discretely positioned for best effect.

Today the Red Cross is active at a large number of situations, here and abroad. CNN is reporting that the International Committee of the Red Cross is involved in Ivory Coast, where 800 died today. The Japanese Red Cross is helping with the ongoing earthquake/tsunami crisis. The American Red Cross has already distributed large portions of the $120 million in US donations for Japanese relief. They are also active in helping with the voluntary evacuation of US military families from Japan, according to the Hillsboro Argus. Keep Red Cross volunteers in mind when you're looking to make a donation AND when you're looking for ways to help in your community. They've historically played an important role in the world around us and continue to do so.

Red Cross Seeks Donations After Tough Winter

The Jersey Coast Chapter of the Red Cross is seeking donations after a very tough winter. The News Transcript reports that the chapter needs funds to replenish its resources after setting up numerous disaster shelters because of heavy snow and power outages. Plus, all that snow made collections difficult for the chapter's bloodmobiles, so blood supplies are running low. Do what you can. Please support the American Red Cross.

Local Red Cross Volunteer Assists Jackson Fire Victims

No sooner had my wife gone to bed last night than she received a call from the American Red Cross activating her for disaster relief assistance in Jackson. She hopped into the Red Cross vehicle she's been assigned while she's on Rapid Response duty this week and made the half-hour trip to the scene, as did several other members of the team. She personally issued food, clothing, and other supplies to three families and made arrangements for one with small children to be put up in a hotel for the night. She got home after 5 am and took a nap before heading off to work a couple of hours later.

If you want to make a difference in your community, consider becoming an American Red Cross volunteer. Reach out to our local chapter in Tinton Falls to find out about the many ways you can help.

Check out these discussions of the fire and community response at Jackson NJ Online:

• American Red Cross Provides Assistance to Jackson Families
• Investigators Seeking Cause of Valentine's Night Apartment Fire in Jackson
• Multiple Alarm Fire at Jackson Green Apartments Updated

Holly House Apartments Evacuated; Red Cross, Salvation Army Provide Relief

A bizarre chain of events has forced 76 residents of Holly House Apartments, 100 Drury Avenue, Asbury Park to vacate 42 affected units. According to reports from the scene, an errant city plow gouged a utility pole yesterday morning, prompting the phone company to replace the pole. They damaged a gas line while installing the pole, resulting in evacuation of the building. The gas company then blew a power transformer while repairing the gas line. JCP&L proceeded to cause a chain of additional transformers to blow while attempting the installation of refurbished equipment. The repairs continue at this hour. Hopefully residents will be able to return to their homes later tonight once power is restored.

Up to 35 persons have sought refuge across the street at Asbury Park High School, where the Jersey Coast Regional Chapter of the American Red Cross has set up a shelter with half a dozen or so volunteers on any given shift. The Salvation Army provided hot dogs, hamburgers, french fries, and snacks today for those displaced by the outages. The scene has been visited by the local mayor, city manager, and the president of the board of education, among others.

Consider donating to or volunteering for the American Red Cross. You can help your community in lots of ways.

25 Jan Update

The Asbury Park Press finally published a story on this incident after receiving a press release from the Red Cross.

Red Cross Volunteers Learn Disaster Kitchen Operations

Merri-Makers Caterers is providing space at its Raritan Center facility this weekend for the American Red Cross to provide disaster kitchen training to its volunteers. Almost two  dozen men and women from our communities are spending Friday evening, all day Saturday, and Sunday morning learning how to handle food services when they are called to volunteer at a Red Cross disaster shelter.  Donations to the Red Cross supported the purchase of the Spirit of America, a mobile food services center on hand for the training. Below are some photographs of the rig and this weekend's training event.

Red Cross volunteers arriving Saturday morning from regional chapters throughout the State of New Jersey

Spirit of America - rig parked outside Merrimakers at Raritan Center

Spirit of America - closeup of side panel message

Classroom in Merrimakers warehouse

Spirit of America - food service work area

Spirit of America - food processor

Spirit of America - stacked ovens

Merri-makers tour for Red Cross trainees learning about commercial food preparation and service

Keansburg Fire Forces Evacuations, Destroys Condo Complex

The Newark Star Ledger reports a major fire on Beachway in Keansburg. The fire started in a warehouse around 1 am Monday morning and spread to neighboring residences and vehicles. Check their NJ.com website for footage from Fox News as well.

