Entertainment and activities as diverse as a taco luncheon for Cinco de Mayo to visiting an ice cream truck outdoors were on tap at Care One at King James Care Center last week as staff and residents celebrate National Nursing Home Week.
“Our residents like to get together, certainly love parties and special occasions, and we try to accommodate them all,” said activities director Karen Cohen. The Cinco de Mayo luncheon was a big hit, and even included a raffle on a Tequila Basket.”
In observance of Nurses week, celebrated at the same time, the staff also received special gifts, including a special Nurse’s Prayer and got Nursing Survival threat bags..
Mother’s Day is always a special day, Cohen explained, and this year was no different, with a gourmet luncheon and flowers for all the moms.
In observance of National Skilled Nursing Care Week, the residents were happy to see a unique Candy Table for the staff, who also enjoyed a talk on Creating and Nurturing Connections. “The residents get a kick out of special events we have for the staff members,” the activities director continued, “ and little things like a special candy table especially for them gives them something to talk about.” The observance was also celebrated with another special luncheon and entertainment for the residents.
A Breakfast Station was set up for both day and night staff members as well as treats from Jersey Mike’s on May 10. That was when residents competed against residents of Care One in Holmdel in a ZOOM Family Feud game, the first of its kind between the two care centers. (see related story.)
“Bingo is always a must for every week,” Cohen laughed, and for Nursing Care Week, we had a staff facility Bingo complete with a Lottery Wreath for a prize and a Big Bucks Bingo for the residents.”
A Staff Luncheon and a dining room performance for the residents was the penultimate event before the week closed out with a barbecue for both staff and residents, and the ice cream truck visits at the end of the luncheon.
“Our residents are very protective of our staff because they feel so close to them,” said Care One administrator Jimmie King. “They like it when we do something especially for the staff and the applause and cheers they give for the staff activities is a wonderful asset in itself.” The administrator pointed out the close camaraderie among staff and residents, and said special weeks like Nursing Care Week enables them all to show their appreciation for the people who make them comfortable and well cared for in their home .
A club at Rumson Fair Haven High School dedicated to community service honoring veterans and started by three students three years ago continues to thrive through a variety of volunteer activities that bring attention to the sacrifices veterans have made throughout both war and peacetime for the United States.
The Veterans Appreciation Club was started by students James Greeley, Mike Cushing and Mike Ponenti during their 2019-2020 school year, with the mission of recognizing and giving back to veterans, military personnel, and the community in as many ways as possible. The trio who spearheaded the movement wanted to bring recognition of military to the high school students and give them the opportunity give back as well as to connect.
Students at all grade levels at the high school are invited to join and they maintain their membership through active participation in a number of different activities as well as monthly meetings. Currently there are about 30 members of the club who volunteer for activities ranging from candy drives to last week’s activity, when they participated in placing American flags on the graves of veterans buried in Bayview Cemetery in Middletown.
“Our club is all about giving back,” said junior Michael Schroeder of Rumson. A member of the club since he was a freshman, Schroeder said “ I love this organization and the students in it because we are all patriots who understand and appreciate what American veterans go through to preserve our freedom. We love this country and are eager to give back to those that protect it.”
And give back they do. During their regular monthly meetings, students discuss current events and make plans for ceremonies and activities including ceremonies for both Veterans and Memorial days,. Students also maintain their own wall of honor at the school for active duty military who graduated from Rumson Fair Haven. The meetings are held before the start of the school day and a variety of events are planned for throughout the school year.
The accomplishments of the dedicated high school students in fulfilling their mission to give back to the community in recognition of the military is evident in numerous ways. They have collected and donated hundreds of pounds of candy for Operation Jersey Cares, an organization with which they partner to ship to active duty military all over the world; they maintain the Wall of Honor on a regular basis, updating as the need arises. Currently, the wall honors 17 graduates of the high school who are currently active as well as two who have completed their military careers. The club also invites its Wall of Honor honorees to revisit the school when they return to civilian life in order for the students to present each one of them with a personal picture or plaque in recognition of their service.
