JERSEY MARSHALS - PART I

     

Over the years I have slowly acquired a couple of cases that are now filled with "Marshal Badges."

These are not the Marshal's made famous in the old cowboy movies. No Wyatt Earp Badge in my collection. In fact I can't put a name to anyone who wore one of these items.

The fact is New Jersey had an officer of the law designated to maintain order and peace prior to the establishment of the local police force. 

Over the next month or so I will display all my Marshal Badges. These are in some kind of alphabetical order (I took liberties as the number of badges grew). Who knows, someday I will fix this.

For now, and pictured above, is my first Badge. It is from BOGOTA. This is a northern NJ community.  Needless to say it is in the back pocket of NYC.

The second item pictured here, and a similar design, is from CALDWELL. This town is in Essex County. It is a suburban community, and there is a bus to "The Big Apple" if for any reason, one wants to get there. I don't. 

CARLSTADT is the third item pictured. This too is a northern Jersey location. Like the other communities it is in the vicinity of that big village across the Hudson River. The badge too has a similar design as the other two items displayed above.. All three of these antique items use the State Seal in the center.

The last badge in this article is Chatham. That was my home town (Borough) for 29 years. This badge really looks like something out of the Red Ryder Films of my youth, however when I was a kid it was probably being retired as a Marshal Badge giving way to the new Police Officer Shield.  It is circular with that Texas Star in the center. 

I am trying to learn more about these early Marshals and how they were used in the Garden State. If you know anything about them, or have one to sell, contact me at the address listed in this blog.

SPACE COAST SHOW IN TITUSVILLE

Steve and Karen Bridges are the Show Sponsors. Joining them at the Show this year was their Grandson, Micah. He sure looks happy, and has a lot of patches to study. 

Titusville bills their Police Badge and Patch show as the "Space Coast Annual Police Collectors Show (29 years)" The Bridges know "badges and patches" quite well.  They also know about our Government Rockets that get blasted into Space carrying Satellites into orbit. By the end of the show this writer was in Orbit.

I used to work with Rockets. I designed the I.O.B.M. That means Into the Ocean by Mistake. Collecting Badges for forty-five years has been no mistake, either for me, or the fine group of men who attended this Show on January 25.

It looked like a sellout. I observed that a couple of collectors brought their wives. I soon learned that they, like my wife Lois, were there to guard the table. They did a great job, but certainly had their own perspective on our hobby. While the guys did the badge and patch stuff,  the ladies shared their stories and certainly  (I suspect) enjoyed their day too.

Now this really cool leather badge was on display. It is owned by Hu  Freels. He has a dynamite exhibit, and it was no surprise to hear his name called at the end of the Show as Best Overall Winner. His display is, in a word, huge.

As I wandered some more I ran into John Holmes, Rick Amos, Sam Goldstein and Chad Harris. They each had  fabulous badges and patches on display and for sale. I got hooked into buying something from Chad when he flashed that big smile of his that seems to say "gotcha." 

Now I think the wife is mad at me again. She just wants me to sell them. With the cash she took in I was able to exchange it quickly for a nice "Policeman Statue,"  and some "Matchbox Cars" for my Grandsons.

Around by the back door I saw Doug Sarubbi. He is always around with his lovely daughter, Megan, who helps out year after year. She knows these items, and their value too. Again, it was no surprise to hear Doug's name called as Best Patch Display Winner.

The nice surprise for me was hearing my name called as out as Best Badge Display Winner. My display is pictured here. The Award was appreciated, as were the Memories from this fine Show.

The best part of the show was walking around the tables and seeing old friends, or meeting somebody new. With the wife watching  my table (sold a few badges for me too) I was able to stroll around for a couple of hours (Can't believe my legs held out that long).

RELICS FROM DEFUNCT ESSEX COUNTY PARK POLICE

Behave in the Park or the guys in blue will get you. 

Essex County, N.J. is a small geographic area, but it has many parks. Branch Brook Park, and Weequahic Park are two well know pieces of real estate located in the City of Newark.

Each year there is an annual Cherry Blossom festival. The park has around 4000 trees. That's a lot, and that is the reason this festival is the largest in the entire U.S.

The design of the park was by Frederick Olmstead. Mr. "O" had some good experience having created Central Park in New York City. He did not create the muggers that enjoy all of these parks.  

Weequahic Park is on the South side of Newark. It was the centerpiece for what was a very nice neighborhood. It has a lake, and in its 'hey day' even had a race track for trotters.

The County Park Commission established a police force to protect all county parks. The officers' authority was limited pretty much to inside the borders of the county's parkland. On many a day the officer had to drive from one park to another. 