The Jersey Coast Chapter of the Red Cross provided support to evacuated residents and over a hundred firefighters from the New Point Comfort Fire Company fire house.

APP and other news services have coverage also.

Red Cross Disaster Relief Needs Your Continued Support

The Disaster Team at the American Red Cross Jersey Coast Chapter has been very busy this past quarter helping victims within our region and throughout the state. The chapter could use some donations to replenish its supplies and to continue to fund its various disaster programs. Check out some of what the chapter has been doing lately:

The chapter is delivering hundreds of clean up kits this afternoon to storm victims in Bound Brook, where the Red Cross has been sheltering victims for about a week.

The chapter provided temporary housing for flood victims rescued by boat from their apartment development along Beers Street in Keyport last week. Be sure to thank the Holiday Inn in Hazlet for their support of Red Cross disaster assistance. They not only provide discounted temp housing through an arrangement with the Red Cross, their staff are ultimately patient and cooperative when disaster victims need community support the most.

The chapter set up a shelter yesterday in Waretown after brush fires in Barnegat forced evacuations.

The chapter provided disaster relief at the Ocean Grove fire a little over a week ago. The Red Cross provides aid to rescue workers as well as victims.

The chapter sent a volunteer to Strathmore Elementary School in Aberdeen to accept a large donation from the students, who conducted a Relay-a-thon fund raiser for the American Red Cross's Haitian Earthquake Relief Fund. The presentation of the check was covered by News 12 New Jersey.

The chapter delivered cots and supplies and helped run several shelters in and near Cape May in response to a disabling snow storm in early February that forced local residents from their private homes and senior centers. Disaster relief involved some volunteers traveling in a blinding snow storm through drifting snow in Red Cross vehicles specially equipped to the task, while others manned a command center 24/7 in Tinton Falls to help coordinate the relief effort.

Volunteers and paid staff meet regularly to coordinate disaster services and plan for future needs. The chapter is designated a regional center because it maintains such a large warehouse of disaster relief supplies. As such, it has forklifts, trucks, disaster relief vehicles, etc. All of these disaster services are delivered at the lowest possible cost, but contributions are still required to maintain the chapter's disaster readiness. Please keep your local chapter of the American Red Cross in mind when considering your benevolent giving.

Wind-Whipped Fire Burns Ocean Grove Hotel to Ground

The Manchester Inn Bed and Breakfast in Ocean Grove burned to the ground this morning, according to a local report and an APP bulletin, taking nearby buildings down with it in a wind-swept fire that started around 5 am at the hotel. The Inn is only a block away from the Ocean Grove Camp Meeting Association. As of 11:30 am, roughly two hundred firefighters and EMS remain on site, concerned that embers will rekindle the blaze, which was otherwise controlled about 9:30 am. The Jersey Coast Chapter of the Red Cross is on the scene providing assistance to victims and rescue workers.

UPDATE: Eleven homes have been damaged or destroyed near the Manchester. The Red Cross has placed 5 families in local hotels and is ready to deal with more. Wind gusts of 35 MPH have rekindled some flames. Blogfinger, a local blog in Ocean Grove, is covering the fire in considerable detail.

Local Red Cross Volunteers and Staff Assisted in Cape May Outage

The Jersey Coast Chapter of the American Red Cross in Tinton Falls responded to the massive power outages in southern New Jersey last week by sending personnel and equipment to Cape May County to help. A Red Cross strike team went to equip and man super shelters capable of offering temporary housing for up to a thousand people without heat and electricity. At the same time, Red Cross managers staffed a command post at Tinton Falls, coordinating their strike force's activities by phone and computer on shifts that lasted up to 20 hours a day.

The Press of Atlantic City reported that the Red Cross opened two super shelters, one at the Wildwoods Convention Center in Wildwood, and another at the Woodbine Developmental Center in Woodbine. The super shelters were intended to consolidate the many smaller temporary housing centers then operating. A Red Cross spokesman quoted by Shore News Today said that Red Cross chapters in six counties were on the scene helping out.

Earthquake In Haiti - What Can You Do To Help?

