In Asbury Park on the Jersey Shore a segment of the city’s homes located near Deal Lake speak to the Victorian Age – Asbury Park’s Queen Anne homes.
Three floors were the standard in a 19th Century Queen Anne home. Distinct brickwork. Corner towers. Wide porches. Asymmetrical fronts. With red-brick walls, offset by pale stone.
White-painted woodwork. And bay windows.
Each, a characteristic of this British-inspired architecture. Architecture one can still observe and admire, to this day, in Asbury Park.
In 1872 “old” Kansas City, Kansas was incorporated.
Fourteen years later Kansas City added the independent settlements of Wyandotte City, Armstrong, Riverview and Armordale to the city’s footprint. Combining these settlements to create a “new” Kansas City.
Twenty-four years later, Kansas City annexed Argentine.
Quindaro – originally a free state port and an Underground Railroad station alongside the Missouri River – was annexed by Kansas City in 1923.
One of the coolest neighborhoods in Kansas City, Kansas is Strawberry Hill.
Located at the confluence of the Kansas River and the Missouri River, Strawberry Hill’s history is intertwined with the West Bottoms.
Established in the late-1800’s, at the height of Kansas City’s cattle industry early in the 20th Century, most of Strawberry Hill’s residents were employed by the meat-packing industry.
Kansas City’s meat packers were located in the nearby West Bottoms.
In German, Rott means a settlement located on a steep bank; a clearing. In knowing the meaning of Rott, Rottweil, Germany – nestled between the Alps and the Black Forest, containing our prefix of Rott – is aptly named.
This prefix is derived from Old High German.
Old High German was the earliest stage in the German language, used between 500 AD and 750 AD.
Rottweil is part of Baden-Württemberg, its history, going back to Roman times. In the Roman Empire Rottweil was a territory known by the Romans as Arae Flaviae.
Rottweil’s beginning dates back to 75 AD. To long before twenty-six Prussian states joined to form Germany. To long before there was a Kingdom of Germany.
Rottweil, Germany…
In 1871, Rottweil became part of the German Empire; Rottweil is one of Germany’s original towns.
Up through 1871, Rottweil was part of the Prussian state of Wurttemberg, one of the twenty-six states which united, leading to the formation of Germany.
Eighty one years after Wurttemberg joined the German Empire – bringing Rottweil along with it – Rottweil became a Baden-Wurtemberg town; a status Rottweil holds to this day.
Rottweil is a German town. Rottweil is a German district. Rottweil too is home to one of the world’s favorite dogs: the Rottweiler.
In Germany, the Rottweiler was originally known as Rottweiler Metzgerhund. In German, Rottweiler Metzgerhund means Rottweil butcher’s dog.
During the 19th Century, Rottweilers were used by German butchers to transport meat.
Aside from being a butcher’s helper, the Rottweiler’s job during Roman times – this, a job the Rottweiler held long after the Roman Empire was no more – was to herd and to protect livestock.
Cattle-herding extraordinaire. Pulling butchers’ carts to market – the Rottweiler.
Accompanying a butcher to market, on their way back home, a butcher would tie a belt with his money in the belt around the neck of his Rottweiler. For safe keeping. Rottweil’s most famous cultural contribution has a long and storied history.
In the days of the Roman Empire, Rottweilers traveled side-by-side with Roman soldiers. Rottweilers herded and drove cattle for Roman legions.
Roman armies were mobile, traveling from region to region. Meat was the primary food source for Roman soldiers. Protecting Roman cattle was the job of the Rottweiler.
Rottweilers protected cattle from predators; a thinned-out herd of cattle would be a death knell for a Roman legion: no food.
The Rottweiler. Roman ally. Butcher’s helper. Protector. Herder. Companion.
Rottweilers protected cattle in the Roman Empire. Rottweilers protected cattle in the Kingdom of Germany. Rottweilers protected cattle in the German Empire. Rottweilers protect cattle in Germany.
Rottweiler, “the Butcher’s Dog,” and once, a Roman soldier’s companion.
In April of 1665 Great Britain’s deputy-governor for New Amsterdam granted “patents” for a triangular parcel of land located in today’s Monmouth County – the Monmouth Patent.
The first families to acquire land through the Monmouth Patent in what today we recognize as Holmdel Township had been the Bowne family, the Cotterell family, the Stout family and the Holmes family.
The Holmes family’s tract of land stretched north of Ramanessin Brook to Hop Brook Farm – the Holmes Tract.
