November 2014 Issue - Cranbury Historical and Preservation Society

The Cranbury Historical &
Preservation Society
NEWSLETTER
N OVEMBER , 2014
V OLUME 33, I SSUE T WO
President’s Message
Tis’ the Season
There is something about Cranbury that warms the heart,
especially once the air gets cooler and the leaves begin to
turn. In the fall, if you walk through town in the evening,
many of our historic homes along Main Street are lit up and
look so welcoming. All through the town, families decorate
their homes with fall wreaths, glorious mums, jack-olanterns, bales of hay and dried corn stalks, and if you are
lucky, some nights you can even smell the warm fires burning
in people’s fire places. It’s like taking a trip back in time.
From our backyard, I often hear the children playing during
recess at Cranbury Elementary School. Their voices echo
across Cranbury Brook and bring back fond memories of my
childhood here. As an alumna of Cranbury Elementary
School, I know first hand what a wonderful education is
offered there. To this day, I still remember all my grammar
school teachers with an abiding love, and have such beautiful
and fun-filled memories of my time in their classrooms. And,
like many of you, I also made life-long friends at school in
Cranbury. Friends who are still in my life today and mean
the world to me.
Yes, living in a historical village like ours can be magical,
can’t it? It can be challenging though, particularly as we are
faced with ever-changing state housing and zoning
regulations. We are fortunate to have our town on the
National Register of Historic Places. In some ways, it is a
form of protection, but doesn’t safeguard us completely
from all the challenges towns like ours face in the 21st
century. In order to keep Cranbury’s historical aesthetic and
charm on-going, each of us also needs to contribute
something towards the town’s greater good. It is the only
way to preserve Cranbury’s heritage for future generations.
Throughout my life, I have witnessed the townspeople of
Cranbury practicing a generosity of spirit by volunteering
their time and expertise in many ways for the benefit of the
town. People in Cranbury coach their children’s sports
teams. They lead scout troops, become volunteer firemen
and join the First Aid Squad. They support the Library’s
efforts. They help the Seniors. They volunteer at our
History Center, become docents and curators of the
Cranbury Museum, lead walking tours through town and go
into school to share the history of Cranbury with students.
Some write articles and books about Cranbury. Others run
for office or volunteer for town committees. They care for
gardens, volunteer to read with kindergarteners and firstgraders, make costumes for shows, and raise funds for
special programs or additional teachers. Volunteers visit the
sick and help fill baskets of food for the needy at Skeet’s
Pantry. They run clothing drives for warm coats and
contribute Toys for Tots.
Can you imagine where our town would be if we didn’t
have volunteers willing to take on these jobs? Clearly, when
there is so much work to do, we all have to pitch in and
volunteer, if possible. Small town living is all about that,
isn’t it? But would you like to know the best part about
volunteering? When we volunteer to work together for the
greater good, the work becomes easier, we make wonderful
friends and a great deal gets accomplished. It’s that simple.
So, on behalf of Cranbury’s Historical and Preservation
Society, I want to thank all our readers for your generosity
to our organization, as well as to the town of Cranbury.
Something tells me that all of those wonderful volunteers
who came before us would be very pleased to see Cranbury
thriving in the way it is today, and I am sure each of them
would want to thank and acknowledge you, as I have, for
continuing their work with glad hearts and minds. As far as
I’m concerned, it is you who make Cranbury such a
“Wonderful Town.”
Jo. D Andrews
Cranbury Wassail
The 2014 Cranbury Wassail will be
held on Saturday, December 13. This
popular event was sold out by early
November. It will feature delicious
food, beverages, historic characters and
music in five homes in a Cranbury
neighborhood that are decorated for the
holidays. The Society thanks all who
worked on this year’s Wassail and those who purchased
tickets. The evening is certain to be an enjoyable one!
Christmas Tea at the Museum
Join friends and neighbors for an afternoon of tea, cookies
and carols, Sunday, December 7 from 1 to 4 PM at the
Cranbury Museum. The c. 1834 building will be decorated
for the holiday season. Enjoy the festive atmosphere as well
as the current Museum exhibit, Form, Function and Fine: Two
Hundred Years of American Ceramics.
