-
Cherry Blossoms in Branch Brook Park | Newark, New Jersey
Cherry Blossoms In Branch Brook Park The cherry blossoms in Branch Brook Park have been a bit slow in blooming this year, due to the very cold and harsh winter we had. The dark pink ones have been reluctant to bloom, but some of the others are near or getting past their peak bloom. Hopefully, the dark pink ones will bloom soon. These photos were taken on Tuesday, April 28, 2015. You can read about the historic trees and the history of the park here. You can also read The Trees Are In Full Bloom. Thanks for visiting New Jersey Memories!
-
It’s Not Nice to Fool Mother Nature TV Commercial
It’s Not Nice To Fool Mother Nature! Dena Dietrich played this character in Chiffon Margarine commercials in the early 1970s. The first one was so successful that she did quite a few more for the rest of the decade. This was the first one, with the legendary tagline, “It’s not nice to fool Mother Nature!” That’s Mason Adams as the announcer. He was famous for voicing the tag line: “With a name like Smucker’s, it has to be good” for Smucker’s jams and jellies. He voiced those for many years, in addition to many, many others. He also co-starred on the “Lou Grant” television series. The “Mother Nature” commercial was…
-
The Cherry Blossom Trees are Starting to Bloom | Newark, New Jersey
Cherry Blossom Trees Are Starting To Bloom The cherry blossom trees in Newark’s Branch Brook Park are starting to bloom! Most of the park is in Newark, but a small portion is in neighboring Belleville. They were late again this year because of the long and harsh winter. More cherry blossom trees are being planted to replace some old trees and also to increase the amount of cherry blossom trees in the park to over 5,000! That’s more than Washington, D.C.! As a matter of fact, it is the largest collection of cherry blossom trees in the United States! The park’s design was created by the firm of…
-
Port Murray Post Office and Abandoned Train Station | Mansfield Township, New Jersey
Port Murray Has A Post Office That Is A Trailer But what is more interesting is what is behind the post office/trailer – an old caboose and abandoned train station. Port Murray, which is a section of Mansfield Township, was an important railroad stop in the 1800s in this part of rural Warren County, New Jersey. This, in addition to the Morris Canal, brought industry to this remote area. The station was on the Morris and Essex Railroad, about 67 miles from New York City. In 1996, the Port Murray Historic District was listed on The National Register of Historic Places. You can read more about it here. Abandoned Train…
-
Lakota Wolf Preserve | Columbia, New Jersey
Lakota Wolf Preserve Lakota Wolf Preserve in Columbia, New Jersey is a special place. Wolves that were born in captivity are able to live out their lives in the beautiful outdoors. There are also bobcats and foxes at Lakota. Wolves, bobcats, and foxes, oh my! The couple who run Lakota are dedicated to their animals and have run the preserve for over 15 years. They take wonderful care of their animals and truly love them. They have been committed to educating the public about wolves. I’ve been there, and I can see how much they love their animals! The public can take wolf-watching tours – don’t worry, the wolves are…
-
Greystone Park Psychiatric Hospital Is About To Be Torn Down 2015 | Morris Plains, New Jersey
Greystone Park Greystone Park Psychiatric Hospital was originally built in 1876 as the New Jersey State Lunatic Asylum at Morristown. Obviously, there was no “political correctness” at the time. If you grew up in Morris County, the original Greystone Park was legendary. It was so big looming up at the end of Central Avenue. It was actually the building with the largest footprint in America until The Pentagon was opened in 1943. There were also rumors about horrible events that actually went on in the building. It was also incredibly overcrowded. Probably the most famous resident was the great singer-songwriter Woody Guthrie. He spent 5 years at Greystone Park. Woody…
-
The Homecoming: A Christmas Story (1971)
The Homecoming (1971) This is the TV movie that started it all. This film, based on creator Earl Hamner‘s real-life family, aired in 1971. It was such a huge success that a series was created. That series, The Waltons, was expected to be a flop but ran for nine years. All of the child actors in this film took part in the series, but most of the adult roles were re-cast, except for Ellen Corby in the role of Grandma Walton. This became her most iconic role. I loved The Waltons – it became a Thursday night tradition for me. I also really love The Homecoming: A Christmas Story. I…
-
WindMill and Max’s — A Hot Dog Rivalry | Long Branch, New Jersey
A Hot Dog Rivalry in Long Branch! In the fierce hot dog wars of the Jersey Shore, there are two famous rivals, both of them in Long Branch. WindMill Hot Dogs has been around since 1964. They are now a chain in several shore towns, but the most iconic is the first one in Long Branch. It is the only way shaped like an actual windmill. You can climb up to the second floor and look out at Ocean Avenue in Long Branch. WindMill’s arch-rival is Max’s Famous Hot Dogs. They have been around since 1928. The intense rivalry has created fans on both sides. New Jersey celebrities that they…
-
Bendix Diner | Hasbrouck Heights, New Jersey
Bendix Diner Is Legendary This historic diner in Hasbrouck Heights has been around for decades. It was named the diner after the Bendix Corporation which had a factory nearby. The diner is situated – literally – in the middle of Route 17. Jerry O’Mahoney Diner Company You can see a little bit of this diner and other Jersey classics, some by the Jerry O’Mahoney Diner Company, in this video by Alan Wasenius, which includes this diner at the beginning of the video (including the interior): Check out his YouTube Channel. Most of the diners in the video still exist. Sadly, Max’s in Harrison, that adorable red and white cream puff…
-
New Jersey’s Got Talent: 7 Legendary Acts
Many Talented Musicians Are From New Jersey New Jersey has always been loaded with great talent in many different musical genres. New Jersey has so many different kinds of music because it is a very diverse state. Bruce Springsteen You can listen to all kinds of music here, particularly with the influence of the New Jersey shore! There is The Boss (from Freehold), Bruce Springsteen! Frank Sinatra There is The Chairman of the Board (from Hoboken), Frank Sinatra! Bon Jovi There is the band Bon Jovi, formed in Sayreville! Count Basie Count Basie originated from Red Bank, New Jersey! There is a famous music venue proudly named after…
