AIN`T WE GOT FUN! - Atlantic County Historical Society

Volume 11,Issue 4
14
Newsletter of the Atlantic County Historical Society
WINTER 2013
AIN’T WE GOT FUN!
Since the Fall 2013 Newsletter the Program Committee of the Atlantic County Historical Society has put
in many hours, days, weeks and months of preparation toward the successful completion of the programs they
have offered to the public, their Board Members and Volunteers. The four forward thinking, energetic woman
who have been producing one successful event after another are Charlene Canale, Babs Perry-Silva, Joan Frankel
and Sheryl Collins. They have been functioning as Co-Chairs since January of 2013.
Others who have worked tirelessly with these women are Sid Parker, Ed Canale, and Helen Walsh. While
they are not formally members of the Program Committee they work closely with the committee who without
their assistance could not function.
On September 7th, in conjunction with Somers Point’s Good Old Days, the Clayton/Bennett Families, by
popular demand, returned to present us with “Another Evening of Blue Grass.” This popular group shakes the
rafters of “this old house” year after year.
Our Annual Installation Luncheon was Saturday, October 18th at Harbor Pines Golf Club. We celebrated
th
the 100 Anniversary of the Atlantic County Historical Society with a birthday party complete with balloons, noise
makers, birthday napkins and birthday cake. Diane Miller, Assistant Librarian and Dale Lonkart, Past Librarian,
gave an interesting and informative power point presentation about the formative years of the Society. This year
there were two “Bringing History to Life” recipients; James H. Mason, IV, editor of the Annual Yearbook and
Ellen Hyatt, editor of our Newsletter, for their dedicated work in producing these publications.
The Veteran’s History Project held its annual Meet and Greet for veterans interviewed this year on
November 2 at the Zion United Methodist Church. Over fifty veterans, family members, interviewers, and ACHS
representatives gathered to honor the veterans and to present them with personal copies of the materials sent to
the Library of Congress. For the second year a musical program was presented by the Star Spangled Singers.
Committee member Skip Bellino and his wife Sara provided delicious nibbles for the crowd. This event
culminates another successful year for the VHP with 42 veterans adding their interviews to the collection this year.
Since the project was initiated the ACHS, as a collecting partner of the Library of Congress, has completed 220
interviews of local men and women.
Continued on page 2
ACHS “Gang of Four”: Joan Frankel, Babs Perry-Silva, Charlene Canale
& Sheryl Collins – doing what they do best: putting on a great program!
The Clayton & Bennett Families perform at what has
become an annual gig at the ACHS each September.
Atlantic Heritage 1
Events and Happenings
Program Logistics
Risley Homestead
Program Description
8 Virginia Avenue
(near 400 block of Shore Road)
Northfield, NJ
Each Saturday 11:00am – 4:00pm
Each Sunday 1:00pm – 4:00pm
Free Admission –Donations Appreciated
ATLANTIC COUNTY
HISTORICAL SOCIETY
907 Shore Road,
Somers Point, NJ
Monday, December 16,
6:00pm – 8:00pm
Tuesday, December 17,
11:00am – 3:00pm.
The Risley Homestead is one of two 18th century houses in Atlantic County individually
listed on the National Register of Historic Places and was home to many generations of
Risley oystermen. The ACHS received the Homestead and its furnishings by bequest
from Virginia Risley Stout in 1989. Open weekends from May through October. The
Homestead is open for individual and small group guided tours. Closed on major
holidays.
HOLIDAY SWEETS SALE
As their final production of 2013, the Program Committee of the ACHS is calling upon all their
members, volunteers, family members and friends to become baking elves and supply us with
their favorite sweets for our annual Holiday Sweets Sale. Past holiday sales have already revealed
that we have the best bakers in Atlantic County. This Sweets Sale is scheduled to meet the needs
of the working moms and those who are free during the daytime when the kids are in school:
Monday night, and again Tuesday afternoon.
Cookies are offered for $8.00 per pound or by prepackaged tins for various affordable prices.
Also, available are brownies, fudge, chocolate covered pretzels, banana nut loaves, poppy seed
bread and much more. For more information call 609-927-5218 or check out our FaceBook page
or Website.
AIN’T WE GOT FUN! continued…
Saturday, November 9, 2013, at Risley Homestead, 8 Virginia Avenue, Northfield, a Christmas Yard Sale was held to
rid the Atlantic County Historical Society of many years accumulation of hand-made wreaths, grave blankets, Christmas Trees
and the decorations that were a part of past programs. All proceeds from the Yard Sale went to the Expansion Committee.
