Spring 20 1+-Volume 1 1 )ssue 1

Working Toward rreserving Our Communit;y's Heritage, Architecture and rride •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

Glassboro Fire Department. Company #1 bv George Armstrong The Glassboro Fire Department has a long tower was damaged by fire and the bell was re­ and rich history. Much has been written about it. moved and is displayed in the present fire Everett S. Buck, a local historian and volun­ house," teer firefighter wrote, "On September 29, 1894, Mr. Buck continues, "In 1910, ground was Glassboro's first known fire company was orga- purchased from Whitney Brothers on which a lized and given the name of Glassboro Hose and new fire station was built on West High Street be- Ladder Company. It tween Main and is known that a Poplar Streets. The fire house was building was dedi­ built on the south cated on Thanks­ side of East High giving Day 1910. It Street between was constructed by Academy and Frank C, Ware, son Main Streets by a of Charles C. local contractor, Ware. Over the Charles C. Ware, years, a kitchen for $412.00. The and workshop were first piece of fire added. In 1954, a fighting equip- bay was built on ment, a ladder the west side to wagon, was re­ accommodate the ceived in 1895. ladder truck. In Following the 1980, the new fire great Whitney Fac­ station, at the cor- tory fire of October ner of East High and 1895, a meeting was held and the first fire de­ Academy Streets, was completed and occupied. partment officers were elected. In 1897, there The dedication was held in June, 1981 (with were thirty-three members. A fire bell was pur­ many fire departments attending)." ~hased (to alert members of a fire) and installed The Constitution, a Woodbury newspaper, ,n 1898. After the 1910 fire house was built, the stated on Wednesday, November 30, 1910, bell was given to the Board of Education for use "Glassboro was in gala attire on Thursday. It "Yas in the Academy Street School tower. In 1975, the Firemen's Day on the occasion of the dedication ... continued on P Page 1 Group

THE PRES SEZ ... ANTIQ,UE RECIPES

Readers, upon occasion, have asked me to add a section in the G3 newsletter for recipes. My an­ swer has been that they are not historical. Well, how wrong can a person be? A short time ago, I came across my treasured Grandmother's two hand written recipe books. Looking through the ex­ tremely frail pages I found, written in my Grandmother's hand, a recipe for making "A Good Soap."

..... '?\~oodS()apRecip~" ·Mr~. qrara Scott (1895"""1978) l.TakeSibs of grease and melt: 2. Not hot but so it runs. 3. Put intbthe grease 1 can oflye (Saponifier) and stir. ··~

'ii -· tl~ f\owr .• ~.r.~ntil itb~.~i~~,Jo.~.~t thick;" > .. ··• .. . • •• / .•·····.· '·•. . ..· •.·· ..... · ..• :~;•.• :.·· S.le-fset u?~l ~~)(trnorning;·t"urn bucket over for so~pto drop out on a board and cut into bars. 6: lfyouput 2 tablespoons6fpowdered borax into soap. mixture the soap will be nice andwhite.

For those of you who do not plan to make soap, but would like something sweet, my Grandmother had also written down recipes from her mother.

"Mom's Recip~s, from our old cooKbook" Mrs. Ellsel Ackmann (1861-1946)

Custard: 1 cup grated chocolate 1/2 cup of milk 1 cup brown sugar 1 egg yolk 1 tsp vanilla Stir all together and cookslowly. Set to cool. Cake: 1 cup brown sugar 1/2 cup butter 2·.cups.. flour.sifted .2egg yolks 2 egg whites beaten until stiff 1/2 cup milk

Page 2 reater ~ ... 41-t.\J\JJ.Joro Group Glassboro Fire Department. ... continuedfrom Page 1 of the handsome new fire house. The town was prettily decorated and hundreds of visitors were present from nearby towns. The parade formed at the public fountain (intersection of Academy, New & State Streets) at 2 o'clock with Honorable S.H. Stanger as Chief Marshall, and T.C. Allen, L.W. Sickler and J.T. Abbott as aides." There have been many dangerous and costly fires in Glassboro History: the Whitney Factory fire (1895), the Auditorium on North Academy (January 1917), the Academy Street School (1917), the Repp's Orchard Products Company on South Delsea Drive ( 1931) and the Junior Mechanics Hall at High and Main Streets (December 31, 1944) -the former Whitney Store built in 1896. Four Glassboro fire fighters were trapped when the second floor collapsed. They es­ caped with minor injuries by crawling through a transom over a first floor door. I was eight years old and watched the fire from across the street while sitting on my father's shoulders. In the 1960's, the North Delsea Drive Glassboro Auction building burned. Bob Connors, the fire department photographer, was filming the fire when an oil tank ruptured, flipping his tripod-held camera into the air, thus filming the moon. Also, in the 1960's, when the Goldman Basket Factory, located on Ellis Street near Sewell Street, burned, the fire department was in service for 27 hours as the buildings, vehicles and basket materials burned. Many Glassboro family mem­ bers and, in some cases, generations served as fire fighters-among those family ... continued on Page 7

Glassboro West Jersey Train Station Museum Progress by Rich Drobil We are developing a museum at the restored Glassboro West Jersey Train Station· to display rail­ road related artifacts that have played a role in the railroad history of our town and in Southern New Jersey. The Historic Preservation Commission, in partnership with Greater Glassboro Group is now focusing on landscaping, the reinstallation of the original wood wainscoting, door and window trim and making the interior doorways handicap accessible. We are also working towards an endeavor ... continued on Page 4

The Pres Sez .. continuedfrom Page 2 e~.t/il's···~· Cr.····· .· 00d Cak In the 1960's, I remember my grandmother earn su e Rec· f1 gar a d 'Pe had a Sunbeam Mixmaster mixer. However, I do our then W . n egg Yolks ·-.collt,izued not remember that either my Grandmother or Beat a/J hJte of eg ~ add tnilk Great Aunt Hilda ever used it to bake a cake. It Part L together th gs beaten and , add sifted was all done by hand. My Grandmother's cup­ s . astJy ad en Stir in t Stiff. board flour bin automatically sifted the flour olved in little wd 1 tsp bakin he custard when it was to be used. Then, my Grandmother arrn Wat g soda d. er Is- would sift it again. Baking was done in a wood or a coal Boil 3/4 cu ·.· ·... · ·. Fluffy W .~ fire stove and therefore, no baking time or tem­ g~ther~ lit!· P sugar and l'hltelcing in h ···.··... . Jthout. . . '4 cup perature were listed. When I try these recipes, c thread···· .··. Stirring ·.·Water t or r · · · ~ Until . · · o- I look for an equivalent in the "Joy Of Cook­ over Stiff/ . ·. . 240-242 tnJxture . ing" cook book. I suggest you try preheating Y beaten Wh. degrees) P .. spm. s an 8 your oven at 350 degrees. Bake in greased Jtes of · Q(Jr h . 2 eggs. . \ .. < ot syrup cake pans for about 25 minutes. Turn out when cool. I hope you enjoy the cake and icing recipes. If you do try to make the cake, remember patience is a virtue. I don't believe, however, that many will rush out to make soap. It seems to me the soap would be very hard on one's hands .•

Page3 Scrapbook Page reater

On a sunny day, at the New Street Park, Commissioners Danielle Spence (Chairperson), Rich Drobil, Marie Lockwood, Linda Cossabone and Mary Ellen Smith joined G3 members Bernice Willis and daughter, Valerie, Lucile Pfleeger and Darla Cassidy to sell 2013 Train Station tee shirts and sweatshirts.

Glassboro West Jersey Train Station Museum Progress ... continuedJtomPage3 to. obtain a caboose or a rail car for display on the property and a working telegraph onsite~ . Please help make these dreams come true by donating artifacts, pictures and memorabilie~ and/or by mak­ ing a monetary donation. pc)ptact us ifyou have items you would like to donate or pictures you would like to share by h~ying them scanned and returned. • Contact Rich: (856) 881-5516 or [email protected]

Make checks paye~ble to: SOS ·

N/~ilt(:): Greater Glassboro Group --P~O. Box. 571, uJ«:ls~;D(>ro . dP~~t~;Giassborp Group, Inc. is a 501 (c)(i}:nph-profit organization in · · · All donations are tax deductible;

Page 4 Garden Party

Greater Annual Fun Ill Glassboro Histo ·

Sunda 2 Wine an

Held on the lawn between the[ ;~ritag the Glassboro Fire Hbuse --Rai Your donation will help us co ~nud o:uk e.ffo to , stOr~ }h~ i}1siCle of the Glassbo, st .fefsey Tra Station \ Tickets $35.00 per person $60.0Q.11 ;p~r coup~e For tickets and informatiari''~:~ontact Darla Cassidy (~56) sf r ~U2 Daniele Spen~e C609~ ~81-5990

.; t \ \ ) :i~ ~. Greater Glassboro Group, Inc. is a 5bl (c) (3) nbnprdjit ofganizat,on All donbtions are td:x (:le{Juctible ~ - 5 .~

Page 5 by Randi Wolf :;;... On a chilly afternoon in late November, Glassboro Historic Commission hosted Ye 0/de G/asborough Historic Walking Tour. The walking tour began at the Glass Museum in uptown Glassboro. Diana Pierce, Docent, welcomed the guests into the Glass Museum. The Greater Glassboro Group, in conjunction with the Glassboro Historic Commission, served refreshments. Upon arrival, the gath­ ered guests took sips of hot cocoa or hot mulled cider and munched on cookies before venturing out on their tours. The tours were led by Commissioner Mary Ellen Smith, G3 member Janet Atkinson, Commissioner Ma­ rie Lockwood and Commissioner Linda Cossabone. Historic sites highlighted on the tours were The Heritage Glass Mu­ seum, the Glassboro Enterprise Printing Company (c.1880), Academy Street School (1898), Methodist Fel­ lowship Hall (1852), the house of Frank R. Stanger (1904), the home of Samuel and Abigail Whitney (1879), the Ebenezer Whitney home (1819), the home of Judge Jo­ seph lszard (1852), St. Thomas Episcopal church (1781), the Methodist Episcopal Parsonage (1870), Daniel Stan­ ger's home (c.1780) and the site of the Franklin House Tavern (1781), now the Landmark.

Across town, Rich Drobil and his train club, with Darla Cassidy in attendance, set up a display of trains at the Barnes & Noble Book Store on Rowan Boulevard and were present to answer any questions from visitors.

Taken at the Glass Museum on High Street, Greater Glassboro Group members Darla Cassidy (President}, Janet Atkinson, Ber­ The day was caped with skaters taking ad­ nice Willis, Randi Wolf and Valerie Willis, daughter of Ber­ nice) proudly pose with their G3 attire with illustrations of the vantage of the new ice skating rink while others Train Station, Franklin House ami New Jersey State Normal were warmed by the bon fire. Santa arrived after School (now Rowan University's Bunce Hall). dusk f~x the highlight of the day. •

Page 6 Group Glassboro Fire Department .. continuedfrom Page 3 names are: Stewart, Siebert, Abbott, Magee, Parks, Rowan, Stanger, Whit­ ney, Simmerman, Voelker, Ware, McFadden, Buck, Viden, Beach, and Wig- glesworth. Today, the fire service of volunteers and paid fire fighters continues in Glassboro. Training has always been an important factor in fire service. Presently, the training requirements are exten­ sive. Fire service training schools are located in the various counties ... safety and training are a high priority. •

Past Contact Past Supporters Major Contributors Darla Cassidy, President William and Anna Pote Lucile Pfleeger 856.881.1112 (McCullough) Ronald & Joan Cunningham Mary Lee Donahue, Dr. Janet Holdcraft Diana Pierce, WECOM Grant Director Dr. and Mrs. Robert A. Pedrick 856.881.4345 Janet Atkinson, Membership Chair 856.582.2106

Please enroll me as an annual member: Individual ($25) Family ($30) Business ($50) __

I want to be a Supporter ($1 00) ___ Major Contributor ($200) ___

Name: ------Phone: Address: ------Signature:

Greater Glassboro Group, Inc., is a 50 I (c) (3) non-profit organi=ation in the public interest. All donations are tax deductible.

Page 7 PO Box571 Glassboro, NJ 08028

Garden rlfi9 1 Sundas- Mas ' 2-,rM

Meetings, Our Mission Officers ...... ~....•.. ~

Address Correction Requested

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Volume 10 )ssue 2

••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• The Importance of the ingly Unimportant

By Darla Cassidy Recently, I began painting my garage. Memories flooded into my mind as I painted over the weathered boards. I have always wondered the age of our old garage and if a horse was ever kept in it. Was it built when the house was built (1910) or, perhaps later, in the 1930's-40's, when money was tight and all supplies were limited? The garage sits soundly and proudly upon its moorings, but the wooden planks that make up its sides seem to be roughly put together. Mrs. Marie Mitchell, the previous owner, had the garage's back end "bumped out" to accommodate her 1950-1960' s cars. I painted parking spaces on the concrete floor for the red wagon, bicy­ cles, garden tools and lawnmower in order to fit our family's belong­ ings snugly into the relatively small space along with our car. Upon purchasing our home, our son and daughter found a couple of kittens in the hedge that ran along the edge of our proper­ ty. Being a farm girl from Illinois, animals were not to be found in a home. However, our kittens, Wilber and Pepper, took up residence within the walls of our abode but I also provided a bale of hay in the garage for them to sleep and keep warm. Thereupon, entering the garage taking a breath, smelling the hay and the dust, blinking from lack of light, I remembered my Granddaddy's bam and the pleasant happy days of childhood. Granddaddy's bam smelled of dust and hay. I would blink upon entering it as it was dark except for the light that streamed through the open doorway. The bam was part of my Granddaddy's lively hood. It held two horses, hay, oats, harnesses, tools and a large wagon. I vividly recall my Grandparent's home located in the village of Beckemeyer. Their home was situated between two houses; each was to be found at the comer of the street. Behind the house were flower gardens and a large vegetable garden. The bam was behind the gardens. Next to the bam was a small lot where Grand­ daddy's two horses rested after a long day's work before being put to bed for the night. The bam, where the wagon was kept, opened into an alley. After backing the wagon into the bam, the horses entered the lot from the alley. . .. continued on Page 2 Page 1 The Importance of the Seemingly Unimportant. .. continuedfrom Page 1 I vaguely remember the horses. I believe they were a dark brown color. I remember the feel of their noses when they ate out of my hand. Granddaddy made his living with the big draft (work) horses by hauling coal, working in the oil fields and helping to construct Highway 50 that led to St. Louis, 40 miles east. He gave up his trade while I was quite young, but he hung onto his wagon, bam and home until his death. I never gave much thought to the importance of having a garage. One day, I came home from work and, to my surprise, found my father-in-law replacing boards and sawing a space on each side of the garage for a window. I did not have sense enough to say thank you for his work, nor did I realize how much money he had spent on the project. So what, I thought, if the garage remained dark and a few of the boards are worse for wear?! When you opened the side door or the two large front doors that opened from the middle and swung out to the sides, there was light. Right?! As time passed and the children grew, they found a relatively unnoticeable space above the rafters, where large planks created an attic. There, the children, with their friends, spent many secret hours. Our daughter made curtains for the windows from scraps of pink gingham fabric. The garage served our family as a play house together with its other functional purposes. Both the house and garage had been painted white. Then, I decided to have my house painted yellow. Subsequently, I went to work and painted the garage yellow to match the house. As my interest in gardening expanded, so did my tools. Two years ago I had the "bump-out" removed and expanded the garage to take its place. A friend suggested a new overhead garage door was necessary. The old "swing out" doors were soon discarded. Before the installation of the new modem garage door, we removed the planks that had created the sacred children's attic. We found treasures long forgotten by the children and that the planks were not planks, but shutters that had once adorned our home. · For too long, the garage sat solemnly in its primed white condition. Time had run out for me to finish painting it. Sadly, it looked a little worse for wear. Now, as I look around my neighborhood, I realize how fortunate I am to have a garage. I thank my in­ laws for knowing its value. Many of the residents along my street lost their old outbuildings that served similar purposes in my Grandparent's era. Many years ago, for lack of upkeep and code, the home owners were re­ quested to do away with the time worn structures from the past era. I believe it unfortunate that the town didn't provide an incentive for the homeowners to make sound the structures or provide incentives for adequate re­ placements. The consequences are that we lost a part of our storied past and in some instances a place to store the necessary items a home­ owner needs for the upkeep of the property. Happily, I return to the beginning of my story. My garage is still a mystery to me. I have learned that there are no crisp edges on a time-worn garage. Now the metal smiling sun, made by a dear friend, is restored to the peak of the garage. Along with its bright colors of yellow, white and dark green accents, it is once again pleasing to the eye. The garage has more than served its purpose during the life of my family and long before. It continues its job of protect­ ing the car and those necessary tools that one accumulates in owning a home.

Page 2 reater SCRAPBOOK PAGE oro Group

Jot down your two guesses as to what these landmarks used to be years ago! The reader who answers correctly wins ...

1. • 2.

1. • D • 2. • • • • T • • D • •

2.

1. -Submitted by Robert Tucker 2. Page3 Group

Supporters Major Contributors Contact Darla Cassidy, President William and Anna Pote Lucile Pfleeger (McCullough) 856.881.1112 Ronald & Joan Cunningham Mary Lee Donahue, Dr. Janet Holdcraft Grant Director Diana Pierce, WECOM 856.881.4345 Dr. and Mrs. Robert A. Pedrick Janet Atkinson, Membership Chair 856.582.2106

We Invite You to Join Our Group

Please enroll me as an annual member: Individual ($25) Family ($30) Business ($50)

I want to be a Supporter ($100) ___ Major Contributor ($200) --- Name: ------Phone: ------Address: ------Signature: ------

Greater Glassboro Group, Inc., is a 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization in the public interest. All donations are tax deductible.

Page 4 OUR 2013 6TIR®eN Ptl'RT'Y FUNDRAISER I had visions of floral frocked women in wide brimmed hats sipping punch in the warm sunshine and enjoying tea sandwiches and conversations while sweet melodies from a distant flute permeated the spring air. I had dreams of an abundance of flowers swaying in the gentle breeze amidst the slow trickle of the babbling brook that flows through the side of my backyard ....

I awoke on May 19, 2013 to rain beating down hard on my roof, the waters of the brook racing downstream and muddy puddles saturating my yard. Gone was my contingency plan for a setting up the party in my backyard, as well as indoors, just in case the weather cleared up ....

Last Fall, after noticing that our President, Darla seemed a bit overwhelmed with things to do, I suggested that I could host our spring Garden Party fundraiser. I wanted to keep the same format she had created, (which I loved), just in a different setting, for a change of pace. Everyone at the meeting agreed, and soon after, armed with my new "project", I sprang into action, ordering bulbs from Groff's and planting them in the late fall with hopes of a floribunda setting for the party. I was so excited as spring arrived and stems began to pop up and flowers began to bloom! Pink and purple hyacinths, yellow daffodils, brightly colored tulips all began to color my yard. Soon tall stems sprouted purple pompom flowers- these were the allium flowers I never heard of before, so I planted them for fun. But as April wound down, I noticed my pretty garden was beginning to shrivel and wither. "Oh no!" I thought. "I should have planted late spring bloomers!" Speaking of Bloomers, I headed over there, along with Groff's and Lowes to buy more flowers and plants. And I took advantage of Rowan's "Back to the Boro" program, having students help me create a new garden in my backyard with some flowering bushes and perennials. I went a little crazy with my spending, rational­ izing that it was an "investment" that I could enjoy for years to come. I lined up my landscaper to come the day before the party to freshen up the backyard and clean out the leaves and debris that accumulated in the waterfall fountains I had built, and re-fill them so my guests could enjoy the sounds of gentle trickling and babbling in the background. But on Wednesday before the party, I suddenly noticed that the GFI that ran electricity to make backyard fountains had corroded and died. I scrambled to find an electrician, finally finding a neighbor who I paid to replace my GFI connection on Friday, so my landscaper could get my fountains up and running on Saturday. Whew! Garden looks beautiful, Check. Waterfalls fixed, Check. Punch Bowl picked up from Bernice, Check. Recipe for punch from Darla, Check. Confirmed Janet, Channon and Darla were bringing tea sand­ wiches, Check. Stephanie bringing the usual extraordinary desserts, Check. Ingredients for Quiches bought, Check. Linda Richardson bringing her flute, Check. Beautiful sunny day, Che .... ? It was one of the darkest, dreariest, rainiest days in May. So, I thought, this was one of those "when life gives you lemons, make lemonade" kind of moments. Time for "Plan B". I sprang out of bed and gathered every fake flower bouquet and arrangement in my house and brought them all into my family room, determined to bring my garden indoors and create the atmosphere I had dreamed of.... When it was all done, even my husband and sons said it looked Darla Cassidy relaxing on the sofa with Jenny Bates and Commisioner Mary Ellen really pretty in that room. "Why don't we Smith of Glassboro Historic Commission. keep it this way?" my son Payton asked. The doorbell rang precisely at 2pm and a bevy of guests streamed in, most of them having donned bright, pretty floral dresses, in spite of the gloomy gray day. Darla kept saying to me that "it's not the weather; it's the people who make the party." She further reminded me that there were plenty of years that it had rained on her party. Linda set up her music stand by my french doors and began to play sweet music, while my 18 guests gathered tightly together on sofas and chairs. For a while, one of my cats, Cocoa Puff, dressed with a hot pink flower adorning her collar, sat quite comfortably on her own chair, as if she was part of the group ... but later she began to get un­ nerved by the crowd and was not a happy camper! As we enjoyed the delicious array of food and punch, I stopped for a moment and realized how "lively" my family room was. Laughter lightened out hearts and lifted our spirits Cocoa Puff on her chair, as we each picked clues from a flower pot to play "Flower Trivia" - a game I made up for the enjoying the party (at first!)

party. "Q. I am a name of a town with a bad claim-to-fame. A. Columbine" "Q. My name involves a couple kissing. A. Tulips" "Q. I am a freeholder. A Heather". For Darla, it was wonderful to be a guest for a change. She was able to sit down and relax and mingle with the guests, instead of running around serving, washing dishes, and making sure everyone had what they wanted to eat or drink. ,~ The two hours for the party flew by, and soon it was time for everyone to pick ...... , their favorite party favor. I had bought an assortment of unique vintage tea . .. .. cups from thrift stores and filled each with chocolate covered almonds (for the dirt") and "planted" a single-stemmed silk Gerber Daisy in each.

It was so true that everyones' smiles and laughter brought the sunshine indoors that day. Plus, all donations raised will help refurbish the Glassboro Train Station. Maybe next time I plan a Garden Party, I'll save it for a rainy day! ·

Among other guests were Julia Larson, Commissioner Marie Lockwood of Glassboro Historic Commission and Lucile Pjleeger.

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Welcome a Greater Glassboro Group, Inc. SUPPUrter Write check to: Send to: SOS (Save Our Station) or Greater Glassboro Group, Inc. PO Boxoc57..___ :S 'I I Majur- C()ntr-ibut()r- Glassboro, N] 08028 with a donation of $50 or $1 00! .~

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In 1859, the Millville to train clicked and clacked loudly, father's car that was mangled Glassboro railroad line became announcing its presence on its and bent by the Millville­ incorporated, with Thomas Whit­ way into the Glassboro Station as Glassboro train at the Ellis Mill ney as its first president. Most well as announcing it's depar­ crossing. Jesse Howell (Ann & people refer to this as the Bridge­ ture. I was always pleased to see Warren Howell's father) had just ton Railroad or the Bridgeton the conductor return my wave. I been hired at the DuPont plant Train. In reality, it was incorpo­ always thought the conductor along the Delaware River. At last rated as the Glassboro-Millville was blowing he could help his in­ Line. Bridgeton, as a stop, was the whistle laws save their added to the line years later. for me and home. Mr. Howell By 1860, the line was com­ other family purchased a new plete only as far as Millvi1le. The members black Ford in order trains left Glassboro at I 0:15 in working in to commute to the morning and at 4:45 in the the field. work. After leaving afternoon. But, upon his father's home in The only tracks remaining in better think­ Elsmere (The Glassboro start at the old Glass­ ing, the Acres), he headed boro Station, continue across trains were signaling for the rail up Ellis Street to pick up milk for Ellis Street and come to an end at crossing at Ellis and Sewell his two babies. It was between the Glassboro and Aura line. Streets. six and seven o'clock in the eve­ I have fond memories of the Railroad crossings were very ning. The weather, as reported by old train that used to pass on the dangerous. Many deaths were many~ was foggy and rainy when edge of grandfather James Wil­ caused by trains passing through the train slammed into his car. liamson~ s farm. I recall, when I Glassboro. One gentleman was Mr. Howell was ejected from the was twelve~ I would stop, killed as he exited an east-bound passenger side door. straighten and wave at the con­ train, and was hit by a west­ Mr. Early Jones, a ductor. The act of straightening bound train. neighbor, was the first to arrive and waving relieved my aching I was very saddened when at the scene. back from the stoop of labor in my friend, Warren Howell, ... continued on Page 4 planting sweet potatoes. The showed me a picture of his

Page 1 After a "Rip Van winkle" sleep, the train sta­ Glassboro Group stepped into the arena as well as tion's eyes are blinking awake as the workers open those who stepped with us working and asking, its shuttered eyes. It squints and yawns while the "How do we save our train station? Other towns have workmen poke here and prod there - hammer here, done so." Now it seems the work of pushing to get and bang there. The things done, asking how to go about it all and long wait has ended the planning is done. Now it is time for us to for the money to be ask, "What is expected next of us in the next released by the gov­ step to help complete the project to its fu11 po­ ernment. With the tentiaL'' wait ended, long ... '!)atzia awaited hopes and dreams are becom- ing realized. They sail forth on a blast of energy as steam released from a steam engine. The fence surrounding the train sta­ tion readily speaks of immediate unsafe conditions. It announces, "Workmen at Work.~~ Expectations run high and we de- · sire our curiosity to be satisfied, but just as we wait for spring's warm days to arrive and for flowers to bloom, so must we wait for all work to be de­ dared done. Greater Glassboro Group, Inc. has long worked for this day just as many others long before Greater

The Train Station Bid The Train Station Bid was advertised to prequalified bidders in newspaper and opened on November 20, 2012 in accordance with NJ Local Contracts Law 40A: 11-l.There were three bid submissions. The Borough chose Wu & Associates based on the analysis of the bids by our legal department and the determination that Wu was the lowest, responsible bidder. They are doing a great and very thorough job so far.

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Page2 Soup Luncheon - Dreaming of Spring

In the dark, drab cold days d' oeuvres of fruit, warmed Brie chocolate cup cakes filled with of January and February, the and crackers were served. peanut butter and Oreo cookies. members of G3 pro­ Darla prepared posed an event to delicious Mussel chase the "winter Soup and French blues" away. We Onion Soup served would have a soup topped with melted luncheon compli­ Gruyere Cheese on a ments of and co­ floating French Ba­ hosted by Darla guette. Janet Atkin­ Cassidy, Janet At­ son prepared Manhat­ Those in attendance were kinson and Channon tan Clam Chowder Janet Atkinson, Lucile Pfleeger Armstrong. and Stracciatella Alia and her granddaughter, Sharon, It was a happy mixed up day. Fiorentina. Stracciatell~ means Mary Lee Donahue, Cindy Kam­ Daylight Savings Time had begun "little rag" in Italian--a fanciful mer and Jenny Bates. during the night and members ar­ description when egg and parme­ Breaking the rules of a for­ rived at dissimilar intervals. Other san cheese are stirred into sim­ mal luncheon, everyone was to members called to send their re­ mering stock to make a favorite bring their own soup cup. They grets as they had become discom­ Roman Soup. The addition of aJI came with their soup cup in bobulated over the time change. fresh spinach strips adds a Floren­ hand and for those who had for­ The teas poured were Earl tine touch. Channon Armstrong gotten, a bowl was readily avail­ Grey and English Tea Time. Hors baked an ange I food cake and able .• Chestnut Ridge Civic Association Bv Lucile Pfleeger In the early days of the Chestnut Ridge, after Reverend Galbraith arrived, a Civic Association was formed. The Association met in the Presbyterian Church with Reverend Galbraith sending notification of meetings each month to all members. Also, in the beginning, the organization was basically an all male group. But in later years, Coraelia Parks and Ruth Hanna became members. Seymour Winans, the Dean of Glassboro State College, a resident on Georgetown Road, was an active member, as were several other faculty and staff from GSC. Through the minutes taken by a member, we learn that the Association was concerned with the streets, not a11 yet paved, and the street lighting. The railroad crossing was discussed at several meetings. Lean Lutz, the High School principal, was a speaker discussing problems of the schools. Nadine Newcomb spoke at a meeting on the topic of"'Early Childhood Education.'' In the 1950's, our neighbor on Dickinson Road, Robert Newcomb, an attorney, invited my husband and me, to join the Association. When dormitory space was not available, coiJege students rented rooms in private homes on the "'Ridge.'' The college women were regulated by the college with house mothers trained and re­ quired to supervise the rules for female students. Students rarely owned automobiles. Today, life is different. ColJege students own and/or rent houses, and live unsupervised by the Univer­ sity. Students own automobiles causing parking problems. As welJ, they frequently hold noisy parties. A Chestnut Ridge Civic Association has recently been formed to deal with these problems. •

Page 3 reater '"" ...... ,. ...,oro Group

From Railroad Track ... continuedfromPage 1

He found the passenger door and Glassboro substation, where high the Hardingville Station, Monroe­ the front seat next to the lifeless powered lines connect. ville Station, etc. body of this young father. At the intersection of Ellis The station in Bridgeton Years later, at this same loca­ Street, Deptford Road and Sewell may have been a bit more tion, Mr. Shipley, driving his ice Street, the railroad tracks divide. elaborate than the "covered bus truck, was hit by the Glassboro­ One track leads through Elsmere Millville train. Mr. Shipley was to Bridgeton. The main track con­ our iceman who sold ice to fami­ tinues through South Glassboro, lies in the Elsmere community and Clayton, Franklinville, Iona and throughout the Borough. At this Newfield. Another branch went time in the early SO's, a number of into Millville by route of North families did not have refrigerators. Vineland, South Vineland and I have been unable to find any Claysville. The next stop was M i 11- hard information concerning how ville. seriously he was injured or if he Perhaps the best place to view was killed. It was the rumor that the old track is in Monroeville. spread. I do know that he no Here, the track has been turned longer stopped at our house to ask into a walking path. The spot stop'' train station. The Glassboro if we needed ice. where the station once stood is -Millville train is one of many Today, the old tracks can be now a parking lot. What we re­ that crossed Gloucester County in ferred to as stations were really the early 19th century. Old tracks overgrown with trees and bushes nothing more than today' s bus stop with a covering.

seen on both sides of Sewell Street, between the VFW and Ellis Today, the old tracks are being Street. Most of the tracks today The stations along the rail route was selectively turned into jogging, are overgrown with trees and the same as this photo. walking and bicycling paths. small bushes. An area has been Little is left except memories, recently cleared starting at Sewell After the train left Glassboro, stories of what used to be and rail­ Street, extending roughly 300 the next stop was Aura, where road collectors sharing pictures. • yards to a clearing, which enables there was a station as such. Con­ you to see the tracks. The tracks tinuing down the line, there was stretch from Sewell Street to the Photos.fi"om file ofRober! Tucker

Page 4 of Randi Wolfe.

*Checks to support Greater Glassboro Group are made out to: Greater Glassboro Group *Checks for Save Our Station are made out to: Greater Glassboro Group SOS

We Invite You to Join Our Group

Please enroll me as an annual member: Individual ($25) Family ($30) Business ($50)

I want to be a Supporter ($I 00)__ _ Major Contributor ($200) ___ Name: Phone: ------Address:

Signature:

Greater Glassboro Group. inc.. is a 501 (c) (3) non-pro{lr organi:::arion in The public illferesr. All donations are tax deductible.

Page 5 201 7-201+ Our Mission... Greater Glassboro Group Officers for 20 1 j-20 1+ is to improve the 9ualit9 of Glassboro life through the following o~ectives: l)uild pride in F resident······························-··································· Darla Cassid_y Vice F resident ...... Chan non Armstrong our communit_y b_y supporting efforts to enhance Secretar_y ...... jenn_y 5ates knowledge and awareness of our communal histories; Treasurer...... 5emice Willis improve the appearance and function of our ph9sical Treasurer for Save Our Station (SQS) Carmen Johnson and architectural heritage b9 supporting efforts to Membership Chair...... janet Atkinson preserve and restore what remains; work for the con­ Grants Director .... ~ ...... Mar_y Lee Donahue tinuation of historic patterns now established Oike the Newsletter E.ditor ...... Sue Stewart tree-lined streets); and to improve the 4ualit_y of F ublicit_y ...... Lucile FAeeger Glassboro life b_y encouraging good civic manage­ Unit_y Da_y Committee Co-Chairs ...... Jenn_y 5ates, ment of all resources, whether ph_ysical, financial, Stephanie .Wolfgang natural, or human.

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•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

The Las-t <>rigin.a.l S-tru.c-tu.re o:Ct:he "West: Jersey R..a.ilroad S-ta-tion.

INTERVIEW WITH RICH DROBIL - Glassboro Historical Commissioner, Train Historian, Model Train Collector, Lover of Anything that Runs on Rails

By The Pres - Darla Cassidy Darla: Was the remaining original building of West Jer­ sey Railroad Station, now known as the Glass­ boro Train Station, used as a loading dock or freight area? Rich: Yes, the West Jersey Railroad Station was built in 1860 and used as a loading dock and freight area. The station had two parts under one roof. One half was the passenger waiting area. The other side was the freight office which had a loading dock outside and a freight area inside. The back door entrance opened onto the loading dock. Trucks backed up to the loading platform at the rear of the station and boxes were moved into the station to a small platform the same height as the outside dock. There was a weight scale where packages were weighed and picked up. The front of the inside area was the station master's office and the freight office. In the front~ on the same side, were double freight doors where packages were taken outside to the platform for train pickup. The passenger side was the other side of the station. That was not its only use. There was a great waiting room with wooden benches, train schedule board and ticket window. Also, a "register clock'' hung on the wall; we know this by the faded outlines on the wall. Darla: What was its primary purpose? Rich: West Jersey Station was primarily a passenger station. Local freight and mail were also dropped off and picked up. Around or about I 970, the passenger service died away, but there was still a freight agent. Freight was re­ ceived until I 978 when the Freight Agency closed. Darla: Were there other branches of the rail line? ... continued on Page 2

Page 1 Photosfrom.files ofRich Drobil

The Last Original Structure .. continuedji-om Page I Rich: Yes, it should be noted that there was a branch off the main line that went into town past St. Bridget's church and ended at the empty lot across from the new firehouse. Before then there was a freight station where the Glassboro zoning office is today.

Darla: Model of West Jersey (Glassboro) Railroad Station as it looked years ago. Do you know when the last train came through and what was its model? Rich: Yes~ it is documented that the last passenger train was a Budd Rail Diesel Car (RDC) #773. It was the last to stop at Glassboro headed back from Millville. It is also documented that on February 16, 1949 the last RPO (Rail Post Office) train ran from Glassboro to Bridgeton and on July 12, 1952, passenger service from Glass­ boro to Bridgeton ended. However, passenger service from Glassboro to Millville continued until February 5, 1971, when Train #773 became the last passenger train to stop at Glassboro Station on the Millville Branch. The freight agency moved across the platform to the tower into 1978 when the Freight Agency closed. Darla: Where was the tower located and is it still there? Rich: No, the tower is gone. It was across the tracks from the station and con­ trol1ed the Glassboro interlocking; a railroad term for the way trains were switched within the Glassboro Station area. Like Woodbury and Tuckahoe, Glassboro was a major connection traveling south from Camden. Glassboro Station divided trains entering Glassboro Station into two "branches." Trains could go to the right (known as the Bridgeton Branch) or straight following a double track line (Mi11ville Branch). In addition~ you could take a train that crossed both ofthese lines that ran fi·om Williamstown to Glassboro and Glassboro to Mullica Hill. Service on those lines ended in the 1940s. If you look at Glass­ boro Station, from any map search application on the web, you will see the footprint where the tracks were located. Darla: When was the train station built? As a child, G3 member. Janet Atkinson, played in a tunnel under the tracks where Rich: passengers walked safely to the other The train station was built in 1860, when all the goods were moved by side ofthe tracks to catch their train. train. ...continued on Page 6

Page2 Group

They lived their lives valiantly

Robert C. Bates, Councilman June 3, 1933 -May 17, 2012

Karen Pjleeger-Smith March 9, 1947-August 2, 2002

Page3 The Last Original Structure ... continuedfrom Page 2 Darla: What would you like the future to be for our historic train station? Rich: I would like to see the building brought back to life as an historical, living history of railroads in Glassboro and to see the building house photos and displays of the important roll the West Jersey Station played in Glassboro's growth and development. It could be a place to hold meetings, display history to be remembered and celebrate the present. I see the importance of this place being part of the industrial past. Locally, I have walked the old Bridge­ ton Branch behind Owens Glass, passed the junk yards to where it crossed Route 55 before the road was built. In South Jersey, for example, in the middle of a field sits a train station filled with farm equipment. Have you ever gone to the restaurant Country Kitchen in Elmer? It is the old Elmer train station. In Moorestown, they have turned train stations into Dentist offices and Borough Halls. Woodbury and Gloucester City's stations are now restaurants. Wenonah and West Berlin stations are meeting halls. Cape May has an old freight station that has just been turned into Hobby Shop with four running model train layouts! I have walked the Millville Branch as far as Clayton, photo­ graphing every man-made stone PermsyivcmicH(ead!ng Seashore Unes support or signal base or location where a switch used to be. I have I ! walked the Glassboro to Millville ,,,; line that ran from the "Mushroom" plant to the Lincoln Road and west through the farms to where the new Highway 322 cutoff cuts the old rail line in half. Remaining still is the trestle that crossed over the Rattan River in Mullica Hill to the train station and mill where the Antique Village now is housed. I have walked south where the trains used to run, to Owens baseball field and traced the crossover across the field from Owens, behind the Gas Company and out to Delsea Drive where the old bike path takes it into Wil­ liamstown. Along that bike path, 1900s Glassboro Railroad Tracks if you look closely, are remains of old railroading markers and little bridges where the trains once crossed. I have spent a lot of time in my sixty years looking where trains used to go- alJ the way to Cape May, Ocean City, Wildwood, Mays Landing and to Cape May Point. Naturally, I would like our station to live up to its potential as an historic instrument of our industrial past.