In addition to programs and activities on holidays honoring the military, students also invite military personnel, active or veteran, to speak at the school, and support the area’s Veterans of Foreign Wars and American Legion posts in ceremonies, parades, flag laying ceremonies, beach sweeps and more.
Approximately half the club’s members turned out early last Saturday morning to assist American Legion Post 141 in Atlantic Highlands with the flag planting activity at Bayview Cemetery. Students joined other volunteers in visiting the more than 600 veterans’ graves at Bayview, taking away torn and faded American flags placed last year, and replacing them with new flags. They then collected the damaged flags, removing them from their poles, and placing them in a box for their respectful disposition by the American Legion post.
The Veterans Appreciation Club advisor Eric Zullo is himself an example of giving back to the community and an enthusiastic and hard working advisor for the teens. Zullo, who teaches Physical Education and Health, is also Head Ice Hockey coach, Girls Golf Coach, and Surf Coach, in addition to being Veterans Appreciation Club advisor.
“These Veterans Appreciation Club members are not only respecting our fallen heroes, but also learning first-hand the sacrifice these men and women have made for our nation” said Legion Post 141 Commander Peter Doyle. “Seeing them so respectful, hardworking and eager to accomplish the mission of ensuring each veteran at Bayview Cemetery is honored and remembered gives me great confidence we are leaving the nation in respectful hands with our local teenage volunteers. We are all very grateful and appreciative of their service.”
It was more than half a century ago, but Al Bahrs, brother of John A. Bahrs, owner of Bahrs Restaurant, knew the value of a good lobster recipe
Al, a building contractor, and Mae, his wife, a realtor, also lived in Highlands where the Bahrs family had made a name for themselves as outstanding businesspeople generous to their community, and always willing to help out someone in need.
But Al apparently really wanted to live in Atlantic Highlands where he felt he would have a better view of the ocean.
A lady who lived at the corner of Ocean Blvd. and Fourth Avenue, Carol Lieneck apparently had a hunger for lobsters as only Bahrs Restaurant could prepare them. So in August 1969, Miss Lieneck apparently contacted Al Bahrs to see what he could do about finding a Bahrs Restaurant recipe for cooking a live broiled lobster.
Al responded with a two page note and not one, but two recipes from the famous Bahrs Landing Restaurant.
However, his recipes, together with his wishes that Ms. Lieneck would enjoy her sea food treat, came with a request of his own. Al wrote “If and when you ever decide to sell your new beautiful Scenic Drive home and place it on the market, I hope you will consider me as a potential bidder.”
Apologetic at possibly appearing to be rude “in my direct approach,” Al went on to say “my desire to live at that very spot has almost become an obsession, having dreamed for many years of being in a position to construct just the type home, in the most beautiful location, with its ever changing, exciting and romantic atmosphere.”
Still the businessman and home lover had some doubts. “Fifty eight years of my life,” he wrote, “have already been expended, so to accomplish my goal, I must hurry. But please, do not feel obligated in any sense. I am enjoying my dream and it could very well be that my dream may be much more pleasant than the actual reality. But I will chance that possibility should you decided to consider relinquishing your land.”
The Bahrs never did purchase the property but did however, acquire their own stately home along Ocean Blvd.…with an outstanding view of the Bay, the ocean, and the horizon beyond.
“There’s no harm in sharing the lobster recipes,” said Jay Cosgrove, the third generation of the Bahrs family to run the Bay avenue restaurant. Known as the Lobster Boss because of the popularity of that particular seafood and his own management of the popular eatery, along with all the other seafood and other items on the menu at Bahrs, Cosgrove said “it really is more in the dexterity and taste of the chef. Everyone can boil the water, add the ingredients, and follow a recipe exactly, but it’s the chef, like ours at Bahrs, who adds that extra touch that makes it special.’
The recipes Al Bahrs shared, Cosgrove the Lobster Boss said, can be shared again with all who want one or two of the recipes from Bahrs Restaurant for more than 50 years ago.
BOILED LOBSTER COCKTAIL
Use a 10 quart pot, fill 3/4 full with water, add ¼ Cup vinegar and 4 tablespoons of salt and several stalks of celery and bring to a boil. Place lobsters in pot and cover, continue to boil for 15 minutes.