Monday, November 18, 2013 a Tasting and Cookbook Sale was held at Zion United Methodist Church Hall.
Nineteen delicious recipes were offered to forty hungry guests. Every recipe served was from the Atlantic County Historical
Society’s Commemorative Cookbook, “Recipes Through the Years”, which is mostly a cookbook of members, volunteers and
friends favorite tried and true recipes, but is also full of the Society’s history and pictures of the artifacts housed in our
museum.
The Wonder Women Quartet’s next venture is one that has been ongoing for the last several years – The Holiday
Sweets Sale. It will be held, Monday, December 16th from 6 to 8 PM and then again the next day, Tuesday, December 17th
from 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM or until sold out. The Society’s supporters are the best bakers in the County and sell out every
year!
Babs Perry-Silva, with helpers Carlie LoPate (L) & ACHS President Dick Squires honors our
Ashley Delgado (R) prepare for the November 18th Volunteers of the Quarter (L-R): Kevin Little,
Ruth Taylor & Lee Ellenberg at the Annual
100th Anniversary Cookbook Tasting Event .
Luncheon.
ACHS Board Member Skip Bellino &
VHP Volunteer Anne Kemp prepare
for the November 2nd Veterans
History Project “Meet ‘N Greet”.
Atlantic Heritage 2
Our Sincere Thanks!
There are a few phrases or words in every language
which express gratitude. We won’t explore Icelandic,
Urdu, Swahili or Thai for those words. We’ll just say it
in plain old English: Thank you very much to all those
mentioned below who made donations when they
renewed their annual memberships. And while we’re
“writing out thank you cards,” we should also tip our
historical hats to members and friends who make in-kind
gifts to our library and museum. In most of our
newsletters we acknowledge those equally important
donations to the Society.
FRIEND: $1 - $49
Earl Sutton, Howard Gant, Ed & Charlene Canale,
Kay Fiore, Carol-Anne Heinisch, Ken Corson,
Anthony Marino & Rosalia Valenti, Lee Ellenberg,
John & Berenice Hooton, Anne Marie Glenn,
Marjory Standiford, Frieda Korte, M. Diana Korte,
Laura Gaskill Hager, Walter & Lois Gregory,
Lorraine Merryman, Tim Shaw, Ralph Larned,
Laura McAuliffe William & MaryLou Crimbring,
John & Evelyn Rush,
Diane Cordon, In memory of: Genevieve Sooy Jensen
PATRON: $50 - $249
Phyllis Morris, Joe & Helen Walsh, Jim & Claire Moyer,
Elinor Veit, Betty Steelman,
Edward Stephenson,
Marcia Kates, Longport Historical Society,
Mary Ellen Turner, Elaine Pinfold
Howard Gant, In memory of: James F. Steelman
SPONSOR: $250 - $1000
William Fenton
The Atlantic County Historical Society
is pleased to welcome and
thank our newest members:
Carol Raph, Northfield, NJ
Laura McAuliffe, Alexandria, VA
Kenneth D. Smith, Jr., Egg Harbor Township, NJ
John & Berenice Hooton, McMurray, PA
Steve Nugent, Seaville, NJ
Samuel A. Miller, West Palm Beach, FL
John M. & Esther V. Bernard, Somers Point, NJ
Emily Bittenbender & Ray Spero, Sweetwater, NJ
Marcia Kates, Quinton, NJ
Life Member
ACHS YEARBOOK
We are soliciting articles to be considered for
inclusion in the 2013-2014 Yearbook. Suitable subjects
include original, unpublished research on topics of local
historical or genealogical interest, transcriptions of
unpublished materials in the Center's documentary
collections, etc.
Submissions should be addressed to the
attention of the "Yearbook Committee" at Atlantic
County Historical Society, P.O. Box 301, Somers Point,
NJ 08244-0301, or to [email protected] with
"Yearbook Article" in the subject line. Please include
your contact information.
BRAIN TEASER FOR MEMBERS:
Tom Jennings wrote:
I was documenting headstones at Greenmount Cemetery in Hammonton and came across
this inscription. SDMSBHAMNJ. I feel certain that the “HAM NJ means
Hammonton, New Jersey. What could the rest of it mean?
If you can help with information about this headstone, please email us
at [email protected] or call (609) 927-5218. Thanks!
Atlantic County Historical Society Governing Board
President: Richard Squires
Vice-President: Sid Parker, Jr.