. .. continued on Page 6

Page 4 reater oro Group

Supporters Major Contributors Contact

William and Anna Pote Lucile Pfleeger Darla Cassidy, President (McCullough) 856.881.1112 Ronald & Joan Cunningham Dr. Janet Holdcraft Mary Lee Donahue, Grant Director Diana Pierce, WECOM 856.881.4345 Janet Atkinson, Membership Chair Dr. and Mrs. Robert A. Pedrick 856.582.21 06

We Invite You to Join Our Group

Please enroll me as an annual member: Individual ($25) ___ Family ($30) Business ($50)

I want to be a Supporter ($1 00) ___ Major Contributor ($200) ___ Name: Phone: ------Address: Signature:

Greater Glassboro Group, Inc., is a 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization in the public interest. All donations are tax deductible.

Page 5 1779 making glass for the next 148 years in what was to Soloman become the town of Glass­ boro. In 1834, Thomas Stanger Whitney came on the scene and purchased the Home Harmony Glassworks, along with all other glass By Tom O'Keefe interests in town, and the hen Gothic came rest is history. His two W to America and sons, Thomas and Samuel was translated to joined him and renamed "Carpenter Gothic," the the glassworks "Whitney stone tracery was re- Brothers Glassworks." placed by wooden Gingerbread. The ornate wooden Thomas and Samuel Whitney, co-owners of the detail is considered a folk art. Each carpenter had Whitney Brothers Glassworks, built the present his own ideas and employed his own fanciful de­ house in 1859. signs. The latter part of the nineteenth century Between 1859 and 1886, the property brought a new attitude toward color. Before then, changed hands just four more times. before being the houses of the tract builders tended to be painted purchased by Dr. Jocob Iszard in 1886. Dr. Iszard all one color, usually white, beige or gray. By 1887, was a graduate of Hahnemann Medical College in many people were painting their houses in lighter, Philadelphia and settled in Glassboro in 1870 to brighter colors. The vibrant colors are one of the practice homeopathic medicine. Dr. Iszard owned more easily identifiable features of Victorian archi­ the property until his death in 1902. When Jocob tecture today. Iszard died, the property passed to his heirs, How­ The present home at 122 State Street is of ard Iszard and Soloman Stanger Iszard. Upon How­ the Gothic Revival style, and it~ along with all the ard Iszard 's death in 1934, the property passed to properties in the immediate vicinity, were built on his heir, Lida Iszard Ledden. part· of a 200 acre plot of land purchased by Solo­ The home is presently under the steward­ man Stanger in 1779. By 1781 ~the Stangers started ship ofThomas and Elizabeth O'Keefe. Mr. & Mrs. the Stanger Glassworks, and the family continued O'Keefe have spent 14 years renovating and restor­ ing the property to its present condition. +

The Last Original Structure ... continued.fi·om Page -1 Darla: How did you become interested in the history of trains and railroads? Rich: My Dad's uncles ran the steam engines that moved the coal and freight on the lines next to the East and West River Drives in Philadelphia. Railroads were the way the world moved everything. From the time I was a small baby, every summer my Dad took me to every operating tourist railroad in the tri-state area until I entered college. While attending college, I tracked down every abandoned train line I could find. As a child, I collected Lionel trains and to this day, I belong to a model train club. If it is a train, a model train or a rail road line, I'm on it. + (More pies on Scrapbook Page)

Page6 Garden 9-?art~

By Dr Janet Holdcra.ft

1 On May 20 h, a bright, sunny day, Greater Glassboro Group hosted its gth Annual Fundraising Garden Tea Party at the home of the President, Darla Cassidy. Danielle Spence discussed the Train Station renovation progress.

Dr. Janet Holdcraft read poetry to those in attendance. The poems were: Warning, by Jenny Joseph, All the Time, by Michael Andrews, Rolls Royce Dreams, by Ginger Andrews, and The Village Burglar (Anonymous). In honor ofthe upcoming Father's Day, the following poems were read aloud~ My Dad's Hands, by David Kettler, and What I Want, by Edgar Guest. The final poem was an adaptation of the fable, The Little Dutch Boy Who Saved Holland.

Following the poetry readings, guests and members enjoyed punch, tea sandwiches and cakes.

The table was set with pastel, spring flowers, pink table clothes, a glass punch bowl and punch cups. Janet Atkinson and daughter, Channon Armstrong, prepared delicious tea sandwiches. Stephanie Wolfgang outdid herself with scrumptious, spec­ tacular confections. Randi Wolf photographed the event.

As the Garden Party neared its close, clouds gathered. It began to drizzle. Every­ one snatched things and scurried into the house.

Pictures by Randi Wolf

(More pies on Scrapbook Page)

Page7 Train Station Scrapbook Page

Photos ji-om file ofRich Drobil

PageS Garden Party Scrapbook Page

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Volume 9 )ssue 1

Work:.ng Toward F reserving Our Communit_y's Heritage, Architecture and F ride •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

I was delighted to read the other laborers, without speak­ about the plaque and ceremony ing with the foreman or anyone in to remember the first teacher at charge, he simply walked off the Inside This Issue Glassboro Normal School. How­ job. He went to the corner of Main ever, there is another group--long and High Streets and waited for forgotten and little remembered. the paymaster who was headed The Forgotten...... I Long before the first fac- toward the job site car­ ·lty sat at their desks or rying the payroll. Wil­ Thf! Pres Says...... 2 [he first students liamson followed the walked the halls, there paymaster back to the Letters Received Regarding .••.. ~...... 3 was an earlier group. job site whereupon he Those who dug the was approached by the basements and poured supervisor who called Remembering Old Glassboro ...... ;... 4 the basement founda­ out, "Hey James, I've tions were generally been looking all over Membership/· called "grunts." for you. Where in the Contributors...... 5 As the story goes, world have you been? James Williamson, a See that group of men Scrapbook Page...... 6 Lamp Black over there? I'm putting resident of the Elsmere Scrapbook Page...... 7 section of Glassboro, you in charge of them. heard about the construction of Here 1s a set of blueprints. Go Meetings, the Normal School and he was in over them and have them finish Oitr Mission & Officers .•.••.•••. "o...... 10 need of a job. However, because that line according to these of his gray temples and mus­ prints." tache, he was fearful of being told The foreman knew that he was too old to be hired. De­ Williamson could read blueprints spite his reservation, he applied because he had lain out and *Lamp Black to cover the gray graded the streets in Upper Darby hair and was employed. and Sharon Hill, Pennsylvania. After working for some Throughout his career, Wil­ time, he realized the work was too liamson collected blueprints, hard. Without saying anything to documents, engineering books .. . continued on Page 4

Page 1 G3 PRES SAYS...

Ventfree Gas Coal Burner

Isn't life funny- with its unexpected twists and turns? In the middle of life's bitter disappointments, frustrations, hard work and misery, gifts arrive, what seems, from the Universe. Many years ago a friend of mine noticed the fireplace and said, "You know, Darla, that was a coal burning fireplace." Well, I didn't know. I knew the soot started a foot or so above ash dump. Otherwise I never thought about coal. Fire places are only for wood, aren't they? My interest was piqued. The fireplace chimney had been removed at the attic floor before we purchased our home. I had no idea why. With two small children in tow and no closet space, I had what remained of the chimney and fire place in our upstairs bedroom removed for much needed closet space. I also knocked out the plaster inside the sitting room fireplace. The slate mantel (faux marble) took its place as the focal point of the room. With a fireplace screen, it looked almost functional. It wasn't until recently that I realized why the top of the chimney had been removed. The support bricks in the basement had been compromised for the installation of heating .and plumbing pipes! Years ago I noticed a designer on HGTV put a natural gas coal basket fireplace in a room that she decorated. "Amazing! I like it. Where do I find it?" Several years later, a natural gas coal basket was featured in a design magazine. I cut it out and took it to a bunch of fireplace stores. "No, never heard of it. No, no, no." "What part of the chimney is missing!" was repeated over and over again to each fireplace estab­ lishment to which I spoke. "No, No, and No. It can't be fixed for use." A month or so ago I decided to try again. This time- success! The fire place people gave me the name of Smith's Chimney Service, LLC. Mr. Smith came, evaluated the chimney's many problems and told me I could have a vent free fireplace if the chimney was capped and filled with fire retardant material, and removed debris lodged at chimney top. While he was giving his evaluation, he took out the bricks at the bottom of the fire box. Once a bed of concrete was poured, he would set the fire ... continued on Page 9 Greater Glassboro Grou I n c .

Page 2 July 24, 2011 To whon1 it may concern, Wesley Brown Jr., my great grandfather, Stanwood was part of the first class to earn doc­ was born in Glassboro in 1839. He became a torates from Rowan University. In addition 111y share cropper for the Whitney family, farnling wife, Kristine Stanwood and Mark's 'Wife, An­ the land that is now part of the Rowan Univer­ gela Pino Stanwood are graduates of Glassboro State. sity campus. William Beckett Brown, the youngest All of us would be honored to attend the son ofWesley Brown, was born in the Glassboro dedication ceremony in September. area in 1873. William B. Brown was my mater­ William E. Stanwood nal grandfather and one of the contributors to be honored with a plaque for his contributions. I along with my two younger brothers graduated from Glassboro State College. My brother Mark and I earned our masters degrees from Glassboro State College. Dr. H. Mark

'P~ ~ ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,.

Mullica Hill, NJ July 23. 2011 Dear Committee Members. very close to the Whitney family, man­ boro Normal School, Glassboro State It was with great pleasure aging the Whitney farm for many College and Rowan University. William that our family read of your honoring years. His middle name was selected Brown's daughter graduated from the the vision and generosity of citizens out of respect for his father's business normal school, my brothers and I (and who were helpful in the development of associate. William Beckett, another two of our wives) have degrees from what is now known as Rowan Univer­ name of the list. We also recognize the there. I was a member of the first sity. Within the announcement was an names of Clint Kandle. a business as­ cohort of the doctoral program, re­ invitation for descendents of these sociate of my grandfather and Peter cently retired as Gloucester County individuals to attend a ceremony in mid Scott, next door neighbor to my grand­ Superintendent of Schools and con­ September. Please advise us of the father. tinue a close relationship with the date. time, and location of the event. I anticipate you will hear from my university. We thank you for your in­ William Becket Brown was my brother. Ron and Bill Stanwood. as well terest in this recognition of our grand­ grandfather. He and his father were as our cousin. William B. Brown Ill. Our father and look forward to attending family has been well-served by Glass- the event. Sincerely, Mark Stanwood, Ed. 0

Greater G I as 0 Group, I n c . Page 3 j 3&emembering

As I walk or drive through downtown Glassboro, I think of my childhood and the various stores and businesses that are long gone. My earliest memories are from 1941, when my family moved from East New Street to 118 South Main Street. During World War II, my memories are of several neighbors and friends, including my brother­ in-law, Townsend Buck, who entered the military service. Later, my two sisters, Alice Armstrong and Mary Armstrong, joined the Army Nurse Corps and served in Atlantic City Military Hospitals. The in­ jured servicemen were returning from the European theater. Throughout the war years, war reports and maps of war progress were reported in the Philadelphia Bulletin. We read them each day. Black outs were practiced in Glassboro. When air raid sirens sounded, all homes turned off all lights and a warden walked the streets to check for any lights. Seeing one, he would knock on the residence's door and strongly urge that the lights be turned off. What a great joy it was when the war was over and eve­ ryone returned home! 118 South Main Street, across from the Trinity Protestant Church (115 South Main Street), was my home from 1941 to 1949. The neighbors' family names were Mitchell, Duffield, Meyers, Raffa, Chillari, Ware, Flamma, Miskelly and Pierce. Dr. William B. Husik's office was located at.the corner of 101 South and Wilmer Streets. Walking north on South Main, stood Shereve's Funeral Home (36 South Main), Ida Jean's Woman's Apparel and Howard Collings Heating Oil Company (30-32 South Main), Morris Spheen's Store (24 South Main) and the Glassboro Lumber Company (20 South Main). Across from the lumber company, the Pennsylvania Seashore Railroad substation was primarily a freight station. The track crossed Main Street into the lumber yard. The Glassboro High School stu­ dents boarded the train at this location for their senior trip to Washington D.C. ... continued on Page 5

The forgotien ..continued from Page 1 for the Normal School building and grounds. After his death, his daughter, Jennie Eva Tucker, held on to the collec­ tion until her death, whereupon it was discarded. As I walked up the steps of Bunce Hall on the day I graduated, I wished that The man, James Williamson, was my the man could have been there--the man grandfather. who applied Black Lamp to his hair and the man who almost abandoned his work. *Oil based soot, a byproduct from an oil When called upon by his supervi­ lamp bought and sold in drug stores. Also sor, the man who took up the yoke as a used in stage productions for darkening leader of men. I believe the man would hair.+ have been proud of me.

Greater G I ass 0 Group, I n c . Pa e 4 reater oro Group·

l\.emembering

Supporters Major Contributors Contact Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Galli a Lucile Pfleeger Darla Cassidy, President Glassboro Memorial Post #679 Ronald & Joan Cunningham 856.881.1112 William and Anna Pote WE COM Mary Lee Donahue, Grant Director (McCullough) 856.881.4345 Dr. Janet Hold craft Janet Atkinson, Membership Chair 856.582.2106

*Checks to support Greater Glassboro Group are made out to: Greater Glassboro Group ------*Checks for Save Our Station are made out to: Greater Glassboro Group SOS We Invite You to Join Our Group

Please enroll me as an annual member: Individual ($25) Family ($30) Business ($50)

I want to be a Supporter ($1 00) ___

Major Contributor ($200) --- Name: ------Phone: ------Address: ------Signature:------

Greater Glassboro Group, Inc., is a 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization in the public interest. ------All donations are tax deductible. Scrapbook Paae Unity Day·· -~'o-

Page 6 .·:,,Greater Scrapbook Paae Gl~=s,;boro Group ~~~~P:laque Dedication

Page 7 l\.ememhering

On New Year's Eve in car so always walked. On Satur­ George's Barber Shop (100 East 1944, the Junior Mechanics days, I went to the matinees High) and Wilbur Lutz's Drug Building burned. It was where 'serial' shorts movies, Store (104 East High). located on the North such as Flash Gordon and the Crossing the street at the West corner of High and Main Green Hornet, were shown prior corner of Main and High, was Streets and was originally built to the feature. The Roxy Theater the Kotler /Levy building (Levy's as the Whitney Glass Works De­ opened in 1928 at 102 West 5 & 10 Variety Store). Next to partment Store which opened in High Street. On the way, we Levy's store was the Glassboro 1896. I sat on my father's shoul­ ders and watched the fire. This was one of the most dangerous fires in Glassboro history be­ cause three firefighters were trapped in the building when part of it collapsed. They were From the rescued with minor injuries. files Of My Dad, Harry Arm­ Marilyn strong, passed away in 1951, only Plasket a few years after our 1949 move to 7 South Main Street. The Po­ lice K-9 dogs are now located where we once lived. A sweet shop, only a short walk on West High Street (30 West High Street), was owned by the Testa family and, in the fif­ passed many businesses where Post Office (9 High Street), Uhl's ties, owned by Mrs. Molly Hen­ people gathered to talk and Market (11 High Street), the derson. "Molly's" was a favorite shop. American Store (Acme) ( 13 & 15 place where my high school The H & H Appliance High Street), Berg's Ladies & friends hung out. A few of my store was located at 8 High Children's Wear (19 High Street) friends were John Aveni Jack Street next to the bank building. and Champion Shoe Store (21 Lescure, George Esgro, Tom The first air conditioned store in High Street). Across Center Ganor, Russ Snow, Charlie Mar­ Glassboro at 10-12 High Street Street was the Glassboro Lum­ shall, Bob Nickerson, Jay Adams was Abbott's Drug Store and ber Office, presently the Heri­ and Ron Bunting. A sub with Soda Fountain. Next stood the A tage Glass Museum (25 High mustard/ketchup and a choco­ & P Market (16 East High), Street). Joe Mitchell's Atlantic late coke were my favorite Levy's Men's and Boy's Wear (20 Gas Station stood at High and Molly's food. East High), New York Apparel Academy Streets. Robinson's In the 1940's, my Mother, Shop (22 East High), Scharna­ Bar was on the North East cor­ Father and I walked east on gle's Barber Shop (24 East ner next to Tag's Cold Cuts (105 High Street to the Glassboro High), Phillip's Jewelry Store High Street), Mazzeo's Bar (115 Theater (Roxy) where we saw a (30 East High), and the Nut High Street), Abbott's Hardwarr double feature western on Fri­ Shop (34 East High). In the (143 & 147 High Street}- day nights. We never owned a Glassboro Theater building was ... continued on Page 9

Page 8 reater oro Group

Ventfree Gas Coal Burner... continued fi"om Page 2 bricks in place and fix the existing old mortar between the bricks. The chimney would then be safe and ready for the ventfree coal basket that I found on line at Four Season's Supply in North Carolina. Lee, the sales representative, patiently answered all my questions and advised me about the necessary things to do to be safe. Concerning safety? Yes, my closet to be exact. Carpeting now lay where a sec­ ond floor fireplace had once roared. I was taken aback when Mr. Fetterman removed the carpeting to look for the chimney. Indeed, ·it was a very narrow space. Questions ran through my mind. How did they do that? The skill and knowledge it took to build such a chimney. With a long pole, Mr. Fetterman nudged the debris free, poured the concrete at the bottom of the fire box and left it to cure. Little over a week later, Mr. Smith returned to cap the fire place and fill it with fire retardant material, point the old bricks and install the firebrick. The vent-free coal basket sits unwrapped next to the fireplace waiting for Mr. Fordyce to run the gas line, install the coal basket and the borough inspection. Because of their expertise and interest, Smith's Chimney Service, Williamstown, and Four Season's Supply, North Carolina, out of nowhere, a dream came true.+ ... Darla

l\.emembering ®Ib <.@lassboro ... continuedfi"om Page 8 Glassboro Auto Parts (149 High Street.) In February of 1952, Russ Snow and I were hired by the American Stores, Acme, to help close the store at 13-15 High Street when it moved into the new store at College Avenue and Center Streets, the present location of the Library. We both worked at the Acme for the remaining two years of high school. It was the first job for both of us with a company. The manager of the store was Russ Wescott from Pitman. He was always smoking a cigarette down to the last inch. He was a great person who worked with us on our hours. When there was a dance or prom, we always visited the store first, with our dates dressed in their gowns and we in our tux. The Acme property on High Street was next used by the Baker Brothers as a variety store for several years. My mother, Alice Armstrong, worked there as an Assistant Manager. In the same time period, the A & P market moved to Delsea Drive. In the early 1950's, Glassboro had a Halloween block party. There was a short parade led by "Peps" Bennett and "Min" Walton. Following the parade, High Street was blocked off from Main Street to Academy Street. Glassboro High School students painted the store windows with the fall theme prior to the event. Judging of the costumes and other events were held. The band marched from the high school to the center of town and played. The "Cider" plant on South Delsea Drive was cooking apples for their various products. The apple aroma was spread through the crisp air in Glassboro. Visualizing that time brings back many happy memories.+

Greater Glassboro Grou I n c .

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\ Fall2011 Volume 8 Issue 2

~ro-up

Working Toward Preserving Our Community's Heritage, Architecture and Pride

An_ Htiis;ttoclli~~]_ W~)k_ thJr~;.ug;h the; Pats:t,, PT~~,s;~~t,- allid.. L.~:t?.rking t:~, 1tb~: Futlilll'~: By Darla Cassidy

These people were not people of wealth. the two major cities. Glassboro was also They came from all walks of life. A a bucolic tourist attraction with Inside this issue: typical wage in 1917 was between $10 farmland stretching for miles, providing and $15. Many were poor farmers. an agricultural coup because of its Woman did not rr======il 3,000 pear trees, have the right to 8oo apple trees, 200 -,ote. Yet, they also cherry trees, etc. _vok financial part Therefore, the in procuring what argument was that they all believed a Glassboro was the Normal School perfect place for the would be --an Normal School. investment for the Glassboro citizens future of Glassboro. were looking to "They gave out of what they did not the future, once again in the have rather than what they had," to process of reinventing itself. quote Glassboro Historian Robert Long before Washington Tucker. crossed swords with the British in In 1917, 107 Glassboro residents Yorktown, Va., a tribe of people, raised more than $7,000 to purchase 25 who called themselves Unalachtigo acres of Whitney land tract along with (the people who live near the the Whitney Mansion and Carriage ocean), lived in the Glassboro House. They offered their purchase to area. They were part of the New Jersey, free, provided the state Lenni-Lenape nation. would locate the planned Normal They lived in a dense School in Glassboro. forest where little light could Glassworks furnaces roared. One penetrate. The woods was hundred trains a day which stopped at filled with chestnut, oak, and various train stations. The Chestnut pine trees, a stream and a idge development boasted that it was couple of coarse irregular close to two major cities, Philadelphia Roads." When Solomon and Camden. Students would have easy Stanger happened upon the access to schools they wished to visit in place with its abundance of trees along ... continued on Page 2 Page 1 with the much needed fine white sand, he decided it would be the perfect place for his glassworks. Thus, in 1779, Stanger began preparations for the building of his glassworks factory in the land of the people who live near the ocean. Glassboro was invented. The birth of the Normal School began in 1911. Former President of Princeton University and President-elect Woodrow Wilson, governor of New Jersey, tele­ graphed Dr. Calvin Kendall, an old time friend and educator from Indiana, asking him to accept the post as New Jersey's Commissioner of Education with an increase of salary from $5,000 to $1o,ooo. Kendall accepted the offer and one hundred years ago began the 12-year journey that led to the opening of Glassboro Normal School. Kendall noted that New Jersey needed more qualified teachers as a good number of them were untrained. In rural areas, a number of teachers taught with only an 8th grade education. In 1911, it was "legally possible to teach in elementary Woodrow Wilson schools without a high school diploma and in high school without a college degree." 1856-1924 The Commissioner stated, "The two Normal Schools, Montclair and Trenton, were crowded to capacity." Dr. Kendall told the State Boards and Legislatures that he wanted a Normal School in the north and in the South. After much battling with the State Board of Education and the State Legisla­ ture, on January 4, 1913, the Legislature turned the State Board's request for a Nor­ mal School in the north and in the south, into law. The statute stated that the Nor­ mal School for the south had to be south of Mercer County and would serve to edu­ cate persons in the Science of Education and the Art of Teaching. It also stipulated that no monies would be available until appropriations for the schools' construction were made. Therefore, the new law was "not worth the paper it was printed on." To sey Governor and the Commissioner, "it was like an automobile without an engine." a President oft!Je Kendall argued that it was appalling that an affluent state like NJ would have United State), to three Normal Schools in the north and none in the South. "We have a sacred duty to improve the qual­ ity of education of the children of this State to have them taught by qualified teachers." He continued New Jersey chil­ to bombard the State Board and Legislature, "The southern half of the state is dren. probably the largest area in the eastern or northeastern section of the country with­ out a state Normal School. Even the state of Maine maintains a Normal School in the northern part of its territory." In 1916, he assured the State Boards and Legislatures, "Look, it is well known that Normal Schools and Colleges draw the bulk of their students from the immedi­ ate neighborhood. This is a fact of life, if for no other reason than, they find it cheaper to attend a Normal School if it is nearer home, because room and board items do not appear on their educational bills." The legislation continued to hold up the appropriations. Woodrow Wilson was now President of the U.S. World War I loomed on the horizon. Kendall held to his argument that southern New Jersey's school children deserved the education that a Normal School graduate could give them. With the sinking of the Lusitania on April12, 1917, by a German U-boat, ... continued on Page 4 Page2 Glassboro Group

~We regret that we were not able to correct Dr. Charles D. Pedrick1s name. The correction was received after the plaque was cast in bronze.

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Page 3 Greater Glassboro Group, Inc. is a 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization in the public interest. w-...-..-.....rea ter oro Group

NewJerseyStateNormalSc!roolat Giass/,o~'O · ·1----....,..------.-1 ,_,_=------which is nowBuiu:e Hall . ..·... · (photo~ $epteniber2.011 byparia CassJdy) -- ,- - '-. ···-. .... :.--:_-,--_- --

President Woodrow Wilson gravely addressed a joint session of Congress. He stated, "Reason has failed ... now we must resort to arms, for we will not choose the path of submission ... It is a fearful thing to lead this great peaceful people into war, into the most terrible and disastrous of all wars, but the right is more precious than peace, and we shall fight for the things we have always carried nearest our hearts --for democracy, the right of those who submit to authority to have a voice in their own gov­ ernment." As he prepared the schools to support the war, Commissioner Kendall made clear the funda­ mental principal that "a democracy in order to be safe for the world must be an educated democracy." His adage was, "The soldier fights to make the world safe for democracy; the teacher works to make democracy safe for the world." Kendall continued to argue for more qualified teachers, and with the war still raging, $300,000 was finally appropriated by the New Jersey Legislature for the construction of a Normal School in southern New Jersey. Kendall had dreamed of the Normal School having an exemplary faculty consist­ ing of at least one-half males, but this reality did not take place. In 1917, the State Board of Education assumed its legal responsibility of control and management and planned to build the southern New Jersey Normal School. Calvin Kendall, the father of the dream, was, now to his great disappointment, only an advisor. The State board asked interested communities to give bids for building a school within their boundaries. A new board member from Glassboro was added-Thomas Whitney Synnott, "a member of the old-time Glassboro family." Mr. Synnott was the son of Dr. Myles Synnott and Harriet Heston Whitney, daughter of Ebenezer and Bathsheba Whitney. Thomas Synnott began his work in his Uncle Whitney's glassworks company as an Assistant Bookkeeper. By the age of 27, he had become General Business Manager of the glassworks while his cousin, John Whitney, operated the actual manufactur­ ing. He was also the current president of the Glassboro National Bank. Applications poured into the state from all over--Hammonton, Pleasantville, Vineland, Bridgeton, Woodbury, Pitman and Glass­ boro. All the localities sent representatives to fight for the Normal School to be built within their boundaries. Glassboro's representative carried a brief with eight reasons why the Normal School should be located in Glassboro:

1. The Glassboro site has the advantage of being in the center of southern New Jersey. 2. More than 100 trains stopped in Glassboro daily. Commuting students from all over southern New Jersey's principal towns have access to the railroad. 3. Two-thirds of the tract is sparsely covered with massive oak trees and acreage is tillable and covered with grass. It has a beauty that only nature can provide. . .. continued on Page 5 Page4 Group·

4. Topographically, the Holly Bush tract is one of the highest points in southern New Jersey and has excellent drainage possibilities with an elevation of 170 feet. 5. The Whitney Mansion contains nineteen large rooms which can provide housing to students or faculty. 6. Glassboro is a stable community of 3,000 people supported economically by the right blending of industry and agriculture. Also available are up-to-date electric light, gas, and water utilities to meet twentieth-century needs. 7. Eight Protestant denominations and one Catholic Church offer students the solace that relig­ ion brings. 8. A modern high school and a new nineteen-room elementary school provide an excellent student teaching experiences for the Normal School students.

Finally, Glassboro will nurture school spirit because it is without outside distractions and it is located in the country. Students studying to teach may travel inexpensively to visit schools in Philadelphia. The arguments were not enough and on August 11, 1917, the State Board of Education ~ommittee could not agree upon a locality. Thomas Synnott then asked Commissioner Calvin Kendall co gather data showing the cost, distance and time required for transportation between the high school centers in the six southern counties including the towns of Bridgeton, Glassboro, Pleasantville, and Woodbury. The State board Committee recommended Glassboro to be the Normal School site. On June 2, 1917, it was recognized by the Committee that 107 of the Glassboro residents raised $7,066 for the purchase of 25 acres contained in the projected location. "Glassboro's civic minded citizens offered the acreage to the State free of charge, urging the State Board to accept the offer and also recommended that the State purchase 30 addition acres of the Whitney tract at a cost not to exceed $16,ooo." Pit­ man, Glassboro's competitor, conceded. On December 1, 1917, the Southern New Jersey Normal School property was titled to the State of New Jersey. At last, in 1918, the long four year struggle over where the school should be built was finally set­ tled and the Legislature had appropriated money for construction costs. The carnage and devastation of World War I was nearing its end. Hopes were high, but wartime forces kept progress at bay. In 1919, the newspapers reported, "There is more or less certainty that the Glassboro Normal School will be a reality in the course of a year." In October 1919, the Board approved the architectural plans. They did so knowing that they did not have the funds to execute them. After eight years of struggle the Glassboro Normal School was still only a dream. In 1920, the lowest bid for the Normal Schools construction came in at $700,000. In 1921, the State Board of Education was given appropriations of $550,000. Gone were the plans for a separate heating plant. Gone were the plans of a side track from the nearby railroad station to the Normal School building. These eliminations were not enough. The shape of Bunce Hall was changed from the ~hape of an "E" to a "T." Gone were the dreams of an elongated classroom, library and manual train- ag facility. These plans were given up with doubts and reservations. . .. continued on Page 7

PageS Supporters Major Contributors Contact Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Gallia Lucile Pfleeger Darla Cassidy, President Glassboro Memorial Post #679 Dr and Mrs. Donald Farish 856.881.1112 William and Anna Pote Ronald & Joan Cunningham Mary Lee Donahue, Grant Director (McCullough) WE COM 856.881.4345 Janet Atkinson, Membership Chair 856.582.2106

*Checks to support Greater Glassboro Group are made out to: Greater Glassboro Group *Checks for Save Our Station are made out to: Greater Glassboro Group SOS ------We Invite You to Join Our Group

Please enroll me as an annual member: Individual ($25) Family ($30) Business ($50) I want to be a Supporter ($1 00) ___ Major Contributor ($200) ___

Name: ------Phone: ______Address: ______

Signature:

Greater Glassboro Group, Inc., is a 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization in the public interest. All donations are tax deductible.

Page6 ------On February 10, 1922, massive power shovels dug into the soil. Construction of the Normal School had begun! The days ahead were fraught with brickyard strikes, insufficiency of materials, and not enough workmen for the job. The State Board intervened. Remedies were put in place. In September, 1923, Glassboro Normal School opened its doors with Principal Dr. J. J. Savitz and a 16-member faculty consisting of mostly women and 236 students . • • • •

Let us not forget that the citizens of Glassboro's past forged the foundation on which Rowan University and Rowan Boulevard now rest. Knowing and understanding the past provides a guide to the perplexing problems of today and the future. From the magnets of the Whitney, Synnott, Cappies, and those who gave out of what they did not have, to the citizens of Glassboro today, who struggle to hang on to our historic structures, to those who live in Glassboro and make their living at Rowan University, whether the institution is known as Glassboro Normal School, Glassboro State College or Rowan Uni­ versity--the institution is intertwined with Glassboro and its citizens looking to the future. Glassboro has once again reinvented itself. I thank Marilyn Plasket and Robert Tucker for all their help in the telling of this story. Additional stories can be found in past Greater Glassboro Group's newsletters and the subsequent stories in this edition. The books "More Than Cold Stone," written by Dr. Robert Bole, and "The Glassboro Story," written by Dr. Robert Bole and Edward Walton, are the sources of this article. For more information these books can be found in the Glassboro Public Library. I came to town hoping to breathe vitality back into my 1910 home and my late 18oo's neighbor­ -- ..>od. Never did I dream I would be a part of and witness to Glassboro once again reinventing itself. •

Page7 Scrapbook Page

Garden Party The Garden Party was held on a chilly and windy day for the 22nd of May. Guests decided to brave the chill in order to spend their time among the flowers and shrubbery. Bernice Willis' granddaughters played croquet while Linda Richardson filled the air with lilting tunes from her flute and the older folks chatted. Janet Atkinson and her daughter, Shan­ non Armstrong, made delicious and lovely tea sandwiches. Stephanie Wolfgang baked a cake with alternating strips of piped vanilla and chocolate frosting which was raffled at the party. For dessert, Stephanie made garden cup­ cakes with a picket fence, green grass and yel­ low, blue and red flowers. She also made chocolate ladybugs and placed them around the cupcake gardens. We look forward to our annual Fund­ raiser in the garden, listening to music, tasting delicious finger food and chatting with our guests.~

PageS reater

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I read with. great interest the qroucester County Tzmes articfe ofJlugust 15 that described the efforts of your group to memoria{ize the origina[ donors for the [ani purchase that wou[d host a State 9\brmal Schoo[ in our community. 'Ifiough. I was aware of this activity in 191 '0 the articfe provided the first gfimpse at the name of those donors. I recognized the names of3 of my ancestors-pfease see be[ow those origina[ donors to whom I am re[ated: Jl[bert J. Mc![adden-first cousin, 3 ~removed (my great-grandmother's first cousin) Jl[bert and his wife, Cfara, hai no ch.ifdren, be he operated the Mc![adden Variety Store in town and was very prosperous and we{f-kJwwn. rniere are many Mc![adden descendants now on the f£ast Coast. george l)(eebfer- second cousin, 2 ~removed. :Jle and his famify hai a [ovefy home on 1£,[[is Street' he was a former gfassb[ower, qfassboro postmaste0 and Jlssembfy candidate. Jlmandus Jl. Weisner-father-in-[aw of a first cousin, three ~removed. :Jle operated a monument-making business onJlcademy Street (house and work§hop are sti[[ there, across from the fire house).

