MUNICIPALS - "C" IS FOR CRANFORD

"C" is for CRANFORD.  This is the 7th town in sequence in my Municipal Collection.

This is an old badge that has been part of my displays since the early 1980's. It is an unusual shape for a police badge, although I have seen this design in use in a few other departments.


I do not believe this style is in use anymore. I think they now use an oval shield.

The Town is located in Union County. It is a nice residential community having been created back in 1871. I wasn't there at the time.  


I didn't live far from this community when I resided in The Garden State. I often drove through Cranford and recall seeing residents using their canoes on the Rahway River. This is still an attraction for the 20,000+ residents.


The badge that I have in my display was for a SERGEANT. That title is in the panel just under the Eagle on the top of the shield. Surrounding the multi colored State seal are the words: CRANFORD, NJ - POLICE.

I like this old badge and appreciate having it in my Municipal Collection.

2012, AND A LOOK BACK AT HOW THE COLLECTION HAS GROWN

 

 

I haven't finished writing about my MUNICIPAL COLLECTION yet. The way I am going it is going to take another year to finish. That will be just the right thing to keep me busy.


During the year (2011) I had the good fortune of adding a few badges to my primary interests: CITIES IN N.J., and the CITY OF NEWARK. I have displayed most of the additions as they come along, but to start the year I thought I would show how the Major Displays look at the moment.


In my CITY COLLECTION there are now 31 badges. They are from N.J.'s major cities plus a couple lesser spots on the Jersey Map. 

The best addition  last year was a Camden, NJ Police Badge (#97). It is huge. I think Gen. George Washington gave this shield to the PD in Camden right after "he" crossed the Delaware. The Camden Cops probably saved "Georgie" from a mugging following the big victory up in Trenton.  OK, the Badge is not that old,  but I'd say it is at least 100 years of age, and one that I am very happy to own.


In my  CITY OF NEWARK COLLECTION  I picked up two nice pieces to add to the specific display I have on N.P.D. antiques badges. One badge acquired during 2011 is a Chancemen Badge # C-93 with matching Hat shield. 

The Chanceman was the rank given to new officers in the department.  This badge is distinguishable from the regular badge by only the letter "C" in  the number  box.  It is a rarer badge then others in Newark's  radiator edition. 


Another fine addition is a Second Edition Badge marked only with the word "POLICE."   It has the number 50 stamped in the number box. The City Seal is the only marking on this badge to let one know it is from Newark, NJ  It is a beauty, and now rests with a twin in my display.

Pictured above are the display cases and the individual items described in this post. 

1588 REMEMBERED

Frank Donaghy wore badge 1588 when he served in the Newark Police Department.  

Frank died two years ago. He answered his final call.

It doesn't seem that long ago, but it is. Time goes by fast.  

A salute is offered to Frank, along with wishes for good health for his family.

NEW PATCH SITE

PC News reported there is a new site for Patch Collectors.  It is:


www.patchesrus.net


We have added this site to out  "Sites Of Interest".  Take a minute or two and check this one out.

A SPECIAL PATCH - MASSACHUSETTS CORRECTION

Through this blog I present pictures, and lots of memories, of those wonderful badges in my collection of 45 years (give or take a few months). On occasion I have posted a picture and an account regarding a patch.


The Patch above was presented to me by a neighbor who worked in Corrections in Massachusetts. He served as a Warden, and has almost as many stories as I do.


My friend has had the opportunity to view my collection. He enjoyed the personal visit with my relics and wanted to add something to the collection from "His" State. 

The patch above is part of  his donation and it fits very nicely under glass on top of my desk. I display it with my thanks. It is appreciated.

POLICE OFFICER DOWN

Following the brief post regarding a French Police Officer it was pointed out to us that over 150 Police Officers die in the line of duty here in the United States each year.  There is an excellent website that covers fallen officers. We would like to make note of it here.
  
The  address is:  www.odmp.org

We have also listed this page under our Sites of Interest

MUNICIPALS - "C" IS FOR CHESTER

 

C is for CHESTER. These badges represent the sixth different community in my Municipal Collection.

I have two badges here from Chester Township. The key word is "Township". I believe there is a Chester Borough which borders the other place. 

From what I recall about the Chester's neither one qualifies as a metropolis. Both however are far from urban and, unless the population has doubled recently, there should be some nice green space and a rustic feeling in these "towns."

These badges made it to my collection in the last millennium. I kept them for years before placing them in a proper display. Since retiring I have had the time to gather other "Munis."  Today I have placed an even fifty in a single display of municipal police badges from New Jersey. 

The two badges featured here are of the same design. One is silver tone and is for a Patrolman. The second badge is gold tone and is for a Sergeant.  Both badges have an Eagle at the top.

In the center of these badges are multicolored State Seals. The Seal on the Patrolman Badge is an older one consisting of just a blue ring around the outside edge. The second Seal, on the Sergeant Shield, is a full color Seal that was introduced around 1970+/-.   

The N.J. State Seal's give an impressive touch to these fine old badges which remind me on a daily basis of things like: The Old Chester Flea Market, Larson's Turkey Farm  & and, nearby Schooley's Mountain. These are fine memories and they provide considerable enjoyment.