By Ed Walens

Gloucester City built its first Fire Department headquarters in 1879 on Bergen Street – where the police station is now.

The fire hall was built on a lot adjacent to the old City Hall, which is now the new City Hall.

After 1879, several fires took place without the knowledge of some firemen because there was no alarm bell to let them know.

Some concerned Gloucester City businessmen decided to approach City Council and ask that a fire alarm bell be placed in the tower of the fire hall.

The Councilmen liked the idea, and wasted no time planning for the installation of a fire alarm bell.

They purchased a large bell that would be heard in every corner of the town.

The alarm would be set off by electricity, and Council decided to put the bell in the City Hall tower because it was higher than the cupola on the fire hall.

City residents were very pleased with the new bell.

The firemen were beside themselves with excitement, and kept referring to the bell as a \”she.\” The bell became a female.

There was a city-wide celebration and christening ceremony on September 8, 1891, the day of the bell’s installation. \”She\” was placed in position in the City Hall tower at noon.

At the afternoon christening Martin Coyle, a Civil War veteran, broke a bottle of champagne on the bell and named her \”Mary.\”

During the christening, workmen were stringing wires from City Hall to the alarm boxes located in various sections of the City.

At 9 p.m. on November 16, 1891, the firemen and the residents of Gloucester City had a big thrill.

The alarm sounded for the first time for a fire on Ridgeway Street.

The firemen responded quickly, placed streams of water on the fire, and soon brought it under control.

The house belonged to a Richard Batezel and Thomas Popland, and the damage came to about $1,000.

For 49 years the alarm bell faithfully served the brave Gloucester firemen.

In 1940 the old City Hall and fire hall were torn down to make room for the new building there today.

The fire alarm bell was silenced, and a strange thing took place — it vanished without a trace.

Another tangible piece of Gloucester was lost forever.

This is the final story of the \”Bells of Gloucester.\”

Some of the bells are still around, and a few belong to the ages.

They may not have been as famous as the \”Liberty Bell,\” or the bells of \”Notre Dame,\” but they served the people of Gloucester City well. Thank heaven residents still hear the magnificent bells of St. Mary’s ring out everyday.

And, thank heaven for the historians like Albert Corcoran, Harry Green, Louisa Llewellyn, Jack Corcoran and David Munn for putting Gloucester’s History into printed words.

John A. Berry, WW II Navy Veteran, Member of NJ Bricklayers & Allied Craftsmen Local #5

Surrounded by his loving family, on May 12, 2010. Age 83. Lifelong resident of Gloucester City. Loving and devoted husband of 67 years to the late Eva S. Berry. Loving father of Frances Cerami, Kathleen (Robert) Allison, John (Deborah) Berry, Michael Berry, Cecelia (Jimmie) Berry-Rinker, Marguerite Berry, Edward (Maggie) Berry, Joseph Berry, Bernadette (Jack) Kain and EvaMarie (Mike) Krier. Loving grandfather of 21 and loving great-grandfather of 11. Loving brother of Marguerite Danaher and Mary Kalt.

He was a faithful and devoted parishioner of St. Mary’s R.C. Church. John proudly served our country in the U.S. Navy during World War II. He worked over 50 years as a Master bricklayer for New Jersey Bricklayers and Allied Craftsmen Local Union #5. John often devoted his time loving and caring for his special needs granddaughter, Michelle Berry.

Relatives and friends are kindly invited to attend his viewing on Friday evening from 7 to 9 PM and again on Saturday morning from 8:30 to 10:30 AM at the McCANN-HEALEY FUNERAL HOME: 851 Monmouth St. Gloucester City. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated 11 AM at St. Mary’s R.C. Church: 426 Monmouth St. Gloucester City. Interment with Military Honors New St. Mary’s Cemetery, Bellmawr.

In lieu of flowers, the family strongly requests memorial donations to St. John of God: 1145 Delsea Drive, Westville Grove, NJ 08093. Please write in the memo: John A. Berry. Expressions of sympathy: www.mccannhealey.com under online obituaries of John A. Berry. Funeral Arrangements and Inquiries through: McCANN-HEALEY FUNERAL HOME: 851 Monmouth Street, Gloucester City. Ph: 856-456-1142

Dolores R. Moen, of Gloucester City, Retired A & P 35 Year Employee

On May 12, 2010. Age 80. (nee Blackburn) Of Gloucester City. Loving and devoted wife of 60 years to William F. Moen. Loving mother of Edward (Dorothy), William F. (Donna), James J. (Anita) and Lynn F. (Keith) Moen. Loving grandmother of Jennifer, Chance, Nicholas, William Jr. and Josh. Dolores worked 35 years and retired from the A & P in Runnemede. Relatives and friends are kindly invited to attend her viewing on Friday morning from 10 to 11 AM at St. Mary’s R.C. Church: 426 Monmouth St. Gloucester City, NJ.

Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11 AM in the church. Interment Brigadier General William C. Doyle Veterans Memorial Cemetery, Arneytown, NJ. In lieu of flowers, donations to NJ Veterans Memorial Home: 524 North West Blvd. Vineland, NJ 08360. Please write in the memo: Dolores R. Moen. Expressions of sympathy: www.mccannhealey.com under online obituaries of Dolores R. Moen. Funeral Arrangements and Inquiries through: McCANN-HEALEY FUNERAL HOME: 851 Monmouth Street, Gloucester City. Ph: 856-456-1142

Roberta A. Mogar, Gloucester City High School Class of ‘76, Enjoyed Camping and Crocheting

Surrounded by her loving family and friends, on May 11, 2010. Age 52. (nee Reader) Of Gloucester City. Loving mother of Jacquelyn Mogar Wilke and Stefanie Mogar Kalitz. Loving daughter of John L. \”Jack\” Reader, Jr. and the late Dorothy A. \”Dot\” Reader (nee Jewiss). Loving sister of Juanita E. Reader and John L. (Michele A.) Reader, III. Loving grandmother of Matthew Owen Wilke and Kamryn Alivia Kalitz. Dear Aunt of John L. Reader, IV and Jessica L. Reader. Loving Fiance of John Farrell. Also survived by her loving pets, Stewie and Snowbie.

Roberta graduated from Gloucester High School class of 1976 where she was active in the Reunion Committee. She was a member of the South Jersey Metal Detecting Club in Haddon Heights. Roberta enjoyed camping and crocheting. Relatives and friends are kindly invited to attend her viewing on Friday morning from 10 AM to 1 PM at the McCANN-HEALEY FUNERAL HOME: 851 Monmouth St. Gloucester City.

Funeral Service officiated by Pastor Dan Amey of Brooklawn United Methodist Church will begin at 1 PM in the funeral home. Interment Eglington Cemetery, Clarksboro. In lieu of flowers, donations to American Heart Association: 1 Union Street, #301, Robbinsville, NJ 08691. Please write in the memo: Roberta A. Mogar. Expressions of sympathy: www.mccannhealey.com under online obituaries of Roberta A. Mogar. Funeral Arrangements and Inquiries through: McCANN-HEALEY FUNERAL HOME: 851 Monmouth Street, Gloucester City. Ph: 856-456-1142

 

I returned to my home town in 1996, after 39 years of living and working in a half dozen cities. I was elated to rediscover our unique home town library.

I have utilized numerous libraries, a few of which were County-operated. No library provides more personalized services, or better computers and books than our Library, bar none.

While I am acutely aware of the need to balance our town budget, there are some aspects of life that can’t be measured in dollars. Our City needs a responsive, sensitive library, just as much as we need Ball Fields.

Reduce service hours, close on Wednesday, assign our Police to insure night time security, charge me $50 annually, but please, please do not cede our Gloucester City Library to the County political machine.

Jack Hughes, GHS Class of 55

source Gloucester City News

Free fishing and hunting licenses…

stamps and permits for NJ resident veterans with a service-connected disability have been available since 2000. The NJ DEP Division of Fish and Wildlife issues these licenses to eligible veterans after a certification process requiring proof of honorable discharge from any branch of the Armed Forces and who have been declared by the US Department of Veterans Affairs to have a service-connected disability of any degree.
Eligible veterans only need to apply once for disabled veteran certification. Only the division can approve certification; license agents are not authorized to do so. Once certified, free licenses, stamps and permits can be obtained from any license agent or via the division\’s license website. Regular license requirements (i.e. applicable hunter education course completion for hunting licenses, etc.) apply.
Certification can be completed at three division offices (no license agents) or via the mail.
For more information, including a link to a mail-in application form, visit http://www.njfishandwildlife.com/dvinfo.htm on the division\’s website. Please be sure all required documentation listed on the application is provided to avoid processing delays.

New Jersey Students Win 2010 StateFish Art Contest

Youth Artists Will Be Honored at StateFish Art Expo July 16th & 17th.

BROOKLYN CENTER, MN – Wildlife Forever is proud to announce the New Jersey winners of the

GIFFORD, Joseph W. Age 51, of West Deptford, passed away suddenly May 7, 2010. He is the beloved husband of Georgiann \”Georgi\” (nee Pino), devoted father of Bridget (John Jr.) Golembiewski, Brenna and Carl \”Leo\” Tarrach IV, adoring grandfather of Sloane Elyse, loving son of Marie (nee Matheis) Gifford, brother of Marie (Joe) Wagner, Robert (Karen) Gifford, Sr., and also survived by many nieces & nephews. Predeceased by his father Albert (Bob) Gifford.

Joe was raised in Bellmawr, graduated in 1977 from Gloucester Catholic High School and graduated in 1984 from Kings College with a B.S. in Medical Technology. For many years he worked at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital as a Charge Med Tech, a Lab Supervisor at Hahnemann Hospital, and, currently a Service Engineer for Seiman\’s Diagnostics Division. He loved spending time with his family, having family gatherings at the NJ shore, and, was an avid Philadelphia sports fan and NASCAR fan. He will be greatly missed by all those that knew and loved him.

Funeral services were held May 11-12 under the direction of the LANDOLFI FUNERAL HOME Of Paulsboro, 300 W. Broad St., Paulsboro. A funeral Mass was celebrated at the Infant Jesus Parish/St. Margaret\’s Church, 3rd and Beech St., Woodbury Hts. NJ. Interment Eglington Cemetery, Clarksboro.

If anyone wishes, donations may be made to the Intensive Care Nursery (ICN), 4th floor, Lady of Lourdes Medical Center, 1600 Haddon Ave., Camden NJ 08103.