History Center Gift Shop
We hope you will do some holiday shopping when the
Cranbury History Center Gift Shop is open on Saturday,
December 6, 11 am to 2 pm and Saturday, December 13,
11 am to 2 pm. Stop in and see gift items that are special to
Cranbury such as framed prints, note cards, flags, books,
afghans, women’s shirts, T-shirts, aprons, ornaments, post
cards, mugs, bookmarks, pencils and our new Historic
Cranbury Walking Tour DVD.
Parsonage Barn Events
By Audrey Smith
We are fortunate to have the Parsonage Barn, the use of
which has brought happiness to so many during the past year!
Three Cranbury Presbyterian Nursery School classes visited
the barn in May and June, and in the summer, it was the
setting for two well-attended evening concerts.
The Brass Chorale of
the First Presbyterian
Church provided some
favorite music in June,
and Jet Weston and his
Atomic Ranch Hands
entertained in
September with
wonderful cowboy
songs that were
familiar to many
members of the
audience.
The barn was the
setting for a wedding in August and the Watercolorists
Unlimited Art Show and Sale in October. Later in the fall, it
provided the backdrop for both wedding and seasonal photos.
The Historic Marker, placed in front of the barn during the
summer, was a gift to Cranbury from the Middlesex County
Board of Chosen Freeholders.
CRANBURY – 100 YEARS AGO
Compiled from the October & November 1914 issues of
The Cranbury Press by Peggy and Frank J. Brennan, Jr.
Union Thanksgiving Services will be held in the First
Presbyterian Church on Thursday morning, November 26.
The sermon will be preached by Rev. J. E. Curry.
The First Presbyterian Sunday-school will render a special
and helpful programme, with inspiring music on Sunday,
World’s Temperance Sunday promptly at 10 A.M. The loyal
presence of every member is requested.
Mr. and Mrs. George N. Hendricks of Cranbury Station
entertained a number of friends Hallowe’en night. Games and
music were played until a late hour. Refreshments were
served.
Mr. and Mrs. Joseph P. J. Dey will give up farming and
move to the house now occupied by Mr. and Mrs. Voorhees
in South Cranbury.
Adv. Stahl & Davison’s, Cranbury’s Best Confectionary and
Soda Store. Hot Chocolate, Premier Butter, Oysters – Stew
or by Plate, Groceries, Newspapers, Ice Cream Phone 354,
Cranbury, N.J.
Adv. O’Neil’s Stores – North Cranbury – Is where families
can get the best food stuffs – all at the best possible prices.
He also has a full assortment of Men’s Furnishings. James
O’Neil, Opposite Second Church Chapel.
Mrs. Isabella D., widow of Isaac Mershon passed away on
Friday, November 13. Although not vigorous for some time,
she had only been confined to her home about a week. Mrs.
Mershon was the only daughter of the late Mr. and Mrs.
George Barclay and is the last one of the family to go. She
lived for many years on the corner of Park Place and Maplewood Ave.
The community was shocked to hear of the sudden death of
John Hutchinson. He suffered a stroke of paralysis a short
time ago, but of late has engaged in his business of painting.
With Cornelius Petty he was painting Odd Fellows Hall
recently, but feeling ill he stopped about eleven o’clock and
went to his home. A few minutes after, he fell deal He was
77 years old and leaves a widow, a daughter and a son Harvey
Hutchinson of Cranbury.
Odd Fellows Hall is very much improved by the new paint.
The work was done by Cornelius Petty.
Harvey Davison of Cranbury Neck has just purchased a
1915 Chevrolet roadster.
A number of Cranbury women attended the fall convention of the W.C.T.U. at Metuchen. Miss Helen Butcher
presided at the organ through the day and Cranbury ladies
distinguished themselves in the exercises of the afternoon.
Miss Bertha Applegate won a gold medal in the annual contest.
LeRoy Scott has purchased the place known as the Hamilton
(Continued on page 6)
Second Lt.William F. Hoffman: Hometown Hero
By Mike Kasper
As we approach the 73rd anniversary of the attack on Pearl
Harbor and commemorate the end of World War II, it is
fitting that we, as Americans, remember the sacrifices of the
men and women who served in our Armed Forces during that
horrific war. In particular, in the next few issues of our
newsletter, we would like to honor the five men from
Cranbury who did not return, by telling their personal stories.
