Kinnelon, Smoke Rise Photos From 1954

Have you wondered what Smoke Rise looked like in 1954? Thanks to Herb Fisher Jr., you are in for a major treat with this blog article which includes photos from when his family moved to Kinnelon!

Welcome to Kinnelon Borough!

This sign must have been on Route 23 North. It reads:

Entrance 2.3mi. Turn Left. Smoke Rise. "For ideal country living". 5030 acres, acreage plots, club plan

For those of you wondering about the existence of the Smoke Rise North Gate, here 'tis, looking very similar to today's perspective.

Clearing the land in preparation for developing the area around the Tower.

Notice the view of Lake Kinnelon in the distance.

Herb explains that this photo was taken from the Port Authority helicopter that his Dad flew over the site of their house at 628 Mountain Road. Look closely and you'll notice a rectangular clearing below. That's the site of their lot.

[Check out Herb's previous articles and photos: The Early Days of Smoke Rise, Blasting in Early Smoke Rise, and Smoke Rise Houses: 628 Mountain Road Then and Now.]

Taking a break...

Herb's Mom. Notice Lake Kinnelon in the distance.

A perfect summer afternoon in Smoke Rise!

Love seeing the Tower in the background.

Notice that the roads are unpaved.

The foundation of 628 Mountain Road.

Herb says he regularly got to ride up and down Mountain Road on this piece of machinery. Cool!

Figuring out the dimensions of the house.

Yes, the permit says it's all official and okay to build!

Breaking ground at 628 Mountain Road in Smoke Rise! Congratulations!

Simply amazing!

Before we moved to Kinnelon, we spent a good bit of time exploring the Centex project off of South Glen Road. The roads were still being created, very few houses had been built and we were able to appreciate the vistas and scenery pre-development. That's what these photos remind me of. 

Herb, thanks very much for sharing these.

7th Grade in Kinnelon: Herb Fisher Remembers

Kinnelon 7th Grade field trip to Newark Airport early 60s - Herb Fisher

In addition to favorite Kinnelon teachers, what were your favorite school activities or field trips? Herb Fisher forwarded this amazing photo and the following:

This does not qualify as a tradition in Kinnelon grade school,.... but it should.

This is a memory or more accurately, a " fossil" in the history of Stonybrook school, early 60s. 

Peter Matthews was our 7th grade teacher. He was the greatest teachers I ever had. I have tried to find him via the Internet, with no success, maybe he is no longer with us.

NOTE: Doris Cameron was our 3rd grade teacher in the old Keil Avenue firehouse (that is where our classroom was in 1958) and she was on a scale of one to ten....10.50.  Matthews was a 10.51.... these were unreal educators. Heck, I am now 63, but remember and love both.

Getting back to Matthews.... he organized a Shakespeare Festival in which we all had parts. I can remember my lines plus I played my trumpet at certain points.  "all the world's a stage and the men and women are only players"....."but light what yonder window breaks, it is the east and Juliet is the sun, arise fair sun and kill the envious moon who is already sick and pale with grief"....  I could go on.....question is....how do I remember this stuff after 5+ decades?  GREAT TEACHERS!!!

Attached picture, far left Peter Matthews, field trip my Dad arranged at Newark Airport.

No classroom chairs like Emma earned; had a chair like that but my Jenny (daughter) grabbed it and  it was in her apartment at Texas Tech many years ago.

HOF Jr.

Thanks, HOF!

What do you remember about your favorite teachers and what they exposed you to?

What Was Your Kinnelon Treehouse Like?

HOF in his tree house

My earlier article titled Treehouse Thoughts - Inspired by OLM's 50th Anniversary Picnic has generated great emails about favorite trees, climbing adventures and tree houses. Thank you!

Special kudos go to Herb Fisher for finding this photo of his treehouse from when he was a kid and for sharing the following:


Hey CB,

This is the only picture I have and it was taken by Emily (Mom). Did we climb trees?.......silly question! Most the time it was.... who dared to climb the highest, or the tallest tree we could find.

Not sure how old I am in this picture....maybe 10. No custom/factory made STUFF for us back then....  We gathered scrap wood from all the houses being built, also cut down small trees (with hand saws, I have a scar on my right thumb when I sawed off the thumbnail), using trunks for floor bracing and railings. 

In this picture, the Tower would be about 250 yards up the Mountain from my left shoulder.

All of us were "Lean and Mean" growing up in the 50s and 60s in Smoke Rise. No fatties would survive. No cable TV, no internet, no video games... just Imagination and Effort. Unlike today's society.

