Shiloh Baptist Church installs 9th Pastor this weekend

Pastor Hodari Hamilton with President Barak Obama.

Shiloh Baptist Church will install its 9th Pastor, the Rev. Hodari K. Hamilton, over the weekend.

The officers and members will host an Installation Banquet on Saturday (June 10) at 2:00 PM at the Bridgewater Marriott.

The Rev. Dr. Lance Watson, Senior Pastor of St. Paul's Baptist Church, Richmond, VA, will preach the installation message. Rev. Dr. Johnnie Fleming, Senior Pastor of Second Baptist Church, Chester, VA, will also take part in the program.

The celebration continues on Sunday, June 11, at Shiloh's 9:00 AM worship service, where REv. Jaimal Hayes, Senior Pastor of Abner Baptist Church in Glen Allen, VA, will be the guest preacher. Rev. Fleming will officiate at the Act of Installation at this service.

Rev. Hamilton, a native of Sacramento, California,, was licensed to preach at age 16. He believes he has been called to equip and encourage God's people through God's Word.

Pastor Hamilton with his wife, the Rev. Khadijah Hamilton, and
their five children.

He is married to Rev. Khadijah Hamilton, M.Div, PMP. They are the proud parents of five children: Hodari, Jr., Nehemiah, Grace, Kendra and Bennaniah.

NOTE: Though the deadline for banquet reservations is past, there may be a few spaces left. If interested, call Pat Fields at (908) 369-1152. The Bridgewater Marriott is at 700 Commons Way, Bridgewater. Donations: Age 13 and up: $45/person; ages 6-12: $20/person; under 6 free.

The Act of Installation will take place during the 9:00 AM service on Sunday morning.

Shiloh Baptist Church is at 515 West Fourth Street (at Liberty Street). Parking available in the lots on West 5th Street or Liberty Street. Visit Shiloh on the web at www.shilohplainfield.org/.

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2017 Dem Primary: Unofficial City Committee results, write-in votes online here

Write-ins from Ward 2, District 3. How's that again?

I am posting the unofficial totals for Plainfield Democatic City Committee online here.

Note that the winners are in GREEN type, the losers in BLACK, and tie votes are in RED. While 60 of the 68 seats are going to the Regular Democratic Organization (Mapp candidates), Tracey Brown and Bridget Rivers did take a few seats, and Bridget Rivers Ward 4 slot and Diane and Alex Toliver's Ward 1 committee seats fell to RDO challengers.

I am also posting the citywide write-in ballots (except for Peter Price,whose write-in is included in its Ward 2 - District 6 slot). See here for the write-ins. There are the usual jokesters (Minnie Mouse got one vote), but I was surprised at the number of write-in votes for people who were already on the printed ballot.

Some write-ins were for people who were on the ballot but the write-in voter indicated an office for which they candidate was NOT running.

Does this mean the ballot was confusing? Or that the voters were "misremembering"?

On to November!

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Remembering Dorothe Pollard

Dot always projected a sort of 1950s classic elegance.

It is probably safe to say that without Dorothe Pollard (known as Dot to her friends), there would be no Van Wyck Brooks Historic District.

She worked tirelessly alongside John Grady to define the district's boundaries, and do the research on the hundreds of homes that are included in the district, piecing together a successful application for designation on the National Register of Historic Places (one of two such districts in the Queen City).

In later years, she and John collaborated on a picture book of historic and vintage photos of Plainfield homes and daily life published by Arcadia in its "Images of America" series -- still available on Amazon (see here) and in Barnes & Noble bookstores.

John Grady and Dot Pollard's picture book
on Plainfield is available from Amazon and B&N.

But my memories of Dot center on her work at United National Bank where she was an Assistant VP for Public Relations.

Dot was a petite dynamo. She always seemed to carry about her an air of a southern "belle" and at the same time a "Seven Sisters" graduate with her cashmere sweaters and impeccable blouse and skirt "uniform". Only when reading her obituary (see here),did I learn that she was born and raised in Vineland, which may account for the "southern" feel. And graduating from Douglass College puts one in mind of the seven sisters women's colleges.

