ABERDEEN TOWNSHIP’S EARLY FIRES.
A Compilation of Newspaper Coverage Detailing a Rural Monmouth County Township’s Experiences and Challenges With Fire Prior to the Establishment of Its Fire Companies.
ABERDEEN TOWNSHIP’S EARLY FIRES.
You’re a resident or business owner in post Civil War Matawan Township (now Aberdeen Township), New Jersey. Fire could come at any time and from any source. A spark from a candle could ignite paper or fabric. An upset kerosene lamp could be catastrophic, not only resulting in destruction of property but often causing severe burns to those nearby. Barns, where hay, straw and feed were stored, would burn very quickly, causing loss of both equipment and livestock. Taverns, where men of the day would gather to drink, smoke and socialize, were at risk from that long-smoldering cigar butt that suddenly ignites the wastebasket after closing.
While much of the Township was agricultural, as it had been since the seventeenth century, the Industrial Revolution was bringing businesses to the area that would present greater challenges relative to fire. Brickmaking was booming in the area; other manufacturing would follow with the railroads bringing fast access. With people having more time on their hands, recreation was now an option, and large hotels began appearing in what is now Cliffwood Beach.
You’re a resident or business owner in post Civil War Matawan Township, New Jersey. You are now faced with a grim reality: fire. What can you do? There’s no Fire Department. What did people do back then?
The lucky ones were able to get the word to the Fire Departments of Matawan and Keyport, but these units were some distance away and were not obligated to respond outside their limits; thankfully they often did respond. Firefighters of the day were limited, however, by the availability or lack of a suitable water source. Other times, neighbors would form a bucket brigade, usually to protect exposures of neighboring structures. The priority in many of these early fires seems to have been to salvage as much furniture from houses, or equipment and livestock from barns; in either case extremely risky. In the end, it was often a case of simply standing by and watching the place burn.
It is very likely that the experiences of Township residents in dealing with fire, coupled with the uncertainty of who (if anyone) was going to respond, led Thomas E. Kearney and others on Tuesday, December 3rd, 1918 to organize the Oak Shades Fire Company № 1, now known as the Aberdeen Township Hose & Chemical Company № 1.
This is a compilation of reports covering local fires in several local newspapers between the years of 1870 and 1923.
Edward G. Fitzgerald
2018
EARLY FIRES IN MATAWAN TOWNSHIP
Some major fires which occurred prior to the establishment of the Oak Shades Fire Company, and which may have encouraged residents to organize the company.
10/15/1870
(The Matawan Journal)
LOCAL ITEMS.
———–
The wagon-house attached to the Cliffwood Hotel, together with a carriage and buggy, were destroyed by fire on Saturday night, 1st. inst. Cause unknown.
6/12/1873
(The Monmouth Democrat)
KEYPORT.
Keyport, June 16, 1873.
The Cliffwood House, on Matawan Heights, opposite Keyport, built by Henry L. Clarke, Esq., and owned by Doctor Kent, of New York, was burned down last Friday night, and totally consumed. It caught fire about nine o’clock in the evening, and was several hours before it was entirely consumed. The fire caught in the attic, burning the roof off first, and then downwards. The furniture was mostly saved, but somewhat damaged. It is rumored that some person went into the attic with a lamp to get some wall paper, a few minutes before the fire, and that a spark from the lamp must have fallen into the paper. It is said that the building is heavily and fully insured. A. Walling & Son, Insurance Agents at Keyport, carried $10,000 on the building for a number of years, up to three years ago, when they ceased to write on it. They are lucky agents. It was insured in New York companies, and there will be no loss to the owner. It will never be rebuilt. The fire presented a magnificent appearance from Keyport, the evening being calm and pleasant. Hundreds were out viewing the conflagration.
FRANK.
6/21/1873
(The Matawan Journal)
FIRE–DESTRUCTION OF THE CLIFFWOOD HOUSE.
At a little after eight o’clock, on Friday night of last week, the Cliffwood House was discovered to be in flames. This Summer Boarding House was situated on the heights opposite Keyport, and in full view from the wharf of the steamer Matteawan. The fire broke out in the third story, and was almost immediately discovered, and a large number from Keyport went over in small boats and lent what aid they could in removing the furniture. Had Keyport possessed a fire apparatus it might have been taken across the bay, and perhaps the building might have been saved; but before the news of the calamity reached Matawan it was too late for Washington Fire Company to reach the scene of conflagration in time to render any assistance. Most of the furniture on the second and first floors was removed, but a lot of new furniture was stored on the third floor, and this was burned.
The fire is supposed to have originated from a person going to the attic for wall paper, and a spark from the lamp may have fallen into the paper. The building was fully insured, and it is rumored that the insurance companies will rebuild the house rather than pay the money. There was but one visitor in the House.
6/21/1873
(The Matawan Journal)
The Matawan Fire Company present greetings to the honored gentlemen who run the Keyport Weekly, for their complimentary notice in this week’s issue. Washington Fire Company had no more to do with extinguishing the burning of the Cliffwood House than “We,” of the Weekly. The people of that part of the township refused to give any recognition to our Fire Department; were unwilling to pay one cent of tax toward it, and with other parts of the township, voted down any attempt to raise money for the Engine House. By application to the Legislature, a fire district was formed, and the Cliffwood House is far beyond the line of that district. Had the Fire Company, however, known of the fire as soon as “We,” they would no doubt have lent willing aid in extinguishing the flames; but the building was half burned down before we knew of it here.
We can see no reason in the Weekly’s weak attempt at sarcasm, except it be to kill the idea of organizing a fire department in Keyport. The same point he tries to make would apply to Raritan, or any other township. If “We” will try and encourage such a measure instead of throwing cold water upon it, Raritan may have what it cannot boast of now, and Matawan will rest in full confidence in its own boys, who have always done their full duty when the occasion has required it.
