JERSEY MARSHALS - PART III

 

Okay, here is another segment on my New Jersey Marshal's collection. In this third installment I have five badges.

My first badge above is from the community of Little Ferry. It is close to New York City, but in Jersey's Bergen county. This is a small town with a population around ten thousand. In the day time a good number of the residents are in "The City" working, and back home at night for "lights out." This badge is from early 1900's and is my favorite design. There is a small State Seal in the middle, and a number box at the bottom showing the digits 48.

Tenafly is the town from from which two of my marshal badges originated. They are also located in Bergen County and is considered one of the better places to live in New Jersey. research reveals the Borough of Tenafly was originally settled by the Dutch (just like NYC). They gave it the name Ten Swamps which is said in their language Tiene Vly. This badge is numbered "232" on a panel located on the bottom. It also has a State Seal at center point, but this one is a little larger then the first.

The third community in this presentation is Totowa. It is formally a Borough that came in to existence in the late 1800's, and is located in Passaic County. Although this is a different county it too is relatively close to NYC. The Lenni Lanape Indians, who were the original landlords here, called it  falling waters because if its' close proximity to Paterson Falls. The Indians have moved further upstream, and the area is now populated by roughly ten-thousand of us civilized folk. The badge dates back to early 1900's and is that traditional design, however note the State Seal is a little bigger on this one. It has the number "34" in the open box on the bottom.

Lastly, but not least, is from the Borough of North Plainfield. This is in the Watchung Mountain area of  Somerset County. This is a nice area, with good transportation to Newark or NYC. This is a large community with twenty-thousand people living  here. At center on this badge is another State Seal. Check close and you will see it is the largest of the five badges pictured above.

All of these items are in nice shape and are genuine antiques. The word "Marshal" is, to the best of my knowledge, not used anymore with local enforcement agencies. To me this makes them interesting and very collectible. I am always looking for one more plus information on marshals in general in New Jersey.

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JERSEY MARSHALS - PART II

This is the second installment on my "Marshal Badges" from the State of New Jersey.

The first badge, I believe, is the one that got me looking for badges in this interesting Group.  I found it, I know, in an antique store in New Brunswick, NJ. I was a lunch time find, and getting made the day worthwhile. It is from North Plainfield, NJ. It is numbered 23. I wonder how many Special Marshal's this community actually had.

In New Jersey there are three Plainfield's that I know of. They are relatively close to each other but are in three different counties. North Plainfield, with a population just over 20,000 people is in Somerset County.

The other Plainfield's, in case you are interested, are South Plainfield, and just Plainfield. Middlesex County is the home to South Plainfield and its' population also just over 20,000 people. Union County is the location for the City of Plainfield. It has a population of a little under 50,000.

The second badge pictured above is from East Paterson. That community is in the area of the City of Paterson. I lived in the general area when i was a kid, and never associated the name with a separate community.

The third badge that I have pictured here is from The Borough of Franklin Lakes. I have learned that there are a few "Franklin's" in New Jersey. If you decide to get lost, then Franklin Lakes would be a very nice place to do that.It is a green community, and the reference is not to the lawns.

My last picture is of a badge from Highland Park. This is a community also in Middlesex County. It is easy to miss on the map as it is under two square miles.

All four of these badges are a traditional oval with an eagle on the top. The letters on each are stamped, and in the center is an old State Seal. The Seal helps date these badges, and is believed to be
circa 1925's.

They are all in good condition, and as part of a set their value is growing. I certainly enjoy looking at them, and have them displayed in fine oak case with glass, and of course a lock. Hope you enjoyed looking at them.