Because Dot was a two-fisted smoker, she was banished to the historical Sutphen House on the far side of the 2nd Street parking lot, which was fine with her. The Sutphen House was expanded with the addition of a classroom and designated as the bank's Community Reinvestment program.

Dot oversaw the community's use of the building for meetings and classes. I offered several seminars there for nonprofits, clubs and churches titled "Getting Ink" on how to improve getting the word out about their events. As a result, I became a sort of "scout" for her, passing along contact information for groups that needed an occasional (and free) meeting space with plenty of parking. And she would call me regularly, asking me to present the program again, saying it was a frequently requested topic.

After Dot retired in 2001, the bank (United National at the time) gradually abandoned the public use of the space on a come-one, come-all basis, eventually renting it at no cost to a group providing immigrant services.

Dot was part of a regular crowd that lunched at Bill's Luncheonette on East Front Street, where she swapped gossip and business news with Plainfield's downtown businessmen.

She will be sorely missed and fondly remembered as a vital part of Plainfield in that period when the city was waiting to launch it's 21st-century chapter.

Visitation is Thursday morning (June 8) from 9 AM to 10 AM, with a funeral service at 10 AM, at Memorial Funeral Home on South Avenue in Fanwood.

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Voters choose Mapp team and Column A in Democratic Primary

Unofficial final tallies by the Plainfield
Democratic City Committee.

Plainfield voters in the Democratic Primary on Tuesday chose Adrian Mapp as the local party's standard-bearer in the November general election, along with his local running mates Joylette Mills-Ransome (Wards 2/3) and Steve Hockaday (Ward 4).

(See the unofficial numbers compiled by the Plainfield Democratic City Committee at the top of this post.) Not only Mapp and his team, but the whole Column A team was successful in the Primary Election.

As of 10:00 PM, only candidate Bridget Rivers had the class to call Mayor Mapp and congratulate him on his victory.

As noted by Mayor Mapp in his victory remarks, it was the daily walking and knocking on voters' doors that made the difference, allowing the candidates to make connections that mailers and robocalls cannot do.

Unless a candidate (or candidates) filed today to run as an Independent against Mapp, he will have the mayor's line to himself in the November election. The same holds true for Mills-Ransome and Hockaday.

Hockaday's win in the 4th Ward means that for the first time in at least 20 years, 4th ward representatives will be working with the Administration.

Did the drizzly, overcast weather hamper the turnout? We won't know until County Clerk Joanne Rajoppi posts the final numbers, however poll workers at several districts in several wards felt that the turnout was low, in their estimation.

Joylette Mills-Ransome will bring a laser focus on constituent relations to her service as a Councilor, in addition to her wide and deep experience in community service.

Steve Hockaday will be a breath of fresh air -- someone who has actually reached out to all parts of his ward and not just a well-worn path of least resistance. Look for some new ideas about how to deal with some of the 4th Ward's persistent challenges.

Mayor Mapp will have his work cut out for him. With a 6-1 majority on the Council (Ward One councilor Diane Toliver's term expires at the end of next year), the path should be clear for Mapp's further initiatives to quicken the pace of development and jobs growth over the next four years.

We truly are looking at a new day for Plainfield and, as Sheriff Joe Cryan said at the GOTV rally on City Hall steps, investors and now looking at Plainfield. The Primary win will only make Plainfield more attractive.

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It's Primary Election Day. Vote.

One word says it all.

It's Tuesday, June 6 -- Primary Election Day in New Jersey. The polls are open from 6 AM to 8 PM.

Your Ward and Voting District are on the sample ballot you received in the mail a week or so ago.

Whether you vote before you go to work or after you have come home, be sure to VOTE.

While we are only voting for our party's candidate for the November election, Democrats have the overwhelming edge in registrations in Plainfield, meaning that the winner of the Primary is almost guaranteed of winning the November election.

If you are voting for the Column A team, which include Adrian Mapp for Mayor, Joylette Mills-Ransome for Council (Wards 2/3) and Steve Hockaday for Council (Ward 4), you are cordially invited to join other supporters at Plainfield Democratic Headquarters as the returns come in.

