Interview with Jerry Coursen by Peg Kenny Adams – 1976

I went to the local grammar school where the fire house is.  That was the fire house at that time was demolished later on.  From a school to a fire house, and then demolished by the fire.  And we were part then of Hanover Township and I can remember that in November we would put hip-boots on as kids because of the snow—we would really have blizzards in those days.  Because it was an open field where the Borough School now exists.  That was all open field and the wind just blew across there, and the snow accordingly.   I can remember them having horse races on the dirt street.  Speedwell Avenue was a dirt street in those days.  And then later they put the trolley in, and I can remember that the trolley was stopped from running at times because of the blizzard.  Just couldn’t get through with the snow. Then when it was still Hanover Township, we went to high school in Whippany—it was called Hanover High School, and we came by, went by bus, and some of those days when we slipped off the road because of the snow.  And the driver would say “Get out and help push”.  We’d all hold back so we didn’t have to get to school on time.  (Laughter)