JERSEY MARSHALS - PART IV

This is the last of my Marshal Collection (Part IV).

My first one is from Union Township. That's a nice community in Union County near Newark, and on the road to NYC. It's hard to believe they used marshals. This one is a classic eagle on an oval, and despite the lack of luster it is in fine condition. Note the very large NJ State Seal at center point. This dates back to 1920-30's It is a is quite a nice piece of history.

Wallington Borough is the second marshal badge shown here. The municipality had its origin back in 1894. This badge was probably introduced in the early 1900's. It too is an eagle over a quite different oval. It also carries the large State Seal, and a number box -"4". In location this Bergen County community is very close to NYC. Roughly 11,000 people there today, at least sleeping there at night.

You can tell I am getting near the end of the alphabet with this one. It hails from Wood-Ridge, NJ. This too was created as a Borough in 1894. The place has 8000 souls residing here in what is said to be a very nice community. The badge seems to be a newer version of the eagle over oval. It has an excellent finish and State Seal.

My last  item is another "W."  It comes from Woodcliff Lake. It is that stones throw from Manhattan all over again with this badge. Located in Bergen County, near a reservoir, it has a population of 5000 or so. The shape on this one is very different. The eagle still flies on top of a smaller version of the traditional NY-NJ badge. It looks nice. Note there is no seal at all on this one, but there is a number at center point - 10.

I am still trying to learn all I can about NJ marshals and certainly would like to add a few more. Time will tell. For now I am pleased with those presented here over the last few weeks. Hope you all enjoyed looking at them.

ORLANDO SHOW TO BE ON AUGUST 30, 2014

Start making your plans now to attend the 2014 Orlando Police Collectors Show.  We have been given an early date this year, Saturday, August 30, 2014. Plan to spend the holiday weekend in Orlando. 

Make your reservations early.

Contact the Rosen Plaza Hotel in Orlando at 800- 627-8258 

Rooms are $75. per night (for Show attendees).  Tables are $25. each.  Contact is Doug Sarubbi - sarubb@aol.com

JERSEY MARSHALS - PART III

 

Okay, here is another segment on my New Jersey Marshal's collection. In this third installment I have five badges.

My first badge above is from the community of Little Ferry. It is close to New York City, but in Jersey's Bergen county. This is a small town with a population around ten thousand. In the day time a good number of the residents are in "The City" working, and back home at night for "lights out." This badge is from early 1900's and is my favorite design. There is a small State Seal in the middle, and a number box at the bottom showing the digits 48.

Tenafly is the town from from which two of my marshal badges originated. They are also located in Bergen County and is considered one of the better places to live in New Jersey. research reveals the Borough of Tenafly was originally settled by the Dutch (just like NYC). They gave it the name Ten Swamps which is said in their language Tiene Vly. This badge is numbered "232" on a panel located on the bottom. It also has a State Seal at center point, but this one is a little larger then the first.

The third community in this presentation is Totowa. It is formally a Borough that came in to existence in the late 1800's, and is located in Passaic County. Although this is a different county it too is relatively close to NYC. The Lenni Lanape Indians, who were the original landlords here, called it  falling waters because if its' close proximity to Paterson Falls. The Indians have moved further upstream, and the area is now populated by roughly ten-thousand of us civilized folk. The badge dates back to early 1900's and is that traditional design, however note the State Seal is a little bigger on this one. It has the number "34" in the open box on the bottom.

Lastly, but not least, is from the Borough of North Plainfield. This is in the Watchung Mountain area of  Somerset County. This is a nice area, with good transportation to Newark or NYC. This is a large community with twenty-thousand people living  here. At center on this badge is another State Seal. Check close and you will see it is the largest of the five badges pictured above.

All of these items are in nice shape and are genuine antiques. The word "Marshal" is, to the best of my knowledge, not used anymore with local enforcement agencies. To me this makes them interesting and very collectible. I am always looking for one more plus information on marshals in general in New Jersey.

*****

JERSEY MARSHALS - PART II

This is the second installment on my "Marshal Badges" from the State of New Jersey.

The first badge, I believe, is the one that got me looking for badges in this interesting Group.  I found it, I know, in an antique store in New Brunswick, NJ. I was a lunch time find, and getting made the day worthwhile. It is from North Plainfield, NJ. It is numbered 23. I wonder how many Special Marshal's this community actually had.

In New Jersey there are three Plainfield's that I know of. They are relatively close to each other but are in three different counties. North Plainfield, with a population just over 20,000 people is in Somerset County.

The other Plainfield's, in case you are interested, are South Plainfield, and just Plainfield. Middlesex County is the home to South Plainfield and its' population also just over 20,000 people. Union County is the location for the City of Plainfield. It has a population of a little under 50,000.

The second badge pictured above is from East Paterson. That community is in the area of the City of Paterson. I lived in the general area when i was a kid, and never associated the name with a separate community.

The third badge that I have pictured here is from The Borough of Franklin Lakes. I have learned that there are a few "Franklin's" in New Jersey. If you decide to get lost, then Franklin Lakes would be a very nice place to do that.It is a green community, and the reference is not to the lawns.

My last picture is of a badge from Highland Park. This is a community also in Middlesex County. It is easy to miss on the map as it is under two square miles.

All four of these badges are a traditional oval with an eagle on the top. The letters on each are stamped, and in the center is an old State Seal. The Seal helps date these badges, and is believed to be
circa 1925's.

They are all in good condition, and as part of a set their value is growing. I certainly enjoy looking at them, and have them displayed in fine oak case with glass, and of course a lock. Hope you enjoyed looking at them.

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.