OLD TIME "CROWD CONTROL"

This is a copy of an officer with his  Trusty Four Legged Transport.  A horse you think. Definitely "No."

Our officer is from the early 1900's.  He worked in Albuquerque, NM.  It is quite hot there, and there is a lot of desert. It is just not the Sahara Dessert where one would expect to find a Camel

Jefferson Davis (Confederate President)  as Secretary of War for the U.S. introduced Camels to the South West.  Around the 1900's the City Police tried these animals for police work. 

I am not sure how the experiment went, but The Officer looks happy.

I thought I would just share this picture with collectors. Hope you enjoy seeing it. 

From personal experience, I can tell you to stay off  of these four legged beasts. Stick to a car;   Ride a motorcycle;  Or just Walk; But Never get on one of these (expletive deleted) creatures !!!

MUNICIPALS: "H" IS FOR HADDON HEIGHTS

We are now up to "H" which is for HADDON HEIGHTS in my MUNICIPAL COLLECTION. It is the 15th distinct community in alphabetical order in this display.

I know I have had this badge for a couple of decades, and I recall who gave it to me. What I don't know is where this town is located. New Jersey is a small state, but would you believe there are over 500 towns.

I don't think I could name half of these communities. This is one such place. I had to use my rusty investigative skills to learn this place is in beautiful suburban Camden County. That is South Jersey near the Delaware River. I don't think George Washington knew of the place or ever slept there.

The community is incorporated as a "Borough." That means you use the word town rather loosely and inaccurately. But we are all friends here so call it what you wish.

The Borough has about 7000 people, and obviously a Police Department. This is an old badge so I assume the "Boys in Blue" have been around a while.

It is the traditional design with the N.J.State Seal stamped into the front prior to plating. The letters are simple recessed and filled with black enamel. It reads: HADDON HEIGHTS and on the second panel appears the word: POLICE.  There is a number box on the bottom with the numerals 15.

I wish I had some memories about this location. I guess I should be satisfied to know my memory is still pretty good, and I do have a nice badge in my collection.

MUNICIPALS - "G" IS FOR GLEN RIDGE

G is for Glen Ridge. It is the fourteenth community represented in my Municipal Collection.

This is a little badge, maybe two inches tall at most. It fits because this town is small. It measures from 3 blocks wide to an impressive six blocks wide at the bulge. It is a great place to live. There are quite a few mansions with views of the New York Skyline.

I am told there are around 7000 - 8000 residents here. I do mean those that stay overnight, as there is a commuter train through the Town, as well as buses to NY. These commuters swell the population by 200 -300 percent.

Despite its' size a couple of well known people can call Glen Ridge home. First there was Buzz Aldrin.  He was an Astronaut on Apollo 11. Along with Neil Armstrong, he became the first human on the Moon. That was in 1969.

Another guy who lived here and graduated from the local high school is Tom Cruise. He flew too in "Top Gun," but didn't come anywhere near  the Moon.

Crime is not a problem here, but it does occur. When I worked, a Century ago, I knew a number of officers in the local department. I frequently attended meetings with their guys devoted to juvenile offenses. These were great guys and over the years I learned quite a bit about suburbia.

Some of these stories are never to be told, but always remembered. They still bring a smile (smirk) to my face.  I remember them instantly when I gaze at this badge now in my Municipal Collection. 

I also remember who "donated" this item to my very young collection decades ago. Sad to say,  He is no longer with us.

The badge is a simple shield marked: Auxiliary Police, Glen Ridge, NJ.  It also is marked #73. I am very pleased to have it and the memories.

NEW ADDITION: TRENTON CITY POLICE

Along my way covering the Municipal Collection I managed "another find" that warrants a picture and description.
 

This recently acquired badge is from the "Trenton City Police." It is numbered 33 with add on numerals that may have changed a few times before this item went its' merry way to the collectors world.

This item is worn to the point you can hardly see the department name over the seal. It is the seal that tells you this is from Trenton.   Instead of a  N.J. State Seal they use their distinct City Seal. 
 
