Few people realize the effort it takes to write a book. To commit to writing an in-depth and factual account about a local incident that happened more than 130 years ago before the internet, Wikipedia and other online references is a monumental task. It offers no monetary reward for the time researching and writing and rewriting. At best the only gain is the personal satisfaction of knowing you’ve assembled an amazing profile of the people and places that have long since disappeared so that others might happen upon it and gain some perspective. This story of Franklin Park is as much about the author's commitment to present the available facts of a tragic event that happened generations ago so we might be able to appreciate the tone of the day as it related to race and color. To understand how people lived and how they were seen and treated by others in the period that followed the abolition of slavery. What was considered the way of life and how it might compare to our present day norms.
Brian Armstrong writes not only about the tragedy but the evolution of society into what it is today. He relied on many sources to capture details about the local populous including census data, births, marriages, deaths, property sales and personal net worth. He describes the settings sufficiently to allow the reader to feel the late 1800’s of horse and wagon, dirt roads, and even inconsistencies and bias in the print media. He did that with remarkable execution even while the reader might find it challenging to keep pace with all of the actors and the moving forward and back in time as he unraveled the lives of those in Franklin Park.
Having been born in Plainfield New Jersey and growing up in Flemington, not far from Franklin Park, I recognized some of the family names and the places described. I never knew the story of the Franklin Park tragedy but I should have. My relatives occupied New Brunswick, Plainfield, Westfield, Scotch Plains and other villages in close proximity and as I read I was expecting to find at least one reference to my lineage. At the conclusion of the book I was satisfied that my family did not have a role in the event that unfolded but that does not excuse my lack of knowledge about the incident or about the disparity amongst people at the time. This was part of the Central Jersey history, my history and I am thankful that Mr. Armstrong took on the task of writing this book so that I would learn about the incident and the pulse and perspective of those living at the time. I also feel that there may remain some unanswered questions about what exactly happened in the early morning hours of Thursday, March 1, 1894. Speculation is all that remains as Moore Baker took the truth to his grave.
Download the free Kindle app and start reading Kindle books instantly on your smartphone, tablet, or computer - no Kindle device required.
Read instantly on your browser with Kindle for Web.
Using your mobile phone camera - scan the code below and download the Kindle app.
Loading your book clubs
There was a problem loading your book clubs. Please try again.
Not in a club? Learn more
Join or create book clubs
Choose books together
Track your books
Bring your club to Amazon Book Clubs, start a new book club and invite your friends to join, or find a club that’s right for you for free.
Add a debit or credit card to save time when you check out
Convenient and secure with 2 clicks. Add your card
Customers who read this book also read
Page 1 of 1 Start overPage 1 of 1
