February 7, 1919--Dr. Headlee's Plan to Kill Mosquitos

Who can ever forget the song "Forever Chasing Skeeters"?  It was first sung at the tenth annual New Jersey Mosquito Extermination Association's meeting.  The lyrics went something like this:  "Doc's forever chasing skeeters/chasing skeeters in the air/They fly so high, up up in the sky/but Headlee will catch 'em bye and bye/He traps them by the millions/night collections here and there/He then predicts the date/when they'll die off in such despair". The Doc Headlee referred to in this classic tune was none other than our own Doctor Thomas J. Headlee, once the leading New Jersey State entomologist.  He came from Kansas, where he had been head of the entomology department at the Kansas Agricultural College.  He assumed his new duties in New Jersey on October 1, 1912.  Headlee actually took over four positions at that time--professor of entomology at Rutgers; chief entomologist at the college's agricultural experiment station; entomologist at the State experiment station; and State entomologist under the State Board of Agriculture.  His forte was research on ways to prevent the invasion of dangerous insects at New Jersey's farms and orchards.  One of his main goals was to exterminate all mosquitos in New Jersey.  He had been victorious against the Hessian fly in Kansas, but battling the Jersey mosquito was another matter.  Headlee unveiled a plan to eradicate the pest at a cost of $750,000, on February 7, 1919.  He called for "ditching" to be employed throughout the State in order to drain and contain mosquito breeding areas.  Dr. Headlee lived for many years in South Brunswick Township where mosquitos thrived in abundance.  In case you haven't noticed, the good Doctor was not too successful here against "them skeeters" . . . nor was he successful anywhere in the State.  However, he must be given credit for starting a war that still rages on.  The date of the end of Headlee's war remains undetermined.  But please remember Doc Headlee the next time you fire up that patio bug lite of yours.

February 6, 1933--Aaron Dean Joins NJ Historical Society

   
The prestigious New Jersey Historical Society was founded in 1845 in Trenton, New Jersey.  The founders were Joseph C. Hornblower, Robert Gibbon Johnson, Peter D. Vroom, and William Whitehead.  A year later, the Historical Society moved to Newark, New Jersey.  It is still located in this city.  The present location is 52 Park Place--the former Essex Club.  Besides the Society's offices, a museum, gift shop, and lecture hall can be found.  The New Jersey Historical Society continues to publish an academic journal--NEW JERSEY HISTORY.  Back on February 6, 1933, the first person having a connection with South Brunswick Township joined the state's Historical Society.  This was Aaron Dean, a direct descendant of the first Aaron Dean to settle in the area that became known as Deans.  This Aaron Dean was the son of Aaron and Ruth Britton Dean.  He was born in Deans, but he did not stick around for long.  He spent more than forty years of his life in Rahway, New Jersey.  This Aaron Dean was an engineer for the Union Switch and Signal Company in New York.  He was recognized as an expert railroad signal engineer and contributed to the development of better signals for the rail lines in the twentieth century.  He was married to Malvena Dean.  They had one son, Dion K. Dean of Rahway.  Dion was the last Dean to own land in South Brunswick Township.  His father must have started his interest in Jersey history when he was a lad growing up in Deans.  He kept up this interest by becoming a member of the Historical Society.  He never contributed an article to NEW JERSEY HISTORY, but he must have inspired others to delve into various aspects of New Jersey history.  He was involved in the Society right up to the time he suffered a fatal heart attack at the age of seventy-four at his retirement home in Sea Girt, New Jersey.  It may be a stretch, but one may consider this Aaron Dean the Township's first "Dean of History"--after all, he was a Dean!

