2012-08 - Ocean's Heritage

Ocean’s Heritage, Summer 2012

Here are just a few fun facts:• Even the father of our country wore

a campaign button. His was brass, sewn to his coat, and read “Long Live the President.”

• William Henry Harrison was the firsttorunan“image”Presidentialcampaign (1840). Though born rich, he chose the log cabin as his logo and coinedwhatmaybethefirstPresi-dential political slogan, the famous “Tippecanoe and Tyler, too.”

• The campaign button sums up the candidate in a few words. Remember “I like Ike?” Jimmy Carter’s went one step further. It had no words at all, just a golden peanut!From the start, American campaign-

ing has been rough and tumble and this exhibitcapturesthefunandfightofthecontest. It’s a window into the history of campaigning. It’s an overview of the election process from local contests to the

A new exhibit opens Sunday, September 9, in the Our Town Gal-lery of the Woolley House—just in time for the high-stakes

months of the Presidential Campaign. The exhibit, “Election Memorabilia: The Stuff of American Campaigning,” show-cases an impressive collection of political campaign buttons, banners, signs, photos, and news clippings. The artifacts ,both Republican and Democratic, include ma-terial from our own collection (a gift from the Mullaney family) and loaned items from local collectors.

It’s no surprise that the stuff of American political campaigning is color-ful. Consider the characters it represents. FromourfirstPresidenttoourcurrent,slogans, buttons, ads, and bumper stick-ers vie to tell a candidate’s story and win votes.

Election Memorabilia: The Stuff of American Campaigning

Mini-exhibit opens September 9

HeritageThe Township of Ocean Historical Museum Vol. 28, No. 3, Summer 2012

The Eden Woolley House

Ocean’s

selection of President. Perfect for adults and children (who will be hearing a lot about elections this campaign season), it’s one more good reason to visit the Eden Woolley House.

“Election Memorabilia: The Stuff of American Campaigning” runs through the end of November.

Local election campaign sign (circa 1961). The elephant gives it away. Today Ocean Township has a non-partisan Council-Manager form of government. But before 1964, Democrats and Republicans ran against each other for seats on the Township Committee.

The exhibit features an array of campaign but-tons. Buttons were first mass produced in the 1890s and enjoyed their “golden age” from 1896 to 1916. By the 1970s, campaign coffers were funding television ads and bumper stick-ers. Buttons no longer reigned!

E X H I B I T O P E N I N G

Election Memorabilia: The Stuff of American Campaigning

Sunday, September 91 to 4

Eden Woolley House703 Deal Road, Ocean


Ginny Richmond, past president of the Museum, was browsing through an

old issue of History Magazine when she came across an article about hair receiv-ers. “Imagine my surprise when I real-ized that my mother had one of these now rare objects and had always kept it on the dresser that was upstairs in my house,” Ginny said. “I ran upstairs, and there it was! I remember Mom brushing her hair and putting hair into it.”

Most every Victorian woman had a hair receiver to save hair culled from her comb and brush. She used the collected hair to stuff pincushions and small pil-lows.

The saved hair had another use. Women used it to make “ratts,” hair stuffed into a hairnet to make a ball about the size of a potato. Ratts were inserted into a hairstyle to add volume and full-ness. (I guess they didn’t know about “teasing!”)

Collectible with a storyHair receivers

Museum website makes the connection

Keith Feather, of Durham, North

Carolina, has a mis-sion. He is determined to document the har-rowing story of the 1854 wreck of the New Era off Asbury Park--and the survival of his great-great grandfa-ther Heinrich Weckess-er. So, imagine his de-light when he learned through our website that an exhibit featur-ing local shipwrecks, including the New Era, was installed in our Museum. *

He contacted us and planned a pilgrimage. In April, Keith and his wife Carol visited. They met with local expert Dr. Rich Fernicola, toured the Museum, and visited related locations--the West Long Branch monument, site of the wreck in Asbury, and more.

