New Jersey Memories

This is the TV movie that started it all. This film, based on creator Earl Hamner's real-life family, aired in 1971.  It was such a huge success that a series was created. That series, The Waltons , was expected to be a flop but ran for nine years .

Downtown Chester The Chesters are two lovely and historic little towns. Yes, there are two Chesters , just as there are two Mendhams right nearby (this is typical of New Jersey). Despite some commercialization in the last few years, the Mendhams, Chesters and the whole area is delightfully rural, peaceful, and beautiful. 

This was a live pre-recorded Christmas special from 1963, starring the incomparable Judy Garland.  Joining Judy are her children -- a very young Liza Minnelli, Lorna Luft, and Joey Luft.  It was part of the short-lived The Judy Garland Show , a show Judy was never comfortable doing, although her incredible talent shines through.

2,000 pipe organ which the Northlandz owner sometimes plays Last week I told you about Northlandz , the model railroad located in Flemington, New Jersey . I showed you some trains and the spectacular scenery and settings that were created by the owner.

Edward Asner starred in this 1977 Christmas television film. It is a very sad but quite lovely film, about a man who is dying and has one last reunion with his mostly estranged family.  Edited to add (January 2016). The film in its entirety has been removed from YouTube. Hopefully, it will be back someday).

Northlandz is considered the “ world’s largest model railroad ” by some, although others have claimed that title for a place in Germany .  It is certainly one of the largest in the world. Northlandz started with the owner building trains and villages for his own amusement after a hard day’s work. 

I loved this television film as a child. It was such a success that several more "Addie Mills" films were televised by CBS. This production is set in the 1940s. 

Downtown Belvidere, New Jersey We came back for a second visit to pretty Belvidere, New Jersey .  We had several goals that day. One of them was to see the Robert Morris House on Greenwich Street. Robert Morris was one of the signers of The Declaration of Independence .