February 5, 1869--Monmouth Junction Post Office Established

The first Post Office in Monmouth Junction was located in a small house on Hillside Avenue near the train tracks.  It opened on February 5, 1869.  Its first Postmaster was Charles A. Griggs.  He lasted a bit more than a year before Stryker Rowland took charge on May 5, 1870.  The Post Office relocated to the Emens Seed and General Store, located on the corner of Railroad Avenue and Walnut Street.  The store was in operation into the 1920's, and was managed by three generations of the Emens family.  Thereafter, most of the other space around the Post Office was turned into apartments.  Clifford C. Emens served as Postmaster, starting in 1951.  Under his leadership, the Monmouth Junction Post Office came to serve more South Brunswick residents than any other post office serving the 40-square mile Township.  This aging facility was proving inadequate for the volume of mail and number of patrons it served.  The Township Planning Board recognized this and made plans in the early 1970's to give the township a new post office in Monmouth Junction.  However, Planning Board members wanted to call the new one, "South Brunswick P.O."  In the end, the planners got the new post office built, but the Monmouth Junction name remained.  The old Emens place was not forgotten, however.  Locals had always joked about how the structure looked like it might have been in an old western movie.  That idea came to fruition in 1967, when a brace of Columbia University students visited Monmouth Junction a half-dozen times as part of a film-making seminar.  Old Monmouth Junction had been chosen for one reason only--from across the railroad tracks, the old Emens building, which had housed the Post Office, closely resembled a vintage western-style saloon.  During all the action scenes that were shot, there was one aging, past-her-prime actress that really stood out--the building which had once housed the Monmouth Junction Post Office.  Perhaps, one day, the South Brunswick Public Library will be able to round up a copy of the film from Columbia University.  We may have to form a Monmouth Junction posse to track it down or hire a bounty hunter from Ringoes!

February 4, 1830--Delaware-Raritan Canal Incorporated

A canal across central Jersey was an inevitable phenomenon.  William Penn, back in the 1670's, thought of the idea first.  He sent out surveyors to explore the possibility of constructing a canal across the Jerseys, from the Delaware River to New York Bay--in other words, find an easier avenue of commerce between New York and Philadelphia.  It took a long time for Penn's idea to become a reality--February 4, 1830, to be exact.  That is when the State of New Jersey granted a charter to the Delaware & Raritan Canal and Banking Company  to construct an artificial waterway between the Delaware River and the Raritan River.  The stage was set for a canal route that would cut through old South Brunswick and skirt by the staid village of Kingston.  The canal was to become an integral extension of the South Brunswick transportation system--but only for ten decades.  Also in 1830, a charter was granted to the Camden & Amboy Railroad and Transportation Company to construct a line in direct competition with the canal.  Soon thereafter, the railroad started winning out as there new major form of transportation across New Jersey.  By mid-November of 1830, construction of the canal began.  Steady progress was made along several sections, including the ones around Kingston.  In the summer of 1832, the first major setback occurred when many laborers, most of them Irish immigrants, succumbed to an outbreak of Asiatic cholera.  In the fall of 1833, the canal was opened from Trenton to Kingston.  The entire length was opened by May of 1834.  Canal traffic thrived until the early 1870's when the Pennsylvania Railroad expanded to a four-line track.  As railroad profits increased, canal profits decreased.  After 1900, the canal system was operating at a loss.  Yacht passage kept the canal going in the 1920's, but by 1932 the canal had to close and ceased to function as a transportation link.  William Penn's idea proved to be a good one--but delayed too long and doomed when it finally started.  The problem was not location, location, location.  The problem was luck and timing.  The railroad proved to be a better idea.

