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sandyhookhistory · 1 year

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Good afternoon, folks. We have a great centennial for you 100 Years Ago, Today - (Thursday) March 8th, 1923: "The Love Nest," staring silent film great Buster Keaton, debuts. If you love old maritime footage - and great deadpan comedy- this film is a must. Keaton's character is jilted by his love, and runs away to sea, ending up on a whaler with a sadistic captain who dispatches Crewmen over the side for the most menial infractions. Keaton, in true form, navigates the insanity with great hilarity. Deciding to take matters into his own hands, he scuttles the ship, and escapes in a lifeboat. He then drifts, until tying up to a floating US Navy target rack, and promptly goes fishing. There is absolutely stellar US Navy Battleship target practice footage, as Keaton is oblivious to 12 and 14-inch shells landing around him, thinking the fish are just biting well. I won't tell you how it ends- go watch for yourselves and enjoy a wonderful comedy short that, although 100 years old today, is timeless. (You can find it on youtube) 🇺🇲🇺🇲 ** Please Like & Follow "Sandy Hook History" on Facebook & Instagram for more amazing maritime and military histories of the Garden State and New York Harbor as well as a review of the 80th Anniversary of the Battle Of The Atlantic and World War 2** 🇺🇲🇺🇲 Photos: PubDom, #visitmonmouth #newjerseybuzz #thejournalnj #locallivingnj #journeythroughjersey #centraljerseyexists #discovernj #yesnj #newjerseyhistory #newjerseyforyou #sandyhookbeach #sandyhooknj #sandyhookhistory #forthancockhistory #forthancock #battleoftheatlantic #busterkeaton #thelovenest #centuryold #deadpan #deadpancomedy #vintagenavy #oldnavy #usnavy #unitedstatesnavy #battleships #greatfootage #historicfilm #classicmovie #classiccomedy (at Fort Hancock, New Jersey) https://www.instagram.com/p/CpiRRgyg60j/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

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thehistorygirlnj · 3 years

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Millington station in the #Millington section of Long Hill Township, #NewJersey. The station is of stone-masonry construction with Richardsonian elements built in 1901 by the Delaware, Lackawanna, and Western Railroad. Today, it houses the Millington Station Cafe. In 1984, it was listed in the New Jersey Register of Historic Places and @nationalregisternps as part of the Operating Passenger #Railroad Stations Thematic Resource. The station also once handled freight for local industries and the Millington Quarry. #nj #njhistory #SpreadTheHistory #historygirl #history #travelblog #travelblogger #blogger #blog #history #ushistory #history #americanhistory #explorenj #njspots #jerseycollective #journeythroughjersey #architecture #archi_ologie #morriscountynj #millingtonnj #longhillnj #nrhp #trainstation #trains_worldwide (at Millington, New Jersey) https://www.instagram.com/p/CNEC4EGDCoU/?igshid=8yogf4bds2kh

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aioinstagram · 6 years

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Courier Post South Jersey Boys Basketball Mean 15 Rankings for Jan. 7 is Trending on Monday January 8 2018 http://www.aioinstagram.com/courier-post-south-jersey-boys-basketball-mean-15-rankings-for-jan-7-is-trending-on-monday-january-8-2018/

Cherry Hill Courier Post says: South Jersey Boys Basketball Mean 15 Rankings for Jan. 7

Top 1 articles about Courier Post:

Lenape (5-2*) – The Indians loss to Wildwood Catholic was the teams second in three games after a 4-0 start. They did beat Winslow 49-41 on Saturday as Andrew Sims scored 17 points and Matt Ingersoll had a season-high 12 (7). 13. Rancocas Valley (5-1

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Description: As our #Wellington HQ is currently out of action, last week there was a lot of milk that had nowhere to go. Thankfully Hannah and Mannu were on the case and delivered it to @womensrefugenz, the Wellington Night Shelter and @vicuniwgtn. Love your work team, doing us proud! #nzpost #newzealand #newzealandpost #courierpost

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Description: http://www.courierpostonline.com/story/news/2016/09/14/girl-talk-marlton-tackle-sensitive-issues/90368754/ Check out our story in the #courierpost @courierpost @girltalkmarlton

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Description: My” lame “ frozen bubble attempt. #sjshowus#news12nj#njspots#wildnewjersey#newjersey#jerseygrammers#insta_jersey#njisallgood#gardenstate#capturenewjersey#southjersey#jersey#southjerseyadventures#njisbeautiful#newjerseyisbeatiful#jerseycollective#courierpost#newjerseyisntboring#southjerseymade#scenicnj#southjerseyisbeautiful#onlyinnewjersey#allthingsnj#southjersey_photoclub#6abcactionnews#njkeepitgreen#just_newjersey#snjtoday#jerseycollective#journeythroughjersey#njinbloom

