The Thistle ... is the newsletter of the Millburn-Short Hills Historical Society. Every issue of the Thistle ever printed can be seen here and within each edition readers can find fascinating stories about Millburn and Short Hills and some of the colorful local residents. Learn about the history of the poor farm formerly at White Oak Ridge Park, Will Bradley, Taylor Park, and much, much more.

-back-

The Budget ... of 1886 is an extremely rare 'Milburn' newspaper. The bound volume in the collection of the historical society is so extremely fragile that it cannot safely be handled by visitors to the museum. This digitized version, then, is a rare look at a newspaper that is not even in the state archives of NJ newspapers. Each edition has a page or two of Millburn news and the rest of the paper is worldwide news -- and often rather remarkable news. In the February 3, 1886 edition you can find fascinating local ads and entries such as: "Fishing was never poorer in Canoe brook, than it is this winter" or "If lower Dakota is recognized as a state, it will probably be called 'Detrouser'" or this distressing attempt at humor from the June 30,

1886 edition: "Samuel Richards, a youth residing at Springfield, was the victim of what might have been a serious accident at Wyoming, on Saturday. A carpenter named David Kohnlon was busily at work in the basement of Mr. Wm. B. Denman's residence and boy-like, Richards tantalized the man until picking up a hatchet he threw it at the boy, narrowly missing the femoral artery. Dr, Whittingham was called an dressed the wound and the boy was removed to Springfield where he is now improving. "Dave" when spoken to said he "thought it was a hammer he flung at the boy" but unfortunately it proved to be a hatchet. Moral: Don't throw a hammer (get a gun.)"

-back-

The Alert ... was published by the Civilian Defense Council of Millburn, NJ.Editor was Mr. Ramsdell. The 1942-1943 editions here were also donated by Michelina ("Micky") Bufo, formerly of 22 Willow Street in Millburn. They were intended to keep Millburn and Short Hills residents 'alert' to potentially dangerous situations, here at home, during war time. The monthly editions covered topics such as blackouts, Civil Defense, salvage driives, etc. The following example of a possible emergency was intended to be used to plan ahead in the event of a similar emergency: "Band concert at South Mountain School. High explosive bomb falls nearby. There were ten severely injured and ten minor casualties. Police and medical emergency dispatched.
Seriously injured taken to the Christ Church Hospital. Ambulant cases to the First Aid Post at the High School."

-back-

The Township Tattle... was published monthly, during the war years, by the American Women's Voluntary Services of Millburn, NJ. The 1942-1945 editions were donated to the historical society by Michelina ("Micky") Bufo, formerly of 22 Willow Street in Millburn were sent to local enlisted men and women and brought them news of their friends and neighbors. The issues of the Tattle seem to have been purposely upbeat, as news of war-related deaths was not among the issues in the society's collection. Sample excerpts include: "Between winning an electric dishwasher and having "K.P." duty behind him, Norman Marks is quite pleased with his luck. Meanwhile the Millburn pulchritude are sorely missing his playing jitterbug records for them back here at the home store." and "My, my, here is that nice string of initials again, which put anything Mr. Roosevelt has concocted in the shade. P.F.C.F.F. Assman's last letter shows he is a happy fellow -- somewhere in England. F.F. has at last seen London Town after cooling his heels in the country. We hope the London talent goes for him as hard as Millburn's glamour department used to."

-back-