The Charles Brantingham ball which was held on Thursday night was attended by everybody from far and near, and the dancing was continued until long after the bells had rung out the old year and had ushered in the new. Professor Guttman�s orchestra from Amboy provided the music and the night passed most enjoyable.
Miss Emma Manning is attended by Dr. Van Horn, of Plainfield, for a serious attack of pneumonia. She is confined to her bed and her symptoms were sufficiently threatening yesterday for Dr. Van Horn to exclude visitors and to send for Miss Manning�s sister, Mrs.Voorhees, from Asbury Park, to help in nursing her.
The Attlee youngsters entertained the Burdick youngsters all day yesterday, while Mr. and Mrs. Burdick were removing to Roselle. Of course, all the juveniles thought moving was fine fun.
Miss Gladys Thorne has returned from a week�s visit to her aunt and uncle, Mr. and Mrs. Eugene Winship, of the Bronx, and has brought her entertainers back with her to say for a few days.
Tomorrow the Rev. C.W.F. Attlee will preach in the morning from �A Few New Year�s Thoughts,�� and in the evening from �God�s Encouragements for the Right-Minded.��
�Midget,� the diminutive pet pony, owned by Charles Brantingham, has passed into the possession of H.W. McCullock, of Illinois.
Spring Lake was in fine condition for skating yesterday and large parties from Plainfield as well as all the young folks from here enjoyed the healthy sport.
Arthur Randolph has returned from a visit to friends in Trenton.
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January 4, 1909
William Waldron, who is working the Fred Endress farm and whose left thumb was absolutely severed a few days ago by his circular saw, is doing well. The thumb was reconnected with the hand at Muhlenberg Hospital, and when it was examined at that institution on Saturday it seemed to be joining the hand, and to have a healthy appearance.
There is some fear that the village may lose Constable and Mrs. Reilly and their family as they are thinking of residing in Westfield and are offering their house and store for sale.
Robert Horn, Jr., of New York, returned home last evening after passing a few days with his parents in the village.
H.J. Manning led a useful meeting of Christian Endeavor yesterday evening. His topic was �The Duty of Resolving.�
Mr. and Mrs. Eugene Winship, of the Bronx, spend the week-end with Mrs. Winship�s brother, Oscar Thorne.
Charles Foster, of Perth Amboy, spent Sunday with Mr. and Mrs. Melvin Teeple, of Lakeside a[sic]venue.
Mrs. David Bigley entertained her brother, George Cornelius, of Penn Argyl, Pa., for the week-end.
The illness of Miss Emma Manning is giving much anxiety to her friends.
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January 5, 1909
Stilman Solt and family, of Lehighton, Pa., have leased �Edgebrook� and will move in it on or about January 15. Mr. Solt has taken the position on the Lehigh Valley Railroad left vacant by the death of Harry Mundy, and is therefore in charge of the fast freight running between here and Newark.
Constable William Reilley has returned from New York where he has been consulting his lawyers concerning the estate of his relative, the late Jistate Phelan, of Kansas, to which Mr. Reilley is led to believe he as a one-third claim.
Oscar Thorne visited his brother, Alfred, of North Plainfield, yesterday and found him slightly improved. Alfred Thorne is suffering from quincy sore throat, with severe complications.
Peter J. McDonough, of Lehigh a[sic]venue, is entertaining Judge Peter Shoffer, of the Supreme Court. His Honor will return to his home in White Haven, Pa., in a few days.
The Sunswick poultry farm secured the majority of the first and special prizes at Madison Square Garden�s poultry show, in the Orpington class, last week.
Miss Flora Conyne, of Irvington, has returned home after a visit to Miss Nellie Manning.
Miss Emma Manning is decidedly improved. Mrs. Anna A. Ward spent yesterday with her.
Mrs. W.E. Smith has been entertaining Mr. and Mrs. G. Dunham, of Plainfield.
****** January 6, 1909
Reaching the mature age of 15 years, Elwood Johnson, of Plainfield avenue, entertained 15 of his relatives and friends yesterday. They were the Misses Grace Norman, Gladys Thorne and Lorene Harris; Joseph Horn, Lloyd Harris, Victor Attlee, Willie and John Ball, Edward Norman, Russell Pyatt, Willie Wynans, all of the village, and Harold Mundy of Plainfield. His three sisters, the Misses Florence, Mildred and Dorothy Johnson, made the magic number complete. The case of Elwood Johnson may seem to be unique. Fifteen years ago he was unable to say a single word and appeared to be quite helpless; his friends were obliged to feed him with a spoon and, as he had not a single tooth, he was nourished on a milk diet. It was more than a year before he could take a single step and he was almost bold. For many months he kept his bed and was so excitable that he screamed every time a stranger called of he needed sustenance. Today he is perfectly strong and well and frequently is called to one of the best known business houses of Plainfield for his assistance and advice.