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sandyhookhistory · 1 year

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Part 3 of 3! (CONCLUSION) One last follow-up to the series for K9 Veterans Day. This lovely young lady is Lauren Bacall, world famous movie actress from the 1940's and on. From my research, this was taken at Santa Monica, California in 1943 by Louise Dahl-Wolfe, who shot for Harper's Bazaar. Not to get away from Miss Bacall, but, um... Look who's standing behind her. Here we see, yet again, a US Coast Guardsman, on beach patrol, with his trusty K9 companion. Were they assigned to be in the photo by the War Department? Or were they asked to step into the background as they made their rounds past the photoshoot? Who knows. But, this does clearly show that here at home, there were no longer peaceful, idyllic days at the beach during the early 1940's... If you went to the shore, The War was there, too. But so were our defenders. 🇺🇸❤️ 🇺🇲🇺🇲 ** Please Like & Follow "Sandy Hook History" on Facebook & Instagram for more amazing maritime and military histories of the Garden State and New York Harbor as well as a review of the 80th Anniversary of the Battle Of The Atlantic and World War 2** 🇺🇲🇺🇲 Photo: PubDom#visitmonmouth #newjerseybuzz #thejournalnj #locallivingnj #journeythroughjersey #centraljerseyexists #discovernj #yesnj #newjerseyhistory #newjerseyforyou #sandyhookbeach #sandyhooknj #sandyhookhistory #forthancockhistory #forthancock #battleoftheatlantic #dogsfordefense #homefront #dogsofinstagram #dogs #k9 #k9unit #k9shep #militaryworkingdog #doggos #dogsofnewjersey #canines #doggosofnj #workingdogsofinstagram #K9VeteransDay (at Fort Hancock, New Jersey) https://www.instagram.com/p/CqBFdSKgvNB/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

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sandyhookhistory · 1 year

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Good afternoon, everyone - we would like to offer a Very Happy 90th Birthday to one of America's most iconic locations - Radio City Music Hall. Tuesday, December 27th, 1932, the curtain goes up for the very first time at 1260 6th Avenue (Avenue Of The Americas). These images were taken between late November through December 26th, 1932 - she is seen here as quiet as a tomb, untouched and ready for the big step off - not unlike a grand ship just before her launching. In some of the photos, you'll see workmen putting on the finishing touches or a stray piece of equipment ready to be picked up and removed. The final image was taken on opening night - today - 9 decades ago. I wanted to share these in contrast to the flurry of activity that RCMH is still known for to this day. Ironically, Radio City had a catastrophic opening night - the live performance program ran from 8pm to 2am, and acts had to be crammed and many patrons simply up and left. It was a public relations nightmare. A month later, after restructuring and a few sackings, things turned around. Moving pictures were added to the rotation and the epic, ground-breaking "King Kong" was to premiere there in March, 1933. Ever since, Radio City has become the benchmark location for movie premieres, and some of the most popular music and theatrical performances of all time. And the rest, as they say, is history. 🇺🇲🇺🇲 ** Please Like & Follow "Sandy Hook History" on Facebook & Instagram for more amazing maritime and military histories of the Garden State and New York Harbor as well as a review of the 80th Anniversary of the Battle Of The Atlantic and World War 2** 🇺🇲🇺🇲 Photos: Getty Images (all) #visitmonmouth #newjerseybuzz #thejournalnj #locallivingnj #journeythroughjersey #onlyinnewjersey #njspots #centraljerseyexists #discovernj #yesnj #newjerseyhistory #newjerseyforyou #sandyhookbeach #sandyhooknj #sandyhookhistory #forthancockhistory #forthancock #radiocitymusichall #rockefellercenternyc #rockefellercenter #newyorkcityhistory #nyhistory #nyhistoricalsociety #therockettes #performancearts #newyorkcitylandmarks #nationalregisterofhistoricplaces #1930movies #radiocity #avenueoftheamericas (at Radio City Music Hall) https://www.instagram.com/p/Cmrl0H_gshQ/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

