Annual Dinner Meeting

Our annual anniversary meeting, marking 149 years, was held on April 8 at the Garden Restaurant on Magie Avenue in Union near the Elizabeth city line. More than fifty members and guests attended and enjoyed an excellent meal of their choice. President Charles Shallcross conducted a very brief business meeting and introduced distinguished guests who were present.

The guest speaker was Jonathan Lurie, a professor of history and former Academic Integrity Officer at Rutgers University in Newark. He is the author of books on legal history, military justice, and constitutional law, and he has lectured on several occasions at the United States Supreme Court. His dinner presentation focused on little-known facts about William Howard Taft.

Award Program

On March 6 at the Hanson House, the committee for the awards program, chaired by Mike Yesenko, met to work out program details. Letters will be sent to principals of Union County high schools to inform them about the awards and the need for interested students to submit a written application describing their interest in local history. The committee will make the final selection of four winners, with presentations planned for the May 20 meeting at the Hanson House.

Weather

Once again the weather interfered with the smooth operation of our office staff. The threat of a third nor’easter in two weeks on March 12–13, 2018 caused the cancellation of work in our office in the Hanson House, as staff members chose to remain at home rather than risk traveling on snow and icy roads.

For those who thought spring was near, remember that the famous “Blizzard of ’88” took place exactly 130 years ago at this time. Snow drifts reached six feet in some places, and a railroad train was stalled in the middle of Broad Street in Elizabeth, blocking what little traffic could move. Cars had to be uncoupled to allow passage through the street. The “Arches of Elizabeth” had not yet been constructed, and the Pennsylvania and Jersey Central Railroad tracks crossed at street level then.

Pictures From Our Files

At a Fourth of July celebration in Roselle Park around 1960, visitors had a chance to work off frustrations by using a sledgehammer on an automobile in a “three shots for a quarter” activity. Many took part, with glass windows, lights, and side mirrors taking the first blows.

Surprisingly, the body of the car resisted heavy strikes, and the hammer sometimes seemed to bounce off with little effect. That stubborn durability sparked friendly competition among participants, each insisting they could create larger dents than the next person. As the afternoon and early evening went on, the target eventually took considerable damage, though it remained recognizable as a car when finally removed from the field. It did not drive off under its own power.

Meeting of March 4th

The March 4 meeting was held as scheduled in the Hanson House. The executive session included committee reports, discussion of the annual dinner, and planning for the student awards to be held at the May meeting. During the regular meeting, announcements included a reminder that Vice-President Joanne Rajoppi would receive an award from the Cranford Chapter of the DAR on Saturday, March 10.

The afternoon program was presented by Paul Salomone, who offered a detailed report on amateur baseball from its early beginnings around 1840 to the present. He described many ball clubs and noted that some games today are played using rules from the 1890s. He discussed how rules changed frequently as needs became obvious, explained early bat-making using hand-powered equipment, and highlighted differences between early and modern baseballs from the inside materials to the outer covering. In the early days there was no pitcher’s mound, gloves were not worn, pitching was underhand, and runners to first base dared not overrun the base for fear of being tagged out.

Over The Back Fence

An old tradition of our photographer, Bill Frolich, is “If you shoot me, I shoot you,” and it was carried out at our dinner.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who was the guest speaker at the UCHS annual dinner meeting in 2018?

The guest speaker was Jonathan Lurie, who presented little-known facts about William Howard Taft during the Society’s annual dinner meeting.

Why does Issue 142 reference the “Blizzard of 1888” in Elizabeth, New Jersey?

The newsletter recalls the Blizzard of 1888 as a historical benchmark, noting severe drifts and a train stalled on Broad Street in Elizabeth before the Arches of Elizabeth were built.

What did Paul Salomone’s program cover at the March 4 meeting?

Paul Salomone presented an overview of amateur baseball history from around 1840 to today, including evolving rules, early bat-making methods, and differences in baseball equipment.