Remove lobsters and place the remainder of the lobsters in the same water and repeat the process. Allow lobsters to cool.
Remove the tail section and using a fork, simply pull the meat from the tail shell in one piece. The back of the tail has a strip of meat which is easily removed and beneath this strip there is a dark vein running to a sack at the very tip of the tail. The vein and sack are to be removed and discarded. The remainder can be cut into bite size. The class will have to be cracked with a nutcracker, to permit the removal of the meat. (The green substance in the body may be eaten with crackers.)
The sauce accompaniment for boiled lobsters consists of catsup with horse radish added to suit the taste, add a little vinegar to thin and lemon juice to offer a little tartness. The bite-size lobster pieces are to be places in cocktail cups or glasses over chopped lettuce, then pour sauce over contents.
LIVE BROILED LOBSTER
The live lobster is to be placed on its back and using a heavy sharp knife, slit from the very tip to the tail. Grasp the lobster in both hands and crack the outer shell so that the lobster will lie flat with the meat side exposed. Remove the green substance and mix with cracker crumbs and drawn butter, then remove the body entrails and replace with cracker crumb mix.
Crack the claws with a cleaver or other flat instrument, pour drawn butter over the lobster and place in a heated broilers for 15 minutes. Serve with drawn butter, lemon. Oyster crackers or pilot bread make a fine accompaniment.
This year’s grand Marshall of the highly popular Memorial Day Parade in Freehold is John Heege, a 95 year old highly decorated veteran of World War II where he served with the US Navy. Veteran Heege was born in Suffern, New York in 1927, grew up in Jamesburg and joined the Navy at age 17 in 1944. He and his family live on Lenoir Avenue in Freehold for 37 years, and he is an active member of the American Legion and VFW posts.
All five of this borough’s veterans organizations participate in the annual extravaganza, reputed to be the largest and oldest, celebration, with this year the 148th event. IT is Monmouth County’s largest parade and the state’s longest running parade.
The five participating veterans organizations are Veterans of Foreign Wars Post #4374, Disabled American Veterans Chapter #74, Marine Corps League Cpl. Philip A. Reynolds Detachment #203, American Legion Post #54, and Jewish War Veterans Post #359.
On a rotating basis, each year one of these organizations take the lead for the event, determining the theme of the parade and receives the honor of selecting the Grand Marshal.
This year’s lead organization is the VFW POST #4374 and the theme as decided by the VFW, is “In honor of The Military Veterans of the United States of America”.
Memorial Day in Freehold begins with the traditional “Elks Point Service of Reflection” at Elks Point (where Routes 79 and 537) converge at 8:30 a.m. This Service is in memory of all Freehold and other American servicemen and servicewomen who lost their lives defending their nation. Each veteran and those who made the ultimate sacrifice are represented by the crosses and stars of David at Elk’s Point.
As old as the Kentucky Derby and started when there were only 37 states in the Union, this year’s event will begin 9:45 a.m. at Brinckerhoff Avenue and Main Street. A flag-draped casket accompanied by active military from various branches of service is pulled down the parade route to remind all of the purpose of the parade. At 10:00 am, veteran groups will begin to march down Main Street followed by the rest of the parade.
In announcing all the plans for the event, Councilman George Schnurr said “on behalf of Mayor Kevin Kane and my colleagues on the Freehold Borough Council and the Memorial Day Parade Committee, we would like to invite you to join us at the Service of Reflection and the Parade on Memorial Day. “
While I don’t always put it on www.venividiscripto.com, I am very definitely in the habit of daily thanking God for at least three things that made me happy that day. Usually the hardest part is narrowing it down to just three! There are the things that always make me happy, the children of whom I am so proud, the grandchildren who make me even prouder and the great-grandchildren who are just adorable in their own right, whether they do anything or not. I’m always grateful for the many people who respond to my blog with their own comments and thoughts. The compliments and praise are wonderful, but so is the criticism and the occasional downright nasty and untruthful comments. But they all make me learn more, appreciate more and kind of feel sorry more for people who are petty, and need to act powerful and important.
