New Gretna Book of Lists

While in the Bass River Community Library the other evening, I came across an interesting book that I haven't looked through in a long time - The Book of Lists.


The book, a collection of lists on almost any imaginable topic, was a number one best seller some years ago. It first came out in 1977 and was so popular that it spawned a whole series of list books by the original authors up through 2005. Others copied the format and a whole genre of copycat list books found their way into the bookstores. They included The Disinformation Book of Lists, A Book of Legal Lists, and The Best Book Of Lists Ever! It seemed like people were facinated by lists of every kind.

That got me to thinking that the writing of a New Gretna Book Of Lists may be a great project to undertake here at the Blog. I remembered receiving some New Gretna related lists that Mike Allen, Ben and Elaine Allen's son, had given to me a few months ago. They would make an excellent starting point for a New Gretna list project.

Mike grew up in New Gretna in the 1950's and early 1960's, so his lists are based largely on his memory of those time periods.


Mike Allen, in 1950, in the front yard of his family's Adams Avenue home. (Photo courtesy of Ben and Elaine Allen.)

Blog readers who also lived in New Gretna along with Mike and those who had New Gretna ties during other eras could add to Mike's lists and submit additional lists of their own on a whole variety of New Gretna subjects. The lists could then be organized into a New Gretna Book Of Lists, printed, and made available to our Blog readers.

Mike provided nicknames for some of the people on his lists. Since nicknames were so popular in old time New Gretna, it would be interesting to see just how many nicknames we can come up with.

Following are the lists written by Mike Allen. Perhaps they will foster an interest in our Blog readers to send in additions to Mike's lists and/or some lists of their own. Whether or not a book develops is up to the response that is generated. It would make a great cyber community project.

Anyone who regularly reads the Blog should be able to add to the list. You can't use the fact that you may not have lived in New Gretna as an excuse.

As I receive list additions via email or through the comments section below, I will add them to Mike's lists with the name of the person submitting the addition. That way we should see the list grow.

ATLANTIC CITY ELECTRIC

Les Roe

Frank Archer

Floyd West


BASEBALL TEAM MEMBERS

WAITING ON DAVE KALM & OTHERS


BASS RIVER STATE FORREST EMPLOYEES

Clarence Mathis

Herbert Mathis

Peggy Mathis

Alvin McAnney

Everett Allen

Zeb Mathis

Elaine Weber Mathis (via Pete Stemmer)

James McDonald

Stephen Eichinger, Jr. (via Pete Stemmer)


BAY MEN

Keever Allen (via John Allen)

Eugene "Booter" Mathis

Walter Mathis - Also New Gretna School Janitor

Talbert "Tabby" McAnney

Benny Allen

Pratt and Arnold Cramer - Oyster House

Dan LeMunyon

Curtis and Donald Maxwell

Ruby McAnney - owned Allen's Dock

Clarence "Buddy" Steele, Jr. - also State Highway and Gas Station

Doughty Cramer - also Shellfish Watchman

Roy Mathis - Walter's Father and Bobby's grandfather


BLUE BERRY FARMER

Walter Cutts

Viola Pepper

Henry Updike


BRIDGE TENDERS

Alice Weber - Wading River

Horatio "Tatter" Cramer - Mullica River

Harvey Houck - Bass River

Russell Loveland - Bass River

Cliff Budd (via Jim McAnney)


BUILDERS

Harold Gerew and his brothers

Charles Kauflin

Fred Shropshire

Howard Ware

George Heinrichs


BUSINESSMEN

Sam Briggs -Refrigeration & Air Conditioning

Levi Downs - Barber & Real Estate

John Barnes - Freihoffer Bread delivery (via Pete Stemmer)


CCC CAMP - BASS RIVER

Bennie Allen (via Pete Stemmer)

Renard Wiseman (via Pete Stemmer)

Owen Carty (via Pete Stemmer)

John Barnes (via Pete Stemmer)

Tom Watson (via Pete Stemmer)

Horace Somes - officer (via Pete Stemmer)

Walter Mathis - Plumber's Helper (via Bob Mathis)


CHARTER BOAT CAPTAINS

(Can you name their boat?)