In the 1980's and'90's, I hai the distinct pfeasure of workjng with. one of the former 9\brma[ Schoo[graduates, Miss Miriam :Jlarper. Miss :Jlarper fiver£ in Westvi[[e, 9\[J her entire fije, and trave[erf to the 9\brma[ Schoo[ by train each. day. On that train, she met a tJ3oard of l£ducation member from :Jlarrison rrownsh.ip. :Jle hired her on the spot based on fine teacher preparation, and she enjoyed a 48-year career as a first grade teacher in Mu[fica J-li[[! 'IIian!(you for your efforts to memoria{ize the origina[ donors who had agreat vision for qfassboro fof[owing the demise of Whitney qfass Work§. I [ool(jorward to feaming more about the dedication ceremony. Sincerefy 9'"ours, tJ3arbara :Jvf.. (jibbs

P~cvGor~ FL Donor -AUrert"J.lvtcF~(1864-1943) w~wzy 1~~ >V vemovw ( ~ 3 ~at""~ bctdv i-Yvt""f.A!JIU!/). A UreYt" w~ thetffY~ofJ~lvtcf~Sv. who-~Ct:t"ea,-to-thetUS i-Yv1854 {v01111Iv~~~i0' ~lA'VthetG~o­ Ct¥"ecv wtth.t ~ w$v 6- 7 childre¥\1. A UreYt- w~ thet .wrv of Geor$¥V lvfcF~ (1840-1893)- O"Y\£/of~ 7 childY0YllofJ~ lvtcF~Sv. L~ CJlL of~ lvtcF~ offlpv~ A UreYt- ~artea, our~ cv ~e¥'. wruwv~~~t"v~~Ct¥tea,t"o-w~ het ihiftwt"o-~ met'll¥~6- ~ tlfVW~~~Choir­ ili.¥ect:or Ct:t"thet lvfp ( rww Tv~y 13~Ch«.¥ch) for o-ver 50 yec:Lf"¥ ~ ~W, for ~ Yec:Lf".\-J ~cvS~ SChoat"ecteheY ~ chuYCJtvelile-v. <9J~tetof~ ~~ ( ~~) ~ W~¥ CJ.:t"fhet T v~y 13Cb1.,et Ch«.¥ch w eN0Yll ded£co.,t"ea,'to- h£M,v. WfV hcvvf!/ ~ cv copy to- c:U.LofOtA¥' lvtcF~fcunily t"veb ~¥ ~ ~ who-act:~ ~ea, i¥VG~o-~ "LeW: Apvw-to-celebret:t"f!/OW' lvfcF~herU:cuge;i¥VSo-u:tYvJev~. VeloreyJ.. lvtcf~

Page 9 Page 10

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8Z080 fN 'O.IOQSSU(~ ILS xog Od

-~~~ ,..___._.. reater Volume 8 Issue 1 • G assboro Gr<>·Up

by Lucile Pneeger

This year, 2011, G3's Rowan University who have In this issue: project is, in cooperation with pledged their cooperation in Rowan University, to place the project. Glassboro's Gift to either a plaque, or a G3 is raising funds for the Future Generations monument, with the 107 project. Rowan University Music of Yesteryear names of the FOUNDERS, plans to contribute funds, and From the Pres 2 (Glassboro citizens), who to provide expertise for the contributed the money which project. Diana Leads Charge 3 helped to bring the Normal The Greater Glassboro Pessimists/Optimists 3 School to Glassboro. Group committee members Membership 6

The memorial will be piloting the project are Lucile Scrapbook Page 7 placed somewhere on the Pfleeger, Chair, Mary Lee Meetings, 8 campus of Rowan University. Donahue, Julie Larson, Vicki Our Mission & The placement will be Schodowski, Bernice Willis and Officers determined at a later date. Randi Wolf, along with the rest The G3 committee has met of the G3 members. with the administration of ... continued on Page 4

Music of Yesteryear Concert The Chestnut Ridge Centennial Concert "Music of Yesteryear" was held at the Presbyterian Church located on historic University Boulevard, Sunday, October 24, 2010. It was the last commemorative occasion of the year's events celebrating the hundredth year of Chestnut Ridge. Vibrant, as well as energetic G3 member, Lucile Pfleeger, brought together the talented committee consisting of: Warren Garden; Chair, Dr. Ed Avril; Dr. Larry and Sue Stewart. . .. continued on Page 5 Efllfu. T,-,lltti~ - [)IUH; rllMt~ !furi!¥U ,, t~ F,..a;, ~«<&

On a cold, sunny Sunday afternoon in March, Janet Atkinson (nee Davis) came to lunch. The deep yellow forsythia in its tall, slender vase added delight and warmth as we chatted over lunch about the long winter. Our conversation drifted to her childhood memories of Easter tra­ ditions. As a young girl, her parents owned the Franklin House Inn which was torn down in 2003. Her family purchased the Inn around 1907 or 1908. The Landmark Bar and Grill stands in its place. Janet recalled, "The town always looked so pretty as the buds blossomed on the trees and the flowers began to bloom. The pink dogwoods would be in bloom on the Main Street side of the hotel and yellow daffodils lined the white fence facing Main Street." Janet recounted that her father made eggnog on Good Friday during the Holy Hours of 12:00-3:00 PM when the bar closed. When the Holy Hours were over, he opened the bar again and gave the customers a free cup of eggnog, hoping the customers would purchase more. · "We would dye Easter eggs Saturday evening. When we woke up on Easter morning, we had new dresses, hats, gloves, patent leather shoes and petticoats-all from the Easter Bunny to be worn later to St. Thomas's Episcopal Church. The Easter Bunny had hidden the eggs and after church, we would Easter eggs outside in the yard. The Highway 322 parking lot now stands where there once was a pasture for sheep and a horse. In the back yard next to the Episcopal Parsonage, a chicken yard housed chick­ ens and ducks. When I was 6 or 7 years old, my sisters gave me two baby roosters-one orange and one black-purchased for Easter from the Glassboro feed store. It was a big surprise when they brought chicks to me in the kitchen. They turned out to be very mean and would chase me all around the chicken yard when I collected the eggs. My parents always held an open house on Easter Sun­ day afternoon for friends and neighbors where they would serve eggnog in the dining room. The friends, family and neighbors would stand around and visit during the early af­ ternoon, dressed in their Easter finery. After I was married, my sister, Celia, and my husband kept the tradition of making eggnog during the Holy Hours while I took Celia's and my children to church." Janet said that her father-in-law told her of a group of men who visited the different bars in town after the Holy Hours. Afterwards, they voted on which bar had the best eggnog. She surmises that it was an attempt by these men to get more than one cup of eggnog. The recipe remains a family secret. These are Janet's treasured memories of Easter when she lived as a child with her par­ ents, siblings and guests during the 1940's and early 'so's at the Franklin House Inn . ... continued on Page 3 fMtu. T,.Jr,;l( ... continued from page 2 The Franklin House once held the beat of the town within its walls. Sometime in 1771, it was a log cabin home but in 1778, the structure was known as the Tavern. In 1786, it was purchased by the Hestons and became known as the Heston Tavern, or Glassborough Tavern. In 1802, the name changed to the Black Horse Inn. Later, in 1817, it became known as the Friendship Tavern. The name again changed in 1843 to the Paul's Hotel. The Paul's Hotel name gave way to the Bismark House in 1872 and finally, in 1907, the Bismark House became The Franklin House. As the spring winds blow cold, beautiful flowers break forth in the warmth of the sun and thus, new traditions are being made. Even though the old structure has been dismantled, the new structure-appropriately named Landmark Americana-carries on the tradition of the Tavern. Where workers once gathered, students, parents, teachers and towns people gather for a bite and exchange the tidings of the day-as of days of old. -*• .. .'Daltfa Vessimists/()Ptimists The pessimists fear the train station will fall down of its own volition before a nail has been hammered or a board replaced. For those of us feeling a bit more optimistic about our train station, progress, though extremely slow, is being made. A construction manager has · been hired and a request for qualified contractors to present their bids has gone out. Progress in also being made as the engineer is working toward sewer hook-up, and work is in progress to receive final approval and deed approval for the right of way from Conrail. The most astonishing news is that Certification of Eligi­ bility from the NJ Historic Trust has given its green light to move forward in order to register the train station as a State and National Historic site. Diana Pierce, devoted to saving our built environment, will be assisting in this endeavor. To that end Chestnut Ridge Centennial End of The Year Party has con­ tributed $130.00 to the G3 train station fund for furbishing in­ side the train station once it is completed. Also donated for the train station was a set of Victorian ere china given by Mary Lee Donahue, and an original set of architectural plans and drawings of Chestnut Ridge Estates from the Suplee family. ~ ------Diana Leads Charge G3 was totally unprepared when Darla Cassidy, President of G3, was invited to a meet­ ing held in the President's Office of Rowan University and learned that the WhitneyfCapie House was soon to be demolished. Members of the group ex­ perienced a range of emotion not experienced during the past ten years of the organization's life. Some were enraged, others were numb from disbelief. To no avail, Diana Piece, Preservation Chair of G3, soon took the reins and organized the attack to save the 163 old Whitney/Capie House. It was owned by the descendants of the Whitney Glassmaking family and was the last structure in Glassboro directly connected to the founders .. .continued on Page4 Diana Leads Charge.... continuedfrom Page 3 of the colonial-era "Glasstown in the woods," and the only one to reveal how prominent 19th and 20th century southern Jersey industrialists actually lived and worked. The last resident of the family to live in the Whitney Capie house was Anne Whitney Capie. We moved from an industrialized community with the welcome addition of the Normal School into the information age from which Rowan University (Glassboro State College) came into being. The institution's growth has changed Glassboro. We have moved from industry to a University-driven town. With the loss of the Whitney/Capie House we no longer have our built storied past as our visual and spiritual reminder of the links from the present to the past...

Glassboro's Gift to Future Generation... continuedfrom Page 1 Glassboro, from the beginning, made great efforts to educate their children. For instance, the public schools held classes in the evenings for the boys, as young as ten years of age, called "snapping up" boys, who worked in the glass factories. The schools also taught the children finance, including how to bank their money--after the policy of being paid in company script was abolished. The high school in 1908-09 served students from Pitman, Monroe, Elk, Washington and Harrison Townships. An interesting history of the Glassboro schools is included in the Robert Bole-Edward H. Walton, Jr. book, "The Glassboro Story--1779-1984." In the early 1900's, there was ·a great need for teacher training institutions in New Jersey, especially in South Jersey. The only state operated "normal" schools were located in Montclair and Trenton. When the State Board of Education decided to build a new Normal School it sent out requests for proposals from several communities in south Jersey, including Glassboro. In response, the Glassboro Township Committee made formal application in 1913 to have the new teacher preparation institution located in the "Town of Glass." Glassboro had an advantage in that Thomas Synott, a former glass company owner and president of the local bank, was a member of the State Board of Education and was appointed to the Normal School Selection Committee. Thomas Synott cleverly persuaded the State Board to adopt the following motion: "Upon motion ofMr. Synott, the Secretary was instructed to prepare for the Board a schedule showing the distance, time required for transportation, and the cost of transportation between the high school centers in the six southern counties of the State and Bridgeton, Glassboro, Pleasantville and Woodbury, together with such other information as he may be able to obtain concerning transportation facilities,for submission to members of the within the next week." Glassboro's rivals were indignant and accused Synott of owning the land Glassboro was offering, or, as a bank official, holding a mortgage on the land, which Synott effectively refuted. To "clinch the deal" in 1917 one hundred seven Glassboro residents offered the state over $6,500 for the purchase of 25 acres of land on the Whitney Estate, which included Hollybush and the Carriage House. ... continued on Page 5 Glassboro's Gift to Future Generation... continuedfrom Page 4 There were eleven individual donations of $350 each as follows: S.A. Whitney, Dr. C.S. Heritage, Dr. Howard Iszard, W.A. Downer, S.H. Stanger and Sons, S.W. Downer, Charles Repp, and the New Jersey Gas Company, plus A.R. Kandle Oumber) and Peter Scott of Pitman (Pitman joined in supporting Glassboro's proposal when they became aware that they were not finalists.) Several of these owned businesses would definitely benefit from the building of the Normal School in Glassboro. The remainder of the 107 Glassboro citizens, most with modest incomes, contributed varying amounts. In the following quote, the State Board justified its selection by pointing out that the Town of Glass: "Was near the geographical and population centers of the six southern counties which the school was intended to serve Had excellent railroad facilities Was near the South Jersey High Schools, a fact that would reduce student railroad commuting cost to a minimum Had site 'which is one of the most beautiful in south Jersey.' Was donating twenty-five acres of land at no cost to the state This land, together with thirty additional acres State intended to purchase would provide ample room for expansion, which is bound to occur in the near future." Had homes at which students and teachers might board, if they so desired", Quotes from The Glassboro Story- "In 1907, with the State's contributions, New J,ersey had clear title to the Glassboro 55 acres site and was owner of the famed 'Whitney Estate'." Many obstacles had to be overcome before the Glassboro Normal School opened in June 1923, for a summer school session. Bole-Walton's book reports that Dr. Howard Iszard, Secretary of the Glassboro Citizen's Committee, thanked the State Board of Education for their decision to place the Normal School in Glassboro. This proves that citizen's groups, such as Greater Glassboro Group, can accomplish great things. .. .Lucile Pfieeger Addendum: On the list of the 107 donors were seven women. Two identified themselves as being married (perhaps widows) and used MRS. Five were unmarried, and were in all probability teachers who, at that time, were not allowed to be married and employed. This writer remembers two the women as colleagues and retirees from the Glassboro Public Schools. •

Music of Yesteryear ... continuedfrom page 1 Dr. John Pastin, Chair of Rowan University's Music Department and Director of Bands is also a retired Director of the US Navy Band, Washington, D.C. Through his experience of performing and directing US Navy Bands traveling the globe, he was able to contribute his experience in programming the Pops Concert. ... continued on Page 6 of Yesteryear ... continued from page 5 He focused on music from the early part of the century beginning with 1910. With Dr. Pastin's guidance and assistance, his graduate conducting student, Steven Goldeck, conducted the wind ensemble at the afternoon event. Dr. Pastin served as narrator for the concert and then con­ ducted the last song, Irving Berlin's "God Bless America," premiered in 1910. The audience was thrilled. The Committee was so pleased that students from Rowan Univer­ sity participated in the Chestnut Ridge Centennial. We are all grateful to Steven Goldeck and Dr. John Pastin. •

Corporate Supporters Major Contributors Contact Darla Cassidy Vin~ent Marone Ludle POeeger President {Marone PharJDa~y) Dr Don Farish & Dr To10 Gallia Groff Nursery 856.881.1112 {Rowan University) Mary Lee Donahue Maio Farish Grant Diredor WE COM 856.881.4345 Janet Atkinson Me10bership Chair 856.582.2106 ·.

------We Invite You to Join Our Group

Please enroll me as an annual member: Individual ($25) Family ($30) Business ($50) I want to be a Corporate Supporter ($1 00) ___ Major Contributor ($200) ___ Name: ------Phone: ------Address: ------Signature:

Greater Glassboro Group, Inc., is a 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization in the public interest. All donations are tax deductible. Page 7

5crapboo~­ Chestnut Ridge Centennial Concert - MeDibershiP is Open to Persons who Share our Vision

2011-2012 Our Mission ... Greater Glassboro Group Officers for 201 1 is to improve the 9ualit9 of Glassboro life r resident...... - ...... Da~a Cassid_y through the following o~ectives: ,E>uild pride in our Vice r resident ...... Chan non Armstrong communi~ b.Y supporting efforts to enhance knowl- 1 Secretar.y ...... Victoria Schodowski edge and awareness of our communal histories; im­ Treasurer...... 5emice Willis prove the appearance and function of our ph9sical T reasurerfor Save Our Station {SOS) Carmen Johnson and architectural heritage b9 supporting efforts to Membership Chair...... Janet Atkinson preserve and restore what remains; work. for the con­ Founders Memori~l Recognition Chair ...... Lucile Ffleeger tinuation of historic patterns now established Oike Grants Director...... Mar.y Lee Donahue the tree-lined streets); and to improve the 9ualit.Y of Newsletter E.ditor ...... Sue Stewart Glassboro life b9 encouraging good civic manage­ r ublicit,y Co-Chairs...... Lucile Ffleeger me.nt of all resources, whether ph9sical, financial, Unit_y Da_y Committee Chair...... jenn_y .5ates natural, or human.

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Gro-u.p

Working Toward Preserving Our Community's Heritage, Architecture and Pride

4 Brief ttistory Of ISismere schOOl by Robert Tucker In this issue: In order to relieve the problems of Elsmere School" to the students and A Brief History of overcrowding and with the distance adults in the neighborhood. She was a Elsmere School teacher from1923 to 1963. black students had to travel to the Music of Yesteryear: South Glassboro School, located off In 1924, toward the close of The Early 1900s South Academy Street in the the first school in the Emanuel neighborhood of the Lawns, the Baptist church, a group of residents From the Pres ... 2 Glassboro Board of Education voted from Elsmere went to the Board of to rent space in Emanuel Baptist Education and requested that a Garden Party 2010 3 separate school be built because the Church for the 1923-1924 school Membership 7 year. It was in this church building present school was not adequate to meet the growing population. The that Miss Bertha Turner came to Scrapbook Page - 9 Glassboro and began her teaching board formed a committee to find a Garden Party career. Over time, through her lot for another colored school. Meetings, Our 10 dedication, "Miss Turner was ... continued on Page 4 Mission & Officers

A Chestnut Ridge Centennial Light' Concert of 1910-1950's Music

ROW AN UNIVERSITY WIND ENSEMBLE DR. JOHN PASTIN, Director of Bands, Chair, Rowan Music Department STEVEN GOLDECK, Conductor FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH 300 UNIVERSITY BLVD

GLASSBORO I NJ 08028

FREE - Donations Accepted *Checks to support Greater Glassboro Group are made out to: Greater Glassboro Group Page2

TAKE jOf

To the historians of Glassboro, Rowan University's decision to take down the Whitney Capie house came as a shock as Rowan had in the fall of 2005 told our reporter, Lucile Pfleeger, that " . . . Holly Bush will be a priority ... restoration of the Whitney/Capie house will follo"r as soon as possible." Gloucester County times, Sunday, February 5, 2006 repo1ied Mr. Joe Brigandi said at the G3 Historic Preservation Workshop held at Rowan, "'We realize the significance of- long term investments to bring economic development dollars in, as well as to preserve the historical aspect." What did G3 take away from this experience? We learned that the Historic Preservation Code was not and is being ignored and has not been enforced. Therefore, we intend to make our wishes known to town council that we value our historic past and we expect ------our Historic Preservation Code to be adhered to and not used just as f'ROM ~Jr'HE: f>RE:S ... "guild lines." We also learned that we need to check with the Uni­ versity to make sure that they are living up to what they said, rather ------than trusting Rowan University words because they said it. We "take joy" because, though the leadership of our Preser­ ------""""'----- vation Chair, Diana Pierce, the Train Station is rapidly going out to The gloonz of the world bid. A construction manager, Lammey & Giorgio fr9m Haddon is but a shadow. Township, was selected to oversee the renovation. They 'have an ex­ cellent record of historic restoration. There is paperwork that still Behind it, 3 yet within our reach has to be completed before they start but it is moving forward. G is joy. presently has approximately $5,000 to spend on decorating and fur­ Take joy. nishing the Train Station. We will be happy to accept donations­ please make your check payable to Greater Glassboro Group SOS ... Fra Giovanni, (Save our Station). Through our membership chairs, Mary Lee written Christmas eve 1513 Donahue, Dennis Fotia, and Lucile Pfleeger, the Chestnut Ridge

---····--··---··-·····-······-····-········· Centennial Celebration has truly been a jubilant celebration. It con­ tinues, through the leadership of Warren Gardner and Lucile Pflee- ger, as we look forward to a concert of The Music of Yesteryear: The Early 1900's Music, being held at the First Presbyterian Church on University Boulevard and we were more than pleased with the turn­ out and success of the Chestnut Ridge Centennial History Work­ shop, hosted by Mary Lee Donahue, held at Rowan University, and the most recent and enjoyable House and Garden Tour event, under the direction of Dennis Fotia, Tour Guide. We wish to express our gratitude to those who helped make all the above events possible along with the very profitable Yard Sale and the triumphant Block Party. Bill, Lou, Nick - are you ready to do it again next year? ·~=~ ... 'Dada Page3

Group

Karen, Reverend Bernice those who gave thoughtful Willis, Dennis Fotia and and generous donations Randi Wolf, Ka-Msiyara amounting to approximately Corbett and Michele $900.00. Pich, Stephanie Wolfgang, Susan Summerfield, Pierce and Schodowski. Delicious t was a glorious day for a punch was served - garden party as the guests a concoction of fruit gathered for the annual G3 JUices, and orange fundraiser. A superlative sherbet topped with ambiance was set with the maraschino cherries. The gentle, melodic sounds punch was served in a glass The contributions wafting through the quiet punch bowl with matching received will enable us to breeze, created once again cups. Varieties of tea continue working toward by Linda Richardson, sandwiches and an preserving our community's flautist. assortment of fruit were heritage, architecture and Vickie Schodowski served. The table was pride. By publishing the read poetry to the gathered decorated with pink table work of Glassboro's guests, among them our linens and a center piece of historians, giving favorite The Center of Town. peonies with large white information about on-going The poem depicts the blooms with occasional walking tours, showing our author's (our own poet flecks of crimson from the commitment to the Train Vickie Schodowski) walk to garden of Janet Atkinson. In Station preservation, and and from then Glassboro the dining room, the table completing the 2010 State College. was set with white linens Chestnut Ridge Centennial Among the honored and held a center piece of Celebration project, we will guests were: Mayor Leo three pale green orchids continue the fight to save McCabe and his wife Mary, floating in a bowl. The our built environment. Council-woman Ingres orchids were surrounded by (Orchids donated by Flowers Simpson, and former a delicious assortment of By Design, 9 East High Street, Councilman Robert Bates confections (created by Glassboro) and his wife Jenny. Randi Wolf) and fanciful On our Scrapbook cakes and popsicle candy Page are: Carmen Johnson, (created by Stephanie We remember our friend, Janet Atkinson, Lucile Wolfgang). Corinne Somers Pfleeger and her daughter G3 is grateful to all ::;; ..;.;, .. ; ... ;;;;;;;;~····~···~·~;~··~;;;;~;;:; .•. ; .. ~;;;.;,;;.;.~; .. ;~·~·~····~~·~··••:••·~~·;;;;;~~~·~;;;;;;;;.;;.;;.;;;;;;;;;;;;;:;;.;;;.;;;;;;;;;.;;;; Greater Glassboro Group, Inc. is a 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization in the public interest. Page4

A Brief History of Elsmere School...continuedfrom page I They first approached William Lipkins, the real estate owner who was selling building lots in the area. They had hoped he ·would donate the land as the great Eastern Building Corporation had done in South Glassboro but to no avail. Lipkins did, however offer land at a Photo: Darla Cassidy greatly reduced price. The land that he offered was in a low swampy area. Board members made a decision that the land was entirely too low and to quote one of the members, "'It would cost more to fill the land in than the land would ever be worth." They then asked Lipkins for a better site at a better price. There was no tnovetnent or response to that request so the . t Cburcb Board set out to find a better location. This time the Board received \ BaptlS Emanue 1924 scboo\) input from the parents in Elsmere. They recommended the corner of (1923- . ins Drive Lincoln Boulevard, otherwise known as Ellis Street, and Higgins Drive, facing }llgg formally known as New Jersey Avenue. The price Lipkins wanted was considered by the Borough attorney to be excessive. The Board of Education's solicitor, Elemer B. Wood, had advised them not to take the corner property by eminent domain because it was privately owned. By December, the solicitor had done nothing concerning the Board decision to purchase the site. In January, there \vas another motion made, this time "instructing" him to purchase the lots that had been ------~------voted on. On thirteen separate occasions, the Board of Education instructed solicitor Woods to purchase or take the property. He did "It would cost more to nothing. With no action having been taken, the residents from Elsmere fill the land in again appeared before the Board-- this tiine, led by Miss Fannie Pierce, than the land and in all likelihood, accompanied by Mr. Charles Parker, Mrs. Mary would ever James, Ernest Graves, Richard Daley~ George Valentine Tucker (my grandfather) and Miss Viola Willian1s Banks. After they requested be worth." action on the site, Board Member Jan1es Hutt read a resolution telling ------Woods to act. A roll call vote followed and it passed. Still Woods did nothing. The general school election would be held a little later that year and perhaps Solicitor Woods was waiting to see if the public would vote against building another school. He must have been greatly disappointed when the results were counted. There were 49 votes in favor and only three votes against. The ballot question that year asked for $800 for the land, plus funds to build and equip the new school. Bear in mind now, residents of Glassboro had just turned down a ballot question to build a ne\\7 high school. But they decided to spend $800 for the land and voted in favor of borrowing the money. The Board members lost no time in giving instructions to solicitor Woods to buy or take the lots on which that they had voted for in the December tneeting. Woods had still done nothing. Remetnber now, despite the September votes, Woods continued to favor the more remote lots in the swampy area on Perishing Drive. It is reasonable to believe that a long heated discussion over the site followed. To reinforce the board~s position, the President called for a roll call vote. It passed. Still Woods did nothing. ... continued on Page 5 A Brief History of Elsmere School ..... continuedjl-om page 4 The general school election would be held a little later that year and perhaps Solicitor Woods was waiting to see if the public would vote against building another school. He must have been greatly disappointed when the results were counted. There were 49 votes in favor and only three votes against. The ballot question that year asked for $800 for the land, plus funds to build and equip the new school. Bear in mind now, residents of Glassboro had just turned down a ballot question to build a new high school. But they decided to spend $800 for the land and voted in favor of borrowing the money. The Board members lost no time in giving instructions to solicitor Woods to buy or take the lots on which that they had voted for in the December meeting. Woods had still done nothing. ''During the depth of Remember now, despite the September votes, Woods continued to favor the more remote lots in the swampy area on . the depression, the Perishing Drive. It is reasonable to believe that a long heated WPA project sponsored discussion over the site followed. To reinforce the board's dances contest, talent position, the President called for a roll call vote. It passed. The annual 1927 School Board election saw the largest contests and plays" turn out in Glassboro history until that time. The questions for the Elsmere School were on the ballot and they were all approved. After acquiring the land and getting approval to finance, construction began on the second segregated school in the Borough. I can find no evidence that there was ever a cornerstone laying Photo: Darla Cassidy or an official side ofElsmere School facing Higgins opening of the Drive building. Former students who I interviewed, told me that one morning Miss Bertha Turner lined up all the students and instructed them to march down the church steps, cross the street and enter the new Elsmere School. The new school building soon became the pride of the neighborhood and was the meeting place for the Parent Teachers Association. The college students, who were housed in private homes in Elsmere, had formed a club the Ultra Royal Sapiens. They gave dances featuring live bands. It was the center of the community. I clearly remember the first political rally held there and the slogan "Win with Wilke.~' It was during the depth of the depression. The Work Projects Administration (WP A) sponsored dance contests, talent contests and plays. They also held classes to teach the adult residents . . .. continued on Page 6 Page6

A Brief History of Elsmere School ... continuedfi·om page 5 Once the school was built, the Board simply deserted it -- no landscaping, no shrubberies and no grass. After a long delay, the School Board did, however, install a sidewalk from the front door to the street. Mr. J. C. Higgins, the second janitor, would go into the woods and dig up trees to plant around the school yard. The pine trees that are now along Higgins Drive were planted by him. Years later, Higgins Drive was named after him. Once the parents realized that the Board did not intend to landscape the school, parents were asked to donate shrubbery and trees. I'm proud to say that the rose bush that was over the entrance to the sidewalk was donated by my Grandmother, Georgia Norwood Williamson. Mrs. Ruby Rolax, a student there, remembers Mr. Higgins coming to her home and asking permission to dig up a small sycamore tree that had sprung up in their yard. As well, Mr. Curtis Williams recalled the planting of the large oak tree at the back of the school yard. It is still there. "I'm proud to say that The increased enrollment soon dictated that one teacher was not the rose bush that was enough. The Board voted to hire Miss Caroline Parma as a second teacher. over the entrance to Miss Palmer is credited with overseeing that the Board of Education the sidewalk, was provided supplies that the other borough elementary schools had. As a donated by my student in 1947-48, I remember the textbooks were those that had been Grandmother, Georgia initially issued to the Academy Street students, five or six years earlier. I Norwood Williamson." do not recall ever seeing a science instrument of any type. Soon after beginning her teaching duties, Miss Palmer requested

------··--··------the Board's permission to start a night school. I think the night school was designed to accommodate adults, as well as those student who were not returning in September because they had found farm, canning, or house jobs that would keep them out of school until late fall. While the building was heavily used by community groups, it was not open to everyone. In 1938, the Glassboro Enterprise reported that a Philadelphia group had gotten permission to use the building for a meeting. When the Elsmere residents heard of this, they went immediately to the Board asking them to withdraw that permission. The name of the group was not mentioned in the Board minutes but the antidotal record says that it was the Universal Negro Improvement Association, headed by Marcus Garvey. At the time, there were several Garvey-ites living in Elsmere. The Garvey movement wanted to create a chapter. However, they met in private homes. The original school house was designed for four rooms but because the bids were higher than what the voters had approved, only two rooms were finished. The two rooms soon proved to be inadequate. By 1933, the Board minutes show there were 130 kindergarten to eighth grade students. The residents voted to go to the Board of Education, with ... continued on Page 8 Page 7

Corporate Members Major Contributors Contact Darla Cassidy Lucile Pfleeger Vincent Marone President (Marone Pharmacy) Dr Don Farish & Dr Tom Gallia 856.881.1112 (Rowan University) Mary Lee Donahue Maia Farish Grant Director WE COM 856.881.4345 Janet Atkinson Membership Chair 856.582.2106

*Checks to support Greater Glassboro Group are made out to: Greater Glassboro Group *Checks for Save Our Station are made out to: Greater Glassboro Group SOS *Checks for Chestnut Ridge Centennial are made out to: Greater Glassboro Group CRC ------We Invite You to Join Our Group

Please enroll me as an annual member: Individual ($25) Family ($30) Business ($50) Corporate ($1 00)

3 I cannot be an active member but would like to support G :

Name: ------Phone: ------Address: ------Signature:

Greater Glassboro Group, Inc., is a 501 (c) (3) non-prQ[it organization in the public interest. All donations are tax deductible. Page8 reater

A Brief History of Elsmere School...continuedjl-om page 6 Miss Fanny Pierce as spokesperson, to request that the multi-grade classes come to an end. The multi­ grade classes continued until the rest of the rooms were finished and opened for classes. A third teacher was hired, and later a fourth-- Bertha Turner, Carlton Palmer, Nolin Dansbury Harris and Mr. Philips. Years later, Mr. Earl Hinton, Mrs. Nutt and Deloris Harris also taught there. By 1947, the enrollment had risen to 115 students. This number included the 7th and 8th graders from the South Glassboro School; but change was COMING. Glassboro Enterprise carried an announcement that all 7th and 8th grade students would now report to Academy Street School as of September 8, 1948. This signaled the return to integrated elementary education in the Borough of Glassboro. It broke the pattern that had existed for 31 years. Elsmere would continue as a K to 6 neighborhood school until 1963 after which it became a school for special need children. Later, the school print shop and it's teacher, Mr. Jeff Punda, moved from a rented garage on Lincoln Blvd into Elsmere School. As of 2010, it is used by the Gloucester County Boys & Girls Club. What will happen to the Elsmere, the beloved neighborhood school? What lies in it's future? An arsonist set fire to the South Glassboro School in 1966. I hope we can find a way to preserve and add it to the National List of Historic Places. ~=~

Photo: Darla Cassidy.facing Lincoln Frive reater Scrapb~~k Page Glassboro Group Garden Party

Photos: Darla Cassidy Membership is Open to Persons who Share our Vision

Greater Glassboro Group Officers 201 0-2011 Our Mission ... President...... Darla Cassidy Vice President ...... Chan non Armstrong for 2010 is to improve the quality of Glass­ Secretary...... Victoria Schodowski boro life through the following objectives: Build Treasurer ...... Bernice Willis pride in our community by supporting efforts Treasurer for Save Our Station (SOS) & to enhance knowledge and awareness of our Chestnut Ridge Centennial (CRC) ...... Carmen Johnson communal histories; improve the appearance Membership Chair ...... Janet Atkinson and function of our physical and architectural Preservation Chair...... Diana Pierce heritage by supporting efforts to preserve and Grants Director ...... Mary Lee Donahue restore what remains; work for the continua­ Civic & History Chair ...... Robert Tucker tion of historic patterns now established (like Newsletter Editor...... Sue Stewart the tree-lined streets); and to improve the Publicity Co-chairs ...... Lucile Pfleeger/EIIata De Berry quality of Glassboro life by encouraging good Co-chairs of Chestnut Ridge civic management of all resources, whether Centennial (CRC] ...... Mary Lee Donahue physical, financial, natural, or human. Lucile Pfleeger & Dennis Fotia Meetings: Third Tuesday- 7PM NOVEMBER 16th-DECEMBER 10th-JANUARY 18th Glassboro Publlc Library Conference Room

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dno.1~ oJo J~:J.e~J March 2010

Volume 7 Issue 1

Group

Working Toward Preserving Our Community's Heritage1 Architecture and Pride

Glassboro in the 1930's - A Story about 37 North Academy Street In this issue: by George H Armstrong and Sisters

shoe repair shop in what is now the Glassboro in the 1 @n 1929, the Harry and 1930's Alice Armstrong family moved garage to the right of the house. At to 37 North Academy. They had that time, the building stood in front Advocacy Works five daughters: Mary, Alice, of the house and was later moved to Barbara, Helen and Grace. The From the Pres 2 property was owned by Edward J. Hawkins who had a shoe Edna Klein 3 repair shop on the property. The great depression was at its peak Glassboro "like 3 and many people were Bala Cynwyd unemployed or had little work. Harry, our father, was a mason, Membership 7 who laid bricks and blocks and Scrapbook 8 plastered walls in homes. Just prior to moving there, Dad buih its present location. The Armstrong Scrapbook 9 an addition on the rear of the family lived in the home until 1939. During this time, Barbara "Bobby" Our Mission & 10 home to create a dining room Officers and two bedrooms. Due to the Armstrong (Andrews) was a young times, the Armstrong family had child and worked for Mr. Hawkins. lost their house on College Her sisters and other neighborhood A venue and rented the house on children played jacks on the front Academy for $25.00 a month. porch and sidewalk of the business. Mr. Hawkins lived in and had his It became a place where children '•j ... continued on page 5 ::ci

A.dvooaey Work• ~~ Thanks to the and faced with an Chestnut Ridge t~ advocacy of Greater attractive brick that residents, who live just :·J Glassboro Group, an matches other a block or two from ;8 : ~_,) ugly noisy eyesore on university buildings. the western edge of :~1 !?.1 Rowan University When members South Campus, ;;~ property is being Dennis F otia, Julia noticed trees being HI ~ ~ ~ enclosed, insulated, Larson, and other .. .continued on page 5 Page 2

I love long night go \-\oTIS or 'night dresses', as Great Aunt Ella used to call then1. I cuddle up in then1 and wrap the skirt about my feet after I climb into bed. I wonder, at times, when I gather the skirt into my hands and climb the stairs, about the wotnen who climbed the stairs before n1e. What were they like? Last summer, I began tearing out the old and replacing \.vith the ne\v. I had the tiled acoustical ceiling, that had been the rage during the late 1950's-early l960~s, tom out The original plas­ ter ceiling, bac.ked with horse hair, \vas revealed. I was attetnpt­ ing to renovate my hon1e to resemble its forn1er 100 year old self, ""·hen I was rudely interrupted in September with the be­ FroVVt Pres ginning of school. tltle Throughout the years, I have not touched the attic. It has old paper on the walls, a thread bare rug and painted wood work, ••• "!)Mfa, plus a gate across the stairs. I thought of revan1ping it for a sew­ ing rootn or a place for the children to play, but it is too cold in the winter and too hot in the sutnn1er. I found remnants of a bell cord that runs do\\'11 the stairwell of the attic into the stairwell of the basement For the reasons I have mentioned, I believe some­ one once lived up there--son1eone who was not well and needed The Women to be cared for. Before Me I treasure the fireplace because it is so lovely. I believed it was tnade of tnarble, but it is n1ade of slate and finished in an intricate faux finish that remains stylish to this day. It is the tnainstay of the house and dictates the aesthetics to ·be followed for the house to remain in vogue. Our Carpenter Gothic house was built by l\11rs. Anna Mitchell. It originally consisted of an attic, 3 gables, 2 floors with 2 rooms each, a basement, two chimneys, a fireplace in each room, and rare pumpkin pine floors. When her son, Paul, married his wife, Marie, the back of the house was added during the difficult financial era of the 1930's-early 1940's. The addi­ tion doubled the size of the house and included a bathroon1, but did not include an attic or basement. At last, in January, I was able to return to n1y project of re­ furbishing n1y hon1e. As I washed and scraped the sizing off the walls of my small upstairs hall, I was surprised to find remnants of the past still in existence. The ren1oval of the wallpaper re­ vealed not only a little of my oVvn history, but also that of the ladies before me. Underneath the paper, previous wall coverings were hidden within the cracks and behind backings of the door bell plate and the comer bead. Stains surrounded the trim and nicks on the \voodwork and doors revealed the technique used to paint the wooden n1oldings to create the faux high fashion of the era. These bits and pieces have risen fron1 the past and are able to reveal a little of the times and personalities of the women FaiL\: 1llarble Firepl.ace who lived here. I consider them fashionable, strong and ambi­ tious. I like to think that I am not unlike them Page3

Edna S. Klein 1939·%009

Greater Glassboro Group dedicates this newsletter in

116 3 Annual Fundraiser Garden loving memory to Edna S. Klein (nee Atkinson). Born and Party will greatly miss Edna's raised in Glassboro, she was a lifelong resident. She was a donation of beautiful cakes••• " member of G3. G3's Annual Fundraiser Garden Party will greatly miss Edna's donation of beautiful cakes - so carefully decorated with an assortment of flowers and her strawberry cakes which filled the house with an aroma of fresh strawberries. She was an intricate part of her family, who, along with her many friends, will miss her greatly.