Heck, just walking up and down Mountain Road four or five times a week beats the heck out of all the exercise machines today.

HOF Jr.

As a kid in the mid 60s in McLean, Virginia, I remember using rocks to hammer rusty nails into what must have been the wood crate used to ship our belongings from overseas. That's what I created my fort with. Despite not being in the trees, it was impregnable! No pirate, bandit or parent could get by and surprise us.

What was your tree house like? What were your adventures?

The Smoke Rise East Gate

Kim Vawter's article about Smoke Rise Relic: Car Badge generated comments from Jim Rohrer and Herb Fisher about the Smoke Rise East Gate and the car badge.

Jim Rohrer wrote:

Ah yes, the car badge. Growing up in Smoke Rise in the 50s and 60s I remember them well. Wish I still had one.

The East Gate was the main gate for many years. There was a family who lived there and they were responsible for operating the gate 24/7. 

I don't think that lasted very long before the club hired shift workers to operate the gate. Many of those workers were SR residents (college kids, etc.- myself included).

At the time, there was only one road, very narrow, entering and exiting the East Gate. Also the gate was operated by turning a large wheel almost like a sailing vessel. It took some real muscle to open and close the gate. It wasn't always electric operated.

Not sure when the North Gate was built but I do remember the Sales office was there for the SR Club. 

Many men commuted to NYC by bus. They parked in the parking lot on the hill on the right as you exit the North Gate. Is the lot still there?

Herb Fisher said,

Yes, I remember the "Badge" as Kim calls it. Actually, if my memory serves me correctly, that would be a 2nd generation badge.

I remember in 1960 or so my dad traded the 57 auto for a brand new one. He was very angry with himself after several months, because he forgot to take the SR "badge" off that trade in.

The "badge(s)" were the equivalent of today's SR sticker. It was attached thru the front grill. Honored at either gate, you got one.... you live in the RISE.

Second, he was fuming because the originals were a machine stamped disk of metal, the letters, the Chapel, etc were raised then hand painted. They were actual works of art. A metal threaded rod was centered welded to the rear of the disk. Rod was then inserted thru the grill and secured with a large washer and wing nut from the inside of the engine compartment/grill. Remember EVERYTHING was metal back then, not cheapo plastic.

I know I do not have one of those. I wish I could find a picture of one of Herb's early Cadillacs with a frontal view. It would clearly be displayed.


Thank you, Jim and Herb, for sharing these great details!

Meeting Friends at the Smoke Rise Inn: Herb Fisher

HOF and CB

Herb Fisher came to Kinnelon last week and we got to meet in person at the Smoke Rise Inn!

He had come to visit from Texas for the reunion of the first four years to graduate from Kinnelon High School. The first class graduated in 1962 - making next year the 50th reunion year...

[That's a story that needs to be told. I believe current KHS students interviewed Herb and his fellow alumni for KHS TV... Is a transcript available?]

I can't say enough about how wonderful it was to talk with Herb IRL [in real life]. Despite this being our first time meeting, it felt as if we were long-time friends given all of our exchanges via email and the blog.

Pretty neat.

Herb also brought me my very own book of Smoke Rise matches which, he says, used to be available in the Smoke Rise Inn lobby area in a large bowl.

Thanks, HOF! I hope you'll be back to visit soon.

Congratulations to the first KHS graduating class alumni! 

Memories of OLM in Kinnelon

Cornie Hubner's latest Didja Know about Our Lady of the Magnificat, generated several Memories of OLM that I share with you here.

Special thanks to Herb O. Fisher Jr. and Kim Vawter.

Herb sent in this photo from his and wife Jan's daughter Jenny's baptism at Our Lady of the Magnificat Chapel. [HOF, what year is this?]

From left to right: Margret Galmiche (Jan's mom), Mitzi Yucknat (HOF's grandmother on Emily's side), Francis Galmiche (Jan's Dad), Cindy (Jan's sister), Herb Fisher Sr., Jan and Jenny, Emily Fisher (HOF's mom) and behind her, HOF himself. Behind them is The Chapel.

What a great photo! Thanks, HOF.

Kim Vawter sent me this message:

"I forget if I shared this with your readers, but my first substitute teaching job was at the Our Lady of Magnificat school. I had just completed 60 college credit hours and was able to substitute teach in those days. I think that this was January of 1970. I was 19.  I taught several days- weeks? not sure but it was a long term job since the nun who had the first grade lost her voice. The class was quite full; over 30 kids who seemed to never be absent themselves! They all wore the cute little school uniform and were well behaved. The youngest little Connelly girl attended and she wore nylon stockings. First grade! Her sisters probably were responsible for dressing her. (The Connelly family lived up the street from me on Orchard Road.)

