MUNICIPALS - "C" IS FOR CHATHAM

C is for Chatham.  This is number five in alphabetical order in my Municipal Collection.

I may have mentioned that I grew up and worked essentially in Newark, NJ.  It was the County Seat for the County of Essex which was my employer for four decades. That was a long time.

Drawing on the experience of living and working in Essex I chose to find an abode that was far enough away from the problems surrounding the greater Broad and Market Street area. For me, That meant about 15 miles West of Newark's South Side.

The Probation Department had an office at 32 Johnson Ave., Newark, NJ.  South Side High School was just one block away. It was a great location if your thinking was to plan an escape route to be close to I-78. That was my thinking when I sought out Chatham NJ. It was 14.7 miles from the office.

Chatham was a bedroom community when I moved here. I quickly learned that this term meant: The people riding the train everyday, into New York, were picking up a much bigger pay check then me. The tax rate in Chatham was good, especially for New Jersey. The Borough also enjoyed a very good school system. All of this made Chatham very attractive.

The  Chatham Police Department was small when I located in Chatham in the early 70's. I believe they covered all shifts with less officers then the number working any shift in any precinct in Newark. That of course is an "Apples and Oranges" comparison.

The suburbs looked great. The homes and streets gave a wonderful presentation to the passerby. Yet there were problems here, just different. It took a different breed to work communities outside the big city. While the law was the same the people were different and that in many cases made the job far from easy.

Having lived there for close to thirty years I got to know a couple of fine officers from the Borough Police Department. As nice as they were I never got a "donation" for my collection from any of them. None the less they are still Good Guy's.

There are two badges from Chatham in my Municipal Collection. One is an oval that was issued to those who served in the ranks as "Special" Police Officers. This item reads: Special Police. It was phased out in the late 1960's. It probably was initially introduced in the 1930's or 40's.  

The second badge is of a more traditional design. It has black recessed letters that read: Chatham Police.  It was introduced  in the 1930's. On the bottom is an applied number - 48 which is also plated. 

This badge has a State Seal at center that was plated with the main badge. This is a larger then usual Seal. It is about the size of a quarter. 

I have had both of these fine pieces of history for over 25 years. I keep them very close, in a case of Oak and Glass. I enjoy the memories that come to  mind when I turn my head daily for a trip down memory lane.

THANK YOU PC NEWS

In the recent (Sep - Oct, 2011) edition of PC News there is an article regarding the Badge and Gun I believe belonged to US Marshal  Horace "Will"  Loomis.  It appears in the column "Collecting Memories" (pp. 37 - 38).

Loomis was Chief Deputy U.S. Marshall in New Mexico when it was a territory. He served ten years starting in 1886. His handgun and presentation badge, in its' original case, are pictured above.


In the Fall of 1896 Loomis using a shotgun fatally wounded the outlaw Code (y) Young. The Outlaw was a member of the High Five Gang that terrorized New Mexico and Arizona in the late 1890's.

The PC News article was also posted on this blog in July of 2011. It may be viewed under the title:  "TRAIN ROBBERY # 62, AND "MY" BADGE & GUN."


We extend Thanks to PC News for letting us share pictures of the Marshall's Badge and Gun, and for also remembering "Wells Fargo's Chronology of Stage Coach and Train Robberies," and, in particular,  Train Robbery Number 62.

MUNICIPAL'S - "B" IS FOR BUTLER

This is the fourth badge in sequence in my Municipal Collection. It is "B" for Butler.

This small Borough is in Morris County. It has a decent sized population of 7500 (plus or minus,  depending on whether it is a weekend or not). The place is only a short (20+/- miles) distance to N.Y.C.

As a kid I was well acquainted with towns like Lincoln Park, Wayne, Mountainview and of course Butler. The common denominator was the Passaic River as well as the Pequannock River (Yes it is spelled correctly). 

At one point these rivers merge. The location was called Two Bridges for obvious reasons. They water was great for swimming, and using a small boat. I had tons of fun in this area fifty years ago.

After outgrowing the small boat at age 17 and, learning I could go further in a car, I discovered Butler.  It was a small town back then. It hasn't grown much. 

I recall a family friend knew someone who had a waterfront cabin on nearby Glen Wild Lake. This was a private community (but they let me in anyway). One of the better memories was cruising that lake on a small paddle-wheel boat. It too was privately owned, and used only for pleasure. Again that was fifty years ago.

I don't ever remember seeing a police officer on or near that Lake or in the big town of Butler which was incorporated in 1901. That was much more than fifty years ago.

