Tag: History

This Day in History: April, 18th 1919

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This Day in History: April, 18th 1919

Oil Stove Explodes and Threatens Home

MILLTOWN, April 18 – What looked for a time as though it would spread into a dangerous fire and necessitate the calling of the fire company started yesterday morning at 10:30 a.m. at the home of Frank Reed, on Washington Avenue, when an oil stove exploded on the second floor of the building. Miss Helen Zogg, a sister of Mrs. Reed, who was in the room at the time, showed her thoughtfulness and grabbed the stove and threw it out of the open window, but in doing so the flames set fire to the weatherboards and then Miss Zogg gave the alarm. Luckily, Chester Okeson, an employee of Russell’s Card Company, and Percy Lias, chauffeur for Dr. Forney, were in front of the house at the time and they rushed to the Raritan River Railroad station, which is next to the place, and got the big fire extinguisher from the railroad and did splendid work, assisted by the Raritan River railroad employees, so the fire got no headway as only the outside boards of the house were burnt. The place is owned by Henry Kuhlthau.

Paying Taxes

Borough Tax Collector John Christ calls attention to the collection of taxes this year which is to be made by installments of two payments, in accordance with the Pierson Act. The payments are due on June 1st, and December 1st. Owing to the new law, the tax bills may be late in being sent out but as soon as the people receive their first bill they will know that it immediately becomes due, for if it is not paid by June 1st, it becomes delinquent.

Warriors Degree Ceremony Tonight

Eight candidates will be given the Warriors degree at the Improved Order of Red Men’s lodge room tonight by the warrior’s degree team, which promises to be another good night in lodge circles. Those who will receive the degree are: Oscar Christ, Frank Witkowski, George Wilson, Howard Moore, Charles Crabiel, Miles Geer, Elbwin Matlack, and George Whittle.

Personal Mention

Ground has been broken by Charles Lins on the Kuhlthau Terrace, upper Main Street, for the erection of a beautiful homestead.

Miss Dora Harkins was a Newark visitor yesterday.

Mrs. Jacob Delart, of School Street, has been called to the bedside of her aunt, Mrs. Cottrell, of Jamesburg, who is well-known here.

Mrs. Charles Lins spent Thursday with friends in Newark.

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This Day in History: March 22nd, 1905

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This Day in History: March 22nd, 1905

TIRE WORKS FIRE WON’T STOP WORK

The storehouse of the International at Milltown was destroyed, but the main works are saved—the damage well covered by insurance.

The six-story frame structure, approximately 70 by 100 feet, which was the plant of the original Meyer Rubber Co., situated at Milltown, burned last night. So great was the danger to surrounding property that help was sought from this city, with Raritan Engine Company and Liberty Hose Company responding.

Although the building destroyed was the real factory in the time of Christian Meyer, it had only been used as a storehouse for some years past by the International Automobile Vehicle and Tire Company. The brick structure opposite, where active manufacturing is carried out, was not harmed, even though it seemed at risk as the flames were moving across the covered bridge connecting the old building with the new brick structure.

The origin of the flames is a mystery, but it is thought to have started on the fifth floor around 6:30 PM when the employees were leaving, spreading rapidly due to the building’s age and the inflammable nature of the stock. The fourth floor was used as storage by the Jersey Rubber Specialty Company.

The assistance of the New Brunswick firemen was pivotal in controlling the fire. Sergeant Kelly, upon receiving the news and call for help, notified Chief Kidney, who dispatched the Raritan Engine Company and Liberty Hose Company. The latter made remarkable time, and the route taken was via Livingston avenue, recently cut through to the Cranbury Turnpike, and on to Milltown.

Raritan Engine Company’s engine, drawn by Walter Flavel’s horses, went out in record time. Second Assistant Chief Puerschner, in charge at Milltown, deployed a crew to the connecting bridge, beating back the flames despite suggestions to tear it down. Fire shutters on the main building helped contain the danger until the firemen arrived.

