This Day in History: August 16th, 1915

This Day in History: August 16th, 1915

LATE PASSENGERS WERE STALLED

Local People Suffer Because of Trouble Caused in Past by Rough Element – Misunderstanding Leads to Embarrassing Situation.


Fully fifty New Brunswickers were stranded at the Milltown car barns, Saturday evening as they were unable to reach this city by trolley. Not being able to secure rooms in the borough they had to be contented with sleeping in the waiting room at the car barns which accommodated about ten. The passengers were provoked with the treatment accorded them by the employees of the Public Service who refused to take them to this city

The passengers boarded the trolley a South Amboy, it being the last car out of the city which only goes as far as the car barns. The trolley went at a fast pace and jumped the track at Yate’s corner South River. After considerable difficulty, the car was jacked up and placed back on the tracks. The passengers were greatly shaken up some being tossed from their seats,

The conductor collected the full fare from South Amboy to New Brunswick which entitled them to ride to this city. The passengers presuming that the car would proceed to New Brunswick, paid the last fare without a murmur.

Arriving at the car barns, a car swung out with several motormen and conductors aboard. Several of the passengers alighted from the South Amboy Car and dashed to the New Brunswick-bound car anticipating a ride to this city. Several got aboard but many more were not so fortunate. The conductor prevented several from jumping aboard the moving car telling them that the car would stop as soon as he swung out of the car barns. As soon as the car swung from the barns the motorman put on more speed and left the crowd standing in front of the barns.

Other Side of Story.

The Public Service side of the story was given to the Home News to-day to the effect that the company…

CONTINUED ON PAGE TWO.

had no intimation that there were to be New Brunswickers on the 1 a. m. trolley out of South Amboy, which is due to run only as far as the Milltown car barns, and it is stated that ample accommodations would have been made if such knowledge had been given to the Public Service.

It was about 2.30 a. m. that the trouble occurred at Milltown, and it is said that much of it was due to a rough element that had hung around the car barns with the expressed purpose of riding to New Brunswick on the car which brings the trolleymen to their homes here and which the company is not obliged to run, but does so simply to accommodate their workmen.

So much disorder was shown by this rough element that the car barn employees had to send for the Milltown officers, fearing damage to the property. It is said that a number of men make a practice of remaining in Milltown every Saturday night to ride home on the trolleymen’s car and when the large crowd tried to board it Saturday night the crews were fearful of what might happen en route.

It was not until afterward that the company learned that there were a number of very respectable people in the car that left South Amboy at 1 a. m., and who were stalled at Milltown, and it is said a special car would have been dispatched to Milltown to bring them to New Brunswick if one of them had telephoned to the office here.

Extra cars had been running from South Amboy on Saturday night, the last ones leaving there for through trip at 12.15 Sunday morning.


This Day in History: August 11th 1916

This Day in History: August 11th 1916

Sewer Contract Goes to Brunswick Firm


MILLTOWN, Aug. 11. There being but one bid for the sewer and water extension out Riva avenue, in order that the new Michelin houses might be connected the contract was awarded to the Utility Construction Company, of New Brunswick, at the meeting of Borough Council last night The successful bidders gave bonds in the amount of $8.400 for the faithful performance of their duties. The contract specified that but one payment shall be made at the completion and acceptance of the work.

Utility Man Resigns.

The resignation of Henry Rathcamp, who has served the borough as utility man for the past several years, was received at the council meeting last night, and in accordance with action taken, an advertisement for man to take his place appears in today’s issue of the Home News.

The matter of procuring oil for the purpose of settling the dust along the main street of the borough was again discussed and the street committee was directed to procure some kind of a substance as soon as possible. Chairman Kuthlthau, of the street committee reported that he had investigated the matter of combination road binder and dust layer produced by the Robbinson Process Co. Whether this or crude oil will be procured was left in the hands of the committee to decide.

Poor Sidewalk

A washout in the sidewalk of O. Lindstrom. of North Main Street, which caused a young lady to fall down recently, was reported to council, and the clerk was authorized to notify the owner to have same repaired.

