The AAUW Northern Monmouth County Branch, League of Women Voters, and the T. Thomas Fortune Cultural Center are presenting both a video and a discussion virtually on Monday, Feb. 28 beginning at 6:30 p .m. on the subject of women’s suffrage.
The video: Suffragists Speak: Race, Slavery and the Fight for theVote, was originally written and presented live two years ago by members of the AAUW in cooperation with the Fortune Cultural Center and the League of Women Voters.
After the video, a discussion will follow on the history spanned on the video from the experience of African American women and their fight to vote even after the passage of the 19th amendment, a significant part of both Black History and Women’s History month.
Access to the program is available by sending an e-mail to aauw.nmcb@gmail.com.
More information about scheduling future showings and securing permission for use is available by emailing SufffragistsSpeak@gmail.com
Elizabeth K. Clarke was the sixth grade teacher at the Atlantic Highlands Elementary School in 1985, teaching the Social Studies Challenge Class.
Her students that year were Alissa Deakin, Susia Gaskill, Ryan King, Jeremy Krempert, Jennifer Maddalena, David Millard, Jennifer Pollack, Jared Rutberg, Katherine Steadman, and John Wabisky.
Through the efforts of Ms Clarke, each of them was a published author before the end of the school year. Her assignment to her students was to research and write stories about American History. Each student contributed a chapter to the book.
The stories range from Henry Hudson and Joshua Huddy who was hanged in Highlands during the Revolution, the Sea Fox of the 19th century, prohibition and the Monmouth Tea Party. Some chapters are half a page long, one is only four lines long.
The teacher contacted the First Fidelity Bank who financed the printing and publishing of the book, and whose ad then appeared on the back cover. It noted that “First Fidelity will continue to support the town and its economic growth with quality service of a “full service bank.”
The book was ready for distribution in time for the 1988, centennial year for the founding of Atlantic Highlands.
In the forward to the chapters, Ms Clarke also advised readers that the stories were written for children to read, “although adults may enjoy them as well.” Furthermore, this astute and ever educating instructor said, “should the reader wish to pursue this topic, the local library and the Atlantic Highlands Historical Society can provide excellent reference sources.”
The dedication page in the book, written by the Atlantic Highlands Class of ’85 reads:
“Atlantic Highlands is a wonderful place to live. It is a safe and quiet little town, small enough to know most of your neighbors, but big enough to have a library, a supermarket a movie, and lots of interesting little shops. There are restaurants and churches of all kinds, and two schools. Because it’s small, you can walk or ride your bike everyplace. You can get a bus to Red Bank or New York.
Atlantic Highlands is an old town with many beautiful Victorian houses, and some nice new modern ones, too. There are hills to sled on in the winter, and a beach to play on in the summer. There are docks to fish from, and boats to rent. You can hear sea gulls and smell the salt air almost all of the time. You can look out over the bay to New York and Sandy Hook. It is especially pretty at night.
It’s nice to walk downtown and meet people you know. We are happy to be living here.”
The book does not identify the authors for each specific chapter of the book.
The first chapter: First…The Indians.
Long ago, only Indians lived here. They were called the Leni Lenape Tribe. They were also referred to as the tribes of the “Neve sinck.” They hunted in the woods and fished and caught oysters in the bay.
During the summer Indians who lived even as far away as Pennsylvania and Delaware would first plant their spring crops, and then travel to our shores to enjoy the bounty of the Bay. They would fish, clam, and make ‘wampum’ (Indian beach money ) from shells.
Today it is possible to find arrowheads buried in the cliffs at ‘landslide bridge.’
Bernadette Rogoff, Director of Collections for the Monmouth County Historical Association will highlight a St. Patrick’s Day Special on Irish indentured servitude in Monmouth County on Wednesday March 16.
The program is presented virtually by the Association and co-sponsored by the Monmouth County Library and will begin at 7 p.m. Registration, at no cost, is required by noon March 15 and available by visiting the library’s Online Calendar at www.MonmouthCountyLib.org.
MS Rogoff has worked with the collections of the Historical Association for 30 years, and has produced more than 45 changing exhibitions on all aspects of Monmouth County History, from the American Revolution to the Jersey Shore. Rogoff researched and produced the first exhibition on the artist Micah Williams and is a recognized expert on Monmouth County-related historic clothing and textiles.
The popular speaker and historian will also be a principal speaker in June at the Trenton War Memorial at the New Jersey History and Historic Preservation Conference in Trenton.
What a great idea to have the borough of Atlantic Highlands designated a Community Wildlife Habitat, something that’s expected to be pursued by the Open Space committee with the governing body adopting a resolution Thursday night.
It’s a great recognition of all the beautiful gardens, both in the business area, in so many homes throughout the town and in the borough’s parks.
The borough is already a Tree City in recognition of their care and protection of trees, and to be recognized for their conservation methods as well is one more example of what a great community it is.