“It was a very interesting and worthwhile trip for us,” Keith explained. In fact, the trip inspired Keith to spearhead a project to identify as many living descendents of the wreck’s survivors as possible. “If you think about it, of the 120 some survivors who went on to have their own families, there must be people alive today that are their descendents. My guess is that many of them are either unaware of this part of their past or have only the vestiges of a largely forgotten family tale passed down over four generations.” He hopes to rally the descen-dents and others to support archeological work at the wreck site.

Chances are the family stories to which Keith refers are as fascinating as his own. His great-great grandfather Heinrich was an or-phanandapacifist.Facingconscriptionintoa mercenary army, Heinrich left Germany on board the ill-fated New Era to start a new life in America. The ship was run aground and torn apart by a violent storm within site of the shore. The captain and crew are said to have abandoned ship, leaving hundreds of German passengers on board--most of whom were washed into the sea. Heinrich clung to the mast through the night until the sea subsided and rescuers could reach the ship. Survivors were taken by steamer to New

York City. From there, Heinrich made his way to Philadelphia and established roots.

* On July 2, “Loved Ones Go to War: Local Stories of World War II” replaced the ship-wreck exhibit in the Richmond Gallery of the Eden Woolley House. Information about shipwrecks and life-saving is available in the Museum’s Research Library.

Descendant of New Era survivor visits exhibit

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Keith Feather, great-great grandson of New Era survivor Heinrich Weckesser, traveled from North Carolina to see the Museum’s shipwreck exhibit and visit the West Long Branch site of the mass grave of New Era victims.

Heinrich Weckesser, New Era survivor

Ginny Richmond holds her mother’s “hair receiver,” one of those curious arti-facts that gives us a glimpse into the past

Based on an article in History Magazine, April.May 2003

Victorian “do” created with “ratts”


Ellen Gulick began volunteering at the

Museum just over a year ago. She was a trea-sured Wayside School librarian for many years. Today she is head of our Research Library and Third-Grade-Program Chair. She is a wonderful storyteller and delights the third graders reading “The Story of the Woolley House.” Thank you Ellen, and all the volunteers who give their time to the Museum.

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Proposed addition to Museum bylawsThe Board recommends the following addition to the Museum bylaws, to be voted on at the next meeting of the general membership:

HONORARY LIFE MEMBERSHIPHonorary Life Members are elected by the Board. The honor is granted

to a person for extraordinary or meritorious service or gifts to the Township of Ocean Historical Museum. Recommendations for Honorary Life Membership may come from any regular member in good standing.

• Recommendations must be submitted to the President in writing and include the name of the person recommended for the honor and the rationale for his/her consideration.

• The Board must adopt a motion and approve the recommendation.Honorary Life Members shall enjoy all privileges and benefits of regular members

without further payment of individual annual membership dues.

Explanation: On occasion, gifts or service from individuals (often not members) providesignificantbenefittotheMuseum.Thischangetoourby-lawsgivestheBoard a way to recognize their contributions and to ensure they remain part of the Museum community.

Walking Tours starting at the Woolley House Eden Woolley House. Guided tours of historic grounds. The 1st and 2nd Sundays of the month and by appointment. Friday Flag-Raising 6:30 p.m. every Friday through Dec. 7A 48-star flag is raised in memory of deceased local World War II veterans. Public welcome.

Mini-Exhibit Opening: Election Memorabilia: The Stuff of American Campaigning Sept. 9 through Nov. 29—Our Town Gal-lery, Eden Woolley House.

4th Annual History Ghost Walk Sun., Oct. 21, 5:30 –Eden Woolley House & Terner Gallery. Characters from the World War II homefront come to life to teach and entertain.

General Meeting and Speaker Event Living Voices: Memories of Jewish War Veterans” Tuesday, November 13, 7:15—Oakhurst School Auditorium.

“Home for the Holiday:” Holiday Exhibit Weekend Sat. and Sun., December 1 & 2—Eden Woolley House Miniatures, trains, dolls, and a holiday boutique and bakery.