Councilman Skewis, chairman of the police committee, reported that he had been requested by the Board of Health to put a special officer on the streets to see that the resolutions of the health committee are carried out in so far as prohibiting children under sixteen years from entering or leaving the town, to keep children at home and to perform such other duties as the Board of Health will require of them. It is proposed to have the special officer to board the trolley cars as they enter the town and make a search for children under the age limit and prevent them from alighting in the town.

The matter of daily visits in the borough by New York and Brooklyn children who are stopping near Patrick’s Corner, was reported. The matter will be taken care of by the special officer, who will be on the job this week.

The finance committee was authorized to purchase sixty-five meters still due on contract with the Pittsburgh Meter Co., together with 25 one-inch curb cocks and six frost bottoms for meters.

The application for plumbers’. scene and bond of Theodore Bluming, which was laid on the table some time ago, was taken up and refused, on the grounds that Mr. Bluming had no established place of business. Mr. Bluming desired to do some work in his own home at present and expected to start his business later on. The outside work has been completed by regularly licensed plumber, and the refusal of the application will not hinder him from doing the inside work in his own home, but it must be inspected by a licensed plumber of the borough.

A bond of the Michelin Tire Company for plumbing licenses was approved.

The clerk was Authorized to deliver to the engineer in charge of the new sewer and water construction work the bid of the Utility Construction Co. with the understanding the same would be returned for filing at the completion of the work

The finance committee was empowered to purchase an air compressor for the engine for use in connection with the sewer station at a cost of not more than $225.

The clerk was authorized to send a bill to the Pubic Service Railway Co., for $3,00, for water taken from a local hydrant to fill their tank car, and also to notify the Public Service that such practice will not be tolerated unless permission is granted by council.


This Day in History: August 7, 1913

This Day in History: August 7, 1913

Sayreville Man Hit by a Motorcyclist at Milltown


MILLTOWN, Aug. 1-Yesterday morning when Hans Popp and his assistant painters, who are at present engaged in painting the Borough Hall in Milltown, were alighting the trolley car near Fresh Ponds Road, when one of the assistants, a young man from Sayreville, was struck by a motorcycle and somewhat bruised about the incident.

Just about the time the painters alighted the car a wagon was bound up the street and a motorcycle was bound down, which together with the trolley car, bound for New Brunswick, caused a constipated state of affairs in which the passenger became entangled. The motorcyclist was obliged to return of his machine was somewhat damaged. The wounds of the passenger were taken care of by his friends.  


This Day In History: August 6, 1913

This Day In History: August 6, 1913

HURT WHEN TROLLEY CAR JUMPS TRACK

John Funk and Motorman Carter, of Milltown, Have Miraculous Escapes in a Peculiar Accident at Berdine’s Corner, Scene of Fatal Accident – Passenger Caught in Wreck


In exactly the same spot, and in very much the same manner, where Edward McKeon, a trolley conductor, of this city, met his death a year ago. John Funk, of Milltown, a bookkeeper at the plant of the Enameled Brick and Tile Company at South River, received Injuries at 1:20 this morning, when a trolley car on which he was a passenger, left the tracks at Berdine’s Corner, while going at high speed, and crashed into a telegraph pole.

Funk’s Injuries are not serious, and consist of an injury to the leg. and severe bruises about the body He had a miraculous escape from death or serious injury. As did Motorman Carter of the car.

Carter is a resident of keyport, but boards at Milltown. He has been motorman but short time. The car which came to grief at the corner which has been the scene of several accidents, left here at 1 o’clock. As is the custom the car was speeding on the George’s Road track. Motor man Carter says that he applied the brakes before coming to the turn, and that they refused to work. though they had been working well previously. The car jumped the track, and a few second later the body of the car left the trucks, and crushed sideways into a telegraph pole. The car fell and the pole smashed in the top of the car. At the time of the incident Funk was talking to Conductor Channatti. and he was sitting well toward the front of the car. Had he been in t the center or the rear, he would probably have been badly injured or killed.

The car was a complete wreck, and Funk was compelled to crawl out of the wreckage. Motorman Carter stuck to his port, and he also had to fight his way out. He kicked out the front windows of the vestibule, and crawled out. The conductor escaped injury.

Over a year ago an early morning car left the tracks at the same turn, and conductor Mckeon was almost instantly killed. That time there were no passengers on the car. This morning Funk was the only passenger.


