In 1969, the ‘yellow submarine’ in front of the old Apshawa School was a propane tank painted to look like a submarine. (Photo courtesy of Ann Genader)
The Apshawa two-room rural schoolhouse, where many West Milford people received their first- through eighth-grade education, had been closed for about 25 years in 1969, when the old building was considered for a new use.
Vacant and needing a rebirth, the white wooden building caught the eye of Robert Csigay. He had a dream of creating a safe gathering place for teenagers. His energy and funding were dedicated to remodeling the building and turning it into a teenage discotheque.
At the time, people ages 6 to 60 were singing along with the Beatles song “Yellow Submarine.” There was even a popular animated movie called “Yellow Submarine,” and people for miles around were waiting for it to be shown at the Butler Theater on Arch Street.
The 1968 film was inspired by the music of the Beatles though the British band’s only participation, other than composing and performing the songs, was in the closing scene of the film.
The voices of animated characters were provided by actors. The plot featured Pepperland, a cheerful, music loving paradise under the sea and home to Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band.
The yellow submarine in the movie was located on an Aztec-like pyramid on a hill. A range of high blue mountains was at the edge of land. The land fell under a surprise attack from the music-hating Blue Meanies, who lived beyond the mountains. They drained Pepperland of color and made the residents immobile, but, of course, there is a happy ending in the film.
Csigay chose the name of “The Pit” for the protected gathering place for young people that he visualized. Some parents welcomed the idea of a recreation destination near their homes while others saw it as a bad idea that could cause problems.
Going ahead with his plans for a teen meeting place, Csigay did renovation work on the old school. A “yellow submarine” that appeared in front of the building immediately set the atmosphere of a fun place. The submarine was an empty propane gas tank painted yellow with black circles designating windows and the driver’s area.
Bob Nicholson, formerly of Oak Ridge and now a Sparta resident, remembers supplying the “submarine” tank from his Eastern Propane business.
By April 1969, Csigay had been seeking a required occupancy permit from the town for some time. The delay reportedly was because of concerns about adequate parking.
On a Friday night, a delegation from the local governing board - Mayor George Eckert and Councilmen Edward Gola and Joseph Bender - visited the building, then officially named The Pit.
Before heading there, they had heard rumors that it was opening night for The Pit. There were 40 to 50 people in the building when the officials arrived. A band was practicing. Some people were working on the building interior.
Csigay said the people were just visiting to see what progress was being made to prepare for the opening. Eckert told Csigay that he did not have the right to open the business without the town’s approval and he ordered people to leave. They did so without protest.
Csigay insisted that the band he planned to employ was practicing. He said parents of many of the teens had driven them to the discotheque and dropped them off. He told the officials he allowed them to enter the building “to look around.”
Although Eckert did not oppose the opening of the business, other officials were strongly against it, Csigay told a reporter. He said some opposing people were making things very difficult for him.
Explaining that comment, he said he was bothered constantly by inspectors from various township departments who were “unfair” and plaguing him with “picayune” details.
Fast forward to the fall election. The building was needed as a polling place for the people in the Apshawa section of the township. Cisigay said the officials were “begging” him to provide it for that purpose.
He said he repeatedly warned the officials that he had flammable paints stored on the premises. He relented and allowed the election to be held in his building.
“Now they are telling me the building is unsafe,” Csigay said after the polls were closed. “Since the election was held, I have spent $40,000 on repairs and fireproofing the premises.”
Teens present when the inspection committee shut Csigay down said they were eager for The Pit to open and their parents approved of the disco being in Apshawa. Some people said they spent time helping to decorate the building and get it ready for opening.
Final details are scarce but people at the time recalled that The Pit may have been open for a while, but for whatever reason, it was not around for long.
When it first formed in 1945, the Apshawa Volunteer Fire Department was housed in the former Apshawa school building. It was used until the new firehouse at 666 Macopin Road was built and occupied.
At one time, people donated books and an attempt was made for the building to be a satellite of the West Milford Public Library.
The old school building continues to be in commercial use today. It is owned by a private company.