6/28/1877
(The Monmouth Inquirer)
An attempt was made on Monday night by some person to burn the residence of Mr. E. Stenhouse, opposite Oak Shades. Mr. Stenhouse was awakened by a cracking noise, and getting out of bed he discovered on looking out that the side of his house was on fire near the ground. With some effort it was extinguished and in the morning the evidence was very plain that the boards and ground had been saturated with kerosene and then set on fire. On Tuesday morning Mr. Stenhouse appeared before Esquire Denyse and made complaint against his wife for arson. He and his wife have not lived together for some time. The case was dismissed, no case against Mrs. S. being proved.–Matawan Journal.
6/26/1879
(The Monmouth Democrat)
MONMOUTH COUNTY NEWS.
On Wednesday of last week MARY YENSEN, a child of 12 years, living with her parents on Mr. HODGES’ place near Cliffwood station, was lighting a fire with oil from a kerosene can, when the oil took fire, exploding the can and setting the clothing of the child on fire. None of the family were present, but the child had presence of mind to throw herself in a horse-trough filled with water, and thus extinguished the flames; but she was burned so severely that death ended her sufferings at noon of Wednesday last. To add intensity to the above affliction, while the child was yet lying a sufferer in the house, the building was discovered to be in flames, at between 3 and 4 o’clock on Sunday morning last, and was burned to the ground, the family barely escaping with their lives. Everything in the house was destroyed, the family losing their clothing. Mrs. EDWARD SIPP took them into her home until Tuesday, when Mr. YENSEN secured another house.–Journal.
5/2/1885
(The Matawan Journal)
House and Contents Burned.
At about 6:30 o’clock on Friday evening of last week, while the family were at supper, the house of Terrence McAree was discovered by Charles Van Brackle to be on fire, the flames at the time just breaking through the roof. The premises are located about a quarter of a mile from the Mt. Pleasant hotel, on the Texas road and near by the F. & N. Y. Railway. Mr. Van Brackle rushed to the house and alarmed the family, and a few articles were recovered from the lower rooms. The fire is believed to have originated from a defective chimney. The loss is about $600, which was fully covered by insurance, and the insurance has been adjusted this week.
12/12/1885
(The Matawan Journal)
Two Fires Near Matawan.
At about 11 o’clock last Saturday night Mr. Samuel Hardy saw from Matawan a fire breaking out in the direction of Rose Hill Cemetery. With two or three others he started in the direction and found it to be the dwelling owned and formerly occupied by John Mulhall, but now empty, Mr. Mulhall having removed to the “Robert Quance” house purchased by him about a year ago. The men ran by Mr. Mulhall’s present home and aroused him from sleep, and then went on to the burning dwelling. When they reached there it was impossible to save the building, the wind blowing quite heavily at the time. The house was valued at $800, and there was an insurance with E. I. Brown for $450, which will be recovered, as a permit of removal had been granted. It was no doubt set on fire.
Again on Monday night, at about 10 o’clock, the heavens were lighted up in almost the same direction from Matawan, and it was learned that the barn of Mr. Watson Stillwaggon, not far from Cliffwood station, was on fire. Mr. Stillwaggon rushed to the place to try and save some property, and in the effort to get out one of the horses he was burned about the face and neck. The barn, corn-crib and wagon-house were burned, together with three horses and a lot of hay, corn, straw and other property.
9/25/1886
(The Matawan Journal)
A Sunday Evening Fire.
At about 7:15 o’clock last Sunday evening the barn of Mr. Perrin Brown, about a mile and a half east of Matawan, was discovered to be on fire. Mr. Brown was away from home, with his team and carriage and hence these were saved. A neighbor released the hogs from their pen near by and they were rescued. But the barn, wagon-house and corn-crib were completely destroyed, with a wagon and sleigh, some hay and other contents. The property was valued at about $1,200, and there was an insurance of $400. This is the second fire in this neighborhood in less than a month, and as Mr. Brown was absent it is believed to have been set afire.
11/27/1886
(The Keyport Enterprise)
Child Severely Burned.
Last Wednesday the wife of James Short, who lives near Oak Shades, was called out for a short time, and she left their 3 year old son Jimmie, in the kitchen alone. Soon after a neighbor was attracted by the child’s crying and going to the house called the little one by name. She was horrified when the child appeared in the doorway with his clothes in flames. With commendable presence of mind she caught the boy up and running inside wrapped a blanket about him, thus extinguishing the fire and saving his life. The boy was somewhat burned but no fatal injury inflicted.
9/3/1892
(The Matawan Journal)
Struck With Lightning at Cliffwood.
Lightning struck Mr. James Collins’ house during the severe storm last Wednesday. The bolt struck the north corner of the house, passing through both floors. Everything that was of glass or metal in the rooms were broken; the counterpane on the bed was scorched, as was also the lambrequin on the mantel. A large mirror was also broken. The family was out in the summer kitchen, separate from the house, at the time. Had it been night some one of the family would certainly have been killed.
Capt. Van Dyke’s schooner was loading with brick at Arrowsmith’s brickyard along the creek and a bolt struck the anchor, which was secured to the bow of the vessel, and glanced overboard. Another bolt ricocheted in the water close by and left an impression upon those who saw it, which will long be remembered.
2/2/1893
(The Monmouth Democrat)
LOCAL MISCELLANY.
The Cliffwood House, at Cliffwood, near Keyport, was burned on Friday morning about 2 o’clock. The loss is about $12,000. There is an insurance of $5,000. Not a vestige of the place remains except of the brick foundation and a small piece of the big chimney. The property was owned by Watson L. Stillwagon, and for many years has been a popular resort. It was a big, square hotel, four stories high and contained about sixty sleeping rooms. At the time of the fire, which it is asserted broke out in the bar-room there were only three occupants, Mr. Stillwagon, his daughter and the housekeeper. These escaped in their night robes.
5/6/1893
(The Keyport Weekly)
Fire at Cliffwood.