Recording Secy: Barbara Perry-Silva
Treasurer: Charlene Canale
Asst. Treasurer: Pat Parker
Financial Secretary: Kevin Little
Librarian: Carol Raph
Assistant Librarian: Diane Miller
Curator: Joan Frankel
Historian: Diane Bassetti
Chaplain: Rev. Norman Goos
Trustees: Jerry Bell, Skip Bellino,
Frank Ferry, Helen Walsh, James
Mason,V, Richlyn Goddard, Ruth
Taylor, Ellen Hyatt, Donald Perry,
Freda Heintz, Sheryl Collins.
Atlantic Heritage 3
Library Accessions
Carol Raph, Librarian
Diane Miller, Assistant Librarian
Accession#
Source / Description
2013.002
Gift of Ben Brenner: Ships Compass.
3 Books: English Grammar on the Productive System, 1879.
First Lines of English Grammar by Goold Brown, 1862.
First Book on Anatomy, Physiology and Hygiene, 1859.
Menu - Shelburne Hotel.
Matchbooks: 3, Captain Starn's.
Gift of Unknown Donor: Clippings - Nucky Johnson.
Gift of New York Genealogical and Biographical Society periodicals.
Gift of General Society of Mayflower Descendants: Books:
Mayflower Families Through Five Generations, Vol. 23-3
Philip Delano of the Fortune 1621, 500-561 and 562-686.
Gift of Genealogical Society of New Jersey, Periodical Volume 88-1 and 88-2. 2013.109
Produced by Staff: Atlantic County Historical Society Yearbooks: Volume 16-2, 16-3, 16-4, 17-1.
Gift of Lynn Wood: CD - Frank Ferry book signing of Nucky, Jan. 20, 2013.
Gift of Brendan Nolan: 3 postcards: Atlantic City.
Gift of Mary Beth Ortzman: 3 Yearbooks - Egg Harbor Township High School,
Aquila 1984, 1985, 1992.
Gift of Dori Newman: Book - Growing Up Lucky, A Margate Boyhood.
Gift of American Antiquarian Society: 3 rolls of Microfilm:
Atlantic Democrat Nov. 25, 1865 and Jan. 13 to Mar.31, 1866.
Atlantic Democrat Apr. 25, 1868; July 25, 1868; Mar. 18, 1876; Jan. 10, 1876.
Der Egg Harbor Pilot Feb. 5 to June 17, 1876.
Gift of Donald Pocher: 4 greeting postcards, 18 photo postcards.
Gift of James Logan: Collection of Souvenirs, Ephemera, Books, CD, and Map.
Gift of Joe O’Brien: 3 Books: Memorial Address of William D. Kelley, March 15, 1890.
The Civil War in Song and Story 1860 - 1865.
Gettysburg, Ceremonies at the Dedication of the Monuments, Vol. 1 1893.
Miscellaneous Transcripts printed from internet re: Joe Hooker Post # 32.
Gift of John Medica: Records, letters of the Atlantic County Citizens Council on Environment.
Gift of Harrison H. Howeth: Photo - Hotel Rudolf, Atlantic City, NJ 1909.
Gift of Arcadia Publishing: Book - Images of America, Garden State Parkway.
Gift of Judith Courter: Book - Fred and Ethel Noyes of Smithville.
Gift of Elaine Gustafson: Newspaper clipping - Atlantic County history.
Gift of Ruth Taylor: Yearbook - Township of Hamilton Historical Society 2012.
Gift of Helen Walsh: Books: Lords of Corruption,
We Had A Shore Fast Line,
The New Jersey Weather Book, American Heritage, 9 issues.
Gift of John Dilks: 8 Photos, Vanaman and related images.
Postcard - Trent, mascot of the airship AMERICA.
Book – Mr. Fosters Guide to Atlantic City.
Negative, glass plate - Vanaman hanger for the airship AKRON.
Newspaper - New York Times, Aug. 1, 1910, Syracuse Herald Oct 17, 1910.
Images and articles on various subjects, about 30 pages. 
2013.101
2013.104
2013.105
2013.106
2013.117
2013.118
2013.133
2013.134
2013.135
2013.136
2013.137
2013.138
2013.139
2013.140
2013.141
2013.142
2013.143
2013.144
2013.145
2013.146
Atlantic Heritage 4
150th Anniversary of The Civil War
By Skip Bellino
UPDATE ON THE WAR: OCTOBER 1863 –DECEMBER 1863
We are now in the time of October thru December 1863. The most significant event occurring during
this time is the delivery of the Gettysburg Address. A dedication of the National Cemetery was postponed
from its original earlier date to the 19th of November. Mr. David Wills, a local attorney was responsible for the
coordination of the activities at the dedication. Edward Everett was invited to be the keynote speaker for the
event. Everett was known to be the foremost orator in the country at this time. He had held almost every
political position including Governor of New York, Congressman, Senator, Ambassador and Clergyman.
