TOP COP COLLECTION: NORWOOD N.J.

TOP COP COLLECTION: 

CHIEF OF POLICE

NORWOOD N.J.

*****

"Norwood!" Where on Earth is Norwood, N.J? This Badge is checking in at number 11 in my Top Cop Display.

I never heard of this Community while living and working in the Garden State. Research showed me exactly where it is. Now I am shocked, as it is located in Bergen County, which was extremely close to my home as well as work.

I should have paid attention to "all" the towns in Bergen County. It turns out that this "Borough" is a real nice place, maybe even a Quaint place to live. Had I been more successful with my job application in Bergen County I just might have moved my family there. Maybe, just maybe, my next door neighbor would have been Don Mattingly. How cool would that have been?

Back to History. The community can trace its roots back to the 1600's. At that time a dozen or so families from the Dutch Republic moved into the area. 

Over the years the land area had several names, settling on Norwood in 1905. Today their are a "tad" under 6000 people living their. They are probably commuters to the Big Apple  just across the Hudson River. 

The Badge at the top of this post is next in my TOP COP COLLECTION. 

It is a beautiful old Badge that is comprised of an Eagle sitting on a Sunburst with a single panel at the top, and a ring surrounding the State Seal. It reads:  CHIEF, POLICE DEPT, NORWOOD, NJ. 

One might think I store this badge with my "Old Jersey Road Maps,"  marking the location of this Borough in Northern N.J. That would be cruel. The home this fine badge has found, is inside my Collection of Chief's Badges. On occasion the entire display has traveled to Shows in the South East.

I am proud to have this item, as I am with all of my "Top Cop's."
 It is a pleasure to look at them, and recall memories of my working days in the Garden State. 

***** 

TOP COP COLLECTION: JERSEY CITY

From one of New Jersey's Largest Cities, This Badge is Number 10 in my Top Cops Collection." It is from JERSEY CITY, N.J..

Along the way of publishing this Collection, this Post lost its correct place on my list. That is the reason this number does not seem right.

Regardless of its' order on my list, this is a Major City. All across the Country people have heard of this place. They often have their commentary about it. Some is Bad, but most is Good.

The  City is County Seat for Hudson County, which, although small in size, is quite large in population. It is also an
important location being on the famous Hudson River separating N.J. from N.Y.C. 

In N.Y. whenever there was a homicide with the body washing up in Jersey City, or other Towns along the River, the well trained Cop knew just how to use his toe to give the corpse a little push so it could float back into New York's jurisdiction. I don't know if that story is true, but I do love telling it.

Let me tell you about this Badge. I have had since I retired some 20 years ago. As you can see just looking at the picture it is OLD. The State Seal, with Blue enamel, gives its' age away. My guess is 1930's making it around 85 years old. 

The main body of the badge is a "Sunburst" with an Eagle on Top. Sitting beneath the Eagle are there Stars which means the holder of this badge is "muy importante."

Circling around the State Seal is a ring with the words : Jersey City, Chief." The are recessed with blue enamel fill. It looks to be in excellent condition and El Jefe would be just as proud of it today as he was 85 years ago. 

I display it in a case with a glass window so I can view it every day. It reminds me of my previous drives to work where, from 15 miles out, I could see The Statue of Liberty just off the shoreline of Jersey City. That provokes many fine memories from my Yesterday's.

OTHER TREASURES TO RECOGNIZE IN MY COLLECTION

In my "Opening for Another Year" I continued to lament about not having a "Newark Star." 

I showed off a single "display box" housing some "Primary Pieces" that I hold. Now, only two weeks latter, I realize that I have a few more "Primary Prizes." These displays have taken a backseat to a few that get the most attention from me. Let me correct that right now.

First  take a look at all those "Hat Badges" that I was using as trim. I have followed through on my promise to make a single  display for these nice Badges. They date back to 1900. I won't show every one, but there is one below that is a very good find. As the picture shows it is in beautiful shape, and it carries Number Two (2). Not bad at all.

