Businesses in West Milford in 1950 offered many services

BY ANN GENADER
WEST MILFORD ‑‑ Publication of Robert Shorteau’s West Milford local newspaper “The Mountaineer” began around 1950. So much of what today’s tourism groups are looking for now was here at that time. People visited then and liked the country setting and the population grew greatly.
The new residents were used to many more services and sophistication in towns where they came from and as a result many changes resulted. Services such as “city water” were offered by developers who created communities - such as Birch Hill and Mount Glen Lakes. When developers left without anything in place to maintain the water and sewer systems the West Milford Municipal Utilities Authority (MUA), an autonomous body, was created.
Chief Associate Editor of “The Mountaineer” was Walter S. Terhune Jr. who left his position with the newspaper to return to Military service with the US Air Force. Robert Shorteau, publisher, produced the publication from a back room in his food market/butcher shop in West Milford Village. He advertised in his paper, “Ride the Bus to Bob’s Market.”
A public bus route from West Milford Village ran along Macopin Road and circled around through the Lindy’s Lake, Gordon Lakes, Shady Lake areas and went back into town. “The Mountaineer” and the bus route only lasted a couple of years. The newspaper closed after Shorteau became ill. The bus route proved not to be profitable.
Ball games drew big crowdsAs they still do today, softball and baseball games over 65 years ago drew a crowd of spectators. The newspaper had its own baseball team. Players included Phil Pulis, Bob Fiorilla, Rudy Jordan, Walter Oakes, Jerry Pulis, Don Woronecki, Billie Jecker, Lee Michelfelder, David Michelfeler, Dick Hall, Frank Harker, Bob Beyer, Bob Fox, Rolf Aakvik and Joe Fiorilla. In 1950 they had won their fourth straight game by defeating the Newfoundland Bobcats at the Newfoundland Field on Aug. 7, 1950. Ernie Pulis was the coach. The next game was scheduled at the Hillcrest Athletic Field where the Mountaineers hoped to hold their undefeated title. The ball players at that time did not have uniforms as the players do today. It was a much more unsophisticated time.
On Aug. 11 of the same year “The Echo Lake Boys” baseball team played a return game with their fathers at their home field in Apshawa. The vacant site next to the former Apshawa School just north of Apshawa Cross Road is now a water detention basin.) The umpire at the game was Garry Mabey. Although the “Old Timers” scored a few good hits their sons proved to be too much for them. Until the last inning the score for the men was 0 with the boy’s score climbing. Lou Struble Sr. came up to bat for the men’s team. He walloped the ball – and with the help of his teammates who followed, brought their score up to 1 run. Danny Mathews (who became a teacher and principal of Upper Greenwood Lake School) did some swell playing on the boy’s team, helping to make things tough for the “Old-Timers” Sonny Struble, Paul Struble, Dave Lefurge and Lee Marion. The “Boys” won the game 25-1.
Many competed in horse showIn those days over 65 years ago people gathered at Lake Swannanoa in Oak Ridge for the 16th annual Horse Show under direction of Pete Schneider. Doris Boulden of Newfoundland was second out of 20 contestants in the “Western Trail Class” and fourth out of 15 contenders in “In and Out of the boxes competition.” Her sister Ruth Boulden was in the US Navy and working at the Utilization Branch at a Naval Examining Center received a promotion to a job of operating a new and modern IBM tabulating machine.
People liked to travel in the 1950s and often wanted information about their trips published. Anna Dunham, long time teacher at the Oak Ridge School and later at the Newfoundland School and her sisters Mary Dunham and Catherine Dunham had an article included in the paper about their two weeks at the Audubon Nature Camp in Maine. Afterward they to the Bar Harbor Maine coast and saw the devasted sections of woods destroyed by fire the previous year. They went to Quebec and Montreal and stopped at Saratoga Springs on the way home.
Birthday parties – especially for kids – were a big deal and were reported in the local newspaper. Teddy Weller’s 12th birthday on Aug. 2 was an example. The newspaper reported “Teddy received many nice gifts.” Names of the kids attending as listed were Johnnie Paul, Frankie Sisco, Johnny Miller, Johnny Gosemat, David Weller, Bobby Weller, Joyce Miller, Marlene Weller, Lester Weller Jr., and Donnie Henderson. Also present were Mrs. Donald Henderson, Miss Patricia Utter and Allene Weller. Teddy’s mother, Mrs. Theodore Weller, gave the party.