Fire broke out in the old Cliffwood house about 11 o’clock Sunday night. It originated from the explosion of a lamp in the second story. The building was occupied at the time by Thos. Dobson and son. Mr. Dobson says that he endeavored to extinguish the fire, but could do nothing. The flames spread rapidly and soon enveloped the whole building. No alarm was sounded in Keyport and very few of the people knew anything of the fire until next morning. The building was owned by Mrs. Frank Dobson and was insured in the Phoenix company of Brooklyn for $3,000. The furniture was owned by Mrs. Frank Dobson and Thomas Dobson and was a complete loss.
5/9/1893
(The Matawan Journal)
Cliffwood Items
The explosion of a kerosene oil lamp in a fourth story room set fire to the Cliffwood House owned by Minnie Dobson last Sunday night about 11:45, and burned it to the ground, Thomas Dobson and a little boy were the only inmates of the house at the time. The structure was one of the nicest in Cliffwood and was used as a summer boarding house. It was insured for $4,000.
6/9/1894
(The Matawan Journal)
A Midnight Fire.
A barn in the rear of Patrick Sullivan’s saloon at Oak Shades was discovered to be on fire shortly after midnight Thursday morning. The Catholic church bell sounded the alarm and the Keyport Fire Department was not long in getting to it. Alarms were sounded in Matawan about 1 o’clock and when the engine and truck were on the way there word came that the fire was out and their services not needed and they returned to their houses.
The fire originated in a box stall in which straw was kept and burned through the adjoining room, which was a wagon house, to the part where Mr. Sullivan’s horse was kept. The latter was unfastened but could not be driven from the building and he was burned up. Part of a chicken house adjoining was also burned. Previous to the fire Mr. Sullivan had twenty chickens and now only six remain. He has no idea that they were burned, but that they were “lifted” by some one before the fire started. How the fire started is unknown. The building was insured with A. M. Lambertson.
9/15/1894
(The Keyport Weekly)
Lightning’s Work.
The storm on Saturday last broke the back of the long drouth which has lasted in this vicinity during the whole summer. The rain poured down in torrents at times and was accompanied by vivid flashes of lightning, followed at almost inappreciable intervals by loud and rolling reverberations of thunder. The centre of the storm passed over the immediate vicinity of Keyport and several places were struck.
About 10 minutes past four the barn in the rear of William Robert’s house at Oak Grove was struck and in an instant was in flames. The building was torn to pieces by the bolt and the splinters flew in every direction. At the time there were three horses and two mules stabled in the building and William Downs was engaged in coopering some barrels. When the bolt struck, he ran from the shed to the house perfectly beside himself. Several of the inmates ran to the barn, to release the animals, but on opening the stable door, they found one of the mules dead and his body lay in the way, so that the other animals being terrified, they were unable to remove them. They succeeded, however, in removing a top wagon, and this was the only article saved, as the building was quickly enveloped in flames and destroyed. Aside from the animals the barn contained two loads of hay and a load of oats in straw, 160 hot house sashes, two sleds and a sleigh and a large quantity of tools. Mr. Roberts estimates his loss at $2,600; insurance, $1,600, placed with E. I. Brown, of Matawan.
10/13/1894
(The Matawan Journal)
MATAWAN AND VICINITY.
THE COLUMN WHICH ATTRACTS OUR READERS FIRST.
….Some time during Tuesday night’s severe storm one of the passing trains set fire to the large trestle east of Matawan. It was put out after five ties had been burned.
8/10/1895
(The Matawan Journal)
W. L. Robert’s Barn Burned Again.
The barn, wagon shed and contents, on the farm of William L. Roberts, Jr., near Matawan, were burned about 11 o’clock last Friday morning, causing a loss estimated between $2,500 and $3,000.
How the fire originated is a mystery. It was discovered through the frantic efforts made by the horses and mules to get out of the barn, which attracted the attention of Mr. Roberts, Elmer A. Lambertson, his son in law, and James Diggin, a hired man. These persons were in the fields near by, the former pulling corn and the last two picking tomatoes. As Elmer Lambertson got near the barn he saw a mule going out of the barn with his back all on fire. A horse had gone out the same doorway before Elmer arrived and he was badly burned also. These animals had their halters burned off and then jumped over the mangers and escaped while their mates, a horse and mule, were burned up. Besides these all that was saved was one farm wagon and one pig. In getting the latter Mr. Roberts’ shirt caught fire in four places but was put out. Among the things burned were all of Mr. Roberts’ farming tools, about 2,000 crates and barrels, about seven or eight tons of hay and one ton of rye not threshed, four sets of harness, a buggy, barouche, big spring wagon, cart, farm wagon, three wagon bodies and wood and bob sleds, strawberry crates, a lot of corn, etc.
This is the fourth time that Mr. Roberts’ outbuildings have been burned. The last fire occurred about nine months ago, lightning being the cause of it. His buildings and stock were insured through E. I. Brown of this place and it is said his loss is covered.
10/10/1895
(The Monmouth Democrat)
LOCAL MISCELLANY.
The Cliffwood postoffice building was burned down at 1:30 last Thursday morning. It is believed that the place was ransacked by thieves, who in their search lighted a match and dropped it into some waste paper without noticing where it had gone. Nothing was left but the tin roof. The Postmaster borrowed supplies from the Matawan office until he was accommodated from headquarters.
12/26/1895
(The Monmouth Democrat)
LOCAL MISCELLANY.
The house owned by Dolly Fraleigh and occupied by Wm. Skillman and his wife and two daughters, on the shore road at Cliffwood, was entirely destroyed by fire on Dec. 13. The family lost nearly everything. The house was evidently set on fire.
4/25/1896
(The Matawan Journal)
MATAWAN AND VICINITY.
THE COLUMN WHICH ATTRACTS OUR READERS FIRST.
….On Friday of last week a small fire was noticed in the edge of Bartlett’s bog along the Lloyd road. It could have been easily put out at the time, but it was left to burn. Before the fire was finally put out it had spread over about one hundred acres of bog land and did considerable damage to the growing timber, as that is all will grow upon the soil. The fire swept over the bog owned by W. L. Roberts, Jr., and his neighbors and Mr. Roberts is so exasperated at the results he said he would give $100 to find out who started it. The fire burned as far as C. C. Hulsart’s place, where it was mastered.
