APPRECIATED CONTRIBUTION

It is not Newark. It is not New Jersey. It is one heck of a nice badge.

This was acquired several months ago. The owner was very much aware of my collection   (I made him look at it all for thirty minutes straight) and he quickly promised to donate his for the display.

He presented it to me at a lunch we attend so there are around fifty witnesses that know it is now mine. I promise to treat it with respect. I have it under glass next to one from Boston.

While my interest is Jersey I like those that are gifts from places beyond NJ, especially when a lot of friendship comes with the donation. 

MUNICIPALS: "V" IS FOR VERONA

MUNICIPALS: "V" IS FOR VERONA

This is number 36, and "V" for Verona. Specifically it is the 36th distinct community in my Municipal Collection in alphabetical order.

Verona is a small suburban community in Essex County, NJ. It is maybe ten miles from Newark having three communities in between. It is a nice place to live.

The County has a park in the town which is quite nice.You used to be able to rent  little boats  and spend some time on the water. It was a good Park to pull in and grab your lunch.

Just across from the Park is/was a diner. It was owned by the parents of singer Connie Francis. I never had lunch with her. That is my loss, as she certainly was a popular person back in the day.

Her brother, George Franconero, was the victim of a hit in 1981. At the time he was cooperating with Federal Authorities in an organized crime probe. He was also involved in a Bank that went under in my town (Borough to be precise).

The  shooting had a serious impact on the singer. She retreated from public appearances, and took a step out of the limelight. Reportedly she left the area and moved to Florida staying off the radar for years. 

Back home in Verona there are a few people less then 14,000 calling the Township home. I wonder if they even know the name Connie Francis. In terms of land area we are talking about less than three square miles.

The antique badge shown here is from a collector in New England. It came my way a couple of years ago, and I am very glad to have it.

It is what I call the "Traditional Shape" badge that I desire in my collection of New Jersey Municipal items. This one is the two panel shell. In the panels are the words: Verona Police.  

At the bottom of the nickle plated badge is a number box with the number 25 affixed to it in large numerals.

In the center of the shield is a State Seal that was stamped from the rear. Next to it are two letters: "N" and "J."

Certainly this is a good fit in my Municipal Collection. I have it with all the others in a huge display case that contains my keepers, and of course  some fine memories.

MUNICIPALS: "T" IS FOR TETERBORO

MUNICIPALS: "T" IS FOR TETERBORO

This is number 35 in alpha-community order.

This is "T" for the Municipality of Teterboro. It is in Bergen County and is one of the smallest communities in the State. The actual number is under one hundred. Serious questions exist as to why this place exists as a legal incorporated community, but it is there and on the map. 

An investment banker purchased the land in the early 1900's in order to build a race track. His name was Walter Teter. The community put this name on the books in the 1940's.

I know nothing about the race track, but do know that there is an airport that also carries the name Teterboro. You may have heard it too. It is  used by those small big money corporate jets that we frequently read about. It is one of the Country's busiest airports believe it or not.That is based on take offs and landings. It is also the home of the National Aviation Museum.

The airport is the third busiest location for bird/plane collisions also in the country. I guess that would keep the police busy, except Teterboro no longer has a Police Department. Police protection is on a contract basis from neighboring communities. 

The badge pictured above appears to be from 1930' - 40's. It is the traditional design  that is the target of my collection, and from an agency that no longer exists.  

A State Seal is stamped into the badge from the rear. There are two panels that read: Teterboro  and Police. In the number box is a "3".To the left and right of the seal are the letters "N" and "J".  I think Those letters make it official.

Official or not this is a nice badge that has found a home in my collection. I enjoy looking at it almost everyday and letting it bring back memories of the area. It is another keeper for sure.

ACADEMY AND CITY HALL

These were taken a couple of years ago. Since I focus on Newark with my collecting I thought I'd post the seat of  government as well as the Police Academy Building. 

The City Hall is on the bottom.

