Donations
Debbie Caccaro, an original member of the Colonia History Club and an excellent source of information about Dr. and Mrs. Albee and the U.S. Army Hospital #3 in Colonia has provided to me, three original hand-written letters dated November 1918. Two of the letters were written by Louis Dieruff (pictured above) to his parents in Minersville, Pa. The stationary came from the Army and Navy Young Men’s Christian Association. (YMCA). He gives his location as Rahway, New Jersey. Louis volunteered for service in the Army Medical Corp and was stationed in Colonia. The son of a coal miner, Louis graduated from what is now Kutztown State University in 1912 with a teaching certificate. He married his wife Alma in 1917 and makes reference to her visits to the hospital. His letters talk about inquiry into his mother’s health and his bout with influenza that killed two in the hospital. Another tragedy he speaks of is about a fire that killed two Officers (Captains) in the Officers’ Quarters, which was located on the corner of New Dover Rd. and Meredith Rd. (Recently the ranch home on the property was demolished. My map of the Hospital grounds indicates that the Quarters were located almost on the exact location as the house.) He helped to remove one of the men from the ruins but it was too late. Louis also refers to the most “thanksful Thanksgiving” we have had for a century. The letters were written after the armistice was signed to end the ‘Great War’. As it turns out, Louis returns to Allentown after the war and spends his entire educational career in the school district until he was forced to retire by state law at the age of 70. He was so loved in Allentown for his dedication to this students and town that the second Senior High School in Allentown was named Louis Edgar Dieruff High School in 1959. Sadly, he passed away in his home Saturday October 17, 1964. Thanks to Debbie for her continued support of this article and for her interest and time spent preserving Colonia’s history. Any contributions are always welcome to continue the investigation and discoveries of days gone by in our section of Woodbridge Twp.

The “Trees”
As you know, the “Trees” the home of the Cone Family on the “S Curve” on New Dover Rd. has been subject to a subdivision that has changed the nature of the acreage and the Historic home. Two homes will be built on the front lawn between Middlesex Ave. and Sherwood Rd. Construction has begun on one and the hardwood trees have been removed on the adjacent lot. It seems that the original purchaser has decided not to demolish the home and build a home for himself and put the home on the market for sale and let the new owner decide its fate. The home has been placed under contract recently. The status has not been clarified but I am not optimistic about the outcome. I am providing a picture of the “Trees” for prosperity sake. Look carefully and you will see the “Cone clan” assembled on the porch of the home. The picture was probably taken around the turn of the century. If there is any doubt of why it is called the “Trees”, let the picture prevail.

Thanks for reading,
Daniel D’Arcy 908-599-3958 dandrc@aol.com