Winter Newsletter of the 2006-07 Bergen County Historical Society

Another year is upon us; the push of $7,200 a year (minus rent for living in time is relentless. Now we traditionally the Steuben House). Supposedly, it was pause for the lowest paying full-time job in State President’s Message reflection, government. I drove to the interview in contemplating the year past. But this my “Fred January, I am taking the long view, Flintstone” looking back over the last quarter car—a red century. My wife Deborah, my-two-and- Volkswagen a-half-year-old son Ivan, and I moved bug, into the Steuben House on November 1, with heat 1981. As impossible as it now seems, we working on have reached and passed the milestone only one of twenty-five years’ association with side, and a New Bridge and Bergen County. It all hole in the happened so fast: suddenly, the “young floorboards whippersnapper” has become the so you could “institutional memory” of the place. drag your Believe it or not, Waterloo Village, feet on the where I began my career as Tour street for Director, was facing bankruptcy and brakes. foreclosure in 1981 (how history When Kevin & Ivan Wright in 1982 repeats itself!). And so I went looking I first arrived, I found the downstairs for greener pastures. I did a brief of the Steuben House rather barren, stint working as the mule tender on a the antique furniture having been restored piece of the Lehigh Canal, just loaned out to a department store in the outside Easton, Pennsylvania. Bert Prol Riverside Mall to use as props during at Ringwood Manor alerted me to an the holiday season. We were the first opening at the Steuben House in River caretakers to live entirely on the second Edge. I first met Paul Taylor, Supervisor floor in the rear of the house. Originally, of the Office of Historic Sites, and then the caretaker’s kitchen and living room with Dick Riker, the Superintendent of were located in the rear basement rooms Ringwood State Park. And what was the nearest the parking lot, but recurrent job? It was a caretaker’s position paying flooding had spoiled that space. The Society then agreed to move their library In this issue from the northwest room on the second Presidents Letter ...... 1, 24-27 floor, which became our living room. A Century Ago ...... 3, 4, 19-21 Joe Caso, regional carpenter, built a Events & News ...... 2 & 7 kitchen in the adjacent display room. My predecessor had the room, including Histories & Mysteries Old Houses . . . . . 5-7 the beautiful new knotty-pine cabinets, Marginalia ...... 8-13 painted a glossy pink with ruby red trim. A Zabriskie Mystery Solved ...... 14-15 She died, however, before she could Franklin Lakes & Battle of Atlantic . . 16-19 occupy the new living quarters. In order Photo Collection ...... 22-23 to be able to digest our meals, we first continued on page 24 Bergen County Historical Society Winter 2007 I recently updated the BCHS web page. I was motivated after finding the website artofnewjersey.net, which lists artists who lived or worked in NJ. After an email exchange, Professor Kate Ogden of Stockton College of NJ, was interested enough to include our quilts, the portrait of Garret Demarest by James Van Dyke and photos of 2 Kasten on this website. She teaches a class, Art of New Jersey, which has involved student research. I focused on updating information on the Society’s collections and included articles from the Tree of Life (now out of print) sections of Ladies Ramble and new photos of the collections,depicting the Hackensack Pie Plate from collections Valley potter, the quilts, spoonboards and coverlets. It is one way to make the collection more available to the public and to popularize Bergen County’s history. Contact with the Society thru our website’s email has increased over the years. Below is a recent query. — Deborah Powell To Whom It May Concern: I have this family photograph of a Bergen County Dutch farmhouse, And I was hoping, if it is still standing , if it could be identified. Likely owned by Cornelia Blauvelt (1806-1891), daughter of Abraham Blauvelt (1786 -1871) according to her will, it may border on Closter Road. Anybody there recognize it? Is it still standing? any history? A shot in the dark, Thanks, Bill, Chambersburg, PA Tim’s response: Dear Bill I am the Dutch House guy at the Bergen County Historical Society. Your e-mail query was forwarded to me. The house in the photo you sent is the Walter Parsells House – Lone Star Tavern, 639 Piermont Road, Closter. The view is from the North West showing the rear of the house. The house was built by Parsells in 1795. It stands today and is being renovated. Walter Parsells, son Jacob married Cornelia Blauvelt at Tappan on July 22, 1820. The house was passed to Cornelia in 1832. Jacob Parsells died in 1835. Cornelia married twice more: to John Jochem in 1835 & to John Vanderbeck in 1847. Cornelia, known as “Granny Vanderbeck”, operated the Lone Star Tavern here. The frame wing probably dates to 1870 when the son of Jacob and Cornelia, Peter Parsells was a hotel keeper here. The house was sold out of the family in 1961. There are twenty pages of history on the house (a bit much for one e-mail). What is your relation to the family? My family is the Auryansen family, we are interrelated to the entire old Closter crowd.

Tim Adriance PS Parsells is the same family as the football coach. Note: This house has a BCHS marker which Kevin Wright researched & wrote.

2 Winter 2007 Bergen County Historical Society the Hackensack River led to the River A CENTURY AGO Edge Bridge being measured on Monday, by Kevin Wright July 9th, when it was found that this The grading on the River Edge was one of the narrowest in the county, Land Company tract, encompassing being only 13 feet in width. Crabs the area on the Heights along Summit were unusually scarce in the river this Avenue and adjacent streets, was season. Farmers were marketing sweet nearly completed, but a heavy storm corn in the third week of July 1906, a on Monday afternoon, May 28, 1906, little later than in other years. The first delayed the work. The company soon katydid appeared on July 31st, which was sold six building lots in its newly opened interpreted as an indication of frost six section to two citizens of Brooklyn. weeks later. They also laid 900 feet of water main, Eleven new postcard views of besides making other improvements, and prominent places in River Edge included planned to erect two cottages. Charles the Congregational Church, the old Hoffman, of Brooklyn, broke ground for stone house (reputed to be 240 years a residence on Summit Avenue, River old) owned by John H. Zabriskie, A. Z. Edge, in January 1907 Bogert’s residence, the railroad depot, During the first week of June 1906, the county bridge, together with William robins were busy robbing cherry trees of Doremus’ grocery and Bogert’s coal their fruit. Bloomer Brothers, who had been at the coal business at River Edge for the past 25 years, retired and disposed of their business to A. Z. Bogert & Brother, who asked for a continuance of public patronage. A. Z. Bogert had been in business for about 18 years and built up “a fair trade by square dealing.” Burglars blew open A. Z. Bogert’s big safe in the River Edge Post Office at an early hour Tuesday morning, July 3, 1906. Although the safe door was wrecked office, etc. These postcard views were and office fixtures damaged, the thieves immediately in great demand. were unable to open a burglarproof August 1906 quickly set a new cash drawer in the strong box. Bogert record for rainfall. Milton Voorhis, who Brothers installed a new Hall’s safe in was farming on the old William Blair their coal and lumber office in place of place, was said to have the choicest the wrecked strong box. muskmelons grown in this section. A barge heavily laden with brick Boys from West Hoboken broke camp grounded in Felter’s canal at Little Ferry along the river, south of River Edge, and was stuck in the mud until Tuesday, and went home at the end of August. June 19, 1906, when it floated out with Plans and specifications of the River the high tide. Camping-out parties had Edge Improvement Association for been spotted in the groves along the river improving the depot grounds were ready between River Edge and Cherry Hill. for signatures of citizens to a petition for The bungalow in the woods on the east submittal to the railroad company. bank of the river, between River Edge Henry Baker’s hay barrack at and Cherry Hill, had been christened New Bridge (Teaneck) was destroyed “Riverside Camp.” by fire, believed to be the work of an Discussion of narrow bridges over incendiary, on Saturday, September continued on page 4 Bergen County Historical Society Winter 2007 3 A Century Ago, continued from page 3 15th. Five tons of hay and six loads of name. Furthermore, mail destined for rye went up in smoke. A. Z. Bogert and Cherry Hill was frequently misdirected J. D. Van Wagoner took an automobile to Cherryville, New Jersey. The name trip on Saturday, September 15, 1907, change would further augment the to the Delaware Water Gap, via Port efforts of the Cherry Hill & New Bridge Jervis and other points. The River Public Improvement Association, which Edge Improvement Association made had succeeded in lighting the station and arrangements to supply shade trees streets in the past year and in beautifying to residents at 22¢ each for Carolina the station grounds. poplars and 35¢ for silver maples. The According to a report in The Evening Association recommended that trees be Record on November 14, 1906, the Post planted 25’ apart. Gustav Pfost occupied Office Department in Washington, D. his new residence at 52 Washington C., notified the Cherry Hill postmaster Avenue in River Edge on November 1. that the name of the station would be Crabs were plentiful in the river, changed in the near future. The North having been scarce throughout the Hackensack Improvement Association summer. Railbird shooting was done immediately sent correspondence to from shallow rail boats that were polled the Erie Railroad, asking the name to be over the meadows at high tide, providing changed on station signs. access to the birds. Excavation was made A letter was mailed at the River Edge on the River Edge Land Company’s tract Post Office on Friday, October 12, 1906, for a residence for Mr. Mead, of Brooklyn. for “J. N. Voorhis, North Hackensack.” The unanimous sentiment of the Mrs. Voorhis did not receive the letter citizens of Cherry Hill and New Bridge, until the following afternoon, however, as expressed at a public meeting held although she lived only about one mile October 5, 1905, favored changing from River Edge. And yet it had been the name of Cherry Hill to North claimed that by changing the name of Hackensack. A petition signed by two the Cherry Hill post office to North hundred patrons of the Cherry Hill Hackensack there would be less delay post office requested the Post Office in the mails. Postal authorities finally Department to effect the desired agreed to recognize the name of North alteration in the name of the place, Hackensack on January 1, 1907. as advocated by the Improvement While hunting upon the Hackensack Association. Although the local reporter Meadows in the first week of October for The Bergen County Democrat 1906, Reuben Coyt, a well-known local claimed, “that a majority of the citizens Nimrod, bagged sixty-one yellow legs, opposed such a change,” a Postal a black duck and four saltwater teal. Inspector conducted a public meeting Chestnuts were on the market and on Saturday, October 6, 1906, and heard chestnuts hunters had “a scratching but one dissenting opinion out of the time” in fields and woods on Sunday, 100 people who were present in the October 7, 1906. Pickers were so firehouse when a vote was taken. Local plentiful under some trees that it looked residents believed that the growth of like a picnic. In October 1906, the River Cherry Hill had been retarded by the Edge Land Company received 125 silver tornado that had struck ten years earlier, maples for planting on the company’s destroying considerable property and tract on the hill. several lives. Odium was also attached The River Edge railroad depot was to the name of Cherry Hill because of newly painted and by way of variety, associations in the public mind with more green color was used than the one of the most notorious sections of customary “Erie orange” applied to other New York. Even worse, penitentiaries stations along the line. As a result of the in Boston and Philadelphia carried the agitation by the River Edge Improvement continued on page 19 4 Winter 2007 Bergen County Historical Society Histories, and Mysteries, of Old Houses by Beth Potter

