Gem of the Mountains

GemGem ofof thethe MountainsMountains The Newsletter of the Boonton Historical Society and Museum August, 2020 210 Main Street, Boonton, New Jersey 07005 ◆ (973) 402-8840 ◆ www.boonton.org ◆ [email protected] Boonton Holds Memorial Day Services And Fourth Of July Celebration The Museum Will Be Reopening By Appointment Only Sundays 1:00 - 4:00 PM The current rules governing museums limits the number of visitors in the building at one time. In addition, face masks and social distancing will be required. Email us at [email protected] to schedule your appointment or leave a message for Veronica at 908-625-6682. Featured in our changing exhibit room is a presentation of the New Jersey Trolley Era. The exhibit includes scale models of various types of trolley cars which operated in New Jersey, along with streetcar memorabilia and artifacts such as an operator’s uniform jacket, hats, badges, books, publications, post cards, photos, videos, lithographs, signs, posters, tickets, lanterns, hardware, and more. Cassidy Davis, representing Boonton Historical Our gift shops will be open offering a wide range of Society, read the entire Declaration of Independence gift items, books by local authors and, of course, a at Boonton's Memorial Day Services and 4th of July selection of Boontonware. ceremony held in Grace Lord Park. - 2 - Spotlight On Arch Bridge Continuing our ongoing series bringing the In May, 2018, we discussed plans to apply for grants museum’s archives to our readers. In this issue the to preserve the Arch Bridge. On August 18 the Town spotlight is on a recent acquisition. of Boonton published the following announcement: The museum was fortunate to receive a rare donation The Town of Boonton is pleased to announce it has recently, a handwritten collection of minutes from received two grants from the Morris County Historic Boonton’s Woman’s Christian Temperance Union Preservation Trust Fund. dated October 17, 1924 and ending September 19, Dr. Edina Renfro-Michel, Chair of the Grant 1941. Committee says, "We appreciate the continued support of the Morris County Historic Preservation Trust Fund. Restoring the Arch Bridge is the keystone in the Town's plan to preserve the historic assets within the Boonton Ironworks Historic District." The first grant, in the amount of $320,000, will be used to restore the historic Arch Bridge in Grace Lord Park. Built in 1866, the bridge is an iconic symbol of the Town. Originally a part of the fire protection system for the Boonton Ironworks, it now serves as a pedestrian bridge and scenic overlook over the Rockaway River. The funding will be used to stabilize and repair the masonry structure including stone cleaning, raking and repointing of mortar, and replacement of concrete bridge deck. The second grant, in the amount of $36,800, will be used to fund a member by member engineering It is interesting to note that though the minutes are assessment of the historic train trestle spanning the short, more times than not they inform the reader as river at the site of the old ironworks. to who’s home the meeting was held (or at least a street name) and there is always a signature of the The grants were approved unanimously by the secretary. In addition, names of committee Board of Freeholders at their August 12 meeting. members, attendees, and speakers are recorded. Dr. Renfro-Michel would like to thank the Freeholders, Mayor Richard Corcoran, the members The Woman’s Christian Temperance Union of the Grant Committee and the Board of Aldermen (WCTU) was founded in November 1874 in as well as Town Administrator Neil Henry for their Cleveland, Ohio. It became one of the largest and contributions and support in this process. most influential woman’s groups of the 19th century by expanding its platform to campaign for labor laws, prison reform, and suffrage. In 1898, the WCTU began to distance itself from feminist groups, instead focusing primarily on prohibition. Though its membership steadily declined following the passage of the Eighteenth Amendment (prohibition of alcohol) in 1919, the WCTU continued to operate through the 20th century. Opposed to the use of tobacco, alcohol, and illegal drugs, it ran a publishing house and was active in schools. - History.com - 3 - There Was A Doctor In The House front door. I was a very shy child and used to be so By Marcia Booth afraid that a patient sitting in the waiting room would see me crawling up the stairs against the wall Recently, I was sitting on the fourth floor waiting hoping that I was invisible. I’m sure I would have room of the newly opened building of the Mayo been terrified if the patients