Chic Anderson

Peggy Sullivan Stoval daughter of Dr. James Sullivan has informed me that a really great member of our community when I was growing up has past on to eternal life last month in Hawaii. She was the mother of Babs and Bobbie Anderson. Please remember them in your prayers. I have a cute story about the Anderson girls. I remember I was young and for some reason had found myself playing with them. Not saying it like I should not have been, but I wasn't allowed at that end of town. As we've discussed before on this forum The West Street Kids could not cross Church Street, I'm sure the exact opposite was true as well. I guess folks figured it was too busy and too dangerous. Anyway back to my story............Probably Babs asked what I wanted to play. I said for some bizarre reason HORSES!! She said ok, what do you want to be?
I thought about it and thought hmmmmmm Stallions are tough, So I decided I wanted to be a female Stallion!!! She laughed at me, I felt sooooooooooooooooooo small. She then told me a stallion was a boy horse. LOL Crazy the things that stick in your mind over probably 50 some years good grief, but I did learn a valuable lesson on horse breeding that day. :)
I could only find this online:

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Lorene Anderson

Posted On July 10th, 2010 - Honolulu Star-Advertiser

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July 2, 2010
Lorene “Chick” Anderson, 94, of Kaneohe, a homemaker, died in Kaneohe. She was born in Riegelsville, Pa. She is survived by daughters Roberta A. Ubersax and Barbara A. Krasniewski, and four grandchildren. No services.

Posted in Death Notices

Bloomsbury United Methodist Church 175th Anniversary

The church is looking for old photos. If you have them would you please contact them?
Also they would love to see all of you there.

Bloomsbury Hose Company #1

Again questions arising on FaceBook. This time by Jr Allen, son of Herb and Joyce Allen. He was questioning me on the location of the early fire house. I had to admit I knew nothing of one being anywhere but the old section in it's current location. My dad must have been listening ;) Because I suddenly saw this book The celebration of the fire companies 25th anniversay. I scanned a few pages to show here. There are quite a few pictures and if anyone wants to see more I will do it. Also it answered a question that came up many years ago about the location of the water lines in town. So I'll try to get them in order. If anyone has any comments please let me know.

Of course it uploaded backwards LOL

Delivery men in town.

Some things have come forward in FaceBook that brought back some memories. I thought I'd mention mine and see who else had memories of delivery men who used to come to town.
I remember the huckster who used to bring fruit and vegetables. Don't know his name, but I do remember it being an old blue van with awnings I believe out of the sides. The next would be probably Fairview Dairy deliveries. I don't know if Harold Lutz was the milk man for them or not. Bill? Can you correct me here? Of course many years later Mike Vendetti delivered all our dairy needs.
Bill Letcher who delivered our bread for Sunbeam aka Freihofer's bakery...... Was this relation of the Letcher's in town? A stout man who our one dalmation detested. ;) He also delivered our wonderful purchased birthday cakes, a real treat, from Easton Bakery.
I'm trying to think if there were more. Of course Weiller's store had delivery and Lance worked delivering for them for a while. I don't recall if Leo's or anyone before them had delivery. Can someone help me out here?

Pictures

Would you all please post a picture? We'd love to see how you look after all these years?

Bloomsbury Statistics for facebook fans

John Deere

I know I haven't posted in a while, but thought all of you would enjoy this!! A blast from Bloomsbury's past!!