When Ivy Greenstein and her Having exhausted the possibilities husband Chris Doolittle bought their in researching my own house, I turned 1926 Dutch colonial in Demarest, New to the homes of friends and family, and Jersey, some 20 years ago, they had no then to honest-to-goodness paying idea that one day an old golf club would customers, who, like me, were curious be among their most prized possessions. about those who walked their floors The club is 100 years old, hand-carved before. out of wood by a pro golfer from Unraveling the history of a house Scotland named Willie Collins—and means being part Nancy Drew, part the reason the non-golfing Greenstein/ genealogist. One day I might be Doolittle family treasures the club is leafing through dusty old deed books that Willie Collins was the original in the county courthouse, the next day owner of their house. He had the home I’m spending hours going through built after he retired as the pro at the genealogical search engines on the web. Knickerbocker Country Club in Tenafly. You need to be able to read 19th century If houses could talk, they’d have handwriting, at the same time having stories to tell—stories of all the kids a full understanding of Boolean search who spilled juice on the kitchen floor, engines. It’s been helpful to come from stories about the babies born there and a career in journalism, where I honed the folks who grew old there, stories research skills and learned to have no about the people who put green shag compunction at all about calling perfect carpet over the hardwood floors. As a strangers for information. house historian, it’s my business to find Using a mix of deeds, wills, census those stories. records, obituaries, local histories, A dozen years ago we moved into church records, college alumni records a Victorian on the main street of and even town council minutes, it’s Haworth. A small bronze plaque by the possible to find out not only who front door read “E.A. King House. Built owned your house and when, but what 1891.” My curiosity got the better of me, kind of real people they were. Back to and once our children were old enough our Scottish golfer—books on golfing for school, I set out to discover who “E. history told us that Willie Collins came A. King” was. Now I probably know to Bergen County after jobs at the more about Ervin Abner King than his Richmond County Country Club on descendants. I know how he and his Staten Island and the Oakland Golf wife Kittie moved to Haworth from the Club in Queens. His obituary in the small town of Benzonia, MI; where he Bergen Record said he taught golf to had his carpentry business on 11th Ave. financier Bernard Baruch, Englewood’s in Manhattan; the ingredients of the Dwight Morrow, and Woodrow Wilson. “pork cake” recipe Kittie submitted for Collins and his wife Ella had one child, the church cookbook in 1909 (which Donald, who married the Demarest may explain why Mr. King died an early school principal. They attended St. death); how their son Ervin, Jr. served Joseph’s Church in Demarest, and are aboard the “George Washington” in buried at Mt. Carmel Cemetery in WWI, until he caught the Spanish flu; Tenafly. Collins served one term on how Mr. King went bankrupt here and the Demarest town council, where he went back to Michigan, where he died of worried that the police were overpaid, a heart attack 10 days after their arrival. and found out that the fire insurance continued on page 6 Bergen County Historical Society Winter 2007 5 Histories, and Mysteries, of Old Houses, continued from page 5 Collins/golf” search, along with an 1899 Collier’s magazine ad in which Collins appeared, endorsing Cuticura soap: “I can with confidence recommend Cuticura Soap to all Golfers who are troubled with sunburn. Yours truly, William Collins.” A homeowner with an 1830ish This 1920s house in Haworth, was built by the Franklin Society, one of the town’s first farmhouse in developers. My research discovered that the home’s first owners had a tent and awning company Rockleigh, NJ, in Manhattan—and they supplied many of the tents used by U.S. troops in WWI. B. Potter. came to me with two requests: she wanted a picture of the original owner, who was a farmer and Hudson River sloop owner named Joseph DuBois, and she wanted to know where DuBois and his wife Elizabeth were buried. The library in Palisades, New York, provided answers to both questions. Joseph and Elizabeth and a few family members Built by Ervin Abner King, in 1891, a carpenter from Benzonia, MI were buried just down the road from on the town hall had expired three years their old farmhouse, in the old Palisades before. Golf records showed us that Cemetery. And the library itself had Collins was one of dozens of British pictures of many of the original local golfers who came over to the U.S. at settlers, including Joseph DuBois. But I the turn of the century to teach the had to dig farther than the local library. Yanks how to play golf. Unfortunately, By using wills on file in Hackensack, newspaper articles indicate Mr. Collins’ and an Internet phonebook, I tracked talent as a golfer may have left a little down Joseph’s great-great-great- to be desired—he shot the 2nd worst granddaughter in Florida—and she round ever in a U.S. Open, in 1898. provided turn of the century pictures of As for his wooden golf club, that item the house and old photos of the family. turned up on eBay during a “Willie One picture even showed the family dog continued on page 7 6 Winter 2007 Bergen County Historical Society in the farmhouse yard. also in Haworth, was built by some The owners of a 19th century home Rockefellers, distant relatives of THE in Tenafly were lucky enough during a Rockefellers. A ninetysomething year construction project to find a piece of old woman from Tenafly told me her lumber with the original owners’ names father often made “home brew” in the scrawled in pencil—George B. Jellison basement of their 1912 Colonial Revival and his wife Sarah, as well as the name in the Old Smith Village neighborhood. of Gamaliel King, an architect of the Of course, unless you have help time who had designed the Brooklyn from a séance, there’s no way to find out Borough Hall. But why was King everything you’d like to know about a designing a house in Bergen County? It home and its owners. We have his golf didn’t take much Internet sleuthing to club, but we’ll never know what Willie discover that Gamaliel King was Mrs. Collins looked like because it seems Jellison’s father, and King was building the man never posed for a picture. But the home for his daughter and son-in- what I’ve learned is that even without law. a photographic image, it’s possible to Other “housetales” I’ve discovered— make the names on the deeds come property tax records for a house in alive. They were real people who sat on Haworth showed it was home to a man your porch and cooked Thanksgiving named Berkeley Tobey, a Greenwich dinner in your kitchen. They were real Village bon vivant who worked children who played hide-and-seek in on a Socialist magazine and was your backyard. It’s just nice to get to married 7 times. A 1950s split-level, know them a little bit. v

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Bill and Marie Ruggiero are moving to South Jersey. Linda Masullo has kindly offered to take on the gift shop in the Campbell-Christie House. Our best to Bill and Marie and many thanks for their years of donated service.

Nancy Terhune has sent out monthly postcards as a notice of events and this has been a very effective reminder. She wants to turn it over to someone else in June. We need a volunteer to step forward, involves getting info, labels and stamps on monthly basis.

Mike Gorman of Oradell, joins as a new trustee.