The plant’s overhead sprinkling system activated upon the fire’s start, with three streams from the building’s fire connections playing on the flames, although their impact was limited. Minor explosions occurred when the fire reached particularly flammable materials, necessitating continued water application until nearly midnight.

The electrical current for trolleys was shut off due to the fire’s proximity to the overhead bridge and feed wire. No. 4 engine was stationed on the other side, with hoses crossing the tracks. Water was pumped from a pond, and the stationary engine in the brick building, installed for firefighting, proved effective. The dense smoke from burning rubber products and appliances made the firefighters’ work more difficult.

The building, valued at $15,000 and built quickly after its predecessor’s destruction, was part of the original rubber factory of Christian Meyer. Insurance, managed by Weed and Kennedy in New York, covered the entire property at $500,000. The destroyed building was insured for $125,000 across several companies.

Howard DeHart, a trolley conductor, was the first to see the flames, raising the alarm as he crossed the old wooden bridge to North Milltown.

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This Day in History: January 17th, 1906

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This Day in History: January 17th, 1906

JACKSON SCALDED AT MILLTOWN POWER HOUSE


As the result of an accident at the Milltown power house the other day, Charles Jackson, of Throop avenue, is confined to his home, Jackson was severely scalded while he and some other workmen were holding up two pieces of steam pipe. The part of the pipe Jackson grasped spilled a quantity of the hot water upon his neck and back.

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This Day in History: January 10th, 1910

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This Day in History: January 10th, 1910

“FAST LINE” IS SOLD FOR $200,000

Trenton Trolley Bought By Bondholders at Auction Before Frank S. Katzenbach Here This Afternoon – Only One Bid Presented

Frank S. Katzenbach, Jr., of Trenton, as Master in Chancery, came here this afternoon to sell at auction the Trenton & New Brunswick “Fast Line” Railroad, which has been in litigation for some time past. The sale took place at the sheriff’s office.The railroad was sold to the bondholders.Mr. Katzenbach opened the proceedings by reading the notice of sale and conditions. The terms included all property on the right of way from here to Trenton, and Berthwaite, counsel for the receiver, stated that it should be understood that from 1,000 to 2,000 ties lying along the road were not included, not having yet been placed by the receiver.THE BIDDERS.Mr. Katzenbach stated that but two parties had qualified as bidders by depositing the $25,000 guarantee required. These were the Finance Committee of Pennsylvania, plaintiffs in the proceedings, and Irwin Shoup, Jr., and Charles Dickson, both of Philadelphia, constituting a purchasing committee named by the bondholders of the railroad company.Bids being called for, the purchasing committee bid $200,000. There were no other bids and the property was struck off.Acknowledgment of sale was at once signed, and title will be passed on May 1st. The bondholders, it is understood, will endeavor to dispose of the road, and it is strongly hinted that the Public Service may buy it in. To-morrow in Elizabeth, the New Jersey Short Line Railway, which has a right of way from Elizabeth to Milltown, connecting at the latter place with the “Fast Line,” will also be sold. The latter line, if connected, would give an air line from Elizabeth to Trenton, crossing the Raritan river near Martin’s dock. It is rumored that the Public Service wants to acquire this right of way, then connect by means of the Camden & Trenton line to Camden.The sale includes the right of way, bridge, rolling stock, etc., of the electric line from Milltown to Trenton. Both the Public Service Railway Co. and the Pennsylvania Railroad Co. were reported as anxious to get hold of the property.

NEW COAL CO. ELECTS OFFICERS

The Milltown Coal and Lumber Company, the organization of which was noted last week, met last evening and elected the following officers: President, J.V.L. Booraem; secretary, Spencer Perry; treasurer, C.W. Kuhithau.

It was decided that the main office of the company shall be at the home of J.V.L. Booraem, on Van Liew Avenue, Milltown. The Raritan River Railroad Co. is now putting in a siding to the yards on Van Liew Avenue.

The company will proceed at once to erect suitable buildings, and the work will be pushed with all celerity. A prosperous future is predicted for the new concern. Judge Hicks is attorney for the company.