10/31/1896
(The Keyport Weekly)
Fire at Oak Shades.
A fire broke out in a house belonging to Patrick O’Connor and located at Oak Shades on the road from Mohinkson hill to Potter’s gully, on Wednesday morning about 1:30 o’clock. The place had been occupied by Timothy Welch until about a week previous to the fire, but was unoccupied at the time. Tuesday evening, Mr. and Mrs. Lenahan invited quite a number of their friends to a dance in the unoccupied house, but the music, which had been hired at South Amboy, failing to appear, the party broke up about 10:30 o’clock. Everything was then all right in the house. The fire was discovered by Mrs. Hanaway, who had returned from a christening at Cliffwood. The flames were bursting forth beneath the stairway. A bucket brigade was formed and by a hard fight the flames were subdued. The Catholic bell rang for some time and a messenger ran through Matawan crying “fire”, but there was no response from either of the near-by towns. The interior of the house is completely ruined and the outside is quite badly damaged. There was an insurance of $500 on the house, which was in good repair and had recently received a coat of paint.
2/17/1900
(The Keyport Weekly)
Chas. Dobson’s House Burned.
Charles Dobson’s house at Cliffwood was burned to the ground, on Thursday night. The fire started from the chimney in the upper story and broke out about midnight. A great portion of the furniture was gotten out, as the fire burned slowly, the wind being unfavorable to the spread of the flames. The loss is somewhere in the neighborhood of $1,500. The next house, which stands only a short distance away, was saved by the exertion of the neighbors.
5/3/1900
(The Matawan Journal)
SEVENTY ACRES BURNED.
A Barn and Contents on the Imlay Farm Destroyed Last Thursday.
About half-past two o’clock last Thursday afternoon a fire was discovered in the woods on the estate of Joseph Imlay, known as Bartlett’s Bog. It spread with great rapidity, the dry leaves burning like tinder. Many of the trees were not even scorched so rapid was the fire.
The fire started on the Lloyd Road and its origin is unknown. The wind was from the west and very brisk. The barn on the Imlay estate was some distance from the woods, but the wind carried the burning embers to the roof and it was soon on fire.
William Roberts, who farms the place, discovered the fire early and was able to save part of his farming implements stored in the barn. He lost his hay, corn and straw, together with a potato digger, hayrake and some small tools. He was assisted by neighboring farmers and their workmen, but it was impossible to save the barn. A corn crib was also burned. The barn was 24 x 70 and was recently re-enclosed and a new roof put on at an expense of about $600. The Imlay estate had insurance of $1,400 on the house and barn, $600 being on the latter. Had there been a ladder on the place it is said that the barn could have been saved. Mr. Roberts had no insurance.
The house stands about 100 yards south of the barn and the ground was ploughed between the house and the barn to prevent the fire from reaching the house.
Before the fire was put out it covered a large area of ground, estimated to be about seventy acres. In some parts of the woods more damage was done to the standing timber than in others–the young growth being entirely destroyed.
No arrangements have been made yet for rebuilding the barn, other than to change its location. On the morning of the fire, K. H. Sutphen, the executor of Mr. Imlay’s estate, said he was going to cut off about half an acre of the woods, so as to prevent the barn from catching fire. During Mr. Imlay’s lifetime he was always afraid that the barn would catch fire from the woods on the east. But when the fire did come it was from another direction.
12/27/1900
(The Matawan Journal)
Cliffwood Notes.
The large mansion on the Henry L. Clarke place was damaged $300 by fire last Thursday morning. The fire originated in a smoke house near the kitchen and spread to the latter before being extinguished. The place is occupied by the Menzels and after the alarm was given by Frank Dobson they returned to the house and with buckets of water soon had the fire out.
1/17/1902
(The Keyport Weekly)
HOME AND VICINITY NEWS.
The Gilbert Wagener house, owned by William L. Roberts, near Oak Grove, was destroyed by fire, Thursday morning, about 5 o’clock.
12/19/1902
(The Keyport Weekly)
LAST SUNDAY MORNING’S BLAZE.
An Unoccupied House at Oak Shades Belonging to Daniel Sullivan Destroyed by Fire.
An alarm of fire was sounded about 4:30 o’clock, last Sunday morning, caused by the burning of a house belonging to Daniel Sullivan at Oak Shades. The house had been unoccupied for some and the cause of the fire is unknown. S. Joseph’s church bell was rung but by the time that word reached Keyport and the fire bell was sounded the building had been burned to the ground. It was a terrible morning for a fire, as the weather was bitter cold and everything covered with ice and snow. It was almost impossible to ring the town hall bell on account of the rope being frozen stiff and the bell covered with ice. The Engine company went as far as the power house and Raritan Hose company to Mott Street bridge, when they were told that their services were not needed. Mr. Sullivan’s loss is about $500; insurance $300. The house next to the one burned, owned by Mrs. Annie Roche, was damaged to the extent of about $100.
4/29/1904
(The Keyport Weekly)
Forest Fire on Sunday.
The barn and other out buildings, including the hot houses on Elmer A. Lambertson’s farm near Oak Grove had a narrow escape from being destroyed by fire, on Sunday last. As it was about 20 acres of land were burned over. The men in the vicinity worked hard all day fighting the flames.
3/9/1905
(The Matawan Journal)
FIRE CAUSES TWO DEATHS.
Patrick Clancey and Patrick Nagle of Oak Shades the Victims.
As a result of a fire at Oak Shades, in this township, last Saturday night two residents died from their burns and have been buried.
Patrick Clancey, a man between 75 and 80 years old, had made his home with Patrick Nagle since Christmas time. Mrs. Nagle is Mr. Clancey’s niece. Prior to his coming here he was a flagman at Branchport last summer. He had resided in this township for many years and was well known.