February 3, 2004--Seth Dvorin, SBHS Graduate Slain in Iraq

First Lt. Seth Dvorin, who graduated from South Brunswick High School in 1998, died near Iskandariyah, Iraq, after a roadside bomb exploded while he was conducting a counter explosive mission.  Seth was an officer in the 10th Mountain Division, Battery B, 3rd. Battalion, 62nd. Air Defense Artillery Regiment of the United States Army.  For his bravery in the line of duty, Dvorin was awarded a Purple Heart and a Bronze Star.  He was posthumously promoted from Second to First Lieutenant.  Eye-witnesses to the explosion described Lieutenant Dvorin as a true hero who warned others to get back from the bomb he had spotted.  That day, he gave up his life to save many others.  Throughout his life there were many examples of his helping others, showing courage, and practicing compassion.  After Seth graduated from South Brunswick High School, he wanted to join the Army; however, his parents insisted he go to college first, then go into the military.  After the military experience, Seth planned to work for the FBI or the CIA.  At Rutgers, Dvorin received a Bachelor's Degree in Criminology in 2002.  He enlisted right after graduating and attended Officer Candidate School at Fort Benning, Georgia.  Then, it was on to the Air Defense Artillery School at El Paso, Texas.  After finishing his training, he found out that he was going to be sent to Iraq.  Before going overseas, Seth married his college sweetheart, Kelly Harris.  Five days after getting married he left for Iraq.    In June of 2004, the South Brunswick Township Council honored this brave soldier's ultimate sacrifice.  Dvorin's mother was presented with two plaques--one held an inscription that described how the community felt about her son.  The other plaque featured a picture of Lt. Dvorin posing in front of a large American flag.  The mother, in turn, announced a scholarship to be set up in her son's name to recognize students who study the humanities.  Seth Dvorin gave it his all each day of a life cut short by the tragedy of war.  May his memory live on.

February 2, 1799--Aaron Dean's Will Seals Fate of His Slaves

"Innisfree" Dean House 739 Georges Road

Aaron Dean, Sr., was one of the "founding fathers" of South Brunswick (previously part of the South Ward of Middlesex County).  He owned several acres of land and he owned several slaves.  The fate of these slaves was sealed in Dean's will, dated February 2, 1779.  Aaron Dean, Jr., received a young slave, named Frank.  The deceased's wife, Charity, received two female slaves, Pat and Dine.  His daughters, Margaret and Ruth, were to receive Pat and Dine after Charity's passing.  John Dean was to receive a young slave whose name was unknown.  Daniel Dean acquired a servant, named Robert.  In Daniel's will, Robert was to be manumitted and given thirty dollars upon the death of Daniel's wife, Ruth.  Abraham Dean acquired an indented young female, named Abigail, who went to Abraham's wife, Isabel, at his passing.  Finally a female servant, named Dinah, was manumitted at the age of twenty.  This information, though incomplete and sparse, indicates that almost all those who descended from the original Aaron Dean (whom the Deans part of South Brunswick Township is named after) possessed servants--be they slaves, indentures, or black freemen--for generations.  The last Dean servant was Peter Baker, who lived in a cottage adjacent to the Dean homestead.  He had outlived the last of the local Dean family members and was left on his own.  In his final years, when Peter could no longer work, he became a charge of the Township.  "Old Pete",  as he was known by locals, passed away after living a long, full life.  It was discovered that he had used much less than what the Township had allotted him (close to $700 remained unused).  Before he died, Pete Baker requested that these monies be returned to the Township and given to someone who needed it more than he did.  Sometimes the true heroes hide in the history.  Most times we never bother to find them.  Such is not the case in this blog--hats off to "Old Pete."

February 1, 1951--George Parker Wins Poultry Trophy

Parker Poultry Farm

Practical poultryman, George R. Parker of Monmouth Junction, did not lay an egg on February 1, 1951.  Far from it.  His accomplishment was more of the "golden egg" variety during the 1951 Farmer's Week, held by the New Jersey State Poultry Association.  At the 60th annual meeting of the Association at the Hotel Hidebrecht in Trenton, New Jersey,  the winners in various categories of competition were announced . . . and you guessed it--our own George R. Parker received the coveted Poultry Green Pastures Trophy for best poultry range in the State of New Jersey during 1950.  Back in the day, there were fewer ways to bring glory to your community, but Mister Parker found a way to put Monmouth Junction "on the map."  Parker was no spring chicken when it came to receiving accolades for his accomplishments in the poultry business.  He has been called upon at various occasions to speak on panels at the Black Farmers' Annual Conference.  We felt all along that George R. Parker knew his chickens--but in 1951, he had a trophy to prove it.  When asked by a local reporter in New Brunswick, which came first "the chicken or the egg?"  Mister Parker replied "It all depends how wide the road is."