Betty Merwarth Fitzgibbons obit

Elizabeth D. Fitzgibbons
Elizabeth D. Fitzgibbons, 67, of Nazareth, passed away suddenly on Thursday, April 8, 2010 in Easton Hospital. Born: March 19, 1943, in Bloomsbury, NJ, she was a daughter of the late Henry R., Sr. and Minerva I. Evert Merwarth. Personal: She was last employed by OPT Industries, Phillipsburg, NJ. Previously she worked for Koh-I-Noor. Betty graduated from Phillipsburg High School in 1961. She was an avid bingo player, enjoyed trips to Atlantic City and was a volunteer at the Oliver Boarder House, Nazareth. Survivors: two sons, Herman J. Stadtmueller, Jr. and his wife Amy, of Lehighton and Carl A. Stadtmueller and his wife Amy, of Palmerton; three daughters, Donna M. Henning and her husband Brett, of Whitehall, PA, Tammy L. Imboden and her husband Samuel, of Palmer Township and Terry L. Loebsack and her husband Warren, of Palmerton; two sisters, Anna M. Stadtmueller, of Beverly, MA and Linda L. McFadden and her husband James, of Allentown; eight grandchildren, Denise and Bryan Henning, Brooke Imboden, Marc, Joseph, Herman and Dakota Stadtmueller, Ashley Stadtmueller; six nieces and two nephews. A grandson, Drew Imboden, a brother, Henry R. Merwarth, Jr. and her former spouse and companion of many years, William Fitzgibbons, died earlier. Services: will be held at 11 a.m. Monday in the Strunk Funeral Home, Inc., 2101 Northampton St., Wilson Borough. Call Monday 10 to 11 a.m. in the funeral home. Burial will be in Easton Heights Cemetery. Memorials: may be made to the Center for Animal Health & Welfare, 1165 Island Park Road, Easton, PA 18042.

Published in The Express Times on April 10, 2010
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Hugh "Pete" Stone obit

Hugh A. "Pete" Stone, Jr., 78, of Bloomsbury, NJ, died Tuesday, April 6, 2010 in Triumph Hospital, Wilson Borough, Pa. after a lengthy illness. Born: August 27, 1931 in Stewartsville, NJ, he was a son of the late Hugh A. and Elizabeth Castner Stone. Personal: Pete and his wife, the former Alice J. McQuaid, celebrated their 55th wedding anniversary June 5th. Pete was a steel fabricator for F.L. Smidth and Company in Lebanon, NJ for 14 years, and the worked as an engineer for Ecolaire Corp. in Easton, Pa for 11 years, retiring in 1996. Pete enjoyed bowling with the Merchants League on Wednesday nights at Warren Lanes in Phillipsburg. He was avid gardener, growing vegetables, flowers, trees and bushes for more than 50 years along the Musconectcong River in Bloomsbury. He attended Stewartsville Elementary School, played football and baseball for Phillipsburg High School, graduating there in 1949, then served in the Army during the Korean War from 1949 until 1952, attaining the rank of Corporal. While in the Army, he attended The Engineering School at Fort Belvoir, Virginia and was awarded the Good Conduct Medal. Memberships: He was a member of the Bloomsbury United Methodist Church in Bloomsbury, NJ. Pete was a member of the Mecsey-Bishop American Legion Post 456, Stewartsville; an associate member of the Bloomsbury Hose Company #1, the Bloomsbury Rod and Gun Club, the Musconectcong Bowman Club, and the United Steelworkers of America, Local 8591. Survivors: In addition to his wife, Pete is survived by two daughters, Rhonda A. Stone, of Bloomsbury and Cynthia K. Durholz of Harmony Township; a brother, Robert S. "Dale" Stone, Sr. of Stewartsville; and a sister, Joyce E. Buckley of Baltimore, MD; and a granddaughter, Hillary Frankenfield and a grandson, Andrew Durholz. Services: A graveside service will be held 11 a.m. Saturday, in the Bloomsbury Cemetery. There will be no visitation. Arrangements are being coordinated by the Noto-Wynkoop Funeral Home, 289 South Main St, Phillipsburg. Online condolences may be submitted by visiting www.noto-wynkoop.com. Memorials: Those planning an expression of sympathy are asked to consider donations to the Mecsey-Bishop American Legion Post 456, Stewartsville, NJ, 08886 or the Abilities of Northwest New Jersey, P.O. Box 25, Washington, NJ, 07882.

Old Deeds & SS card for William Lance Towerman at Central Railroad of N. J. in Bloomsbury

Meagan made me aware of this today. I'll post more when it becomes available.

