The Pleasantville press. (Pleasantville, N.J.) 1912-1929, 1917-09-15
INTERESTING SESSION
HISTORICAL SOCIETY
TOPICS OF GRERT LOCRL INT
crest DISCUSSED BY RTTOR-
kEY M'ShER. SEVERAL CON-
MITTEES APPOINTED.

Mrs. Stewart McShea entertained
the Historical Society at her beautiful
home at 3005 Pacific avenue On Friday
evening, August 3lst. 1t was one of
their most enjoyable and instructive
meetings, both from a social and his
torical standpoint.
1t was the first meeting with the
newly-elected officers, all of whom, ex-
cepting the Corresponding Secretary
were present, with about fifty men,
bers and friends.
The 4th of September being the date
on which Richard Somers gave his life
for his country in the war with Trip
oil, and the 18th of September the date
of his birth, the meeting was devoted
partly to the memory of this brilliant
young naval officer of our country.
Mr.. Hubert Somers gave an inspiring
talk and read some interesting letters
written by Richard Somers bearing on
his early %seafaring life as well as his
service in the navy. He held the COM
mission of Commander, corresponding
to that of Major in the army. His life
was as brief as 1t was brilliant, for he
and his twelve brave companions went
down with the Fire Ship" in an at
tempt to sink the enemy squadron in
the Mediterranean. 1t is said that
when he asked for volunteers from his
own ship to go with him to man the
"~Fire-Ship", every man volunteered.
But six of them were chosen, the bal
ance being taken from another ship.
None returned. A small shaft to his
memory, erected in Somers Point, is
one of the historic points of interest in
our county. There is also a Shaft to
his memory in Washington. A vote of
thanks was given Mr.. Somers for his
inspiring paper.
A donation Of some old papers for
merly the property of DR.. Jonathan
Pitney, was received from his on, Mr.
Martin Pitney, of Absecon. These are
Protests" of vessels wrecked on our
beach. At that time the captain and
men of the vessels were compelled to
file a Protest" with a notary within "a
hours from the time of disaster, giving
all the particulars Some of these
Protests are of great historical value.
1t was Jonathan Pitney who caused
the Light House to be erected on Abb
secon Beach-now Atlantic City. He
also was one of the founders of Allan
tic City.
A sketch of his life, written by Allen
H. Brown, the property of Miss Harri-
ct Frambes, was also read.
Mrs. Martilla Ketchum read extracts
from some letters written by her great
grandmother, Deborah Adams. In n
she referred to n of the children be-
ing i'll, and Drs. Pitney and Jessup
both attending, neither of whom could
diagnose the case satisfactorily. 1t
seemed a kind of palsy. The child liv-
ed but never recovered the use of its
left arm. From the description of
symptoms, the diagnosis of the present
day would be infantile paralysis. The
%penmanship of these letters was won
derfully plain and beautiful.
Attorney McShea, the son of the hos
tess, gave an interesting and instruc-
tive talk on "The Historical Society
and its Value to the Public" Mr..
McShea is eminently fitted to speak
on this subject, being conversant with
historical matters in general and in
terested in man, historical societies.
Mr.. McShea produced renewed en-
thusiasm among these lovers of his
tory and legend of our country. He
urged the necessity of keeping the rec
ords true in every detail. Also that
antiques be collected and preserved
before they passed forever. He refer
red to the magnificent building of the
Historical Society in Doylestown and
its wonderful collection.
Atlantic County Society has in prep
aration many papers of value. It is
their purpose to place on file with their
records subject matter on all points
of the County's history, where the
public may secure this information.
A vote of thanks was tenaered Mr.. |