Glassboro's Like Bala CynWyd? WboKne~

by Lucile Pfleeger

Speaking to 120 history en­ vania deposited a layer of thusiasts at the kickoff for the sediment 60 miles wide and Chestnut Ridge Centennial, approximately 200 feet deep soil scientist Van Powley ex­ from the area near City Line plained the "seismic events" Avenue in Philadelphia to sea that created the elevated ridge leve 1 at Atlantic City, creating of land where the Glassboro the 120-foot high "ridge" in neighborhood was developed Glassboro. some 100 years ago. Powley, a Glassboro ''Now, this didn't hap­ resident who is retired from pen just last year," he teased the U.S. Department of Agri­ the audience gathered at cuhure Soil Conservation Ser­ Rowan University on Satur­ vice, eschewed the slick day, "or even the year before." Power Point presentations of Sometime after the last ice typical academic symposia age, glaciers falling off the Instead, he invited the audi­ Appalachian Mountains in ence to hold up single sheets what is now western Pennsyl- of paper to illustrate layers of Van Powley ... continued on page 4 Page4

Glassboro's Like Bala Cynwyd ... continuedfrompage 3 Glassboro Group soil sedimentation. At one point, he picked up a scissors and cut off about 3 inches. "That's what happened when the Delaware River formed,'' he said, explaining that subsequent events - "probably an earthquake" - created the Delaware River when the Hudson River changed course and headed south at New York Harbor, separating New Jersey from Pennsylvania. Powley was joined at the podium by four speakers who traced more recent Glassboro history. Esther DeEugenio, former president of the Glassboro Historic Society, discussed the area's earliest human inhabitants, from the Lenne Lenape tribes who settled on the fringes of the Ridge to the first European explorers of New Sweden. Marilyn Plasket, a trustee of the Heritage Glass Museum, displayed artifacts from the 18th and 19th century glassmaking industry, including reproductions of the E.J. Booze Distillery's famous "Booze" bottles, created in the shape of a log cabin for President William Henry Harrison. Chestnut Ridge resident Dennis Fotia, who co-chairs the centennial celebration, presented a visual survey of the neighborhood's architecture, which includes more than 400 homes built in three different phases from 1910 through the 1920s and the 50s. Using clues taken from varying styles of foundation material and decorative trim, Fotia was able to date and classify many of the older homes and show similarities to neighborhoods in other towns. "Just like Cape May, Glassboro has a 'rainbow row,' " he noted, as an evenly lined row of pastel-painted houses filled a wall­ mounted screen. Developed by the Pennsylvania Railroad Company, the neighborhood also bears similarities to Philadelphia Main Line neighborhoods built by railroad investors during the same period. Local author and educator Robert Tucker discussed parallel development of Lipkin Estates in the Elsmere section just south of Chestnut Ridge. Four other events are planned to celebrate the centennial, including a "Block(s) Party" on May 31, 2010 following Glassboro's annual Memorial Day parade, house and garden tours on September 11, 2010 and a fall concert of music from the three phases of development. On Saturday, April 17, 2010, the centennial committee will host a neighborhood yard sale on the grounds of the First Presbyterian Church, 300 University Blvd., to raise funds for the block party. Donations will be accepted at the church prior to the The 1010 Chestnut Ridge Centenniol CelebraJion isaprojectofGreater event. Centennial souvenirs will also be available. Glllssboro Group, Inc., a 501 (c) 3 non-profit in the communitp interest. For more information, visit www.chestnutridgecentennial.com. Page5

Glassboro in the 1930's... continuedfrompagel gathered after fmishing the day at Academy Street School. Bobby helped in the business, ran errands and did many odd jobs for Mr. Hawkins. She did his food shopping at the A & P store on High Street and was paid two cents for the work. She was paid twelve cents for taking a wagon to the Costello Coal and Lumber Yard on South Main Street and brought a one hundred pound bag of coal back to the shop. Bobby occasionally cooked dinner for Mr. Hawkins. She also cleaned the shop for twenty­ five cents. Mr. Hawkins purchased a used Franklin automobile and rebuilt the engine. Bobby helped with the work by carrying pistons to the gas station at the comer of High and Academy Streets (present site of Glassboro Fire Department) to be machined. She also cleaned the interior of the car. When the project was completed, Mr. Hawkins drove her to the "deer woods" near Batsto and toured the area as a treat for helping with the project. On Friday evenings, Mr. Frank Somers sometimes nMr. Somers and Mr. Hawkins visited Mr. Hawkins for dinner. Mr. Hawkins had a small table refinished wooden canoes for that was attached to the wall and lowered for use. He had a Miles Gilman of Lake Gilman.,. similar arrangement for his bed. Mr. Somers was a local man who sometimes went door to door in Glassboro and sharpened knives for homeowners. Mr. Somers and Mr. Hawkins refmished wooden canoes for Miles Gilman of Lake Gilman. Their work was done at the side of the shop. Mr. Hawkins was very fond of the Lake Gilman area and spent many happy hours there. Bobby said that Mr. Hawkins had a gasoline engine in the rear of the shop which powered his tools. The engine was located at the right rear and the drive extended into the shop where the various tools were placed in a line. He had a clock in the shop that had all of the numbers covered. He said that one did not need to see the numbers but should tell time by the position ofthe hands. He would make string for shoe repair by :fwst pulling the string through a block of wax and then rubbing the string on his trouser leg. He repeated this method until enough wax was rubbed into the string. While repairing shoes, he would say or sing, "I Wonder Who's Kissing Her Now?" ... continued on page 6

Advocacy Works... (continued.frompage J) cleared along Girard Road, saw lots of Atlantic City Electric construction just across the railroad tracks, and soon began to hear loud noises, G3 organized a letter-writing campaign to the University and to Borough Hall in order to restore peace and quiet as well as attractive vistas to their neighborhood. Borough Administrator Joe Brigandi, Jr. investigated the matter and met with ·University officials to correct the problem. Page6 _l

J ~Greater- GLASSBORO IN THE 1930'S... continued.frompage 5 ·-\ Glassboro Group : ; Mr. Hawkins had several nicknames for Bobby. They were Pandora, I - •.• . ..,.... -~ .... ·-· .,... - --· --- -. •.-,-,.-~·· ··e- .... -, because when she was in the shop something always went wrong; Money Grubber, because when he wanted her to run an errand, she would always say "give me the money"; and Apple Cheeks, because she had fat rosy cheeks in the winter. Alice "Sis" Armstrong (Tunis) said that she went to Mr. Hawkin's shop to read his paper on many afternoons. He always called her "Duchess" because she never wanted to get her hands dirty. Later, when Sis was in the U.S. Army Nurses Corp, she was stationed at Halleran General Hospital on Long Island. Mr. Hawkins traveled to see her by bus from Glassboro. He had dinner with her at the Officer's Club and retuned that evening. He said he just wanted to see her and know how she was doing. The combined bus, ferry and bus ride was about 5 hours one-way! Sis said other memories ofthe home were the Christmas trees in the living room, and that only the first floor had heat. She and her sisters would heat bricks in the frreplace, wrap them in cloth and take them to bed. Helen Armstrong (Winans) said that many times Mr. Hawkins gave her and her sister, Bobby, ten cents to go to the Saturday matinee ~~ movies on High Street. When they returned, he always asked them if "The combined bus, ferry they cried in the movie. If they said yes, then he said ''you enjoyed it." and bus ride was about 5 Helen remembers one of the Christmas mornings in the 19~0's when hours one-way! " our Mother had several do lis for each of her daughters. They were used, but Mom cleaned them and ironed all of their clothes. It was a happy and exciting morning for all of the girls. Years later, Mr. Hawkins moved his shop to Franklinville where Bobby and her husband, Larry Andrews, visited him. In his last years, Mr. Hawkins was in a nursing home in Woodbury. Our sister, Mary Armstrong (Buck), was a nurse working at the hospital and visited him several times. On one of these occasions, she asked if he wanted anything and he said that he would love to have a lemon meringue pie. Before she could return with it, he passed away. Mr. Hawkins was a member of St. Thomas Church in Glassboro. Because of his kindness to our family, Mary places flowers on the ahar each Palm Sunday in memory of Mr. Hawkins. This story is a small part of Glassboro in the 1930's and depicts a time of struggle for families that existed across America -- a time when those that had little were willing to share with others. It was a time just before World War II. A postscript to the story is a bittersweet experience of family loss and gain. While playing jacks on Mr. Hawkins' front porch, our sister Grace was called by children to cross Academy Street. While crossing the street, she was struck by a car. A few months later, she died from complications caused by the injuries. Seven months later, a boy, George H. Armstrong, was born to the Harry and Alice Armstrong family. Page 7

To Become a Corporate Member or Major Contributor

CorPorate Members Major Contributors Contact Darla Cassidy Raymond Groff Lucile Pfleeger President Groff's Mill Pond Nursery Dr Don Farish &. Dr Tom Gallia (856) 88J-JJJ2 (Rowan University) Mary Lee Donahue Maia Farish Grant Director WE COM (856) 881-4345 Denis Fotia .Janet Atkinson Nick Micho Membership Chair (856) 582-2106

*Checks to support Greater Glassboro Group are made out to: Greater Glassboro Group *Checks for Save Our Station are made out to: Greater Glassboro Group SOS *Checks for Chestnut Ridge Centennial are made out to: Greater Glassboro Group CRC ------WE INVITE YOU TO JOIN OUR GROUP

Please enroll me as an annual member: Individual ($25) Family ($30) Business ($50) Corporate ($100)

3 I cannot be an active member but would Hke to support G :

Name: ------Phone: ------Address: ------

Signature: ------

Greater Glassboro Group, Inc., is a 501 (c) (3) rum-profit organization in the public interest All donations are tax deductible. Page 8 SU'apll""k Page Symposium

Photographers: Randi Wolf Maggie Fennai Page 9

Scrrapll~ak Pag@ Train Station

Photos: Rich Drobil

From the files of:llarilyn Plaskit Membership is open to persons who share our vision

Our Mission ... Greater Glassboro Group Officers 2010-2011 for 2010 is to improve the quality of Glassboro President...... Darla Cassidy life through the following objectives: Build Vice President ...... Channon Armstrong pride in our community by supporting efforts Secretary...... Victoria Schooowski Treasurer ...... Bernice Willis to enhance knowledge and awareness of our Treasurer for Save Our Station (SOS) & communal histories; improve the appearance Chestnut Ridge Centennial (CRC) ...... Carmen Johnson and function of our physical and architectural Membership Chair ...... Janet Atkinson Preservation Chair ...... Diana Pierce heritage by supporting efforts to preserve and Grants Director ...... Mary ue Donahue restore what remains; work for the continua­ Civic & History Chair ...... Robert Tucker tion of historic patterns now established (like Newsletter Editor...... Sue Stewart the tree-lined streets); and to improve the Publicity Co-Chairs ...... Lucile Pfleeger/EIIata De Berry Co-Chairs of Chestnut Ridge quality of Glassboro life by encouraging good Centennial (CRC) ...... Mary ue Donahue civic management of all resources, whether Lucile Pfteeger & Dennis Fotia physical, financial, natural, or human.

MEETINGS: Third Tuesday Glassboro Public Library Conierence Room MARCH 16th- APRIL 20th- MAY 11th 7:00PM

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'~ reater Group

Fall 2009 Volume 6 Issue 2

CIIESTNUT RIDGE NEIG:IIBORHOOD CENTENNIIL IN 2,010

n 2010, Glassboro's his­ 191 0, fu 11-page advertise­ most of the original homes I toric Chestnut Ridge ments appeared in Ph iladel­ are still in use today. neighborhood will be 100 phia newspapers touting years old. You are invited to building lots for large, multi­ To commemorate the 1OOth participate in planning a se­ story homes on "The Chest­ anniversary of the Ridge, ries of events throughout nut Ridge" in Glassboro. Greater Glassboro Group is the year to celebrate the South Jersey's newest sub­ sponsoring the formation of centennial. urban neighborhood was a steering committee to plan conveniently located within and execute a year-long se­ In the early 1900's, develop­ walking distance of the ries of events. Several kinds ers purchased land west of West Jersey and Seashore of events have already been the railroad tracks and be­ Railroad Station with trains suggested to appeal to vari­ gan to plan Glassboro's first serving Philadelphia daily. ous ages and interests in­ large subdivision on acres Subsequent development in cluding house and garden that had been cleared over the 1920's and 1950's tours; a 4th of July picnic the previous centuries to added to the architectural with free games and activi­ provide firewood for the variety and diversity of the ties for children; essay and town's glass furnaces. In 32-block neighborhood, but ..... continued on Page 7

''SAVE OUR STATION" UPDATE

Wonderful progress is being made! You may have noticed some activity at the train station. We have a new tarp for the roof and have held two fundraiser yard sales on site last spring. Grant applications are in place and awaiting final approval as we continue to raise money for the renovation of our beloved train station .

. . . . . continued on Page 5 Page2

FROM THE FRES ... Fall n or about September 23rd, the Earth reaches a place in its orbit where neither the North nor 0 South Pole leans more toward the sun. On this day, the Northern Hemisphere passes into Fall. It is called the Autumnal Equinox, when the hemispheres receive equal amounts of sunlight. Even if we do not know why scientifically that Fall is upon the horizon, we may notice that the sunlight is a little different and time in the sun is shorter. For the Glassboro citizenry, Fall officially arrives when the University students have returned from summer break. This Fall of 2009, the students returned to school and were welcomed by new dorms. Those who traverse through town along Highway 322 and pass the dorms are newly welcomed by what is known in Mt. Horeb, Wiscon­ sin as a "Roundabout." In Mt. Horeb, the purpose of a "Roundabout" is to slow the traffic and at the same time make a colorful display of carefully chosen wild flowers to greet the passerby. Lush plantings and happy colors (yellow Black-eyed Susans, sunny Coneflowers, restful blue Russian Sages, deep, dark bluish purple Speedwells and the ornamental grasses of green, red and brown, which gracefully follow the tune of the breeze) are artfully placed in the center of the "Roundabout." These gardens create a calliope of color that makes a "joyful noise" and lifts the spirit. Along with the "Roundabout," Glassboro has cre­ ated other spots where gardens of colorful flowers could be planted. At the point where Highway 322 makes a right turn (in front of the Intermediate School) is a little island where a garden of colorful flowers could be displayed. Also, where Highway 322 makes a left turn (at the corner of High Street and Highway 322), next to the location of the old Wicker Store, would create a rest for the eye. Mt. Horeb owns a water truck with a hose and shower-type head attached. Bridgeton, NJ has a similar one. Once or twice a week, this Highway Department truck makes it way along the main streets to deliver water to plants hanging from lamp poles and to the gardens contained in their many "Roundabouts." One day, perhaps, our town fathers and citizenry will recognize the importance of such a task. Just as the shadows growing longer and the days growing shorter are an indicator that Fall is fast approaching, a person's appearance may be an indicator of how he/she feels about him­ self/herself. Perhaps colorful splashes of flowers interlaced through a town are indicators of how a town feels about itself. ..JJarla Cassidy Page 3

"GALLERY OF GREATER GLASSBORO" CALENDARS SUPPORT A STUDENT SCHOLARSHIP

s an artistic way to A showcase our commu­ nity, this third in a series, 16- month A GALLERY OF GREATER GLASSBORO CAL­ ENDAR utilizes striking black and white photography and anecdotal write-ups for each month, highlighting a different place of interest or community event. This year's Septem­ ber 2009 - December 201 0 calendar includes the follow­ ing places, such as: Rowan's High Street Art Gallery, Let's Dance Studio, Glassboro's Boys & Girls Club, Heritage Winery and Carolina Blue Restaurant. The Glassboro Annual Memorial Day Parade event is also featured.

The G3 group even makes a debut appearance as they hold a meeting at Progressive Coffee House, featured for the month of April! The photo, taken by designer, photographer, and G3 member Randi Wolf, shows members Channen Armstrong, Carmen Johnson, Lucile Pfleeger, Janet Atkinson, Darla Cassidy, and Diana Pierce (who claims she was the only one nimble enough to get her legs under the coffee table!).

As a way to give back to the community, 100% of the profits from the sales of the calendar will be donated for a scholarship awarded to a Glassboro High School student who exhibits exem­ plary service to the community. The scholarship will be presented at the June 2010 Glassboro High School's Senior Class Night. "This project supports my three passions ... art, education and service to our community," said creator Randi Wolf.

The calendar, which has won several national and international awards for its design and crea­ tive achievement in photography, sells for only $5.00. "I wanted to make it affordable to every one, so they can consider the low price as simply a donation to the scholarship," said Wolf. Cal­ endars are available at community events, such as Glassboro's Unity Day. These attractive cal­ endars can also be purchased at the following local businesses: Bellia's Copy Center, GCF Bank, Flowers By Design, Progressive Coffee House, Nick's Pizza, Waterline Auto Spa, A Touch of Ireland, Lori's Loft and more, or directly through Randi Wolf.

For more information, contact Randi at 856-582-8181 or email [email protected]. • Page4

THE SPIRITS OF STATE & ACADEMY: r.t-toST STOf<..\ 6S r. LASS~ORD '-1 *'- '-1 l-t6 CAM'PFI'R-6 TOL-'D ''ROlAND T

"Tales of Old Glassboro," our annual historic ghost tour, has a new format this year. In­ stead of a walking tour through Glassboro's oldest neighborhood - centered on the five­ point intersection of Academy, State, and New Streets - this year's re-telling· of Glass- boro's friendly ghost stories will be held camp­ fire-style on the lawn of Alvin Shpeen Hall, the former Academy Street School on North Acad­ emy Street, one block north of High Street. Bring the family and join us for "campfire" stories of historic Glassboro ghosts told by a master story­ 1 teller on Saturday night, October 17 h, at 6:30 PM. Grab a blanket or lawn chairs and settle down to learn about Glassboro history through the lives (and deaths) of our historic ancestors.

Suggested donation: Adults -$5 Children over 6 years - $3

Parking available behind Shpeen Hall, at the Glassboro Public Library, or on the street

Allprofits benefit history projects of d

*Note: The ''campfire" is a battery-powered fake. No need to worry, parents! PageS

"SAVE OUR STATION" ... continued from Page 1 Our next fundraiser is a fun-filled community dinner being held Saturday, November 7, 2009 at the VFW Hall with delicious food, great entertainment, and lots of opportunities to meet your neighbors and learn about your station. Please see flyer on Page 6 for details. We are looking for volunteers as well as attendees. We desperately need donations of homemade desserts and gift items for a basket auction. Can you help? Please contact Diana Pierce at [email protected] or 856-881-3886 or 856-718-0265 for tickets or with your donation See you therel

JOIN US FOR THE 6 3 CHRISTMAS PARTY- TUESDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2009 AT 7 PM Masso's (Captain's Room). For more information, call Bernice Willis, 856.881.2449 To Become a Corporate Member or Major Contributor

CORPORATE MEMBERS CONTACT: Darla Cassidy, President Raymond Groff (856) 881-7237 Groff's Mill Pond Nursery Mary Lee Donahue, Grant Director MAJOR CONTRIBUTORS (856) 881-4345 Lucile Pfleeger Dr Tom Gallia, Rowan University Janet Atkinson, Membership Chair WE COM (856) 582-2106

------WE INVITE YOU TO JOIN OUR GROUP Please enroll me as an annual member: Individual ($20) Family ($25) - Business ($50) - Corporate ($100)-

I cannot be an active member but would like to support Ga: ______Name: Phone: ______Address: ------Signature: ______Greater------Glassboro Group, Inc., is a 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization in the public interest. Page6 assboroGreater GroupE------1 All proceeds will help to support the Save our Station Program to raise funds to renovate The Glassboro Historic Train.

Wassbo~ Historic Preservation Commission Community

FUND ISER Cai:ered by: Elaine Foaarino of Planei: Hoaaie Liwe Music by: llick Frankunas DATE: November 7, 2009 TIME: 7 PM -11 PM PLACE: Glassboro VFW Hall Corner of Sewell & Wilmer Streets $30 per person/cash bar

Tickets are available at the Glassboro Economic Development office ( or call 856-881-0500 for more information ~· Page 7

CHESTNUT RIDGE CENTENNIAL... continued from Page 1 art contests for students in borough schools; a memorabilia display and concert of music from 1910, the 1920s, and the 1950s; a gala dinner dance; and a holiday decor competition. All prof­ its from the events would benefit the restoration of the train station, which made the neighbor­ hood a success. Please offer your suggestions and join us in planning an exciting year. For more information, contact one of the G3 members listed below: Lucile Pfleeger Mary Lee Donahue 856-256-2595/[email protected] 856-881-4345/ [email protected]

Garden Party 2.009 It was a perfect day for a stroll in the garden. A crisp breeze blew and the air caused one's cheeks to tingle. Inside, hot coffee brewed. The scent of strawberries permeated the air and the gentle sound of a flute greeted guests upon their arrival. All the guests, who provided light and friendly conversation, enjoyed tea sandwiches, fruits and festive desserts.

The guests wore pretty dresses, fashionable suits and large hats. Everyone enjoyed their stroll though the garden and asked our hostess about many of the plants growing there. Comments were made to husbands to replicate the garden at their home. The lawn was manicured by Groff's Nursery. All guests received various herbal plants, courtesy of Janet Atkinson. L toR: Carmen Johnson, Darla Cassidy, Channon Armstrong and L to R: Ellata Randi Wolf De Berry, Bob and Jenny Bates

Melodious flute music was rendered by Linda Richardson, as she has done in the past. Cakes, artfully decorated and baked by Edna Klein, Garden Fairy duplicated flowers from the garden and pro- The gloom ofthe world is best in shadows; vided the fresh sweet fragrance of a strawberry field. behind it yet, within our reach, is joy, The cakes were too beautiful to cut. The contribution of all Take joy. who attended made the garden party a joyous occasion. Fra Giovanni A.D.l513 Membership is open to persons who share our vision

Greater Glassboro Group Officers 2009-2010 Our Mission ... President...... Darla Cassidy for 2009 is to improve the quality of Glassboro Vice President...... Chan non Armstrong life through the following objectives: Build pride Secretary ...... Victoria Schodowski in our community by supporting efforts to en­ Treasurer ...... Bernice Willis hance knowledge and awareness of our commu­ Membership Chair ...... Janet Atkinson nal histories,· improve the appearance and func­ tion of our physical and architectural heritage by Preservation Chair ...... Diana Pierce supporting efforts to preserve and restore what Unity Day Chair ...... Carmen Johnson remains,· work for the continuation of historic pat­ Publicity Chair ...... Lucile Pfleeger terns now established (like the tree-lined streets),· Grants Director ...... Mary Lee Donahue and to improve the quality of Glassboro life by Civic & History Acting Chair ... Robert Tucker encouraging good civic management of all re­ sources, whether physical, financial, natural, or Glassboro Calendar Chair ..... Randi Wolf human. Newsletter Editor ...... Sue Stewart

MEETINGS: Third Tuesday Glassboro Public Library Conference Room OCTOBER 20th-NOVEMBER 17th_ DECEMBER 15TH 7:00PM

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\, .._- ~ dno~t)·O J3J>~~J Spring 2009 Volume 6 Issue 1

VETERANS' MONUMENT FRANKLIN HOUSE · By Marilyn Plasket By Lucile Pjleeger

3 hile teaching in Bowe School, I took itizens of Glassboro, including G mem­ W Doris Neff's 5th grade students to the C bers, tried desperately to save the Frank­ Veterans' Monument, between the Glass Mu­ lin House (the 18th Century inn at Main Street seum and the Fire House, because the stu­ and US 322) because of its historic value. 3 dents were studying U.S. History. The stu­ But, for G member, Janet Davis Atkin­ dents were quick to notice there were no Civil son, it was her family home that was being War causalities listed. They had learned other­ destroyed. wise in their classroom. I told them that the Janet was born in 1943 and lived in the Glassboro Area suffered about 20 casualties Franklin House until she married~· seven of whom were returned to this area for Janet's grandfather, William Franklin burial and the rest buried on the field of valor. Davis, purchased the Inn in 1907 and named When I realized this was so important to it the "Franklin House." the boys and girls, I sent a list to then Mayor Janet's parents were Franklin William Alvin Spheen, who passed it on to the Veter­ Davis and Mildred Lloyd Davis. She had an ans of Foreign Wars and the American Legion older brother, Franklin William, Jr., and two for their input. They felt the Civil War deserved older sisters ne 193 and Celia 1940 . a separate monument. Recently, Howard Gant of the VFW and I ended up on the same History Committee at our church. He concurred that in this economic time, a new monument wasn't going to be fea­ sible. I approached Mayor Leo Me Cabe and the Glassboro Council. They sent a "go ahead" letter if I could find the money. I did! I con­ tacted the engraver, Jeanne Griscom of Tri­ County Memorial, who had done the original work. She added the list of 23 names. Her work matched beautifully. (The $300 deposit was sent by me - the remainder $1 000 by the two service organizations .

. . . . . continued on Page 6 FRANKLIN HOUSE after its three-window addition was made on the right side in 1908-09. Photo circa 1950 ..... continued on Page 3 Page2

.)))~ The Pres

he death knells have tolled, the structures that once defined the town have been dismantled T and swept away by men and laid to rest. The Glassboro of a rural and industrial town is all but gone. In its place are great tall walls of what are to be student housing and townhouses for staff working at the University. For one who yearns for rural open space, the walls feel like a great canyon. I came from a farm near a little village 40 miles east of St. Louis. When my husband and I moved to Glassboro I felt I had moved into the city. My friend, from Philadelphia felt she lived in the middle of the country. She was upset when her daughter helped herself to green beans that were sitting on my back porch waiting to be canned. My friend had never seen a raw green bean before, let alone eaten one. Now we laugh whole-heartedly at the incident and still marvel at how different our perspectives are about living in and near Glassboro. Residents now live away from the center of town. They live on former farm land or orchard groves that were developed by developers. If asked where the center of town is, a great number of them will not know the answer. So, I wonder: what post office do they use, do they ever need to go to Borough Hall, the Police Station, or Traffic Court? Their drive to work more likely than not, will not take them through the center of town. They may be hindered by th~ traffic on Route 322 when classes at Rowan University are dis­ missed or Delsea Drive at rush hour. But other than that each little development is its own little village separated by roads that do not readily unite a community. In 2010, not many distant months from now, the de­ ... .-~)-~\ velopment called Chestnut Ridge Estates will be able to #aiestottt IUdge E&ctlt~s!:f':, ~~ celebrate its 1OOth anniversary. It can be said that Univer­ sity Boulevard is a crown jewel of the era. It is a beautiful sight with its wide street, allee of Eastern White Pines and American Empire homes that the add grace and charm of an age passed. It is no longer center stage as it once was. It was such a popular destination that a Special Saturday afternoon train on May 28, 1910 carried residents from Bridgeton and picked up passengers on its way in Elmer to see the Estates. People had to sign up in advance and allowed on the train by invitation only, no children allowed. It is not a new thing for folks of Glassboro to give up their historic places as well as of themselves to make room for students. In 1917, the residents of Glassboro first Photo from files ofMarilyn Plaskett gave out of what they didn't have in order to have an insti­ tution of higher learning. It has continued to give of itself over the generations. According to an article, written by Edward H. Walton in the Enterprise dated

..... continued on Page 7 Page 3

FRANKLIN HOUSE ... .. continued from Page 1 The Franklin House was a family home, with their own suites, in addition to the twenty-two guest rooms. An aunt, Ethlyn Davis, a teacher in Bridgeton, had her own suite in the Franklin House. Also, Great-Great Aunt Jennie, who suffered from arthritis, lived there, too. Janet and her sisters carried food to her room when she could no longer navigate the stairs. Janet reports that the Franklin House was a wonderful place in which to grow up. They had a horse, "Sugar," dog pens, pasture for sheep and goats, and thriving vegetable and flower gardens. The Davis children attended Academy Street School from grades K-8 and Glassboro High School, across Delsea Drive, both close by. They attended St. Thomas Episcopal Church next door. The children had lots of room to play, especially in the large dining room. For after school dances and other special events, they invited friends for parties in their big home. Janet remembers a "Jiffy Hot Dog Maker" which was a "hit" at their parties. Their mother sponsored meetings for her friends where special guests gave demonstra­ tions and instruction on skills such as caning, sewing, crafts, etc .. The girls had allowances, and they also were able to earn more money by helping in the operation of the Inn. For instance, there were cooks and chambermaids, some who did not work on Sundays. So, the sisters made beds, carried supplies from the basement, such as toi- let paper, and cleaned rooms. ·, They also assisted in the serving of food. The Lions and Rotary met there on Tuesday and Thursday nights. The Glassboro State College Faculty Association held dinner meetings and parties there. The Wednesday Club (Glassboro's Women's Club), the Glassboro State College Fac­ ulty Wives, and other groups, held luncheon meetings there. In 1958, Celia, and her husband, Ernest Risner, took over the management of the Inn. Glassboro residents remember fondly those "Shrimp Nights." Guests of the Franklin Inn included young single men, such as Owen's Illinois employ­ ees, truck drivers, businessmen, etc .. Dr. Harold Benjamin, a visiting distinguished Professor at Glassboro State College, re­ sided in the Franklin House fulltime. He frequently invited friends to dinner parties at the Inn. The Risners moved to Ohio in the mid-seventies. All the Davis children were grown, pursuing their own careers and raising their children in their own homes. Janet's mother sold the Franklin House to five doctors. The Landmark oc­ cupies the site today.•

d wishes to recognize the Glassboro Mayor, Glassboro Council and the Glassboro Historic Commission for their efforts to save the Chestnut Ridge Train Station. Page4

"TALES Of OLDE GLASSBOROUGH" TOUR G3 (i}ontmittee Plans A11nual Fall Ghost Tour

lans are underway by natural. Many early settlers suitable for children. P G3's Historic Ghost of our town believed in Visitors to last year's Tour committee for the 5th ghosts, as did subsequent tours, conducted on two Annual "Tales of Olde generations throughout the Saturday evenings in late Glassborough" Walking four centuries of the town's October, suggested that at Tour, to be held on Satur- history. least one tour be offered on day, October 3rd, this year. Each year, tales a Saturday afternoon, when The tour covers about six spun by costumed tour school children might more blocks and 250 years of guide Vicki Schodowski fas­ easily attend. Committee Glassboro history in 45 min­ cinate tour patrons, who members will announce ex­ utes. learn how the earthly lives act tour times at a later Committee Chairper­ of our founders inspired the date. son Mary Lee Donahue belief that their spirits still Mark your calendar says that the "ghost" theme walk the streets and haunt now to attend "Tales of is actually a way of telling the houses that they built Olde Glassborough" on the Glassboro's history to a new here. The tour is not at all afternoon or evening of Sat­ audience - people who are frightening, as the stories urday, October 3rd. interested in ghost stories tell of friendly, noble, or Call 856-881-434~ for more and in tales of the super- helpful spirits, and it is quite information

Chestnut Ridge Celebrates 100 Years in 2010 By Mary Lee Donahue

hartly after the turn of the last century, officials of the West Jersey and Seashore Railroad S Company purchased large tracts of property on both sides of the railroad tracks in what was at that time the western edge of Glassboro. The property had belonged to the Whitney family, and most of it had been cleared to provide firewood for the Whitney Brothers' glass furnaces. Chestnut trees were among the most common of the abundant hardwoods on the slightly ele­ vated ridge of land, which may have inspired the name of the development. Believing that new housing developments would be successful within walking distance of the borough's busy train station (which was located at the end of Whitney Avenue, across from the old freight depot that still stands today), the company first sold properties along Victoria Street just east of the tracks. In 1910, they began to advertise for a major development on the west side of the tracks, laying out the streets and beginning to build the first of several handsome models that still house families on the Ridge today. With amazing prescience, the streets in the development were named after colleges and universities - Harvard, Villanova, Swarthmore, Princeton, Colombia, etc. - even though there were no plans at the time to bring a state college to Glassboro. The state normal school, later called Glassboro State College and now Rowan University, was not founded until nearly a dec­ ade later...... continued on Page 5 Page 5

Chestnut Ridge Celebrates ... continued from Page 4 The wide main street through the middle of the 32-square-block development, where Thomas Whitney had laid out a tree-lined country lane some 50 years before, was called University Boulevard. All the original street names are still used today. Building lots and housing plans in the Chestnut Ridge development were soon mar­ keted to families in Philadelphia and Camden who might be convinced to move to the South Jersey suburbs. Although construction was slow during the first ten years or so, after World War I, and especially after the opening of the Benjamin Franklin Bridge in 1928, housing starts flourished. By the 1930's, the many two-, three-, or four-story homes on 60' or 120' foot lots in the Chestnut Ridge were the pride of the community. Today, Thomas Whitney's Eastern White Pine Trees still shade the quiet, picturesque streets of this handsome neighborhood featuring wide porches, stately windows, large airy rooms, and hardwood floors of natural chestnut. A steering committee is now being formed to plan a series of events in 2010 to com­ memorate the 100th anniversary. Watch your newspaper and the fall issue of this newsletter for more information, including dates of neighborhood tours on the Ridge. Contact Lucile Pjleeger, d Publicity Chair, (856-256-2595) to volunteer for the celebration or to get more information. • To Become a Corporate Member or Major Contributor

CORPORATE MEMBERS CoNTACT: Darla Cassidy, President Raymond Groff (856) 881-7237 Groff's Mill Pond Nursery Mary Lee Donahue, Grant Director MAJOR CONTRIBUTORS (856) 881-4345 Lucile Pfleeger Dr Tom Gallia, Rowan University Janet Atkinson, Membership Chair WE COM (856) 582-2106

------WE INVITE YOU TO JOIN OUR GROUP Please enroll me as an annual member: Individual ($20) Family ($25) - Business ($50) - Corporate ($100)-

I cannot be an active member but would like to support G3: ______Name: Phone: ______Address: ------Signature: Greater------Glassboro Group, Inc., is a 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization in the public interest. Page6

Veteran's Monument .... continuedfromPage 1 Dedication was set for Memorial Day 2009. The population of the Glassboro area was about 2000 during the Civil War, so you know that if twenty-three died, it impinged on just about every household. Twenty-three is more than our area has lost in any war since. Father, son, uncle, nephew, son-in-law- even grandfathers died. Several died by dis­ ease, drowning, and disappearance - not just from being shot! Union Soldiers from the Glassboro, NJ area, who died serving their country in the Civil War (1861-1865), were:

Soldier's Name Union Arm~ Unit Death Buried 1. John Armstrong Co. A 7th Reg't NJ lnf Vols 4/3/65 FUMC 2. Lawrence Elmer Cake Co I 24th NJ Reg't lnf Vols 12/13/62 Trinity 3. John R. Campbell Co. D 12th Reg't NJ lnf Vols 3/27/63 VA 4. Elwood Chew Co. K 75th PA lnfVols 4/15/62 5. Tom Clevenger Co. H 4th Reg't NJ lnf Vols 6/1/64 VA 6. James Corneal Co. F 12th Reg't NJ lnfVols 1864 7. Henry Frederick Co. A 9th NJ lnf Vols 6/20/65 Trinity 8. William Hewitt Co A 3rd Reg't NJ lnfVols 5/8/64 Mantua 9. James H. Long Co. H 7th Reg't NJ lnf Vols 6/22/64 MIA 10. Adam Marshall Co. F 12th Reg't NJ lnf Vols 5/3/63 Washington, DC 11. George McCiearnen Co. D 24 Reg't NJ lnf Vols 12/13/62 KIA 12. James McCiearnen Co. I 24th Reg't NJ lnf Vols 5/3/63 MIA 13. Thomas C. McDowell Co. D 48th Reg't NY lnf. Vols 7/10/63 KIA 14. William H. Newbern Co. A 9th Reg't NJ lnf Vols 6/8/65 FUMC 15. Charles W. Parker Co. A 7th Reg't NJ lnf Vols 10/12/64 Washington, DC 16.John A. Peaples Co. G 28th Reg't NJ lnfVol 12/131862 MIA 17. Malichai Simmerman Co. G 6th NJ lnf Vols 7/26/62 Trinity 18.Aaron Smith Co. C 7th Reg't NJ lnf Vols 1/11/65 Washington, QC 19.John H. Smith Co. D 24th Reg't NJ lnf Vols 5/12/64 FUMC 20. Christian Sterling, Jr Co. H 4th Reg't NJ lnf Vols 5/12/64 21. Cornelius W. Strang Co. D 24th Reg't NJ lnf Vols 12/22/63 FUMC 22. Francis A. Wilson Co. H 7th Reg't NJ lnf Vols 5/24/65 23. William F. Zane Co. A 3rd REg't NJ lnf Vols 5/22/64

[Compiled by William Skinner, Marilyn Plasket and Howard Gant (Historians) 2008.]