Dem Headquarters is at 35 Watchung Avenue, next to Antojito's Restaurant and adjacent to the public parking lot.

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Tuesday is Primary Election Day. Vote Column A all the way to keep moving Plainfield forward.

Front row: Mayor Adrian O. Mapp, Steve Hockaday (l) and Joylette
Mills-Ransome (r). Back row: Barry Goode, Charles McRae,
Freeholder Linda Carter and Cory Storch.

Beginning with your neighborhood Democratic City Committee candidates and moving up through City Council seats and Mayor all the way up to Governor, Plainfield's Democratic voters will have an opportunity on Tuesday to strike a blow for progress -- in the City of Plainfield, in Union County, and in the state of New Jersey, which has suffered so much under the bullying and lying of Gov. Chris Christie.

MAYOR ADRIAN MAPP has certainly earned the right to a second term. He has worked tirelessly to advance an agenda of economic development, public safety and improved services from the moment he took office.

As a result, the City is abuzz with development projects and investment. For the first time in my 35 years in Plainfield, there is a large-scale residential and business investment being made in the 4th Ward (South Second between Grant Avenue and Muhlenberg Place). Community policing has finally taken hold, laying the groundwork for trust and cooperation between residents and law enforcement. The Recreation Division has expanded programs and services for everyone from our youngsters to our Seniors; addling online registration has finally enabled the City to know with accuracy how many are being served.

Joylette Mills-Ransome with longtime Dem
activists RoseMarie Cathcart (l) and Marie Davis (r).

JOYLETTE MILLS-RANSOME was appointed to the Wards 2/3 at-large seat when it fell vacant in January. A 46-year resident and homeowner, Joylette recently retired as Director of Science Education for the Newark Public Schools. She is an earnest member of Delta Sigma Theta, Central Jersey Alumnae Chapter, having served four years as president.

Joylette is a devoted member of Shiloh Baptist Church and is involved in its food and clothing ministries.

She is also active in the League of Women Voters' Plainfield Chapter, which is approaching its 100th anniversary, and works to enroll new voters, educate voters on the issues and organize and promote the League's annual candidate forums.

Joylette brings her unique skills to serving Ward 2 and 3 residents.

Steve Hockaday with future All-Stars, opening day 2017,
at the Rock Avenue Ballfields.

STEVE HOCKADAY is 4th Ward born and bred -- his father owned the famed Steve's Record Shop. A graduate of Rutgers Law School ('04), Steve is Assistant Counsel for Union County, where his focus is family services, advocating for youth, and tenants' rights.

Steve supports Mayor Mapp's initiatives in the Fourth Ward, including improvements to Rushmore Playground and Hannah Atkins Park, as well as expanding community policing. He still lives in the neighborhood, just steps from Calvary Baptist Church.

Tomorrow, on Primary Election Day, vote for Mayor Mapp, Joylette Mills-Ransome (if you live in wards 2 and 3), Steve Hockaday (if you live in Ward 4), your neighborhood committee reps, and all the candidates in Column A --

VOTE "COLUMN A" ALL THE WAY!

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Campbells back Tracey Brown, but pivot to school board elections

Mailer received Friday sets out likely Campbell school board
campaign issues.

One of the final shots fired in the 2017 Plainfield Dem Primary appears to be a pivot by the Campbell combine (Big John, Little John and Wilma) toward the November school board election.

Little John has been Tracey Brown's campaign manager. He has run for Plainfield office as a Republican (and lost) and as an 'independent' (lost again).The vibe, though, is definitely Republican.

John Campbell Jr. with his hero during a Christie campaign
stop in Plainfield.

Big John has not played a visible role in the 4-way Democratic Primary, but there is the 'dark money' yet to account for. Most likely suspects are Big John and Malcolm Dunn.

The red mailer that came in Friday's mail stood out from the others for the mayoral contest because the dominant color was red,  not blue.

The tag line reads "On Tuesday June 6th say YES to our children by saying NO to Adrian Mapp". It's a case of "anybody but candidate [fill in the blank].