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sandyhookhistory · 1 year

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So, we also have another birthday to attend to... a loud one. 😁 We'd like to wish a very very Happy 247th Birthday to the United States Army Field Artillery, established (Friday) November 17th, 1775. Despite an obsessive-compulsive (and misguided) concept that it is obsolete, the Artillery remains the largest casualty-causing weapons system on the battlefield. (Not that I'm biased, or anything - I spent six years of my life as a Redleg 😉) The Field Artillery remains on the leading edge of the technology field, staying abrest of all possible modernizations in weapons platforms, ammunition, and fire-control. It is, and will always remain, The King Of Battle. *** Seen here is an M777 .155mm howitzer (affectionately referred to as a "Triple-Seven"). Of British design, it is used by both the US Army and Marine Corps, and depending on ammunition used, can reach out anywhere 14 to 25 miles.*** Happy Birthday, Redlegs!!! 🇺🇲🇺🇲🇺🇲🇺🇲🇺🇲 🇺🇲🇺🇲 ** Please Like & Follow "Sandy Hook History" on Facebook & Instagram for more amazing maritime and military histories of the Garden State and New York Harbor as well as a review of the 80th Anniversary of the Battle Of The Atlantic and World War 2** 🇺🇲🇺🇲 Photo: US Army #newjerseybuzz #thejournalnj #locallivingnj #journeythroughjersey #onlyinnewjersey #njspots #centraljerseyexists #discovernj #yesnj #newjerseyhistory #newjerseyforyou #sandyhookbeach #sandyhooknj #sandyhookhistory #forthancock #fieldartillery #artillery #redlegs #redleg #henryknox #kingofbattle #m777 #m119 #m109 #paladin #firemission #fortsill #fortsilloklahoma #firecontrol #forwardobserver (at Fort Hancock, New Jersey) https://www.instagram.com/p/ClFlzyqtWx-/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

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sandyhookhistory · 2 months

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Justice Is Served... 'Extra Crispy'

'Evening, folks. We have a very dark chapter of New York City's WWII-era History to share with you tonight.

80 Years Ago Today - (Saturday) March 4th, 1944:

(From left to right, going clock wise) Seen here, in Photo 1, in their mug shots, are Mafia members Louis Capone, Emanuel "Mendy" Weiss (top right), and Louis "Lepke" Buchalter (bottom right) But, these aren’t just ANY mobsters. These creeps are members of "Murder, Inc," the contract killers who worked for the Italian and Jewish mobs, primarily in New York. Buchalter, in fact, was its first President. All three of them are nothing but cold-blooded killers.

Buchalter, in fact, had a hand in The Hit on Dutch Schultz in Jersey City, NJ in October, 1935.

Each man has a bone-chilling record that is too numerous to list here. After years of crime and a body count to match, all three were ultimately caught, convicted, and given the death sentence in New York City on December 2nd 1941 - five days before Pearl Harbor. Capone and Weiss were sent 'Up The River' to Sing Sing Correctional Facility on the Hudson River while Buchalter ended up back at Leavenworth Federal Penitentiary in Kansas on a previous racketeering charge. The State of New York wanted him back - BAD. Following the loss of a long string of appeals, he was extradited to New York on January 21st, 1944.

All three got a seat in "Old Sparky," the Electric Chair at Sing Sing on Saturday, March 4th, 1944 around 11:00 pm, EST - hence while we waited until now to do our post.

Capone, who had been sentenced last among the three, was slated to go first. Ironically, he had a heart condition, and the State was worried he would have a heart attack and "cheat the hangman." Weiss went second, and Buchalter, sentenced first, and being known as a "tough guy," was intentionally made to go last - forced to watch his two henchmen go before him.

Regular... Or Extra Crispy?

Macabre as this you might think this to be, they earned it, and they got what was coming to them. This story plays a unique part of the WWII timeline within America's 1940s Home Front culture as the Mobs were being consistently hunted down and dismantled by the FBI. The glory days of the Depression and the "Public Enemies" in the 1930s were long over, and the Federal Government had little patience or mercy for thugs like these as it had to execute and fight a War that was raging around the planet.

But... quite paradoxically, in the "Fog Of War," American Organized Crime wove itself in and out of America's War Effort - both here, and overseas - with the blessings and absolution of that very same US Government. But that's an incredible story for another day. 😉

🇺🇸 🇺🇸 🇺🇸 🇺🇸 🇺🇸

🇺🇲🇺🇲 ** Please Like & Follow "Sandy Hook History" on Facebook & Instagram for more amazing maritime and military histories of the Garden State and New York Harbor as well as a review of the 80th Anniversary of the Battle Of The Atlantic and World War 2** 🇺🇲🇺🇲

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sandyhookhistory · 3 months

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“Tragedy At Sea - The Loss Of Texas Tower 4”

Good evening, everyone. Today is a terrible anniversary, both in the history of our military, and the Jersey Shore.

63 Years Ago, Today - (Sunday) January 15th, 1961, 76.8 miles east of Barnegat Light, NJ:

In the 1950’s, with the Cold War well underway, the military wanted to extend our visibility deep into the Atlantic ocean. To accomplish this, large radar platforms would be built far offshore. With an additional 300 mile increase in range, the towers’ would give the United States additional response time in the event of a nuclear attack by Russian aircraft.

Five towers were planned, from New England to New Jersey. Towers 1 and 5 were never built; Tower 2 was placed on George’s Shoal northeast of Cape Cod, Tower 3 was built on Nantucket Shoal east of Montauk Point, LI, and Tower 4 was built on an unnamed shoal 76.8 miles nearly due east of the Barnegat Lighthouse, in New Jersey. The large platforms earned the nickname “Texas Towers,” due to their similarity with oil drilling rigs in the Gulf of Mexico.