Wilberta C. Meyers

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Wilberta C. Meyers, 91, formerly of Bloomsbury died March 29 in Warren Hospital. Born: April 4, 1918 in Stewartsville, she was a daughter of the late Wilbert and Myrtle Park Cole. Personal: She was employed by Koh-I-Nor Co. in Bloomsbury as a molder for 21 years. She was a graduate of Phillipsburg High School, class of 1937. She enjoyed baking, dining out and traveling. Memberships: She was a member of the Bloomsbury United Methodist Church, Senior Center of Philipsburg, Greenwich Friendship Club, Riegel Ridge Club. Survivors: two sons, William and his wife Pat of Bloomsbury, Richard of Belvidere, NJ; two daughters, Marilyn McCrate of Chester, NJ, Linda Harriet Albanese of Naples, FL; daughter-in-law, Mary Meyers of Belvidere; two sisters, Marian Hyndshaw of Lopatcong Township, Dorothy Woolf of PA; 14 grandchildren; 19 great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandson. She was predeceased by her husband, Harry Meyers, Jr. in 1974, sons, Paul in 2002 Raymond, and sister, Frances Connell. Services: Funeral services will be Friday, April 2, 11 a.m. in the Bloomsbury Methodist Church, Church Street. Calling hour will be Thursday, 7 to 8 p.m. in the Rush-Devlin Funeral Home, 42 Church Street, Bloomsbury. Interment in Bloomsbury Cemetery. Memorials: May be made in her name to the Bloomsbury Rescue Squad or the church.

Published in The Express Times from March 30 to March 31, 2010

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1931 Water Co. Bill & Rates

Here is another old document I just came across in the stuff I have here. Boy, water was cheap back then - $3.75 for 3 months! And as far as I'm concerned, it's still the cheapest utility I pay for. I also notice here that my great uncle was the Borough Treasurer. Never knew that before.

Bloomsbury History article - 1983

Here is an article from the Hunterdon County Democrat, June 1983. It is a good concise article with some good pictures of the early years of the town after it became incorporated. Hope all enjoy this.

Gleitz Piano Company

Does anyone know that Bloomsbury was the home of the Gleitz Piano Company? Founded in 1895, they made at least a few pianos, and Linda knows who still has one! I don't know when the company folded, but thought this would be of interest to those interested in Bloomsbury history. My great-grandfather was the president of the company, and this is a stock certificate I have in my possession.

Bloomsbury Bank Statement - 1956

Here is a copy of the bank's year-end statement, with a listing of the officers and directors for the fiscal year 1956. I'm sure the "old-timers" who read this blog will recognize most of the names here.

For those of you who had a savings account there, do you remember that the entries were hand written back then? I still have my old savings account passbook somewhere.

Early IRS Tax Receipt

Would it be too much to expect a receipt from the IRS for all the taxes we pay these days?? They actually did give a receipt back in 1915. I'll bet there are hardly any of these still in existence today.

Re: Working the mines

Here is an old article about the blossoming iron ore mining business happening in Bloomsbury in 1880. Also, the Easton and Amboy Railroad that is mentioned later became the New Jersey Central.

Early advertising

Here is a postcard sized ad I found in old things here in my house that came out of the house in Bloomsbury. The card is really pristine. I don't know who Wm. Fulmer was or the location of his store. Does anyone know?

Oldest Bloomsbury School

This is a postcard shot of the oldest school in town that I know of. Aren't we all glad we didn't have to go there? That looks pretty pathetic.

Bloomsbury's First Mayor - 1906

Here are a couple photos of my great-grandfather, Thomas T. Hoffman. He had trotting horses and obviously a pretty nice buggy to get around in.

my family

Top picture is the Randels family....

Bottom row (l to r): Earl Randels (my grandfather), his father Mahlon, Katherine Randels Smith, Ruth Randels Apgar, their mother Lizzie (Elizabeth) Sinclair Randels.

Top Row (l to r): Myrtle Randels Bachman, Blanche Randels Messinger, Ella Randels Kaiser, and Lula Randels Kuntz(??)

Second picture is Edgar Hyndshaw, Lois Randels Swartley(my mom @ about 2) and Helen (or Bessie) Tettemer Hyndshaw. My mom was their first grandchild.

