COLLECTORS SHOWS TO NOTE

GREATER PHOENIX/MESA BADGE AND PATCH SHOW

On Saturday April 30, 2011 the Phoenix/Mesa Badge and Patch Swap will be held at the beautiful and spacious Mesa campus of the Southwest Ambulance Training Center.
708 West Baseline Road, Mesa.

Admission to the event is free. Show runs from 9:00 AM to 3:00PM

Forty-five tables will be available for traders and displays for $15.00 each. Table reservations are limited to 4 per person and should be made no later than April 15, 2011.


FLORENCE SHOW MAY 14, 2011

Please check your calendars and let Pat Olvey know if you are coming to the May 14th, 2011 Florence Show in Ky.

The exact address for this show is: 8100 EWING BLVD, FLORENCE, KY, 41042, and there is "No Charge for Admission." Show time is 8:30 AM to 3:00 PM.

Check PC News for additional information.

WALKING STICK

Remember the movie "Walking Tall?" The Sheriff was a guy named Buford H. Pusser. He was best known for carrying a "big stick." Bufford made a lot of noise, but still Teddy Roosevelt would be proud of him.

The man served as a Police Officer and Sheriff. He became a one man crusade against crime. During his tour of duty Pusser became a folk hero. He was definitely a macho guy who knew how to use his legendary wooden club.

Armed with his Walking Stick Buford became a legendary salesman for law and order. In 1964 he (at 26) became the youngest person elected Sheriff of McNairy County. He got a fine looking badge with his name on the top panel. With this title he relentlessly attacked the mob in West Tennessee.

The Sheriff's stick was more like a small tree. In the movie he carried it to encourage the wayward to walk a lawful path. For his efforts he was shot eight times. If that wasn't enough to seek early retirement he was stabbed an additional seven times. Guess some people didn't like him. Bullets and knives could not kill this guy.

Like a man on a mission Bufford Pusser just kept coming at the bad guys. Unfortunately he saw his wife (1967) become the victim of an assassin's bullet that was intended for him. Seven years later a car "accident" finally claimed the life of this man. Check out his story at: http://www.sheriffbufordpusser.com

The "walking stick" pictured above is nothing like the one used by Sheriff Pusser in the 1960's. It is smaller. It is older. It is a work of art.

This "Walking Stick" was finely crafted from Irish Bog Wood well over a hundred years ago. Once cut it was shaped and sized to be part of the policeman's accessories.

These Irish Sticks were routinely made for relatives who traveled across the"pond" to find work in the U.S. Many became police officers. Wherever there were a large number Irish on a police force one would always find pieces of "equipment" that was made in Ireland.

The above pictured walking stick is believed to have made its' way to the Newark Police Department in N.J. There it was used by officers with rank. The original owner of this beautiful stick could easily have been a Brennan, a Donaghy, a Lynch, or an O'Neill. They were all part of the old N.P.D.

At first glance one may not think too much of this black piece of wood. Careful examination shows it to be a wonderful antique, and a fine piece of police memorabilia.

The engravings, I am told, have unique meaning. There is a "Shamrock" that seems to still offer luck, and well being. There is also a"Harp" that is finely carved near the handle. One can sense the message it is sending. Regardless of the messages I am sure this "Walking Stick" holds many fine memories, and I am glad to have it in my collection.

CITY ADDITIONS: ABSECON

A is for ABSECON.

In alphabetical order this is the first of my City Additions. It is a relic. I was surprised that the community of Absecon is really a genuine City in Southern NJ. It covers just under six square miles, and some of that is water.

Although this community became a City over 100 years ago it has remained under the radar for the most part. The attention goes to the neighboring community of Atlantic City. The population is around 8000. That might go higher between Memorial Day and Labor day when the "shore season" has the city open for business.

For some (probably political) reason the police force requires a Superintendent. This badge was issued for that tittle many years ago. It is styled after the New York Captains' Badge. This writer likes the design with the five "points" and blue lettering.

Because Absecon is a City, although not a major one, it is included in the collection. It does look nice and inspires me to keep searching for other fine NJ badges to add to my collection.

CITY COLLECTION: W IS FOR WILDWOOD

These stories, and pictures, began getting recognized by me initially in August of 2009. That is five months short of two years. Time goes by fast.

I first wrote about my "A" badge - Asbury Park in August of 2009. At that time I had only twenty one badges in my City Collection. They were from eighteen places that can correctly be called a City. I was quite proud of them.

I took each badge in alphabetical order and did a presentation about it, the community from which it comes, and my little memories. I am now up to the end or "W" for The City Wildwood.

The location is well known as it is a hot spot for Beach activities during the summer. In the winter Wildwood is not quite a ghost town, but certainly there is less traffic.

One summer I took my (then two) kids here. The loved the water and the sand, but the older, my namesake, was afraid of being up high. She wouldn't go near the balcony and had to be carried to the room crying all the way. That thrilling room was on the second floor! Mind you she is a "mountain climber" today, or at least lives near one.