The points of criticism are cribbed directly from a blog post of David Rutherford.

It may not mean much as far as Tuesday's election goes, but it's a warning shot about the school board elections that will also be on the November ballot.

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More for Saturday: Jazz Concert at the Library; Trash2Treasure Flea Market

Otis Brown.

Besides this year's Rhythm & Blues By The Brook concert in Cedar Brook Park, Plainfielders will have two other events to entice them on Saturday --

JAZZ CONCERT AT THE LIBRARY

You can dash home from the R&B concert and freshen up for the Jazz Concert by the Otis Brown Ensemble at the Plainfield Public Library Saturday from 7:00 to 11:00 PM.

The event is a fundraiser for the Friends of the Plainfield Public Library (FOPPL), a nonprofit organization dedicated to raising funds for special projects and programs for the Library and its users.

Scotch Plains resident Otis Brown and his ensemble have entertained jazz enthusiast in the New York metro area for a number of years and have both a reputation and a following.

Tickets are $50/person and may be bought at the door. The ticket includes wine and cheese. The concert will be given in the ground floor pool area, with tables in a cabaret setup. (Checks should be made payable to "FOPPL".)

The Plainfield Public Library is at Park Avenue and West 8th Street and is an accessible facility. Parking is available in the 8th and 9th Street lots. For more information about library hours and programs, visit the library's website at www.plainfieldlibrary.info/.

TRASH2TREASURE FLEA MARKET

If you're an early bird and like to get busy in the morning, consider the "Trash2Treasure" Flea Market being hosted by the Union County Chapter of the Jamaica Organization of New Jersey.

The event runs from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM in the vacant lot on Watchung Avenue at East 6th Street, between City Hall and the Salvation Army.

The name says it all: here's an opportunity to turn someone else's "trash" into your "treasure".

The event is free. Why not stop by before the R&B concert? Parking available on the street or in the lot behind City Hall.

For more on the Rhythm & Blues By The Brook free concert at Cedar Brook Park from Noon to 5:00 PM, see here.

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Saturday's Rhythm & Blues By The Brook features hip-hop group Naughty By Nature

The ever-popular concert is Saturday, Noon - 6
at Cedar Brook Park.

This year's Rhythm & Blues By The Brook features hip-hop group Naughty By Nature and kicks off at Noon in Cedar Brook Park.

Sponsored by the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders, the show will include music of Rob Base ("It Takes Two"), rapper and singer Justina Valentine ("Candy Land"), and soul stylings of the Shady Street Show Band. The band Unit kicks off the concert at Noon. (Complete show information here.)

Plainfield's own George Withers once again brings the G-Wiz Classic & Exotic Auto Supershow. It will be located near the basketball courts.

Free activities for kids include inflatable rides, a petting zoo and pony rides. The children's area opens at Noon and closes at 5:00 PM when the main act gets under way.

Food vendors will be on site and picnic tables will be located under a tent in the concert "outfield". Blankets and lawn chairs are fine. Small tents and canopies are allowed in an area marked with a white line outside of the main viewing area. Smoking and alcoholic beverages are prohibited in Union County Parks. Service animals are allowed, but please leave pets at home.

This is an ever-popular event. Come early or be prepared to park several blocks away and walk.

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(2017 Dem Primary) Tracey Brown: A smear is a smear is a smear, even if done by a preacher

Candidate Tracey Brown has transferred the smear on Mayor Mapp
from the anonymous flyer to her official campaign mailer.

 

Wednesday's LWV candidate forum shed additional light on the controversy over candidate Tracey Brown's slur on Mayor Mapp over events in Orange (which I wrote about in "Opponents make a 'Devil's bargain against Mayor Mapp" -- see here).

The subject of that post was an anonymous flyer being circulated by Tracey Brown's campaign workers implying that Mapp is caught up in an FBI investigation into shenanigans surrounding a $48K HUD grant that wound its way to the Orange Public Library.

Mapp is not a subject of investigation and his name has not been mentioned in any way in connection with the matter.

Nevertheless, Brown pushes -- and continues to push, unapologetically -- the slur.