Bergen County Historical Society Winter 2007 7 Marginalia From Ancient Almanacs Dairy of a Once Prominent Citizen of Bergen County from The Hackensack Republican, Thursday, July 20, 1890 Interesting Notes on Public Peter A. I. Ackerman, of Saddle River, and Private Affairs by an and came to light in the clean up of Old-Timer Who Lived in Two his effects. It is well known that even Centuries—A Relict of Home at the present day the old “Farmers’ Life from 50 to 100 Years Ago— Almanac” is the family diary on many What Some of the Pells Were. farms. On its narrow margins are An interesting find is sometimes recorded life’s drama in the household made among the rubbish cleaned out and the barnyard—marriages, births, of old hair trunks and other receptacles deaths, with many business and other that have stood for generations in details entering into the life of the garrets or haymows of homesteads but husbandman who has not yet reached must now go the way of all things cast the dignity of an aristocratic diary aside for newer surroundings, which writer. are not to be tainted by the presence of Some of the older readers of the “trash.” One of these discoveries was paper are no doubt familiar, at least recently made in the shape of a bundle through verbal family or community of almanacs beginning with 1785 and history, with many of the names continuing under several names to recorded in these ancient pages. The 1840. writing is varied, showing several Here are “Hutchins’ Almanack, by distinct styles of penmanship and John Nathan Hutchins, at his printing orthography, but in many instances it is office at the Bible House in Hanover neat and correct. Square, New York” “The Town and Country Almanac;” “The Christian Almanack for New Jersey,” printed at Elizabethtown; “The Housekeepers’ Almanac, or Young Wife’s Oracle;” “The New Jersey Almanac;” “Farmers’ Almanac, No. 23;” “Smith A. Sirman’s New York and New Jersey Almanac;” and “The United States Almanac.” The old pamphlets are in good preservation and they form an exceedingly entertaining study, their margins being covered with household and farm history. The first entry noted is under These publications, with their date April 13, 1785, when there was a quaint marginalia, were collected by “hen set.” This information occurs in Casparus Bogert, great-grandfather of its season with the same regularity as Surrogate David A. Pell. He was a man “killed hogs,” “made candels,” “made of note in the community, filling the starch,” “began to bleach linen,” “harvest office of town councilman, sheriff, and begun,” “begun to mow hay,” “sowed member of the legislature. buckwheat,” etc. All of which had The annual issues, carefully bound their important place in the farmer’s together with cord and forming thick schedule. volumes, were in possession of the late Hog killing was especially an event

8 Winter 2007 Bergen County Historical Society that brought together neighbors in a subject of frequent entry. Betsy required community about the Thanksgiving a generous article, as the diary says: season. The man who stuck the pigs was “Your mamma to 37 stitches on Betsy’s an individual of no little importance, blue stockings, E. B.;” then there were and one who was particularly expert “40 stitches on Betsy’s blue stockings; had his services in request over a wide “37 on Betsy’s stockings with blue top,” territory. On “killin’ day,” the family was leaving the inference that Betsy was not astir before daylight. Fires were lighted oblivious to effect in memory. In ’92, under great vessels in which the water a Barn was built; Mary Van Dien died; was to be heated. The scaffold on which “Raised the store house;” “Got done the dead animals were to be hung up with the store house,” and “Betsy begun by the heels after dressing, the tables school with Mr. Suttin.” on which they were to be scraped, the That the diarist was progressive tank in which they were to be scalded appears in 1794: “Did begin to take the after death, to loosen the bristles, [news] papers the 19th day of March.” and all other details were attended to The weather was extremely hot in the previous night, so that when the August ’96, and there were “great floods” sticker and helpers arrived, everything in the Saddle River on five different was ready for active operations. There dates. were always one or two members of On October 2 appeared the first the community who held prestige in mention of slave dealing, when he “sold guessing the weight of a hog, and they Susan.” exercised this faculty with wise looks In May ’96, he “took Bet down to and comments as the lumbering animal, York,” and later “Got my new wagon of hobbled and held by a rope, was driven John Wright.” out to meet its fate. The process of “Dine broke her thigh” on June dividing the animal into parts having 5th, ’97, and on July 17, “Dine begun been accomplished, the women took a to walk,” indicating a prompt healing hand in preparing choice cuts for the of a serious injury. Then John Terhune dinner that was so conspicuous a factor borrowed 15 loads of stone, they “left of the day. After every killing, neighbors the red cow go dry;” Sylvester began received liberal presents of pork, school, they “dried the black cow,” sausages, headcheese, or any product “killed boil,” and “left the spotted cow of the pig. And the man who raised dry.” the heaviest porker was the talk of the In 1798, it is told: “I was taken with gossips over their apple toddy for days. Bilyaris fever the 31st day of August, Here is an entry: “Killed 3 hogs weighing and it was two months before I could 804 pounds.” leave my room,” which kept him from In 1786 the name Casparus Bogart, the election held October 9 and 10. The Elizabeth Bogart and Jenny Bogart fact that “Mink put on his shoes the appear together, and in 1792: “Jenny, 29; 30th of November” was of sufficient Betsy, 36; I, 35.” Here, too, are recorded importance for preservation in this the reproductiveness of the mares history. And about this time it is again Conny and Dolly, the white cow, the entered: “Begun to take the paper.” Why black cow, the one-horned cow, and the he had ceased taking it, or what paper spotted cow. it was, are unsolved mysteries. This In March 1793, “we got our dog” taking papers was very desultory, for a and “we knitted our socks.” The number similar entry, “begun to take the papers,” of stitches in stockings knitted for appears in May ’98. In 1800, “Paramus various members of the family is the Church was raised 14th Day of June.” continued on page 10 Bergen County Historical Society Winter 2007 9 Marginalia, continued from page 9 This doubtless means that the church News of the arrival into a safe port of was rebuilt. The event of the year, the rich cargo, of said Vessel, belonging however, fell upon October 21, when to the Royal Company. And Although “Betsy’s Twins bourned.” that we had also manifested to you This appears the following year: “I directly the just homage of gratitude was elected sheriff on the 13th and 14th & praise for the hazardous but Well of the present month of October, 1801, Combined and happy attempt in which for the County of Bergen. C. B.” you succeeded, on the 24th day of The Pells were great sea faring November, on the coast of Huelva, in men, and there are many entries of the rescuing this Vessel from the Power of sailing from New York to William Pell, an English Officer and 9 Sailors of the William W. Pell and John R. Pell; all English Privateer called the Vulture, of whom became captains of vessels. who had taken & kept her Nine weeks Captain William Pell sailed for Cadiz & were conducting her to Gibraltar. in January 1802. It is presumed that he Yet as you have announced to us your is the William Pell who in 1797, while early return to your country we feel the commanding the ship Columbus, owned agreeable Necessity to renew to you all by the Royal Company of Philippines our former acknowledgements & to of Madrid, Spain, was captured by assure you of the everlasting gratitude the British privateer Vulture. After of the Company & its Administrators nine weeks in captivity he retook the for the Signal Service rendered to them vessel from the prize crew and landed on account of the aforesaid retaking. a valuable cargo safely in port. The More Particularly so we avail ourselves following translation of a testament of this opportunity to express to you from the company to Captain Pell is our wishes, that they may rest forever now in possession of Surrogate David in your Memory, our respectful A. Pell. The document is in good Plaudits, which we proclaimed when penmanship, but it was apparently done we heard of this Heroism proceeding into English by a Spaniard, who was from your Courage & your Prudence, not a master of the language; but the which shows nothing equivocal of paper shows that the “Royal Company” your Loyalty, disinterestedness & good had a high appreciation of the Yankee faith. And although we have not a skipper’s bravery and the service he new opportunity to avail ourselves of rendered. your talents, which have exceeded the “Sir: Although as soon as you hopes & Confidence, which the owners arrived at the Port of St. Lucas with the of said Vessel placed in you, you may Ship Columbus, we have constantly return to your Country not only with demonstrated to you the Credit & the Satisfaction, which your Courage particular esteem, which you merited and generous conduct must have from us, for the good management of caused, but with the assurance that in your commission, through the voyage the Annals of this Royal Company, it that you undertook, with said Vessel, will be rendered as long as it shall last, since she sailed form Bordeaux on and the remembrance of you, Sir, will 20th May 1797, bound to Trinijuebar, Sweetly remain in our memories & in & on her return from that Port, & that that of its Administrators, sentiments of of the Island of France, till the said esteem & Gratitude. From your honesty, Port of St. Lucas, on the 28th day of Courage & the Greatness of our Soul, November Last, & Although we have they have everything to expect in return, particularly expressed to You our & we remain satisfied in the hope that greatest Satisfaction, for the interesting you will demand our Services. That