When the weather was hot, and the Atlantic Ocean attracted people, by the thousands, to its' shores, the regular police department hired Specials. These were guys without a regular appointment who needed a job. As good as they were they were not mountain climbers. They liked the Jersey Shore, sea level activities, and the beautiful young ladies that tanned on our beaches.

These officers were issued a "Special" badge, but carried all the responsibilities of the "regulars." The badge pictured above is a relic. It is however, like the ladies on the beach, in great shape.

The badge has a New Jersey State Seal at center, which is the real old style N.J. State Seal. It was plated the same color as the badge, in this case a silver tone finish. The letters are recessed and filled with black enamel. They read: Special, Officer, City of Wildwood, #415.

Since I started documenting my collection many months ago I have had the good fortune to acquire a couple of new badges that have found a home with me. I will cover them in the months ahead. I promise I will start with the letter "A." For now I'll end this article and just reflect on 40 years of collecting these fine badges, and mountain climbing.

NEW JERSEY PROBATION COLLECTION: U IS FOR UNION COUNTY

U IS FOR UNION COUNTY.

This is (finally) the last badge in the New Jersey Probation Collection. It has taken forty or so years to fill the collection that now has 13 of 21 counties represented. Not every county issued badges to their probation officers so the number missing is less than eight. My best guess is 3 counties are still on the search list.

Union County is a major county in N.J. Its' county seat is Elizabeth. That City shares a Port and Airport with its' better known neighbor - Newark.

Most (28) of my career was in Newark. During that time it was not rare that my job carried me into the neighboring county. I made a number of friend there.

Over the years many hours were devoted to "union business" as well as the actual job. Because Union was bordered on a couple of counties I found myself living only a half mile from its' border. I lived in Morris County, far from Newark, but just a stones throw across the mighty Passaic River, to the City of Summit and Union County.

This town, now home to my daughter, was also home to a Union County Officer who frequently car pooled with me to meetings in Trenton. It seemed like every month we would drive to our Capital to hear the Prophets speak their words of wisdom. We discussed the Gospel on the way home, maybe stop and have a beer, and most certainly enjoy a laugh here and there.

Naturally I used this friendship to acquire the above badge. It took a while. As I recall it was something like four or five years, but I got one. That is all that matters.

The badge is gold finish with an Eagle at the top. The recessed letters are in a circle. At center point is a State Multi Color Seal. There isn't a mark on the badge and, in its' display case, it adds to those fine memories that I have also collected.

CITY COLLECTION: U IS FOR UNION CITY

U is for UNION CITY.

This community is strangely enough nowhere near Union County. It is in Hudson County, NJ., and is part of the New York Metropolitan area.

This city is relatively small geographically. It is reported to be 1.25 square miles plus or minus a yard or two. It is close to the Hudson River, but short from its' shore by a good mile or so. This is good because New York crime can't wash up on Union City Crime reports.

As one would expect, in such a small land area, there is a large population. It is around 67,000 people, and rankled in the top three most densely populated communities in the United States. That means there are a lot of people in this place.

I believe I drove through this City a few times always going somewhere else. I remember the roads, and the traffic. That comes with population density. I can't recall any spot that caused me to stop. I probably never had a beer here. That is sad. Somewhere I acquired the badge that is pictured above. I don't recall "How, Where or When" this item joined my collection, but I have owned for many years and enjoy having it in my City Collection.

It is a traditional design with the State Seal stamped into the middle of the shield with the letters "N & J" at the sides. At the top are recessed letters simply reading "Union City Police." Number 100 appears in the bottom panel finishing off this nice antique badge.

GOOD TIME AT TITUSVILLE

Only in Florida would this writer drive close to three hundred miles to go to a Badge and Patch Show. The trip, up hill all the way, was well worth the chill of the Winter Air.

The gang checked into a Best Western around 3:00PM. We located the Elks Club and then enjoyed a good old home style cooking meal and a drink (maybe a couple) to warm up the weary old bones.

The next morning we rose early to set up our "Jersey" exhibit and be ready for 9:00AM Showtime.

Set up was fairly easy because of my ladies who served as my deputies during the show. They had major guard duty during the day and also got the nice blue and gold table clothes set just right.

The exhibit include badges from "Cities" in NJ, Badges from "Newark", Badges from NJ Probation" as well as a great piece of history - A gun and sterling silver badge that belonged to US Marshall Horace "Will" Loomis. The Marshal thwarted a train robbery in 1896.

On the table was a news clipping from the New York Times detailing this major robbery attempt. The Times reported: "Loomis drew his revolver and fired several shots;" ... "One ....dropped dead with a bullet through his brain;" ... "The dead outlaw was recognized as Cole Young, a noted desperado and leader of the gang."

Even in 1896 the NY Times got the robbery story wrong. The facts are that Loomis killed the outlaw with a shotgun ( I wish it were the hand gun in my collection). Four other outlaws, members of the "High Five Gang" escaped.

A number of attendees were interested in the history attached to this gun and badge which is prominently displayed on a wall in my home. It is the only badge that I have that is from the Old West.

The day ended just before 3:00PM. During the day an Atlantic City (NJ) badge was picked up from another collector. It has been added to the collection of badges from New Jersey Cities. This acquisition made the trip well worthwhile.