This week I’ve spent some great time with great friends. Don Burden, former Mayor of Shrewsbury and historian forever, is always fascinating to spend some time with because he is full of great historical stories be they of wedding gowns and their history, Shrewsbury, or the United States, to name just a few of his areas of expertise. The photo of the two of us was taken by Lori Draz, another great gal, terrific writer, and backbone of that great magazine that circulates pretty much throughout Monmouth County. She’s just downright fun to be with.
And it was also the week I met with many of the fine people I used to see every day at 6:30 mass at St. Rose of Lima Church in Freehold. We all went to daily mass there when I was living in Freehold, many of us didn’t know each other, but certainly knew where we sat each day and shared our prayers with whoever was in need. Now many of us are spread far from Freehold….the lovely and wonderful Joann even comes more than 100 miles from her home in Pennsylvania, and we gather for lunch at Moore’s in Freehold…another fantastic and inexpensive restaurant with terrific food…… We only meet once every couple of months now, but it’s always so great to catch up, relive some happy memories and share in each other’s accomplishments and family lives.
In my new apartment not too far from my old in Atlantic Highlands, it’s great to know one of the beautiful golden retrievers who used to politely accept my dog biscuits across the street from church now lives across the street from me and I can invite her to share in my jarful of biscuits any time.. Hey, it’s the little things in life that keep you happy.
And now, pretty soon, I’ll have an entirely new look on VeniVidiScripto, thanks to so many readers, so many requests and such an incredibly talented son who does magic with not only thoughts and words but technology as well. Every mom in the world can appreciate a son like mine who speaks loud and clear about how proud he is of his mom, knowing in many cases, he’s being ridiculed and mocked for it.
Doesn’t bother him one bit.
And while I’m proud beyond words of that youngest grandson Angus who just got commissioned in the Navy, it’s his parents, Tracie and Chris that truly make me proud on a daily basis. Seeing the three of them in their Navy white uniforms, together with Jimbo and I, participating in Angus’s commissioning ceremony is a memory that will be with me forever. And there’s lots of laughter and teasing as well, as is shown in this photo of what newly commissioned Ensign, has to do for his mom when she’s a Commander and he’s home on leave….
And to top it all off, I have another great grandchild on the way, this one being welcomed by grandson Jason and his wife Melissa, along with son James and daughter Cadence.
Have I mentioned I have so much to be grateful for and so many things that keep me happy?
Contrary to what has been announced previously, the Tri-District Board of Education have now posted the full Feasibility study report on the Tri-District web page.
For those interested in reviewing the more than 100 pages of the report before tomorrow night’s 7 p.m. meeting at Henry Hudson Regional School, visit the Tri-District webpage and see the report under undated Regionalization news, May 2022.
I can only hope that all those residents of Highlands, Atlantic Highlands and Sea Bright who are able to walk, drive, or somehow get up to Henry Hudson Regional School at 7 Wednesday evening make every effort to do so. It’s the school regionalization question and the report, finally, commissioned by the tri-district.
My pain and fear is that the elderly, the handicapped, the disabled, and those who cannot go because of family or work obligations find some way to get to see and hear exactly what the tri-district plan is. A plan that not even those board of education members who approved and brag about it have yet seen. They will see it for the first time tomorrow at 6. IN executive session.
This is the 21st century. First of all, let’s embrace the technology of it beyond fancier cell phones, faster cars, more appliances that take the work out of housework. Let’s embrace the technology of the21st century that lets a disabled person participate in a public meeting, have their say on what they are going to have to pay for, and even ask questions. It was magically done when the Governor mandated it during Covid; it can be accomplished in schools where they are smart enough and spend enough money gearing students for college, life work, and great things for the future. Surely, they could also accommodate the people’s right to know.
As a journalist, I readily admit to being a cynic…it makes for a better journalist. And I have to admit, the secrecy, the stories true or untrue, about when the tri-district report was supposed to be done, is done, or will be done have added to my cynicism.