The badge that I have has been in my collection for at least 25 years. It no longer is the design in use, but looks mighty good to my old eyes. I like it more then the current oval style used by the fine officers of modern Butler, NJ. 


This badge is a full size shield with black recessed letters. It simply reads "Butler" on the top panel, and "Police" on the lower panel.  In the center are the numbers "11".


My collection of New Jersey municipal police badges is certainly enhanced with this fine old badge from decades ago. Naturally it is displayed in an oak and glass case where it helps bring back some fine old memories.

MUNICIPAL'S - "B" IS FOR BOUND BROOK

 
 
This is yet another "B" in my municipal collection. This little guy is from the Metropolis of  Bound Brook, NJ.

It is a wallet size badge that is silver in color tone, with black recessed letters.


In the center is a State of N.J. Seal. It was applied first, then plated with the rest of the badge.


The wife had relatives in this community that makes the map (or news), every now and then. This is when the place floods. It seems the "Brook" is not held back by anything during those Jersey Spring Rains.


I have had this item a short time. I believe I picked it up a show. I had some early thoughts of maybe trading it. For now it is in the case with my Nifty-Fifty NJ Municipal's,  and, of course, some nice memories.

MUNICIPAL'S - "B" IS FOR BLOOMFIELD

 

  
This old badge is number two in my "Municipal" collection. It is "B" as in Bloomfield, NJ.  It is a fairly old badge, but in very nice condition.


The Town of Bloomfield is in Essex County. One of my ancient relatives was a Cop in this community. He rode a motorcycle, and even gave me a ticket.  Needless to say this badge was not his.


I spent a good deal of time in this community having friends, and relatives, who say this is "Home." I went to college here, and later had the thrill of working here. It was nice back then (mid 80's). I think the place is holding its own today, but one friend claims he is paying taxes for the entire community. That is an exaggeration of course, but ten grand a year. Wow!


Today there are approximately 45 to 50 thousand residents. For the most part they behave. Of course that is because of their very good police force. Thanks to them my friend can safely drive to work and earn enough to pay those taxes.


Back to the badge. It was a donation from a friend. He gave this one to me over twenty years ago. Naturally I have given it good care, and today have it in a nice glass case in my Den.


The item is a traditional shape with an Eagle on the top. There is no State or Municipal Seal at center point, but there is the number 27.

There are recessed letters with black fill over silver tone plating. This badge  gives me some fine memories of a "Township" that   played an important role in my life. I am proud to have it my collection.

A NICE EXPERIENCE

A couple of months ago I was trying hard to stay out of trouble when I noticed an email from someone who's name I did not recognize. I was reluctant to open it, but finally said, "Why not."  The sender identified himself as the Sheriff of McIntosh County, Oklahoma.

My first impulse was to,  "deny, deny, deny".


As I read his email I realized this was really a nice moment. He found my email because of this blog, and thought he might enlist my help to identify a badge belonging to a young lady in his County. He included a picture with his inquiry.


As soon as I saw the Seal I knew this badge was from Trenton, NJ.  It was old - VERY OLD.


The Sheriff explained that this Badge was found  in  "...a Lenna, OK cotton field in approximately 1960.  It had been buried and was turned up by a breaking plow while getting the field ready for planting."  The family of the individual who found this badge has maintained possession of it since that date - fifty plus years !!!  

I believe the item is much older, perhaps late 1800's to early 1900's. 

There is a lot of sentimental value for the family that has is it. I suggested they to place it in a nice case, with a glass front, and hang it in a prominent location for daily viewing and appreciation.  

I too appreciated seeing this bit of history from a City that was once our National Capital. Certainly the nice hand written note that was sent to me, along with the fine patch pictured above, was deeply appreciated and have become part of my treasures.

MUNICIPALS - "B" IS FOR BAYONNE

Finally I have caught up with that ever changing word "All". It looks like , for now, I have addressed my City Collection. Every Badge that I have obtained over the last forty years that fits the category of "City" has been presented along with appropriate pictures. As of now there are 31 on display, representing 25 different N.J. Cities,  and that represents "My All."

Now it is time to address those that I have put in a monster display case for muni's.  This group may even have a "City" that I chose not to include with the others. I'll start with the letter "B" which is for Bayonne.

As luck would have it the first badge is from a City. This particular badge is a Special Police Officer' Badge. In the City Collection I tried to stay away from "specials."

This item is silver tone. It is an old badge with an eagle on top. Lettering is recessed with black fill.

The Seal on this item is very interesting. The center piece is a Ship on the Water. This is the City Seal of Bayonne. On newer badges the State Seal is what is being used.

This old badge is available for trade. For the time being it is number one in my Municipal Display.   If anyone is interested in it send an email.