Texas Tower 4 was assigned to the Highlands Air Force Station, here in Monmouth County (present day Hartshorne Woods County Park), with the call signs “Jitney” and “Dora,” as part of the 646th Radar Squadron.

Regrettably, it had a terrible reputation from the start, beginning in 1957. Built on land, it was transported to its shoal via barge. Enroute, two of the three legs were damaged, and the decision was made to repair them at sea - this was never properly done.

The whirring of the massive radar dishes, and their diesel generators, caused extreme reverberation through the entire platform. Due to the depth - 185 feet of water - the Tower’s hollow legs reverberated with the flow of the sea. Not only did the Tower shudder with the waves, it rocked violently, earning it the unenviable nickname of “Old Shaky.”

Repeated pleas for substantial repairs were deferred, and only small piece-meal work was done over time. Requests to abandon the Tower were declined, because of Russian patrol vessels who were ready to swoop in and strip the Tower of its secret materials.

The Tower endured one massive storm after another. It took Hurricane Daisy in August, 1958, and then was battered by Hurricane Donna in September, 1960..

Refusing to the abandon the Tower, the Air Force removed non-essential troops and left a skeleton crew of 14 Air Force personnel and 14 civilian contractors aboard. With the powers-that-be finally acknowledging that the Tower was in danger of collapse, their flash of brilliance to temporarily stabilize it was to mix concrete and dump it straight down the hollow shafts of each legs. As winter of 1960-61 approached, the helipad on the tower filled up with pallets of cement bags. As late as January 7th, Navy Divers, assessing the legs, found the supporting structures were damaged and letting go

As these stories always do, tragedy awaited. A storm arrived in full force - the forecast on January 14th called for winds as high as 60 mph. On the morning of the 15th, the Tower groaned and twisted in ways no one had seen before - another support brace had gone. All day the men on Texas Tower 4 called in damage reports and pleas for rescue.

The Air Force finally relented - but it was too late. At 4 pm, at the height of the storm, they authorized an evacuation, but the weather was too rough for helicopters. All US Coast Guard and Navy ships in the area - including an aircraft carrier, the USS Wasp (CV-18) - made for the Tower at full speed.

At 6:45 pm came the bone-chilling radio message “WE ARE BREAKING UP.”

Texas Tower 4 presented a massive blip on surface radars. Around 7:30 pm, with some ships just miles away - it vanished.

One of the damaged legs finally buckled, and the entire structure crashed into the sea. Texas Tower 4 was gone. And with it, all 28 men. Only two bodies were recovered; the rest were claimed by the sea.

We pause to honor and remember the lives that were lost 63 years ago today off the Jersey Shore. It must be remembered that our Cold War veterans served - and sacrificed - without a shot ever being fired in anger.

28 US Air Force Personnel and Civilian Contractors Lost their lives that day. Of note, many of the civilian contractors were veterans themselves, of several branches. Out of respect so as to prevent confusion, they are listed here without rank, simply by name and age.

They Are:

Abbott, David - 48

Bakke, Roald - 35

Brown, Vincent - 43

Bucherri, Samuel - 45

Cudnick, Chester - 47

Evans, Thomas - 54

Foster, Bishop - 35

Giurastante, Domenic - 19

Green, Kenneth - 27

Haroutunian, Aram - 45

Ide, William - 38

Jones, Leland - 22

Kovarick, Wilbur - 36

Kruse, William - 27

Laino, Louis - 21

Leo, Milton - 50

Martel, Raymond - 34

Opalka, Anthony - 46

Parker, David - 22

Phelan, Gordon - 33

Robertson, Edward - 39

Schutz, Henry - 57

Shaffer, Harry - 37

Smythe, William - 61

Waitt, Donald - 39

Williams, Troy - 39

Wolford, Larry - 24

Yavorosky, Vincent - 44

You Are Not Forgotten

🇺🇸 🇺🇸 🇺🇸 🇺🇸 🇺🇸

🇺🇲🇺🇲 ** Please Like & Follow "Sandy Hook History" on Facebook & Instagram for more amazing maritime and military histories of the Garden State and New York Harbor as well as a day by day review of the 80th Anniversary of the Battle Of The Atlantic and World War 2** 🇺🇲🇺🇲

#visitmonmouth #newjerseybuzz #thejournalnj #locallivingnj #journeythroughjersey #centraljerseyexists #discovernj #yesnj #newjerseyhistory #newjerseyforyou #sandyhookbeach #sandyhooknj #sandyhookhistory #forthancockhistory #forthancock #texastower4 #texastower #coldwar #coldwarveteran #lostatsea #thepricewepay #coldwarriors #thisreallyhappened #newjerseyhistory #njshipwreck #honorourveterans #honorourfallen #youarenotforgotten #missinginaction #unitedstatesairforce

@followers

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sandyhookhistory · 4 months

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~ Fallen Flyers ~

Good evening, everyone. We have a very tragic WWII Anniversary to discuss tonight.

