"M" IS FOR MORRIS PLAINS

This "M" is for Morris Plains, NJ. The badge is part of my Municipal Collection.

George Washington never slept here, but he may have marched on the trailsin the area during the Revolutionary War.  Old George did have his Head Quarters in the area back back in his day.  It is now Morristown, NJ.  Morris Plains is the neighboring community.

As a formal municipality Morris Plains didn't come into existence until after the country had forty-eight states. That would be 1926. General Washington never saw that coming.

Like many towns in New Jersey this community was created out of another. Technically it isn't a Town, but a Borough. The tag "bedroom community" also fits here. Many of the residents work in "The City" - New York. They have direct access via train that goes into Penn Station. That train passed my old home in a neighboring Borough.

What I recall best about this place was a little steakhouse. It was called Arthur's. I recall there was one in Hoboken too. These communities have the train and restaurants in common. 

When I checked Google to see if this restaurant was still in business I learned that they were, and that they were also considered one of the best steakhouses in New Jersey. I should have eaten there more often.

The badge from this fine police department is relatively new to my collection. It comes to me from across the pond in the United Kingdom. How it got there I have no idea, but I was glad to bring it home.

This badge is the old traditional shape for NJ police. It is a shell with two panels at the top, and a reverse stamped State Seal in the center. The panels have the words Morris Plains and Police stamped with recessed black enamel fill. A large number box is at the bottom with the number "24" located dead center. Ironically this is also the 24th  Badge in my display in alphabetical order by municipality.

I'm very pleased to have this fine item in my Municipal Collection, and now that it is there it makes my mouth water for some good steak. At least I can enjoy that fine memory.