January 31, 1934--Monmouth Junction RR Engineer, Alonzo Wright's Funeral

Monmouth Junction Train Station

Veteran railroader and noted musician, Alonzo Francis Wright of Monmouth Junction, was laid to rest on January 31, 1934.  When Wright was a mere lad of twelve, his father, Joel Wright--an engineer on the old Camden and Amboy Railroad--taught him how to run the famous English engine, "John Bull."  He was present when the engine arrived at Bordentown, saw it being assembled at the wharf, and helped feed it wood to burn instead of coal.  In 1865, he moved with his family to Princeton where his father served as an engineer on the Princeton Junction branch.  Joel Wright served as a telegraph operator at Princeton Junction until 1876.  On January 29, 1877, Wright married Kate D. Groendyke.  Before he died, they had celebrated fifty-six years together.  His son, Alonzo, followed in his father's footsteps in working for the railroad.  He also was an ardent church-goer.  Wright served as a Sunday school teacher, was a member of the choir, and the church treasurer.  He was also a talented musician, who performed on the piano, violin, banjo, cornet, accordion, and mouth organ.  This humble, multi-talented man just happened to be descended from English nobility (so he claimed as often as given the opportunity)--his great-grandmother, Harriet Luttrell, was the daughter of the Earl of Carhampton, who once held a seat in Parliament in the British House of Lords.  This is but another example of the colorful characters who have been a part of South Brunswick Township history.  Legend has it that this Alonzo Francis Wright was never wrong (so he claimed as often as given the opportunity).

January 30, 1968--Timothy Ochs Ambushed in Vietnam

Timothy Ochs' 1965 Valhalla Yearbook picture

He was only twenty-one years old when he lost his life.  Specialist Fourth Class, Timothy C. Ochs, son of Mr. and Mrs. Carl F. Ochs of Georges Road, Dayton, was killed in an ambush while en route to a new assignment near Saigon on January 30, 1968.  This tragedy occurred just days after he had completed a thirty-six day leave to see his parents back home.  Ochs had served a year prior to the leave and had re-enlisted in the Army in December before coming home to visit.  He had volunteered for another six months of service to his country.  Timothy was a life-long resident of Dayton.  He graduated from South Brunswick High School in 1965.  He then matriculated at the Institute of Computer Programming in New Brunswick.  Then he entered the military.  After receiving his basic training at Fort Dix, Ochs was assigned to Vietnam as a computer data processing specialist.  After his final six-month tour, he was planning to return to a job waiting for him at McGraw-Hill in Hightstown, New Jersey.  Timothy Ochs, one of our hometown heroes, never got the chance.

January 29, 1862--Francis Tites of Little Rocky Hill Dies

 Mount Zion African Methodist Episcopal Union Church

Many of us South Brunswick Townshippers drive through Little Rocky Hill on Route 27 and know little or nothing about the community that has been there since colonial times.  At an earlier time, the road sat east of where it now passes through Little Rocky Hill.  Along the old route an integrated community sprang up and clustered around the Mount Zion A. M. E. Church which was founded in 1843 and still stands.  The original name of the church was "Mount Zion African Methodist Episcopal Union Church."  One of the unsung founders of this church was Francis Tites, who passed away on January 29, 1862.  He lived on Old Road, which is the same road the church is on.  The nearby cemetery was started at the same time the church was.  After Mr. Tites (aka: Titus) passed away, he was buried in this cemetery by the church he loved.  The guiding principle of the A. M. E. Church is that all men, regardless of race, are brothers in God's eyes.  The founder of the first A. M. E. Church in Philadelphia, Richard Allen, was a former slave who did not like being told where a person of color had to pray.  He felt the races did not have to be separated at a place of worship.  Founder's Day for the A. M. E. Church  in Philadelphia coincides with Allen's birthday on February 14, 1760.  His movement of protest against the established Methodist Episcopal Church, in 1787, evolved into the A. M. E. Church.  The Church and its doctrine of inclusion spread to other states.  These included Maryland, New Jersey, and Delaware.  Francis Tites was one of the first in Little Rocky Hill to be inspired by Allen's message of brotherhood.  It took courage and conviction to express such a message in those days.  Tites made sure the Little Rocky Hill community stood as a beacon of what a free society could be.  A hundred years after Tites passed away, a new Mt. Zion A. M. E. Church was constructed north of the original structure on Old Road in Little Rocky Hill.  The reader is invited to find the Old Road the next time driving on Route 27 and take a step back in history

