Grovers Mill And The War of the Worlds | West Windsor, New Jersey
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Grovers Mill and the War Of The Worlds
It was on October 30th, 1938 – Halloween Eve, also known as Mischief Night.
Part of the regularly scheduled Mercury Theater of the Air, the radio program aired a modernized play version of H.G. Wells’ classic science-fiction novel, The War of the Worlds.
It was delivered as if it was a regular broadcast interrupted by news bulletins. It was interspersed with occasional comments about it being an adaptation of a literary work.
Was It Real?
Listeners were advised that a large object had fallen on a farm in Grovers Mill, New Jersey, not far from Princeton.
Startled listeners heard that 7,000 soldiers had been killed fighting alien invaders.
There were reports of people shooting at the water towers in the park.
Panic grew – at least in the East Coast. How much hysteria was caused nationwide is still a subject for debate. Newspapers wrote of widespread hysteria.
It even made from the top of the front page of The New York Times!
Today it is considered highly unlikely that thousands of people around the country were really that frightened.
Snopes considers it doubtful. But there were some people who were genuinely frightened.
It Happened In New Jersey?
The invasion was supposedly occurring in Grovers Mill, New Jersey, then a very rural part of West Windsor, New Jersey.
This area near and around Princeton is an affluent and well-educated area and has grown exponentially since then. It is sometimes called Princeton Junction.
Martian Landing Site Monument
It is located in lovely Van Nest Park.
You can read about it in Roadside America and Atlas Obscura.
Grover’s Mill Coffee House
There’s also a fun coffee place nearby: Grover’s Mill Coffee House.
Yes, they use the apostrophe in the name. Most references to the area do NOT use the apostrophe. I have no idea why.
The Coffee House was profiled in an NJ.com article in 2015
It is a very inclusive place, including an “All Species Bathroom” which you can see in the last photo.
It Is Part Of American Popular Culture
There have been several interesting documentaries about this event, including this one narrated by James Cameron:
You can also check out:
War of the Worlds: When Martians Invaded New Jersey!
Mars Attacks! 75 years ago, ‘War of the Worlds’ broadcast put nation in a panic
Historical Society of West Windsor
You may also want to check out:
First Presbyterian Church of Oxford at Hazen and the Spooky Graveyard 2023 | Belvidere, New Jersey
Littell-Lord Farmstead | Berkeley Heights, New Jersey
Thanks for visiting New Jersey Memories!
10 Comments
Marcia
We have listened to War of the Worlds several times on a Washington DC PR station that offers old time radio on Sunday nights. I always that the town of Grovers Mill was made up by Orson Welles. Thanks for enlightening me.
Fun60
It must have frightened a number of people back then who wouldn't have been as sceptical as we are these days with the number of spoofs we get through the internet.
Yogi♪♪♪
What a fun post. My dad was about 9 years old way back then and he heard the broadcast. He said that it made him a little nervous but not too bad.
New Jersey Memories
Yes, it's a very pretty area. Thanks for visiting and commenting! 🙂
New Jersey Memories
It's a very effective broadcast – I can understand how some people would have thought it was real! Thanks for visiting!
New Jersey Memories
Thanks so much for telling me about your father's personal experience! Thanks for visiting!
Debbie
i have heard about this broadcast, but was not born yet. it is so interesting…i would like to visit here, i have never been!!
New Jersey Memories
It's a very pretty area that is still quite rural (for New Jersey that is).
csuhpat1
Wow, what a cool and historic place. Very nice.
New Jersey Memories
It's a very interesting and fun place to visit!