Check out the local Red Cross disaster team's website for a long list of things you can do in response to the earthquake in Haiti. While volunteers don't typically go overseas to such events, you should consider joining the Jersey Coast Chapter of the American Red Cross so you can get trained to help in future US disasters. When there is a house fire in Monmouth or Ocean County and a family is on the street, the Red Cross DAT Team is there to get them a safe place to stay and something to eat. In the case of the humanitarian relief effort in Haiti, the volunteer effort in our area tends to focus on helping families with relatives and friends in Haiti, mostly in Asbury Park and Neptune, get information on their loved ones.

The First Presbyterian Church's blog site has been producing a number of articles on Haiti.

The White House website is also a great place to get information. Here is a video clip of President Obama in yesterday's news conference on the US response to the earthquake.  

After Pearl Harbor, Youth Prepare, Parents Wait

After weeks of dreading a knock at the door, two Keyport families were overjoyed to receive letters from their sons just in time for Christmas 1941. For these parents of boys stationed in the Hawaiian Islands, it no doubt had seemed like forever since the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on 7 December. Based on an account in the Matawan Journal on New Year's Day 1942, there was understandable jubilation when, on Christmas Eve, Mrs Frank S Dey of 89 Church Street received an airmail letter from her son, William Foulks, stationed at Schofield Barracks, saying he was safe. Fanton and Albertina Rogers, of Second Street, were equally excited to hear two days before Christmas from their son Raymond, stationed at Fort Kamekameha on Oahu, that he, too, was fine.

Civic spirit was high all around. Matawan High School students were learning about national defense and writing letters to soldiers. The two winners of the Matawan Christmas home decoration contest donated their $10 and $5 winnings to the Red Cross. Matawan's Outdoor Club, a young girls society, donated $2 to the Red Cross. The Federal Labor Union of Keyport was buying $1,000 in war bonds. Rollo Transit Co handed out over $5,000 in war bonds to employees in place of the usual end of year cash gifts.

Matawan's mainline churches along Main Street -- Baptist, Methodist, and Presbyterian -- organized a joint week of prayer. The first Sunday in January, Presbyterians were preparing to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the erection of their then-current edifice on Main Street. Reverend Berger was planning to deliver the sermon "The Eyes of the Lord Are In Every Place." The public was invited to an old-fashioned hymn-sing that evening.

Civil defense was also heightened. Morganville and Marlboro were setting up their air raid siren systems. Morse code classes were being established. Executives from New Jersey's top 500 firms were being summoned to an emergency civil defense course at Rutgers University.

The military had of course been activated. The paper announced that a local student had joined the Marines. Fort Monmouth planned to double the size of its next signals corps class to 500 students.

LBI Bike Outing to Benefit Red Cross Chapter - This Sunday

The Jersey Shore Chapter of the Red Cross, which serves Monmouth and Ocean Counties, is hosting its 12th annual family-friendly all day bike tour on scenic Long Beach Island this Sunday 13 September 2009. There's a 40-mile route, which I suppose is for biking enthusiasts, as well as a 10-mile fun route for those of us unlikely to ride our bikes the equivalent of the distance from Aberdeen to Monmouth Mall and back.

Whichever route you choose, remember, it isn't a race. It's a fundraiser, a great time, and a chance to get you and your friends and co-workers down to the shore one more time before the weather turns cold. There will be frequent rest stops along the routes and lots of sightseeing. 40 milers depart at 9 am; 10 milers at 9:30 am.

There will be breakfast in the morning and a BBQ at the event's first ever Party in the Park at the end of the ride. Entertainment will include The Nerds. The Red Cross will have folks along the way to monitor the route and help you with bike problems or other contingencies.

At this point it is too late to mail the registration form and fee to receive your official rider‘s packet. You'll find a simple pledge sheet and lots more information about the bike ride online in the event's brochure. Download it, then go out and get lots of pledges and donations. Be sure to download the directions. On the day of the event, bring your pledge sheets and collected donations to Sunset Park in Harvey Cedars on LBI between 8:15 am and 9 am. You'll have to register on-site. That will cost $20 for Adults and $10 for kids. Registrants get a nifty t-shirt and a chance to win a bike.

The Red Cross Bloodmobile will be on hand much of the day -- there is always a need for blood.