January 28, 1956--First 25 Occupancy Permits Issued for Kendall Park

by Ed Belding South Brunswick Historical Society

The latest "pioneer" settlers in South Brunswick Township "staked their claims" in the 1950's.  It all started when Herb Kendall, a builder with a dream and land developer of some renown, went before the South Brunswick Township Planning Board on February 10, 1955.  He was joined by his partner, David Savage.  Kendall proposed to build 500 homes, school buildings, and water and sewer systems.  He received approval for 500 homes, but his dream involved a thousand more homes.  His plan was to build 300 homes per year.  For the additional thousand, Kendall had to go to court.  He won and his dream became a reality.  By January 28, 1956, the first occupancy permits were issued.  By April of that year, 245 acres of woods and farmland had been purchased.  This area lay between New Road and Sand Hills Road.  The very first homes were built right off Route 27 where Stanworth and Blair Roads are located.  By March of 1957 more than one-hundred "pioneer" families had moved into their new homes.  Each of the new homes on spacious lots was available for $400 down.  Quite a deal in those halcyon days!  By 1960, the Kendall Park population had risen to ten-thousand.  The hearty "pioneers" of Kendall Park deserve as much credit as Herb Kendall is due.  Since those early days, Kendall Parkers have contributed much to the vitality and growth of South Brunswick Township.

January 27, 1777--Robert Nixon Elected Captain of Light Horse Troop

by Ed Belding South Brunswick Historical Society

Things were looking up for the American forces under General George Washington in January of 1777.  The patriot army had won the First Battle of Trenton, avoided defeat at the Second Battle of Trenton, and defeated British forces at the Battle of Princeton.  Things were also looking up for the New Jersey Militia in the South Brunswick area at this time.  Robert Nixon, who did not hail from South Brunswick, became one of our local heroes during 1777.  It all started for him when the local men in the Light-Horse Troop of Militia, Third Regiment, Middlesex County, elected Robert Nixon as their Captain.  He served with distinction in this capacity until advancing in rank later in the year.  While he was Captain, he led his men against loyalist foragers.  There may have been a number of British soldiers in this band of foragers, but that is not for certain.  Nixon and his men were successful in repelling this foe in what became known as the "Cranberry Skirmish," even though the action took place just south of Cross Roads (lka: Dayton) on March 12, 1777.  This confrontation and rout of enemy forces took place along Georges Road near where Route 130 is today.  The Light-Horse Troop then chased after the foragers in order to discourage them from returning to the area.  Captain Nixon lived in Hide's Town (aka: Hight's Town), which is known today as Hightstown.  He owned over two-hundred acres of land there.  He was a tanner by trade, but he may also have tried his hand at running a tavern.  Robert Nixon was a strong, gruff man, well-suited to lead lead local militia men.  He was as much respected by them as he was feared.  His story is told in Ed. Belding's THE CAPTAIN'S RULE, which is available at the Reference Desk of the South Brunswick Public Library.