If I had any trouble getting them to pay attention I asked a little boy in the front row to "lead the class in prayer" since I was a lay teacher and not a Catholic. We had the daily mass for the kids and I lead them down to the auditorium and they followed me in a long line like little ducks follow their mother.

I remember that the nun who had the first grade was very young.  She met with me every day where she graded papers and gave me the lesson plans for the day. At my college I had the whole month of January off so I was able to do this. After I returned to college in Kansas City I got a large yellow envelope in the mail. The nun (wish I knew her name) had the kids write me thank you letters! I read them all and I still have them--somewhere.)

Mother Superior (?) who was a very wonderful, large woman ran the school with a great sense of humor and a lot of love. She still wore the full white habit.  My mother and I both had jobs. She had the 5th grade. I don't remember how long she had a substitute job there but I do remember how much fun it was to work together. She had a degree in chemistry but went back for a second degree in education to be able to teach.

I remember Father Ryan. My friend Joanie asked me to go with her to a Youth function in the late 60s. Father Ryan was there. We went roller skating and Father Ryan strapped on the skates and went out into the ring with all of us. He was such a nice friendly person to looked like he was enjoying his time with us. It changed my perception of what it is to be a Priest.

I also attended Mass with my Catholic friend Lynn Byles. It was all Latin and I had to bring along one of my Grandma's nice lace trimmed handkerchief to put on my head. The Mass at OLM was in Latin and when they rang the bells Lynn whispered to me "Good Humor!"  I think she was trying to crack me up. The Catholic Mass was so intimidating since my home church was the little Smoke Rise Community Church.

Thanks for sparking these memories."

Kim, thank you! These are marvelous memories.

If you have stories or photos you'd like to share, just let me know in the comments or send me an email to cbwhittemore@gmail.com.
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Added 10/23/11:

Christine,

I don't know if you remember but you have heard from my family before. My name is Paul Kabis. We lived on North Road in Smoke Rise from about 1960-1986. My sister, Patty Hopkinson wrote to you with some Kinney photos from Narragansett, RI.

Anyway, I attended OLM for all 8 years of grade school and in 1970 would have most likely been in the 1st grade. The principles name was Sister Beatrice. I think our regular 1st grade teacher was Sister Patrick. I may even be able to find an old OLM school photo. I can't say that I remember Kim as a substitute but the timing seems to right.

Please pass this along to Kim and have her contact me directly and maybe we can share a few photos and other memories.

I had two sisters married in the OLM chapel so I know we have lots of those photos still around. I was the youngest of 7!

Also wanted to let you know how much I enjoy your blog. Always brings back lots of great memories. Keep up the great work.

Paul

The Smoke Rise Cook Book - 1962

Are you ever in for a treat, thanks to Herb O. Fisher, Jr.: The Smoke Rise Cookbook from 1962!

Herb wrote me the following message:

Recently, I have seen several recipes show up on blog articles. 

Well, are you aware of, "The Smoke Rise Cook Book"? This goes back to the very early 60s.

Mitzi Yucknat was Nana/my grand mother.

Jan scooped this up from a dusty file cabinet in our garage. I have not seen this in a gazillion years.There are sooooo many names of women that sent in recipes (looks like 96) that I recall my parents mentioning and were charter family members of the infant Smoke Rise. Many of them had young uns' that were friends of mine. There is even one from a fellow named Howard who was the Chef at the Inn, way back then.
There are over 200+ Dips, Salads, Main Dishes, Side dishes, Preserves, breads and cookies, and Desserts.

HOF jr.

Thanks, HOF! This is truly amazing!

Here is the introduction from this cookbook:

The Officers and Chairmen of The Women of Smoke Rise will be glad to tell you that we are no ordinary women's club. The needs of our young, exurban community have crated a women's organization vital to everyone who lives in Smoke Rise. It would be a terrible bore for you and for me if I listed our many functions. Just accept my word that we are into everything. We begin with tots at pre-school age and branch out in an all embracing web of services and activities.

Because of thise frenzied work-load, the Scholarship Prize Fund for the Kinnelon High School sounded like pure madness to us, a very new Executive Board and President. Our own budget is balanced by sheer ingenuity and the heroic efforts of our Ways and Means Committee.