..... continued on Page 7 Page7

Veteran'S Monument .... continuedtromPage6 Malichai Simmerman was a Glassboro resident and is buried under a Military Gravestone in Trinity Protestant Churchyard, South Main Street, Glassboro. Howard Gant, a VFW member and Glassboro historian, reports that the listing of the sol­ diers who died in the Civil War, inscribed on the monument adjacent to the Heritage Glass Mu­ seum, will be dedicated in a Memorial Day ceremony following the parade. A Civil War enact­ ment will also take place.

The Pres Says..... continuedtromPage2 Wednesday, March 5,1980, a property formerly owned by Ebenezer Whitney and Joseph L. Higgens was sold to Demitrious Xenidis after the death of Mrs. Helen Rynhart in 1977. The home was to be converted into dormitories for students attending Glassboro State College. The structure was located on the Northwest corner of Main Street and West Street, which is also known as Route 322.

Photo c. 1885 - Ebenezer Whitney & Joseph L. Higgens property - From the files of Marilyn Plaskett

The Grand Old Dame of the Victorian Era, the Methodist Episcopal Parsonage on the corner of New and Main Streets is now a shell of its former self due to the dis- mantling by owners and students who were unaware of the architectural beauty they held in their keeping. In 2006, Rowan University purchased an historic treasure of Glassboro's history, the Whitney- Capie house built in 1847, 29 West Street. Edward H. Walton wrote in his col­ umn in the Glassboro Enterprise, "the prominent Whitney family lived in the home for 116 years." It is another example of property dismantled because they did not know the historic jewel they held in their keeping. What is the cost of sacrificing the gems of our historical past in order to completely transform our historic rural - industrial community into an urban setting to make room for a fast growing University? What are we teaching students about respect and the value of our history about how we came to be a community? Will Rowan Boulevard be­ come the transforming Center of Town? Will it come with the trappings that bring and unite all the residents of Glassboro far and near to a new and exciting communal meeting place or will it remain an on-campus site that the Glassboro residents know little about? How do we find the balance between what historical places we save and what we give up to progress? It is not just Glassboro that is being trans-formed, it is happening throughout the country. • Membership is open to persons who share our vision

Greater Glassboro Group Officers 2009-2010 Our Mission ...

President...... Darla Cassidy for 2009 is to improve the quality of Glassboro life through the following objectives: build pride in Vice President...... Chan non Armstrong our community by supporting efforts to enhance Secretary ...... Victoria Schodowski knowledge and awareness of our communal his­ Treasurer ...... Bernice Willis tories/ improve the appearance and function of Membership Chair ...... Janet Atkinson our physical and architectural hentage by sup­ Preservation Chair ...... Diana Pierce porting efforts to preserve and restore what re­ mains/ work for the continuation of historic pat­ Unity Day Chair...... Carmen Johnson terns now established (like the tree-lined streets} Publicity Chair...... Lucile Pfleeger to improve the quality of Glassboro life by en­ Grants Director ...... Mary Lee Donahue couraging good civic management of all re­ Civic & History Acting Chair. .. Robert Tucker sources/ whether physical, financial, natural, or Glassboro Calendar Chair ..... Randi Wolf human.

MEETINGS: Third Tuesday Glassboro Public Library Conference Room MARCH 17TH-APRIL 21th_ MAY 19th_ SEPTEMBER 15th- OCTOBER 2Qnd 7:00PM

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dno19 010 .~~~e~J to Improving the Quality ofLife in Glassboro Fall2008 Volume 5 Issue 2

110USfNOTI1fflS, {UflffPJ, lTIOUfTTf flr1[) ffiSI1101'1 Lucile Pj/eeger While discussing with Glassboro residents the strictly a teacher training institution. Since not problems today caused by Rowan University all veterans wished to become teachers, a students buying or renting homes in our older "Junior College" was established which fea­ residential neighborhoods, we began to remi­ tured two years of general courses whose cred­ nisce about the "good old days" when students its could be transferred to four year colleges. rented rooms in private homes. Glassboro State Teachers College had two In 1951, my husband and I purchased a dormitories, Laurel and Oak, housing only large Victorian style women. Through a fed­ home on the "Ridge." eral program, army bar­ For three years, we racks were moved up rented a large room to from the south and in­ two female students. stalled on the Glassboro I was their campus to be used as dor­ "housemother" and I mitories for veterans. received training and One long row facing the instructions on the rules Bunce Hall parking lot from the Dean of provided housing for sin­ Women at Glassboro gle veterans. Another row State Teachers College. facing Route 322 served The students signed in married veterans with and out, and were re­ children. quired to obey a cur­ Three separate few. I was responsible for them. Fortunately, housing units were provided for three college our students were cooperative and a joy to have faculty, World War II veterans, who supervised in our home. the students who were veterans. When I mentioned living on the campus The dining hall was located in the basement from 194 7-1951, my companions, who are of Bunce Hall, and featured "home cooked" much younger, were not knowledgeable about meals utilizing fruits and vegetables grown on that period of then Glassboro State Teachers the campus. College history. Dinners were served family style, with table After World War II huge numbers of veter­ cloths and good china and silverware. Students ans took advantage of the GI Bill to attend col­ were not allowed to leave the table until all din­ leges. Colleges were forced to expand immedi­ ers had finished eating. ately. Glassboro State Teachers College was ... Continued on pg 4 Page2

Do We Have What It Takes?

Glassboro is in the process of reinventing itself due to the growing campus of Rowan University. For those who have been waiting with expectation and anticipation it has been long in coming. For those who are desperately trying to save bits and pieces of the past, the physical structures filled with memories of the Industrial Revolution that brought life, energy, commerce and wealth to Glassboro are too quickly disap­ pearing. The chance to protect and save is all but over. Glassboro would not have this chance for rebirth if our forefathers had not brought forth from their hard work and sacrifice an institution of higher learning. They gave out of what they did not have rather than what they had. They gave out of faith and fortitude for future generations. They blindly gave of them­ selves to the future. It was a very large gift of 25 acres, purchased at the impossible price of $7,000, to the State ofNew Jersey for free if the State would build the planned Normal School in Glassboro. The upturned earth, in preparation of new structures for a new era, is where the turn of the century houses once stood. The homes once teemed with children laughing, going off to school and ,I mothers and fathers turning to their daily chores of keeping the shops, businesses and the industry of Glassboro alive and growing. It was the abundant forests of the Chest­ nut Ridge that brought the first fires of industry to Glassboro, later coal to keep the steam en­ gines running, oil and gas to keep the fires burning. Smoke from Glassboro's in­ dustry once filled the skies. Trains coming and going filled the indus­ trial town with noise, smoke and commerce. VVlrile we rush to save pieces of our past, we need to recog­ nize that a great deal is expected of us to provide for the future. One of the challenges of today is how do we turn "Dirty Fuel into Clean energy?" Do we know the questions to ask and demand of our government officials to solve this problem? Do we know when we are being bought out by "Big Money?" What is our vision for the future? What is it that we are willing to give to future generations? What are we willing to sacrifice for? Are we able to "give out of what we do not have rather than what we have"? ... Continued on page 6 Page3

G3 guests were all smiles the day of the garden party fundraiser. The day dark and heavy with rain, did­ n't dampen the spirits of the 20 guests who dared to brave the weather. The fund raiser was a won­ derful success as many who were unable to attend sent in generous donations to enable Greater Glass­ Darla Cassidy, G3 President and boro Group to continue its work Bernice Willis, G3 Treasurer purchasing trees to commemorate Train Station Committee the legacy of the Ebenezer Whit- ney family; researching and host­ ing Tales of Olde Glasborough walking tours; supporting the on-going works of authors and researchers of Glassboro's history; and recognizing and publicizing the work of prop­ erty owners and residents, who are restoring and maintaining the architec­ tural integrity of their buildings within the historic areas of Glassboro. We have recently added the train station committee with Diana Pierce as Chairperson. She is working with the Glassboro Historic Commission, Mayor and Tony Fiola, Council President and Liaison to t~e Glassboro Historic Commission. The home of Darla Cassidy was aglow. Music, performed by flau­ 3 tist Linda Richards, wafted throughout the rooms. Vicki Schodowski, Vicki Shadowski , G Secretary & Lucile Pjleeger, G3 Publicity poet, read My Garden, The Purple Clover, The Inward Morning, by Chairperson Emily Dickinson, and Jazz Prophet on The Six Fifty-Nine and The Center of Town, a lovely poem about Glassboro.

L toR: Lucile Pjleeger, Karen Pjleeger-Smith, Ellata De Berry, Jenny Bates, Robert Bates (former Glassboro Council man), Carol Schoepske (Heritage Glass Museum trustee) Page4

'Tafes of Oft[ (j{as6orougli Greater Glassboro Group is sponsoring its annual Tales of Olde Glasborough ghost tour on two Saturday evenings this fall, October 18th and 25th, at 6PM. Telling tales handed down through three centuries of Glassboro history, the costumed tour guides will lead guests on a one-hour, six­ block stroll through the heart of old Glassboro. Interestingly, Glassboro's ghosts are all friendly and helpful souls from the early Glassworks founder, the fighting Quaker Colonel Thomas Heston of Revolutionary War fame who returns on horse­ back along Old Mullica Hill Road to watch over his family and homestead, to two Rowan University ghosts who look after the stu­ dents who leave their homes to come and live in Glassboro. Dressed in formal evening attire with top hat and cane, Thomas Whitney, of the 19th Century Whitney Brothers Glass­ works, is said to still walk the campus where his former prop­ erty became the modem university. The spirit of Elizabeth Toughill, the longtime drama professor for whom Toughill Auditorium is named, is said to assist harried Rowan theater students with productions even today, sew­ ing costumes and building sets in the labyrinth of studios beneath the stage. Tours begin at the First Methodist Church parking lot on the comer of New Street ap.d Academy Street, one block west of state Route 47 (Delsea Drive) and one block south of U.S. Rt. 322. Bring flash­ lights--footing on old sidewalks can be rough. Donation requested: Adult, $5; Children, $3. Tour is suitable for children. Donations support history projects in Glassboro. For more information, call Mary Lee at 881-4345 or Vicki Shadowski at [email protected] ***** t10U\fNOTI1f~\, {U~ffM, fTI()UfTTf fii1D ffi\111011 ... Continued.from page 1 One of my husband's duties was to eat in the dining hall at least once a week to assure that all male stu­ dents were wearing dress shirts, ties and suit jackets. These veterans had fought for several years in World War II, some had been wounded, but they adapted to the rules of college life. The women students had strict rules for their dress. The Dean of Women lived on the campus, and housemothers resided in the dorms to enforce rules. Our daughter, Karen, was six months old, in 1947, when we arrived on the campus at GSTC. While strolling with her in a baby carriage, I met a student who inquired where I lived. When I re­ sponded that I lived in the "Veterans Temporary Housing," she exclaimed, "Oh, the Shacks!" Compared to where we had lived during the war, in rooms and apartments overrun with cock­ roaches, the "Shacks" were almost "heaven." The Shacks were basic. For instance, we carried buckets of kerosene from an outside faucet to pour into the space heaters. There was only one telephone on a pole that served all the students and faculty. Any person answering the ring might have a long trek to reach the person called. I took lots of messages. . .. Continued onpg 5 Page 5

t10USfNOTI1f~S, (U~ffiN, fTIOUfllf flr1D ffiSI110r1 ... Continued from page 4 We lived in the Shacks for four years. The Shacks existed for seven years. When they were no longer needed they were shipped away. By then, many of the veterans had transferred to other colleges. But, surprisingly, many stayed at Glassboro State Teachers College and became teachers. Accommodating the World War II veterans was the beginning of the expansion from a small "normal School" to a large university." The Glassboro residents who donated their money for the establishment of the ''Normal School" could never have envisioned how their gift would affect the lives of Glassboro residents today. Junior College classrooms used 1946-48

To Become a Corporate Member or Major Contributor

-CORPORATE MEMBER Contact: Darla Cassidy, President. Raymond Groff (856) 881-7237 Groff's Mill Pond Nursery Mary Lee Donahue, Grant Director MAJOR CONTRIBUTORS (856) 881-4345 Dr Tom Gallia, Rowan University Janet Atkinson, Membership Chair WECOM (856) 582-2106

WE INVITE YOU TO JOIN OUR GROUP Please enroll me as an annual member: Individual ($20) Family ($25) Business ($50) Corporate ($100) _ I cannot be an active member but would like to support Ga: ______Name: Phone: Address: ______

Signature: Greater Glassboro Group, Inc., is a 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization in the public interest. All donations are tax deductible. Page6

Wheels are in motion! The G3 is now working in voluntary cooperation with the Glassboro Historic Com­ mission in their latest efforts to revitalize the ailing Railroad Station located at Whitney & Oak A venues. Both organizations are in need of volunteers willing to contribute their time & talents to make this dream a reality. Anyone interested in lending a helping hand can contact: Diana Pierce- (856) 718-0265 or Diana@wecom. com for more details

***** G3 is thankful for the photos from the files ofMarilyn Plasket *****

From the Pres ... Continued from page 2 The students at Rowan University are able to see a future where oil, gas, and coal are no longer a part of our energy solution. Our university students have what it takes to make re­ newable energy doable, and workable. They have been showing us for quite sometime now. For example, Thomas Friedman tells in his book Hot, Flat and Crowded, First Solar Inc., a company started in Toledo, Ohio. The company developed technology that made solar energy to meet much of daytime energy of the industrial world. Since their beginning in 1992, their revenue grew from $500 million in 2007 to $20 billion in 2008. This American company located in Arizona and had a factory in Ohio. First Solar wanted to do business in America, but there was not a solar market. The company moved to Germany and became a German company. "Countries all over the world are now contracting us to build our next fac­ tory there, but so far no one has called from the U. S.," said Mike Ahearn the company CEO. Former Stanford economist Paul Romer likes to say, "A crisis is a terrible thing to waste." While we, the townspeople, along with government officials, grapple with saving the train station, a relic of the Industrial Age, we must also grapple over a way to save our natu­ ral environment. It won't be easy, but then again, if we put our minds, resources, fortitude to it, it may be easier than we think. Some people have already begun.

•••~adP~ I

Greater Glassboro Group, Inc., is a 501 (c) (3) rwn-profit organization in the public interest.

All donations are tax deductible. Circa 1910

Built by Danforth and Cook, 1859. First en­ In November 1907, the line between Franklinville gine on Millville-Glassboro Railroad. and Glassboro became the testing sight for experi­ mental electric locomotive. ·~~UWU.'/.JZ u ta ~ OU't ~~"' Greater Glassboro Group Officers 2008-2009 Our Mission ...

President ...... Darla Cassidy for 2008 is to improve the quality of Glass­ boro life through the following objectives: Vice President...... Chan non Armstrong build pride in our community by supporting Secretary ...... Victoria Schodowski efforts to enhance knowledge and aware­ Treasurer...... Bernice Willis ness of our communal histories, improve the Corresponding Secretary ...... Janet Atkinson appearance and function of our physical and Membership Chair ...... Janet Atkinson architectural heritage by supporting efforts to Civic & History ...... Robert Tucker preserve and restore what remains, work for Publicity Chair ...... Lucile Pfleeger the continuation of historic patterns now es­ tablished (like the tree-lined streets), to im­ Diana Pierce ...... Chair, Train Station prove the quality of Glassboro life by encour­ Committee aging good civic management of all re­ Grant Director ...... Mary Lee Donahue sources, whether physical, financial, natural, Dennis Fotia ...... Arbor Day or human. Newsletter Editor...... Sue Stewart MEETINGS: Third Tuesday Glassboro Library Conference Room October 21st - November 18th - December 16th Christmas Party 7:00PM

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8'l080 rN 'oJoqss~l~ ILS xoa Od dno.J.D oJo J3l~3J Spring 2008 Volume 5, Issue 1

G3 1nquirers About Downtown Glassboro Glassboro Train Station During the 40's, 50's & 60's - Part 2 By Diana Pierce By Lucile Pfleeger

~ s Randi Woerner was the guest speaker q lassboro residents have responded to the at the G3 March Meeting that was held at the article, "Downtown Glassboro During the 40's, Glassboro Public Library. Ms Woerner, Director 50's and 60's," with comments, corrections and of Economic and Community Development for additions to the list of stores, restaurants, gov­ the Borough and Liaison to the Historic Preser­ ernment services, etc .. vation Commission informed G3 members and I regret that I forgot to list Mazzeo's Bar numerous guests as to the status of and plans and Restaurant on East High Street. for the preservation of our Train Station. Nick Mitcho remembered the name of We learned that the Borough was able to Testa's Ice Cream Shop-adjac~nt to the Bor­ purchase the Train Station several years ago ough Hall. He added that when he was a teen­ ager the "bad" kids spent time in the pool hall located in the basement of the building across from Joe's Sub Shop. In this publication the listings will include North and South Main Street, North and South Academy Street, and Ellis Street. ... continued on page 3

A View From The Tour from a private entity due to a grant from the De­ By Vicki Schodowski partment of Transportation (NJDOT TEA-21) in the amount of $250,000.00. A portion of that A very breezy day in early October 2007 set money was also used to complete the design the stage for the first Greater Glassboro phase of the project. The Historical Preserva­ Group's town history tour. In the past Octobers tion Commission has reviewed and approved a I had been a tour guide for the Halloween in­ Master Plan that can be viewed by the public in spired "Tales of Old Glasborough History" the Economic Development Office at 11 North tours, which meant leading groups through Main Street. She can be reached by phone town with a flashlight to the sites of some , (881-9230) for an appointment. ghostly legends. ... continued on page 6 ,· ... continued on page 5

Greater Glassboro Group, Inc., is a 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization in the public interest. All donations are tax deductible. GREATER GLASSBORO GROUP Page2 t~e prts··· fYO~ At 5:00 a.m. the phone rang. My husband shuffled in the dark to the other room and answered it. He called to me almost immediately, "Schools closed." I shouted silently in my head. Yeah II!! I then hopped out of bed to see why. Snow!! I I crawled back into bed with the list of things to do slipping out of the fore and yelled to myself wordlessly-FREE DAY, I will do the things I want to do rather than what I have to do. Later that morning I snuggled down into my sofa with the new arrivals of gardening cata­ logues. Their crisp pages and smooth edges yet to be marred from the wear I would impose upon them in the weeks and months to come. The books held the promise of the most beautiful garden one could long for. Plants! Not of the least interest to Zephyra, our cat, as she purred and edged her way be­ tween my hands and the gardening books, insisted to be petted! Even so, with the catalogues propped up on my legs, the great white calla lilies called to me with the tastefully chosen assort­ ment of plants to make any container the star of a patio. I broke my rule that cold snowy morning of staying on a strict budget for my spring plant­ ing. In times past, I would have taken a pen to paper and thought long and hard before sticking such an order in an envelope and putting it in the mail. Instead I had a nice chat over the phone with the sales person in Tennessee. In other words, I had an exciting day shopping without feel­ ing the snow on my face or the cold enter my body. As in previous springs, I now wait with excitement for the weather to break and the flowers to arrive. Perhaps this year I will have the most perfect beautiful garden. However, Mother Nature will play the largest role in my garden. There are things over which I have no control. How hot will it get? How much rain will fall? We try to be mindful of the part my husbanc;f and I play, as stewards of our quarter acre patch. Yet it is difficult. We are so out of touch with nature even though we garden. Bouncing from house to car, car to work, work to car, and car to home sometimes is diffi­ cult to tell what the weather actually is. We barely can determine the temperature for the lack of time we spend outdoors. Our relationship with our beautiful blue planet has altered. When was the last time you walked along a stream, took a long walk in the woods or drove in the country to admire the crops coming forth from the earth? Are we able to be true stewards of our world? Can we learn from our mistakes? Wangari Maathai, in her Nobel Peace Prize memoir Unbowed, tells about her beloved country Kenya. · When she was born, rivers flowed with fresh water cleaned by the roots of native trees and plants. This was all destroyed when foreign countries bought and deforested the land for coffee, tea, and wheat farming. Now in her 68th year, the streams she once knew as a child are mere trickles. She has been jailed, beaten and threatened. Yet she continues to plant trees and fight to restore democracy to her country. In our own country, the "Great Plow Up of the high plains in 1901-1930" and its aftermath, the creation of the Dust Bowl, is chilling. Timothy Egan, in his National Book Award Winner, The Worst Hard Time, tells the story of those who survived our nations worst self-inflicted disaster. ... continued on page 5 GREATER GLASSBORO GROUP Page 3

Downtown G/assboro ... continued from page 1 As before, readers are invited to contact the G3 with additions, corrections, and names of owners. Marilyn Campbell Plasket, who has an exceptional memory, has been a great help in com­ piling these lists. G3 members have searched their memories and added to the lists.

NORTH MAIN STREET ELLIS STREET Kotler's-Later Levy's 5&10 De Francesco's Bar and Pub Dan's "Strike It Rich" Stand D'Amico's Jewelry Store Glassboro Cab Company Ricci's Bakery Angelo's Diner Gas Station DeFrancesco's Pool Hall Hair Dressers SOUTH ACADEMY STREET Ale's Auto Repair and Gas Station Pizza - Sub Shop Republican Club-before that WCTU Leroy Hook Wallpaper Store Grocery Stores-John Caldwell and Elite Barber Shop (D'Amico) Cooks Samuelian's Dry Cleaners Baptist Church The Franklin House Grocery Store-McCant's Small building next to Dillers on corner All Star Club-now Martin Luther King Mr. Munter's Feed Store -Later Dorothy's Flower Shop Cattell's Jewelry Store Center Downer's Plumbing Supply Masonic Building (upstairs- dress factory) plus hairdresser Fanfarillas' Bar (moved to North Main William Meyer's Shoe Repair Shop Street-now Caesars) -, Anzuena's Business Office Building (builder) now LaTrinas Nellie's Main Street Tavern Mrs. Johnston's Dress Shop NORTH ACADEMY STREET Foster Service Station Camera Shop SOUTH MAIN STREET Camiola's Tailor and Dry Cleaners McFadden's Variety Store Candy Store Used Car Lot (Mannino's ?) Weisner's Head Stones-Memorials Preschool Day Care Glassboro Enterprise Office Dr. Franklin Husik Academy Street School Bible Protestant Church (after 1939-before Methodist) Atkinson's Penny Candy Store Costa's Garage - Repair First United Methodist Church, Bethlehem Reform Church (German) (Bethlehem Church House and Office United Church of Christ) Oaties Deli Schibley's Coal Yard Shreves Funeral Home-later De Persia Ida's Dress Shop Collins Oil Business (out back) Shpeen's Variety Store Castell's Lumber Yard Oscar E Carr - Cash Grocer "Everybody's Coal Man" (3 East Ave.)

Angelo's Diner-2 008 GREATER GLASSBORO GROUP Page4 Glassboro's Gift to Future Generations In 1917, 107 Glassboro residents raised more.than$7,000 to purchase 25 acres, including the land tract plus the Whitney Mansion and Carriage House, which they offered to the State of New Jersey for free if they would locate the planned Normal School for South Jersey in Glassboro. Normal Schools provided two years of training for prospective teachers for the public schools. Because of the more than one hundred trains daily passing through Glassboro the site was ideal. (Students commuted from Camden, Millville, Atlantic City, etc.) G3 is hoping to interview the descendants of the 107 residents, with questions, such as: • Who provided the leadership to organize the campaign for funds? • Did they become a formal organization with elected officers? • How did they publicize their campaign? It is surprising that there were women who made donations, some using their married names. This was before women had the right to vote. A typical weekly wage in 1917 would probably have been between ten and fifteen dollars. So, $7,000 was a large contribution. Contributors from all walks of life gave what may appear to be in­ significant amounts of money by today's standard, "They gave out of what they did not have rather than what they had." These were not people of wealth. Many were poor farmers of civic mind who believed the college would be an asset to the future of Glassboro. Knowing the history of the beginnings of the Normal School one can understand how dis­ mayed Glassboro residents have been with the recent name change. Contributors to the Camnus Fund Charles Abbot S.W. Downer Martin Keough W Schwenzfier WA. Downer William Schwqebel Harvey Abbott Jos.J.Ledden '; Jeptha Abbott James DuBois A./. Linn Peter Scott ; John Ackley Peter DuBois A.R. Livezly Thomas Scott T.C. Allen Jos. Eggee Elmer Long L.N. Shreeve American Stores Co. Anna Elliot A.W Magee Courtlandt Shute Frank Amico Charles Elliot A. W Marshall H.C. Shute George Arnold Mary Elliot George Marshall Mrs. Charles Simpson H.S. Astle WC. Evans Thomas May Albert Repp John Barrett Fidelity Estates Co. J. M. McCowen Charles Repp S.WBeckett A.C. Forbes Thomas McCullough Jos. Repp Martha Bell C.P. Fox Wm. McCullough Thomas Ricci E.F. Brown Clem Gardiner Albert McFadden Cliff Rulon William Brown C. Gill F. M. Middleton Stephen Smedley Mr. Buck & Clayton L.G. Haines Isaac Moffett S.H.Stanger & Sons -Glassboro W Co Dr. C.S. Heritage H.R. Moore D. T. Steelman G.W Cali. H. Heritage H. Muller A.J. Stewart Oscar Carr J. Ward Heritage NJ Gas Company F.L. Suplee Oscar Casperson LeRoy Hook J.C. Nutt Burris Tomlin C.E. Colclough J.F. Imhoff William Patton C.A. Voelker A. Coyle Clarence lszard David Paulin S.A. Whitney William Crossing Elmer lszard Dr. C. V. Pedrick A.P. Wilcox Daniel Daly Mrs. H. lszard Jos. Peterson A.A. Weisner David Daniels Dr. Howard lszard Peter Peterson Mrs. J. Williamson H. Deardorff CeharJutis Harry Pierce Irma Wilson Henry Dilks C.R.Kandle & Sons Samuel Pierce E.B. Woods Dr. John Dilks George Keebler Wilmer Pierce GREATER GLASSBORO GROUP Page 5

From the Pres ... continued from page 2 "The high plains never fully recovered from the Dust Bowl," writes Egan. "The land came through the 1930's deeply scarred and forever changed ...All told, the government bought 11.3 mil­ lion acres of dusted over farm fields and tried to return much of it to grass land. The original intent was to purchase up to 75 million acres. After sixty-five years, some land is still sterile and drifting, but in the heart of the old Oust Bowl are now three national grasslands run by the Forest Service." I don't know if I can say these two books have changed my life but they have altered my views on the preservation of our planet. While reading Egan's book, dust entered my bed and crept into my eyes. . .. continued on page 7

3 G Inquirers About .. .continued from page 1 It might be noted here that this is a renovation and not a historical restoration as some may assume. The purpose of the renovation, besides the preservation of a significant example of our industrious & architectural past, is that the building might one-day house a collection of Glassboro historical memorabilia that is not directly related to the glass industry, as is depicted so well by the Heritage Glass Museum. It may also serve as a WelcomeNisitor Center for the town and provide public meeting space for small gatherings. As of this writing, the Heritage Glass Museum is the generous provider of storage and safekeeping for the collection, but is unable to display it due to inadequate space. It has been estimated the cost of the entire project will be another $500,000.00. Herein lies the challenge. The $99,000.00 balance of the grant is currently frozen in Trenton as our legisla­ tors attempt to balance the state's budget. Assuming that will eventually be released, where do we find the other $400,000.00 before our jewel of a building is further lost to the elements and dare we even mention the possibility of vandalism? We need to come together as a community of concerned neighbors and work.as a team to prevent the loss of yet another Glassboro landmark! The time has come to raise awareness of the issue and do what we can to support the Borough and the Historical Preservation Commission in their efforts. This will likely include some serious fund-raising attempts as well as organizing mas­ sive volunteer programs, several of which were discussed at the meeting. Ms Woerner advised the group that the Train Station, although structurally sound, was only to be worked on by Borough employees due to liability and insurance concerns, but assured us that she would work with the community to see that any donations of supplied materials would be incorporated as soon as possible. She can also be reached via e-mail: [email protected] Where do we go from here? Please join G3 with your ideas and ambition. This project de­ serves serious consideration as our town faces dramatic change in the near future. Writer's note: There was a palpable excitement in the room as people shared their knowledge and ideas at our last meeting. It was a very positive and uplifting experience for this writer. I feel it is important to note that this one small gathering resulted in the generous donation of a new house tarp that was delivered toMs Woerner's office the following day and is due to be installed on the Station's roof. A small step in the right direction, but a step just the same! GREATER GLASSBORO GROUP Page6

A View From The Tour .. continued from page 1

This time was different for two reasons. site of the Stanger home, set between 4 ma­ Not just that the history tours were in the light ture Sycamore trees. of day, but that the task involved was to take The tour's final street is State Street. attendees deep into the real town we call Back in those days the street was the main home. avenue of commerce with shops like Saddle For myself, although I've lived on two & Tack, dressmakers, monuments, a candy streets in Glassboro--on High Street and on store, and the print shop. Of course, the Gen­ Dickinson--1 did not grown up here. That eral Store was on the crossroads and it also meant that I had to do my homework. Tours was the street where the most prosperous were offered free at different hours as a Unity citizens lived, e.g. the Stangers. Dr. Izzard Day activity. When a group was assembled also had a home here, which we could still we would start our walk from the Unity Day see. Next to it the Founders Inn, as it is booth itself. The tour be­ known today, was the · gins with a time shift, home of Judge Izzard, from 2007 Glassboro to father to the doctor. 1755 Glasborough, Since many of the when instead of the ta­ town's "founders" lived bles and booths along on this street, it seems College Avenue, we that State Street is the would have seen was a original h~art of our wide open section of town. Thomas Heston's ground occupied by the home was also here glassworker's individual viewed today as a mod­ foundries. est yellow house but one From there our that in the 1700's was walk back in time would considered to be a man­ travel east to Academy sion. Street and the year Vicki Schodowski leading walking tour The tour ends 1867. We imagined what it with a view of the Land­ must have looked like when the Auditorium mark restaurant, once the site of Widow had been across from Academy Street School Heston's Tavern, and subsequent additions before the fire in 1917. that became famously known as the Franklin The tour continued north to the cross House. Although the walking tour ended here, roads of Academy, State and New Street there is much history to be viewed and dis­ which had been the town center of 19th cen­ covered in every part of Glassboro. tury Glassboro where the First United Meth­ In the hour-long tour we went down odist Church stood. I loved imagining where less than 4 streets and still there was so the old fountain stood in the middle of those much to talk about I could only recount a roads when horse and buggy was the most small taste of it here. I had fun being a tour common mode of transportation. The posts in guide for our first history tours and hope you'll front of the old Stanger Store (Fellowship consider coming along the next time we have House today) were for hitching your horse the opportunity. when you went in to shop. Across the street we stood on the marble block that marks the GREATER GLASSBORO GROUP Page7

From the Pres ... continued from page 5 I have never been beaten or jailed because of planting a tree or know how it feels to watch a beautiful, fresh, clear stream with which my life is intertwined, turn into a trickling ditch. But, I can imagine it and I don't want to. Therefore, I ask you to read and become informed of what goes on around you and partici­ pate to the fullest in the life of your community. There are places where one can be beaten, jailed, and beaten for such an act. Can we learn from our mistakes? Are we able to be stewards of our earth? Renew yourself- take a walk in your garden, go for a walk in the woods, throw rocks in a a stream or drive thru the country to admire the fields. . .. Valda~

WE THANK OUR CONTRIBUTORS

CORPORATE MEMBER BUSINESS MEMBER Raymond Groff- Groff's Mill Pond Nursery (Pitman) Anne Young- ERA David Young Realty Diana Pierce- WECOM (Glassboro) (Glassboro)

MAJOR CONTRIBUTORS CONTRIBUTOR John Lefakis- PB's (Glassboro) Tom Gallia, PhD (Glassboro) Italian Affair- (Glassboro)

WE INVITE YOU TO JOIN OUR GROUP Please enroll me as an annual member/contributor: Individual ($20) _ Business ($75) _ Contributor ($75) _ Major Contributor ($100) _ Corporate Member ($100) _

I cannot be an active member but would like to support G3: ______Name: Phone:~------______Address: ------~--

Greater Glassboro Group, Inc., is a 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization in the public interest. All donations are tax deductible. Mo~~tGorsAip is opoH to porsoHs wAo sA"to Ol4t 11isio1t

Our Mission ... Greater Glassboro Group Officers 2008-2009 for 2008 is to improve the quality of Glassboro President ...... Darla Cassidy life through the following objectives: build pride in Vice President ...... Chan non Armstrong our community by supporting efforts to enhance knowledge and awareness of our communal his­ Secretary ...... Victoria Schodowski tories, improve the appearance and function of Treasurer ...... Bernice Willis our physical and architectural heritage by sup­ Corresponding Secretary ...... Janet Atkinson porting efforts to preserve and restore_ what re­ Membership Chair...... Janet Atkinson mains, work for the continuation of historic pat­ Civic & History Acting Chair ... Robert Tucker terns now established (like the tree-lined streets), Publicity Co-Chairs ...... Lucile Pfleeger/EIIata De Berry to improve the quality of Glassboro life by en­ couraging good civic management of all re­ Grant Director ...... Mary Lee Donahue sources, whether physical, financial, natural, or Dennis Fotia ...... Arbor Day human. Newsletter Editor...... Sue Stewart MEETINGS: Third Tuesday Glassboro Public Library Conference Room APRIL 15TH_ MAY 20TH_ SEPTEMBER 16TH_ OCTOBER 21 5 T 7:00PM

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86080 fN 'o.IoqssulD 88 Dedicated to Improving the Quality ofLife in Glassboro Fall2007 Volume 4 Issue 2 Downtown Glassboro During the 40's, 50's and 60's By Lucile Pfleeger At a committee meeting held at Rowan University a Pitman resident made the statement that "Glassboro never had a Downtown." I take umbrage to that statement. From my memory of residing in Glassboro from 194 7, I made the following list of stores and government services located in one block of West High Street and two blocks of East High Street. The list has been checked by Marilyn Campbell Plasket, a sixth generation resident of Glassboro. Marilyn added some facilities and clarified others. • Butcher Shop - Uhl' s Market • Two Groceries- A&P and ACME • Two Hardware Stores - Wolfbrandt and Abbott • Catells Fabric Shop - cloth, patt~ms, sewing machines & supplies • Ice Cream Shop • Gas Station- Automotive Repair • Two banks, US Post Office [Pictures on this page are • Auto Parts Store • Municipal Hall ofpresent day Glassboro • Two Five and Dime • Fire House buildings] type Stores- Levy • Ambulance Hall and Newberry • Glassboro Public Library • Foster's Discount • Police Station • Two Flower Shops - • Two Drugstores- Abbott's and Lutz's Dorothy's and White • Movie Theater • Two Hair Dressers • H&H Appliance • Three Barber Shops • Levy's Men's Clothing • American Legion Hall • New York Apparel- Women's Clothing • Dr. Black's Office (Gersons) • Public Accountants • Spheen's Dry Goods Office - Petroni • Baby Clothing Shop - Kotler's • Dalton Insurance • Shoe Store, Shoe Repair Shop- Amendolia Company (previously Hawkin's Shoe Repair) • St. Bridgett's • Dry Cleaning - Tailor Parochial School • Nut and Candy Shop- Claire Lynch • Elite Bakery • Newspaper Shore- Joseph Bowe, • Joe's Sub Shop then Kennedy's ... continued on page 4

Greater Glassboro Group, Inc., is a 501 (c) (3) rwn-profit organization in the public interest. All donations are tax deductible. Page2