2019 THE SEARCH CONTINUES FOR ELUSIVE NEWARK STAR

The year 2018 was pretty good, although I still have not obtained the Newark Star that sits on top of this Post.

Below is part of my Newark Collection. These are the primary pieces of the collection. It certainly has grown over the 50 years I have been in the hobby.    It was these Newark Items that were the key to two major trophies in 2018. That made the year fantastic, but my search for a Newark Star continues.

Featured in this display, starting at the bottom, are four old Detective Badges. On top of those badges is an older Newark Sergeant shield. Immediately to the left are Two Badges from the late 1850's that were part of Newark's Second Edition. On the far left is a matching set for the Chanceman's Badge C-93.

Around the perimeter (left, right, top) are eight "Old Newark Ovals." They are, in number order, # 2  to a high # 700. 

I feel good about having these hat badges. I now have a total of eleven! They look nice surrounding my real treasures. I will get them their own display case in 2019. That will be a nice project to do.

If I ever get the "Star" I guess I will have to get an even bigger display case. Maybe it should be displayed alone. Hope I can figure that out in 2019 

Well with your help, I will acquire that Newark Star. While I wait for it, I will keep telling you about the remainder of the collection. So Friends, lets have a great 2019, and to you:

HAPPY NEW YEAR.

FRIENDS REMEMBERED

Another year has come, and gone. It's time to give a Moment or Two to Remember Friends who have passed on. Yet one way or another, they are still with us.

It has been a few years since one of my Friends answered His Last Call. His grand-daughter drew the picture below. I have published it before, and continue to think it is a nice gesture,  so here it is once again

In addition to this Officer, there are Others  who have passed away in 2018. They leave Us, and their FAMILIES Behind, but They will always be Remembered.  

Miss you guys!

TOP COP COLLECTION , - MORRIS PARKS # 14

*****

This Badge is a relic from the past. I am not sure if the agency still exists. It lives today as a member of my TOP COP COLLECTION.

I double checked my count on the Badges in this Display, and this "is" Number Fourteen (14). It's that "alphabet" that gets my number count confused at times, but that doesn't mean I have Alzheimer Disease. I'll be doing a new post in a few weeks for number 10, which I omitted previously. This correction really means I don't have alzheimer's Disease.

This quality shield is the same model or shape as the New York City "Captain." This one is marked, on three panels from top to bottom: Park Police, Morris County, and CHIEF.

The letters are recessed with black filled enamel. There is a multi color N.J. State Seal at Center point. It hasn't aged a bit. 

Over all this Badge is in very good condition and, certainly enjoys a nice home in my "Top Cop Collection."

TOP COP COLLECTION: MAGNOLIA

This beautiful badge comes from the Borough of Magnolia, NJ. It is the Thirteenth (13) Badge, in alphabetical order, in what I have named, as my:  TOP COP COLLECTION.

To start with, like most of you, I never heard of this community. I had to look it up to learn some of the basics. It is in Camden County. It is less then one square mile. It has a population well under 5000. And yes, it was named for the "magnolia trees" that grow in this area.

Its' roots can be traced to 1685,  and 200+ years later it became incorporated as the Borough of Magnolia. 

My research reveals that there was/is a Police Dept. When I purchased this item the seller believed that the police agency was Defunct.

I thought, that as Camden County goes, being generally poor with budget cutbacks  eliminating some of their police agencies, that I better locate this Badges' Home. Well, as I thought, there was a MAGNOLIA POLICE DEPT.

The Badge pictured above belonged to a former CHIEF of the Department. Sadly, I was told, He passed away, and his Badge entered the Collectors World.

Lets take a look at this fine specimen. It is quite unique. I have never seen this shape, with its' cut outs, and fine engraving. Look at the panels. they are Black with Gold lettering. At center point is a modest N.J. State Seal.

Today I have it, with other "Chief Badges," in my Top Cop Collection. It is under glass, and in a nice oak case, with double locks that definitely work very well. I ALSO pay my Burglar Alarm  Bill, when it arrives, so I am sure this Beautiful Badge is very safe.