SHREWSBURY –

A collection of historic, fanciful and unique dolls is on display at the Eastern Branch of the Monmouth County Library through the month of February, comprised of no fewer than two dozen dolls from the collections of the Shrewsbury Historical Society and its officers.

In another of its outstanding collections of items and artifacts from other ages, the Historical Society has arranged for the display of outstanding dolls of all types and sizes at the library’s showcase in its main hallway.

Society President Donald Burden, who also arranged the recent bridal gown exhibit at both the library  and the society’s museum adjacent to the Shrewsbury municipal offices, said the collection is part of the society’s mission to preserve Shrewsbury history, promote participation from the community at large, highlight Shrewsbury’s historical significance and share the valuable resources of the Society through educational programs.

“It is amazing how many different kinds of collections people have,” said Burden, “and we can all learn something from every one.” He said people have also been generous in donating collections or memorabilia to the Shrewsbury Society, knowing they will be given the respect and care required to keep them as role players in the importance of preserving history. In addition to his wife’s doll collection the president has his own collection of oil cans, another item that is rapidly becoming a sought after collector’s item.

The dolls are one more example of the benefits of all manner of education.

Storybook Dolls

One of the highlights in the library display are the Storybook dolls of MaryLea Burden, an attractive arrangement of dolls depicting the fairy tales and children’s stories of the mid and late 20^th century.  Ms. Burden’s collection represents gifts at holidays during her childhood from various relatives and includes the miniature creations of Nancy Ann Abbott. Measuring no higher than seven inches, some as small as 3 1/2 inches in height, the dolls were first produced in painted bisque and sold from 1936 through 1947. After the war and during the early 1960s, they were created in plastic but always feature lavish costumes and fabrics and trims.

Bridal Dress Dolls

Among the several bridal dress dolls in the display are the donations of Marylynne Stout of Petersburg, Pa. Mrs. Stout wished to entrust her collection to a museum in the Red Bank area  when she decided to downsize. She had lived in Red Bank as a child and several of the dollars were originally purchased in the area. Some of the dolls in the Library display are those made at the time of the bride’s gown and were used on the front of the cars in the bridal processions, along with dolls dressed in the bridesmaids’ colors and designs as well.

One doll, donated by Beth Sweeny of Union Beach, has a string on her back, when pulled it plays a rendition of “Here Comes the Bride.”

African American Doll

Another of the unique dolls on display is the African American doll in a Girl Scout uniform dating from the 1950s through the 1970s, the only minority doll in the collection. The single boy doll on display is of a Swiss Tyrolian.

Madame Alexander Dolls

Also included in this unique memorabilia of childhood are several collectible Madame Alexander dolls, known for their splendor. The Alexander Doll Company, created in 1923 by Madame Beatrice Alexander Behrman, came from the founder’s childhood when she spent time in  her stepfather’s doll hospital on Manhattan’s lower East Side. She believed dolls should be played with and loved without breaking like the porcelain dolls of her time, but with no decrease in detail or quality. She perceived dolls as a means of  teaching children kindness and compassion through play, sand their popularity has made her creations a part of American life and history. Madame Alexander herself is also recognized as a pioneer in a male-dominated business world especially following the Depression.

For the library branch’s times and days , as well as other information about the Eastern Branch and all branches of the Monmouth County library, visit www.monmouthcountylib.org.

For more information on the Shrewsbury Historical Society and its museum, call 732-530-7974 or 732-747-3635, At this time of year, the Museum is open by appointment only by a staff member generous with time and accommodation of an interested public.

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Chaplains

Chaplains have been a part of the United States armed forces ever since Army chaplains put their lives on the line during the battles of Lexington and Concord in 1775. Their mission has always been to give spiritual aid as well as prayers and comfort for the military and bring spiritual peace to their flocks. But there have been many times they have led troops into battle, assisted the wounded, carried men from the battlefield, and lay beside them in trenches with enemy fire overhead.

Since the Civil War, when the first Medal s of Honor were awarded, there have only been nine chaplains who have received this highest honor paid to military. Seven of these were Army, one was Naval Reserve and one was Navy. Of the nine, two came from New York, six came from Massachusetts, Kansas, Illinois, Indiana and California.

One came from New Jersey.

