Lakewood museum takes visitors back in time

Long-awaited opening
in former high school
inspires memories

BY JOYCE BLAY
Staff Writer

In the auditorium of the former Lakewood High School on Princeton Avenue, residents, family and friends shared their memories of Lakewood at the opening of the township’s heritage museum on Sunday.

“There are a lot of folks here who thought this day would never come,” Mayor Raymond Coles said. “This [opening] is an example of how working together … can solve problems.”

Coles and Shel-don Wolpin, chairman of the Lake-wood Heritage Commission, to-gether cut the ribbon inaugurating the township’s first museum. Doors to the auditorium were opened to the public for the first time shortly after 2 p.m.

Roslyn Kalb of Howell examines books containing historical articles about and photographs of Lakewood, such as the picture at left that shows people waiting at the Lakewood train station. Dressed in top hat and tails reminiscent of the heyday of the Rockefellers, who owned homes in Lakewood in the early 20th century, members of the Lakewood Heritage Commission ex-tended a welcome to visitors by handing out dimes.

“That’s what Rockefeller did back then,” said Roberta Chester, a commission member since 1974.

PHOTOS BY JERRY WOLKOWITZ staff Dennis Grippen (l) of Little Egg Harbor, formerly of Lakewood, and former Lakewood Mayor John Franklin look at a photo from their days at Lakewood High School, part of an exhibit at the new Lakewood museum. Photo at left is a poster of a W.C. Fields film that played at the Strand Theatre. But time stood still for some audience members.

Fred Gincel, the assistant scoutmaster of Troop 72, said he recalled sitting in the auditorium in 1971 during his own boyhood. He said the large glass windows on either side of the museum had been replaced since those days.

Ralph Michel said he and his wife, Rita, opened Estherdale’s Kosherama on Second Street and Clifton Avenue in 1970. It was the first kosher store in Lakewood. Michel said that at that time there were only 125 Yeshiva families living in town. There are now thousands. Simcha Shain, a member of the Board of Education, said he remembered shopping in the store before the Michels retired in 1989. Deputy Mayor Meir Lichtenstein said, “I’ve been here 13 years and I feel like I’m learning a lot about Lakewood today.” Township Committeeman Menashe Miller, who also attended the museum opening, said he was born, raised and married in Lakewood. “This town and its heritage is a wonderful thing,” he said. The auditorium where the museum is located will continue to also be used by the Lakewood Community School beginning in October. Hours for the museum were structured so that it can be open when the community school is not in session in the room, said Wolpin. He said visitors are welcome at the museum any time, but that docents will be there to answer questions from the public on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday from 2-5 p.m. During July and August, the building will be closed on Sundays. Wolpin said groups desiring to schedule a tour should call the manager’s office at (732) 364-2500, ext. 5283. A member of the commission will return the call to set up a convenient day and time for the visit. The museum shop, which sells souvenirs, is open during the same hours as the museum. Items for sale include pine-filled pillows that were sold in Lakewood years ago. “It is a unique item [exclusive to] Lakewood,” said Wolpin. Also available for sale are apothecary jars, baseball caps, napkins and note cards with the township’s name. Shoppers can also purchase a videotape that is a copy of a film made in 1947 that was released as a commercial shown at the Strand Theatre. “There is generic commentary on the tape as well as images of Lakewood during that time,” Wolpin said. “It gives viewers a flavor of Lakewood.” “The past is … something we need to remember,” said Board of Education member Meir Grunhut, who addressed visitors. “People come here from all walks of life. Lakewood’s heritage is something that needs to be [preserved and cherished]. History is indeed a lesson and an education.”

JERRY WOLKOWITZ staff Sheldon Wolpin, chairman of the Lakewood Heritage Commission, offers remarks at the opening of the Lakewood museum on Sept. 12. It was through the assistance of the school board that the museum found a home of its own in the school district’s administrative offices.

The museum displays are divided into many categories that reflect the township’s diverse communities and rich history. Some of Lakewood’s past continues to influence its future. A case in point: current efforts to bring back passenger rail service from Lakewood to New York City, which stopped running a half-century ago.

The Blue Comet, an engine operated by Central Railroad of New Jersey, used to shuttle railroad passenger cars from Lakewood to Weehawken, according to Wolpin. Once there, passengers picked up the ferry to lower Manhattan.

“What killed the passenger rail was the introduction of bus service from Lakewood into midtown Manhattan,” Wolpin said. “You had direct service instead of two stops to New York City and it (the train) didn’t run as frequently as the buses.”

Another display case includes Civil War memorabilia. A piece of hardtack, which was a staple of soldiers’ provisions, is one of the exhibits.

Still another display celebrates the contributions of Lakewood’s black community. Wolpin said it was the only community for which there were sufficient artifacts for exhibit.

Martinette Mitchell, 44, of Brick, commended the exhibit. Although she was born in Tennessee, Mitchell’s son, Khalis, 23, and her daughter, Ashley, 17, were both born in Lakewood during the 21 years she and her husband, Preston, 52, lived there. For that reason, said Mitchell, she donated a copy of her book, “Finding My Way Home,” to the museum.

“This book had to do with finding my roots,” she said. “I thought it was important that it be [displayed] here because Lakewood is where my children’s roots are now.”

Other visitors shared their memories of Lakewood.

Sanford Kalb, who attended Lakewood High School from 1943 to 1947, noted that he held the Piners’ 1-mile track record at the school for 14 years before it was eclipsed. Kalb’s varsity sweater is on display at the museum.