Second lieutenant William F. Hoffman, was born in Cranbury on July 7, 1923. Bill was the middle child of William
Cole Hoffman (1892-1983) and Sara (Perrine) Hoffman (1896
-1995). Some of our readers may remember Bill’s mother,
Sara, who was one of the original trustees of our Historical
Society and was also the first curator of The Cranbury
Museum.
“Billy,” as he was known around town, attended Cranbury
Elementary School and graduated from Hightstown High
School, where he participated in soccer and basketball. He
attended Lehigh University in Bethlehem, PA where he
majored in engineering and was a member of the varsity soccer
team and the Phi Gamma Delta fraternity. In February, 1943,
during his sophomore year, Bill volunteered for the US Army
Air Corps Reserve, receiving his pilot wings and commission
at Stockton Field, CA in May, 1944.
In January 1945, Bill was transferred to England as co-pilot
to 2nd Lt. William T. Emmet II of a B-17 Flying Fortress crew,
all of whom had trained together in California. There, the
Emmet Crew was assigned to the 731st Bomb Squadron, 452nd
Bombardment Group (Heavy), Eighth Air Force, based at Station 142, Deopham Green, England. Two hundred fifty missions were flown out of Station 142; 110 bombers were lost.
Bill and the rest of the Emmet Crew flew their first mission on February 15th, 1945, just three months prior to end of
the European war. The 200th mission, flown by the 452nd
Bomb Group, was to destroy the Cottbus Oil Refinery near
Brandenburg. The Emmet Crew’s aircraft was hit by flak, but
safely returned to base. The Emmet crew’s second mission
was to bomb the Hamm Railroad Marshaling Yards in the Ruhr
industrial region. Again, a plan was hit but none of the crew
was injured.
Bad weather conditions
over the next several days
cancelled many missions. A
group of men, including
Billy, were given a two day
pass to London to celebrate
pilot Dick Quinton’s 22nd
birthday. The men stayed at
the Red Cross Club and saw
the sights of London, returning to base 10:30 pm on
February 20th. At 3:00 am
the next morning, the
bomber crews were
awakened and told to
prepare for another mission.
After breakfast and a briefing, the B-17s of the 731st
Bomber Squadron took off on
their third bombing mission, in
yet a third aircraft. Joining
1,061 other B-17s that left England day, Bill and the crew’s
orders were to bomb the Nurnberg Germany Rail Hub and
adjacent tank factory.
Shortly after take-off one of
their engines caught fire yet
managed to continue. Then,
while flying over France, a
second engine caught fire.
Informing the lead plane, 2nd Lt.
Emmet was told to use his own
judgment. Emmet and crew managed to target Merseburg,
just over the German border, drop their bombs and return to
Doepham Green. Landing with one engine still on fire, the
crew was forced to run for their lives. The next day they
would fly their fourth mission in a week in yet another plane.
On Thursday, February 22, 1945, mission number 206 was
scheduled to bomb the region near Freilburg/Ulm, Germany.
This mission was part of the Eighth and Fifteenth Air Forces’
“Operation Clarion.” In a matter of two days, the Eighth
launched a crushing 2,702 bomber sorties and 1,567 fighter
sorties. That morning, a group of 77 aircraft headed to Ulm
to drop 323.5 tons of bombs. Emmet and his crew from the
731st Bomb Squadron were assigned to that mission.
The ten man crew of the B-17 that day included pilots
Emmet and Hoffman; navigator, F/O Clinton W. Ewen;
bombardier, Sgt. Warren L. Holt; engineer, Sgt. Sidney Mason; radioman, Sgt. George J. Benedict; ball-turret gunner,
Sgt. James E. Moss; waist gunner, Sgt. Francis (Jerry) G.
Adkins; tail gunner, Sgt. Deane P. Clementson; and, radar
man Staff Sgt. William M. Lorig. The crew was now flying in
their fourth B-17, with “Johnny Reb” painted as nose art.
Startlingly though, Johnny Reb’s individual aircraft record
card stated that on 20 January 1945, it was declared to be not
airworthy and condemned to the salvage yard due to nonbattle damage. It is not clear what damage had occurred;
however, the plane was patched up and available this day for
Emmet and his crew. At about 12:00 pm, after being in the
air about five hours, the plane began to experience problems.