The cattle business was Kansas City’s first million dollar business. In fact, at one time, Kansas City’s stockyards were a multi-million dollar a day business. At their peak, Kansas City’s stockyards were the second busiest stockyards in the United States. Surpassed only by the stockyards in Chicago.
In 1923, 3,500,000 hogs, 350,000 calves, 1,000,000 sheep, plus 40,000 horses were shipped through Kansas City’s stockyards.
The world record for one day’s receipt of cattle was set in Kansas City: 60,206 head of cattle.
During the late 1800’s, trolleys running through the Brookside neighborhood in Kansas City were propelled by underground cables. Those early Brookside trolleys gripped underground cables beneath the tracks.
As the 19th became the 20th Century, the means by which trolleys were propelled changed.
Underground cables were no more. That cable system used by trolleys in Kansas City was replaced by electricity.
In 1825 the Santa Fe Trail was extended to the Grove in the new Kansas Territory. The Grove…named for a picturesque grove of trees.
This grove of trees would go on to become Council Grove, Kansas.
The Santa Fe Trail was routed along the main street pioneers found in the Grove.
This main street that wagon trails visited on their Santa Fe Trail travels as they headed west through the Grove became Main Street in Council Grove, Kansas.
Several all-time great New York Yankees played in Kansas City.
To Yankees fans, the names of Reggie Jackson, Mickey Mantle, Whitey Ford, Elston Howard, Yogi Berra and Phil Rizzuto are well-known for their heroics in the Bronx. Each player once called Kansas City “home.”
Elston Howard played in Kansas City for the Kansas City Monarchs of the Negroes’ League from 1948 through 1950, batting over .300 for the Monarchs his final year in Kansas City.
Whitey Ford, Yogi Berra and Mickey Mantle played in Kansas City for the New York Yankees’ Triple-A affiliate Kansas City Blues.
Whitey Ford had a 6 – 3 record in Kansas City for the Blues in 1950 before being called up to the majors by the Yankees. At 17 years old, Yogi Berra began his minor league career with the Kansas City Blues in 1943.
Mickey Mantle batted .361 and hit 11 home runs for the Kansas City Blues in 1952 before being called up to the major leagues by the Yankees.
Phil Rizzuto played in Kansas City for the Kansas City Blues in 1939 and 1940. Phil Rizzuto had over 200 hits in Kansas City in 1940, becoming The Sporting News Player of the Year that year.
After seven years in the Bronx Billy Martin played in Kansas City for the Kansas City Athletics in 1957.
Signed by the Kansas City Athletics in 1964, Catfish Hunter began his career in Kansas City as a nineteen year old rookie. Catfish Hunter played in Kansas City through 1967.
The Kansas City Athletics drafted Reggie Jackson in 1966. In Reggie Jackson’s rookie year of 1967 – Reggie’s one year in Kansas City – Reggie played right field for the Kansas City Athletics.
Several all-time great New York Yankees played in Kansas City.
To Yankees fans, the names of Reggie Jackson, Mickey Mantle, Whitey Ford, Elston Howard, Yogi Berra and Phil Rizzuto are well-known for their heroics in the Bronx. Each player once called Kansas City “home.”
Elston Howard played in Kansas City for the Kansas City Monarchs of the Negroes’ League from 1948 through 1950, batting over .300 for the Monarchs his final year in Kansas City.
Whitey Ford, Yogi Berra and Mickey Mantle played in Kansas City for the New York Yankees’ Triple-A affiliate Kansas City Blues.
Whitey Ford had a 6 – 3 record in Kansas City for the Blues in 1950 before being called up to the majors by the Yankees.
At 17 years old, Yogi Berra began his minor league career with the Kansas City Blues in 1943.
Mickey Mantle batted .361 and hit 11 home runs for the Kansas City Blues in 1952 before being called up to the major leagues by the Yankees.
Phil Rizzuto played in Kansas City for the Kansas City Blues in 1939 and 1940. Phil Rizzuto had over 200 hits in Kansas City in 1940, becoming The Sporting News Player of the Year that year.
After seven years in the Bronx, Billy Martin was traded to Kansas City, playing for the Kansas City Athletics in 1957.
Signed by the Kansas City Athletics in 1964, Catfish Hunter began his career in Kansas City as a nineteen year old rookie. Catfish Hunter played in Kansas City through 1967.