Coming Events

Mark your calendar

Volunteer Spotlight

Not so scary ghost walk

Richmond Gallery dedicated

Memorial Bricks

How do you say “thank you” to two people whose boundless

dedication made the Eden Woolley House possible? One way is to create a permanent tribute.

On Sunday, May 20, we did just that. The former “West Gallery” of the Eden Woolley House was re-named “The Richmond Gallery” in tribute to the contributions of Howard (Doc) and Ginny Richmond.

Doc mastermined the move and renovation of the house. There would be no Eden Woolley House without him. Ginny served as Museum Presi-dent ten years--leading us through the moveandgettingusfirmlyestab-lished in our new home.

Doc and Ginny Richmond in front of the newly named Richmond Gallery

Ellen GulickJust a reminder that the Museum’s “Buy a Brick” campaign is alive and well. You can add your name--or that of a loved one (perhaps a WWII vet!)--to the brick walkway on the Woolley House property. The cost is a tax-deductible $100.

Call 732-531-2136 to learn more.

History comes to life as the spirits of the World War II homefront “come back” to delight and inform visitors. On Sunday, October 21

(rain date Oct. 28), the Museum holds its 4th annual Ghost Walk on the grounds of the Eden Woolley House.

Meet Rosie the Riveter, a Civil Defense warden, USO volunteer, victory gardener, military wife, and more. Enjoy yourself at a 1945 USO --complete with entertainment and treats.

Call the Museum 732-531-2136 to reserve a spot. Adults $7, children $3.


Thesummerisflyingby and attendance at the Museum is at near-record numbers. More visitors are com-ing from outside the

Township than ever before. In the midst of all that’s going on,

it’s good to step back and realize how far we’ve come from our beginnings in the old Oakhurst schoolhouse.

We’ve saved, refurbished, and opened the Woolley House. We’ve ex-panded our hours (open 50 a month), installed new permanent exhibits in twogalleriesandfivechangingexhib-its in the Richmond Gallery (and that’s not counting our “mini-exhibits”).

Our website is fully operational, informative and interactive. We’re on Facebook and Twitter and have an email list to keep fans informed. Our newsletter goes out to well over 600 households four times a year. We’ve built a reputation with local media. Over 75 web sites promote our events.

Our “Research Library,” headed by a volunteer who worked for many years as a professional librarian, is open and helping visitors from as far away as Florida.

Our collection of documents and artifacts grows with our reputation. Andourcuratorandofficevolunteersare cataloguing it all.

Our fund-raisers keep us in busi-ness and delight hundreds of adults and children who look forward to teas, ghost walks, holiday exhibits, and more. A crew of talented handicraft-ers have raised nearly half our annual fund-raising target each year for years.

And we’re always thinking of what’s next--like Paul Edelson’s idea to raisetheflagforlocaldeceasedWorldWar II vets.

So much to be proud of. (Did I mention “Best Museum” three years running?)So many volunteers to thank. I invite you to feel a part of this success story. Visit, volunteer, get involved.

Join the fun. We welcome you!

Annual American Doll Tea sells out--again

Sunday, July 22nd was a perfect summer day. The rescheduled American Doll Tea Party was held under tents on the back lawn of the Eden Woolley House. The af-

ternoonwasfilledwithdoll-centeredactivitiesforthe84guests--younggirlsandtheirmoms or grandmoms--attending.

InsidetheMuseum,dollandteddybeardisplaysfilledthegalleries.CollectorSueMathis exhibited her Madame Alexander dolls, and Mary Hill had a “Dolly Tea Party” of her toddler-sized Middleton collection. Sue MacDonald displayed her “Charlie Bears” from England, and Marion Volger had a collection of mini bears all in costume. Next to the original hearth, “Mrs Woolley” demonstrated spinning.

