ORLANDO SHOW

                                     

TOP COP COLLECTION:: SOMERVILLE, N.J

TOP COP COLLECTION: 

CHIEF OF POLICE, SOMERVILLE, N.J.

SOMERVILLE is the next badge in my Top Cop Collection. It is the twentieth (20th) Chief's Badge in this display.

To a lot of people this Town is just a sleepy dot on the map. In reality Somerville is far more then a dot on a map. It serves as the County Seat of Somerset County, N.J.  That's where the Court House is located.  It was there where the "Trial of The  Century" took place.

The incident that started this little walk through history took place in Somerset (Franklin Twp.) N.J. It was on September 16, 1922 when the bodies of Rev. Edward Hall, and Choir Singer, Eleanor Mills were found. They were lovers. They had been shot, him once, her three times.

Police from New Brunswick, N.J. were first to respond only to find they were out of there jurisdiction. Franklin Twp. Police picked up the Case. They found the area around the bodies trampled by the curious. Evidence was removed by those looking for a souvenir. 

The Media took control of the case selling news all across the country.  Looking back, "The case struck a chord, " stated Thomas Miller, Judge Superior Court in an October 2014 article in "My Central Jersey." Miller' s Office  maintains an Exhibit, holding artifacts from the Murder Case, that made Somerville,
"...the Center of the Universe," back in 1926. 


After Two Investigations three people went to Trial at the County Courthouse in Somerville. A fourth was to be tried separately, while  the wife was never indicted.  On November 3, 1926 the trial began. It ended thirty days later after three Jury Votes,  10-2, 11-1,  and then with all 12 in agreement - Not Guilty. 

Following the trial Somerville returned to its  sleepy  nature. Decades passed before someone wore the badge featured in this Post. I estimate it to be 1960 vintage.  When I look at it, it reminds me of some important History that I missed during my career. But owning it has given me a second chance to dig up some old historical facts. Maybe you and I could look for the murderer, as the Case is still open.

The Badge, as pictured, has a Gold-Silver, Wreathed Oval shape. At the top is an Eagle Head, with just below, but at Center Point,  a multi color State Seal. This type of seal did not come into use until the early 1960's.

The  silver-tone panels on this badge, are recessed with black enamel fill.  They read: CHIEF, SOMERVILLE, POLICE, N.J.  It sits in nice display made of oak and glass. I have the pleasure of viewing it every day, and being reminded of an important piece of Jersey History.

*****

THE OLD "NEWARK POLICE AND FIRE MARCHING BAND" - RARE BADGE SET

The top picture above is of a Badge I obtained recently at a Show in Orlando (2018). I made several purchases that day including this treasure.

Take a close look in the Blue Ring that circles the inside of the Badge. It reads: "Fire Band, Newark, New Jersey." It is gold plated and is just beautiful.

The second Badge pictured is almost identical. Inside its' Blue Ring are the words: "Police Band, Newark, N.J." One word is all that is different with these fine pieces of Newark Police History. 

As I recall it was the "Newark Police and Fire Band." My Father, Det. Herman Beyer, was the Last Commander of this Band. He served until budget cuts killed off a wonderful marching band. Most of the members of the Band were from the Police Dept.

Band Members wore a Badge, with the words Police or Fire in the Blue Ring, depending on their particular Department. Since The Police Members out numbered The Fire Members, there were fewer "FIRE BAND" Badges made. Thus this "Fire Badge" is a rare find indeed. My long range plan is to display both of these Badges together. Right now I have the Police version in a sealed display.

The third item pictured here is a photo of the Band in the late 1930's. My Father, Herman W Beyer, is the first officer in the second row. Closing in on 100 years soon.

I had another picture of the Band standing on the steps of City Hall. It was from 1954. I donated it to the Newark FOP Museum close to 20 years ago. Now I wish I had a copy. Such is life.

Looking back I have many memories of the Police Band. One, that comes to mind, is when I was roughly 10 years old, I found where my Dad stored extra badges. He kept them in a little brown bag in the attic of our home  When nobody was around I allowed myself to play with them. I wasn't a Badge Collector then, but today I am, and I have two Beautiful Badges, and some Real Nice Memories.

ERROR BADGE - JEWETT CITY

This was one of a few purchases I made at the Orlando Show on Sep. 1, 2018. I think it is an "error badge." I didn't pay much, and I thought it would be cool to do some Research, as I was curious about JEWETT CITY, NJ.

I like badges from New Jersey, that have the "Identical Shape" as the badge pictured above . Often I will haul a very large display case to a show letting everyone see my "60 plus" Municipal Police Badges, same shape, all obsolete, and all beautiful. 

When a fellow Collector offered this badge to me for a small amount, I made the buy.

Immediately I googled "Jewett City" and I came up with a "section" in Jersey City with that name. I thought, "Maybe this badge is going to have a home with me.".

