A black-and-white photo shows the Bernards Township (NJ) Committee and staff on January 1, 1959, probably at its reorganization meeting.

Mayor David M. Meeker with gavel, is front row center.  Meeker served five years on the committee and was mayor in 1959.  He also wrote a weekly column as “Uncle Jed” for the Bernardsville News and was a trustee of the Basking Ridge Historical Society (forerunner of THSSH).

Among the other committee members, all but Percy Pyne served as mayor at one time or another.

Front row, left to right
–William G. Badgley, mayor in 1957, 1960, and 1963.
–Warren M. Craft, Jr., mayor in 1943, 1946, 1948, 1949, 1952, and 1955.
–David Meeker, mayor in 1959
–Percy R. Pyne III served as committeeman from 1957 to 1959.
–Loyal H. Robinson, mayor in 1961, 1962, and 1967.

Standing out in the back row among the staff is Naomi Williams Baxter, the only woman and an African American.  Baxter served as township health inspector (1957-1960).

The photo was taken at the Brick Academy, which then served as town hall.  The committee appears in front of the north wall on the main floor (where the large American flag is presently).  The “bump out” for the old fireplace can be seen in the ceiling molding.

Back Row, left to right
–John Muldowney, Plumb. Insp.
–Howard Ortman, Bldg. Insp.
–Kenneth MacFadyen, Engineer
–Mrs. Naomi Baxter, Health Insp.
–Anthony P. Kearns, Attorney
–Charles Anstedt, Clerk
–Harry Allen, Police Chief
Jan. 1, 1959

See photograph’s full catalog record.