Pratt Cramer - Captain Cramer

Les Allen - Alpat

Calvin Wilson - Seahawk

Fred Kalm - Saphire Lady

Otto Kalm - Irene (via Claire Allen)

Rue Mizelle - Evelyn (via Jim McAnney)

Chet Allen - Valient (via Jim McAnney)

Ferron Lamson - Silver Queen (via Jim McAnney)

Walter Mathis - Minnie J (via Bob Mathis)

Roy Mathis (via Bob Mathis)


CHICKEN FARMS

Gerald Hickman

Herman Wunch

Gene Franz

Sam Altscher

William Schlegle

Frederic Marsey

Soloman Turner


COUNTY HIGHWAY EMPLOYEES

Francis Sears

Gene Sears

Talbert "Tabby" McAnney

Walter Mathis-Forman (via Bob Mathis)

Ralph Loveland (via Bob Mathis)

Ed Brown (via Bob Mathis)

Delwin Downs (via Bob Mathis)

Henry Kruse (via Bob Mathis)

George Cramer (via Bob Mathis)

Harry Mick (via Bob Mathis)

Leon "Minkey" Allen (via Bob Mathis)


FARMS

Eugene "Booter" Mathis - asparagus

Ike Bowers on Bowers Lane - asparagus

Leepa Farm on Leepa Lane (via Bev Robinson)

Jack Budd on West Road (via Jim McAnney)

Emil Whauchn on West Road - exotic animals


FIRE COMPANY

COMING SOON


GAS STATIONS AND GARAGES

Clarence Steele, Sr.

Clarence Steel, Jr.

Walt and Margaret Roberts

Harvey Houck and Albert Block

Jay Belk - after Houck & Block

Walter "Diddy" Loveland - Garage only


GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS

Jonathan Ashton - Commissioner (via Pete Stemmer)

Johnny Barnes - Mayor & Commissioner (via Pete Stemmer)

T. Richard Bethea - Mayor & Commissioner (via Pete Stemmer)

Stan Cramer - Commissioner (via Pete Stemmer)

Joseph Forgach - Commissioner (via Pete Stemmer)

Jean Ward - Commissioner (via Bob Mathis)

Frank Gray - Tax Assessor (via Pete Stemmer)

Walter "Ditty" Loveland - Mayor & Commissioner (via Pete Stemmer)

Elvin McAnney - Township Clerk (via Pete Stemmer)

Norman G. Mathis - Township Clerk (via Pete Stemmer)

Paul Greiner - Commissioner (via Bob Mathis)

Walter Cutts - Commissioners (via Bob Mathis)

Les Roe - Commissioner (via Pete Stemmer)

Floyd West - Mayor & Commissioner (via Pete Stemmer)


JUNKYARD

Nelson Cramer

James Belk (via Bob Mathis)

Leon "Minky" Allen


LAW ENFORCEMENT

Fred Smith -State Trooper

Joseph "Joe Potty" Mathis - State Marine Police

Carl "Dude" Allen-State Marine Police (via Bob Mathis)


MARINA OPERATOR

Stan Cramer - Chestnut Neck

Ferron Lamson -Cape Horn

Chet Allen - Allen's Dock (via Bob Mathis)

Rube McAnney - Allen's Dock (via Bob Mathis)

George and Linda McGeoch - Allen's Dock (via Bob Mathis)


