Business card display featured at Lakeview
BY SETH MANDEL
Staff Writer

JAMESBURG — Local businesses from the first half of the 20th century may be gone, but they’re not forgotten.

Borough historian Tom Bodall, appointed to his position earlier this year at the age of 19, has begun to collect business cards from former and current businesses to display in the historical society’s headquarters, the historic Lakeview mansion.

“Basically, the display that’s inside the house is businesses of Jamesburg yesteryear meet the businesses of today,” Bodall said.

He got the idea for the display when he happened upon a small collection of business cards in the mansion, also known as the “Buckelew House.”

“Searching during the summertime, I found a box with business cards from the ’30s and ’40s, and some other memorabilia from other stores,” Bodall said, noting he also found pins, buttons, calendars and bank books from “yesteryear” establishments.

“So there were quite a couple different unique things in there, promotional items you can call them.”

Bodall said he wanted to include current businesses in the exhibit since they too will be part of the town’s history.

“I figured, you know, 2004 is going to be history eventually, 10 years down the line, and we’ll be able to see what types of businesses we had in Jamesburg in 2004. And hopefully it can be an ongoing tradition,” he said.

Bodall said he is looking for “anything that has a business name on it and says Jamesburg,” and that means even monitoring Internet auction powerhouse eBay.

Last week he found an envelope dated 1950 from Perrine’s Pontiac, a car dealership that was located in Jamesburg, for sale on eBay. Bodall convinced the owner to pull the item and donate it to his collection.

“Unfortunately, eBay also helps spread the history so that we lose it in a way, but also helps us regain it,” he said.

Bodall has yet to gauge public interest in the display, but will get that opportunity Sunday.

“I only set it up on the 14th [of November] and that was our last open house, so the next open house is Dec. 5 when we have Christmas at Lakeview. That will be the first time large groups of people will really be able to see it,” he said.

When they view the display, people will come away with an understanding that although businesses come and go, much of the town’s character remains, Bodall said.

“It’s basically a progression over time, to see how things change and stay the same. And it also just gives you a piece of history there. You’re able to see what businesses we had,” he said.

The most ancient piece in the exhibit, Bodall said, is a letter from the silk mill that used to be in town. The letter is dated 1908.

“So that’s the oldest piece of business history we have right there.”

He said the cards have encouraged residents to reminisce to Bodall about some of their fond memories, such as those inspired by ticket stubs from the Star Theater.

“I’ve heard stories about the theater. People used to go there for 5 cents and see a movie,” he said.

Bodall said he wants to display history at the mansion, but that the house itself is in danger of existing only in memory.

“I sent in an application [to a New Jersey preservation Web site] to have Buckelew House listed as one of the 10 most endangered historic sites in New Jersey, basically because the house right now, the back corner of the foundation is sinking, which is putting a lot of stress on the house and cracking the walls and skewing doors. And there’s also other structural problems we had from the termites and water in the basement,” he said.

Bodall said the town received a grant for $30,000 to fix the house, but much more is needed if it is to become structurally sound again.

“I’m hoping that, if we do have designation as one of the 10 most endangered sites, it will raise awareness for the house, that’s the goal of that. … They may be able to help us in promoting the site, and of course it will be on their Web site. They may be able to give us some guidance also,” he said.

Bodall said his efforts to preserve the town’s history will not stop there, and the borough can expect more from him in the new year.

“Starting in January, I’m going to be working with the mayor and the council on forming some ordinances for historical preservation, so there’s more to come.”

Anyone interested in donating to the business memorabilia display can e-mail Bodall at webmaster@jamesburg.net. Items can also be mailed to the Lakeview Mansion, 203 Buckelew Ave., Jamesburg, 08831.

able to give us some guidance also,” he said.

Bodall said his efforts to preserve the town’s history will not stop there, and the borough can expect more from him in the new year.

“Starting in January, I’m going to be working with the mayor and the council on forming some ordinances for historical preservation, so there’s more to come.”

Anyone interested in donating to the business memorabilia display can e-mail Bodall at webmaster@jamesburg.net. Items can also be mailed to the Lakeview Mansion, 203 Buckelew Ave., Jamesburg, 08831.