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West Orange History Titles by John Dandola Because of constant and continual copyright infringement within West Orange, these town history titles were prviously withdrawn from sales. Sales will now be considered only on a case-by-case basis. Policing intellectual proplerty theft is costly but necessary to preserve copyrights. To inquire, e-mail Sales@QuincannonGroup.com _________________________________ History is important to the identity of a place. The problem with West Orange history is that it has never been told in chronological order or as an unfolding story so that it makes sense. Since no politically-appointed town historian has had training or has possessed writing talent, the results have always been scattershot, lackluster, and more often than not, incorrect. Historic sections of town are even mislabeled due to whim and ignorance. John Dandola is not politically-appointed. He knows how to research, how to interpret, how to write, and most importantly, how to present the historic truths of his hometown where generations of his family have lived. _________________________________ West Orange: A Thorough & Accurate History Containing even more vintage photos, illustrations, and maps, this title is a greatly expanded edtion of one which debuted in 2013 to celebrate the correct year of the town's 150th anniversary. (Embarrassingly, the politicians scheduled the celebration a year early.) This book details the history of the town from its colonial beginnings and even gives the real reason for the name "Orange" which is not what has repeatedly and erroneously been handed down for generations. 184 pages; 5.5" x 8.5" trade paperback $18.95 plus S&H (via USPS Media Rate with tracking). _________________________________ West Orange Police Department: A History of Its Beginnings The how and why West Orange established its own police department after a rape-murder case which was botched by the Orange and Newark Police Departments in 1883. That case is detailed along with how the department progressed from horse and wagon days up to the mid-twentieth century. It contains vintage photos, illustrations, and maps. 102 pages; 5.5" x 8.5" trade paperback $14.95 plus S&H (via USPS Media Rate with tracking). _________________________ West Orange Fire Department Centennial Album 1894-1994 Still in print. Direct from the author's private reserve. A formal history of the West Orange (New Jersey) Fire Department which includes the infamous 1914 fire at Thomas Edison's factory. Profusely illustrated with restored vintage photographs. Online descriptions are often erroneous. John Dandola is the SOLE author and copyright-holder. The involvement of the W.O.F.D. Centennial Committee was only that they asked him to undertake the book and he did so gratis. It took a year and a half to complete due to scattered records and severely damaged vintage photographs which had to be restored. First and only edition; 104 pages; 8.5"x11, paperback. $19.95 plus S&H (via USPS Media Rate with tracking). _________________________________ Sun, Fun, and Pervasive Politics: A History & Memoir of Ginny Duenkel Municipal Pool Yet again, the town politicians allowed a date to go uncelebrated. June 25, 2017,
was the fiftieth anniversary of Ginny Duenkel Municipal Pool. There are mentions
on the internet that 1966 was the year but that was only a late season teaser.
Construction and state inspections of the new pool were not completed until
mid-summer so a short "free" period took place close to Labor Day. A full season
with paid memberships didn't happen until June 1967. In true West Orange fashion,
no records seem to have been kept but the backs of photos gave June 1967 as
the first official opening day. This history and memoir is filled with behind-the-scenes stories which the public never imagined. It also contains vintage photos, illustrations, and maps along with a history of Colgate Playground whose upper field was taken over to build the pool. When the author was the pool's assistant manager, a stash of old photos was found in the drop ceiling of the Colgate fieldhouse. He carefully made photographic copies and considering the originals valuable, he returned them. Within six months, the Recreation Department discarded the originals. Why? "They took up too much room," was the explanation. It was a single medium-sized corrugated cardboard box! 218 pages; 5.5" x 8.5" trade paperback $16.95 plus S&H (via USPS Media Rate with tracking). _________________________ Up the Hill, Down the Hill: The Rise and Demise of West Orange Mountain High School 1960-1984 Why was a second high school necessary? We've all been told that it was due to the population boom. Although West Orange did have an increase in population in the 1950's, it was mismanagement of the existing schools which led to a second high school being built and, in lack of foresight, the closure of several grammar schools. We've also always heard that Mountain High was originally to be built where Essex Green shopping center now stands. That is totally false. Essex Green's property had been purchased long before any discussion of a second high school and the shopping center was already constructed and doing business before serious consideration of a second high school. Added to that were gerrymandered boundaries to favor certain politically-advantageous sections of town and the result was the bussig mess most of us remember. Then, twenty-four years later, the plug was a abruptly pulled on Mountain High and its legacy along with the legacy of the original West Orange High were pushed aside with school colors, team names, and mascots replaced with ridiculous ones. The story is not pretty but here it is lavishly appointed with maps and vintage photos. 142 pages; 5.5" x 8.5" trade paperback $16.95 plus S&H (via USPS Media Rate with tracking). _________________________ Shipping & Handling is $5.95 for one book and $1.25 for each additional book sent to the same address. All books are carefully packed and shipped via Media Rate with a tracking number. |
