TWENTY-TWO YEARS AGO, SEPTEMBER 11, 2001 - SOME MEMORIES FROM JERSEY CITY LOOKING TOWARDS NYC

   

September 11. Today is a day to Remember. I sure do. I had moved to Florida, and was still in bed, when a neighbor called. He said "Turn on the TV, They finally did it. I watched in a state of shock as the World Trade Center collapsed before my eyes. I continued to watch in horror for days.

Following the loss of the twin towers my daughter sent us the above picture. She was on the last train into Wall Street. Fortunately She was on the last train to leave that area. She thought it would be something I would want like to have. I certainly do appreciate it, but we all know it's not something I am happy to have.

The picture was taken from Jersey City or that area across from the Big Apple. Over the course of a lifetime I have been blessed with memories far better then those associated with 9-11. I only have to look at my many displays from the Garden State.

There are two nice badges from "J.C." hanging on my wall. If you are not from New Jersey, you probably think this "town' is the State Capital. It is not, but it does play a huge role in elections. It has been said, that more than double the population comes out to cast their ballots every Election Day. 

The City is on the Hudson River.  I remember the "Circle Line" and the trip around Manhattan. I remember the old Madison Square Garden, Times Square, New Years Eve, Forty-Second Street, and on and on. The best view of the Manhattan Skyline is across the Hudson River, from Jersey City, N.J. Today the "Freedom Tower" is what people stare at from the Jersey side of the River. 

Searching through the cobwebs in my mind, I remember some moments that, at the time didn't seem like much. Elvis came to Jersey City, and had a problem with "The Establishment." The spokesman for the local guys in blue was Police Commissioner Lawrence Whipple. He probably never liked "The King," but did "OK" in law enforcement circles, ultimately becoming a Federal Judge. 

In sports Jersey City was the location where The Dodgers, displayed their 1955 World Championship Flag over Roosevelt Stadium in Jersey City. Pee Wee Reese scored the 1200Th run of his career here. That was 1956. The "Bums" also played here in 1957. Today my Dodgers have long since moved West.  

The above badges remind me of all the  fine memories I have floating around my head. Pictured above the First Badge shines like the sun in gold tone. It has a typical NJ multi color seal in the center. The letters of gold, lay in a blue field that states: "Jersey City Police - Sergeant." It is believed to be authentic and has been in my hands a good forty years. 

The Second Badge is an old "traditional" Badge that is simply stamped "Jersey City Police -97." This one I have had over thirty years. It is in excellent condition, and estimated to be 75 years old or more. 

Both of these treasures are under glass in my Den. They are a constant reminder of memories I shall not forget, especially the one made in the morning of September 11, 2001.

THE CLACKER, THE FIRST MEANS OF LONG RANGE COMMUNICATION

   

This item is from the Newark P.D. It is an early low tech  radio.  It carries the number 75 on its wood stock. It pre- dates the actual radio by a hundred or so years.  

I think it is kinda cool as my Dad was one of the first "real radio operators" in the Newark Police Dept. He had a license to operate radios, but I am sure, he probably never saw this type. It was used long before he was born. 

In reality this item is a signal rattle or Clacker. It was used in the early 1800's. It was definitely made and used, well before Marconi.  It has no electric cords. It has no batteries. It has no "On" or "Off" switch, or volume control. The Darn thing is made of wood, and now that wood is very old and dry. 

This Rattle requires a lot of TLC when handling. The Rattle is roughly 8 inches top to bottom. It has some weight to it. So it might have had a "secondary use," which could explain some of the scratches and little dents here and there. 

When the man in Blue was patrolling the streets of Newark, and had a need to communicate, he would make the rattle emit a click. That sound could be heard by other officers in the same area. The sound could be received a block away. A response message could also be sent out by another officer using his Rattle. This was an important tool back in the 1800's. The "clicks" were actually real time status reports. These sounds could alert other officers when help was needed. 

To this collector the hand held rattle is very interesting. It is the roots of modern day communication. Today Rattle #75 is a nice supplement to my badge collection. It is proudly displayed along side of other treasures that I display at local Shows.

CAPTAIN'S WALKING STICK, NEWARK POLICE

  

 

Remember the movie "Walking Tall?" The Sheriff was a guy named Buford H. Pusser. He was best known for carrying a "big stick." 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 Pusser (at 26) became the youngest person elected Sheriff of McNairy County, Tennessee. 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 also stabbed 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 his life.  

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" seems to  offers luck, and well being. There is also a "Harp" that is finely carved near the handle. One can only 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 them in my collection. Today it has a prominent location on the wall of my Den where I can gaze it every day.

RANK SET REACHED - FT. LEE, NJ

 

 

 
Fort Lee is a little community on the Hudson River. When the lights go out there ared 14,000 saying their nightly prayers and, going to sleep in this metropolis, across from New York City. 

When the Sun comes up the daily commuters, that travel through Fort Lee, will bring the population figure up to well over 100,000. The reason is the Bridge pictured above.

