Yesteryear

100 years ago

With perfect weather conditions, a large list of good horses entered, and good music, one of the largest crowds that has ever attended a race meeting in Freehold gathered at the driving park here Wednesday to witness the races held by the Freehold Driving Club. It is estimated that more than 5,000 persons were in attendance. The grandstand was filled and crowds of people lined the fence on both sides of the track from the judges stand to the entrance gate and from the judges stand to the stables. There were hundreds of carriages inside the green and a large number of automobiles were on the grounds. Throughout the afternoon H.M. Stilwell's orchestra of ten pieces furnished music of a high character. This was an innovation that pleased all. Heretofore, a brass band has been employed to furnish music at the race meets and while much more noise was made, the music was not of the high standard served by the orchestra, which is in constant practice and played all the latest music.

Seventeen officeholders under indictment is the situation in Ocean County at this writing. The men against whom bills have been found include ten chosen freeholders, three former freeholders, a former county collector and three members of the Lakewood Town-ship Committee. It is said there are others who have been guilty of illegal acts but have escaped through the statute of limitation. The accused are charged with malfeasance in office, illegal acceptance of money, falsifying accounts and wrongfully certifying accounts for road work. Nine years ago there was a balance in the bank to the credit of the county to the amount of $40,000, which as the years went by dwindled to a deficit of some $75. There are probably various good reasons for this, and they will be alleged in good time, when the indicted men come upon their defense, but it would appear from only a casual glance of the report of an expert who went over the books that very loose business methods have been pursued in conducting the affairs of the county.

75 years ago

Three arrogant young gentlemen driving through Freehold in a large and shiny touring car, agleam with polished metal, caused a near riot in the center of town about ten o'clock Wednesday night - and got away with it! Pulling out from Zobel's garage on East Main Street and disregarding the heavy traffic, they started down the left hand side of the street, bucking the oncoming stream of cars. Harold Burke, a 17-year-old high school sophomore, who was driving towards them, shouted to them to get on their own side of the street. Instead, they stopped, blocking traffic in both directions, while one of the trio jumped from the car, ran over to Burke's machine and leaning through the window, punched the boy in the jaw. The lad attempted to get out, but his assailant held the door shut and punched him again. Mean-while, several other drivers and pedestrians started to the rescue of the Burke boy, so the other two men got out of the touring car to help their companion. Seeing they would be outnumbered, however, they jumped back in their machine and made their get-away down Spring Street and out Wayne Avenue. The angry crowd followed and had just caught up with the two when Officer Glenn Paxton arrived on the scene. He questioned the men, but Burke refused to make a complaint, asking only for "a chance to take a crack at that guy." Since no complaint had been made, Paxton allowed the men to leave. Their identity is not known. Their machine bore a Florida license plate. Burke is the son of Thomas C. Burke of McLean Street.

When Harry B. Cook, Chief of Detectives in the Monmouth County Prosecutor's Office, gave to two local newspapers a grossly exaggerated story on a raid he had made upon a still near Colts Neck about two weeks ago, he drew a storm of criticism which he will not forget for some time to come. The raid was made upon a Vanderburg farm and a small still worth about $50 was seized. Cook told the two local newspapers that the apparatus was worth approximately $50,000. Other details of the raid were similarly exaggerated.

50 years ago

The Freehold Borough Council, at a special meeting last week, voted to purchase a 1956 Mercury at a cost of $1,600, plus the trade-in of the present car. According to Councilman John J. Queeney Jr., police commissioner, the car will aid in the police department's crack-down on speeders on borough streets. Councilman Queeney also announced that the county is blocking off the parking area and a driveway in back of the new court house each evening. Council had agreed on May 21 to complain to the Monmouth County Board of Freeholders about speeders racing through the driveway and parking area at night.

John E. Laird Jr., Scobeyville (Colts Neck), president of Laird and Company, this week was re-elected to the Board of Directors of Licensed Beverage Indus-tries Inc., national public relations organization for the distilled spirits industry.

25 years ago

It is almost summer, but many of the trees around Ted Markowski's Mill-stone Township home are without leaves. The trees have been all but destroyed by the worst attack of the deadly gypsy moth caterpillar in years. "It's a shame," said Markowski, a 27-year resident of Millstone. "They're ruining a lot of good trees." Markowski said the furry black caterpillars have invaded his home, and the surrounding area, for the past three years, but this year's attack is by far the worst. Monmouth County Shade Tree Commission Superintendent David C. Shaw has characterized this year's gypsy moth infestation as the worst in many years. Tent caterpillars and inch worms have also been found in large numbers. Shaw has attributed the high number of all three insects to the unusual weather in the Monmouth County area of the past few months, which has allowed gypsy moths to hatch two weeks ahead of schedule. Shaw said leaves were being eaten by the moths before they had a chance to mature.

- Compiled by Dick Metzgar