Boonton 1950s
Riverside Hospital opens in 1955
(From the Boonton Times-Bulletin 10/31/1955)
“The great day arrived to Saturday for Riverside Hospital – when all the labor, self-sacrifice and prayer of a great many people bore fruit and the saw the new hospital dedicated.
Halsey A, Frederick, president of the board of trustees, cut away the satin ribbon which barred entrance through the wide glass doors to the hospital,
A community hospital in the true sense of the word. Born in our locality, it has been erected by the generosity of thousands of contributions to its cause.”
Cost & Staff
The cost of the hospital was nearly one million dollars, which included all costs such as the very expensive equipment, legal and architects fees and the cost of fund raising. Relatively small in size, at the time of it opening, Riverside Hospital provided a capacity of 65 patient beds in single two-bed or three-bed rooms.
At the time, the staff of twenty doctors were: Ernest E, Arnheim, R.R. Baldwin, W.K. Booth, Andrew B. Breuder, J.R. Brigante, Dora G. Cook, Ella F. Cummins, Charles Deichman, Struart Zeh Hawkes, Emil Hornick, J.J. Lenko, Eugene Luippold, Monroe H. Mufson, C.A. Musetto, Lyndon Peer, G.S. Rickert, John Roy, A.J. Ward, M.P. Welles and David P. Williams. (Some of these doctors were from Boonton and had offices in town)
Location & Opening
Although the hospital was official located in Boonton Township, the many local Boonton individuals were involved in the fund raising. According to the Boonton Times-Bulletin of December 12, 1950, some early board members from Boonton were Dudley Boycott and Edward Maraziti.
The official day of opening was November 2, 1955. The site in which the hospital was erected, was part of the area which was known as the “West Boonton Ball grounds” where for many years the annual Fireman’s parade ended. With the building of the hospital, 1954 was the last year the parade held its festivities at this location.
Boonton Historical Society is formed - 1959
The Boonton Historical Society was first organized in April, 1959, when a founders meeting was held in the directors room of the Boonton Trust Co. A slate of officers and a board of trustees were elected to serve and the society’s attorney,
David Young III, was authorized to seek a charter from the Secretary of State in Trenton. The society was funded by memberships.
Oscar P. Myers, president of the Boonton Trust Co., was elected president of the society. Named to serve with him were: Charles A. Norris, Jr., 1st vice-president;
Peter C. Wendt, Jr., 2nd vice president; Alex J. Martancik, treasurer; Alex D. Fowler, recording secretary; and Bruce Dixon, corresponding secretary.
The board of trustees included the officers as well as: George W. Ross, Harry P. Haldt, Lewis M. Hull, Earl Salmon, Palmer C. Dawson, Gerald Reynar, John B. Howell, all of Boonton; also, Thomas Capstick and Oren F. Browning, Jr., of Montville Township; Charles A. Norris, Jr., of Denville, and Stephen H. Condit, of Troy Hills.
The name of the society was chosen after long debate as that best suited to the purpose of the society, since Boonton was geographically the hub of the area whose history, legends, and provenance the society aimed to study and preserve.
The Boonton Trust Co. continued to serve as the headquarters of the society. Any items or historic artifacts that were donated to the society were kept at the bank or in individual members’ homes.
In 1963, the Holmes Library offered the use of one of its rooms to the society for permanent and temporary exhibits, as well as for storage of the many items that the society was accumulating.
In 1980, the society moved its burgeoning collection to the second floor of the Dr. John Taylor Building at the invitation of the American Legion. Some of the hard working members of the society through those years were: Pearl Clark, Ruth Wootton, Jean Lee, Arline Dempsey and Evelyn Eckardt.
In the early 1990’s, the building was deemed unsafe and was closed to the public. A group of citizens formed The Committee to Save the John Taylor Building and sought funding to renovate the building. A large portion came from a state grant and sizeable contributions from the American Legion Post 124 and the Boonton Historical Society. More money came from individuals who were interested in seeing this portion of history kept alive in Boonton. The building was reopened in May 1997.
Today the Historical Society is a vibrant member of the community offering not only a museum with a permanent exhibit of the history of the town’s origins, but changing exhibits throughout the year which provide a glimpse into the day to day life of Boonton’s past.
Programs of historical interest are offered at the Boonton Senior Center from October through May, as well as fund raising events during the year. Walking Tours of the town are offered during the summer months and a well-stocked gift shop of Boonton-related books, gifts and other treasures.
Visits to the museum by students, scouts, and other interest groups are welcomed and private visits can be made by appointment during weekdays.
To learn more, view the Boonton Historical Society.