The resolution refers to its discouragement of the use of toxins and therein lies the irony of Thursday’s actions. The very next resolution expected to be adopted after the one on conservation is the one authorizing the county to continue its aerial mosquito spraying in certain areas of the borough, which, of course, means they’re spraying with toxins to get rid of mosquitos.
I suppose it’s necessary, but just seems strange that the one saying how protective the borough is of the environment is followed by one saying not only don’t we want mosquitoes…they’re an insect, remember, so it’s okay for the county to use their toxic materials to get rid of them.
Police Capt. Scott Reinert is expected to be appointed Police Chief at tomorrow evening’s meeting of the Mayor and Council, being viewed both in person at borough hall and on ZOOM at 7 p.m.
Reinert is expected to assume the top law enforcement post in the borough on March 1, at the retirement of current Chief David Rossbach.
Reinert, who is married and has four children and lives in Oceanport, will begin the new position at $150,000 annually.
A graduate of St. John Vianney High School, the police officer has been in law enforcement since 2007 when he was a Class II Special Officer with the Borough of Sea Girt. He joined the Atlantic Highlands department the following year as a dispatcher and became a patrolman in 2009. In 2005 he was promoted, to sergeant, in 2019 to detective, and last year he was promoted to Captain.
Well, the sun is out today and it’s shining particularly bright over Highlands because the Girls are back!!!!! Cathy and Vera have re-opened the Girls Café and the crowd there this morning to welcome them back and try those award winning pancakes was spectacular. Not sure if people come there more for the food, the camaraderie, the genuine charm and niceness of the Girls, or all of the above, but they sure were missed.
Augie, a Sunday regular with his wife, Kathy, was among those that couldn’t wait another day…he was down there early this morning to welcome the re-opening. The Girls Café is open Wednesdays through Saturdays from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. and on Sundays from 6 a.m. to 1 p.m. Yes, they are still doing those terrific takeout breakfasts and lunches, but you have to make other plans for Mondays and Tuesdays, that’s the two days the Girls are shopping, prepping, or taking some well-earned rest and are closed.
More stories from a Child’s History of Atlantic Highlands, written by the Social Studies Challenge class of Atlantic Highlands elementary school in 1985.
The book is the result of class assignments by teacher Elizabeth K. Clarke. Students in that class were Alissa Deakin, Susie Gaskill, Ryan King, Jeremy Krempert, Jennifer Maddalena, David Millard, Jennifer Pollack, Jared Rutberg, Katherine Steadman, and John Wabisky.
The Gunther House
In 1664 John Bowne settled here and built a home. This really small old house is till here and its driveway is just off Bowne Avenue.
John Bownes granddaughter married Mordecai Lincoln was the great great grandfather of Abraham Lincoln.
The Monmouth Tea Party
You’ve all heard of the Boston Tea Party? Weel, Monmouth County had a ‘tea party’ too. It occurred in April of 1775 right here in Sandy Hook Bay
A ship loaded with tea was on its way to New York. The ship needed a pilot to take her into New York Harbor, but all the pilots refused because of the cargo. The Colonists did not want tea brought into New York. Under cover of darkness, a band of local patriots crept out to the ship, boarded her, and dumped the hateful cargo overboard. They then forced the Captain to turn his ship around and sail back to England.
The Battle of the Navesink
The first skirmish of the Revolution in Monmouth County took place in the hills just south of Atlantic Highlands. A troop of British regulars surprised the local volunteers, led by Captain Scudder. Twenty-five patriots were killed and 72 were captured. They were sent to the awful “Sugar House” prison in New York.
British Retreat
After the Battle of Monmouth, the British troops marched East along Kings Highway and down the hill to Many Mind Creek, where they embarked for New York.
Henry Hudson Spring
In 1609 a Dutch explorer sailed into Sandy Hook Bay. The Indians told him of a wonderful natural spring, a source of clean fresh water. This spring is called Henry Hudson Spring after that explorer. It is as the bottom of the hill on Bayside Drive You can still drink the pure clear water that runs out of our hills.
In the age of the great sailing vessels, all the ships that were sailing from here to the old world would anchor here in our harbor to take on fresh water from this spring for the trip back. Sometimes there were hundreds of ships lying at anchor, awaiting the right wind.
In 1830 a house was built on the hill overlooking the spring. The owner fenced off the ‘water spout’ as it was often called, and charged five cents a barrel for the water. His house was called “The Spout House” and is still there.
In the 1930s, the WPA built a native pea stone wall around the spring. In 1977 the Atlantic Highlands Society cleaned, restored and landscaped the spring.
You can now walk over a little bridge to enjoy a cool drink and a beautiful view.
