August Meeting

In spite of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Executive Board managed to meet on August 16 in the Hanson House, with members observing proper precautions. They all wore masks and sat at least six feet apart from each other. Various topics were discussed, including the dates for next year’s meetings, but it is questionable as to whether those dates will stand, as several dates for the year had already been lost.

Ghostly Apparition at Liberty Hall

Plans were made for something different for the October 4, 2020 meeting, but those plans were later changed. The virtual program was discarded and instead members gathered under a large tent at Liberty Hall in Union, New Jersey. Attendance was limited to forty people, all wearing masks and maintaining the customary six-foot social distance.

The subject of the program was “A Ghostly Apparition at Liberty Hall,” concerning the ghost of Hannah Caldwell, who was killed by a British soldier on June 7, 1780 during the Battle of Connecticut Farms. Her ghost was reportedly seen by British looters as they invaded Liberty Hall and were frightened away by what they saw inside the house.

It is interesting to wonder why Hannah’s ghost would have been in Liberty Hall, as she was killed in her own home at the Presbyterian Church parsonage about a mile away. In more recent years, Hannah was reported to haunt the Union County Court House, which makes some sense since she is buried in the neighboring churchyard.

Season’s Greetings

With the holiday season fast approaching, many are reminded of childhood days when good behavior was essential, lest Santa leave only a lump of coal in a stocking. There were pleasant memories as well, such as visits to department stores and their wondrous toy displays.

Levy Brothers on Broad Street in Elizabeth had an impressive toy department at the rear of the fourth floor, including a hobby section where parts for building model airplanes and ships could be purchased. Three ten-cent stores along Broad Street also offered a wide variety of small toys, though none could compare with Bamberger’s toy department in Newark, which was always worth the trip.

Finally, Christmas Eve arrived, the longest night of all. Children went to bed early with hopes that Santa Claus would come and somehow manage to bring a decorated tree and many presents down the chimney. By Christmas morning the tree and presents were there, no coal in the stockings, and Santa’s magic was confirmed once again.

Winter Sports

After Halloween passed and the friendly witches, skeletons, ghosts, and hobgoblins retired for the year, attention turned to winter fun. Ice skating took place on frozen lakes and rivers, and heavy snowfall provided hours of entertainment. Flexible Flyer sleds were put to good use on snow-covered hills, and some even tried skiing on those same slopes.

During the snowy winter of 1940–41, the County set up toboggan chutes on Galloping Hill Golf Course near the clubhouse. Launching platforms and wooden chutes sent riders speeding downhill at thrilling speeds. Toboggans could be rented for fifty cents an hour, while use of the chutes was free, though the long walk back uphill was part of the experience.

For those who preferred not to wait in line, additional chutes without platforms were available on the other side of the hill. Skiers enjoyed a separate attraction, where a gasoline-powered pulley line stretched between two trees allowed them to be pulled back up the hill for another downhill run.

Model T Cars

Pictured above is one of the fifteen million Model T cars built by the Ford Motor Car Company, with this example dating to about 1916. When Henry Ford established mass production, he began with Model A and progressed through the alphabet until the Model T was introduced. Radical changes later led Ford to restart the sequence with a new Model A in 1928.

The Model T featured a planetary transmission controlled by three foot pedals in the floor. Because there was no electric starter, the engine was started by hand crank after adjusting choke and spark levers on the steering column. Improper handling of the crank could be dangerous, as a backward kick of the engine could result in a broken arm.

Drivers commonly carried spare tires, jacks, wrenches, and hand pumps, since unpaved roads made blowouts frequent. Repairs were often made roadside by removing and patching the inner tube, though many drivers preferred to carry multiple spare tires to avoid repairs altogether. Even then, there were times when two spares were still not enough.

Over The Back Fence

Picking grapes from the old grapevine to make juice sometimes resulted in trouble with the cook.