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! 

Smoke Rise Inn Transformation

Welcome to the Smoke Rise Inn! If you haven't been to visit in a while, you are in for a treat since it has been transformed!

In honor of Bathroom Blogfest 2011, I want to share with you the Smoke Rise Inn transformed...

Starting with the Sitting Area in between the Main Entrance and the Restaurant, which is newly and attractively carpeted, painted, and decorated.

It is a brighter, friendlier and more welcoming space, and it makes a nice introduction to the Bar, Lounge, Gazebo and Ballroom dining areas.

New Furniture, Carpet and Decor

Small Interloper on New Couch

More Furnishings

New Table and Chairs

Since I am partial to beautiful carpet, I do hope you will pay attention underfoot and admire the new carpet in the Lobby Sitting Area of the Inn.

Marvelous patterned carpet

More Carpet with draperies

Next, the bathrooms, and more importantly the ballroom bathrooms.

Carpet and Bathroom Entrance

Wainscotted Hallway to Bathroom

This is one of the front hall bathrooms.

I hope you'll go explore and admire how beautiful the Smoke Rise Inn looks and how comfortable it feels. Take a tour before sitting down to one of the dishes on Chef George's new menu. I think you'll be impressed!

Happy Bathroom Blogfest 2011!

'Kick The Can' at Twain Recording, West Milford, NJ for Bathroom Blogfest 2011

In honor of Bathroom Blogfest 2011, I share with you the first of two stories. This first one takes place at Twain Recording in West Milford, NJ.

Back in May 2011, Emma participated in a program sponsored by the Kinnelon Children's Library titled Kick the Can With Jersey's Nanny Granny. Four of Kinnelon's kids - including Emma - got together at Twain Recording Studios in West Milford, NJ with Mary Jo - aka Nanny Granny - to discuss current events and matters of interest to kids.

More specifically, they explored tolerance and what it means to be different.  In the process, they covered territory ranging from outer space to Ladies Gaga and Godiva. This interview was recorded and will soon be available - I think - on the Kinnelon Library website.

The reason that I include this story for Bathroom Blogfest 2011 is that Twain Recording was filled with the most unbelievable musical memorabilia, featured a working - yes - rotary phone and the most perfect toilet seat ever! In anticipation of the upcoming Blogfest, I saved it for you until now!

By the way, Bob Both at Twain Recording is the most patient, encouraging and wonderful person ever to be part of a recording session. Thank you, Bob!

Yes, that is a working rotary phone!

Kinnelon's Kick the Can with Jersey's Nanny Granny participants

Bob Both adjusts Mary Jo's microphone

Is this musically perfect or not?

Another view of musical perfection

In terms of the Bathroom Blogfest theme of 'Climbing Out', this 'Kick the Can' session was all about climbing out of preconceived notions. Well done, Mary Jo! Thank you.

Bathroom Blogfest 2011 includes the following participants who celebrate this year's theme of 'Climbing Out'. If you'd like to participate and share stories, let me know!

Thanks for being part of this year's event!

