MUNICIPALS: "H" IS FOR HIGH PARK GARDEN

Pictured here is number seventeen in my New Jersey Municipal Collection. The "H" is for High Park Garden.

Two things to note right away. First is that High Park garden is an apartment co-op. The second point is that this badge is probably from a private security company. On the second point I am not sure it really counts as an item for my display, but  it is there.

The "Garden" is located in beautiful Newark, NJ. The badge, and the creation of the "co-op community" have their origin in the mid 1960's.  That makes the badge just under 50 years of age. It looks good.

The "Co-op" wasn't far from the site where Newark's riot started in 1967. I worked in the area surrounding this place. At the time there were many high rise residences. Many people called them "the projects."  Others had more colorful descriptions. What was clear was, security was needed.

It is possible that these buildings no longer exist.  This would be due to post riot urban renewal. City street after city street disappeared, and a "new face" was given to this delightful area.  

As a kid I went to summer school in the area. That wasn't because I was a genius. I later worked on these streets. It was fun, fun, fun. I guess that proves I wasn't smart. Glad I survived.
 
Buchlien & and Son most likely made this badge as there business was located a short distance away. They did good work which is why this item looks so good today.

There are three panels which are standard in size. They read: High Park Garden; and POLICE.  On the bottom is a number box that has a solid panel with the word "CHIEF" stamped with reverse blue letters. The letters are so big, Stevie Wonder could see them from a mile away! This is not a dream badge, but it is what you make of it.

One thing for sure is that this badge, when I give it the daily look,  fires up a lot of memories. It also makes me glad to be a thousand miles away. I just wish I could recapture some of the lost years.

MUNICIPALS: "H" IS FOR HALEDON

Another "H".  This one is  "H" for HALEDON in my MUNICIPAL COLLECTION. I am now up to number 16 as they appear in my huge custom made case of oak and glass, and lots of class. Obviously I like it

This badge is in great shape. It is the basic design with an Eagle on Top. Its' condition is impressive. At first glance that is all I can say about this item. I estimate it to be around 50 years of age making it much younger then me.

I had to check the map to see where this community is in New Jersey. I was surprised to learn how close it was to my backyard relatively speaking. Not far at all.

I guess I should have paid better attention to Passaic County, and its' big City - Paterson.  Haledon is right there. It is not very big at all. I can't believe how I missed it all these years. I guess it was because of the effort I made to steer clear of neighboring Paterson.

From what I have learned this community has about 8000 residents, and they do have a police department. Newer badges are in use.

This particular badge has a stamped from the rear State Seal at the center point. There are two panels on the top. The name Haledon is stamped on the first panel. The word Police is stamped on the second panel. The letters are filled with black enamel.

In the lower portion of the badge is a number box. Number ten (10) was applied at the center just like many other badges supplied to Jersey departments. They look good, and like I said, above, I like it.

COLLECTING MEMORIES: LONDON CITY POLICE MUSEUM

I am always Collecting Memories, however this one is a little different. I traveled in May (2012) to London to have this experience. I was motivated by the wife’s need to see the U.K.  and the Baltic Capitals.

Prior to arriving I checked a few things out. I quickly learned that the Metro Police and the London City Police are two separate departments. Metro seems to be everywhere, while the London City Police cover a small area of London.  Their jurisdiction is nicknamed the “Square Mile.”

Size is not always important, especially when the subject is History. The City Police go back to 1839. At the time the Metro Police Force was in its’ infancy. While Metro’s jurisdiction grew, the London City Police elected to maintain their own identity. 

Their Headquarters is located at 37 Wood Street.  It is also the home of the London City Police Museum.  It is a small facility. An appointment is required to view the exhibits.

Werner Roper, a former New Jersey Transit Police Chief, accompanied me on this adventure. We brought our wives for protection, and to remind us of the time. The first thing we did was get lost, but the Metro Police were there to help. They pointed out the way, and called ahead so our guide would be expecting us.

  

Our escort was Bob Cottvill . He also served as guardian of those famous Helmets and Badges. He is retired from Her Majesty’s Defense Service. Bob has studied the London City Police for several years. The Gentleman was most happy to see a couple of guys from New Jersey, and even happier to share his knowledge of this great little museum.  He made it huge!

 Bob started our tour by discussing communication equipment. I enjoyed seeing an old Police Public Call Post.  All one had to do was open the bright blue door and pick up the phone. I remembered, as a boy, seeing “Police Call Boxes” mounted on telephone poles in Newark, N.J.  . Ours were smaller –  by a ton. They are also very collectible.