Outside the children participated in a fashion show, made friendship pillows, listened to a story about the Woolley sisters, and enjoyed a tasty tea party with fresh fruitandhome-bakedgoodies.Hand-craftedoutfitswereforsaleatthe“DollShop”and the 1915 Playhouse was open and furnished for all to enjoy.

Tea Party Chairman was Marge Edelson and on her committee: Ginny Richmond, Eleanor Millar, Joal Leone, Tammy Richmond, Ann Marie Capponi, Heather MacDon-ald, Mary Hill, Lois Landis, Gerri Applegate, Brenda Wityk and an “army” of loyal adult and teenage volunteers who help set up and clean up.

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PresidentMessage from the Museum

Brenda Wityk

Tea Chairman Marge Edelson with the junior docents whose help made the July 22nd event an unqualified success. Back row from left to right: . Kolbe Kary, Marge Edelson, Ariel Moynahan, Megan Kelleher. Front row from left to right: Emily Grossman and Kylie Richmond.

Shop the Museum Store (at the Eden Woolley House)

Original, one-of-a-kind, handcrafts--and more. Reasonable prices. Perfect gifts.

Knit hats Quilted giftsDoll clothes

Woolley House Note PaperBooks on local history

Historical mapsCharming gifts, handmade by Museum volunteers, offer a chance to shop local and benefit a great cause


I Remember . . .

Igraduated from Trenton State Teacher’s College in 1955 and went to work teach-ing 6th grade at the Wanamassa School. Interestingly, I had been interviewed

years earlier for admissions to Trenton State by a Dr. Warner, a Wayside resident whose mother-in-law, Mrs. Green, longtime principal of Wanamassa School, passedawaymyfirstyearofteaching.(Wehadahalfdayofschoolthedayofherfuneral.)

But I’m getting ahead of myself. First, let me tell you how I came to teach in Ocean. Mr. German, Ocean Superintendent of Schools, met my brother-in-law, Ed Colodin, in the bank. He asked Ed if he knew anyone wanting a job—teachers were scarce. I interviewed with the Board of Education. Bill Friedman, a neigh-bor from Sixth Avenue in Asbury Park and the brother of my sister’s best friend, was on the Board at the time, which didn’t hurt my chances!

Thatfirstyearofteaching,Iearned$3,000.Itwastheerabeforecollectivebargaining. Here’s how my salary was negotiated: Superintendent German inter-rupted my class. In front of the students, he asked if I would accept the Board’s of-ferofa$150.00salaryincrease($50.00forthefirstyear,$100.00thenext).IknowIsaid “yes,” but was annoyed by the interruption!

Thatfirstyear,Ihad36studentsinmy6thgradeclass,includingAlexGruber,Vickie Bennett, Ann Neville, Harry Packwood III, Kathy Gafney, Raymond Shea, John Paolantonio, and Wendy Kessler. Mr. Covino was Principal. The school housed K-8th grades. Graduates went on to high school in either Asbury Park or Long Branch.

The male teachers, including Joe Palaia, used the lavatory in the basement alongwiththeboys.(NoonetoldmethatandIwasabituncomfortablethefirstweek until I found out.) Barbara Thompson taught 1st grade. Celeste (Blanch-field)Kwartektaughtmathto7thgraders–andtometoo,asIhadmajoredinhis-tory and geography. Mrs. Mamula taught history and Mrs. Eickhorn, 3rd grade. I believe Dee Samarco D’Esposito taught 5th grade; Mrs. Mohn , 6th. Mrs. Stumph taught English and led her 8th graders through the hall, clasping a student’s hand in her left (they took turns) and her Bible in her right.

School ended on June 19th without me. I had been DRAFTED!!!! I was sworn into active duty at Fort Dix on June 14, l956, Flag Day.

Thank you for the opportunity to share my story. I can’t remember where I put my keys, but at least, my long term memory is intact!