10 Winter 2007 Bergen County Historical Society you may return soon to the bosoms countryseat of some descendant of the of your family & Country is our first original purchaser. wish, as also that in your Career of Life In 1806, Mr. Bogart “Bought a riding each succeeding day may become more chair of Mr. Cleveland, for which I paid brilliant than the Past, so that they may him $125.” Five years later he put down: in comparison dissipate in part the “Got a new riding chair from Jacob J. C. Splendor, which has been so useful to Zabriskie in exchange for my old chair, this Royal Company, as well as grateful for which I paid him $120 and the old to the Assembly of the Government & chair.” A riding chair was a swell rig of Direction. the day, being a two-wheeler for one Our Lord keep you many years. person. Madrid, May 21, 1799 In 1806, he “Began to take the For the Royal Company of Shepard Kollog paper, No. 1206.” It Philippines, its Directors, would be interesting to know what Signed, paper this was. MARTIN ANTONIE HERA Under date of June 22, 1813, is JUAN MAD’L DE GANDASEQUI recorded the purchase of “a negro William Pell, Esq. woman by the name of Bett of David In March 1802, it is recorded: J. Ackerman for $100 and a black boy “Begun to be sick with the measles, for $ 12.50 of the name of Tom.” In broke out,” which was not a dignified September Bett and Tom were sold to ailment for a high sheriff. Armand Leonard of New York City for This entry suggests a possibility of £ 45, which was a good bargain. And in error in the commitment of a prisoner: October Mink was sold for $275. “Myself and my brother John went About this time, the second wife of down to Trenton on the 19th day of May Cornelius Bogart died at 2 o’clock p. m.” with the negro Frank and had to bring This entry is found in 1814: “The him back to Hackensack.” Later there legislature did rise the 14th Day of this was better success: “Frank and Colly I month of February 1814, and I got took out of Hackensack gaol on the 8th home the 15th, about 6 o’clock p. m. C. day of November and took them down Bogart.” to state prison.” Cornelius Cadmus took his young On Dec. 27th, the family “bought a Tartar, which was probably a blooded new tea cetel.” horse, “to use him to harness and saddle, In 1803, the sheriff was in a wreck, and is to return him again the first of which is told of thus: “Coming from October next.” Trenton on Tuesday, 30th day of May, “A black girl by the name of Sara” the mail stage overshot at the Ten Mile was bought in July and “the Negro Run.” woman Gin” was sold to Cornelius I. In November 1804, he “made Kipur [Kuyper].” “A black woman and a a cistern at Hackensack.’ Jane was black boy” were purchased for $125. married Dec. 2 and Jane moved Dec. Here appear further records of 13. Evidently Jane wasn’t affected by the “stitches” on stockings—some dark thirteen superstition. blue, others with light blue tops. In 1805, he “Bought a clock from There may be some residents of James Vervelen for 25 pounds,” which Hackensack who remember Cornelius was a good price for a timepiece. It Bogert’s schooner Constellation. In the was no doubt one that had its “station marginalia it is said she was launched in the hall” and probably still “points August 1814 and “the head workman and beckons with its hands” in the was Jeremiah Jennyanch” Yeriance. continued on page 12 Bergen County Historical Society Winter 2007 11 Marginalia, continued from page 11 John A. Bogart and Elizabeth Jacob Zabriskie. Schuyler were married Sept. 19th; Jacob In March 1818, there was another A. Zabriskie & Jane Terhune on the 30th. purchase of a slave, when a woman Those were the days of pure named Cate was bought of Rev. John applejack. It was the native drink, a Demarest for $50. The same month supply of which every family kept on “sowed summer rye in the court yard of hand, and this entry indicates how E. Pell.” farmers procured it: “Sold 405 bushels Fort Lee was then and for many of apples to Benjamin Oldis at one years after the local shad market and shilling a bushel or 6 quarts of spirits these old almanacs have frequent for 10 bushels of apples.” Mr. Oldis was reference to trips there for the purchase noted for the excellent quality of “Jersey of the fish, which brought $9 to $14 a lightning” that he supplied. hundred. The meaning of this entry in March The setting of hens was a matter 1816 is not so clear, but it probably of sufficient importance for careful relates to an arrangement for comfort chronicle and there were so many during a severe winter. “Took the of them that it was necessary to petition (partition) out of the room, but it was taken out too soon, it should have stood till the Saturday before Easter.” At this time, “Mr. House cleaned my clock,” the widow Hopper died, and “Lewis Moore sailed out of the port of New York in the ship Ram Dololl Tay, Goodwin, master, for Calcutta.” 1817 was the year that kept the diary writer busy. Feeding the chickens at the Steuben House about 1909 In January, “Jane comes,” March 4th, register their location. Thus “Jane went home,” March 7th, “Jane the record shows “2 hens set in the died.” Among other occurrences in June windmill; 2 hens set in the crib above was the death of Nicholas Van Dien, the horse; 1 hen set in the stable.” at the building of a hog pen. John B. Wool was taken to the factory of Pell sailed for Batavia in July; “paid Mr. John Morrow to be manufactured into O’Neil $2 for one quarter schooling for “Sattanet at 7d. per yard.” “Miss Pell has Casper A. Pell;” he took “10 loads of paid to Martin Romaine for coloring clover out of the young orchard;” “Wm. ten pounds of green woolen yarn, 15 W. Pell sailed on board the ship Ontario, shillings.” In the same line is an item: Capt. Depyster for Canton in India.” “37 ells woolsy linsy ran 5ells out of The rye crop was a good one— a pound” and “Paid John Wallenberg “Raised 5,410 sheaves of rye in the year.” $2.50 for making a flax crackle, in the Here comes some important presence of Nicholas John Zabriskie.” household notes: “Sale gums cut,” He raised 275 pounds of swingle from “cleaned one back room,” “bed curtains one pound of sowing in the year.” put up,” “cloth to mill.” Then follow the Mr. Bogart was in the legislature deaths of Abraham Bogert, Gen. John again in 1819 and 1820. The legislature A. Schuyler, Albert James Bogert, and met Oct. 25, 1819, and met again Jan.

12 Winter 2007 Bergen County Historical Society 12, 1820; then it adjourned to March 3; Several of them came to America in the then to May 17, and “the legislature rose early days of the colonies. John, son of sine die June 13. Got home the 15th.” Rev. John Pell, came in 1670. His uncle, The winter of 1820-21 was a record Thomas Pell, settled at New Haven in breaker for low temperatures, as witness 1635. William Pell settled in Boston in this: “Casparus Hough, jun’r, crossed on 1635. Anne Pell, daughter of John Pell, the ice from New York to Jersey City the was a woman of social distinction, and 25th day of January 1821, and my son a great friend of Governor Thomas Cornelius the next day, 26th.” Dudley. The family is frequently referred September 27, 1823, “Cornelius C. to in “Dudley’s History.” v Bogert and Edward I. Earle’s schooner from Kevin W. Wright files Leander was lanced.” “Mr. Gardner began to take the Star and Bergen Farmer with Vol. I, No. 37, BCHS Officers & Board • 2006 - 2007 July 18, 1824.” This was one of the first Officers papers printed in Hackensack. President • Kevin Wright The purchase of a $2 hat for Frank First Vice-President • Gail Goldstein called for mention in 1824. Second Vice-President • Nancy Terhune Mr. Bogart presumably lived in Secretary • Janet Strom Hackensack from the time of his Treasurer • Mike Trepicchio election as sheriff until 1830, when he made entry: “Moved back to Paramus, Trustees April 27th.” Catherine Cassidy, Albert Dib, Deborah On the first page of the almanac for Fisk, Mike Gorman, Jack Goudsward, Dawn 1835 is the query: “On the 8th of March Hoffman, Linda Masullo, Eric Nelsen, I wonder where we will be!” and at that Denise Piccino, Beth Potter & Deborah date in the calendar is an X. Adam Boyd Powell. died August 15 of this year. Trustees Emeritus Those familiar with life on the farm in George Laurence, David Whieldon and Gus the beginning of the century will have and Jean Newman a keen appreciation of what to the less Past Presidents informed will appear as merely quaint Albert T. Carpenter 1955-58 or curious in these old data of family Henry Dobson 1958-61 doings. Shearing sheep, thatching a Frederick W. Bogert 1961-63 barn, building a ribbon fence, knitting James M. Ransom 1963-66 mittens or socks, cleaning a back or T. Robert Kammer 1966-68 front room, the birth of a child, a Emorie Leiby 1968-71 calf or a colt, with hundreds of other Albert B. Deardon 1971-74 events were of importance in the family Marden R. Nystrom 1974-77 or neighborhood. With this view of Leo R. Halligan 1977-80 the matter these old almanacs and Richard W. Lenk, Jr. 1980-83 their marginalia are interesting if not John E. Spring 1983-86 instructive study. Janet Odence 1986-89 Incidentally it may be noted that the Frank Lawrence 1989-91 Elizabeth Pell whose name appears in Timothy Adriance 1991-94 one place was the wife of Chancellor Amy Adamo 1994-97 Zabriskie. Robert Griffin 1997-00 The first Pells were an old English John Heffernan 2000-03 family of Northamptonshire, and were Todd Braistead 2003-04 also connected with London affairs.