President Lincoln seemed to have been invited as an afterthought and could make a few appropriate remarks if
he so desired. It may have been that Wills invited the President thinking that he probably would decline in
that Mr. Lincoln rarely left Washington unless it was to visit an Army Commander in the field.
It is widely believed that he wrote the speech on the train en route to Gettysburg because the
handwriting on the original piece of paper that he used to deliver the speech appears to be somewhat shaky
and not what is expected from Lincoln’s hand. It looks like it was written on a moving train.
Edward Everett spoke for over two hours to the crowd assembled at the Cemetery while Mr. Lincoln
spoke for just over two minutes. When he was finished, he sat down and told Ward Hill Lamon that “that dog
won’t hunt.” Everett told Lincoln afterward that he said more in two minutes than he did in two hours. Of
course, the speech came to be known as one of Lincoln’s most memorable orations.
Meanwhile, in the Western theater, the battle of Chattanooga will continue till near the end of the year.
General Grant will proceed to Chattanooga and replace General Rosecrans with General George Thomas, the
“Rock of Chickamauga”. The Federal troops are under siege in Chattanooga and are suffering from lack of
food, supplies and support. When General Grant arrives things begin to happen. Grant had a pontoon bridge
constructed across the Tennessee River and established a sixty mile “cracker line” to begin moving food to his
army. The Confederate forces are under the command of General Braxton Bragg. A General who did not
have the confidence of his men and subordinate officers.
The subsequent two day battle that followed involved General William T. Sherman, General Philip
Sheridan and General George Thomas. The Union Army in a series of coordinated attacks drove the
Confederates from the field turning a long siege into a Union Victory.
In the east, General Robert E. Lee, CSA and General George G. Meade USA, continue to shadowbox
and move about. The only campaign of any note during this time is the Bristoe Campaign that has Meade
following Lee as the latter moved north and west trying to get behind the right flank of the Army of the
Potomac. The Bristoe Campaign does little to affect the outcome of the war other than to increase the
casualty count on both sides.
The armies will then go into winter quarters and in the New Year 1864, will continue a series of minor
campaigns for the first quarter.

Atlantic Heritage 5
Volunteer of the Quarter
This is one way to pay tribute to our many volunteers, for as a volunteerrun organization, we could not exist without their dedication and
enthusiasm. If you think that you would like to join our volunteers, you
are welcome to contact us.
One of the most lasting
contributions Sheryl Collins has made to
the Atlantic County Historical Society was
recruiting Charlene Canale. Charlene was
newly retired from Egg harbor Township,
having served there for 38 years in various
key financial positions culminating in her
many years as Chief Financial Officer. The
A
ACHS had just suffered
the loss of our long time Treasurer
and Sheryl saw a golden opportunity. As they say “the rest is
History”.
Charlene is a dynamo who takes on and accomplishes
multiple tasks with a smile and a “No Problem”. Her tasks as
Treasurer are critical to the efficient and effective running of
the Society. She deals with banks, vendors, auditors, paying our
bills, making our investments, reporting monthly to the Board
on the changes in our financial condition. She does this quietly,
competently and with little fanfare.
Having joined the team as Treasurer was not enough.
Charlene has actively participated in several other committees.
She is a trained and active interviewer for the Veteran’s History
Project, she is one of the four co-chairs of the Program
Committee, responsible for delivering a multitude of diverse
programs, and she participates on the de-accessioning
committee to review and recommend items for removal from
our collection. Her time and energy seem boundless.
A native of Ohio, Charlene’s family relocated to
Atlantic County when she was ten years old and she has made
her home here ever since. She resides in Egg Harbor Township
with her husband Ed, who has also been recruited for many
ACHS ventures. When she is not pursuing her own or Ed’s
genealogy, or participating in her volunteer commitments, she
finds time to enjoy activities with her two grandchildren and
plant a few seeds for their future volunteerism.
Thank you, Charlene, for all that you do for ACHS!
Newsletter Editor, Layout &
Graphics
Ellen Hyatt
Contributors to this Issue:
Sid Parker, Pat Parker, Freda Heintz,
Mary Beth Ortzman, Diane Miller,
Sheryl Collins, Skip Bellino, Helen
Walsh & Dale Lonkart
The Atlantic County Historical Society
received an operating grant from the Atlantic
County Office of Cultural & Heritage Affairs
Spotlight on
the Shelves
a treasure hiding in plain sight…
There are several books available for purchase here in
Somers Point- some are brand new and others slightly
used. All are interesting and chock full of unknown
knowledge. Below are some examples found on the
For Sale Shelves - please stop in and check out the
suggested titles and more to complete you holiday
shopping.
