Yesteryear
100 years ago

The conventions of the Republican and Democratic parties in the town of Freehold met in joint sessions at Fire-man's Hall Monday evening. They organized in due form with chairmen and secretaries for each convention and after all the preliminaries had been attended to both conventions unanimously renominated the old Board of Commissioners to serve another year. Having met in an adjoining room they adjourned to present their nominations to the board with the request that they serve another term. Chairman Samuel C. Cowart, for the Republican Convention, and Chairman James E. White, for the Democratic convention, both passed up mellifluous oratorical bouquets to the board, separately and collectively. After having received their annual salaries with proper decorum and thankfulness of spirit, it seemed up to the members of the board to reply. There wasn't a man of them who really wanted the job, and three of them who had served for long terms had expressed a desire to be allowed to retire from further service. Chief Commissioner Smith thanked the conventions for their votes of confidence and said that although he had a pretty long term of service he was willing to remain another year. His relation with other members of the board had been very pleasant and he would consent to remain if the others were of the same mind. Mr. Moreau said he had also consented to serve another year, if the other members would do likewise. Mr. Deedmeyer wished to positively decline, and did so, but after some persuasion allowed his name to stand. Messrs. Carson and Vanderveer had served only one year, and agreed to remain with the board for another year if the people of the town so desired. The formal official acceptance of the nominations of both parties were afterwards signed by the nominees and their names will appear on the official ballots of both the Republican and Democratic parties. The nominees are Chief Commissioner, Daniel F. Smith; assistant commissioners, Alex L. Moreau, Lee Deedmeyer, Garret D. Carson, W. Herbert Vanderveer.

75 years ago

Through a merger of two institutions, the oldest bank in Freehold, the National Freehold Banking Company, ceased to exist at noon last Saturday. At the same time, the next oldest bank, the First National Bank of Freehold, became one of the largest and strongest banking institutions of the county. Banking business has been conducted at the National Freehold Banking Company building on West Main Street all this week, but on Monday all the business will be transferred to the First National Bank building, a few yards east of the former. The personnel of the former will be absorbed by the First National, although adjustments may be necessary later. Howard A. Sutphen, cashier of the National Free-hold Banking Company the past 30 years and an employee there for 45 years, became a vice president of the First National, but William H. Tuthill, president of the former, plans to retire from the business in the near future. Mr. Sutphen, who has long been recognized as one of the most popular of the banking men in the borough, will be associated with Donald P. Smith as president, Clifford Hance as vice president, Elmer C. Hall, cashier, and A. Rulon Applegate, assistant cashier. The merger was effected with the full approval and sanction of the national bank examiners and none of the depositors in either institution will be affected in the least. The National Freehold Banking Company building will now be for sale or lease. The National Freehold Banking Company was organized in 1865 with a state charter and the First National Bank in 1884, they being two of the oldest banks in the county and the First National was the first in the county to secure a national charter. The merger makes the First National Bank of Freehold now stand as the fifth largest bank in the county, with total resources of $4,433,570.30, according to the last bank call, as of June 30. The growth of the banks is indicated by the fact that 20 years ago, their combined assets amounted to something like $800,000.

50 years ago

What is a pharmacist? He is a member of the "health team." His teammates are the family doctors, specialists, nurses and hospital administrators who work for better community health. He is the "scientist on the corner." He is that unique storekeeper who must have a college degree in pharmacy and pass the rigid examination of the State Board of Pharmacy in order to win the honored title of "Registered Pharmacist." But he does not stop there. Through professional journals and meetings he is up to date on the latest research and developments in pharmacy and medicine. He is the physician's colleague and trusted aide. In direct contact with drug manufacturers, he helps keep the busy physician informed on the hundreds of new prescription drugs that are developed each year. He is the physician's "warehouse." He must stock every drug that may be prescribed by the doctors he serves ... medicines for hay fever, arthritis, the common cold ... thousands of them. Freehold Borough is well represented by a number of these dedicated medical professionals.

25 years ago

Who are these people, scurrying back and forth, to and fro, consistently asking for your vote these days? Good question - probably the top one for all of us the next several weeks. The New Transcript editorial staff got to know many of these individuals up close, firsthand, at a Sept. 22, 1981 special candidate forum-seminar hosted by the newspaper. Focus of the session was on how best to get the candidates' message across to you. That, after all, is our function and our responsibility. We are convinced that, more often than not, the outcome of local election races - often devoid of issues separating the candidates - hinges more on how voters perceive the candidates as people, as individuals. Party labels often mean little on the local level. Prospective voters, in the final analysis, covet and embrace the candidates with who they most closely identify and whom they like better or the best.

- Compiled by Dick Metzgar