A WATCHUNG COMMUNICATIONS, INC. PUBLICATION The Westfield L The Westfield L The Westfield L The Westfield L The Westfield Leader eader eader eader eader and THE TIMES of Scotch Plains – Fanwood Thursday, March 26, 1998 Page 9
RAY CATINA 6x 10 1/ 2 Miller- Cory Deed Subject
For 'Wednesday Luncheon'
Westfield Town Historian, Dr. Homer J. Hall, will discuss "Notes on the Miller- Cory Deed" on Wednesday, April 1, at the "First Wednesday Luncheon" of the Westfield Historical Society.
This deed has been a puzzle since it was first discovered 25 years ago, Mr. Hall said.
"Extensive research has revealed that its obvious internal errors and contradictions reflect the general state of confusion in Westfield at the end of the Revolutionary War," Mr. Hall explained
When work on the Miller- Cory House was being organized in 1972, no records were available as to exactly who had built it, or when and how it came to be transferred from the Miller family to the Corys.
When the deed of purchase was discovered by happy accident it gave only the date of 1784, the seller as Jesse Miller, representing the heirs of Samuel Miller, attested by Sabra (X) Miller as the widow, Joseph Cory as the purchaser, and a description of the property.
This was good new information, but attempts to check it out ran into one blind alley after another. The property is described as "thirty acres, more or less" but it measures out as 70+ acres. It has 11 sides with only one square right angle, and two different blaze trees at one corner.
"We do know Joseph Cory was a double cousin. But Jesse is not mentioned in published records of the family, and no stones in the cemetery or dates of birth, marriage or death have yet been found for either Jesse or Sabra or Samuel," Mr. Hall observed.
Probable explanations for most of this confusion can now be traced. This deed marked the end of an era, he explained, noting that the property involved was part of the first West Fields Lot No. 55 which was settled in 1727 by William Miller.
He died in 1782, leaving his oldest son Samuel as executor, but Samuel himself was so ill he only survived by two weeks. The 1784 deed covers only a remainder left after allowing for all past transfers. Most of the peculiarities noted in property lines can now be traced to changes in compass angles, and resulting open or latent disagreements between neighbors.
Dr. Hall first became concerned with Miller- Cory 50 years ago, in Cranford. He and his wife, Carrell, discovered that her ancestor, John Cory, had built one of the oldest houses in town about 1735. Family records identified it as being "in that part of Westfield now Cranford." The old
Cory house in Westfield, now known as Miller- Cory, was also said to be the oldest house in Westfield, but they were two different houses.
Untangling Cory family history led Dr. Hall to become a Trustee and later President of the Cranford Historical Society, and after this, in 1970, a charter member of the Union County Cultural and Heritage Board. In this capacity, at the time Miller- Cory was being organized, he was able to help Betty Pate of Westfield get official approval for processing a batch of unidentified old deeds she had located in Union County records.
When the Miller- Cory deed turned up there by surprise, Dr. Hall arranged official permission for it to be turned over through Pate to MillerCory and the Westfield Historical Society, for permanent safe- keeping. Since moving to Westfield nine years ago, he has become a Trustee here of the Historical Society and is currently on the Miller- Cory Board of Governors.
The luncheon on April 1 will be held as usual at noon at B. G. Fields, located on Springfield Avenue. Members of the Historical Society will be called individually. Others may attend by calling Ed or Mary Orlando at (908) 233 2930.
A KEEPSAKER... Postcards of Mindowaskin Park in the center of Westfield are now for sale by The Friends of Mindowaskin Park as a fund- raiser to continue their work in the preservation and restoration of the town's centerpiece park. The packet of postcards show eight views of the park in all seasons and sell for $5. They may be purchased at the following locations in town: Blindworks, 844 South Avenue; the Miller- Cory House Museum, 614 Mountain Avenue; Periwinkle's Fine Gifts, 9 Elm Street; Rorden Realty, 44 Elm Street; The Town Book Store, 255 East Broad Street; and Williams Nursery, 524 Springfield Avenue. Friends' Postcard Chairwoman Karyn Tate welcomes any inquiries about the project. She can reached by calling (908) 654- 9671.
Tamaques PTO to Present Fashion Show and Dinner
The Tamaques Elementary School Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) has announced that its first Spring Fashion Show and Dinner will be held on Friday, April 3, at L'Affaire Restaurant on Route No. 22 in Mountainside.
The event, featuring the theme "Cruise Into Spring," will start with a cocktail hour at 7 p. m. during which all guests may purchase raffle tickets and preview an array of prizes which will be raffled off later in a Chinese Auction.