Last Saturday night about 10:15 o’clock the room down stairs caught fire and while the actual cause is not known it is believed that Mr. Clancey, who was in bed, had struck a match to light his pipe and after having done so threw the lighted match away. A stand stood close by with a lamp sitting on a table cover with chenille ornaments at the ends. These are supposed to have caught fire causing the lamp to explode. Mr. Clancey called “fire” but was not first understood, as he had been in the habit of calling out at night. A few minutes later he gave a second call and this was heard by Mr. Nagle, who was upstairs, and he arose from bed and decided to go down to see what was wanted. Reaching the hall he found there was fire down stairs and going back to the bed he took off the clothing and went down with the view of beating out the flames. The bedclothes on Mr. Clancey’s bed were on fire and Mr. Nagle tried to smother them out with those he took down and he beat them in various places. But the flames flared up in Mr. Nagle’s face and he was severely burned about the nose and eyes and no doubt inhaled some of the flames.
The fire attracted attention among the neighbors and they hurried to render assistance. After entrance was forced the water was found to be frozen in the well back of the house and it had to be carried from Mr. Whalen’s, the next neighbor. The flames were confined to the one room and were soon quenched. The room was pretty well damaged, the wainscoting, floor, ceiling and curtains being badly burned.
Mr. Clancey was so severely burned about the face and body that he died about 6:30 o’clock Sunday morning. Mr. Nagle was removed to the hospital at Long Branch Sunday afternoon and died there between 4 and 5 o’clock the next morning.
Mr. Clancey was a widower and leaves one daughter, Mrs. James Meyers of Oceanport. Mr. Nagle leaves a widow, five daughters and two boys. Mr. Nagle was about 50 years old. He had worked in the oyster business at Keyport for Capt. Woolley for a number of years and was well thought of.
The funeral of Mr. Clancey was held on Tuesday morning and that of Mr. Nagle this morning at St. Joseph’s Church, Keyport.
8/3/1905
(The Matawan Journal)
House Burned Over His Head.
Jas. Hourihan’s house on the Lloyd Road near John M. Robert’s place was burned Saturday night about 7 o’clock. Mr. Hourihan was at home at the time and succeeded in getting the furniture out on the lower floor with the assistance of some of his neighbors. The fire started in the roof and had been burning for some time before he knew of it. How it started is a mystery to him, as there had been no fire in the house that day, his wife being away and he had prepared his meal without the aid of it. He was shaving when a neighbor came and told him of the fire. The property formerly belonged to John Quirk. Mr. Hourihan had only $300 insurance, it is said.
11/7/1907
(The Matawan Journal)
FOUR PEOPLE SHOT AT.
Crawford Warne Discharges Gun at Them While Going to a Fire.
On Thursday night of last week a barn standing on what was known as the Holmes Farm along the Lloyd Road in Matawan Township was burned, the origin of the fire being unknown. The farm belonged to Jacob Wyckoff of Holmdel Township. That was the only building on the place and was used by Watt Booker, who rented a part of the farm.
The flames attracted a number of people from the surrounding country and among those to go to it from Matawan was Frank Hulsart, a brother of H. B. Hulsart. He overtook Mr. and Mrs. Robert Booker and James E. Dawson, colored people who were returning home from a church meeting. As they passed the house of Crawford Warne, who lives on the Wagner place, he appeared on the porch and a brief mention was made to him about the fire. Warne returned to the house, declaring he would shoot them. He secured his gun and going out doors again he discharged it. One shot struck young Hulsart in the back of the neck, while all three of the colored people were also hit with some stray shot.
The distance was so great, however, that no serious wounds were inflicted. The clothing of Mrs. Booker was peppered with the shot, and she suffered the least of those in the party. Frank Hulsart has had his neck bandaged up since the shooting, but has been able to be at work all the time.
Complaints were made before Justice Fountain of Matawan by Mr. Booker and his wife and Mr. Dawson and Warne was arrested and held in $350 bail to await action of the Grand Jury.
2/15/1912
(The Matawan Journal)
2/16/1912
(The Keyport Weekly)
OLD CLARK HOMESTEAD BURNED.
It was Unoccupied and Had Been a Refuge For Tramps.
The mansion on the late Henry L. Clarke homestead at Cliffwood was burned Tuesday morning. It was first noticed about 11:15 o’clock and as it was constructed with large oak timber the fire lasted for three hours before it was all consumed. The house had been unoccupied for some time and from the stories told it looks as if the fire might have been due to either accident or of incendiary origin.
The fire started on the second floor of the northwest corner of the old part of the house. It is reported that earlier in the day a passerby heard some one chopping wood on the second floor and as he knew the house was without a tenant it appeared to him that refuge had been taken by the occupants and preparations were being made to get warm. No investigation was made at the time, but the fire occurring so soon after brought to mind the woodchopping noise. As another indication that the house was set on fire, two boys residing in that vicinity saw two men running from the house in a westerly direction about five minutes before the house was discovered to be on fire.
It was but a few minutes after the alarm was given when the people began to congregate and many were there who had not been in that part of Cliffwood in years. They came afoot, in wagons and in automobiles, but there was nothing for them to do except to see the old mansion burn. Lucius J. Boyd, who occupies what is known as the Dobson house, was among the first there, but those said to be responsible for the fire had gotten beyond his view when he arrived. The sparks were carried a great distance and a stack of cornstalks about 700 feet away caught fire and was burned.
The loss in dollars does not amount to very much, as the house had been allowed to go into decline and the large estate owned by Miss Clarke will no doubt be just as valuable with the house off of it as with it. Whether there was any insurance or not is not known, as the estate is handled by Miss Clarke’s attorney in New York, where Miss Clarke also lives.
8/23/1912
(The Freehold Transcript)
BASKET FACTORY BURNS.
Loss of $7,000 on Industrial Plant at Matawan Wednesday Night.
The basket factory of Frank E. Anderson, just outside the eastern boundary line of Matawan was totally destroyed by fire Wednesday night. The buildings were constructed of metal and were filled with finished baskets and material ready to be made up, which made such a severe heat that the Matawan firemen could not get near enough to the flames to do effective work. A railroad roundhouse which contained six locomotives was in such danger that the engines were run out on the main track. In taking them out they had to run through the flames, which blistered the paint badly.