MINISTERS - METHODIST

Richard Thomas 1856 - 1857

Wm. C. Chattam 1857 - 1858

Levi J. Rhoads (S. Wheeler, Asst.) 1858 - 1859

W.E. Boyle 1859 - 1861

P.Q. Calder 1861- 1863

A. Matthews 1863 - 1864

M.H. Shrimp (G.W. Dobbins, Asst) 1864 - 1865

C. Mansbury 1865- 1866

D.M. Curdy 1866 - 1869

J.P. Connelly 1869 - 1873

John H. Boswell 1873 - 1875

T.R. Stratton 1875 - 1876

S.F. Bishop 1876 - 1877

J. Warthan 1877 - 1878

S.P. Cassaboom 1878 - 1880

C.P. Smith 1880 - 1881

J.B. Hines 1882 - 1882

S.H. Potter 1882 - 1883

Edwin Waters 1883 - 1885

David D. Fisler 1885 - 1886

P.W. Bilderback 1886 - 1887

C.F. VanSant 1887 - 1888

J.O. R. Corliss 1888 - 1890

T.D. Sleeper 1890 - 1891

Wm. H. Burley 1892 - 1894

N.B. Rockhill 1894 - 1895

J.W. Tower 1895 - 1899

John W. Lynch 1899 - 1901

H.M. Lawrence 1901 - 1902

Leon Chamberlain 1902 - 1904

H.B. White 1904 - 1906

A.H. Frazer 1906 - 1908

Joseph S. Moore 1908 - 1910

W.R. Blackman 1910 - 1912

W. E. Blackiston 1912 - 1913

P. W. Bilderback 1913 - 1914

E. R. Craig 1914 - 1915

John Q. Post 1915 - 1916

L.V. Brewin 1916 - 1920

F.O. Jackson 1920 - 1921

Russell Norris 1921 - 1921

John I. Stokes 1921 - 1924

Ira J. B. Hill 1924 - 1925

Howard Cramer 1925 - 192 7

Elwood Hoey 1927 - 1929

Mr. Morgan 1930 - 1931

Jacob Smallwood 1931 - 1933

Aurice Parsells 1933 - 1934

Wm. B. Magsam 1934 - 1938

Leon Martorano 1938 - 1940

A.D. Elwell 1940 - 1941

Harry Taylor 1941 - 1941

Joseph Bradway 1942 - 1942

Arthur Huckaby 1942 - 1943

George Jackson 1944 - 1947

Champion Goldy 1947 - 1949

Howard Shoemaker 1949 - 1952

Joseph Uncle 1952 - 1956

George Starsmeare 1956 - 1959

E.C. Campbell, Jr. 1959-1961

Wendell P. Luke 1961 - 1962

Herman D. DeJong 1962 - 1964

Donald Rolfs 1964 - 1965

Raymond Woolbright 1965 - 1967

George S. R. Gross,Jr. 1967- Nov. 1979

Robert D. Robinson Jan 1980- June 1982

Ackerman (Interim Pastor) 3 weeks

Carl J. Catts 1982 - 1986

Darryl Duer 1986- 1989

Francis M. Coyle 1989 – 1992

Frank Brown, Jr. 1992 – 1994

Oliver E. Megill 1994 – 1995

Regina Hendrickson 1995 - 1996

Robert Olyn Bryant 1996 – February, 2000

Edward R. Elgrim September, 2000 – June, 2001

Harry Hill July, 2001 - Present


MINISTERS - PRESBYTERIAN

Ramsey, Rankin, W. C. Davis, Dr. Samuel Miller, VanRensselaer 1851-1858

Allen H. Brown 1858-1861

K. P. Ketcham 1862-1864

S. H. Thompson 1865-1867

George T. LeBoutillier 1867-1868

S. R. Anderson 1869-1874

Albert Worthington 1879-1885

S. G. Webb, M.D. 1888-1896

J. T. Campbell 1896-1899

B. S. Everitt, D.D. 1899-1902

Robert Robinson 1902-1905

John L. Rusbridge 1905-1907

C. J. Pendleton 1909-1912

R. W. Hand, Shultz, Brackbill, M. A. Spotts, F. B. Helsman, R. D. Adams 1913-1921

Andrew Richards 1921-1923

Milo F. Jamison 1924-1925

J. H. Ginter 1925-1928

Samuel E. Arndt 1928-1930

J. Garrett Kell 1930-1932

George Kress 1933-1936

William Bullock 1937-1939

Ralph Hand 1940

Ernest Enslin 1940-1942

Eugene Osterhaven 1942-1943

Percy Martin 1943-1944

George Cox 1944-1948

Stanton R. Wilson 1948-1951

Hugh Cosline (via Jim McAnney)

John Costas (via Jim McAnney)

Ralph Reed (via Jim McAnney)

Ralph Tamachio (via Pete Stemmer)

Larry Van Hise (via Pete Stemmer)

Doris Cowan (via Pete Stemmer)

Paul Milio (via Pete Stemmer)


PARKWAY EMPLOYEES

Jack Mathis

Steve Potter

Norman Cramer

Lenny Cerillo (via Bob Mathis)

Robert Brown (via Bob Mathis)


POSTMASTERS (via Pete Stemmer)