Our garden is no longer as it once was, pristine and perfect. It still boasts of its Italianate style, but it has changed. Mrs. Mitchell's former home sits a few yards from the street with a private garden situated behind the house on a long, narrow plot of ground. Directly out the garden door is the grape arbor that has stood for at least 70 years. The lawn, with its charming, worn brick walks and flower beds, did not display a weed or a plant misplaced. Where once grew irises in a neat, trim, long garden bed along either side of the brick walk, a sundial rests upon a pedestal surrounded by a roundel garden containing irises, Russian sage and peonies. The ancient lilac still grows where it has stood over the past century, along with another that stands across the walk started from cuttings of the heirloom plant. Nothing grew in the deepest part of the yard because sun light did not penetrate the canopy of the trees that stood on the boundary of our neighbor's lawn. How I wished the three trees had chosen to hop over the fence to flourish. I would then claim them as my own. It was the garden that my husband and I loved! We wanted it the moment we saw it. We had never seen anything like it before - the immaculately kept lawn, the old brick sidewalks and the per­ fect gardens. However, we were in trouble only a few weeks after moving into our new old home. Weeds began to grow, the lawn needed cutting, and I knew nothing about gardening, and my husband had little time. For years I struggled with my once perfect garden that was no longer-,perfect. My {___ _-\_.': friends told me they enjoyed gardening, but I found no joy in it. In the hot, summer sun, I' mowed the ~ _ _- lawn, weeded the garden and brick walk. My body rebelled against the heat. When the children were about 6 and 8 years of age my husband and I planted two acorns. Time passed and I accepted the fact that I did not have a green thumb. It wasn't until I rebelled and stopped maintaining Mrs. Mitchell's garden, and began to plan my own, that I found the joy of which my friends had been speaking. I discovered something about myself during this time. I did not enjoy looking after a garden belonging to someone else. While I treasured the gardens that Mrs. Mitchell had created and I felt privileged to have the early 20th century brick pathways that wound through the lawns and gardens and cherished the lilac bush that still produced its fragrant flowers. I did not enjoy weeding it. I came to realize that my garden fulfilled the dreams of other long ago gardeners. The history in my garden, that I had so furiously clutched, provided me with a starting point. The very back of our property has changed, but is still my favorite place. The branches from the existing 3 trees on our neighbor's property were trimmed. It took trial and error to create my little wood; a weeping pine, an oak, and a magnolia tree now stand with the existing neighboring trees. Holly, rhododendron, hostas, tulips, daffodils, calla lilies and vinca thrive under the canopy in the dap­ pled sun light. My little wood is a tiny scrap of a wood, but even in its smallness it creates a sense of a place that is becoming rare. I have learned that I am the only person who can design and plant my garden. I have learned that I am able to honor the history of my garden and be a steward to the earth. I have learned that in the hottest and most humid days, a cool breath of air is to be found in my serene little wood . ... continued on page 5 Page 3

It was lovely bright sunny afternoon for the glass punch bowl of fruit juices and sorbet prepared Third Annual Garden Party Fundraiser held at the by Channon Armstrong and Janet Atkinson. The ta­ home of Mr. and Mrs. Del Cassidy. bles were draped in pink table clothes with long Guest Speakers Mark Murphy and Karen Morales, Longwood Chatting among the Gardens' volunteer flowers: tour guides spoke L toR: about Longwood Vicki Schodowski, Gardens--its orchid Channon Armstrong, Lucile Pjleeger, display and volun­ Karen Pjleeger-Smith, teer program. Carmen Johnson, Flute melo­ Ellata DeBerry dies played by Linda Richardson enchanted the guests. The honorable Mayor McCabe and his wife Mary spoke about the restoration of train station. Vicki Schodowski read the poem Plant a Tree by Lucy Larcom (1826-1893)- "He who plants a tree plants a hope ....joy .... peace .... youth. He who plants a tree plants love ... " The guest mingled and chatted in the garden filled with rhododendron, hollies, hostas, roses, coral bells, and enjoyed the shade of the old maple and oak trees. Two round ta­ skirts edged in bles held glass bowls and lace. G3 is indeed silver grateful to The dishes Italian Affair for that were their donation of a abundant scrumptious with chocolate cake fruits, which, once again, scrump­ made the annual tious tea party a culinary sand­ success. • wiches and a Editors Note: For the 3rd year, the Garden Party was a Mayor McCabe & Vicki Schodowski huge success with approximately 20 people in attendance. Page4

Downtown Glassboro .. .continued from page 1

• Laundromat • Telephone Company Office • Tag's Delicatessen • American Finance

Over the years some of the stores and the Post Office have relocated within the area. For instance, the Library was originally located in a house, next in a storefront, and then the building which now houses the Glass Museum, all on High Street. Presently, the Library is housed in a building built originally for a grocery store. Eventually, both the ACME and A & P supermarkets moved to other locations because of the lack of suf­ ficient parking spaces. Glassboro's downtown was affected greatly when the Collegetown, Jamesway, Doubletree and other shopping centers were built along Delsea Drive. At another meeting a non-resident made the statement that "Glassboro is not a college town." Before 1920 Glassboro residents donated the money to purchase land, which includes Hollybush, for the State of New Jersey to establish a Normal School in their community. When the Normal School expanded and became a Teachers' College there were housing shortages. Stu­ dents rented rooms in private homes, especially in the Chestnut Ridge area close to the college. Now they rent apartments. The administration of Glassboro, with the cooperation of Rowan University, has made tremendous com­ mitment to making Glassboro a college town to meet the needs of the ever expanding university, a major under­ taking. •

Arbor Day Planting of Eastern White Pines This past Arbor Day the Borough Undaunted, the ceremony was held in the rain planted four Eastern White Pine trees at the residence of Helen Mick at 415 University on Historic University Boulevard that Boulevard. The eastern white pine was planted at were donated by the Greater Glassboro Group. The another time due to the Trees were planted curbside at: pouring rain. 105 University Blvd 400 University Blvd Reverend Bernice 415 University Blvd 505 University Blvd Willis gave the address. Pastor Diane Christopher commemorated the trees at LtoR: Darla Cassidy, the ceremony and Ray Rev. Dia11e Christo­ Groff, owner of Groff s pher, Hele11 Mick, nursery, spoke about Ar­ James Mick, Jr., Tom Fotia, Rev. bor Day and trees. Bernice Willis, Vicki G3 wishes to thank Rev. Bernice Willis Schodowski, Ray all the residents on University Groff, Ja11et Atkill­ soll Boulevard who have taken on the responsibility to water and nurture a tree. The trees were By so doing, the trees reduce the amount of ur­ purchased from Groffs Millpond and Nursery. G3 is ban heat, enhance the appearance of the street, pro-( grateful to the recipients who gave donations for the vide a buffer from noise from traffic and provide·- ; · purchase of two Easter White Pines for next years shade for the pedestrian. • Arbor Day Celebration. Page 5

From the Pres ... continued from page 2 Similarly, we must become stewards of our town. Let us be wise in our development plan that we do not destroy the architectural history upon which our town now stands. Presently, the Victorian structure of the Methodist Episcopal Parsonage has been gutted, the old fire house is slatted to be demolished and the Albert P. Wilcox Harness Shop on Academy Street (built in 1884), is falling down. A home that was a delightful example of Greek Revival, on Academy Street, Greek Revival Home was tom down to make room for a parking lot. Arnold R. Alanen, Department of Landscape Architecture Uni­ versity of Wisconsin-Madison says that "ironically Universities are among the poorest stewards of local land- . scapes." Let us lead by choosing to be stewards of our town's history, farmlands, woods, lakes, streams and wetlands by respecting the work each does to make our planet a safe place for human beings to thrive. Let us study, take time to deliberate and find wisdom as we make our way into the future. We are fortunate that Rowan University has chosen to restore Academy St. School, Oak & Loral Halls on campus, and the Whitney - Capie house on Route 322. . .. Darla Cassidy

To Become a Corporate Member or Major Contributor

CORPORATE MEMBER Raymond Groff Groff's Mill Pond Nursery Darla Cassidy, President MAJOR CONTRIBUTORS (856) 881-7237 Tara L. Vargo, Esq. Mary Lee Donahue, Grant Director Dr Tom Gallia, Rowan University (856) 881-4345 Italian Affair Janet Atkinson, Membership Chair WE COM (856) 582-2106

WE INVITE YOU TO JOIN OUR GROUP Please enroll me as an annual member: Individual ($20) Family ($25) Business ($50) Corporate ($100) _ I cannot be an active member but would like to support (}3: ______NBine: ______Phone: ~------­ Address: Signature: ______

Greater Glassboro Group, Inc., is a 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization in the public interest. All donations are tax. deductible. .. .frorn the files of Marilyn Plasket ~ ~Greater Gla~boro Group Mt~Httlt~rsAip is opt~H to pt~rsoHs wAo sAart~ ol4r "isio11

-~---- Greater Glassboro Group Officers Our Mission ... 2007-2008 for 2007 is to improve the quality of Glass­ President ...... Darla Cassidy boro life through the following objectives: Vice President ...... Chan non Armstrong build pride in our community by supporting Secretary ...... Victoria Schodowski efforts to enhance knowledge and aware­ ness of our communal histories, improve the Treasurer ...... Bernice Willis appearance and function of our physical and Corresponding Secretary ...... Janet Atkinson architectural heritage by supporting efforts to Membership Chair ...... Jar:-~et Atkinson preserve and restore what remains, work for Civic & History Acting Chair ... Robert Tucker the continuation of historic patterns now es­ Publicity Chair ...... Lucile Pfleeger tablished (like the tree-lined streets), to im­ Grant Director ...... Mary Lee Donahue prove the quality of Glassboro life by encour­ Dennis Fotia ...... Arbor Day aging good civic management of all re­ sources, whether physical, financial, natural, Newsletter Editor ...... Sue Stewart or human.

MEETINGS: Third Tuesday Glassboro Library Conference Room October 16th- November 20th- December 11th Christmas Party 7:00PM

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8Z:080 rN 'OJoqsSE19 88 xos Od Dedicated to Improving the Quality ofLife in Glassboro

April2007 Volume 4 Issue 1

CONTfQACTOfQS POINT 0~ VI~W

KenAsroff Asroff Construction, Wenonah (Interview by Darla Cassidy) Darla: Ken:

Darla: Why did you want to rehab the house on Wilmer Street? Ken: Because of its historical presence. We believed we could maintain its exterior character as well as have the opportu­ nity to implement modem upgrades within the interior. Darla: How do you compete with Housing Developments? Ken: We didn't look to this project with profit in mind, but as an opportunity to keep our guys working. I grew up in Pitman Wilmer Street House and now reside in Wenonah both of which I consider train track towns within the heart of Gloucester County. While other builders seek profit in the destruc­ tion of open space, our goal has been to maintain the character of the existing towns. Our small communities in which we were raised have a heartbeat that stems from our neighbors who were there and have a sense of community. New neighborhoods see constant change. I was attracted not only by the opportunities this property offered, but by the willingness of other homeowners and builders to invest in this neighborhood. The former home owner impressed upon me the stability and common interest of the neighbors wishes to preserve Wilmer Street. He explained to us how our new neighbors had been here for generations. He knew their names - something which rarely occurs in the surrounding larger townships. It is nice to see people still sit­ ting on their front porch watching the world pass by rather than being trapped in a world which passes you by. . .. continued on Page 4 Page 2 Glassboro Group,

What is it about a wood that draws us within? It holds enchantment no matter the time of year. Be it dressed in winter white, majestic emerald, or bejeweled in purple, orange, red, and brown, limbs heavy laden with green go about their work silently, scrubbing the air, renewing it for all the world to breath. Their roots are anchored with.,splayed fin­ gers clasping the soil within the deeply wrinkled earth where veins and arteries are opened wide, course earth's quenching thirst, flows life's force into the ponds and lakes, into the belly of the earth. Within that secret vault life's most valued treasure is stored. Without these patches of wood there would be no you nor me, only bits of stardust drifting through the sky. ~ ... PJar/a Cassidy

3rd Annual -. ~M~ :P~ 1rWl'-~4..-Ue.Jr, The garden party speakers will be Mark Mur­ phy and Karen Morlas, Longwood Gardens Volunteer Tour Guides. Glassboro Flautist Linda Richardson will provide music. Donations enable the Greater Glassboro Group to continue the purchase of trees for University Boulevard's Historic Allee of Trees which commemorates the legacy of the Ebenezer Whitney Family. The Fundraiser further aids in researching and host­ ing the "Tales of Old Glasborough" walking tours, supporting the on-going works of authors and researchers of Glassboro's history; and rec­ ognizing and publicizing the work of residents who are restoring and maintaining the architectural integrity · of their buildings with the historic areas of Glassboro. ~ (See Garden Party Response Form Page 4) Page 3

State Street Center of Old Glassboro By Mary Lee Donahue One of Glassboro's oldest streets is also one of its most interesting. State Street is a two-block long, one-way stretch running diagonally southeast from the intersection of U.S. Route 322 and Main Street, at the Landmark Restaurant, to N.J. Route 47 (Delsea Drive). Once part of the old Malaga Pike and originally an Indian trail, according to Glassboro historians Robert Bole and Edward Walton, in the 19th Century our State Street was the center of town. Today, it still features two five-point intersections in its short two blocks, standing witness to its importance in early days. Take a walk down State Street to experience Glassboro life between c.l750 and c.1890. Turning at the Landmark, notice the big boxy house on your left, at the southeast comer of the in­ tersection. It was owned by Daniel Stanger c.l780. Once a store or warehouse for the glass industry, the home today is a sturdy duplex. Also at this intersection, the brick home on the triangular point stands on the foundation of the log cabin built by early settler and glass manufacturer Colonel Thomas Heston, a Quaker forced to fight to defend his home and business during the Revolutionary War. Continuing, you will pass the Founder's Inn, a thriving bed and breakfast in the newly restored home of 19th Century civic leader, Judge Joseph Iszard. Dating from the 1830's, the Founder's Inn build­ ing has long been considered one of South Jer­ sey's finest surviving examples of 19th ) Century Italianate architecture. Notice the origin_al cast iron fretwork and trim. Next door, a former doctor's office and residence in High Victorian style is now a private home restored to its original colors and surrounded by handsome grounds.

As we ap­ proach the second five­ point inter­ section, at New Street and the First United Methodist Church, look at the houses on the right side of State Street. Their glass store-front windows speak of their early years as shops and, indeed, our ancestors considered this intersec- tion to be downtown. ... continued on Page 6 Page4

Contractor's Point ofView... continuedfrom Page 1-

Darla: Did you seek any funds from organizations such as Neighborhood Preservation or the Economic De- velopment Office of Glassboro to do this project? Ken: No. Darla: What kind of upgrades did you put inside the house? Ken: The home was tom down to its bare bones and reconstructed totally to updated codes. The home has an energy package with terrific efficiency. The home owner can expect to save $2,000 a year on all of its features. Asroff Construction prides itself on design efforts which find total use of small spaces. I am proud of the fact that my subcontractors pitched in to keep the cost down so we could offer this home to a single mother, a first time home owner. Darla: Would you like to do anymore houses on Wilmer Street? Ken: We seek opportunity on "Wilmer Streets" throughout the area. One reason why we would again work a project in Glassboro would be the cooperation and assistance we received from Glassboro's local office of building codes. Everyone was more than helpful. This has not been our experience in some of the larger townships. The main reason we would come back to Glassboro would be econom­ ics. When purchasing an older home, people need to ask and consider whether the builder went the extra mile to insure quality and future out-of-pocket cost for the home owner or was it just as per "home makeover" (cheaply done). My advice would be to invest in an older home priced fairly and seek the funds necessary to complete the project nothing short of 100 percent. Nob and tube wiring, old heating, termite damage, insufficient plumbing systems cannot be over looked. Historical societies and CO ordinances cannot offer a home buyer piece of mind. Only the watchful eye of both the builder and home owner can insure stability of both home and neighbor­ hood. I would recommend when people make the choice of a builder that they seek someone who has a vested interest in thei~ community. Often the almighty dollar is the only concern. Smaller homes in need of repair are a wonderful opportunity for first time home buyers. However bring along your trusted contractor before signing on the dotted line. Home inspectors can offer only opinions on ... continued on Page 5 ------MAY 20TH GARDEN PARTY FUNDRAISER $20 per person------Name/Address $30percouple ______Name/Address $ other Name/Address ------unable to attend. Name/Address

With an additional $10.00 donation you will become a member. Please a.ccept my donation in the amount of $___ _ As ofOctober 9, 2001 we are considered a full non-profit organization according to the IRS Code 501 (c) 3. All donations are tax deductible. Page 5

Contractor's Point of View .... continuedfrom Page 4 problems which may exist. A qualified contractor can estimate the value of not just the home, but projects you may consider to create your happy home. Darla: What of historical interest did you find? Ken: This house was deeded first in 1910. However, it may be, in my opinion, a federal period home most likely constructed between 1830 & 1870 according to the hardware we found and the mortise and tendon construction exposed during demolition. Most likely it was first built for a family mem­ ber of the original land owner and passed through multiple generations before it was eventually sold & deeded to an outsider. Eventually the new home owner will build a wonderful exposed beam & plank sun porch utilizing the now 150 year old beams removed during construction. (Darla: Ken took time to spend with me after he finished his day working on this Old, New House. It is ob­ vious that he is very proud and he should be.) o(f..

According to Edward H Walton Jr., the Glassboro Community did their banking in Woodbury until it was announced in 1887 that the First National Bank of Glassboro was to be built. The site chosen was the South ·West corner ofMain and High Streets, where the present building of Borough Hall now stands. The Bank was completed in 1892. In 1926 a new First National Bank ofGlassboro was built, presently Land Dimensions. Engineer- ing. The old Bank was purchased by the borough for use as the municipal building. It was used as such for the next 43 years and was torn down in 1970.

Each of us conjures up a different experience in our minds when we think of our small town. It is rapidly outgrowing that description. Trucks, buses and cars rush past buildings that have stood on their founda­ tions since the 1780's. In the rush we fail to notice such details. We miss the hitching posts, the blocks of stone upon which a person stood to climb upon his horse or get into his coach. In our haste to rush into the future, we have tom down buildings that can never be replaced. Glassboro is living, breathing, thriv­ ing and changing. Let us take care and deliberate action to see to the needs of our growing town -that in our haste we do. not change the very thing we love the best. o(f.. Page 6

State Street, the Center... continued from Page 3 Around the comer, down both sides ofNew Street, additional shops included a harness and tack shop, a sta­ ble, and a confectionery or sweet shop, with a dry goods store on the cor- ner. At the five-point intersection where New Street and Academy Street interrupt State Street a water fountain once stood. The large white frame building on the left side of this intersection, now the Methodist Fellowship Hall, was the Stanger Company Store, where glass factory workers exchanged their factory script for necessities, including food, clothing, boots, and coal. The S tangers founded the glass industry in town, but sold their interest to Colonel Heston and his partner, Thomas Carpenter, in order to continue to work as artisans without the pressure of running the business.

"The public Fountain and lamp post was situated at original the intersection of State, New, and Academy mansard roof on the large home at the point, which Streets. The inscription states 'I was thirsty and ye now serves as an office for the church. gave me drink. "A portion of the Stanger store can Continuing down State Street, notice the be seen on the extreme right. The sign on the tree handsome Victorian homes - modest in size but advertises Gold Dust Powder. The two stores can be rich in architectural detail lining both sides of the seen on East & New streets: Clifford's Saddle and street. A stucco'ed saltbox, a white frame duplex, Shoe Repair and the E. S. Scott Printing House. In and an occasional brick home show the richness and 1962, it was removed and placed in front of the Re- varietyof domestic life in Glassboro. Each spring, publican Building on Academy Street. centuries-old lilacs and ancient roses bloom along [from the files of Marilyn Plasket] ·-, SWeS~ct~~~~~oo~~~ntumgre~,li~L------~ ing things that recall our history. ~ [See more pies on Scrapbook Pages} Page?

Costumed tour guides lead visitors on a one-hour walk through Glassboro's oldest neighborhoods. Meet in the parking lot of the First United Methodist Church. Please bring a flash light. The 8 PM tour is more suitable for children. The 7:30 PM tour will be by moonlight and streetlight. ~ Sunday, October 21, 2007

For more information call (858) 881-7237 or (858) 881-4345

TO :mE~O:Y:E A ~OilFOilATE :Y:E:Y::mEil Oil :Y:A~Oil~ONTilimVTOil CORPORATE MEMBER Raymond Groff Groff's Mill Pond Nursery Darla Cassidy, President MAJOR CONTRIBUTORS Dr. and Mrs. Donald Farish (856) 881-7237 Matt Blatt Janet Atkinson, Membership Chair Italian Affair (856) 582-2106 WECOM Mary Lee Donahue, Grant Director (856) 881-4345 ------6 WE INVITE YOU TO JOIN OUR GROUP Please enroll me as an annual member: INDIVIDUAL ($20) _ CORPORATE (100) _

Name: Phone: Address: ------Signature .Ms~~tOsrsllip is ops11 to psrso11s wllo sllars ol4r llisioH

Greater Glassboro Group Officers Our Mission ... 2007-2008 for 2007 is to improve the quality of Glass­ President ...... Darla Cassidy boro life through the following objectives: Vice President ...... Chan non Armstrong build pride in our community by supporting Secretary ...... Victoria Schodowski efforts to enhance knowledge and aware­ ness of our communal histories, improve the Treasurer ...... Carmen Johnson appearance and function of our physical and Corresponding Secretary ...... Janet Atkinson architectural heritage by supporting efforts to Membership Chair ...... Janet Atkinson preserve and restore what remains, work for Civic & History Acting Chair ... Robert Tucker the continuation of historic patterns now es­ Publicity Chair ...... Lucile Pfleeger tablished (like the tree-lined streets), to im­ Grant Director ...... Mary Lee Donahue prove the quality of Glassboro life by encour­ Dennis Fotia ...... Arbor Day aging good civic management of all re­ sources, whether physical, financial, natural, Newsletter Editor ...... Sue Stewart or human.

MEETINGS: Third Tuesday Glassboro Library Conference Room April 17th-September 18th- October 16th 7:00PM

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Dedicated to Improving the Quality of Life in Glassboro

October 2006 Volume 3 Issue 2 Capie House - Good News for Glassboro Residents

Dr. Thomas Gallia, Vice President for University Re­ lations, President's Chief of Staff, reports that negotia­ tions are complete, and Rowan University has recently purchased the Capie House. The Capie House will not be demolished ~s many have feared. DL Joseph Orlins, Acting Assistant Vice President for Facilities Planning, Construction and Operations, has assured the· community that the Capie·House will main- tain its structural integrity. . ..continued on Page 3

Greater Glassboro Group Sponsors 3rd Annual Tales of Glasborough

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~~~ For Information, call Greater Glassboro Group at ·=-·~ (856) 881.:;7237 or (856) 881-4345. Proceeds benefit historic restoration efforts in Glassboro. Rain Date: Sunda~ October 22~ 2006 Private tours for groups can be arranged on alternate dates.

*As of October 9, 2001 (incorporated), we are now considered a full non-profit organization according to IRS Code 501 ( c ) (3 ). All contributions are fully tax deductible. /~~Greater Page 2 Glassboro Group FR_OM THE ,Prt{,'' Nestled Between Laurel Street Our home is nestled among a small group of homes between Laurel Street and the railroad tracks on Wilmer Street. Regardless of what you may have read or heard, it is a quiet street. One can find Wilmer Street by going one block past the Borough Hall on South Main Street and turning right at the nursery school. If you cross Church Street, you are almost there. When cars and motorcycles occasionally speed down our street, I have come to listen to the sound of the thumpity-thump the tires make when they hit the railroad tracks. I listen expectantly for the thump as they fly over the crossing. As a child, I remember my mother's car racing on the gravel country road that led to our illinois home. We would soar over a tiny bridge that covered a little stream. My brothers and I would laugh with delight at the moment of joy we felt as we sailed through the air before tires once again reached the earth. Parents with their small children, teenagers who bounce their balls, young adults and, even the less young walk or ride their bikes lazily down the center of Wilmer Street.· Morning, noon, or night, their voices~- sometimes giggling and laughing, sometimes mean and angry, or they carry with them the sound of abooming bass that crescendos as they pass by. The voices rise and fall rhythmically to the symphony ofour quiet world . .An jnfr~gqe11ttraip. gives its Jqll.~lycry urgently announcing its coming. Its wheels hit the track · slqwlyand caus~· our house to slig~tly tremble. Memories of my childhood days slide through my brain. Trains were somt!thil}gto f~ar, people· w~re killed on the railroad crossings in the village of my childhood. The trains-roared by at one hundred miles an hour. From my grand.parents' home, a smallpasture away, I would read Owens-Illinois written on the sides of the ijeaviiyleaden cars. Tbatphtce,·.fr()m.whichthefreight cars came, existed ·someplace outside my imagination. Iremember very wellthe canningjars thatmy grandmotl1er used with Owenslllinois stamped into the blu~(greentinted or clear glass. Never did I dream thati would live near the celebrated first automated glass factory of the early 20th century! · Owens Field, the remaining · · remnant of Owens illinois, is now the Wilmer Street destination for children of all ages. Children and teachers frqm the· nursery school atthe corner walk past headed for a few hours of fun. In the late summer and early Eah on Saturday afternoons, I see boys of 10 or 12lazily wander past with football helmets dangling from a strap in hand. I call out, "What is the name of your team?" "Glassboro" "Are you going to win?" ... floodlights that brightly bathe ... - ~., "Yes!" In the evenings, my back porch swathed in a soft glow from the floodlights that brightly bathe Owens Field, I am able to observe these young boys rushing about in their gold and maroon uniforms to the long and short toots of the whistles from their coaches and referees. ... continued on Page 5 Page 3

Capie House ... continuedfrom Page 1 The University plans to "preserve the envelope" by sealing and shuttering the windows, cleaning up the exterior fa~ade, painting the outside, and fixing up the grounds to respect the integrity of the building. Plans will be on hold until architects and engineers can examine the structure of the inside of the building. Also, grants must be obtained to rehabilitate the inside of the building. As to plans for the future use of the Capie House, Dr.Orlins stated that it will be "student focused." There will be meeting space for student organizations such as honor students, foreign students, etc .. It will also be used as a visitor center. Dr. Galli a and Dr. Orlins also report that the rehabilitation of Hollybush is nearing comple­ tion. There is still electrical work to be completed. The present plans are aimed to complete the res­ toration of the first floor, plus the room one-half flight upstairs which was used by the media dur­ ing the Johnson-Kosygin Summit. Work to be done includes wall coverings (stenciled orpapered), original doors reinstalled, remodeling the kitchen, handicapped restroom on the first floor, restor­ ing the original paintings on the ceilings, and work on the grounds which includes integrating the original Carriage House. (A new Bond Issue is mentioned.) Hollybush will be a priority because it is planned to be COillpleted for the 40th Anniversary of the Johnson-Kosygin Sulllmit in 2007. Both Dr. Gallia and Dr. Orlins give assurance that the restoration ()fthe Capie Hous~ will follow as soon as possible~. + ....Lucile i'fle~ger

AnArborDay De

April 28, 2006 Architecture and Seed Cone ; Range of Natural Populations of Eastem White Pine ~ Foliage and Seed Cone Terry O'Brien, J)epartment of Biological Sciences, Rowan University

We'.re·here today to dedicate more than.a tree, but also a symbol of the history of Glass­ boro and our country. Thanks to the efforts that began with the Whitney Brothers more than 130 years ago, we are fortunate in Glassboro to have this allee of mature Eastern White Pines alollg :yniversity Boulevard. There are good reasons to continue the tradition of the allee with a plant~ . in,gofnew pines each Arbor Day, and I will describe some oftheinfor you today. . The.Eastern White Pine, also known as Pinus strobus, is a native tree to the Appalachian region, the northeastern and north central United States, and.adjacent provinces of Canada. It is· the tallest tree native to Eastern North America, usually reaching a height of 150 feet at.matur­ ity, and approaching twice the height of the mature oak and maple trees of our region. ... continued on Page 6 ,__:Vi~~§Ji{; reat er Page 4 GEissboro Group The 2nd Annual Fundraising Garden Party

Greater Glassboro Group hosted its 2nd Annual Fundraising Garden Party in the garden of the Cassidy's located on Wilmer Street. The guests were greeted by Vicki Schodowski on the front porch of the 1910 home and were guided through the modest 1910 living room into the 1940 dinning room, where upon the first glimpse of the garden could be seen through the French doors. Soft lilting classical music, chosen by the group's musician, Lucile Pfleeger, added to the bright sunny afternoon of the June day. Guests walked under the grape arbor on an old brick walk edged with lily of the valley and coral bells. As one entered the roundel garden planted with peonies, Russian sage, roses and irises, the brick pathway was interrupted by a circular gran­ ite walk, designed and created by Jose and Sandra Boez of Bredia Stone, Inc. At the gardens center, a sundial rested on its ped­ estal. Continuing through the roundel gar­ den, past the lilac bush, at the end of the old brick walk, large round tables· were placed on the grass under the oak and ma~olia trees. The tables were graced with beautiful arrangements of White S\V~mp Magnolia blossoms, pitik peonies, iris and spir(lea atop long,· pastel, flowing table clothes edged itT}(ic.e. Delicious,ppen~faced sartdwiches were rna

I cannot be an active member but would like to support oS: _ Name: Phone: Address: ______

Signature: Page 5

From the Pres ... continuedfrom Page 2

On Sunday mornings, my husband and I excitedly watch as hot air balloons are inflated and lift off from Owens Field to float silently overhead with an occasional long or short deep blast of hot air that pushes them upward into the sky. The sight never ceases to fascinate us. This summer the house across the street from us was entirely gutted. It had stood empty for a number of years with the tiredness of its 1910 countenance still etched onto it. Eight or ten huge dumpsters were filled with debris and trucked away, making our little corner of the world very busy. The sounds of hammering and banging, the deafening hum of an air compressor and, occasionally, a loud crash or two, blended into the rhythm of Wilmer Street. The house is now sheathed in plywood, with a tightly~shut new front door and new windows to grace its front and sides. The_backof the house remains quite undone, like a hospital gown ~ with ties ineptly placed. The neighbors gather in front of the new-old-house to speculate and share what they know about w~at is to come. Cars that once rushed past now slow down to mark the change. Everyone is looking forward with expectation. Two new houses have been put up over the past year across the railroad track from me and directly across from Owens Field. We look forward with renewed hope as Wilmer Street continues to redefine it­ self.:.-a microcosm of Glassboro's larger rebirth. In the booming years or times of neglect, the spirit of our tiny well,..wom str~t continues to thrive.+ ... Darla Garden Survives Extreme Heat and Drought Flowers bloomed in front of the Heritage Glass Museum in 100 degree heat last summer. The founders of the Glass Museum . proved that a beautiful garden can survive in extreme heat and drought. Carol Schoepeske, Glass Museum spokeswoman, said that it is· due to the hard work and knowledge of Master Gardeners Anne Wehrly and Sandra Smith and also Michaelene Steere, Judy Weaver, Maureen Riggins, and Kathleen Seiber. Donations were made by l\1ain Street Glassboro, Brida Stone, and the Master Gardeners of Glo11cester County. Green Planet Nursery donated the ornamental grass. The gardens were filled with bright purple petunias as well as other sun loving plants. The new planters placed either side of the entrance were filled with wild grasses that added color and movement to ~e museum's front door. Randi W oemer and her boy scout troop are also credited with the beautiful gardens in front of the Glassboro Public Library. + Page 6 --->JZ?~~"r;t1>~ G "" YJ::->:~~ reater Glassboro Group

Garden Party ... continued from Page 4

Among the honorable guests were Mr. and Mrs. T. Halter of University Boulevard, Anne Wehrly and Joe Olins of the Design Committee for Main Street Glassboro, Reverend. Bernice Willis, Chair of the Park and Recreation Commission and Mr. and Mrs. Robert Bates, former Glassboro Councilman. The Mayor, Dr. McCabe and Mrs. McCabe previewed the garden while work was underway for the event. The $900 in donations received from the event will help continue the effort of purchasing trees for Univer­ sity Boulevard's Historic Allee of trees, hosting the "Tales of 'Old Glasborough" walking tours, supporting the on­ going works of authors and researches of Glassboro's history, and recognizing/publicizing the work of residents who are restoring and maintaining the architectural integrity of their buildings within the historic areas of Glassboro. Ray Groff and Fran Del' Vecchio, manager of Groffs Mill Pond Nursery and Landscape Company, pro­ vided the much needed support and the underpinning in making the "old fashioned" Cassidy garden possible.+

An Arbor Day Dedication... continuedfrom Page 3 The largest white pines are taller than 200 feet and have a diameter of more than 6 feet. Aside from its towering stat­ ure, the Eastern White Pine is also a tree of endurance, normally surviving 400 years or more. Prior to intensive log­ ging in the late 1700s and 1800s, the Eastern White Pine was the architecturally dominant tree species in the old growth cool forests of our region, often found with other prominent trees of our region such as the Black Cherry, Chestnut Oak, and Red Maple. To Native Americans of our region, the Eastern White Pine was considered to be a symbol of resilience and utility~Theiflt}erbarkcouldbe ground into flour, the seeds provided a goodsource ofprotein and calories, and the needles made a medicinal tea with several times-the vitamin C in a glass oforangejuice. Inth¢ Colonial Period of our country, the Eastern White Pine was the most prized tree for lumber because of its unbranchedand straight central trunk, and its strong, light, and easily shaped wood. Eastern White Pines were harvested and made into diverse products, such as ship masts and hulls, bridges, house frames, furniture, and interior woodwork, as well as just about any other wood product. Eastern White Pine directly contributed to the Revolutionary War, becauseofits straight, tall trunk and high quality woqcj. In the 1600s, the British Royal Navy was desperate for a source ofwood that could be used for ship masts. With few tree resources in England, large tracts of forest containing Eastern White Pines were claimed by the Royal Navy. The first English lumber mill in North America was built and put into service in 1623. Eventually, dis­ putes arose over ownership of the pines, fueling the desire for independence. In the 1750's, the King_ofEngl(llld pro­ claimed that the largest white pines were reserved for the Crown. By 177 5, the most accessible &stem White Pines had ·been harvested, helping to trigger the War. The Minutemen who fired the firstshots of the 1\rnerican Revolution later carried a flag· bearing a white pine tree with them into battle at Bunker Hill, in whaJw~. to b~the blood~est bat-. tle of the entire War. . - - After the Revolutionary War, Eastern White Pine continued to be one of the most important sources ofwood in the region. By the end of the nineteenth century, the toll of logging left few virgin white pine stands re­ maining in the Northeast, and loggers turned to other species of trees in the region. Let me close with several comments. The Eastern White Pine symbolizes not only the natural history of the region, but also the lives of the Native Americans, the first colo­ nists of this country, and the events that led · to the Revolutionary War. We are most fortunate in Glassboro to have this alleeof pines. Preserving these trees through this planting on Arbor Day will allow our future residents and visitors to continue to appreciate these-his-:­ toric trees in a historic place. + Page 7

The sundial.on. i~ peciestLli ~d the grffi.lite·:::~ ·.stone·· pathway provide . ~tructute _f9.:r )ti~ !f. ·round~l garden wi;th :plhfl,t~ jus.tewetgiilg 'i~t/ ,,~1~fiju~df!~:~~~~i~,lil Greater Glassboro Group Officers 2006-2007 ---.- -._, . Our Mission ... President ...... Darla Cassidy 881-7237 for 2006 is to improve the quality of Glass­ boro life through the following objectives: Vice President ...... Chan non Armstrong build pride in our community by supporting Secretary ...... Victoria Schodowski efforts to enhance knowledge and aware­ Treasurer...... Carmen Johnson ness of our communal histories, improve the Corresponding Secretary ...... Janet Atkinson appearance and function of our physical and Grant Director ...... Mary Lee Donahue architectural heritage by supporting efforts to Membership Chair ...... Dennis Fotiia preserve and restore what remains, work for Civic & Community Chair ...... Robert Bates the continuation of historic patterns now es­ tablished (like the tree-lined streets), to im­ Research & History ...... Robert Tucker prove the quality of Glassboro life by encour­ Publicity Chair ...... Lucile Pfleeger aging good civic management of all re­ Editor of Newsletter ...... Sue Stewart sources, whether physical, financial, natural, or human.

