Headlines - 1929
1929 was the trailing edge of the roaring twenties, the twilight of the Jazz Age, that bewildering era of affluence and "anything goes" self-indulgence. Popular music included such hit tunes as "Puttin' on the Ritz" and "Star Dust". Guy Lombardo and his Royal Canadians played "Auld Lang Syne" for the first time that New Years eve. Towards the end of the year, the stock market crash would put an end to the affluence and usher in the Great Depression.
And what was happening in conservative, law-abiding Belleville during this pivotal year? Let's look at some of the leading headlines to see what was important to folks then.
Police Ask For Authority To Watch Cafes
Dateline Belleville, NJ - January 11, 1929
In an effort to obtain for Belleville police authority to raid alleged speakeasies, Police Chief Michael J. Flynn Tuesday night asked the Town Commission to enact an ordinance requiring soft drink parlors to be licensed as cafes. This, the chief said, will permit police to raid suspected places and bring the proprietors before the local recorder. Under the present town ordinance, he added, police are without this authority. If the proposed ordinance is passed a maximum fine of $200 can be imposed on offenders, he explained. The chief's recommendations will be considered by the commission.
License Is Refused for Junk Business, Dealer Not A Citizen
Dateline Belleville, NJ - February 1, 1929
The Belleville Town Commission Tuesday again refused to grant a junk license to a local dealer. A town ordinance provides that a junk dealer must be a citizen. During the past six months, the dealer, who is not an American citizen, has been arrested twice and fined $25 each time for operating without a license. The Chief Justice recently denied the dealer a writ to restrain the Belleville authorities from interfering with his operations.
Snowball Barrage Brings Fines For 5
Dateline Belleville, NJ - March 1, 1929
Five young men are minus $2 each today because of their snowball-throwing proclivities. They were fined that sum by the town recorder in Belleville Police Court Monday following a complaint made by the owner of a dry goods store at 126 Franklin Street. The owner said the boys pelted his windows and customers with snowballs to the detriment of his business.
Union Avenue Property Owners Against Paving Street
Dateline Belleville, NJ - August 2,1929
A special meeting was held Tuesday night for the purpose of discussing with the residents of Union Avenue the proposed taking over of that street by the County and the sharing of the cost of improvements. Residents objected to paying any assessment because the people living on the street would derive no benefit from the paving. A petition signed by 47 property owners was presented. They said, "Why should we improve a street which is alright today in our opinion ?"
Dateline Belleville, NJ - August 9, 1929
The Board of Commissioners at the weekly meeting held last night, passed a resolution rescinding a resolution asking the County Board of Freeholders to take over Union Avenue from Belleville Avenue to Joralemon Street and curb and pave it. Mayor Kenworthy explained that inasmuch as the property owners on the street did not want the improvement at this time, the Board felt that the matter could wait.
Kindergarten is a "Useless Expenditure"
Dateline Belleville, NJ - September 20, 1929
"Kindergartens are an absolutely useless expenditure," declared the School Commissioner at a meeting of the Belleville Board of Education Tuesday night. This statement was made following a discussion of the attendance in the kindergartens, the first of which started in Belleville a year ago and to which three have been added since. "To my mind the kindergarten is a serious mistake. The expense is a burden to the taxpayers," he added. A dissenting commissioner said, "the kindergarten is by far the most expensive branch of the schools, but I believe the children get a corresponding benefit."
Should auld acquaintance be forgot, And days of auld lang syne?
And what was happening in conservative, law-abiding Belleville during this pivotal year? Let's look at some of the leading headlines to see what was important to folks then.
Police Ask For Authority To Watch Cafes
Dateline Belleville, NJ - January 11, 1929
In an effort to obtain for Belleville police authority to raid alleged speakeasies, Police Chief Michael J. Flynn Tuesday night asked the Town Commission to enact an ordinance requiring soft drink parlors to be licensed as cafes. This, the chief said, will permit police to raid suspected places and bring the proprietors before the local recorder. Under the present town ordinance, he added, police are without this authority. If the proposed ordinance is passed a maximum fine of $200 can be imposed on offenders, he explained. The chief's recommendations will be considered by the commission.
License Is Refused for Junk Business, Dealer Not A Citizen
Dateline Belleville, NJ - February 1, 1929
The Belleville Town Commission Tuesday again refused to grant a junk license to a local dealer. A town ordinance provides that a junk dealer must be a citizen. During the past six months, the dealer, who is not an American citizen, has been arrested twice and fined $25 each time for operating without a license. The Chief Justice recently denied the dealer a writ to restrain the Belleville authorities from interfering with his operations.
Snowball Barrage Brings Fines For 5
Dateline Belleville, NJ - March 1, 1929
Five young men are minus $2 each today because of their snowball-throwing proclivities. They were fined that sum by the town recorder in Belleville Police Court Monday following a complaint made by the owner of a dry goods store at 126 Franklin Street. The owner said the boys pelted his windows and customers with snowballs to the detriment of his business.
Union Avenue Property Owners Against Paving Street
Dateline Belleville, NJ - August 2,1929
A special meeting was held Tuesday night for the purpose of discussing with the residents of Union Avenue the proposed taking over of that street by the County and the sharing of the cost of improvements. Residents objected to paying any assessment because the people living on the street would derive no benefit from the paving. A petition signed by 47 property owners was presented. They said, "Why should we improve a street which is alright today in our opinion ?"
Dateline Belleville, NJ - August 9, 1929
The Board of Commissioners at the weekly meeting held last night, passed a resolution rescinding a resolution asking the County Board of Freeholders to take over Union Avenue from Belleville Avenue to Joralemon Street and curb and pave it. Mayor Kenworthy explained that inasmuch as the property owners on the street did not want the improvement at this time, the Board felt that the matter could wait.
Kindergarten is a "Useless Expenditure"
Dateline Belleville, NJ - September 20, 1929
"Kindergartens are an absolutely useless expenditure," declared the School Commissioner at a meeting of the Belleville Board of Education Tuesday night. This statement was made following a discussion of the attendance in the kindergartens, the first of which started in Belleville a year ago and to which three have been added since. "To my mind the kindergarten is a serious mistake. The expense is a burden to the taxpayers," he added. A dissenting commissioner said, "the kindergarten is by far the most expensive branch of the schools, but I believe the children get a corresponding benefit."
Should auld acquaintance be forgot, And days of auld lang syne?
posted by NJP at 1:20 AM
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