Tracey Brown flatly denied at the LWV forum that her campaign workers distributed the anonymous flyer.

Between when I wrote the first post and the LWV forum last Wednesday, I actually met someone to whom Tracey's workers gave the malicious flyer, wrapped in some of her regular campaign materials. And this person is also a minister of the Gospel!

What's more, Tracey repeats the matter in a mailing which I received on May 25 (see image at top of story).

In truth, the last bullet point (about Orange) in the mailer is not a lie. It is a smear -- suggesting by implication that the FBI is probing Mapp.

The lie involved here was made by Tracey at the LWV forum, when she denied her campaign workers were distributing the flyer smear. (To the cheers of her supporters.)

A smear is a smear is a smear.

A lie is a lie is a lie -- no matter who says it.

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Plainfield PBA Local #19 endorses Mayor Mapp for re-election

Funds for the memorial to fallen officers at Police
Headquarters were raised by members of PBA #19.

In a letter dated May 31, Plainfield PBA Local #19 endorsed Mayor Adrian O. Mapp for re-election.

The endorsement letter, signed by PBA president Carlos Gonzalez, pointed to promises made -- and kept -- by Mayor Mapp in his first term.

Chief among them was a focus on the Police Division and increasing public safety.

Gonzalez points out a 25% reduction in crime between the years of 2014 and 2016, "which we would like to see continue for another term." Gonzalez further notes Mayor Mapp is approachable, supportive of the Division and recognizing its hard work, and is always looking out for the interests of the citizens of Plainfield.

The Division has implemented division-wide community policing, officer training, improved technology, better hiring practices, and a clear vision of how to address issues that affect the community.

He also points out that last summer the City employed 180 young people and 20 adults in the Summer Youth Employment Program,in addition to enhanced recreational opportunities for youngsters and food assistance for families.

Those familiar with the Division will know how disastrously police morale suffered under the prior administration's abuse of hiring and promotion practices and allowing rampant abuses such as favoritism and overtime hanky-panky to undermine the Division.

But it is a new day under Mayor Mapp and Police Director Carl Riley, as Gonzalez says in closing --

"The structure and chain of command set forth has increased accountability for the entire Police Division, which is great news for this community."

Well said!

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(2017 Dem Primary) Tracey Brown flunks first LWV forum question

At LWV Forum, candidate Tracey Brown flunked the first question.

Mayoral candidate Tracey Brown failed the opening question at Wednesday evening's League of Women Voters, and had to be called to order by the moderator.

The question?

"Name a project [you] have initiated that benefits the community."

Tracey started by stating that when she was on the Board of Ed, she helped deliver balanced budgets and had no major layoffs.

She was asked to address the question: What project have you initiated?

It was not a good start for her performance.

The truth of the matter is that she has no projects to her credit -- whether they benefited the community or not.

She cited the need for mixed use development that brings jobs to the city, singling out the $50M South Avenue project in particular for not having a retail component.

But Tracey herself has not brought a single developer to the table. She has not shown a single retail establishment or small manufacturing business the advantages of Plainfield.

It's a matter of deeds vs. words.

She knows the buzzwords, but where's the delivery we're all looking for?

Adrian Mapp is the only one who has taken the bull by the horns: Right off the bat, he hired an experienced professional in economic development. We now have upwards of 60 projects totaling $250 M in play and about $80 M under construction right now.

And Tracey's contribution by way of a project? Nada.

The Primary Election is next Tuesday, June 6. Vote the "A Team" all the way -- the team that delivers for Plainfield.

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(2017 Dem Primary) Tracey Brown: Bold? Honest? Leadership? Think again.

Bold? Honest? Leadership? Think again.

Tracey Brown's supporters have been distributing a piece in her campaign that features an image of her standing beside a callout that says "Tracey Brown / Mayor of Plainfield / Bold Honest Leadership".

Leaving aside the "Mayor of Plainfield" assertion, which she definitely is NOT, let's review her claims for herself.

BOLD?

Tracey Brown has had years in the public eye to show her boldness. What does she have to show for it?