Major Charles J. Watters

Meet Major Charles J. Watters, a Catholic priest from Jersey City, a graduate of Seton Hall University, and a major with the 173d Airborne Brigade of the US Army during the Vietnam War. He was born Jan. 17, 1927.

Fr. Watters was not the ordinary parish priest. He also held a commercial pilots’ license.

After graduating from Seton Hall, Father Watters went on to Immaculate Conception Seminary in Darlington, and was ordained a priest in 1953. Over the next few years, he served in parishes in Jersey City  Rutherford,  Cranford and Paramus in the Archdiocese of Newark., At the same time, intrigued by flying he studied and became certified as a commercial pilot. In 1962, he joined the New Jersey Air National Guard, and two years later, he signed on with the Army at Fort Dix, serving as a chaplain there.

Viet Nam

In 1966, the chaplain was assigned to the Republic of Vietnam serving with Company A, 173rd Support Battalion, 173rd Airborne Brigade. But Major Watters didn’t always stay with the support group. He frequently went with the brigade’s line units into the battlefield. Then, at the end of his 12 month tour, he requested and was granted an extension to stay with his men for another six months.

It was  November 1967.  The chaplain was with the 2^nd Battalion, 503^rd Infantry, and the men were involved in fighting for Hill 875 near Dak To. An intense fire fight broke out on Nov. 19. And men were dying on the battlefield.  So Chaplain Watters did what heroic chaplains do. He rushed onto the battlefield and began picking up the wounded and bringing them back to safety. Then he brought back those who had been killed. He administered the Last Rites of the Catholic Church to the dying and continued his mission of helping his soldiers on the front line.

The fighting and killing went on for hours, yet Chaplain Watters maintained his own composure, inspired his soldiers and continued his mission to help bring the fallen to safety.  He assisted medics with emergency care, he continued administering the last rites, he spurned every effort to stay behind the battle zone to protect himself. It was then he himself was wounded and died that day on Hill 875.

His heroism was not forgotten. Chaplain Charles Watters was the first Army chaplain to receive the Medal of Honor since the Civil War.  The U.S. Army Chaplain Center and School renamed its building Watters Hall.  Public School  24 in Jersey City was renamed Chaplain Charles J. Watters School.

The inscription of the Medal of Honor for Chaplain Major Charles Watters reads:

Citation

For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. Chaplain Watters distinguished himself during an assault in the vicinity of Dak To. Chaplain Watters was moving with one of the companies when it engaged a heavily armed enemy battalion. As the battle raged and the casualties mounted, Chaplain Watters, with complete disregard for his safety, rushed forward to the line of contact. Unarmed and completely exposed, he moved among, as well as in front of the advancing troops, giving aid to the wounded, assisting in their evacuation, giving words of encouragement, and administering the last rites to the dying. When a wounded paratrooper was standing in shock in front of the assaulting forces, Chaplain Watters ran forward, picked the man up on his shoulders and carried him to safety. As the troopers battled to the first enemy entrenchment, Chaplain Watters ran through the intense enemy fire to the front of the entrenchment to aid a fallen comrade. A short time later, the paratroopers pulled back in preparation for a second assault. Chaplain Watters exposed himself to both friendly and enemy fire between the two forces in order to recover two wounded soldiers. Later, when the battalion was forced to pull back into a perimeter, Chaplain Watters noticed that several wounded soldiers were lying outside the newly formed perimeter. Without hesitation and ignoring attempts to restrain him, Chaplain Watters left the perimeter three times in the face of small arms, automatic weapons, and mortar fire to carry and to assist the injured troopers to safety. Satisfied that all of the wounded were inside the perimeter, he began aiding the medics … applying field bandages to open wounds, obtaining and serving food and water, giving spiritual and mental strength and comfort. During his ministering, he moved out to the perimeter from position to position redistributing food and water, and tending to the needs of his men. Chaplain Watters was giving aid to the wounded when he himself was mortally wounded. Chaplain Watters’ unyielding perseverance and selfless devotion to his comrades was in keeping with the highest traditions of the U.S. Army.

Presentation

The Medal of Honor was presented to the fallen chaplain’s family posthumously  by Vice President Spiro Agnew on Nov. 19, 1967.

Major Watters is buried in Arlington National Cemetery.

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Brief History

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