Things change and in the 70"s the County created the Essex County Police Department. They had jurisdiction now over Roads, County Property, and the Parks. 

You can see how jurisdiction may have had its conflicts within the municipalities, who had their own police forces. There was also a conflict with the County Sheriff's Department. As a result it was possible to have three cars on a scene representing three police departments, all paid by the same taxpayer.

After the new Millennium  this jurisdictional problem went away as the County Police were absorbed into the Sheriff's Department. Now there are only two cars at a crime scene.

This all means you might see some "County Police" badges floating around for collectors. I don't have any. What is pictured is from the original Park Police. They are in great condition and remind me of many stories involving the Parks in Essex County.

They warrant their own display case and are part of my museum (den). Sure I like them, and I am very happy that I can remember some of this history. My father, a Newark Officer was awarded a National Life Saving Medal for pulling a man out of the lake in Branch Brook Park. As noted above that is in Newark, but not my father's jurisdiction.

I trust Mr. Olmstead would be pleased with my recollections regarding the history and political yarns reported here. I certainly enjoyed the memories.

LAST CALL FOR TITUSVILLE SHOW

This is a reminder that there will be a Show in Titusville, Fl. It will be at the Elks Club on January 25.  See earlier post for all the details.

VILLAGE OF SOUTH ORANGE

These fine old items come from a municipality known as South Orange. Since I have six of these badges they are displayed separately from my other Municipal Badges.

South Orange is certainly unique. Originally there was one community with this name, but the lower portion pulled away after the Civil War seeking its own identity. It took over 30 years, but the NJ Legislature in 1904 formally created The Village Of South Orange.  The other piece of this original community just dropped their claim to the name and became Maplewood. It's confusing as to why this happened.

Today the "village" is one of four villages in New Jersey. There is  a Village President instead of a Mayor. The community is home to just over 15,000 people. You can add another 5000 when  Seton Hall University opens its campus. 

The University has its' own police, however once in the while the locals come in for an assist. That's called cooperation. The need is minimal as this is a great school in a great little Township (technically correct as the Village adopted the Township form of government in 1981). Now that is confusing.

Today the Police Department is around 60 officers. The head of the Department is a Police Director.

The badges above are around 60 -70 years of age. At the top is younger "Special" Officer badge numbered # 11. 

Following are: Patrolman, Lieutenant and a Captain badges.

The last two are from the head honchos' They are Chief Badges. One is Chief of the Police Reserves.  The last is a Chief of the Police Department.

These badge have been with me since the early 1980's. I am very pleased to have them as part of my collection and have had them under glass in my home for close to twenty years now.

The remind me of many memories I had as a kid. I could ride my bike to the Village and often played baseball at Cameron Field. In the winter my friends and I would sleigh ride down the hill at the same park. That was cool. So cool it makes my bones ache. I like the memories, and there is no confusion about that.

2013 YEAR END MEMORIES AND SALUTE

Another year has come, and gone. It's time to give a moment or two to remember friends who have passed on. One way or another they are still with us.

It has been a couple of years since one of my friends answered his last call. His grand-daughter drew the picture below. I published it last year and think it is a nice gesture so it is here this year too. It makes a very nice memory.

In addition to this Officer, there are others who have passed away in 2013. They leave us and their FAMLIES behind.  

Miss you guys!

DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS, SOME INTERESTING ACQUISTIONS

I have had the above four badges 30 years or more. I have them assembled into a single display as the top picture reveals.

The first badge I obtained in the late 70's. It is the design that was replaced by the badge on the bottom, or the 4th item. Note the change in the State Seals. On the bottom there is a "Blue Ring" which has been modified now to full color seals. So with one and four you have "new" and "old."

Take a look at the second badge in this series. First note the huge stamped seal that takes up almost the entire center area of this beauty. It says, " I am an antique."  Another thing to note is the words "Reform School." I am sure, to be politically correct, you can't say that anymore. My guess is this dates back to the 1940's or earlier.

The third badge, "Outside Guard" is interesting. The words are no longer used on the current badges that I know of. The badge is similar in shape to the one on the bottom, but look at the huge difference in State Seals. This one is certainly old too.

I believe these items came from institutions named for their municipal location: Rahway, Jamesburg, Trenton, and Rahway again. Today these institutions take their names, to be politically correct, from points on the compass.

Over the years I had occasion to visit these facilities of higher education. I usually spent an hour getting in and out to do a quick interview. I loved hearing the recess bell (in my head) telling me it was time to "Go Home." Definitely glad I could do that.

I can't say that there is a fond memory associated with these places, but I certainly do like the badges and give them the respect they deserve here in my retirement Casa de Napoli en Florida.