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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. Once a month dad kept a microscope where he would conduct mom would drag the following to the dining room simple blood tests. Sometimes, I was allowed to table: a box of billing statements, envelopes, a small make my own slides of plain water or maybe a bug. square white ceramic box with a rolling wheel set in I always thought this was great fun, but I guess not a quantity of water to help seal the envelopes and enough for me to major in science. He would also wet the stamps. I would often help seal and stamp do simple urinalysis. Often a patient would deliver a the envelopes. Mom would keep track of the sample to the front door which mom or I would take payments that came via the postman. I still turns answering. We were always amused at the remember our very kind, friendly postman, Mr. kind of container this sample would arrive in — a Vnencak. (Many years later, when I became a coffee can, a jelly jar, etc. guidance counselor at Boonton High School, I Sometimes answering the door brought a different worked with his son, who taught math.) There were type of surprise. I remember once facing a gurney one or two patients who paid their bill “in kind.” I with a very pregnant woman lying there looking remember one family whose payment consisted of anxiously at me. She had been brought to the door their homemade wine. by the Kiwanis Ambulance crew. It seems that they “For Prescriptions, press 4.” were afraid that the woman would deliver at any moment. However, dad would have none of this and In a very small room in the new addition attached to firmly instructed the drivers to head out to the house, there were several cabinets that housed Morristown (Boonton did not have a hospital at that very large bottles of pills such as aspirin and time so people had to drive to All Souls or bicarbonate of soda. For simple ailments, a patient Morristown Memorial Hospital). Dad followed the would be given a small white envelope of these pills. ambulance and all arrived in time for a safe delivery. However, dad had to remember whether at the last These hospitals were, even then, the place to go for appointment, Mrs. Smith received pink pills or green more complex treatments such as x-rays and pills; otherwise, he would receive a call asking operations. whether she had been given the wrong medicine. For more serious ailments, dad would write a When he was finished with his afternoon hours, my prescription which more than likely would be taken father would grab his black bag and head off to to Whelan’s Drug Store at the corner of William and make house calls. How many remember those? Main Street, where Mr. Heeney would fill the When I became a teenager and got my driver’s prescription. I remember that in its early days, permit, I would drive Dad to see these patients. I got Whelan’s had an ice cream counter. Their cones to drive all over—Boonton, of course, Mountain were delicious. Lakes, and Montville in particular. I used to enjoy driving up the long driveway to the Firemen’s I don’t remember pharmaceutical representatives Home. Waiting outside atop that small hill, I loved visiting my father, but I do remember that he used to to gaze down Vreeland Ave. thinking about where - 5 - that road would lead. I also loved to go to Montville Mary Henderson was a concert flutist who, at the in the fall and drive by and hopefully stop at the age of 20, made her debut with the New York apple stand and get a basket of the most wonderful Philharmonic Club at Chickering Hall. She was the apples. The fields of apple trees have long since first American woman flute soloist to appear in this given way to apartments or condos. country (NY Times obit, July 5, 1963). Yes, the medical field has certainly changed. We can Mrs. Henderson was also a major benefactor of St. only imagine the changes the current generation will John's School and a member at St. John’s Church in encounter. I think, however, that people are already Boonton. While a trustee of St. John’s School, she coming face to face with them as we live through the generously contributed to the school financially, as pandemic. Has anyone been treated by “Teladoc” well as with property in Mountain Lakes for the yet? school’s expansion. Over the years of the school’s development, Mrs. Henderson is also known to have A frequent contributor to Gem provided tuition assistance for some of the school’s of the Mountains, Marcia was a students. Among those who received her generosity graduate, and later joined the were Robert Bridge and his sister Pauline who faculty, of the Wilson School eventually married Mrs. Henderson’s son, Elyot. (St. John’s School) in Mountain Lakes. Her father, Dr. William Rev. Bridge’s second daughter, Joan Chandos K. Booth, was a member of the Bridge, married physicist Albert Baez whom she met first football team at Boonton while he was a student at in High School. After finishing Madison. They married in 1936. Joan and Albert medical school at Johns were and, like Rev. Bridge, well known for Hopkins, he returned to Boonton where he had a their involvement with world peace and social family practice until his death in 1960. Her justice issues. Their middle daughter is the grandfather William R. Booth was a mayor of acclaimed folk singer and political activist Joan Boonton. Baez. Mary Henderson was her godmother.