Bergen County Historical Society Winter 2007 13 continued from page 14

A Zabriskie Mystery Solved through eBay by Robert D. Griffin, Past President BCHS The late historian and genealogist 13 Feb 1781, Jacob received payment George Olin Zabriskie was renowned for wood and carting for the American for his well documented and detailed forces.” articles and books on New Jersey In December 5, 2006, a New York Dutch families. His magnum opus Superior Court document dated July was a massive, 1,950 page two-volume 1787, listed on the Internet auction genealogy on the Zabriskie Family. site eBay sold for $178.49. It was Among the more interesting misidentified as a piece of Judaica, stories contained in Zabriskie’s book because the seller didn’t understand is that of Jacob C. Zabriskie, grandson Jersey-Dutch naming patterns or the of the immigrant ancestor, Albrecht historical origin of the Zabriskie family Zabriskie, and the son of Christian and in America: Leah (Hopper) Zabriskie. According New York Superior Court: Of the to George Olin Zabriskie, his ancestor, term of July in the year of our Lord one Jacob C. Zabriskie, who was born at thousand seven hundred and eighty Paramus, (Bergen Co.), NJ 22 Dec. seven. 1724, owned the Zabriskie (grist) Mills City and County of New York SS: at Red Mills (later known as Arcola and Jacob C Zabriskie complains of Andrew located on the Saddle River). He was an David Van Buskirk in custody. For this, ardent patriot known as “King Jacob,” to wit, that the said Andrew together and served as a freeholder. He married with divers other persons unknown Lena Ackerman, d/o Garret and Jannetje on the fifth day of April in the year of (Van Voorhees) Ackerman and sister of our Lord one thousand seven hundred his brother Albert. The author further and seventy eight at New Barbadoes explains in an Appendix to his book, in the county of Bergen, to wit, at the “On 11 May 1778 he was a prisoner in City of New York at the Dock-ward of the Provost Prison in New York City, reason therefore or duration of not now evident.[emphasis the author’s] In May 1779 Jacob was1907 stabbed 15 times during a Tory raid. In Feb. 1780, Albert Zabriskie, a British spy, recommended to the British authorities that the Zabriskie Mills be seized during the raid being planned. The raiders did go to Red Mills, but left without burning the mills. In Mar 1780 and on

14 Winter 2007 Bergen County Historical Society the said City and in the County of New Robert Morris his attorney against York with force and arms, to wit, with Andrew David Van Buskirk in a plea of swords, guns, and bayonets, made an trespass. assault upon him the said Jacob, and Thus, we learn of King Jacob’s him the said Jacob then and there took imprisonment for 8 months and 10 days and imprisoned, and to the City of New from April 5, to December 25, 1778. It York carried and therein prison kept for appears he was released on Christmas a long time, to wit, for the space of eight Day. months and ten days and also the goods Of Andrew David Van Buskirk, we & chattels, of him the said Jacob, to wit, know only a little, and nothing of his one mare of the price of five pounds, motives for kidnapping and holding two guns, one hat, one great coat, and Jacob C. Zabriskie. He never served in a one blanket, of him the said Jacob of the military regiment, although a Loyalist. value of ten pounds at New Barbadoes The State of New Jersey ordered his in the County of Bergen aforesaid, to arrest and in early July 1777, 150 militia wit, at the City of New York at the Dock- under Major Samuel Hayes of Newark ward of the said City and in the County were dispatched to apprehend him. of New York found he the said Andrew In a letter from Hayes to Livingston then and there took and carried away, reporting on the raid, he confirms and converted and disposed of the same his taking Andrew Van Buskirk on to his own use, & did to the said Jacob Barbadoes Neck. He mentions that Van other injuries against the peace. And Buskirk had taken the oath of allegiance also for this that he the said Andrew to the State of NJ about 3 weeks prior together with divers other persons and since that time sold provisions unknown afterwards, to wit, on the sixth to the British, and he was arrested for day of April in the year last, aforesaid, at having “committed high treason.” His the City of New York at the Dock-ward property was confiscated two years of the same City and in the County of later. Afterwards, this led Governor New York with force and arms, to wit, William Livingston to write to George with Guns, bayonets, and swords, made Washington: an assault upon him the said Jacob and “The Council of Safety has him then & there took and imprisoned pretty well suppressed the Spirit of and him the said Jacob in prison there Disaffection in this County; & I hope by kept for the space of eight months and the vigorous measures lately adopted, ten days, and also the goods, Chattels we shall soon reduce that almost totally to wit two pair of stockings and one revolted County of Bergen to the handkerchief of him the said Jacob to obedience of the States.” the value of twenty shillings then and Andrew was the son of David(4) there found then and there took and (Andrew Laurens(3), Laurens(2), carried away, and other enormities to Laurens A.(1) and Rachel Van Horn. the said Jacob then and there did against He was b. Schraalenburgh ca. 1755 the peace of the people of the state of and m. 13 August 1779 Cornelia Van New York and to the damage of the said Norden. David(4), b. 3 Jul 1721, m. at Jacob five hundred pounds: and there of Schraalenburgh 27 Sept. 1744, Rachel he bringeth suit. Van Horn d/o Christian Cornelissen Morris Attorney } Pledges of } and Francyntje (Banta) Van Horn. Many John Doorich members of the Van Buskirk family were For the Plaintiff } prosecution } known Loyalists and several fought for City and County of New York SS” and served in British military units. Jacob C. Zabriskie puts in his place December 26, 2006 v continued on page 18 Bergen County Historical Society Winter 2007 15 Franklin Lakes’ Contribution to The Battle of the Atlantic By Jack Goudsward The towns’ involvement in the did not exclude her from nautical Battle for the Atlantic started long superstitions. Such is the events of her before the dark days of World War II. It 1923 crossing of the Atlantic. Sailors can be traced to the latter days of World have the superstition of not singing War I. religious hymns. This was avoided at all During World War One the United costs unlesslestprovoked. This taboo States Shipping Board put out a call was broken by two Methodist clerics. to all America to contribute funds One was the son of the Methodist to revitalize the U.S. Merchant Fleet Bishop of Ohio and his friend from and replace the ships lost in the war. Dartmouth. They were working their Franklin Lakes, then part of Franklin way to Europe. The crews said they were Township, answered the call. The punished with two days of a gale and money they contributed was used to two more days in fog in ice filled waters. build the “West Campgaw”. It is said Luckily for the clerics some traditions that Mrs. Woodrow Wilson picked the have passed on; such as the tradition name “West Campgaw from a group of throwing the offending person or meant to perpetuate Indian names. persons overboard to placate the masters Such pride was felt, for this patriotic of the deep and calm the ocean. This act, that during the initial Scrap drive is not the last time the West Campgaw for the Second World War the name felt bad weather. On her 1932 crossing of the “West Campgaw” was evoked to of the middle Atlantic she encountered rekindle the patriotic fires. (Braun 1965, a force eleven gale with a barometer of Wyckoff News 1941) 28.73. (NOAA 1923, New York Times The ship was built in 1920 by the 1923) J.F. Duthie and Company of Seattle, But the West Campgaw was not all Washington, too late to enter war superstitions and bad weather. Good service. Her administration was placed news and acknowledgments did come under the Merchant Fleet Corporation, her way. Late in 1927 the West Campgaw and then operated by various ship was one of 94 ships out of a fleet of 285 companies. She was operated by the U.S. Line through its subsidiary the “Yankee Line”. This allowed the American Ship to trade with U.S. possessions. She started her career by plying the Atlantic. (Colton 2006, New York Times 1927) Being a modern ship Final resting place of the S.S. Campgaw / Capira and the U-609

