Milltown Historical Society

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This Day in History: August 29th, 1905

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This Day in History: August 29th, 1905

Woman Falls Through Bridge –

Milltown Bridge Gives Object Lesson on Its Rottenness.

While members of the Board of Freeholders were busy testifying before Supreme Court Commissioner Van Cleef yesterday morning about the rotten condition of the Milltown bridge, the bridge was giving a practical exhibition of its rottenness on its own account.

Mrs. George Roeder, the widow of the late postmaster of Milltown, was walking across the bridge yesterday morning when a plank broke, and she fell partly through the structure. Her screams brought help from the trolley power house, and she was assisted to a firm part of the bridge. She was not injured beyond some scratches.

Street Commissioner Booraem, of Milltown, repaired the damaged plank. He declares that the bridge is not safe for travel. He fears that a trolley car will go through someday.

Mrs. Roeder may bring suit against the county for the accident.

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This Day in History: February 26th 1924

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This Day in History: February 26th 1924

Trolley Car Runs Wild for Eight Blocks on Main Street at Milltown; Collides with Another

MILLTOWN, Feb. 26 – What might have resulted in a very disastrous accident yesterday morning turned out exceedingly fortunate considering the circumstances. A Public Service trolley car, unguarded, ran over eight blocks through the busy section of the borough, and then crashed into a standing car at the car barn here. The smash-up occurred a little after 9 o’clock, when Motorman Andrew Coxey, after hitting the automobile of Earl Seaman at Booream Avenue, alighted to see what damage had been done and neglected, it is said, to properly turn off the air lever. The trolley car, being on a downgrade at the time, started off and did not stop until it came in contact with the standing car at the barns.

Motorman Coxey was towing another car out from New Brunswick at the time. When he found his vehicle running away from him, he immediately made an attempt to overrun the car, but due to the downgrade at this particular spot, the car gathered speed, even taking the switch at Richter Avenue. The slope from John Street down is such that the car was running at an estimated speed of twenty miles an hour. It crossed the Raritan River tracks leading into the Michelin plant and over the bridge, but in front of the car barns, was a car which only a few minutes before had been placed there. This stopped the leaderless car. When the cars came together, the force was so violent that both front platforms were raised fully fifteen feet off the ground. The damage to the cars was considerable.

The 9 o’clock passenger trolley going west had just made the Richter Avenue switch before the runaway car arrived, and it showed good judgment on the part of Motorman Jacob Van Deursen, who saw the “no man car” coming and he sped his trolley and the passengers to safety. He had no chance to leave his car and make an attempt to stop the other. Luckily no passengers were in either car at the time of the mishap, and fortunately, no one was in the car’s path from the starting point to the finish.

Bus Question

The matter of adequate service being secured from the buses now running through the borough came up for consideration at the council meeting. It was pointed out by Councilman John Lins that the buses do not follow out their plans, that of running to the borough limits and completing their route on schedule time. He advised the council that the bus drivers seem to have a habit of waiting along the line until it is time for the trolley cars to come along, and thus delay traffic. This the council could not deem as fair treatment from the bus owners and upon motion of Councilman Ochs, it was decided to bring the bus owners here at the next regular meeting and have a thorough understanding of the regulations to be followed.

Fire Fees

At a recent meeting of the council, it was decided to impose a fee of $50 for a trip to a fire on the outskirts of Milltown and $25 for every additional hour of service after the first hour that the fire engine and the men were out of town. It was later found that the fee was likely to be changed, and no official announcement was made as to the exact fee to be charged, although the neighborhoods to be affected by this ruling were notified of the change.

Mayor Herbert stated that representatives from the ships nearby would be present at the next regular meeting, at which time this matter would be thoroughly gone into. As the rule now stands, a fee of $50 is charged for service out of town for the first hour of work, or for a trip, and $25 for every hour after that. The new ruling of the council is that the Dodge car is the only one to be allowed to make these trips and the La France car will be available for local emergencies.

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This Day in History: September 19th, 1914

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This Day in History: September 19th, 1914

KUHLTHAU HOME WAS SCENE OF A DELIGHTFUL PARTY

Watermelon Cut Was Feature of It – Streets to Be Watered Among Other Town News.

MILLTOWN, Sept. 19 — The spacious lawn adjoining the home of the Misses Anna and Alma Kuhlthau, on Main Street, Milltown, was the scene of a delightful watermelon party last evening. The act of watermelon cutting was a featured activity of the evening. Besides, there were many outdoor games indulged in, and the evening hours whiled away all too soon.

The lawn was beautifully adorned for the occasion, boasting an artistic array of Chinese and Japanese lanterns.

Those present were Misses Anna and Alma Kuhlthau, Mr. and Mrs. Christian Kelthau, Misses Stella and Hazel Borean, Miss Stella Helen DeHart, Harriet Mesars, Howard Booream, William Booream, Christian and J.H. Junker, Edwin and Christian Kultau, and Mr. and Mrs. Rateher.

Streets to be Watered

It is understood that negotiations are now underway between the borough officials and the Public Service Railway Co. to have a trolley sprinkler traverse the streets of the borough to settle the dust, which has been causing much discomfort throughout the town.

New Hat Next Year

If one of our prominent officials hadn’t worn his straw hat too many days over the straw hat limit, he would not have had to buy a new one next year. But now, his favorite top piece has been divided into two separate parts; the crown has no connection with the rims.