Valentine's Day

Ok everyone do you remember those cute little envelopes we would make in school of construction paper and decorate to put our Valentine's Cards in? Well first off you could judge how popular you were by how many you got. The poor kid no one liked, I'd hate to think what we did to them. :(( But I have a question. I remember one year I got one that wasn't signed. Here I am 64 and it still bothers me....... WHO SENT ME THIS CARD? lol

Nov. 1950 Wind storm

Postings seem to be stuck here lately, so I'll add another photo. This is a shot taken on Center Street, looking at what I know as the Rutt/DeWire house which is next to the old Citizens National Bank (at the right of the house). This same storm blew half of the roof off the part of the graphite mill (Warren side) that is closest to the bridge.

I remember in the fall, my grandfather (and others around town) would rake the leaves into the edge of the street and burn them there. Does anyone remember this?Try doing THAT today!! I still miss the smell of the burning leaves on a crisp fall day.

1920 Snow Storm Shots

Since it's winter now, I thought these might be appropriate. Here are 2 postcard shots of a Feb. 1920 snow storm in Bloomsbury. The photos are of lower Church Street, taken from the vicinity of the end of the iron bridge by an unknown photographer.

Early fire company members. I'm not sure of the year.

Bloomsbury Hose Company #1 Station 43

To give fair time to the fire company here is there link:http://www.bloomsburyhosecompany.org/history.html

Bloomsbury Rescue Squad

Linda Merwarth McFadden has contacted me about joining our group. Apparently she has not done that yet. She wanted to discuss the beginnings of the Rescue Squad. I did find a webpage on the history and hope she will add what she knows to this information back here after everyone reads the page posted by the squad at:http://www.bloomsburyrescue.com/History.html

Pencil Manufacturing

I presume that most of the Bloomsbury kids got to tour the pencil factory at some time or another. In case you have forgotten what you saw, this may refresh your memories. I have an educational sample box from the Joseph Dixon Company in Jersey City, NJ and I photo'd the samples to show how pencils are made. The first shot shows the cedar slat stages and the 2nd shot shows the stages of the individual pencils after they are cut apart from the slats. There is also a scanned document that I included here that is related to handwriting and pencil and hand sizes, which is interesting.
I know this isn't Koh-I-Noor, but it's the best I can do. ;-)

Timberlines: L&C Hardmuth - Koh-I-Noor: A Diamond in the Rough

Timberlines: L&C Hardmuth - Koh-I-Noor: A Diamond in the Rough

Thanks for that wonderful story, Linda! Spaying and neutering were practically unknown to us back then. How kind your family was to care for them that way. It warms my heart.

My niece in California had taken stray cats off the street and gotten them "fixed" at a local vet clinic that offered a $15 or $20 special for strays. ...I suspect a few were not strays, though:\

Salt mines

I do not know anything about the mines on Bloomsbury Mountain, but my mother used to talk about her brother working in a salt mine somewhere between Oxford and Wharton.

Just curious: is the "Pencil Factory" still operating in Bloomsbury?

Working the mines

I have no idea what these guys are mining, but these 2 shots are from postcards of Bloomsbury that my grandmother collected. Imagine working in those clothes... suit and tie??

CRRNJ Fuel Stop

"Cutting wood for the Central RR of NJ at Bloomsbury." The horse is walking on a treadmill which powers the saw that cuts the wood. I wonder how much these guys got paid? And which unlucky horse got to walk and go nowhere?

Iron Bridge sign

This photo looks from Bloomsbury, Hunterdon County, across the bridge over the Musconetcong River into Warren County. The sign on the bridge reads “CAUTION - $10 fine for traveling over this BRIDGE faster than a WALK.”

I remember running across the bridge and being able to feel it vibrate beneath my feet. They should put a sign like that on the new bridge - for historical sake.

Thanks for the flood pictures!

I think that's my cat! :) Seriously, that looks like a cat we had. Maybe all the B'bury cats looked like that?
Great pictures. Thanks for posting them.

From top left:
Cat looking at water
Floating dock
Picture of dam taken from back of graphite mill
Blackie looking at water
Beginning of the river rising
Flooded river - don't know location
My home in Warrenside looking across to Bloomsbury
Young's dock on the Bloomsbury side collapsing

Musconetcong River Flood Waters

Bloomsbury Elementary School graduates

For those of you on Facebook there is a Bloomsbury Elementary School graduates website if you are interested in joining.
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=2204747323&ref=ts
I hope that link will work for you.