 

From the bright blue phone system Bob showed us an old wood communications tool. He said: “I bet you never saw one of these before.”   My wife said: “Yes I have!  There are two hanging in my house.”  I am sure she was thrilled to show her expertise. I know I was quite proud of her. 

      

The wooden device was a Police Rattle. It was a means of signaling each other while working the street. They were used in the 1800’s. In London they were replaced by Police Whistles.

A short distance from the rattle was, appropriately enough, a nice collection of old whistles. They were in a nice display under glass. My wife had nothing to say about them, but I know she has observed a few on “my” wall back home. At least she wasn’t looking at her watch.

Communications in old London was unique. Click’s and Clacks was the only tune in town until tiny whistles came into existence. Tweets was a major leap forward, then in 1886 Guglielmo Marconi  gave us the wireless radio. A few years later Wi-Fi arrived  on the scene.

The museum has a couple of items that link communications and tragedy. The radio in the museum’s Moorgate Exhibit was used by police in response to the greatest rail transportation tragedy (at the time) in peacetime London.

In terms of physical size this was a small exhibit, yet it signals just how vulnerable we all are. Clicks and Clacks wouldn’t work in this situation, but looking back, thirty-seven years, the data suggests that the modern twentieth century radio also could have worked better. That's history, and we learn from it.

The event took place on the morning of February 28, 1975. A train arriving at Moorgate Station failed to stop. It continued through the station towards a dead end stop. It hit the wall at 40+ mph.

Over forty people were killed. City Police Officer Margret Liles, was trapped for twelve hours in the tunnel.  She was freed only after her foot was amputated. Moorgate Rescue Operations lasted for four days. 

The last man out was the Engineer – Leslie Newson. His failure to stop the train caused the accident. Why this happened was not established.

Since this incident we have built radios with transmission systems that work better underground. On the tracks we have developed a switch that automatically stops runaway trains. Ironically this is called the “Mooregate Switch.” History has taught us well.

A short distance from the Mooregate exhibit was a display featuring a wooden scale model of some old buildings. Our Guide explained that this was a model of the Exchange Buildings where thieves attempted to rob a jewelry store. The “bad guys” were foreign nationals looking for a way to fund their cause. This sounds familiar, but this attempted robbery took place in December of 1910.

The gang led by Jacob Gardstein and Peter Piatkow tunneled from one building to another. The target was the safe in a jewelry store located on Houndsditch Rd. When the sound of their digging was heard the local police were summoned to the scene.  The police surrounded the building, entered it, and attempted to secure it.

Things did not go well.

Three Officers died at the scene of what has been remembered as the Houndsditch Murders.  Dead were:  Sergeant Charles Tucker,  Sergeant Robert Bentley, and  Constable Walter Choate.

The bad guys initially made it out of the area, however Gardstein was wounded. His partners carried him a short distance, and then left him in an alley to die. The others found safety in a nearby apartment; however days later (now Jan 1911) someone gave the police a tip as to their whereabouts.

What happened next has gone down in history as the Siege of Sidney Street. A combined force of City Police and Metro Officers could not get control of the area. The needed assistance and, in particular, better guns. Help came from the “Scots Guard” stationed in London Tower.

Also arriving at the scene was a curious Sir Winston Churchill. He and Police discussed bringing in a cannon to knock the building down. As they talked a fire erupted in the buildings.

Churchill taking charge ended a quick confrontation between Police and Fire Officials by ordering the Fire Department to “Stand Down.” 

The building continued to burn and ultimately ended the siege.

Today “Sidney Street” is under control. A hundred years have passed, and “Yes” my wife finally noticed the time.

The last order of business on this visit was for me to have my picture taken in one of those Famous Helmets, visit and London Tower, and thank Bob Cottvill for sharing his memories of the “Square Mile Bobbies” and this fabulous museum. 

  The bright blue box is a Police Public Call Post installed in the city By London police.

An early communications device known as a Police Rattle. It was used up to 1886.

A Radio used in the 1975 Moorgate Disaster.

London City Police Officer Margret Liles who was trapped for twelve hours in the Moorgate Tube Disaster.

1910 Paper with pictures of Constables: Tucker, Bentley and Choate who were killed in what has become known as the "Houndsditch Murders." They were responding to a robbery attempt of a jewelry store.

Dennis and Lois Beyer (L and Werner and Carolyn Roper (R).

Dennis Beyer with Display of London Badges

Dennis Beyer and  Bob Cottvill

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.