Late in the morning, the tail gunner’s intercom failed to work
properly. Radio operator Benedict crawled back to see if he
could repair the problem. He returned to his station but was
not wearing a parachute.
Before the aircraft made it to the target, it entered heavy
white clouds and started to break in half. With visibility zero,
Emmet, on the extreme left of the formation, steered still
further to the left to prevent collision. Soon his plane was
bucking and rolling in the “prop wash” of the plane immediately ahead and to the right, which had evidently also moved
over. Severely strained by the “prop wash,” the B-17 broke
apart and crashed at the edge of the town of Oberpfaffenhofen,
Germany.
Continued on next page
Continued from page 3
Jerry Adkins survived and was captured. Many years later he recalled what happened during these last moments: “We were
descending from 25,000 feet and hit heavy white clouds at 19,000 feet, so thick that we couldn’t see the other planes in our formation. At
about 17,000 feet, I think we got in prop wash from the ship in front of us. Our pilot had let the landing flaps down and throttled down to
nearly stalling speed. We broke in half. The three of us were able to parachute to safety and the rest of the crew (7) were killed.”
Tragically, Billy died on that mission on February 22, 1945. He was 21 years old. His body was recovered by the Germans
and temporarily buried and was later interred by the Allied Forces in the Lorraine American Cemetery in Saint-Avold, France.
Initially, as reported in the March 16, 1945 edition of the Cranbury Press, Bill was listed as missing in action after the February
22nd mission.
Bill and Sara Hoffman erected a memorial to their son in Brainerd Cemetery, near the 1 st Presbyterian Church of Cranbury,
where he worshipped. A memorial brick in his honor is part of the Wall of Valor at the Mighty Eighth Air Force Museum,
Pooler, Georgia.
Once confirmed as being killed in action, his obituary in the Cranbury Press read: “Another one of Cranbury’s finest young men had
made the supreme sacrifice. The terrific strain of the news, first that he was missing in action, then to be followed by the news of his death, has
stunned not only his family but the entire community.”
Bill Hoffman was one fine boy, a promising young man with a host of friends. The sorrow caused by his death is lessened a trifle by the fact
that he wanted to do his part well in making this a safe and peaceful world in which to live. The deepest sympathy of the community goes out
all the members of his family.”
Sources
Cranbury Press, March 16th, 1945
Findagrave.com: http://findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=pv&GRid=42091906&PIpi=64052952
Gettysburg Address, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gettysburg_Address
www.fold3.com: http://www.fold3.com/page/285608778_crash_of_b17__448015__marc_12657/photos/
Celebrating NJ’s 350th Birthday in Style
The Society hosted a delightful evening of dining and dancing at the Cranbury Inn on November 15, to mark the occasion of NJ’s 350th
anniversary. On hand to celebrate along with us was historian Linda Barth, who regaled the sold-out assembly of 200 with tales of our
state’s well-known inventions. A fun and at times, challenging, quiz of all things Jersey kept guests guessing -- Do you know how many
Miss New Jersey’s went on to become Miss America?* The CHPS committee that worked long and hard on the evening went above and
beyond, with a lovely Silent Auction and 50/50 that benefited downtown beautification and the Society. Here’s to NJ’s next 350 years!
Above: Gretchen & Stan Stults and Bill & Betty Wagner enjoy an evening celebrating NJ’s
350th anniversary. Below: Jim & Norma Swale and Eileen & Guy McGillan.
* The answer is two!
In Memoriam
The Society notes with sadness the passing of these
valued members:
Sally Ann Strong - December 7, 2013
Ruth BergWalsh - February 21, 2014
Colleen Marie Cahill - May 6, 2014
Donald E. Luck - July 5, 2014
Carolyn Duncan Pierson - July 24, 2014
Clara E. Amend - October 29, 2014
Proceeds from Silent Auction to
Beautify Downtown for Years to Come
Because of the generosity of those who
supported the Silent Auction during the
NJ 350th Anniversary Celebration on
November 15, 2014, CHPS was able to use a part of the
proceeds to purchase lighted wreaths for Cranbury's nine new
lamp posts. With this gift, the Society is able to uphold one of
its purposes, the encouragement and support of the
beautification of Cranbury. The wreaths will be enjoyed by
community members and visitors for many years to come.