Eighty Years Ago, Today - (Tue) December 28th, 1943, near Douglas, Arizona:

As WWII rages, the ranks of the US Military swell by tens of thousands. Time is short, and the training is hard, fast and tough across the nation.As Allied victories begin to mount up, the time tables accelerate, and more and more troops are needed on the front as soon as possible.

At an unspecified (at this time) Army Air Field (AAF), either Douglas AAF or Hereford, AAF, a routine training flight is about to take off. 2nd Lieutenant Douglas McDow, US Army Air Forces, a 30-year old native of California, is about to take up 26-year old Flight Cadet Clarence A. Thompson, also of California.

Their mount is a UC-78 “Bobcat,” a military incarnation of the successful, twin-engine Cessna “T-50,” which first flew in 1939. The plane, a five seater covered in fabric, is quite suited to the task as a preliminary military trainer.

The two men climb aboard, and after a successful pre-check, the little plane leaves the runway, climbs into the sky… and vanishes without a trace. Searches prove futile, and the two aviators become another tragic ghost story of WWII.

We’ll never know what happened for sure, but what we do know is that hikers in the Pinelao Mountains come across the shattered wreckage of an aircraft… in April, 1974 - 31 years later. Recovery crews are able to ascertain it is the missing Bobcat, found some 90 miles north of where she took off on that fateful training mission.

Recovery personnel also find the remains of the two US Army Flyers. After being missing for three decades, the men are recovered, and are laid to rest, sharing a grave in San Francisco National Cemetery, overlooking San Francisco Bay from Fort Winfield Scott, the Presidio of California.

Today, we pause to remember 2nd Lt. Douglas McDow and Flight Cadet Clarence Thompson.

Your legacy and memory are safe here, and in the hearts of a grateful nation.

Be Thou At Peace.

🇺🇲🇺🇲 ** Please Like & Follow "Sandy Hook History" on Facebook & Instagram for more amazing maritime and military histories of the Garden State and New York Harbor as well as a day by day review of the 80th Anniversary of the Battle Of The Atlantic and World War 2** 🇺🇲🇺🇲

#visitmonmouth #newjerseybuzz #thejournalnj #locallivingnj #journeythroughjersey #centraljerseyexists #discovernj #yesnj #newjerseyhistory #newjerseyforyou #sandyhookbeach #sandyhooknj #sandyhookhistory #forthancockhistory #forthancock #douglasmcdow #clarencethompson #usarmyairforce #armyairforce #missingaircrew #mountgraham #pinalenomountains #douglasarizona #cessnat50 #homefront #uc78 #sanfrancisconationalcemetery #honorourfallen #warathome #bethouatpeace

#sandyhookhistory #centraljerseyexists #discovernj #journeythroughjersey #locallivingnj #newjerseybuzz #newjerseyhistory #sandyhookbeach #sandyhooknj #forthancock #usarmyairforce #usarmyairforces #honourourfallen #without a trace

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sandyhookhistory · 4 months

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Honoring US Army Colonel Henry Harris, namesake to Battery Harris at Fort Tilden, NY - part of the Harbor Defenses of New York!

Follow the link for all the details!!

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/YJ7tnSmxM4qvHWsq/?mibextid=gik2fB

#sandyhookhistory #centraljerseyexists #discovernj #journeythroughjersey #locallivingnj #newjerseybuzz #sandyhookbeach #newjerseyhistory #forthancock #sandyhooknj #forttilden #far rockaway #breezypoint #gilhodgesbridge #marineparkwaybridge #coastartillery #coastdefense #16inchguns

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sandyhookhistory · 4 months

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“Without A Trace – The Sail Ship “Columbus”

111 Years Ago, Today – (Sat) December 20th, 1912, New York Harbor:

The era of wood and sail, thousands of years old, has all but given way to the era of iron and steam. And yet, there are plenty of veteran sailing ships still plying their trades across the seas. One of them is the German “Columbus,” a wooden-hulled, three-masted cargo schooner. Although owned, and flagged, out of Germany, she’s American made. She was built at the Atkinson-Filmore shipyard in Newburyport, MA, north of Boston, and launched in 1876.

Even at 36 years old, she’s still a viable shipping platform. She’s 210 feet long, 40 feet on the beam, and she draws nearly 24 feet of water. She tips the scales at 1,470 tons. Today, she’s loaded with 9,000 barrels of fuel oil, and she casts off lines, bound for Bristol, England. She moves down harbor, and enters the Ambrose Channel. She passes a stone’s throw from the stricken schooner “L. Herbert Taft,” stuck fast on the Romer Shoals, where it wrecked yesterday. (Please see yesterday’s post).