The writers were local people – some of us still in high school – and others included homemakers. The paper was filled with advertisements for local businesses. Movie listings were included.
Wilbur Fredericks had a full page advertisement for his business. In his ad he advised readers: “Protect yourself – order your coal now before coal supplies become affected by government control, coal prices advance further and cold weather finds you with an empty coal bin. We urge all our customers to fill their bins now. By buying coal you will be supporting your government and helping yourself. You can store your entire winter’s coal supply of you burn solid fuel.” He said for prompt delivery an solid fuel for solid comfort call him at Newfoundland 9-4664.
Caloric Ranges for kitchens were available for $126.50 and up from Robert Nicholson Sr.’s Cyl Gas Co. in Oak Ridge, Shellrich Company in West Milford Village and Lakeland Refrigeration at Greenwood Lake.
The Playhouse in Greenwood Lake Village on the New York side of the lake was showing James Stewart in “Winchester 73”; Betty Hutten in “Annie Get Your Gun” and William Bendix in “Kill the Umpire” during the week of Aug. 11. One film would be shown for two days, followed by other films, each with a two-day run. The theater was close by for Hewitt and West Milford Village residents.
Closer for those at Upper Greenwood Lake was the Oakland Theater in Warwick N.Y. The same week two-day – often two feature shows there were “Broken Arrow” with James Stewart and Jeff Chandler and Esther Williams and Van Johnson in “Dutchess of Idaho.” The next day featured “Man on the Eifel Tower” with Charles Laughten and “Tarzan and the Slave Girl.” The weekend highlight was “Flame and the Arrow” with Burt Lancaster and Virginia Mayo.
Phillips Transportation Company of Hewitt – established in 1922 – offered charter service for picnics and parties with Safety, Dependability and Experience.
Farm noted for fresh, sweet cornThe Manetas Gladiolus Farm sold more than gladiolus. Their newspaper advertisement offered “Fresh Sweet Corn – picked twice daily – available through Labor Day.” This farm was located on the property where the ShopRite and TJ Maxx stores are located today.
Moose Head Lodge on the West Shore of Greenwood Lake advertised as “Meeting Place for Sportsmen” and available were “(Dry) Boats, (Live) Bait and (Real) Alibis.
Fox’s Freezer Fresh Homemade Ice Cream and Spumoni, Bisque and Tortoni along with Seabrook Farms Frozen Food were available at Fox Lair on Macopin Road where the phone number was West Milford 4-7431. Hazelnut Ice Cream was the feature of the Aug. 4, 1950 week.
Rhea Lighting Rod Company of Trenton was represented by H. M. Shope at Greenwood Lake and featured with the product Underwriters Master Label Lighting Protecion.
Addie’s Rest (Formerly Harry’s) Luncheonette on Route 23 in Newfoundland where Addie Weller advised “Try our Large Hot Dogs!” - also had home-made ice and pies available.
Helen Michelfelder sold “knittng yarns, handicrafts and selected gifts” at a shop in her home in the center of West Milford Village.
Peter C. Marchand, licensed real estate broker in New York and New Jersey, was located on the main street (Union Valley Road) in the Village of Wes Milford. His ad for those interested in “renting, buying and selling” informed readers that “On real estate it’s results that count.”
In Bloomingdale Alexander J. MacKenn reported that “Your home – like a proper jewel – needs the proper setting.” Construction of lawns, shrub plantings, badminton and other court areas were included in a long list of services offered. There was also the offer of available materials for the homeowner who desires to do his own work. MacKenn also sold “the new all-purpose “Bug Hozzer” – easily attached to the garden hose for spraying insecticides, fungicides, crab grass killer and fertilzer.
Finn’s Market in West Milford had fresh fruits, vegetables and groceries. Carl’s Diner promised “All baking done on premises’; Savio Brothers of Macopin sold and delivered cinder blocks; Telfer Preston operated “The Big Oak Studio” on Westbrook Road, Macopin, offering professional photography for weddings and baby photos – studio or candid -, portraits and commercial photography.
Plumber Robert Cornwell in West Milford advised “Best remedy for all plumbing ailments is expert plumbing repair! For fast, reliable plumbing service, call us! Our prices reasonable, our work guaranteed.”
West Milford Fuel Company sold Cannel Coal, Fireplace Wood, Charcoal, Ice, Coal, Ford Charcoal Briquets, Anthracite Briquets, White Gas and Picnic Supplies.