Matchbooks and Muskrats

We had discussed various forms of collectibles involving Bass River history here on the Blog, including post cards and postal cancellations. Today, I'd like to show another example of a collectible that deals with Bass River history - the matchbook cover.

Though matchbooks are uncommon today, as smoking is either prohibited or discouraged in most public locations, such was not the case in earlier generations when smoking was fashionable. I can remember growing up in the 1950's and seeing newspaper, magazine, and television ads for a wide variety of cigarettes. Two prime examples were the Marlboro man and Edward R. Murrow, the first a rugged cowboy and the latter a noted and respected newsman. Many of the cigarette commercials often featured prominent Hollywood actors and actresses. The message in all these cases was the unmistakable link between smoking and success and popularity.

Many businesses took advantage of smoking's popularity to advertise their products and services on matchbook covers which were freely and liberally dispensed in an effort to increase the bottom line. Today most old matchbook covers have found their way into collectors scrapbooks or are scattered and forgotten in attics or dresser drawers. The latter is the case with today's example of a New Gretna related matchbook cover of New Gretna fur dealer, Henry Updike.

Matchbook courtesy of Harry DeVerter.

Henry lived on Allentown Road, now North Maple Avenue. He owned various pieces of meadowland on the Wading, Bass, and Mullica rivers on which he trapped or hired others to trap for him. He also bought "rats" from many of the locals who counted on Hen to purchase their harvest. Bennie Allen tells me that Hen would pay $1.00 for a good rat during the depression. That's pretty good money considering that Ben made $1.00 for working a whole day at the Bass River CCC Camp. The price rose to about $3.50 a rat just after World War II.

Howard Ware took over Hen's major skinning duties from Fred Shropshire. Howard would stop by Hens after supper and find 400 to 500 rats on the cellar floor. They had to be skinned with the meat ready to ship out the next morning. It wasn't unusual for Howard to be skinnin' well into the early morning hours. I asked Howard what he made for his long night's work. He couldn't remember the exact pay but said that "Hen always paid me fair." Howard added, " Bussie Allen took over skinnin' for Hen after I left."

Young Howard Ware, Hen Updike's nephew, trapped on Hen's meadows along the Bass and Wading rivers. He also skinned many a rat in Uncle Henry's basement. (Photo courtesy of Howard Ware.)

Many locals, including teenagers, were also hired part time to skin the rats in Henry's basement. The skins would be stretched on racks and stored in the attic to dry out before they were shipped out to a larger fur dealer, usually in New York City. Hen sold the meat for about $1.50 a pound, mostly to a meat dealer on Dock Street in Philadelphia. The bones were placed in the backyard compost heap and would later nourish the vegetable garden. Nothing went to waste!

How thrifty was Hen? His motto was waste not, want not. He even sold the hair that he clipped off his poodle every Spring. Don't ask me how he found a buyer, but if there was a buyer out there for anything, Hen would find him. I’ve heard it said that he could sell a refrigerator to an Eskimo. The man had a gift!

Hen Updike. (Photo courtesy of Howard Ware.)

Now, don't get me wrong. Hen was as honest as the day is long and a good man to have as a friend. He would give someone in need the shirt off his back, and you could take his word to the bank! He would never cheat anyone, but he always demanded what was rightly his. Ask anyone who ever picked blueberries for him. You had better top off all of your pint containers if you expected to get paid.

Elaine Allen tells the story of picking blueberries in Hen’s field with her young son, Mike (photo at right). Just when Mike thought he had a full flat picked, Hen would come along and say “Heap em higher!” After this happened a few times, Mike exclaimed, “Do you want me to heap em up to Jesus, Uncle Henry?”

Hen would patrol the blueberry rows to make sure that an errant berry didn't find it's way to the ground. He also carefully checked each flat to be sure that the pickers were not sneaking in a green berry or two. If you happened to pick a green berry you had better eat it, bitterness and all. You had no other way of getting rid of the evidence.

Hen had a heart of gold. When his sister, Sadie Updike Ware from Wading River, died leaving three young children, Hen and Minnie took in and raised Anna and Nelson Ware as if they were their own children. The third child, Howard, was raised by Hen's brother, Jim Updike in Wading River. All three speak lovingly of Hen and his wife, Minnie. Nelson presently lives in Green Bank, and Howard lives on North Maple Avenue in New Gretna. Anna passed away this past Spring.

(l-r) Anna, Howard, and Nelson Ware lost their mother, Sadie Ware, when they were young. (Photo courtesy of Howard Ware.)

Howard (left) and Nelson Ware in 1996. (Photo courtesy of Howard Ware.)

Well, we covered quite a bit of territory from that little matchbook cover. Sometimes, it's the smallest things that spark one’s memories and bring history alive.

I have another New Gretna related matchbook cover that I will unveil in next Tuesday's Blog. It comes from a fancy New York City nightclub and has a connection to a New Gretna boy and a Tuckerton girl that many of you out in the Blog-O-Sphere know. I won't mention any names now, but their initials were "S. P." and "M. M." Marriage has since changed the "M. M." to "M. P." Stay tuned!

Until then, how about all you Blog readers search through your closets, attics, and drawers for any matchbooks having to do with New Gretna. There's got to be more out there. I'm thinking that the New Gretna House, the early Bass River Marina, John's Diner, and the many gas stations might be good candidates.

Pete S