The Metuchen-Edison Historical Society
PO Box 61
Metuchen, New Jersey 08840-0061
We've moved the MEHS pages...
Click here to go to the new MEHS web pages.
Here is some older material...
Fall 2001
A message from Walter R. Stochel, Jr., President:
Over the past decade, our collection of historical items has grown
substantially. It is hard to believe that just ten years ago our
entire collection was in two filing cabinets and three or four boxes.
Now we have large steel cabinets, shelves, bookcases, and numerous boxes
of historical material in the Grimstead Room at the Metuchen Public Library.
At present, our collection consists of over 3,000 images, documents, tapes
and artifacts of local historical interest, If you live in Metuchen and
your house was built before WW2, we may have a photograph of what your house
looked like during the 1930s. You can purchase copies of these photographs by
writing or visiting us at the Grimstead Room, where you can also take a
look at the other items in our collection. The Grimstead Room is open to
the public from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. on Tuesday afternoons.
In an effort to share our fantastic collection of local history with the
public, the Society will be holding two local History Days this year; the
first on November 4, 2001 at the Edison Public Library, and the second on
February 3, 2002 in the Metuchen Public Library. We have also created a
"Sunday Series" of programs to be held at the Metuchen Public Library on
select Sunday afternoons (see Page 2).
In addition, there is another exciting development in how we will share
our collections. We will soon begin to electronically catalogue our
collections using a program developed by Jim Halpin. This will eventually
lead to our
being able to share the collection list with other historical societies,
genealogy clubs, schools, libraries, and all others who are interested
in what we have to offer. We will share more information about this new
system as it develops. We will need volunteers to help enter this
information into a computer. If you would like to help, contact Walter
Stochel at 906-0529.
While most of these items have been donated to the Society over recent years,
our curator, Marie Vajo, has recently been finding many good additions to our
collections via the Internet on E-Bay. Among these are a roster of the
Raritan Engine Company #1 from the 1920s and a Hassentufel Dairy milk bottle.
Many of the items would not have otherwise been available to us. As with
genealogical research, this use of E-Bay is another example of how technology
is enabling us to learn more about our local history.
To me, there seems to be an increasing interest in our local history. A
month does not go by without the newspapers reporting on the efforts to
save historic sites, and we see numerous stories about the 225th Anniversary
of the American Revolution and the events surrounding it. Edison Township
has even created a Historic Preservation Commission. This October, another
"Passport to Edison" will be held. This event, organized by the Center for
Community Renewal, places "Passport Checkpoints" at various locations in
Edison where participants can learn all about that location's history and
afterwards get their "passport" stamped. This year, the Metuchen-Edison
Historical Society will be stationed at the Edison Memorial Tower
"Checkpoint".
Another indication of the interest in local history is the sale of the
Metuchen and Edison Arcadia books by Stacy E. Spies. We have sold
hundreds of these books to residents who want to learn more about
our local heritage. It is my hope that in the year ahead the Society
can sustain and increase this interest.
Society Press Release - October 28, 2001
Society Press Release - May 15, 2001
The 2000-2001 Historical Society Newsletter
New Books:
Order the books from the Metuchen Edison Historical Society
2001 - 2002 Programs
2001-2002 SCHEDULE OF MEETINGS, EVENTS, AND PROGRAMS
"Building of the George Washington Bridge"
Speaker: Kevin Hale
Date: Friday, September 28, 2001 at 7:30 p.m.
Location: Centenary Methodist Church
Metuchen Country Fair
Date: Saturday, October 6, 2001, from 10:00 am - 4:00 p.m.
Location: Downtown Metuchen
"Passport to Edison"
Date: Saturday and Sunday, October 13 & 14, 2001
For more information, see your local paper or call Walter Stochel at 906-0529.
"Memories of World War II"
Speaker: Dave Robinson
Date: Friday, October 26, 2001 at 2:00 p.m.
Location: Metuchen Senior Center
Local History Day- Edison
Date: Sunday, November 4, 2001, from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Location: Edison Main Library, 340 Plainfield Avenue, Edison
"General Cornwallis"
Speaker: lain Haight-Ashton
Date: Sunday, November 11, 2001 at 2:00 p.m.
Location: Metuchen Public Library
Holiday Party & Open House (for all members and those interested in joining)
Date: Sunday, December 9, 2001, from 2:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Location: Old Franklin School House, 491 Middlesex Avenue in Metuchen
Local History Day- Metuchen
Date: Sunday, February 3, 2002, from 1: 30 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Location: Metuchen Public Library
"Lenni Lenape Indians"
Speaker: Mark Nonestied
Date: Friday, March 1, 2002 at 2:00 p.m.
Location: Metuchen Senior Center
"History of Railroads in New Jersey"
Speaker: Mitch Dakelman
Date: Sunday, April 7, 2002 at 2:00 p.m.
Location: Metuchen Public Library
"1776-1777- The Campaign in New Jersey at Oak Ridge in Clark & Edison"
Speaker: Bill Fidurski
Date: Friday, May 3, 2002 at 7:30 p.m.
Location: Centenary Methodist Church
Metuchen Edison History Features
Thomas Edison in Menlo Park
The Historical Society is always seeking old photos and documents of the Metuchen-Edison area. Any contributions will be gratefully accepted.
Historical Society Publications:
- Limited Edition of Boyhood Days in Old Metuchen ...$15.00
- Videotape of old Metuchen scenes (44 minutes)...$30.00
- Main Street Metuchen notepaper, designed by Bill Smith
... Set of 10 - $5.00
- 1888 Cookbook (Crumbs of Comfort)
... $7.00
- Franklin School Prints
(Signed and numbered) ...$20.00
- 1868 Metuchen Map
...$3.00
- 1876 Raritan Township Map
...$3.00
- Toonerville Trolley poster...$3.00
- Edison Postcards
- Metuchen Postcards
- 1980 Metuchen Fair Postcard
- Note Cards
- Booklet: How to Research a House
Please write for current availability and pricing.
For more information, write to the address above, or contact:
history@jhalpin.com 
Metuchen - Edison Historical Trivia
A look at Metuchen in 1947
Old Time Metuchen Edison Photos
Return to the J Halpin CPA web page
Last Updated 10/30/01.