January 26, 2013--Sanchitha Balasubramanian--First Prize at Carnegie Hall

by Ed Belding South Brunswick Historical Society

Bet you can't guess the longest name of all the musicians who hail from South Brunswick.  You would be correct if you said Sanchitha Balasubramanian of Monmouth Junction.  She answered the age-old question--"How Do You Get To Carnegie Hall?" . . . answer--"Practice, Practice, Practice . . . "  She performed there on January 26, 2013, and took first place in the music and voice competition for her age category.  At that time, Miss B. was a Sophomore at the Hun School.  She had started training on the piano just four years earlier, and training as a vocalist one year earlier.  In the Carnegie Hall competition, Sanchitha chose Chopin's Waltz Opus 64, No. 2 for piano, and Handel's Lascia Ch'io Pianga for an aria.  Miss Balasubramanian admits coming from musical family.  Her mother loves to sing and her father loves to listen.  Their gift of a toy xylophone when Sanchitha was little, started her on the pursuit of excellence in music.  She always sang.  She took up the violin in third grade.  By age thirteen she was in competition at Steinway Hall, Performance Hall, and Baruch Hall.  After her triumph at Carnegie Hall, Sanchitha performed at the Golden Key Music Festival in April of 2013.  She continues to play and contribute to South Brunswick's claim to be a place where musical talent can thrive.

January 25, 2016--Jeanette Muser, Author, Dies

by Ed Belding
South Brunswick Historical Society

Jeanette K. Muser passed away on January 25, 2016.  She was born in Vienna, Austria, to American parents on November 16, 1940.  Her father, Dr. Frederick J. Krueger, worked for the U. S. Public Health Service and was on assignment in Europe at the time Jeanette was born.  Upon their return to the States, the Kruegers settled in Wauwatosa, Wisconsin.  While there, Jeanette furthered her education at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, earning a B.A. in Education and an M.A. in History.  Jeanette married Franz Josef Moehn in 1962.  The couple moved to Princeton, New Jersey, in 1965.  Jeanette received a Fulbright Fellowship in 1967 and spent the year in Germany.  After the birth of her second child, the family moved to Pennington, New Jersey.  Jeanette earned an M.A. in Library Science from Rutgers University in 1971.  She served as a librarian at the West Windsor-Plainsboro High School until 1995.  In 1982, she and Franz divorced.  After her children finished high school, Jeanette married Rainer Karl Martin Muser in 1987.  They moved to Rocky Hill.  After retiring, she pursued volunteer work, including the Rocky Hill Heritage Project; the Rocky Hill Remembers Newsletter; and a book project--ROCKY HILL, KINGSTON, and GRIGGSTOWN (Arcadia, 1998).  For her years of dedication to local history, Jeanette received an award from the Somerset County Cultural & Heritage Commission in 2002.  She also served on the Rocky Hill Planning Board, the Committee for the Millstone River Valley National Scenic Byway, and helped publish a booklet entitled--"1783: General George Washington's Departure from Military Service."  We can thank Jeanette Muser for including all of Kingston in her book, thereby adding to our understanding of the early history of that part of our township.

January 24, 1947--Pioneer Grange No. 1 Marks 75th Anniversary

January 24, 1947-Pioneer Grange No. 1 Marks 75 Anniversary
by Ed Belding South Brunswick Historical Society

When an organization is labeled "Pioneer" and "No. 1" it has to mean that it is the first of its kind.  Yes, here is another first that South Brunswick Township can be proud of.  When farmers in the Monroe/Jamesburg area formed a "secret organization" and called it the "Homestead Grange,"  little did they know that their organization would outlast the Rhode Hall Farmers' Alliance and the Monroe Farmers' Club.  Neither did they know at that time that they would end up in Dayton.  It all started on January 24, 1872, thanks to the leadership of Oliver Hudson Kelley.  He later went on to serve as the first Secretary of the National Grange.  Grange meeting places moved from Stelton to Prospect Plains to Cranbury, and finally to Dayton.  Its fiftieth anniversary was celebrated on this day in 1922, with an all-day session at the Presbyterian Church in Dayton.  Close to four-hundred Grangers attended.  The Diamond Jubilee was held in 1947, on Friday evening, January 24th.  By this time, the Grange had its own hall on Ridge Road.  And, by this time, everyone involved insisted that this was "New Jersey's Oldest Grange."  Mistress of Ceremonies, that evening, was Anna J. Alsheimer.  Speakers included Franklin Nixon, Master of the New Jersey State Grange; Historian, Myra Spratford; Maurice Hagerman, Deputy of Mercer County; and James B. Kirby, Secretary of the New Jersey State Grange.  Music for dancing was provided by the Paul Stewart Orchestra.  A good time was had by all in attendance.  The Grange Hall still stands on Ridge Road, but the Grangers are long gone--not even a Lone Granger left to bring back the good old days!