8'l080 rN 'oJoqssel~ ssxoa Od Dedicated to Improving the Quality ofLife in Glassboro

April2006 Volume 3 Issue 1

G3 SPONSORS NEW JERSEY PRESERVATION WORKSHOP HOSTED BY ROWAN UNIVERSITY

n the hope of one day creating an his­ I toric district and in the interest of sav­ "The ainz of Preservation New ing a number of buildings within the boundaries of the historic Borough of Jersey is "to sustain and enhance Glassboro, Greater Glassboro Group co­ the vitality of New Jersey's chairs, Lucile Pfleeger and Mary Lee conununities by pron1oting and Donahue, brought together Glassboro citizenry, Glassboro officials and Univer- preserving their diver."ie historic .t representatives. resources. '' n Saturday, February 4, 2006, oGreater Glassboro Group sponsored a preservation workshop. The speakers r. Emrich outlined how the state, were Barbara Irvine, Executive Director M federal, and private resources are of New Jersey Historic Trust, located in made available to interested property Depart­ owners. The properties ment of listed on the National Commu­ or State Register of nity Af­ Historic Places are fairs, able to receive federal and Ron tax credits and grants. Emrich, n order to qualify Execu­ I for the National or tive Di­ State Register of His­ rector of toric Places there are Preser­ two main criteria that vation a property owner must Ron Emrich Maia Farish N e w prove. Mr. Emrich said Jersey, to speak at a workshop hosted by a site is eligible for designation if it is at Rowan University in Hawthorn Hall. ... continued on Page 5 Page 2

From the Pres... Spring has arrived! Some of us have embraced it; therefore, we are busy laying out the strategy for our gardens --- preparing the lawn, planting seeds, and removing winter's imprint from our flowerbeds. We have a new dream dancing in our heads as we begin to prune our roses, trees and shrubs. Others of us linger in our homes with thoughts of the daunting tasks that lie ahead. We have no desire to abide the chill in the spring air. We are reluctant to begin raking the debris from the winter's long embrace. Still others have no garden to tend. No matter our circumstances, no matter our outlook --- spring has arrived. Budding trees, daffodils, crocuses, and forsythia herald the event. Our spirits are lifted with the sight -of a yellow daffodil and a red bird perching on a limb outside our kitchen window. Our senses rejoice with the fragrance of the pine trees that permeates the air. A garden is many things to many people. A garden may be a very a private sanctuary, a field of wild grasses, or a public space. It may be single species of trees arranged in a pleasing pattern in a park, a private garden for only family and friends, or it may be a single houseplant adorning a windowsill. A garden is a place where we can pause, reflect, relax, watch the birds, and enjoy the wonders of nature. It is a necessity. Without gardens, our lives no longer have an attachment to nature. We are living without a sense of awe in the world. A portion of ourselves is shut down and cut off from the natural wonder that inspires and sur­ rounds us. However we live our lives, our diverse town is undergoing changes. Not only is the structure of our town changing; but we are also asked to change the perception of ourselves. We are no longer a town of glass workers with a small college within our midst. We are now a university town with all the pleasures and responsibilities that come with it. We are researching our history, locating our historic structures, striv­ ing to protect our historic places, and restore structures important to our architectural history. ·we are culti­ vating our town as we are cultivating our gardens. Just as we need to experience gardens of all shapes and sizes including wet lands and forests, we need to experience the community in which we live. Without a sense of place, we are cut off from the knowledge of who we are and the values that we as a community represent. We have an opportunity to embrace, enjoy, and experience the extraordinary changes that are taking place in our historic Glassboro. No matter our outlook, no matter circumstance, our town is undergoing grand and extraordinary changes. Come and be a part of it! Grow and blossom with us! ... Darla WE INVITE YOU TO JOIN OUR GROUP Please enroll me as an annual member: Individual ($20) Family ($25) Business ($50) Corporate ($100)-

I cannot be an active member but would like to support G3: _ Name: ______Phone: ______Address:

Signature: Page 3

E. E. W. Carter Glassboro's Forgotten Photographer

By Robert P. Tucker, Photographer, The photographers of Glassboro have played a valuable role in preserving a Glassboro Historian visual history of Old Glasborough Township. Yet they remain hidden deep within the shadows of their work. They gave us the priceless gift of a glimpse of our past, though their eyes. I have struggled to bring one such person into the light. E. E. W. Carter may have been one of Glassboro's earliest studio photogra­ "Had it not been phers. His business signs indicated that he was a watch repairman, watchmaker, forE. E. W. and studio photographer. Carter and I took the following into consideration in researching Carter's work. others like him, • Carter's use ofstandard-sized glass negatives, 5 x 7 plates and 3~ x 4~ (a quarter ofstandard size.) we would not • Carter's finished prints were mounted on embossed cardboard that read have the visual E. E. W Carter, Glassboro, N J. record... " • What kinds ofbackdrops were in fashion at the time ofhis work? • What era ofdress did his subjects wear? For instance, when was the child's dress fashionable? • Where were the locations ofhis studios? According to Newhall's History of Photog­ raphy, glass plates were used from 1851 to about 1880. John F. Engle, a Swedesboro pho­ tographer, was using glass plates by 1858. The question has to be asked, "Was Carter abreast of the latest advancements in photography or did he lag behind other photographers of the time?'' The use of embossed mounts became popu­ lar about 1867, and the inclusion of the photog­ rapher's name came about in the late 1880's. This was a trend that was encouraged by the Philadelphia College of Photography, which this time was located on South Street near Spruce. Again, was Carter ahead of the curve or behind it? By 1870, the painted scenic backdrops with paper mache props were in widespread use, as seen in the full-length portrait of the child. The painted backdrop is another clue that helps us to place Carter's photographic images in history. Carter's work was done with very simple back­ grounds. Who is this little girl? Do any of our readers have answers to my questions? .. .continued on Page 6 Page 4

Volunteer Gardening in Glassboro by Anne Wehrly Three years ago, my friends and I started gardening at the Glassboro Public Library. We have had so much fun and such a good reception from the staff and patrons that we are looking forward to expanding our efforts this year. We aren't sure yet what we will be doing -- but we are hoping to work on some flower beds in front of the Glass Museum or another downtown public building. We'd also like to expand our ''work force" by inviting other interested gardeners to join us (more on that later), and collaborating with the Main Street Glassboro program on new projects. In past years, we have pruned, wa­ tered, spread mulch (provided by the Bor­ ough), planted annual flowers, and even transplanted and divided the plantings as they have outgrown the original arrangement. We visit the garden pretty much every week from late spring to early fall, rain or shine (but in bad weather we cut short our work and head for the cafe instead). It might seem like hard work, but when there are four or Jive people Plantings in front ofand behind the Glassboro Public Library it never takes long! · We've had some generous assistance from others along the way. Last winter, Rowan University's grounds director Ed Thompson let us into the Sangree Greenhouse to grow the annuals for the library ourselves. In the fall, Green Planet Nursery (Monroeville) donated six gorgeous ornamental grasses and one tall tapering spruce. Those great additions add height and more winter interest to the garden beds. The other volunteers are Master Gardeners like me, educated through the classes offered by the Rut­ gers Extension Service of Gloucester County. Some are Glassboro residents (Sandra Smith, Michaelene Steere, and myself) and some are residents of nearby towns who like to do active, outdoors volunteer work (Kathleen Salber, Judy Weaver, and others from time to time). We are hoping to expand our group to include anyone interested in making a visible contribution to downtown Glassboro, whether or not you have taken the Master Gardener courses or even garden much at home. Volunteer groups need to add a few new people every year, so that things don't get stale, new ideas get introduced, and new projects can be undertaken. Page 5

G3 Sponsored ... continued from page 1 least 50 years old. The second requirement For those individuals and groups interested is that it must be of historical significance. in a membership to Preservation New Jer­ Once that is established, Ms. Irvine said sey, the present membership levels include "Historic Preservation Organization" at $65 and "Commission" at $100. Barbara Irvine Executive Director New Jersey Historic Trust PO Box 457 Trenton, NJ 08625-0457 Ron Emrich, Executive Director Preservation New Jersey 30 S. Warren St. Trenton, NJ 08608 www .preservationnj .org

Barbara Irvine and Lucile Pfleeger

New Jersey Historic Trust distributes and helps property owners find the resources of loans and grants that are available to Mary Lee Donahue and Bernice Willis, chair, them. She also said that property owners Glassboro Park and Recreation Commission may find money-saving opportunities through their local and state governments even though their property may not be eli­ gible for national or state registers of his­ torical places. uring the workshop, Joe Brigandi, D Borough Administrator, mentioned that Glassboro offers property owners tax abatements on rehabilitation projects up to $50,000 and a payment in lieu of taxes* Interested attendees at workshop (PILOT) program. These programs are not L. toR., Marilyn Plasket, Bill Kephart, Mary Kephart, limited to historical sites. June Armstrong, and George Armstrong, all trustees of Glassboro's Heritage Glass Museum *For more information about these programs, call the municipal tax assessor at (856) 881-9230. Page 6

E. E. W. Carter... continuedfrom page 5

pole. The utility company may put in a new pole, but it is usually within a few inches of the old one. With the above in mind, I was able to locate the second studio on the comer of Main and Focer Streets. As I stated before, historical research can be interesting, frustrating, rewarding and challenging. I have struggled over the last few years to learn about Mr. Carter and his work, but I have come up with more questions than answers. Had it not been for E. E. W. Carter and others like him, we would not have the visual record of homes, schools and businesses that no longer exist or are visual references to restore existing struc­ tures. Carter is credited with taking pictures of Zane Hall, Academy Street School, and the first Presby­ terian Church in town, located directly behind Capital Cleaners on Academy Street. There again Print from broken, discolored glass negative is another treasure hidden from our view along with its history. I have been intrigued by the location of Carter's studios. From glass negatives, I learned that, at some point, Carter moved his studio from High Street. On a broken, discolored glass negative that pictured a row of houses, I discovered a rectangu­ lar sign over the top of one of the porches along with a circular sign that read "E. E. W. Carter Pho­ tographer, watchmaker, and watch repair." With the print from the glass negative in hand, I set out to find the location of his new studio. My deduction was that if a building had been tom down the view of the building next door would be one of the clues. If it had been fully remodeled, there are still some clues to watch for -- the loca­ tion and style of the attic windows (which are usu­ ally left unchanged), the pitch of the roof (almost never changed), the location of utility poles (left unchanged within a few inches of the old utility Enlarged sign from photo on the left Would have had multi-light fanlight and double-leaf sash doors (presently the fanlight is filled in concrete and doors are not appropriate to the design ofthe building)

Do· nc col umns opening With ' arched doo blocks cast stone . r Arched ahnd central keyJmtpost . ead e s one. multi-light fanli ntrance With of glass gbt. Placem s museum's . ent a.rne locat· SJgnage · b Jon as th Jn ank name ab e original ove the d oor.

Cast stone flat jack arch with cen­ tral keystone, a vernacular inter­ pretation of the Classical Revival style. Surround brickwork laid in common bond.

Colomal. R eVI·val oval window. Molded box cor- nice with ear_s. "Victorian" window wit~ one-over-one Sash enh­ vened with stained glass panes border on upper econd floor sym- sash . S d metrically fenestrate with paired one-ove~-one Asbestos shmgles sash . k cover original woodwor . Six-over-six Porch roof with cross Projectin original l indicating front example gf stone silJs sash and ga b e . . 1 door location. Orlgl~a cornice ; . Colonial .R. _Cornice . ht Wlth storefront at ng bond Wlth rlckwork of e~JVal box double-leaf sash entry three co stretcher OllJmon doors and transomed bond urses and th courses for every en a FJ shop windows and bolec­ then a Fle . fourth co elllish tion-molded bulkhea~s, header coulDJsh bond (ra~hrse. and ~rivor of an earber rse). er than rare s U.. ~· (transomed windows underneath right side of age. porch roof) (We thank Margaret Westfield, Preservation Consultant, for the information on this scrapbook page.) Mt~Ht6t~rsMip is opt~lt to pt~rso~ts wMo sMart~ o~r ~isio1t Greater Glassboro Group Officers 2006-2007 Our Mission ... President ...... Darla Cassidy 881-7237 for 2006 is to improve the quality of Glass­ boro life through the following objectives: Vice President ...... Chan non Armstrong build pride in our community by supporting Secretary ...... Victoria Schodowski efforts to enhance knowledge and aware­ Treasurer ...... Carmen Johnson ness of our communal histories, improve the Corresponding Secretary ...... Janet Atkinson appearance and function of our physical and Grant Director ...... Mary Lee Donahue architectural heritage by supporting efforts to Membership Chair ...... Dennis Fotiia preserve and restore what remains, work for Civic & Community Chair ...... Robert Bates the continuation of historic patterns now es­ Research & History ...... Robert Tucker tablished (like the tree-lined streets), to im­ prove the quality of Glassboro life by encour­ Publicity Chair ...... Lucile Pfleeger aging good civic management of all re­ Editor of Newsletter ...... Sue Stewart sources, whether physical, financial, natural, or human.

MEETINCiS: Third Tuesday Glassboro Library Conference Room April 17th -May 16th-June 20th- July 18th 7:00PM

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Fall2005 Volume 2 Issue 2

...... ,. c::: Preserve the Capie House CD > Saturday UJ October 22 C) by Lucile Pfleeger c::: 6PM ·- Tales of Old Longtime residents of Glassboro were saddened to lose the Franklin House, hoping that one of our important historical sites could be saved and Glasborough renovated. 45 Minute Glassboro has Rowan Walking Tour University to thank for renovating and preserving Academy Street School and Hollybush. Recently Rowan University pur­ chased the Eben Whitney house on West Street (Rt. 322) known to Glassboro residents as the ( Capie) House. Now, we are fac­ ing Rowan University's decision as to whether the Eben Whitney house can be renovated and saved. They recognize its historical value and plan to "hire an engineering firm and take a really close look at the building to see if it can be salvaged to be used as an office or meeting space, "according to Joe Cardona, a university spokes­ man. The house has had several owners, such as John Stanger and Eben Whit­ ney, since being built in 1847. The Whitney family lived there for 116 years. The last family resident was Annie Whitney Nock-Capie. Continued on Page 6

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It is Ultimately Up to Us Our town officials in conjunction with the administration of Rowan University have made large plans for our once sleepy little town. It often feels as though the University and the absen­ tee landlords have more to say than the citizenry at large- especially those of us who have cho­ sen to make our home in the older neighborhoods of our wonderful University town. Yet it is ulti­ mately up to us, the citizenry, to define the kind of town we want. In my neighborhood, there is a · house that profoundly impacts our neighborhood. It was truly an eye sore. Even though it stood empty, abandoned and blighted, I was afraid that it in time would be torn down. I often spoke of its architectural details to our city officials. I felt the house added an important ele­ ment to my neighborhood. Even in its decayed state it had charm~- -Its won­ derful architectural details, including Vic­ torian bracketed roofline and ginger­ bread trim, remained intact. I joyously tell you today, my fellow citizens, that it is being restored to its architectural integrity. Someone has chosen to love it back to life and bring it into the 21st century while keeping its architectural past alive and well. Last spring, Edward Thompson of Rowan University put together hanging flower baskets for our downtown district. Greater Glassboro Group purchased an Eastern White Pine for Arbor Day. With the baskets abundant with flowers joyfully hung, city officials planted the pine curbside on the 300 block of University. Mayor and Mrs. McCabe, and Council President Tony Fiola offici­ ated at the Arbor Day celebration. Late in the season G3 purchased two additional pine trees for University Boulevard. We were grateful for the overflowing flowering baskets. The baskets gave our downtown a sense of warmth and welcoming that we had not experienced in decades. On University Boule­ vard, the empty spaces along the historic allee of trees now held young healthy pines to take their place. As you may be painfully aware, our beautiful hanging baskets burned up in the heat. Two of the three pines we planted have little chance of survival due to lack of water. It is no one's fault. In my own yard, my husband and I struggle with our garden in this dry, hot weather. It is Continued on Page 3 Page 3

r:Yrdllt ®ur ~rt:Jidml .. Continued from Page 2 a continuous challenge to keep our plants watered and at the same time try to conserve water. We seem to have lost a weeping pine that I planted last fall. I am told by Groff's Nursery, that it may be in shock and still survive. We must continue to water it. The bones of the garden are there, if need be the tree can be replaced. When the rains return the garden will be lush and green once again. Just as a house and garden needs a steward to care for it, a town needs its citizenry to be stewards - to love, protect and take pride in it. The community needs trees, shrubs, flowers and beautiful gardens, well kept properties for residents and visitors to feel safe and at home. The bones are here, the architecture and the trees are here. Can we be good Stewards? Continued on Page 7

Janet Atkinson, Gail Chaskes

Savannah Markert, Erica Gibson, Flutist

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Welcome to Wilmer Street!

Wilmer may look like a forlorn little street In the early 1900's, the new $1,000,000 only three blocks long, but don't let its size and Owens-Illinois Company glassworks seated itself lack of aesthetic appeal fool you. It is an unsus­ at the end of Wilmer at Sewell Street. From 1918 pectingly important little to 1929, Owens produced street, as it leads to well­ bottles from its automated visited landmarks today and machines. marks the path to important Wilmer Street con­ events of yesterday: Today, tains housing stock that children walk to and from the remains from the late nine­ Owens Park ball fields, as their teenth and early twentieth grandparents walked the centuries. The housing street to the glass factory stock ranges from small, more than 100 years ago. frame, vernacular homes to Wilmer Street was one larger high-style Victorian of the thoroughfares con­ buildings. structed in Glassboro between 1860 and 1900. During that time period, private land own­ ers and the local government Note: cooperated in the building of For much of her life, Mary the roads. A farmer would Bowe Kugler lived at 138 clear his land. Once he had Wilmer Stree~ a four­ divided his land into lots, he square style house built in 1927. Thomas E. Bowe would build a rough road to School was named for connect his property to the Mary,s brother. Another streets within the town. Thus, brother, Joseph Bowe, was at a township meeting in mayor of Glassboro for 25 years, dying in 1967 while 1887, Wilmer Street became a On left: in office. Mary died in ward of the township. It was 2004. no more than a dusty, narrow, Mary Bowe Kugler with her older sister, The Gothic Revival House Margaret crudely built dirt road. When it at 142 Wilmer Street was rained deep ruts were cut by Background: 136 Wilmer Street, built built in 1910 by Annie horses and wagons. before the turn of the century, was Mitchell. home to Gus and Lucy Somerville. Gus was a bookkeeper for Owens Glass Cor­ poration. Page 5

The White Pines of Glassboro: From the Local to the Global Arbor Day April 29, 2005 by John Hasse, PhD Rowan Department of Geography

The White Pine has a special place here in our community thanks to the Whitney Brothers who propagated them along the local roads and around the borders of their family's farm. Today these pines are a century and a half old, their grand size a testament of their age. The White Pine or Pinus strobus is a native tree to Southern New Jersey and well adapted to the local climate and sandy soils. This tree is important for the local environment providing habitat, oxygen, cooling shade, and reducing air pollution. And like all trees, the Glassboro Pines are important to the heart and soul, evoking beauty and providing inspiration. And the His­ torical significance of the White Pine goes well beyond the borough limits of Glassboro. White Pine was the dominant tree species in the L toR: Janet Atkinson, Reverend Diane Christopher, Rus- old growth northeastern woods commonly reaching sel Clark (Highway Department Superintendent) heights of 150 feet and circumferences at breast height of 15-20 feet prior to European colonization. To the Native Americans the White Pine was one .of the most useful trees and served as a reliable emergency source of food in times of scarcity. The inner bark could be ground into a type flour, the nuts provided an abundant source of protein and the needles made a me­ dicinal tea with 4 times the vitamin C as a glass of orange juice. To the new American colonies the White Pine was the most desirable tree because it was strong, light weight, and easy to work. The trees were made into masts, furniture, bridges, houses, ships, looms, matches and just about anything else. By the turn of the 20th century unabated logging left few virgin white pine stands remaining in the Northeast. Those that survived the sawmill were decimated by a Blister Rust. At the height of the White Pine devastation, a prominent family in Glassboro, New Jersey began a legacy by planting a tree with such an important heri­ tage. Today suburban sprawl now consumes over 9,000 acres of trees every year in the state of New Jersey alone. That's the equivalent of 21 acres of trees lost every day to housing tracts, L toR: Mrs. Mary McCabe, Tony Fiola, Council President, Liaison to highways and shopping malls. Replanting Historic Preservation Commission, Mayor Leo McCabe, John Hasse, Glassboro's White Pines is an important gesture PhD, and wife, Esther Hasse in a time of unprecedented environmental change. In the face of unabated logging, a dev­ astating Blister Rust, and unrelenting urban sprawl, Glassboro's White Pines stand tall as a symbol of hope for the future of our community, the future of our bioregion and the future of our planet. Page 6

PreseiVe the Capie House Continued from Page 1 This writer always knew the house as the "Capie" house. Since moving to Glassboro in 1947, our family admired the stately old home with the iron fence and beautiful lawns and gardens. Over the years we watched the property deteriorate from neglect. Then, purchased by an absentee landlord and rented to college students, the property became an eyesore. The beautiful lawn became a parking lot for student automobiles. Overstuffed furniture relics adorned the front porch and beer cans were strewn about the front lawn. Members of Greater Glassboro Group, Inc. strongly urge Rowan University to search for the necessary funds to save the structure that is so intricately woven into Glassboro's history. We also urge the Glassboro citizenry and their leaders to let the administration of Rowan University know how important preserving Glassboro's history is to its residents. Perhaps the Glassboro community can assist Rowan in applying for National Trust for Historic Preservation grants. ------, atesol T Old Gtasboronf!h

"TALES OF OLD GLASBOROUGH," a moonlit ghost tour of Glassboro's historic neighborhoods, is sponsored by Greater Glassboro Group on Saturday, October 22, at . ~~e'(\- 6 p.m. c~~ This 45-minute walking tour covers 250 years of Glassboro \?,~~ history in about six blocks. Costumed storytellers promise to ~""'\~, spin fascinating yams about the lives and beliefs of our at\ ~ ancestors, including a few famous ghosts. • \'b· ~s. 0 Meet in the parking lot of the First United "'(\c;V. Methodist Church at State and New Streets (located one block west of N.J. Route 47 and one block south of U.S. Route 322). Bring a flashlight and wear comfortable shoes. ·------Page 7

Last year, the borough replaced 6 trees through the generosity of Rowan University and the efforts of Greater Glassboro Group, continuing the tradition of sustaining the trees planted by the Whitney family almost 150 years ago. Arbor Day Tree PI anti n g Cere Dl o ny

F· r i d a y , A p r i 1 2 9 ,_ 2 0 0 5 3:00 PM 311 Unive~sity Blvd

reater Glassboro Group invites you to attend t-his ann u a I ceremony to co ·m memo rate the dedi-cation of a young Eastern White Pine to t h e h i s to r i c A II e e' of T r e e s o n G I a s s b o r o 's p r o t e c t e d s t r e e t . * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * c:91a:rr!Mrd S. .. continued from Page 5 In 1910 an advertisement appeared for Chestnut Ridge Estates, selling "30 dwellings completed or under construction" on "245 acres of beautiful land, 39 miles from Philadelphia by high speed train, a· short distance from the little city of Glass­ boro home to 3000 population." By 1923, Chestnut Ridge (now known as the Ridge) reportedly had 102 homes finished with more under construction. Mr. andMrs. Thomas Simpkins' home on University Blvd To learn more, visit the library of the is part ofthe Chestnut Ridge Estates developed by A. E. Gloucester County Historical Society in Mueller and Company. Woodbury. Do a little investigating about the history of your home and neighborhood.

Materials cited for this article: Draft of Historic Presef'Y8tion Plan. Aprill998. by Margaret Westfield. R. A. Westfield Architects and 0reservation Consultants. 425 White Horse Pike. Haddon Heights. NJ: Ike Glassboro Story 1779-/984. by Robert D. Bole and Edward H. Walton, Jr.; advertisement by A. E. Mueller and Company. 1531 Chestnut 'Street Philadelphia, PA .M~,.o~rsAip is op~H to p~rsoHs wAo sAar~ Olfr visio1t

------~------~------~------~--~- - ---~------~------~ ---~- Our Mission... Greater Glassboro Group Officers 2005-06 Is to improve the quality of Glassboro life through President ••••..•••..••.••.••••.••••••.••.•••••...•.•...••. Dar1a Cassidy the following objectives: to build pride in our oom­ 881-7237 munity by supporting efforts to enhance knowledge VICe President •.••..•••....••.•.••.•..•.••.•••..••.•••. Channon Armstrong and awareness of our communal histories; to im­ Secretary .•.•.••.••.....•.••.•.•••...... ••.•.••••...•.••• Victoria Schodowski Treasurer ..••.•••••.· ••...... •••...... •.••.•••..•...•.• Carmen Johnson prove the appearance and function of our physical Corresponding Secretary •...... •..•....•.••••.•. Janet Atkinson . and architectural heritage by supporting efforts to Grant Director ...... Mary Lee Donahue preserve and restore what r~main; to work for the Membership Chair •.•••..•..••...... •••.••..•..•.• Dennis Fotiia continuation of historic patterns now established Civic &. Community Chair ····-················· Robert Bates Research & Historian Chair •...... •.• Bob Tucker (like the tree-lined streets); and to improve the Publicity Chair ...... Lucile Pfleeger quality of Glassboro life by encouraging good civic E

MEETINCS: Third Tuesday Glassboro Library Conference Room

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dnO.lf) OJO .l~~B~.l Dedicated to Improving the Quality ofLife in Glassboro

Glassboro's story is the history of our becoming the unique, diverse community we are today. Our "built envi­ • ronment" is a living testimony to the story. It surrounds • us, yet most of us may be unaware. We look but we don't • see. That environment comes in the form of ];ristorically • significant architecture that literally -surrounds .us. In ... One such testimony we may reco~ and appreci­ c ate is that of Holly Bush. The "Holly Bush'' we know to­ .. CD day is the unique-looking home .tucked within soine trees > on a corner of the college campus. But originally, the w name "Holly Bush'' referred to the estate of the Whitney C)_ brothers and the mansion built there in 1849. According c to Robert D. Bole and Edward H. ·walton, Jr. in the book ·- The Glassboro Story, it was described as "timbered with E large oak and pine trees, a beautiful place with grass 0 growing among the trees, deer rambling about, and the (.) water furnished from springs on the Chestnut Branch." c.. There are many other lovely homes around town besides Holly Bush that can be recognized for their sig­ => pificant architectural style that need only to be cherished and restored to bring them back to life. The architecture of our past gives us the sense of place that we need to identify ourselves and walk with confidence into the fu­ ture. . .. continued on Page 4 Page 2 roGroup.

A lady up the street had Now ~Y husband and I were way home I noticed a settee on died. She was a neighbor of becoming the older residents. the side of the curb. I stopped mine. I did not know her very After her death, when I and asked her relatives who well, as I was a newcomer, rela­ drove past her home on my way were clearing out her house if I tively speaking, into the to work, I would look at her could have the settee. They an-· neighborhood. She and most of home and wonder who was go­ swered yes, and helped me put the other residents of the ing to purchase it. What would it into the back of my pickup neighborhood were older than be their intention? Would it be truck. It was badly broken. Its I. They had defined the a home, would they become a springs poked through the up­ neighborhood. They had lived part of the neighborhood or holstery and one of its arms fell here most of their lives. Their would it merely be a business loosely to the side of the struc­ homes were neat and tidy. proposition? A way to make ture. Mayor Spheen told me a num­ money without concern for the My husband and son-in- ber of years ago that one of the welfare of the home that the . law advised, "Better throw it houses on my street had once lady had loved and the out, it can't be repaired." Even been a candy store. He had pur­ neighborhood that she cared I was dubious because of the chased candy there when he for, a place where she had once nature of the break in the was a child. However, the raised her family and lived. frame. The settee was held to­ neighborhood had changed and One Saturday afternoon gether by a piece of curved as I drove past her house on my was about to change again. . .. continued on Page 4 \ * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Team Q3 was well represented at Unity Day on October 9, 2004. Vicki staffed the as booth while Darla was up before the birds to help coordinate the "Streetscape" teams and volunteers. Unity Day takes a lot of volunteers to put on a lot of different events. Here (photo~ left) we see judges Bob Bates and Bernice Willis standing near the Brida Stone Supply display, which was between the Glass Museum and the Library. Hmm, it's hard to tell, are they posing or are they part of the Street­ scape? Meanwhile, over by the Glass Museum, there's Darla with Bob and Councilwoman, Ingres Simpson, with the streetscape created by Dorothy's Flower Shop (photo, at top_ right). Sun hats were the order of the day, (photo, bottom right) as Mary Lee Donahue pauses to discuss Unity Day finds with Glassboro's first lady Mary McCabe. Let's see, did you remember to get a Franklin House T-shirt or a print suitable for framing? Well, better hurry. They won't be available much longer. Page 3

Greater Glassboro Group held our first ever walking tour just before ·Halloween on the evening of October 23, 2004. The theme was Ghost Tales. "We were looking for a way to get people involved with the town's history and this seemed like a natural," said tour guide Vicki Schodowski. ~'The response was phenomenal." More than 40 people showed up for the evening walking tour which sent two groups out into the moonlit A ghostly hostess, dark to visit the sites of some ghostly legends rumored Vicki leads tour at- around our town. Mter all, any town that has been around tendees on an eve­ since the 1700's has got to have some skeletons rattling ning of local show around. GS' s tour guides, dressed in evening attire of the and tell. .past centuries· and led two separate groups on a tour last­ ing about 45 minutes to an hour. Certainly residents heard a tale or two they had heard be­ fore, but nothing makes it as real as standing on or near the spot where the event was sup­ .posed to have occurred. Did we see any real ghosts or get scared? No, but everyone had fun md came away with a stronger connection to our town. Thanks to Glassboro's Municipal team for the welcome police presence and the clear· sidewalks and curbs! If you have suggestions for a theme for our next walking tour, please call us and get involved! The next Tales of Old Glasborough walking tour is scheduled for October 15, 2005.

* * * * * * * * * * *

Circa 1885- an old harness shop that later became a bicycle shop and photography stu­ dio, according to Glassboro histo­ rian, Robert W. Sands, Jr.

... . a delightful example ofGreek Revival architectural style! Page 4

dj!a:rrbt1r6 S... (continued from Page 1) In a draft of a Historic Preservation Plan for Glassboro, dated April 1998, historic ar­ chitect Margaret Westfield of R. A Westfield Arcl:rltects, noted the various architectural styles that played a significant role in Glassboro's journey through history. We present this list verbatim along with some photos in illustration.

• Italian Villa 1830-1880: The outstanding feature of the Italian Villa is the combination of the tall tower with a two story L or T plan. Glassboro has an academic example of this style, Holly Bush, built in 1849 and attributed to John Notman. • Italianate 1840-1880: The Italianate style is illustrated by a rectangular two-or three-story house with bracketed eaves, thin windows, and. a low­ pitch hip roof topped by a cupola. 124 State Street is an example of the Ital­ ianate. • Second Empire 1860-1890: Another two-or three story rectangular house is that of the Second Empire style. The most academic examples feature a projecting central pavilion that extends above the rest of the house. The con­ cave mansard roof is the most distinguished characteristic. The Methodist Church Office at Academy and State Streets is Second Empire ·4lstyle. · • Eastlake 1870-1890: Architectural elements produced on a mechanical lathe identify the Eastlake style, including large curved brackets, spool-like balusters, spindles along a porch frieZe, and fan-like brackets. • Queen Anne Style 1880-1910: Architectural elements of the Queen Anne style include towers, turrets, projecting pavilions, and encircling verandahs. Queen Anne style houses are asymmetrical and often show classical influences in Neil and Joyce the architectural details. Sherwood are The majority of the proud oftheir nineteenth-century and QUeen Anne home turn-of-the-century archi­ on State Street. tecture remaining in Glass­ boro is a vernacular version of the Eastlake and Queen Anne styles. These houses are commonly referred to as "Victorians" for the era in which they were built. The houses range :from very simple vernacular houses with just a few architectural elements linking them to one of these two styles. Few have remained unaltered. ... continued on Page 5 • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • Note: Federal 501(c)K status is pending. (l3 is a registered not-for-profit corporation in the State of New Jersey. Page 5

., r/a:r;bdr11 S. .. continued from Page 4 • Bungalow Style 1890-1940: The typical bungalow is a one-story house with gently-pitched broad gables, rubblestone or rough-faced brick chimneys, wood shingles, columns or truncated posts that support a wide front porch, and ex­ posed rafters. • The Colonial Revival 1870-1940: The Colonial Revival house combines vari~ ous traditional elements with more updated features. Colonial Revival houses are generally larger than Colonial-era houses and often have elements that are exaggerated or out of proportion. • American Four Square 1900-1920: The four square house is actually a build­ ing type plan, not an architectural style. It may adopt the architecturaldetails of many different styles. The house is square in footprint and two stories high with a hipped-roof. In plan, the house is divided into four quadrants: entry hall with stair, living room (parlor), dining room and kitchen. • The Beaux Arts: The style was an architectural celebration of the classic forms of ancient Rome and Greece. Glassboro has .one such building, the former bank, now the offices of Land Dimensions, on the comer of S. Main and E. High Streets.

The above listed styles of architecture are the "built environment" of Glassboro that was created in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Glass­ boro experienced its first "building boom" about 1885 with about 50 new · Mr. and Mrs. Tom homes constructed by property own­ 0 'Keefe are the proud ers. The town's initial street network owners ofthis lovely was laid out in the years between Gothic Revival-a three gabled home popular in 1860 to 1900. 1878 was the year western expansion. Glassboro became an independent township, and soon individual land­ owners wo~d petition the township for new streets. Streets added in this manner were Zane Street (1885); Fo- cer, Lake, and Church Streets (1885); Wilmer, Reading and New Streets (1897). 1897 is also the year that "road and path" maintenance fees appeared in the township budget.

An example ofa mid-nineteenth century vernacular home that shows the influence ofthe strong farm house tradition in its 5-bay end-chimney form as well as Victorian period inno­ vations such as the short thirdfloor and the projecting side bay.

. .. continued on Page 7 Page 6 c:::frt1111 ®ur 12r0fitlent... (continued from Page 2) wood that formed the arms and the back. it has admired it," she told me. "It takes a It was at the juncture between the back vision," she repeated. and the left arm that the break had oc­ When my husband carried the set­ curred. The force of the break continuous tee into the house, he sat it down in the down into the left front leg. It was obvious middle of our living room to see how it had to me that it would take a master wood­ turned out. He sank into the sofa staring. worker to make the repair, if indeed it He sat there for 20 minutes mesmerized, were possible, but I found one nearby.. saying over and over again, "It is the most . A few months later Peg called and beautiful thing I have ever seen." This said that the settee was ready. I .knew I from a man who is not in the least bit in­ would like it. I knew that the craftsman terested in what a chair looks like or how had achieved the impossible making all a room is decorated. the remarkable repairs on the frame. I The settee is in our bedroom now. It knew I loved the fabric I had chosen and I cheers and brightens our room. It makes it knew that Peg had done an excellent job a cozy place to be. We use it and admire it. as well, but I still had the nagging feeling We love it. that I had made a wrong financial choice. In the older part of our town, many AB Peg pulled the covering off the a lovely antique home sits waiting at the settee, I was speechless. It was the most curb. A little worn, a little broken, needing exquisite piece of furniture I had ever lots of repair.•. like an unrecognizable seen. The claw feet became readily appar­ shadow of its former self-like the settee ent along with the carving on the arms. unwanted and abandoned. A little time, a Had I noticed all of that before? "It takes a little money, and a little care can bring vision," she said. "Everyone who has seen them back. All we need is the vision. - 1)4'114 ~ ------WE INVITE YOU TO JOIN OUR GROUP Please enroll me as an annual member: Individual ($15) Family ($25) _ Business ($50) _ Corporate ($100) _ I cannot be an active member but would like to support Q3: __ Naxne: ______Phone: ------­ Address:

Signature: ------Page 7

Last year, the borough replaced 6 trees through the generosity of Rowan University and the efforts of Greater Glassboro Group, continuing the tradition of sustaining the trees planted by the Whitney family almost 150 years ago. Arbor Day Tree PI anti n g Cere nt o ny

F· r i d a y , A p r i I 2 9 ,_ 2 0 0 5 3:00 PM 311 University Blvd

reater Glassboro Group invites you to at t e n·d t-his ann u a I ceremony to co ·m m e m or ate t h e d e d i cat i o n of a young Eastern White Pine t o t h e h i s t o r i c A I I e e' o f T r e e s o n G I a s s b o r o 's p r o t e c t e d s t r e e t . * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * (j1/a:rrbt7rd S. .. continuedfrom Page 5 In 1910 an advertisement appeared for Chestnut Ridge Estates, selling "30 dwellings completed or under construction" on "245 acres of beautiful land, 39 miles from Philadelphia by high speed train, a· short distance from the little city of Glass­ boro home to 3000 population." By 1923, Chestnut Ridge (now known as the Ridge) reportedly had 102 homes finished with more under construction. Mr. andMrs. Thomas Simpkins' home on University Blvd. To learn more, visit .the library of the is part ofthe Chestnut Ridge Estates developed by A. E. Gloucester County Historical Society in Mueller and Company. Woodbury. Do a little investigating about the history of your home and neighborhood.