Dinner will include a fruit cup, salad, choice of entree (Chicken Piccata or Grilled Norwegian Salmon). The Chinese Auction will commence while dinner is being served.
The hour- long fashion show, which will start shortly after dinner, will feature spring and summer apparel
for both men and women modeled by Tamaques School faculty.
The evening will conclude with the announcements of the four Grand Prize winners and the winner of the 50/ 50 cash raffles. All proceeds will be used to benefit the children of Tamaques School.
For tickets and additional information, please call Tamaques School at (908) 789- 4580 and leave a message for Gail Kender or Mary Poon.
Tickets are $30 each, and checks may be made payable to Tamaques School PTO. Individuals are asked to mail their checks, with their name, address, daytime telephone number and the number of tickets desired, to Tamaques School, 641 Willow Grove Road, Westfield, 07090, Attention: Fashion Show Chairpersons. Tickets will be mailed.
PRETTY PICTURE… Debbie Kurylak, right, Manager of Wellington Art Gallery in Westfield, presents a limited edition print entitled "Sweet Bounty" by Lena Liu to Gail Kender, center, and Mary Poon from the Tamaques School Parent Teacher Organization as a donation to the organization's Fashion Show and Dinner to be held on Friday, April 3, at L'Affaire Restaurant in Mountainside. For further information and tickets, please call Tamaques School at (908) 789- 4580.
Auxiliary Seeks Items For Giant Garage Sale
Small appliances, furniture, jewelry, boutique items, sporting goods, games, kitchenware, garden tools, antiques, linens, toys and children's clothing (sizes infant to 14) are among the donations being sought by the Westfield Day Care Auxiliary for its 30th annual Gigantic Garage Sale.
The auxiliary asks that small appliances be in working order and that all items be in salable condition. The event is staged each year as a fundraiser for the Westfield Day Care Center Scholarship Fund.
Auxiliary members are ready to collect articles for this year's sale, set for Saturday, May 16. Items for the sale may be dropped off at the Westfield Memorial Pool from 9 a. m. to noon on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, throughout the month of April, weather permitting.
Anyone desiring the pickup of items or information on dropping off items may call (908) 317- 0015, the Westfield Day Care Center Garage Sale hotline.
Jumble Store Will Welcome Spring With Sale on April 4
The Jumble Store will welcome the start of spring with its annual "Ready, Set, Spring" sale which will take place on Saturday, April 4.
Great gifts and clothing for Easter, Passover and the spring season will be featured in a festive setting.
"We have a variety of decorative household items, including picture frames, crystal pieces, baskets and holiday ceramic ware, all at reasonable prices," said Fran Moum, sale coordinator.
"The boutique will also feature toys and holiday clothing, as well as many traditional household items. All items are either new or in almost- new condition," she added.
The boutique will take place upstairs at the Jumble Store, located at 110 Walnut Avenue in Cranford, from 10 a. m. to 3 p. m. Light refreshments will also be served.
The Jumble Store is owned and operated by the Junior League of ElizabethPlainfield. All proceeds benefit the league's community service projects and local charities.
The Jumble Store is open on weekdays (except Wednesday) from 9: 30 a. m.
EAGER FOR LOVE… People for Animals, a non- profit animal welfare organization serving New Jersey, will sponsor a pet adoption event on Sunday, March 29, from 11 a. m. to 3 p. m. at the PetsMart store at 1022 Route No. 22, East, at West End Avenue in North Plainfield. Among the dogs and cats available for adoption will be Jonathan, an energetic, one- year- old terrier mix. Jonathan was an abused stray who almost died due to abuse, and is now awaiting a new home. He is medium- sized, neutered and current with his vaccinations. To adopt or for information, please call (908) 688- 1073. For low cost spay/ neuter information, please call the People for Animals Clinic at (908) 964- 6887.
to 3: 30 p. m., as well as 7 to 9 p. m. Thursday, and on Saturday from 10 a. m. to 3 p. m.
Donations are always accepted and boutique consignment will be accepted through Friday, April 3. Anyone seeking more information should call (908) 276- 0222 during store hours.
Scholarships Offered For CADC Workshops
The National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence of Union County is offering scholarships for those students who want to attend certified alcohol and drug counselor (CADC) workshops.
The scholarships are limited and will be awarded on a "first come- first serve" basis.
For further information and registration, please call (908) 233- 8810.
ON TOUR… Visitors Pat Paraboshi, Lydia Cutrone and Alice Huether tour Park Middle School in Scotch Plains lead by seventh grade students Monique Lemus and Steven Moore (not pictured).
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