While the fire was limited to the immediate factory buildings and lumber stored about them, the loss is estimated by Mr. Anderson at $7,000, with no insurance. The Keyport Fire Department was called on, but was at a fire when the call came and could not respond.
8/1/1913
(The Freehold Transcript)
FROM TRENTON TO THE SEA.
Clean Sweep of The Transcript’s Big Territory.
NEWS FOR BUSY READERS
Freshest and Best Items Condensed into Small Space.
A large brick building at Cliffwood, occupying the junction of Cliffwood avenue and the Keyport-Amboy road, was destroyed by a fire of unknown origin about 4 o’clock Monday morning. The building was owned by Elias Goldsmith, of Keyport, who places his loss at $2,000. Santo Amento, who conducted a store on the first floor, and had living apartments on the second, also suffered considerable loss.
11/3/1913
(The Asbury Park Press)
ZIEGLER HOUSE AND STORE DESTROYED
Colored Woman Leaps From Burning House and Disappears.
MATAWAN, Nov. 3.–Fire late Saturday afternoon destroyed the residence and store property with contents, of Mrs. Mary Ziegler of Cliffwood, a small town about a mile and a half north of here.
Christopher Ziegler, a son of Mrs. Ziegler, was in charge of the store during his mother’s absence on Saturday, and as it grew late he went to the barn to take care of the livestock for the night. The front door of the store is connected by electric bells at the barn, so when anyone enters the store it is known by the attendants, even tho they may be at work in the outbuildings. When Christopher went to the store he found the front door locked as was the entrance to the residence. Not being able to get in otherwise, and believing robbery was intended by some one, he broke in the front store door. He found when he got inside that all the doors in the store building and the house were locked, and the only way to gain entrance from one part of the building to another was to break down doors.
As the upper floor of the house was reached, it was discovered that the building was on fire, the flames having started in a clothes closet. As entrance was made to the upper floor, a colored woman by the name of Hicks jumped from the upper window and ran to the nearby hotel of Harvey Stillwaggon, hid in a closet in the building, and asked Mrs. Stillwaggon not to let anybody get her. Mrs. Stillwaggon drove her out and she ran away across the fields towards the plant of the Cliffwood Brick company, about a mile away, and has not been seen since.
Some of the contents of the store, consisting of groceries and provisions, as well as the contents of the residence, were saved, but the buildings were a complete loss, there being no way to fight the flames. Insurance was carried on the buildings and contents.
Upon her return Mrs. Ziegler collapsed and the services of Dr. A. J. Jackson were necessary. The trustees of the Cliffwood Methodist Episcopal church have offered the parsonage of the church to Mrs. Ziegler until she can provide herself with other quarters.
The neighborhood did heroic work with a pail brigade to save the building of the Cliffwood postoffice, which stands very near, and with the exception of a blistering of the paint on the building, no damage was done.
11/14/1913
(The Freehold Transcript)
ARRESTED FOR ARSON.
Mrs. Thomas Lee, of Cliffwood, Charged with Burning House and Store.
Violet Lee, wife of Thomas Lee, of Cliffwood, was arrested last week and brought to the county jail, charged with having set fire to the store and dwelling of Mrs. Christian Ziegler near the railroad station at Cliffwood on Saturday, October 25. Mrs. Lee is believed to be mentally unbalanced. She has lived at Cliffwood several years, and has always been respected for her industry and honesty. She was seen to enter the Ziegler home shortly before the fire was discovered, and after entering she locked the door, went up stairs and jumped from a second story window. The fire originated in a closet on the second floor, and destroyed the store, house, and contents.
After jumping from the window Mrs. Lee went to the Cliffwood hotel and hid in a closet up stairs. When discovered there she ran from the hotel and was not seen again until she was arrested at Matawan.
11/12/1914
(The Matawan Journal)
Matawan and Vicinity.
The County Bridge across Gravelly Brook on the Holmdel Road came near to being burned one night last week. The railing caught fire from a fire in the woods nearby and it was through the work of Midway Hose Company that the bridge was saved. The company laid a line of hose from a hydrant on Main Street and in this way extinguished the blaze. Forest fires prevailed pretty generally throughout the State last week and in some sections thousands of dollars damage done. Bartlett’s Bog caught fire Sunday, but the fire was put out with little loss.
1/29/1915
(The Keyport Weekly)
2/4/1915
(The Matawan Journal)
ESCAPED IN NIGHT CLOTHES.
Early Morning Fire Destroys August Freimann’s House at Cliffwood.
August Freimann’s house at Cliffwood was burned about 2 o’clock last Friday morning, with its contents, and Mr. Freimann and wife and child just had time to escape with their lives.
Mr. Freiman was awakened about 2 o’clock by the smell of smoke and he aroused his wife and told her to take their six-year-old daughter down stairs and he would follow. He grabbed his clothes and threw them out of the window, following his wife, who thought she had their daughter in her arms. But in her excitement she had picked up a blanket and when Mr. Freiman found that the girl was still upstairs he rushed back to the bedroom and picking her up took her safely to the yard.
The flames in the meantime had been gathering such headway that it was dangerous for Mr. Freiman to again enter the house and by 3 o’clock the house was entirely burned, only the foundation walls being left standing.
Mrs. Freiman and the child had only their night clothes on and wrapping the blanket about her and the girl she went barefooted to the house on the drawbridge, about 300 yards away, where Mrs. Jones, the occupant, cared for them and Mr. Freiman the rest of the night. Mr. Freiman had gathered up his clothes and put them on and these were all that were saved from the building.
How the fire occurred is not definitely known. Mr. Freiman saw a big blaze on the kitchen end of the house near an electric wire and he believes that the fire originated from that cause. In going back after his daughter the flames were so close upon Mr. Freiman that his eyebrows and hair were singed.
