NJFSC Chapter #44S..........PHS Affiliate #1A..........APS Affiliate #95 |
Society & Member's Galleries....
As we continue to add more galleries, some will be for public display while many will be reserved for members access only.
Featured Covers Gallery
May 2009 Issue of the NJPH Journal featuring a DPO cover from Maurer, New Jersey.
A pretty little letter sheet invitation from a local hotel in Maurer (now part of Perth Amboy, Middlesex County), NJ turned up at the Garfield-Perry Show in Cleveland, in JWF (Jim Faber’s) stock. Used in 1905, it is from a community that literally does not exist anymore. The location is now the site of a large “tank farm” belonging to Chevron.
From an old issue of Postal History -USA [March 1979] we learn the following about this DPO:
“Maurer was a small industrial community, located just north of the City of Perth Amboy in Middlesex County. The Maurer community was a “company town” built by the Henry J. Maurer Brick Company. This company was well known for both high quality fire bricks and building bricks and for many years was one of the leading brick manufacturers in the Raritan clay area of New Jersey. The community of Maurer was one of the few “company towns” in New Jersey and was patterned after company housing in England. Not only did the community have its own post office, but also its own railroad station.
“The Maurer Post Office was established January 22, 1892 with John Pfeiffer as the first postmaster. On November 30, 1920 it became a station of the Perth Amboy Post Office and on February 1, 1938 the name was changed to Barber, which was a branch of the Perth Amboy Post Office. The Barber Post Office was discontinued, April 30, 1960. The Henry J. Maurer Brick Company has long been history and the land is now occupied by the Barber Asphalt Company.”
In researching the Barber Asphalt Company, we found that the land was purchased by Chevron [then the California Oil Company] in 1946, and is now part of the Chevron Refinery site. Asphalt is still made at this site in Perth Amboy, but the Barber name is long lost. If you are interested in locating the Chevron site on a map, search Google maps for 1200 State Street, Perth Amboy, NJ, near the intersection with Maurer Avenue. While some non-commercial land still exists close by, not much is left of what was a company town.
What, after all, is a Metzelsuppe?
Metzelsuppe means literally “Scrap soup” but it turns out to be much more than that. It is a pig belly stuffed with pork sausage, cabbage, potatoes and dried bread, salt and pepper, and boiled in a large kettle [hence the soup name] for about 2½ hours. Now this might not sound too appetizing, but those who have eaten it, swear it is wonderful.
A recipe for Metzelsuppe can be found by CLICKING HERE, if you would like to try it. First, however, you will need to get a pig stomach from your butcher (!) and clean it of remaining fat. While some of us still do have a local butcher, it would still be a trick to accomplish this.
Past Featured Covers
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February 2009 Issue of the NJPH Journal featuring a cover of seasonal greeting.
A December 15, Hoboken, NJ postmarked Embossed Cameo Campaign Envelope produced by William Eaves was offered this March by Robert A. Siegel Auctions featuring a beardless Abe Lincoln. Only a few examples are known. This Hoboken, New Jersey cover hammered on March 25, 2009 for $2600.00 before the 15% buyers premium! Read more..... |
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November 2008 Issue of the NJPH Journal featuring a cover of seasonal greeting.
A RFD ”Season’s Greetings” post card, cancelled December 24, 1915 with a Pittstown, NJ postmark, sent by the carrier on Route 2 out of Pittstown to the people along his route. Special thanks to Member Jim Walker for sharing this cover. Read more..... |
Members: One of the benefits of membership is sharing your interests and collections! If you would like to share an interesting single item from your collection, or have multiple items to share - the NJPHS Galleries offer you the opportunity to put your collectibles on center stage. Please e-mail your webmaster about contributing to our on-line Galleries. We can even help you if you do not have a scanner or digital images. Just ask. Remember, we are always looking for articles of interest for the NJPH Journal, and would welcome your contribution whether it's a single page or five page article.
If you are not yet a member, please consider the benefits of joining and the satisfaction you'll get by sharing with your fellow collectors: Become a Member |