On the back of this item you can see that the pin at some point in time was replaced. It is held together in a "mound" of solder. It certainly does not look like the manufacturers work, so probably a  do it yourself repair job. The "C" catch also looks to have been replaced as it opens in the wrong direction. It too has excess solder holding in place.


This is the second badge of this design that I now have. My first, number 60, is in better condition. It is probably a little newer. I pictured it here as it helps to "see" the letters on number 33 as well as the City Seal.

This new badge will likely find a home in my (NJ) City Collections Display. I only wanted (a long, long time ago) the top ten cities.  In the quest for the "big ten" I have obtained  a representative from 24 cities. I like them. I have them under glass in a nice display case that hangs on my wall.

All the badges hanging  in my den give me a nice feeling every day when I look at them. Most of them tell a story or tweak a memory. Guess that is why I collect them.

MUNICIPALS - "F" IS FOR FT. LEE

 
"F" is for Fort Lee. These badges represent the thirteenth different community in my Municipal Collection.

Fort Lee is a little community on the Hudson River. It uses the "Borough" form of government. That is why it is in with the "muni's."

When the lights go out there will be around 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 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 Manhatten.  The bridge  makes Fort Lee an important spot on the New Jersey map. 

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, a few miles away,  in Edison's Museum in West Orange, N.J.  

In the late 1800's Mr. Edison brought his movie making equipment to Fort Lee and started the whole movie thing.  A lot has changed since then. Even in N.J. people think of Edison's work being at other locations. Things change.


I "Got Lucky" with this Borough. I managed to obtain three nice shields over my forty years of collecting.  Of course they did not all come to me at once. 

I have had the Sergeant's badge since the late 1980's. I always loved the light blue background in the ring where the gold State Seal is located. In the outside ring the blue is darker with the words Borough of Ft Lee Police Dept. This is the only badge I have where there are two background colors. Not even the Chief's badge has this unique finish.

The Officer's shield #319, and the Chief's Badge  came to my collection over the last ten years or so. They were found in the custody of others in the hobby who were in the process of down sizing their collection. It was my good luck to respond to their calls and obtain them. 

Like all the badges in my collection these three items reside under glass and in a locked case. They are treasures. I am very happy to have them. 

MUNICIPALS - "F" IS FOR FLORHAM PARK

 F is for Florham Park. This is the twelfth municipal badge, in  alphabetical order, in my Municipal Collection.I lived close to this community prior to retiring. It used to be a sleepy little town just over the Morris/Essex county lines. Today I imagine it is still a very desirable place to live. 

When I lived there it was possible to see the (NY) Giants practice at Farleigh Dickinson University. That no longer is true, but the Jets have moved into town or at least maintain a PO BOX there.

The badge that is featured here is an old one. It was made in the traditional designe  with a State Seal stamped into it. The panels read: FLORHAM PARK, on the top. On the bottom is a quite large panel that reads: SPECIAL. It looks like it was applied over what was intended to be a number box.

I like this design so for a variety of reasons included it in the display. It is in very good condition and when I look at it there are some nice memories that make their way to the front of my mind.

NEW ADDITION: NEWARK "SPECIAL POLICE"

Anything from Newark is always a nice addition to the collection. The badge here was issued roughly around 1900-1930. I have a particular interest in it as my father, in the last couple of years of his career as a Newark Detective, served as Liaison to the City's Special Police. That was in the late 1960's. By then they used badges similar to the regular force.

What is neat about this item is the City Seal. It is stamped into the badge from the rear. Over the years it has smoothed out some, but not to the point that the distinctive hand holding a hammer can't be seen. That is beautiful.

The top of the badge is the number 296. I already own 285. The main panel reads: Special Police. On the bottom it reads Newark, NJ. A pin, and "C" catch are fixed to the rear of this treasure. It is in working condition, but I leave it alone. I won't even let the grandson wear it in the house. It is under glass with some other fine items from Newark. I am pleased to have it, and the memories it brings to mind.