Bloomsbury School Graduation - June 15, 1960

Faye, here is the stage you commented on earlier. Weren't we all so adorable? LOL

1952 Student Photo

Here is a photo of the Beginners and First Grade students from 1952. How many do you recognize?

(I'm on the right end of the 2nd row)

Hurricane Diane 1955, Bloomsbury flooded

Remember when Hurricane Diane caused a flood in downtown Bloomsbury in 1955? I've been looking for a picture I had of me standing in it with boots on and holding our dog down by the swimming pier, but I can't find it... The bridge between Phillipsburg and Easton was washed out and the Army built a temporary Bailey Bridge right next to it. I don't remember if Sheets and Gardner's got flooded, but I would imagine it would have.

Bloomsbury School memories

Does anyone remember the steam heat pipes banging away down in the auditorium area where we had assemblies and gym?

Or how about most of us walking home for lunch? Jeez... does anyone do that in any other school today?

Re: Bloomsbury Presbyterian Church

Here is a postcard photo of the church's Rev. J.C. Clyde and (presumably) his family. According to the book, he became pastor on July 1, 1879.

History of The First Presbyterian Church Of Bloomsbury

This is a book of the history of the Bloomsbury Presbyterian Church that was published in 1884.  In the back of the book there is a list of those that purchased the book when it was published.  The following link should take you to the front cover of the book which is the same as the above picture.  Just click on the cover to scroll through the pages of the book.  First Bloomsbury Presbyterian Church Printed in 1884

Horse Drawn Fire Engine

Maybe someone knows more on the history of this?

Waterous fire engine built in 1898 by the Waterous Co., Saint Paul, MN. It is owned by the Bloomsbury Fire Co., Bloomsbury, NJ. Horse-drawn fire engines are always a great attraction in parades today.

Charlie "Red" Cregar - Auto Racer

Charlie "Red" Cregar's racing career in the NASCAR Modified, Sportsman and Grand National divisions was during the dirt track heydays of the 50's and 60's. A Bloomsbury, New Jersey native, he tore up the northeastern tracks, including that of Flemington Fair Speedway. Cregar made an annual trek to Daytona to race on the beach in 1955, 1956, 1957 and to the first race at Daytona International Superspeedway in 1959, where he started a respectable 15th and finished 28th after an engine failure on lap 70 of the 100 lap qualifier. Mechanical failures plagued most of his Grand National appearances as he drove for himself and owners James Gess in '54-'55 and Happy Steigel in 1959. Cregar never finished on the lead lap in any of his GN races, however he led 8 laps at Darlington in the 1954 race, starting 11th and finishing 20th in a James Gess Plymouth. His best GN finish came in 1957 at Concord (started 15th) and Wilson (started 10th) where he finished 8th in each race in his own Plymouth. He competed in sixteen Sprint Cup Series events in his career, racing part time between 1954 and 1959. He earned just three top-tens, all in 1957, bested by a pair of 8ths at Wilson and Concord. Following a career-high 34th place in 1959 standings, Cregar stopped racing in the series and never raced again.

Note:  Though I have found several sources stating that Charlie Cregar resided in Bloomsbury during his racing days, I have not been able to find any information as to where and how long he lived there.  I did find information stating that he moved to Lawrenceville, NJ and opened a used car business under the name of CR Cregar & Son.  Charlie Cregar passed away on October 31, 2003.

Bloomsbury Bank

What happened to the Citizens National Bank that was next to Fuller's Drug Store on Center Street? Did it merge with a larger one? If so, does anyone know which bank took over? Here is a scan of a bill the bank issued, with my grandfather's and Ed Shipman's signatures on it.

(How's this for a post, Linda?)

What's up, folks?

Did I manage to make it here today? Hope so..

Now - can anyone tell me where the railroad tunnel was in Bloomsbury... specifically? I don't remember ever seeing it, but I did have dreams about being in a railroad tunnel.

Our oldest member to this date.

My cousin Marge Laxson. When she figures this out she will post I'm sure.