16 Winter 2007 Bergen County Historical Society to receive recognition for a high state in honor of a small town not far from of maintenance; this bought a sense of Panama City. After repairs the CAPIRA pride to the crew. was assigned to convoy HX 122. She In 1933 the U.S. Shipping Board was outfitted with a general cargo and was redesigned as the U.S. Shipping placed in station 53 of the sailing order. Bureau and placed in the Department She departed Halifax on April 20, 1941 of Commerce, then disbanded and sailing to Liverpool. But on April 26 she replaced by the Martine Commission returned to port with “Breakdown One when Congress passed the Merchant after Another.” Marine Act of 1936. Later in On June 26, 1941 she departs Halifax with convoy HX 135 carrying a general cargo bound for Liverpool. The convoy arrived on July 12 with West Campgaw / Capira on August 16, 1942 no trouble from U-Boats. February of 1942 the War Shipping On July 31 she sailed from Liverpool Administration became part of USMC with convoy ON-3 carrying a “Special by executive order. The task of the WSA Cargo”. The Capira dispersed from the was to purchase and operate the needed convoy on August 14th and sails for civilian tonnage the U.S. needed to win Hualfjord in the USSR. On September the war. (McMillan 2001) 29 she departs and arrives at Archangel At the beginning of 1940, the West on October 11 of 1941 as part of Campgaw was riding at anchor off of Convoy PQ-1. Later as part of convoy Fort Eustis, Va., in the James River as QP-2 they leave Archangel and arrive 14 part of the Maritime Commissions days later at Kirkwall. laid-up fleet. But this did not last March 19, 1942 the SS Capria was long. In January of 1941 the U.S. Lines time chartered to the War Shipping purchased five ships from the laid- Administration in the Port of Boston. up Fleet. One of them was the West She was outfitted to sail with Convoy Campgaw, having used her before the SC 77 sailing from Halifax to Liverpool. company knew what she could do. Since Her position was 43rd in the convoy. A neutrality legislation banned all U.S. note on the harbor report reads “Her shipping from the war zone, the ships decks are loaded with tanks, greenish were bought with the understanding gray with some light blue, and the that they could be sold to a wholly greatest number I have ever seen on a owned foreign subsidiary for the North Freighter”. She then breaks off from Atlantic operation. (New York Times Convoy 77 and sails with Convoy PQ-15 1940, 1941) heading to Oban. They leave and arrive The five ships were sold to the at Murmansk as part of Convoy PQ-15. North Atlantic Transport Company of The Capira then leaves and arrives at Panama, but the U.S. Lines would act Archangel. On June 26 she leaves for as agent for the operation of the ship. Reyjavik as a part of Convoy QP-13. Now the West Campgaw started repairs (Bowerman 2006, Lawson 2006)) to ready her for war service. During During this voyage the instrument this time she was renamed CAPIRA of the destruction of the Capria-the U- continued on page 18 Bergen County Historical Society Winter 2007 17 Franklin Lakes, continued from page 17 609—was completing training with the Flower Class Corvette. She went down 5th Flotilla. The U-609 went into service with all forty seven hands. Her resting with the 6th Flotilla“HUNDIUS”. The place is 55.17N, 26.38W. Not far from boat was captained by Kptit. Klaus the final resting place of the Capria . Rudloff and was a Type VIIC boat. This This ends the involvement of Franklin type of boat was the most prevalent Lakes in the Battle of the Atlantic. to see action in World War II for the German Navy. (Helgason 2006) ACKNOWLEDGMENTS On August 22, 1942 the Capria set I would like to thank Charles P. Linder sail from Halifax to Liverpool England and Kevin Olsen for their help. with Convoy SC 97. She was 23rd TABLE 1: in line with the convoy. She carried S.S.WEST CAMPGAW/CAPIRA a general cargo that included trucks, TYPE STEAM MERCHANT tractors, steel mats, bulldozers and 250 TONNAGE 5,625 TONS bags of U.S. Mail. On August 31, 1942 COMPLETED 1920-J.F. Convoy SC 97 was attacked by the U- DUTHIE and CO., SEATTLE WA. 609 along with nine other U-boats. OWNER US Lines Inc. New York Only the U-609 fired torpedoes. They HOMEPORT Panama ran true and hit and sunk the Capria FLAG Panama and Bronxville. The Capria lost five of FATE Attacked and Sunk August 31, 1942 her crew. British escorts drove off the SUNK BY U-609 (Klaus Rudloff) U-boats but the damage was done. The TABLE 2: U.S. MERCHANT SEAMEN SURVIVORS OF THE Capria settled beneath the waves at S.S. CAPIRA position 57.13N, 33.40W in the Atlantic. Caras, James Deck Cadet (Lawson 2006) Higgins, Thomas Fireman Benjamin F. Reid, a Second Class Travis, James B. Engine Cadet Seaman and survivor of the Capria U.S. NAVAL ARMED GUARD SURVIVORS sinking, recounts the events. “We were Ravella, James A. Lt. jg. hit in the number four hold about six Barbar, William L. S2c o’clock in the morning. I stepped out on Campbell, John L. S2c the Aft deck and one of the booms came Catoe, James W. S2c loose and hit a member of the Gun Chastain, Lawyal J. S2c Crew in the head. There was nothing DeChantsreiter, John G. S2c we could do she was going down fast. DeHaven, Woodrow W. S2c A Life raft came loose and hit me into Dudley, Alvin D. S2c the cold Atlantic. I was under it and a Freemen Wilham L. S2c Dutch Merchant Seaman who was on Hertel, Mathew S2c the raft reached under and pulled me Reid, Benjamin F. S2c out. A Canadian Corvette picked us up. I Ricks, Benjamin F. S2c had swallowed some Diesel fuel. I stayed Van Bushkirk, Lester K. Slc on deck most of the time with the wind FOREIGN SEAMEN LOST blowing in my face. I did not eat until Ching, Young Foo Ch.Cook we got to a North Ireland Naval Base.” China (Reid 2006) Cuteger, Carmelo, Oiler This was the only successful sortie Malta Kinnear, Thomas Chief Engr. for the U-609. The next two patrols England yielded no engagements. On her forth Mitchison, Thomas 2nd Engr. and last patrol she was sunk by depth England charges from the Free French Corvette The Final Resting Place of the S.S.Campgaw/Capira LOBELIA—formally the HMS Lobelia a and the U-609.

18 Winter 2007 Bergen County Historical Society A Century Ago, continued from page 4 REFERENCES CITED Association, the Erie Railroad Company Bowerman.Tom promised to place four electric lights The WWII U.S. Navy Armed Guard Web Site near the railroad depot immediately and Site Accessed on April 26, 2006 at www.armed-guard.com two more in the spring. The company Braun, Maria S. also planned to layout the grounds on Franklin Lakes: Its History and Heritage the west side of the depot as a park Published By: Phillips-Campbell Publishing Co. Inc with a driveway leading to the station. 1965 Crowds of children masqueraded around Colton, Tim 2006, J.F. Duthie and Co. Seattle, Wa.- Hackensack on Halloween, making Records of Pre WWII Ship Building, Accessed on line July 20, 2006 at holiday calls. www.Coltoncompany.com Considerable speculation in northern Helgason, Guomunden2006 The U-Boat Net, New Jersey real estate was ignited in Accessed on June 12, 2006 at October 1906 by the rapid progress made uboat.net in construction of six tunnels, arranged Lawsom, Sim 2006 in pairs, under the Hudson River for the www.warsailor.com use of electric subways: the tunnels of Accessed on-line, July 2, 2006 at warsailors.com the New York & New Jersey Railroad, Mariners’ Museum running from Hudson Place, Hoboken, Photo of the S.S. Campgaw/Capira used with near the Delaware, Lackawanna & permission McMillan, Joe Western terminal to Morton Street, 2001 U.S. Shipping Board Accessed on Line July 25, 2006 at near Christopher Street in Manhattan; crwflags.com the tunnels of the Manhattan Railroad, National Oceanic and Monthly Weather Review extending from the present Pennsylvania Atmospheric Administration November 1923 p-227 Station in Jersey City to a new terminal New York Times-1923 August 5 Sailors’ Superstitions to be built at Cortlandt and Church Defy The Age Of Reason p-X-3 Streets in Manhattan; and the tunnels of New York Times-1927 December 25 Merchant Fleet the Pennsylvania Railroad, running from Puts 94 Ships On Honor List p-N-13 Weehawken to 32nd Street. The Borough New York Times-1940 July 9 “10 More Ships end Lay- Up,” p-41 Club of Tenafly began agitation for a New York Times 1941 January 24 “U.S. Lines Acquire bridge across the Hudson River from New Cargo Vessel,” p-37 Fort Lee to Harlem in October 1906. The Reid Benjamin F. Personal Communication August City Club of Englewood, organized on 5, 2006 October 23, 1906, to second Tenafly’s Wyckoff News 1941 June 17, Defense Council efforts in this regard. The Tenafly Aluminum, p-2 . v Borough Club, alive not only to the needs of the hour but to those of the future, announced that a Hudson River Bridge Rally would be held at Tenafly Hall on Monday evening, December 3, 1906, to Newsletter printed at Tech Repro, Inc., Hackensack be addressed by the New York and New Jersey Bridge Commissioners. Bergen County Historical Society Colonel Alfred T. Holley, of P.O. Box 55, River Edge, NJ 07661 Hackensack, in arguing for construction 201.343.9492 of a bridge across the Hudson River www.bergencountyhistory.org at the meeting held in Grantwood on January 10, 1907, said that the bridge Deborah Powell & Kevin Wright, could be built at this location at a cost editors & layout of about seven million dollars, because Items for the newsletter may be submitted to D. Powell, Attn: Newsletter at Columbia Heights and Woodcliff offered 69 Christie Ave., River Edge, NJ 07661 so may natural advantages. Charles T. or emailed to [email protected] Logan, of the Grantwood Taxpayers’ continued on page 20

Bergen County Historical Society Winter 2007 19 A Century Ago, continued from page 19 Association, urging construction of a On November 14, 1906, the bridge from 115th Street in Manhattan caboose on the freight train, due at the to Grantwood, believed that a bridge Cherry Hill Station about 6:30 P. M., would draw 200,000 persons from derailed while being switched from the New York within five years, increasing northbound to the southbound tracks, the value of property and giving such thereby delaying traffic for about two returns in taxation as would pay for its hours. On the same night, the New construction in only 25 years. Bridge got stuck in open position after The contract to build the new passage of a boat, further delaying the Borough Hall for River Edge on people who had already been delayed by Kinderkamack Road was awarded to the caboose accident. architect George Collins of Stanley Thanksgiving turkeys were reportedly Place, Hackensack, on October 18, 1906. “roosting high in price.” Bloomer Work was underway by the first week Brothers transferred their property on of November: it was to be a two-story the east side of the River Edge Bridge frame building, the contract price being to C. J. Rose, of New York. The old coal $5,000. The first floor was to be utilized yard was reopened with a larger stock of by the fire company for storing the fire Lehigh coal and Anderson Bloomer was apparatus and the second floor was to in charge as superintendent. A survey contain meeting rooms for the Borough was made on November 19, 1907, of the Council and the firemen. Window sashes Bloomer property, comprising about 12 acres along the riverfront, south of Bridge Street, for the new owner. As of January 1, 1907, it was unlawful to sell whiskey except under a label, which told the ingredients and age of the product. Owing to the mild winter, farmers were enabled to do all sorts of work on their farms, such as setting fence posts, plowing, etc. Charles E. Walsh, brick maker, and Herman Abbenseth and Elmer Van Buskirk, manufacturers of cement block, contemplated embarking together as a firm in the building business. Grape vines and fruit trees received their annual trimming during the second week of January. Consumers of gas who for the new borough hall, for which the used a quarter-in-the-slot meter were carpenter had waited nearly a month, now allowed 210 cubic feet of illuminant finally arrived in January 1907. Owing to for their money, being 1 cubic foot the delay, the Borough Council could not more than theretofore. Kerosene lamps occupy the building before their March still did duty on the River Edge depot meeting. Painted white in February 1907 grounds but residents expected to see the and presented a prominent appearance. promised electric lights before the New M. B. and L. G. Gardner, Hackensack Year got very much older. brick makers, celebrated the preparation During the third week of January of the season’s last brick kiln for firing 1907, ice harvesters had renewed hopes on November 11, 1906 by ordering a of gathering a crop before the pansies ten-gallon pot of clam chowder to feast bloomed again. The first sleighing of the their employees. season was enjoyed on Friday, January