The Kansas City Athletics drafted Reggie Jackson in 1966. In Reggie Jackson’s rookie year of 1967 – Reggie’s one year in Kansas City – Reggie played right field for the Kansas City Athletics.
Today’s Old Bridge Township was established in the year 1869. Yet the beginning for Old Bridge involved an Old Bridge which was not, at its very beginning, Old Bridge.
Old Bridge Township was originally Madison Township. Named after President James Madison.
This name of Madison Township was later changed. From Madison Township to Old Bridge Township. This township name change took place in 1975.
The township name change was enacted so as to avoid confusing this Madison Township – the one located in Middlesex County – with the Madison located in northern New Jersey. In Morris County.
Yet long, long before there ever was an Old Bridge Township – and before that, long, long before there ever was a Madison Township – before the Garden State Parkway, Route 9, Route 18 and Route 34 winded through this town, Old Bridge Township started out as a 17th Century trading post.
The Old Bridge Township we know today traces its history back to 1683.
In 1683 the King of England granted 1,000 acres of land to John and Suzannah Brown. This settlement became, Brownsville.
One year later, this settlement, granted to the Browns by the king, became South Amboy.
There would be no Old Bridge without there first being, South Amboy.
Today’s Old Bridge started out as a trading post. A trading post which emerged in Brownsville after the English gained control over today’s Old Bridge from the Dutch. Leading to the Brown’s land grant from the king.
During the 17th Century, English settlers recognized how today’s Old Bridge Township – as a trading post – would enhance commercial interests through its location alongside Raritan Bay and South River.
The English recognized an opportunity through maritime commerce. And it was this opportunity to transport goods by ship which had been identified to be a perfect trade route junction.
In the 17th Century, goods made their way to today’s Old Bridge by stagecoach. Upon arrival in Old Bridge, goods could then be shipped further along by waterway – South River or Raritan Bay.
During the 17th Century, maritime commerce originating in today’s Old Bridge involved the use of flat-bottomed river boats. Horses pulled these vessels. Slow though these vessels were, maritime commerce for English merchants in what today is Old Bridge established the settlement’s foundation.
Found on these 17th Century horse-drawn barges would have been, primarily, flour. And later, oysters.
Oysters…
In times before harvesting oysters from Chesapeake Creek was decimated by polluted waters and overharvesting, during the 17th and 18th Centuries, getting oysters out of Chesapeake Creek represented a core commercial activity.
While the English were developing their trading post, Old Bridge represented the center of an unincorporated collection of plantations located to the east and to the west of the Raritan River. At that time, Old Bridge was not a town. Old Bridge was a settlement. A maritime head…among a collection of plantations.
Throughout the 17th and 18th Centuries, flour was arriving in today’s Old Bridge after having been packed into stagecoach boots. Flour arriving in Old Bridge was then loaded onto slow moving riverboats. On South River. Or Raritan Bay.
In the latter days of the 18th Century, the steamboat was invented…
For this settlement, the invention of the steamboat quickened how stagecoach-delivered flour could be transported along the river. Furthermore, the use of steamboats quickened the pace for the transport of flour across the Raritan Bay. To New York City markets.
Old Bridge is located just under 40 miles across Raritan Bay from Manhattan. There is no direct waterway route from Old Bridge to Manhattan. But there is a direct waterway route to Manhattan from South Amboy. The Laurence Harbor section of Old Bridge sits right next to South Amboy.
Through the advent of steamboats, Old Bridge’s economy grew. This old English settlement – where once one found gristmills, sawmills and shops – added banks, taverns and small homes to the landscape. Resting among a sleepy collection of plantations along South River and Raritan Bay, this bayside settlement was undergoing a transformation. This settlement was becoming a bustling bayside-riverside locale.
The beginning for what would go on to become New Jersey’s Old Bridge came in 1869. Through the formation of a town which once had been that 17th Century trading post. From which flour was had been shipped off to New York City. On steamboats.
In February of 1798, South Amboy, was incorporated.
When South Amboy was established, South Amboy included what later would become the independent townships of Monroe, Sayreville and a stand-alone South Amboy. As well as, Old Bridge.
Through an act of the New Jersey legislature in 1869, Madison Township was spun off from the consortium.
One hundred and six years later – in 1975 – Madison Township would become, Old Bridge Township.
For questions or comments about this article you can reach the author, Ted Ihde, by email – authortedihde@gmail.com – or at 816-699-6804.