Joseph B. Cramer - Postmaster 08/06/1850
Rollin M. Ashley - Postmaster 11/10/1852
Mrs. Sarah S. Cramer - Postmaster 02/04/1853
Franklin Adams - Postmaster 05/05/1857
Joseph B. Lamson - Postmaster 11/02/1885
Ida Deacon - Postmaster 06/06/1889
Charles R. Deacon - Postmaster 03/12/1892
Rollin A. Mathis - Postmaster 02/02/1893
Alfred M. Sullivan - Postmaster 06/24/1897
Anna L. Leek - Postmaster 07/03/1901
Mary S. Leek - Acting Postmaster 06/01/1929
Mary S. Leek - Postmaster 03/21/1930
Maybelle Ray Cramer - Acting Postmaster 07/01/1944
Naomi Margaret Post - Acting Postmaster 09/15/1944
Mrs. Naomi P. Maurer - Acting Postmaster 02/02/1946
Mrs. Naomi P. Maurer - Postmaster 08/01/1946
Mrs. Helen E. Carty - Acting Postmaster 11/29/1957
Mrs. Helen E. Carty - Postmaster 08/31/1959
William Halkes Jr. - Officer-In-Charge 04/06/1979
Mrs. Bernadette M. Murphy - Postmaster 06/30/1979
Harry C. Stevenson Jr. - Officer-ln-Charge 08/21/1981
Joshua O. Weber - Postmaster 11/14/1981
Lou J. LaPlaga - Officer-In-Charge 08/14/1987
Robed Trader - Officer-In-Charge 11/23/1987
Melanie A. Klix - Postmaster 01/02/1988
Curtis H. Taylor - Officer-In-Charge 08/29/1991
Richard W. Irion - Postmaster 12/28/1991
Rebecca A. Lesko - Officer-In-Charge 03/06/1993
Richard W. Irion - Postmaster 04/23/1993
Rebecca A. Lesko - Officer-In-Charge 12/19/1999
Dorothy Mathis - Officer-In-Charge 02/29/2000
Richard W. Irion - Postmaster 04/19/2000
Janine Wengert - Officer-In-Charge 01/02/2003
Michele L. Scamoffa - Postmaster 01/25/2003


RESTAURANTS & BARS

Mary and Fred Sorocco (via Bob Mathis)
Cliff Allen - Allen's Clam Bar (via Bob Mathis)
Winnie Allen - Allen's Clam Bar (via Bob Mathis)
Win Allen Jr. - Allen's Clam Bar (via Bob Mathis)
Ash Lamson - Lamson's Restaurant (via Bob Mathis)
Jack Harkins (via Bob Mathis)
Doug Hancock - Rustic Inn (via Bob Mathis)
John Martin - John's Diner (via Bob Mathis)

SAWMILLS

Ben Broome and Russie Adams

Charlie and Milton"Mutt" Kaufkin

Jack Wiseman


SCHOOL BUS DRIVERS AND JANITORS

Verna Wiseman

Harrison Cunningham

Therman Seay

Eddie Bourguignon (via Jim McAnney)

Gene Frantz (via Jim McAnney)

Walter Mathis - janitor

Vera Sears - janitor


STATE HIGHWAY EMPLOYEES

George Allen

Bill Belk

Bert Adams

Owen Carty

Bob Adams

Clarence "Buddy" Steele

Earl Cramer

Rodger Voorhees - Forman (via Bob Mathis)

Roy Zerrit (via Bob Mathis)

Marvin Dawson (via Bob Mathis)

Herbert Adams (via Bob Mathis)

Hubert "Ubie" Adams (via Bob Mathis)

George Cramer (via Bob Mathis)


STATE SHELLFISH WATCHMEN

Harry Allen

Woody Allen

Washy Allen

Otto Kalm

Alston "Bussie" Allen

Doughty Cramer - relief watchman (via Jim McAnney)

F. A. Gray - Supervisor


STORE OWNER

Clarence Mathis

Eddie Burguignon


TEACHERS

Kathleen Gray

Sylvia Houck

Minnie Shropshire

Elsie Maxwell

Miss Woolheater (via Jim McAnney)

Mr. Griffin (via Jim McAnney)

Richard Roventine - also principal (via Jim McAnney)

Mrs Spaeth (via Bob Mathis)

Miss McGrath (via Bob Mathis)

Mrs Porter (via Bob Mathis)

Mrs Scott (via Bob Mathis)


WELL DRILLERS

Delvin Downs

Steve Eichinger, Sr.



Well, Mike has given us a good start on our Book of New Gretna Lists. Now, let's hear from you out in the Blog-O-Sphere and see how many categories, people etc. we can add.

Pete S

PS- I see some familiar names on Mike's lists. I got my first case of chiggers when Murray and Jean Harris took Jackie and I blueberry picking, shortly after we moved to New Gretna, in Viola Pepper's abandoned blueberry field in back of the Methodist Church. I still itch thinking about it!