This is not just a Bridge, but the very well know George Washington Bridge (GWB). It stretches across the Hudson River into Manhattan. The Bridge makes Fort Lee an important location on the Jersey side of the Hudson River.

Besides the Bridge, Ft. Lee was also know as the Capital of the motion picture industry. I learned that when I visited Thomas Edison's Museum.  Edison  planted the roots for today's' Major Motion Picture Studios in the late 1800's.

As Badge Collections go, these fine antiques, are part of what I call my "Municipal Collection." My original goal was to collect one badge from as many municipalities (over 500) as I could. I had two specific requirements:  First they could not be from a City (Different Collection); and Second the Badge must be in the NY-NJ traditional shape.
 
I did get lucky with this Borough. While I collected a traditional shape Officer's shield,  I managed to obtain a total of six shields, one for each rank.  Of course they did not all come to me at once. 

The Sergeant Badge came to me first in the mid 1980's. I always loved the light blue background in the ring, behind an impressive gold State Seal. On the outside ring the blue is darker, with the words  "Borough of Ft Lee Police Dept."

The Officer Shield is the traditional shape I set my focus. It is very well known design, and used in hundreds of municipalities on the East Coast. The State Seal is stamped, from the rear then plated. The numbers (319) appear in an open box on the bottom. Beneath the box are the stamped State letters "NJ."

In the years that followed, I obtained a Lieutenant Badge, and a Captain Badge. They do not look alike at all. 

The Lieutenant's Badge seems a bit bigger, and has an applied "multi color State Seal." That is different from all the other rank badges from Ft. Lee. My feeling is this Lieutenant Badge possibly an "off duty" shield, and certainly a newer production. There also no Eagle on is' top. I assume the bird was for the top three ranks.

The Captain Badge. is an old timer for sure. Focus on the State Seal. It is consistent with the other badges, with the exception of the Lieutenant, and Patrolmen. That type of State Seal is vintage for sure, and makes this Captain's Badge truly rare.

The surprise of this collection was the most recent addition. It was the rank of Inspector. I was not aware that Ft. Lee had this title in their Police Department.  An Eagle sits on top of the shield, but the primary attraction is at center point. It is the N.J. State Seal, in a light blue field, which helps identify this Badge as vintage and rare. 

The head of this collection is the badge for the Chief.  It features a row of  four silver stars on its' top. If they are not enough the word Chief is nicely located in reverse blue/gold lettering at the bottom. In the center is an ornate State Seal. It is located in a round dark blue field.

Like all the Badges in my collection these six items reside under glass, and hang in a locked case. They are a rank set, and they are treasured. 

WANTED

 

WANTED!  BY NEW  JERSEY COLLECTOR

Looking for  Badges, Handcuffs, Whistles or Pictures from

Municipal Police or County Probation Departments with

a particular interest in all items from City of  Newark.

 

Contact:

DENNIS BEYER 

 email: denb22@GMAIL.COM

Collecting 50 Years, and Producer of

"badgecollector.blogspot.com"

 

AUCTION SITE FOR COLLECTORS

 

A new auction Site has been advertised in PC News in the Jan.-Feb. Edition.

The site is for collectors of Law Enforcement Memorabilia. It is a nice looking creation, and already has over 800 members.

The Address is:  http//auction.collectors-badges.com

NEWARK POLICE TELEPHONE OPERATOR BADGE

Today we use cell phones. They're usually small and fit right in your back pocket. They are really terrific, being able to: google info, take and send pictures, store notes, and, yes, make a direct call to your wife, your girlfriend, or HQ. 

To really appreciate the modern cell phone, you should look at the history of the "old land line" and its' roots. You will see that your calls worked through Desk and Wall Phones, Pay Phones and miles of Telephone Lines. It didn't take long for hundred's of calls to flood certain numbers (such as MI 2 5400).

In order to deal with call volume businesses, and the Newark Police Department, used "Switchboards" to direct calls to specific Officers. The city cops used Telephone Operators to route all their calls. They were the forerunner of today's "911" Operators.

In the 1930's a Badge was actually issued to the staff assigned to telephone duty. I obtained one, and reported on it years ago. Now it is time to look at it again.

This badge is old. It is in pretty good condition. It is definitely cool!  Hard to believe that Newark Police issued a Badge for the "Telephone Operator." But the did!

It is a badge that is built over a Sergeant or Lieutenants Badge. The necessary changes were accomplished by adding two panels to the original version of the badge. 

The top "new panel" reads "Telephone," and the bottom "new panel" reads "Operator." The number 22 is also on a separate, small number box on the bottom. 

The sections of the badge that read "Police" and "Newark, NJ" are part of original badge. Those letters are stamped into position from the rear and have a raised appearance.

In the center of the item is a Seal from the City of Newark. It looks to be set on the badge prior to plating.

This particular shape badge was rendered obsolete in mid 1950's. Little else is known about it, but it definitely is worthy of display. Today it is under glass, and hangs in a nice display in my museum.