As massive as she is, her large canvas sails would have been plainly visible around the Harbor and from Sandy Hook. She passes “The Hook” under the watchful eye of the Sandy Hook Lighthouse. Clearing the Ambrose Channel, she swings her rudder to port - before her is 2,900 miles of open sea. Those in the Highlands would have seen her slowly crest the horizon; the crew of the Columbus, in turn would have watched the Highlands, and the beams from Twin Lights, slowly vanish as well.

Columbus was never seen again. She vanished without a trace somewhere in the North Atlantic, taking All Hands – 20 Men – with her. We’ll never know for sure what happened.

It is worth noting that this ship was lost eight months AFTER the RMS Titanic disaster that previous April 15th. Even with greater diligence, ice patrols, and increased monitoring, disaster could still – and did – strike.

For perspective, of how savage and violent the sea can be, in 1912 alone, 720 merchant ships were lost in some manner or another. That is nearly two ships a day for an entire year.

Of that number, 72 - TEN PERCENT of the total shipping losses - went missing without a trace, the Columbus among them.

These are staggering figures when laid next to the facts that we are but two years away from World War One.

Today, we humbly remember the Columbus and her lost crewmen as we pause to remember that no matter the time, past, present or future... the Sea will ALWAYS be in charge.

🇺🇸 🇺🇸 🇺🇸 🇺🇸 🇺🇸

🇺🇲🇺🇲 ** Please Like & Follow "Sandy Hook History" on Facebook & Instagram for more amazing maritime and military histories of the Garden State and New York Harbor as well as a review of the 80th Anniversary of the Battle Of The Atlantic and World War 2** 🇺🇲🇺🇲

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sandyhookhistory · 4 months

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~ The Wreck Of The “L. Herbert Taft”

111 Years Ago, Today – Thursday, December 19th, 1912, New York Harbor:

The American cargo schooner, “L. Herbert Taft,” is ready to cast off lines. She’s a decent size ship – a wooden four-master, weighing in at 1,204 tons. Launched in 1901, the little sailing ship is still plying her trade as the nautical world continues to transition to steam. Now, laden with cement, she’s bound for Havana, Cuba. The warmer climate was no doubt on the minds of her crew of 11.

She heads for sea, and enters the Lower Harbor… and strong westerly winds and heavy seas. New York Harbor is an absolute nightmare during foul weather, and today is no exception. Two miles north of Sandy Hook, she’s nearing the Romer Shoal Lighthouse, and the safety of the Ambrose Channel. However, before the crew can react, the winds drive the ship onto the Romer Shoals – the natural, rocky outcropping surrounding the Lighthouse.

The L. Herbert Taft is stuck fast. Unlike other storms, this fortunately isn’t a howling gale, and the crew are able to signal for help. The U.S. Life Saving Service at Sandy Hook see the wreck, and rush to help. In short order, despite the conditions, All Hands are safely rescued. A pair of tugs also come to the aid of the stricken vessel, but under the pitching seas, they can’t pull her free. A third tug is also to no avail.

It is, regrettably, the end of the line for the L. Herbert Taft. Although not broken apart, she’s a total loss, and she remains in place for the next several years. Over time, her she’s dismasted and the wreck begins to break apart. Sometime during 1914-15, her wreck was dismantled, and for the most part, removed.

Another victim of New York Harbor… and another chapter in the maritime histories of New Jersey and New York.

🇺🇲🇺🇲 ** Please Like & Follow "Sandy Hook History" on Facebook & Instagram for more amazing maritime and military histories of the Garden State and New York Harbor as well as a review of the 80th Anniversary of the Battle Of The Atlantic and World War 2** 🇺🇲🇺🇲

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sandyhookhistory · 4 months

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Morning, folks!

Please enjoy the (Thursday) December 9th,1943 edition of Fort Hancock's soldier-run newspaper, the "Sandy Hook Foghorn" which was issued Eighty Years Ago, today! A weekly publication, the paper represents an incredible "snapshot in time" of the day to day life of the Soldiers of Fort Hancock during World War 2.

This amazing historic resource comes from the holdings of the Monmouth County Historical Association in Freehold, NJ, where they are available to the public.

The Foghorn had an entirely enlisted staff, with a small board of officers as advisers. Printed on-site, it told the stories of the Post and our sister site, Fort Tilden, in Breezy Point, across the harbor.

Due to the heavily censored nature of the day - and being on the front lines of the Battle Of The Atlantic - you'll see that specific units and persons are mentioned via nicknames that would be known only to those stationed there, thus providing no useful information to the enemy.