Name	Blog Name	Blog URL
Susan Abbott	Customer Experience Crossroads	Customer Experience Crossroads
Paul Anater	Kitchen and Residential Design	Kitchen and Residential Design Blog
Shannon Bilby	From the Floors Up	http://fromthefloorsup.com/
Toby Bloomberg	Diva Marketing	Diva Marketing
Laurence Borel	Blog Till You Drop	http://www.laurenceborel.com/
Bill Buyok	Avente Tile Talk	http://tiletalk.blogspot.com
Jeanne Byington	The Importance of Earnest Service	http://blog.jmbyington.com/
Becky Carroll	Customers Rock!	http://customersrock.net
Katie Clark	Practical Katie	http://practicalkatie.blogspot.com/
Nora DePalma	O'Reilly DePalma: The Blog	http://www.oreilly-depalma.com/blog/
Paul Friederichsen	The BrandBiz Blog	http://brandbizblog.com/
Tish Grier	The Constant Observer	http://spap-oop.blogspot.com/
Elizabeth Hise	Flooring The Consumer	http://flooringtheconsumer.blogspot.com
Emily Hooper	Floor Covering News Blog	http://www.fcnews.net/category/blog/
Diane Kazan	Urban Design Renovation	http://blog.urbandesignrenovation.com
Joseph Michelli	Dr. Joseph Michelli’s Blog	http://www.josephmichelli.com/blog
Veronika Miller	Modenus Blog	http://www.modenus.com/blog
Arpi Nalbandian	Tile Magazine Editors' Blog	Tile Magazine Editor Blog
David Polinchock	Polinchock's Ponderings	http://blog.polinchock.com/
Professor Toilet	American Standard's Professor Toilet	http://www.professortoilet.com
David Reich	my 2 cents	http://reichcomm.typepad.com
Victoria Redshaw & Shelley Pond	Scarlet Opus Trends Blog	http://www.trendsblog.co.uk
Sandy Renshaw	Purple Wren	http://www.PurpleWren.com
Bethany Richmond	Carpet and Rug Institute Blog	Carpet and Rug Institute Blog
Bruce D. Sanders	RIMtailing	http://www.rimtailing.blogspot.com
Paige Smith	Neuse Tile Service blog	http://neusetile.wordpress.com/
Stephanie Weaver	Experienceology	http://experienceology.blogspot.com/
Christine B. Whittemore	Content Talks Business Blog	Content Talks Business Blog
Christine B. Whittemore	Smoke Rise & Kinnelon Blog	http://smokerise-nj.blogspot.com/
Christine B. Whittemore	Simple Marketing Blog	http://www.simplemarketingblog.com/
Ted Whittemore	Working Computers	http://www.kinneloncomputers.com/
Chris Woelfel	Artcraft Granite, Marble & Tile Co.	http://www.artcraftgmt.com
Patty Woodland	Broken Teepee	http://www.brokenteepee.com/
Denise Lee Yohn	brand as business bites	http://deniseleeyohn.com/bites/

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

Kinnelon Public Library Presents Author and Former Kinnelon Resident Stephanie Stiles Discussing Her New Book -- 'Take It Like a Mom' -- Sun, Oct 23, 3 PM

KINNELON PUBLIC LIBRARY

 will host

Stephanie Stiles

Author and former Kinnelon resident, Stephanie Stiles will discuss her book: 

‘Take It Like a Mom’

 Sunday, October 23 @ 3 – 4.30pm 

One thing sets her apart from other modern-day superheroes: mom genes. 

Annie Fingardt Forster used to be a lawyer who wore dry-clean only and shaved both legs. But things have changed. Now a stay-at-home mom, she wears cargo pants and ponytails and harbors a nearly pathological hatred towards hipster parents.

PLEASE CALL KINNELON LIBRARY TO SIGN UP 973 838 1321

~Ted


PS Where did she go? Stephanie, that is.

Pathways of History Museum Tour: Kinnelon, Boonton, Boonton Township, Pompton Plains

Have you participated in the Pathways of History program? We came across it last year while driving past the Oscar A. Kincaid Home of History and had to stop and explore. In the process, we got to speak with members of the Historical Society, learn about local history and discover how interconnected our towns [and boroughs] are. It was fantastic!

Pathways of History represents a collaboration between our local historical societies. Last year's included the Boonton, Boonton Township, Kinnelon, Butler and Montville Township Historical Societies. During the two-day program, a range of  events took place offering visitors a chance - via walking tour, musical performance, slide shows, lectures and other activities - to experience and explore our history.

This year is no exception.  Pathways of History - Links to Each Other and to the Past - returns next weekend, October 22 and 23, 2011.

Here are details of the 2011 Pathways of History Museum Tour.

Saturday, October 22, 2011 from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM and
Sunday, October 23, 2011 from 12:00 PM to 4:00 PM

The Pathways of History Museum Tour – Morris County is a grand coordinated undertaking by four local historical groups designed to spotlight their museums and historic sites. Admission is free for this two day event. The Historical Societies of Boonton, Boonton Township, Kinnelon, and Pequannock are pleased to open their museum doors, and those of historic homes in their towns for visitation. Programs, presenting history in multiple forms are planned to interest visitors of all ages.