When I got home I discussed this badge with some friends from Hudson County. Sadly they never heard of it, and my search throughout NJ ended as a Negative.

I did try surrounding States later on. Sure enough, there was a Jewett in New York, and a Jewett City in Connecticut. The first one has a population under 900. The second has a population of 3500, and technically is not a "City."  It is a "Borough." There does not appear to be a Police agency in either Community, so it is unlikely the Badge was intended for officers in those locations. 

My conclusion is, this Badge, when made, may have been intended as a "Sample Badge." The Center Seal (N.J.) was just an add on.   

I will place this badge with some "unique badges" that I have, until someone wishes to purchase it. It would be nice if a Collector of Connecticut Badges had some interest. 

TOP COP COLLECTION: ROSELLE, POLICE DIRECTOR

TOP COP COLLECTION: ROSELLE,  

POLICE DIRECTOR

ROSELLE is a Town in Union County, New Jersey. This item was carried by the POLICE DIRECTOR.

This is another Badge that uses the New York Captain design. I guess I am not the only one that loved that shape.

It is part of my TOP COP COLLECTION. As such it fits very nice with the other badges that are marked "Chief." The difference in the titles is simply political, and that is an area I will stay away from.

While I have had this badge since before I retired (20 years now) I don't recall very much about Roselle. I do remember going to a Restaurant called the Drop Zone and that was a lot of fun.

The "DZ" was near the business district and had great Italian Food. It was owned by a war veteran from the Newark area, and his wife who was an Iranian Muslim. She was a strict believer so she would only take your liquor order, and have someone else bring it to you. Her husband was not known for his attire or social skills often required everyone to stand (or be thrown out) to sing "God Bless America." That still makes me feel great and wish there were more places like the "DZ" today.

Back to the badge and its' particulars. It is a one piece blank with stamped recessed letters and blue fill. A NJ State Seal is affixed to the center of the badge after plating. The Seal is one that was in use in the 1940's and earlier up to late 50's. That would make this Badge at least 70 years of age.

One last look at it and I feel a little hungry. No lunch from the "DZ," but I'll get something. I guess food is what this beautiful piece of history will remind me of when I take my daily look at all in my Top Cop Collection where it is protected under lock and key.

TOP COP COLLECTION: CHIEF, RIDGEFIELD POLICE #18

TOP COP COLLECTION:

 CHIEF, RIDGEFIELD POLICE

RIDGEFIELD, NJ is my next entry in my TOP COP COLLECTION.

The Village of Ridgefield is another Bergen County Community. It has a population around 25,000 people. Most of these inhabitants probably travel to New York City, for work using the nearby George Washington Bridge. According to Money Magazine, it is one of the Garden States' Better places to live.

Village status is a rare designation for a N.J. Community. I know of only one other - South Orange in Essex County.

The Badge featured here is an "oval" shape, three inch tall, impressive item.  It has an enamel colored shield taking up the lower half of the Badge. Inside the  shield is a small "dime size" State Seal. The words "Ridgefield, Police, and Chief" are equally spaced from top to bottom.

Like all the "Top Cops" that I have, this Badge, resides in an Oak display case with a glass front. Just to be safe there are three (3) locks on the bottom of, in my humble opinion, this beautiful display.

TOP COP COLLECTION: PEQUANNOCK POLICE CHIEF #17

TOP COP COLLECTION: 

PEQUANNOCK POLICE CHIEF

*****

My next Badge is this nice looking, Gold and Blue, Shield. It is obsolete, and rare.

PEQUANNOCK TWP is number 17 in my TOP COP COLLECTION.

In order to stay on the job in this Community one must know how to spell it, with out looking at anything; and be able to find it. I frequently visited the area as a kid, so I am sure I would have no trouble finding it today. That's because I know my Geography. Regarding Spelling I was never any good a that. Let's see how I do spelling it, using the Indian Alphabet: Paquettahhnuake. 

How did I do? Looks like I got every letter of the alphabet used, well almost. I'd say, "Right on, that's correct." How say you?

I am sure there might be a couple of "naysayers," so I guess, I wouldn't have a job if it was up to them. Thankfully, there is always, the other side of the story.

My "spelling argument" would be that I only used the original spelling of New Jersey's own Lenni Lenape Indians. They tell me that the word means, something like "cleared land that is fertile and ready for crops." Guess I got my job back.

When I was young my family would often do some swimming and boating in Morris County in the Passaic River, which has the Pompton and Pequannock Rivers as tributaries. Those were fun days. Today this Township is actually one of the better places to live.

Now a closer look at the Badge. It is a multi-part item having a base, four panels, and a State Seal. What is really cool is the reverse Gold Letters on a Blue Field. There is a pin and locking clasp on the rear. It is really classy and I am happy to have it in my collection. I keep it "under glass" and on the wall where it keeps my memories alive. For the record, this Community has an age requirement for its' officers, so, I yield any and all rights, for employment in Pequannock.