CITY COLLECTION: E IS FOR EAST ORANGE

E IS FOR EAST ORANGE. It sounds like it should be an orange grove in my Naples, Fl. backyard.

It isn't an orange grove, and it isn't in my backyard! This is a Major City in New Jersey, and one of the twenty City badges in the collection pictured above. Old number 50 is number four in the top row.

Back to Oranges - The City of East Orange is one of four municipalities, all in Essex County, bordering on each other and having "Orange" in its' name. Two, Orange and East Orange, are Cities. My birth certificate says I was born in E.O. at the General Hospital some 100 years ago - maybe a little less. I guess that makes me a native son.

A number of my relatives were born and raised in this City. One worked in the Tax Collectors Office. The other was cop. His name was Sam. He was a jovial guy who loved his job. It was said that, even after he retired he walked his beat. At least he did at Christmas time. That's dedication. I wish I had his old badge, but it's M.I.A.

This City has a population of just under 70,000. It is know as the "Cross Roads of New Jersey." It had that name long before the Garden State Parkway crossed Interstate 280. The County probation department, where I worked, had an office in this area (9th and Grove).

Thinking about that area I recall one of the officers, who worked for me, in that old office. He was an Italian kid. I called him Geronimo because he had a bow and arrow in his vehicle. One midnight he decided to test his skill by shooting arrows into an abandoned apartment building across the street from our office. I think he was sending a message, but I never got his point. Today that incident is just a great memory.

I have a couple of nice badges from this City. One is an officer's shield and the second is a detectives badge. I have had them a good 40 years, and they were old when I got them.

The Officer's badge is a real nice traditional shape item. It is nickle plated and in good condition for its' age. It simply reads: "East Orange - Police." In the center are the applied numbers 50. These numbers may not have been the originals. There is discoloration on them and also on the badge around them.

The second badge is housed in an other display I have. It is the same shape as the New York Captain's shield. This one is in very good condition. It is gold finish with blue letters spelling out: East Orange, Police, Detective. In the center is the N.J. State Seal in a circle of blue.

Both of these items have a fine home under glass in my home. When I see them they always bring back some very special memories of relatives and that kid I called Geronimo.