There will be an important business meeting of the Christian Endeavor Society on Friday evening at the home of Miss Emma Faulks.
The teacher-training class resumed the study of the Old Testament scriptures last evening.
Several numbers of the Christmas songs will be repeated, by request, on Sunday evening.
The condition of Miss Emma Manning is much more encouraging.
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January 6, 1909
Resident of South Plainfield for Many Years, Passes Away, Aged 55. Mrs. Maurice Higgins, of South Plainfield, died yesterday afternoon at 2:25 o�clock. Mrs. Higgins was formerly Miss Alice Callaghan, and was born in Ireland 55 years and 6 months ago. She came to this country some thirty-four years ago, and married Maurice Higgins, who until this fall was proprietor of the Higgins� Hotel, on Front street, in South Plainfield.
Mrs. Higgins leaves, besides her husband, one son John, Her only daughter, Mary, who was a young girl of twelve years of age, died about thirteen years ago. Mrs. Higgins leaves, in South Plainfield, two cousins, who are her only other living relatives, namely, Mrs. Thomas Savard and Mrs. Dennis Harlow.
The funeral will be held at the family home tomorrow morning at 8:45, and at St. Mary�s church, this city, at 9:30. Interment will be in St. Mary�s cemetery, this city.
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January 7, 1909
As usual the honor roll of this school ranks high in the State and is a credit to the professor, the teachers, the parents, and the pupils. It is as follows: Primary and Grade 1--Anna McDonough, Eunice Randolph, Geraldine Moyles, Beatrice Attlee, Ruth Boss, Francis Burdick, Alfred Wooden, Dorie Pace, George Wooden, Stanley Phillips, Tom Bohl, Judson Ten Eyck, Eugene Schenck and William Shields; Grade 2--Grace Boss, Sadie Schenck, Howard Norman, Frank Hannon and Lester Soper; Grade 3--Marjorie Roberts, Margaret Hamilton, Veronica Reilley, Mary Nelson, Ellen Richards, Margaret Nelson, Vivienne Burdick, Fred Teeple and Martin McDonough; Grades 4, 5 and 6--Elizabeth Johnson, Marie Maxwell, Nellie Harlow, Laura Roberts, Gertrude Schenck, Madeline Reilley, Nellie McDonough, oJhn[sic] Hogan, George Brower, Ben Wyckoff and Robert Hamilton; Grammar Grade--William Saverd, Lloyd Harris and William Bohl.
Court South Plainfield, Independent Order of Foresters, elected the following officers at their annual meeting this week; Chief ranger, William Reilley; vice-chief ranger, George Arrowsmith; recording secretary, William Hamilton; financial secretary, John Connor; treasurer, P.J. McDonough; court deputy, Edward McDonough; orator, J.J.McDonough; S.W., John F. Horn; J. W. Frank Miller; S.B., Edward Geary; J.B., M. Day; trustees, William Hamilton and P.J. McDonough.
The battle between Isaac Randolph and Edward Anderson resulted in a tie after 75 rounds; the woes of both combatants are receiving the attention of the parents of the boys -- so are other parts of their persons. Both won.
The township committee met last evening and the previous night for the purpose of settling the business reports for 1908. The committee hope to be in a position to make a full report on Friday evening.
Mrs. Scott, of Lehigh avenue, has been entertaining Mrs. M. Harrison, of Elizabeth, since New Year�s Day. Mrs. Harrison returned home yesterday.
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January 7, 1909
FIRE DESTROYS OLD LANDMARK
See next article
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January 8, 1909
No serious injuries were incurred at the great fire on Wednesday night, but Monroe Pyatt is suffering with his right eye from a red-hot cinder, which, though painful, did not endanger the sight. Any quantity of suits of clothes were ruined by the fire and the water, and one man was unable to attend a funeral because his clothing was ruined. The Middlesex Water Company said yesterday, through their representative, that they should not rebuild.
The January business meeting of the Christian Endeavor Society will be held this evening at the home of Miss Emma Faulks.
Sumner Randolph has decided to move into Plainfield, but to continue on his farm on Plainfield avenue.
Mrs. M. Fitzgerald, of Perth Amboy, is staying with her brother, Maurice Higgins, of Front street.
Mr. and Mrs. David Bigley are entertaining Mr. and Mrs. F. Kellog and family, of Plainfield.
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January 9, 1909
A notation in the SOUTH PLAINFIELD column notes that the grist mill fire was still smoldering.