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This Day in History: December 5th, 1908

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This Day in History: December 5th, 1908

CRUSHED TO DEATH

Head Electrician William Duclos, of Michelin Tire Plant, Had Idea of Coming Death in Elevator Pit

Falling Weight Breaks Neck.

Crushed under an elevator weighing several hundred pounds, William Duclos, 29 years old, was almost instantly killed at the Michelin Tire works, Milltown, this morning. Death was caused by the tremendous weight on his head and back, which broke his neck.

The accident occurred shortly before 5 o’clock. Something wrong with the batteries controlling the elevator made it necessary for Duclos, who was head of the electrical department at the plant, to go into the elevator pit and discover the cause of the trouble. It is said that just before going down the shaft, Duclos had a premonition of his impending death, and turning to a fellow employee said, “I don’t know why, but something tells me I will never come out of that place alive.” Arousing his courage, however, the electrician descended and had hardly begun his investigation when the starting of the elevator caused one of the heavy weights to descend with a rapidity that made it impossible for its victim to move out of its path. He died about 15 minutes after the accident.

Dr. N. N. Forney, of Milltown, and Dr. F. M. Donohue were summoned, but upon their arrival, Duclos was beyond all earthly aid. Coroner John V. Hubbard, of this city, and Undertaker Moke were summoned and the body was removed to the dead man’s home on Vanderbilt Avenue.

Mr. Duclos had been employed at the Michelin plant for nearly two years, coming from Brooklyn in 1906 with his young bride. She alone survives him. Coroner Hubbard made a superficial examination of the circumstances surrounding the electrician’s death this morning but evidently did not satisfy himself that an inquest was unnecessary, for he went to the plant this afternoon for further investigation. There is an unconfirmed rumor that a careless employee was responsible for Duclos’ death in starting the elevator, not noticing the man in the pit.

Inquiry at the Michelin plant revealed a stubborn unwillingness on the part of those in authority to give out details regarding the tragedy. At first, an effort was made to deny that an employee had been killed.

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This Day in History: November 2nd, 1918

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This Day in History: November 2nd, 1918

Local Option for Milltown

Whether there shall be saloons in the borough of Milltown or not will be determined by the voters next Tuesday. It is an opportunity on that day for the men looking to the progress of the community along every line to exercise their right of suffrage in a manner that will abolish the saloons.

The saloon question is long past the economic stage, it is past the argumentative period when its disadvantages must be presented, except in some sections; indeed it is recognized universally that it is a distinct evil and conditions will be better in absolutely every respect when booze is gone. Intoxicating liquors stand condemned before the world. To vote in favor of saloons is to be placed in the position of sanctioning something that the world recognizes as wrong.

In Milltown the only argument in favor of saloons that has found the light of day is that in the event the saloons are closed in the borough, the drinkers will go to New Brunswick or South River. The argument runs that the drinkers will go not for one drink but to load up and then come back into the town, in a drunken condition. The question must be asked, how many such will there be? Do they represent a desirable element of the town?

The moderate drinker, the one who takes but a glass now and then and who says if the saloons were not in Milltown he would not miss them, advances the above argument. What class does such reasoning cater to? Should that class be catered to? Is it right that those who want to go out of town to get themselves into a drunken stupor should have their interests looked after by people who do not realize what it means? It means that if liquor is left in Milltown the children must continue to witness sights that will furnish the suggestion for their downfall in later life. It means that we will keep something our government has said affects the efficiency of its men. It means that tradespeople must continue to run accounts and wait for their money. It means that homes must continue to feel the trouble caused by the Demon Rum. It means mothers must continue to worry over their sons, wives over their husbands, and a feeling of moral degradation will continue over the entire town.

Here is the substance of the proposition. Will voters place their desire for an occasional drink and the convenience of having it in Milltown against the aching hearts of mothers and the ruin of some of the borough’s manhood? Remember, voters, a favorable decision will do much good, but an unfavorable one will make the voter responsible for all the trouble liquor causes. This is the time for Milltown people to express themselves, by voting “yes”.

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