THE NEWARK STAR
By Dennis Beyer
You
may recall every year, in January, I would do a post, on my blog, with
a plea for someone to help me, find the ultimate Newark Badge, to add to
my collection.
I
have been collecting over fifty years. How many years over fifty is not
important. What is important, is that after collecting anything from
anywhere, I finally had to downsize. That shift put my focus strictly on
anything from New Jersey, especially NEWARK.
I
grew up in the City, as did my wife. We graduated the same school -
"West Side H.S." My Dad was a Detective there, and retired, only after a
Thirty-Seven year career. He gave me my first few badges fifty years ago, and that sorta got my full collection on its' way.
As I looked for Newark's "Star," I was able to acquire some beautiful, and rare, badges from the N.P.D. I got them, but "No Star."
I tried hard, but to no avail. I looked at shows, I sent letters to
other collectors, and I searched on- line auctions, including Ebay. No
Luck.
Finally, with 50 years invested in the hobby, I had a conversation with Mike Bondarenko (Publisher of PC News). I asked Mike to contact a Collector, who like me, writes for the Paper. Mike was my advocate and did a hell of a job. It took a while,
but eventually an arrangement was made for me to purchase the above Newark Star.
The seller and I agreed that terms of the deal would be private; However It is safe to say, "There were two happy people in the Hobby the day of the sale!" So let me be clear, I have a Newark Star.
My Quest, to obtain The Star, has also given me the finest of memories, and those memories are an important part of my Collection.
Pictured
below are a few rare Newark Badges that I have had for some time. As of
now, they sit as the foundation for the Badge I treasure most.
(These
two badges date back to circa 1860. They were the next Edition, after
the Star. Both are in good condition. They show a nice view of the City
Seal and number panel with #52 and #1640 respectfully.)
Pictured below are two "sets" of Newark Radiator Badges that preceded the current edition. They were in use circa 1900.
(The "set" marked #C93 is a very rare piece. It is a "Chanceman' Badge" or probationary officer in today's jargon.)
