Yesteryear
100 years ago

Born in England of Gypsy parents more than 100 years ago, and living the roving life of a Gypsy all of her life, Mrs. Louise Smith died at the Gypsy camp between Freehold and Marlboro at 11 a.m. Wednesday. She was 101 years, two months and 12 days old, and was believed to be the oldest Gypsy in America. At the death bed were several of her children and other descendants. The aged woman had frequently been referred to in the newspapers as a queen. Although proud of her advanced age and satisfied with the life she had lived, she never claimed the honor of being a queen, and one of her sons requested the reporter, in deference to his mother's wishes, not to designate her as a queen in his article. Her husband has been dead about 50 years. For 65 years she lived the roving life of a Romany Gypsy under English skies. She then with her family came to this country. Some of her early years in this country were spent in the states of New York, Connecticut and Pennsylvania, but a greater part of her time was spent in New Jersey which she practically never left for several years past, and New Jersey she called her home. A number of summer seasons past she has spent at Fair Haven, Oceanport, Long Branch, Asbury Park and other places along the Monmouth County coast. Mrs. Smith had six sons and two daughters. Up to a little more than one month ago, she had enjoyed fairly good health, and when she began to fail she had the camp pitched in a little opening of the woods and along the main road from Freehold to Marlboro, where it was quiet and restful. Her children were gathered about her, medical assistance was procured and her every want was looked after. One of her most prized possessions was a yellow silk shawl worn by her mother at her marriage and believed to be more than 200 years old.

David Buck needs no introduction to the people of Freehold and neighboring townships. His entire life as boy and man has been spent in these parts, and as a public officer he has always had the respect and confidence of the people. He was a successful farmer and engaged in that occupation until six years ago, when he removed to Freehold. He has pleased his constituents so well that he has four times been elected as a member of the present Monmouth County Board of Chosen Freeholders and has been known in that body as a capable, painstaking officer, looking well after the interests of his immediate constituents and the taxpayers generally. As chairman of the court house and jail committee, he has the principal care of the county buildings, discharging his duties in a most satisfactory manner. He is on the Demo-cratic ticket for re-election.

75 years ago

Mayor Peter F. Runyon should receive an overwhelming vote for re-election on Nov. 3 if faithful and conscientious service rendered the people of Freehold without reservation of any kind means anything. He has served the borough for more than six years as a member of the Borough Council and is now serving his sixth year as mayor. No question has ever been raised or can be raised as to his honesty or sincerity of purpose. His conduct in office has been both efficient and fearless. He has left no stone unturned nor spared any effort necessary to give Freehold the best possible local government. He has never been turned aside from doing his duty as he saw it by any thought that the doing thereof might not be popular in certain quarters. Partisanship has had no part in his conduct of public affairs. Such service and experience should and must be appreciated by the people and the least that they can do is to take the trouble to go and vote for him on Election Day. We can think of no reason for making a change in Freehold's chief executive nor have we heard any logical reason advanced by others.

The new museum and home of the Monmouth County Historical Assoc-iation on Court Street in Freehold was opened to the public for the first time on Tuesday with a priceless collection of rare maps and documents, early Amer-ican furniture and other relics dating back to the time this country was first settled. One of the most valuable pieces of the extensive loan collection on display is a beautiful secretary, originally the property of James Wilson, one of the signers of the Declaration of Indepen-dence. The secretary, which dates back to about 1770, is surmounted by a carved head of William Penn. It was loaned to the association by Mrs. J. Amory Haskell of Red Bank.

50 years ago

The striking workers of Local 26 Textile Workers Union of America are now expected to vote on two proposals offered by A&M Karagheusian representatives to union officials at a mediation session in New York City yesterday before Commissioner Robert P. Walsh of the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service. A meeting of Local 26 has been called at the Jewish Community Center on Broad Street to hear the results of the meeting that was held in New York yesterday. The company proposal is divided into two parts. One pertains to the employees who struck in sympathy with the members of axminster department, the other concerns the 40 axminster setters and floor help who walked out twice.

25 years ago

Spurred by outside pressure, the Farmingdale Board of Education on Nov. 4 will have to decide on "staggered sessions" for the elementary school students, or come up with an emergency plan that would keep the regular time schedule. A suitable arrangement is necessary until the heating system is installed in the community civic center that is being used as an annex for the second and third grade class, or that project is abandoned and construction is focused on altering the school's basement for classroom use. Along with meeting any schedule adjustments, the board has approved a plan for rebids on the annex heating work.

- Compiled by Dick Metzgar