20 Winter 2007 Bergen County Historical Society 18th, and then it rained. Two young the village grocery business, opposite ladies who took a ride down the hill on the River Edge Station, which he had Wednesday morning, January 29th, in operated for about a year; his successor farmer Glinskie’s sled, waited at the post was to be W. S. Brown, a former office for the sleigh to come back from proprietor of the store. Bogert’s dock, hoping for a return-trip Farmer Jacob Tschink retired from home. The ladies sweetly inquired if it agricultural pursuits, disposed of his would be too heavy for the horses to pull farming implements at public auction on them up hill. “Oh, no,” answered Mr. March 14th, and moved to Fairmount. Bogert with a laugh, “if you can stand it, A week later, warm weather sufficiently the horses can.” When the sleigh pulled broken the ice to open the river to out of Bogert’s coal yard, the girls quickly navigation. Easter lilies were blooming saw the joke: the sleigh was heaped up and perch were running upstream. with farm fertilizer of rank-smelling Children laid away their ice skates and quality. One of them was so provoked were instead gliding the sidewalks on that she threw a snowball at the post rollers. Temperature rose to 75˚ on office door, but it went wide of the mark. Saturday, March 23rd, and early spring Zero weather prevailed on January 31st, flowers such as crocus and snowdrops much to the delight of the ice dealers. made their appearance. Mrs. Catherine A. Bogert on Tuesday, Plans for improvement of the River January 28th, sold a farm of 18 acres Edge railroad depot were finally exhibited at Spring Valley to Fiecke Johnson of at the post office in March 1907. While Maywood. Mr. Johnson, an employee the company would layout a driveway in the Alkaloid Works at Maywood, was and approaches to the depot, the to try farming as a health restorer. C. Improvement Association would beautify H. Behnke, of New York, who recently the grounds with shade trees and keep bought the William Gundlah farm at the grounds in good shape afterward. A Spring Valley in Paramus, took possession subscription had been opened at the post of the property on January 28, 1907. office to help along the good work and A snowstorm, which struck Bergen over $100 had been pledged in amounts County on Monday, February 4, 1907, ranging from $1 to $50. developed into a genuine blizzard, the It was a trifle early for picnics, but worst in eight years. Nearly two feet of an excellent postcard view of a party of snow fell and high winds piled it into picnickers on the riverbank was exhibited drifts that in places measured four or in the post office, together with some five feet deep. Railroads and trolleys fine winter scenes of River Edge. The best running through Hackensack were badly fishing grounds were rumored to be in blocked and commuters stayed home. the stretch of river between New Milford Throughout the county, highways were and River Edge, while “Harris Hole” and closed and school children got a general “Paulison’s point” were favorite haling holiday. A cold wave followed in the wake spots for seine fishermen. of the snowstorm and on Wednesday Scrap baskets were placed at the morning, February 6th, thermometers east end of the borough near the North registered 2˚ above zero and stood at 3˚ Hackensack Depot to receive waste below zero at 7 A.M. on Thursday. paper, instead of allowing it to litter the By the opening of March, ice on the public streets. Agent Blauvelt hoped river had broken up and was floating that the fellow who stole the gum slot downstream. The electrocution law went machine from the depot would become into effect March 1, 1907, and hanging conscience-stricken and return it, but was played out in New Jersey. William that dream did not come true. v Doremus was about to retire from Kevin W. Wright

Bergen County Historical Society Winter 2007 21

Contact thru our Website

1.

2. William Elliot Walling, (1917-2001) and Stuyvesant Ave. Both locations lived in Lyndhurst from 1925 to 1927 & incidentally were a few blocks from a 1931 to 2001 and these are some from DL&W Railroad station and directly his collection, by way of his son William. on the trolley line. This building then I chose to start with this picture became the Westminster Presbyterian (1.) (William photographed) because Church. Thirty years later or so the being “posed” it has fewer of the defects Presbyterians relocated to a brick found in snap shots. This building was colonial style building further south and at the south east corner of New Jersey on the opposite side of Ridge Road. If Ave. and Ridge Road, Lyndhurst. The memory serves correctly this building front section minus the entry porch then became a plumbing and heating was apparently originally the Lyndhurst business and may still be there. Methodist Episcopal Church built (2.) Apparently this is a 12-seat open about 1890. In 1914, the Methodists car #67, of the Newark & Hackensack built a new church at Tontine Ave Traction Co. south-bound for Newark,

22 Winter 2007 Bergen County Historical Society 3.

4. sometime between 1904 and 1906. The (Bergen County history) suggests that car was originally built for the Union V. Royle whose name is stamped into all Traction Co about 1898. See Sennstrom, the pictures was probably Vernon Royle, B. H. and E. T. Francis, Public Service who grew up in Paterson and whom Railway, Bergen Division, (Harold E. she believes had pictures published in a Cox, Forty Fort, PA,1994). book on the iron works of the Ramapos. (3.) It has been a while since I sent I neglected to mention in my first anything but maybe this will be worth note that I think these pictures came the wait. This is one of 7 pictures I from the White residence in Waldwick, received this weekend. I knew they though whether they belonged to existed but their whereabouts was Lillian White or to her cousins Emma uncertain. There are 2 pictures of Shuart and Mary Yereance I do not this house (identified as being “near know. (4.) This is the house of which Waldwick”) taken at different times, there are 2 identical pictures. It comes 2 identical pictures of a later house and complete with 2 children, 1 hammock 3 scenes apparently of Waldwick. Pat and apparently no chimney or running Wardell with whom I correspond about water. v W. Walling

Bergen County Historical Society Winter 2007 23 President’s Letter, continued from page 1 had to repaint the kitchen. up the secrets of its long-forgotten For security reasons, the wooden architectural development for the shutters were nailed closed. Before first time in two and a half centuries. those along the back of the house could Combined with documentary research, be opened again, I had to cut down the story of this great Revolutionary mulberry saplings about eight inches landmark began to grow in interest in diameter. I remember the day we and complexity. At the same time, the moved in; I looked into the gloom of Nation’s Bicentennial encouraged a the backrooms downstairs, but a flip new and more objective look at the of the switch produced no light. In legend and lore that too often obscured half darkness, with just a crack of light historical fact. This great milestone streaming through the mismatching event also inspired a new approach to shutters, I thought that an ugly shag historical interpretation, which became carpet covered the floor. The next day, more inclusive and less hagiographic. armed with a lamp, I discovered that it There was a healthy impulse towards was actually a thick mantle of mold and the respectful treatment of historical mildew covering industrial carpeting. artifacts and the power of authenticity The closed shutters and windows made that they can lend in a proper museum it a mushroom farm! setting. Iron patio railings and chicken- For sometime after we arrived, I wire fencing created a narrow corridor remember how middle-aged visitors down the middle of the attic, which would knock on the door and hesitate was a storage/display area. Of course, before entering, asking earnestly if “you the Dugout canoe was the main object still lock people into the dungeon?.” of curiosity. Downstairs, Art Deco wall It took me awhile to understand that sconces provided the only light. Heavy a former caretaker had urged groups blinds shut out the daylight, even when of scouts and school kids into the old the outside shutters were open. There vaulted root cellar in the back of the was a large old display case inside the house. Once inside, she slammed and front door, which served as a gift shop. bolted the door, leaving the hapless As you can imagine, everything victims to flail in the darkness of this became an adventure, every door and damp vault, feeling the chains and skull drawer yielding something unexpected. that had been placed there for added The first thing we did was paint the effect. I concluded that a generation of interior, which had a very faded pastel youngsters had been “terrorized” in the Williamsburg Blue on the woodwork. dark recess of this scary old house. Fortunately, Charles Tishy, the state Other guests insisted that I tell the restoration architect, had done interior story of the “hay door” in the back of the paint sampling, which revealed the house. It turned out that WPA workers present verdigris green trim and linen had removed the wooden staircase from white walls. When I went to move the rear of the house, which descended paintings and other wall displays, to the ground from the center hall in however, I found that a restoration the second story, when they tore off the contractor had done extensive rear kitchen wing (circa 1860) in 1939. exploration of the architectural fabric, The “explanation” commonly offered for leaving large holes in the plaster walls. the resulting doorway-to-nowhere was The easiest remedy, of course, was to that this was built so that hay wagons hang a picture over each one. could unload directly into the house. Digging into the walls did have its While I know that straw was used to fill benefits: the Steuben House yielded mattresses, I thought the idea that Mr.