Rounding out the paper are articles on upcoming recreation events, movies, VIPs, and a handful of one-panel cartoons, drawn by military personnel and "syndicated" across the services. Nearly every ship and post had their own newspapers, telling of the daily life at each location, and major stories, photos, and cartoons were used as filler across the board. Please remember that these stories, articles, photos, and cartoons are products of the era, and should be viewed as such - and not responded to in an inflammatory manner when seen through the views of 2023.

Of note, with Americans pouring into the Service by the millions, the military intentionally drew upon each new recruit's professional background as much as possible. This was especially seen in the technical services, aaanndd... the media.

Those troops who had served in civilian journalism as reporters, printers, broadcasters, and photographers often found themselves right back where they came from, now working in the Signal Corps or running post newspapers, such as the Foghorn.

The images are a little fuzzy, but by zooming in, you should be able to read them. Enjoy!

🇺🇲🇺🇲🇺🇲🇺🇲🇺🇲

🇺🇲🇺🇲 ** Please Like & Follow "Sandy Hook History" on Facebook & Instagram for more amazing maritime and military histories of the Garden State and New York Harbor as well as a review of the 80th Anniversary of the Battle Of The Atlantic and World War 2** 🇺🇲🇺🇲

Photos: Monmouth County Historical Association #visitmonmouth #newjerseybuzz #thejournalnj #locallivingnj #journeythroughjersey #centraljerseyexists #discovernj #yesnj #newjerseyhistory #newjerseyforyou #sandyhookbeach #sandyhooknj #sandyhookhistory #forthancockhistory #forthancock #battleoftheatlantic #foghorn #soldierrun #militarynews #randr #militaryjournalist #armynews #historicnewspapers #vintagenewspaper #forttilden #jerseyhistory #monmouthcountyhistory #highlandsnj #localnewspaper #localpaper

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sandyhookhistory · 5 months

Text

Morning, folks!

Please enjoy the (Thursday) December 9th 1943 edition of Fort Hancock's soldier-run newspaper, the "Sandy Hook Foghorn" which was issued Eighty Years Ago, today! A weekly publication, the paper represents an incredible "snapshot in time" of the day to day life of the Soldiers of Fort Hancock during World War 2.

This amazing historic resource comes from the holdings of the Monmouth County Historical Association in Freehold, NJ, where they are available to the public.

The Foghorn had an entirely enlisted staff, with a small board of officers as advisers. Printed on-site, it told the stories of the Post and our sister site, Fort Tilden, in Breezy Point, across the harbor.

Due to the heavily censored nature of the day - and being on the front lines of the Battle Of The Atlantic - you'll see that specific units and persons are mentioned via nicknames that would be known only to those stationed there, thus providing no useful information to the enemy.

Rounding out the paper are articles on upcoming recreation events, movies, VIPs, and a handful of one-panel cartoons, drawn by military personnel and "syndicated" across the services. Nearly every ship and post had their own newspapers, telling of the daily life at each location, and major stories, photos, and cartoons were used as filler across the board. Please remember that these stories, articles, photos, and cartoons are products of the era, and should be viewed as such - and not responded to in an inflammatory manner when seen through the views of 2023.

Of note, with Americans pouring into the Service by the millions, the military intentionally drew upon each new recruit's professional background as much as possible. This was especially seen in the technical services, aaanndd... the media.

Those troops who had served in civilian journalism as reporters, printers, broadcasters, and photographers often found themselves right back where they came from, now working in the Signal Corps or running post newspapers, such as the Foghorn.

The images are a little fuzzy, but by zooming in, you should be able to read it. Enjoy!

🇺🇲🇺🇲🇺🇲🇺🇲🇺🇲

🇺🇲🇺🇲 ** Please Like & Follow "Sandy Hook History" on Facebook & Instagram for more amazing maritime and military histories of the Garden State and New York Harbor as well as a review of the 80th Anniversary of the Battle Of The Atlantic and World War 2** 🇺🇲🇺🇲

Photos: Monmouth County Historical Association #visitmonmouth #newjerseybuzz #thejournalnj #locallivingnj #journeythroughjersey #centraljerseyexists #discovernj #yesnj #newjerseyhistory #newjerseyforyou #sandyhookbeach #sandyhooknj #sandyhookhistory #forthancockhistory #forthancock #battleoftheatlantic #foghorn #soldierrun #militarynews #randr #militaryjournalist #armynews #historicnewspapers #vintagenewspaper #forttilden #jerseyhistory #monmouthcountyhistory #highlandsnj #localnewspaper #localpaper

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sandyhookhistory · 5 months

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~ William Alexander ~

We have a belated #harbordefensehappybirthday to celebrate!

Today, we honor Continental (U.S.) Army Major General William Alexander, Lord Stirling who was born (most likely) on (Wed) December 4th, 1726 in New York City.

