Yesteryear
100 years ago
Congressman Howell, who is expected to be called before the special committee appointed to investigate alleged "grafts," in increased post office allowances, should, it seems, after all the facts are known, come out of the fray unscathed. Among the advanced post office allowances to be explained is that of the Freehold office. It appears that for five years prior to July 1, 1901, the building for the post office here was leased for $860, which included light and heat. In 1900, J.W. Danser, Joseph T. Laird and Joseph McDermott went to Washington and met G.W. Beavers, Chief Clerk of the Salary and Allowances Division, and requested him to provide the town of Freehold with a new post office. It was shown that the receipts of the office had steadily grown, and it was only a matter of a short time that it would be made a free delivery office. Mr. Laird at the time exhibited plans of a building he proposed to erect and offered to equip the same with modern fixtures, burglary proof safe, water, heat and light and rent the same to the government for a term of ten years at a seasonal rate of $900. Mr. Beavers requested that Mr. Danser return to Freehold and make application in writing for the proposed building. This Mr. Danser did, in January, 1901, addressing Hon. B. Howell, explaining the condition of the old office and submitting plans and specifications for the proposed new one. Upon recommendation of Congressman Howell, a lease was entered into between Mr. Laird and the government for the sum named and Mr. Laird erected the building. The old post office building, for which the government paid $300, was but one story high, had no cellar under it, and was very cold in the winter and hot in the summer, had no doors and windows in the back, the furniture was worn out, the office is generally in bad condition. The new building is up-to-date in every particular.
At a meeting of the New Jersey Supreme Court judges in Trenton Tuesday, several changes of circuits were made. One of the transfers makes a change in Monmouth and Judge Charles E. Hendrickson of Mount Holly will replace Justice J. Franklin Fort on the Monmouth circuit.
75 years ago
Two new members, a new president in office, further discussion of Freehold, its publicity and its factory problem and another absent member losing the attendance prize highlighted the monthly meeting of the Freehold Chamber of Commerce in the Municipal Building Wednesday evening. About 20 members, with Dr. William Errickson, the new president, in the chief’s chair, attended the meeting, which got off to a good start when the secretary, George Kirkman, presented a communication from a press clipping bureau in New York which offered to provide the body with a list of factories throughout this part of the country wishing sites. The service, it was explained, is maintained for communities that wish new industries and the bureau keeps in touch with firms who desire to locate because of fire and for other reasons. The recent banquet of the chamber was reported successful from a financial standpoint by James Mc-Dermott, chairman of the banquet committee. He stated that 120 tickets were sold with a total revenue of $305. It was suggested that speakers who graced the affair so ably be sent letters of thanks from the chamber. Lew Tannenbaum, local real estate broker, and one of the leaders of the Freehold Real Estate Board, brought up the question of publishing a booklet outlining the advantages and points of interest in and about Freehold.
Numerous cases, mostly for the violation of the motor vehicle laws, were before Freehold’s two Justices of the Peace, Harry M. Burke and Charles S. H. Mount, during the past week. A summary of their dealings reveals that State Police in this vicinity are conducting a vigorous drive against one-light drivers and reckless operators of cars, while the motor vehicle department, under the direction of Deputy Chief Inspector Wyckoff, continues to pick off licenceless drivers and other violators.
50 years ago
There is a possibility that Freehold will get two industrial plants in the near future, according to reports emanating from different sources this week. Earlier reports, some of them inaccurate, were confirmed and corrected, however, at a meeting Tuesday night in Borough Hall between Freehold Township and Freehold Borough officials. What is certain is that the Colgate-Palmolive Company of Jersey City has taken an option on the old Johnson and Johnson site on Route 33, just over the borough line, and intends to locate a $3 million factory there if it can get certain concessions from the borough and the township. The option was signed last Friday at a meeting in the American Hotel between officials of the concern, township, N.J. Natural Gas Co. and the Jersey Central Power and Light Co. A second report that an industry is to locate on a farm on Center Street, also just over the borough line, has not been confirmed.
25 years ago
Marlboro Mayor Arthur Goldzweig said he will need another term as mayor, running on a ticket with John W. Batton Jr., a leader of the Thomas Jefferson Democratic Club, and Alan Ginsberg, the town’s assistant director of recreation. Councilman Richard Vuola simultaneously announced that he will not seek re-election, as a step toward "consolidating the goal — of putting an end to political infighting" in the Democratic party. Vuola said he will support the Gold-zweig-Batton-Ginsberg ticket and "will work to unite a badly divided party that needs to end the years of political factionalism." Councilmen Howard Klau and Hyman Grossman announced their support of the Goldzweig ticket. The mayor said that unification of the various factions of the Democratic party in Marlboro has long been a major objective, adding, "It is time to put an end to the political warfare and provide a positive climate for good government to function in Marlboro."
— Compiled by Dick Metzgar