The Shrewsbury Historical Society’s newsletter was recently e-mailed out to all Society members, and in addition to being packed with a lot of news, there was a wonderful tribute to the incredibly talented Judi Buncher, the longtime volunteer for historic sites who headed that team of hard working volunteers who made that Wedding Dress Exhibit so historical in its own right. Judi is the stylist and garment restorer who shared her talents to make it all happen. The Society maintains, rightfully so, this delightful exhibit which is so full of history could never have been possible without Judi’s talent and generosity.
Read the story here about this talented lady, or better yet, go to the Historical Society website at www.shrewsburyhistoricalsocietynj.org and either renew your membership or sign up to be a member of the Society. You don’t have to be a Shrewsbury resident to learn more about and appreciate its history.
The Wedding Dress Exhibit –While the current Wedding Dress Exhibit engaged the
expertise of a number of volunteers, without the amazing creativity of Judi Buncher, stylist and garment restorer, the current exhibit would not have reached its acclaimed reception and positive reviews. Judi earned an Associate Degree in Art (Commercial Art) at Ocean County College, Toms River, NJ, and a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Georgian Court University. She has been a long time volunteer (24 years) at Allaire Village, Wall Township, and started the Fibre Arts Guild making period clothing for men, women and children from as early as 1836. She is also a state certified Social Worker and is nationally certified in Therapeutic Activities. She helped found the Monmouth and Ocean Counties Activities Directors, serving as Vice President. She also was Vice President of the National Remotivation Therapy Organization, Inc. where she brought out the best in all her patients from the severely handicapped to Alzheimer’s. Her creative talents range from drawing, sculpting, painting, designing, fiber arts of all types, especially Tatting, lace making and the lost art of Ecclesiastic Vestment and Embroidery. She absolutely delights in restoring garments of historic significance. Along with her husband, Stuart, a noted historian, reenactor and restorer, they share their creative energies and talents for the enjoyment of others. Residents of Tinton Falls, Stuart and Judi are long time supporters of Shrewsbury–the Shrewsbury Historical Society, the Allen House, and Christ Church Shrewsbury. The Shrewsbury Historical Society and its members and guests are indeed blessed to share in their talents, enthusiasm, and generosity.
Atlantic Highlands Police Chief Scott Reinert had his official pin adjusted by his wife as the couple’s four children looked on after Reinert was officially sworn in as the new chief of police upon the retirement of 42-year veteran police officer Chief Dave Rossbach. Action took place at last night’s meeting of the Mayor and Council, and Reinert officially begins duty March 1. Council members praised all six candidates for the position, saying the decision was difficult because of the excellence of all and their devotion, professionalism and experience to Atlantic Highlands.
“Get to a point,” said Parking Committee member Mark Fisher, as he led a 90 minute explanation, discussion and informational session on options the borough faces concerning a solution to parking problems in the business district.
Fisher and others on the committee headed by Councilman Jon Crowley pointed out parking issues and solutions have been suggested and studied three major times in the past 20 years, and still no solution has been implemented.
Nor was one implemented at last night’s council meeting as the governing body agreed to possibly look into the possibility of financing a feasibility study on the need for, esthetics, cost, and possibility of a three or four story parking garage on the borough owned parking lot adjacent to the post office at the rear of businesses on First Avenue.
Council also deferred action on its current parking ordinance revisions following the public hearing in which former Harbor Commissioner and former Councilwoman Jane Frotton questioned how the borough could impose fees for parking on land acquired through Green Acres funding. Frotton also asked if the Harbor Commission had been included in discussions of the parking fee possibility for the parking area and council agreed to delay final approval until after further consultation with the harbor commissioners. Action, if any, is expected to take place at the next council meeting.
At the invitation of Crowley and Fisher, Jim Zullo, a professional planner with THA Consulting, an engineering and planning firm, who has overseen construction of more than 1,000 parking projects in the past 28 years, presented a comprehensive exhibit of a variety of parking garages, showing how their design fit in with their surroundings, were constructed with a minimal waste space, and are a distant cry and major improvement over garages of the past because of increased and safe lighting, windows, and other amenities. Zullo cited a variety of different garages he has planned that meet the needs of major cities including Philadelphia and small towns including Millburn, Princeton,, and one currently looking for construction in in Hudson, NY.
In response to numerous questions, Zullo said the life expectancy of a parking garage is 50 to 60 years with regular maintenance, the borough property is adequate and capable of a facility for 88 spaces per level, and a garage would support future development, encourage new retail businesses, and could include facilities for bikes, scooters, and shuttle buses as well as private vehicles.Caroly8n Northrup spoke on how both the interior and exterior of the building could be enhanced with art work, with many grants available for art projects that would offset boro9ugh costs for the add beautification. Paul Wright spoke on the environmental benefits of a parking garage, including the impact of clean energy increases. Local business owner Bob Sherman spoke on a garage as aiding local businesses, citing a resident who opened his business in Red Bank rather than locally because of the parking situation.
Cost of a parking garage are high, and Zullo estimated the suggested feasibility study would take no more than five months and could be accomplished most likely for under $45,000.
