By Albert B. Kelly
If you are of a certain age, you remember exactly where you were on November 22, 1963 when you heard the news that President John F. Kennedy had been shot and killed in Dallas. Here in Bridgeton, some remember being in High School, Junior High or elementary school and seeing the expression on the teacher’s face. Others might remember hearing the news on the factory floor, in the office or shopping at a store. Some were driving, listening to the car radio when Don Gardener broke in with the first flash over the ABC radio network; and others were watching TV when Walter Cronkite interrupted “As the World Turns” with the news from Dallas. We remember a lot about that day.
This coming Friday marks the 50th anniversary of JFK’s assassination. 50 years; goodness knows the world we live in bears little resemblance to 1963, so much is different in the world- so much is different here in Bridgeton. The rhythm and structure of our community was far different on November 22, 1963.
Once the news sunk in on that Friday afternoon, official Bridgeton reacted as you might expect; City School Superintendent Ed Chance announced that the public schools would be closed Monday, November 25th as a National Day of Mourning; while Bridgeton Mayor John Spoltore announced the same for City Hall. Freeholder Director Edgar Hand announced the closing of the County Courthouse, while Congressman Milton Glenn expressed his shock on behalf of the second district.
Noteworthy from our vantage point in 2013; is that large numbers of 1963 Bridgetonians went to their chosen house of worship expressly to pray after hearing the news of JFK’s death. WSNJ broadcast a memorial service two days later on Sunday with Rev. Leonard Donohue, Rev. John Hutchinson, and Rabbi Phillip Sigal presiding. John Baird with the Bridgeton Protestant Ministerial Association called on member churches to pray for the first family, LBJ, and Congress.
The Bridgeton Evening News did not have a BEN column in November 1963, but it did have “The Scribbler”; which told readers that it had been an ordinary morning at the 74 E. Commerce Street newsroom that fateful Friday as the staff prepared that days’ edition. Suddenly the news of the shooting in Dallas started coming over the wires from AP and UPI and people began crowding around the bulletin board looking at photos and news items. There was tension leading up to the confirmation of JFK’s death followed by tears. Then the editorial staff got to work; they had to create a new front page.
The talk around Bridgeton on November 22, 1963 included the opening of the Cumberland Mutual Insurance Company’s new building at 164 West Broad Street. Bridgetonian’s regularly ate at the Hickory Steakhouse or the Bridgeton Grill (Angie’s), which advertised chicken pot pie served daily from 5am to midnight. That weekend, the Bridgeton Drive-In featured “Johnny Cool”, “Under the Yum Yum Tree” with Jack Lemmon, and “The Courtship of Eddie’s Father” with Glenn Ford and Shirley Jones. The Laurel was playing “Mary Mary”, starring Debbie Reynolds and the matinee feature “Pirates of Blood River”.
If you were in the market for a car, Scribner & Lewis, Inc, offered a ’63 Chevy Impala for $2,695, a ’61 Chevy Parkwood for $1,495, and a ’57 Chevy BelAir for $745. Walker Motors had a 1958 Ford Fairlane (Tudor Hardtop) for $95 down and $4.50 per week. Mr. Big was selling pole lamps for $1.99 and as Thanksgiving approached, Chiari’s Market had turkeys on sale for 35 cents a pound.
Finishing up the 1963 season, the Bridgeton Midget Football All-Star team, getting ready to play Wyndmoore PA, featured Joe Radcliffe, Bruce Cobb, John Pramov Doug Tuner, Donald Blazie, Joe Blandino, Roberta Wright, Tim Stamm, Art Frank, Richard Riley, Tom Wells, Anthony Bouno, Nate Bartley, Arts Hayes, Glenn Davis, Wayne Sabota, Gary Earnest, Doug Janelli, Charles Fisher, Joe Garwood, Dave Patterson, Howard Furtek, Steve Sabota, Bruce Smith, John Buccolo, Jim Smith and coaches Vince Woodruff and John Cobb.
The 1963 Gems, runner-up in the Tri-County League’s southern division, had a roster that included Frank Slaninka, Gordon Davis, Steve Fortune, Harris Facemeyer, Ken Beggs, Tom Krawiec, Russ Semple, Barry Wulderk, Bill Jones, Dale Donaldson, Tom Lane, Wayne Ore, Alvin Laster, Howard Lacey, Robert Riley, Joe Nolan, Frank Spagnola, Tom Butcher, Ray Ghedine, Ron Marino, Mario Terrigno, Frank Bucci, Doug Goldsboro and coach Chuck Weir.
Finally, Bridgetonian’s looked forward to the 1963 Christmas parade; which featured upwards of 15 floats, music from the Beldirs, the Victoris, and the Hegeman String Band; and entertainment from likes of Chief Halftown, Uncle Pete Boyle, Sam the Accordion Man, Bozo the Clown, the Cumberland Hotel Clowns, and the Jersey Raiders Color Guard.
On a personal note, I remember Bank St. School Principle, George Maiers, sticking his head in Mrs. Lambs’ third grade class as he made his rounds to each of the twelve classrooms, informing everyone that the President had been shot. Then it seemed only a few moments later that he returned to say the President was dead. Our class sat there in shock, each of us looking at one another in amazement. Looking back, I realize now that we really did not grasp the true gravity of the moment but we had a vague sense that the world had seemingly been turned upside down, if only by the look on our teachers face.
I could go on and on but; thinking back to 1963, I tend to think we trusted more back then, we were less cynical, we respected more in our civic life. And whatever it was, we were certainly young, but so was America and so was JFK. Maybe that’s part of why his assassination seems like such a turning point… even 50 years later.