Add to that everything that has happened because there are two reports: the Porzio report, long since released, long since available for discussion, is the topic at meetings, and long since available to read at home; and the tri-district report, which I repeat, the board of education members who authorized it haven’t even seen yet! That’s tomorrow. At 6 p.m. In executive session. Only if a quorum of the members of each of the three boards show up for it. Nor are they going to approve or disprove it tomorrow night. They can’t. They’ve advertised they aren’t taking any action at the meeting.
Nor can even the mayors, let along the mayors and council, or horrors, the taxpayers, be in on tomorrow’s meeting. No sirree, that’s in executive session, just for the three boards’ members. But only if each has a quorum there.
So let’s take a look back at the history of this regionalization question and how it’s impacted our charming communities and wonderful people.
Two towns, Highlands and Atlantic Highlands, have members on council, or board of education, who may or may not recuse themselves from the question that will impact the area for generations to come. In Highlands the councilman whose wife is a board member doesn’t quit going to meetings or taking action where he can and should; he simply recused himself when he perceived a conflict of interest on one matter…regionalization. He didn’t quit doing what the people elected him to do.
In Atlantic Highlands, there are a couple of different ways that same possible conflict is being handled. In one case, a wife of a councilman simply quit her board position, quit the position she was voted into and promised to do for three years and made it clear she did it so her husband the councilman could vote on regionalization…the right thing to do, she said. Don’t think there would be any surprise if she ran for that position in November, if all the questions on regionalization should be off the board and council tables. But that’s a personal opinion and time will tell. She was a good, a hardworking, and a very involved and concerned board member… Up until she quit.
The other council/husband and wife/board member possible conflict, there’s been total silence. Both spouses have apparently participated in every discussion among their respective elected officials, and no one knows if either, both, or neither will either quit as the other Atlantic highlands board member did, recuse as the Highlands councilman did, vote and become involved, or do something different.
Doesn’t the public have the right to know all this? Should not the tri-district have involved their attorney..is there one attorney for all three boards or does each have its own…. long before this to get some of these easy questions answered for their members before all gathered into discussion?
That raises another question. Does the wife, who can attend tomorrow’s meeting, share the report with her husband? Does the husband share the information with the rest of Council? Do husband and wife go quietly and happily to bed and never discuss anything about the meeting? Who knows?
The cynic in me wonders whether it is all part of a pre-planned conspiracy for other action should the regionalization with Sea Bright get approved on a ballot and board members don’t want to act in a way the voters want. So they challenge the voter action in court. More delay, more tax dollars spent, more lack of action at the local level. A decision ultimately made, perhaps, by politicians far removed from our quiet, beautiful, friendly, close-knot communities.
Then there’s another question about makeup of the boards of education and councils…
They’ve changed since the plans were first discussed. Even the school districts’ regionalization committee has changed since it all began. A new board member has been appointed in Atlantic Highlands and has only been there a month or so. Is he as capable of answering questions put before him at the Wednesday night informational meeting? Is every board member on all three boards prepared to answer? They haven’t yet voted to accept what they spent the money on. For that matter, will the public be allowed to ask questions, make statements, seek more information? Will all the experts be there who drew up the plan so they can explain in detail the resources they used to devise it?
There are those in Sea Bright who say officials thee have never been asked to provide anything information about money, future projections, possible new construction, proposed master plans, or anything else that might impact long range planning. How can experts include that community in their study if they don’t have sufficient information? Yet Dr. Beams said yesterday Sea Bright is included in one plan being presented Wednesday night.
I am not advocating waiting because there’s no rush, as one very likeable and knowledgeable former board member said. I don’t have the trust in state government she has, and do not want the state to make decisions in the future that these very terrific communities could make for themselves with a vote in the ballot box. I am not advocating waiting for some time in the future or more months of workshops that would delay a November ballot if there is proof, and the Porzio certainly appears to show that proof, that money will be saved, taxes will be lowered and education will be enhanced and even more comprehensive, coordinated and more inclusive than it is. Hopefully, Tuesday night the board members who authorized the study and the people of all the towns who are eager to hear, will get similar or even better ideas from this second report.
