The Ramble Inn is an example of one of many historical structures in Metuchen. Below is a photo of the interior.
METUCHEN — If Nancy Zerbe has her way, the future of the area’s past will be in good hands.
Zerbe, a resident of the borough for 12 years, has been president of the Metuchen-Edison Historical Society since May.
She doesn’t take her position lightly.
"Our primary goal is to use the wealth of information we have to make people aware of their past," she said.
The Historical Society has a past of its own, as well.
It was already in existence for a year when, in 1975, Ruth Terwilliger, the Metuchen Borough Librarian, noticed that while the library had full histories on the borough’s churches, it was sorely lacking in the areas of its people and their lifestyles, circa 1900.
Terwilliger took it upon herself to organize an oral history program and, with the help of a federal grant, hired researchers and assistants to conduct 36 interviews with 40 Metuchen residents.
"My goal," she said in a 1981 interview, "was to capture the story of the ‘ordinary people’." Thus, the Historical Society was born.
Terwilliger’s goal came to life on Nov. 20 when the Society co-sponsored, in partnership with the Borough Improvement League of Metuchen, a program titled "Listening to the Past: Oral Histories from the Archives."
Held in the appropriate setting of the Old Franklin Schoolhouse on Middlesex Avenue, the program featured interviews from the mid-to-late ‘70s with three Metuchen-area women. Zerbe said she chose women because "most members of the Borough Improvement League were and are female."
The interviews were augmented by a slide show.
The first was given by Ruth R. Mook, a scientist and teacher who served not only as president of the borough’s Board of Education, but was also president of the Borough Improvement League and founder of the Metuchen Girl Scout Council.
Next came the Litterst sisters, who were the daughters of Metuchen’s second mayor and owners of the Ramble Inn, a tea and luncheon restaurant.
The final oral history came from Dolly Prickett Buchanan, granddaughter of a Metuchen Methodist minister and judge who was murdered by a convict he had sentenced to prison.
The interviews were especially compelling to Robert Morris, a 76-year resident of the borough.
"It was very interesting," he said. "My grandfather joined the Metuchen Fire Department in 1902. It’s important to have oral histories like this."
The society does more than record oral histories. Since its inception, it has collected and catalogued over 3,000 photographs and preserved other items of local history, including maps and gravestone rubbings.
One of the society’s most popular offerings, said Zerbe, are the many photos of area homes taken in the 1930s by Lloyd Grimstead, an amateur photographer.
"People love to look up their addresses," said Zerbe. "I get many orders for re-prints of photos."
Zerbe has made it a priority to preserve the oral histories of women, immigrants and minorities.
"These are groups that are often overlooked but their stories are incredibly valuable and informative," she said.
The Historical Society is funded entirely by the private sector but has applied for a state grant to begin transcribing the oral history tapes from cassettes onto CDs. The society owns approximately 36 hours of taped interviews with Metuchen residents.
Zerbe sees an expanded role for the society in the community’s future.
"State law requires fourth graders to study New Jersey history," she said. "It would be great if we could work with the local schools to get that job done. I’m sure we could furnish information that they couldn’t find anywhere else."
Another concern of Zerbe’s is membership in the historical society.
"We currently have just over 100 members," she said. "We’re making a concerted effort to increase that number."
Among other perks, members are invited to various events and get a free copy of "Nannygoats", the society’s quarterly newsletter.
For more information on the Metuchen-Edison Historical Society, contact Nancy Zerbe at (732) 549-6798.