January 23, 1841 Clarence Mulford Slack was born

January 23, 1841 Clarence Mulford Slack was born.
By Ed Belding South Brunswick Historical Society

On January 23, 1841, in Hightstown, New Jersey. He studied medicine at Jefferson Medical College in Philadelphia, then enlisted in the Union Navy and served as a physician during the Civil War. Upon returning from military service, Dr. Slack looked for a suitable place to live and work. In 1866, he found property north of Five Corners on the east side of Georges Road in Dayton. The land was purchased from S. Pullen. Slack had a house built on this land in 1870. This is where he also set up his medical practice. Shortly thereafter, Dr. Slack met with a few others to discuss plans to have a Presbyterian Church built in the vicinity. Slack had bought more property for just such a purpose. One such acquisition was the Mershon farm (56.8 acres) in 1879. Eight years later, Dr. Slack sold all his South Brunswick properties to Dr. Edgar Carroll. Included in this transaction was the first house in Dayton to have a bathroom. Slack moved to New Brunswick and set up an office on George Street. He bought a house on Livingston Avenue. Later, he moved his medical practice to his place of residence. Fifteen years later, Slack retired and moved to St. Petersburg, Florida, where he lived out his final years. Dr. Slack was married twice. His first wife was Mary Elizabeth Conover of Middletown, New Jersey. His second wife was Lizzie Helm of New Brunswick. Besides serving the Dayton area for years as a doctor, Clarence Slack served as the Middlesex County Clerk by filling the deceased Charles S. Hill's unexpired term. In the next election, Slack won by popular vote and served a full term. Thus, our Dr. Slack served the public in more than one significant capacity. He was a person who gave much more than he received.

January 22, 2004--Carolyn Galos Introduces The "Be My Buddie" Plush Pillow

January 22, 2004

by Ed Belding South Brunswick Historical Society

	Feb 3 (4 days ago)

South Brunswick Township, and especially Kendall Park, was, and still is, a hotbed for new ideas.  Take for example, Carolyn Galos, who introduced her "Be My Buddie" product on January 22, 2004.  This is a pillow, containing a satin pull-out, that was designed by Galos to help soothe and comfort a fussy child.  She came up with the idea while shopping with her fussy first baby.  She took out her silk scarf at the checkout counter, when her child was at his worst, and stroked it by his cheek.  The baby quieted down.  Galos knew she was on to something.  Since silk is rather expensive, Carolyn decided to experiment with less expensive fabrics.  She finally decided to work with satin.  Next came developing various pillow shapes and choosing kid-friendly characters for the satin pull-outs for a child to play with.  Among those chosen were Pooh Bear, Piglet, Tweetie Pie, and Blue from Blues Clues.  A velcro strap was added to fasten the item to wherever the child might be.  The product is marketed through Techniform, Inc., which has a licensing agreement with Crown Crafts Infant Products, Inc.  The inventor is a commercial sculptress with degrees in Art Education and Design/Fine Arts from the State University College at Buffalo, New York.  Galos has garnered awards from the Industrial Arts Society of America and the Industrial Design Excellence Award for Medical and Scientific Products.  Carolyn Galos is a member of the New Jersey Association of Women Business Owners and the U. S. Women's Chamber of Commerce.  Many folks in South Brunswick Township may not have known of the accomplishments of this successful idea person, but they do now!