And to the votes, taxpayers, residents, of all three towns. It is up to you to attend the meeting, inconvenient as it may be, get all the facts you can, and ready yourself to make a decision you can live with and in which you can be proud to say you participated. Otherwise, you have no right to complain if taxes are high, education is low, or politicians who don’t know us make the decision for you.
Do you want to know who you are? Don’t ask. Act! Action will delineate and define you. Thomas Jefferson said it first.
The tri-district boards of education are meeting in a special session tomorrow evening at 6 p.m. at Henry Hudson Regional School in anticipation of Wednesday’s public meeting at 7 p.m., also at Henry Hudson, to release the tri-district study on regionalization.
The meeting, which was called for the three boards of education by Schools Superintendent Dr.Tara Beams, will open formally then immediately go into executive session to discuss matters under attorney privilege. No action will be taken at the meeting.
At the same time, the Atlantic Highlands Borough Council announced there will be a meeting of the borough’s governing body on June 6 at Borough Hall at 7 pm. to discuss regionalization. That appears to be a meeting similar to what both Highlands and Sea Bright have held in recent months explaining and outlining the Porzio report commissioned by the boroughs.
According to Dr. Beams, both Tuesday’s and Wednesday’s meetings require a quorum of each of the boards of education in the tri-district, Highlands, Atlantic Highlands and Henry Hudson. Should fewer than four members of the Highlands Boad of Education, or five members of each the Henry Hudson and Atlantic Highlands boards of education fail to attend, there would not be a quorum to hold a meeting.
The superintendent did not indicate whether Highlands Board member Melnyk or Atlantic Highlands Board Member Murphy will be in attendance or recuse themselves from the meetings. Both women are married to men who serve on their municipality’s governing body. Councilman Melnick recused himself earlier on a regionalization vote in Highlands; neither Councilman Murphy nor Mrs. Murphy has given any indication yet whether either of them will recuse for a similar possible conflict of interest.
Dr. Beams said this week in contrast to what she and others have said at earlier meetings,” our study was always going to be completed in May. This is well ahead of schedule as the timeline originally approved by the Boards of Education prior to my arrival and approved by the Department of Consumer Affairs had a public presentation of the study scheduled for September 2022. We have always maintained we would present the study and its findings in May.”
In response to questions about whether the completed study will now be presented to the public before it has been accepted by the tri-district, the superintendent said “The Board’s only way to get the information as three full Boards, due to the Open Publics Meeting Act, is in this manner. (to hold the special meeting in advance of the May 25 meeting.) So, the Boards will consult with our legal counsel tomorrow on the legal pieces of the study, legal process, etc. and then the full presentation of the study must be in a public session, which is occurring Wednesday.”
Dr. Beams said “The study will present all of the findings of the study, which include the consolidation of the three existing districts and the inclusion of Sea Bright. It will outline the educational opportunities, financial analysis, potential savings, etc. and present the legal analysis of the process that the Boards would undergo as well as some other legal questions related to regionalization. The presentation will then include the recommendation on regionalization.”
She added that “Once the Boards have reviewed the study and the recommendations, we will hold subsequent meetings in June based on advice from counsel at which the three Boards will need to come to a consensus on if they will be moving forward with the recommendations in the study. If all three Boards agree, they would then take the appropriate action on the necessary steps for approval from the appropriate state agencies to move forward with a referendum vote.”
With the Tuesday meeting in executive session, which means not open to the public, and the Wednesday meeting only being presented at Henry Hudson with no virtual access available, it will be necessary for local residents to attend Wednesday’s meeting at Henry Hudson in person in order to hear the report and have the opportunity to ask questions if there will be a public portion of that meeting. Once this study is released, local residents will have the opportunity to review both the tri-borough commissioned Porzio study released months ago as well as the tri-district study being released at Wednesday’s meeting.
Any decision on whether a regionalization question will be on the ballot in November enabling the public to vote their choices, it must be approved by the state Commissioner of Education and approved for position on the ballot by Aug. 15.