24 Winter 2007 Bergen County Historical Society Zabriskie would store hay in his elegant gift of the Steuben House from the State stone mansion to be amusing at best. of New Jersey to Baron von Steuben And then there was the local version of on Steuben Day, 1983. Director Myers Veronica’s Veil: a frying pan, hung in cherished historic sites. I remember the Dwelling Room fireplace, displaying his frustration. It appeared as if the George Washington’s portrait. As legend Navy had bequeathed its surplus paint would have it, Mrs. Bourdet supposedly at the end of the Second World War to cooked Washington’s eggs in it while he the State Park Service, for the exterior was at Fort Lee. I always wondered why was a heavily peeled battleship gray. the artist didn’t depict two trompe l’oeil The house itself was slowly vanishing fried eggs! into the swamp, for it seemed that each We certainly became part of the year the landscapers mowed a smaller house’s history. Ben and Anna were and smaller patch around the building, born in the northwest room upstairs, leaving nature to steadily reclaim the respectively, in December 1982 and rest. Director Myers was appalled. He February 1985. Interestingly, our called Ringwood and demanded that midwife lived within walking distance the house be better treated. When he of the house. Now when I am upstairs returned a couple of months later, in the backrooms, I find it almost nothing had been done. He called impossible to imagine how the five of us again and insisted that the exterior be fit into that confined space—two small scraped and painted in time for the rooms, a kitchen and a bathroom. Our Steuben Day event. When he got there, kitchen was the main office for meetings nothing had happened. He then told of all kinds. We shared our bathroom me how frustrated he was. He thought with state workers, Society members, that as Division Director, when he and even the general public. But at least said something, things would happen. I had the great privilege of living where I Nothing ever did. Instead, he said that worked and watching my children grow the bureaucrats and superintendents up. would line up at his desk to explain why The grounds made up for what we they couldn’t do what he asked—an lacked in domestic space. Out back, endless train of excuses! He didn’t stay a gnarled mulberry tree held a rope long, but introduced Greg Marshall swing. We had gardens and, at one as his Deputy Director and eventual point, as many as 200 blooms of my successor. Before he left in 1984, he grandmother’s iris. The problem was signed a reclassification, which I wrote always the lack of privacy: Any toys left for the Steuben House, creating the outside, even for a few moments, were first Historic Preservation Specialist apt to disappear. positions in the field (at the same time We arrived in the fading hours of the also elevating Tom Laverty at the Wallace Byrne administration. Governor Kean House in Somerville). Suddenly, my picked Russ Myers, who did so much annual pay doubled to $14,000! of lasting value for the Morris County I came to understand Director Parks and Historic Sites, as the Director Myers’ frustrations as time went on. of Parks & Forestry. Being a close friend For example, I remember contractors of Alex and Catherine Marchbank, who working on a major maintenance lived on Coopers Pond in Bergenfield, of the exterior of the house, which he would frequently stop by for a visit. included taking down the chimneys I can still remember him with BCHS to the roofline and rebuilding them. President John Spring, in a ceremony Rather than building chutes to safely commemorating the bicentennial of the convey the bricks to the ground, the

Bergen County Historical Society Winter 2007 25 workers decided that it would be easier rear of the house. When we first arrived, to just shove them down the chimney. and for several years afterward, the Deborah and I were still asleep in bed morning sunshine, breaking through on a Monday morning when we heard the imperfections of the antique glass this terrific crash and tumult over our as through prisms, cast rainbows on the heads. When I saw several bricks fly walls of our apartment. The windows past our window, I got up in a mighty were supposed to be “re-set”, but when hurry. They had pushed the bricks into we came home one afternoon, the old the “live” chimney, causing the furnace glass lay in shards along the back of the to “puff back,” filling the house with house, because it was supposedly easier oily soot! I ran out the front door and to just break it then to re-putty the climbed the ladder to the roof, in my sashes and replace only broken panes. pajama pants, yelling for the inspector, Dr. Lenk was president when we who was standing atop the roof, first arrived. In succession came John Spring, Janet Odence, Frank Lawrence, Tim Adriance, Amy (Northrup) Adamo, Bob Griffin, John Heffernan and Todd Braisted. Many wonderful Society members made this place what it is, giving tirelessly of themselves. I enjoy a treasury of fond recollections, but the length of my memory and of this page makes me hesitant to begin the litany of names, for fear that I might unwittingly overlook someone most Ivan, Anna and Ben under the black walnt tree, behind the Steuben House, 1989 deserving of mention! overseeing this fiasco. When the fire Deborah took on the newsletter in alarm sounded, I rushed back inside to ‘93 and was first asked to be a trustee find the place filled with smoke. Before in ‘94. She created the BCHS website in I could even react (and try to save the early 1997. collections from the damaging effects I well remember being invited to of the smoke and soot), I heard the dinner at Jim and Ada Ransom’s house fire engines pull up out front. Since it in Westwood. One of the great surprises was my day off (the house being closed of our visit was the discovery that Mondays and Tuesdays), the doors and Ada collected pink elephants! Several shutters were closed. I peered through years later, Jim asked if the Society the peephole in the front door to see could again hold its Christmas party the firemen approaching the house in the Steuben House (as had been the with their axes! I was on the front porch custom in former years). He introduced in an instant, yelling at the top of my a very spirited gift exchange, where lungs, before the first axe could impale each new participant could either open the historic fabric. Another sad legacy a new gift or take one that someone of this “renovation” was the removal of else had opened. Under the rules, a the “crown glass” windowpanes in the gift could switch hands three times,

26 Winter 2007 Bergen County Historical Society before it remained with its final holder. with Betty Schmelz on the Bergen Dutch This, of course, made for some lively Folk Art Exhibit, timed to commemorate fun! Deborah and I found a beautiful Bergen County’s tercentenary. Our reproduction German glass ornament of committee researched weaving, pottery a pink elephant and had Ivan contribute spoon boards, and “primitive” artwork it as a gift at the party. When the package of every description. The State Museum was opened, Ada’s eyes opened wide— later presented the show, which (I the chase was on! Every maneuver and believe) remains the only major exhibit stratagem was employed in the great that originated in a State Historic Site pink elephant hunt. Jim and Ada used to be subsequently offered at the State their combined six chances to attain the Museum. Betty went on to work with prize, but seemingly failed in the end. Kevin Tremble and myself to write the Refusing to accept defeat, Jim stopped crucial Site Management Plan in 1984, the person with the ornament as he was which conceived of the unity of the site leaving and cut a deal that brought home and its stakeholders, recommending the glass pachyderm for Ada’s trophy case! the restoration of the ancient name Much has changed over time. The of Historic New Bridge Landing. Zabriskie-Steuben House remains the Ultimately, Senator Loretta Weinberg Society’s Museum Headquarters, but and Assemblywoman Charlotte the arrival of the Campbell-Christie Vandervalk ushered the passage of House opened new opportunities and the Historic New Bridge Landing challenges. It would take a decade to Park Commission act through the make the interior of that relocated Legislature in 1995. Past President Bob landmark truly presentable, capped Griffin was (and is) the Great Nudge, with the installation of a gift shop and who keeps this unique mechanism tavern furnishings. Tim Adriance and churning out success after success, ably Charlie Marchesini built the Out Kitchen assisted by a remarkable partnership of in 1991, using stone from demolished commissioners representing the three historic houses in Hackensack. The adjacent municipalities, the County, storage and display of our museum the Blauvelt-Demarest Foundation, the collections in the garret of the Zabriskie- Division of Parks & Forestry, and BCHS. Steuben House ended in 2000, when the But the best is always yet to come! heating system and roof were replaced. Soon the junkyard will vanish and We put together so many great events: Historic New Bridge Landing will Steuben day, the Hackensack River become visible along one of the county’s Festivals, Candlelight Concerts, quilt major east-west arteries and only a shows, antique shows, Pinkster Festival, quarter mile north of busy Route #4. Rev and Civil War reenactments, and After 105 years, the Society now faces more! I had the great privilege of its greatest challenge: to build a visitor working with several mentors who center and museum commensurate with reshaped my interests and career. For the important artifact and document more than a decade, I researched Bergen collections it owns and preserves—the Dutch architecture with Claire Tholl, greatest physical remainder of the folk accompanying her on many visits to culture of the Jersey Dutch to survive stone houses throughout the region in the public domain. A heritage center and doing most of her documentary that Bergen County richly deserves! research. I also worked on historical And on ground of such great historical research for Reg McMahon and the significance. So stay tuned, there’s more historical marker program. In 1983, I exciting news ahead… v had the great honor of collaborating Kevin W. Wright

Bergen County Historical Society Winter 2007 27 Address Service RequestedAddress Service River Edge, NJ 07661 P.O. Box 55 Historical County Bergen Society

Winter 2007 Bergen County Historical Society