The official in question entered the local freight station recently, and as he was approaching the station, the entire force united to carry out the suggestion to remove the crown of the official’s hat should he enter, and succeeded.

Personals

Mrs. Willard Randolph of River Road was a Milltown visitor yesterday.

Mrs. J.M. Cumming and daughter Ruth, from San Francisco, were visitors at the home of William R. Evans yesterday.

At the Churches

At the German Reformed Church tomorrow, the Rev. William F. Barney will occupy the pulpit both in the morning and the evening. An English service will be held at 7:30 in the evening, preceded by the meeting of the Young People’s Society at seven o’clock. Sunday school will be held at the usual hour in the morning.

At the Methodist Church, the Rev. James W. Marshall, district superintendent, will occupy the pulpit in the morning and in the evening. Rev. L.L. Hand will be in charge. Rev. Hand has chosen “Owners-Mark” as his theme. Sunday school will be held at the usual hour in the afternoon, and the regular meeting of the Epworth League will take place at seven o’clock in the evening, under the leadership of the league president, Jos. M. Crabiel.

Convention here

At the W.C.T.U. meeting held at the home of Mrs. James Lyle on Thursday evening, arrangements were made to host delegates for the annual convention scheduled for Sept. 29th. This will be the fall convention of the Middlesex county W.C.T.U. The following officers were elected at the meeting: President, Mrs. J. Lyle; Vice President, Miss Man Huff; Second Vice President, Mrs. Elizabeth Crabiel; Recording Secretary, Mrs. Lester Snedeker; Financial Secretary, Miss Buste Crabiel; and Treasurer, Miss Mildred Stelle.

The L.C.S. gathered at the home of Miss Elizabeth Kuhlthau on Thursday evening. Rev. William F. Barney and Nicholas Christ are attending the Synod of the German Reformed Church in New York.

JUST MOVED TO MILLTOWN; DROPS DEAD IN FIELD

New Yorker Stricken With Apoplexy While Working in Hay Field; Leaves Behind Wife and Children

MILLTOWN, Sept. 19 — Charles Sohl, son-in-law of Henry Rathcamp, manager of the Milltown Street Department, had recently moved to Cottage Avenue, Milltown, from New York earlier this week. Unfortunately, he was stricken with apoplexy yesterday afternoon shortly after 3 o’clock while working in a hay field in North Milltown. Before an ambulance could reach his home, he passed away.

There were initial reports in Milltown last evening suggesting that Sohl had been sunstruck due to a sudden change in his work environment — transitioning from working in an artificial ice plant in New York City to loading hay. However, Dr. F.E. Riva, who was summoned to the scene, diagnosed the cause of death as apoplexy.

At the time of the incident, Sohl was working for contractor Christian Crabiel, loading hay on the Elkins farm with two other workmen, George Kohlhepp and Ferdinand Crabiel. Despite the efforts to rush him home via the Wells ambulance, he passed away before reaching Hooraem Avenue.

Sohl, who was 46 years old and weighed around 200 pounds, had a brief stay in Milltown, limiting the number of acquaintances he had in the area. Despite this, the community has expressed deep sympathy for his surviving family: his wife, Mrs. Annie Sohl, and their five children.

The funeral service will be held at his late residence on Cottage Avenue, Monday afternoon at 2 o’clock, officiated by Rev. W.F. Barney of the German Reformed Church. Undertaker Quackenboss is overseeing the arrangements.

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This Day in History: August 30th, 1909

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This Day in History: August 30th, 1909

MILLTOWN COUNCIL MEETS

MILLTOWN, Aug. 31 – The Borough Council held an adjourned meeting on Saturday evening.

The Borough Clerk read an ordinance for the grading of Ford avenue from the westerly side of Main street to a point three hundred feet west of the westerly side of Main street. The ordinance was passed on its first reading. The clerk was authorized to post notices and intentions of the same in public places of the borough.

The profile map of Ford avenue made by the borough engineer was accepted. Mayor Perry stated that the Public Service was now busy in repairing the streets that were disturbed by the laying of the gas pipes. The meeting was then adjourned.

Miss Charlotte Heinz was a visitor of Miss Martha Brant yesterday.

Mr. and Mrs. Williams and daughter, of New Haven, Conn., are visiting at the home of Mrs. Mary Patterson, of Ford Avenue

Misses Lizzie Patterson and Elizabeth Kuhlthau start to-day for a week’s visit at Asbury Park.

Mrs. Conrad Heyl and Miss Alice Heyl, of Main street, have returned from an extended visit to George’s Road.

The Ladies’ Aid Society of the Ger man Reformed Church are busy preparing for their annual harvest home, to be held in the grove at the rear of the church on Thursday, Sept. 2. A good supper will await all that come, and a large crowd is expected.

The Ladies’ Home Missionary Society of the Methodist Episcopal Church will be held this evening at the home of Mrs. M. A. Evans, of Main street.

A petition is being circulated, signed by the property holders of North Main street, asking the borough, permission to oil said thoroughfare, providing the borough put the road bed in proper condition, and each property owner paying their share of the cost of oiling. It is, to be hoped that permission. will be granted, as it will greatly add to the beauty of the street and the comfort of those living along its roadbed.

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