History Center News By Mike Kasper
For the past several months, the History Center staff, along with three college interns, have been busy bringing all collections
into the digital age and accessing, along with cataloging, the collections to current accepted standards and practices. PastPerfect
Museum Software, which is a database program, provides the hub and focus to digitize all Society collections including Cranbury Museum objects, archival materials, photographs and historical books. This effort supports the eventual transfer of the
photographs, archives and books to the planned new Cranbury Public Library archives room where these materials will be
safely housed, but remain part of the Historical Society collection. Ultimately, PastPerfect and the new library will allow for
wider public access to the collection for research. The Society recently received a grant from the Middlesex County Cultural
and Heritage Commission to digitize Historical Society photographs which will be added to the PastPerfect database. The History Center also launched an ongoing digital library of Cranbury related materials through the Rutgers University-coordinated
New Jersey Digital Highway.
2014 MEMBERSHIP
Mail checks to: Cranbury Historical & Preservation Society. 6 South Main Street, Cranbury, NJ 08512
Membership Status (check one): ___New ___Renewal
Membership Category (check one): __Individual, $15.00 __Family, $25.00 __Sponsor, $35.00
__Patron, $50.00 or more
__Corporate, $150.00 or more
Name:_______________________________________________________________________________________
Address:_____________________________________________________________________________________
Phone:_________________________________Email:________________________________________________
I would like to receive the Society via email. Please use the address above.
 I would like to receive news and updates via email.
Matching gifts are a significant source of support for the Society. If you work (or have retired from) one of the hundreds of
companies that generously match employee donations, please don’t let this opportunity pass you by. Just ask your Personnel Office for a Matching Gift form, fill it in and send it to us. We’ll do the rest. Together we can continue to preserve our
unique heritage.
Please consider one or more of the following volunteer opportunities:
Museum docent:___
Social functions:___
House tour:__
Educational programs:___ Fundraising:___
Publicity:___
Other:_________________________________________________________________________________________
the time or mobility, or maybe you don't live in the area. The
Society is happy to announce that we have an excellent DVD
farm on Cranbury Neck from the heirs of the estate. The pur- of a walking tour of Historic Cranbury that was produced by
chase price is said to have been between $11,000 and $12,000. Eagle Scout Walter Allikas, who donated copies of the DVD
The First Presbyterian manse is nearing completion and the to the Society. The DVD is available for $5.00, and may be
mailed to you for an additional $2.00 per DVD. Many memcommittee are having the grounds surrounding it graded.
bers are purchasing these DVDs to give as gifts to their chilA very enjoyable evening was spent on Tuesday by the
dren and others who live out of town. They will be available
Ladies Reading Circle and invited friends in the home of Mr. at our History Center Gift Shop, open Saturday, December 6
and Mrs. John S. Silvers. The program was “Janice Meredith,” and 13 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
a romantic story of the Revolution. This spacious residence is
ever ready to throw open its doors to the Circle and the
receptions fit exceptionally well into it. Tempting
refreshments were served after which chatting and impromptu
music were enjoyed.
Remember the Tom Thumb wedding in the First
Presbyterian chapel. Tickets have sold rapidly but there will
be room for all who come.
(Continued from page 2)
Take a Walking Tour of Historic Cranbury
Walking tours of historic Cranbury are being offered Sunday, December 7 and Sunday, December 21. Tours begin at
Cranbury Museum at 2 p.m. If you would like to join a tour,
please call tour guide Richard Moody at 609-651-0693.
Historic Cranbury Walking Tour DVD
There may be a very good reason why you have not taken a
walking tour of Historic Cranbury. Perhaps you don't have
Cranbury Historical & Preservation Society
6 South Main St.
Cranbury, NJ 08512
Cranbury Museum
4 Park Place East
Open Sundays 1 to 4 and by appt.
Ph: 609/655-2611
Cranbury History Center
6 South Main Street
Open Thursdays 10:30 to 1:30 & by appt.
Ph: 609/860-1889
Email: historycenter@comcast.net
Web: www.cranburyhistory.org
Matt and Jane
Curran take a
turn on the dance
floor at the
dinner dance
celebrating NJ’s
350th birthday.
More photos and
a story inside.