tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4951483292186512206.post5792932527341743841..comments2024-03-22T09:40:51.869-04:00Comments on BASS RIVER TOWNSHIP, N.J. HISTORY . . . etc.: Matchbooks and MuskratsPete Stemmer, moderatorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12922972073356224964noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4951483292186512206.post-8224710872618510222009-10-13T14:09:45.928-04:002009-10-13T14:09:45.928-04:00I did a lot of trapping in those days, and a funny...I did a lot of trapping in those days, and a funny one that got the best of Hen. Alston Allen and I found a box trap floating in Bas River one day with two fairly rotten Muskrats in it. they were so bad that we had to saftey pin the tails on. Of couarse Hen wouldn't buy them, so we left with them, and threw them beside the road. Along came another, found the muskrats and of course took them to Hen. I understand the third time around he bought them for $.50 so he would never see them again.Dave KAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4951483292186512206.post-37306587088161169592009-10-12T19:08:38.362-04:002009-10-12T19:08:38.362-04:00Hi again Pete: Different subject this time. Where ...Hi again Pete: Different subject this time. Where was (is) the blueberry farm mentioned recently in the blog? One summer when I was about 12 or so, we spent a bit more time visiting my grandparents and as I was getting very bored, they found me a job picking blueberries in NG. To get there, I turned right out of my granparents house and walked south on the lane that eventually turned left and arrived at the main street. There I waited for the bus that took us to the farm that was just off the main street to the east. What I remember most about the experience was the case of chiggers I got. Wow, what itching. Grandmom had me bathe my feet in kerosene every night before going to bed. I also remember being told to "really heap up high" the trays. Also the barrel of cold water where the sodas were stored until lunchtime. Would this be the same farm mentioned earlier?<br />Beverly Mathis RobinsonAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4951483292186512206.post-21334078507177495492009-10-11T21:07:29.377-04:002009-10-11T21:07:29.377-04:00Pete: Thanks for the interesting reply. I do belie...Pete: Thanks for the interesting reply. I do believe the coat is still in the family. Just which branch, I'll have to investigate.<br />Beverly Mathis RobinsonAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4951483292186512206.post-73931764611719877722009-10-11T18:12:45.169-04:002009-10-11T18:12:45.169-04:00I was talking with Howard Ware on the phone this a...I was talking with Howard Ware on the phone this afternoon. He agreed that Henry was thrifty and remembered that Henry would scrape the fat off the muskrat hides and sell it to a soap maker. He also sold the muskrat glands to a scent company in Philadelphia. He clearly was a maestro of merchandising! Imagine what he could do today with EBay.<br /><br />Pete SPete Stemmerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12574359300513218858noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4951483292186512206.post-55363709799481144562009-10-11T18:06:28.567-04:002009-10-11T18:06:28.567-04:00Beverly,
Henry Updike bought just about any anima...Beverly,<br /><br />Henry Updike bought just about any animal you could trap including mink, raccoon, and beaver.<br /><br />I believe your family story about Booter trapping enough mink to make a coat. I spoke to Henry's nephew, Howard Ware, who told me that mink were rare in this area, and that he had only caught about 8 in his whole trapping career. However, Howard told me that Booter was successful in trapping mink on his meadows around Oak, or Dan's, Island and may well have trapped enough for a coat. Howard also said that a mink would fetch about $35-$40 just after World II, when muskrats were going for about $3.50. I guess your Aunt Jeannie got herself a valuable coat from Booter. I wonder if it's still in the family.<br /><br />Pete SPete Stemmerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12574359300513218858noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4951483292186512206.post-13585337225642160672009-10-10T20:09:02.094-04:002009-10-10T20:09:02.094-04:00Forgot to sign my name on the comment. Phyllis Bri...Forgot to sign my name on the comment. Phyllis BriggsAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4951483292186512206.post-63415446589203474672009-10-10T20:07:25.504-04:002009-10-10T20:07:25.504-04:00Hi Pete-
My mother, Naomi Sharp and I picked bl...Hi Pete-<br /> My mother, Naomi Sharp and I picked blueberries for Hen from 1947-1951. Hen was very good to me. I was a slow picker and often didn't get 50 pints a day. At the end of the hot day when I was short the 50 pints, Hen would always give me $5. for the days work. I have never forgotten his kindness to me. Another blueberry picker was Grover Sullivan who kept a lively conversation going while we picked. If by chance I accidently picked a green berry, it was quickly hid beneath the heaped straw surrounding the tall blueberry bushes. Elaine Allen was there along with Minnie in the packing shed.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4951483292186512206.post-23913549762986296182009-10-10T17:35:35.318-04:002009-10-10T17:35:35.318-04:00Hi Pete: Are muskrats the only fur-bearing critte...Hi Pete: Are muskrats the only fur-bearing critter to be found in the NG area? There is a story in my family that my Grandfather Boot Mathis trapped enough mink to have a coat made for my Aunt Eugenia (Jeannie Magee). But cousin Peggy says it was a muskrat coat. Could it have been mink?<br />Oh, BTW the horseshoe crab story was a real groaner. Were the "boys" absolutely not familiar with them? Poor innocent animals. Land mines indeed.<br />Beverly Mathis RobinsonAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com