Fifty Years Ago

1964

The First Lady

of the United

States was

born on

January 17th.

The famous

roast beef

sandwich

sold for

only 64

cents.

Arby’s opened the first

“fast food”

restaurant.

And…

Miss Ella Mockridge , a town historian, was the guest of honor.She arrived in a 1922 Rolls Royce.Miss Mockridge donated much of the historical material on display. In a heartfelt statement, she said. “To me, you are the answer to prayer-a dream I had of putting relics of colonial Mendham in a museum in the neighborhood.”

Flail-a tool used for beating flax for linen making

Hatchel-block of wood with spikes protruding ,used for carding flax

The only complaint from the visitors at the Ralston General Store Museum, particularly from the children, was that no penny candy was for sale.

Although John Ralston was not an original settler of this section of Mendham Township , we now refer to as Ralston, there was a man by the name of John Brain who in 1707 built a sod or log cabin about a mile south of the Ralston Center. Another man named John (Logan) later built at the crossing of the Old Minisink Indian Trail , (William Penn Highway) and now known as Route 24, a General Store, Manor House, and stone Grist Mill. John Logan supplied George Washington’s army at Jockey Hollow with flour and other foods , but he came close to bankruptcy when the Continental Army could not pay the bill.

What we know today as a supermarket, in “the good old days” may have been referred to as the General Store. Men of the 19th century would visit the General Store and sit around a log stove and cracker barrel to play checkers. Their wives would shop for goods to feed their families economically and might buy materials such as muslin or gingham for a new dress.

John Ralston owned and operated the Ralston General Store from 1786-1819. It continued to operate as a store under different owners through the 1920’s

Another outstanding accomplishment of John Ralston was the establishment of a factory in Ralston. It was called “The Mendham Cotton and Wool Manufacturing Company”. It was the first of its kind in New Jersey. This was a very daring business venture at this time since the textile industry was very new in this country and the British wanted to keep a monopoly on this industry. John operated the mill from 1814-1819.

1894-

1941

The store contained the Ralston Post Office. It is the oldest existing

structure in the United States ever used as a U.S. Post Office

1941

A Shingle BeeResidents of Ralston pitched in to

recondition the dilapidated post office.

John H.N. Potter and Mary Langford pass shingles up to Mrs. Margaretta Potter (left) and Mrs. Florence C. Page, who fix new roof. Residents have organized Ralston Historical Association to restore the post office as a landmark.

1947

A gift was given to the Ralston Historical Association, a 300 year old Red Oak tree. It is 5 feet in diameter and 75 feet tall. It is located about one-half mile south of the store. Visitors may also visit this site to see the tree that stood in this area over 100 years before the settlement of Ralston.

Come join us at the Ralston General Store Museum and you might see such artifacts as…

John Ralston’s Trunk

Spinning Wheel

Dod Survey Instrument (Mendham)

Ceramic Foot Warmer

Cheese Drainer

Wax Jack

Coffee Grinder

Rush LightBroad Axe

John Ralston’s

Desk

Old Pictures and Documents from the Ralston Area

Antique Toys in a

Display Case

Early Kitchen Antiques

And soon a quilted wall hanging ofyour special commemorat

ive stamp designs

Join us on June 15, 2014 for the reopening and dedication of the Ralston General Store Museum.

Visit o

ur websit

e at

www.ralst

on

museum.org