This day in History: Jan. 9 1901

This day in History: Jan. 9 1901

The Daily Times: New Brunswick, N.J. Wednesday January 9 1901

GIRLS SWAPPED MEN.

But Kept the Original Rig. The Mean Trick Played Upon Two New Brunswick Gallants.

There are two young men in New Brunswick who are thoroughly convinced that a sporting life isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. There are two sweet, innocent young girls in Milltown who think that good things must be worked to the limit, and there is a liveryman who is trying to collect a bill for carriage hire under conditions that would give Solomon nervous prostration.

All of which is the outcome of an episode that occurred some days ago, but of which the details have just transpired.

Not so many moons ago the young men who were the heroes or victims of the adventure, arranged with their fair Milltown charmers to go for a drive, the drive to be to a well-known hostelry on the Old Bridge turnpike, where refreshments might be obtained prior to the homeward trip.

The party started off in the afternoon, paired off nicely. The lady with the numerical name had the front seat with the blonde gentleman from this city, while the back seat was occupied by her friend and his friend.

Arrived at the hotel that had been selected as the objective point of the drive, the girls disclaimed any desire to be refreshed. “We’ll sit in the carriage and wait for you if you want to go in to get a glass of soda water or a bottle of ginger pop,” they promised.

And the young men went. Hardly had the doors closed upon them before the lady on the front seat was overmastered by a consuming desire to try her skill as a whip. She gathered the ribbons, chirped to the horse and the pair drove down the road. The girls may have fixed it up beforehand, it may have been only a chance meeting, but the tact they had gone far enough only to lose he hotel behind a clump of trees, when they met two dear old friends, men friends, who were on foot.

“Why how-de-do girls.” ” Well, of, all things.” “To see you here.” “Where you going?” “What a fine carriage,” and so on and so on. Any one who has seen a pair of dear girls meet a pair of Willy boys on the Look, when the. Glad Eye is working, can supply the rest of the conversation, which culminated in an invitation from the girls to the men to get in and take a drive.

Nothing was said of the original good things, back at the hotel. They out no ice with any of the quartette. They Had Been.

The new party of four had a delightful time. They drove, and they drove. They had dinner at some little place, they had refreshments at other little places, and they did not return to Milltown until the horse was nearly dead and the clock hands dallied with the midnight hour.

The deserted gallants, after cooling their heels for some time, and finally becoming convinced that they had been I Shook Shameful, hoofed it to the nearest corner from which a trolley could be hailed and put-up car fare to get back to New Brunswick. As the car passed Millown they stood on the rear platform and said cold, cynical things about the swell girls that lived there and didn’t know how to act descent with gentlemen.

That is all of the story, except a little chapter that hasn’t been finished yet. The liveryman who let out the horse and carriage wants his money. ” We’ll be tee-totally gol-blinged, or words to that effect, if we’ll pay for a carriage to take “some other fellows out or a carriage ride,” say the original lessees of the outfit.

“We don’t know anything about the charges,” say the second pair, the winning pair, the aces. “We were invited by our friends and had nothing to do with the hiring of the carriage.”

And the queens roll their lovely blue eyes under their long blood lashes and say “Dear me! You wouldn’t expect ladies to pay for anything when there were four gentlemen in the party, now would you?” And the liveryman is trying to figure it all out so that he won’t stand to lose.

This day in History: Jan. 3 1899

This day in History: Jan. 3 1899

The Daily Times: New Brunswick, N.J. Tuesday January 3 1899

AN ALL NIGHT TRIP.
Six Passengers Are Snow Bound on a Trolley Car.


One of the cars of the Brunswick Traction Company, one of the Milltown and South River line was stalled on Saturday Night between South River and Milltown. The car was making; its last trip to this city near midnight when the snow storm stopped its progress. It was stalled from midnight until 5 a. m. .where it was first, stopped, and all efforts to start it on the part of motorman and conductor were futile. There were six passengers in the car, three ladies and three gentlemen. Two of the gentlemen connected prominently with church choirs, expected to miss their Sunday morning services but they got in town in time to sing

Some of the cars on the other lines were also put out of service temporarily on account of the snow, but no serious inconvenience was caused to the patrons of the road.