While figures are usually very dry reading, unless they appear on the right side of our bank account, we feel that Freehold people will all be interested in the statistics gathered by the enumerators of the recent state census. The Hon. D.D. Denise, as supervisor of the census for the town of Freehold, has tabulated the result of the enumerators’ work, allowing us to present the following figures. Allowing that some errors may have been made by the enumerators and many facts suppressed by the people, there is evidence aplenty that popular impressions are wrong about some things. Off-hand, perhaps the majority of people would say that the unmarried women outnumbered the unmarried men, but there are ten less single women than men; yet the females outnumber the males by 168. In the children of school age the girls outnumber the boys by two only; while in the total number of children of all ages the boys outnumber the girls by six. There are 393 persons who cannot read and write English. But deducting 202 children under five years of age, you get only 191 illiterates which includes all the foreign contingent , some of whom may be able to read and write their native language. It is only proper to say in conclusion that the figures presented include those people living within the corporation limits only. There are a considerable number living in the east and west end sections of the town, who to all intents and purposes belong to the town, but who are enumerated with the population of the township.
Although auspicious weather prevailed both Tuesday and Wednesday evenings the bazaar held by the local military company, Vredenburgh Rifles, was a great success. The attendance was not what was desired, still the hall was comfortably filled and the fancy articles, candy, pop corn, suppers, etc., were disposed of in large quantities and the affair will still get the company a substantial sum. The sides of the large drill room were occupied by booths for home made candy, fancy work, pop corn, burlesque entertainment and a booth containing a number of articles which had been contributed to be sold on the co-operative plan. Each evening supper was served to a goodly number and an entertainment by local talent was rendered. Harold Stillwell’s orchestra played throughout both evenings. Last night an enjoyable dance was held in honor of the ladies of the town who so kindly contributed of their time and means in helping make the bazaar the success it was.
75 years ago
A 21-year-old man who has confessed that he fired the revolver shot that killed Jacob. L. Pittenger, 55, local farmer, in the roadway near his house in Freehold Township early Saturday evening, Oct. 13, was born in Bennetts-ville, South Carolina, on Oct. 12, 1908. He came north the past summer and has been working on farms in the vicinity since August 2. A second man accused in the murder, 19 years old, was born in Atlantic City on February 28, 1909. He came to Ardena in February last and obtained work on farms there, doing odd jobs in and about Freehold.
Running across West Main Street to the Broad Street School grounds in Freehold about 1 o’clock last Friday afternoon, Peter DeVries, son of Police Chief and Mrs. Cornelius DeVries of Union Avenue, was struck by an automobile and knocked down and he sustained a slight fracture of the skull. Confined to his bed for a few days with more or less constant medical attention, restored the lad’s health and he was at play as usual the first of the week. The car that struck the lad, who celebrated his fifth birthday anniversary last August, was driven by Miss May B. Longman, county supervisor of child study, of Broad Street, Red Bank. Chief DeVries had let the child out of his car on the opposite side of the street from the school grounds and instructed him to go to the rear of the car and to remain standing until no car was near. The lad did as directed until, seeing a companion on the school grounds, greetings were exchanged and Peter forgot all about automobiles and dashed into the street in front of Miss Longman’s car which was proceeding west. The lad was picked up from under the Longman car and taken to the office of Dr. Howard B. Mason, where an examination disclosed a slight fracture of the skull. Peter, who had not lost consciousness, insisted upon going on to the school, but under the physician’s advice he was taken home and kept quiet for a few days.
50 years ago
Thirteen-year-old Richard Strong modestly disclaims any hero title after rescuing a two-year-old baby from drowning in a well last Saturday morning. William Komar, son of Mr. and Mrs. I. Komar of the Old Bridge-Englishtown Road, Monroe Township, was unharmed after falling into an uncovered newly-dug well at the Komar property. He owes his life to a pipe in the well which he was able to cling to until the Strong boy climbed in and hoisted him out. Mrs. George Strong, whose house is across the street from the Komar property, gave this version of the near-tragedy: The Komar baby and two older brothers were playing on the lawn of their home when the baby wandered over to the well and toppled in. The Strong boy, passing by on his bike, saw him fall and ran to the scene and climbed into the well.
25 years ago
When Freehold’s free public library, which celebrated its 75th anniversary this past weekend, was opened in 1904, the Freehold Transcript in a follow-up story to the cornerstone-laying ceremonies used illustrations which had first appeared in the Newark Sunday News. “The accompanying illustrations give you a good idea of the commodious and light rooms at the Freehold Township free public library,” the Freehold Tran-script article noted. Remember, Freehold wasn’t incorporated as a borough until 1919 when it was separated from what is today known as Freehold Township. “Never has Freehold had as pleasant a building wherein anyone is free to make themselves at home and take advantage of as is the cheerful rooms of this building,” the Freehold Transcript story continued.
— Compiled by Dick Metzgar