She points to her participation in the Safe Haven after-school project which helped for five years to provide many of Plainfield's at-risk students an innovative after-school program at Washington Community School that included tutoring, recreation and nourishing snacks. Unfortunately, the program folded when its leadership failed to secure funding beyond the initial five-year period. Thanks, Tracey.

She served on the Board of Education. That service isn't even a footnote in the history of the Plainfield school district. She is not known for championing any initiative while on the school board.

She then went on to serve as a PMUA Commissioner. Bold leadership at the PMUA?

Brown never uttered a peep when the number of employees rose from 122 to 173 in three years (2007-2010). She did not protest the commissioners' abuse of travel, entertainment and conference allowances.

Brown supported four-year contracts for two top employees (whose previous contracts had been year-by-year, laying the ground for the situation described below.

She was absent at the meeting when the commissioners aborted a mediation process which two former employees were about to lose badly and instead settled with the former employees for an amount in excess of $1 million.

An amount, mind you, that was to be borne by the ratepaying public. And the PMUA employees, which Tracey was kind enough to suggest -- in executive session -- should be involuntarily furloughed so as to raise part of the money needed.

In 2012, when she ran for the City Council, Brown refused to answer any questions about her service as a PMUA Commissioner at the FOSH candidate forum (see here).

As a Councilwoman, Tracey has badgered Mayor Mapp for years about her perception of the need for a "teen center", which she has never fully defined.

When Mapp's new Superintendent of Parks & Recreation found the division rife with petty theft, extorted cash payments from youth sports teams to use city fields, low-show / no-show hirees, gross mismanagement of the physical facilities (the city's pools had not been inspected for years, an annual state requirement), and what's more, Tracey lashed out in a vituperative text message about the Superintendent to Mayor Mapp which caused Brown acute embarrassment when it become public (see here).

As a Councilwoman, Brown shared a unique opportunity with the other Council members: once the Administration's budget proposal is submitted to the Council, the Council members have the prerogative of changing it as they see fit.

Teen center needed? The Council can put it in. Modify the Rec budget? Go ahead and do it. More police. Make the changes to the budget.

But Brown made no move to amend any budget she ever reviewed. And last year, she barely participated in the budget process, choosing not to even show up for most of the Council's budget deliberations.

So much for BOLD.

HONEST?

I have previously catalogued Brown's pronounced habit of ignoring ELEC rules -- which have the force of law in keeping campaign fundraising and expenditures on the straight and narrow.

Tracey has yet to admit messing up in last year's campaign by not declaring what the billboard she had at Front and Watchung cost and how it was paid for. Though the billboard itself declared it was paid for by her campaign, there was no entry in her financial reports (see story here).

This year, Brown did declare a mailing in her 29-day pre-election report. But a close look at it raises red flags.

Brown declares that for the mailing, the campaign paid --

• $1151.18 for postage
• $1659,01 to the mailing house

Having used that mailing house before, I know that the "lettershop" services (mailing labels, sorting, bagging and delivery to the Post Office) run about $650.00. This means Brown is suggesting that the printing of the mailing piece (for a citywide mailing) came to about $1,000. Not even within the realm of possiblity!

Besides that, her mailing pieces are tagged "Paid for by Brown for Mayor". But there is no campaign committee of that name. According to ELEC, her campaign committee is "Rev.Tracey L. Brown for Mayor" -- which is the way it should be noted on her ads and printed materials. Is Tracey once again letting unknown donors pay for portions of her campaign in violation of the ELEC laws?

So much for HONEST.

The real BOLD HONEST LEADERSHIP on display is that of Mayor Adrian O. Mapp.

Only Adrian Mapp has been bold enough to envision a better Plainfield for all, built project by project, one step at a time, bringing more than $250 million in investment across the city (including new apartments across the street from Tracey's church).

Only Adrian Mapp has the vision to actually create a teen center at the Hannah Atkins Playground and to build a skatepark for our young people (the groundbreaking is this Friday).

It's a matter of deeds vs. words.

Vote the "A Team" all the way on June 6.