The Fund commits The Women of Smoke Rise to about $1,000 a year. Every year one student, graduating from Kinnelon High School and selected by the faculty on scholastic merit alone, will receive approximately $250 a year for the four years of his or her continuing college education.  By 1965 our first prize winning graduate begins his college career at the school of his choice.

This Smoke Rise Cook Book, an enormous project in itself, is the selfless labor of our Community Service Chairman and her Committee and all profits from its sale are dedicated to the Scholarship Prize Fund for the Kinnelon High School.

Irene Meyer
President of The Women of Smoke Rise, 1962-1963

And, here is Mitzi Yucknat's recipe for Stuffed Cabbage:

Scald to soften, one head loose cabbage

Mix thoroughly:

• 1 lb round beef
• 1.2 lb ground pork
• 2 beaten eggs
• 1 cup uncooked rice
• salt + pepper to season

Fill each leaf of cabbage with above. Fasten ends securely so stuffing will not escape during cooking. Place 1/2 can of sauerkraut in the bottom of the kettle. Put stuffed cabbage on top. Cover with the remainder of the kraut. Fill balance of kettle with water. Cook slowly 2.5 hours

Sauce - Brown 1 large chopped onion in 3 T. bacon grease. Add 2 T. flour and 1/2 Tsp. Paprika. Pour over kraut and let come to a boil.

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Does The Smoke Rise Cook Book of 1962 bring back memories? Did your family participate? Which were your favorite recipes?

Let me know in the comments.

Smoke Rise Houses Then & Now: 628 Mountain Road

The day I went by the Smoke Rise Tower to document its current state of... restoration [see The Smoke Rise Tower Restoration], I also took a picture of 628 Mountain Road, the house Herb Fisher grew up in.

I emailed it to him and he sent me back a few more pictures from those early days of Smoke Rise and Kinnelon.

I share them with you here as well as a few notes that Herb sent me.

Here you see the house very early on.

This next picture has Herb's Mom with his first dog, named Happy. [Note: my first dog was named Zippy.]

 

As Herb states, from 1955 through 1995 there weren't too many changes other than vegetation.

He does wonder, though, what the later owners might have done with the basement which Herb remembers as being "huge besides the large tub type sinks for hand washing clothing (yes, there was also a washer and dryer there), it had a bathroom with potty, sink and shower.  Easily put two or three large rooms down there."

Isn't it fascinating to see how houses evolve and keep the magic of 'home' going?

Smoke Rise Snow, Now & Then

It sure looks like deep winter in Smoke Rise lately with all the snow around. Don't you think? Yesterday's snow storm wasn't too bad - luckily - although Emma and I witnessed the police escorting a car on a flatbed as we walked to the bus stop at 8:31am.  It must have happened a little after 8am or so. From the tire tracks we noticed in the snow, the car looked to have slid down Fox Ledge, which is very steep and was very slick...

She and I missed the 12/27/10 blizzard by a few hours. We were headed to DC to visit my parents and made it out Sunday morning.  Ted experienced it firsthand, but successfully shoveled the driveway snow in time to pick us up at Meadtown the following day.

News of our intense Smoke Rise blizzard traveled far - all the way to Texas - inspiring Herb Fisher to send these photos of a Smoke Rise snowstorm he remembers from March 1960.

Thanks, Herb! It sure looks like you were having a blast in the snow back then.

For those of you closer by in Smoke Rise and Kinnelon, how 'bout now? How are you enjoying the snow? Have you built snowmen? Gone snowshoeing? Created amazing sled runs? Gone skating? Held snowball fights?

Send me pictures of your snow adventures and I'll share them here.

Smoke Rise Postcards: Wishing You Were Here

Were you aware that postcards were once available featuring noteworthy Smoke Rise sites? Herb Fisher recently came across a few and sent me scans of them.  I think you'll enjoy them. I'm assuming these date back to the late 1940s.

Smoke Rise East Gate, Kinnelon, N.J.

The best place to start is at the Smoke Rise East Gate and this image is fabulous. As you can see from the photo, access is via one lane. Note, too, the wall along the right hand side of the access road.

The original road into Smoke Rise was what is currently the meandering exit route.

Here is the caption from the back of the postcard:

Gate - All visitors must be announced at this "Gate" leading into Smoke Rise, New Jersey's unique 5000 acre mountain-lake woodland Club Plan community of small estates. For other cards in this series in Lake Kinnelon, homes, the Inn, etc., address Smoke Rise, P.O. Box 818, Butler, N.J.