had been wearing Clinic in Jacksonville, Florida, about a 10-minute masks, as we have had to do in the 2020 pandemic drive from where I now live in Jacksonville Beach. era. I sometimes wonder, too, whether the patients One entire side of this building is glass, so I was able today would have wandered upstairs just to see what to stare out across the ever-growing campus. As I our home was like. We seem to be more intrusive sat there, I began to think about all the incredible today. changes that have occurred in the medical field in the last 80 years. You see, my father was a medical The practice continued in this vein until WWII, doctor during the mid 20th century, and I was a when my father was drafted into the Air Force as a witness to the way medicine was practiced then, flight physician. When he returned to Boonton, my even if it was through the eyes of a very young girl. father built an addition to the house. Once the My dad’s practice was located in our home, a big medical office was moved to the new addition, the house on the corner of William and Cedar Streets. A family gained a dining room and living room. stonewall surrounded the property and steps which led to the front door. My parents, Dr. William K. and Helen Cooney Booth, lived there from the early 1930’s to 1965 when they died. I moved to Florida in 1982. Dr. & Mrs. Booth with Marcia c1950s By this time, I was a little older and enjoyed playing rousing ball games with my pals, Louis, Kenny, and Hank Rothbart who lived across the street in a two- family house abutting the stairs on Cedar Street. Mr. Watson lived on the other side of the house. He was Actually, my father was not the only physician a bit of a mystery because I never saw him. Mr. whose practice was located in his home. Dr. Rothbart worked at the Pocketbook Factory. He Carmelo Musetto, who resided on the corner of would bring home large boxes containing unfinished Birch and Cornelia Streets, Dr. Dora Cook, who handbags, which Mrs. Rothbart prepared for lived in the third block of Cornelia Street, and later shipment to distributors. Dad would sternly on, Dr. Jerry Lenko, whose residence was on admonish us to keep whatever ball we were playing Washington Street—all had their offices in their with under control so that the patients who were homes. Dr. Griscom had his office on the ground coming up the steps to the house didn’t end up floor of the Pilgrim Apartment building, but I don’t becoming unwitting participants in whatever game believe he resided there. we were playing, especially dodge ball. (Dr. Musetto’s daughter, Carmela, and my cousin As I continued staring out the window, I thought Barbara Boesche — “big old 8th graders” — were st nd about my phone experience with the Mayo Clinic charged with walking me, a lowly 1 or 2 grader to and the way it was in the past. our grade school, Our Lady of Mt. Carmel). “For Appointments, press 1.” When I was very young, dad’s practice took up the entire ground floor except the kitchen. My father, At our house, all phone calls were answered by my mother, and I lived upstairs on the second floor. To mother. The phone was on a small table in the get there, we climbed the stairs that overlooked the corner of the dining room along with an appointment waiting room, which was reached by entering the book. Actually, most people were walk-ins but - 4 - some made appointments, not unlike Quest receive by mail many very odd, but interesting lures Diagnostic today. Many phone calls were just to prescribe certain drugs. I remember once inquiries about whether the doctor was going to have receiving a 6-inch clear plastic statue of a person hours that day — or night — would you believe! whose body was more than half full of water; clearly, this was an ad for a diuretic. Today, we are “To Speak to the Doctor, press 2.” the targets of companies that bombard us with many Today, you seldom, if ever get to speak directly to TV ads for various drugs encouraging us to ask for the doctor; you first speak with the receptionist. them when we see our doctors next. These ads Well, dad’s receptionist and secretary was mom. convince us that a particular drug will surely help She would screen the calls, take messages, our condition. Hearing all the problems that could promising a callback, or press a small button in the arise from taking these drugs should, perhaps, send dining room wall near the phone, which signaled dad us running to some other remedy. to pick up. “For the Lab, press 5.” “For Billing, press 3.” In this room that housed the pharmaceuticals, my Billing was also mom’s domain.

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