Mr. Freiman is in the real estate business, having an office in New York, to which place he commutes daily. He bought the property about four years ago from the estate of the late John E. Kuhns and had occupied it throughout the year since. The house was very conspicuous, sitting on an elevation, being three stories high, with an attic above. It is understood the house was partly insured and that there was no insurance on the contents, so that his loss will run into the thousands. The barn on the property about 200 feet to the north and a dog house about fifteen feet to the west of the house were not damaged. The wind evidently was from the west, as only a few of the grove of trees to the south of the house were injured by the fire.
Mr. Freimann is occupying the Dobson house at Cliffwood for the present and will rebuild as soon as he can get plans drawn.
2/12/1915
(The Keyport Weekly)
WEST KEYPORT HOTEL BURNED YESTERDAY
The Occupants Rescued From Roof
THE LOSS A TOTAL ONE
Hotel Was Owned by John H. Fallon of Bradevelt and Was Formerly Known as Mulcahey’s Hotel–Was a Profitable Property Once.
Between 3 and 4 o’clock yesterday morning the West Keyport Hotel at Cliffwood was discovered to be on fire and it was entirely consumed. The origin of the fire is not known, but it is believed to have started in the barroom, as it was the crackling of breaking glass that aroused Mrs. Mary S. Schmidt, the landlady, from her sleep. The breaking glass was thought to be bottles of liquor exploding from the heat.
With Mrs. Schmidt in the hotel was her daughter and brother and they were rescued from the roof of a one-story extension by John Quinn and a ladder. Mr. Quinn lived within a short distance of the hotel. Mrs. Schmidt and the others made their escape in their night clothes and neighbors loaned them sufficient clothing until they can provide others.
The hotel belonged to John Henry Fallon of Bradevelt, but formerly of Matawan. He bought it at a public sale when sold by the Sheriff. It then belonged to Edward Mulcahey’s son, who inherited that and other real estate when his father died, all of which he eventually lost. The elder Mulcahey when a young man worked in the brickyards along Matawan Creek and saving his money bought the property where the hotel stood. He engaged in the hotel business and prospered and subsequently removed the original house in the rear of his land and had the hotel built. He did not live many years after that, and his son, being engaged in other business in New York, paid little attention to the property in this section. The closing down of the brickyards meant a whole lot to this hotel and it has had a lot of tenants since Mr. Fallon bought it, as no one seemed to be able to make a success of it.
Frank Schmidt of Perth Amboy took hold of it about a year ago. He died last summer and since then his widow has operated it. She owned the personal property in the hotel and her loss is estimated at $1,000.
The hotel is about 200 yards from August Freimann’s property, and the burning of his home about three weeks ago, at about the same hour, has set people wondering whether there is an incendiary in that neighborhood. It will be recalled that Mr. Freimann and his wife and daughter made their escape in their night clothes, also, and the actual knowledge as to how the fire originated in his house is lacking. Mrs. Schmidt and family returned yesterday to the home of her father, John Stuffen, in Perth Amboy.
2/19/1915
(The Freehold Transcript)
West Keyport Hotel Burned.
The West Keyport Hotel, at Cliffwood, was destroyed by fire early Thursday morning of last week. Mrs. Mary S. Schmidt who, with her daughter and brother, has been operating the hotel, was awakened by the crackling of breaking glass in the barroom, thought to be bottles of liquor exploding from the heat. The three inmates were rescued from the roof, a one-story extension by John Quinn, a neighbor, who came with a ladder. The hotel belonged to John Henry Fallon of Bradevelt, formerly of Matawan. The hotel is about 200 yards from August Freimann’s property, and the burning of his home about three weeks ago under similar circumstances causes many to fear that there is an incendiary in the neighborhood.
5/13/1915
(The Matawan Journal)
FIRE AT NEW JERSEY CO. PLANT.
Three Kiln Sheds, Chemical Engine and Other Property Destroyed.
About noon on Tuesday a wooden kiln shed on the New Jersey Company’s plant along Matawan Creek was found to be on fire and the efforts of the men on the yard to control it was unavailing. Before the fire was subdued three sheds were burned, together with the company’s chemical engine, and other property was damaged.
The company has about 1,000 feet of two and a half inch hose and two lines were laid and were soon pouring water on the flames from the pump operated on the plant. The chemical engine was also in operation and the men were driven from the engine so unexpectedly that they did not have time to take the engine with them. The large overhead cranes used in handling brick were gotten out of harm’s way, but the tracks they operated on went down with the frame of the kiln sheds.
Word wait sent to both Matawan and Keyport for assistance and the old handbrake engine of Matawan was drawn there by the Wason Piano Company’s auto truck, but was found to be useless. It had not been in service in so long a time that the leathers were too hard to be worked. The Keyport Chemical engine also responded, but the fire was well under control when it arrived, and after the first lot of chemicals were used fresh water could not be had for charging the tanks.
The loss has not yet been established, but will amount to several hundred dollars. Many of the boards used on top of the kiln shed had been removed before the fire and others were, taken off before the blaze reached them, The posts sustaining the frame of the sheds, however, were burned mid will have to be replaced. The smoke arising from the blaze could be seen at a long distance and it was some hours before It ceased.
This fact led many believe the damage was greater than it really amounted to.
7/28/1916
(The Keyport Weekly)
8/3/1916
(The Matawan Journal)
FIRE AT CHEMICAL WORKS.
Part of Po Amboy Plant, on Lloyd Road,
Destroyed Thursday Night.
About 7:30 p . m. Thursday the sky became brilliantly illuminated by a fire at the Po Amboy Chemical Works just beyond Keyport on the Lloyd Road. The fire was thought to have been started by an explosion, about 7 o’clock, between the day and night shifts. An alarm was sent in to Matawan, to which the companies there responded, but finding there was but little water to be had within reach turned back, Then a still alarm was sent to Keyport, to which the Chemical Engine Company responded. By that time the fire was well under control. Several streams of small hose connected with the water tower on the premises were played on the building and kept the fire from spreading to the end of the drying room next to the engine rooms. The drying room was built of hollow tile so remained intact, but every bit of wood work and the entire inside was wrecked.