Materials cited for this article: Drah of Historic Preservation Plan. April1998. by Margaret Westfield. R. A. Westfield Architects and 0reservation Consultants. 425 White Horse Pike. Haddon Heights. NJ: The Glassboro Story /779-/984. by Robert 0. Bole and Edward H. dalton, Jr.; advertisement by A. E. Mueller and Company.1531 Chestnut Street Phdadelphia. PA I Me~~tOersAip is opeH to persoHs wAo sAttre Of.ft 11isio1t ------~ ------~ ------~-~--- Our Mission... Greater Glassboro Group Officers 2005-06 Is to improve the quality of Glassboro life through President ..••.••.••••..•••••.•.•••••••.•••••••••.•.•.•.••• Darla Cassidy the following objectives: to build pride in our c6m­ 881-7237 munity by supporting efforts to enhance knowledge VICe President .•••.•••••••.•.••..•...•••.•.••.•.•••..•. Channon Armstrong and awareness of our communal histories; to im­ Secretary •..••••••••....•....••.••.•...••.••••.•.•..•..••. VICtoria Schodowski Treasurer •.••.•.••••· •••...•.••...... •...•....••.••••..••• Carmen Johnson prove the appearance and function of our physical Corresponding Secretary •••....•..••••.•••••.... Janet Atkinson . and architectural heritage by supporting efforts to Grant Director ...... Mary Lee Donahue preserve and restore what r~main; to work for the Membership Chair ...... Dennis Fotaia continuation of historic patterns now established Civic &. Community Chair .•..•..•..•..•••..•.••• Robert Bates Research & Historian Chair •...•.•..•••...•.•.• Bob Tucker (like the tree-lined streets); and. to improve the Publicity Chair ...... Lucile Pfleeger quality of Glassboro life by encouraging good civic Ed'ltor of Newsletter ...... Sue Stewart management of all resources, whether physical, financial, natural, or human.

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dnO.If) OJ .l~~B~.l Dedicated to Improving tile Quality of Life in Glassboro Volume I Issue 2 October-November 2004

Whitney's Forgotten Barn By Robert P. Tucker

In 1886 J. P. Whitney, son of Thomas Whitney and owner ~ c:::: of the Whitney Glassworks, purchased the Hiram Stanger farm. CD October 9 :> This farm consisted of 21 0 acres covering both sides of Ellis Mill u.J Unity Day Road. It would later become part of Elsmere or "The 80 Acres." c:::D While most of it was cleared, much of it was still dense woods. -=E October 23 The larger trees were cut down and, to clear the undergrowth, no C) less than 1000 hogs and related buildings were moved over from ~ . c::a.. Tales of Hollybush . ==>. Old Glasborough The barn built in 1910 was still standing when the earlier . Tour homebuilders moved in to the newly laid out community. By ·t=n 1919-20 the empty barn became a playground for many of the c: CD children living near by. Some of the children playing there were :> November 17 u.J Heritage Museum the late Mr. George Harris, Ernest Heard, Ethel Ferren (nee Har­ c:::D ris), and others. From the memory of Mr. George Harris, I was Anniversary able to get a description of the building: The barn was a long, low -=E C) Dinner Celebration rectangle, with wide double doors on both ends. It was only about c::a..~ 20 or 25 feet high, with an "A" shaped roof. ==> This fact proved to be very important and a major clue to Whitney's Forgotten Bam, its use. The farm was always spoken of as a diary farm by older Upcoming E.vents Glassboro residents. However there is strong evidence that it- was From Our President 2 not used for dairy cows at all, but for beef cattle. G3 and the Memorial Day Parade 3 Armed with the measurements of the foundation and pho­ tographs that I had taken of similar looking barns, I went to the Franklin House Commemoratives 4 Tales of Old Glasborough Smithsonian Institute to talk to the Curator of Barns. It was from this interview I learned that because the barn did not have a hay­ Arbor Day, Membership Form 5 loft it was more likely not used for dairy cows. The Whitneys op­ Heritage Glass Museum 6 erated two slaughterhouses and sold meat in the company owned Rowan University Donation, store, this helps support the theory that the barn was used for beef Historic District Needed 7 cattle. Another factor supporting beef over dairy production was Our Mission 8 the size of the herd. The stall area was 300 feet and could house as many as 75 cows. It is interesting to note if there were 75 head of cattle they would have required about 80 acres of pasture, hence "The 80 Acres". . .. continued on page 3

The logo was designed with the borough colors-blue and gold. The shape in the upper ieft hand r::urner in gold !s the shape of our town. GREATER GLASSBORO GROUP,INC Page 2 Volume 1 Issue 2

From Our President... Oh the Possibilities When I walk past the exuberant students gathering on in our fair town. Older homes are Hydrangeas on my dining room the porches and spilling onto the waiting to be transformed into the table I can't help but be arrested new "This Old House." Their spa­ by their beauty. Their large cious lawns and old-fashioned gar­ cone-shaped pompoms spill over dens are waiting to be brought back the sun lit glass-fluted vase. The to life. The scarred fa~ade and life­ large soft lime-green blooms less windows are willing to be re­ edged in burnt umber fade into stored by someone who loves and white blossoms with shades of cares for them. For those who long .rose. The bunches of large drap­ for the charm of late 19th or early ing hydrangeas of soft color are 20th century home in a turn-of the­ in contrast to the dark heavy century neighborhood and are A Glassboro house waiting to be restored to its looking for the challenge of re­ wood of my round dining room I 910 integrity table. claiming and restoring an older They release me from my lawn. Their voices and tattered home opportunities abound. melancholy as they speak to me possessions proudly announce of the joys of the remaining days that they have arrived prepared of summer. The large bundle of for study and to test the bounda­ flowers tell of warm lazy days, a ries of their newfound freedom. cool glass of lemonade under a The wear and tear of the active giant tree on a hot summer after­ joyous students proceeds to take noon, the smell of the earth their toll on a home that was when it rains, white dresses in built in the late 19th or early 20th the yellow light of the late after­ century. Over time the porches noon sun, the long shadows that are removed or only partially stretch across the lawn and upon reassembled, shrubs are torn out the path. for parking space. The once lov­ Now comes the time for ingly cared for lawn is now ne­ new beginnings, back to school, glected. Its care is kept to the The Methodist Episcopal Parsonage built back to work, and for Glassboro bare minimum. The once elegant in 1900 the return of the University's flowing interior rooms, built students. Our historic commu­ with wide wood casings and a The Greater Glassboro nity is in the process once again grand staircase, are chopped into Group, Inc. wishes to commend the of renewing and reinventing it­ small sleeping quarters. The owners of 66 North Main Street self. staircase -should it survive -is and 5 New Street for their efforts In our older neighbor­ badly abused. The large tum-of­ in pride of their community and hoods it is frequently difficult to the-century windows are re­ also the Landmark for telling its hold one's sense of balance in a placed with smaller, less formi­ history on the back of its menu. I community such as ours. The dable ones. The students come see the old Methodist Episcopal older neighborhoods become and go. The sense of pride in the Parsonage has some hard working stressed when the deluges of neighborhood as well as the stewards that are busy caring for new students take their place charm of the home no longer this "grand olde dame" of our within the community. A home exists. The sense of time, place town. There is more work to be that was only a few months ago and history are lost. The done, more research to recover its immaculately cared for by its neighborhood struggles. history, and more fixing. It sounds owner is filled to the brim with Opportunity abounds in like home. _ '[)aJ,a, GREATER GLASSBORO GROUP, INC Page 3 Volume 1 Issue 2

G 3 and the Glassboro Memorial Day Parade Dateline: May 31st, 2004 G3 Members Darla Cassidy, Vicki Schodowski, and Lucile Pfleeger walked in front of driver Jen Simpkins in her family's bright yellow Chevy Tracker. Residents Tom Watts and his friend Dana brought up the sides, throwing candies tied with ribbon to the Boulevard crowd -hope you saw one! The day was windy and cool with occasional rain sprits. We had to work to keep our sign board straight against the strong gusts of Jen Simpkins in her Chevy Tracker wind. We hap- pily avoided full-fledged cloudbursts. The crowd was enthusiastic and called to us "Greater Glassboro Group, Inc., what's that?" Yes, even in as small a town as Glassboro you can still be anonymous! It is obvious that more than 3000 resi­ dents plan and look forward to this annual parade. They barbecue and picnic and go to restaurants. Our town sets a fine table for itself and we are all con­ necting in celebration. Whether you walk, drive or perform, being in a parade is an -experience every­ one should have at least once in a lifetime. Join the

L to R: Tom WaUs, Vicky Schodowski, Darla Cassidy

Whitney's Forgotten Barn... continued from pg I Along with the barn Whitney also built a large two-story house with a front porch. Over later years it was occupied by Mr. And Mrs. Epps, Mr. Davis, Mr. Pemberton, and the Browns. The house was located across from the barn, on the comer of Evergreen Parkway and Carolina A venue. The existence of the silos also helps to date the farm buildings since the use of silage began around 1875. The advent of silos enabled farmers to maintain much larger herds. These silos were in all likelihood used to store "high moisture com." They were constructed of wooden "tongue and grove" planks usually 10 feet long, placed vertically edge to edge to form a circle. I was held together with a steel band every 6 or 8 feet. In 1959, and again in 1994, I photographed the poured foundations of the silo and barn side walls. I made careful measurements of all the remains and was surprised to find that it was 1SO feet long (longer than any other Whitney bam) and 46 feet wide. It was laid out almost true East and West paralleling the present day Evergreen Parkway. The concrete floors with one-foot high barriers along both sides tells us that the bam was more than likely built after 1892. The concrete ran the entire length of the building and was divided into three separate areas. The first was six feet in from the outer edge; here, a low raised barrier, 12 inches high and 12 inches wide, ran the full length of the floor. The center section was 32 feet wide and another low raised barrier, again 12 inches by 12 inches, was 6 feet from the other side wall. I would later learn that these raised barri­ ers were designed to prevent the cattle waste from spreading over the entire floor. They also made it a lot simpler to wash the floor down. At each end of the bam there were 25 foot long earthen ramps. These ramps led up to the floor that was 20 inches above ground level. Like other Whitney farms, this one had a name also: "Cloverlea Fann." 'c;THE BARN", from History & Genealogy of Elsmere, R-obert P. Tucker GREATER GLASSBORO GROUP, INC Page 4 Volume 1 Issue 2

Franklin House Commemoratives There is a limited number of our 2003 Franklin classic commemoratives before they are gone like the old House Tote Bags and T-shirts available for purchase. T- house you remember. You may call Ricky's Hallmark at shirts are 100% cotton, are white with the picture of the (856) 589-4466. Franklin House in black printing and comes in two sizes, Large and X-Large. Tote bags are of unbleached cotton duck cloth, measuring 15" wide x 15" in height, with black handle ties 22" in length long enough to be a shoul­ der strap. The original illustration of the Franklin House

Order Tote Bags and T-shirts Now! structure as it was in its heyday around 1900, was created for Greater Glassboro Group's exclusive use by our own resident, Darla Beckemeyer. Get a shirt or tote bag for yourself for the low price of $10 each. You may order yours from Ricky's Hallmark in Picture of Mr. And Mrs. Benjamin Franklin the Collegetown Shopping Center (next to Acme Mar­ when they visited Glassboro on the occasion of ket)- talk to Jim or Margie to get one of these soon to be Unity Day, October 2003

------Greater Glassboro Group sponsors a ghost tour of Glassboro's historic neighborhood

6 PM Saturday, October 23, 2004 The half-hour walking tour covers 250 years of Glassboro history in six blocks. Costumed sto­ rytellers promise to spin fascinating yarns about the lives and beliefs of our ancestors. Meet in the parking lot of the Rrst United Methodist Church (State & New Streets located one block west of N.J. Route 47 and one block south of U.S. Route 322). Bring a flashlight and wear comfortable shoes.

CONTACT: Darla Cassidy, President, G3·- (856) 881-7237 Mary Lee Donahue, Tour Committee Member- (856) 881-4345 ADMISSION:------$5.00 Adult, $3.00 Children RAIN DATE: Sunday, October 24, 6 PM GREATER GLASSBORO GROUP, INC Page 5 Volume I Issue 2

Arbor Day,April 30th, 2004

The Gr~ater Glassboro Group spearheaded the effort to restore some of the missing trees from Uni­ versity Boulevard's majestic group of eastern white Pines. At an Arbor Day ceremony, friends and members assembled at the Scurti residence to commemo­ rate the new trees arrival. Tony Fiola, at that time borough councilman and liaison to the Historical Preservation Commission, was instrumental to making the celebration possible. The event was covered by Denise Jewell, a reporter for the Gloucester County Times. This article is reprinted from her report of May 6th .

Donated Trees Keep Glassboro Beautiful

Almost a year after borough officials desig­ nated the rows of trees on University Boulevard as historic landmarks, a local civics group do­ nated two eastern white pine trees for the strip. Borough officials and members of the Greater Glassboro Group dedicated the trees, which cost about $220, during an Arbor Day ceremony. Darla Cassidy, the President of the . Greater Glassboro Group, said the organization wanted to help preserve the area's surroundings through the donation. White pine trees were first planted along the path in the late J!Jth century. As the path evolved into a house-lined boulevard, the trees remained ... continued on page 6 Eastern white pines on University Boulevard

WE INVITE YOU TO JOIN OUR GROUP

Please enroll me as an annual member: Individual ($10) _ Family ($25) _ Business ($50) _ Corporate ($100) _ Donation I cannot be an active member but would like to support GGG: __ Name: ______

Phone: ------­ Address: Signature: ------GREATER GLASSBORO GROUP, INC Page 6 Volume 1 Issue 2

Arbor Day,April 30th, 2004... continuedfrompage 5

Last year the borough's historic preservation commission urged borough council members to designate more than five blocks of the aging trees for protection as historic landmarks. Cassidy said she first discovered the beauty of the pine trees about 15 years ago when she drove through the street on a foggy morning. '1'd never seen anything so beautiful in my entire life," Cassidy said. Since then, she said some of the trees have been cut down after they became diseased or weather damaged. "When I noticed that they started to disappear, it bothered me that we were losing something of great beauty," Cassidy said. Borough workers planted the two donated trees on Arbor Day along the boulevard in front of two private proper­ ties whose owners - John Scurti and Gerald Fisher - were the first to request the pines." Denise Jewell, Gloucester County Times May 6, 2004

L to R: Tony Fiola, Mr. & Mrs. John Scurti, Darla Cassidy, Michael Rozanski, Joseph Brigandi, Jr. Heritage Glass Museum 25th Anniversary Dinner honoring the founding members Ward Campbell, Marilyn Plasket and Christian Siebert. 6:30PM, Wednesday, November I?, 2004 Italian Bistro, 590 Delsea Drive, Route 47, Sewell, New Jersey $25.00 per person. For more information call June Armstrong (856) 881-54 77

- ..------. ------W~ Invite Y~u To Joi~ the Greater ~lass~or~ ~rou_P-' Inc._ ~0 _B~x 88 ~las~boro, NJ 08028 :

- - .::_ ~ ~ • - : - - ~ J _::- - - - _- - - -:._ -- : -- -- -~ - - - ~_- _------GREATER GLASSBORO GROUP, INC Page 7 Volume I Issue 2

Rowan ·university Recently Donated ... During the month of September, Rowan University donated four eastern white pine trees to­ ward the borough's University Boulevard tree replenishment effort that had previously been re­ quested by the owner Mr. And Mrs. Joseph DeStefano, Mr. Mark Vogel and Mr. Carl Nienstedt. Greater Glassboro Group served to identify residents who had previously expressed an interest in refurbishing trees lost from their street side properties. Shown with one of the new arrivals are: (Left to right): John Carul/o, Rowan University Student Govern­ ment Association President; Michael Ward, Rowan University Board of Trustee Student Member; Leo McCabe, Borough of Glassboro Mayor; Russell Clark, Superintendent of Glassboro Highway De­ partment; and Darla Cassidy, President of Greater Glassboro Group The tree is shown before it was released from it's netting.

Historic District Needed Neighbors on State Street were shocked last spring to learn that they might lose one of the finest homes in Glassboro, the 1852 Joseph Iszard house most recently occupied by Jones Famelli Funeral Home. Word spread that the property would be ravaged for student housing. ·. According to historian Edward H. Walton, Jr., the house sits on one of the most historic plots in town, the site of the original 1779 Stanger Glassworks. Additionally, the home is widely regarded as the finest and most intact remaining structure of the 19th century Italianate style in the area. Its handsome cast iron balustrade was actually made in Glassboro at the old Carnell Iron Foundry. Today, 122 State Street stands as a living tribute to our legacy as an early industrial center. To retain its historic integrity and sense of place, Glassboro cannot afford to lose any more of its fine old buildings. Property owners in the heart of Old Glasborough- along State, New, Academy, and West Streets, and the nearby stretch of North Main- have worked hard to restore their properties. It's time to establish an historic district that would protect their labors, reward their investment, and preserve our heritage. In addition to protection from private and public encroachment, property owners in an historic district are eligible for a number of state and federal benefits: preservation grants, low interest loans, rebates, and tax refunds on rehabilitation costs - as much as 20% under the Tax Reform Act of 1986. Income producing properties, like shops in the historic district of Mullica Hill, are eligible for even more. Also, under the New Jersey Rehabilitation Subcode, certified historic properties are exempt from construction code requirements that often deter buyers from investing in older properties. In April 1998, the borough received a draft of an historic preservation plan from Westfield Consultants in Haddon Heights that strongly recommended the establishment of an historic district. So enthusiastic were the consult­ ants about our 19th century heritage that they recommended nearly all of downtown Glassboro for inclusion, but they focused particularly on the area from the old cemetery on North Main south along State and Academy to High Street, identifying 10 Glassboro properties in or near this area that have the potential for National Historic Registry, from old shops and a smokehouse to the Glassboro Intermediate School. The St. Thomas Episcopal Church on this stretch of North Main is already registered and protected. Designation of an historic district would protect our heritage and reward our property owners. Residents of this neighborhood should petition the borough to establish a local historic district before more properties are lost. For information, call the state Historic Preservation Office in Trenton at (609)292-2023, visit www.state.nj.us/dep/hpo. or contact borough hall at (856) 881-9230. - Mary Lee Donahue Grants Director Mo~~tOorsAip is opo~t to porso~ts wAo sAaro Ol4t "isio~t

Our Mission••• Greater Glassboro Group Officers 2003-04 Is to improve the quality of Glassboro life President...... Darla Cassidy through the following objectives: build pride in 881-7237 Vice President ...... Channon Armstrong our community by supporting efforts to en­ Ading Secretary ...... Vidoria Schodowski hance knowledge and awareness of our com­ Treasurer ...... Carmen Johnson munal histories, improve the appearance and Corresponding Secretary ...... Janet Atkinson function of our physical and architectural heri­ Grant Diredor ...... Mary Lee Donahue Membership Chair ...... Julia Larson tage by supporting efforts to preserve and 881-9231 restore what remains, work for the continua­ Civic and Community Chair ...... Bob Bates tion of historic patterns now established (like Research ...... Bob Tucker the tree-lined streets), to improve the quality Fundraising ...... Marilu Bicknell News Clipper ...... Jack & Letitia McElroy of Glassboro life by encouraging good civic Publicity Chair ...... Lucile Pfleeger management of all resources, whether physi­ cal, financial, natural, or human.

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Dedicated to Improving the Quality ofLife in Glassboro

Volume 1 Issue 1 Februa -March 2004 History and Purpose 3 Greater Glassboro Group, Inc., (G ) is a habilitation or restoration of houses that are con­ registered New Jersey non-profit civic association temporaneous with the Glassworks era. Many of in the public interest. Founded in 1987, our mission our members occupy such homes and have exper­ is to improve the quality of life in Glassboro, New tise, professional skills, and enthusiasm to share. Jersey, an aging, post-industrial town in southern Meanwhile, we are studying similar restoration and Gloucester County with a decaying urban center preservation efforts with similar agencies in nearby and expanding suburban sprawl. Our current objec­ Woodbury, Haddonfield, and Collingswood. tives center on revitalization of our one- and two­ century-old neighborhoods through recognition and ACTIVITIES AND PROGRAMS celebration of their worth, careful municipal plan­ G3 reorganizes annually in March, reviewing ning, and sound fiscal management in the public its by-laws, mission, and long-range plans; electing sector. We attend Borough Council meetings, plan­ officers and directors; and adopting ~n action plan ning board meetings, and zoning board hearings. for the year. We meet on the third Tuesday of each We lobby for logic, commonsense, and historic month year around except July and August. preservation. Our long-range plan includes the From 1998 through 2000, much of our activ­ purchase of a century-old home or storefront in ity focused on understanding, influencing, and sup­ downtown Glassboro that we intend to restore, not porting official Borough revitalization efforts that only as a model for others to emulate but more im­ had thus far failed to emphasize Glassboro's his­ portantly as office space for G3 and for the housing . toric streets and buildings. In the past three years, rehabilitation agency that we would eventually like G3 has publicly supported historic preservation and to establish in order to assist residents with the re- ... continued on pg 6

3 Our Purpose ... History and Purpose G LOGO Logo is to improve the quality of Glassboro life through the Our Purpose following objectives: to build pride in our community 2 The logo was From Our President by supporting efforts to enhance knowledge and aware- 3 designed with the G History Workshop ness of our communal histories, to improve the appear- University Boulevard Trees borough colors- ance and function of our physical and architectural heri- Landmark 3 blue and gold. tage by supporting efforts to preserve and restore what . The Franklin House The shape in the remains, to work for the continuation of historic patterns Methodist Episcopal upper left hand Parsonage 4 now established (like the tree-lined streets), and to im- comer, in gold, is prove the quality of Glassboro life by encouraging good University Boulevard Pine the shape of our Trees 5 town. civic management of all resources, whether physical, Sustaining the Trees fmancial, natural, or human. Membership Form 6 / Page2 GREATER GLASSBORO GROUP Volume 1 Issue 1

Fron1 Our President... Dear Reader, As I hurriedly rushed out an enchanted garden has kept me hood where we live, not because the door last night to a meeting, coming back to try and try again, they don't care, but because they my husband offered to plant two to tolerate the dirt and the heat. don't live there. If we want to new rhododendrons for me. I Best of all I have savored a cool preserve an historic building, we shouted back as I rushed past soft breeze on a hot day as it must each do our part. If we want him, "You can't plant them; I passed over my skin and I have our neighborhoods revitalized, we don't even know where I want been surprised with the scent of must help out. If we are interested them to go." lavender, lemon thyme, and mint in stopping urban sprawl, again Thus, this morning with as the herbs brushed against me we must take a stand. If we want my plants awaiting, I began my and the sweet aroma clung to my to have a garden, we must work day gardening. Over the years I clothes. in it. have watched two of my dearest If one 1s fortunate Therefore, I invite you, and closest friends garden hap­ enough to inherit a garden one dear reader, to join with me, my pily. To be in the garden is must work in it, for things do not fellow G3 members and associ­ heaven for them. Me, I am a re­ stay the same. In order to prop- ates, in our efforts to create a luctant gardener. I don't want to erly admire a garden one must town of which we may all be get hot and I definitely don't understand the effort and work proud. Whether you are a 5th gen­ want to get dirty. I would much that brought it into being. Just as eration Glassboro descendent or a rather be at work on a painting, we ·have numer- liiiii==-===-==iiil new . resident, by listening to the hum of the lawn­ ous and various i. comi.tig together we mower while my husband cuts ways to enjoy and -1 ...... _ can learn from one the grass. experience a gar- another of Glass- Oh, the allure of a beauti­ den., we have a boro' s rich history ful garden! What magic do my variety of ways to and promising fu- friends have as they plant and live in our town. ture. We can partici- weed? Their gardens dazzle my K.nowing the his- pate in our town's eyes while I struggle. How does tory of the town in endeavors and, with one know where to plant a which one lives, the knowledge of the Poppy, or an Iris? to witness how it past we can create a This morning as I pulled came to be as it is better future for our- the hose across the lawn and dug and why, helps us We need to know the lay of the land. selves, our children into the earth I realized the an­ to appreciate and and our grandchil- swer-it is the lay of the land. leam how to live in it. dren. For in order to know where Digging a hole, inserting the Our elected officials we are going we need to know plant and pouring water into it is work very hard at their jobs. where we are and where we have not all that is required. The earth They go out to work all day long been. sloped away from my plant. I and then come home and work We need to know the lay of the had to fill in with earth here and even harder still - for us, for land. there so the plant would be able our town. However, they may -Darla Cassidy to absorb the water. not always know the lay of the It has taken me years to land. They may not know the figure out what grows where. I various little subtleties and nui­ have had my share of failures sances and problems of the com­ and disasters. But the allure of ings and goings in the neighbor- Volume l Issue 1 GREATER GLASSBORO GROUP Page 3 Greater Glassboro Group, Inc., History Workshop The Greater Glassboro lish lines of communication and tion and promotion; the develop­ Group applied for a grant funded work for common goal among ment of ethnic and minority his­ by the New Jersey Historic persons with similar interests in tory; historic preservation of Commission in order to promote, preserving and· promoting the buildings and artifacts; research access, and advance knowledge history of Glassboro. Represen­ and development of "gaps" in about the History of Glassboro tatives from schools, colleges, our history. (called Project PAAKHG). The churches, civic groups, senior The second meeting was 0 3 received the grant and we citizens organizations, the Or­ held in March 2003, with Keith held two community history chid Club, the historical society, DiMarino of the Woodbury Old . workshops. In the fall of 2002, as well as local and regional City Restoration Committee, to 51 people attended the first day governmental authorities, at­ discuss goals to preserve our long event. Paula DeStefano, of tended. This meeting was held at historic buildings, promote our the Bucks County Historical So­ the Fellowship House of the town's history, and talk about ciety, was our consultant for First United Methodist Church special events and presentations these workshops. of Glassboro. of which the public might be The purpose was to build Categories which were interested. a community of interest, estab- addressed were: history educa-

University Boulevard Trees Recognized The large· trees along University Boulevard in Glassboro are Eastern White Pines (Pinus strobes). The irregular shape of the crown of many of these trees is the normal manner of growth for the species, not a sign of disease. The oldest of these trees should survive well more than a hundred years fro111 today. These trees should be regarded as representative of the original forests across the northeastern states. Eastern White Pines were a common tree throughout the region in early colonial times. They were quickly discovered to be highly valuable for timber, and nearly all of the original stands in the region were harvested. Today very few Eastern White Pines exist in natural populations; nearly all found in the region have been planted, as the trees along University Boulevard were. The allee of Eastern White Pines along University Boulevard. is noteworthy because of the age and size of many of the trees. Several are particu­ larly large, presumably at least 150 years old, and approach what the early settlers would have seen when they frrst encountered the tree. Terry 0 'Brien, Department ofBiological Sciences, Rowan University, Glassboro

Landmark Continues Historic Tradition of Service G9 works to save Franklin House

Glassboro - In early 2001, Glassboro nearly lost part of its historic heritage. The old Franklin House restaurant- site of a licensed tavern and inn in the borough since 1771 - was threatened by demolition and about to be sold to the Wawa corporation for construction of a Super liliiiiiiiiliiiiiiiiiiiiiiliiililiiiiiiiiiliiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiliiiiiiliiiiiiliiiliiiliiiliiiiiiiiiiiiiiliiiiiiiiiiii._. Wawa, complete with 36 gas pumps and overnight parking for 18- ~W'~"tq~ Jf"V~t$u wheelers. Members of the group rallied citizens and the press to petition ;(f"'#n.J f1'~n ~,. borough hall to save the site, if not the building. The borough agreed to purchase the building and to seek bids for renovation or reconstruction of a similar facility on the site. The new Landmark Restaurant, run by the Cammarota brothers, continues a Glassboro tradition of din­ ing hospitality at this historic site. Page 4 GREATER GLASSBORO GROUP Volume 1 Issue 1 I I .· -.-...... ~ · The Franklin House: Glassboro's Most Enduring Landmark "A spot where a change of pace might be found"*

As long ago as the ger. the building next developed 1781 to 1786 - "The Tavern" 1700's a business catering to into a hostelry (probably because Glassboro's workers and travel­ diners were reluctant to leave), 1786 to 1801 - ers has operated on the same plot after which the establishment Heston's Tavern of ground at the comer of Main grew both in stature and reputa­ or Street and West Road (now tion. Glassbourough Tavern known as Route 322, or Mullica After the revolutionary 1802 - The Black Horse Inn Hill Road). war, an older and wiser Franklin 1817 to 1840 - Under a succession of House came into its own as a The Friendship Tavern different owners, multiple moni­ meeting place for town planners, kers, and varied architectural surveyors and dignitaries, and as 1843 - Paul's Hotel "looks," this old house has en­ rest spot for travelers from Phila­ 1872 - Bismark House dured in one form or another for delphia to Cape May. For the 1875- Reeve's Hotel over two hundred years. town folk of Old Glassbourough The building we knew in it was probably the place "where 1907 - The Franklin House our modem century as "The everybody knows your name." 2003 - The Landmark Franklin House" has a history In the ensuing decades not unlike any family's history. the business operated under a * Quote from The Glassboro Story 1779-1964 by Robert D. Bole & Edward It was "born" sometime in 1771 succession of titles. Still, the H Walton, Jr. Copyright 1964 as a log cabin home. In its early name it bore for the longest pe­ childhood it was brought up as a riod of time ever was the Frank­ kitchen and bar for glassworkers lin House. in the employ of Solomon Stan-

Methodist Episcopal Parsonage (I 864 -1997) Forgotten But Remembered In 1864 the frrst Methodist Episcopal Church of Glassboro built a parsonage on the southeast comer of New and Main Streets. The Reverend Robert J. Andrews and his family were the first to dwell there. In February of 1900 the Board of Trustees sold the building and it was moved to the lot next to it facing New Street. The building still stands and is occupied. In May 1900 the Trustees voted to build a new parsonage. It stands today on the original site of the frr~t Methodist Episcopal ~...__;____J parsonage, the southeast comer of New and Main Streets across from Dorothy's Flower Shop. It was designed with parlor, meeting rooms, and living quarters for the par­ sonage family. On December 11, 1904 the church held a Jubilee and Parsonage Day in order to announce that the parsonage was complete and free of debt. The Secretary of the Parsonage Building Committee, J. F. Im­ hoff, wrote "[We] desire to thank you, who have assisted by influence, money and labor in building this, one of the most beautiful, convenient and comfortable Parsonages of our Conference." ... continued on pg 6 Volume 1, Issue 1 GREATER GLASSBORO GROUP, INC PageS University Boulevard Pine Trees on "Chestnut Ridge Estates" As Remembered by Merritt Frederick, Swedesboro 1855 -1940 " .....Merritt Frederick of Swedesboro, NJ, related the story that his father, Adam Frederick, had worked for the Whitney brothers as a team master. He crossed the Delaware River numerous times during this em­ ployment with horses and sleigh in the heart of winter, making deliveries and returning with supplies for the Whitney Glassworks factory. Adam Frederick helped plant the pine trees on University Boulevard. He was born in 1855, and died at the age of 85 in 1940. Adam Frederick was twelve years of age when he helped plant the trees in approximately 1867. The trees were planted every 30 feet. There were approximately 117 on the north of side of Univer­ sity Boulevard, and 105 on the south side. Since they were planted on both sides of the road (leading to the stream), it became known as Plank Run. At the end of University Boulevard, the trees are planted at right angles leading to the old Mullica Hill Road (Rt 322), and north/south of US Rt.322 into the town of Glass­ boro. Trees were also planted on Cedar Road (paper road), since eliminated. Some spruce varieties were mixed with the other pines. Pine trees are also located along Girard Road, following the railroad north to Rt.322 and south to Ellis Mill Road, up to the Rt.55 overpass ....." From the files ofEsther DeEugenio, President, Historic Preservation Commission As Remembered by Glassboro resident Chris Siebert, born March 7, 1910. February 11, 2002 - "The section of Glassboro known as Chestnut Ridge started at the railroad that was really Mr. Whitney's cow pasture. There was a large grove of Chestnut trees growing in his cow pasture, that is where the name Chestnut Ridge originated. Pine Trees lined the path that is known as University Boulevard. At the end of University Boule­ vard, if you made a right tum, it would lead you down to a lake and an icehouse. My Dad, Chris Siebert, used to skate on the lake with his friends. If you made a left turn at the end of the University Blvd it would lead you to the cow barn. This section is now [called] 80 Acres. When I walked there many years ago, the foundation for the cow bam was still standing." Sustaining the Trees Several Community efforts have sustained the allee of Eastern White pine trees along University Boulevard, the frrst trees having been planted in 1867 by the Whitney family along roads leading to various parts of their property. Since then, several community efforts have sustained the allee and continued it. Dur­ ing the 1920's, the Glassboro High School Class of 1930 raised money to ex­ tend the planting of the Eastern White Pines along the railroad line near Girard Road. For the 197 6 bicentennial, a committee of citizens replaced missing trees with self-seeded saplings that they dug from farmland at the West End of the Boulevard. The G3 wishes to bring honor to yesterday's citi­ zens by continuing their efforts today. Today University Boule­ vard is a popular place to fmd walkers and joggers of all ages. It is our endeavor to continue the efforts of those before us to help preserve the allee of Eastern White Pine Trees for the next generation to enjoy. ) We are grateful to the Historic Preservation Commission for recognizing the trees as a Glassboro historic landmark. Page 6 GREATER GLASSBORO GROUP, INC Volume 1 Issue 1

Methodist Episcopal Parsonage ... continuedfrompg4 By May 10, 1948, the 1900 parsonage had become too expensive to heat. Due to the expenses of maintaining, the building the tower of the house was removed as well as a large portion of the porch. On September 12, 1955, the Board of Trustees made the decision to sell the 1900 building for $1,100 to the Pitman Building and Loan Company. In the Fall of 1955, settlement was made on a five year old house on the opposite comer ofMain and New Streets. The new parsonage was consecrated on Sunday, November 7, 1955. In 1997, the brick two story parsonage was sold because "the area had become crowded and noisy due to the increase of fraternity houses." The house is still standing-itself a fraternity house today .. The present church parsonage is located in The Paddocks of Rolling Green. More information can be found in: The Old Town Clock Church, written by Susan Bassam Muaddi and published by the First United Methodist Church of Glassboro, copyright 1999.- Glassboro Public Library.

History and Mission ... continuedfrompgl planned rehabilitation in Glass- ment, revitalization, and restora- promote public education about boro, lobbying Mayor and Coun- tion of our borough and enrich the history of Glassboro. In Fis­ cil, and holding public meetings the quality of life within it. Thus, cal Year 2002-'03, we held three in the belief that residents, mu- G3 has adopted a five-year action public workshops, supported the nicipal planners, and potential plan promoting, advancing, and publication of two books by lo­ developers should invest in the accessing knowledge about the cal historians, and urged Coun­ older structures already present history of Glassboro, and sup- cil to restore the pine trees on in the borough. porting the preservation, restora- University Boulevard Encountering some pri- tion, and viable use of important vate-sector reluctance to invest- historic structures and sound ment in run-down Glassboro, we older buildings within the bar- have come to believe that en- ough. hanced public knowledge of In February 2002, the Glassboro's rich history and New Jersey Historic Commis- unique contributions to the de- sion, Department of State, recog- velopment of southern New Jer- nized our efforts by funding 50% sey would spur the redevelop- of a $15,000 three-year plan to ~------·----- Please enroll me as an annual member: E I. Individual ($10)_ 0 u. Family ($25) _ CL Business ($50)_ _ ·-.c Corporate ($100)_ (I} I cannot be an active member but would like to support G3: ____ I.cu .a Name: Phone: ______cuE !: Address: ------Signature: ------the Greater Glassboro Group, Inc. ~~~~oWl- ~I .2_00.2-:2.003, stet' Coooty Tim(IS, Woodbi..rry, N.J, Wednesday, July 3, 2002 A-7 G L A s s B c

m 0 R ~ Glassboro officials ~ I... Q) ..0 B u force cleanup effort 0 .,;' Q) c E at local frat house i= 1:u s Greater Glassboro Group Officers 2003-04 Our Mission ... Is to improve the quality of Glassboro life President ...... Darla Cassidy through the following objectives: to build pride 881-7237 in our community by supporting efforts to en­ Vice President ...... Chan non Armstrong Acting Secretary ...... Victoria Schodowski hance knowledge and awareness of our com­ Treasurer ...... Carmen Johnson munal histories; to improve the appearance Corresponding Secretary ...... Janet Atkinson and function of our physical and architectural Grant Director...... Mary lee Donahue heritage by supporting efforts to preserve and Membership Chair ...... Julia Larson 881-9231 restore what remain; to work for the continua­ Civic and Community Chair ...... Bob Bates tion of historic patterns now established (like Research ...... Bob Tucker the tree-lined streets; and to improve the qual­ Fundraising ...... : ...... Marilu Bicknell ity of Glassboro life by encouraging good civic Historian ...... Bob Sands Publicity Chair ...... Lucile Pfleeger management of all resources, whether physi­ cal, financial, natural, or human.

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