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Mapp & Green headline "Column A" GOTV Rally Friday in support of Murphy

(Click to print or enlarge.)

Union County Dem chair Jerry Green and Plainfield Dem chair Adrian O. Mapp will headline a Get Out The Vote rally for the "Column A" team this Friday, June 2, from 6:00 to 8:00 PM on the steps of Plainfield City Hall.

The rally is in support of Democratic guberntorial candidate Phil Murphy and will feature an appearance by special guest Sen. Cory Booker.

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League of Women Voters Candidate Forum Wednesday

Plainfield's League of Women Voters chapter will host a forum for candidates in the June 6 Democratic Primary this Wednesday (May 31) at 6:30 PM at the Emerson Community School cafetorium.

The four mayoral candidates (Tracey Brown, Dr. Henrilynn Davis Ibezim, Adrian O. Mapp [the incumbent] and Bridget Rivers) will take part in one forum.

The six Council candidate (Ward 4 candidates Terri Briggs, Steve Hockaday and Elliott Simmons; and Wards 2/3 at-large candidates Alma Blanco, Cameron Cox and Joylette Mills-Ransome) will appear in the second forum.

All of the candidates supplied brief biographies and answered questions posed to them by the local LWV chapter. Those bios and answers are online here.

Audience members at Wednesday's forum will be able to pose questions in writing to the candidates.

Emerson Community School is at East 3rd Street and Emerson Avenue. Parking available in the school lot on Emerson Avenue and on the street (please mind the neighbors' driveways!)

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Memorial Day: Plainfield's War Memorial Flagpole

A bronze plaque encircles the base of the flagpole.

(Memorial Day 2017: I am reposting this entry from 2007, one of a series that year. Links to the others are at the end. This year's observance takes place Monday at City Hall, 10 AM. -- Dan)

The placing of a bronze plaque in 1922 in the rotunda of City Hall honoring those who served and died in World War I seems to have been the genesis of the idea of a monument honoring Plainfielders who had given their lives in all past wars.

In June 1925, the Common Council organized a War Memorial Committee with the purpose of drawing up a proposal for such a memorial, to be submitted to the Council at a future date. A number of town notables, as well as several Councillors and veterans of past wars were appointed.

The War Memorial Committee made its report to the Common Council in January of 1926, and in May of that year, a contract was awarded for the construction of a flagpole to be mounted above a bronze sculptural base, the whole sited on a granite plaza.

Crescent Avenue Presbyterian Church, which owns the triangular plot at the intersection of East Seventh Street and Watchung and Crescent Avenues, drew up an agreement permitting the city to "erect and maintain" a War Memorial on the site, providing only that the city "keep the plot in good order," and indemnify the church against any liability.

Although the contracts were let, and the manufacture and construction appeared to get under way in a timely fashion -- with dedication set for Armistice Day, November 11, 1926 -- an enormous brouhaha broke out between the central council of the veterans' organizations and the Common Council, dragging into it the minister and trustees of Crescent Avenue Presbyterian Church.

The source of the controversy? The inscription.

The inscription proposed for the sculptural base is the underlined portion of this selection from the prophet Isaiah:

Isaiah, Chapter 2

2 And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the LORD'S house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it.
3 And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.
4 And he shall judge among the nations, and shall rebuke many people: and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.

The controversy raged for over a year, leading to the Memorial's belated dedication.

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The Memorial Day series--

Saturday: Memorial Day I - Early History
Sunday: Memorial Day II - A Remembrance of all who have fallen
Monday: Memorial Day III - Plainfield's War Memorial Flagpole

Online resources:

The US Memorial Day Organization website
The Memorial Day Foundation website
The VA's Memorial Day Resources website
Waterloo, NY - Birthplace of Memorial Day
The Buddy Poppy: "Moina Michael adopted poppy to memorialize soldiers"
Moina Michael Stamp: "3-cent commemorative stamp honoring Moina Michael"

-- Dan Damon

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ARCHIVED POSTS OF PLAINFIELD TODAY FROM 11/03/2005 THROUGH 12/31/2006 ARE AT
http://plainfieldtoday.blogspot.com/