With volunteers from Henry Hudson Regional High school student members of the Leos, the youth group of the Lions Club, MAST cadets at the Academy of Science and Technology at Sandy Hook, and Rumson Fair Haven High School members of their Veterans Appreciation Club volunteering Saturday with members of American Legion Post 141 of Atlantic Highlands in placing hundreds of American flags on the tombs of veterans of veterans of all wars from the 19th century to the present at Bayview Cemetery, it is a good time to repeat the story of the cemetery, the people who founded it, and the Medal of Honor recipient who is buried there. This is one of the stories in one book I co-authored, “Hidden History of Monmouth County” which was first published in the Atlantic Highlands Herald in 2016.
Heroes Are Buried Here
By Muriel J. Smith
Especially around Memorial Day, perhaps after the parade or before the back-yard barbecue. Or maybe in the evening before the sun sets. At any time, you want to take a step back in history and see first had reasons for appreciating our military men and women, it might be a nice idea to take a stroll through Bay View Cemetery. There are more than 300 souls buried there who joined whatever forces were helping defend the United States at that time in their lives. Perhaps it’s time to give special recognition to names that are still familiar in Monmouth County, like Stryker and Cassone, Luke and Swan, as well as those not so familiar, like Rekzregel or Sory, or Hay.
Hay. That’s Fred Stewart Hay, aka, as his tombstone says, Frederick H. Schwabe. That’s his small, plain white stone just beneath the American flag as you enter the cemetery. By either name, Fred Hay or Frederick Schwabe is a hero. Our hero. More than that, he is a Medal of Honor recipient, one of just over 3500 or so in the nation since it first honored heroism and bravery in the Civil War, one of only 426 who earned the honor during the Indian Wars, that series of conflicts that lasted from King Phillips’ War at the start of the 19th century for almost the next 100 years.
He served with Company I of the 5th US Infantry and rose to the rank of Sergeant while serving. According to Medal of Honor records, Fred was born in 1850 in Stirlingshire, Scotland, and entered the US Army at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. At some point after his enlistment, Fred was in a small cavalry unit escorting a supply train to Battle Creek where they were to meet up with General Nelson Mile’s forces camped there. Miles, who himself also received a Medal of Honor for earlier action in the Civil War, was in desperate need of supplies and anxiously awaiting the train at Battle Creek. On Sept. 9, 1874, as the train came out of a canyon on the Upper Wachita River in what was then Texas, now Oklahoma, it was attacked by a large war party of Kiowa and Comanche warriors. Heavily outnumbered, according to reports, the American soldiers fought valiantly for an entire day and the train successfully moved towards its destination. Hay, as a sergeant, was one of six soldiers cited for their gallantry that day, the commendation simply statin “for gallantry,” absent of all detail.
The battle continued for another two days, and in addition to Hay and the other five who earned honors on the first day, another seven soldiers were also cited for their continuing efforts before the train finally reached the 650-man force and General Miles.
Sgt. Hay lived through the Civil War and for many years after, dying Jan. 14, 1914, at age 64. When he came to Monmouth County, where he lived here, or why his family chose this serene, locally significant cemetery for his final resting place, still remain mysteries. Medal of Honor records show the Medal was issued to him at Upper |Wichita, Texas Sept. 9, 1874.
In fact, within the confines of Bay View Cemetery, it is still unknown the site of his actual remains. Because of that, the Cemetery Association, wanting to be certain his memory is honored, thought it important every visitor to Bay View knew about the Medal of Honor recipient. So, they placed his stone at the entrance. The tall American flag that waves behind it is tended by the Atlantic Highlands American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars posts.
Capt. George Porter is also buried at Bay View Cemetery. Capt. Porter fought at the Battle of Mobile under Admiral Farragut during the Civil War and had begun his career in the Navy as a signal boy, a title considered so important that it is engraved on his tombstone. Right up there with his rank of Captain, he the notation, “the only signal boy in the US Navy.”
William Sory is probably not the only Confederate soldier buried at Bay View Cemetery. Born in Virginia, Sory was a private in the CSA, CO. G, part of the Virginia Infantry. One wonders what brought a Confederate to the North to finish out the rest of his life after battling those who live here. Retired Cemetery manager, Walter Curry, said it is believed there are some other Confederate military members who fought for the South also interred at Bay View.
The list goes on, and each veteran’s story is important, whether known or committed to the ages.