This two day program will offer local history; each will feature special activities, demonstrations and exhibits. 

Admission to this two day event is free.

Start at your local museum, L’Ecole Kinnelon Museum, 25 Kiel Avenue, Kinnelon.

• L’Ecole Kinnelon Museum will offer a presentation about the historic Charlottesburg Furnace at 12:00 PM and 3:00 PM.

• The Museum of Pequannock Township’s discussion on the Railroad in Pequannock will be highlighted with images and documentation that bring to life some of what was experienced by those impacted by the railroad.

• History comes alive with a family-friendly Civil War Living History reenactment at Boonton’s historic Miller-Kinsland House; The Oscar A. Kincaid Home of History in Boonton Township offers house tours, a Civil War Sesquicentennial Commemoration Exhibit and the Kincaid fine Crafts and Art Shoppe.

Visitors may start the tour at any location where a brochure and detailed map will be provided to guide you to the next stop. For more information call (973) 263-0907.
For perspective on what to expect at one of those museums, here are the pictures I took during our visit last year to the Oscar A. Kincaid Home of History.

Offical Sign: Oscar A. Kincaid, Home of History, Circa 1785

It's officially a historic landmark.

We understand this was a working store until relatively recently.

Writeup on the Valley Farm Roadstand

Corn shucking anyone?

Oscar Kincaid Home

I love these barns and want to paint them someday.

Marvelous Kincaid barns.

Yes, there's a story!

The original face.

Electricity anyone?

Yes, Emma had fun!

Fabulous angles and additions.

More angles, additions and perspectives.

View of the house from the back.

I like the sheds, too.

I hope you'll go take part in Pathways of History. Then, let me know what you discover about what makes this part of the world so magical!

Newly Released Jersey Highlands Trail Map, Morris County

If you love hiking in the area, you'll be pleased to know that the NYNJ Trail Conference has released a trail map of Morris County, north of I-80 and south of Route 23.

Avid hiker and long-time reader, Pete Beck shares the following about the Jersey Highlands - Central North Region Trail Map.
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The newly released TC map of Morris County north of I-80 and south of Rte 23
By Pete Beck, date 5/11/11, rev 9/21/11

The New York/New Jersey Trail Conference has published its first entirely new hiking trail map in 10 years.

It covers the area North of I-80 and South of Rte 23 from High Mountain preserve in the east to Stephens Park in the west.  A feature on the map that I find especially useful is the trail head parking areas with enough detail to show the local roads necessary to get to them.

The map is called "Jersey Highlands Trails, Central North Region" and has 230 Miles of Trails in 30 Parks; it can be ordered from the NYNJTC website - http://www.nynjtc.org/cart or picked up at the hiking stores, [e.g., Ramsey, REI, Campmor, and EMS].

I am especially proud of the details shown for Rockaway Township (yes, I contributed).  This is a good map to learn to do map reading on and maybe plan a hike from [e.g., 95 Mile Fire Tower at Budd Lake, the old Ogden railroad right of way near Minisink park in Hopatcong, the Audobon Trail in the Sparta WMA, etc.].

For the Kinnelon crowd the trails in Apshawa, Echo lake, Mountainside park, Silas Condit, Kakeout (Butler) reservoir, Split Rock and Pyramid Mountain are covered.

If you are not familiar with the New York New Jersey Trail Conference (the volunteer hiking infrastructure people in our area) then visit their web site, www.NYNJTC.ORG.  Of particular interest is their on-line catalog of hikes accessible with a search engine.  Also, find out how you can become a volunteer trail maintainer.

----

Thank you, Pete, and congratulations on the release of the Jersey Highlands Trails, Central North Region trail map!

Pete writes a blog RT Outdoors about exploring the outdoor spaces of Rockaway Township, Morris County, NJ. He is very active in the Union County Hiking Club.

I recommend, too, that you check out Pete's Picasa Photo Album with amazing photos of area hikes.

Happy Hiking!

Added 10/16/11:  A reminder from Estelle - "Echo Lake and surrounding Pequannock Watershed are owned by City of Newark and require purchase of a hiking permit from their office on Echo Lake Rd." Thank you, Estelle.