Smyrna times., 1892-07-06
For the Smyrna Times
Letter from the Upper Part of New
Jersey.

Sir Since my enforced absence
from my Delaware home (which took
place last November I have been liv.
ing in this town, Verona, which is less
than two miles distant from Caldwell
the birthplace OF Grover Cleveland
the late nominee of the Chicago Con.
vention and standard bearer of the
great Democratic party. l frequently
have occasion to pass this noted place
The house in which this great event
took place some fifty odd years ago
must necessarily be old fashioned but
it is still in a good state of preserva.
tion, Judging from external appear.
ances, and with its we'll kept grounds
by which it is surrounded, it still pre.
sents quite an attractive appearance.
II is owned by the Presbyterian Church
of that town and occupied at this time
by the Rev. c. T Berry, who presides
over this old and powerful Church
very acceptibly to his congregation
and with honor to himself. It's present
membership is 485.
1t was organized one hundred and
eight years ago. Its first pastor was
the Rev. stephen Grover, who served
this church as it's pastor forty-six
years. was hOnOrably retired upon a
liked annuity, died in little less than
three years afterwards. The next pas-
tor was the Rev. Mr.. Cleveland. the
father of Grover. His pastorate lasted
six years and a-half. He was then
succeeded by the Rev. Mr.. Tuttle
whose pastOrate lasted eight wears and
a'half. Mr.. Tuttle was then succeeded
by the Rev. DIR. Sprague, whose term
OF service extended through nineteen
years. Then the present pastor. Mr..
T. 1. Berry, assumed charge, which
was about twenty-five years ago.
The church now occupied bv this
society is a stone structure. 1t is large.
very substantial and imposing in sp-
pearance, and was erected at a cost of
sixty thousand dollars. This makes
three church buildings that have been
erected by this congregation; the last
before this was burned, being frame.
Caldwell is a neat, clean, cosey little
borough. 1t is nearly all one broad
thoroughfare, originally known as the
Newark d Pine Brook turnpike. but
now changed to Bloomfield avenue.
This avenue is fairly well studded on
either side through its entire length
with fine shade trees, that add very
much to its beauty. There is no man.
utacturing worth speaking of. 1t is
almost entirely now made up of
residences, the most of which are neat
and attractive homes. The morals of
this place will compare favOrably with
those of any other town in my knowl.
edge. There are no saloons. and but
one hotel and it is told (for the truth
OF which cannot Youch) that the pro.
prietor of this hotel buys his whisky
by the single gallon. He makes a spe-
cialty of keeping summer boarders
from the cities.
This town, however. like all others
isolated from railroad communication.
has passed through that proverbial
Rip Van Winkle sleep, from which it
was partially aroused last summer,
and on the very day when we cele-
brate the anniversary of the birth of
this great nation, the iron horse, the
great civilizer of mankind, invaded
this town. Judging from the improve
ments being made and contemplated
it will not be long before this place
will take rank with other live and
near by towns.
/ have no doubt, Mr.. Editor, that
there is many a good Democrat in your
town and vicinity who would not be.
grudge the outlay of time and money
that trip would cost them to visit Ito
them) this sacred spot. If the Rev.
Mr.. Berry was not such black Repub-
lican, as the saying goes, might sug-
gest to any of our Democratic friends
who might be induced to visit this hal.
lowed spot, that they could fully reim-
burse themselves by the trophies they
might collect. l like to forgot to say that
the pastor of this church has a son TWEEN.
ty-two years of age who was born in the
same house, and possibly in the same
room, where this great model Demo-
crat of modeFR time first saw the light.
While am not acquainted with this
young man, am reiiasly informed
that he is bright and highly educated.
Would 1t be strange that at some time
in the future if this young Mr.. Berry
should pose as great model republi-
can aud ask at the hands of his party
their votes to elevate him to the high
est Office in the gift of the people of
this great republic? 1t has been well
said that truth is stranger than fiction.
S. WALKER.