Gently Used
Atlantic County Through Our Eyes
South Jersey Magazine
Absegami Yesteryear
Forgotten Towns of Southern, NJ
More Forgotten Towns of Southern, NJ
$23.18
$1.00/issue
$5.00
$5.00
$5.00
New
Fred and Ethel Noyes of Smithville, NJ
Place Names of the Jersey Shore
Nucky- The Real Story
$25.00
$15.00
$34.95
ACHS 100th ANNIVERSARY
COOKBOOK
Available at the
ACHS for
$20 per copy.
Pick up one for yourself
and one for that hardto-buy-for friend or
relative. The holidays
are coming!!
The Atlantic County Historical
Society will be closed:
Need to Contact Us?
Sunday, 12/22 through
Email: [email protected]
Wednesday 1/1/2014
(Will Re-open Thursday, 1/2/2014)
Phone: (609) 927-5218
Website:
www.AtlanticCountyHistoricalSocietynj.org
Newsletter available online!
& Visit our Facebook page.
ACHS Hours: Wednesday – Saturday:
10:00am to 3:30pm
Parking and entrance at the
rear of our building
Atlantic Heritage 6
Library & Museum Spotlights
Carol Raph, Librarian, Asst. Librarian, Diane Miller,
Joan Frankel, Museum Curator
THE DON NYCE COLLECTION
For the past few years, honorary life member, Don Nyce of Egg Harbor Township, has been donating pieces of
his personal collection to the Society’s library - photo album by photo album. At the time of this writing, the collection
numbers about 16 binders, with one or two still to come.
“I was keeping them at the house, but they were taking up too much room,” he recently said, “So I am putting
them where they could be used.”
The over-all theme of the collection centers on what has occurred in, on and around the Atlantic City Inlet. Its
contents are from various sources, including photos taken by Don himself.
To know something of Don’s background explains much about how the albums originated. In 1948, he began
working on a sailboat at Capt. Starn’s. He left to serve in the Air Force from 1950 to 1954, and then returned to Starn’s to
work in the darkroom, taking pictures of the boats at the dock. In 1968, Don began an 18-year employment at Hess
Photography, located at 1201 Atlantic Ave. He also returned to Starn’s for the last time in 1969, remaining until it closed
in 1979. His collection began when he created prints from some old 8”x 10” negatives he had found. About 1989, he
began looking around on eBay for more negatives, acquiring some from the 1920s and ‘30s. Again, he made prints. He
then explained the cycle of how he sent prints to Tommy Hulme of Atlantic City, who then forwarded them to his former
co-worker, Capt. Ed George. Ed, who was born in the Atlantic City Inlet in 1923, supplied the information about the
photos by letter to Tommy, who then gave the information to Don.
A sample look inside one of Don’s albums shows the value of what he has chosen to share.

There is a Don Nyce photo of the Capt. Starn VI as the boat rounded Starn’s restaurant “for a run down the
beach, March 28, 1975.”

Another illustrates people viewing the charred aftermath of the fish dock fire on Rhode Island Ave. According to
Don, this was taken by a fireman in 1954 or ’55.

Still another is the photography of Stansbury Cramer which captures the image of the mackerel fleet docked
behind the boat houses of the 1930’s to 1940’s. The scene is complete with laundry drying on a clothesline and
rows of barrels stacked four and five high. (No, the barrels are not filled with rum - despite Atlantic City’s
reputation! They are mackerel barrels.)
This collection contains photos of varying size. Many are 8” x 10” prints, which depict in incredible detail the
history of the Atlantic City Inlet. Most are in black and white, while some are in color.
We thank Don, a self-described “old farm boy from Pennsylvania who fell in love with the Inlet”, for sharing with
all of us.
L-R: The Captain Starn VI in 1975.
The aftermath of the fish dock fire,
circa 1954.
The mackerel fleet & boathouses,
circa 1930.
Atlantic Heritage 7
NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION
U.S. POSTAGE
PAID
PERMIT NO. 164
Pleasantville, NJ 08232
907 Shore Road
Post Office Box 301
Somers Point, New Jersey 08244-0301
ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED
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Our Mission:

To collect and preserve historical materials exemplifying the events, places, and lifestyles of the people of Atlantic County
and southern New Jersey.

To encourage the study of history and genealogy.

To provide historical and genealogical information to our membership and the general public.
Atlantic Heritage 8