MUNICIPALS: "S" IS FOR SOUTH HACKENSACK

This "S" is for SOUTH HACKENSACK in my Municipal Collection. It is the 34th in alphabetical sequence by community.

For years I craved a badge of this shape from the neighboring "City." Forty plus years collecting and no dice. Then two badges became available and I was able to get both - A City and A Township.

The Township is tiny. I think there are maybe 2500 people tops living (or just sleeping) in South Hackensack. It is less than one square mile, and is described as a "suburb" of New York City. Some people think that suburb is all of New Jersey.

The City (Hackensack) is not much bigger in terms of land, but has twenty times as many people living there. It too is considered part of NYC. Everyone forgets that there is a big river separating Jersey from the Big apple.

I am familiar with the general area. I occasionally appeared in Court in the City, which is the County Seat of Bergen County. I remember passing an old US Navy Submarine parked (legally) at a pier on the Hackensack.  River. It was the "USS Ling."

The Sub is now a tourist attraction. It has been reported to be in great condition having been fully restored. I am sorry I never went on board it.

Like the submarine the two badges I acquired are also in good condition also. They look alike from a distance. They are both made in the shape that I seek for my display.

The top pictured badge simply reads "South Hackensack" followed by "Police" with the number "55" in the bottom number box.

The "City" badge varies slightly.  Both have the State Seal stamped into it from the rear. The City, Hackensack, Badge has number "111" in the number box. They are both keepers, and are presently in the appropriate display cases.

OFFERS CONSIDERED FOR H. W. LOOMIS GUN

In 1896 this gun belonged to US Marshal Horace W. Loomis. It has been in my collection for seven years or so.

According to the New York Times, Loomis using his revolver shot and killed the outlaw Code (y) Young during a failed train robbery in Rio Puerco, New Mexico in October of 1896. 

The truth is the NY Times was wrong in their account of the killing of Mr. Young. Research reveals that Young was nailed by Loomis using a shotgun. I don't have that weapon, but it would have been nice to see it hanging on my wall too.

The Wells Fargo Company kept a chronological record of famous robberies. They described this as Robbery number 62. The incident has also been described in a book entitled: "The Last of the Old Time Outlaws." Its' focus was on the only surviving member of the gang - Will Musgrave. He lived until 1947.

Eleven years after the robbery incident (1907)  William Pinkerton, in an address to the International Association of Chief's of Police in Jamestown Va. described this train robbery again, the fate of the five outlaws, and the hero - H W Loomis. Pinkerton concluded his remarks that history shows "Crime does not pay." This weapon is a nice reflection of the history to which Pinkerton was referring. It is nice to look at, and to occasionally hold. It is History.

For me it is time to let this old gun move on. If you have an interest send me a note at "jerseychief@gmail.com." I am also open to trade offers (want badges from Newark, NJ). 

MINICIPALS: "S" IS FOR SOUTH BRUNSWICK

MUNICIPALS: "S" IS FOR SOUTH BRUNSWICK

This is the 33rd different community in my Municipal Collection - in alphabetical order. I assume  by now you knew that already.

It is from South Brunswick , NJ. The Community is a Township which surrounds New Brunswick (the City). 

This municipality apparently wants everyone to know who they are hence the word "South" got prime attention in the upper panel of  the badge. It is stamped in abbreviated form.  The word "Twp" is also present and stamped in abbreviated form. When it comes to the main name, "Brunswick,"  there is no room on the top panel to spelle it out.  It appears as "Bruns." Maybe this is why this item is obsolete.

Another thought for being so deliberate with the words "South" and "Twp"   is because there are four Brunswick's. One is New, and the others are just: North,  South and  East. The New  is the City, while the remaining three are towns or townships.

Even though I worked around this town I really know little about it. I understand the ancient Indians from Newark made some trails through here in the 1600-1700's. These trails are probably the main highways today. I do know that the Indians would be shocked if they saw all that traffic that is present today.

The bottom line here is this is a nice badge, and a good fit in my collection. It simply reads: South Bruns. TWP,  Police,  # 34. It is a keeper.