History Under Our Feet

History Under Our Feet
by Paul Weiner
South Brunswick Historical Society

Recently avid metal detectorists in New Jersey have uncovered numerous dug examples of the once rare George Washington first inaugural button made in 1789 for use by men he gave it to who served under him in the Revolutionary War or befriended him. The button at that time was looped onto vest coats, three to a side to be worn in some cases by those that came to the country’s first inauguration in New York City on April 30, 1789. In some cases these buttons detached from the vest coats and landed on parade grounds to be encased in soil and lost forever until discovered 5 inches under the ground by a treasurer hunter. One such button classified as A-12 in Alphaeus H. Albert’s Record of American Uniform and Historical Buttons was located in a parade grounds used by American Revolutionary troops in Kingston, New Jersey. The button is fashioned with a heraldic eagle and a six point estoile (star). It is composed of brass, bronze and copper and is 35mm in size. The village of Kingston is contained in South Brunswick Township and Franklin Township and was founded in the early 18th century after purchase of 1,000 acres from Native Americans. The areas was frequented by George Washington who lived about one mile outside town at Rockingham, a historic home still extant. British officers were housed in the town and several small battles took place in the area. The dug button was found near dropped musket balls and colonial coinage such as Spanish reales. A school built in 1926 and a church built in 1723 abut the area. The school and church are located on the Franklin Township side of Kingston.

February is Black History Month!

February is Black History Month!

African American Civil War Veteran Aaron Hush was born in 1845. Hush volunteered for the 32nd Regiment of the United States Colored Troops of Philadelphia in February of 1864 and served until August of 1865. He went to Philadelphia because New Jersey did not allow blacks to fight at that time. He was one of 2,872 black people who fought in the war.
He owned property in the Sand Hill area of South Brunswick and was buried there after his death on January 20, 1916.
Here is a picture of the proud Civil War Veteran Aaron Hush and his honorable discharge certificate.

January 21, 1723--Kingston Presbyterian Church Organized

January 21, 1723--Kingston Presbyterian Church Organized
by Ed Belding South Brunswick Historical Society

The very first Kingston Presbyterian Church was organized on January 21, 1723. It was located in a humble log structure by the Millstone River. This original location is associated with the cemetery overlooking the river. The noted Pastor in those early years was Rev. Eleazar Wales. He led a growing congregation which rivaled like-minded worshippers in Lawrenceville, Pennington, Princeton, and New Brunswick. The original log structure burned down in 1791, during a time when the Kingston congregation was losing members to the Princeton congregation. A new building was raised on the original foundation the following year. This church was used until 1852. A larger church was built on the main street (pka: Route 27) on land purchased from Elijah Stout in 1852. Thus, the church remained on the Franklin side of Kingston. In 1853, the old church by the cemetery was sold and later dismantled. All this occurred during a time of revival when the church experienced prosperity and growth. Two additions on the new church were built later. In the 1940's, Sunday School rooms were added in the back. In the 1980's, another addition included a new kitchen, an assembly room, and a Pastor's office. Many generations of residents on the South Brunswick side of Kingston attended services and participated in various programs at this venerable landmark church. It may lie on the Franklin side, but it is part of South Brunswick in the hearts of many.

January 20, 2011--Kevin Hughes, South Brunswick Police Department, Graduates from FBI Academy

On January 20, 2011, it was reported in the news that Kevin Hughes, Deputy Chief of the South Brunswick Township Police Department, had graduated from the FBI National Academy.  He completed a grueling twelve-week program at Quantico, Virginia, along with representatives from all fifty states, the District of Columbia, and twenty-two other nations.  Deputy Chief Hughes took a college-like course load which included "Understanding Terrorism," "Juvenile Crime," "Labor Law," "Stress Management," and "Fitness."  The culminating event of his last choice was the show-no-mercy "Yellow Brick Road" challenge run, which was 7.2 miles long.  Participation in this federal program was by invitation only.  It involved an extensive and thorough nomination process in order to get accepted.  Deputy Chief Hughes was the first South Brunswick officer to be accepted into this program in ten years.  According to then Police Chief, Raymond Hayducka, "Deputy Chief Hughes excelled while at the Academy.  His graduation will benefit our agency and community . . ."  Hats off to Deputy Chief Hughes for a job well done.