ACADEMY AND CITY HALL

These were taken a couple of years ago. Since I focus on Newark with my collecting I thought I'd post the seat of  government as well as the Police Academy Building. 

The City Hall is on the bottom.

MUNICIPALS: "S" IS FOR SOUTH HACKENSACK

This "S" is for SOUTH HACKENSACK in my Municipal Collection. It is the 34th in alphabetical sequence by community.

For years I craved a badge of this shape from the neighboring "City." Forty plus years collecting and no dice. Then two badges became available and I was able to get both - A City and A Township.

The Township is tiny. I think there are maybe 2500 people tops living (or just sleeping) in South Hackensack. It is less than one square mile, and is described as a "suburb" of New York City. Some people think that suburb is all of New Jersey.

The City (Hackensack) is not much bigger in terms of land, but has twenty times as many people living there. It too is considered part of NYC. Everyone forgets that there is a big river separating Jersey from the Big apple.

I am familiar with the general area. I occasionally appeared in Court in the City, which is the County Seat of Bergen County. I remember passing an old US Navy Submarine parked (legally) at a pier on the Hackensack.  River. It was the "USS Ling."

The Sub is now a tourist attraction. It has been reported to be in great condition having been fully restored. I am sorry I never went on board it.

Like the submarine the two badges I acquired are also in good condition also. They look alike from a distance. They are both made in the shape that I seek for my display.

The top pictured badge simply reads "South Hackensack" followed by "Police" with the number "55" in the bottom number box.

The "City" badge varies slightly.  Both have the State Seal stamped into it from the rear. The City, Hackensack, Badge has number "111" in the number box. They are both keepers, and are presently in the appropriate display cases.

OFFERS CONSIDERED FOR H. W. LOOMIS GUN

In 1896 this gun belonged to US Marshal Horace W. Loomis. It has been in my collection for seven years or so.

According to the New York Times, Loomis using his revolver shot and killed the outlaw Code (y) Young during a failed train robbery in Rio Puerco, New Mexico in October of 1896. 

The truth is the NY Times was wrong in their account of the killing of Mr. Young. Research reveals that Young was nailed by Loomis using a shotgun. I don't have that weapon, but it would have been nice to see it hanging on my wall too.

The Wells Fargo Company kept a chronological record of famous robberies. They described this as Robbery number 62. The incident has also been described in a book entitled: "The Last of the Old Time Outlaws." Its' focus was on the only surviving member of the gang - Will Musgrave. He lived until 1947.

Eleven years after the robbery incident (1907)  William Pinkerton, in an address to the International Association of Chief's of Police in Jamestown Va. described this train robbery again, the fate of the five outlaws, and the hero - H W Loomis. Pinkerton concluded his remarks that history shows "Crime does not pay." This weapon is a nice reflection of the history to which Pinkerton was referring. It is nice to look at, and to occasionally hold. It is History.

For me it is time to let this old gun move on. If you have an interest send me a note at "jerseychief@gmail.com." I am also open to trade offers (want badges from Newark, NJ). 

MINICIPALS: "S" IS FOR SOUTH BRUNSWICK

MUNICIPALS: "S" IS FOR SOUTH BRUNSWICK

This is the 33rd different community in my Municipal Collection - in alphabetical order. I assume  by now you knew that already.

It is from South Brunswick , NJ. The Community is a Township which surrounds New Brunswick (the City). 

This municipality apparently wants everyone to know who they are hence the word "South" got prime attention in the upper panel of  the badge. It is stamped in abbreviated form.  The word "Twp" is also present and stamped in abbreviated form. When it comes to the main name, "Brunswick,"  there is no room on the top panel to spelle it out.  It appears as "Bruns." Maybe this is why this item is obsolete.

Another thought for being so deliberate with the words "South" and "Twp"   is because there are four Brunswick's. One is New, and the others are just: North,  South and  East. The New  is the City, while the remaining three are towns or townships.

Even though I worked around this town I really know little about it. I understand the ancient Indians from Newark made some trails through here in the 1600-1700's. These trails are probably the main highways today. I do know that the Indians would be shocked if they saw all that traffic that is present today.

The bottom line here is this is a nice badge, and a good fit in my collection. It simply reads: South Bruns. TWP,  Police,  # 34. It is a keeper.