Smoke Rise's St. Hubert Chapel

This postcard of St. Hubert's Chapel gives you a sense for the view that Francis Kinney might have had of the chapel from his home with the Tiffany stained glass cross and relief of St. Hubert prominent.

Smoke Rise Beach

Yes, this is New Jersey!  Granted, not in December, and quite tropical looking. It makes me wish I were there.

Here is the caption from the postcard:

View of Smoke Rise beach and Lake Kinnelon in Kinnelon, N.J., looking toward the north with Kitty Ann Mountain, 1,156 feet elevation, and the 80ft tall stone Lookout Tower, in the background. Smoke Rise is the unique Club Residential Community on Route 23 in northern New Jersey, 30 miles from New York City.

Thanks, Herb, for sharing these.

Other postcards of Smoke Rise exist, of the Inn - for example. They exist of other noteworthy locations, establishments and points of interest not just in Kinnelon, but also around Northern New Jersey and beyond.  After all what better way to promote specific places and to memorialize your presence there.

Slightly different than how we do so today via smartphone cameras and other digital devices.

If you were creating a postcard collection today, what would you capture in photos not just in Smoke Rise, but elsewhere in and around Kinnelon?

The Smoke Rise Spirits Shop

Have you ever taken a walk behind the Smoke Rise Inn? There's a doorway there with a green awning that I believe may have been the door to the Smoke Rise Spirit Shop.  You know, the place from where Smoke Rise Spirits Survive came.

After receiving those Smoke Rise Spirits photos from Herb Fisher, I asked him for details and learned that his Dad, Herb Fisher Sr., had run the Spirit Shop!  Here is what he shared:

"Herb ran the Spirit Shop (volunteer/no compensation) with his "lady friends".

Why he stopped? I really can't add much to this story.  We lived down in Texas and the only exposure I had was when we visited my parents in Smoke Rise during that one summer. 

Several times during that two or three week period I would help him stock the shelves or carry stuff in from the delivery truck -- while I was there I did not want him to carry cases of booze and beer. 

He enjoyed doing it (kept him busy) plus at the back of the current bar at the Inn was a window type arrangement, so Herb could chat with the bartender (think his name was Jim Rodda) and chat with anyone who was sitting at the bar. Besides a pilot, Herb was a Public Relations expert and enjoyed BS-ing with everyone!

Jim Rohrer was running Rosernes at the time and there was some reason why Harry Rohrer, Jim's oldest brother decided not to get involved with the Inn. I cannot really remember."

I asked Herb about his Dad's bar and whether it was stocked with Smoke Rise Spirits.

"No, Herb's bar at home, from as far back as I can remember, was stocked with "top shelf" liquor.  His favorite was Scotch: Chivas 12 year old, 18 year old Highland Park, etc., or other whiskeys - Jack Daniels Single Barrel, Crown Royal, and the same for vodkas and rums.  Herb made one huge unreal Bloody Mary for overnight guests that accompanied Emily and Mitzi's/Nana late morning super brunches.  That drink was a 628 Mountain Road specialty (Emily enjoyed one or two on occasion... See photo).

Herb kept a bottle of Smoke Rise Scotch, Bourbon, etc. at the house more as a novelty. He would also send them as gifts. Ya know, living in an upscale gated community with it's own liquor label, status!

When I see a picture like the attached... Emily reminds me of Barbara Billingsley, mother of Wally and the Beave/the TV show "Leave it to Beaver".  Those were better times. Glad I lived them."

Thanks, Herb, for helping us imagine The Smoke Rise Spirits Shop! Any chance you have Herb's unreal Bloody Mary recipe?

Do you have memories or stories relating to the Smoke Rise Spirits Shop? What about recipes for favorite drinks served at the Smoke Rise Inn or even at family events?

Smoke Rise Spirits Survive!

To answer the question that Tom Kline asks in The Smoke Rise Village Inn - Part 2, Smoke Rise Spirits have indeed survived.

Here is proof thanks to Herb O. Fisher!

Demonstrating unbelievable dedication, Herb dug deeply into his extensive private beverage stock and pulled out a full bottle of Smoke Rise Kentucky Bourbon pictured here below.

[I call your attention to the Smoke Rise artwork behind the bottle.]

As you can see, this is truly authentic Smoke Rise Spirits: Smoke Rise Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey.

Herb explains that, although the bottle is beginning to show signs of age and the label is 'weathering' a bit, the seal has NOT been broken.

Thank you, Herb, for answering the question whether Smoke Rise Spirits Survive and putting Tom's [and our] minds at ease!