Don Vineburg

Don Vineburg in 1955. Don was a teacher and admin-istrator in Ocean Township Schools for 34 years. He retired in 1994 and later began a 10- year career as Stu-dent Teacher Supervisor for St. Norbert College, DePere, Wisconsin. He now volunteers three mornings a week with 4th and 5th graders in Green Bay--which he says, “Keeps me young and out of mischief…. well almost.”

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My First Year of Teaching; Wanamassa School 1955-56

Ross Fenton RelicGift to the Museum

A concrete banister that was once part of the elegant lake-front entrance to Ross Fenton Farm now sits in the Our Town Gallery of the Eden Woolley House. It is a gift from Pat and Marty Martino whose home is located on property that once was part

of the famous Wanamassa nightclub. The Martinos discovered the banis-

ter while making repairs to their dock. “It was sitting under our dock on the edge of the lake, underwater for at least 70 years. ” Marty explains.

Ross Fenton Farm was a popular resort on Deal Lake from 1898 to the early 1950s. The country’s top talent--in-cluding the likes of Irving Berlin, Eddie Duchin, and Helen Morgan--entertained patrons, many of whom traveled by train from New York City. (Locals sitting in their canoes enjoyed the sounds of music drifting across the lake.)

Surviving elements of the lakeside entrance to Ross Fenton Farm, now part of the prop-erty of Pat and Marty Martino.

Our thanks to Don Vineburg for bringing his 1955 Wanamassa

School 6th grade to life in our “I Remember...” column. We’d love to publish your story.

Send us a photo and memory of vintage Ocean Township by email to [email protected] or call the Museum at 732-531-2136.

Send us your story


Just in time for Independence Day, the new exhibit “Loved Ones Go to War: Local Stories of World War II” opened in the newly named Richmond Gallery

of the Eden Woolley House. On Sunday, July 2, a full house of visitors took in the moving and sometimes surprising story of how the war changed everything.

The exhibit sets the context for the story. Overnight, in December 1941, the country’s sense of security was shattered. Suddenly we were vulnerable. The blackout shade, Civilian Defense material, ration books, USO poster, and more suggest the new “normal” right here in Monmouth County.

The exhibit highlights the stories of ten veterans with connections to Ocean Township--the boys next door, the family doctor---who left their loved ones behind and went off to war. One, Louis LaPointe, whose daughter Lois LaPointe Kiely lives in Ocean Township, did not come home. Lois, who was just 18 months when her fa-

ther was killed, expressed her feelings: “Through the exhibit my father becomes more of a reality to me. I feel that I did have a father. It’s as close as I can come to what others daughters have taken for granted.”

The exhibit continues to attract visitors--drawing other World War II veter-ans, those who were children during the war years, and those born much later who are moved and amazed by the stories they see.

Please add a visit to “Loved Ones Go to War: Local Stories of World War II” to your list of destinations. The exhibit will be up through spring, 2013.

“Loved Ones Go to War; Local Stories of World War II” World War II Exhibit opens

All six of the surviving World War II veterans whose stories are among the ten featured in the exhibit attended its opening, July 2. Seated from left to right: Jim Serano, Ralph Jeffers, and Jack Morris. Standing from left to right: Mort Burke, George Cook, and Bob Landis.

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On Tuesday, November 13 at 7:15 pm at the old Oakhurst School Audito-

rium, 163 Monmouth Road, six members of the Jersey Shore Jewish War Veterans (JWV) Post 125 will share their war expe-riences. Their stories cover World War II, theKoreanConflictandtheVietnamWar.

Cable television host Dallas Grove of “Meet the Leaders” will moderate the panel, including a Q&A session.

Jersey Shore Jewish War Veterans (JWV) Post 125 has had a long and illustri-ous history. The group, supported by an active Ladies Auxiliary, undertake pro-grams and missions that serve veterans as well as the community.

Accomplishments include raising funds for charities, helping hospitalized vets and decorating graves of fellow veterans at Monmouth County cemeteries on Memorial Day. The JWV continues to have an active involvement with Troop 71, Boy Scouts of America, and annually attends several Memorial Day services. They are sponsoring a job fair for veter-ans at Brookdale Community College on August 27.