By all accounts, he was quite intelligent and well educated. He was the son of Scottish immigrants who fled Scotland after the Jacobite Rebellion. There was ancestral royal blood in the family, and he sought and held a highly controversial title of Lord Stirling. He lived a life befitting the title - and racked up the bill to go with it. Living in New Jersey and deeply in debt by the time the Revolutionary War broke out, the conflict provided a timely interruption to offload his monetary problems.

He became a Colonel in the New Jersey Militia, using his personal funds to outfit the 1st NJ Regiment; he was promoted to Brigadier General in March, 1776.

At the Battle of Long Island in August, the Patriots were quickly outflanked by the Redcoats. Seeing the disaster unfold, Stirling organized troops from Maryland into a well-executed, collapsing rear-guard action that allowed the majority of the American Army to escape. Scattering his men at the very end, he himself remained to be captured. The action was so successful, even the British acknowledged his gallantry.

Released in a prisoner exchange, Stirling was decisively engaged at Trenton that December. He was defeated at Short Hills, NJ in June of 1777, but won at Brandywine and Germantown, both in Pennsylvania. That winter, by accident, he was able to expose, and stop, a planned coup by General Horatio Gates to take command from George Washington. He’s forever part of New Jersey’s legacy for his part in the Battle of Monmouth Courthouse on June 28th, 1778. The fight was savage and he took heavy casualties, but his troops held their ground.

By 1781, Stirling was assigned to command the forces in the northern frontier as the Continentals moved south to Yorktown. With the war all but over, Stirling, in poor health, died on active duty on January 15th, 1783, age 56. He was buried in famed Trinity Church in New York City.

However, his legacy of service would not be allowed to end there. With War Department General Order No. 194 on December 27th, 1904, he became the namesake to ��Battery Alexander,” a two-gun 12-inch caliber disappearing battery at Fort Hancock, NJ. Construction began in 1898, and it was accelerated for the outbreak of the Spanish American War. Completion and transfer to the Coast Artillery was in July, 1899.

Battery Alexander is unique, as it is the two northern emplacements of what is called “9-Gun Battery” at Ft. Hancock. A total of six 12-inch guns and three 10-inch guns were emplaced there between 1896 and 1902. Battery Alexander’s guns face due north, and cover the west into Sandy Hook and Raritan Bay, as well as the approaches to the harbor from the southeast. The Battery enjoyed an exceptionally long service life of 43 years. The guns were finally salvaged for a scrap drive in early 1943. During the Cold War, the vacant emplacement was used as ammunition storage for 90-mm Anti-Aircraft guns until the Nike missiles came online in 1954.

Today, the Battery is in poor shape, with trees and vegetation growing through the concrete. The National Park Service has classified Battery Alexander as a “ruin,” meaning it will never, ever be restored or even preserved.

Although the emplacement may be vanishing, the incredible legacy of General William Alexander, Lord Stirling, the Battery that carries his name, and the service of the US Army Coast Artillerymen that manned it across four decades is in the safest of hands, here.

🇺🇸 🇺🇸 🇺🇸 🇺🇸 🇺🇸

🇺🇲🇺🇲 ** Please Like & Follow "Sandy Hook History" on Facebook & Instagram for more amazing maritime and military histories of the Garden State and New York Harbor as well as a review of the 80th Anniversary of the Battle Of The Atlantic and World War 2** 🇺🇲🇺🇲

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sandyhookhistory · 8 months

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“The Death of John Colman”

414 Years Ago, Today - (Sunday) September 6th, 1609, Sandy Hook Bay & New York Harbor:

Famed and intrepid explorer Henry Hudson arrived with his ship, the “Half Moon,” arrived off what is now New York several days earlier. Several of his men are out in one of the ship’s boats, exploring the deep waters that we now know as Sandy Hook Bay and the Lower Harbor.

For reasons that will never be known, two canoes full of Lenape Indians arrive, and unleash a hail of arrows upon the sailors. One of them finds its mark, going through the throat of the Half Moon’s 2nd Mate, a man named John Colman. He falls dead into the bottom of the boat as the men furiously row back to the safety of the Half Moon.

The place of his burial – “on the beach” has been lost to history, and there are several candidates as to the location. However, the most plausible location was a spit of sand that was jutting out into these deep waters, adjacent to the Half Moon’s anchorage. It was thus named “Colman’s Point” in his honor. In turn, as the Dutch continued to expand their influence in the area, that spit would come to be known as “Sant Hoek.” We know it today… as Sandy Hook.

Today, we remember John Colman, and warmly reflect on the fact that our beloved Sandy Hook has been intertwined with our nation’s history, literally, since Day One.

And that's pretty awesome.

🇺🇲🇺🇲 ** Please Like & Follow "Sandy Hook History" on Facebook & Instagram for more amazing maritime and military histories of the Garden State and New York Harbor as well as a review of the 80th Anniversary of the Battle Of The Atlantic and World War 2** 🇺🇲🇺🇲

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