By Daniel D’Arcy
December 2019
Not again.
Of course, most of us are quite aware of the tragic accident that occurred on Berkley Ave. that resulted in a twin-engine Cessna aircraft crashing into a home and igniting a fire that destroyed or damaged three homes. Colonia was headline news across the country. Taking the life of the pilot who was flying from Virginia with a destination of Linden airport, this horrible event reminds us about the fragility of life and that it can happen anywhere and here. If not for circumstances that we are not aware of, this tragedy could have been worse. I heard many people project that if the plane flew a little further or a little to the left or right… Only about 1000 yards in the general direction of the airport…the Claremont School. We praise our first responders especially the Colonia Fire Department who were on the scene in minutes.
On September 3, 1935 the Colonia Fire Dept No.1 District 10 was organized. Years ago, a Mrs. White of 1 Rutgers Ave, (within sight of the recent air accident) gave me a book that her husband was in possession of. It was the handwritten logbook of the Colonia Fire Co. from 1935 thru 1937. Robert White of Hopelawn was the brother in law of Doris White who is the daughter of Charles Ayers, the first Fire Chief of the Fire Company. Also included was a typed letter that was the reproduction from what I believe to be a article from the Woodbridge Independent Leader January 3, 1936. It read; District No. 10 has been a part of the Woodbridge fire system for generations. Yet until September 1935 it never had an organized duly elected company of volunteers. But there are plenty of volunteers and with a hand drawn reel cart of 500 feet of 2 ½ inch hose that was kept in the garage of E.K. Cone. When ever one of Colonia’s infrequent fires developed the volunteers with Charles Ayers as “Chief” mobilized and fought the fires. The first fire truck was a Chevy truck converted into a fire truck and housed in Ed Cone’s garage.
After Ed Cones death in 1935 the truck was turned over to the Company. Its location and eventual disposition have never been discovered. Although the rumor that when the VFW took possession of their building on Inman Ave, there was a deteriorated firetruck inside may be accurate. The log lists the names of all the volunteers of which many were residents of local notoriety including Oscar Wilkerson (who lived on the corner of Woods Lane and New Dover Rd. that was just sold and renovated.) and A. Christopherson (whose home was demolished to build two new homes om Montrose Ave.).
The following is the report of October 18, 1937.
Alarm, 1:45pm…returned to fire house 3:30pm. Address. Archangela Ave. Colonia, 1 story brick….1 airplane. Owner of house James Cherego. Loss. Airplane total lost. House partially damaged on roof to cornice and flooring in the bathroom. Insurance …yes. Fire contained to roof to cornice flooring in the bathroom. Killed on plane 2 persons. Cause. Airplane crashed tearing down electric wires, this probably caused house fire. Airplane total loss and killed both occupants. Edwin Larth 23 yrs, 57 Evergreen Place. East Orange, NJ and Robert Roerecht 21 yrs. 278 N. 4th St. Newark NJ.
Seven volunteers responded. Yes, the crash and fire on Berkley Ave was not the first time a plane has crashed and taken lives in Colonia. Since the Westfield airport on Lake Ave was very close to the crash site, it can be assumed that the plane was going to or coming from the local field.
Unbelievable but true.
Did you know.
In 1934 the Launhardt family who owned a farm on the corner of Georges Ave. and Chain O Hills Rd. traveled to Lakehurst Air Station to see the German airship Graf Zeppelin. They were lucky enough to get in line to peer inside the dirigible. On May 6th 1937, Hindenburg was spotted over head on the family farm, the very day of it’s demise. Hearing the news on the radio the family again drove to Lakehurst to see nothing but the charred hulk. Another road trip in 1934 brought them to the Jersey shore, Asbury Park, to take a look at the Morro Castle. The burned-out ship took the lives of 124 people.
Enjoy the Holidays
Thanks for reading,
Daniel D’Arcy 908-599-3958
dandrc@aol.com