The cemetery itself has a fascinating history, a well-cared for, beloved resting place for generations of families from the Highlands, Atlantic Highlands, Leonardo, Navesink, Belford, and Chapel Hill areas. It started, according to author Thomas Leonard, in his ancestor’s law office in 1889 when a group of residents saw the need for a burial ground and formed a company to purchase the land. Attorney Leonard became the secretary of the first company y, with former Judge Sickles the chairman of the new Bay View Land Improvement Company, LTD. The cemetery association was organized, and 52 acres of land carved from R.A. Leonard’s farm were purchased for $13, 300. Each of the partners agreed to purchase a lot in the cemetery, and that was the first money raised towards maintaining and improving the land.
A quiet, thoughtful visit the cemetery gives time and opportunity to think about the men and women buried there, not only the veterans but other ancestors of families who still take pride in calling the Bayshore home. Take a good look at the names on the gravestones, names that still resonate. Look for the final resting place of Mayor Everett Curry who tended this cemetery for so many years before his son Walter took up the mantle. Both Currys seemed to be on a first name basis with all who are buried there, Everett lovingly tendering the graves for 20 years, until 1994, then son and also a former Atlantic Highlands council member Walter Curry, coming on board as assistant in 1978, then assuming the position full time in 2000.
– From The Atlantic Highlands Herald, May 26, 2016
Former Mayor Don Burden, who is also president of the Shrewsbury Historical Society, will give a talk along with two other professionals on the wedding gown collection the Society has, a small part of which is currently on display at the Eastern Branch Library on Route 35.
That talk will be via zoom on Thursday, June 9 at 6:30 p.m., Registration is available by visiting the Shrewsbury Historical Society site or the MonmouthCountylib.org site.
But the former mayor, historian and author also has a fascinating story to tell of a recent visitor to the collection at the museum which will probably not be one of his topics at the Eastern Branch Library program.
It’s the story of the visit from the Bunny.
In his routine affable fashion, Society President Burden had agreed to meet a couple from out of state to see the historic Bridal collection early one recent Sunday afternoon.
He arrived shortly before the 1 p.m. appointment, opened the door and prepared to welcome them. When they had not arrived within 15 minutes, he busied himself with some chores, leaving the door open as a sign of welcome. Minutes later, when he heard a noise at the door, Burden hastened to extend his welcome and invitation into the museum.
However, it was not the couple who had asked for the appointment. It was a rabbit. A small brown, wild bunny.
The little mammal of the Leporidae family had simply walked in the open door.
The unexpected visitor took President Burden by surprise and he dodged slightly to the right. That gave the inquisitive little bunny enough space to hop on past his surprised host and scamper into the main room of the museum, the focus of the unique bridal gown collection.
In quick pursuit, and now not thinking this was such a cute little furry bundle of nature, President Burden managed to spot the little “damn monster!” just as it ducked under one of the very historic dresses in the collection.
That called for a broom with which the rabbit chaser managed to move him from beneath the folds of the fragile dress. But not to be released. No sir, young Mr. Lagomorpha scampered under the raised platforms where all the other gowns were on display. And once again, the furry mammal went out of sight.
Changing tactics, the rabbit hunter opened the museum’s back door, grabbed a snow shovel and began beating on all the platforms in his effort to have his visitor reappear, say thanks for the visit and scamper.
It worked. Bunny Lagomorpha re-appeared, just long enough to be seen scampering out the door into the wide open spaces.
President Burden says he learned two lessons from the experience. One, he won’t leave the door open any more.
And two! Even visiting rabbits think a trip to the Museum is a must to see the outstanding display of wedding history.
There’s one final chapter to the Bunny story. That dress the bunny ran under when he first came into the museum? It belonged to a woman had a long and happy marriage and the couple had one daughter. The daughter was born on Easter. Throughout her life they have called her….you guessed it…Bunny!
Oh. And the couple from out-of-state arrived shortly after. No scampering under dresses or platforms for them. They simply spent an hour learning firsthand some of the fascinating stories about the ladies who wore the dresses and the care that has been taken by the Museum to restore and maintain them in their original beauty.