From time to time small explosions took place. In spite of its remoteness from Keyport and Matawan a large crowd gathered to watch the works burn, but they were powerless to help.
7/5/1917
(The Matawan Journal)
LIGHTNING KILLED MRS. W. OSTRANDER
CHARLES E. CLARK RENDERED INSENSIBLE AT CLIFFWOOD.
Fell From Chair and Was Unconscious For Many Minutes–Still Feels Its Effects–Pranks Played at John C. Ellison’s House.
Last Monday afternoon at about 5:45 o’clock, during a sharp electrical storm, Sarah, wife of William Ostrander, was struck by lightning and instantly killed. She was 50 years old. Mr. Ostrander, who is generally known as Downes, lives in a small house belonging to W. L. Roberts on the Lloyd Road. He was absent at the time and occupying the house besides Mrs. Ostrander were her daughter, Mrs. Haines, and grandchild, the latter being an infant and only a few feet away when the fatal bolt entered the house.
The door of the house was open at the time and when the house was struck it hit first the east side and passed through to the west side. Mrs. Ostrander was standing near a window on the west side with her hand on the window casing when killed. There were no marks left on her body. The house was considerably damaged and to what extent has not been ascertained. The grandchild was uninjured.
Charles E. Clark of Matawan, station agent at Cliffwood, sat in a chair a few feet away from the telephone instrument during the shower. The lightning arrester, which is supposed to prevent an accident, did not perform its function and a sharp flash from it rendered Mr. Clark unconscious. He fell forward to the floor and was found by Miss Kortenhaus, who not only bathed his face with water, but forced some of it down his throat. After about fifteen or twenty minutes Mr. Clark was revived. Since then he has felt the effects of the shock, the muscles of his back, arms and neck being contracted and causing him considerable pain. He is improving and expects the pain to soon cease entirely.
During the storm early last Friday morning about 3 o’clock John C. Ellison’s house at Spring Valley was hit. The bolt struck a chimney on the second floor, passed down to the kitchen, taking the paper from one side of the room, and then through another door to the bed room, doing some damage to the contents of this room. It passed out of the house through the bedroom window, cut a furrow in the sod in the yard and disappeared down the well through the stone on top, boring a hole in the stone. Boards were loosened and joists were damaged, but the loss will not be much. Mr. and Mrs. Ellison were on the second floor at the time but neither was affected by the lightning. A walnut tree about eight feet from the house had the leaves burned by the current.
10/20/1921
(The Matawan Journal)
10/21/1921
(The Keyport Weekly)
Small Fire on Lloyd Road.
A small fire at the plant of the American Amino Corporation on the Lloyd Road, near the New York and Long Branch Railroad tracks in Matawan Township Sunday night ruined a barrel of dye stuff valued at $500.
The blaze was discovered shortly after 11 o’clock and the alarm was given by the whistle at the plant. The Midway Hose Company and the M. E. Haley Hose Company of Matawan responded, as did also the Independent and Volunteer Companies of Morganville. It was mainly due to the work of the firemen that the fire was kept from spreading to the rest of the plant.
10/13/1922
(The Matawan Journal)
(The Keyport Weekly)
Fire at Oak Shades.
The Keyport Fire Department was called to Oak Shades Sunday morning to fight a fire in a large frame house owned by Patsy Sarabuchello of Matawan and occupied by Camello Ivino. The building, which is located at the corner of Girard Avenue and the county road, is outside the Matawan water district and the Matawan companies had no apparatus with which to fight the blaze except chemicals and the blaze had gained too much headway to be extinguished by this method. Lincoln Hose Company was the first of the Keyport companies to reach the fire and the firemen laid a line of hose from Mohingson Creek to the building, using its pumping engine, and soon had the fire under control. The building was considerably damaged inside and some of the contents burned. The fire may have started from a defective chimney. Two Matawan companies turned out and the Freneau company started but its truck broke down.
The insurance adjusters placed the damage at $495.
11/23/1923
(The Matawan Journal)
ROSE HOMESTEAD BURNED.
Fire of Undetermined Origin Completely Destroys Large House.
A fire completely destroyed the Rose Homestead at Cliffwood Tuesday. The
blaze
was discovered during the noon hour and was reported to a telephone operator who took the location and notified several fire companies. The engines were at a woods fire at Morganville and were delayed in arriving. Those responding were two from Morganville, Freneau and the M. E. Haley from Matawan. Freneau hooked up to two nearby wells and cisterns. The M. E. Haley formed a bucket brigade and carried water which they poured on the fire and into their engine. All the men worked hard to save the other buildings and deserve credit for getting control, as there were a number of small buildings adjoining, among them the old carriage house now used by Mr. Sardella for a garage. A brick wall and chimney helped to hold the fire back and the men with buckets and axes worked until long after dark tearing away the burning shell that was left.
The house was one of the oldest in that section and was an old-fashioned frame structure with a gallery on the roof, where a fine view would be had of the bay and surrounding country. It was part of the country estate of the late Joseph Rose and in his time many old-fashioned house parties were held there. Later, after the children were married, the late William H. Coward and his family lived there and farmed the remaining land.
About thirteen years ago George Rose, a son, sold the estate to the S. E. Bruce Realty Company and after a time the homestead was bought by Miss Cornelia Lambertson of Madison Township, who sold it to Umberto Sardella three or four years ago.
Mrs. Sardella was home alone, her husband having left in the morning on a business trip to Philadelphia. Mr. Sardella’s mother was at the home of Vitale Grande nearby and the father was in the Rose Hill section for eggs. When he arrived home he was so overcome he fell and had to be assisted to the Grande home. Mrs. Sardella was in the yard cleaning rugs and noticed smoke pouring from the house. She called to her sister, Mrs. Vitale Grande, and the other women living nearby to get pails of water and help her. The mother-in-law tried to enter the house to get some things and had both hands burned.
As there were only the four members to the family, they did not use the whole house and as that part was the first to go, nothing was saved except the clothes they wore. Mr. Sardella’s loss is only partly covered by insurance. The family are making their home at present with Vitale Grande.