The panel discussion is open to the public, free of charge. Donations are always appreci-ated. Refreshments will be served. Please bring a non-perishable item for the FoodBank of Monmouth and Ocean Counties.

Panel DiscussionLiving Voices: Memories of

Jewish War Veterans

Rosh Hashanah observed in Rothschild Synagogue in Paris, 1944--the first open services since Nazi occupation


Ceremonies continue every Friday evening

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In conjunction with the newly opened exhibit, the Museum is honoring deceased local World War II veterans withaflag-raisingceremonyeach

week through December 7, 2012. Every Friday eveningat6:30,a48-starAmericanflagisraisedon the grounds of the Eden Woolley House and fliesinhonorofthatweek’sveterans.(Theflagcan be provided by the family or the Museum.) Photographs of the week’s honored veterans are displayedbesidetheflagpole.

Ocean Township Boy Scout Troops 70, 71, and 76 provide the color guard. Following the cermony, guests are invited into the Museum for refreshments and a tour of the new exhibit, “Loved Ones Go to War: Local Stories of World War II.”

The schedule below lists the deceased veter-ans being honored in coming weeks. Paul Edel-son, who conceived and oversees the program, is still accepting names. If you have a friend or relative you would like to honor, please call Paul at 732-531-9187, or stop by the Museum to learn more.

By the NumbersWorld War II

16.1 million Americans who served in military in WWII

407,000 U.S. military killed in WWII

16 months Average U.S. serviceman’s time overseas

100+ Ships sunk or damaged by German submarines off the EastCoastofU.S.duringthefirst18monthsofthewar

2 million Women working in U.S. war industry

20 million Victory Gardens nationwide

$185.7 billion Invested by Americans in war bonds

$300 billion SpentbyU.S.fightingwarandsupplyingallies

10 million Volunteer and paid workers in the Civilian Defense Corps during the war years

60,000+ GIs trained during the war at Ft. Monmouth as Signal Corps specialists

RaisingtheflaginmemoryofWorldWarIIveterans

From the first flag-raising, June 29, friends and family have turned out--rain or shine-- every Friday evening at 6:30 to remember a deceased World War II veteran in their lives. Guests--even those without connections to the honored veterans--come to pay respect and support the program. After the brief, moving service, they gather in the Museum to visit the exhibit and enjoy homemade treats. It is a fitting way to pay respect to those who gave so much. Please consider joining us. All are welcome

August 17Cpl. Andrew Ribsam, US Marine CorpsRadioman 2nd Class Joseph E. Brady, US NavyPettyOfficerJohnDiOrio,USNavyTech Sgt, Michael J. Vignola, US Marine Corps

August 24Dr. Paul StrassburgerAlbert Strassburger

August 31PFC Milton (Kelly) Worth,

US Army Killed in ActionRobert Fischer, US ArmyHarold Fischer, US Marine CorpsJ.Virgil Newcomb, US Marine Corps

September 7Cpl. Albert Vaccaro, Killed in ActionCapt. William A. Nurthen, US ArmySgt. Pasquale J. Simonetti, US Army

September 14 September 21

World War II Veterans, Wanamassa Fire CoSeptember 28

Frank Reingold Killed in ActionStephen W. Bumball US Army

October 5James F. Byrnes US Army

Upcoming ceremonies


Mini exhibit opening Sept. 9“Election Memorabilia:

The Stuff of American Campaigning”

The Eden Woolley HouseHome of the Township of Ocean Historical Museum

703 Deal Road • Ocean, NJ 07712( Mailing address: P.O. Box 516 •Oakhurst, NJ 07755)

Museum Hours732-531-2136 • oceanmuseum.org

Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday: 1 to 4Thursday evening: 7 to 9

1st and 2nd Sundays of the month: 1 to 4

Documents

2012-08 - Ocean's Heritage