Did You Know? By Jennifer M. Coultas A new column of our newsletter will present some anecdotes and reminiscences which describe how some world events, famous individuals, and bygone happenings have been recorded on the pages of our small town’s history. If you have a story to tell, Joan Chandos Bridge, 1913-2013 please let us know at [email protected]. Rev. William Henry Bridge (1886-1937), rector at St. John’s Church, Boonton, was a pacifist who founded a fellowship center in Mount Kisco, NY, as an educational project for the promotion of peace. Before coming to St John’s, he was on the faculties of Hunter College, Idaho University, and Grinnell College, Iowa. He had three daughters, Pauline Bridge, Joan Rev. William H. Bridge, 1886-1937 Chandos Bridge, Diana Bridge, and a son, Robert Marcia Booth and Donnis Demouthe shared their Andrew Chandos Bridge. Through his children, his memories of the St. John’s School and Rev. Bridge’s path was destined to connect with that of Mary family. Thanks also to Nancy Lutzow, Menlo Park, Henderson (1870-1963). CA. - 6 -

Introducing Our Volunteers Chronicling A Pandemic

This is certainly a stressful and trying time and we extend our sincere wishes that you all remain safe and well. Whether you have been confined to your home for months or you have been working outside your home, if you are an essential worker, or a front-line responder, the ebb and flow of our lives has changed significantly, and, for some of us, forever. How has Elisa Digiacopo the Covid-19 pandemic been impacting you and your Elisa grew up on Church Street next to the old family? Your work? Your everyday life? Wootton house. Both of her parents and their What a unique opportunity to collect personal stories families also grew up in Boonton, with the exception of Boontonites during the Covid-19 pandemic! A of her dad's parents who moved to Boonton from chance to inform future generations how we met this Italy in the 1950's. A family who has always been global disaster and how it changed our daily lives involved in the community, her great-grandfather, and our community. Ed Smith, owned the old handbag factory for a while and her grandfather, Martin Wilde, ran for the office Are you willing to share anecdotes and personal of mayor in 1969. Elisa graduated Boonton High in reflections about things in town that will be of 2011 and went to college at Saint Mary Mount in interest to future historians? How have you coped Newburgh, New York, where she graduated in 2015. with isolation and how have you occupied your days? How have you been impacted by the closure While still in college Elisa joined the historical of schools, restaurants and the cancellation of sports society to gain experience and to promote Boonton's events, weddings, funerals, and family gatherings? history. Starting as a volunteer when she was 18, How have you kept in touch with friends and family, she spent time at the museum greeting museum church affiliations? What effort and adjustments visitors and working in the museum gift shops. have you made to retain some semblance of Since graduating college, Elisa has helped promote normalcy, something as mundane as grocery the museum on social media through our Facebook shopping for example, while we await a new normal. page and by distributing press releases to local newspapers and other publicity outlets. The Boonton Historical Society invites you to share your experiences with us. There is no deadline for Elisa studied abroad at Swansea University in your submission which can be emailed as an Wales, UK, where she earned a master’s degree. attachment to [email protected] or send Elisa notes that “volunteering at the historical a hardcopy to the museum (210 Main Street, society has made me realize my passion for non- Boonton, NJ 07005). Should we publish responses profit work and I hope to get into that field. I also at some future date, please note on your submission want to travel more and learn about the history of if you wish to remain anonymous. other cities”. - 7 -

Boonton Historical Society & Museum Mission Statement The Boonton Historical Society and Museum is a Board of Trustees non-profit organization incorporated in 1959, located Sima Roy Chowdhury in the town of Boonton, New Jersey. Its mission is James Cook to: Jennifer Coultas James M. Gannon • Preserve and protect the town of Boonton's unique Tammie Holloway cultural, architectural, and industrial history; Veronica Jelic • Preserve and share the area's rich history, folklore, Nancy Questa arts, and humanities of the past and present; • Encourage preservation and restoration of historic Archivists landmarks in the town; Evelyn Eckardt • Protect and display the museum's collections; Monica Scozzafava • Provide educational programs, guided historical Membership tours, and exhibitions to a diverse population. Eric Wallin The League of Historical Societies of New Jersey Social Media 2016 Kevin M. Hale Publication Award Winner Candace Grant 2nd Place, Newsletter Category.

Opinions expressed herein are not necessarily those of the Boonton Historical Society.

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